King Dreams and Coco Believes

Due to my extreme love of vintage Christmas and the desire to collect everything with Santa on it, I've been going through all my "old" things to make room. I wouldn't consider myself a hoarder as much as a pack rat! I love to keep, let's call them "moments". I've been taking pictures and collecting moments since the second grade. For those of you who remember, you used to not be able to see what your picture looked like until you took it to be developed. There were no re-dos and most likely, you got double prints anyway. Needless to say, I have cleaned out pictures of nothing and people I don't remember. I still have a ways to go!

ANYWHOOO, while looking through box number one, I found a note that I wrote when I was13. I actually remember writing this note at Camp T. Now for the record, I have not yet googled what the drug is on the paper. The dadster is a RN/ medical writer so it had to come from him.

With Martin Luther King Jr. day coming up I thought it was perfecting timing.


Before, you read my "believes" I want to make sure you understand I am in NO WAY comparing my child self to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was an amazing leader and activist. He did more then I could ever imagine doing but he is an inspiration to me. He wanted to make the world more equal in non-violent ways and that is something I believe 100%. I don't agree with his "guaranteed income" but I can see where he was trying to go with it.

Here is my list....
I believe in God
I believe everyone is equal
I believe in freedom of speech
I believe in believe (believing) in yourself
I believe in that I can make a difference
I believe in love, trust, and friendship
I believe in amplshing (I'm guessing its accomplishing) all my life goals
I believe in reaching for the stars and stopping at nothing less
I believe that I can do what I want, when I want.
I believe in recycling
I believe that age doesn't matter when it comes to friends
I believe everyone can be what they want
I believe in many best friends
I believe that everyone thing should be treated the same
I believe in waiting for prince charming and not just settle with anything
I believe money is good but can also ruin people

My, my, little CoCo you are a wise one! Sometimes I want to go back in time and just hug that little girl. I want to tell her that 20 plus years later, she will still have the same beliefs. That those still define who we are today, and who we will still be in the future. I would also tell her that prince charming is just a character that Disney made up but still don't settle. When you are 34 (and stayed single through your first divorce) you won't regret not settling for any of the guys you have dated. Oh and don't expect to get any better at spelling but it won't matter because someone is going to invent spell check!


How has Martin Luther King Jr.'s story influenced your own?

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. -MLK

AG

Suggestions Not Resolutions and A Condo- (dream) Makeover

First, I am in full and total "I hate Indiana" mode. It was 60 degrees and sunny yesterday! Today it's 30 with freezing cold rain. As I was walking out of the supermarket, I was caught in a (freezing cold) downpour! I didn't even have to walk far but I was DRENCHED (in ice cold rain)! I came home changed as fast as possible, grabbed my electric blanket and started warming up. Now for some reason I really want ice cream. Odd?!

Let's take a look on a the bright side, the mass snow mountains are starting to melt. Yep....the bright side?!

Last week I started the Folk Magazine journaling challenge. To know me is to know...I have A.D.D. I find it a small miracle I write one blog a week!  Really, I don't think you are coming here to read about my resolutions, etc anyway! You are looking for vintage and vintage inspired fun. (As well what other craziness comes up in my life)

So I'm just going to touch on the Hillary's challenge this week! This weeks question is.....

What are my short and long term goals to achieve this year? How are my resolutions holding up?

First, I don't believe in New Years Resolutions but i do believe in the power of suggestion. I make suggestions to myself throughout the year, not just on new years.

So I would say my suggestions so far this year would be the usual. Lose weight, get into shape, look younger, save money,etc, etc. I haven't done anything about those. I'll most likely bring those topics up again throughout the year. I'll let you know how that goes!

What I have done so far this year is, laid out in the sun (tanning check), kayaked (worked out check?), drank beer (among other types of alcoholic beverages), drank diet coke, bought a iPad & an iPhone (opps there goes the savings) and ate at some AH-MAZE-ING restaurants. So how is 2013? So far, so good!

My long term goal is brought to you by the letter "I". Not "I" as in me "I". "I" as in inspiration! I want to be inspired, look for inspiration, and maybe be inspirational. I'm going to pay attention to what is going on around me and always look for inspiration in everything, everyday.

