Koda's going to the doggie daycare today, so if you're bored, you can watch him frolic here:

http://citybark3.viewmydog.com/jpglogin.htm

Update: Koda's back from doggie daycare. They have a big playspace out in the back of the place where they've built this huge mountain with tunnels and bridges where the dogs get to run around all day. He was there for about 5 hours today, while Brandon and I enjoyed an afternoon on the town. Koda's completely wiped out and napping now.

I got my class grade this week. I didn't know what to expect when I started grad school earlier this year, but my expectations have been exceeded. Things went so well, in fact, that my instructor asked me if my final project could be used as an example of what an "A" looks like. Um, yes... and thank you! I feel like that's a sign that I'm definitely in the right place right now, which is refreshing. I spent 7 years post-college trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Uncertainty is charming to a certain point, but generally speaking, it's really hard to feel like you're not exactly where you're meant to be.

I start a database fundamentals class this Monday. This last class was online, and this upcoming class will be once a week on campus, so I think this whole back-to-school thing will feel much more real. Should be interesting.

I spent part of tonight listening to iTunes and dancing faux swing-dance style around my living room. There's a part of me that always wanted to take a dance class. Maybe one of these years.

a hypothetical question

Would you be okay if you ate pizza at a wedding reception if you knew it meant you could have snowcones for dessert?

I just finished my final project, and wow- I'm tired. I've now got 5 hours to spare before this weekend comes to a close, and I'm so exhausted I can't think if I have anything that must get done before the new work week begins.

The happy news is that the result of all the hours invested is the redesign of my website, which you can check out here. For comparison, this is my old site. I tried to branch out, but can't get away from the turquoise and celadon colors I've been loving for the past few years. The new page isn't completely as fine-tuned as I'd like, but it more than fulfills my class requirements. When dealing with art and design stuff, it never fails that I throw way more into it than needed, which could be seen as a bit nutty, or is maybe just passion defined. Brandon asked me in the midst of a long day yesterday, "Are you doing as much as your instructor requires, or are you doing it the Nicki way?" I definitely spent more time on the project than I should have, but I think I'll end up eventually morphing this into an official redesign of my current website, so it was a worthwhile investment.

One of my favorite distractions these days whenever I need a study break is looking at wedding websites! There are a lot of great ones out there with DIY ideas.

1. Homemade ring bearer pillow
2. Drinks are more fun with colorful flags.
3. Simple centerpieces made with paper flowers and branches. I love the color combination of dark orange and turquoise. The tablecloths are pretty close to my exact favorite shade of blue/green.

Brandon and I had a sort of impromptu visit to a potential reception venue today. It's the first place we've seen up close, and not just through strategically-chosen photos on the internet. I think one of the biggest decisions we'll make is where we'll hold a reception. All the little details are easier to decide because you really have less to lose if your cake is dry or the frosting doesn't match the flowers. I'm actually looking forward to putting together the little things- it's the big decision of location that has seemed like such a huge decision. Is it easy to find? In a good neighborhood? Ample parking? Is it us?

Now, instead of feeling overwhelmed by picking somewhere to hold a reception, I feel happy in knowing that we've found one strong contender. I don't want to go into too much detail, in the event that we end up meeting with the owner and don't get a good vibe, but so far it's exciting to have a maybe on our radar.