another summer, another blessing

my grandmothers in the '30s, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

This is a side by side of my grandmothers. My paternal grandmother is on the left. I look more like my maternal grandmother (right) except for the nose. I put these pics together for an article I did about "Short hair on women: sexy or socially-unacceptable?"

I've had a heck of a month. I'm currently writing for two websites and recently got a traditional job. As in the kind where I doll myself up and leave the house. It's a change. I haven't really worked in over a year. I'm working in the local bookstore that originally hired me to blog for their website. It's been hectic but I am thankful. I also need to read more.

I'm very keen about fully emersing myself into whatever job I have at the time. Although I've been a life-long gamer, when I managed a videogame store I was playing anything I could get my hands on and reading about the industry daily. I'm really out of the loop lately and perhaps it's time for a new loop anyway. I almost want to compile a summertime reading list for myself, but I hate setting myself up to fail. I'll take it slow. I'm starting with Judy Blume's, Wifey. I read most of her adolescent books when I was younger and when "liking" her on facebook last year, I discovered she has adult books too. I'm an adult. I think.

This has the makings of a great summer. Anything beats last year. I can't say anything else without jinxing it.

cookies and ants and wasps, oh my!

stained glass cookies, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

I made these cookies with my mom yesterday for Mother's day. It was a fun day. Recipe and steps are here.

I had a quilt as a baby that featured a teddy bear picnic and some very cute ants were partaking in some of that picnic fun. It's a fond memory. The ants were smiling and overall cute. Anyway. I'm having some kind of ant problem in my kitchen with very tiny ants that don't bite. They're driving me insane because I can't seem to figure out where they're coming from.

On a similar note, we have a mud wasp who is trying to build a nest outside of our sliding door. I swear, we are being invaded. I thought I successfully killed his efforts with some scorpion-strength Raid, but I saw him again this morning. Thankfully, we've never had to use the scorpion spray. We bought it because it also kills spiders-- all of which are my husbands sworn enemies. I figured.. strong enough for a man but PH balanced for-- I mean, Strong enough for a scorpion, so hopefully it will work for a mud wasp?

We'll see. I understand the economy is bad. I'll feel bad if the ants are a homeless family and the wasp is just trying to build a home for his new wife (I can relate). But get out of my house!

These cookies stayed on the counter exactly long enough for a picture and then I put them in the frig. I've got ants on the brain.

a series of ramblings

J and H, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

New haircut. Having thick, curly hair in AZ can be murder in the summer. I like it.

In addition to my original writing gig, I am now also blogging for a local bookstore. Get PopCultured! with Heather Rode is a series of ramblings about all things popculture.

Jason and I are in the process of putting together a little home office in our loft area. I'm probably making it sound more intensive than it really is. We just have to move furniture we already have. With beautiful pictures of workspaces on pinterest, I'm determined to make it cutesy and organized.

More later.