Geeky Computer Gadgets

As I am making plans to turn my dining room into my studio along with trying to revamp my blog and make a new website, there are just a few things I have been scouring the internet for. Since I am going to be working on my computer overtime on my graphic design skills, I need a few gadgets to back my work up so I don’t use too much space on my laptop. I started looking online for external hard drives and check out what I found.

For you 80’s and 90’s babies babies, you may get a lil geeked out excited over these, well, at least I did!

Geeky Gadgets

Etsy.com

Guys Nation

Craziest Gadgets

This led me to looking for speakers…because my poor laptop speakers are nothing worthy to brag about. When I am drawing, I like to crank the music up and jam. Speakers and headphones are essential!!

Both speakers are from Walyou.com

Apartment Therapy

Damn Geeky

Girl Geek Chic

( these above would work nicely too for my work out post from yesterday! )

These are solar powered and blue tooth wireless!

Geeky Gadgets

 

These are just cool and awesome and look more interesting. In some ways, nobody will even think what they are so it would be a disguise such as the external harddrives, the only thing you have to be careful of is that your kids might mistake them for toys!

 

Thanks for stopping by and see ya again soon!

xoxo Cecilia

Don't raise your fists, just raise your intelligence. Don't lose yourself, just lose your ignorance.

I work out

I started the Insanity workout and it went really well the first week. In fact I lost 5 pounds and was able to fit into my favorite red pants. Then, I don’t know what happened. Well, I actually do..I got lazy. I skipped the whole second week. I want to blame it on switching medications for my leg, but I am just making excuses. So, even though today is Sunday and the Insanity schedule says that’s a day of rest, I went ahead and did one of the workouts just so I can get back on track and back into the habit. Ill be doing the second week workout this week even though I technically would be on my 3rd week if I stuck to it. *sigh*

They say it takes 20 days to form a habit, so gotta keep going.

I am noticing though, the clothes I am working out in are weighing me down and make it hard to do quick movements. Also my running shoes have just about had it and have seen their better days. So, I started looking online for workout gear. I know its not about being cute when working out, because I have no one to impress when I am working out in my studio. But, I do want to be comfortable.

I know I usually go to Forever 21 to get workout basics like shorts and tank tops. They usually have cute and affordable workout gear.

Forever 21

Forever 21

Forever 21

When it comes to my shoes, I am a Nike girl. I always have been. They are just comfortable and they never let me down. I have ran with them in the military, from Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and pretty much everywhere I have lived. I usually stick to black because they’re easier to clean ( although the pair I have now are white and covered in glitter from working at Xotic Eyes. )

Shoe Zone

Buy.Com

Finish Line

Here are some other cool workout accessories I found online.

Amazon

Calorie Lab

Squidoo

The one above I would def use, but would like it in an elliptical form. hahaha

How is your workout coming along if you had that down as a resolution? What is the one thing you Have to have to workout?

Thanks for stopping by and see you in the next post!

 

Devote yourself to an idea. Go make it happen. Struggle on it. Overcome your fears. Smile. Don’t you forget: this is your dream.

Sketching Up A Storm

I have been working on my drawing lately. I found a website called Create My Tattoo and people go on there who are looking for tattoo designs and pay for the best one that they choose. I don’t know how I found it, I just did and I’m glad I did. It gives me a chance to work on my skills and possibly making a lil extra cash. With every drawing I get better. And it’s true what they say practice does make perfect.

I’m working on my art website, where I can focus on my freelancing. I love my blog and I am adding my artwork but I want to keep my blog separate from my work. I have been getting requests for artwork, and I want to direct those people to my art.

Here is some of my sketches I have been working on.

 

 

What do you think? Am I getting better? I think so.

Well, I need to get back to working on my art website. Thanks for stopping by and see ya soon!

Xoxo, Cecilia

My Lil girl is 9 today

Its crazy to think that 9 years ago, I was in the Army, stationed in upstate New York, and in the early morning of January 22, 2004 I was in the hospital giving birth to a beautiful baby girl. 21 inches, 7 ibs 1 oz.

Isn’t she the most precious lil thing! These pics were taken before I had to deploy to Iraq. These few pictures were all I had hung in my living quarters since I couldn’t see her or talk to her.

She has grown into the most loving, energetic, creative young lady and I am so proud of her. She is like me in so many ways and I adore her and love her to pieces.

