knitted creatures

I am completely in love with my little creatures book by Amy Gaines. i've already made the Honu pictured above and I am going to finish up my little octopus and post it as well! I am HOOKED!!! I know how to knit, and barely how to crochet, but I love making this little guy!

New Hair!

I've always had an infatuation with hair color, and hair styles in general. Having long brown hair for a long time (over a few years!) I decided to switch it up and do some pink and purple! Over thanksgiving break I went and purchased some bleach, punky color and special effects hair dye. My friend Mandy, who has gone on my experiences with hair color since its inception, helped me. And here is the result!! :)

hair.

One picture can set me on fire. I am so utterly in love with this hairstyle I want to find a 24 hour salon and get it done right now! (that is, if I had the funds.)

I LOVE this color, I love this cut, and I love the little pin it has. So whats to stop me besides the monetary aspect?

1. My job. (Hello, HR? yes, it's Brandee. Can we have pink hair? Yes, Pink. Uhuh. like a nice raspberry pink, no. Not like pepto... you'll have to get back to me on that? oh, ok.)

2. The length. I have basically waist length hair, and I really like it like that. I love my long hair. Now, I know I can layer the front and pull it back in a funky twist to achieve this look, and I am completely considering it.

3. Hula. (Mind you if I keep the length, that wouldn't be the issue... i'm just not sure my hula teacher approves of berry-hued hula dancers.

......... conclusion? Pending a phone call to HR, call to Bank of America, and to my hula teacher. :)

I AM MARRIED!

We are married!! It's been a crazy, bumpy ride, and such an INSANE weekend, I couldn't even describe. Despite all of the crazy things that happened that weekend, Anibal is now my husband and I am Mrs. Sosa. :)

Tahitian= My peeps

I am currently in training for Kiki Raina this next march. I've always loved tahitian dance, even before I was a student of it. This is what I want to be able to do. We are practicing for Merced this year... I already have my costume, and I am going to practice but when it comes time to solo... I freeze. I'm going to get a private lesson with my instructor to help out. I want to be like her. She's so graceful, it looks effortless and is so inspiring! Ahhh.... one day!

My love affair with labels...

Love is... Finding very high end (authentic!!) shoes for very little!! I have stalked Its A Wrap- a "thrift store" where they purchase all of the clothing and accessories from movies and TV shows, and sell them for a song! They have a 1/2 price sale going on this weekend on all womens accessories. So I have been hunting for a pair of Christian Louboutins and finally found a pair- on sale for $65!!!!!! Christian Louboutins normally run in the 500+, so you can imagine my excitement! And while I was there, I saw these very cool Manolo Blahnik orange shoes- They were actually surprisingly comfortable! Manolo Blahniks were made popular due to sex and the city, and actually another customer while I was shopping told me how awesome my shoe choices were and that she worked at Barney's and a lot of her customers were requesting the Manolo's I had in my hand because of SATC. :) All in all, A GREAT find!!!

Maintenance Run

Today I went for a maintenance run.. I mapped out three miles, and it took me 13.67 mins per mile~! Which is good, and bad. I'm supposed to pace myself at a 14 min mile... I feel so good.

But now, how to convince Anibal that we need Pinkberry???

So I know i'm not "supposed to"

But I just can't help putting on my wedding ring and staring at it. Materialistic?... Maybe. But to me my wedding ring symbolizes much more than just some rad "bling". It signifies that I have truly found someone who actually loves and cares about me so much, he's willing to pay a decent amount of money to marry me and stay with me forever.

I am so in love with this man! and I can't wait until he puts the ring on my finger officially, and I don't have to place it back into the black velvet box for safe-keeping. :)

Ceramics

I have been posting about my running, but I can't forget my other hobbies! One thing I love is ceramics.

When I moved back to California in 2007, I went to Glendale Community College so I didn't have to pay my student loans quite yet...and I enrolled in an introductory ceramics class. I had always been drawn to clay, and hand built with sculpey, but I have always been intrigued with wheel work and stoneware.

16 weeks, and I was hooked! I learned how to throw on the wheel and had quite a few items, and then, just like that, the term was over. Right after that semester was a bad, hard and difficult time in my life. I had to work three jobs to make ends meet, and I didn't have any time to pursue my hobbies. The only thing I had keeping me going was my friends and my future husband.

But then! Fast forward a few years and McGroarty Arts Center (Where I had taken ceramics when I was like, five) had classes! So in late 2009 I enrolled. This next summer session will be my third semester and I am very happy! I came back to the wheel -after not throwing since my few weeks in '07- and i've been re-introducing myself slowly!

I threw today, a few bowls and a few vases. I am VERY leery of trimming, i just cant seem to center my leather-hard items on the wheel! Luckily, a friend from work had an extra pottery wheel and donated it to me! I am so very fortunate!

4 miles!

Its been a few days since I ran. Anibal, after dinner tonight asked if I wanted to go for another jog/run/walk. It sounded awesome, so I agreed. So Anibal, Macky (My running partner) and I set out for our three mile path. Anibal and I (even Macky) were still energetic after mile two, so we altered the course a bit. Macky had a great time (less "marking" and more enjoying the surroundings). I ran for at least two of the miles. It felt good... I was even jogging slowly and I heard Anibal behind me talk to Macky, "...Daddy's out of shape, Macky".

After the run, Anibal and I were wondering how much more our miles were... I guessed 5 miles, he guessed "six, maybe eight...". We went in the car and set the odometer and...

Four Miles!! We were both wrong (but I was closest!) And it took us one hour and ten minutes!! I believe that averages out to a 17 min mile... but I didn't even run for most of it!

So now that I am getting miles on my shoes, On my right insole... I write the date, mileage and pace. Heres a pic for today... I can't wait to see what it will look like in a few months!

New shoes!

I am running the Honolulu Marathon this december, and we are training, starting June. I want to get a leg up and re-introduce myself into running, so I have been taking baby steps. Yesterday Anibal (My fiance), Macky (my dog) and I walked a three mile course I had mapped out in my car. Today, I purchased groovy new Saucony's at A Runners Circle today. It was a good experience, and anyone looking into purchasing shoes for running, I highly reccomend them. They had me take off my shoes and walk barefoot to watch my gait, and once they brought out shoes for my foot type (My ankles run inward, who knew?) they even encouraged me to run outside to try them out!

I tried on three pairs, and ended with the saucony's (they were the "squishiest") So, very excitedly I put them on, and had Macky (my dog and training partner) go with me on my first run! But, I quickly learned that Macky dislikes hills, and dislikes running! So for the first third of my trail (all uphill) I walked a block, ran two. Then, once we were on flat ground, I ran the whole way! I feel so good about this, and what a great way to get exercise! (I'm not sure how Macky feels about the whole thing, though. I did, however, get kisses when we were done. :)

New adventures

Hello there!

This is a new blog i'm starting in order for me to chronicle all of my adventures! My current one is my upcoming wedding in October to my wonderful, amazing partner, Anibal. I am also currently in training and fundraising for the AIDS marathon this December in Honolulu! I will be posting my fundraising and training goals for the marathon, along with my fun planning of the wedding!

Click the direct link to donate for the Aids Marathon