New Watch, New Radio, Steady Love

I may sound like a scratched cd, but over and over again I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the love God has given me in Cam.  

We're going on six and a half years right now, and still God reveals new ways to love, communicate, compromise and learn from one another.  

For Christmas this year, we exchanged watches.  

We both knew what the other was ordering, so we simply got too impatient and gave our gifts last weekend.   

Mine is a lovely brown and brass watch, stamped with bold, chrome numbering and with thick, contrasting stitching on the leather strap: Little Havana by TOKYObay.  

I love it so much and have worn it every day.

I purchased Cam an automatic skeleton watch by Kenneth Cole.  

What is interesting about his is that the movement of his arms charges the watch--also you can see straight through it to the inner mechanisms.  

My mechanical engineer loves it.  

In addition to a gorgeous watch, Cam sweetly purchased me a new radio for my car and installed it this weekend.

We spent two sleepy hours attempting to heat solder and taking apart my dash whilst listening to Sufjan Stevens and the rain plinking on the hood of my car. 

The majority of time Cam and I spend together is also spent in the company of friends, which we do intentionally.  

Alone time is more frugally spent, and far more precious.

We are the best team, and that afternoon was one of my favorites we've spent together in a long time.  

After installing the radio we wrapped up the quiet evening with brie, chocolate almond cake, and a pot of chai at our familiar favorite: Cafe Intermezzo.

---

Cam, your conversation, kisses, and steady presence break my heart anew every time we see each other.  

Thanks for the radio.  

Big Sis Little Sis

 My little got us a sweet "matching" gift. 

Love & Chocolate Chemistry

Chocolate Chemical Structure

Organic Chemistry was my favorite part of Chem II back in high school, mostly because it was very doodly and visual.
Polly Linn Silver Jewelry Designs features chemical structures in her jewelry.    

Nerdy, chic and funny.
I want the tribute to chocolate and to love.

Dopamine Chemical Structure

Caffeine Chemical Structure

Rough Diamond

Earrings

I've never much liked the look of diamonds...but these rough cut beauties are really special.

Solitaire 

White Solitaire 

Blooming Rock

Copper Ring Industrial Urban Rustic Modern Machine Blue Cerulean Sky White Artisan

I want one! I want one!

I love the natural, organic beauty of these rings. 

Oxidized metal, gorgeous color that looks like rock blooming.

Definitely on my wish list.

Copper Ring Industrial Urban Rustic Modern Machine Green Black White Artisan

Small Barnacle and Pearl Ring - Sterling Silver

Small Barnacle and Pearl Ring - Copper

Single Leaf Stack Ring Oxidized

natural ring

Crafty Tea Overview

These are several of the bobbies I made.  I used fabric, mosaic tiles, old buttons and broken jewelry.

I loved making these.  To get this look you simply paint the tips of the bobbies with different colors of nail polish.

I used magnetic strip and superglue to transform international coins and other small pieces into refrigerator magnets!

Here's a look at what everyone made at the Tea.

Red Hot Crafty Tea

After our Senior Trip last summer, my best friends from high school dubbed ourselves the "Ace Gang" based on the sweet British coming-of-age story Angus Thongs & Full Frontal Snogging.  Members of the Ace Gang met at Amy's house for a "Crafty Tea": refreshments and delicacies provided by Master Chef Amy and crafty bits led by yours truly.  My bestie mates were hesitant at the prospect of crafting, this is normally my sole territory, but I promised them a simple project that would leave them feeling quite accomplished. However, after dinner, smoke began spewing forth into the kitchen.  Unfortunately during fire safety training, we were never taught how to put out a fire in a locked oven.  Madness ensued, and after we located the circuit breakers and sheepishly called my dad, the evening was saved.  

For the craft night, I asked the ladies to provide their odds and ends: ribbons, doo-dads and broken jewelry along with bobby pins and head bands.  I provided magnetic strip, my expansive collection of little diddlies and super glue.  I am proud to say that they all did splendidly, and we each have lots of new hair accessories and magnets.  

Amy cooked us chocolate chip scones and hot tea while we chatted, and then served a Four Cheese Margerhita Pizza, a cranberry salad and White Chocolate Raspberry cheese cake.  

It was a full evening.