OMFG! What a POS Ethyl MeRM!

Sorry Ethyl MeRM but you are what the car industry refers to as a POS (piece of sh#%!) I am lucky you were worth anything as a trade in! The reconstructed Title was not good. The awesome news is I think I bought the Blinged/tricked out car of a tidy drug dealer! I have leather seats but high end! Sirius radio free for 3 months, a tricked out system that includes a "talking Jane" (the new cars name as in "Jane Jetson" since it is so futuristic) that answers or calls from my phone, back up camera, back up crash sensor, blind area inner mirrors in the outside mirrors, they also defrost, heated seats, high end wheels (and wheel coverage if they blow or . . ) roadside assistance, ambiance interior lights (choice of 7 colors) iPod hook-up to stereo system, I don't have to pay for oil change, repair, windshield wipers, or any repairs for 7 years! Holy Crap!

More on the New Year and Plan

After I posted on my goals something I was counting on to happen fell through. I have had to rethink how I am going to achieve some of my goals and keep promises to myself on this lucky year. I am formulating "The Plan". I was hoping for an easier life "do-over" but come on . . . . This is Marta's World. :) I don't mean to or want to do things the hard way but that is usually the way.


So, I am working on the written version of "the Plan" so I have a "map" to guide me along. It will be an attempt of a balanced plan, meaning health, social, crafty/DIY, career, home and family. I know it sounds like a lot but I will be taking small steps but the key focus is balance.


My parents are going to "help" me get a new-to-me car. They are helping in the looking, with a name of a long time family friend and co-sign if needed. I am looking for the newest, low miles, SUV/Crossover/Wagon I can afford that has a "Real" back seat and is easy to get in and out of for my parents and Abby. No more sedans for this Gal! I want to have less worry on my ride. If it looks pretty that is okay too. A suit makes the man and a wagon/SUV/Crossover thingy keeps the Diva happy.

    
As for the rest of the Plan. I am working on it before it is even written up! I have replaced worn scrub bottoms and picked some color! I don't have to be "beige" at work. I have got a bit lack on my work persona, Whatch out bitches! On my next day off I am going to Jenna for a new Do. I had to grow it out after the disaster cut at Bishops in August!  I used the union health insurance to get an eye exam and new glasses. In fact I "Paid out of pocket" to get a BOGO deal and will submit the cost to the insurance. WooHoo! Looking at cars on Wednesday so I can narrow down what I can afford. Will probably look at cars over the weekend too.


For Abby I took advantage of a pet sale and got extra tall gates for both ends of the hall so she has the office and hall to roam when I am gone. Takes stress off me and she is tons happier. I could probably trust her to roam the whole house but I don't want the surprise when I come home.

So, moving forward and doing it with quiet sass and a smirk on my lips. 

More tales of Beads

I went to the bead show last weekend off (Jan 5th) in Hillsboro. It was Payday and my weekend off so I was pretty stoked! I had two things I was looking for at the show. Larger pieces to plan a necklace around and crystal beads for a Snowflake project I want to make. I really scored on both and felt pretty good about my time there! It is the most money I have spent to date at the Bead show-$40. Usually it is 1/2 that or less! Like my other creative/DIY projects I feel you don't have to spend a lot to make something cool. I prefer items on sale, free, or trade. It makes it more satisfying to me and I get a "pretty" out of it. The Bead Show does sell Wholesale but for the general public it is less than a retail store. I enjoy going.
Even if I don't buy anything. I get a creative flow at an event like the Bead Show. Looking at the booths full of beads, listening to people talk about projects, and seeing something that sparks an idea on a project I have stalled on. I really came away from this show excited to make jewelry! 



This last year was a tough year for me. Sometimes I had to pay attention to just putting one foot in front of the other. I lost my energy in general but creative motivation especially! Now that I have the apartment looking more the way I want it I am ready to get CreatiBuzy! I need to put away Christmas (Christmas is still up because my Auntie She She was coming to town and wanting to have Christmas with us) then I will have my office where I can leave projects in between working time. I am feeling positive!

Photos of Beads and Space

This is an orange flower to build a necklace around.

 This is the large piece (a crane I think)  I got from the show. I got this strand of coral to go with it. 

 This is a combo I got a couple of shows ago. I was not sure I post it so here it is again. I got the turquoise, pearls and center rock on sale. 

 All the pearls shown together for size. The little white ones I just got and the lavender ones. They are tiny and cute!

 all the sparkly crystals for the snow flake project. By the next bead show in April I need to have the pattern figured out so I can go to town! The smaller size bead strings were $2 each and the larger $3.Retail would be tons more!

 My "old" coffee table turned printer table is now my rolling creative work space. I am soooo excited to have this ready! I spent the evening going through my beads and organized into my awesome storage cubes I got and super sale at Storables. Yes, I am a chronic Bargin Hunter!

This is the heart I got and some of the different pearls mixed. 

Reminds my of home

 The last couple of days we in the Willamette Valley have been stuck in an inversion. The Mountains are sunny and 50 degrees in the day while we in the Valley are in fog some or most of the time and freezing or below! The fog reminds me of childhood growing up along the Coastal Highway that runs the seawall in San Francisco near the Sutro Baths. To be in fog and hear the fog horns, smell salt in the air and eucalyptus is coming home to me. Anyway, the fog is freezing and causing frost on the roads and cars. I cant even see "My Bridge"! I don't like being cold but am really fascinated by the frost and not being able to see very far out. It is a comforting familiar blanket to be wrapped in.

