Star Crafty

Eight Random Facts About Meself:
01) My only brother (six years my senior) and I look NOTHING, NOTHING alike. NOTHING. Even though we're both from the same mother and father (or are we.............?!?)

02) My nose gets all sniffly whenever I eat. It used to be only spicy foods, but nowadays even with water I get snuffly. wth.

03) I am obsessed, OBSESSED, with Google Maps. I trace the entire country over and over, imagining road trips, cities I would live in, checking the traffic in LA... I've been known to spend hours on that darn website.

04) I cannot write with a pen that does not have its cap on the top. The cap MUST be on top in order for me to write. Weirdest thing ever.

05) I cannot have either my keys, cellphone, jewelry, wallet, handbags lying on the bed. Something about having those items on top of my bed annoys the inner foundation of my brain. They MUST be in their respective places.

06) The GMAIL tab must ALWAYS be the first tab on the left on my firefox browser. Active and open at ALL times. Next to it, Pandora then Bloglines then the rest.

07) At my restaurant, I must organize all tea packets (five of them) and sugar packets (four of them) by color and they must always be in the same spot. Regular sugar - brown sugar - Equal - Sweet -n- low. For tea: Chamomile - Green tea - Decaf Tea - Ceylon - Oriental Tea - Balck Tea. When these items are out of order, it drives me insane. INSANE.

08) I DESPISE, HATE, LOATHE small hairy dogs. Like the Yorkie, Maltese. Something about them GROSSES THE LIVING HECK OUT OF ME. HATE THEM WITH A PASSION. Now, big dogs like the labs are cool with me. And huskies. Huskies are welcome in my house ANY day. ANY day. Just don't bring any Yorkie bitches.

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Holy crap, I'm a WEIRD person. I taaaag Sarah Sovereign, Marjorie and Cadyn Mosch. I do not feel like typing out your links. I'm lazy :P

That's a lie. I DO have the time. Today has been the most chill day ever. I am drinking Smirnoff right now and in like two hours am meeting up with some new friends. ahhh days off, how I love thee.

Anyways, anyone got some ideas on what to do with this corner, or both walls? THANKS! AWESOME!

Also, this is me looking marvelously fantastic:

They were quite the hit at my friend's Christmas dinner. Oh and finally own a cake stand! How quaint!

I smell dainty little postcards on the way!!!

Oh and can I just say how FANTASTIC Heidi Klum looks in the new Project Runway?? Like, good lord woman!

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?

Moved out of Savannah. I dressed up for Halloween. Moved across country.

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Not much of a Resolution person. Planning gives you dandruff. But I attempted to learn French. Didn't quite work out. But I did move out of Savannah.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nidia and Viviana and Minnie, oh babies galore!... oh wait, Viviana gave birth last year. Oh well, still!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully no.

5. What countries did you visit?

Does San Diego and Raleigh count as countries? No? Well then no, I stayed in the good ol' USA.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A more defined view of where my next two years should go. An apartment of my own (oh it would be so lovely decorated). A boyfriend. Knee-high boots.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory?

Saturday, June 9th - moved to Vegas.
Thursday, May 10th - day I met him.
Tuesday, August 6th - day my Savannah crafty article came out! (Click for a condensed version of article)
Saturday, March 17th - Cynthia and JOhnny's wedding!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Moved away from Savannah, as much as I loved it. Got over the heartache of moving away from Savannah. Photographed two lovely weddings.

9. What was your biggest failure?
What I thought to be a failure (moving to Vegas) as turned out to be quite a blessing.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just my annual lovely stomach flu. OH I CANT WAIT!!!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

BRAND NEW SONATA!!!! Oh and an awesome new lens that hopefully will arrive next week. A wonderful cosmopolitan winter coat for only $9.99 at a thrift store. My knee-high boots. And billions of cupcakes, mmmm.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I'm gonna be a little selfish and say me. Life right after I moved to Vegas became horrible. But I was wrong and I overcame the emoness. Also, JANICE! Moving away from the comfort zone that is living with her parents. Good luck to you my darling!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Most of the staff at America Restaurant. Ugh.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Cupcakes. By the thousands. mmmm oh and knee-high boots. And gas. And craft supplies.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY pumped about driving all the way from Georgia to Vegas. How amazing would it be to see America. But... my rusty ol' '95 Civic died two weeks before moving. So I had to fly in. Not as exciting, I must say. I got excited about him, as well. Oh well.

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2007?
1,2,3,4 - by my darling Feist.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. Happier or sadder? WAY happier. LAst year was Senior year at college. Not my best moments.
2. Thinner or fatter? Um, I think I'm the same. I lost weight when I moved here. But then regained the pounds with a healthy diet of lots of walnuts and fruits mmmm
3. Richer or poorer? Ha. Actually I'm a bit richer. But that's cuz I don't have to pay rent. SUCKAZZZ.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel, always. Read, always. Learn French.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Crying and shit. Pointless.

