His & Hers: Fall Creek Trail Indianapolis

12/29/2014

So my love and I really enjoy riding our bicycles around Indianapolis and even more so on the new Fall Creek Trail as well as the Monon Trail and Cultural Trail downtown. Indianapolis has a lot of gorgeous places to ride a bicycle. The thing I love most about our city is although patches of forest and natural gorgeousness are only a short distance away, we also have events, restaurants, shops and wonderful communities of awesome people like any other good city. We live just north of downtown Indianapolis and we love all of the amazing changes they are making for us citizens. David found this secluded area while we were riding and it was a wonderful little secret to share with him. I love our adventures and immensely enjoy bringing you along. 😉 xox

What is Fall Creek Trail?

A classic parkway – winding road, wide forested corridor – is home to the original Fall Creek Trail. Because the trail’s alignment follows the historic George Kessler Boulevard Plan, it parallels the waterway, passing beautiful, century-old bridges and established neighborhoods. It is a quiet pathway, often brushing against the creek. The Fall Creek Trail is Indy’s vintage greenway and will eventually connect downtown Indianapolis with northeast Marion County.

More Fall Creek Trail Info

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His & Hers Vlog

His & Hers: The Gingerbread Show-Off: Make a Gingerbread House

12/28/2014

Recently I went outside to find a gift bag on my sidewalk filled with graham crackers, handmade icing, gumdrops and assorted candies. It was a surprise from my neighbor, Becky, who is the sweetest ever to even think of such a thing after I had only leant her my mixer. A few weeks prior I made gingerbread houses with the children and so I decided I would ask David to have a gingerbread house making date with me! He, who had never even attempted such a thing and had been pretty anti-holiday decor and kitsch until this year, turned on the Christmas carols and we had a blast. As you can see, he cannot do anything half-way so he made quite a house.. show-off..

David has happily found that holiday kitsch is lovely and he even got the Christmas tree out this year before Thanksgiving after repeatedly telling me not until closer to Christmas. Wee! He says I’ve shown him another side of Christmas that is filled with fun and magic and I couldn’t be more grateful. That is one of my ultimate goals in life spreading magic and whimsical kitschery that induces smiles and heart expansion!

So yes I made a silly video vlog to go along with the gingerbread house making date! I hope your holiday was also filled with laughter and magic! xo

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Vlog

The New Puppy (Bacon) is Here!

12/21/2014

If you’re pretty close to me then chances are you know I’ve been wanting a baby like crazy for a couple years! When I started my life over I took the cat and my ex took the dog (Wanwan.. who is still as cute and sweet as ever). My always dreamed for baby girl, Colette, isn’t a baby or even a toddler anymore! She’s a big girl. She is my favorite playmate and always such a charm and I just cannot fathom having a human baby that would take any attention from her. She is perfect, she is so much like me too and I feel if you have absolute perfection then why keep going? A new baby takes a lot of attention and energy that our already-here children need and want.

My Mister has been against getting a dog until Mary (10) is 14 and can help take care of it. Even then he was absolutely not willing to get a puppy due to the energy, time, and messes as well as post-traumatic stress from dealing with an ex who has severe animal issues. However after tiny, baby Calvin was successfully reared into a loving and silly cat alongside our 4 children I feel he started to open his mind. Then we rescued a dog from the cold until he could find his home and we realized we’re ready for our own dog.

