This past weekend was a weekend of baby-step accomplishments for me but all in all I felt good about getting some things done! I managed to resort and organize all of my pictures, cleaned off the shelf that was holding the photo boxes and a lot of misc. items in the wrong place, cleaned off EVERYTHING in the powder room because of the toxic Scoop Away litter (never again!) and replaced litter with Arm & Hammer Natural, loaded the car with more items for Goodwill, found the perfect dress at Value Village for the Harlem Nights themed birthday party this weekend, picked up some needed supplies for some long awaited repair jobs around the house (wood and super glue) and actually managed to workout a bit!

Okay so not as exciting as some of the weekend updates on other blogs, I mean, I didn't dance around a room in fairy lights until I fell twice or celebrate NY FW  with friends in NY but considering that I'm working AND going to school full time I'd say that managing this much on the weekend is a great accomplishment! Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing I did....I hand washed about 8 pedistal sinks worth of dishes since our dishwasher hasn't been doing the job. And I HATE washing dishes! I also straightened my hair.

Some things I would have liked to get done:
   My nails!
   Some bags for the etsy shop (I promise that WILL happen again soon)
   Buying fabric for the dress we are designing at school
   Taking some outfit pics OUTSIDE!
   Working out more
   Oh what the heck as long as I'm dreaming, how about a trip to the SPA and finding someone to fix my crocked hair!

The most exciting thing is that I found an apartment that I really LOVE in L.A. Now I just need to research the neighborhood a bit to see if it's safe. The apartments are called Park Gramercy Apartments. They building is older and Destini loved the fact that it was in a U shape like the movie Rear Window. That might be a plus AND a negative. I love the moulding and detail inside the apartments and the price is great and they are larger than anything else we've seen. Des thinks it might be too good to be true so we will have to do some checking! Here are some pics from their ad on ForRent.com

The only negative is the poop brown carpet. I've been there done that, but hey, if the place is as reasonable as it lists, it's in a safe hood and there is a vacancy we might just take it!

the countdown......

Our first load for Goodwill is already to go! This weekend we will drive over and wait in the line for the drive-thru drop off so we can clear out our allway! It will feel good to get rid of all of these things but it won't be the last of it. The basement is slowly piling up with Garage Sale items for the spring and there are a few toys/games for the kiddos to use at the cabin (my great nieces & nephews) and some more Goodwill. WOW, it's so sad how we accumulate so much things we don't need and then you stop and think about people who have nothing and it makes up feel really selfish. The only way I can justify some of this nonsense is to reassure that I am doing my part by #1 donating and #2 frequenting the thrift stores to buy and make use of others discards before going and buying new again!!

Disguised and Modernized...

My last post mentioned a hair chopping event that took place at the Aveda Institute. I am finally settling into my new look and have decided that I think it matches my personality much better. It's more modern and it's not really like anyone else because, well, my hair is pretty crazy and not like anyone elses so it tends to take on it's own personality and has done so with the new do!

I did take some pics of before and after at the salon but decided, after a couple of days of straightening it the RIGHT way, I liked it much better so I took new after pics. Here are the results, I would love to get opinions! I also will try to post soon some pics of it now that it's short and curly.

This was a couple days before the cut!

Washed & Straightened before cutting!

After! When it's curly it actually ends at my chin ;o)

and counting......

Time seems to be going so fast. When I started counting the days I was shocked to figure out that I only have 201 days. That's 201 small, short days to completely change my whole life. It seems like a long time, especially considering that the week of the move the weather will be hot and sticky and now it looks like the picture above, but regardless it's coming!

Changes have already started to happen. We closed up about 8 bags worth of clothing and some home products to donate to Goodwill this next weekend and I am hoping to sort through some old mending and fabric as well and will have even more by the time I load up the car.

Now this morning I came in to hear reports on the Target Store that was hit by earthquakes over the weekend and it makes me wonder if I can handle all of that! I guess I don't have a choice and people probably think the same thing about us and our tornados and stupid snow!

Here are things that scare me about Cali:

#1 Earthquakes  (I've NEVER felt one before)

#2 Black Widow Spiders (I HATE spiders as it is and now I have to worry about dying from one)

#3 Fires and Mudslides (mud to me seems like something stupid to be afraid of, but I would think that would be the case for everyone till it takes out your house)

#4 the other wild animals (mountain lions, sharks and coyotes; I'm not really scared of the animals here. Deers don't attack and skunks, well you just run really fast! The raccoons are too scared to REALLY hurt you although their claws could do some damage!)

#5 Okay, I don't really want to say this because I consider myself pretty street smart and have gotten myself out of some tense situations but GANGS. I'm just gonna say it. It's not like we don't have them because we do, and contrary to most peoples belief we even have minority gangs believe it or not!!!!!! But, I have no problem with yelling at one here, I've done it! I did it when I was pregnant and he even apologized. My fear is that with my mouthiness I am underestimating the granger of the strength of the gangs and their power in LA. So I must learn to be passive I guess!!)

So on that note, I probably should end positively by mentioning all of the good reasons for us to move to LA!!

#1 WEATHER!! (I can't wait for no more winters and dispite what people keep telling me, I WON'T miss a white Christmas! I hate everything about snow and can't wait to NOT have to deal with it anymmore)

#2 These two kind of go together so Palm Trees and Beaches
#3 More Fashion (this will be great for me and hopefully give me opportunities to work in something I actually really enjoy)
#4 Auditions for Desta (yes, yes, I know. You are probably saying there are TONS of people who go out there with a dream and don't make it. And to that I say PISH POSH! There are tons of people that DO make it too! It's not the only reason we are going but it's certainly going to at least get her more auditions than she gets here even if most of them are no's. Here is the quote we often say to each other when we are on our way to an audition.....'It only takes ONE job....Just ONE!!!'
#5 Starting fresh. (It's not like everything here is horrible or anything, it's just the timing is so perfect for both of us, it just makes sense. It will be a fun adventure and hopefully one that brings us even closer together)

Changes to date that have happened towards the goal:
#1Chopped of tons of my hair for a new fresh look
#2 Bagged up all the pending Goodwill donation piles
#3 Today, Destini starts her PSEO Spanish Class at the Community College and I start Winter Quarter at A.I. AND Spring Semester at the Comm. College. Only about 6 more months of the school/work HELL and I am DONE!!! I will finally have my 4 year degree (and a apparel design diploma)!

Have you thought about how people make these huge life changing events happen without a hitch? Have you done it yourself? Can it be done as smoothly as I hope? Where in the heck are we going to live? What will I do for a job? It's all so scary but exciting at the same time. If you have any tips I would LOVE to hear them ;o)

....2010

Tomorrow is it, the first day of 2010. This will be a huge year for Destini and I. We will both be graduating in the Spring and then it's the moving sale and packing for the big day. When I see all of this talk of New Year's resolutions, I snicker! Some people and their little plans that are destined to fall through, and then there is us. Who within the next 8 months will be changing EVERYTHING! No time for resolutions here, we have bigger plans in mind. Plans that cannot be broken or forgotten but MUST carry forward and been seen through to completion. Will we make it? I have no doubt, we really have no choice at this point. I know it will be hard but it will also be great!