Six Month Belly!

Six months! Third trimester here I come!

So we had our OB appointment on Wednesday, and I got the results of my glucose test. I'm a failure, friends of the interweb. The only thing I've ever failed in my life. Okay, I didn't actually fail. The official cut-off to be concerned about gestational diabetes is 140, and I was 139. So my OB, being the awesome and thorough doctor that she is, still wants me to take the 3 hour glucose test. Yes, three hours. Sad... I'm sure everything will be fine, just a bummer to have to not only fast, but sit in the lab for three hours on a Saturday. But as Trip recommended, best to get it out of the way this weekend so that I can enjoy my New Years Eve dinner at La Fondue (and that vat of chocolate!). I guess going from hardly eating any sugar at all to eating about four cookies a day probably hasn't been the best thing for my system, so I should probably chill out on the sweets a bit. The sacrifices we make... :p

Everything else is great. My belly measured 28 cm, which means baby is growing perfectly (Just so you know, the measurements I have been taking are around my waist. The measurements my OB takes are from the top of the pubic bone to the top of my uterus, and should be about the same in centimeters as the number of weeks of pregnancy). Heartbeat sounded good, too. Now is the time I start going to the OB every two weeks, so I doubt Tripple will be able to go to all of them (which he has so far), but I think I'll be alright. :)

My backaches have actually subsided, which could be due to the regular pre-natal massages I'm now getting (loooooove those!). I highly recommend a good pre-natal massage at least once a month. If anything, it forces you to lay still for an hour (something that gets pretty hard to do once the whole "nesting" thing starts). I'm sure the backaches will start up again as I continue to grow, so I'm enjoying the painless moments while I can.

We had a lovely Christmas Eve with friends at Adam and Renee's house. Four boys running around, all under the age of 3. Can't wait for our little guy to join in the fun! Christmas Day was a bit of a bummer, as I woke up with an awful sore throat -- symptoms of the same cold Trip suffered from early in the week. So we decided it was better for us to stay home instead of making the trip to Sacramento. We stayed in our jammies all day, watching movies, drinking tea (since I can't take anything) and taking naps. So besides not being with family, I guess it really wasn't that bad.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! Oh, and here it is, the six month belly!

117# and 35"

Baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long

My progress:

One Month: 100# and 24"

Two Months: 101# and 25"

Three Months: 104# and 31"

Four Months: 107# and 31.5"

Five Months: 112# and 33"

Six Months: 117# and 35"

Happy Birthday to Tripple, and Some Catch Up

Sorry friends of the interwebs -- I didn't post at all last week. My goal is to at least post once a week, and I would really love to post two or three times. So shame on me for slacking.

Last week was my last week of the Fall semester at Academy of Art, as was it the last week of one of Trip's graduate courses. Work has been project after project, and Trip was wrapping things up before his 2-week holiday break (man am I in the wrong profession!). So needless to say there has been some serious cramming going on. Good thing is that we really didn't do any Christmas shopping this year, so I've been relieved of that annual stress-fest. For the past few years, my family has done the Secret Santa thing, but this year I was inspired by a wonderfully heartwarming story I saw on the news about a company that decided that, because the food banks are so low this year, they would donate their $4500 holiday party budget to a food bank. So instead of drawing names, my family agreed to donate to a charity of our choice. Trip and I did the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. Christmas shopping -- CHECK! Now next year I realize will be quite different, as our son's first Christmas is sure to be an extravaganza (to say the least). But let me tell you, I have definitely enjoyed being mellow this year.

Speaking of the peanut (or English cucumber, as BabyCenter claims a 26 week baby is the same size as), everything seems to be going along smoothly. We have our 6 month appointment this Wednesday (6 months?!?), so I'll be sure to give an update, with new belly pics. I swear, the belly (among other things...) has been growing on a daily basis. As has my appetite, so go figure. At this visit our OB said she would schedule another ultrasound, just to make sure my placenta has moved up. I'm so looking forward to getting another peek at the little guy!

It was Tripple's birthday yesterday, and we had a really nice dinner at our favorite vegetarian restaurant, with a few of our favorite people. My birthday gift to him was driving him and Adam downtown to see a hip hop show on Friday, then picking them up at 1:30A. I think that wins me some Wife of the Year awards, don't you? I was a trooper again on Saturday night, when we went to a friend's party, where we stayed until after 1AM. I figure I better let Trip have some fun before it's all about the baby. Plus he deserves a little R&R after a hard first semester at work, some pretty demanding graduate school courses, and all the extra works he's had to pick up around the house (painting, kitty litter duty, cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, carrying things up and down the stairs for me, and cooking dinner most nights -- yup, he's a keeper).

Okay, I've rambled enough... I'll try to post soon after my appointment on Wednesday -- Christmas Eve!

Glucola and Truffles.

I had my 1-Hour glucose test this morning, for gestational diabetes (a standard test for pregnant women between 25 and 28 weeks). I knew the glucola was not going to be tasty -- I can't even drink a Coke because it is too sugary for me -- so this was a bit of a challenge. I had fruit punch flavor, which actually wasn't too bad, as long as I drank it fast (you have to drink it within 5 minutes anyway), and didn't think about it.

I drank it in the car on my way to the lab, so still had half an hour to kill before they could draw blood. I was playing solitaire on my iPhone when the nausea hit me. I was a little unprepared for that. Trip warned me this morning that it would probably make me feel sick, but I didn't give it much thought. Ugh... sitting there for half an hour trying not to get sick was no fun at all.

So they called me exactly 30 minutes later to draw blood. I had a younger technician, who was very sweet and asked me if I had a fear of needles. I told her no, I just felt a little queasy. "Oh, that's why you look a little pale." No, it's December and I'm half British. I am pale. Thanks for pointing that out.

While she was checking both my arms and deciding on a vein, there was an elderly couple in the chair next to me. The wife was the one giving blood, and she was clearly not happy about it. She literally had both her hands over her eyes as her husband wheeled her in, and it took two technicians to calm her down. As soon as they pricked her she yelled, "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW, NOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW," at the top of her lungs. No joke. Talk about an uncomfortable moment -- for her, and the other five of us sitting there about to go through the same thing.

Okay, focus on the technician.... She's sweet, she knows what she's doing. After checking each arm twice, she decided on the arm and vein she was going to attack, pricked me, and started filling the vials. As I was intently focused on her, I noticed she had a bump under her lap coat.

ME: "Oh, I just noticed you're pregnant, too. Congratulations."

TECHNICIAN: "Thanks!"

ME: "How far along are you?"

TECHNICIAN: "I'm seven months."

ME: "Oh wow, you look great!"

TECHNICIAN: "Thanks! Ya, I noticed how much bigger you are than me, and your not even six months yet, right? I mean, you're all belly. But it's so big already."

Wow, she is full of compliments, isn't she? Okay, first off, "it" is my son, so back off woman. Second, I'm proud of my big beautiful belly. It proves to all those haters that you can give birth to a healthy baby without meat. He's obviously doing just fine with tofu and beans, thank you very much.

