Scribbles By Jaime

Life Continues to rock...

2008-03-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

Ali Edwards and Elsie Flannigan are my two favorite scrapbookers. It was so much fun to get to interview them!

I loved talking to Ali about her book: Life Artist. It is such a cool concept.

Enjoy! : )

And see more interviews here.

I love my job! : )

2008-03-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Remember awhile back when I announced that I rocked my own socks and things were going really well at work?

This is one of the things I was excited about.

Everyone, meet Elsie Flannigan. Designer of the Love Elsie Line of scrapbooking supplies, a fantabulous painter and photographer, and one of those awesome girls who probably doesn't know how cool people really think she is.

Thanks for the interview, Elsie!

I love this!

2008-03-05T15:54:00.001-08:00

General Jaime Update : )

2008-03-04T22:26:00.000-08:00

Hi. My name is Jaime. Remember me? I used to write on this blog.

: )

So, what has been up with me since I last wrote here over a month ago? I have made a lot of stuff. Finished a skirt. Made a skirt out of old pajama pants. Lots of scrapbook pages. A bajillion interviews at work. Some progress on the sweater. Still a lot of drama associated with that though. Three placemats. More on the way!

I have also been sick a lot. Just one thing after another, and I haven't felt 100% in about three weeks. But I think that things will be changing, starting this weekend. : ) I look forward to having energy to make more stuff again.

I have also had my first cavities filled. I also found out my dental coverage sucks. I should become a dentist and make some big bucks. Too bad touching peoples spit does not sound fun to me.

Neil and I are also back into Salsa classes. It's fun when people stop to watch us, then complement us afterwards. We dance so well together. It's really fun! I told Neil that next week we should make our nametags say Fred and Ginger. Haven't yet told him I want to be Fred though!

Speaking of famous old school dancers, I just finished watchin "On The Town" a fun 1949 musical with old blue eyes, plus lots of other fun people. I just adore this movie. I was grumpy before I started watching it, but now I am happy. : )

What else makes me happy? The sweetie. We are planning on him moving here or me moving there sometime in the near future. I can't wait to live in the same city with him again. We haven't lived in the same city since we met in Swansea in 2003-04! He lived in Chico last year, but that's still a few hours away from my chateau. Can't wait for him to be close by. : )

I also found some really cute dishes at Cost Plus and glasses at Pier One. Will buy once teeth are paid for and yarn/scrapbooking/sewing stashes are satisfactory. : )

That's all for now. I wonder when my next update will be? : )

I rock everyone's socks off!

2008-01-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

yesss.... Even though there are stressful and sad and confusing things in my life right now, there are oodless of good things too. I feel like I am rocking mine and everyone else's socks off at work right now. I organized this uber cool series of conference calls with the explorer Doug Stoup about 10 days ago, and I landed two mega-bomb interviews (that I will soooo be sharing once they are edited and posted), and I keep getting in charge of new projects! Yay me!

One of the stressful things in my life? Cables. I love knitting cables. But what I don't love is knitting five rows of cable on a sweater, only to discover that I made this set of cables go in the opposite direction to all other sets.

Grr.

And I spent a few hours ripping out an error on a dress I am sewing. It took three seconds to screw up, but a few hours to rip out. Now it will take about a half hour to truly fix.

Grrr. The realities of sewing.

Oh well. My reward for good work behavior and antidote to sewing/knitting/other woes?

A pattern so I can make this:

This cool girl designed it.

love ya all...

So, I got Netflix...

2008-01-17T15:59:00.000-08:00

...and I love it. I have three movies at a time, but I am wondering if I should upgrade to the four at a time for awhile. We'll see what happens once the honeymoon period is over.

So far I have watched Season 4 of one of my fave British comedy shows, Coupling. I hadn't ever seen this season (the final one!). It was good, but not great. One of my fave characters (Jeff) left the show and they tried to replace him by having a different actor play a new character (Oliver) who was very similar to Jeff. : (

Right now I am coming on to the tail end of a Big Love marathon. I love that show! It's about a modern day polygamist family that lives a seemingly normal life in the suburbs. I feel like I get an insight into a fascinating world that I know nothing about, and I get so attached to the characters! The actors are great, and this show is just so addicting. I get to watch the final episode of season 2 tonight. Then, I will actually get a chance to watch some movies before I start getting more tv shows again.

Anyway, I took an online survey on HBO's website and found out that I am most like Barb, the first wife. I was initially a little surprised, even though I like Barb. But then I thought about it and decided I am much more like her than I am like any of the other wives.

Harlech Castle is Scary

2008-01-14T19:30:00.000-08:00

See, usually I love castles. I made Ashley come on a trip wth me to North Wales with the sole purpose of touring castles. I love castles of all levels of deconstruction. I loved the first two castles we visited (Conwy and Caernarfon). Then, we went to Harlech Castle.

First, proof that I do like castles.

I look happy to be here in this photo, right?

But there were millions of signs like this:

And I was hungry, so I was shaky.

I was tired, because we stayed at a B&B and had to wake early for breakfast.

My legs were rubbery because we had walked up and down millions of castles stairs for two days straight.

It was windy, and as the sign above stated, there was little barrier to keep me from flying off the side of the castle and into the ocean.

It was wet, so the stones were slippery.

And, to top it off, I was wearing my danskos.

Ask my mom to tell you a story about what happens when you wear danskos on slippery welsh stones. She has a good story.

Anyway, all these factors combined made for this face:

I was terrified, cranky, and most of all, astonished that I did not lke this castle. I usually consider myself a pretty adventurous person, but in this case I just knew that I would have little control over being able to catch myself if I lost my balance.

Harlech is a scary castle.

Silly Castle Adventures With Ashley

2008-01-11T22:12:00.000-08:00

I was going through all my Wales footage at work, and I found several clips of conversations/incidents do I not only have no recollection of, but made me laugh out loud. So, I put a little video together. It's kind of a little present for Ashley, but I thought some of my other friends might enjoy it too.

Maybe.

It is pretty silly.

Just promise you won't judge me for thinking this is funny.

: )

resuming normal life

2008-01-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

Ashley and I on New Years : )

Hiya guys! I am back from Wales, and though I didn't want to come home, now I am ready to resume my regular life and get going in 2008.

I guess step one for resuming normal life would be to unpack. Hmm. Must consider this at some point.

Step two would be to get on top of my New Years Resolutions. I try to make my New Years resolutions fun and attainable. No big "I am going to excersize everyday" or other sillyness that is going to last a week and make me feel bad for not following through the rest of the year.

Last year, I made a resolution to learn how to knit a hat. And I did! I knit at least five hats last year and it was fun, productive and educational.

This year, I have decided to learn how to sew properly. I know how to do some very basic thing, like thread my machine, cut out a pattern, and other stupidly easy things, but I want to know how to do make good quality, complicated garmets.

I also want to open an Etsy shop. That is a more challenging resolution, but I still want to do it.

Do you have any resolutions this year?

Miss me!

2007-12-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

Hi guys. This is my sign off. I am going to Wales for three weeks. Yay! I leave on Monday, and if you want to find me at all during the next three week period, go to

http://christmasinwales.pnn.com

Or, fly out to Wales. But that seems a bit extreme, so I'd just visit the website if I were you.

See ya there!

This is Why My Life Rocks.

2007-12-05T17:01:00.001-08:00

I met this band online, then interviewed them, made them a PNN Page, and then helped them become a featured band on PNN.

Most importantly, they crack me up, and I am perpetually rocking out to their tunes.

Click To Play

This is Why My Life Rocks. Part 2.

2007-12-05T17:00:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow, I will be interviewing this cool chica:

Her name is Bee Jellyfish, she's a radio gal, and she has awesome style that is splashed all over the internet.

Ah, my two new *crushes*

Sometimes I think I have the coolest life ever.

Meet Ginger.

2007-12-02T12:49:00.001-08:00

I'd like you to meet someone who i will be staring at a lot over the next few weeks. Maybe even months, depending on how fast I knit.

