Photo time.

Helloooo, everyone!

My goodness, how busy life is.  I've encountered a rare burst of energy this evening, so I've spent my time in correspondence and cleaning, ha!   I actually found myself Lysol-ing the bathroom countertops and do the dishes FOR FUN.  Kind of weird, I must say.  It might be just because the whole apartment thing is new, but maybe because it is 'mine' in a way?  I don't know, yet -- we'll see.  I do love slowly decorating this place, and cooking, as limited as my skills are at this point.

I went to our massive SUPER DUPER CRAZY BIG Target this evening and bought chicken breast to play with some new rubs and glazes I've been collecting... And I completely avoided the 'pre-stuffed spinach and mozarella' burgers, steaks, etc.  As tempting as they are!


Alright so photo time...


This is my sunset view from The Polynesian Resort on The Fourth of July. This one is overlooking the Wedding Pavillion, way in the distance.


And a silhouette view of The Grand Floridian.





In my opinion, Fireworks should always be viewed by a Palm Tree on the beach!



Mommom & Papa visited, so of course I shared the Muppet 3D Love. Along with my discounts...!


These are the original Muppet Vision 3D Pictures, though..

Me & Lauren (apartment-mate).


Herschell in the back, Lauren on the left & Molly (other apartment-mate) on the right.


Dana, my roommmmmate.


No photographs of the INSIDE of my apartment yet, because we're still decorating, and it's really quite sorry looking right now.... So, the outside:





All in all, things are getting better.  Send me e-mails!  Or letters.  Send me e-mails about how to send me letters!  And I'll give you my address.

briana.clare@hotmail.com

Update:

I'm miserable and I want to go home.

Of course, this happens to be the same day that I came home saying 'I love my job!!' on cloud 9. So it must just be because I had to leave my mom and sister an hour ago... Arrrg. I feel horrible, like my insides are knotted up and shoved somewhere in my throat. I'm still so scared.


But today really was incredible... The 'design house' team I work with is amazing.. really. They do wonderful projects and they're a lot of fun. Etc etc, I can't say enough about them... I will however drone on in another post. For now, I have sleep to catch up on...

First things first. I move to Florida in a week. Which is pretty fantastic, I think. I also got a new car, which is amazing as well. =) It's a Ford Edge.



Her name is Lula Belle {courtesy of Miss Eleni}, and she is rather stunning.



Also quite comfortable.



And a head shot.

I also participated in Sheilas crop on Saturday that was really really FANTASTIC! I didn't get a whole lot accomplished because I was so busy chatting up the lovely scrappers around me.... I feel like a nerd, but whatever! I'm aware of the nerdiness and embracing it still.




[here we go... Stacy's going to kill me for this one!]

Baltimore, oh Baltimore!

We drove downtown yesterday to photograph and hang out for a bit... We got some lunch and visited Whole Foods to grab some snacks for the drive down to Florida. Mmm, sweet potato chips and cranberry lemonade =)

Here are some photos that capture a bit of my childhood... and recent, memories of my city...



We really have ruined our harbor.


By the trade center.


Amber and I saw Laughing Colors here once upon a time.


Beautiful.


psh, my family went to the Claddagh before you knew wth a claddagh was. =P


Helen's Garden was only good when the outrageously gay owners made 'wet' muffins. If you don't know, I can't help you. Because they no longer make them.


The Gallery always seemed like what Heaven might look like, when I was younger, ha!


Natty... Just a few blocks from where I used to live. =)


My great-grandparents old house... Up for salllle now...


Oh man, Pop took me inside this place when I was really little, and I flipped out. I wanted to live there so bad...


Mmm, weeds.

Mmm, new paper!

So, LAYOUT time.




Playing with some Jenni Bowlin that I've had for a while, good ol' Heidi Swapp and some Hambly rub-ons. And I just realized that the "r" is so off-kilter -- It's actually supposed to be completely straight, and probably the ONLY layout of mine with purposely straight chipboard letters... Figures, huh? [I say this all as I'm rubber-cementing that R back where it belongs, hah!]





These are some detail shots from a layout I did about my grandfather... All Cosmo Cricket here and some Recollections chipboard letters.

Okay... So the other day I spent most of the afternoon playing fetch in the yard [my personal favorite] and producing freckles in the sun, apparently... Anyway, back to the fetch:






Nana stole Gus' ball, so he had to resort to the tennis tug of war toy... Of sorts.


Enough computer for me... Bed!

Old photos!

I don't think I can post without having pictures... A sickness, maybe? Oh yeah, that's my mom up there, when she was about 19. Cute, huh?

I am EXHAUSTED but I know I won't be able to sleep if I try... I've been trying to get my rats nest of a room together so that I can actually enjoy it for the few weeks I have left... Right now I avoid it at all costs. But organizing bins help...:






And this would be Kat when she was a bebe, with Grumpy in the grass. I do love having a scanner.

Mothers Day, oh my!

So last minute mothers day gifts suck. Shopping for my mom in general is pretty terrible, actually, cause she's got what she wants/needs anddddd I feel like I buy her the same stuff over and over again. So I took on a project gift instead... And I just finished. I got to use my Bazzil Bling, Heidi Grace stickers and some random paper I've had for a while... All in all, I only bought the tins which were on sale, 98 cents a piece. =)



They're these cool little magnetic tins for storage -- I figured she could fill them up with brads/ribbon etc. I hope. Or they'll be all over the house filled with random trinkets? Again, I hope. As long as she uses them in some way, I'll be happy.














Okay, when I said only 98 cents a piece for the tins, I wasn't factoring in charms I got for her pandora, but still!

Summer feels GOOD.

After work today I was able to play with layouts using my new and wonderful pictures...





And when I got home I snapped some shots in the yard -- I think I want to do a "Home" book before I leave.



Gus' butt is all curly from being in the pool. =)


However Katie didn't have a bathing suit and therefore had to make due with whatever access she <i>did</i> have to the water.


I think this is my favorite "flower" -- lame?