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26.1.12

Guest Post by Jess!

Earlier this week, Jess from Jess Buckley and I decided to do some sweet little interview type guest posts for one another's blog! She has a lovely blog full of gorgeous art, freebies, inspiration and fun updates from her life. Check it out! :D
What is your best thrift store score to date?
A vintage owl necklace that I got a few years back for a buck! I don't wear it that often, as it's kind of heavy, but I love it!


Where did the name Olivine Eyes come from?
It came from a friend that used to call me olive because my eyes are green. Olivine is also a mineral that's a pretty green color.


If you could only eat one cupcake flavor from the rest of your life, what would it be?
That's hard but I'd have to say chocolate cake with mint Oreo frosting.


If you could choose one fictional character to be your best friend, who would you choose?
I think Ron Weasley. He just seems like an awesome, loyal friend.


What are some advantages you've acquired through blogging?
I value my art and myself quite a bit more now, and it's changed how I see things. Now the mundane seems a bit more interesting. I've realized that nobody has the same blog or life as me, so something that could seem completely normal or boring in my life can be outrageous in someone else's. It's cool to read that kind of stuff from other people too.  


What is something you enjoy about raising horses?
How curious, sweet, and funny they can be. They're like big, fuzzy babies.


How did you first discover you wanted to be a graphic designer?
The first thing I can look back and remember was using some computer program similar to paint in 2nd grade, and I used it to change a cartoon strawberry from red to pink because I thought it looked better that way. 


What is the grossest thing in your refrigerator?
Squeezable garlic spread! It looks like mustard but it's not. I have no idea where it came from. 



You've recently been accepted to Radford University- what advice would you give to someone still in the application process? 
Take your time and don't put all your eggs in one basket. I got wait-listed by my first choice. Not getting in isn't the end of the world. 



What has been your favorite part of senior year so far?
How everyone is so much more laid back. The teachers aren't breathing down our necks anymore, we can get away with stuff, and there's a lot less stupid drama.


If you were a woodland creature, what would you be?
I would be a deer without a doubt. They're my favorite animal. My friend Katie actually has one as a pet. He gives the best kisses.
What is your favorite article of clothing and why?
I love dresses. They're just so easy and fun. I would wear a dress every day if I could.


Do you have any strong opinions on body art?
Nothing too strong :P I want a few tattoos myself. I guess my biggest thing about tattoos is that they should have some sort of meaning to the person. I'm not much of a piercing person because needles freak me out, but I have nothing against them.


What song can you not stay still to? 
Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye is one of my favorites lately.

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Thank you so much for the post, Jess! Feel free to check out my interview on her blog, Jess Buckley, too! :D


All the best,
Grace Elizabeth.

23.1.12

Living In Earnest

Phone cover art by the amazing and talented Teagan White.
So, I don't have much to say today so I thought I'd just give ya a little updated photo of my quickly growing out pixie cut (yes i'll get it trimmed soon!) and tell everybody what we've been up to:


Recently, I've been super obsessed with the amazing writing on Thought Catalog :a place for relevant and relatable non-fiction and thought. They featured a ton of super talented writers sharing their thoughts and stories about every subject you can imagine, and most all of them leave my face looking like this :O It's been a long time since I got a chance to read really beautiful writing from people in our age bracket. I can't recommend it enough, go check it out :) (This is one of my favorite posts!)


After reading Sarah O'Holla at Desirous Of Everything's various blog posts about the show Downton Abbey, I finally got around to looking it up on Netflix and WATCHING THE ENTIRE FIRST SEASON. Unfortunately its only 7 episodes right now, but holy wow I cannot wait for next season to come out. It's extremely interesting, has engaging characters, plot twists, historical events, and of course- drama! It keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat the whole time. I quickly fell in love with the characters and I can't wait to see what happens next! Be sure to check out the show if you have Netflix or PBS, and Sarah's blog where she was even featured in The New York Times for her Downton Abbey Season 2 Premier viewing party! :D


