6.21.11 Make Believe Real Simple Summer

(photos via Real Simple Magazine August 2001 issue)

Every summer I try to plan a "Real Simple Summer," it doesn't really go as planned. Take this entry for example. I had planned on posting this ridiculously cheesy blog post about my top things to do during summertime that included things like a) Watch Fireworks in July or b) Read the books on my summer reading list in the make believe haven I made inspired from that last picture. But to be honest (and hopefully this is the only time I'll do this), it's really June 23rd and I had to take a photo of my favorite photographs from Real Simple August 2001 issue.

But let's be realistic. I don't have time to read, I need that time to look for another job. And I know I should be lucky to be working, but I know I could be doing better. And when I wanted to scan the photos above because I love the appearance the graininess of a scanner makes, I found out my printer's scan feature doesn't work anymore, and realized that I want a new printer, but I don't really need it since the printer and copy machine work fine. And lastly, my favorite, how I wish I could move forward in life, but alas I feel ever-so stagnant than I've ever felt before.

4.20.11 Book Makin

I'll be honest, I don't think I'm good at very many things.. which is probably why I tend to fall into hobbies. And with that, I'm not even good at putting on makeup or cannot afford high end fashion or cannot even put together a solid outfit. I'm not photogenic and take awkward pictures of myself in the outfits I put together or sometimes take pictures of my food in an attempt for it to look like it belongs in Real Simple magazine. I've been in a rut lately. To the point where I almost felt depressed. I even researched the symptoms of depression. 1. Not being interested in the things I used to be interested in. 2. Talking about ending my life. :\

That was probably the worst. When I read that was a symptom, I knew I needed to get out of my rut. And I won't go into details of how I did that, because even now, I'm still not all that happy. But.. I did get out of my rut a little bit. My friend, Marnel's finishing up Nursing school and she needed a Portfolio. My brother went to the same school she did and I had seen the portfolio he had to make and I took that idea and made her this:

Now, it's just a cover of her book though. She's actually just inserting her important references and resumes inside plastic sheets and throwing it in here. I was happy to make her this when she asked me because I wanted to try out this Square App on my iPhone. She was my first real client who was willing to pay. We were so excited to try it out. hmm. She probably was moreso because she got to swipe her card into my Square credit card reader. I actually had made her guest book for her wedding actually, seen here. I'm also excited about making this for her because I was able to experiment on how to.. I guess, emboss (Idk the word) her initials onto here. She loved it. Made it so much more personal. I even used one of my favorite fonts Cocktail shaker in lower case lettering.