So after calling Tripple and yelling at him for impregnating me with a freak of nature (kidding, of course. I just had to tell him that story), I went home, made myself a yogurt and flaxseed smoothie, followed by some truffles. To which my son thanked me by apparently doing cartwheels.

YellowPageGoesGreen.org

I don't know about you, but it seriously seems like we get a new phone book once a month. First of all, I can't remember the last time I used a phone book. Umm... there is something called the interwebs, people.

So every time we receive a new phone book, we literally walk it straight over the the recycle bin. I don't even want to think of the carbon footprint of that whole industry. So I was pleasantly surprised when I came across the Movement Against Unsolicited Phone Book Delivery. Just click here to sign up to remove your home or office from receiving the telephone directories! Awesomeness!

Who ever came up with this brilliant plan, I love you. Truly, from the bottom of my heart.

Thanksgiving is for Lovahs '08.

Man, am I exhausted. It's been a busy week for the Johnsons. Trip's mom is in town for almost two weeks, we hosted Thanksgiving, made a trip to Sacramento, another to San Francisco, and up to Summit Road to cut down our Christmas tree.

We'll start with Thanksgiving... My parents came the night before so that they could cook the turkey for all the meat-eaters (meaning everyone except Trip and I). There were 11 of us, and it was really wonderful. I filled up early on butternut squash soup, then casseroles (yes -- the broccoli casserole was a hit again), and of course dessert. And bit more dessert. And then some more. A few of us went for a little walk afterwards, which probably saved me from heartburn hell. Although baby did somersaults all night from all the sugar I fed him. Bad mommy.

Baby is thankful for Mommy being such a piggy.

The next day Trip and I went with Zack and Vicky and their kids to cut down a Christmas tree. Now, if you remember from last year, I did quite a bit of research and tried to find the "greenest" (as in eco-friendly) option for a Christmas tree -- which was to get a live tree. Well, apparently you also need a green thumb to go along with that live tree... something I apparently do not have. So we gave that tree to a better home, where it could be planted and flourish. After more research, we decided our next best option would be to cut down our own tree at a tree farm. So it was perfect timing when Zack and Vicky invited us along.

Purdy!

Saturday we went to Sacramento to go to my parent's house, and then headed to Old Sac for some piddling and dinner at the Firehouse (which, by the way, was one of the best meals I've ever had. And I've had some good meals.)

Adam and Nay watching the train conductor having a heck of a time trying to connect.

Trip, Rachel, Nay and I all took Monday off (and Amii joined us, who always has Mondays off -- great job on waking up early, girl!), and we took my mother-in-law to the new California Academy of Sciences. Another great excursion! The  aquariums are mind-blowing, and the rain forest is truly a unique experience. 

Leave it to Amii to provide the biggest laugh of the day. "Control, some lady dropped her hairbrush on the Living Roof." Hil-ar-i-ous. 

The Living Roof... and Amii's Brush.

So it's been a busy Thanksgiving holiday, as I'm sure it has for all of you.

I'M THANKFUL FOR:

• The most amazing partner, the love of my life, my best friend.
  
• The most loving and caring family a girl could ever ask for. I know without a doubt any of us would do anything for each other. 
  
• The best in-laws in the world. Like, for reals. 
  
• Friends that love me unconditionally, just as I love them.
• Two kitties that always seem to know when we need a kissy or some nuggles.
  
• And of course, our amazing little miracle, that now moves whenever he hears his daddy whistle. <sniff sniff>
  

Easy -- And DELICIOUS -- Broccoli Casserole

On my first visit to North Carolina to visit my mother-in-law, oh about 6 years ago, she made us a wonderful Christmas dinner. I left that visit with three recipes that have now become tradition with my family as well. In fact, I have many friends that have requested those recipes after having joined us at one of our holiday meals. By that far the most popular is this Broccoli Casserole. And the best part -- it's super easy!

Casserole Ingredients:

• 10 oz. package frozen broccoli (or I use two bunches of fresh broccoli)
  
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup (I use the reduced fat Campbells)
  
• 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar (I usually double this :p)
  
• 1/4 cup milk
  
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise (low-fat works great)
  
• 1 egg, beaten

Topping Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter (Start with this and add more if needed. I usually end up using a whole stick! For reducing the fat, try Smart Balance 50/50)
  
• Ritz crackers, crumbled (Enough to cover top of casserole. I crumble one pack in a zip lock bag and gradually add to the melted butter. And yes, there is a Reduced Fat version that is just as tasty.)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
   
2. Cook broccoli according to directions, omit salt (or steam to crisp/tender if using fresh broccoli). Drain well and put in 10" x 6" casserole dish
   
3. Mix all remaining ingredients (except Ritz cracker mixture) in large mixing bowl. Pour over broccoli.
   
4. Melt butter over low heat and add crumbled Ritz crackers. Top casserole with Ritz cracker mixture (make more if you need to).
5. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes (you want topping to be golden brown).
   

If you try it, please let me know how it turns out!

Five Month Belly!

Five months -- can you believe it? Next week, Thanksgiving... then soon after Christmas... next thing you know I'll be posting baby pics! Okay, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, I know. But I just can't believe how fast time has flown by. My mommy friends all tell me to enjoy this, because the last month craaaaaawls. So I am!

Let's see... this month the belly ring had to come out. I took a straight-on shot so you all can see that it looks like my belly button will probably pop out. I'm pretty dang close. Tripple is a little freaked out by it, but I think it's cute.

I think I'm huge already, but my mom's last reaction was, "Is that all?". I didn't gain any weight the first week of my fifth month, and then only half a pound the second week, but I quickly made up for it and gained 4 pounds total this month. I've really been into baking lately, so the cookies have probably helped. :) And late night hunger started this week, so I'll need to stock the fridge with some quick and easy snacks for midnight munchies.

Baby boy is very active. I feel him moving around all the time, particularly when I'm getting ready to eat (demanding baby already!). Tripple and Auntie Nay both have felt light movements! I can't wait for Tripple to feel him like I feel him (well obviously not exactly how I feel him... just more strength to those little kicks).

We started work on the nursery this month. We're at least getting the painting done before my mother-in-law arrives on Sunday. Tripple is almost done, actually. Just another coat and touch-up. It's frustrating not being able to help, but there are plenty of other things for me to do.

Baby boy is spoiled already! My mom and dad bought him his first present -- a fully functioning collectors train set. Auntie Nay bought baby a super cute turtle that lights up the ceiling with constellations. My friend Desiree's daughter Zoe picked out his first teddy bear. And I hear my mother-in-law has been doing some shopping out there in NC (no surprises there :p). Not only are we blessed with this wonderful gift of life, but our son is already blessed with such kind and generous family and friends! How fortunate are we?!?

So here it is -- the five month belly:

112# and 33"


Baby has stretched to the size of a spaghetti squash, weighs almost a pound, and is nearly 11 inches.

PHOTO: BabyCenter

My progress:
One Month: 100# and 24"
Two Months: 101# and 25"
Three Months: 104# and 31"
Four Months: 107# and 31.5"
Five Months: 112# and 33"

I Heart The Shiba Inu Puppy Cam.