Once I was finished watching the whole season of Downton Abbey, Netflix recommended other PBS Masterpiece Classics, one of which I watched last night in it's entirety, Wuthering Heights. I cannot even explain to you how completely AMAZING and moving this two part series was!! I was a huge girl and cried multiples times. This adaptation of Emily Brontë 's scandalous novel does not disappoint, it is filled to the brim with romance, suspense, longing, drama, scandal, and love. It was beyond words fantastic. If you love the 1800's and forbidden love dramas, oh man -____- watch this. I also saw a listing for PBS Masterpiece Classics Sense and Sensibility so I'll give you a review of it as soon as I can! :D


In that same general historical love story token, I recently got a copy of Through A Glass Darkly for 2$ from an amazing new little used book store a block from my house! I'm only a little ways in, but the back blurb sounds amazing! "As opulent and passionate as the 18th century it celebrates.Through a glass darkly kill sweep you away to the splendors of a lost era. Like gone with the wind, it is rich with characters so vivid -- from aristocrats to scoundrels--they create their own immortality. Here is the story of a great family ruled by a dowager of extraordinary power: of a young woman seeking low in a world of English luxury and French intrigue" and of a man haunted by a secret that could turn all their dreams to ashes..." Uhm, yes! I can't wait :D


Also, I've been wanting to tell ya'll about and ammaazzzing organic food delivery service we've been using lately, Door-To-Door Organics. They deliver fresh organic produce straight to your door in varying sizes and prices weekly or bi-weekly and basically just saves you a ton of hassle! We love it. It's been a blast! We do the Bitty Box, so for only 25$ a week, we get enough fresh organic fruit and veggies to last us well into the next week. 


They also have a shop section where you can buy any other organic food you want basically. We usually get the free range chicken broth, and I can't resist their amazing fresh bakes breads. MMM. We use the broth to make varying veggie soup depending on which veggies we get. It usually consists of onions, carrots, celery and potatoes :)) So yummy! 


So if you live in or around the Colorado Springs area, be sure to check them out! If not, just Google produce home delivery, and I'm sure you can find someone who delivers to you! I've been working on becoming better at lady things like cooking and cleaning, haha >__< so I'm pretty proud of that soup. I also scored a new food processor and Kitchenaide mixer over Christmas so I'm really moving on up in my Suzy-Homemaker status :P 




(By the way, as I'm sure some will speculate, Door-To-Door Organics in no way sponsored this post or blog, I just really dig their service and felt like sharing :P If you're interested, all members get 5 invites a month they can send out, giving the person who receives it 50% off their first order. I'd love to share if you're interested :)



And just in case you're short on your cute quota today, here is our little sleepy ferret Milo getting a bath :D 
g'awww.

So what have you all been up to? I'd love to know :D

All the best,
Grace Elizabeth.



19.1.12

This is what the world

looks like when you finally have a car of your own to drive again: 
Haha :DD 
Not terrifically economical or 'green' but maaaynn its got some low mileage and makes me feel like i'm driving a monster truck.

(those super sweet trees and such were added using Picnik!)

They finally decided (after two dang months) to total my little car and write us a check. It was all kinda sucky and frustrating considering I didn't cause the wreck, and I LOVED my Rio, but ah well, it all happens for a reason. Let this be a warning though- Don't take cell phone calls and drive!! Cause it might just take someone's perfect little car away, or worse their life, and make your insurance go way up. 

Have you ever been in a wreck? Was your insurance experience as insane as mine? I've heard tons of people where it was easy as cake but gosh, not the case for us. Annyyways :) Have a great day peeps!


All the best,
Grace Elizabeth.

18.1.12

Just a Reminder..


17.1.12

Anxious

So, I start classes again today :( 
I took the last couple semesters off and I'm pretty nervous to go back. It's just a little community college and most everyone is very nice, I just never really grew out of first day jitters so here I am 20 years old and still getting nervous sweaty palms. 

But I am all decked out in HK gear so that helps :P


Last night, Calvin was trying to talk me through it- "What is the worst that could happen?", He asked. Well, a few years ago I fell down the stone steps at that college. Loudly. Like crazy loud drama tripped and fell and ripped up my jeans. I just laid there at the bottom, hoping the moment would go away....but it didn't. There was lots of laughing and no one concerned that I broke my neck or anything. So I'm pretty nervous that will happen. 

