A Better Night's Sleep:

A friend told me about an iPhone app that monitors your sleeping cycles and wakes you up at the most opportune time in order to allow for you to feel more rested... I am never one to jump at the idea of paying for an app, but I just couldn't resist at a mere $0.99. The app is called Sleep Cycle and it is awesome! Here is what my chart looked like from last night:



I also like the fact that it averages how much sleep you're getting each night. A handy little reference tool! And as for feeling more rested... I totally do! It has been way easier for me to wake up the past couple of mornings, which is a true accomplishment for someone like me who has never been able to wake up on time.

Anyways, if you have an iPhone, I would definitely recommend it! Oh, and I'll be sharing my sleep cycles from time to time via Twitter if you'd like to see some a glimpse of the ridiculous hours at which I typically go to sleep!

So This is the New Year:

I am spending the holiday in this year, and seeing as it is mere minutes til 2010 I figured that instead of coming up with abstract resolutions that have unquantifiable results or explicit ones that will be forgotten come springtime, I should lay out some of the milestones that I have experienced over the past year instead...

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-I graduated from the University of Georgia.
-After five years, I finally started going to therapy and have loved it.
-I overcame an earth-shattering break-up.
-I spent a month living in paradise.
-I've watched my nephew grow into an adorable toddler.

I have some big plans for 2010... Here's to another wonderful year of improving, learning, and, most importantly, growing!

(Curious as to what was going on precisely a year from today? See here.)

Soothing:

There is something about this image that makes me feel all warm inside...

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...It also makes me yearn for the creativity that is decidedly lacking in my life at the moment. Let's go find some, shall we?

Warm and Fuzzy:

I have loved this song by The Knife for years, but something about this version by Jose Gonzalez is so relaxing and never ceases to make my heart flutter. Thank you, Pandora, for reminding me.

Enjoy...

Potential Salvation:

My prayers have been answered! Look what I just found through Naomi...


These people are trying to not only save instant film, they're trying to improve it so that instant film will remain a marketable venture, thus preventing another discontinuation in the future. Their goal is to begin mass production by the end of this year! I am waiting with bated breath...

This has absolutely made my day!

The Early Bird:

Most of those close to me know that I am not, under any circumstances, a morning person. I'm not the stay-away-because-I'm-grumpy-and-I-might-bite-your-head-off morning goer. I'm not the my-eyes-are-half-open-and-I'm-walking-like-a-zombie morning goer. No, I am the worst type: the can't-get-out-of-bed, keep-pressing-snooze-until-I'm-so-insanely-late, then-sleep-for-just-10-more-minutes kind.

Yeah... It is bad and has gotten me into trouble on more occasions than I'd like to willingly admit.

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Here is the part where I brag about my boyfriend... Jake is so amazingly awesome that some mornings he will call me to wake me up.

Yes, I am a grown woman, and I can't do such a nominal task such as waking myself up. So sue me. That is not the point of this. The point is that he takes care to keep an eye on the clock and pick up the phone when he knows I need to be up. I'm quite certain that any other person calling would not do the trick... I would pick up the phone, say three words, hang up, and go back to sleep. There is something about hearing his voice and sneaking in a little chat that never ceases to make me happy, and thus, wakes me from my slumber.

I love him so!

Oh My iPhone:

After reading this post, I checked out the CameraBag app for iPhone. I vowed to never actually pay for an application, but oh. my. goodness. I totally caved and I couldn't be happier about this purchase... Check out it's awesome capabilities!

The "Holga" setting will definitely satisfy my wish for an actual Holga camera. (Here is Lily at the vet's office yesterday.)


The "instant" setting helps to ease my pain about the discontinuation of film for my Pola. (This vintage cash register was at the bar in the historic hotel we stayed at in Chattanooga this past weekend.)


And the "1974" setting is just really neat. (This is the current state of the Georgia Theater after the fatal fire. At least the owner has a sense of humor about the incident!)

These were all photos I took with my iPhone. Yeah, how awesome!? The app is super easy to use and there are many more settings for altering your photos (these are just my favorite three). I couldn't possibly recommend it any more highly.

I cannot wait to have more fun with this over the weekend! Yay!

Blueberries:

My best friend/co-worker and I just followed some signs on campus to a blueberry tasting. I suppose they are trying out different formulas from dried blueberries and needed some testing subjects!

Here is what we were each given. Water and a cracker with which to cleanse out pallets and three variations of blueberries...


Yum...


So very random, but a welcomed way to help break up the day at work! I hope our selection ends up in some sort of trail mix some day...

Current Events:

-Over the weekend Jake and I went to Lake Lanier, beer in tow. Despite multiple applications of some spf 30, we most definitely got burnt (he worse than I).

-I ate banana pudding for the first time Monday night. It was homemade and everything. I enjoyed it thoroughly. We then attempted to make homemade banana ice cream... It was not as successful.

-I went to a Jazz Night at one of the hipster bars/eateries here in Athens last night. Good company, good music, and good drinks. (I started early on the vodka tonics...)

-Tonight I am going to see my wonderful boyfriend for what we like to call a "mid-week meet-up". Yummy Mexican food and a fun movie are on the agenda.

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This birthday week has been quite eventful and enjoyable thus far... And the fun is just beginning!

Promise Kept:

Remember this post? No? It's okay, I forgive you. (This time...)

Well I stayed true to my word and bought all three seasons of Arrested Development on DVD. Jake and I have been slowly working our way through them together, but we try to cram as many fun activities as we can over the weekends, which leaves little time for television. I am really hoping to finish before I leave for St. Croix, otherwise they are going to just have to make their way into my suitcase to be enjoyed at a later date!


