When Dresses Bleed

I never knew that when you purchase an article of clothing that has both black and white on it, you are playing a game (not the fun kind): the fabric dye might run or it might not. You might just wear the item 1-2 times and then after the first wash it is game over because the black has bled onto the white. Technically the dye should be set and not bleed so terribly, but it might, and that is all.

 

So this is what happened:

 

I bought a dress from The Limited on a mega sale… it was the only one, in my size, marked down, and it was mine. A pretty black and white dress, with a gold zipper down the back, and it was the perfect length. It was a S-C-O-R-E, since I am taller than 5 feet, to find a dress in my size with the proper length is a challenge. I saved it to wear on a special Sunday, and then I wore it to work. This pretty modest dress got many compliments, it was comfortable, and it became my favorite.

 

Then came the day that I wanted to wash it. I read the label… “machine wash cold with like colors and tumble dry low, dry clean for best results”. It was tempting to throw it in the wash and simply air dry it… but I wasn’t going to risk it. I threw it in the hamper, to save it for a trip to the dry cleaner, of course for best results. But there it sat, at the bottom of the hamper for one  three weeks. I decided that I would just compromise and gently hand wash this dress instead, at 10 o’clock at night…

 

(In retrospect: WHYyyyY, I should have just kept sipping on my tea, eating freshly baked cranberry bars, and reading my book instead.)

 

I turned on the cold water, and as I began to submerge the dress into the water, the black dye began to run right before my eyes, hitting staining the white stripes. I snatched it out of the water, I tried to stop the mean black dye from hitting anymore of my white stripes, but that was it, the perfectly white stripes were now gray, and blotchy. I tried to clean the stains with hydrogen peroxide… nothing… so then I tried rubbing alcohol… nope, so I just sprayed stain remover on the darker spots and let it just be. I turned to Google, and after reading through tips, I concluded that since my mom is 400 miles away, my next best bet for help would be the dry cleaner down the street. They open at 7 in the morning, so I’d stop by on my way to work.

 

In the morning the spots were lighter, YES! So off I went to the dry cleaner on my way to work. The nerd in me thought, I will take a before and after picture and write a fantastic review for this cleaner. Well… to make this long story shorter… the worker at the dry cleaner said that he couldn’t help me my dress me. The dress was probably ruined. No guarantees, actually he made it sound like there was a better guarantee that the dress would get even more ruined once it fully would get cleaned. So off I went, with my dress in hand. But it isn’t over yet….

Chasing Contentment

The poem below was written by a young boy. I came across it a while ago and thought it was very interesting how a kid would write this. Nice reminder to enjoy the moment, right now, instead of always living in hoping for tomorrow.

Chasing Contentment

It was spring but it was summer I wanted; the warm days and the great outdoors.

It was summer but it was fall I wanted; the colorful leaves and the cool dry air.

It was fall but it was winter I wanted; the beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season.

It was now winter but it was Spring I wanted; the warmth and the blossoming nature.

I was a child but it was adulthood I wanted; the freedom and the respect.

I was twenty but it was thirty I wanted; to be mature and sophisticated.

I was middle-ages but it was twenty I wanted; the youth and the free spirit.

I was retired but it was middle- age that I wanted; the presence of mind without limitations.

My life was over but I never got what I wanted. 

-Jason Lehman

Lets Try This Again...

Wow… Here I thought I was going to post a little more frequent in 2013…..

OooOOoops!

Our life is very busy right now (in a very very good way), but so is everyone else’s right? 

I'll try this blog thing again (for the 3rd time).....

Without further ado, lets catch up…. In the past three months:

I’ve tried many recipes that I would love to share,

Ate some really good steak,

Figured out an efficient way to grocery shop,

Found a new store I really like,

Organized and reorganized,

Found a dry cleaner (there are plenty, but I finally picked one), 

I am learning how to take out stains and make white laundry stay super white,

Have had friends and family come visit us from Sacramento,

We went to visit our family and friends back in Sacramento,

Celebrated hubby’s birthday,

Went to a beautiful baby shower,

Ate some really good sushi,

Got to know some pretty amazing people,

Went on a few walks,

Read a few books,

Enjoying the Word of God,

Started a new position at work,

Learned how to make clear broth,

Started running/exercising about twice a week,

Went on a super fun hike,

Found more great uses for vinegar,

Enjoyed a refreshing Crossroads retreat,

Had guests over for dinners,

Enjoyed the beach,

Walked the pier,

Battled and cold/flu germs, I think I won, but I don’t want to brag/celebrate just yet,

Started taking a little bit of vitamins,

(I can keep the list going, but you get the gist of what is going on)

There are a few things going on every single week! I thought that when we would move down to LA I would have all this time to just sit around…. (YE-AH right!!)

Time is flying!

In this hustle and bustle it is so nice to be part of Grace Community Church, Crossroads, and the CoC Bible Study. I love my brothers and sisters here so very much. It is always encouraging to spend some time with them. Everyone is so different, with different backgrounds and situations, but we share a common ground, a love for our Jesus Christ, our Savior. 

And it Goes On...