20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas?
At Karin's!!!! And maybe hang out with other people. Wreak havoc around Vegas, hopefully.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Most definitely my mother, she calls every two minutes.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I fell into something. What that was, I will never know.

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
Does a five night stand qualify?

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Lost, Heroes, Planet Earth (ohhh the undersea creatures episode, HOW BEAUTIFUL!)

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nahhhh, hatin' takes too much of my time.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?

-Slightly out of focus - Robert Capa memoirs. I love this man. Also, the book I was reading right when I met him.
-On the Road - Kerouac. Had to read it before my big roadtrip adventure that never happened.
-Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Inferno - Aaron Allston. Chapter 11 > everything.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Feist! Feist! Feist! I heard Feist for the very first time on Sunday, April 7th, 2007 around 1pm on our (Greg, Ness and Brandon) way to Gelattohs after a night of celebrating my 25th birthday. I couldn't have asked for a better gift. This is probably one of my favorite memories of 2007. Feist made that exhausting Summer a little bit calmer, a little bit happier as I would drive back home at midnight from a yet another horrible day at work. I'd sing 1,2,3,4 at the top of my lungs, and I still do, even though now things are much much much better. But when that song comes on, I feel like a little tear of intense happiness wants to escape my eye and join the air and the clouds and all that is fantastic in this world. Yeah, that's what Feist has meant to me this year.

28. What did you want and get?
Brand new car!!!! Knee-high boots! (It's funny, but last year I filled out this very same survey, and I kept mentioning over and over how ecstatic I was about having bought my cute Seychelle shoes for my graduation. hehe). Awesome Winter coat! A kitchen island! Awesomeness!

29. What did you want and not get?
Well my clone is still, regrettably, on back order for almost a year now.

30. What were your favourite films of this year?

- The Sound of Music - I still have to write my review about this lovely movie. Another thing that kept me sane during my move here.
- Cabaret - I know, I know. Old movies. But I saw them for the first time this year.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Quarter-century, and I believe I already explained my awesome birthday.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Let's see. There's always that whole clone fiasco. A lil bit more money is always good. If Agmar would have come here for Xmas. If Janice had come here in September. If he had returned my feelings. If I would have driven to Vegas. If I hadn't left my AWESOME 50s dining table behind in Savannah. If I could make better cupcakes!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

OMG this has been my year in fashion. Y'all should see how I dress. As Agmar would describe it, I resemble a Skittles. mmm skittles. But yeah, I've played around with mixing clothes and thrift shopping. Sooooo much fun!

34. What kept you sane?
My mother (though at times she does the opposite. Like when she calls me to tell me some insignificant matter... when it's freakin 5AM here in Vegas. Apparenly she fails to comprehend the concept of a 4 hour difference in time zone). Feist. Agmar. Pedro. My crafts. My camera. My internets. My Sarah. My little Jacie. WHisky.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still Justin Timberlake. MM MMM MM MMM

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The upcoming elections. I registered as a Republican just for Dr. Ron Paul.

37. Who did you miss?
EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING SAVANNAH.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Him. Oh and Gregory Harold! I met you on New Year's Eve, but that still counts. I met my Gryphonites late December, but became very good friends with them in 2007, so I guess that might count as well.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

What seems like heartache now is a blessing later. Electric mixers are NECESSARY for baking.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come
Watching the ships roll in
And then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah

These are my projects, in semi-order of priority:
01) Edit Cecilia and Lincoln's 500-ish wedding pictures (shot this past weekend)
02) The Yearbook... yeap, as in MY high school yearbook. It's been 7 years since graduation. I think it's time this wretched thing gets finalized.
03) My Winter coat...which I am sewing. The cold has reached Vegas, finally. (Must also buy proper shoes...flip flops aren't so awesome during 30 degree winters).
04) Create and add products to Star Magnolia's Etsy shop. Not open for business yet. I'd like to have a mini sale by Xmas time. We'll see how that works, I remember saying the same thing back in July.
05) Learn about textile design. You might say this is trivial, but I digress. This just might get me far far away from Vegas, which is actually my Number 1 priority (yeap, I hate this town).
06) Update my website/portfolio. Important for the reason stated above.

So as you can see, I'm a busy busy busy busy bee. I have not socialized at all in Vegas because of all these projects. If they weren't important, I'd be out there. Possibly releasing charming pheromones to catch me a tall, handsome guy who cherishes Star Wars and Airplane alike. Oh well, that will be postponed till next year (it's not like I have time for a relationship, anyways!).

