Glittering Space Creatures in Iowa

Des Moines is getting a Yoshitomo Nara sculpture!

2011-04-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

Way to be awesome, Des Moines!

Today in the John and Mary Papajohn Sculpture Park, installation began for "White Ghost," the Yoshitomo Nara sculpture that is to grace the fine green lawn on the northwest corner of 15th St. and Grand Ave. The 12 ft tall sculpture was originally created by Nara, a native of Tokyo, for an exhibit at New York's Asia Society. I am so thrilled to see the finished piece in person!

Avoidance of Facebook Does the Mind Good

2011-04-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

You would think that by my age, people would pretty much get over themselves but with the invention of Facebook and social media has come a greater awareness of self image. I have always considered myself a late bloomer and have felt awkward about who I am for as long as I can remember. In life, there are times when you are more sure of yourself and where you stand in relation to your peers and the social circle surrounding you. As it stands, I am nearly 29 years old, never married, no kids, no house, and no career. The traditional benchmarks of one's life are yet to be met and measured- I am a blank book yet to be written.

Now I am going to be honest here for a minute. I have always struggled with weight issues. Although I don't think I am alone in this arena, the feeling of failure when it comes to my physical appearance, especially when comparing myself to my peers has become too much pressure. Comparing myself to all of you, people who are my friends, former classmates, and coworkers is unfair. Instead of working to become a better me, I found myself utterly captivated by the images and messages streaming to me via social media.

My response? To take a break from Facebook. It has been several weeks now since I have last checked in and I do not miss it. My feelings of self loathing have been replaced with a new acknowledgement of self worth. And it feels good.

I want to work to be a better me and my hope is that I will measure this success not by how my jeans fit but by how I feel and the smile on my face. It takes 6 weeks for a new behavior to become habit and 6 months for the habit be become part of your personality. As me in 6 months how I feel, and I hope I can say that I am feeling pretty damn good!

Top Albums of 2011...so far.

2011-03-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

In my most recent job, I have had a lot of free time to listen to music via my iPod, thus more of an opinion on what goes into my ears. With that said, here is my list so far.

Belong "Common Era"

Cut Copy "Zonoscope"

Ducktails "III: Arcade Dynamics"

Hype Williams "One Nation"

Maria Minerva "Tallinn At Dawn CS"

Nicolas Jarr "Space is Only Noise"

Sic Alps "Napa Asylum"

Six Organs of Admittance "Asleep on the Floodplain"

Art Show, Yo.

2011-02-26T10:38:00.000-08:00

I have really been thinking about putting on an art show lately. I feel revitalized about drawing and making art in a way that I have not felt in a long while. Maybe it is because of love? Yes, I will say because I have fabulous love.

In any case, the art show would have to be very small, miniature to be exact. All of the pieces shown are drawn with fine tipped Sharpie markers on index cards. I was thinking, however, that it would be feasible to re-create the pieces or ideas from each into larger scale paintings. What do you think?

I feel most happy making monsters and colorful worlds for imaginary scary cute things. Life is scary and the world in which we live in can be very ugly. For me, turning to fantasy is nice escape from working an office job and living in a stale and colorless world. It makes what is in my head turn to life on paper for a moment. Plus, I have a total thing for cute and all things cute related. Can't resist.

Ducky J

2011-02-26T10:30:00.000-08:00

A little late to be blogging this but obviously, I have not been on here much lately. A big thanks to NYLON for making life a prettier place. I totally want this adorable duck smoking a j pin that contains a Javelin album. Just plug your head phones in and taa-daa! You have music!

Bonsai in the Sky

2011-02-26T10:26:00.000-08:00

I had a dream about my bonsai the other night. In the dream, Juney, my Juniper bonsai had grown too large for it's pot and as a result, I chose to repot it in a botanical garden with water surrounding it. I crumpled up large chunks of fool's gold, otherwise known as Pyrite for it to be planted on top of. In my dream world, art can become reality for a few hours a night and I can live freely.

Tree in a Melting Sunset.

2011-02-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

Little known fact- I have never done acid. This adorable tree I drew with colored pencils and fine tipped Sharpies seems to suggest otherwise. This little guy was one of the first things I drew when I finally got access to the full color wheel of Sharpies and it made me very happy to draw. Also, the drawing is small and portable, drawn on an index card. I genuinely wish trees really looked like this. My favorite color is sunset.

Fong-Riffic

2011-02-26T10:01:00.000-08:00

I am so very happy to be a Des Moinesian these days, especially when it comes to making choices for extravagant dining experiences. Tonight, Jason and I are using the last of our Living Social deals for some pizza and tiki drinks at Fong Pizza in downtown Des Moines. Crab Ragoon Pizza? Yes! Bacon Popper Pizza? Yes! 180 ounces of alcoholic beverage served in a dragon? YES! YES! YES!