The thing I would like you to meet is pictured above. Her name is Ginger. And no, it's not the pretty model, it's the beautiful green sweater she is wearing.

Yes, I have decided to embark on knitting my first sweater. And yes, I name my knitting projects. I always name them, usually just after I buy the yarn and choose the pattern. Naming them helps me get the "essence" of the project, which helps me stay on track with my original vision if I have to make decisions during the knitting process.

I am so excited. My fave yarn store, The Knitterly, has the yarn on order for me (same color as shown above) and it should be here in a week or so.

Yay!

In the mean time, I am working on an experiment. Her name is Jan, and she is a scarf. She is pretty darn crazy. And she might turn out to be rediculously ugly, but she could be a diamond in the rough. She is full of retro colors and textures. Hence, the name Jan. Like Jan Brady.

Whatever Happened to That Kid?

2007-11-29T21:01:00.000-08:00

Today I drove my Grandpa to a radiation treatment in UCSF. He lived in the Sunset District with his mom for five years when he was in Junior High and High School, and after treatment he directed me around his old stomping grounds. Apartments now stand where his high school, Polytechnic, once stood. Both the boys and girls gyms still stand on either side of the apartments. It was a four story school that took up a whole block. Huge.

Office Max was a garage. The movie theatre is now something else as well. His house is now a Chinese Restraunt next to Pizza Orgasmica. He lived on the second floor, near the back. There are still some apartments there. How cool would it be if I moved into those apartments some day?

There is a prominent Chinese culture in that area now, but when he was there, there were only two Chinese people in the area he could think of. One owned a Mexican restraunt across the street.

Grandpa had a million different jobs. He had a paper route. He worked for the post office during Christmas. He worked as an usher at the movie theatre, he worked for an Italian butcher... and many other places right there in the neighborhood.

We drove home through the presidio, a route he rode bikes on when he was a teenager. The sun was starting to go down, it was a clear day, and the views were beautiful.

Grandpa dozed on and off a little bit. He was tired after such a trying day, no doubt. Just before we got home, he wondered out loud whatever happened to that kid. The kid being himself, back when he lived in SF.

I said he might still be around, but he wasn't too sure.

Become virtual Luggage

2007-11-28T11:03:00.000-08:00

Most people know by now that I got a new job as a journalist for PNN.com. You also probably know that I am going to Wales for Christmas.

What you may not know is exactly just how awesome my job is. I am going to be "working' from Wales. I have a website called A Girly's Christmas in Wales. (http://christmasinwales.pnn.com) and I am going to be posting movies, photos, journal entries, audio clips, and other little yummy treats that demonstrate Welsh culture while I am over there.

It's going to be legendary. (thanks, Neil Patrick Harris)

Anyway, my question for you is this:

Do you want to come with me?

Well, I can't actually physically take you to Wales with me, as much as I would like to. Not unless you are a pilot who can charter a plane to fly a gaggle of PNN-ites over the pond for us.

But if you follow my adventures online, it is like I am taking you with me. You become my Luggage. My virtual Luggage.

How do you become Luggage? First, Join PNN.com and set up your own website. Yes, you get a free webpage out of the deal. Then, join the Christmas in Wales Group. Post the Luggage icon on your page so I know where you are. (If you don’t put a Luggage tag on yourself how will I ever know which bags riding around the airport carousal are mine?)

Then, just sit back and check Christmasinwales.pnn.com every morning to find out what you will be doing that day.

It’s a pretty sweet deal. Join PNN.com and I’ll lug you around Wales with me this Christmas.

Wanna come?

American?

2007-11-25T18:32:00.000-08:00

Over the extended Thanksgiving weekend, I watached the following videos:

Ratatouille
Paris, Je'taime
L'auberge Espnagote (The Spanish Apartment)
All About My Mother
Black Books Series 3
About A Boy

All of these movies/shows take place in a foriegn country. All but one (Ratatouille) are foreign made.

Thanksgiving is very much a American holiday, yet I spent most of it watching movies that have nothing to do with America.

Anyone else find this interesting?

A Little Sunday Reading...

2007-11-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

A new story published at the Chick Lit Review! Check it out here: The Best Hair.

Saying Happy Thanksgiving with a Drunk Irishman...

2007-11-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

...Because that's just the way I roll.

This is my favorite episode of Black Books. It's called The Party, it's from Season 3, and its divided into three parts because that's the way it came on youtube.

Confession: I find Dylan Moran (Bernard) strangely attractive. Something about the accent and his level of hilarity.

and FYI, 4.49 pounds is about nine dollars.

This is so cute.

2007-11-20T21:15:00.000-08:00

Personally, I like the little guy on the far right, second row up. He's a cute little dude. And, he looks kind of familiar. Hmmm...

Happy Saturday

2007-11-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

A Weekend in SF

2007-11-15T19:10:00.000-08:00

These are some of my fave pics from my, Marissa, and Tatiana's (AKA JMar, MaRose, and TeeHee) weekend in SF. We spent some time in North Beach, and spent the night in the Castro. We went to gay bars at night (my first time. yay!). It was so fun! We saw lots of naked men and lots of butts all weekend. For various reasons. Sometimes it was guys looking out the windows of their hotel rooms with just their undies on, sometimes it was people competing in a best ass competition at a bar, and sometimes it was just because very toned guys were dancing around the club in their underwear.

Description of photos above:

1. The stairwell at City Lights Bookstore. There was another picture that I really wanted to take, but there were lots of people around and I was scared. Of what? Perhaps someone jumping out from behind a bookshelf and screaming "Don't take pictures in here!" More likely just getting dirty looks from really cool people who lurk around City Lights.

2. Little Orphan Andy's: our fave Castro Diner! I won't tell you how many times we ate there. The lights there are quite orange, hence the orange color in the pic.

3. Outside City Lights, just hangin' around North Beach. I like this shot.

At long last.

2007-11-14T15:35:00.000-08:00

Self Portrait Challenge: What I Wear

2007-11-12T17:40:00.000-08:00

What do I wear? Scarves. Especially ones that I have made. This one is called Arwen, because I feel like it is very elf-like. I will post more pictures of this scarf (ones that show of its sparkle a bit more) once the matching gloves and hat are done.

Happy Birthday Dad!

2007-11-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

Today was my Dad's birthday. I sent him a cool present in the mail, and he's going to open it later tonight while we are on the phone together. I'll tell him about this post then too. : )

Notice the potato chips in this pic? I never buy potato chips. But today, I had a craving for them at lunch. I looked in the chips asile, and decided on barbeque. I NEVER get barbeque chips.

But you know what? Barbeque chips were my Dad's favorite when I was little. I thought they were yucky, but he liked them. It's one of those wierd things that you remember about your childhood. And now, barbeque chips always make me think of my Dad.

Happy Birthday Dad! : )

It's Minnie!

2007-11-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, I decided to go as Minnie! Wasn't one of my original choices, but I am notorious for changing my mind a million times before the actual day of Halloween. And I loved my costume. I felt adorable in it, even when I felt prudish amongst all the girls that dressed as a slutty-something-or-other for Halloween. Then I saw these pics, and I realized how big my boobs looked in this outfit. Maybe it wasn't so prudish.

Here are a few more of my fave pics:

Cereal is yummy.

2007-10-30T15:48:00.001-07:00

Did you guys know I have my own webcast series on PNN? It's called cereals, because it's a serial of stories.

This is so cute!

2007-10-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

Go here if you are in the mod for a fun and cute news story.

I am a Geek.

2007-10-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

Over night, Mohinder Suresh has become my favorite Heroes character. Literally, overnight. He was in my dream last night (just wondering around, occasionally saying something or otherwise making his presence known, like most people who show up in my dreams) and now he is my favorite character. Yes, I like him even more than Milo Ventimiglia's Peter Petrelli (gasp).

But really, it's no wonder I like him. He's an uber-smart professor. He's one of the good guys. He's tall and lean. I think he might wear glasses sometimes (though I am not too sure). And the kicker:

He speaks with a British accent.

Like, duh. Of course I like this guy.