This might very well be the cutest thing I have ever seen in my entire life.

Introducing Autumn, Ayumi, Amaya, Aki, Akoni and Ando -- the cutest Shiba Inu puppies EVER (as they proclaim, and I undoubtably agree with). The Shiba Inu Puppy Cam streams daily, and is officially my new obsession.

YES WE CAN!

I don't know if it's the pregnancy hormones, or that fact that we took part in history yesterday, but my God I was moved last night. During the campaign I never really thought about Obama being the first African American president because, well, he never emphasized it. I thought of him as bringing the change we needed in this country. I thought of him being the Democrat in office that I have wanted for the past eight years.

But after they announced the win in Ohio, this historic occasion started to hit me. And then even more during John McCain's speech. Now, regardless of what you think of this man or his political party, you can't deny that was one of the most powerful concession speeches in recent memory. 

And then it was Obama's acceptance speech, where out in the crowd you saw the emotional faces of Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, and numerous African American people. 

And then his words -- I was breathless. Chills even. 

Now I know this doesn't mean puppy dogs and rainbows (wait, I guess it does mean at least one puppy dog!), but it does mean that change is going to come. As Obama said himself, 

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

President-elect Obama, yes we can.

A huge virtual hug to all the red-to-blue states that helped make this happen (is North Carolina officially a blue state now?! Hooray!).

Halloween Costume 2008: Juno

So this year was another throw something together at the last minute. And being four months pregnant limited me a bit. So I figured, why not integrate the belly. :p

My sister actually suggested the Juno costume idea about a month ago, but as always, Halloween snuck up on us. So after a trip to Target last week, I thought I would cruise the mall and see if anything popped out at me. I stopped in at Hot Topic, and as I was looking through the clearance rack, found Bleeker's T-Shirt from Juno -- on clearance for $8. Sweet. Costume decision made.

So for the rest of Trip's costume, he found the yellow shorts at a discount shop for $6 (which I hemmed). I then found the socks at Big 5 for about $5, along with the wrist bands and headband for $1 each. Those were white, so I ran over to Michael's for some yellow dye, and that took care of the rest of his costume. (If you know Trip, you know he has a million sneakers, so I made him work with something he had. Which, of course, was a pair of sneakers with yellow on them, that matched his outfit perfectly.)

As for me, on that same shopping trip at the mall I went into Forever 21, where I found the orange stripped shirt for about $6, and the skirt for about $15 (both of which I can work into my wardrobe later on). The jeans, hoodie and sneaks were mine. 

The only other added additions was the orange Tic Tacs for Bleeker (you can see them tucked into Trip's socks), and the Big Gulp I carried around with me (filled with water of course). Oh, and I used some Bumble black hair powder to cover my blond chunks. And there you have it.

Okay, so there are some obvious differences here. 1.) I'm not nearly as far along as she was in the movie poster. 2.) Bleeker isn't covered in tattoos. 

So this is the Johnsons' interpretation. :)

How To Buy Organic and Not Go Broke.

Trip and I went shopping at Trader Joe's on Sunday, and noticed a few of our staple items had gone up in price. We usually buy all organic, but with the ever increasing prices of produce, we've had to put some items back on the shelf.

Well, no need to skip the bananas. Just skip paying the extra dollar on organic. Vegetarian Times recently had an article on "How To Buy Organic," with a list from the Environmental Working Group of the 12 most pesticide-laden conventionally grown fresh fruit and vegetables. So here's the list of the produce items where you shouldn't penny-pinch (buy organic):

1. Peaches
   
2. Apples
   
3. Bell Peppers
   
4. Celery
   
5. Nectarines
   
6. Strawberries
   
7. Cherries
   
8. Lettuce
   
9. Grapes (imported)
   
10. Pears
    
11. Spinach
12. Potatoes

In general, thin-skinned vegetables that grow underground can absorb pesticides and heavy metals, so organic is best. So fruits and vegetables such as avocados, bananas, mangoes are okay to buy nonorganic. Also, there are quite a few fruits and vegetables that do not appeal to pests and are rarely treated with pesticides, thus have low pesticide residues (if any): asparagus, broccoli, corn, eggplant, garlic, onions, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapes (domestic), grapefruit and watermelon. These are all okay to buy nonorganic.

As for dairy, it's best to always buy organic. In particular, organic milk contains no hormones or antibiotics, so is highly recommended. I know, $7 for a gallon of milk seems ridiculous. But trust me, there is a huge taste difference (I drink milk all the time now! Could also be the pregnancy thing, but it really does taste better.)

Another thing to keep in mind is buying local. According to Vegetarian Times, not only do some farmers claim that after the food industry took over the "buy organic" philosophy they often ignore traditional organic values such as sustainability and a connection to the local economy, but there are certain highly perishable foods whose flavor and nutrients are so dependent on freshness that it pays to buy local whenever possible. So hit up those farmer's markets! Even if they are not certified organic, they can be a great way to put the freshest, tastiest food on your plate while supporting your local economy and helping the environment. Who wouldn't want that!

We're Having a Boy!

As I mentioned in my Four Month Belly! post, we had a little scare last Monday that prompted a visit to the doctor. To make sure everything was okay, she did an ultrasound. During the ultrasound the doctor said, "I think I know what you are having..."

"Can you tell us?" I asked.

"Well, I think you're having a girl. I can't be certain, because baby is straddling the umbilical cord, but see that..."

[She points to some blurry image that apparently made up girl parts.]

So of course Trip and I translate "can't be certain" as "you're having a baby girl!" So all week we had it in our heads that we were having a girl. Trip bought a book of baby names and we didn't even look in the boy section. We were already disagreeing on the shade of pink we would paint the nursery.

Fast forward to Friday, our second trimester ultrasound. Now, our OB had warned us that some technicians can be pretty testy, perhaps even a bit cold. But we were so fortunate -- our technician rocked. She was definitely all business in the beginning, but just thoroughly explained what the process was going to be, and said her main concern was our baby. She asked us if we wanted to know the sex, and that she would tell us during the warm and fuzzy family part at the end of the exam, after about 30 minutes of seriousness. 

So during the important, serious, technical, don't-talk-to-me-because-I-am-concentrating exam, she says, "Well, I know what you are having. Quick, tell me your guesses."

"Girl."

"Girl."

"Girl, huh. Well, you're wrong. It's a boy. See, there's his wiener."

(Apparently the important, serious, technical term is "wiener".)

A boy. Oh my goodness, a boy! Of course we were both shocked at first, only because we were so certain we were having a girl. But that quickly faded for both of us as soon as we thought of our beautiful baby boy. We can't wait to meet him! I must have cried five times that day thinking about him...

Tears of joy for our Baby Boy Johnson.

(Or, "Baby Boy with a Johnson" as our technician proudly joked. Did I mention already how much we loved her?)

Four Month Belly!

Well, I "popped" this month. It's actually good to be past the looks-like-I've-let-myself-go belly and on to the full on preggers belly.