Hello there. If anyone is still out there that is. If blog world was also my real world, my life was put on pause since JULY! However, that is not the case. When I started my blog I thought this would be my means on reflecting on our move to Los Angeles and any adjustments that would come with it. Yes we moved to Los Angeles, and yes there are many adjustments, but by the grace of God this has been an amazing experience for the both of us, me and Vlad. (And in the midst of this experience I've grown so busy and put my blog away, but I hope to bring it back.)

When you don't think you can love someone EVEN more, you can. 

When you think you are the best of friends and there is just no way you can be even better friends, you can be. 

When you think your faith and trust in God is so complete, it's not.  

I am continuously being reminded on how far the Lord has pushed us through in this pursuit of seminary. Yeah, our lives weren't at stake and we always had somewhere we can return to, but guess what... it was still uncomfortable in not knowing where exactly we were going to be. We still aren't very sure where we are going to be, but we know what we are striving for. And looking back to what I was so afraid of, I am now not so frantic about our future. Of course I have my worries and those doubts, but I also know that God is with us and His will, will be done in our family and that is what matters most. We are going to continue working hard through this enjoyable (not always so easy) season in our life. One semester at a time. 

Just a few days ago, Vlad read me a piece of a book he was reading, and it was a letter from a discouraged pastor asking Richard Mayhue to pray for him. The discouraged pastor said that Satan regularly overwhelms him with fears and discouragement... and Mayhue went on and said something so true and it is a great reminder for me and hopefully for you: 

"And, taking God out of the equation, his fears and discouragements are perfectly logical."  

Merry Christmas.

Titov Papa, Mama, & Ella Come to Visit

The past three days have been rather sweet. Sweet in being able to be near our parents + little sister. The visit was long awaited, and went by fast. We went around town, from the beach to the hills, ate lots of food, and most importantly spent time together. I am so thankful for the loving family that I have and do wish we didn't have to take month long breaks from seeing each other. I am very thankful for the frequent visits of people visiting us and when we have the opportunity to come up North.

On Friday night we stayed local:

 

Yup, we L-O-V-E her

with my faithfully loving dad

my amazing beautiful mama

 Saturday: we went to Manhattan Beach and Griffith Observatory

yeah they kid around

Thee best little sister- in her outrageous teenager years

 

My one and only Vlad

It was perfect beach weather.

 

It does say Hollywood back there... 

We saw the moon from earth while it was still daylight

Through that!

 Sunday: Went To Our Church

Lessons From Hanging Curtains

My window is bare no more! What-a-difference some fabric can make. After measuring my length, width, and height I headed out to Joanne's Fabric Store. I walked in with a skip in my step, ready to pick up some fabric. After I walked isle after isle lets say I wasn't skipping anymore and I dragged my feet out of the store empty handed. Not only did I not find any fabric print that I sort of liked... I also well.... don't know much about fabric yet. I will go back to Joanne's for some fabric, I'll share for what later--- hint it will not be for curtains.
Instead of buying fabric and making curtains I opted out to just go ahead and get ready made panels. The ever so faithful Ikea did the trick this time. The standard panels they sell are 98" long and the panels come in PAIRS. Everyone else seems to be tricky and sells ONE PANEL in a pack when you most of the time need two- sheesh! I've come across some nice panels or wait I thought it was panels... it was actually ONE panels and the prices usually obviously doubled. I'm not in the business (what business?) to pay double the prices... I only like to go the opposite way (-). Anyhow the only tricky part about this was ordering special hardware that would go out at least 5" for the clearance of my favorite vertical blinds, which I talked about here.
The best part of hanging these curtains aside from waking up and going to sleep by something pretty were some lessons I took away from this.

Lessons From Hanging Curtains:
1. I have a husband who is pretty much right most of the time, I don't know how he does it. If I started admitting to about what it would need a post length, so instead if you want to know ask me.
2. The arrows on the floor of Ikea will actually lead you out into the marketplace and to the exit. I will never go back to Ikea without Vlad or someone else that I can look silly with walking by the bedroom section 12 times and act  as if that's normal... those shortcut doors aren't shortcuts if you are shortcutting every time--- I think it might take you in circles.
3. 84" curtains are short curtains.
4. There is a significant difference between drywall and plaster when it comes to hanging hardware.
5.  You should get curtain rods that are longer than what you actually need. Say you need 95" in width go with the 120" because it will be much more sturdier than if you get a 98" rod and stretch it out as far as it goes-- it'll become rather flimsy in the center.

Now here are the curtains: I know I've mentioned to some that I want a pop of color or design, but I decided to be myself and go with what is my favorite for these type of things. We ended up purchasing three different packs of curtains, the white to go into the middle, the beige panels to go on the sides, and the brown panels to go on top... Here's what I mean:

 

TA DA!!

Here's a before picture:

This before picture, faithfully reveals the real size of the window.... so hang your curtains wide and high :)!

Natalie, Anya, and Inna Oh My!

It was such a fun girl-time filled weekend when Natalie, Anya, and Inna came to visit us! To tell you the truth, I was rather doubtful that they would actually come when Natalie contacted me. 400 mile drive, just to spend one night and 1.5 days here with us. But it was true! They came and it was such a blast. They came into town about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and us girls headed out and in the evening Vlad joined in on the fun.

Here are just some pictures: