I'm just a girl with ideas*

What's New

marsadie — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:11:07 -0700

Nah, not a vlog, unfortch.

This weekend was absolutely beautiful, with sunshine and warm weather and Gallery Hop on Saturday! Gallery Hop is an event that happens the first Saturday of every month here in the Short North. Art galleries, food, and shopping attract everyone from the city to the burbs to come down and crowd the neighborhood just south of mine for a few blocks. Trent and I walked down and did dinner first at Happy Greek, and then spent most of the night at Camelot Cellars sampling wines. $5 for five glasses of wine, your choice. It was lovely! I sampled four white and one "dessert" wine. Being the red wine snob Trent is, I believe he sampled five red only and of course wanted a bottle of the most expensive one *rolls eyes*. Being that I'm such a wine connoiseur I promised myself that I would take notes and chronicle them somewhere for future reference for when I have the money to stock our bar with alll the wines I love. Here were my favorite, which are all bottled in-house at CC (yay, won't have to order online):

White zinfandel - My mom would drink this when I was young. Perhaps she is the reason why I drink "frou frou" white wines, which are typically sweeter and lower in alcohol content. White zin is something that I could drink upon waking or right before bed, which is when I prefer to drink anyway ;) It's crisp, light, and sweet, perfect for any time of day IMO.
Blueberry pinot noir - This was the "dessert" wine. It was very berry and sweet, yet fuller than most wines I like. It had no dryness or bitterness. I can see why this is considered a dessert wine, you just could not drink this with dinner. Would be too overpowering. This is something I'd definitely like to have in my collection though for when I'm chilling with my girls and drinking wine. It's a perfect girly wine IMO with a fantastic flavor.
Washington riesling - This was a medium white with a sweet fruity taste. They say to pair Washington riesling with spicier pork dishes. I don't eat much pork but next time I order Kung Pao pork at my favorite oriental restaurant I will remember to have a glass of riesling with.
Sonoma chardonnay - This was a sweet, citrusy wine with a hint of something like oak that dries it a bit. I remember thinking that this would be great with the light tilapia and veggie dinners I love to cook.
Sauvignon blanc - So, so light and sweet. A bit too light for me. Would be great if you don't like the more complex taste of most wines. The one great thing about sauvignon blanc is that it pairs well with a lot of foods I love. Sushi. Chicken. Veggies. Being that I'm more of a lounge wine drinker than a dinner wine drinker, it ends up last on my list of faves.

After having a great time at Gallery Hop, Trent and I passed on going to the bars in favor of visiting friends we hadn't seen in a while. We chilled, chatted, and drank Trent's vieux chateau de roi red. Our friends just got back from visiting family in Vegas and talked about going back around Trent's birthday. Sooo now Trent and I have tentative plans to go to Vegas in late June. We've been talking about it for forever but I think that planning is finally in the works!

My boyfriend has been bitten by the Spring bug as of late. Therefore he's up before I am everyday going tanning and working out. The best thing about this is that now, when I want to go to the mall and have no one to go with, he's down for it. Also, he was looking a bit Casper-like so I am loving his melanin boost. I freaking love warm weather!

New shoes from Forever 21:

I also found a perfect pair of short shorts there. Both buys for <$20. Lovesss it.

Survey

marsadie — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:59:17 -0800

I feel like I should be doing something more fruitful with my time but I do love the occassional pointless survey. So, without further adieu!

1. Is it cute when guys kiss you on your forehead?
Meh

2. A big poofy dress or a short party dress?
Definitely a short party dress.

3. What would you do if you received a long love letter?
Read it, smiling the entireee time. :D

4. Group dates or single dates?
Like same sex or coupled up? With girls I like to travel in packs. On a romantic date, though, I like to be the center of attention.

5. Do you hate it when guys act different around their friends?
That's a little foolish.

6. Are diamonds a girl's best friend?
Sure, if I had a few! I'm not extremely materialistic but diamonds make my eyes light up like nothing else.

7. Is your hair up or down today?
Down

8. Do you straighten your hair?
Yes, with an awesome Misikko flat iron. However, I'm trying not to use relaxers at all. Fish oil helps.

9.Favorite mascara?
Lancome Hypnose!

10. Do you get your nails done?
Not anymore. Not worth it to me.

11. Small or large purses?
The bigger the better... Unless I'm out for cocktails, then a clutch will do.

12. In your purse, what are your must haves?
Lip gloss, my cell, wallet, house keys, a hair brush, a small vial of fragrance... and another lip gloss, just in case.