So I found a puppy from a wonderful couple who runs Smithpaws and knew I had found the one! I was telling my friend that I’m dealing with many of the baby-life changes now except for healing from a tummy scar.. then I realized I did have a scar and my emergency surgery was right when my puppy was born! So it was definitely meant to me and he is wonderful. He’s tiny and a ball of love and happiness. He’s the easiest to train and he’s always ready to snuggle. He is a tricolor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. So happy~

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Crafts DIY Vlog

Artist Trading Cards DIY: Make and Collect

12/16/2014

Inspired by the many trading cards of the past, artist trading cards (often called ATCs) are another fun way to trade with a personal flair. I have a feeling that even non-proclaimed-artists should create ATCs — what a cool way to revive aged-pop cultures? I plan to attach bubblegum to mine so let me know if you’d like a bite~

The cards must be 2.5in by 3.5in or 64mm by 89mm (no exceptions ^^). They are also generally made as limited editions (it’s a time to relax and handmake something small and exclusive) and should probably contain your name, theme, contact information and anything else you’d like to include! If they’re part of a series you can also number them, ex. Moon Cats 3/6. It might be a cool idea to use different themes or criteria for each series to keep it fun~ challenge yourself and be creative!

Pattern

ATC envelope pattern.

Swaps & Collecting

ATCs For All Forums
Swap Bot
Altered Art Swap List
Etsy ACEOs

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His & Hers Vlog

His & Hers: The New Puppy Talk with MisterEducated

12/14/2014

I finally got a blog of myself and MisterEducated in the car and asked him about our upcoming puppy. I still need to work a lot of kinks out for instance our in-car station doesn’t fit our new phones so I had to hold it awkwardly. Boo! Next time the video will be less jumpy.

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DIY Vlog

Five Ways to Get Your Youtube Vlog Video Noticed

12/12/2014

I’ve been vlogging. That’s right. I said it. My vlogs are also pretty chill and probably not to entertaining.. for now.. but I’m learning. I’m pretty much forcing myself to do it regardless of whether I have a purpose or not because I feel like it’s useful in my personal life (get used to talking to strangers!) and I feel it removes the ‘behind-the-screen’ illusion that stands between you and I (no hiding that awkward laugh anymore!). So bear with my while I learn the INS and OUTS of vlogging, the YouTube community and how to communicate with you in all sorts of exciting ways.

I figured adding some useful vlog research I scrounged up could be beneficial if you’d like to 1. join me on this adventure; 2. make a response video so I can get to know you more dearly or 3. consider vlogging at least in the future.

As I am a YouNEWB and I have little to no views, subscribers or fellow vloggers to frolic with in the land of unforeseen videos… please comment or subscribe to my channel (MiseducatedTV) and I’ll do the same so we can bask in the glory of having an ally.

Five Ways to Get Your Vlog Noticed

1. Be Vocal in The YouTube Vlogging Community
Find other vloggers, leave comments, be friendly. You see on some of your favorite YouTubers videos the same people leaving comments and communicating with other viewers? Do that. Those people make friends in the community. It’s a lot like blogging.. to get new friends and comments you have to be friendly and give comments. NOTE: Do not shamelessly self-promote in comments, post genuine comments related to their videos.

2. Collaboration
YouTube even pushes collaboration in their Playbook. Why? 1. You get exposed to an audience who may never have seen you before and 2. By being associated with a YouTuber others’ watch you are given credibility in the eyes of their audience.

Ready to collaborate? Just ask someone. I was once told as a young designer if I wanted something (like an opportunity, a project or a job) to ask for it. Sometimes it fails but more often than not it works. Don’t hold yourself back, just ask! Hell, you can even ask me. I might just say yes.

3. Join an Online Forum/Group
There are several. I joined YTalk because it’s a pretty large one. Forums don’t get the same attention they once did due to social media (Google+ YouTube Group) but they are still prime places for certain topics and YouTube is one of those topics.

4. Make Trend-Friendly Content
Find bloggers you like with popular videos and reply with video responses using similar keywords so they can find you, use trendy tags in your vlogs (I recently noticed the ‘Boyfriend’ tag as well as the ‘Draw my Life’ tag) and stay on top of news, current events/trends and pop culture that could land you a top video when people are searching for information about said topics.

5. Be Optimized for Traffic
Similar to blogging again but quite unique as well. Always be optimized for search-engine traffic just in case your video is meant to go viral.

