Celebration - Red

I just started a new journal. Having a red journal motivates me to write more. Writing more makes me happy.

I finished the red necklace this week. I made it for a friend who doesn't have a lot of jewelry. She got REALLY excited and it made me glad that I didn't keep it like Jordan said I should. (That was just Jordan trying to make me feel like it was a really awesome necklace.)

This week red has made me really happy. Here are some thoughts about the color red:

Red is bold.

Red is a statement.

Red is festive (Think about it: Christmas AND Valentines AND the 4th of July.)

Red, I have noticed, looks good on most people.

Red is both sexy and exotic.

I'm really glad red exists.

Things that are red that I am also glad exist: blood, rubber balls, some porsches, lips, apples, the stripes on the American flag, double decker buses, strawberries, the hat I just made, Christmas stockings, my favorite nail polish, Clifford, stop signs, and so much more.

Celebration: End of First Graduate Semester

I have finally finished my first graduate semester.

I took my last final at home on my bed.

What you can't see (it's hiding behind the wheat thins)

is the bowl full of brownie crumbs.

That brownie kept me going.

Celebration: The Basillica to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Last Friday night Jordan and I went to The Basillica to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

to see their Christmas Concert. I had seen the Basillica from the freeway before, rising up out of the surrounding houses and calling to us with promises of interesting architecture, colorful murals, and ethereal acoustics.

The concert proved all you could wish from a Christmas event held in a basillica. They had a choir and an orchestra. They performed mostly songs I did not recognize but that had beautiful, dynamic arrangements. With the acoustics as ethereal as I had hoped, the music vibrated in our bones.

The ceiling murals were fascinating as well. I couldn't stop myself from staring up at them during the performance, which was the intented reaction, I believe. Some of the murals were a little over the top but in their extravagance they were so imaginative that I had to like them.

An acquaintance calls this the Scary Jesus. (He certainly looks very determined.)

But let's turn off those thoughts for a minute and just appreciate the creativity and craft

that went into it. The paint behind Jesus' head is sparkling, luscious gold.

Much like the gold on the entranceway ceilng. I would really love a dress made out of something that

looks like this.

The photograph does not satisfyingly convey the full, awe-inspiring effect

this ceiling mural has when you're standing directly under it,

straining to tilt your head back far enough

to allow for a full view.

This one may seem a bit garrish but LOOK at it. It's so imaginative.

And there's so much movement. It's hard not to just stare, and stare, and stare. This is the one we sat directly under during the concert.

Celebration - Christmas Lights

Christmas Celebration - Snickerdoodles

Celebration - These Things Make Mitzi Happy

My sister sent this celebration. You'll think I only feature in it in a very small way, but I definitely contributed a lot to the things that make her happy:

1. Her dog Pip the Bruiser would not have survived her first 24 hours under Mitzi's care if not for me.
2. I introduced her to Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" music video.
3. She definitely usurped my crush on Damon Albarn a couple years ago. I have a new crush though (my husband), so that's okay.
4. And the person taking the picture of Mitzi delishing up the southern British waves is certainly me.

You're welcome, Mitzi, for making your life so happy.

If you haven't already, peeps should check out some of the lists people left as comments on the Grand Opening post. (Is it December? Oh my gosh! It's December.)

Celebration - Happiness Revolution

Boy, did I have fun making this one.

COLOR CELEBRATION!!!

 Jordan's celebration of color.

When I was in high school I wore a lot of dark colors. My grandma used to say to me, "I wish you would wear more colors."

This was annoying at the time, but now I have to admit that color is the ultimate. It is such an obvious expression of happiness.

I decree: Living life to its fullest = Bringing more color into your life

Celebrate - Creativity

Small painting of a city - we purchased it at Eastern Market and I LOVE it.

The other day I heard about a woman who thinks that the only way to live a rich, fulfilling life is to work hard and become a CEO.
The other day I heard a woman at work say, "I used to paint a lot, but now I just don't have time for those sorts of things."
If I were talking to the first woman I would ask, "What about art, and love, and quiet meditation?"
If I were talking to the second woman part of me would want to say, "Quit your job," but I wouldn't do it.

I'll celebrate hard work, but mostly I'll celebrate working hard at creating art, true love, and moments for quiet meditation!

Celebrate - Newish Friends. And also Cupcakes.

Recently I reconnected with Emily, the friend of an old friend.  On Halloween Emily dropped off these very attractive cupcakes. Now Emily and I are friends.

The moral of the story is, you do have to give presents to make friends.

(Confession: I wanted to be her friend before the cupcakes arrived.)