Melty

2010-11-07T19:47:00.000-08:00

I feel that even the most profound words in the English dictionary could not do justice to the extraordinary circumstances and happenings of the last three weeks of this lovely life of mine.

Alas, I will attempt to elaborate.....

Life is devastatingly stunning and seeks to astound my formerly somnolent heart during the most unexpected moments.

Thanks Roomie!

2010-11-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

Look at the adorable erasers my roomie gave me! Sushi!!!! Yay!

drrrrrrrrawings

2010-11-05T15:31:00.001-07:00

Making time during my busy work day of temping to listen to iPod and draw on little note cards. Love drawing cute little guys!

Red Red Red Red Red Red

2010-11-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you eBay for these fuckin' lovely handmade Jeffrey Campbell heels in mint condition. Perfect fit and only $25 bucks. You can bet I will be wearing these things every frickin' day until they fall to pieces. Sooo perfect for fall!

Beer + Weekend = Yay!

2010-10-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

Adjective of the weekend: EPIC

State of Mind: Buzzing with happiness.

Final Thoughts: Awesome.

We All Die Someday

2010-10-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

On the afternoon of October 17th, 2010, Miss Sara Jane Laue spent time in the cemetery figuring out where to dig her own grave.

You Are The Prettiest Thing That I Have Seen All Day

2010-10-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Taking a trip to the Atomic Garage in the Valley Junction makes me happy. Especially when it is a perfect fall day like today.

The Perfect Day for Clogs

2010-10-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Me and Jeffery Campbell have a love-love relationship. You see, the brand continuously keeps making the most fabulous shoes and I keep spending all of my money on them! Today felt like a perfect day for sky high wooden clogs. Added bonus, I gain like 4 inches in height!

In Chronological Order.....

2010-10-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Artist Justine Lai gave me a chuckle today. She has taken to painting herself having sex with all of the US presidents.... In chronological order! I like the one of her and Mr. Lincoln the best so far.

Check out her site for more lovely paintings. Click HERE.

Des Moines, You Are Beautiful

2010-10-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

Ah Des Moines, you are a fair, fair lady.

Roller Girl

2010-10-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

Tonight, my roommate Christina and I went to the roller skating rink for some much needed practice before derby try-outs. I love it! I had so much fun and I feel like I am getting much better and am quickly gaining skills that I will need for the skill tests that I will need to take in order to get on the team. I think the smile never left my face the entire time I was skating- I probably looked ridiculous and that is OK cause I felt ridiculous-ly happy! Yay!

Doll Parts

2010-10-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, just as demented as it looks, I assure you.

I will take one of each, please!

2010-10-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

Thank my lucky stars for El Bait Shop in downtown Des Moines and it's lovely sampler of beers. OK, so maybe I am a bit naive or something but I thought the beers would be a little bit smaller. I was certainly a bit tipsy after finishing my sampler entitled, "You Put What In My Drink?" The beers arrived on a plank and I had a lovely time going around and trying each. The interesting thing is that the flavor really seemed to change when I started to eat my meal. For instance, the Rouge Chocolate Stout tasted considerably more chocolate-y and a bit coffee like after having salty food. All in all, I would have to say go sample some beer at El Bait Shop if you are in town. It is a darn good time.

Not So Happy Meal

2010-10-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Today's article on Yahoo News was a bit of an interesting, but hardly shocking one. Some genius was awesome enough to experiment with the decomposition time of a McDonalds Happy Meal. Not so surprisingly, the thing has resisted decomposition. The kicker is that the food pictured is 6 months old! It's like zombie food or something!!!!!

Click HERE for the full article.

Making a Mixed Tape

2010-10-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Gotta love the fine art of making a mixed tape. I will be making one this week and it has been a while. Hopefully it will turn out OK. For some reason, making a mixed tape always made me so nervous! As in, "Don't judge my selections too harshly, please!"

Holy Fuck.

2010-10-11T21:19:00.001-07:00

The Japanese Popstars Feat. Green Velvet - Let Go from David Wilson Creative on Vimeo.

I think I just got my mind blown.

If Only I Could Be This Cool.....

2010-10-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Damn. I love the way this girl moves in her tight, shiny futuristic dress. Bang Bang.

Old Friends

2010-10-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

It is always nice to spend the day with an old friend you haven't seen in ages :)

Aurora....

2010-10-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

My friend Kendra's daughter Aurora is one of the most hilarious kids I have ever met. Recently, the talented and fabulous Erykah took some photos of the super girl in her very hot pink costume. I love them so very much!

The World's Most Dejected Bird

2010-10-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

Thank God for Mars Cafe. My sanctuary. A place where I feel comfortable to pick up a pen and start to draw again after all of these years. And write. My home.