13. Jeans or sweats?
Both. I neverrr used to wear sweatpants but when you work from home they kind of become a staple.

14. Do you wear clothes/shoes/jewelry that's uncomfortable?
Maybe shoes. But, I think style and comfort should go hand in hand.

15. Do you text message a lot?
Not really, surprisingly. I get bored easily.

16. What would you do if you got pregnant?
I honestly have no idea.

17. What's your favorite color?
Pink!

18. Heels or flats?
Heels, or flip flops. Or Ugg-alikes.

19. Did you ever cry during a romantic movie?
The Notebook, duh! Otherwise, not usually. I did cry over Titanic when I was 10 when Leo died. Who didn't?

20. Would you ever leave the house without make-up on?
Yeah. Like when I need coffee *before* I can think about putting on my face.

21. Walmart or Target?
Target. Walmart if I need to pinch a penny or two, can't beat the prices.

22. Do you wear collared shirts?
Sometimes, like the sexy ones (the ones that look good with sexy slacks or pencil skirts in the office).

23. Do you like preppy boys?
Meh

24. Do you think lip gloss is the best!?
YES. IDC.

25. Do you own any big sunglasses?
Only!

26. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
More than an hour. Between showering, picking out something to wear, then putting in on and doing my makeup, I'm pretty slow + pathetic about it all.

27. Do you like to wear band-aids?
No, they're ugly.

28. Do you like skater boys?
Meh

29. Do you often wish there was something you could change?
Um, yeah. I'm kind of a control freak. Also, pretty idealistic. So I'm usually trying to change everything. Haha I guess that puts me right where I am today :D

30. Gold or silver?
White gold.

31. Do you like to receive flowers?
Yes, to feel special. Then I don't know what to do with them.

32. Do you like surfer boys?
Meh. Except for Matthew McConnaghey in Surfer Dude. wowww

33. Do you dress up for the holidays?
I dress up for any occassion.

34. Do you like to wear dresses?
Yes, if they're short and cute. Long if it's a strappy maxi dress.

35. On a scale of 1-10 how much do guys confuse you?
I don't let them confuse me.

36. In the last 48 hours have you hung out with a guy?
Ummmm I'm always hanging out with a guy.

37. Would you date a guy shorter than you?
NO.

38. Do you like to hold hands?
Sometimes. Rarely, actually.

39. What is the youngest you would date?
I've met a couple dudes my age that were *almost* mature enough to date, but I like older guys.

40. What is the oldest you would date?
<40

41. What do you notice when you first meet a guy?
Height, hair color and smile.

42. Is it hot when guys sweat?
Eww no, they stink.

43. What is the best feature in a guy?
Intelligence. Also, if he can hold a conversation. That's really important.

44. Do you like making eye contact?
I like to but I don't always.

46. Would you kill for chocolate?
LOL

47. Did you ever spend all day/night getting pretty for a guy?
Eff that. I spend all day getting pretty for myself sometimes, though.

48. On a scale from 1-10 how fun is shopping?
10 when you've got cash and a great venue.

49. Do you freak out if you miss your favorite show?
No, I'll just YouTube it. I don't watch a lot of TV.

50. Do you yell a lot?
Haha. Yeah.

51. Do you wear sweatpants/pajamas to school/work?
That's lazy. Unless they're Juicy or PINK. Never to work, even if it's allowed. Tacky.

52. Have you ever dressed unlike yourself to impress a guy?
No. For the record, guys love the way I dress anyway. My sense of balance when it comes to putting together an outfit is just attractive enough not to look trashy.

53. Do you write a lot of mushy love poems?
I did in high school.

54. What makeup could you not live w/out?
Automatic eyeliner and lip gloss

55. Do you fall in love easily?
Yesss

56. Do you have cramps?
Not really, thank goodness.

57. Do you think you have the bestest friend ever?
Yes, he's the most caring, reliable person I've ever met. We'd probably still be dating if I hadn't met my current beau.

What's New

marsadie — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:34:34 -0800

2.9.09 - What's New from Marsadie on Vimeo.

What's New

marsadie — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:14:19 -0800

1.16.09 - What's New from Marsadie on Vimeo.

1.16.09 Makeup Organization - FAIL from Marsadie on Vimeo.

...wonder how long I can keep up with this?

