No More Dr. Carpenstein

Hi everyone!  Bet you thought you'd never hear from me again.  Not to worry--things might have been a little crazy for a while there, but they're normalizing now.  And my life has changed a lot.  Remember how in my last post I said I was dating a guy?  Well, here he is!

Ah, U-Swirl, how I love you.

And here he is again!

 Yep, we got married!  Hooray!

Aren't we just so cute?

We got married on October 11th of last year, so the date was 10-11-12.  Handy, huh?  It's sure to be easy to remember!  

It's amazing what can happen in a year.  For example, almost exactly one year after my first date with Scott, we celebrated our 6 month wedding anniversary.  I find this very amusing.  Yes, to most people (at least the ones I work with), that's a bit quick.  But I have no regrets.  Being married is awesome!  You know, just in case you were wondering... Hopefully soon I'll tell you about some of the adventures we've had so far.  There have been quite a few--fishing for beans, trying new recipes, trying not to be eaten by alien potatoes (man, most of these revolve around food, don't they?  Weird...).  Anyways, we're happy and doing well.  And it's summer!  (Meaning no homework for the Mr.)  Hooray!  

More to come soon.  Ish. :)

GRE Scores and Dates (and not the fruit kind)

Hi people!  Yes, I'm a slacker, I know.  So, I took the GRE the first weekend in May (really, it's been that long already?) and got my results back...last week?  I think.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was a week ago today.  Anywho, I did surprisingly well, especially considering how I felt while taking the test.  {How am I supposed to know whether or not this one paragraph in a super long article is supporting a point from five paragraphs ago in 1 minute or less?}  So yay for that!  I definitely will not need to take it again, which is good.  However, my plans may be changing soon.  You see, I've started dating this boy.

He's kind of (really) awesome. 

I like him a lot. :)

Dating was really weird at first, I must admit (I'm hoping others will agree with me on this), but now that I've had some time to get used to the idea it's fun.  Who'd've thunk--dating is a fun thing!  I really only have a picture or two of him (and none of the two of us), so once I get some good ones I'll put them up.  Probably.  Mwahahaha.  Until then, if you need more details you can find me and ask.  (I don't really feel like putting all the gory details out there for the world to see.)

So, in a nutshell, things are good.

Carpenstein out.

GREat!

Guys--I just registered to take the GRE.  As in, graduate school.  Graduate school!  I will admit, a tiny part of me is freaking out right now, but the rest of me is almost excited (well, not for the test exactly, for the school part).  I am such a nerd...

Conference Room Doors

Quiet when shut tight
Once opened chaos explodes
My silence is gone


*snap snap snap*

Great Lengths

Want to see a magic trick?  Watch, I'll make my hair grow an inch or two in a matter of seconds.  Ready?

Wait for it...

Tada!!

Last week, I had access to a CHI straightener (thanks Eva!), so I decided to straighten my hair for work.  As I knew it would, it messed up a lot of people.  It was awesome!  Most of the guys just stared at me for a few minutes before saying: "You did something to your hair.  What did you do?"  Haha...gotta love 'em.

You know, I'm pretty sure this is the longest my hair has been since my sophomore year of high school.  Let's see how long I can go resisting the urge to chop it all off!

Oh, and since we're talking about hair, I guess I should show you guys this:

Yep, I made it myself.  (Go here for the tutorial.  Thanks Diana!)

A better shot of the knot.  Doesn't it look cool?

That is all for now.  I'll stop being vain about my hair now.

Don't ask me why I always feel the insane urge to post pictures of myself making ugly faces...I just thought this one was funny. :)

Adventures in Paradise...Bakery

Earlier this week, someone needed to pick up lunch for a meeting we had going on in our office.  Usually another lady takes care of lunch stuff, but she was out sick.  (We missed her a lot.)  Therefore, I was the lucky one chosen to get the food.  We have a Paradise Bakery right around the corner from work, so it was not big deal.  Or at least, it wouldn't have been for a normal person.  Ha.