Plum Wine Sake on a Sunday Night

2010-10-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

Always one to give in to spontaneity, when I was itching to get out of the house last night and heard that Kelsey had a bottle of plum wine sake, I definitely felt much need to celebrate! I packed up a bar of Lindt dark chocolate with orange, Nutella, an apple, and a six pack of Boulevard Wheat. What ensued was nothing more than a giggly good time.

Kelsey's mom had given her a little bitty tea set imported from China where the dragon turns red when heated up and heated up sweet sake is the best! We got tipsy, played with Nadir the Corgi, and chatted about all of the wonders of the world:) A very good night, indeed!

Cobain

2010-10-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

I will never stop loving my teen anti-hero, Kurt Cobain. This picture is amazing. I will forever want to know more about this man and the mystery enveloped around his life and death.

If anyone has some spare cash, they should buy me this book from Amazon.com

Banksy Simpsons Intro

2010-10-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

British street artist Banksy created the most recent Simpsons intro. Alot of interesting talk has resulted from this gutsy move. What do you think?

Check out some of the articles out there:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/the-simpsons-explains-its-button-pushing-banksy-opening/

Autumn Season & Spencer the Dog

2010-10-03T16:08:00.000-07:00

The autumn season has come upon us and behold, my lovely dog Spencer as he prances and waddles in his new skeleton hoodie. What a cute little guy!

Gray's Lake on a Lovely Afternoon

2010-10-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

Pink Tutu

2010-10-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

Today, I revisited-the DAV Thrift Store to pick up the most unforgettable theatrical attire I had seen on the racks the other day. Although it might be a bit impractical for a 28 year old woman to have a pink tutu in her closet, I will agree to disagree. This thing is magic! When I put on that green sequined top and matching tutu, I feel like hula hooping the afternoon away on a high wire!

This get-up makes me want to run away with the circus!

Joblessness is Like a Fine Wine

2010-09-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, just like a fine wine. Wait, should I get a cup? Eh.

You Had Your Way With Me

2010-09-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

Huggy Bear makes me fucking happy as hell.

You've got a silver rocket burning a hole in your pocket.....

2010-09-30T08:33:00.001-07:00

This kid is trouble.

Doggy Friends & Their Cute Humans

2010-09-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Spencer is making friends in Des Moines! I love being in such a dog friendly town and going on doggy play dates as well as to the dog park. Spencer is very happy that his pack includes Gus & Sam and their human, Christina. Love it!

Home Sweet Fucking Home

2010-09-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I moved..... again.

I moved to the Des Moines area into a house with a kick ass roommate and between her dogs and mine, we have 3 little guys running free and dog piling into my bed in the morning. I am happy to be in a place where I have lots of friends who care about me. I feel very positive about the future and I know good things are happening all around me. And, Spencer has a yard to play in now!

Just Thought You Might Like To Know.....

2010-09-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

Just incase you were one of those nay-saying bitches that I went to primary school with or one of those coke-head whores that I went to university with, I wanted to remind you that I am not a mangy dog that you can kick under your feet. I don't know why it took me so many fucking years to figure it out but guess what, I AM GOOD LOOKING! Yeah!

This email from OKCupid (yes, the dating site), arrived in my email box the other day and it made me smile. Apparently, users have rated me higher than average and the other cool thing about this is that I am not looking slutty or showing skin, it's all about my cute face. <3>

Rockin' Out in the a.m.

2010-09-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

Ah, the glorious trials and tribulations of unemployment. By far the best thing so far about my joblessness has been the ability to wake up whenever I feel like it and then to rock out all morning long to some quality jams. This morning was a bit Riot Grrl/ early 90's, gritty and raw, just the way I like it.

Note to self:

2010-07-16T04:39:00.000-07:00

I will not base my self worth on how I look.

The Lovely Miss Misty Miller

2010-07-11T20:14:00.001-07:00

I want a Timmy Woods poodle purse sooo badly!

2010-06-19T19:57:00.000-07:00

How cool would I be if I walked into the office on Monday morning with a bitchin' pink poodle purse?! I want it so badly and it's only $275!

Close Up

2010-06-19T18:25:00.000-07:00

Going out in the rain....

2010-06-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

I have never been one to let a little bit of rain ruin my whole weekend. On Friday night, Will, Pam, and myself when to the Englert for Cirque Stupendo and Les Dames de Burlesque. What an amazing show. Afterwords, we went to the Deadwood, of course!

Iowa City Pride

2010-06-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

Today, Spencer the Dog and I hit Iowa City Pride for some fun and friends. NOTE: I went alone so there was no one to take photos of me and my dog so I used two from the Little Village taken by Kent Williams.