I am also kind of wondering if he is going to turn out to be a hero himself. His power, I think is his blood. All us Heroes geeks know that it is an antidote to a virus that is infecting some heroes. His sister was a hero, and being a hero is a genetic condition, so it is possible.

Did I just geek out too much? Well, get ready for more.

I love how all the heroes on Heroes have very different powers, and I have been thinking about what my hero power would be for a few weeks now. I have come up with this one, silly ability that I have.

I can detect British men. Seriously, if there is one within a hundred foot radius of me, I know about it even before they open their mouths. Usually, it's all about the hair, the clothes, even the way they hold themselves, but sometimes I can't even really pin point what it is. I just know.

How can I use this power to help save the world? Ummmm, maybe the demon will turn out to be British, and all we will know is that he is British and where he will be within a 100 foot radius). Then I will be able to find him and thers can take it from there.

Right?

Confession: I Yachtied.

2007-10-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

Gulp. I hate to admit it. But yes, people. I went to the Yacht Club this weekend.

For those of you who think that sounds ok and kind of posh, rewind. Think again. It is hugely ironic that this place is called the Yacht Club. It's the diviest of all dives I have ever seen, and a guaranteed Rancho Reunion. Not always people you want to see either. Thankfully, we only ran into one that night, and he was fine.

But I really wanted to see my friend Catherine and her sister/my friend Laura while she was in town. This is how the evening began:

Jaime drives home from work @winery rediculously tired but determined not to punk out on her friends. Watches Bend it Like Beckham for a little while on TV before changing for the night out. At one point she takes off the jeans she put on to put pajamas back on, but forces herself back into going out clothes.

Arrives at Catherine's house and has three glasses of wine. Three. Puts on Catherine's perfume before she goes out and Catherine keeps telling her how good she smells all night.

We go out. I down a Malibu and Coke right off the bat.

We take a few fun pictures.

I decide I need a shot to loosen up a little more. Kiersten buys me a vodka one.

Suddenly, it's a good idea to document how stupid I feel (and how much fun I am having) by taking a picture of myself in the wierd bathroom.

And another.

Gina buys another round, and I am unaware of the fact that I am getting another shot until no one knows who it's for and I realize it's probably mine.

We dance. I video it, but it's way too dark to see.

I take this photo though:

We're in the mirror.

I remember Catherine quoting Knocked Up "Now that's how you get pink eye" while two people bumped and grinded really stupidly, and stupidly close to us.

I am pleased to announce, that no matter how drunk I got all night, I realized how dumb everyone there was. And how unnatractive most were. Badly dressed. Not us of course, we all looked cute and fabulous.

Someone wanted Taco Bell, someone told someone to stop trying to talk like they were sober, and I giggled a lot.

And earlier in the night, Cath and I talked about how dorky we were in Junior High, how awkward we felt and how goody-goody we were in High School, and how awesome, cute, and confident we are now.

This is us:

I can't wait to spend more time with this girl. : )

Jaime needs a ride home. She sends Ashley a drunken facebook message, then goes to bed.

She has to go get her car the next morning (thanks roomie!) and ends up missing the craft fair in Golden Gate Park that she wanted to go to because she's running behind all day.

Damn Yachtie.

I'm a little sorry I did this

2007-10-22T15:45:00.001-07:00

I thought this would be fun.

A Shuffle Survey

Instructions:
1. Shuffle your iPod/MP3 player/iTunes/Whatever else you have.

2. Answer the questions by the song title that comes up.3. Don't cheat, it makes everything more fun!

[One] What is your life going to be like in five years?
"Ain't No Other Man" By Christina Aguilera. (yessss...)

[Two] How is your love life going for you right now?
Song: "Ziggy Stardust" By Bowie. (I am dating a musician, but he's not very stardusty.)

[Three] What pisses you off the most about the opposite sex?
"A Boy Named Sue" By Johnny Cash. I don't mind when guys have girls names. : )

[Four] What do your parents really think of you?
"To You Everything I Bestow" Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack. (Not in a wierd way. Just in a "we bestowed life upon you" way.)

[Five] What do you think about the world and its current state?
"The Maker Makes" Rufus Wainwright. (Interesting.)

[Six] What is the worst thing that's ever happened to you?
"Angels We Have Heard on HIgh" Christina Aguilera. (That just doesn't make sense. Unless there is some sort of angel of death wandering around speaking in tones so high ony dogs can hear him.)

[Seven] What will your next time having sex be like?
"Buckets of Rain" Bob Dylan (The second line in the song is "buckets of tears." I just hope its good tears, not bad ones. The song is pretty romantic, so I am going with good.)

[Eight] What is your main goal in life?
"Fly Me to The Moon" Frank Sinatra. (Pretty cool, if you think figuraltively. I don't want to be an astronaut though.)

[Nine] What do girls think of your looks?
"Talk Show Host" Radiohead (I look like Ellen?)

[Ten] What do you really want in life?
"The Finish Line" Snow Patrol. (Creepy. Unless it means I want to be sucessful)

[Eleven] How are you going to get far in life?
"Fake Tales of San Francisco" Artic Monkeys (Pretend I am Armistad Maupin?)

[Twelve] What do say when you're in a bad mood?
"Maps" Yeah Yeah Yeahs. (it's my favorite swear word?)

[Thirteen] What about when you are really happy?
"Brothers on a Hotel Bed" Death Cab for Cutie. (I'm not doing a threesome, sorry.)

[Fourteen] What do think of yourself in general?
"Take Five" David Brubeck Quartet. (I do appreciate breaks while I am working. And the idea of high fiving mysef sounds fun.)

[Fifteen] What is your life's theme song?
"What Sarah Said" Death Cab for Cutie. (Hopefully I speak up for myself and don't make this poor Sarah girl speak for both of us all the time. This is an awesome song though. I definitely believe in the idea that "Love is watching someone die." )

[Sixteen] What are you going to do this weekend?
"Merry Christmas Everybody" Slade (Buying Christmas presents for people? Planning my trip?)

[Seventeen] How can you try and make yourself happy?
"The Great Escape" We Are Scientists (But I like my life. I don't want to run away. : (

[Eighteen] What song will they play at your wedding?
"You Say (Stay)" Lisa Loeb (Ew. THe guy in that song sounds like a jerk. Me no marry a jerk.)

[Nineteen] What about your funeral?
"Thank Goodness" Wicked Soundtrack. (Why does this game make me seem so eager for death?)

[Twenty] What or who makes you the most happy?
"Out of MyHead" Fastball (DUI's make me happy?)

[Twenty One] What am I even doing on this Earth?
"Over-rated" Gavin DeGraw (I don't like this game anymore. I hope people aren't overrating me!)

[Twenty Two] How am I going to die?
"White Christmas" Sinatra (Stupid dumbass Christmass music again. I don't want to die on Christmas! That would just make all subsequent Christmases very hard for my surviving family.)

[Twenty Three] What is some good advice?
"It;s Been Awhile" Staind (that's not advice, it;s an observation! This game sucks.)

[Twenty Four] & What's some advice you'd never take?
"Superstar" Jamelia (Ok, I promise I will never strive to be a superstar.)

[Twenty Five] Will you ever have children?
Track 7 From Love Actually. (Something about how I would give someone the world, so I suppose that means yeah.)

[Twenty Six] What is high school like for you or what will it be like?
"Ray of Light" Madonna (I liked this song in High School, but H.S. was not really a ray of light for me!)

[Twenty Seven] How are you feeling today?
"You got me all wronng" Dios Malos (Do you? I wasn't aware of that)

[Twenty Eight] What's your general outlook on life?
"Saturday Morning" Eels (I like having fun. Weekends are important)

[Twenty Nine] What are your last words going to be?
"Big Blond and Beautiful" Michelle Pfeiffer and John Travolta (I hope the big refers to boobs and not future obesity!)

[Thirty] What's your biggest fear?
"Everybody's Free (to feel good)" Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack (originally a Prince song?) Am I afraid of another Summer of Love? Whatever.

Where has Jaime been?