Regardless, it should be known that this show is nothing short of genius and I already cannot wait until the movie comes out next year.

Humming A Tune:

The greatest thing happened the other day during a late night grocery store run...

As I was passing through the soup aisle, I realized that one of the cutest songs of all time was playing over the speakers. It was "The Longest Time" by Billy Joel. This song is older than me, but I couldn't help but quietly sing along under my breath as I walked along and chose which type of spaghetti sauce I wanted. Just then, a male employee passed me. He was singing under his breath as well! Two more customers would pass me, humming along to this adorable 1980's hit.


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I couldn't help but smile and think that each person probably has someone who they were thinking about while they listened to those sweet and sentimental lyrics. Each thinks of that person as they lay in bed at night. (I know who I think about.)

Have I mentioned how over-the-moon, completely in love I am? Well, I totally am.

Fantasy:

Oh wow.




Although it would be wonderful to have one of these beauties in my backyard one day, it would be entirely more rewarding to build one myself. What I mean by that, of course, is bring my future husband lemonade while he does it and then simply enjoy watching the manliness that is sawing and hammering. (Kidding! I'd totally carry some wood or something...)

(Amazon Treehouses. Found via A Cup of Jo.)

Finger Fun:

Okay, this is the last highlight from the weekend and then I will stop, I promise...

Jake and I did a little finger-painting. No lie. We chose themes like "dinosaurs" and attempted to have a contest. Unfortunately art is entirely too subjective for this. Plus, we always thought that our own paintings were the best and there was no third party to deliver the tie-breaker.

We then proceeded to pin all of our beautiful artwork on the walls of my living room. Again, no lie.


Isn't my stegosaurus cute?

Summer Lovin:

Saturday afternoon provided absolutely beautiful weather for Jake and I to go on a lovely picnic at one of my favorite spots on campus. After we ate some yummy food, we laid around on the blankets and laughed and kissed and, most importantly, relaxed.

Here is the view that we enjoyed whilst laying in the grass...


And it was all the more enjoyable because it was done with my love...

Take Me Out:

Last night I went on a great double-date to the Braves v. Cubs game. I'm no huge fan of baseball by any stretch of the imagination, but every now and again I enjoy grabbing some nose-bleed seats and a couple of beers to watch a game.


It ended up being a great one to go to... three extra innings that resulted in a win for Atlanta, the weather was just beautiful once the sun set, and not to mention how nice it was to see my boyfriend in the middle of the week.

Summertime is ever so wonderful.

Confession:

I have been avoiding this, but I feel like it is time for me to come clean about something to you all. I lied a little (through omission anyways)...

Sure, school was wrapping up, which was indeed making me incredibly busy/stressed towards the end of the semester, but that was not the only reason for my recent absence. There has been something else consuming my time as of late... Or someone, rather. If you happen to be friends with me on Facebook you may have noticed a recent change in my relationship status...

I have been busy falling in love. Like head-over-heels, madly, deeply in love. (And knowing him, if he is reading this right now, he is blushing uncontrollably by this point even though this is something that we've already expressed to eachother.)

I tell you all of this because it wouldn't make much sense to post the rest of the pictures from my graduation weekend and not explain the mystery man who I am posing with in so many photos...


So there you go! My secret is out. Whew, it feels good. But I hope you realize that since I've put it out there in the open for all to see now, there will more than likely be a plethora of sickeningly sweet posts to come in the future about how much I really love this man. Brace yourself. And apologies in advance...

(And can I just say that Lily really loves him, too?)

Back On The Horse:

The dust is currently settling following my whirlwind graduation weekend... Everyone has headed to their respective parts of the country and the only guest that currently remains is my father and his wife, who will fly back home to Brazil this evening. As promised, I am definitely about to get back into more regular posting!

To tide you over until I get my hands on all of the pictures from the last couple of days in order to do a full-on recapping, here is a picture I took with my iPhone right before walking onto the field...


Chris and I met two and a half years ago in history class and despite dating for a year and a half, we have stayed friends and sat together for the ceremony.

(And yes, I was posting pictures to Facebook in the midst of graduation. I am a slave to technology.)

Finally Succumbing:

Alright, I have conceded defeat. I am waving the white flag. After months of a staunch policy against the new application that is seemingly sweeping the nation, I have begun to "tweet".

Ugh.

To me this seems like glorified Facebook status updates, but apparently I am failing to see its ability to be completely and utterly life changing like so many seem to regard it as. I've placed an adorable little icon to the right for your convenience, if you so choose to follow my every move.

Here goes nothing...

The End Is Nigh:

Apologies again for my little blogging hiatus, but to be fair I warned you! Anyways, today is kind of a milestone... it is my last day of class ever. Seriously.

I still have some exams left and some independent lessons to be done, but my days of sitting through lectures will come to a close in less than 2 hours! (And as a history major, I've sat through more than my share.) I've been in school for the past 18 years of my life... and now I'm almost done. This is a great feeling, for sure.



How does it go?
No more classrooms, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks?
Something like that.

So more frequent posting and some great pictures from my pending graduation will be following in the coming weeks! Get excited. (Or don't... whichever. It's really not going to kill my buzz either way!)

[Photo from here.]

Can't Wait for This:

I just saw this trailer over at Le Love... I hadn't heard anything about it prior to today, but now I am absolutely dying to see it! Not only does it look like a decent romantic comedy (which is rare, let's be honest), but it has Zooey Deschanel, who I think is just stunningly beautiful.



According to imdb.com, it will have a "limited" release in July, but I'm sure that it'll play somewhere in the Atlanta area... It has to. Right?

Anyone else think that this looks absolutely darling?
Better yet, has anyone seen it at Sundance or SXSW already?