Now since, I'm sitting here still freezing (and still wanting ice cream?) I started to dream of my vacation that I just left a week ago. Yep, one week your in paradise, the next you are in...well here! We have been going to same condo for six out of the last eight years. The view is AH-MAZE-ING!  Really it's why we keep coming back.  The pool the beach GORGEOUS but the inside of the place, is less then desirable.

Eight years ago we drove up to the condo and saw this!

Really?! It's was/is heaven on Earth! It AWEEEEEE-MAZE-ING!

These are both untouched pictures from our parking garage. This is seriously how beautiful it is. You can't top this.

This is our view from inside the condo looking out. It's beautiful anywhere you look! Sis and I started to day dream about how we would re-decorate the condo. Of course, we had two totally different ideas. Sis's ideas are more "soft coastal". My ideas are more "bold Caribbean". Now the condo's current style could be considered, "I think every wall needs something on it and I don't really care because it's a rental property. LOOK VIEW"

 These are three on the many mismatched fish that are throughout the condo.

Pelicans join the fish. 

 These are what the U family fondly call the "humping dolphins" The are in the "guest bath".

 I've never understood why the fisherman caught the thermostat!

These are some of the beautiful (scaraism) and outdated curtains. The top are in the second bedroom and the bottom picture is in the kitchen. Both are...are...are..(you fill in the blank)

 This is also in the second bedroom. Its a grapevine,stick heart wreath? The sail boat ornament is from 2000. I guess that means its been 13 years since the last update!?

I case of a fire, meet at the crab?

The lovely couch. It's not as uncomfortable as it looks (but isn't very comfortable).

For our dream desiging ideas we went to Pinterest (of course). You can follow the entire board at Condo Redo. As of yesterday, I was still pinning on the board. There are just so many great ideas out there!

But here are some of pictures we pinned.

 This is sis's pin but I love it too! I'm not saying no to white. I'm not as anti-white as I seem. I just feel my personality is shown better in bold colors!

Below is the perfect soft coastal bedroom for sis's house! 

COLOR!  I love these colors! I'm doing to declare them the most beautiful colors EVA!

This goes perfect with my colors and love of the keys! 

 This is a picture that sis and I totally agree on! I love the grey with the bright blue and silver! Sis thinks it would work perfect in an office or den. I have to agree or maybe a boys room.

I was trying to give credit where credit is due but for some reason I can't. My computer won't let me link the pictures to a website. SOOOOOO if you like (or love) what you see, make sure to check out our Pinterest board to get all the details! It wouldn't be a CoCo blog if it all worked out perfectly!

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” 
― Marilyn Monroe

AG

P.S. Don't forget to stop by Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace on 1/26/13 at the Carmel Fountains! It's going to be the biggest and best show yet.

Also Sis and I are working on a total re-vamp of Whimzy. It's going to be exciting...at least for us!

It Is Never To Late

This year has for sure had it's up and downs. At the end of the day, I always realize how blessed I am. I made up my mind a long time ago that I would never forget it and I don't!

You know I love me some Folk Magazine. Even though I've never met Hillary in person, I think she is a living doll. Hills (can I call ya that?) brought a challenge to Folk's readers. I know I'm late,  I'm still in vacay mode!  Folk and Hills are challenging their readers to journal/blog in 2013.

So I missed this (the first) week! I was supposed to write a letter to the 2012 me. Reflect on lessons learned in 2012 and how I will apply my new knowledge in 2013.

Before I start, I do have to explain something VERY IMPORTANT! When I talk about myself in third persons, I call myself CoCo. Since I'm writing this letter to myself, Courtney becomes CoCo!

My friend Richie started calling me Coco years ago. I showed up at his house with some super cheap, super big, (before big was in and the Olsen twins were still babies on Full House) drug store sunglasses. He fondly called me "Coco Channel" (as in turn the T.V. channel not Chanel the designer). This became my alter ego. Now when I talk about myself in third person (don't judge until you try out an alter ego), I call myself Coco. For example, "CoCo doesn't really think the cold weather is all that great." Anyway, it's spread around town and now I'm Coco to many. Including but not limited to, myself.