Doesn't Spencer look soooo cute getting his Pride on? Spencer the Dog was a huge hit with his rainbow glitter fairy wings! Too bad the poor pup was too hot and tired to go further in the parade after only a few blocks. He did, however, get about a million photos taken and was petted and cooed over by every passer by.

Pho!

2010-06-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

I had a huge hankering for Pho today so I hit up Mekong for some Vietnamese yummies. Totally love that place. Great atmosphere, yummy food, a whole tea pot full of tea, and spicy extras to get my Pho just the way I like it. Yum!

New Dressssss. Thanks, Molly!

2010-06-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

Totally hit up Molly's garage sale yesterday before it got rained out and purchased some of her lovely goods, including this fantastic dress. Yay for polyester!

Mountain Goats Time!

2010-06-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

Went to the Mountain Goats show last night at the Blue Moose with Pam. The Beets opened and they were very cool and garage-y. The house was packed and it was hella hot in there but a great show all around.

Spencer's Hiking Backpack

2010-06-06T16:52:00.000-07:00

This summer when we go camping and hiking, Spencer is going to carry his own gear. We got him this special doggie backpack to do just that. Hell, he can even carry my car keys. What a useful dog!

My Spencer Tattoo

2010-06-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

I had Sean from Iron Heart Tattoo in Des Moines, IA do another tattoo for me on Saturday. I could not be more pleased with how it turned out! Spencer looks cute and cartoony but you can for certain tell it is my dog and that is exactly what I wanted. I am forever binded to my loving dog with this piece:)

Spencer Vision 2.0

2010-05-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Brunch at the Burg

2010-05-15T10:11:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday, as tradition goes, we wished Devyani a farewell at the Hamburg Inn. Nothing better to send a lady on her way than malts, hashbrowns, pancakes, and eggs!

My Dad is a graduate!

2010-05-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

I am super excited for my Dad because this year, he went back to school full time. He worked very hard and even had tutors for some of the tougher classes, but he made it through. His lowest grade was an A!!!

Major congrats to my Dad for proving that it is never too late to go back to school.

The Day Spencer the Dog Ate Xylitol Gum

2010-05-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

Today, I was scared for Spency's life. Spencer and I ran into the Co-Op to get some Quinoa (kinda like rice only better), and when I came out, he had eaten what was left of my pack of Orbit gum. I think there was only 6-8 pieces of gum left in the package, thank goodness. Still, I know that Xylitol can be so bad for dogs that it can kill him we went to Bright Eyes and Bushy Tails, the emergency vet in Iowa City. They gave Spencer a shot of apomoriphine and he was barfing it all out less than 30 seconds later. Added bonus, he also barfed out the Quinoa, which he scarfed down, unbeknown to me that he had also gotten into it when I ran into the vet for a second without him.

All in all, I think my little doggie is going to be alright. I was super scared last night, cause if the Xylitol got into his bloodstream, the vet said his blood sugar could drop dangerously low and he could pass out or go into a coma. Also, larger amounts of Xylitol can cause major liver damage. Some dogs have made it through and then had to be put down due to the delayed liver damage. Hopefully, there is no liver damage in Spencer. Poor pooch now gets sneaked a Pepcid in cheese to calm his tummy and I cooked him rice and hamburger. Lucky dog!

I am very thankful that Spencer is OK.

Focus

2010-05-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

I am happy to have these last few weeks off so that I can find my focus and gain more clarity in my life. When you work too much, you focus on money because you have no time for the real finer things in life such as health, family, love, and learning. Since I have been out of work, every day has been a joy and a learning experience. I am finding out things about myself that I didn't know were there and I am a much stronger and happier person than I remember.

I have decided that my focus in the coming time is to change how I feel, rather than focus on how I look. I am learning how to feel good and believe it or not, this is not something that comes naturally to me. I will be turning 28 one week from today and the realization that I have been depressed for exactly half of my life is not a pleasant one. Yes, I have been depressed for at least 14 years! Fortunately, I had a moment of realization. I thought, "You know what, just because I have been depressed for half of my life doesn't mean that I have to be depressed the rest of my life." How very simple yet profound. Yet, if anyone were to tell me this exact statement, I would never have thought it true until I was ready to embrace it.

So here I am, starting a new job and having my 28th birthday exactly one week from today. I feel hopeful for new beginnings, and at a time when I expected to feel worst of all (AKA being unemployed), I have been able to turn things around for the better and get my life back on track. One can only hope that in a few months time I will be happy and feeling better. My anxieties and fears will be lifted and with that will hopefully come weight loss and better physical health. I know I can not continue life at the rate I had formerly been living.

I am quiting drinking soda and coffee, and instead drinking tea. If you catch me saying bitter or jealous things about others, smack me in the face, hard. I am exercising more and spending time outdoors, rather than logging time on the computer. And I am cooking my own food rather than eating out or snacking on junk food.