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Blogosphere Features

Liebster Award: A Blog Survey & Nomination

12/10/2014

I got nominated for the Liebster Award by Natasja at Kao-ani.com. The idea of the Liebster Award is to introduce blogs to a wider audience, build community and give the bloggers a chance to share something personal about themselves.

The Questions

1. What made you want to start blogging?
I had originally started my website in the late 90s because I had gotten a computer as a 10 year old and became very interested in learning HTML and graphic design. I’ve always been into creating things so it seemed the next logical step!
2. What is your biggest dream?
My biggest dream would have to be to spend a life filled with love, fun, travels, animals, parties, good food and art with my soul mate and our children (including the furry ones!). I would love to go back to Japan with my entire family one day (all 4 kids!) and continue to enjoy making art alongside my honey.
3. If money were no object, what would you do all day?
I like to think I would still be doing what I am doing! I would definitely still create art and blog, write and create. I’m sure I would travel and shop quite a bit more and probably renovate my house more extravagantly but otherwise most things would be the same. That’s when you know you’re doing what you love!
4. What is your favorite country or place to visit and why?
My favorite places to visit are Tokyo, Japan and Paris, France. I love to travel and experience new sights, smells, foods and art. I believe traveling and meeting new friends is one of the real gems of life.
5. Oops, you’re stranded on an island (with plenty of water & food). What three things would you want with you?
Things? Hmm.. that makes it tough.. I would definitely want my family with me but if I can only bring things I believe they would be 1. a HUGE notebook; 2. a bag of pencils and 3. lots of rope (to make a home).
6. Name a movie and/or book that you recently watched/read and can highly recommend.
I recently have been watching a television show called “My Ghost Story” on Amazon (free with Prime!) — there are many seasons and some of the stories are quite spooky and interesting. I recommend if you are interested in learning about the afterlife.
7. What do you collect?
I collect a few things such as Blythe dolls, dollhouse miniatures, baby yarn, kitschy vinyl records, mugs and dishes and craft supplies of course. I have a LOT of craft supplies in my studio.
8. What do you do to get “zen”?
I like to rest on my couch with my kitty (Calvin) and knit something for someone I love. If I really am wanting a zen feeling I light a candle or incense, play some records and create something cute.
9. What is the wisest thing someone ever told you?
“Keep doing what you’re doing and never give up on what you believe is right and just.”
10. What song do you like to sing out loud?
I love to sing Ave Maria out loud when I’m alone, I belt it out and it reminds me of choir practice as a teen and fills my home with happy energy.
11. If you could learn something super fast (Matrix-style), what skill would you pick?
I’ve studied Japanese in Japan and I have a childs vocabulary. I would love to instantly know all Japanese and Kanji.

Random Facts

1. I love to cook Japanese food.
2. I have 4 children.
3. I believe in ghosts.
4. I am a MEGA animal lover and used to live on a farm but preferred the city to settle down in.
5. I lived with a host family in Japan for several months (plus visits) in college and am still close to them as though I’m there adopted daughter.
6. My soul mate was at one time my art professor and friend before we started dating many years later.
7. I always knew I would have a daughter at 25 years old and was told by a psychic she would be very special to the world. Alas at 25 after trying for over a year I got pregnant with my daughter (now 4 years old).
8. Knitting for me is meditative.
9. I live in a 3 story (plus full basement) four-square home that is 100 years old and features a mural of a castle in the dining room.
10. I love pen palling and mail art!
11. I have been writing a horror fairy tale for many years and have never released it or tried to have it published.

The Rules

1. Link back to the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the same 11 questions your nominator answered above.
3. Post 11 random facts about yourself.
4. Pick 11 nominees to answer your 11 questions.
5. You can’t nominate the person who nominated you!
6. Tell your 11 nominees you have nominated them.

