Forgiveness

I went to the PBWC yesterday. It didn't leave me as inspired as last year, but it definitely made an impression. I took a negotiating workshop and think that I learned quite a bit which will benefit me in my career. I was surprised to realize that a few of the techniques I already do practice and have been successful in using and look forward to trying out things I should be doing in the art of negotiation.

However what really hit me hard at this even was the workshop by of LeAnn Theiman called "Balancing Life in Your "War Zones"" Now her story was about rescuing 300 babies from Vietnam (one of those babies just happens to be a coworker of mine). But the moral of the story (at least, the moral I took with me) was to focus on what is a priority to you always, and to follow the signs. To me it was a reminder to trust in fate, in destiny, and to remember that every decision, good or bad, leads you to something great.

Another big part of her presentation was forgiveness. I have a really hard time with this in life. I've been burned, had backs turned to me by people who I never should have had to walk away from. People who should be there for you regardless of what you have or have not done in life. I've dealt with nasty, evil people and it's hard to forgive someone for those actions which you know are wrong. But what is even more of a challenge is forgiving myself. When she said this something just...clicked. She's right, I need to forgive MYSELF. I have been holding a serious grudge against me for a long time. Resentment for not being perfect, for making mistakes, for not living the way I'm supposed to, for making a bad decision. I've always said that I live without regret, and that's true, but looking back I wish I had done this sooner.

KRISTI, I FORGIVE YOU.

For every mistake I've made has led me to a greater place. For every decision I've made poorly, I've probably made 10 decisions amazingly. And please, what the fuck is living the way you're "supposed" to? So today I forgive me. I give myself a break for making mistakes, for not getting it done in a day, for saying the wrong thing or letting a task fall through the cracks. And tomorrow I move on, and start forgiving the ones that own way too much of my negative emotions.

Week in the Life 2012

Thanks to Michelle I was able to participate in this year's Week in the Life (project by Ali Edwards). I've realized by looking at these photos that I live a rather ordinary life. I get up, I go to work, I come home, I go to sleep. Next day, repeat. As I reflect on the week, I am reminded, however, that I do have amazing people in my life. My week
Starting off on Monday, which was pretty much the same as Tuesday, as Wednesday.
I drive over my favorite bridge five days a week.

Most of the work day I live out of this backpack.

Writing my tasks and brilliant ideas in this.

Tuesday, the admin team got these. I had a few people tell me happy anniversary. Too bad it wasn't my anniversary...nor was it actually admin appreciation day. Nor do I eat strawberries. I love that our team lead has no idea, nor gives a shit, as to who we are. Thank you, Genentech, for wasting $60 on this gift.

Tuesday I also made him take kissy face pictures with me.

Wednesday I went to happy hour with some of my favorite co-workers. I love when these girls get together, it's always good celebrity gossip time. :)

And Wednesday night wrapped up with yet another picture of us.

Thursday Jarid and I met up on Haight at a KidRobot toy release. Lawrence met us up there and we had a yummi dinner at Club DeLuxe (by far one of my favorite pizza place....thanks to Ben and Giant who introduced us).

Ah Friday, my favorite day of the week. This one was even better because we went to our first Giant's game of the season, and saw naked people!

Saturday I visited with two of my most favorite clients....and got a tattoo. I'm lucky I had two of my best friends there to keep me company (Jarid and Amy). And I was super happy that Amy brought her "fancy" camera!

This is at the end of my 3.5 hour session. Joe Parker @ Mom's is amazing and I'm so glad to have found him. He's awesome! I go back in a few weeks to get it finished.

Sunday was a lazy start. Did one layout in four hours (whoops). We dropped by Kidrobot to submit Jarid's altered toy for their contest then got dinner at Burger Urge (way over priced and not amazing). After that Jarid surprised me with a comedy show at the Warfield. We saw Jim Gaffigan and he was pretty funny. Boo kept the secret for weeks, I'm so proud of him...

So I'm really excited that next weekend is NSD. I'll be getting my scrap on with some of my favorite people. I hope that the weather is just as nice as it's been this week/weekend. The following weekend I'm heading up to Seattle (birthday present for my Boo) and can't wait to take pictures.... I have the feeling summer is going to go by really fast as already I see my weekends booking up. I intend to enjoy every minute of it.

What is this?!