Focus has been found!

My Dog is Spoiled

2010-05-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

Spencer the Dog is spoiled. Here is my boy with all of his toys! What a kid!

Yay for the Midwest Teen Sex Show!!!!

2010-05-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

Tonite was a fantastic and relaxing end to a lovely weekend. I met up with friends for coffee and afterwards, we watched the infamous Betty White on SNL episode that had aired last night. Thank God for Hulu. Betty White is such an amazing 88 1/2 year old woman!

After this, I felt like trying out my culinary skills by making homemade potato chips and black bean dip. A big thanks to my lovely friend Devyani for the cooking expertise! The chips were made from thinly sliced red potatoes and were lightly covered with oil and flavored with salt, pepper, and rosemary. They were then baked at 350 degrees for a long time, but it was very worth it!

The dip turned out well too. I am pretty broke right now so I am cooking with canned goods that have been collecting dust in my cupboard for quite some time now. I took a can of black beans and added in some diced tomatoes, along with some sauted garlic and onion and then seasoned to taste. I am really starting to like cooking and as an added bonus, I will get to eat more healthy things as well.

While the cooking was taking place, Devyani and I watched my new favorite, the Midwest Teen Sex Show. Kudos to the amazing and talented crew who have put together this hilarious and informative show. Tonight, I learned all about Fetishes, Gym Class, the Penis, and Female Masturbation. A very interesting evening indeed!

Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

In honor of my dear friend Michelle's Birthday, we went to the Mexican Restaurant Cactus for an evening of Margaritas, good food, and great friends. I love the big hats we got to wear, although they were very heavy. To make the night extra crazy, the staff at Cactus was sure to bring out lots of free shots of tequila. But no tequila for this lady! I get too crazy!

Pin it up.

2010-05-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Devyani, Spencer the Dog, and I traveled to Independence, Iowa to have a photo shoot with the talented Miss Kristen Wieland. Her dad has the most amazing old cars and we were lucky enough to get to work with them for the evening shoot. Spencer ran wild with Betsey the Beagle and while I wasn't dog sitting, I got to peek in at the shoot. The photos turned out amazing and I can not wait for the Pin-Up Girl Calender Kristen is working on to get finished. It's gonna be hot!

Me and My Dog

2010-05-02T19:25:00.000-07:00

Since I have had time to breathe in the last two weeks, my dog and I have spent so much time together. We take walks around the the neighborhood, go to the dog park, take nature hikes, and cruise around in the car together. I am so happy to spend time with my dog! Look at him, he is loving his life!

Horray, I have my life back!

2010-05-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

I have not been this happy in ages. I can't remember the last time I have been this happy. Everyday, I am living life to it's fullest. I get to see my friends, I get to have dinner with my family, I spend time with my dog, I go hiking, I cuddle my boyfriend, I bake goodies.... Life is good. I am very happy that I quit my job at Journey's. Working 6 days per week, never having a weekend off, and sometimes working 80 hour weeks really took a toll on who I was and my relationship with others.

It has been 2 weeks since I have quit now and I am 100% confident that I made the best choice. During these 2 weeks, I have had many interviews and have finally accepted a job offer. My new job will start on my 28th birthday, on May 17th. I will then be simply working 8:30-4:30 Monday - Friday. I will have free time to be happy, build friendships, and live again. I am so grateful for this. In the meantime, I have 2 more free weeks to figure out more things about my life and where I want to be.

I have realized that I have been depressed half of my life and that for as long as I can remember, I have been self-depreciating, jealous, and spiteful. But just because I have been miserable for most of my 28 years on this planet does not mean that I have to be miserable forever. People can change and I can be happy everyday, I can feel confident about myself, I can love who I am, and I can change and be a better person.

Jobby Job Job

2010-04-29T13:39:00.001-07:00

So it has been about a week and a half now since I quit my job and it has been the best week and a half ever!!! Days off! Wooo! I have time to relax, hang out with friends, cook, take the dog to the dog park, and go hiking. AND, I have been applying for more jobs than a person could ever handle in a lifetime!!!!

Today, I had 2 second interviews and one initial interview, which 2 of the 3 resulted in job offers. My new job will start May 17th, on my birthday. Tomorrow, I take the drug test, which will be cake, and then what to do for another 2 weeks?

I will be broke for most of May and this means no more dining out and instead, eating what has been stocked away in my cupboards. I have about 6 cans of tuna, 10 cans of soup, 5 cake mixes, ramen, spaghetti noodles, and frozen and canned veggies galore. Maybe I will lose weight in the month of May afterall?