My Nominations

1. Jamie from Kawaii or Die
2. Zambi from Studio Cutecake
3. Holly from A Little Stranger
4. Isabelle from Bohemian Musings
5. Lauren from Calico Skies
6. Sophie from Dark Vice
7. Erika from Erika Lee XO
8. Rachel from Glass of Win
9. Jessica from Jessica Borutski
10. Angela from This Muse is Taken
11. Victoria from Parfait Doll

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Visual Splendor Vlog Wear the World

Wear the World: Pinky Paradise Vanity Contacts

12/09/2014

First off let me say I do not condone the use of vanity contacts unless you have extensively read about how to wear, care for and use them safely. If you’re in any doubt please see an eye doctor and take the lenses to learn more about them. These lenses are a one size fits all so if you have a different eye shape it can cause complications.

Next, I finally uploaded a little review of the contacts from a NON-SEASONED contact wearer. In other words.. this was my first time wearing contacts. It wasn’t too tough or painful so I would have to say for a quick photo shoot these will do wonders! They are lovely, easy to wear and come in tons of colors and designs. If you’re looking for a good selection of lenses at an exceptional price check out Pinky Paradise. I know I’ll be getting a few more colors for fun next time!

I’m pretty new to VLOGGING on YouTube so if you’d like to be friends or collab in any way please let me know. I’m enjoying the ease these days of having a new phone to shoot and edit video on the go. The above video is one of the older tries! Beware the audio is a little slow! Ooops. Bad import.

Accessories by Sanrio and Sugar Junkie!

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Event Features

Hello Kitty Con 2014 Media and VIP Event

11/04/2014

Well… although I had just had a major surgery I felt that it was important for me to push myself out of the nest aka laying in bed in pain because, hey, it had been long enough. It’s time to force myself to be myself again and stop wasting away on the occasional apple slice. So I figured I’d heal with a bang and off I went to LA!

I must say the airport customer service was amazing to wheel me to the plane, THANKS DELTA. I would have been extremely slow moving and in considerable pain but would still have made myself walk had they not offered to wheel me around. I was so shocked at the amount of customer service I received just because my stomach was stapled!

So I arrived in LAX and felt a bit sad my best friend Kimi would not be waiting for me as she is every other flight (it was a super quick business day week trip and I couldn’t stay through the weekend) but I was still extremely happy to be back in the California sun and air and meet up with my Indy friend who arrived a couple days earlier.

I slept decently in a lovely home overlooking LA being watched over by the Hollywood sign and the next day we were off to the beach and to explore areas we hadn’t explored before. I never get to go to LA for tourist attractions so we went to Venice, Little Tokyo and other assorted neighborhoods. Her brother Danny Detox lives there and is in the band The Ex-Gentlemen so we also ended up a few other places to meet him.

The last evening there was the HELLO KITTY CON 2014 aka the first Hello Kitty Convention ever in the United States. Miseducated was invited to the Press Event and VIP Opening Party so off I went to snap a huge stack of photos and gather goodies to feature!

I must say I filled up my SLR as well as my phone camera with many more photos to take! I did get tired early due to my surgery but I met some new and old friends (was very impressed with Stephiee’s work on the fashion installation, it made my eyes bleed holographic glitter and several of the outfits glittered back begging to come home in my suitcase), filled up all of my cameras, got media packs and enjoyed connecting with Christina of California Focus Magazine.

As I said above, Lovely Kitty Wonder: A Hello Kitty Fashion Installation, was a very-impressive eye-candy-filled feature curated by Stephiee Nguyen of JapanLA Clothing. With shockingly sweet creations carbonated with cute couture by 13 designers including Ophelia Overdose, Abigail Greydanus, a-morir, Fiori Couture and Doll Eyes, it was a no-miss.

Did you know there was even a FREE tattoo parlor? Not enough to inspire this non-tattoo kind of girl to get a tattoo but such a wonderful idea! I genuinely thought about getting a Kitty holding Colette’s name. Sadly I was not able to take advantage of the amazing, free ink artists due to my indecisive and tattoo-less nature.