Okay so blogger has a new look. Another reminder that I need to blog more, so I don't come here three months later and freak out cause it's all different. I've been the worst about blogging the last couple of years; it's amazing how much life changes...in a month, in a year, in years combined. I notice some folks are scheduling their blogs to post and that keeps them consistently updating their fan base....maybe I should look into that. Not for the fan base, because let's face it, I don't have a fan base. Maybe some day! Things this year have been the same ol' same ol'. Well, except for my move to Oakland which happened at the end of January. Of course that started a whole fiasco with my Fremont landlord. Still need to file the papers against her for unlawfully holding my deposit. Oh well. So now we live in a house, puppy on the way....in fact this is what I did today:
Before:

And here it is today:

So I'm not sure why this yard is such a mess, but the previous tenant/home owners decided to cover up the brick patio with potting soil which after much neglect turned into a massive pile of weeds. In prepping for puppy to come I want to make sure things are ready for her so I think this is the perfect start. So many things about this house we would change if we owned it...but we don't so it's about doing low cost upgrades to make us enjoy our surroundings to the fullest. The weather was amazing the last few days and I can't wait for consistent summer weather. Hopefully BBQ filled summer to come. Well I guess I'm going to wrap up the day by re-arranging the bedroom and hitting the hay so that I can get up on time, with enough sleep, ready to kick some ass. I think some friend scrappy time is in order for the week. In fact, I think I'll hit up my scrappy BFFs and see what they're up to this week.

Hello 2012

I start the new year with a cold, which Jarid & I are sharing. We're both munching on bad for us food, sneezing, blowing our noses and watching The Walking Dead. We managed to stay up to wish each other Happy New Year, but didn't make it to the Alameda Antiques Fair with MJ this morning or to any of the open houses we hoped to attend. Tomorrow we're seeing a place in Oakland that looks almost exactly like what we're looking for so we'll tough it out, sick or not, and make it to our viewing.

I'm excited for 2012. It's going to be a year of change. The first being in February when the best boss I've ever had leaves for an assignment with the company in another country. Jarid and I would SO go if we had the opportunity, so I can't blame him for taking it. I'm nervous about who is going to take his place, but if it's anyone that I think or have heard is applying for his job I think I'll be happy. Either way, 2012 is the year that Genentech takes me back to school to FINALLY finish my degree. Which means either by year end or early 2013 I'll officially be a college graduate and HOPEFULLY on a change in career path. I'm excited to see where I go from there.

In addition to that change, Jarid & I are hoping to move to Oakland this year. We've got a goal to save a down payment for a house but in the mean time want to move to the city to make sure that's where we're going to settle down. I use the term settle down lightly, because I've learned that life is never "settled" no matter how rooted you think you are. I never thought I'd be in the position to own a house; it's an accomplishment that I'm very proud of, and so happy that I have my life long partner to be to share the experience with. Through thick, thin, stress & anxiety he's so by my side, an for that I love him (along with the 20 million other reasons).

As like most of the people reading this, or not, I have some things I'd like to accomplish for 2012...in no particular order...

1. Move to Oakland
2. Go back to School
3. Get back up to speed in the scrapping world, getting involved with a retailer or online design team.
4. Make more time for friends. I feel like work has monopolized my time; and this year I'd like to make it take over less of my life.
5. Be more efficient. (In particular, with work - I need to stop brining it home!)
6. Go to New Orleans!
7. Take more pictures to document my day to day. I miss that!
8. Be healthier. Even if I spend a week, day, hour thinking about what I'm consuming it's gotta be better. I didn't get surgery just to plump up again. Even if I pay attention a little more this goal will be accomplished.

There are more things I'd like to do, but even setting 8 loose goals is more than I should. But hey, I'm ambitious.

But now it's time to eat dinner (thank you boo, for the soup & grilled cheese) and let the medicine do it's job. Until next time.

In Limbo

Do you ever feel like that? Like everything gets into such a routine, no changes, same thing every day....Don't get me wrong, life is still amazing for me. My boo is still amazing, one of the best people to ever walk into my life, work is still great, still have great friends, and in general things are good. But, I feel like I'm in limbo...like, there's something that needs to change or something. I'm not sure what it is though. End thought.

It's been a minute since I blogged, so I thought, let's blog. I was able to work a half day today, and not because I had anything planned, just because I needed a day away from work, away from any plans. First thing I did when I got home? Yep, nap. Oh do I love to nap. Kodi & Tedi love me to nap too, cause they lay with me the whole time. It's lovely. So after watching an episode of Clean House (apparently I'm obsessed with hoarding shows - Hoarders, Clean House, American Pickers) on Netflix I decided I needed to spend time in the creative room. So here I am. But then oh wait, I needed pics of my layouts that I've done over the last couple of crops so thank you distraction. As I go to do that I run into Bobby, our neighborhood cat. Isn't he cute?

