Joining Professional Organizations!

Great news! I'm well on my way to achieving this goal, and here's the best part: my job is going to pay the annual dues! So here's the rundown:

University & College Designers Association

The University & College Designers Association supports and recognizes all you do to create every day. We know what working in education is about.

Our members are designers, design educators, art directors, creative directors, managers, directors of print shops, editors, writers, directors of media services, photographers, and businesses associated with visual communication.

A UCDA membership provides you with a forum for new ideas, new perspectives on the design industry, and professional development opportunities, and access to a large network of generous professionals.

Project Management Institute (PMI)

PMI is the world’s leading not-for-profit membership association for the project management profession, with more than half a million members and credential holders in 185 countries. Our worldwide advocacy for project management is supported by our globally-recognized standards and credentials, our extensive research program, and our professional development opportunities.

Society for Technical Communication

STC is an individual membership organization dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication. It is the largest organization of its type in the world.

Its 14,000 members include technical writers and editors, content developers, documentation specialists, technical illustrators, instructional designers, academics, information architects, usability and human factors professionals, visual designers, Web designers and developers, and translators - anyone whose work makes technical information available to those who need it.

Movie 3: Leap Year

The best part of the movie was the scenery—and honestly—that's why I wanted to see it in the first place.

The plot was predictable, and Amy Adams (who I normally love) was pretty obnoxious. BUT, having recently returned from Ireland, I really wanted another glimpse at the beautiful country! I think this is a movie you can definitely wait for on DVD.

Movie 2: Avatar

I know a lot of people weren't impressed with the story line of the movie, but the graphics were amazing! Honestly, I still liked the concept of the movie. This is one you'll definitely want to see on the big screen—in 3D and/or IMAX if possible—I don't know that seeing it on television will have the same effect.

Book 7: Living Dead In Dallas

Okay, so I know these books sound kinda corny, but they are really addicting! Each book ties in with the previous, but has it's own separate plot, too. The books are a great combination of fantasy and mystery.

In this second book, Charlaine Harris took Sookie to another level—she has developed into a likeable heroine, who while still unconventional, captivates your attention and makes you root for her throughout the book (and series).

Book 6: Dead Until Dark

I began reading this series soon after my obsession with True Blood (on HBO) started. The book is not great literature by any means—but it was fun and entertaining! The plot is interesting, and the characters are really well developed.

Be warned: the show is very loosely based on the books, so if you're trying to find out what's going to happen this season on True Blood—this series probably isn't going to be much help. I'm still enjoying both series though—they're each wonderful in their own way!

Book 5: Breaking Dawn

I have to say that I liked this book more than I expected to. Eclipse is a tough act to follow—and based on a spoiler (that I accidentally read online), I didn't have much enthusiasm going in to the fourth book. Breaking Dawn is the last (and longest) book in the series, but it ties up the loose ends pretty well.

I won't say anything more about the book, but I'm definitely sad that I'm finished with the series. Hopefully they'll make this book into two movies (it's been rumored), so we'll have a couple more years of "new" Twilight stuff!

Book 4: Eclipse

This was my favorite book of the Twilight series! It picks up right where "New Moon" left off and Bella and Edward are back together, preparing to graduate from high school. Meanwhile, Bella reestablishes her friendship with Jacob, causing many awkward moments between Edward and Jacob. Eventually, Bella realizes that there's much more to her relationship with Jacob than she initially thought...

Without spoiling the book, I'll just say that this was the most action-packed of the series thus far, and definitely my favorite. I'm really looking forward to the movie (opening this summer!)

Fair Isle Knitting Project

Fair Isle is a traditional knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colors. It's named after Fair Isle, a tiny island in the north of Scotland, between the Orkney and Shetland islands.

Some people use the term "Fair Isle" to refer to any colorwork knitting where stitches are knit alternately in various colors, with the unused colors stranded across the back of the work. Others use the term "stranded colorwork" for the generic technique, and reserve the term "Fair Isle" for the characteristic patterns of the Shetland Islands.

I have watched Tasha knit Fair Isle pieces for quite some time, and have always thought they were beautiful, but too complex for me to take on. I think it's time to give it a try! The piece I've chosen is a neckwarmer/cowl that's knitted as one piece in the round. Tasha and I spent an afternoon at Needle Nook, and this brown and pink yarn really caught my eye--I thought it would be more subtle than the rainbow yarn in the pattern! This is a picture of my progress, I think I'm just about done with the pattern, just have to do the brown border on the top. (It's much prettier in person! I'll take a better photo after it's been blocked)

3/11 Day

Since 2000, every other year on March 11th ("311 Day"), 311 (my favorite band of all time) holds a very special concert event that attracts thousands of fans from around the world. The event is typically held in New Orleans. As a result, the mayor proclaimed March 11th as "311 Day" in New Orleans. However, due to a massive medical convention overtaking the vast majority of hotel rooms in downtown New Orleans, the 311 Day concert for 2010 is moving to Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Billed as "the ultimate 311 concert experience", 311 Day is the premiere event for 311 fans to gather and celebrate their love of the group and to witness the most exciting 311 show of the year. 311 plays an extended setlist (5 hours) of hits, rarities and covers; backed by a state of the art light and special effects show. Past shows have also included appearances by circus performers, aerial acrobats, fire twirlers, stilt walkers, jugglers, drumlines, and marching bands.

Well, I'm completely bummed. I was just doing some research online so that I could budget and make arrangements to attend 3/11 day this year—and it's sold out! Unfortunately, since the event isn't annual, the next one isn't scheduled until a couple months after my 30th birthday - I think I'll leave it on my list though, since I'll be making the arrangements before the big 3-0!

Book 3: New Moon

I absolutely LOVED this book! So much so that I read it in one sitting...online. That's right—I downloaded a PDF copy of the book and read it entirely online—all at once—all 366 pages of it!

This book was a bit more exciting than the first because it really develops the relationship between Jacob and Bella (and Jacob is my favorite!) The story line is a continuation of the first book, and there's just a lot more going on.

If you've read the first Twilight book and given up, pick up this book and give it another shot! It gets better :)

Book 2: Twilight

Everyone who knows me knows that I love love love Twilight! I can't get enough. I don't know whether it's the story itself, or I'm just enjoying the escape from reality, but I'm obsessed.

Twilight is a love story written entirely in first person from the perspective of Bella, so the reader only ever know what she knows, making Edward and his family a mystery that is slowly unravelled through out the book (and the series, really). The love story that develops is so compelling, the bond between Edward and Bella is unbreakable. The book details the every day struggles of their love, both physically and emotionally.

I'm so thankful that I came across this series. I truly enjoyed each and every book in it!