107# and 31.5"
It's hard to believe that I only grew half an inch this month, but I think everything has rounded out and moved to the front. :)


Baby is as big as a bell pepper and weighs almost 7 ounces, and is about 5 1/2 inches, head to bottom.

PHOTO: BabyCenter

I really can't believe it's been four months. Wow. Time flies. We're almost half way through! How is that even possible?! And so far I really can't complain. My energy level is back, but I still do get tired in the mid-afternoon. That kind of sucks on the days when I'm in the office, but I deal. I've been going to the gym pretty regularly, which I think is helping me feel good overall. I met another mommy-to-be at the gym, who is due any day now, and she said the best advice she could give me is to keep working out. This is her second, and she said that even with a rough first trimester, she has felt so much better this time around because she has been consistent with working out. And let me tell you, mommy was working out! Lifting weights, using the medicine ball, working up a sweat on the treadmill. She's my new inspiration! So I try to stick to this schedule: cardio and weights Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; prenatal yoga on Tuesdays; and hike on Thursdays. Weekends are for relaxation and rejuvenation. :)

The hefty appetite definitely started this month. I've suffered from some pretty uncomfortable heartburn and indigestion (probably due to my tiny torso), but it hasn't stopped me from eating! I've had more salt cravings than sweet, which is odd for me. (Kettle chips and onion dip... Yum...) But I still have my dark chocolate every night (a pre-pregnancy ritual). Despite the pigging out, my weight gain is right on track -- a pretty consistent pound a week.

We had a bit of a scare Monday with some mild contractions, but the doctor had us come in and everything seems to be okay. Just the thought of anything being wrong with our baby sent me on an emotional roller coaster. All I could focus on was our little peanut, and making sure he/she is perfect. I guess it was my first taste of how overwhelming the unconditional love that comes with being a parent is. Let me tell you, as soon as I saw that little heart beating, I felt my entire body relax. And any time we can get a sneak peak at baby is fine by us!

We have our second trimester ultrasound on Friday, so keep your fingers crossed that everything is going well, and that baby cooperates and we are able to find out the gender. I just put a poll up in my sidebar, so let me know your guess!

My progress:

One Month: 100# and 24"
Two Months: 101# and 25"
Three Months: 104# and 31"
Four Months: 107# and 31.5"

The Amy Winehouse Halloween Costume How-To.

So it looks like Amy Winehouse will be a popular costume choice again this year. I've gotten over a thousand hits so far this week to my post from last year, and have also gotten many inquires regarding how I put my costume together. So I thought I would give the interested parties a quick rundown of my Amy Winehouse interpretation (if I can remember it all):

1. The wig - This, of course, being the most important element of the costume. This was actually two wigs pinned together. The bottom one, which was on my head, had bangs. The top one was an old Elvira wig. I stuffed it with styrofoam balls and teased the heck out of it, then pinned it to the crown of the other wig. Then it was just a matter of twisting and pinning all the hanging hair up to the beehive. Be prepared with A LOT of bobby pins. (Must give thanks to my friend Amii for helping with the endeavor, and providing the wig head to make it all a bit easier to construct).
2. The tattoos - Unfortunately I can't remember the exact online store I bought these from, but I can tell you I used multiple images of Amy Winehouse to make sure I got some that were pretty similar to hers. I also placed them in the right spots. Try doing a search for "Pin-up girl tattoo" and "Sailor tattoo". Refer to my original post for images. There are also some great tattoos of scars and cuts that would work well, if you wanted to represent Amy circa 2008 (poor thing).
3. The clothes - This was actually the easy part. White tank top with red bra underneath, short skirt, platform sandals, a bunch of necklaces and some big plastic earrings. Again, search for images of Amy for inspiration. If you don't already have appropriate clothes, try a secondhand store like Goodwill. Or buy cheap at Target.
4. Make-up - The eyes are the focus here, and a must. Lots and lots of eyeliner. Black, thick, and going out to a point is necessary. Red lips are good, too. I had a picture of her next to me while I applied my make-up to make sure I got it pretty close.
5. The piercing - I just glued a tiny crystal just above my lip. You can find a bag of really cheap ones at the fabric store. 

So that's it. I was fortunate that I already had the clothes and the black wig with bangs from my Gogo Yubari costume the year before, and I borrowed the old Elvira wig from my sister-in-law (if you do borrow a wig, keep in mind you'll be teasing the hell out of it). The main expense was the tattoos (which was around $20). Give yourself plenty of time for shipping so you don't have to pay the ridiculous overnight charges. 

Good luck and please let me know if you have anymore more questions!

First Purchase For Baby.

We purchased our very first item for baby recently -- a new car. :)

Like most new parents, safety is a huge concern for us, so we traded in our Escape for an '08 Honda Pilot. Reviewers applauded the 2008 Honda Pilot for its safety precautions, as is also reflected in its five-out-of-five ratings in government crash tests. The Pilot was also named a "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

We had our first carload over the weekend, with six adults and one car seat carrying a one-year-old. We all fit great! (Although my sister-in-law complained that the third row was a bit tight. My brother thought it was just fine.)

For purely aesthetic reasons we picked the '08 over the '09. We weren't digging the Hummer-esque front grill of the '09. And with a DVD player, we knew it was the one for us.

Don't accuse us of not helping the economy. :)

2009 Calendars From the Talented Anna Cote

Last year I stumbled upon a wonderful designer on Etsy. I was looking for a unique, bold print calendar, and her screen printed ones were exactly what I was looking for. I put them up in my cubical at work, and got many compliments (not to mention a cheery, happy workspace!).

I received an email from her last week that her 2009 Screen Printed Botanical Desk Calendar is now available for sale on Etsy. She sold out last year, so act now if you are interested! I just bought mine!

You can find them here.

MUTO.

At 7 minutes and 26 seconds, I realize this is a bit of a long video to post. But seriously, this is the most amazing animation I have ever seen. Please take the time to watch this video, from the artist BLU, when you have a chance.

Also, BLU's web site is a must see (where you can see more of the artist's work), as well as his blog!

Breaking News!

Family, friends, and friends of the interweb,

Let me first apologize to those family members and friends that neither Trip nor I have been able to contact prior to this blog post. We had great intentions of personally speaking to each and every one of you.

So... my arty, designy, greeny, lifey blog is soon to add one more category: mommy. 

Yup! That's right! Trip and I are absolutely delighted to share with you all the news of our pregnancy. It's been hard keeping it a secret, but we really wanted to make sure the baby was healthy before we spread the news. And I'm happy to report that all is well! I just starting my second trimester, with a due date of March 25th.

Even though I haven't been blogging about it yet, I have been chronicling the pregnancy, and am happy to give you a look back at my changing body and life!

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4 weeks/One Month: The day we found out I was pregnant (which happened to be the first day of BlogHer '08). Say goodbye to the flat stomach...