This cat actually plays with the neighborhood kids, it's cute. They play chase, and yes, he chases them too.

Without further adeu (sp?) here are the last few layouts I've worked on:




Last weekend I went to Ashley's house up north for an over night crop with her and Marie. I was excited, not only to hang out and scrap all night (okay only until 12), but because I got to use my new tote! I have been wanting a new tote FOR EV ER! But all the ones I found were either too small or ugly. Suzy (Mrs. West) mentioned that some people use ones from the hardware store (told you, I'm obsessed with scrap stuff at the hardware store!) so I decided to check it out. After going to THREE (yes Boo, I shopped around) I found one. I'll have to take a pic of it sometime, but it's perfect! What a tease right, going to say I found the perfect tote then not even post it? Well how else will I keep you coming back.

Okay, with my half day offI'm determined to do something crafty!

Time to Scrap

It may be 8:30PM on the last day of my three-day weekend, but damnit I've got to scrap something! Actually, I shouldn't be so hard on myself. I did drive all the way out to Brentwood with Suzy to crop with Marie at Art Inspired Studios. I even managed to finish a layout, ha! I'm actually really glad I got out there Friday night. May not have gotten a lot of "work" done but I got to know both Marie and Suzy a little bit more, and they are both amazing women. I, of course, bought more product, that I don't need, but it's all just so purty. And Art Inspired is a great little store, just the perfect size. Oh geeze, I can't even believe I almost forgot that Daniela was there! It was a happy surprise to have her there too. :)

Well it's been busy since the last time I posted. I've been to Vegas, gone to a Kid Robot toy release, the Alameda Antique's fair, a baseball game AND a photo walk. AND, because I'm lazy, I'm not posting a bunch of pics of it all. You can always check out my Flickr (itssokristi) if you're interested. I haven't even caught up on posting all my photos there....someday, I keep telling myself, I'll get caught up. In the mean time, I try not to stress too much over it.

Here are a few layouts I've worked on in the last few weeks.








So now it's 9:30PM, and I have 30-minutes until laundry is ready to be folded and put away....do I scrap? Or, sit in my desk chair and watch Under the Tuscan Sun for the who-knows-how-many-times again? Hmmmm.....

I. Am. A. Hater.

Seriously, in hater mode right now. Mabye it's because one week after my car was broken into, Jarid's car was broken into. After filing my claim, and now having to file another, I have to hope that they will renew my renter's policy when the time comes. Like really? So if you actually have to use your insurance they're going to cancel you? And what, no one else will insure you? Makes no sense.

And also, I'm looking around online at the scrap world. And thinking. Why is it always the same people on EVERY manufacturer's design team? And hey, girls like Melissa Mann have amazing talent and have always stayed so true to their style so her, I WANT to see how she uses those products. But then you have other people who I won't name who have zero talent and are on every DT out there. People who steal other people's work, claim it as their own, then get mad when someone else teaches a class on the technique. Are you the kettle? Pot? I wish I could see more variety out there, more originality, more fresh meat!

And, can I just vent about work? Talk about stealing ideas and claiming them as your own, then getting pissed and pointing the finger when something goes wrong. Why am I the only one that speaks up about this? I think THAT's what pisses me off. 30 years of following someone else's expectations of me and I'm SO over that role. I believe in Karma though, so what goes around will come around, even if it's not until you're dead and sweating in a heated environment....

So anywho...on to some non-hater updates, lol.

This weekend I was a lucky girl and got to hang with these fabulous ladies:

And yes, are little photo shoot. We took a shit ton of photos, but I like these ones. Technically yes, I should have had a flash bouncing off the top of the enclosure, but don't we just glow together? LOL. Glowing about 14 hours of allowed scrap time, ya herd?! What's better than getting your craft on, gossipping, and eating goodies all day? (Wait, we didn't gossip, we don't gossip, that's just not cool, lol!)

Also had some fun last week with work:
The Communications Team at work. Had to take a group photo for the website and, being the lead of this team and all, had to make quite the impression.

Earlier this week I got to attend my first game of the season with these folks. My first game of the season was a snoozer. Giant's lost big time to the Padres. BUT, I did get to try a new restaurant. Epic Roasthouse. The location is pretty nice, but I didn't think the food was as amazing as the prices....just saying.

I've been scrapping too! I need to get some photos of my layouts to post. But tonight it's all about Haight and meeting new people. Can't wait to take photos!