I am trying to devise a scheduling system of sorts. This may turn out to be a flop, but I need to give it a try, otherwise frustration over not accomplishing anything will set in... and, well, I'm sure we all know how that feels.

As was I, on Wednesday (had to work on Thursday). I am happy to report that I successfully cooked my very first turkey, Puerto Rican style, with the neurotic guide of my mother on the phone (wow, phone bill this month will be astronomical). It was DELICIOUS! Like, I'm not kidding you! MMMMMMMMMM

While that fantastic 13 pound was cooking its glorious self, I was baking sweet little cupcakes. This is the second time I've attempted to make them. First time... well, it wasn't quite the success I was hoping. They improved the second time around, and I will not rest until they are as delicious (or close to) as Back in the Day Bakery's out-of-this-world cupcakes. There's just one challenging obstacle in my way...

I suck at baking. I am the ultimate suck. Evidence can be seen in the images below.

I made pina colada!!!!!!! For the first time EVER. I am very proud of myself. VERY. The very dangerous part of this whole ordeal is that a full bottle of Bacardi Rum lies in my kitchen silently calling out to me in the middle of the night. But that's okay.

I'd like to illustrate how big my pina colada glass is. It's very huge.

That's me twirling abouts the giant glass. And that's a deSert rabbit. They're everywhere around here and every time I see one I yell, OH BUNNY WABBIT!!!11one!!! in a VERY high pitched voice.

Yes.

I am tipsy.

I love it.

I am drinking by myself.

I'd give anything to be sipping this pina colada with great friends and the promise of more alcohol.

*sigh*

From listening to Feist I earned a little bonus in the form of another great musical act: Broken Social Scene. Now, I know I am way late in the game, most of y'all are already in love with them. But I just recently found out (few months ago). And honestly, honestly, honestly, this video below is one of the most beautiful, endearingly dizzying imagery I've ever seen.

Feist guest sang for Broken Social Scene a few short years ago, her voice adds an exciting layer to the ambient rock the band members produce. When I listen to their music, for some odd reason, I feel like driving up to the Ocean just before sunrise, when the darkness sadly whispers her last words of Victorian elegance and the waves welcome a new era of light and life.*

But by then I'll be gone.

More videos with Feist and bandmember Kevin Drew dueling so fantastically:

Oh and this is Feist singing Lover's Spit live with Kevin on the piano. MESMERIZING.

I can't wait to have a little bit more cash so I can purchase their records. Fantastic fantastic.

This one is indie street fashion at its best!

My equally nerdy (maybe even more so) older brother was the prime influence for my love of all things sci-fi. I officially became a Star Wars fan in early 1993 when I had viewed all three movies in local Puerto Rican television, even though I like to believe my fandom dates as far back as 1983, where my Mom was forced to get her crying baby daughter out of Return of the Jedi's screening in San Juan (I guess I was just grossed out at Jabba). The very first English-language novel I ever read was Heir to the Empire in Summer of '93. I was hooked. I rewatched the films over and over again, especially Empire Strikes Back, the most layered and emotional of the trilogy (I mean come on, "Luke I am your father", you can't beat that).

Every teenager has a world to escape to, be it imaginary or real. Mine was Star Wars. I would bring my nerdy Star Wars paperbacks to class and read them. I have no idea how I never got my ass kicked. I was that girl. I didn't care. I loved this galaxy far, far away. I was intrigued with what became of Luke, Leia and Han after the Empire was overthrown, how they helped rebuild the New Republic and the Jedi Order and what became of their lives. I read all the novels, even fan fiction written by fans like me all over the world.

Two years ago, George Lucas and his team revealed plans for a live-action TV series. I was peeing in my pants from the excitement. Ideas flourished into my mind, then into paper while at work. A dark and gritty, post-Revenge of the Sith Galaxy where the very few remaining Jedis are still fleeing for their lives while hopelessly fighting againt the rising tyranny of Emperor Palpatine. Gosh, if I had stayed in the film department, I'd be whoring myself to Lucas just so I could write that series.

That's how much I love Star Wars. We know the looks we get from people. The roll of the eyes, the derogatory whispers. Whatevs. Through Star Wars I have met wonderful people, even a boyfriend who shared the same geeky sci-fi passion as me. Star Wars is as part of me as... my talent or my ridiculous humor. It is part of what I am, of what I still dream of at night. It's that fleeting promise that someday..someday, we might reach those far away stars and begin adventures of our own.

May 25, 1977, Mann Chinese Theater

Janice and I want to embark on a road trip (funny thing, seeing as you can drive all around Puerto Rico in just five hours). There are places I've never seen, towns I only know by name. Hopefully, I'll get some money next week.