2007-10-16T22:08:00.001-07:00

Sorry I've been scribbles MIA lately. This is what I have been up to:

1. Went salsa dancing with Neil and some other salsa pals at Seven on Thursday night, but first we stopped by the awesome restraunt Neil works at: Sizzling Tandoor.

2. Interviewed some way cool people at work. Yes, I have an awesome new job now; I create webcasts at PNN.com. Check out my personal page, and my webcast series Cereals.

3. Saw A Flea in Her Ear at SSU. Cool play.

4. Went to Beringers and Castello Di Amorosa in Napa. Sheila works at Beringers, so it was fun to see her. It is a very pretty winery too. Very different from my winery, but pretty nonetheless. And Castello was quite cool. I love castles. All the good pics for Castello are on Marissa's camera and she is asleep right now, so this will have to do until tomorrow.

5. Made dinner for all of my local family members. 8 is a lot of people.

6. Went shopping and bought fruit loops, bananas, rice cakes, cute clothes, a Rilo Kiley cd, and In'n'Out. Not all at the same place.

7. So yeah, I really did all the stuff I listed above (plus work) since I blogged last. But what have I really been doing?

Watching Heroes.

I freakin love this show. I finished the DVDs for season 1, and am now catching up on season 2 episodes online. By next Monday, I will be up-to-date in Heroes land.

I am kind of glad that I am done with Season One, as much as I enjoyed it. I was in Safeway with Marissa and I turned around to say something to her, but she wasn't there and I thought she pulled a Hiro and bent the space time continuim. Thank God I don't own a watch that I can name myself after.

And Peter Pertrelli is hot. Suresh takes a solid second.

100 means diamonds

2007-10-09T20:26:00.000-07:00

Yay! 100 blog views as of right now. Thanks for the love guys. : )

I know it's not an anniversary, but the gift for a 100th anniversary is a diamond. I prefer pink diamonds, so that is what I am giving y'all.

Here you go:

Enjoy, my luvlies.

I love harvest.

2007-10-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

Harvest has never been more fun than it is this year! Tours at work are fun, I am watching the winemaking process occur right under my nose, the weather is changing, the vines are changing color... I am not even sad to see that almost all the grapes have been picked off the vine, like I thought I would be.

Then, on Sunday, Marissa, mom, and Marissa's mom and I went to the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. It was my first time visiting this fair, and I adored it. We tasted yummy wine from lots of Sonoma wine vendors, ate pasta king pesto for lunch (mmm, garlic), and Marissa and I even managed to find some cute German interns to talk to (mmm, eurpoean boys. my fave). The wine industry is crawling with foriegn interns right now. It's a great opportunity to learn more about wine! I hope American wine students do it too.

We also saw giant pumpkins, all in line to win the prize for biggest pumpkins.

There were lots of different types of apples too.

And here is mini-mom, hitching a ride around the fair in my wine glass.

Still left to go for harvest celebrations? The pumpkin patch! I think I'll go this weekend. I want to enter the PNN Online Pumpkin Carving Contest.

yay.

PS. My mom is so much fun.

What are you doing on December 17th?

2007-10-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

Because I am wingin' it to Wales!

Today was cool.

2007-10-05T19:26:00.001-07:00

Visual Cues:

Verbal Explanations:

It rained for about twenty minutes.
Dramatic storm clouds were splashed across the blue sky.
The new rain smelled delish.
Tasted a Merlot grape right after it was picked off the vine.
Gordon brought in cool new art.
Took cool pictures.
My bangs rocked.
Yummy Javamore coffee and bagel in the morning.

ahhh...

How was your day?

I Heart Sampler

2007-10-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

A wish list of things I want that were contributed to this month's Sampler.

http://www.vinylwallart.com/

http://www.gotbeads.com/

http://www.loverlyink.com/

http://www.zeldaloo.com/

www.shopjackiesjewels.com

Random Awesomeness

2007-10-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Went to the beach and took this cool photo.

I am thinking about putting lavendar peek-a-boos in my hair. All those in favor say aye.

Also, I returned a DVD to the video store ON TIME today! No late fees for me! Yippee!

Disc 2 of Heros was checked out. Someone is one disc ahead of me. This could create trouble if this person doesn't return DVDs on time (like the usual me.).

Off to watch How I Met Your Mother (and you should too)...

x

By the way...

2007-09-28T22:22:00.000-07:00

I've taken to drawing on myself lately. You like?

I want to make one!

2007-09-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

I found this knitting blog today, and I fell in love.

I want to make this:

The knitter who designed it named this sweater Matilda Jane. She also designed a shrug she named Briar Rose. I am glad I am not the only one who names her knitting projects. I am currently working on a wrap I've named Arwen, a hat called Melrose, and fingerless gloves that are tentatively named Pavarti. I also finished a scarf recently that I called Trini Blue, after an old friend of mine that is either very very pregnant, or has given birth to her baby girl very very recently. The scarf is blue and sparkly, and I plan on giving it to her whenever I get to meet the baby.

I am also attempting to knit a pair of fingerless gloves that I've called Moo's rocker girl glovies. They are hard, and I am not speaking to them right now.

There are a few more projects that I hopeto make pre-Wales/pre-Christmas. A little something for me, and a little something for under the tree.

What projects are you working on right now? Any Christmas gifts in the making?

Awesomeness

2007-09-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Created by Creating Keepsake's Scrapbooker of the year, Elizabeth Kartchner. Isn't it awesome? And I SWEAR I took the pic I posted yesterday before I saw this one today! : )

Love YOU.

2007-09-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

I have been feeling very inspired by Elsie lately. She posted some pics on her blog today about featuring some sidewalk chalk fun from the weekend, and for some reason I interpreted that as "I must draw on my hand today." Wierd how creativity works.

Also bought two new cd's today: a Hellogoodbye cd with a song that has my name in it, and a Lily Allen cd.

Talk to you later, kids.

Love YOU! ; )

Yippee!

2007-09-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

My credit card balance is zero, I have a sensible amount of money in my savings account, and rent and bills are totally taken care of.

I love feeling financially secure. I am very proud of myself.

No freaking way...

2007-09-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

You're Anne of Green Gables!
by L.M. Montgomery
Bright, chipper, vivid, but with the emotional fortitude of cottage cheese, you make quite an impression on everyone you meet. You're impulsive, rash, honest, and probably don't have a great relationship with your parents. People hurt your feelings constantly, but your brazen honestly doesn't exactly treat others with kid gloves. Ultimately, though, you win the hearts and minds of everyone that matters. You spell your name with an E and you want everyone to know about it.
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

I love Anne! She's always been a hero of mine, and Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books.

Speaking of books...

I also highly reccomend Yes Man, by Danny Wallace. I just finished reading it, and I loved it because it was funny, clever, and suprising. Plus, it was written by a quirky British guy, which satisfies the anglophile in me. AND, the main character totally reminded me of my favorite British Guy, which was even better. A little "tide-me-over" until Christmas. : ) Now, I'm on to a silly chick lit book called Weekend in Paris. Won't be as good as Yes Man, I'm pretty sure, but I can't imagine something that will be right now.

This bookcase has a few of my all time favorite books on it:

It includes: The Harry Potter Books, Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Giver, The Outsiders, and some graphic novels. I have more books, but they are on other bookshelves. This pic is also another little glimpse of the re-arrangement my room has gone through lately.

And see that little envelope propped up against the side of the bookshelf? It's the Elsie prints I ordered. : ) Will find awesome frames for them, then hang them around this shelf. Yay.

What are your favorite books?

Tour of Mi Casa: Lovely Lazy Days

2007-09-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Things have been pretty lazy around here lately, at least for me. And the kitties.

It's been so nice to have some time off. It's well deserved and thoroughly enjoyed. The house has been enjoying it too. It's been getting all kinds of little special treatments. : )

Tour of Mi Casa: A spot of tea?

2007-09-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

Tour of Mi Casa: This is My (new) Room!

2007-09-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

I finally re-arranged my room the other day, and I love it! I'll post more pictures later, but for right now...

sshhhh...

