Adventuretime!

You know that feeling you get when you finish a great book series (like Harry Potter....and Twilight....and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and you just don't want it to end but then it does.

When you read that last page of that last book, you feel sort of sad and depressed.

You miss the characters.

You miss the setting. You miss being in THAT world.

And you know that there isn't another book coming out soon.

Its all over.

I feel that way tonight. Its the end of summer. My first day back at school for meetings is still a week away, but I have tons of pre-term school preparation to do this week so I am practically back for real.

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed about the start of the year.

Its my fifth full year so I should be excited and at ease, but I've got a bad feeling about this year.

I can't put my finger on it.

I can't pinpoint exactly what it is and I hope that I am wrong...but I keep getting this overwhelming urge to put up a fight about things that aren't even certain yet regarding my schedule, my expectations as a teacher and just the atmosphere in general.

Usually, I am optimistic and enthusiastic. Even in high school and college, I was always excited for the year to start. I could reinvent myself and make new friends, and I always did. I never dreaded the beginning of the year, it was always a time of hope and excitement.

This year is different. 

The past few weeks, I haven't had ANY creative energy.

I haven't painted anything or started any new crafty projects.

Nothing sounds fun.

Well, watching movies/t.v. sounds fun.

It is Saturday and I have been on the couch all day.

Watching movies.

Eating snacks.

I baked a chocolate cake which I intend to eat later.

I just made coffee to help myself perk up.

I turned off t.v. because Shark Week was getting on my nerves. It's the only thing on.


This is one Saturday night I will never get back. Its one night where I am not out having fun, hanging with friends. I am just reflecting.

When I went to the store to buy frosting earlier, I also bought jalapeno cheetos, twizzlers, cream soda, an extra 'just in case' tub of chocolate frosting, frozen pizzas, crackers with dip, and some snapple. (Oh, and some of those 'thin' bagels...super delicious, btw)

That amount of snacks should only be allowed on road trips and camp outs....but I think I am just depressed. Which doesn't happen very often.

Whenever I think about the first day of school, I just want to cry.

By starting the first day, I will really be finishing the last page of the last book....the last chapter of the last story about this summer. About life as I know it right now. And I don't want it to end.

I don't want a new book series. I want that old one back.

I want to give up reading altogether because nothing will ever compare.

But I know that isn't going to happen. Crawling under a quilt, ignoring the world won't solve anything. Neither will loads of sugar and junk food.

But those things will help tonight. And in just a few days, a new adventure will begin. Even if I am not ready to let go of this one.

Hipstamatic pictures from the iPhone, of course. From a lovely little bookstore, the Archive in St. Louis....

Snow Cone Love

One of my favorite things about summer is enjoying some shaved ice with a little bit of colorful, sugary syrup. It reminds me of being a kid. My favorite flavor....peach and cinnamon....tonight I had blue raspberry and pineapple, it was delicious too. Last week I had one called 'that's what she said'....it was yummy!

 My snowcone matches my fingernails.

 There are literally a thousand flavors here....

 That's what she said.

 Ooh, my new wallet....it looks so cute on this picnic table outside the snow cone stand. The wallet is from fossil...by the way...

 It has been so HOT this summer...I almost want to try them all, just to cool down.

Snowcones change the color of your tongue...and they are yummy have an afternoon at the pool. ;-)

All of these photos were taken with my hipstamatic app on my iPhone. I'm addicted.

The Monster Ball

Last night I went to Lady Gaga's Monster Ball in Kansas City. I don't get to go to a lot of concerts because I usually have to work, (aka, I don't get out much) but I was really excited about the show last night. It was an artistic spectacle. It was a 'pop-electric opera'.

The enormous video screen behind the stage displayed images of Gaga doing crazy things (vomiting, eating a bloody organ?, moving in slow motion), something I would expect to see in a modern art gallery. It was fantastic. Some of the show was a bit political, but I was just there to dance and take it all in.

The set list was superb. I woke up with 'Dance in the Dark' stuck in my head this morning. The crowd went crazy for songs like Pokerface, Telephone, and Paparazzi.

The Monster Ball fans were wild and crazy. It was amazing to see the thoughtful costumes and absurdly creative hairstyles. Hair hairbows, telephones in hair,  police line tape worn as an entire ensemble. There were lots of boys dressed as girls. ;-)

 Our little gaggle of gals made sure that we had nearly five hours in the hotel before the concert to get ready. My stylist Christina did everyone's makeup and special effects. I took pictures of the process in case you are looking for ideas....I was stumped about what to wear to Gaga...but luckily, anything goes. We all decided that Halloween is only once a year...but Gaga deserves the same costume treatment and we had a blast getting GLAM!