Life is changing and I am happy for the change. Anyone who knows me will say that I am always moving around and trying new things. Hopefully, my new job will be a career or lead me on the path to more permanent employment because to be perfectly honest with you, I am not getting where I want to in life by moving every six months and changing jobs all of the damn time.

I Hate This Job, And You!

2010-04-26T15:07:00.000-07:00

I Hate This Job, And You!

Dear ________________:

Yesterday I woke up and realized that this is the worst career experience I've ever had. Therefore, I'm officially notifying you of my resignation from [company name]. My last day will be today.

This company has many problems. [insert problems here]

On top of that, I can't stand to work for you any longer. You, alone, have been a constant source of pain and suffering for me ever since I started this job. I can't understand how you made it this far in the professional community.

Today is a great day for me. I will never have to see, hear or listen to you ever again. Goodbye, and good-riddance!

Warmest Regards,

Miss Sara Jane Laue

My Dog Ate My Glasses

2010-04-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! Today my dog ate my prescription glasses. The glass broke in half and the frames were mangled beyond recognition. My dog is such an asshole sometimes!

So in honor of my dog killing my vision, I will be getting new frames this week and I am totally shooting for the cute red Oliver Peoples frames as seen here on the lovely miss Zooey Dechannel. Let's hope they look cute on my face!

Calling All Lonely People!!!!

2010-04-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest for a moment. I have no fucking friends. I get depressed about it almost daily. It's embarrassing that I only have my dog and boyfriend to hang out with. I am acquainted with alot of cool people but none of them are ever responsive when I ask to hang out. Everyone I know is either married, happily coupled, or has kids. When it comes time for some quality hang out time, those people are not my go-to activity partners. I ask if they would like to join me in the activity and I get shut down every time. I have accepted this. I am trying to get over it.

So what I am left with is myself. I used to believe that there was something wrong with me because there have been times in my life where I had no friends. I understand that the people I currently know are too busy to hang out with or live too far away so I have to figure out a way to make new friends. As an adult, making new friends is hard. Most other 27 year olds don't have time to hang out and already have all of the friends they need.

At this point, I can't get that picky. My main requirement is that they are female so I don't make my boyfriend jealous. I do have a few other requirements but they are very basic.

I want a friend who:

-Likes animals

-Likes to go shopping

-Does not do drugs or drink heavily

-Lives in the Iowa City area

There ya go. So if you don't currently have a bestest friend ever and wanna be my friend, contact me! We can hang out, go shopping together, go to the dog park, try new restaurants, and watch movies together. On your birthday, I am sure to give you a decent present and I will love you forever!

email me at : sarajanelaue@gmail.com

My New Hairs

2010-03-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, soft fluffy hair!

FOREVER 21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-03-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

I am sooo very excited and anxious for the Forever 21 to be finished at our mall. Prepare for the lovely fashion to begin!

The Pink and Blue Project

2010-03-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

Ah, to be a girl! I love the color pink so very much and for these little girls, pink is a way of life. The Korean artist Jeongmee Yoon was inspired by her daughter's love for pink. Yoon created the "Pink and Blue Project" to document boy's and girl's around the world and their love for pink and blue things. How super cute and oh so OCD. I love it!

Lovely Trash... My Love Affair with Patricia Fields

2010-03-19T20:17:00.001-07:00

My Life in Patterns

2010-03-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

TJ Maxx time with Erykah!!!

2010-03-15T21:22:00.001-07:00

Tonite, Erykah and I messed around at TJ Maxx in Cedar Rapids. Oh the fashion statements to be had! Gotta love TJ Maxx but seriously, the store was pretty dry on good stuff tonite. Nothing but Ed Hardy shoes, True Religion hats, and Juicy Couture purses. Yuck!!!! Well, fun anyhow!

The last time I was skinny was in 8th grade

2010-03-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the only photos of me when I was skinny, or even remotely thin. This was taken in 8th grade- AFTER I had been sick and almost died from a tumor in my ear. I was so sick in fact, that I was out of school for two weeks and could barely eat. I think after being sick and the 18 hour surgery I got down to about 125 and a size juniors 6/8. Still fat by most hottie standards but still! Almost dieing never looked so good!!!!!

Tattoo Day!

2010-03-05T17:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got a new tattoo. Sushi! Sean at Iron Heart in Des Moines, IA drew up such a super cute sketch so I knew this would be an amazing tattoo. Will kept me company and I brought gummy bears and ring pops to distract myself. Sean kept me comfortable and finished the tattoo in about 2 1/2 hours, which was pretty quick. I am excited for my new tattoo and now I want another:)

Cute, huh?

Now Channeling: Cuteness

2010-02-17T21:40:00.000-08:00

I live and swear by cuteness and bling. Here are some photos from the top of my dresser, which is my happy spot.

My jewelry is my joy!