Resolutions 2009

marsadie — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:12:34 -0800

I've never been a fan of "resolutions" but in the past couple days they have hit me like whoa. Odd years are typically better for me anyway, so let's do it! :) I really need to step things up personally and "professionally," and as of now I feel like I have some real goals set in place, as well as some tentative ones. I'll stick to the former:

Challenge myself more. When I'm being forced out of my personal comfort zone or presented with something undesirable to accomplish, I run away from these opportunities instead of using them to better me as a person. So, starting now I'd like to work on my personal integrity.
Be more sociable. Being such a fan of "social" media does not mean that I'm actually a sociable person, on the internet or offline. I'd like to work on mastering the "art" of keeping in touch and keeping up on what's going on with my friends and acquaintances.
Be more adventurous. I used to think that being adventurous merely meant utilizing your freedom of choice to the nth power. I no longer feel that way, after learning some valuable lessons from choices I made in 2008. Now, being adventurous -- to me -- means to act out and do what I feel is right without fear and without being timid. Being "shy" I've learned has kept me from many GOOD opportunities -- only by acting more fearlessly lately have I realized that.
Take more pictures. Because it's fun.
Work SMARTER. I have a bad habit of adding multiple opportunities to my plate, then trying to fit them all into a day, everyday. So, usually, all that gets done is half-assed work when I know and have proved that I am capable of much more. So, I've decided to trim my workload, focusing only or mostly on things that are monetarily promising, and focusing on one thing at a time. Even if I have to designate an entire day out of the week to just one website or one task, it needs to happen.
Pray daily. December has been an interesting and glorious month for me spiritually, and I have learned two essential things. One, for me, is to pray daily. My quality of life is better -- as a whole, but even if only psychologically -- when I take time to rejuvenate myself spiritually each day and sometimes multiple times a day. Second is to keep the peace in everything we do. I've always been a peace-loving individual, but it's so easy for me to fly off-the-handle and be pissed over insignificant things. No more! Life is too short.

Things I Did In 2008

marsadie — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:31:14 -0800

Saw the worst local band @ Skully's - Zachary Allen Starkey & co.
Saw the best local band @ The Newport - Sighlo
Flew in a plane for the first time
Visited Los Angeles, California
Met online friends in real life
Experimented with new things
Completed a lease on a studio apartment
Started a new lease on a studio apartment
Got down to a size 2
Got a promotion
Quit my day job to be self-employed
Witnessed my cat give birth to and nurse a litter of kittens

Brain is foggy. Will be adding to this list.

We Are One Tonight, & We're Dreaming Out Loud

marsadie — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:39:54 -0800

It's crazy, the way things happen so ironically and harmoniously when you pray about things. Faith can heal, faith can change things, faith can make the unthinkable reality.

We sleep through the day. We're up late like night owls, living on energy drinks and working and thanking God for everything He's given us. What can we do to give back, to show others the love that has been shown to us? Grace is amazing.

It's 9:30 in the morning and I'm going to take a nap for a couple hours, then wake up with Trent so that we can get some things taken care of today. Cya!

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2008 - Hawt!

marsadie — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:04:48 -0800

Watched it. Loved it. The glitz, the glam, the makeup, the models, everything!

Granted, Victoria's Secret is really just cheap lingerie with hefty price tags & they use these GORG models to sell it all, but it works! Well, Victoria's Secret is good for cutesy undergarments, fuzzy slippers, their fantastic lip brush, their lip gloss, and of course their smell-goods, but that's about it.

My fave part from the show was when the models were sharing the worst pick-up lines they'd ever heard & Noemie made this gesture:

I LOL'ed!

My fave get-ups (the butterfly wings & the HUGE bow!):

My fave models are Alessandra, Adriana, Noemie, and Heidi (she has a good heart). I relate most to the beautiful Selita Ebanks because we're both tall, have chicken legs, and play with wigs.

Sigh. Makes me want to get down to a size 2 again. Not just for vanity, but for health - I don't like excess body fat, and I have a naturally thin frame. I just eat too much and exercise too little!

In case you missed the show:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Victoria's Secret Coupon Codes:

Free scarf with any sweater purchase - offer code: FA814137 - valid through 12/21/08
Free fragrance gift set with any sleepwear purchase - offer code: FA814149 - valid through 12/21/08

Now I'm off to do pilates!

Making Money Online Isn't Hard. In Fact, It's Pretty Easy

marsadie — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:45:13 -0800

Anyone that has followed my web presence for a number of years knows that I have publicly experimented with many ways to make money online. Initially I did it for the sheer thrill about the fact that I could actually make money with this machine -- or that anyone could, for that matter. Nowadays I'm doing it for a living. I recall around a year before I decided to go freelance, I'd shared my desire with a friend and she told me, cliche intended, "Don't quit your day job." Now, six months since I've quit my day job, I can't imagine going back.