I walked in and found out that the menu we were basing the order off of was the catering menu, not the normal cafe menu.  Snafu #1.  Luckily, one of the workers (he looked like a manager) took pity on me, probably seeing the desperation in my eyes and the green Heliae shirt, and majorly helped me out.  He got the order all filled out and sent me over to pay.  I picked up a sandwich for myself (might as well...) and walked over to the cash register.  Snafu #2: my purse is huge, and I was now carrying a menu, a paper with our order on it, my sandwich and cookie, and trying to pay and get drink cups and all.  Again, the nice girl at the cash register took pity and was very helpful.  It was only then that I realized my biggest problem yet: the tea.

Two people wanted iced tea.  Now, my only experience with iced tea has been A) seeing other people drink it, and B) passing it by as an option at the soda fountain.  Snafu #3:  the soda fountain at Paradise Bakery does not have a tea option.  Instead, they have four huge metal canister-looking things with tea in them.  I literally sat and stared at them for a few minutes, totally at a loss.  

"Sure," I thought, "send the only girl who doesn't drink tea to get some for two of our VPs."  

I was about to call my boss and ask her what to do (she drinks iced tea all the time), but I realized that I left my phone sitting on my desk at work.  Great.  I finally just filled some cups with ice (going on a brain wave that iced tea is just normal tea, but with ice--brilliant, I know) and went for the plainest brew I could find and hoped it would work.  I also had a great conversation with someone else at the drink area.

Random Guy: So, you're not getting any of these? [motioning to the soda options]

Me: Nope, I'm not.  I'm getting iced tea, except I don't drink tea and have no idea what I'm doing.

Random Guy: Oh, OK....

Yeah, I pretty much just gave up on looking like a competent adult in any measure.  

In the end, I think everyone got what they wanted (at least I didn't hear any complaints) and I got a delicious Paradise Club sandwich to replace my PB&J.  Oh, and an opportunity to turn in my first ever expense report!  Get excited!

And who says office jobs are boring?

Circles and Squares and Afghans--Grand Finale!

I finished!

Finally.  Oi.

Here you go, Seth--one egg, sunny-side up!

You know, I actually thought this took me a year to do.  I just looked back--I didn't start it until March.  Huh.  Still, it seemed like it took forever!  This is definitely the most labor-intensive crochet project I've done...so far.  Who knows what I'll do next?  Muahaha...

"Happy Christmas, Ron!"

[Yes, a side note already: Does anyone else think this is the funniest line in the first Harry Potter movie?  Or even recognize it?  Zach and I make fun of it every time we watch it...]


Whilst caroling for my ward FHE last week, someone started singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas".  Ok, A) that song was NOT on the approved list, and B) it's reeeeeally long (or so it seemed--it was cold outside).  In rebellion, a friend *cough*Bradley*cough and I made up a Harry Potter version.  We thought it was hilarious--and I still think it is.  So, as a special Christmas treat for you all, I will share it with you.

You all know how the song goes, right?  So, get that going in your head and I'll supply the changes--I'm not writing out the whole song, because that would be ridiculous. 

"On the first day of Christmas Hermione* gave to me: A Phoenix in a holly tree..."
*Or whatever other HP character you want to use.  Bradley really likes Hermione.

Second Day: 2 Wrackspurts / Crumple-Horned Snorkacks (take your pick--we couldn't decide which one we liked better)

Third Day: 3 Deathly Hallows

Fourth Day: 4 Firebolts

Fifth Day: 5 GOLDEN SNITCHES

Sixth Day: 6 Fizzing Whizbees

Seventh Day: 7 Horcruxes (yes, we know this would not be a good gift, but they had to be in there)

Eigth Day: 8 Owls a-flying

Ninth Day: 9 Quidditch Cups

Tenth Day: 10 Hippogriffs

Eleventh Day: 11 Hogwarts letters (get it? 'Cause you're 11 when you get your letter?)

