More Arts and Crafts

I made this about a week ago. The top is a piece of scrapbook paper, the things on the front are some leftover stickers that I had from another project, and the paint is some leftover paint from the kitchen. And the furry little thing on the right is Sydney.

I confess my love for....

Nike Dri Fit. I purchased two shirts yesterday at the Nike outlet for about $8 each. This is an amazing deal b/c they are usually around $35. Over the course of my training I have come to realize that I will never be able to comfortably wear a cotton t-shirt to run/work out in. I am too spoiled to go back now. I firmly believe the inventor of this material deserves a Nobel Prize. A regular cotton shirt quickly becomes saturated with sweat during a normal workout, sticks to your body, and makes you feel like you've gained 10 lbs, but the the miracle dri fit wicks all the sweat away, is super soft, and basically just the best thing in the world. My only complaint is that is smells horrible after a good work out. I mean, duh, sweat smells, but for some reason the dri fit material makes it smell worse. This is only a minor inconvience though and would never provoke me to return to the archaic cotton shirt.

If I had a lot of money I'd buy these from Anthropologie:

The Best of 08

Here's a recap of my favorite times in 2008:

New Years Eve on the Strip:


My Christmas present from Jake (Christmas of 07, but used in 08):


Hoover Dam tour:


My birthday:


Disneyland:


Summerlin Arts Festival:


Hiking:


Siggy's visit:


Week long vacation in California:


Sky diving:


Rock Band Concert:


Pumpkin Patch:


Canoe Race:


First rodeo:


Things not pictured that were also fun/exciting:

Sister's graduation

Jake's b-day

1/2 Marathon

Family visit/ snow storm

2008 was a pretty fun year and I'm looking forward to 2009. Happy late new year!

Water for Elephants

I just finished reading this book and I want to recommend it to everyone. I started it a long time ago and wasn't able to really get into it, but then I picked it up again over the holidays and I couldn't put it down. Give it a try!

An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of Riding Lessons.

When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her.

Beautifully written, Water for Elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford.----taken from bookbrowse.com