I'm sleeping.

A Tour of Mi Casa: This is "My Fridge" (Entry #1)

2007-09-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

On MTV's Cribs the stars always show you the insides of their fridges. There is almost always a large collection of unhealthy processed foods in there. I won't show you the inside of mine and Marissa's fridge because the outside is much more interesting. We've taken to "decorating" it lately.

From the top left corner, across:

The yellow paper with a sun moon combo drawn on it. Ceja drew it at work, then gave it to me. It's held up by magnets from Muse Picasso in Barcelona.
A pic of me, KayKay and Tiff taken just a week-ish before The Picture People closed for good. : (
Official Altar Boyz magnet I got free for taking a survey.
Schedule of classes at the gym. I decorated it with markers I got in my gift bag at Delaney's birthday

Bottom Left Corner, Across:

How I Met Your Mother ad from a magazine. It starts new again next week, and we cheered Neil Patrick Harris on tonight as he was nominated for an Emmy. You don't watch it? How is not watching How I Met Your Mother? Because watching it is awesome! Seriously, How I Met Your Mother is a fresh, awesome show. It reminds me of the first few years of Friends. Here is a legendary essay about it, it you're interested.
A pic of Mandy Moore from cool photo shoot in an old-ish issue of Jane Magazine. Various stars were supposed to spell their crimes out on boards as if they were taking mugshots. Mandy Moore's crime? "Singer of Candy." (a really silly, cheesey song.)
J and M magnets. Move in pressie from Marissa! J is fr Jaime and M is for Marissa, but JM is also my initials.
Pics from a party Christina Aguilera threw for her husband. I love her, and it looks like they are really having fun together! We like that her husband is dorky, but cute too. Page ripped out from a magazine.

Bottom:

Oliver's beer and wine tasting schedule. Held up with a martini magnet, for good measure.

So inspirational...

2007-09-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

Some of my Flikr Faves! I love how I can actually see my personality in this faves compilation.

1. Cardiff Castle....north gate, 2. Keep looking up.., 3. A Fine Pinot Grigio (Day 91), 4. day 31 - For fog's sake!, 5. Casual Elegance, 6. Love film, 7. poetry*steps, 8. Whispers of Spring, 9. City in motion., 10. in*my*coffee*cup, 11. In Golden Light, 12. Faith, 13. The past and pending., 14. Dinner at the Eiffel Tower., 15. Hobo Dust, 16. Teenage Lovers

Westminster Crabby

2007-09-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

I felt like Britney Spears at the VMA's last night. I was only walking through the motions and everyone hated me.

Today sucked.

These photos make me want to rock out!

2007-09-09T20:17:00.001-07:00

...which brings me to another point. I tend to burst into semi-obscure movie/Friends quotes that not many people get. Unless the person I am quoting to is my mom, I tend to get a lot of wierd looks. Marissa gets some too, but not all. For example, she wouldn't have gotten my break out of Pippin quotes after lunch the other day when I was STILL hungry (we've had one yes. But what abut second breakfasts? I don't think he knows about second breakfasts. What about elevensies? tea? luncheon? supper? dinner? Thankfully, Natalie got that one after a little aid.) but she would have gotten the apple pie a la mode joke last night. (i'd like strawberry if you have it). Only my old friend Brian used to get my Friends references, but I haven't seen him in years. : (

Anyway, Ashley probably gets the title of this post. These photos are of a cool band called Art Brut (courtsey of their myspace). They have a song that includes the lyrics:

"Modern art makes me want to rock out!"

Possible Solutions:

Expose my friends to the fabulousness of the media I enjoy.
Get new friends.
Stop acting like such a dork.
Stop caring that people look at me like I am crazy when I quote things they don't get.

Any suggestions? : )

September 9, 7 pm SCT (Standard Couch Time)

2007-09-09T18:52:00.000-07:00

...From here on in I shoot with the following script...

I am comfortably situated on the couch. The remote and my laptop are nearby and I am wearing my favorite lougewear. I will not be getting up from the couch for the entire rest of the evening for any reasons but the following:

To dive under the table if there is an earthquake.

To run out the front door if there is a fire.

To finish making the pasta I have started. A girl's gotta eat!

To put a DVD in the DVD Player.

To get my book or cell phone out of my purse, which is on the dining room table.

I will NOT be getting up for the following reasons:

To get my notebook out of the car so I can work on articles I need to write. There will be ample time tomorrow.

To return the videos that are already overdue.

To burn photos onto a cd.

To do laundry.

Things I am looking forward to doing while on the couch:

Eating Pasta King pesto.

Reading Yes Man by Danny Wallace.

Watching the Girls Next Door at 10pm.

Maybe watching Under the Tuscon Sun. Maybe it will curb my current desire to leave the country and never come back.

Having tea.

Oh, and on a slightly strange and definitely random note, I have decided to be Holly for Halloween. : ) (Thanks for all the advice in the previous post, gals.) Holly and Bridget were in my dream last night, and they helped me put together my costume. Oh, and I asked Holly what Playboy jewelry I should get from Spencers to best communicate Holly, not random Playboy Bunny. She reccomended the charm braclelet she designed, and I agreed. The bracelet is actually at Spencers, BTW.

Anyone get my title and first line reference?

Yummies

2007-09-07T20:48:00.001-07:00

People keep giving me tomatoes they have grown in their gardens. Tom. Betti. The Pasta King. Other random co-workers from various jobs.

I don't grow tomatoes. I grow daffodils, that's it. They aren't even in season right now.

I do make cupcakes though.

And I have decided that putting raspberries and sprinkles on top of cupcakes I have made out of boxed cake and frosting makes me an excellent chef. I like to pretend that it is a totally original idea.

Good times, good times.

2007-09-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

A Girlie's Christmas in Wales

2007-09-03T18:40:00.001-07:00

It's official! I am going to visit Ashley in Wales this Christmas. Here are a few thing I am looking forward to doing (besides seeing Ash):

Meeting his family. Finally!

Goin' out with the girlies!

Wearing a bow on my head on Christmas. I will technically be his Christmas present and should adorn myself appropriately.

Bringing California wine to Wales to give to all my dear ones.

Buying Christmas ornaments at Harrods.

Seeing castles.

Taking Wind Street by storm again. Ahhh... the good old days.

Teltelys, sausage rolls, Sunday dinners, cadburys...

Taking cool pictures.

Riding the London Eye. Never did it!

Going to the Tower of London. Never did that either!

Taking a nice drive around the Welsh countryside. I didn't get to see much that you couldn't see by train last time!

yippee!

One of my fave pics from the last time I was in Wales, just for the heck of it!

I'm addicted.

2007-09-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

Etsy
Buy Handmade
stitchesbyjaime

Add this following bit of information to my previous post: I am also an etsy addict. I love browsing etsy for inspiration, and yes, of course, doing a little shopping. I bought this and this yesterday for my room.
These are some of my favorite things for sale right now. Can't wait to set up my own shop, but got to have a good selection of stuff to sell first!

I said no, no, no.

2007-09-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

Rehab seems to be a theme that is permeating my existance lately. I bought the new Amy Winehouse cd so "Rehab" is permanently stuck in my head. The day after I bought it I was watching E! and discovered that her stepfather was urging people not to buy her cd untill she goes to rehab.

Ooops.

Half of Hollywood is in rehab. The only one I really worry about though is Owen Wilson. He's not in rehab (I don't think) but apparently he tried to commit suicide. I find this very sad because I really like him. I think he is very talented, and I hope he doesn't pull a Belushi disapearing act.

I don't need to go to rehab, thank God. I am not an alcoholic or a drug addict. But I do work in an industry where alcoholism is quite prevelant. I know a few people who I am concerned about.

My addiction?

Coffee.

I got addicted to coffee when I worked at Starbucks. I am so thankful that I am addicted to coffee and this is why: I learned that it is easy to become addicted to something that is available to you for free, something that you work with, and something that all your other friends use regularly.

