Still alive

...do you tame a Pikachu with apples? 

Hey everyone, sorry, I'm still alive.
To my relief, art commissions and trades started picking up, and along with gifts to make and recently joining my friend Gebbe's Minecraft server, I've been busy, busy busy.  I feel a lot happier for the time being, though, so I'm enjoying it.

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"I hope it's enough to cancel out any joy you may [have] receive[d] from the previous feature."
Glad to know that the good people at Minecraft care about our happiness.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ART TRADES ★★★★★★★ 

Part 1 of my art trade with Souffle-etc!
We decided to make our trade a two-parter, so next time, I'm going to make a Bulbasaur head pillow.  :3
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Souffle-etc's first half of the art trade, Guu from Hare+Guu!  

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Next art trade:
With my friend Gebbe, I'm planning to make him life-sized amigurumi Pichu and Mew plushes.
My fingers hurt just thinking about all the crocheting that I'll be doing, but I'm up for the challenge!
@ A @  

The pound of yarn that I ordered came in, it's probably the biggest skein of yarn that I've ever bought, it makes my little Glaceon pokedoll seem even more diminutive.  

Art Trades 2012

Man, I really miss some people.  But, I'm trying to patiently wait until I do hear from you guys again.  <3 

But at the moment, trying to do my best to get through the days and keep busy, lots and lots of stuff to do!  Having a cold + weather allergies isn't very fun, though...  Makes it hard to be on the computer or do much with my head and body aching so much.  x___x  But who wants to focus on negative stuff?

So, without further ado, a bunch of awesome stuff~

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Like this panda gummy bear pic that my friend Blue sent me  * w *

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ INTERNET ★★★★★★★

ETSY

Minecraft crafts............  *_________* 

Minecraft + resin = EPIC combo
http://www.etsy.com/listing/92018853/minecraft-enderman-resin-block-cube

...do you really think that it's a good idea to wear that around your neck?!?  >A<;;
http://www.etsy.com/listing/89765382/minecraft-creeper-scarf

very cute, but in a slightly puzzling way.  xD
http://www.etsy.com/shop/L2Boutique?section_id=10632356

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GADGETSIN

While randomly looking up Minecraft things online, I stumbled upon this blog of awesome

And I found the most amazing computer cases!  *_____*

BLACK MAGE ADJSKLFJSLJFLSJDKLSJDLSKJDSLL

And, even though I should have found this before, Minecraft papercrafts.  I mean, come ON.  Papercraft would be a major DUR.  

http://gadgetsin.com/make-your-own-minecraft-paper-crafts.htm

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My first batch of Minecraft papercrafts, including my personal avvie >w<

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ART TRADES ★★★★★★★

Looks like 2012 Art trades have begun~!  

I was incredibly psyched when Souffle-etc contacted me on dA asking for an art trade.  I checked out his art gallery and was super wowed by his structurally accurate and well detailed sculptures.  PLUS, how often do you find such an awesome sculpture of Quail dog??  >w<  (even though his sculpture of Ryuk (from Deathnote) is probably the most impressive piece in his gallery)

  I'm so honored to be doing this trade with him!!  I'll do my best to make my end of the trade worthy.

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Today, I got a surprise package in the mail, my long-awaited (but TOTALLY WORTH IT) end of my art trade with the wonderfully talented and super sweet Meiyoukat.  <3

she even included a letter!!  <3 <3

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ iTOUCH/SMARTPHONE APPS ★★★★★★★

Draw Something

A week or so back, I was super psyched to download this Pictionary-like app, but had only one friend to play it with.  Now that it's getting more popular, I'm finding more people to play this addictive word guessing game!  Me and my one friend have reached our 100th round!  (even though it doesn't increase after 99)

No future eye contact with pigeons

Hatoful Boyfriend: A dating game about pigeons

Yes, you read correctly.  A dating game.  About pigeons. 
Specifically, about a girl disguised (?) as a bird and trying to date pigeons.

....Kay.  This is one of those nights where I'm seriously wondering what on earth happened to my sanity, or if I ever had such a thing. 

A [pixiv?] fan artist's vision of the scenario

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I spent a good chunk of the night reading over 17 pages of a thread of they-have-to-be-trolling-esque screenies and even more hilarious commentary on it by Angie Gallant, whose growing paranoia, attachment to, and disgust for the species of birds becomes slightly pitiable and alarmingly understandable as she tries to get a "good ending" with one of the characters in the game.  

I felt a type of slightly unhinged shame at my slowly growing fixation and amusement while reading and  scrolling down through the posts, an increasing impatience to see the new plot developments.

Also,  I may never be able to see pigeons the same way again.  One person from the thread commented, 

"I saw a pigeon on my way to work today.

I avoided eye contact." 

Some of my favorites from the demo game version thread :

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"firstbirdworldproblems"  THIS NEEDS TO BE A THING.  

Opposable thumbs and human limbs = not an advantage in this game

those darn punkgeons.  

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And, to my delight (and conflicted dismay), I found out that there was a new thread of screenies from the official release of the game, so after finishing that thread, I started reading the new one.  --> http://brokenforum.com/index.php?threads/hatoful-boyfriend-the-search-for-fat-birds-good-end.1028/

Sometime after 1-something in the morning, I felt like I was dying, and I realized (thanks so Ms. Gallant's running photo count) that I've seen just over 500 screenies (+commentary) of pigeon dating gameplay.

OTL

.....

as if my brain needed to get any more twisted and weird.  

but, sadly, after I get rest tonight, I am SO going to continue reading the new thread of screenies, I must see the new character plot lines...!  @ A @

(pleasejustshootmenow)

Feb. Photo Challenge: Days 22-29

Geh.  Fell behind again.  