It doesn't help that I'm reading On the Road. Maybe I should put that down for the time being.

*sigh* So anxious.

Though I got some time to reacquaint myself with my old cassette tapes, dating to 1993, where I would spend hours and hours glued to my old Sony radio and record every damn song played on air. Some muffled sounds are so pleasing to your ear, they transport you back to... good times.

Eternally unable to roll my Rs (the foundation in which my Spanish language has stood upon for generations), I have been raging a battle with speech and linguistics throughout my entire existence. Knowing full well that some people are simply born shy, I have laid the blame of my introvert nature to this lovely inconvenient speech impediment. It's hard for me to talk in Spanish because it actually requires more energy (and patience) to get my message across*. Maybe I think too fast (unlikely, seeing as I am the slowest living being alive since the Galapagos Turtles, and y'all know them bitches is slow) and thus I trip on words and letters and UGH why do most words must have an R in them. Like the DREADED COMBO OF HATRED AND DISGUST, the "tr" (as in "enconTRaste") and the "dr" (cuaDRado, UGH how I abhor saying this word). Twice the hate and shame and humiliation if both join forces in one word, such as... "maDRasTRA"... (tra...tra...tra). People constantly ask to repeat myself...over and over and over ... multiply by 24 years and you can understand my issues (future boyfriend/husband/boy toy, please have patience if I get mad when I have to repeat myself to you, now you know why.. but then again, why are you so fuckin dense? Oh that's right, 'cause you're cute and dumb and I'm only using you for sex)**

In ways, this all explains why I was always the more "Americanized" of my group of friends and why I have ended up here in the US of A. There aren't any freakin Rs to roll in the Enligsh Language (unless you are a cultured, mustacchioed villain, in which case you MUST roll your Rs to show your superiority and evilness [think General Tarkin in Star Wars "We will cRRRush the RRRebel Alliance in One Swift Stroke***]). And while that is all fine and dandy, now I have to figure out what to do with this accent.

For the past five years it has been my goal to eradicate all signs of an accent in order to blend in with Americans, to avoid being prejudiced and/or stereotyped. I have listened with utmost attention (VERY dificult to do, because not only am I slow, I have the attention span of --- ooo balloons!) to how you Anglos speak, the ways you move your mouth, your hands; was delighted when my Cousin, The Actress, shared some tips from her Neutral American Accent class, such as pronouncing certain "S"s as subtle Zs or avoid speaking from your nose, since Spanish is a very nasal language, whereas English is a back-of-your-throat-sorta-thing.

Unfortunately, this rigorous assimilation has led to a very unusual consequence: I have developed what linguistics and mystics and retards alike have coined, a "Southerican" accent. And let me tell y'all something, creatures with ape heads, donkey tales and ostrich wings are nowhere near freakish as that. It is NOT hot bananas, fo' sho'. Luckily it only surfaces when I am surrounded by White Southeners (Im sorry, but I have a hard time understanding older black people), probably waiting and sweating at the Lady and Sons line when I was still employed by The Lady, or in any other professional situation. It's really bizarre****. Now, when I am casually talking to friends in English, my tongue takes a back seat and shifts to Rican mode, meaning I'm still talking in Puerto Rican (really cuz our shit aint Spanish, is something else entirely) but with English words. Thus, I am heavily accented. But not as much as when I am talking to foreigners and I fall into a very charming accent. It's very strong and tends to mimic the speech pattern of the person I am talking to. Basically it stops being a Puerto Rican/Spanish accent and becomes a European accent. This excludes situations in which the person hails from Great Britain. In that case, I straighten up my body and engage in my best Neutral American, in order to show those stuck up Brits that we are not a lot of heretic, cannibalistic, indignant, tobacco spittin' morons.

In all honesty, I have no idea why the freak did I just spent a whole hour detailing the charming history of Amy Nieto's linguistics. I guess I wanted y'all to remember why you love me so much. And for those of you who haven't had the exquisite pleasure of meeting me in person, or those of you who have only heard me talk when I am drunk off my Rican ass, I hope I have provided an insight, a window into the radical workings that make up the HOTAWESOME person I am. Thank you for joining us, my friends. Good night. *****

*Actually, thinking about it, we Puerto Ricans have a shady love/hate relationship with the R. First of all, we're lazy motherfuckers and we prefer to pronounce the L in place of the R, as in "amol" or "jodel" or "puelto rico", as it all requires less energy and we can concentrate more on our loud ghetto ass music and the cold cheap beer in our hands. Secondly, growing up in the South West portion of the island (the farthest region from San Juan, the capital), our ancestry can be rooted to some Europeans settlers and pirates (Dutch, French and even Croatian, where part of my family comes from) who evaded Spanish authorities by hiding in this area back in the good ol 17th century. So our R is subtly, slightly different than say, someone who's entire family has lived in San Juan. We scratch our Rs (think of how the French pronounce THEIR Rs) instead of rolling it. Which I think it's the most quaint thing ever.... .... But mostly, we're just lazy motherfuckers.

