Starting off the year right!

I have been working an intense amount of hours at my part-time job since Fall semester ended, but my hours have finally been reduced for Spring semester so that I am only teaching my crafting classes instead of working hours on the floor. Since the new semester doesn't start until Wednesday, however, I have two days of freedom! I finally have a winter break! The good thing about working this much is that I have been able to test out my ring designs by wearing them at work. So far, I really like the look and feel of the hemp ring since it changes as it is worn - the thickness of the strands vary as it absorbs water and it fits comfortably on my finger. Unfortunately, it is difficult to see the woven design. I love the design of the bamboo string ring, since you can clearly see the celtic knot style braid, but it is difficult to create and has an obvious knot and gap on the underside. It also isn't as comfortable on my finger. I may try blending the two styles, since I like the varied thicknesses and colors that could be possible. Wish me luck!

Since I have this much free time, I'm choosing to set up for the semester by taking care of schedules and budgets while also setting goals. Since my boyfriend will need to go to work an hour before I go to school this semester, I'm going to use that time to work on myself. This will mean a combination of workouts from hasfit.com's 30 Day Workout Program to Get in Shape and Zen Lab's C25K running app. I seriously recommend both because they're free and high quality! I know that if I don't put things in my calendar that they just won't happen, so I've put in a work out time before school and even a diary time after school. I haven't just included things for myself, however, since I have also helped him make goals too. He wants to finish his Master's this semester so that we can graduate together. To do this, we made essential goals and deadlines so that he will stay on track. All of these things are on both google calendar and the kitchen whiteboard calendar.

I am so very excited to see how this semester will go! There will be a lot of changes, but I know we're heading in a positive direction. Look out for posts on the rings coming up!

The Five W's

Who: Me and him

What: A proposal

When: Soon

Where: TBA

Why: To answer this, it’s important to think back to a time almost two years ago. He and I had taken a spontaneous drive up through Bear Lake and then into Idaho. We had never been on these roads before. It’s a recurring theme that sometimes we get in the car and drive until we end up somewhere else: San Diego, Hoover Dam, Yellowstone, Eugene, Craters of the Moon. Spontaneity wasn’t part of my personality, so it required a lot of trust for me to just drive somewhere – no destination, time frame, or purpose.

It was on this drive that we talked about things. We mentioned the idea of future plans. I don’t know the exact dialogue, but we came to talk about marriage and proposals. He mentioned his interest in the woman proposing to the man and I jumped in to say how adamant I was that this should happen more often. We ended on an unspoken understanding that, if we were to one day get married, I would be the one to pop the questions.

Cue another long drive, this time a year later. Driving up towards Bear Lake again, we took a left down to Franklin Basin. We spotted some amazing camping spots off the road as we drove through fields of wildflowers and quaking aspens. His sister had an outdoor wedding, so it naturally came up in the beautiful outdoor space. We talked about the feasibility of having family drive to this kind of location – whether it would really be possible to have a wedding out in nature. It was on this drive, especially as we drove farther along the road and down some precipitous, rocky trails that I decided. 

Although it had always been the natural option, I made the conscious decision to propose to him.

Since then, I have been toying with how to do it. Along the way, I have let others on to the fact that I’m going to propose to him. Everyone has been supportive because they support us and our relationship. The funny thing about all this is that he has full knowledge of the fact that a proposal is imminent. Honestly, he has been waiting for a long time and it’s become a joke that I should get around to putting a ring on it. I have shown him one of my earlier ideas for the ring (wooden rings from Touchwood Rings), that I have since decided would be better for the wedding ceremony. For a while, I wanted to find an antique pocket watch to use as an engagement token, but my various antique store excursions haven’t been as successful as I’d hoped (although I did find an amazing candleholder). After talking with a friend, I have since decided it is more appropriate for our relationship for me to make our engagement rings. 

What follows will be the potentially frustrating, exhilarating, intense, but ultimately fulfilling details of how this handmade engagement came to be.

What?

Flipping the squid is like flipping the bird, but more about flipping expectations. I am at a time in my life when I am doing everything at once and making life happen the way that I want it to. My goals for this year include (but will never be limited to):
- student teaching in fourth grade and kindergarten classrooms
- running, running, running (and getting stronger)
- graduating with two bachelor's degrees
- keeping a diary and being creative (consistently)
- getting a grown-up career
- proposing to my boyfriend

When I was younger, I used the name "squid" when I wrote poetry. I have made less time for creative pursuits as I've moved on to college and I intend to change that. Flipping the squid, then, is not just about changing the now but returning to who I was. Come along with me as I flip the squid on its head, just so it can stare itself in the mind.