WORKING ON: Not enough of anything. Trying to get it all done. Failing. Yesterday managed to buy a new bed frame, mattress, kitchen table, couch pillows and the awesome guy above. It felt amazing to tick so much off my list at once.
THINKING ABOUT: The holidays, the spring line, packing, decorating the new house and so many tasks that are involved with it all.
ANTICIPATING: Moving into the new house (renting) in 12 days...woo hoo!!
LISTENING TO: Wild Belle. Saw them at ACL last week and fell in love.
EATING: Have fallen off the candy wagon...hard. Trying to get back on, but sugar is a bitch of a mistress.
THANKFUL FOR: Finding a home, just in the nick of time before my lease was up!
PLANNING FOR: Where to put my current furniture and the new furniture arriving when we move in!
READING: The Reluctant Metrosexual: Dispatches From An Almost Hip Life by Peter Hyman. Not sure how I feel yet, just started.
WATCHING: Last weeks episode of Grey's right now while typing...keeping an eye out for Manic Trout!
WORKING ON: Photographing my silver bling rings, as I switched to Argentinium silver this spring (brighter than what they were), the rings are long over due new photos.
THINKING ABOUT: How odd it is that the larger the dog breed, the shorter the life expectancy and vice versa. Yet with birds its the opposite, the larger the bird, the longer the life expectancy. Yeah I know, it's bizarre what consumes my thoughts.
ANTICIPATING: Getting excited to see my wedding dress next month now thats it's been all made to me and what not...I may be also planning a photo shoot of it. It's that fabulous.
LISTENING TO: Obsessed with This Head I Hold by Electric Guest...combined with what's in the photo above, it caused quite the mini dance party in my studio last night!
EATING: Blackberry Candy Corn from Big Top Candy Shop. They're ok, it's just that I'm super partial to Brachs Candy Corn, which I haven't been able to find here (yet!) boo.
THANKFUL FOR: The support of so many people in my live regarding Manic Trout, it's pretty amazing. Even more amazing is that there's a team of us now!
PLANNING FOR: I've already started dreading the idea that I have to pack up everything to move approx 5 blocks in 6 weeks. Ugh.
READING: Just finished Candy Freak by Steve Almond, which I loved and sparked a looooong conversation at Big Top last night regarding independent candy manufacturers. Now I'm reading The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. I've seen the movie countless times and rather enjoy it as far as chick flicks go. The book is already blowing it out of the water. I have been devouring biz books as well, and I finished What Women Want by Paco Underhill and am sailing through The Boss of You by Bacon and Mears and Girls Just Wanna Have Funds by Blake and Goodman. I recommend both if you're looking to expand your knowledge in either area of self employment or investment/money.
WATCHING: I started Rescue Me this week on Netflix, really enjoying it...have been a fan of Dennis Leary for years and he's fantastic in it, it's been around forever but I never thought to watch it. Glad I finally did!
Completely by coincidence I received not one, but TWO packages of sweet treats from sisters yesterday. Holly lugged the above bag full of mouth watering and beautiful confections all the way from and in San Francisco to Austin. At the same moment she stepped off the plane, UPS arrived with the coolest I've ever seen from Gillian. She of course knows my affection for fruity, sugary candies and it was filled to the brim!
Last night I ate three macarons, half of a weird marshmallow stick, a gingersnap, some sort of raspberry sugar cube thing, three flavors of rock candy and countless gummy treats before bed...this is not going to end well.
My fist pumping excitement when the Candy Bouquet arrived...yes, I was really THAT excited!
Thank you girls, I love it all (and will reluctantly share...maybe).
I was a very lucky kid growing up in that my mom celebrated all holidays with extreme enthusiasm, including half birthdays. Btw, I realized this year that no one else celebrated half birthdays. When Adam and I set the date for the wedding we were back and forth between two dates, but the one we settled on and kept coming back happens to be my half birthday. When I share this fun little fact with anyone, I just get a confused stare. Sad for them, because half birthday rock.