No, for reals. I'm not kidding you. I'm serious! My brother has been living there for the past 5 years (holy crap, I've been 5 years here in SAV) and I am going to move in for a little while till I have enough $$$ to go live on my own (that's right, NO ROOMMATES).

I need a change of scenery, I figured why not go all the way and move to the desert? Everyday I wake up feeling stuck here, as much as I love it. Things have happened, especially one little incident that drew the last straw, that have made me look elsewhere to relocate my Star Magnolia shindig. Yes, I will actually miss the magnolias blooming in late Winter. Will also miss the Spanish moss and the quiet Sunday afternoons. But... it's time.

To celebrate the 25 years on this Earth I shall embark on a grandiose ROAD TRIP ACROSS AMERICA IN ORDER TO FIND MYSELF (tm) from Savannah, Georgia all the way to Las Vegas, babay! I've romanticized the American Mid-West and West far too much since I was wee bit girl and now I will get to live it. A road trip of Jack Keruac and Robert Frank proportions. Hopefully, life will imitate art as I reenact Heart's All I wanna do (is make love to you)* and pick me up a handsome young stranger under the rain, wearing no coat or umbrella... and I won't even ask him his name... because.... I AM THE FLOWER AND HE IS THE SEED... or something.

In all seriousness, I feel this is right. And I haven't felt right about a decision in quite some time. Not even about New York or Raleigh. I am so weird. So So Weird.

So to those that reside or have lived in NC or have passed by, what's it like. According to some research I made a while ago, the crime rate is significantly lower than here in Savannah, and that's something really important to me, as I'm getting tired of all this crap and unbelievable paranoia. How's the general job market? What about the cost of living in the city and/or surrounding areas? The art community (do know there are two craft fairs held here). Rent in the downtown area, is it impossibly expensive (I can probably do no more than $700 a month, I'm used to paying $500 here in Savannah)? Is the nightlife fun (not that I'm the biggest social butterfly but it doesn't hurt to know)? Any of you work in the food and beverages industry? I also hear there's mountains. Something I haven't seen in over a year AND IT'S DRIVING ME INSANE. Flat ass Georgia.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!

But y'all know I won't do any of this. And that's because my belly will be like full of rocks from eating mami's food and I will be too sleepy to do anything at all. Cause that's how we Ricans roll. That's why we broke. We're too full to do any work at all!

I'm going back to Puerto Rico!!!
Okay, only for three weeks, but oh how excited I am! Haven't been home in a year and half, and for those of you that have witnessed the Caribbean awesomeness of my island, you know a year feels like twenty when you're away from it too long. My good friend Cynthia is tying the knot on March 17 and I will photograph this eventful day. Hopefully they will make the good decision of keeping all alcoholic fluids away from me, if they want good photographs.

But yeah OH HOW EXCITING!!! God willing, I will be pigging out on Meson, on empanadillas de carne en Joyuda, hot dogs del senor de la Plaza, la comida de mami, la comida de mi abuela, la comida de mi otra abuela, la comida de quien quiera alimentarme, pollo tropical, empanadillas del senor de la calle vadi, en cualquier chinchorro que Janice y yo paremos en nuestro road trip, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. Empanadillas por tres semanas. FUCK YEAH.

Why are you looking at me like that? Of course I can't afford to vacation for three weeks. But...do I look like I care? SRSLY?

Posted by starmagn at 11:15 PM | Comments (1)

January 16, 2007

Backstage at the CMAs

polaroid05


Originally uploaded by Amy Nieto.

Posted by starmagn at 01:10 PM | Comments (0)

January 12, 2007

HEARTTTTTZZZ

GAHHHH IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO LOOK AT IT!!! Now to figure out what to put up there. Why do I not have interior design skeelz??

Posted by starmagn at 11:23 PM | Comments (0)

January 07, 2007

My studio again

This is the other wall on my studio where the clutter is. You see that HORRIBLE mass of crafty mess on the left side? I want to get rid of that. Or at least organize it so that it is pleasing to look at. That wire shelf was the most affordable thing I could buy at the time, and while very functional, it's not pretty at all. I saw some lined baskets at Walmart under $7 dollars, I think that might help a little bit. All the books and magazines on the bottom left shelves, I want them OUTTA THERE and into my bedroom (not pictured for obvious and not so obvious reasons). Of course, I would also need a little bookshelf in my room to store these.

