Hello 2012

Hello friends, I am back! It seems like every time I update Cotton-Hearted, that is what I say. I really wish I could update more often. At the beginning it was because I was so sad and my life was filled with problems and worry. Now, my life has improved so much and I am truly happy. I'm always busy now spending time with my family and with Isaac. Since we've gotten our apartment we've been entertaining friends almost every night. Someone is always over and we are always doing something. Our home is now known for our dinners, get togethers and crafting parties. During the holidays, I had a holiday crafting party and all our friends came over to make garlands and ornaments. The other night my whole family came over. My parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and my two tiny nieces and my mom made her homemade chilli and the whole apartment smelled of it and it was very cozy. Last night, we had friends over for homemade pizza. We bought whole wheat dough and made pizzas with olive oil, fresh basil, roma tomatoes and mozzerella! We've only been living here for four months and I already have so many lovely memories of this place filled with my family and friends.

I think I have finally found the people I want to surround myself with! No more sulking at home being lonely without a thing to do. Mickey and Crissy are beautiful people who have six rescued pets and who are food conscious and animal activists and so sweet. They inspire me. And Maria and Chris have been with me these past few months when my life was at it's absolute worst and I'll always love them and appreciate what they've done for me just by being around. And Isaac's friends, Gabe and Jesse, are so funny and always making us laugh. It's such a pleasure having them over all the time. And all the people we've met through them who are genuine and nice! And, of course, Isaac who is my strength and makes me want to be a better person always. I never thought I would ever be able to say this but I love my life. I really do and it's such a change to how I used to feel and it's all because of him and all my friends.

Crissy is my crafting soul sister. We have so many ideas of things we'd like to do. Recently, I modeled some of her vintage clothes that will be going up on her Etsy store soon. That was a fun day! We're also working on zines and making things for a Plastic Rosary + Cotton-Hearted pop-up shop for our city's art + craft fairs they have every month. She's inspired me to start making things and set up an Etsy shop so maybe that is something you can look forward to. I have ideas, lots of ideas, of things I'd like to make. Bookmark her Etsy shop because she's going to be putting up some great pieces soon!

One day, I took my good friend Andres out to my favorite vintage shops to find a holiday gift for a girl. The first place we went to I found this amazing silk cat scarf hiding secretly in a basket underneath other silk scarves. I'm pretty sure I squealed and jumped up and down when I saw it. This is the greatest thing I've found in awhile and yes, I do wear it. In this photo, I wore it with a blouse with tiny flowers and this vintage looking jacket I got at the Goodwill in Japantown in San Francisco when I was there in October. I love the shape of that jacket so much. I'll have to take a better photo of it later. It looks so pretty with dresses.

+ I bought that vintage dresser at another one of my favorite shops here
I bought this dress in San Francisco, as well. And that particular color of mauve is one of my favorites and when I saw those boots I thought how amazing they were and so I bought them to wear with skirts and dresses.

I have a really nice entryway when you walk into the apartment that I still haven't done much with but these two things are hanging there waiting to be joined with others. The welcome sign is from the Japanese dollar store, Daiso. It was too cute to not buy. And the iron and ceramic hanger is from a vintage shop around here. I thought it was really pretty.

I found this flower printed stuffed cat at another vintage shop and had to have it. It's so weird, I thought, I need it. Everyone loves it when they first come over and see it. Someone is always holding it, posing for photos with it or placing it on their lap, like a real cat!


My bookshelves are my pride and joy. I like putting little mementos and photos there, too. I framed some of my photographs of clouds and Isaac and I and that one was taken in Sausalito. The glass kitty I bought in Mexico long ago when it was still okay and safe to go. The wooden camel my very good friend Bianca gave me back in high school. I'll always keep that! The whale print was bought in San Francisco at an art + music + vintage street fair by an artist who draws animals and their skeletons on old thin paper torn out from Chinese and Hebrew books. And the little elephants are vintage Japanese salt and pepper shakers I found at the same place I bought the cat!

I saved the best photo for last. For the holidays, Isaac adopted a kitten for me! I haven't had a cat since I was a child and had been wanting one because this place is lonely without pets! She's a feisty thing and I named her Sora (空), Japanese for the sky. She loves to play so I have scratches all over my hands, wrists, and legs but she's sweet and loving when she wants to be! Isaac finally brought his boy, Ender, to live with us too! That little dog is so loyal to Isaac, it's unbelievable! I love when he and Sora play together and run around the apartment. In a couple of days, I'm going to finally bring Yukio home. I hope all three will get along. Right now they are a secret because the pet deposit here is $300 for each pet and we cannot afford that at all! I love having them here and if they are found out we'll pay the deposits somehow. Having money < falling asleep at night with Isaac, Sora, Ender and Yukio by my side.