Anyway...I had to smile this morning when I woke to both facebook and text messages from my mom wishing me a Happy Valentines Day and lots of love and it made me smile and reminded me that to me Valentines Day was never about showing one special person that you love them, but rather a day about celebrating love...or candy hearts...but whatever, I have a weird fixation on holiday specific candy. Well, and about making cards, but I just realized that when I moved, I did not bring my glitter and how the heck am I supposed to make a Valentines Day card without glitter???
Anyway...I have more thoughts on the subject, but this week Adam and I are posting on today rather than Monday in honor of Valentines Day, and I don't want to step on my own toes. So I'm signing off to go search for candy hearts, which I love, but only the Sweethearts Conversation Hearts...not the knock off brands. Also not a fan of chocolate...ok this is becoming about candy, time to go...but wait...Happy Valentines Day!
I really need to remember to post my instagram posts on a more regular basis as its been over a month since the last post and there were just so many to choose from! I had issues editing, so this post is a tad long, but its been such a busy month!!
A glimpse at the weekly market which I am a proud part of...all local artisans, all hand made. On the corner of Gibson St and S Congress. I'm there almost every Saturday (I occasionally have to switch to Sunday when I have scheduling conflicts).
They're baaaaack! Adam and I were equally excited to find these at Big Top Candy Shop.
Flowers "just because" are my favorite reason for flowers.
As you already may know, I said yes!
My "tree"...I love it!
I found the coolest wrapping paper, it was super thick, pretty and REVERSIBLE! That part was an awesome surprise, I picked it out for the white side with the fonts, but loved the red as well!
Merry Christmas wishes!
Thea snapped this of Gillian, Holly and I in the post Christmas clean up. I love that we're in teh crowns from our crackers still...its perfect and the only photo I have from 5 days at my moms with all of us. That's sad!
Wedding dress shopping before heading home to Texas. ps...this is the dress I will be wearing in September!
A very quite New Years Eve with us both being sick. We made it to Madam Mam's for dinner though and it was as awesome as always!
What I looked like in the last hours of 2011.
One of my moms delicious Apple Pies in progress...Yum!
Are you on Instagram? I am @manictrout, look me up if you so desire!
What a week. I think my hard drive crashing was number three on my list of most stressful moments in the life of Manic Trout, coming in behind two floods...both causing my studio to be evacuated and one forcing me to move and the being a move of 2000 miles and having to keep my studio n a pod for a month. Thankfully I now have a new hard drive and as I back up weekly, I only lost a small amount of work.
While transferring photos from my phone this morning, I realized it been quite some time since I posted instagram photos. Speaking of instagram, have you seen yet? You can access your instagram account from your mac, its awesome!
Anyway, here is what I have been up to the past week or so...
On the boat in South Padre on the Thanksgiving Moring
Faye who is exhausted after her first walk on a beach. There was a plethora of washed up jellyfish and fish carcasses that day to cause utter joy and excitement. All in all, a successful adventure.
A kite boarder setting up on the flats.
We had to stop at the tourist trap on the way off the island to photo the dinosaurs and other creatures...I personally liked the shark the best.
A pit stop for a big bag of pineapple oranges on the road home...so happy we did, yummy!!
When it gets down into the low 40's in Austin, the outdoor bars are still open as usual, so everyone is out on 6th street in parkas and scarves...still hanging around outside...freezing cold but reluctant to go inside...me included!
Faye and I had a lot of cuddle time this week while my computer was gone.
Part of the Manic Trout tent at Austin's First Thursday this month, I love doing outdoor night shows in December...we're sure not in NY anymore!
Adam and I had date night last night...burgers at Docs on Congress, an unexpected stop at the Big Top Candy Shop and then we were off to see Jack and Jill (the new Adam Sandler flick)...it was the perfect date and so much fun!