Twelveth Day: 12 Wands a-waving

Maybe some day we'll make a music video...

Pumpkins Single-Style

Rhonda, this one's for you. :)

Last week I was actually social.  (Disregard the fact that I was the only one home and therefore lonely for most of the week--that had absolutely nothing to do with it. *ahem*)  One of my outings involved my ward FHE and pumpkins.  Yay pumpkins!  I will admit, we cheated and used stencils, but we were not feeling creative enough to actually draw out faces.  Ha--I tried once (on a paper towel, not the pumpkin) and it looked pretty bad.  Yeah, anyways...picture time!

 Here's the pumpkin Brad and I carved:

Rhonda, Landon, and Devin* carved another one:

This is Rhonda's worried face, in case you couldn't tell--the only thing between her fingers and the carving knife is a section of pumpkin.  Carve carefully, Landon, carve carefully.

Note the beautiful eyes, freehanded by Landon.

Since we aren't allowed to have fire in the church, we headed over to Landon's house afterward and borrowed some candles.  Here they are all lit up:

Don't they look awesome?

This was the first year that I haven't carved my "own" pumpkin at home, and this one got moldy before Halloween night, so we didn't even have a pumpkin on our wall outside.  Man...the parents and I are getting lame in our old age.  But hey, only 100 days until Zachy gets home!  Yay!

Hope you all had a fun Halloween!

*Or did he?  Maybe he was just out washing "pumpkin dirt" out of his eye.  It's OK, Devin--we all cry sometimes.

This Baby is Too Big...

A bit ago, I tried out a pattern to make a doll purse/cradle.

Look, it's a purse!

Now it's a cradle!

Cute, right?  Well, there was one slight problem: finding a baby to fit inside.

This one wouldn't work, for obvious reasons.

I know it's probably morbid, but this makes me laugh really hard.

Too bad, too--that baby is really cute.  Guess we'll have to go with this one:

Ah...much better.

Good thing Walmart didn't fail us on the second try.

Vacation

Yes, I know--that title is just the essence of creativity.  But, it is nonetheless descriptive.  I've had this whole week off of work.  (I decided to use some of my vacation time to create my own "October Break".)  It has been fabulous!  I've been getting all sorts of things done.  I will now leave you with a list of random samplings from my week, as well as some pictures.

This week I've:

• Made a hat for Nephew T
• Washed my car (Lucy's first bath!  Except then it sounds like a child instead of a car, but you get the point)
• Made something else that will remain a secret for another, eh, 2 weeks
• Made up my own pattern (if you really want to call it that) for a crocheted flower

Isn't it cute?

•  Got some new music
• Sewed (most of) a skirt
• Watched a few movies (Penelope, anyone?)
• And organized my yarn stash

Guys, I think I'm turning into a yarn hoarder.

Yes, that entire basket is full.

These wouldn't fit in the basket.

This was a gift, and it all fits in the original bag so nicely...

My current project--in yet another bag.

Eep!  Soon it won't all fit in my closet!

Circles and Squares and Afghans--Part 2

Behold:

It's getting closer!

Trabajando

Sorry guys--I'm really not trying to be a horrible life-updating-blogger.  There's just not much to update about.  Work has been pretty demanding lately.  (Ick.)  I'm at an awkward phase where I don't know how selfish I want to be when it comes to working hours.  For example, do I want to leave at 5:00 (when our office "officially" closes), or stay until who knows when to get things done?  Today, I opted for the latter.  Turns out, who knows when was 7:00.  I don't even want to know how many purchase orders I did.  Well, maybe I do.  Tomorrow.

So...that's really about it.  I have a nice time on the weekends (although last weekend I did have to take some work home with me...).  I'm going on a ward campout this weekend.  That should be fun.  Oh, and I played in a Mesa High orchestra alumni concert last night.  Maybe I'll post on that at some point--it was certainly an adventure.

