All The World's A Stage, I'm An Open Book.

Jeez, it seems like all my posts lately have to do with having children but I'm not even close to doing that yet! Guess when something's on my mind, it shows. Here's something completely non-kid related.

Have you read or heard about the Wings series by Aprilynne Pike? They're lovely, original fantasy books with all the things we can't resist: a love triangle, abnormally abstinent teenagers, and lots of faeries fighting ugly trolls. The third book in the series, Illusions, came out last week and I found out Aprilynne Pike was going to do a book signing in Pasadena, so I thought I'd go and check it out. I'd never been to one before, and thankfully Liv the book-signing queen gave me some pointers, and it was a success! There were maybe thirty people there and I had fun listening to her talk about her experience writing a best-selling book. I'd totally recommend going to one of her book signings.

It also worked out that my cousin Ed and his wife Rachel were in town by Redlands, so we met up after the signing and ate some yummy nummy Peruvian food. I'll post pics of that laters. It was a full but great night!

For Your Wednesday

Some sweet Penelope love for your viewing pleasure.

Distractions No. 01

I'm trying hard not to think that in just two hours Franco will begin taking the optometry admissions test that will probably determine the rest of our lives...needless to say I'm welcoming any distractions at the moment.

Like this one:

French party for a 1-yr-old. Via You Are My Fave & HM Photography

Headline: Female Fantastical Characters Try To Escape Their Literary Prisons

Try to guess the name of each character that is trying to escape from her book...leave a comment about your favorite one. My question is how...?

{fantastic photos from lissy elle}

Not A Box By Antoinette Portis

I read this book a long time ago at the CSUCI library...and just now remembered it.

I am definitely adding this to my future child's library.

Big Difference.

Franco & I got new phones for Christmas.

Yes, we both have cell phones now.

It's grrrrrreat.

Old cheapy phone                             vs.                  Sleek new touch phone.

I. Love. It.

{Not to mention that I actually get reception at my apartment!! A first in the year that we've lived here. Thank you, AT&T!!}

Paris In A Bag

Paris made out of wooden blocks. So me.

Seen here.

Buy here.

Heritage1981 Sweaters

These H81 sweaters are looking good to me now that it's 50 degrees out. So cozy!

{1} sandra sweater cardigan {2} snowy sweater cardigan {3} wool blend folksy top {4} toggle cable sweater cardigan

Door.

We've lived in the CSUCI community for almost a year now

and I've loved every minute of it.

It's quiet, in the middle of a beautiful valley surrounded by hills,

five minutes from where I work,

and within walking distance from all of Franco's classes.

If you've never heard of CSUCI, let me give you a short history lesson.

It used to be a mental hospital.

Now it's a rapidly-growing university.

You can only imagine how many jokes I endured in the four years I attended there.

It is a beautiful campus, though, and they've kept most of the Spanish architecture so it feels like you're going to school at a California mission.

Franco & I got some of our engagement pictures shot there.

Because no one wanted to go to class with an autopsy table in it,

{true story}

the school is in constant construction to convert this old

"insane asylum" into a school.

So there are parts of the campus that aren't remodeled yet.

I drive by one of those parts every day.

I finally got pictures of it.

I LOVE this old door.

It's got a big lock on it and a sign that says "No Trespassing"

so I don't know where it leads, but it's so "secret garden"

that I couldn't resist getting a little artsy.

Isn't it awesome?!

Put Your Hands Up, They're Playin' My Song.

Sometimes I do like Miley Cyrus's music.

Rainboots

I want me some rainboots.

Even though it's not raining.

But it will~

if I get a pair of these,

I'll make it rain.

{these are from target in blue and black.}

OneRepublic: "All The Right Moves"

This new song from OneRepublic {LOVE them, by the way}

has all the right lyrics, all the right music, all the right vocals,

and most importantly, all the right moves.

:)

OneRepublic |MTV Music

It's A Small World Party!

My birthday's in a month and ten days.

Is it too late to change my theme to this?

I think it's absolutely brilliant.

{via craftzine}

Lenka

I went through and checked all my posts about music

and I noticed I never included

Lenka.

Sorry, dear Lenka.

Couldn't believe I hadn't included her in my new music posts.

Well, here she is.

Lovely Lenka

I just love her cute website.
And her pretty dresses.
And most of all her endearing vocals.

If You Know Me...

...in real life or real-blog-life, you'll know I love music.

Especially new-to-me music.

Lately I've been on a finding-new-music streak!

Here are some highlights for you, maybe you'll like them, too:

Brooke Wagonner

New album "Go Easy Little Doves"
{recommended by playing grown up}
Listen

Eisley
I like their songs "Over the Mountains" and "Come Clean"
{Recommended by a friend}
Listen

Gary Go
"Wonderful"
{heard on the radio~great lyrics}
Listen

Erin McCarley

"Love Save The Empty," "Lovesick Mistake" and "Pitter-pat" are fabulous.

{not-so-new-to-me but still love her music!}

Listen

Kseniya's Sand Art

This is amazing! What a deeply moving & impressive performance.

From a news blog:

"Here, she recounts Germany conquering Ukraine in the second world war.

She brings calm, then conflict.

A couple on a bench become a woman's face;

 a peaceful walkway becomes a conflagration;

a weeping widow morphs into an obelisk for an unknown soldier.

Simonova looks like some vengeful Old Testament deity as she destroys then recreates her scenes

-with deft strokes, sprinkles and sweeps she keeps the narrative going.

She moves the judges to tears as she subtitles the final scene

"you are always near"."

Another New Moon Trailer

Watch more Moviefone videos on AOL Video

Way better than the last one.

{see it on Stephenie Meyer's site, too--slightly better quality--as well as the new song by death cab for cutie. saweet.}

Map Of The World

I like the description of this product on their website:

"This is the perfect wrap for the world traveler in your life. Wonderfully vintage, you can make sure that the right country is featured on their gift. Make mine Egypt! Also very kool framed on the wall to inspire a budding explorer."

  That's exactly what we did. I forayed into Paper Source recently and bought a whole bunch of stuff, one thing being this big map {supposed to be wrapping paper!} to frame in a silver $5 Target frame I had found earlier. It's now hanging on my turquoise kitchen wall, inspiring the "budding explorer" inside me.

Can I Just Say...WOW?

These are amazing...I never would have dreamt to do something like this for my wedding invitations. These are surreal! Good job, Jessica!

If I could dream up a wedding invitation...by Jessica Claire

Ruche

These clothes look like they're from Anthropologie, right? Well, look again.

They're found at Ruche, an online boutique without the boutique prices! These items are a few of my favorites...especially the shoes. Ooooh, the shoes.