Work Frustrations

Today was a very frustrating day at work. I really don't want all the drama here to get to me. But it does.

For some reason, getting something designed, printed, and delivered becomes an "End of the World" fiasco in this place. If something is not done in time or right the whole world is going to burn in hell. (Or that's what I feel like this job makes me feel.) My boss once told me, "It's just work. It's not the end of the world. Don't let it get to you." I have tried not to let it bug me but when other co-workers are constantly complaining and playing the blame game until they get their "pat on the back" and affirmation, it's extremely frustrating.

Halfway through the afternoon I decided to focus on the happier things in life. The part of my life that is rewarding and that I enjoy. The part that has nothing to do with my work. Life is not about work.

The clique is so true, "Work to live, Don't live to work."

Rebekah:: Oli's cousin's kid. These are the things to live for. ..

(Photo taken from Timches.com.. I don't think Tim or Chesney read my blog but if they do thanks for unknowingly letting me use your photo.)

Accomplished

This weekend I ...

:: Survived the work week - Thank you Jesus! Some days it doesn't seem like there is an end.

:: Did laundry - Only colors though. Whites are still waiting for me.

:: Cleaned the shower - Something I've been avoiding for so long, but after I pulled a foot of hair out to the drain it had to be done.

:: Went grocery shopping for the week - Amen to cooking at home. It's so much healthier for you.

:: Baked banana bread - I added more bananas this time and it turned out so nice and moist! Pat on back!

:: Made crock pot chili - Well it's still being made. Smells delish!

:: Went to the gym - Gym was hard but it felt SO GOOD.

:: Got a manicure and pedicure - I'm not a huge fan of mani-pedis (The abbreviated forms sound weird to me) but I got them done in the spirit of friendship and bonding. I have to admit they do look nice.

:: Updated my blog twice - With this post three times!! Woot woot.

:: Finished my application for Grad school - Yes..! With lots of help from Oli it's complete and ready to be submitted.

:: Emailed references for Grad school application - I've been avoiding emailing my references and I really don't know why. But now that my application is done I had more motivation!

:: Set up my Etsy account - FINALLY.

:: Posted something on my Estsy account - Cross your fingers. Etsy world here I come!

And last but definately not least

:: Oli and I officially joined our church membership today - Well the certificate said "Ollie and Mem Malabuyo" but same thing right? Yay! Thanks Grace Presbyterian Church of Yorba Linda.

We are so excited to be part of the covenant family!

What To Do

Project Number 5: Notepads

I love making lists. Lists of things to do, list of things to buy, list of things I've done and so forth and so on. I designed some "To Do List" notepads so that my pads are little bit more colorful and fun.

After all it's the little things right?

Write Me A Recipe

Project Number 4: Recipe Cards

Oli and I have a couple weddings coming up. Instead of buying a wedding gift for the couple off their registry I decided I should take advantage of my resources and make something that is a little more meaningful and personal.

I designed 2 sets of recipe cards. One is more contemporary and colorful. The other one a little more traditional and antique looking. I got these printed at work and order a couple recipe boxes online and Tada.. The end result ::

Note:: I also added a couple little knicknacks for one of the boxes to personalize it to the couple

Recipe Cards 1: Eat Drink and be Married::

Recipe Cards 1: Antique::

Note:: Each recipe card comes with a "Second card" which is a extra card to continue the recipe on in case it takes more than one card to write it out on.

Think Pink

Project Number 3: Embroidery

Another embroidery project. This one is a birthday present for a friend.

This is the Life

Oli and I first met when I was 14 and he was 15. We both played volleyball for our school's JV teams. His coach and my coach were high school friends and so both our teams did a lot of activities together. We had practices at the same time and would often share a volleyball court.

My very first memory of Oli was his serve. He is right handed but does some things with his left hand, one of these things was serve. And quite honestly I thought that was way hot! Yes, I found it attractive that he could serve with his left hand. Oli doesn't believe me but it's the truth.

We talked a little that school year but it wasn't until my junior year, when I was 16, that we began to hang out more. We had the same circle of friends and one flirty comment lead to another and it was all fireworks from then..

So 8 years and a billion and one movies later here we are.

Some times it feels like we are still in high school and other times I'm thankful we're past high school, but most of the time I think, "This is the Life", this is my life and what a wonderful life it is.

2 Strikes and It's Target

Yesterday Oli and I decided to go out for a little date. We made a delicious tocino dinner at home complete with asparagus and rice. After that we went to down town Brea to have dessert at the fake French crepe place. (I forget the name.) But before the crepe place I wanted to stop by Costplus World Market. We got to the door and were turned away by a store worker because it was closed. Strike one. Oh well.