Abby does not like to be cold either. Her problem is she does not like to "get dressed" to be warm. The frozen ground really throws her. She acts like someone is playing a trick on her. She makes me laugh a lot.

This is my weekend off. I did not sign up for working the holiday so I have a three day weekend! I am enjoying the rare long weekend. I have done more to make my "Gal Pad" my own. I am also making it easier for project time! I will try to take photos tomorrow. I am cooking a slightly complicated crock pot recipe for the Geezers including my Auntie She She. I am pretty excited since it is like Chicken Pot Pie with biscuits on top.  I don't remember if I told you about the awesome crock pot my parents gave me for Christmas? The inner crock works on the stove top, oven and the crock. The glass lid is good on crock, stove top, oven and dishwasher. Seriously it rocks my cooking world! 

Umkay, betime 

A New Year and goals

I dislike the use of New Years Resolutions. I will keep it to a short rant as I will be repeating myself from past years. I find it silly to make resolutions out of guilt just because a New Year is coming. Instead of making promises (resolutions) you know you wont keep and probably make them every New Year why not set achievable, positive goals? I will set some goals here for myself.

~ Continue saving money "for a rainy day"
~ Continue adding to my Retirement fund
~ Get a new-to-me car
~ find and move to a new place that works better for Abby (outdoor space)
~ Get back on my bike and ride regularly!
~ follow through on projects started but not finished - all of them!
~ get Abby off leash trained
~ Now that I have room to entertain GET SOCIAL!

There are some goals to start. I will cross of ones as I reach my goal and add new ones. How about you? Care to share?

Feeling the creative in the night!

I have had a DIY idea for making a jewelry holder for awhile but the idea has been in the forefront of my mind lately. I want to use a vintage picture frame (18x21) I also have two more frames that are about 1/2 the size I would remake for earrings. I have and either hang it on the wall or have it free standing on my vanity. I love the knobs from  Anthropologie I had one knob I got on sale last summer. I did not know what I would do with it but could not pass it up. Part of my DIY working is reuse items, get them for free or very inexpensive. I got four more sale knobs last night. I had the idea of using knobs to hang the necklaces on inside the frame. After getting the knobs I got some ideas but in the middle of the night I woke up with some fabulous ideas for my project! It is sooo awesome to have the creative ideas flowing!

I came up with a different creative idea in my sleep last night! I was dreaming about working on a house of mine and DIY projects with Anthony Carrino from the "Kitchen Cousins" and "Cousins on call". (two of my fav shows from my fav network on cable, HGTV) Yes, I have a major crush on Anthony. George Clooney is handsome but has nothing on Anthony! Not only is he a handsome man in terrific shape with sexy tats he knows how to use power tools and build/remodel stuff. He is into DIY projects too! He is a motorcycle fanatic. I dreamed we were out on his Vintage BMW Motorcycle on the weekend and I wanted to make him some manly jewelry. Usually I use sparkly beads and pearls to make girl jewels. I designed and made a stainless steel bead and rustic wood bracelet. He loved it and was touched that I did that for him. The weird part of this dream is I was so ecstatic to be planning the remodel with him (and his cousin but really him) and working on DIY projects that the dream was not sexual. Don't get me wrong, I was in heavy lust but the creative seemed to be the focus of the dream.  

I took some photos I will post as well.    

Photos of Projects in progress and late Christmas

My "new" single gal pad

I am proactive this Year!

This "Year" I feel like I am ahead of the deadline for unveiling the next "year" according to Me. I have been thinking about this past year and where I want to go this coming year. My favorite thought is "hope springs eternal". I am not ready to reveal the next year quite yet but I am feeling it! 

This last year started with awesome creative potential but quickly petered out. Basically it was a very hard year for me. So much happened one thing after the other and it sucked the creative flow out of me. It has also been frustrating to want to create but not have the time or ability. That is not to say I did nothing! I have a ton of ideas that I will follow through with but you have to wait for it. 


I decided to play off what some would consider an unlucky year. I really think this is my year to start my single life, enjoy creating and living!

Lucky '13 - Luck be a Leo
Of the Year 2013, roll with the luck and bring in the green!
Lively  Lucrative Lyrical

Not Banner

I strive to remain upbeat and press on against the adversity in life. I don't like a pity party so . . . .  There is no way around this but to say 2012 was not a Banner year in Marta's World. It was a pretty hard year. How hard you say? Soul sucking, tuck-your-head-down-and-try-to-keep-moving-aginst-the-wall-of-defensive-line-year. I took some hard hits but I am still standing. You didn't doubt that did you?
The year started out so promising but derailed early on. I keep trying to break through the adversity but much like a football player trying to get though a good defensive line to get first down I just could not get through! Sure, I had little triumphs but really sat down to rest in May and did not get up again until August. I really took a stand against a bully at work with Management and the union. She remains bitter and quiet. Sadly there are lots more bullies at my work.

I also had to stand up to Wil's girlfriend. She was not what or who she appeared to be. I asked her to leave and go back home. She "could not". I told her I could not/would not support her anymore. It came to bull shit and me kicking her out. Wil was not pleased. It took him three more months to move out. Big hit in our relationship. I did not see him or hear from him during the holidays.

Highlights and triumphs
Getting Abby
Making my first bead jewelery
Finally living on my own!
standing up to Bullies
Hitting 50 with style
enjoying the apartment rearranged the way I like it

stay tuned for the roll out of the "New Year" coming soon