100# and 24"

Baby was the size of a poppy seed. Of course my family referred to the baby as "Poppy" for quite some time. PHOTO: babycenter

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8 weeks/Two Months: Really - just four weeks later and I'm already a mess? By "mess" I mean that I already had cravings, food aversions, weird cramps, sore boobies, and was freakin' TIRED. Poor Tripple... he would ask me if I wanted, say, stir fry, and I would reply, "Ew! No! Ugh!" like he was suggesting we eat roasted crickets on a bed of dirt.

101# and 25"

Baby was the size of a kidney bean. PHOTO: babycenter

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10 weeks: We had our first ultrasound this week! And pregnancy had been treating me pretty well. I actually felt really great despite the exhaustion. And yes, I was one of the lucky few that really only suffered a couple days of morning sickness (and minor at that). Bring it, haters.

101.5# and 28"

Baby's first picture! Trip got super excited when he spotted Baby's heart beating (almost knocked a tray over), and Baby even did a little dance for us -- which we of course recreate on a daily basis.

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14 weeks/Three Months: So here we are, at three months. Belly is in full force. I'll post a pic at each month from now on, so you can all be completely and utterly astonished at the metamorphosis of tiny women to big rolley-polley.

104# and 31"

Had to include this one because it looks like an alien is about to pop out of my upper abdomen. It's actually my rib. Crazy. 

From head to bottom, baby is now about the size of a lemon. PHOTO: babycenter

And just because I am pregnant does not mean I won't still be involved in the world of art and design (it is still my career, and passion, after all), and my commitment to organic, green living. I just know that the next few months (okay 6) will be focused mainly on my every increasing belly, and the trials and tribulations of becoming a new parent -- while still in school, to boot! Yup that's right, the baby is due the end of March, a full 7 weeks before I graduate from the Academy of Art and Tripple finishes grad school (at least we both finish in May - yay!).

Should be an interesting ride. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

New Single From The Killers!

The Killers posted their new single to their web site today, Human. You can find it here (link is at the bottom).

I like it. I can definitely picture myself running to it. 

I'm really loving their web site design, though. Those are some awesome page transitions! (But why is that guy's arm so hairy - eek!!)

Their new CD, Day & Age, will be released November 25th. Hurray!

Another Great Reason to Live in the Bay Area.

How am I going to make the time see all the things I want to see! First there is the grand opening of the California Academy of Sciences, and now this!

Opening the very same weekend, September 27th, is the exclusive U.S. appearance of Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.

For the first time ever in the U.S.!
The world premiere of the largest, most comprehensive exhibit of the innovative art, science and engineering works of Leonardo da Vinci and his contemporaries comes to The Tech Museum of Innovation this Fall for only 99 days.

Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future will be at The Tech September 27, 2008 to January 4, 2009. Have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see how this genius of the Renaissance has influenced and inspired much of the technology we use today.

Not only will the extraordinary machines and mechanical devices be on display, but also two beautiful paintings on loan from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

99 days, people. You have no excuses.

I Can't Wait to See the Penguins!

Going to Golden Gate Park was a big part of my childhood. We would go pretty much every summer, as we always came to San Francisco for our annual physicals. I have fond memories of the Japanese Tea Garden, the Asian Art Museum, the de Young Museum, or even just playing in the playground. But what I always looked forward to was visiting the Steinhart Aquarium (or the California Academy of Sciences, as it is referred to now). I think that's what started my elementary school aged obsession with penguins (emphasis on the "PEN").

The end of this month, the CAS (wonderful website, by the way -- check out the PenguinCams!) will reopen its doors after an astonishing remodel. It's taken ten years and great vision to unify the Academy's twelve buildings into one notable structure. Under one Living Roof, the new Academy contains a planetarium, aquarium, and natural history museum. When the facility opens, the Academy hopes to earn the highest rating-platinum- for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, working with the Genoa-based Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), in collaboration with the San Francisco-based Chong Partners, has created one of the city's greenest buildings. It's really quite fascinating what they have accomplished:

• 90% of all demolition materials were recycled
  
• 32,000 tons of sand from foundation excavation applied to dune restoration projects in San Francisco
  
• 95% of all steel from recycled sources
  
• 15% fly ash (a recycled coal by-product), 35% slag in concrete
  
• 50% of lumber harvested from sustainable-yield forests
  
• 68% of insulation comes from recycled blue jeans
  
• 90% of office space will have natural light and ventilation
  
• 60,000 photovoltaic cells; 213,000 kilowatt-hours; 5% to 10% savings of electricity
  
• 30% less energy consumption than federal code requirement

And even with such a strong focus on being green, they did not slack on the overall design aesthetic one bit. The building is breathtaking to say the least.

Opening weekend celebration starts the 27th, with free admission on Saturday. You can find the details here. 

Camping at San Simeon State Park.

So I'm a week late, but wanted to share some pictures I shot during our Labor Day weekend camping trip to San Simeon. Camping Labor Day weekend has become a tradition for the Parmelee/Johnson families, and this was yet another success! San Simeon State Park is located 35 miles north of San Luis Obispo on Highway 1, and 5 miles south of the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument Visitor Center. The community of Cambria is located 2 miles to the South and offers gas stations and grocery stores. 

It really is a great state park, with some beautiful (and challenging!) hiking trails, and just a quick walk to the beach. I highly recommend! I also highly recommend a blowup mattress that takes up your entire tent, both vertically and horizontally. Ridiculous - maybe. Comfy - you know it! Thanks to Adam and Nay for letting us keep our bags in their tent since we didn't have any room.

Home Sweet I-Must-Decorate-For-Every-Holiday-Even-Labor-Day Home.

Buying a home is a huge feat. Buying a home in the Bay Area is a colossal feat. Designing the interior of said home leads to catalog addiction.

We've been in our home for nearly two years now, and we are still doing this-and-that, mainly because once every few months a new catalog from CB2, West Elm, Crate and Barrel or Williams-Sonoma arrives in the mail box. Just when you thought the table linens you bought were perfect year round, you get the Fall Williams-Sonoma catalog with the Halloween decor. Dang it!

Halloween Spider Web Rubber Doormat. Must have this.

Great Pumpkin Candle. They look so real!

Pumpkin Place Mats (Set of 4) Ummmm. I want pumpkin pie.

And no, it's not too early to be thinking about Halloween, silly. Shoot, I'm already thinking how I'm going to decorate my mantel for Christmas...

People First, Idiotic Ideas about Global Warming NOT Being Caused By Humans Second.

Trip and I were discussing the Palin controversy last night, and the different opinions people -- particularly women -- have regarding a mother of 5 holding such a high powered and demanding position (not to mention the whole 17-year-old daughter being pregnant thing). We both learned something interesting from our conversation: Trip learned that her youngest child has Down syndrome; and I learned the term PFL, people-first language.

When I first told Trip about Palin's infant boy, I said, "she has a Down syndrome baby". Trip quickly corrected me, saying that with people-first language you should emphasize that they are a person first. The disability comes second. So I should have said, "she has a baby with Down syndrome". Wikipedia has a page dedicated to the topic (of course they do), with a very helpful table of examples.

Interesting tidbit I thought I'd pass along...