I very rarely want to drink after working around alcohol all day, which I think shows that I don't have an innate draw towards alcohol. But if I am glad that I am aware of how socially accepted habits can become dependencies. I'm certain that I will not, one day, be going to rehab. No, no, no.

Unless someone develops a rehab center for coffee addicts. Or for shopping addicts. I've been doing a lot of shopping lately. : )

Geography

2007-08-26T23:21:00.000-07:00

This is what I had for dinner:

(it's cider and bangers and mash).

Then, I put on the kettle and made myself a nice cup of tea.

(it's Tetley's)

Then, I came very close to ordering this online:

(I decided to wait until next payday)

I'm just curious, though...

...what country do I live in?

Re-decorating

2007-08-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

These are some ideas I had for my "new" room.

Paint entire room a soft white. See previous post to see rediculously pink wall. And for the record, it is actually a cinder-block wall, so I just rolled the pink over it too look like bricks.

Take everything off walls, including french board, "create" sign, and various scrapbooked picture frames.

Install a very high shelf along one wall of room (high enough so the kitties don't even have a chance) and place all picture frames along it.

Move bed to other side of room so it is no longer against the brick wall.

Trade desks with mom so I have a smaller one. Paint legs of new desk a nicer color than dark green (color to be determined).

Hang art work on one (or more walls). I like this, this, and one of these. Maybe this one. Frame "We are Scientists" poster and include as art. I looove that poster, despite how wierd looking it is, for many reasons.

Get this bedspread and possibly new sheets.

Paint dresser. Color to be determined.

Hang scarves or fabric as a curtain over top portion of closet to conceal storage.

Figure our a sophisticated way to use dragonfly light strings.

Possibly hang light curtains over window.

Hang french board on back of door.

And just because I want to include a little art work on this entry, here is a picture I took recently that I really like.

Aghhh raghhh @#*^! (aka, my stupid, crappy, chaotic room!)

2007-08-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

I hate doing massive spring cleanings. I end up just wanting to throw absolutely everything in my room away because I don't know what to do with it all when it's all a massive mess all over my bedroom floor, but I don't let myself because I know I would regret not having a few things later on (aka, every photo I have ever taken). But what do you do with stuff like a never opened, perfectly good box of tacks when you already have two others? Or a bottle of white out you never use, but don't want to have to buy one later if you need it? Or an empty wine bottle that your mom had labels custom made for you college graduation? Or a million, loose flying cd's that you have no idea whether they are empty, contain pictures, or are mixed cd's you don't need. And are they scratched, and therefore useless? The bags of stuff that is going to the good will have made it to the car, quite impressively. But when will they actually get to the goodwill?

But my room needs it, so I plunder on. Once all the crap that I don't need/want anymore is gone from my room, I can think about repainting my wall, trading desks with mom, painting my furniture, re-hanging things, buying a new duvet, maybe buying a rug or something, and just generally making my room a lot less chaotic, and a lot less bright pink. Making it grown-up and cool, but personal. Not hotel like. Not like one giant scrapbook (keep it to the books, please!).

BTW, lots of cool Stampin' Up! stamps for the first gals who call dibs.

Can't wait to see this!

2007-08-15T22:11:00.001-07:00

Party in Jaime's Car!!!

2007-08-14T22:02:00.001-07:00

This is what the interior of my car looked like today. Here is a run down of what's goin' on here.

Photo #1: Wore my awesome Marie Antoinette shoes today.

Photo #2: Jaime nametag was from salsa class! Level two started today. I got the happy face sticker for being a good follower. The iced latte was from earlier today. The coctail looking drink is from my grandma's birthday party! Don't worry, only sprite in the cup. Left my grandma's Hawaii-themed, pool party in Novato in order to get to salsa on time.

Photo #3: Two cd's I'm diggin' right now: The Dirty Dancing Havana Nights soundtrack and the Mona Lisa Smile soundtrack. Very different cd's! Grandma liked listening to Mona Lisa Smile on the way to Novato; it was full of songs from her days as a twenty-somethin'. Silver shoes: my salsa shoes. Started Salsa 2 toaday and loved it: the class is smaller so there is more personal attention. My phone: thought it died a week or so ago after prolonged exposure to liquids, but it pulled through. DVD: mom lent me Miss Potter to watch before it has to go back to Blockbuster. Finally, purple scarf. My dear friend Laurie brought it back from Milan for me. It was such a suprise! It's a great light summer scarf.

Thus, a day in the life of Jaime's fabulous life in the "fast lane" (it's really more like the middle lane). Then again, taking pictures in my car really isn't the safest idea. Maybe I live in the fast lane after all!

You know you're a match made in roomate heaven when...

2007-08-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

You both love to eat very good gourmet cheese while watching very bad reality TV.

As time goes by...

2007-08-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

Ashley and I aren't together anymore (he went back home to Wales, etc.) but I still wanted to make this layout about how I felt about him at the height of our relationship. We had a great relationship, and I wanted to remember how I felt about him while we were together.

You can't really see it here, but I scrawled a little message at the bottom of the brown strip of paper. It says: "Haven't I made this page before? I'm getting Deja Vu."

I have made it before. This is what it looked like:

The things I loved about him were written on a piece of paper in a pouch. This is what it said: "Blue eyes, honest, John Cusack-Look-A-Like, silly, different from everyone else, comfortable... and you always loved me, with no strings attached."

I love how some of the things that I loved about him were the same when we were going out for a month-ish* in Wales in 2003-04 and when we were going out for several months this past year when he was in Chico. There are definite similarities, but the way I felt about him deepend the second time around. I guess that's what happens with age, and with more time to explore a relationship.

*A month-ish isn't very long. We were chicken, involved in drama, and we had crappy timing. Let's leave it at that.

Reunited with Nikon

2007-08-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

I think my Nikon and I are finally seeing eye to eye.

The Prodigal Return

2007-08-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

How it happened...

A long long time ago in a far away land... Jaime scrapbooked all the time. And I mean ALL THE TIME. She had albums full of completed pages, a job at a scrapbook store, and a desk full of scrapbooking supplies. She even incorporated her senior project into a scrapbook. She loved scrapping and was told she was quite good at it.

After awhile... He love of the hobby dwindled. One day, a little over a year ago, she got irrationally angry at all the scrapbooking supplies that were taking up space in her room. She threw away the dumb stuff, packed up the good stuff, and did not scrap for over a year. She didn't miss it in the slightest.

A few months ago... Debbi found out that Jaime didn't scrap anymore and gave her a few little nudges back towards her once favorite hobby. Jaime starts checking Elsie's blog on a regular basis around this time.

A few weeks ago... Jaime saw Nikki at the Harry Potter book release party. They talked a little about scrapping and Nikki made it sound appealing again.

A few days ago... Jaime loos through some old scrapbooks, searching for a particular picture. She noticed how goos the books look. She is suprised.

Yesterday... Jaime visited the Scrappery in Cotati, on a whim. After seeing all kinds of new stuff, she left the store and went home. She checked her bank account balance, and sifted through old paper, adhesive, and embellishments to see what was what. She burns some pictures onto a cd, and returns to the Scrappery to buy some paper. She gets pictures printed at Target, and buys some adhesive and embellishments at Beverly's.

Today... Jaime creates not a scrapbook page, but sort of a scrapbook frame piece. It was fun. It is made in the style she left of with, but she knows her style will quickly update once she starts looking at magaines again.

Today... Jaime has returned to the scrapbooking world.

PS Jaime has to learn how to take good pictures of her scrapbook pages. This is a new practice, and thus was never an issue for her before. My, how the times have changed! : )

PPS Jaime loves the leaf she made for the flower. It's her favorite part of the project, besides the picture.

You're it!

2007-08-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

Nikki tagged me as a Rockin' Girl Blogger (how sweet!) so now its time to tag some of my fave bloggers back. I'm going to skip Debbi, Nikki, and Brenda (even though I love them and their little blogs too) because they were already tagged. So here are my tagged gals:

Clem. Maybe this will inspire her to blog more often!

Marissa. Because she makes a solid blue background interesting.