Or there won't be any girls my age in the class and I won't have anyone to talk to or be partners with. Gosh, I'm like a 7 year old kid in my mind still >_<

source

Anyone else still get nervous about classes?


All the best, 
Grace Elizabeth.

13.1.12

Say it with me...

Today, I will strive to be as amazing as my mother.


Today, I will do my best to stay calm and worry-free.


Today, I won't forget to smile because as Marcel the Shell says, It's worth it.


Today, I will cast out all thoughts of self-doubt and jealously (even though she freaking stole my hairstyle and I had it first...ahem.)


Today, I will not eat a ton of fruity sugar free gum (It's so tasty!) and make myself sick. :(


Today, I will accept myself just as I am- an awkward gal with big thighs and a bigger heart <3 


What will you do today? :D

11.1.12

There are some moments

 that make chill-you-to-the-bone, blisteringly cold Colorado days so worth it.


Like drinking hot cocoa for lunch, and warm wrapped Yeti arms <3

All the best, 
Grace Elizabeth.

9.1.12

#realtalk


So this is a post that I've been both wanting to write and 'taking out the trash after a week' dreaded. So I'm just gonna spill it out and tell you how I honestly feel on this subject and if you get angry or hurt or disagree, feel free to leave it all it the comments.


Plus, here's a new picture of our faces :)

This is the subject of my long standing blogger torment: boys.

Though I would love to have met Calvin while we were infants, and adorable cuddled best friend loved him into adulthood and marriage- this was sadly not the case. I didn't meet Calvin until I had been through some hardships. First world hardships of course, like not getting asked to a dance, and cheated on, and maybe even arrested? (another story for another time). But at the time they were HUGE deals to me and I feel like they impact me a lot to this day so I wanted to share them and get everything all out there because I want this to be a place of honesty and camaraderie and you can't do that when you're only showing the shiny glossy outsides.

I also want to preface all of this by saying this is my personal opinion on a very personal subject, an opinion which would surely differ from person to person, relationship to relationship. Everyone is different. But this is the advice I would give my kids, and it's been advice I've thought I had to share for a while, so here goes. 
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Don't date whishy-washy, confused people.


Whishy-Washy adjective
1.lacking in decisiveness; without strength or character; irresolute.


For me, this more specifically meant Christian Musicians. I found that they are very conflicted in nature. Musicians generally want the spotlight- crave the adoration of their words or notes falling on appreciating ears. Christians, by nature, should want to shine the spotlight on a higher source. Combine the two, throw in teenaged hormones and you can have a very emotionally volatile mix. In my experience, they will be a heated frustrated mass of ego and good intentions and sin and self hatred and disappointment and inspiration. And they will (unintentionally) try their hardest to take you down with them. Confusion and frustration are contagious, especially when the heart is concerned. They are usually hopeless romantics and will try so hard to promise you the world, but at the end of the day they are more important to them than you are. Their career and their reputation and in the end, their happiness. (It may be very different for people of this title at different ages, but I am referencing only people of my general age- the 17-25 group, I would say).


If you do find yourself in the position of falling over this boy (or girl), be careful. And if you find yourself in the position of already loving this person and being loved in return and not having any of the aforementioned problems, tell me to shove it. Because you might totally be the kind of woman (or man) who can deal with this. You may be strong and confident and have you almost all the way figured out and if that's the case, you can just let my words float right away. But I wasn't that girl, at that age. I was kind of a wreck. My head and heart was a knotted mess of hope and rebellion. It ached for approval and commitment. It ached for a rock to stand on, even though it had one all along. I was search search searching for a way to be desirable when I was loved beyond measure from the beginning. And I had to be straight up devastated before understanding that.

So my advice is, if you are a girl who wants to be adored, who isn't particularly confident or masterfully skilled, who is awkward in social surroundings, unsure at best, self loathing at worst- do NOT date this type. Don't. Just save yourself the heartache. It took me yeeeeaaarrrs of frustration during what should have been a really fun and memorable time in my life to figure this out but I am so glad I did. I found a best friend in Calvin that I never knew was possible. The best kind of best friend ^_^ And I'm never looking back.