I had my heart stolen by this disarmingly cute manga music video...

I've been obsessively listening to "Heartbeat" for the 

past 3 days now...  There's just something incredibly magical about it 

that makes me feel like my heart is whole and alive again..

So!  I think for now, I should focus on just finishing the Feb. Photo challenge series.

I started the one for March, but not sure if I'm going to post them.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★

------------ FEB. PHOTO A DAY CHALLENGE------------
Day 22: Where You Work

My crafting "work" area~

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Day 23: Your shoes

(not actually mine, but I wore it more than her xP )

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Day 24: Inside your bathroom cabinet

98% = mom and sister's stuff  = x =;

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Day 25: Green

My first handmade soap~!  Sweet pea scented cucumber avocado  >w<

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Day 26: Night

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Day 27: Something you ate

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Day 28: Money

My jar of coins~

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Day 29: Something you're listening to

"Intermission" by Senator & The New Republic

Feb. Photo Challenge: Days 17-21

Wow.  So, this week was definitely not one of the highlights of the year.  Health-wise, emotionally, and weather-wise, it really, REALLY sucked.  3 days in a row of severe weather allergies, then got a really alarming leg injury the day after that.  Despite everything, though, I'm so grateful to have friends who help me to smile and raise my spirits, turn my day around, make me almost forget that I was crying just a little before I was talking to them. 

Thanks so much, I love you guys~  <3

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So, LOTS of stuff to blog about since the last entry! Even if it was a really rough week, tons of bright spots here and there!

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ FEB. 17, 2012 ★★★★★★★

Gaia's 9th anniversary~!
that means my avvie is almost 8 years old! 

me and chibi during an evening walk

------------ FEB. PHOTO A DAY CHALLENGE------------
Day 17: Time

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ FEB. 18, 2012 ★★★★★★★

After most of my life not being able to do anything interesting with my hair (couldn't even dye it with Kool-aid or those dyes from Hot topic, LOL), I randomly felt experimental and bought my first set of clip-in hair extensions, and unusual colors, at that.  So much fun!  x3

Got my new iPod up and fully functional~!

 Blue~!  Also got purple fringe and a red highlight (that was a freebie! <3)

on sale from http://www.etsy.com/shop/jsmartnick

------------ FEB. PHOTO A DAY CHALLENGE------------
Day 18: Drink

water, of course.  xP

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ FEB. 19, 2012 ★★★★★★★

Watched my first episode of Cake Boss on my Netflix app!  I'm hooked!!  *w*

------------ FEB. PHOTO A DAY CHALLENGE------------
Day 19: Something you hate to do

Waking up Chibi when she's really comfortable in my bed

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ FEB. 20, 2012 ★★★★★★★

AHHHHHH, yet another box of awesome from my penpal, Mitsuki!!  The biggest and heaviest box that I've ever gotten in the mail, and it was jam packed with amazingness! <3

------------ FEB. PHOTO A DAY CHALLENGE------------
Day 20: Handwriting

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ FEB. 21, 2012 ★★★★★★★

My fourth hair extension that I bought on sale, this time from :  http://www.etsy.com/shop/AcrylicMaterial

---->  new (temporary???) nickname from California, "Rainbowhead"

------------ FEB. PHOTO A DAY CHALLENGE------------
Day 21: A fave photo of you

Feb. Photo Challenge: Days 15-16

Whoa.  So, sorry, another long photo/video heavy post, annnnnnnnnd I wasn't even able to include the Minecraft screenies from the time when I started playing on my new friend Vortic's server!

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WHAT.  IS.  THIS.  

I kind of hate myself for liking this.  

Title alone:  "This could be the worst idea ever"
Trailer:  "Oh, good gravy, this TOTALLY works......."

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ PRP ★★★★★★★

I <3 being an artisan crafter.
Already have requests from 2 of my friends to help make them their own angel wing hoodies, lol.

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Finished the jumbo Austria mochi plush commission on Etsy

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ INTERNET RANDOMNESS ★★★★★★★

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It's really funny, cause just an hour or two before I saw this, my friend showed me this:

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ INTERNET AWESOMENESS ★★★★★★★

 My friend Carmen introduced me to Cutestfood.com

PANDA + CHEESECAKE = AWESOME OVERLOAD

candy conversation hearts?  egh.
cheesecake conversation hearts?  YESPLEASE.

.......

Yes, I admit it, I've been having a bit of a cheesecake obsession ever since we had that cherry cheesecake for Valentine's day.  

.......

"Cupcake stuffed strawberries"  >w<

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

February Photo Challenge:  Days 15-16: 

(Due to my iPod breaking and having to be taken in, I wasn't able to upload Day 15 on time, and couldn't take pictures of the same style as the rest)

~~~Day 15:  Phone~~~

 Sucky phone, suckier picture  >.>

Only photo that I had on hand (weirdly enough, I had taken the pic just last week to show 

a friend that my phone sucked more than his)

~~~Day 16:  Something New~~~

White nail art pen.  

Temperamental, though.

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The nailpolish "ink" kinda dried up by the time I got to my thumb >.>

★★★★★★★★★★★★★ WEIRDNESS ★★★★★★★

..........

Guys can be so weird when they're bored.  

Artistic insanity courtesy of crazy

 California-tan....

...who, by the way, insists that this is me.
 [Derpy] Rainbow Dash.
(his nickname for me)
.....
BUT PANDAS CAN'T DASH, WE ROLL FASTER THAN WE RUN!
; A ;