One more thing... I am not a fan of Palin, especially since she doesn't believe global warming is caused by humans, nor does she think polar bears should be listed as endangered (I can't even get my head around that one). But I do think she is entitled to a personal life, and conducting it as she chooses. I wouldn't make the same choices as her, but it's her life, let her live it.

Free Pie! Free Pie!

Two reasons to be happy on a Wednesday afternoon:

1.  I just found out that one of my favorite shows from last year, Pushing Daisies is premiering October 1st.
2. In some very clever marketing, ABC is kicking off the second season with a Pushing Daisies Touch of Wonder Tour. The tour will hit 10 cities across the U.S., with pop-up facsimiles of Ned's bakery, the Pie Hole, and offering free pie to all comers. I repeat, FREE PIE, people! Can you tell I'm excited about free pie! The super cutie website The Pie Maker has all the deets.
   

The Pie Hole Tour 2008:

• August 31: Anaheim, CA – Downtown Disney
  
• September 7: San Francisco, CA – Ghirardelli Square– Chocolate Festival
  
• September 10: Los Angeles, CA – Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade
  
• September 12: Las Vegas, NV – Fashion Show Mall
  
• September 14: Phoenix, AZ – Westgate Complex
  
• September 17: Denver, CO – Larimer Square
  
• September 20: Dallas, TX – Addison Oktober Fest
  
• September 24: Chicago, IL – Lincoln Park
  
• September 26: Philadelphia, PA – The Shops at Liberty Place
  
• September 29: New York, NY – Times Square

Now to convince Tripple that we have to go up to the city to get some free pie...

Is It That Time of Year Already??

The most wonderful time of the year??

Yup - it's back! The 5 Cent Sale is back at BevMo! Cause I always gotta hook a brotha/sista up...

You know the drill -- buy one bottle at full price, get the second for 5 stinkin' cents. Of course there are only select bottles included in the sale, but they always throw in some good ones. Pick the 90 point wines if you're not sure what is good. 

And shop online for easy in-store pick-up!

Cheers!

"You've Made This Day a Special Day By Just Being You."

Trip just got home from a teacher's kick-off meeting and made me Google a video they showed. He said it was something I had to see.

He was right.

In 1969, Fred Rogers appeared before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications. His goal was to support funding for PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in response to significant proposed cuts by President Nixon. He passionately argues that alternative television programming like his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood helped encourage children to become happy and productive citizens, sometimes opposing less positive messages in media and in popular culture.

Watch in awe, as I did.



Just hearing his voice brought back memories of Rachel, Adam and I glued to the TV, watching the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. And what a voice -- the most heartfelt and pleasant voice I have ever, I will probably ever hear.

An Exhibit Not to Be Missed!

Here in the Bay Area, we're so fortunate to have such a range of amazing museums: the de Young, the Legion of Honor, the Asian Art Museum, and of course the Museum of Modern Art, which Trip and I have been members of for some time now. But there are also some great places to view art right here in San Jose.

Some time last year, Trip and I decided to explore our local museums, and stumbled upon the fabulous Anno Domini, as well as a fabulous artist exhibiting -- Bruno 9Li from Sao Paolo, Brazil. Since the exhibit, Mysterium Tremendum, Bruno 9Li has experienced some great exposure here in San Jose, with a mural along the side of Anno Domini (which used to be Camera One) and a cover of The Wave magazine.

Well he's back with his second solo exhibit, META. It is a reflection on its Greek origin relating to the concept of "beyond." What lies beyond the perceptible reality that we share in our day to day lives? What follows our existence here on Earth? Bruno continues his process of drawing as a means of contemplative action while these ideas flow through him and into the art. He pulls his inspiration from the themes of spiritism, metaphysics, ovnis (UFOs) and exotic, aquatic plants and animals.

His work is hard to describe. It's graphically bold, colorful, and extremely intricate. It definitely has a street-art influence, but I wouldn't categorize him in such a way. From his website: He often speaks of "all being one," and is deeply aware of the unity of people, animals and nature itself. 9Li creates works of art that share this vision with his audience through epic encounters of natural and supernatural beings. These encounters, depending on the viewer, can be seen as mythic morality tales of the past, or a keen foretelling of the future.

Not only is his breathtaking work on display, but it is all surrounded by a beautiful site-specific installation that adds to the overall exhibit, bringing together all the pieces to this one magnificent vision.

There are still a couple of works available for purchase, but I was really surprised at how fast many of his pieces have sold. So if you are interested, you should act fast. Of course, you should also have $2700 of disposable income (Me, not so much. Sad.)

META
Solo Exhibit by Bruno 9li
Exhibit dates: 1st August thru 20th September, 2008.

Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design
366 So. First Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408.271.5155

Gallery & Store Hours:
Tuesday through Friday, noon - 7 p.m.
Saturday, noon - 5 p.m.

I Always Knew There Was A Big Underground Drag Kitty Scene.

Cat people. We are a rare breed aren't we.

We not only love our cats, we adore them. We even slightly worship them.

The other night, I looked at my cat, sleeping on his little cat couch, and shed a tear. If only he knew how much I loved him! (Of course hormones might have played a slight role in this moment.)

Well, my sister has shown me that there are some that take the adoration of their kitties to a whole new level.

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you...

Kitty Wigs

Kitty freakin' wigs.

I did a Google search and there is an entire Kitty Wig group on Flickr. Of course there is.

Okay, give me "depressed millionairess."

Now give me "I have no time for you, you stupid stupid human!" 

Okay, I admit, I once put a little tiny Panthers helmet on Lemieux to take a picture to send to my mother-in-law. But a wig? I just don't think I can subject my boys to that. I mean, if they're into drag, I am a loving mother and will love and support them no matter what. But I'm not going to be the reason why they turn to a life of sin. (I've read I Am Not Myself These Days! I know what those girls are up to! Okay, I loved that book, but whatever.)

It doesn't matter anyways -- they're both more purple kinda gals.

Although Lemieux would rock that pink one like nobody's business.

Hmmmm... $50... 

Do You Have Olympic Fever??

Wow - what a weekend. A weekend of me stuck to the couch watching hours of Olympic coverage. Awesomely stuck!

It all started with the most amazing opening ceremonies I can remember. Well, that actually started Saturday morning for me, as I had other plans Friday evening, so watched the full 4.5 hours commercial free (Yay DVR!). Oh, I take that back. Not completely commercial free, because that amazing United Air commercial caught my eye. Having just taking a motion graphics course, I watched this commercial in complete awe. The integration of traditional animation with 3D graphics and live action footage is top notch. I found it on YouTube, and of course the quality sucks, but you get the idea.

Love.It.

But going back to the opening ceremonies, there were many memorable moments. My personal favorite moments were the LED drum countdown (probably one of the coolest things I've ever seen), and then the little 9-year old boy from China that walked along side the flag carrying yao Ming (He was so tiny! Or perhaps looked tiny next to Yao Ming.) who went back and saved two classmates after the horrific 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Find me one person that didn't at least get a tiny bit choked up when they told that boy's story. (I of course, went through about 5 tissues).

