(updated) Sold my van!

Got $375, not much but better than zero i guess.

Phoenix Bux

So July 4th you can celebrate independence from the dollar in Phoenix! Local businesses are starting a new form of currency called Phoenix Bux, they work like dollars at 23 participating businesses. I think this idea is great, it's a way to make sure you're supporting local businesses during these hard times. You also get discounts for using them, so it helps your wallet too!

I found out about this from Conspire, the coffee/clothes/art co-op that Tom's a part of. So tell your friends, everyone should head to Conspire after July 4th buy a ceramic piece and ask for your change in Phoenix Bux :)

starswim

Saturday me, Tom, Matt & Sarah went to starswim. It's the nighttime version of adult swim, a sort of alternative pool party at the Wyndham. we had a great time! the pool was pretty empty ( i went swimming by myself though) and the bands that played were all enjoyable. The pool is outside on the 5th floor, so it felt like we were on the roof, it was very posh. here's a photo of some glamorous kids putting their feet in (wimps, they should be swimming!). I took a few photos, but i was all chilled out by the pool so they're pretty far away and blurry (i shouldn't be so lazy!) this is the first band, i don't know their name! something "and a little cloud" they were great though, they had banjo, harmonica, all of tom's favorite instruments. the next band was holy rolling empire. they were hilarious because the singer performed in boardshorts and a captains hat (he knew how to pool party). then the necronauts played. i was pumped because i used to go see them when i was like 16 all the time, i'm impressed they're still together and still sound good! the last band was what laura says thinks and feels, enjoyable, i didn't get any photos.

this is a view on the side of the hotel, so pretty. i also managed to steal a hotel shampoo, conditioner, lotion and shower cap! they're having shows all summer, i think i'll try and make it out again.

i'm scared of this video

but i really like the song, but i'm scared of the video. but i keep watching it. I think it's the combo of zombies, house parties and those vintage cowboy boots that girl is wearing!

Congrats to my Tom

So the City of Chandler purchased the above two artworks from the Vision Gallery for their collection! I think it was well deserved, not only are they great artworks, but he's lived in chandler more than 20 years.

Corn and Bean Salad with Basil-Lime Vinaigrette

(I posted this to my aunt's blog "It's a Keeper"- we share recipes, but I thought I'd put on here too.)

This is a recipe my friend Kat made for me once for dinner and I thought it was the best ever, and it's pretty healthy to boot. She got it from Giada De Laurentiis from Food Network, but I've just made it faster by using canned instead of fresh veggies.

Makes: 8 servings
Calories: 283 per 1 cup serving

Salad:
1 can of corn
2 (15 ounce) cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 roasted red peppers from the jar and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 mango, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Vinaigrette:
2 limes, zested and juiced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Directions:
1. Mix the salad ingredients together
2. In a small bowl combine the lime, vinegar, basil and cumin.
3. Slowly add the oil, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss well. Refrigerate for 1 hour, toss again before serving.

Opening at the Mesa Arts Center

On Friday Tom & I went to the opening at the Mesa Arts Center for the Resurrect show. The show was a juried exhibition of pieces made from found objects. We went to check out Lynette Andreasen's piece (everything she does is so great, she was my 3-D teacher a while back at ASU).This is close-up of her piece (photo courtesy of her blog), it's a giant sized locket with her hair inside. it made me think of this artist I had seen who's working with her own hair also, Melanie Bilenker.

Can you even believe that's hair? the line work is amazing!

Anyways, back to the show. Besides that piece I also liked the "My new panties" piece from Denise Laws. (sorry about the picture quality, no photoshop on this computer)
It's panties stitched onto wallpaper in embroidery hoops-any art with stitches usually catches my eye!

I also thought the Archaeologica-The Disposable Museum of Jessica Drenk exhibit was pretty insteresting. She creates "natural history specimens" from things like toilet paper rolls. And then we also checked out the Sergei Isupov show, Tom had already seen it he went to the workshop a few months back and watched him work. While Tom was there an old lady told him he looked like one of the sculptures, what do you think? I thought that was a hilarious thing for her to say! Anyways, I love Isupov, his work is a bit strange, but he is so talented. Those sculptures are so incredibly well made it's ridiculous! And a few years ago we got to have dinner with him when he was a guest artist at NMSU when Tom was going to school there. The whole night he was telling hilarious stories in this thick Russian accent about how he wanted to pimp out a car and how he lives in a giant renovated barn, he was entertaining to say the least.

get the government to pay your student loans!

So, I'm still in college, but I'm racking up my student loans pretty fast (like I probably have $10,000 already) and I've still got 1-2 years to go! I'm hoping to teach in a low-income school and then there's a program where your loans will be forgiven, but even if I don't then I will definitely do this IBR program, just thought I'd link it here in case anyone who's already paying loans hadn't heard about it!

If me & Tom didn't have his mom letting us live with her for free (because of Tom's student loan payment) we'd be living in a cardboard box! but thankfully we do, but maybe I should buy these cardboard box bedsheets to remind us of that.

Florida Part 2-Disneyworld

(does that not make you want to ride with your arms and legs flailing about? looks so much more fun!)

So me & Tom are pretty into Disneyland (we've been together twice and separately quite a few times). I always say it's fun to go to Disneyland with Tom, but he means business, we have to get there when the park opens and stay as late as we can, try to do all the rides, etc! So this time we took the disney to a whole new level and stayed at a Disneyworld resort, the All-Star Music (cause it's the cheapest so we could go free using my Disney credit card points, woo!). The resort was cute, we were in the "country" building so it was all boots and lassos, very old school country.

Day 1
The first day we got in we went to Disney's Hollywood Studios for a half day, they have my favorite ride, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The other highlight there was the Sci-Fi Dine in Theater, it was like a drive in and they played shorts from old movies like the 50 Foot Woman and cartoons. The food was impressive though! I had marinated tofu that was so delicious, also free thanks to the disney points. And then Tom found some star wars stuff to pose by, always good :)Day 2
The next day we got up really early to head to the Disney's Animal Kingdom. (that's me trying to wake up). I think this was my favorite park, it was like the zoo and Disneyland put together. They also had some delicious food, we ate at the Yak & Yeti and I had lo-mein and wontons for dessert (we went high-class on the restaurants this time). And they had DINOSAUR, a very Indiana-Jones-esque ride so I loved it, can you see me being scared? But the best part was the animals, these fruit bats were gigantic and were sleeping right there in front of you! And then going on the cruise was fun, it was like the jungle cruise ride with real animals.That night we went to downtown disney and guess what? Like all of Pleasure Island is closed! No more dance clubs, I was going to try and drag Tom there with me, oh well. Instead we went to House of Blues and had dinner and then watched the Orlando Magic game, all the restuarant workers were watching in the bar, they were pretty excited. Then we barely made it home, it was raining so hard!

Day 3
The last day we saved for the regular old classic Magic Kingdom, whether this was a wise choice or not I don't know, it POURED the whole time. We ended up buying an umbrella and once I got used to being wet it wasn't so bad, it was at least a warm rain.
There's Tom looking quite sober with his umbrella in the rain by the Haunted Mansion.Then there's Tom looking downright excited about the Parade!Then there's the potters wheel we found in Minnie's House.
All in all it was a great trip, but afterwards I was exhausted and all of my clothes were wet so it was time to go home :)