But if you are that girl and are already hopelessly in like over a boy who doesn't give your feelings the time of day- that boy whose words and actions never match up but you're so sure he has a good heart and doesn't mean it when he rips yours to pieces, do yourself a favor- forget about him. You are helping no one by putting yourself in harm's way. That is the biggest piece of advice that I wish someone would have given me (not that I would have listened heh). I always thought I was helping, that I would be the one to solve everyone's pain and hold their broken hearts together, but I finally realized that that wasn't healthy and that it wasn't possible, either. That in the end it would just exhaust me and tear down my spirit. Instead, focus on you and strengthening the good relationships you have going already. Strengthen your hobbies and interests- work on making your heart full and strong until a boy who will treasure it comes along. Because trust me, he will. (And it'll be no fun dealing with all of your emotional baggage from those mistakes once he does.)


So if you're a boy who is stringing along a girl for any reason- so as not to hurt her feelings, to satiate your ego, or to have a 'safety net' girl to fall back on, you are making a terrible freaking mistake. That girl is daughter to a King and she deserves to be honored as one. So, there's my spiel. Hope it wasn't too offending. But if it is, this is my blog, to be filled with my thoughts- not just pretty pictures :)


I hope you have a lovely day. And I genuinely hope you write me if you feel you have something to say on this subject. We're here to talk to each other, after all.


All the Best,
Grace Elizabeth.

5.1.12

Bamboozled

In case there was any doubt in your mind that I'm super spoiled, let this clarify it:
YETI GOT ME A NEW WACOM BAMBOO DRAWING TABLET :DDD
It's so pretty :) It makes drawing on the cpu about a billion times easier so maybe I'll stop sucking and finally be able to get some drawings done. Sketched this out today!:

Super weird angles, but eh kinda cute :P Have a great one!

All the best, 
Grace Elizabeth.

4.1.12

Ya'll know I love surveys...


Got this one from the adorable Gentri Lee :)


#1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?
Since I was little, my Dad has called me Macie and many variations thereof (Maceroo, Macie-moo, Macer-eraser haha) Supposedly it came from the term "Amazing Grace" :P 
Or Gracie :) And the Yeti has a billion nicknames for me!


#2. What's a weird habit of yours?
Hmm, I play a lot of games in my head. Like "what if" type games as well as word games like anagraming and spelling words as fast as I can haha. Nerd status.
#4. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you're alone?
Anything by Adele- and I don't wait until I'm alone to belt it! :D


#5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?
I hate misunderstandings and miscommunication... -__- nothing worse haha.


#6. What's one of your nervous habits?
I clichely pick/ bite away at my nails! And now I never have nails :(
#7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
We actually don't have defined 'sides' hehe. It depends on who is cold and who is hot, cause we have a fan on one side, and a heater on the other! 


#8. What was your first stuffed animal & it's name?
Hmmm, a glow in the dark bear named Bubba- after what I then called my brother :) There were thousands of stuffed animals to come afterwards, but that was the first I remember!


#9. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at starbucks?
Well, I used to only order sweetened iced coffee for years! Until recently I've started getting iced caramel macciato's instead. Yum! 
#10. What's the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice?
Probably having self confidence! In social situations I am the worst that ><
I'm kind of awful about following the rules in general. I never moisturize, tweeze, drink loads of waters or take vitamins. I rarely even paint my nails. :/ 


#11. Which way do you face in the shower?
I face both ways depending on what I washing heh.


#12. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'?
I wouldn't say skills. Other than the uncanny ability to get sick whenever something really important is coming up, my body is quite untalented haha. I also have weird bent pinky fingers and can pop my neck wicked loud, but nothing out of the ordinary :) 


#13. What's your favorite 'comfort food'/food that's 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways?
Oh boy, this list could go on for miles! :P Mac and Cheese would probably be my top though. And bread. MMMM bread. Bless their carby hearts.
#14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?
I say the word ridiculous way too often. And at work I accidentally say the word 'Okay' or 'alrighty' like a billion times a day haha.


#15. Time to sleep- what are you ACTUALLY wearing?
Just got some Hello Kitty pjs that are wicked cute :) but normally a shirt of the Yeti's and some boyshorts. 


Hope you all had a good hump day ;D


All the best, 
Grace Elizabeth.