Suggestions anybody??

Posted by starmagn at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)

January 04, 2007

It doesn't help I live in the Humidity Capital of the World.

Dress worn for New Year's Day: HAWTNESS.
Messy arse hair: Not so much. No. At all.

Posted by starmagn at 11:15 PM | Comments (2)

January 01, 2007

La la la la memes

Because the store is paying me to surf and post silly memes on the internet. Awesome. Working on New Year's Day: LAME.

Posted by starmagn at 04:36 PM | Comments (0)

December 28, 2006

And I'm a lucky man with fire in my hands.

The sixth year (or fifth, whatever) of this new Millennium was/is undoubtedly the year I lost contact with myself in all sorts of ways. For 11 months and a half I felt my focus in life slipping away like nothing I've ever experienced before. The first pivotal event of my adult life, the long-awaited college graduation, only yielded more tears and confusion and an overwhelming unshakable anxiety of the most negative kind. A breakup that, yet again, I did not know how to handle, paving a treacherous way for the anger to claim my words and state of mind.

Here's to 2007, bitches!

Posted by starmagn at 01:10 AM | Comments (0)

December 22, 2006

Whistling away on a rainy Friday night

1) Drinking Buddy of The Year?
Drank "several" times with Carlos, Patrick and Jaime.

Posted by starmagn at 06:06 PM | Comments (0)

December 21, 2006

It's pink!

You guys have no idea how much in love I am with my Christmas Tree. Sure, I never did quite finish all the ornaments I had planned on creating, but I cannot stop looking at it. It stands right by my left as I write this. I dunno, it just makes me happy! Thankfully, I've felt a whole lot happier and resolved in the past week. I believe this upcoming year will be more upbeat than this past. But it all depends on me, of course. A lot of ideas and plans have been written down, and now I finally feel like my hands are up to the task, willing to create fantastic lovelies!

Okay, so my tree! OMG I love it. So I shall share with you fun closeups of its awesomeness (I'm also practicing on my Martha Stewart Weddings-esque styling and photo skills, to build on that crazy portfolio of mine)

These are some of the ornaments for the tree. There are only three handmade ones, because I got tired. The other two are random jewelry I found at the local junk/vintage shop.

This AMAZING ribbon is from my fave store in the whole wide world, @ Home here on downtown. I found both horses at the vintage/junk shop. For some reason each was missing one leg. hmmm

Posted by starmagn at 11:05 PM | Comments (1)

December 17, 2006

TrendWhor3

Surprisingly enough, I never filled out this meme back when everybody was doing it. I'm always on top of my game. Here it goes, y'all!

Didn't this meme use to be a whole lot longer?

Posted by starmagn at 12:20 PM | Comments (2)

December 11, 2006

Two thousands miles I've roamed just to make this dock my own

This is my new bag and OMGZ it is FANTASTIC. Orgasmic, even. I am so thrilled to finally own it (though it's not the Paul Frank original, oh well).

Yeah that's what's on my mind. Ugh. I hate thinking.



* OMG speaking about emo. So, okay, I'm kinda liking that Chemical Romance "Black Parade" song. Okay? It's emo, so sue me! Sue me in England!

Posted by starmagn at 12:41 AM | Comments (1)

November 06, 2006

Of signs and King Streets...CHARLESTON!

We went, We conquered, we saw cute stuff. Charleston was quite lovely and such a quaint town, or city. It felt good to be surrounded by buildings and wide streets with heavy traffic. Haven't seen that in a year. We visited so many cute indie boutiques that I forgot to take pictures of many of them (but I do have their websites!). I should be going to bed, but not before posting a few pictures here, and then some on Flickr.

This is where all the main shopping is done. An ecclectic mix of national chain stores and smaller boutiques. Worth the long walk.

I spotted this goooorgeous sewing machine from a second floor window and decided to go up, whether it was an apartment or a store, I didn't care. Much to our surprise, it was a studio where Adrian and Heather form Spinster Designs to reconstruct old vintage clothing and turn them into quirky new garments. Needless to say, we were so jealous of their studio.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the cutest attic EVER. IT HAS AN OWL!!!

How cute is that.


Unaware of my dreams and aspirations, Caroline at LulaKate boutique told me I should pack up my bags and head on to New York City as she did once three days after wrapping up college. Somehow I take this as a sign.


Then I saw this advice on a bathroom stall...and for some reason my forehead started hurting... probably from all these darn signs being hurled at my direction.

MORE PICS AT MY FLICKR!

Posted by starmagn at 12:25 AM | Comments (0)

October 31, 2006

Going to..

Yes, because I am in serious lack of funds and I love to dwelve deeper into bankruptcy, Le Friend and I are taking a day trip to Charleston this Thursday, because I've never been and it looks pretty.

