time to make some major life decisions!

OK. So last year around this time I was fixated with the idea of going to New York. The pros: a new, fun city, Laura Ostler, bigger fashion industry=more jobs/opportunities. The cons: cold, cold winter, far far away from home, expensive.

Another idea I had was Southern California. The pros: I feel like there are a lot of fun people my age there, nice weather, the beach, good shopping, closer to home, a little bit better and bigger fashion industry than here. The cons: hmmm...LA traffic?

The next idea I've had is Salt Lake City, Utah. The pros: lots of friends already there and greater potential to make more friends, fun summertime activities, cafe rio, Temple Square!, it's cheaper, and family. The cons: fashion industry?, it's cold, and it's Utah. Maybe it's because I've already lived there (granted it was my mission, but I feel like living in Idaho kind of counts as Utah) and also because I grew up vacationing in Utah to see family, I feel like if I can go anywhere, why Utah?!

Should I go somewhere totally random and new like southern California or east coast to New York, Boston, DC or what? Thoughts?

This is hard. Luckily I don't have to decide anytime too soon! I graduate in March and don't plan on doing anything too drastic until at least June, but we'll see!

decisions, decisions....

hahaha, you win jimmy.

this did make my day better! haha! i may or may not have listened to this more than once. the starfish is the best.
Jimmy's Music Cure-All

Music Cure-All

Having a particular rough or bad day? Just watch this. Having a great day? Watch this anyway! It will make it better! Sufjan is amazing.

I'm a little obsessed with Kate Spade lately...

So this is my final quarter at FIDM! It seems like I just started! I started 1 year ago this month and was actually supposed to be finished already according to their 1 year agenda, but most everyone takes a little bit longer in order to do internships, etc. So I am taking one extra quarter, finishing March 17th (St. Patrick's day!).

I get really excited to graduate because I feel like it will open up a new chapter in my life and I won't feel tied down to one area. But, that's also scary and then I start to freak out about knowing where or what I should be doing?! Elder Christofferson spoke at the last CES fireside last week and he talked about taking things one day at a time and to not freak out about the future if it's uncertain. It was good. You should watch it: CES Fireside with Elder Christofferson.

Anyway, back to my title--I'm a little obsessed with Kate Spade lately. I'm doing my final project on her company. It's been fun so far! I mean just look at these ads:

For my project I'm going to create 2 clothing lines--1 12 piece item line for Kate Spade and then another line with the same theme for a different brand at a lower price point. Any ideas of what brand? I'm thinking about doing a children's brand for the second one.

New Years Resolution #3

Re-learn to play the piano! I can't remember how many years I took lessons, but I eventually wanted to quit, but now I wish I didn't (you were right mom). Plus, I want to be just like this dog.

Bows, ruffles, lace, pleats, and darts solve everything!

Sooooo, this last October I traveled up to Utah and bought a whole bunch of clothes to "redo" when I got home! They have pretty much been stuffed in a big bag since then, until this week! I remade 3 skirts, 1 dress, and 2 shirts. Here are some of the finished results! (I haven't taken pictures of all of them yet, so more to come!) I'm kind of bummed I didn't take BEFORE pictures on most all of these, but I'll paint a picture for you of what they looked like before!

So this was a pretty large plain short sleeved button up shirt. I put 4 darts in on the front and 5 in the back to make it more
form fitting. 

Then I cut some length off the bottom and used that fabric to make some ruffles on the front. After the ruffles I decided it could use some lace! So I sewed on some lace along the button front. The last touch was this ribbon tie around the waist to further accentuate the waist and add some more girly-ness..and perhaps my excuse to squeeze a bow into this outfit. ;-)

The sleeves were pretty huge and ugly, so I added 3 small darts on each sleeve and the bottom.

Here's the back!

This skirt was just plan and long. It actually already fit my waist and hips well, just needed some hemming and then I added a bow to the front with the extra fabric I cut off. Pretty simple!

I just added some lace to this plain cardigan to spruce it up a bit!

This skirt fit well too, it was just long and boring. So I hemmed it up first then used the extra fabric to make ruffles on one side. The picture below is better to see that.

Kind of a crappy photo, but you get the idea.

So this is the one and only BEFORE picture. I got lazy. Or in a rush. I don't know what, but this is the only one!

This skirt was a little big on me. First I hemmed it. Then I made a pleat on the right side of the waistband to make the waist fit better.

Then, I added 2 buttons to the pleated waistband and, of course, used the excess fabric for some more bows!

Lastly, but this was actually the first one I did, it my favorite. Its used to be a plain, long skirt. First, I hemmed it up to knee length. Then, to make it more fitted I added 4 pleats in the front. 

It was still a little weird fitting so I put 2 darts in the back too.

With the extra fabric I added this bow, which was actually quite difficult because the fabric is so thick, but I managed to get it on there!

THE END!

Actually I still have several things left to do and one unfinished shirt, but I figured if I kept going on, I'd just put bows on everything else too! I just got really excited when I learned how to make them! =)

In other events, the holidays were great! Here are some random pictures of what happened because I don't feel like writing too much!

The festivities started with a joint birthday party for Kaitlyn and Jonny! 

The big 1! 

The big 8!

  We went to see the Oakland Temple lights where it rained the whole time!

My Temple Square umbrella came in handy!

heehee he's soooo cute!

Gingerbread Men!

Ethan

Adam's special cookies!

Cory

Jimmy

Shawn

Megan

Jonny

Kristal

Me

Mom

Kim

 Jelly Belly Factory

 Christmas!

San Francisco!

He was being so cute and smiley!

Shawn thought this was hilarious

precious! hah

I don't know!

And more recently, this is what I encountered when I went up to my room to go to sleep last night. hahaha.

There is a story behind this. My mom is the primary president in our ward and found all these teddy bears in the closet at the church so she decided she would use them to give to the kids and she is attaching a cute little poem that is supposed to remind the children to pray. I came home yesterday and thought they were kind of creepy all piled into this big bag. Before I even said this, Jimmy-knowing that I get creeped out by things like this decided he would put these all on my bed with a reminder to pray. I was laughing so hard I cried. hahaha it still makes me laugh when I think about it. So creepy!

Anyway, happy new year! I don't have any pictures from new years because I forgot my camera! oh well. It was a fun night spent in the city with friends, karaoke, fireworks, and dancing! And, so far I've kept my new year's resolutions! (I only made 2 to keep it easy on myself ;-))

This is it for now--school starts tomorrow so I better get some sleep! Especially since I have the same teacher I was accidently an hour late to her first day of class 2 quarters back because I was on muscle relaxants for my neck/back pain and they made me super drowsy and so I slept through 3 alarms and she almost bit my head off! So, I don't want to do that again! Goodnight!