Wow, what a month! There has been so much going on that I can't even remember all of it! Besides all of the stuff I have been doing not work related, Manic Trout participated in Austin First Thursday in the beginning of the month and will be again this coming week! I am also super excited about the which were released this month that I'm really proud of, yay!. But the best part of the month was seeing not one, but TWO of my sisters, how awesome is that??? I think its much more fun to show you, not just tell you though, so here are a few glimpses of what I have been up to for the last month...
Tati and I went to and enjoyed all of the sights and fun that we could find.
The awesome ceiling at one of my favorite restaurants, ...the best Thai food I've ever had.
Ok maybe I had enjoyed a few scotches at dinner, but I was really excited when I realized that Adam and I both wear colored shoes all the time.
At my first NFL game...the Texans vs the Steelers. It was insane and I loved every minute of it!
We went to the beach!!! Gillian and Jav went to South Padre Island (where Adam's parents live) for a week, so we drove down to see them for a few days of it and it was awesome.
Thea was jealous of our visiting with Gilly and a bit homesick too, so we headed off to Boulder, Colorado a week later for two nights and three jam packed days with Thea. That's the view from our hotel, it was gorgeous!
Yeah, my boys got skills. Boulder was basically one big playground for handstands, look at the face on the little girl in the background watching him!
A habit I can't seem to quit. These had a citrus cream cheese frosting...SO yummy!
We arrived back in Texas to Adam having a houseful of out of town guests and basically it was non stop chaos for the week. Even though we were able to hide out at my house some of the time, it was a lot to take. I managed to go outside alone with my coffee for 10 minutes one day before we headed out to an all day fundraiser.
I got a text while getting my hair cut asking if I wanted to have date night that night, so I had a blown out for the first time in a few years...its so fun to look so different for a night!
The chaos of out of town visitors has finally subsided and since I've been sick all week after a particular germy person sat behind me on the plane, I have spent much of the past 36 hours sleeping...and eating Halloween candy that I bought "just in case" I got Trick-or-Treators. So excited for Halloween tomorrow!!!
I have forgotten to post recent Instagram photos, oops! Most of the last two weeks have been consumed by moving in and setting up my home and studio (those photos will be their very own post). However, I still have found time to do some fun things, including going to ACL (Austin City Limits Music Festival) for the day last Sunday...and that was a whole lotta fun! So here is a wrap up of most of the past month...
A show I did in early September, Saturday Vintage Market.
Proof that Fall has officially arrived...oh and fyi...I have gone back to a healthy candy free existence. Back on the wagon...for now anyway.
What I'm doing 90% of the time...when I'm not in my studio anyway.
Adam caught the planking bug!
Random Train Cars.
A rare break for happy hour. Herradura Margarita with Strawberry Puree. Yum.
A little bird joined us for breakfast at Austin Java. He was polite and didn't beg...much.
Adam's nieces coolest toy.
It tried so hard to rain and rescue Austin from the drought.
At ACL...I think we were at The Broken Social Scene here.
Tati and I went out for a girls lunch on her birthday!!
Yay, my inspiration boards are back!!!
I've had more fun than O thought recently...woo hoo!!! Have a great week-end friends!!
Yeah, yeah, yeah...blue is not a flavor...well in the world of Cotton Candy it is, and its my favorite. I have been a lucky girl this summer and eaten my fill of cotton candy twice already, yum!
Ah yes, it's February 14th. I'm not one for Valentine's Day in general, and this year being single, I am pretty happy that I have such a busy day ahead of me...the kind of day where I go, go, go every over planned out minute of it. I am booked until about 9pm, but I'm figuring that if my usual monthly post board meeting pow wow with friends is canceled due to the date, then I will come home and snuggle up with Faye and enjoy a themed flick. As I only allow myself candy a few times a year, and Valentines day is one of those very special occasions, I also plan on treating myself to a pile of themed candy as well...although admittedly, I have already started in on the conversation hearts. Not sure what I'll watch yet, but I narrowed my viewing choices down to my top 5...