Until then, I am signing off.  Consider yourselves updated.  :)

Labor Day Weekend--So Far

Hi people!  Labor Day weekend is only halfway through (ish) and already a lot has happened.  I will attempt to fill you in.

Friday night, most of our family went out to First Friday to visit the Arizona Science Center.  (I love that place!)  We had issues finding a place to eat, so we didn't get to spend a whole lot of time there, but it was an adventure all the same.  I will now show you pictorial evidence of our night.

The Coke machine at Five Guys.  Is this not the coolest drink dispenser ever?

Now I understand why everyone sits at this exhibit and laughs hysterically.

I think we look like pandas.

This is one of my favorite things at the Science Center.  It looses something in picture (versus video) form, but it is still awesome.

I almost had more pictures to take, which brings me to my next story.  As we were walking in downtown Phoenix (is it really downtown?  I have no idea.  It is to me), we saw some statues coming up.  They looked like dancers.  I was just saying to Sarah, "Hey, maybe we should take some pictures with them!" when we got close enough to see that they were all naked.  Yep, a bunch of naked women statues on the sidewalk.  Creepy!  Thanks, Phoenix!  (You can bet we walked down the other side of the street on the way back.  *shudder*)

On the way home from the Science Center, we somehow got on the topic of drinks at Sonic.  My brother-in-law and sister were telling us about some flavors of cream slushes that they really like, so then we were all in the mood to try them (even though we were still really full from dinner--Five Guys gives you a lot of food!).  Behold:

Oceanwater cream slush with cherry add-in

Lime cream slush with blue coconut add-in

Yeah, they look like the same thing (I think the guy taking our order got a little confused...), but they tasted different, I promise.  And they came in shiny silver cups.  Woo!

Yesterday morning, we came to Big Event #2 for the weekend: I got a car!

Isn't it pretty?  I have decided to call it Lucy.  Don't ask me where that came from, because I have no idea.  It's pretty much the same car I've been driving (my mom's is 2 years newer), but blue.  I have broken free of our family's silver Honda tradition!  Ha ha!  It's still a little weird that it's mine (or will be officially once I've paid it off).  I'm super excited, though!

Who knows what the rest of the weekend might bring.  (I have work off tomorrow--huzzah!)  I plan on cleaning out my closet tomorrow--should I be hoping that that is a big adventure or not?  Hmm...

Braided

I'm a bit obsessed with braiding my hair right now.  It probably doesn't look as good as I think it does (after all, I usually braid it myself towards the end of the day because I'm sick of my hair being on my neck).  But, I love it.  Not only does it pull my hair back, it doesn't have the obnoxious back-of-the-head-bump like a pony tail does.  Bliss, my friends.  Bliss.  Now I just need to learn how to French braid.

Hey, does anyone out there know how to French braid?  Can you do it on yourself?  Anyone care to teach me?  (Don't worry, Diana--I'll be talking to you soon.)  

That's all for now.  I just thought you'd all like to know.

Oh, and stay tuned for some exciting news this weekend involving wheels, the color blue, and Glendale.  It shall be an adventure!

Mousse Hunt

(Wouldn't it be way more awesome if it was this kind of a moose hunt?

Yeah, I thought so, too.  Sorry--it's not.)

So, last week I ran out of mousse.  When I went to Target to get more, I found that not only were they out of the particular brand I wanted, there didn't even seem to be a spot for it.  Hmm...odd.  (It's not like it's a really special brand or anything.)  I was not wanting to go somewhere else, so I just picked something else that I thought would work.  

What I usually use

What I decided to try out

When I was forced to use the new stuff, I quickly found out one important fact: my hair does not like Tresemme.  At all.  It was the worst bad hair day I've had in a really long time.  Ew.