My new Betsey Johnson bow earrings:)

Spencer and the Heart Shaped Donut

2010-02-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

Spencer and I love to share a donut and milk on our little cruises around town. A heart shaped donut! How cute!

The Blue Moose :)

2010-02-17T20:22:00.000-08:00

Went to see St. Vincent last night at the Blue Moose. Sadly, the only photos I got were of the moose! Oh well!

I have caved in....

2010-02-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

I caved in and got one..... A Coach purse! Am I lame? I chose the littlest one in a cute lavender/ mauve color. I love it:)

Vintage Valentines!

2010-02-13T21:41:00.000-08:00

I love the old Valentines we used to give out at school. I remember decorating a shoebox to hold the Valentines and eating more candy than I should have. Oh, Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, Suckers!

2010-02-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

XOXO Love ya always,
Sara

Amigurumi

2010-02-11T22:16:00.000-08:00

I ordered up some caaaa-ute knitted animal thingies from Urban Outfitters when they went waaaay clearance about a month back. I love them:)

Our Bedzzzzzzz

2010-02-11T22:07:00.001-08:00

Our old bed frame broke recently and the IKEA mattress we had been sleeping on was aweful! You could feel every spring digging into your back and you never got a restful night's sleep. We decided it was time for an upgrade so Will and I purchased a new Queen Size Lebeda Mattress. A-mazing! I love waking up feeling great and stretching out onto a nice, soft, cushy bed after a hard day's work!

Isn't the bedding sooo cute?! Our bed is definitely retro inspired and Spencer-approved:)

Best Shopping Day, EVER!

2010-02-11T15:12:00.001-08:00

Today ruled sooo hard. I had the day off for the first time in a few weeks so a bit of shopping was obviously in need. My first stop was TJ Maxx in Cedar Rapids. Spencer the Dog came along for the ride. I was hoping to find a hot new handbag but came out with some treasures that definitely were not handbags. Oh well, that's how it goes, I guess.

In my cart:
1. Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses - $39
2. Betsey Johnson earrings- $13
3. BCBG silk top- $5
4. Liz Claiborne top in hot pink- $5
5. Liz Claiborne top in blue- $5
6. Bill Blass batwinged gold lame sweater - $13
7. Betsey Johnson 2 pack of tights- $2
8. Givenchy patterned tights- $1
9. Apple Bottoms wool motorcycle jacket- $15

Who knew Liz Claiborne actually made cute stuff? Both tops tie at the neck secretary style and rock my world. And the Bill Blass sweater looks like something Holiday Barbie would wear in 1988 so I had to have it! The BCBG top originally retailed at $150. Some good deals in the cart, if I do say so myself!

And for my little dog:
1. Box of fancy organic doggie biscuits- $4.99
2. Toy that makes crazy electronic noises-$4.

Spencer and I cruised around and ate a donut and drank some milk before heading back to Iowa City. My shopping partner is a Welsh Corgi!!!!!!!

Back in Iowa City, Spencer and I headed to Von Maur (my other little pleasure palace) and I FINALLY got the Dolce Vita booties I have been dreaming about for months now. I would have bought these puppies full price at $130 and would have gotten them 2 weeks ago when they were on sale for $88, but nope, I only paid $32 bucks for those bad boys!!! I am giddy as can be:)

The World's Most Beautiful Dog

2010-02-04T21:39:00.000-08:00

My little Spencer-pants is the most photogenic dog in the world. Here we have Spencer taking a moment to pose for a photo while he is looking out the window in our living room. I love the wonderful contrast in these photos and how you can see all of his individual whiskers and fur so nicely. He really is a swell little guy!

I am definitely having these photos printed at Target tomorrow so I can have them framed:)

Dog Days

2010-02-01T06:42:00.000-08:00

Today, Spencer cried for an hour after Will left for school. By the time I got up at 7:45, Spencer ran to the door and peed right there on the rug while I was throwing my shoes on to take him out. When we came in, he drank a big gulp of water and then promptly puked it up on the rug. That's alot of clean up before 8 a.m.

List of Favorite Bands

2010-01-22T20:55:00.000-08:00

My favorite bands right now, and of all time, in no particular order:

1. Nirvana
2. M83
3. Beastie Boys
4. Marilyn Manson
5. Heart
6. Sonic Youth
7. Le Tigre
8. Big Star
9. My Bloody Valentine
10. Ramones
11. Flaming Lips
12. Jesus and Mary Chain
13. Heart
14. Weezer
15. Velvet Underground
16. White Stripes
17. Iggy Pop
18. David Bowie
19. Sunny Day Real Estate
20. Violent Femmes

Listography!!!!