So then the rest of the weekend was Men's basketball (was anyone else just smidgen worried when the Chinese started out so strong? Yao Ming with a three-pointer? WTF?), beach volleyball (with Kerri Walsh loosing her wedding ring during her and Misty May-Treanor's win - don't worry, they found it! - and the downpour during Gibb & Rosenthal's easy win) and gymnastics (and yes, I do believe a few of the Chinese girls' claims to be 16 are a bit suspect). Add in a few trips out of the house for some food, and that pretty much sums up my weekend.

Oh wait... I forgot a sport. Ummm did anyone happen to watch the swimming? I know, only a bagillion people are curious as to how Micheal Phelps will perform. And since he broke World Records and claimed the Gold in his first two medal races -- which analysts claim to have been his hardest races these Olympic games -- well, dude is doing pretty well. Okay, really well. Okay, okay, mind-blowingly well. Better yet, freak of nature well.

Poor poor Lemieux. My little lap kitty that wants nothing more than to sleep on his mommy's belly every night. There he was, at 11:30 last night, well past our bedtime. Trip and I were watching TV, anxiously awaiting the Men's 4x100m relay race which the French were heavily favored, not to mention talking some smack on the US (doesn't that almost always end badly?). We didn't have our hopes up for a Gold, especially since the US were almost a body length behind going into that last leg. But wait... he's catching up... oh my gosh he's catching up! It's so close, it's super close. OH MY GOSH!!!! HE DID IT!!! THEY WON!!! THEY WON!!! Both Trip and I leapt up out of bed, sending poor Lemieux half way across the room, where he stopped and stared at us with eyes as big as saucers. I think we may have gone through one of his lives last night. Sorry boo boo. But holy cow, was that a race or what!! (Oh, and Micheal Phelps, if you're reading this, please feel free to scream like an animal and show every muscle in your body whenever you want, thank you.)

So the Johnson household, kitties and all, is in a full Olympic frenzy.

I can't believe we have over two more weeks of this!!

This was not "Photohsop"-ed

Oh, I hope he didn't pay too much for this ad.
And I'm not even going to comment on the overall artistic quality...

BlogHer '08: It Was a Success!

I know I'm a few days late recapping BlogHer '08, but it's taken me a few days just to get back in the swing of things. I was not quite prepared for the three hours of sleep a night. But yes, it was all worth it.

My first experience at a BlogHer conference was amazing, to say the least. And to experience it with Trip was great. He was such a trooper! I have to admit, I signed him up as a volunteer without his full consent. But he is on summer vacation, so I kinda feel like he didn't have a choice. (I know, selfish and mean of me, right?) I'm so glad I did. Because he had just as good and an inspiring time as I did. And it didn't hurt that he was hanging out with about a thousand women. 

Because we were working so hard and running all around, we weren't able to sit in on too many of the well-planned sessions. But we were able to sit in on one, which couldn't have been more perfect for us: MommyBlogging: Blogging About Our Children with Special Needs (you can read a live-blog here). Obviously with Trip being a Special Education teacher, I hear about the challenges and rewards of working with these special students on a daily basis. But to hear the parents' side was... there really are no words to explain. It was so moving to see how these women have used their blogs to not only deal with their own difficult days, but to also help others who are just starting out on this journey with their child. These women were all so strong, so brave, so real, so optimistic. It was definitely a touching and humbling experience (that I cried through). Although that was the only session we sat in on, we were both able to leave the conference knowing we experienced a BlogHer conference as one should.

On a completely different note, Trip and I were also able to sneak a peak at the Rocco DiSpirito cooking demonstration. Now, neither of us watched his show The Restaurant, where apparently he was complete ass -- we've only seen him on Top Chef, where he was totally down to earth. Which is how I would describe the Rocco we saw. As soon as he entered the room, he quickly started comfortable conversations with all the lucky 50 women in the room. He really seemed genuine. Maybe he's a fantastic actor and had us all fooled, but my gut tells me he really is a super cool, laid back kinda guy. And we learned some great tips! Cook your veggies with your boiling pasta to save a step -- and a pan; be generous with the salt when you salt the water for cooking pasta; don't feel guilty about taking some cooking short-cuts -- eating well is what is important! 

And yes, he is just as attractive in person (maybe even more!). Sorry, the iPhone camera sucks.

Our favorite room, however, had to be the Sesame Street Suite. I wanted to stay in there all day! Between the recreation of the Sesame Street facade (complete with park benches), the beautifully decorated cookies and cupcakes, Abby Cadabby and GROVER -- I was in kiddie heaven. 

And of course there were the parties. Thursday night was the Newbie Mixer, where we got our first taste of how women would attack Trip to see his tattoos. (I know he loves it.) Friday night was Ruby Skye hosted by TNT, where an actress from their hit show The Closer partied alongside the BlogHers/Hims. (Trip and I ran out to Virgin earlier that day to find a CD for that party. It must have been a success, as by the end of the night, there was some serious gettin' down gettin' on.) And then the closing night ceremony at Macy's, where a few (okay fifteen), wine glasses were broken amongst the Marc Jacobs bags (it pains me to even type that), free samples of KY were giving out, and some yummy tasty treats were passed around. If it sounds like a good time, you're spot on. It was. (Trip ran off to the men's Macy's to do some shopping, so I know for a fact some of those 11% off coupons were used!)

And like a bride after her wedding, Trip and I drove home that night pleased, a little sad it was over, and completely exhausted. And now the planning begins for The Reach Out Tour!

For more on BlogHer '08, visit the live-blogs links on the BlogHer website. You can also check out Flickr for some great shots from the community.

R.I.P. M.C.

It was a sad, sad day on Saturday. My family had to say goodbye to a member of the family.

A few months ago, my sister's cat Marie Claire became suddenly ill. After trying everything they could to get her better, her little body just couldn't fight anymore, and she was ready to start a new adventure.

She lived an amazing nine years. Not many people can say they lived in San Francisco, Miami, Singapore and Hawaii -- let alone a cat. I was fortunate enough to visit her in each of these locations. We both agreed that Singapore was her mommy's best home.

I will always remember Marie Claire as being the most beautiful cat I have ever seen. I took this picture of her with my phone on a day when I was caring for her. I just loved how, even though you knew she wasn't feeling well, she still posed for me. Always the lady.

Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Marie Claire. We are forever grateful. :)

When Warming Is A Good Thing.

Diane Ackerman's book An Alchemy of Mind:

"We safely trade bits of self with loved ones all the time. Couples pick up some of each other's mannerisms, accents, habits, ideas. But we also absorb people in more visceral ways. When we pass along a flu or cold sore, for instance, viruses pack some of our proteins and lipids in the viral envelope and release them inside another person, who will store some in his or her lymph nodes. Retroviruses - such as AIDS, for instance - can install pieces of someone else's DNA in one's chromosomes. But we're probably swapping gene fragments with people all the time, imperceptibly, through infection and lovemaking because 'over the course of an intimate relationship, we collect a lot of pieces of someone else... Until one day what remains is truly and thoroughly a mosaic, a chimera - part man, part woman, part someone, part someone else.' Little by little, as bits of DNA make it to our chromosomes, intimate relationships help shape the immune system's cameo of us, and modify the brain, altering the self whose continuity we cherish. We don't just get under each other's skin, we absorb people. Everyone we've ever loved remains with us, and we're invisibly changed for having known them. That will make some people feel queasy, I suppose, but it warms me."