Unfortunately, all the people that I mentioned above are the only people that I know read my blog and actually blog themselves. So, that's all for me!

I love my job. We throw the best company parties!

2007-08-05T21:22:00.000-07:00

What should I be for Halloween?

2007-08-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

Here are my three favorite ideas so far.

1. Holly. As in Holly and Hef.

Difficulty level: Medium. It won't be difficult to find the things I need, but I will have to put effort into the details to make sure I look like Holly, not just any Playboy Bunny.

What I will need: Fake eyelashes, platinum wig, pink argyle sweater, bunny necklace, small dog to carry around (stuffed will be fine), bunny tattoo on lower back (fake, of course), tight jeans, a flatter stomach.

Drawbacks: Will most likely attract the wrong kind of attention. I prefer to attract guys that think I'm adorable and clever, not slutty guys remeber a blurry face beyond a crystal-clear, sizable rack.

Would be best if... I had a "Hef" to walk around with me. Would be best if Hef was played by a girl, it would make it more fun.

2. Mary Poppins. As in practically perfect in every way.

Difficulty level: High-ish. Will need to ransack thrift stores.

What I will need: a carpet bag, hat with flower sticking out of it, long cloak (my peacoat might work), an umbrella, and cute little boots.

Drawbacks: I might get hot, and there are a lot of props to carry around. Could be expensive.

Would be best if... the weather turned out to be really cold this Halloween.

3. Penny Pingleton. As in Amanda Bynes's most recent roll.

Difficulty level: Medium

What I will need: a retro dress, a lollipop, and hairspray. LOTS of hairspray.

Drawbacks: Will have to learn how to tease hair.

Would be best if... I met a really cute African American man with some serious dancing abilities on Halloween night. Would complete the costume if I had a Seaweed! : )

Anyone want to place a vote?

I like it better than guacamole. And that's saying something!

2007-07-31T20:24:00.000-07:00

Neil and I were practicing salsa in their living room while his brother, Ravi, secretly filmed. Rosalia jumps around in the background. I love salsa. Can't wait for Thursday!

I'm on Flickr!

2007-07-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

Just a preview. Click on the sidebar link or go to www.flickr.com/photos/photosbyjaime

I like it.

2007-07-21T22:55:00.001-07:00

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” -C.S. Lewis.

In Vino Veritas

2007-07-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

I'm becoming a YouTube Whore.

2007-07-19T22:10:00.000-07:00

When mom and I saw this preview before the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix it didn't have the little scene in the begining that compares The Golden Compass to The Lord of the Rings. But the second we saw the alethiometer we gasped and grabbed each others arm.

I didn't even know they were making this into a movie!

And Nicole Kidman will be an awesome Ms. Coulter.

I loved this routine!

2007-07-19T21:56:00.001-07:00

The judges said that they didn't understand it, but they didn't feel like they had to. I loved it. I thought they were piano keys, and the dance was about pauses.

I am so my mother's daughter.

Things that are making me well up right now...

2007-07-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

It's so romantic...

Just the thought of it. It's the last one, and in a little while all the fun speculation will be over. I don't want Harry to die. Or Ron. Or Hermione. Or Neville. Or Ginny. Or anyone, except Voldemort.

I can't really explain why. This song brings up layers and layers of emotions in me.

Because the 5th one always does.

Mrs. Marlaire and her Gaggle

2007-07-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

My friend Heather got married in San Diego last weekend. She is the first out of all my close friends to get married, and I am very happy for her. She's wanted this since I first met her my sophmore year of college, but she wouldn't settle for anything less than true love that would last a lifetime, and I think she's found it. I only just met Colin this weekend, and only for a few minutes, but I liked him immediately. He laughed at all us gaggle being crackheads when we introduced ourselves, and he seemed happy to meet us.

Speaking of being crackheads, we should call ourselves the gaggle of crackheads. We were one of the loudest groups at the reception, and everyone was perfectly aware ofhow much fun we were having. We were the only people who threw someone in the pool. We made fishy faces in our pictures for no reason at all, and I took pictures of Christine "with the flowers." Most pictures are too rediculous to post for outside viewing, but here are some of my favorites.

Honorary Welsh Girl Hears the Mothership

2007-07-11T22:46:00.000-07:00

I found this pen in my notebook yesterday, and I have no idea how it got there. I have never seen it before in my life.

The other side of the pen reads: www.studyintheuk.org. I have already done that. And it may be pure coincidince, but my time in Wales was such an important time in my life, that I feel like the sudden and inexplicalbe presence of this pen in my life means something.

Maybe it's trying to give me direction. When I was in Wales I was completely confused about myself and my place in the world. I was lost and lonely, but I was accomplishing a goal that I had my entire life. I was living abroad. I was studying abroad. I was traveling to Italy. I was falling in love in a foregin country. So while I was a little lost hobbit on a crazy adventure most of the time, there was such importance and purpose behind my life that in a strange way I felt romantically fulfilled. I could have given Wordsworth a run for his money.

Maybe I'm just supposed to focus on saving for and planning my next trip abroad. Maybe I am supposed to focus on my writing. Maybe I am supposed to work harder at making a career out of my writing.

I have no idea where I am going with this post other than this: a symbol of a very important part of my life has surfaced lately, and I think it is trying to tell me something.

*** "Not all who wander are lost." J.R.R. Tolkein ***

It's going to be a hat.

2007-07-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

Hopefully I'll finish it on the journey down I-5 for Heather's San Diego wedding this weekend. If I do, I will have sucessfully fullfilled my one and only New Years Resolution: to learn how to knit a hat.

I love this yarn. Pink, purple, and sparkle, why wouldn't I? It's right up my alley. The colors remind me of the color of Aurora's dresses in Sleeping Beauty as the fairies take turns changing the color of her dress. "Make it pink! Make it blue!" When my aunt and I watched that movie when I was a kid, I would make it pink and she would make it blue. The word Aurora runs through my mind as these beautiful bright jewel tones slide over my needles and loop into this hat. I am also making a flower to attach to the side. This is definitely going to be a bold hat, but I think at least I will like it.

I have a similar yarn in green tones and I plan to make another hat with that yarn. The colors remind me of a mermaid tale. Maybe like Ariel's.

I think I have a weird Disney theme haunting my knitting right now.

Oh, and the words scrawled across my hat represent my forage into the world of Adobe Photoshop. I think I need to take a class to learn to use it properly.

Daphne, I adore you!

2007-07-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are pics of Niles and Daphne, Marissa's cats. They are named after characters on Fraiser, so I like to play around with quotes from the show while I am playing with/ talking to them.

I proclaim "Daphne, I adore you!" as Niles did to Daphne in the infamous red dress episode.

It's also fun to shout "Niiiiles!" in a booming, urgent voice the way Fraiser does during an episode around the time Niles and Daphne start dating.

I think it's so appropriate that Daphne is hiding in the back of this photo. She's very skittish and quite shy, but she's slowly warming up to me.

New Camera

2007-07-08T21:58:00.000-07:00

While everyone else is busy buying fancy new models of expensive cameras, I seem to have regressed. I have a big old, clunky, stupidly heavy Nikon D1X that takes great pictures, but I decided that I wanted a little "throw in my purse" type camera that I can take on nights out on the town, to work, and anywhere else that I don't want to take "the monster." ANd since Heather's wedding is next weekend and the battery for my Nikon still isn't working, I figured now would be a good time to get one. So here it is. My silly little Kodak EasyShare that I am already having loads of fun with.

Fourth of July Ghost

2007-07-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

Lots of people think that low light pictures with blurry light lines are dumb, but I love them. This one looks almost like a ghost playing with fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Sometimes Fish are HUGE!!! Like tuna...

2007-06-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

Something Fishy in Monterey

2007-06-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

With the windows down...

2007-06-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

Tasteless Paris Hilton Jokes

2007-06-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

Here I am, practicing my Paris Hilton pose on Alcatraz.

(Not-so) Yummy Coffee on Alcatraz

2007-06-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

What happens when I get hungry...