Here is Paula, pre-gemstones. Beautiful silver eyes and LONG lashes.

We were all in love with these amazing feathers.

They are basically craft feathers glued on. She also had a gemstone in the corner of her eye. Here earrings are glittery guitar picks.

Christina, hard at work with those feathers! These two are a little out of focus....oops....

Applying gemstones.

I went for the wonder woman look. Blue hair, black feather earrings, crazy eyes and some glitter. (You can't do Gaga without a bit of glitter!)

Getting ready.

Applying craft gemstones to Meagan.

Christina's was one of my favorites! She applied broken shards of craft mirrors under one eye. It looked awesome. Way easier than a mask!

To read more about the concept for the monster ball, click here.


Here's a few iphone photos from the evening with the hipstamatic!

And since I can never seem to go anywhere without using at least 3 cameras...here's a few instax pics as well!!

And finally, here's the whole group!!

I think we kind of look like superheros. Or super villains. I bought this blue wig because I am in love with Katy Perry in the Summer Girls video....and it was perfect for Gaga.

I'm sad because summer is almost over. ;( But it has been a very fun and memorable one!!

Nellie DOES Love Vintage

Wow, I have so much stuff to write about and so little time.

It is the first of August which means unfortunately, my summer vacation is pretty much done.

I plan to go to school today and do a bit of work in my room so that I can be ready for Open House in a two weeks. Bleh. I am not ready to go back. I have enjoyed every single second of my break. I have a bad feeling about this year. Last year wasn't my favorite, and I am worried that this year will just be bad. I don't know why. I am hoping I am wrong.....but I am just uneasy about everything.

Over the weekend I had a nice little trip to St. Louis to visit some friends and watch an viewing for a short film. It was great! Went to the art museum, did some vintage browsing, and ate some yummy sushi. Oh yeah, and I had FROYO....we don't have any place for that here so I always try to get some if I go anywhere that might have it. ;-)

On Friday,  decided to wear the most perfect vintage dress ever. I found this dress a while back and I have been saving it. It is my favorite vintage find. I paired it up with a headband and some heels. EEK!

Wow, Ken Robinson's video on creativity and education is just incredibly inspiring. If you have a few minutes, go watch it!

Also, be sure to read my Birds of a Feather post today.

Anyhoo....I'm off to work at school...Bachelorette finale tonight, Lady Gaga tomorrow night in KC....Anyone else doing either of those? I'm excited for both!

My summer with Holga Part 1

My local photo processor was on the brink of closing recently, but luckily a local modeling agency bought it and things are now up and running. I recently dropped off a couple of rolls of film and here is the 100 speed film....taken with lots of summer sun!

With a fish eye lens.

And some double exposure hula hooping to round out the roll. I love lomography, super fun!! Thanks for reading!

Hahaha! Happy Birthday MY BLOG!

That's right...two years folks. I've been blogging for two years!! Yahoo! I am nearly at my 500th post, wowzers!

Some of my favorite things about blogging....

1. People. I have met some awesome people. I love to read other people's blogs every day and I try to always leave comments, when I have time.  For the most part, the people who comment on my blog are supportive, kind and encouraging...and I appreciate that!
2. Inspiration. There are so many sources of inspiration in the blog world, I find something new every day.
3. Motivation. By forcing myself to post beautiful things, I am making myself actual make things. And keep making things all the time. Not to have a shop. Not to sell my stuff on Etsy....just to MAKE stuff. Because the process is important.
4. Writing. I enjoy writing. I think I sensor myself quite a bit on my blog because my family/co-workers read it...but I still try to write stuff sometimes and I think it is important.
5. Photography. Where else am I gonna show off my zillions of pictures??

Things I don't do:
1. Ads. I don't advertise on my blog. You see ads everywhere....but I doubt I would make enough for it to be worth it so I just don't do it.
2. Give-Aways. I tried that for a while...but it was just too hard to get to the post office and I never really have anything good to give away.
3. Negativity. I try to stay positive on my blog. Occasionally I have a ligit gripe or complaint...but for the most part I want this to be a happy place.

What do you love about blogging?

Summer Hair: Bohemian Braid UPDO

Go check out my post at the Birds of a Feather Blog today to see how I achieved this great summer hair style!


How was your weekend?

Summer Loves: Hipstamatic {Part 4-Places and Things}

An assortment of places, signs, still life arrangements, I think this is a neat little collection of pictures. I love looking back through my photo album on my iPhone from my Hipstamatic camera app.

I hope you've enjoyed this series. Be sure to look back at my other photos from the series, food1, sky2, and me3. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!