<sigh>

I Like Circles.

I mentioned yesterday that one of my courses this summer is Motion Graphics 2. Well my other course is my last Liberal Arts class, The Power of Signs: Semiotics & The Visual Arts. If you are a fan of my blog from back in the day (ummm... like last September), then you might remember me posting about the History of Aesthetics class quite a bit. Well this is the same professor, and once again he's got my little wheels a-turnin'. Last week our lecture was on The Preferential Shapes Test, and as interesting as biosemiotics may be (bio-huh?), this was actually something I thought others might be interested in.

From the lecture:

The Preferential Shapes Test provides a window into individual experiences and needs, as well as clues to the direction of future growth. It is not intended as an index of character flaws. The processes revealed by the shape preferences are a part of everyone's experience. The potentials symbolized by each shape are present in everyone, although the shapes' expression within any individual is always unique.

I'm not exactly sure I can reproduce the entire test here, as I Googled it and only got references to a book. So to ensure not getting sued or anything ridiculous like that, I'll just pimp the book instead.

The "test" was created by Angeles Arrien, a cultural anthropologist and student of Joseph Campbell. Through cross-cultural study she identified five symbols that she says occur in art and decoration around the world with similar meanings. The five symbols are:

• Circle - symbolizing wholeness
• Equidistant Cross - symbolizing relationship
• Spiral - symbolizing growth and change
• Square - symbolizing stability
• Triangle - symbolizing goals, dreams, and visions

In the Preferential Shapes Test, she asks people to first draw the shapes and then rank them 1-5 with one being the most preferred shape and five the least.

The five ranked positions also have meanings:

1. where you think you are
2. your strengths
3. where you really are
4. your motivation
5. what you are avoiding or in denial of

The test interpretations are lengthy, but really interesting, if you're into this hippie dippie new-agey kinda thing like me. I found some pretty accurate, some surprising, and some quite insightful. I'm always down for some self-reflection, and if anything, this test encourages that.

Plus any test that only compromises of drawing a few simple shapes is awesome in my book.

I Love Me Some Big Glass Of Half Full

"Joy, where have you been?" you may be asking.

Well, with only six classes left at Academy of Art, I decided to tackle two of them this summer. Which is pretty crazy. What is normally a 16 week course is condensed into 8 weeks. Which means two assignments due a week. And being that one of my courses is Motion Graphics 2 (basically creating cool motion graphics in AfterEffects), equals the pretty crazy part. Actually, make that very crazy.

Add to that that the BlogHer annual conference is July 18-20 (1000 attendees; sponsors such as GM, Intuit, and TNT, to name a few; and a party at Macy's in Union Square) and well, you have me working pretty much non-stop.

Again, very crazy.

The last few weeks have definitely been a good lesson in time management. I'm trying very had to balance work and school with, well, a life. I guess this is always an issue for the working American. We live in a culture that seems to get off on burning the candle at both ends. When did this cultural shift happen? Or is that what this nation has always been about?

I guess I am partly to blame for the craziness. Had I not decided to become a rave bunny in the 90s, I would have finished my undergrad at Santa Clara in my early 20s. But when I start to think about what my life would have been, my head starts to spin. How could I even know. How could I even make a guess. It's one of those Sliding Doors kinda things. I may not have ever found out that I wanted to do design; I may have never met my husband; I may have never experienced all the bizarre and wonderful things that have made me who I am today.

So, in my 30s, and after a kick-ass winding road, I'm here working my ass off.

With a little life mixed in every chance I get.

01SJ Festival - Better Late Than Never

Last week marked the 2nd Biennial 01SJ Global Festival of Art on the Edge, and I really did have good intentions to blog about. Instead I went and enjoyed too much wine and forgot to. So, you get a recap instead of a plug.

In case you are unfamiliar with it, 01SJ is:

North America’s newest and largest festival of digital arts, and a great deal more. From a hip hop, multi-media meditation on Antarctica to robot art, from conversations with artificial intelligence to operatic performances of Google headlines about the environment, from avant-garde cinema to new musical forms - well over 100 artworks, performances, screenings, talks, and workshops will be featured at 01SJ. Festival organizers expect it to be a perspective-altering experience that entertains, enlightens, educates and involves attendees in a new understanding of our changing world.

Last Wednesday night was the opening ceremonies, and my friend Amii and I (who was my companion to the event last year), went to check it out -- specifically the lighting of City Hall's Rotunda. Of course we were both a bit hungry and thirsty when we got there, so started off the evening with some wonderful wine and appetizers at Bella Mia. Feeling satisfied and toasty, we then walked down to City Hall to meet up with our friend Mariah to check it out. I have to say, although there wasn't smoke and lots of lights projected everywhere like last year, this year's installation was much cooler.

Incursion 37:20:15.71” N - 121: 53:09.51” W continues Craig Walsh’s series of large-scale projection installations occupying specific sites and responding to contrasting environmental contexts. These urban interventions provide surreal visions of nature dominating architectural sites and altering their perceived function. This new project for 01SJ will continue this strain of enquiry whilst considering the impact technology might have on these simulated clashes between Nature and the built environment.

I got to take some really cool, interesting photos -- which is always a plus.

Friday night Trip, Amii and I went to SubZero, a huge block party on south First that celebrates unique and emerging arts movements ranging from contemporary music, street performances, Do-It-Yourself and interactive, on-the-edge art installations. As always Anno Domini was displaying an interesting artist, and I still love the huge mural they have on the side of the building -- something I shot a while back for a web site project. But it was the Fingerbangers turntablism (is that even a word? it should be) that provided the most entertainment, and the biggest draw.

Oh, I should mention that Friday started out with dinner at La Pastaia, in the Hotel De Anza. Absolutely fantastic meal with a lot of vegetarian options. I highly recommend the fried artichokes and the asparagus risotto to start, and the cappellini con salsa fresca for your main course. And the wine list was great :)

So if you didn't check it out this year, make sure you get out to 01SJ next year. Hopefully the City Hall Rotunda installation continues - and continues to progress - as it really is a very very cool concept.

Reason #386 Why I Love My Husband

Trip and I have been blessed with hummingbird visitors year round, mainly because they love our sugary-sweet hummingbird feeder concoction (and by "our" I mean Trip's). We've been talking for some time about getting a birdhouse, in hopes to keep them as permanent residents. So I was thrilled when I received an email from Design Within Reach today advertising a kick-ass birdhouse, and quickly forwarded it on to Trip. Our exchange:

ME: Oh my God I want it! $95, though.... :(

Close up of email

TRIP: and it makes a great home for tits! :)

ME: [laughing hysterically] you, sir, are HIL-AR-IOUS.

(End scene)

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

-They Might Be Giants