After work that day, I was determined to get more of my mousse--my hair had spoken and I was powerless to resist.  I headed off to Walmart with my mom, thinking: "They've had this every other time I've gone to Walmart.  No problem."  Ha.  Ha.  Remember how I said it was Walmart?  True to form, they were conveniently out of what I wanted.  So, we tried somewhere else.  And somewhere else.  Finally, one Target, one Fry's (neither of which even had a spot for this mousse--but, of course, they had the shampoo and conditioner.  Does anyone else see a problem with this?), and one Walmart Neighborhood Market later, I finally found it.  At the Walmart Neighborhood Market.  (You better believe I bought two--and seriously considered buying them completely out.)  

*sigh* I guess I'll give Walmart partial kudos for that one.  

And in case you were all wondering (and I know you were), my hair is much happier now.  I'd say we can count the hunt as a success!

Hmm...how much do I love my eyes....

So, I went to the eye doctor a couple of weeks ago and was told that I probably should switch contacts to some that let my eyes "breathe" more.  OK, fine, whatever.   I guess keeping my eyes functional is kind-of important.

Guess how much said contacts cost?

TWICE as much as my old ones!!!!  Are you kidding me?!  Argh.  Good thing I only got one box.

Fall Apples

Hey, look, 2 posts in one day!

So, I found this pattern the other day and just couldn't resist.  Thank goodness I know of some teachers who I'm sure are just dying for a new wash rag!

Happy start of school everyone!

Welcome to the Space Jam...

In honor of my lovely friend Rhonda's birthday, I will finally post about mine.  Haha.  

So, this year I turned 23.  How did that happen?!?!  I don't feel 23!  When I woke up, I found this outside my bedroom:

 Gotta love those siblings!  There were more hearts and a poster outside on the garage door (and on the steering wheel of the car I drove), but I didn't get a picture before the rain washed them away.  Whoops!

Sadly, I had to go to work.  I guess that made me feel like an actual adult--working on my birthday.  As far as work goes, it actually was a pretty nice day.  I had gone out to lunch the day before, so I didn't do anything fancy for that.  Around 3:00, my mother and sister-in-law showed up at work with a big box of brownies (the Pillsbury ones you get at Sam's Club--my weakness).  It was like the day at school I never got--you know how you always got awesome treats on other people's birthdays in elementary school?  Since mine was in the summer, I had never experienced that first hand.  (Not that I'm complaining--a summer birthday is awesome!)  Let's just say that my cubicle was suddenly very popular...Thanks Mom and Jaimee!

After work, we did the traditional Joe's BBQ/Krispy Kremes run, but family-style this time.  (This is possibly the first year my parents have come along for this--usually it's just me and a sibling or two.)  Want to know something horrible?  Krispy Kremes was out of hats!  I know, scandalous, right?  So, we didn't get to take our traditional eating-a-doughnut-with-the-beautiful-hat-on picture, like this one:

*sniff*

Next year, my friends.

Since my birthday was conveniently on a Friday, I just extended the celebrations over to Saturday.  I had to make up for the 8 or so hours at work, right?  Right.  We had some family time (a.k.a. seeing "Cowboys and Aliens"--not really my first choice...) and that night I had some people over to partake in another time-honored birthday tradition: the watching of a really stupid movie.  Don't ask me why, but this is one of my favorite birthday traditions.  I'm weird.  This year's winner was:

Picture courtesy of Amazon

 Oh yes.  It's stupid, and it has Michael Jordan in it.  (It was my Michael Jordan birthday--#23 and all.)  Perfect!  Again, I forgot to take pictures, so...just take my word on it.  People came.  

Like these ones!

And this one!

And we watched the movie.  And mocked it heartily.  Yep, that about sums it up.

Ooh, ooh, want to see one of the cool presents I got?  (And then I'll be done, I promise.  I forgot to take pictures of all of my other presents--I love them too, though, family and nearly family!)  

It's a holder for my crochet hooks!  And fancy new bamboo hooks!  And it's cute!  I am so excited!  (And such a nerd, I know.)

And so, that was my birthday.  Now I can post about new crochet projects!  Yay!