what in the world?

Since going back to school, I've noticed the word 'Monday' carries much less significance than it did back when I was doing the 9-5 office thing. Grad school means weekends aren't as delightful and Mondays aren't as dreadful 'cause the load is simply spread over all 7 days. It also means my endurance for some sort of mental check has increased from 5 days to an entire semester. Sleeping in and socializing guilt free, eating right, exercising, and all other things that come with sanity seem to just kinda take a back seat until the semester's over....and well, creativity and blog posting just seem to get tossed into the trunk.

 

It's been over 2 months since my last post which makes me a bit sad but also overjoyed because it means only one thing- the semester's over and I have time to do things I enjoy...like turn around old, ugly, white toy chests! I found this one on the streets of SF-a nice gentleman was selling it for $10. I envisioned it repainted with a stenciled-on big, red fire engine, completely overflowing with toys. My only dilemma was I had to figure out a more appropriate interim alternative because I certainly don't see any sort of big, red fire engine furniture in my immediate future....

 

Second to big, red fire engines, I spend a decent amount of time thinking about the world. More surface level, I think about all the places in the world I'd eventually like to go and when I'm in a real sentimental or inspired mood, I think about how I'm going to change it. Is it too ambitious or idealistic to think I have some sort of shot at that? Eh, I'm going to continue thinking not...

 

I found this stencil of the world on Etsy. I love Etsy.

The paint was a hard choice- at first I was thinking bright but I'm happy I went with more earth tones. I used a small sponge brush to paint the stencil. Don't use bristles, they'll sneak under the stencil.

 

I found this padlock at Urban Ore. I wanted a more antique looking one but apparently padlocks are a pretty hot item?

 

How fitting, National Geographic. If you're still on the hunt for an Xmas gift for somebody with a thirst for knowledge about some pretty amazing topics, get them a subscription to National Geographic. Among a few other little misfit items, my mom gave me this gift last Xmas and let me tell you, it's the gift that keeps on giving and certainly a way to be remembered at least monthly ;)



My Uncle gave me this paperweight when I graduated from high school. It reminds me that changing the world is never as overwhelmingly big-picutre as it may seem but that it all begins and ends with me...sounds a bit more manageable that way  ;)