Tomorrow is going to be a rough day

On Saturday my work got a call I hope no one ever has to experience.  It was one I am glad I didn't reach to answer.  A fun-loving, goofy, and amazing talent of a golfer, Ashley O'Sullivan, was killed in a tragic car accident.  I had worked with her that night closing up the golf shop and she was so excited to get off work and spend the night camping with her friends.  Driving back home her car plummeted into the river.  She was a baby.  Only 18.  I can't imagine what her family is going through.  I know her family well and I know this will kill a piece of them.  The thought of parents burying their own children is the most sickening thing.  

I have always been an obituary reader.  I love to read about people who led full and interesting lives- where they were born, went to school, their careers, family, travels and interests.  But, never in this case.  Ashley had her life ahead of her and it wasn't ready to be written out with a conclusion.  

Ashley was one of the most talented female golfers to come out of Salem.  She was named All-Region Player of the Year twice.  The night before she died we were talking about her aspirations of being a class A golf professional.  She would have been great teaching others.  She taught me a lot just watching her swing.

Tomorrow is the Memorial Service at Creekside Golf Club (where we worked and where her family are members).  It is going to be so hard to make it through.  These are the times when the saying 'Everything happens for a reason,' does not make sense.  Nothing makes sense.  I hope she is spending eternity on the golf course and playing her heart out.  I just wish she was back down here, so that we all could still be watching her.

Here is my favorite picture of her.  I think this truly wraps up the essence of her if you could bundle a life into a photograph. 

Rest in peace Ashley, you will be severely missed.  

What Happens After a Glass (or 4) of Wine...

We also made a video that I'm considering putting up.  It would take thick skin though, but I'm willing!

Life -Updated-

It seems like so much has been going on, but when I think back to write about it, it seems like nothing has been going on in life. I guess work and school have just been sucking the life out of me. When the weather gets nice my free time has to take a back seat. But, thats what you get when you work at two golf courses! I shouldn't complain though, my jobs are pretty desirable. Being the beverage cart girl does allow me to be the most popular person at the club :) And working in the restaurant at the other country club is pretty nice too. Plus I get all the free golf I want, although I never seem to take advantage of it. But, it is my goal to teach the boyfriend how to play better so that we can get in some rounds this summer.

I did get to go to Chris' Open House for the Northwest Viticulture Center last Tuesday. It was a pretty cool event. They had about two handfuls of vineyards there tasting and also a barrel opening of the student's projects. I could have lived without the student's projects... hehe. They needed a little bit more aging- at least.

This weekend Chris is pouring at Zenith Vineyards. Go visit him if you are in the Salem, OR area!! Zenith is connected with St. Innocent Winery out in West Salem. It is a very beautiful winery and they are holding the tastings in the barrel cellar from 11-4 for Memorial Day Weekend.


Right after my finals I am taking my first trip to my boyfriend's hometown. I am so excited. It will be a nice little break before the chaos of summer begins. We are planning on doing some hiking (the picture below is one place), playing in the river and I get to meet the friends and fam.


I am also planning on taking a photography class the summer (granted the professor lets me in due to my sweet talking). I am on the Waitlist currently. It will force me to make the time to learn. Cross your fingers for me...

Well, that concludes my life summary and my down time as I sit here in the Pro-Shop waiting for time to pass.

Umbrella- ella- ella

Beautiful picture by Phillip Newton.  I came acrossed it on Max Wagner's page and had to spread it.  

Venturing Around in my Small Town

Beautiful spring day in Corvallis.  

I'm looking forward to the photography class I'm taking this summer.

Lua

The original Lua was performed by Bright Eyes, but I am really liking this rendition by Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch found on the album Dark was the Night, which is a benefit album (actually two) full of various artists.  This is another one of my "I end up in full tears before the song is over," song.  

I think the collections are great.  Check it out here.

So much to L-O-V-E

Yesterday was a great day. Oh so great. I took the day off and went shopping with my mom, which is our favorite bonding activity! After our retail therapy we stopped by my cousin's house for a little "play time" with her jewelry line. It was the best showing of jewelry she has made yet. I was the luckiest girl ever to get these pieces!  Her etsy site has been rated as one of the top sites and has been selected for the main page twice already.

Yellow, my favorite color.

I showed this piece on a earlier posting and had to have it!

I got the matching emerald earrings too!  A picture wasn't available.

This rose was calling me. 

"These gems have life in them: their colors speak, say what words fail of." - George Eliot

Haircuts equal Love

I love my new haircut.  Lesson learned- don't be scared of change.

Glee

I can't help it.  I am becoming a cliche, youtube-posting blogger.  But, I just saw the trailer for this new show and it was so cute.  It's called Glee, which is one of my favorite words.  I have a fear of watching too much TV.  I don't own one on purpose and I have to addicted to a show in order to watch it on a regular basis.  This might be one of those shows.  

JT is funny.