Off we went to the crepe place. The crepe was good, my mocha was not. So after inhaling the dessert we proceeded to take a stroll around and noticed that a lot the stores there were closed or closing or had been replaced with other stores. I guess this area has a high turn-over rate. Too bad. It's a lovely place to walk around at.

Five minutes later we found ourselves at Old Navy. The lights were on, the manikins were dressed, the workers were working but the store was closed. Boo. Strike two.

So what did we do? We went to Target. You can always count on Target.

Our Apartment Complex and Pregnant Women

Our apartment complex is fairly large. It has lots of trees and lush landscaping that you kind of feel like you're in a park. Some of the lanscaping is unnecessary, like a patch of grass with a rock formation or a small stream but alas those details are what make this place nice to walk around.

I think that's why there are so many people who like to take quiet littler strolls around the complex. Actually let me re-phrase that, so many pregnant women. I feel like I've seen at least 3 pregnant women who regularly walk around with either their husbands or friends or other pregnant women. At first I thought it might be the same woman but last month I saw her walk around with a newborn in her stroller and concluded the baby had arrived. Then I saw another pregnant woman, then another. So there are at least 3.

Today I saw one walking arm in arm with her husband and a older lady who looked like her mother walking ahead of them. It was like a mini little parade with proud grandma in the front leading the way.

Those women are probably basketing in the quiet before the storm. Taking a few last peaceful walks around the block.

An Omelet Morning

I woke up this morning craving an omelet, actually I wend to bed last night craving an omelet and woke up this morning still craving it. So I attempted to make an omelet.

As you can see I have yet to master the fine art of omelet making. It turned into "scramble egg and vegetables". Oh well.. It was delicious.

Note to self: Get someone to teach me how to flip an omelet so it does not break into a scramble egg dish.

My Distant Cousin the Phone

The phone and I are not friends. Well not good friends at least. I can't decide if this is a result of my job where I have to talk to irrational, rude customers or if it's just me. But I think I'm leaning towards that it's just me.

I'm just not a phone person. When my family calls or I call my family it's usually short and to the point. I rarely talk to my friends, in fact the friend I talk to the most is probably Molly and she and I rarely talk on the phone, we just chat during work. It helps past the time by. Some times on his way to work Oli will call me and we'll probably talk max 10 minutes, which I don't mind. Due to our schedules sometimes I won't see him for days at a time so it's nice to catch up with him, and lets face the facts, Oli trumps all.

Strangely enough in high school I remember talking on the phone for hours. One time Oli and I talked for 6 hours straight. Ah Young love. And it wasn't only with Oli. I'd talk to my friends on the phone almost everyday even if had seen them that day at school. What's it with high school and talking on the phone? Perhaps it's because life was less complicated and required minimal of any responsibility.

I think I"ve just become a "I'd rather see you face to face" person, but when a good chunk of my friends are out of state or country it's kind of hard to do. So maybe I've become a facebook/text person or maybe.. Who knows.

So don't be offended if I don't call. If you know me well enough you should already know that you're friendship means a lot to me, I just don't feel the need to call you and tell you about the sandwich I ate today.

The phone and I are more like cousins, distant cousins twice removed.

This Life

I was looking at our fridge this morning and thinking how it seemed not so long ago that I had graduation announcements and engagement photos up and they have slowly turned into wedding invitations and now baby announcements. It's hard to believe that 2 years ago this May I was sitting in the sun waiting for Jon Anderson to call my name up so that I could shake the hand of the new appointed president of Biola and officially graduate. It seems like an even shorter amount of time ago that I was in high school playing soccer and taking AP art classes, two of my favorite things.

I miss the "hard" life of a high schooler or even college student. Looking back at those times it is funny to think that the things that were so horrible and "the end of the world" are so trivial now. They were nothing compared to getting a good job, or paying rent, or buying a house..etc. There are lots of things that I sometimes wish I had done differently. I should have become a nurse or gone to a less expensive school, or been more involved with art or this or that. But that is the benefit of the years. Most things, if not everything has a "better way" to be done. In the end it doesn't matter how it happened or when or with who, that's life. We make choices and we live with them. So just like everyone else I want to warn the me of my youth, "Don't do that, or stay away from her, or yes go there" but what fun would that be? As the clique phrase goes, "I wouldn't be the person I am today if not for the experiences I had." How true are those words.

I feel like I should be an old granny yelling out to the youth of today, "Don't waste you life. It's so short" while waving my cane with one hand and rubbing my aching back with the other.

Life passes us by so quickly.