2007-06-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

Perhaps one of my greatest faults, or at least annoyances to other people, is my blood sugar level. It drops suddenly, with maybe a two second warning, and it is not pretty. I get cranky, mean, tired... and I take it out on the person closest to me.

My poor friends and family.

My new resolution is this: keep snacks with me at all times. Trail mix is the best idea. The nuts have protein for long term energy and the chocolate and dried fruits give instant sugar energy. At least the mix will give me enough energy to make it to the next deli or smoothie place.

My new roomie!

2007-06-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

Meet Marissa, my new roomate. I also have two other new roomates named Daphne and Niles. Niles is grey and looks like he is wearing a suit all the time. Daphne is striped and hides under the bed all day. Niles and Daphne are cats, clearly, but Marissa is definitely human.

Living with Marissa is really fun. She always puts cups back in the cup cupboard, and she buys lots of magazines that she lets me read.

Pics of Daphne and Niles coming as soon as my battery is fixed!

I rock so hard.

2007-06-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

There's nothing better than browsing a website that has published your work only to stumble across an article that the EDITOR wrote praising your story.

Check it out.

I rock so hard.

Momma and Baby Love

2007-06-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Sooo Seattle.

2007-06-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

Me in My House.

2007-06-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is the first house I ever lived in.

When Ashley and I visited Seattle recently, I took him to see it. My dad rents it out now, and we just happened to visit it while it was between tenants (new people were moving in a few days later), so I felt perfectly guilt-free taking invasive photos of one of the cutest little houses I have ever been in.

The structure of my house (I call it that, even though it's not really mine. But in all of Seattle, it's the house that feels closest to mine), is in awesome shape. They put new carpet and new applicances in recently, and all the things that are expensive/difficult to fix look like they are in good shape. However, the lawn needs some serious weeding and manicuring, and the outdoor paint could use a spicier coat of love. Over-all, though, I am pleased with the way the house is holding up.

There are a lot of windows in this house, a situation which offered lots of cool self portrait photo-ops. In this pic, I am looking through the back door and you can almost see through the front window of the house. The white building you see in the window is the renovated garage. It's a perfect little artists studio/office/whatever that really gives this teeny tiny house a little something extra.

I love this house, and I love that Ashley loved it too. I only hope that it makes it back to me one day.

I am afraid of hippos.

2007-06-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

This may sound strange, but I used to be terrified of the hippos at the Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle) when I was a little girl. Wierd, considering my favorite animals as a kid were lions. And really, which animal do you think would pose a greater threat if I were to run into the two out in the wild?

None-the-less, hippos used to terrify me. I think it was the way they would just sort of popup from underwater, with absolutely no notice. Or maybe I thought I would fall into their pond. Or maybe I realized, after seeing one yawn, that a hippo could easily swallow my three-foot tall, little girl body whole.

There was a collage of large, smooth rocks that I used to play on while we visited the hippo exhibit at the zoo. They were far enough from the pond where I knew I wouldn't have to worry about falling in, and they were a pleasant distractiont. Pleasant, that is, until someone pointed out to me that they kind of looked like giant hippos, rising out of the water.

This picture, with my mock-Macauly Culkin scream face, shows how I have overcome my fear of hippos. I think I've realized that they can't swallow my new, 5'3", womanly body whole.

It would take more like two gulps.

Hello, I'm a Monk Fish!

2007-06-06T21:52:00.000-07:00

The Flying Fish Stand in Pike Place Market, Seattle.

Something Cool

2007-05-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

I did a photo shoot for my friend Nicolette and her jazz trio. These were my two favorite shots.

We're Okay!

2007-05-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite picture from the white water rafting trip I went on with Ashley and his friends Ali, Diyana, and Ali. We took this picture when we were back in Chico after an over night trip rafting down the Trinity River. One of the first things our guides taught us to do in the safety instructional they taught us before we started rafting was what to do if you fall out of the raft. First, obeviously, try to grab on to the raft. If you get seperated from the boat, look for your guide. He will pat his head to ask if you are ok. If you are ok, you're supposed to pat your head back. If you are not ok, you're supposed to make a cross with your arms.

We all made it back from the Trinity River Rafting Trip "ok," so we decided to document our state with a clever photo.

***For the record, I didn't fall out of the raft once in the entire trip. In fact, Ali is the only one who fell out during the entire trip. However, the first time we went down Hell Hole, everyone in my raft did fall into the center of the boat while a giant rapid washed over us.

She drinks a whiskey drink, she drinks a vodka drink. She drinks a lager drink, she drinks a cider drink.

2007-05-09T21:42:00.000-07:00

She sings the songs that remind her of the good times, she sings the songs that remind her of the better times.
-Tubthumping, Chumbawumba

A little while ago I announced my plan to save money so I can go visit Wales next summer. Well, scratch that plan. Or rather, warp speed that plan. I'm going over Christmas instead.

I've developed a strategic economic plan (a.k.a., a budget). I'm saving money from my weekly columns with Potrero, my comission from the winery, and money from assistant photography work during wedding season. I'll also be throwing in tips I recieve along the way, but I don't have a particular savings plans for my tips.

I made $9 in tips today, and announced to everyone I was working with that I could officially buy two drinks at a pub in Wales (I'll take the vodka drink and the cider drink, please). The $9 are tucked safely in a tupperwear under my bed (no one rob me, please).

It's so much fun to let people know about my goal and keep them posted on the rate of my sucess. I feel like people are excited for me, which makes saving money so much fun. I love striving to reach a goal! I plan on making a little poster to help keep track of my savings volume.

There are a few road blocks in my way. I have to pay of my credit card and pay for my trip to San Diego for Heather's wedding before I can start throwing significant hunks of money in my savings account. So in other words, the saving process may start off slow, but it will snowball once my other financial commitments are taken care of.

In my next Welsh Savings Account Blog I will start brainstorming my travel plans.

Wish me luck!

The Plan

Total Savings Goal: $2,200

Total Savings So Far: $9

Amount Left To Save:$2,191

As Of Today:
One American Dollar = .50 British Pound

Photo from: http://www.d12world.com/board/showthread.php?p=3604052

Am I a total dork for thinking this is sooo cute?

2007-05-08T23:05:00.001-07:00

Yes, I am.

I got bangs! My hair is so "now."

2007-05-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

I got my hair cut and colored today! Linh from Teasing Ceasar does my hair and she always does a great job. I love the color of my hair (I'd say it's definitely auburn!) and I love how my hair looks with all the dead ends clipped off the bottom. And of course, there are the bangs to think of as well. I haven't had bangs since 6th grade and they looked horrid at that time. But bangs are "in" now, and I decided that if Rory from Gilmore GIrls looked cute with them, I probably would too. After all, it's just hair. Linh was glad I chose to cut them (I waited until the last minute to make my final decision).

It took three hours for 3 highlight/lowlight colors and a cut. Linh always forgets how much hair I have until she's about half way through my highlights and it seems like she should be done already.

I'm lovin' it. Linh said my hair went from hippie to hip today.

Bonus points for anyone who knows what movie I quoted for the title of this blog. Extra bonus points for those who can find another movie quote (from a different movie) within the text.

A Mush Mush Entry

2007-05-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

There are so many things I love about this guy.

5. Um, hello, can we SAY Welsh accent? So hot!

4. His eyes are Clark Kent blue.

3. He has the greatest smile.

2. He has a wonderful sense of integrity.

1. He's the most honest person I have ever known, but he is not offensively honest. He expresses his opinion and examines his feelings truthfully, but he has a wonderful knack for being polite at the same time. He is uncompromisingly and kindly Ashley at all times.

(If he is reading this right now, he's thinking "Ok, what's wrong with you?" the way he does any time I get super mushy)

But the thing I have discovered about love recently is this. I can list off dozens of things I love about him; I can name things he does or has done, characteristics he has, the way he does things, and the way he looks, but I can't tell you why I love him. I think that's part of the magic of love. Maybe that's where the phrase "you can't choose who you love" comes in.

I am only glad that I didn't choose to love someone so wonderful.

***Bonus reason***
I always feel like he loves me.