But yeah!

Posted by starmagn at 02:27 AM | Comments (1)

October 28, 2006

Stand in the place where you are

I feel that I am so worried and obsessed of getting somewhere in life, that I am forgetting and neglecting where I am.

And it is eating me alive. I was never informed college would conjure so many discrepancies in your daily life once you were out of it.

Does anybody ever know how to get "there" or how to adjust the speed of your steps as you crawl and fumble your way out of this web of desperation?

Posted by starmagn at 10:26 AM | Comments (2)

October 25, 2006

A bird does not sing because it has an aswer; it sings because it has a song

This is me, astronomically bored at work and having dellusions of grandeur as I pose for an imaginary crowd of professional photographers.

I would miss this though:

Posted by starmagn at 10:16 AM | Comments (0)

October 10, 2006

These little town blues, are longing to stray...

Don't get me wrong. I am so glad and relieved about all the decisions I've made in the past few months in regards to my future: staying in Savannah to open up a cool shop, expanding my Star Magnolia line and perhaps do photography in some sort of way (I did spend 6 years in college for photo and film, might as well do something with it). And for the very first time in my life I feel that my feet are walking in firm, stable ground. I am more than thrilled!

What kind of industry/job would be awesome for me in New york City?!?!
Help me!!! I don't even know where to start looking!

Posted by starmagn at 11:41 AM | Comments (0)

September 16, 2006

OMGOMGOGM

Yes!! Okay so it's an old '95 Honda Civic that's dusty as all heck, but I got it from Le Muto and it was $500 bucks and OMG IT'S A BLOODY CAR THAT MOVES!!! It's my very first car EVARRR, insurance under my name, title under my name. OMG I can't contain myself.

OMG CAR!!!!!!!

Posted by starmagn at 08:58 AM | Comments (1)

September 13, 2006

Don't stop till you get enough

Still alive.
Life is hectic, even after graduating from college.
Working two jobs, may quit one (you go ahead and guess which one it is).
God willing, will get my very first car this week.
Boxes are still unopened at my new apartment.
Wall still unpainted.
Planning for Mutation going VERY slow (I believe this will be the last Mutation in a loong while).
Have NO idea what's going on in y'alls lives, as I have no time to read LJs.

In great need of a break.

*sigh*

Posted by starmagn at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)

September 03, 2006

LIKE OMG NEW PLACE

To my totally awesome, bright, inexpensive apartment in a so-so neighborhood (I'm sure it'll be allright, I'm just the world's biggest paranoid person, it doesn't help that I ride a bike everywhere).

But yes, pictures shall come soon, including images of the cutest shower curtain ever created and marketed by mortal men. Other frivolous purchases:

01) a 20 inch television with matching DVd player
02) red bathroom rug (to match my checkered floor tiles) from Target that cost me $10
03) a gallon of sea foam Behr paint for my accent wall in the studio
04) small shoe rack (this is frivolous because I seriously have like two pair of shoes, and that's it)
05) 8 pairs of Triple AAA batteries, instead of 8 pairs of DOUBLE AA batteries. Thank you, rotting brain.
06) more Polaroid film
07) new Star Wars paperback novel, HOW Self Promotion Design Annual Edition and the obligatory Martha Stewart Weddings magazine because God only knows the extent of my desperation and loneliness.
08)Oh gosh, microwaves and cuttingboards and other apparent useful kitchen and bath items.
09) Not to mention the rental car fee for one day of blissful driving. But dear God in heaven, those were the happiest 24 hours of my entire life. Why am I poor and car-impaired?

I haven't read anybody's LJs in so long, I am totally lost on y'alls lives. Care to update before I go through all y'alls massive entries? Seriously, why do you guys write so much?? (I'm kidding, I love reading through your musings!).

Okay, back to... I dunno, reading. I cannot locate my mop, therefore all cleaning will be postponed till.. I find the damn thing.

By the way, DID I TELL Y'ALL THAT I WILL HAVE MY OWN HUGE STUDIO SPACE AT MY OWN APARTMENT?!?! It even has a bay window and OHMYGOSH the sea foam green accent wall will look soooo fantastic!

OK I'm outsssss.

Posted by starmagn at 10:17 PM | Comments (3)

August 19, 2006

Barely alive (or awake)

Cutest thing ever: crocheted birdie from Crowded Teeth!

Just six days till I finally graduate college and I ain't givin' a damn about my classes. Not doing so well in one of them, I might just get a D and I am totally fine with that.

(Actually that's a lie, nothing ever interrupts my precious sleeping patterns).