We celebrated her birthday with a Hunger Games Theme because she is obsessed with Katniss. We just had some friends and family over for some food and cake, and then of course watched The Hunger Games on DVD.

It was pretty dark and I don’t have a flash on my Sony Bloggie when taking pictures, so this was the only picture I could capture..which I am surprised she sat still for me to take it because let me tell you, she is a ball of energy! She received some art supplies, a secret voice password activated journal, and some other really cute girly things.

Here are some of my favorite pictures with Arabella and I.

Happy Birthday, my love, my sweet Arabella, I am so proud of you.

A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.- Agatha Christie

Insanity Again

A few months back, well, I cant remember when, I got a copy of the INSANITY workout from my mom when she got back from Korea and I wanted to try it out since I heard so much success with it. I kept up with it for about a week, then lost interest. I am done making excuses! The discs have been sitting on my shelf so I dusted them off, put my work out clothes on and started the first cd.

 

I didn’t have the workout schedule so I did find it online so that I could keep better track of my work outs and I am not just doing random workouts. (if you need it too, click the link highlighted in pink! )

I just did the first workout and I had to go to my own pace..but I kept up with it. I cant overwork myself straight out, gotta build up to it. I have been watching my diet as well, which is hard because I am a junk food addict!

I found a menu from a fellow blogger that I want to try out. I will eventually make my own

I will definitely make some adjustments!  This inspires me to make my own menu.

This is a good idea to pack up my lunches and fruit snacks.

Ill post my progress as I go- maybe this will inspire you to do the same!

 

See ya soon in the next post!

Xoxo Cecilia Marie

First Timer Sew In Extensions

 

Yes, the rumors you heard are true. I am a extension virgin….well, until now! I have been wanting to get them done for quit some time now ever since a crazy psycho hair stylist chopped off my hair without really consulting with me first last year. Ummm yea, not gonna go there besides, that was so last year! (geez corny 90’s sitcom slang) Short Hair does not agree with me. Like, at all. hahaha

My friend, Jinaki who if you have been with me on my blog for a while would know I went to hair school together in 2011! She helped me to do my hair.

 

This is from when we first started hair school 2 years ago! wow, how time flies! That was when my hair was so long, I didn’t need extensions! hahahaha

So, here I am before with my really short red hair:

 

And after a couple hours after coloring, braiding and sewing, I transformed to this:

I love it! I feel so much better and back to my ol’ self. I have to admit, this is a whole new experience for me when it comes to hair. Oh the things we do for our hair. lol

What do you think? You like it?

Thanks for stopping by! See you in the next post and I hope you have a great Monday!

When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Roses Without The Thorns

 

I used to have such difficulty in drawing roses or any flowers. When I attended the Art Institute for a few semesters, one of my drawing classes, one of our assignments was that I had to draw an item in different views. I chose a plastic rose I got from Michael's Craft Store and drew it so many times to challenge myself. I still have them too around here somewhere, I wish I could show you.

My assignment from last week from the artist I am working with on my portfolio gave me roses. Traditional, Realistic and New School. Here’s what I illustrated.

I gotta say I am real proud of my shading here, I have come a long way with shading and I still have a long way to go!

I have to redo this one and work on my black and gray shading. But I still wanted to show it so you can see my progress and its easier for me to keep track of my progress as well.

This one above is a special one for me. I may modify it but this is the general idea of what I want to get tattooed on myself, in fact, I want this to go where my shaved side is. It is a bright colored rose with raindrops with the last words spoken by my Grandmother before she lost her battle to lung cancer.

 

I love roses, the smell, the texture of the petals are so soft and velvety,and the way they smell after rain…mmmmmmm. Ok, geek moment. Roses always remind me of my grandmother, she used to have rose bushes in her backyard, and I used to lay out by the pool every summer and look at her roses. When I buy a house, I am planting tons of rose bushes! Now, Ill be the crazy ol’ lady gardening.  At least I wont be a crazy cat lady, although, we are thinking about adopting a kitty. We stopped by an animal shelter and I found a friend!

We didn’t adopt her, but I want to sooooo bad. Maybe we will in a month or two, were still recovering from the holidays!

If you want a custom drawing or something customized, please email me at cecilia@sweetsurrenderart.com

Thanks for stopping by and see ya in the next post!

“Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's laws wrong, it learned to walk without having feet. Funny, it seems to by keeping it's dreams; it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else even cared.”
― Tupac Shakur, The Rose That Grew from Concrete