Dumb Computer

I feel bad that I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. My computer's backlight died again, and I just can't seem to find the time to come up here and use the "big" computer. But, on the upside, I have completed a bunch of projects...

I've rediscovered my love of painting, so I've been working on some tiny Shag/Coop/Classic Pinup inspired pieces to use as magnets or (the really awesome ones) as pendants. I've been covering them in resin, and they are turning out very cool.

I got a chance to sew last weekend, and that was cool too. Made Mims a bunch of stuff, and a got a couple of aprons done for Mom's Day...

Wedded Bliss

Today my brother-in-law is getting married.  Jake and I got to write the ceremony, and Jake got ordained by the Universal Life Church so he's going to perform the ceremony.  We've been joking that he is marrying his own brother.  Ew.  Funny!

I'm super proud of the ceremony and vows, so I thought I'd post them here (and also as a precaution in case we lose/forget the papers at home - totally something I'd do.).  And maybe it will inspire some family members to go ahead and follow me.  ;D  So, here it is...

Marriage, marriage is what brings us together today.  And love.  True love.

Here we are, on this lovely evening, and I'm honored to get to unite my brother and his beautiful bride in marriage.

For those of you that don't know, today, April 3rd, is a special day for Brandon and Sandy.  It is five years, to the day, of their first date, which took place right here at the Queen Mary.  And when Brandon proposed to Sandy, in Rome, it was on their third anniversary.  This day holds so much meaning and special memories for them, that is was impossible to choose any other day to celebrate their decision to spend the rest of their lives together.

I'm happy to get to be here to celebrate with them, because I've seen the journey that their relationship has taken over the last five years.  They have searched out the best coffee in Orange County, and the best breakfast places.  They have traveled all over the world, and have made friends wherever they've gone.  Sandy, the change that you've brought to my brother's life has been amazing.  And Brandon, thanks for bringing Sandy into our lives.  She's funny, and smart, and a whole lot of fun.

Marriage is a serious commitment.  The vows are not to be taken lightly, because they are promises you are making to each other.  Brandon, you and I were both raised with the idea that your family is your most important priority.  Family stands by you when you need help.  They are the ones that will not only celebrate the big victories with you, but they will cheer your tiny victories just as loudly.  They'll love you at your best, and they'll love you if you act like a jackass.  They love you forever, even when you're not lovable to yourself.  And that's how I feel your commitment to your marriage should be.  You are not just going to be Sandy and Brandon anymore, but you are becoming a family.  A family to look out for each other, to keep each other safe, and to love each other; both when it's easy, and when it's not so easy.

On this very special day, in front of all of your friends and family, you are promising to share all that life has to experience, with each other.  You are promising to love each other, faithfully, for the rest of your lives.

So, with that understanding, Brandon, do you wish to marry Sandy?

(I do)

Then repeat after me:

I, Brandon, take you, Sandy,

to be my wife and my one true love.

To honor you and to treasure you

Laugh with you and cry with you

Loving you faithfully, through good times and bad

Regardless of the obstacles we may face together.

I give you my hand, my heart, and my love

For all the days of my life.

And Sandy, do you wish to marry Brandon?

(I do)

Then repeat after me:

I, Sandy, take you, Brandon

to be my husband and my one true love.

To honor you and to treasure you

Laugh with you and cry with you

Loving you faithfully, through good times and bad

Regardless of the obstacles we may face together.

I give you my hand, my heart, and my love

For all the days of my life.

Brandon and Sandy have decided to exchange rings, as a visible sign to the world of the commitment they have made today.

(take Sandy's ring, give to Brandon)

Brandon, repeat after me:

This ring I give to you, as a token of my love and devotion.

I pledge to you all that I am, and all that I will ever be.

(take Brandon's ring, give to Sandy)

Sandy, repeat after me:

This ring I give to you, as a token of my love and devotion.

I pledge to you all that I am, and all that I will ever be.

By the Power vested in me, by the State of California, and the internet, I now pronounce you husband and wife.  You may kiss the bride.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am incredibly honored to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Maraia.

I am really looking forward to this evening.  It looks like the day is clearing up, and it should be so lovely on the boat.  I still need to hunt down a jacket that will be appropriate, since I have yet to see a formal hoodie...  The rehersal went so well, I'm sure this evening is going to be so special and romantic, and wonderful.  So, Good Luck Jake, and Best Wishes Brandon and Sandy!!!

Miracle on Buaro Street?

Hey guess what?  My computer came back to life today.  I don't know how, but I am not going to question it.  I will look at it as a gift from the universe, and just be happy.  

Okay, so I have slipped up with my eating.  When my computer died, I quite effectively lost my internet support, and I had a crisis involving fears of becoming a zealot and being too preachy.  So, I lost my way.  But, I am striving to get back into the swing again, and plan out my eating instead of waiting until I'm too hungry to make good choices.  I know in my head that I was happy, but I am really struggling now.  I think I just need to talk it out, because the pro list is soooo long, and the con list is just a list of excuses to be lazy.  Eh.

I bug Jake all the time about watching his language around Mimsey.  He's more careful around her, but I was so annoyed when from the backseat yesterday she shouted "Oh crap!"  Now, this was mostly annoying because that is not a phrase that he uses.  It's one that I use.  Errrrgh.  So, I've got to watch what I say, and he gets to laugh at me.  Oh, who knew that it was so annoying to teach a kid to talk.  She's so cute, but she has a little lisp, so today she was trying to get out of a "time out" and was crying "Sawee Mama, sawee Mama."  Broke my heart.  

I hate time out.

March Girls know how to Party!

Tonight we had our March girls family birthday party, so I got to celebrate a little early!  Overall I scored an awesome load of presents, and am so happy that it's all stuff I really wanted!  Yay!

I am so proud of myself I have to blog about it.  I am on Day 6 of a new adventure.  I am experimenting with a vegan raw food diet, and so far I love, Love, LOVE what is happening with my body.  I have dropped 12 (!) pounds, and I feel better than I have for years.  Much better than I did as a cheesatarian (bad vegetarian, processed food junkie).  And I am happy.  Like, off the charts happy.  This is a big deal.  I am not, by nature, a happy person.  I am cynical, and depressed, and grudge holding.  And despite that, today I found myself thinking, as I dug into my avocado salsa salad, "wow, I'm really happy" which then sent me into a fit of chuckles, since that was the most 'un-Jaime' thing to think in the world.  So it's working for me!

Today my adventure led me to the new Mother's Market & Kitchen in Santa Ana.  Beautiful store filled with tons of yummy organic produce and lots of raw products to help me with my 'un-cooking'.  There were jars of Raw Coconut Butter sitting next to the Raw Cashew Butter, and both of them looked so yummy and decadent that I had to buy them!  I don't know what to expect from the coconut butter, but I am thinking it will be muy delicioso!  I am 'trying out' some raw books, thanks to our library system, and the more information that I get, the more committed that I am to continuing this lifestyle, in the face of all of my family members gathering and eating chicken strips and coleslaw from KFC... I broke down and had a bite of my birthday cake, (my fave! Lemon Cake!!!) so I'm feeling a little guilty.  But hey, once a year, one single bite... I'm gonna let myself off the hook now.

Now I'm gonna go look for some tasty thing that I can find to make, so that I can use my new food dehydrator!!!  Thanks Mom and Dad!!  You can try my crazy flax-seed bread, or goddess chips (made with dehydrated kale).  Oh, don't make that face, maybe you will like them?

Go With the Flow Merit Badge

Life is crazy! You never know what you're gonna be facing. Sometimes it awesome. Sometimes not so much. This is the Go With the Flow Merit Badge, which I earned because of my great ability, okay, struggling ability to roll with it when things don't go my way. I live in a multi-generational household, and while my grandma and I don't always see eye to eye, we wouldn't have been able to live with each other for so long (almost 10 years since her stroke! Yay Mema!) without both of our abilities to roll with the punches and go with the flow. Awww. I should make her one as well. :D

If you want to earn your own Merit Badge:

Go with the flow, baby! When live hands you lemons, make a bad-ass lemon cake! Write me a comment about what you did to go with the flow, and then go make your badge. (I knew you could do it!!)


As for the tutorial about how to make these, ah, perhaps this is how you will have to go with the flow. I find that I am not one of those people who is gifted at writing tutorials, but I will tell you that I use olive felt (100% post consumer recycled water bottles transformed into crafty fun!) for the background, and green embroidery floss (DMC 700) for the outer whip stitch. The rest I wing. I think that the pictures are very close so that you should be able to see pretty clearly what I've done. I don't keep track (usually) of embroidery floss colors, so I can't tell you what colors I used. I don't use wool felt, it's all acrylic. Ummmm, if I am overwhelmed with requests I will draw out patterns and post them, but at this point I am talking to myself, so I'm not gonna go to the effort... LOL!!!

The Rise and Shine Merit Badge

This morning sucked. I really dislike daylight savings and the clock turning that it involves. Ugh. And, for whatever reason, Mimsey woke up super early this morning. So, at least it was an hour "later" than it would have been yesterday, but still, it was too early to me. Neither Jake or I wanted to get up, but he worked late last night, and I didn't, so I gave him a break, and got up with the kid. On my way downstairs, he hollered at me that I was earning a Rise and Shine Merit Badge. It made me laugh, and I didn't mind getting up so much. I ended up making morning smoothies for Mims, Mema and me. (Watermelon and Banana - yum!)

It occured to me later, that a Merit Badge would be an excellent motivator to get your friends to help you move, or to get up early to stand in line for concert tickets (ooh, does that show my age? That's all done online now, isn't it? :blushing in embarrassment:). I do think that it would be so much fun to tuck into a card, or to attach to a gift, as a fun way to show your appreciation for a job above and beyond.

If you would like to earn this badge:
Get up early and do something nice for someone else. Write me a comment to tell me what you did. Make your badge!

Nintendo Thumb Merit Badge

This is my Nintendo Thumb Merit Badge. I got this badge for my hours upon hours of gaming on the NES. I loved Super Mario Bros. I sucked at Duck Hunt... So, this is my Merit Badge. Mostly I just really wanted it. And it looks cool.

If you want to earn one of your own:
Remember the excitement of your youth. The awesome 8 bit graphics. The days before hi-def digital super computer gaming systems.
Write me a comment and tell me about the game you rocked. And then make one for yourself. (and add it to the flickr group!)