His Bottle Return Could Pay My Rent

I have a class with a boy that is addicted to caffeine.  Now, that might seem like a pretty common addiction, but his is to the point of a disease I like to call Caffeinism.  During class on a given day he will walk in with a mocha and two bottles of soda- Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper.  He will fully consume all three drinks in a 1 hour and 50 minute class session.  I once congratulated him on the feat of never having to leave class to use the bathroom.  He convulsively shook his head.  Last class we took our Midterm exam.  He walked in the classroom and proceeded to pull out 8, thats right, 8 caffeinated beverages!  Not to mention the sugar intake!  I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT!  The kid did comment that "moderate consumption of caffeine is good for your heart like red wine is."  Hmmm... I don't see his logic, because that is not moderation!  The instructor couldn't contain his amusement and obviously either could I.  I laughed for a good five minutes until my stomach ached.  I had to take pictures.  Camera phones must have been invented for the purpose of capturing this moment:

The test took 45 minutes.  He shook and twitched like a mad man.  I don't even know how he could fill in the scantron bubbles with the state he was in.  He drank 4.5 of those drinks.  Yes, I had to sit there and watch.  I hardly even focused to the test.  This was a much more pertinent matter!  He then systematically put the remainders in his bag and fluttered out.  Wow, Impressive.  Great cheap comedy!

Bangs.

After 11 years... I'm taking the plunge and getting bangs!  I think I want them to look like these lovely examples:

My haircut isn't until Thursday and I am a little nervous.  But, hair grows.  Anyone have advice on bangs?!

Bikini Boot Camp

I started my "Bikini Boot Camp" class this morning.  Ha, I just love the title.  It is a 5 week intensive workout at 6 a.m. every weekday.  Then I go back and do my normal body sculpting class at 9 a.m.  Loved it.  The instructor is awesome and I surprisingly didn't mind waking up that early to go move around.  I am fearing Friday's class though because we are running the college's parking structure for an hour.  Doesn't that sound crazy?!  Stairs, sprints, incline!! But, it will get me in great shape for all those hikes I want to go on this summer.  No huffing and puffing- ever!

My FAV UO's

My favorite clothing and decor picks for spring from Urban Outfitters:

Devastatingly Beautiful

I am in a daze looking at this Christian Schoeler painting. I have never seen his work before, but after further googling I found he is known for his contemporary fashion paintings.

I just read a whole interview of his here. He is a very intriguing artist (but, aren't they all?!). I love how he describes his artistic style:
Ecstasy and loss. Adolescence and Vulnerability. Beauty and decadence. Devastatingly beautiful, intimate watercolor or oil paintings that share as much with contemporary fashion photography as they do with pre-photography portraiture. A “style” and approach that is perhaps unfashionable relative to the contemporary art ’scene’, but arguably timelessly fashionable.

Model as Muse. If I was a celebrity...

If I was a celebrity and my job of the day was to walk the red carpet at the Costume Institute Gala I would wear this:

Diane Kruger wearing Chanel.  

And I would never be caught dead wearing this:

Madonna needs to be stopped.  

And Louis Vuitton is partially to blame.  

LV also allowed this to happen:

I actually still don't believe this is Leighton Meester.  Maybe Michael Jackson possessed her body temporarily?

I also wanted to publicly defend Mary-Kate Olsen.  I have no idea why she is catching flak for this dress.  I love it- the color, the colliding fabrics, the layers!

Another tidbit- Isn't the point of wearing vintage to bring the amazing design into the present?  If so, WHY would you ever choose this?  Vintage Bob Mackie.  It looks like my Kirkland Signature garbage bags.

Musical Tears

You know those days where every song you hear effects you so emotionally that you end up crying?  Thats me today.  

And I actually found myself crying for someone else, because the song fit their past so well.  

My iTunes must have known I was in a deep mood today.

Goodwill and other such finds

Call me Martha Stewart after the weekend I had!  It all started on Friday when my boyfriend and I hit up the local Goodwill.  Our mission was to seek out a lead we had in finding him a great pair of vintage cowboy boots.  No deal, the boots were too small.  But, I found something awesome:


This picture! It is a drawing of a charming house in Salem. There were actually a series of five, but I don't currently have the wall space or budget to buy them all.  I love the green mating.  But, the old and damaged frame had to go.  I went to the craft store and picked  up some paint.  After sitting in the aisle  for about thirty minutes with colors spread all around me I decided on a coral undertone and a top layer of a fleshy color.  My plan was to paint the coral underneath and then top it off with a creamy beige and then sand it down to expose the coral.  Instead I left it the coral color.  Here it is now:

I might still go through with my original idea.  Thoughts?

In addition to this picture and frame, I went bargain hunting at TJ Max and found this lovely little number:

I adore the distressed frame! And what do you know, it has the coral color emerging. Perfect fit to display with my house print.

I then painted these old frames.  I found these at the craft store for less than $3 a piece.  I need to still put wall hangers on their backs. 

I am going to put these along with the other two pieces on my wall soon to complete my new wall of frames.  My inspiration came from photos like these of rooms I never thought I could replicate.  I am getting there.  I will post pictures as soon as I get it up.  Promise you won't judge my beyond boring cream walls (the landlord won't let me paint... sad... but, I shouldn't complain, my rent is beyond cheap).  

Pictures- The amazing Domino Magazine- R.I.P.

My case of the covets.

I am in awe of James Frey.  I have never met him, but looking at his artwork makes me already think he is an exceptional person.  He and his wife own Trisaetum Vineyard in Dundee, OR- which makes him more cool.  Here are some of his paintings I pulled from the art gallery portion of his website.  I think it is awesome how he includes the grape vines in his work.  I can't wait until I have a day off school and work to go see them in person.

I also think its unique that his Pinot Noir labels incorporate his work.