2011 photo yearbook project day #3

Happy Monday!  Today was so hard to wake up and be excited for work.  Plus it didn't help that it was dark, cold and rainy.  A Monday AND the first full week in a long time after being spoiled by all the holidays, bleh.

Today's photo is of the joyous book (and other assorted materials) I'll be spending some up close and personal time with during the next couple of months.

Looks super fun, right?  My Bar prep class officially starts today.  I opted for the online only version this time around and it actually works better for my schedule as it turns out.  The materials and lectures are the same as last time so I know to skip the lectures that weren't helpful the first time around.  I think my time would be better spent doing practice problems and reviewing rather than sitting around listening to gibberish.

Matt also showed up tonight with this:

We had seen this toy at Target for ages leading up to Christmas and I forgot how much Matt loved him.  When we went on Saturday, we saw he was on clearance and I totally forgot about him, but apparently Matt didn't.  So he went back tonight to get him and he's unbelievably happy and excited.  Boys are silly, right?  He does all sorts of crazy things, I guess, but the batteries haven't charged yet so we'll have to wait and see! 

On a slightly sad note, talking to a client today made me think about life and how fleeting things can be.  I think it also motivated me to study and pass the Bar, if only just because I feel like being an attorney would mean I could make a real difference in the world (or at least in someone's smaller world).  I also feel really thankful for my life and everyone in it...yeah totally emo, I know, but be sure to hug your loved ones today and every day!  It's always good to remember to feel appreciative for the simple things in life even if it takes some sadness to remind you sometimes. 

(Sorry for the bad grammar today, I'm not sure what's up with me.  Maybe I'm just tired.)

need to focus

Tomorrow morning, I'm taking this ridiculous ethics exam for the *third* time.  I need to pass this exam as part of my requirements for the CA State Bar and it's super annoying that I haven't passed it yet.  I mean really, how hard is it to think ethically?  And it's just a 60 question multiple choice exam (10 questions don't even count)...Apparently, it's hard for me!  

I haven't been able to focus as much as I would've liked.  I'd like to blame it on the 90+ degree weather the past few days in November of all things, but I think I've been unfocused about a lot of things over the past few weeks.  Apartment is as disorganized as ever, my shop still isn't open, I haven't reviewed a single law-related thing (to the point now that even studying this ONE subject feels like I'm reading and trying to learn a foreign language)...What the heck happened?  I really haven't been good about keeping a schedule and with so many ideas and thoughts swimming around in my head, I should've known better.  And with Bar results coming out in 2 weeks, I'll need to get myself back on track ASAP once I know my fate.  Besides that, I should be on track as it is now!

Having to study and ignore crafting has made me sad and I know I really need to find a happy medium between studying and crafting, if I have to re-study for the Bar again.  I need to be organized about my life!

Tomorrow will be dedicated to taking this exam in the morning and yet another USC football home game at night.  But Sunday, I'm planning on building my handmade light box so I can take better photos for my shop listings (jewelry is a butt to photograph, lemme tell you) and going through all of my crafting supplies to check out everything I've accumulated, organize things into bins, and plan out some ideas and get cracking.  Lately, I've had some ideas for some smaller plush, hair accessories, and ornaments - like for a holiday tree or even just for decorating.  Jewelry and bigger plush have higher price points for the cost of materials and the time it can take to make them, but I think offering some smaller things at lower price points will be fun for me to make and sell.  Easier, too!  I'm not planning on selling anything that's not already ready to ship - it'd be too stressful to list something and say it'll take me (x) time to fabricate and what if it doesn't end up looking like the photos?  I think it'd be better to say, this is what I have and I can ship it right out.  Especially since I'm anticipating a bunch of stuff being one of a kind, since I want to shake things up and have a nice variety.  I bought some fun supplies this week that I'm waiting to arrive and I can't wait to play around and experiment.

But for now, I need to prepare for this exam and leave the craft dreaming for tomorrow after the exam is over.  I am having serious craft withdrawal and maybe I needed this break to re-focus and be overflowing with ideas and motivation.  However, I will leave you with this, which usually brings a smile to my face and you know, on some days, you just really want to yell or scream at the top of your lungs for no reason, maybe just out of frustration with the world or yourself - don't you ever feel this way, too?