My Dearest CoCo,

This year will have a lot of challenges, but you still ooze awesomeness. (Sorry, sometimes I have WAYYYY to much self esteem!)

20-12 will start the same amazing way it ends, at the beach with your family! You will relax more then you think was possible. You will enjoy your family even more then the year before. Your family is the reason you will never forget you are blessed!

In February, you realize once again what an amazing place Indianapolis is. The Super Bowl will come to town for the first time! Since your parents are still in Marathon, you will consider renting their house out to Superbowl fans. Houses are going for over $10,000 a day?! You might think about it, but you won't actually do it. Yeah, it's because you are afraid of mama! You also know that if you did, the dadster would want half! You will enjoy the Super Bowl festivities.  People from around the world will fall in love with the place you call home! Of course, the Colts being in the Superbowl would've made it better, but if they can't be in it, it might as well be in Indy!

In May,  you FINALLY graduated college. You now are proud to have a bachelors degree from Indiana University! You have accomplished something that you worked hard for. You will spend most of the month patting yourself on the back! You will tell everyone you ever met that you just graduated. You will find ways to bring it up all year and in any conversation. It might be annoying to others but don't worry about it. You are allowed to be proud of yourself!

Mama and the dadster will throw you (and sis who graduated in Dec) a Cinco de graduation party! It will be sooo much fun! Friends from every chapter of your life will be there.  They all will get along PERFECTLY.  It once again reminds you,  your friends also ooze awesomeness!

May in Indy also means....THE INDY 500! Which is a yearly amazing Indianapolis tradition! Marty came into town which meant the Coke lot with Sis,Brandi,Carlos, and Karma! Be prepared to have the song "Call Me Maybe" stuck in your head for the rest of the year. Shit happens, and that song is shit! Just like the years past, you are going to witness things no human eyes should ever see. You realize that the stories you tell, people won't believe. If you hadn't seen them with five speechless witnesses, you wouldn't believe it either! You say you'll never go back again, but you know you will. (And super secretly look forward to it)

OMG, in June you turn 34! How did you get so old, so fast? As they say, it's better then the alternative. So why not celebrate! Martinis and cheese will make anyone feel young. Well at least until the next day when you are hung over, hating life, and swearing you won't do that again . Don't be silly, of course you are lying to yourself, you totally do it again...and again...and again!

In July, Almost Gemini will start doing more shows. We will meet Jon with Indie Arts and Vintage. Guy knows how to put on a show! You will have some non-IAVM shows which won't do so well.  You'll have other shows you rock. You might WILL get a little annoyed that you spent so much time, energy and money on the not so good shows. Always remember the amazing people you have meet along this journey! If you can remember that you will be O.K.

Nothing really exciting happens until October. In October someone's negligence will make you ill for the rest of the year. If I could, I really would warn you. I would tell you the drug rep Brian Howard from Allergan lied to you. (Yep, I just went there)  He didn't order your food gluten free, you will end up in the hospital more then once.

You will get angry and that's O.K. Be angry but don't let the anger be you! You swear you will never trust anyone again but that doesn't last. Always remember one person's actions aren't everyone's.

If there are positives to take from this, it's you get reminded of all the people that love, care and worry about you. Also, you will come across some really great people you wouldn't have met under other circumstances. (As I writing this, present day CoCo is still trying to convince herself these are positives)

P.S. It's O.K. to lie to mama and the dadster so they can go and enjoy their cruise. They've been through all this with you and they need an extra vacation. Eight weeks worth just isn't enough!

P.S.S. No matter what the Internet says you are not having cocaine withdraws (esp since the only time you've ever seen it was on Intervention), you don't need vitamin B12, and NO MATTER what the Internet says, NO MATTER how much you and mama discuss it, NO MATTER how desperate you are to feel better, putting garlic cloves in your ears is NOT a good idea!


CoCo, keep doing what you are doing, keep growing and making yourself better. Keep oozing awesomeness!


CoCo