2010-01-22T20:33:00.000-08:00

So on Tuesday, my friend Erykah and I got matching books to document in our lives..... Listography-Your Life in Lists. It basically prompts you to make lists of sweet shit in your life like:
"List Your Character Flaws" and "List the Strangest Places You Have Had Sex In"

Making lists is one of my favorite things to do. There is just something so very satisfying about making lists. In honor of my new book, I have decided to publish some of the ongoing lists for your reading pleasure:)

"List Your Guilty Pleasures"
1. Egg McMuffins
2. Expensive Chocolate
3. The Ashlee Simpson show
4. Lurking on Facebook
5. Looking at other girl's boobs when they are talking to me
6. Talking crap about passers by
7. Avril Lavigne's first record
8. Licking the pan after I cook
9. Buying expensive shoes, purses, makeup, and jewelry
10. Maple donuts from Casey's (I eat these in the car so no one will find out!)

What's your guilty pleasure?

NYE 2010

2010-01-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

Sugar Cookies Galore

2010-01-06T21:46:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, many sugar cookies were made- 7 batches to be correct! Will and I brought cookies to our work, gave them out to friends, and brought them home to our families. I ate Christmas cookies and milk for breakfast many mornings!!!! Oh, the holidays!

Ahhhh, Family Christmas Time!!!!

2010-01-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

Although our gifts might seem kinda lame and unremarkable, my family and I actually had a pretty nice Christmas this year. I brought tons of homemade cookies, my mom made a ham and all that good stuff, and even a trip to my grandmother's house wasn't that terrible. What a lovely Christmas!

Open Your Presents, Spencer!

2010-01-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

Spencer got lots of presents for Christmas, of course! .....Not that he was all that good of a boy or anything. I thought this series of photos of Spencer opening up his present and then tearing all of the wrapping paper into little, itty, bitty shreds was kinda cute so here ya go!

Knitted Presents from Emily!

2010-01-06T21:16:00.000-08:00

Better late than never...... Christmas always rules cause you get presents, duh. My coolest presents were knitted by Miss Emily! I love, love, love my knitted owl (although it is a bitch to keep away from Spencer the Dog), I wear my cute knitted hat everyday, and I have totally been rocking the flowers in my hair and stuff. Pure knitted perfection! I love it!

2010 is Here!

2010-01-06T21:09:00.000-08:00

Spencer the Dog knows how to par-tay! Actually, Spencer the Dog only knows how to chew. He chews everything. Not even joking. Happy New Year, everyone!

Getting all gussied up for Christmas

2009-12-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

Look at how huge Spencer's tongue is here!!! My pup got sooo excited when we got his sweater on that he started running around like a maniac. Needless to say, it was close to impossible to photograph the boy then. We even tried to bribe him with Cheerios and I think that just made him even more crazy. The dog will do anything for food, what can I say!

We held Spencer up so he could sniff the tree. In reality, he could not care less about human stuff like Christmas trees and whatnot. For Spencer, he mostly just wants to eat, sleep, play, chew and poop!

Snow Doggie!

2009-12-08T21:32:00.000-08:00

This morning, Spencer got to experience his first snow! At first, he was reluctant to get off of the beaten path, but soon he became brave and began to frolic through the snow and sniff at it until it made him sneeze. What a cutie!

Later in the evening, we got quite a bit more snow so I put on my parka and my Northface boots to play in the snow with him. It is such a joy to watch my pooch jump through the big piles of snow like a rabbit. After all, his little puppy legs are not very long! How very fun. I have always wanted a dog of my own to play in the snow and through the seasons with. I don't know what Will and I ever did without Spencer because he fills everyday with new adventure and happiness.

KIA, sup?

2009-11-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my car? Well, now I am mentioning it!!! My KIA is very cute and spunky and hatch-backy. I like the pep it has, it's sweet body kit and spoiler, its cute red color, and uniqueness. I know it is not the only KIA Spectra hatchback on the road, but it is definitely not as common as say a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. I am definitely not a car person but maybe owning this car will get my more psyched for the joys of driving?

New Kicks!!!

2009-11-29T21:17:00.001-08:00

Ta da! I got some cute new Onitsuka Tigers when I took a visit to the Journeys at Jordan Creek Mall in Des Moines. They were both uber-clearance and my size and strange and cute and unique. Des Moines kids must not like Tigers like Iowa City kids do because if we had these puppies at our store, they would sell out in about 2 seconds flat. I love having a discount cause both pairs, including tax, were about $30 bucks!

Kung Fu Puppy

2009-11-29T21:14:00.001-08:00

My boy is all grown up now! Look at him karate kicking into the air like a seasoned pro in his festive holiday sweater. You so fancy, Spencer!

You know you are in Des Moines, IA when.....

2009-11-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

That's right! The first thing I saw when I pulled into Des Moines, IA was this sweet license plate! SLIPNOT rules, maggots!!!