miki's scrapbook

A very unexpected surprise

2012-02-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

I was not going to publish a post today. Even though today it's been a year since I left Buenos Aires, Argentina, I didn't feel like saying anything at all.

A year sounds like an important timespan. I could have planned a post where I told you about what I've learned here, whom I've met, what places I like and what things I don't like. But honestly, I didn't feel like writing. A year has passed by and I just feel so immensely unaccomplished and disappointed in myself. I don't have a job. I don't have friends of my own. I can't focus. I can't even study.

I know it's totally unfair to say this when I actually have no reason to complain at all! I am happily married to the best man I've ever met and I feel truly loved by him and his family. His friends are awesome and I feel included in their group (there's only one person I just can't stand, but, oh, well ...). And I feel that my dearest friends from Argentina have somehow managed to follow me here, too :). I am happy to have moved and do not regret it.

I was having a very crappy day and then this happened.

The postman rang my bell and handed in a package for me! I wasn't expecting anything. I opened the box and found this beautiful scarf :D.

When I found the card, I just couldn't believe my eyes!

I got teary-eyed with happy tears, of course. If you still haven't met Ashley, let me tell you that she's a great graphic designer and crafter, an original blogger and most importantly an awesome and incredibly generous person. She has done so much for me! My blog would definitely not be the same without her. She was responsible for its 2 adorable layouts and she was the only major blogger that cared to come by and leave a comment when I fist started blogging. Do you remember my previous layout?;)

I loved what Ashley had done and thought I was going to miss it too much to let it go, but then she showed me the new one, the current one, and I fell in love with it immediately.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ASHLEY! :D For having been there since my early blogging days, for being so generous to me and for having put a huge smile on my face on this very weird day!

And to the rest of you, don't hesitate to meet sweet Ashley on her blog: Under those Neon Lights!

By the way, I think Dimitri loves my new scarf as much as I do, hehe :p.

I can't wait to start wearing it! I love its color and the fabric is perfect for this kind of weather! :D

This package reminded me that this year has not only been about failures and "don'ts". This little blog of mine is actually the only thing that is just mine and it has open the door to so many amazing friendships that I cherish more than you can probably imagine. Every comment you leave means the world to me and I can't thank you enough for caring to even open it and read what I have to say. THANK YOU SO MUCH for being there!!! :D And here's also a very warm welcome to my new "followers"! :D Between inverted commas because I kind of refuse the use of the word follower. I mean, why would anybody be following me, right? I like to see them more as new potential friends ;).

Anyway, too long of a post for not having been planned at all, right? Thank you all for having read this and for letting me be your friend!

Tight hugs!

I gotta get rid of these

2012-02-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

So, I've been gathering up lots and lots of magazines ever since I started volunteering at the library (about 10 months ago).

At the library, you can get 5 magazines for a dollar, so whenever I see issues of Nylon, Vogue or Elle, I just can't help myself. But I've reached a point where I need to let some of these go.

We said we were going to do our best to avoid clutter in the house and started organizing our things already, so it's time to say goodbye to some of my magazines.

But, of course, I can't throw them in the dumpster without going through them first and ripping the pages I can use ;). I'm keeping the nice large photos to make envelopes.

I'm also cutting some cool pictures to make collages.

Oh, I'm also keeping some make-up and perfume samples ...

Are you wondering why??? Hello!!!

Haha, just kidding! :p I keep samples of the fragrances I like for when I am ready to splurge on a new bottle (you know, to remember what they smell like). I do try make-up samples, sometimes.

I'm also filing some full articles in folders and little scraps in my Gemma Correll journal :p.

I hope I can shrink my magazine collection by 50% (at least!).

Do you keep all the magazines you buy?

What measures do you take in order to avoid clutter?

I'm curious to hear about you! I suck at keeping myself organized :/. Clutter gathers all around me and the worst thing is that I kind of like it, ha. Well, not really, but I like having my things handy and I always know where everything is, even when the place is a mess.

Happy midweek, everyone! ;D

Wait, wait, wait!

Right when I'm about to press "publish", I run into this! Available here. I guess I don't have to get rid of my magazines after all, haha. Jk :p.

Photography tutorials, gadgets and more

2012-01-31T09:04:00.000-08:00

Photography tips galore, people! ;p

Holga lenses for the Iphone

If you have an Iphone, you might wanna check these Holga IPhone lenses; available here.

via

Free Photoshop actions

Dang, I wish I knew how to use Photoshop! David taught me some basic stuff, but for some reason, I don't seem to find this program very user-friendly. Well, not having it in my computer anymore doesn't help, ha. I guess I should give it another try.

Anyway, you'll find some Photoshop actions in this blog.

Lenses

If you're as clueless as I am about lenses, here's some input on the subject.

Cheap photography lighting system
Check this post to learn how to make your photos brighter.

Food photogrpaphy
Oh, boy! Food photography is more complicated than I'd thought :/ ... Find lots of tips here.

Bokeh
Do you like bokeh? Learn how to make your own.

Lightroom
Here's an interesting post about a photo editing program called Lightroom.

If you missed my 2 previous posts with photography tips and blogs, you can find them here and here.

Hope you're having a great week! ;D

Have a colorful Monday!

2012-01-30T06:08:00.000-08:00

Here's to a week full of bright colors and light! ;) Hope we can all check off lots of items in our to-do lists.

Mine includes:

* Studying the driving manual.

* Applying for jobs (boo!).

* Running on the treadmill (bo-ring!).

* Finishing up some packages.

* Sewing the hem on my pants (don't know how to, but I'll have to give it a try).

miki's scrapbook

A very unexpected surprise

I gotta get rid of these

Photography tutorials, gadgets and more

Have a colorful Monday!

Silent post: Home

A compendium of fashionable somethings

Life in a series of three

Favorite blogs

Pieces of me

A compendium of edible somethings

Giving and receiving

My new mood board

About feelings

A compendium of colorful somethings

American products

Need a new pair of glasses?

Outfit post: Counting sheep

Silent post

Contrasts: yawning kitties

So it was my birthday

Awesome blogs

Get your sh*t together

Happy 2012!

Dimitri's adventures in the USA

In retrospect

Resolutions

Christmas shots

I was tagged!

Last minute Christmas ideas

She's a star

New dress and boots

Failed pictures

Inspiration: Samaire Armstrong

What I'd like to give you for Christmas 2011 pt2.