I couldn’t help but take quite a lot of photos of these amazing paintings (and ceramics not pictured!) by Dabs Myla because my Mister is a contemporary realism artist that paints still lifes and creates ceramics so I felt it would be the utmost importance for him to see a Hello Kitty still life and tea set in all of their glory.

I must also say the place that gave me the biggest heart throbs was the vintage shop with actual vintage items for sale and a lot of old Sanrio photos. I also almost gagged on glory as I tried on the Hello Kitty x Chan Luu Kitty Con limited rainbow crystal jewelry finding myself unable to leave without them. As when I went to Puroland, a few tears came out for my childhood superstar. They even had my 80s Kitty TV! Sadly I did not get a chance to look at the price. I was trying to get a good collection of photos and explore everything before everyone else showed up and started crowding in. So please enjoy! I can’t very well explain it well enough to do justice, this was all for the photographs baby! It was just the event to push me out of my pain induced coma to go into a happy induced daze that reminds me what I’m doing and why.

Near the end of the VIP party (and after my backpack was filled to the brim with Kitty White goodies) off I went to have dinner in Little Tokyo with my dear friend Emma.

Did you get to go and what was your favorite part if so?? Maybe next time we can meet for a rainbow donut and a cup of blooming tea!

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Diary

How Soon is Now? Surprise! Surgery.

11/04/2014

So a thing happened. Many things happened. Most of all I survived them. Even the one that was out of my hands. The universe must have some more plans for me, what can I say.

Upon doing yoga with a friend (Emma) I must have twisted a unknowingly deformed small intestine in my inner scar tissue from my cesarian. I didn’t feel it. We went to work and eat from the comfort of my dining room. I ate a delicious burger that Mister Educated made for me. Then.. pain. Immense pain. Is this food poisoning? It doesn’t feel that way. I’ll lay down and take a nap. No, no I won’t. I begin breaking out in sweats and chills, losing consciousness. Is this for real? I have a high pain tolerance but this is insanity. Emma? She takes me to the dr. My blood pressure is so low they think the machine is broken. Emma rushes me to the ER. They think I’m lying. I must be some sort of person wanting pain medicine because there is no visible injury. No, please no. No pain medicine. I won’t take it. Just right the wrong in my body.

The nurses, they tell me to put on a mask. They assume I just have a stomach bug. Ebola perhaps. But no. No this is not a virus. This is my body shutting down.

This is probably appendicitis. Your gallbladder is probably acting up. You must have food poisoning. This will clear up tonight. Tomorrow you’ll be fine. Really? Thank you! This will all go away! But it feels so much worse already? *violent retching*

The next morning. The surgeon. This could clear up on it’s own. The tests seem like it’s hopeful. Or we can take a look surgically. WHAT? It hurts.. but I want to go with Mister.. What do you think? It’s up to me? I feel like something could be very wrong. I think you should take a look. I will then.

Stomach sick, in a daze, can’t stop vomiting on the operating table. Everyone is telling me it’s going to be ok. My husband is here and I will see him soon. It will all be ok. Everything is probably just fine. It will just be a small incision for our camera. Breathe in the anesthesia. Relax. Go to sleep…

Yes, we removed a foot of her small intestine. It had died. It was caught in scar tissue. She had a cyst. If we had’t operated she’d have died. She’s very lucky. Yes, here’s your husband. He’s here.

Tears of joy. Then. The pain. A new pain. Three stab wounds? A large cut along my midsection? Staples? It’s ok, you have a man that loves you. No one will even notice in a few years. You would have died if you’d have waited. You were very sick.

I know. I know I should trust my intuition more strongly. Thank you for saving my life, dr. Thank you for being the one surgeon who believed me.

Life is limited, treat it with love.

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Amber Renee

What is Fall Creek Trail?

More Fall Creek Trail Info

Pattern

Swaps & Collecting

Five Ways to Get Your Vlog Noticed

The Questions

Random Facts

The Rules

My Nominations