Internet marketing isn't for everyone (particularly if you can't find the power button on the computer or don't know what a "blog" is...). If you didn't pick up on that, almost anyone can succeed with internet marketing if you have the savvy, time, and patience. Even during months when I'm not making much money (usually when I'm sleeping instead of working or not taking my vitamins for productivity), I refer to inspiring posts such as those written about Top Young Internet Entrepreneurs Under 21 for inspiration. Then, I get my butt out of bed and find a product to market or a website to promote!

What inspired this post is seeing my boyfriend -- who went from knowing only the "On, Off, and Porn" buttons on the computer (comedian's joke about men) to starting his own blog back in May -- royally kick my behind in affiliate sales this month. With what program, you ask? Amazon Associates. December is usually the golden month for internet marketers, for obvious reasons. It's the 5th day of the month and my boyfriend has sold $600 worth of products online. How much work went into that? One hour. Where was the market based? Around his blog.

Not only does his "young" success inspire me to step up my own game, but it inspires me to help people that are exploring ways to make more money on the internet. Times are rough. People are losing their jobs. But, internet marketing never dies. The internet, my friends -- unlike a national recession -- is international.

Start Building Your Internet Business

Start a blog -- "Stop talking about yourself and start helping others" was the best advice I've ever heard about blogging. Take your passion -- whatever it may be -- and talk about it. Share tips and network with others while promoting your website around the internet. Now, fund the time you spend working on your blog by joining ad programs, selling paid links (related to the topic of your blog), and linking any product you recommend to it's respective affiliate program. Just as a beauty advisor earns commission for selling items behind the cosmetics counter, you too should get a kickback online for recommending the products you love.

Recommended programs: Amazon Associates (get commission for ANY item sold from Amazon!), Chitika, PayPerPost, Azoogle Ads (for advanced marketers - great for Squidoo marketing, etc - private message me for tips on getting accepted there)

Join Squidoo -- Squidoo is a network where you can create pages (or "lenses") about anything you want. You make money when visitors buy products through modules that Squidoo provides you with (Amazon and eBay being top game). Let me save you some time: Create lenses about things that you like that other people are willing to spend money on. Or, capitalize on holidays (a successful lens I made this season was about Bratz Dollz after I watched a commercial about them). Ideas are everywhere! Let me make you some money: Your lenses won't get attention if you don't promote them. Promote them everywhere (using discretion depending on the topic of your lens)!

Advertise Your Services -- What are you good at? If you can design a graphic, or build a website, or even do makeup for weddings, Craigslist has a job for you. If it weren't for Craigslist there are thousands of dollars I wouldn't have made this year.

Internet marketing is all about diversification, or not having all your eggs in one basket.

Doing all these things can bring in a few hundred dollars a month. Once you get into the swing of everything and could blog in your sleep if you needed to, you begin to multiply all your income streams (by building new blogs, finding various products to promote, and more techniques that would exhaust this post if I tried to cover them all) and start making thousands of dollars per month.

If you can sit around on the computer and play on MySpace/Facebook all day, you have no excuse to be broke. Work is what you make it. If you can make enough money online (or elsewhere) to quit your day job (and remember to pay your taxes), then do it! That is true freelance freedom.

There's This Thing Called the Wayback Machine...

marsadie — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:00:47 -0800

...At first I was enthralled at the brilliance of this web archive, and how it has taken snapshots of every website and everyone's web presence since the late 90's, right? Amazing.

But, as I read through my public journal from my latter teen years, I felt every emotion imaginable. Revisiting every moment like it was yesterday, all of the lust and the pain and the "chasing after the wind" (reference: Ecclesiastes)...

Eventually, after three hours of reading through my past, I wish I wouldn't have explored it at all. I regret almost everything I've done prior to my personal "reformation." I was so angry with myself at the things I did, the people I hurt, and how hopelessly lost I was at the time. For a moment I wished I could go back **so badly** to make things right, to cherish the friends I had before I lost them, and to repair the ugly image I'd created.

Exploring my past made me regress. I felt uneasy. I shared a cigarette in the freezing cold in my tee shirt and snow boots with Trent and actually cried about it all. I don't even smoke those disgusting things. What a weak moment! Trent shared a few words of wisdom with me considering his own past, and then said passively, "I'm glad I never wrote anything down..."

Some things -- well, all things -- are better left in the past. Because you can't change a single thing about it. Theoretically, there is a reason for that.

Then, I think of my life now, and where I'm headed, and the faith by which I choose to live my life... and, the lyrics from a Christian hardcore band's song comes to mind.

Life can be overwhelming.
Wave goodbye to the past. You've got your whole life to lead.

August Burns Red - Composure

"Cheer up, emo kid!"