DERRRR I HAVE A HALO IN MY HEAD LOLZ

Posted by starmagn at 05:53 PM | Comments (2)

July 29, 2006

Trebol of love

Things I am hearting at the moment:

Posted by starmagn at 06:27 PM | Comments (1)

July 28, 2006

Saturating the ground?

My brother suggested I open up an online consignment shop before venturing into brick & mortar territories. While the idea has been roaming around my head ever since we started running Mutation (which btw, application is up), I do realize there are plenty of established "distros" on the net that pretty much dominate that field.

I would love to interview the creators of such shops but I'm wary that they might not like to reveal much information, considering I'll be another competition they have to watch out for, you know? Sure we're all gung ho about promoting our indie community, but we also need to stay afloat individually.

Posted by starmagn at 02:34 AM | Comments (2)

Jacie, we need a PLAN...

My very good friend Jacie and I, in one last attempt at hardcore hanging out before she moves up north with her man JP, had the brilliant idea to paint on porcelain, something I had been eager to try for a while now. From this little adventure we learned that there are times in life when having a firm plan pays off quite well and saves you a lot of embarassment and regret.

Jacie, I shall miss you lots! Good luck up in Vermont! <3

Wow, I need to get some sleep soon.

Little Jacie struggling with her doggie bowl

Posted by starmagn at 01:19 AM | Comments (0)

July 24, 2006

the time has come...

I'm kidding, I love Almost Famous and everytime I say that I've made a decision regarding anything at all, I adopt Penny Lane's tone and hand gestures, even her pauses. lol

In the meantime, you might not hear from me for the next four weeks because OH MY GOD I AM ALMOST DONE WITH COLLEGE AND THUS IT MUST F*** ME IN THE A** TILL THEN BECAUSE THATS HOW COLLEGES ROLL, BITCHES.

Posted by starmagn at 11:48 AM | Comments (0)

July 05, 2006

flash flash

ZOMG I WANT THIS SO BAD!!!

It's a ring from Fred Flare! Oh FF, please marry me!

Posted by starmagn at 11:52 AM | Comments (0)

July 01, 2006

Hunting with 40 knives

BEHOLD! The best place I have ever lived in, EVAR. I've been dwelling in bliss ever since I moved to this apartment, it's truly amazing and great. Unfortunately, it is a sublet so I'll only be here for the Summer. The first three images are of my comfy room. Please take a minute to admire the GIANT TV that has been my friend, lover, mentor and spiritual advisor for the past three weeks. I have watched so much crap on TV it's amazing. I fail to comprehend how I've lived 24 years without a Television set in my room. Like, WOW, REALLY. In a wonderful merger with Netflix I have managed to watch half of the first season of Lost.

Pictures below show Bathroom #1 (a.k.a. WOW MIRRORED WALLS. ITS LIKE A MOTEL!), Bathroom #2, Living Room, Kitchen.

Posted by starmagn at 08:10 PM | Comments (2)

June 17, 2006

Presea mami presea

ROMPE ROMPE ROMPE
BIEN GUILLAO!!

Fuck it, I'm gonna have to surrender my smugness and give in to reggaeton. I tried and tried to stop it spreading throughout the world. But every where I go, there's freakin' Daddy Yankee, spreading his intoxicating gasolina on every damn ghetto hive he can infiltrate. Heck, my white ass manager has Gasolina in his iTunes. WTF.

Posted by starmagn at 12:28 AM | Comments (0)

June 16, 2006

Yeah... been out of it..

Due to graduations, pain-inducing finals, family visits, moving, strenuous work, not having my computer with me for five days and all sorts of distractions (like Television and intriguing Star Wars novels) my Internet time for the past two weeks has suffered a dramatic drop, resulting in me being totally lost in y'alls lives.

By the time this picture was taken I was dead tired, hence why I'm wearing old flip flops instead of my ridiculously expensive but oh so lovely kitty heel shoes.

I will still have Summer Quarter left, in which I WONT suffer another breakdown like I did this quarter. Not exactly sure the exact date of my departure to NEw York City. School is over on August 24th, then on the 25th I shall SLEEP AS IF I HAD WALKED ALL THE WAY FROM WICHITA ON A HOT SUMMER DAY CARRYING A DONKEY AND A HEAVY ASS VIEW-CAMERA. Oh yes. Then on the 26th I shall resume business once again.

Depending on how much CRAP I have left by August, I will either, a) Fly to nyc and mail all my belongings (which I'm somewhat uncomfortable about); b) Rent a big SUV and shove everything in there, c) Rent a small car AND a small U-Haul trailer. Whatever I end up doing, it will cost no less than $300, which is where family charity figures into the equation.

Anybody ever traveled from the South to NYC (or surrounding area)? How much in gas did you spend? Do you stay in a hotel midway?