my dad has this great old SLR

Said camera used to belong to my grandfather, then my dad, and now it's found it's way into my use. Over the last 5 months I steadily used up it's maiden roll of film, only to find the pictures had this weird gray haze over most of them once I got them developed this week. A gray haze, and lots of blurriness throughout. Sad. Looks like I'll need some practice.

Katy and Ange in Huntington Beach on a trip we took in June.

interactive designers are so engaging

Well...the things they make are engaging. Click here for a lovely experience.

taking out the "garbage"

Dear Sound Concepts Cleaning Crew,


I appreciate your attention to detail, and while I now realize the folly of my putting a box full of paper and bubble wrap near the trash can under my desk, I wanted to let you know that those papers and bubble wrap (+enclosed items) you discarded were actually the contents a box of specialty light bulbs I needed to return this week (they had the wrong size bases for my patio cafe string lights strand -- not that it really matters, but just in case you were wondering). 


I mean, thanks for keeping my workspace clean, and I suppose I could thank you for saving me the postage of returning them, but I hope we've all learned some valuable lessons from this experience.


Here's to happy cleaning for everyone in the future,
Nicki Schmidt

Mar-shell

Made my morning.

Credits:
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On
Directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp
Marcel is voiced (untreated & unenhanced) by a genius named Jenny Slate
Written by Jenny Slate + Dean Fleischer-Camp

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Velvet headboards are for Nickis

Dear Universe,

I would like a tufted velvet headboard.

Thank you very much,
Nicki Schmidt

Looks like I'll be needing to find me some great velvet fabric on sale and implementing this amazing tutorial by my lovely friend Megan Ruth Stay.

Image courtesy of Urban Outfitters.

Preach on, Elder Scott

"As an exceptional son or daughter of God, you are sorely needed. There is an urgent need for men and women who will stand for principles against the growing pressures to compromise those very principles. Men and women are required who will act nobly and courageously for what the Lord has defined as right, not for what is politically correct or socially acceptable. We need individuals who have the spiritual, righteous influence that will motivate others to enduring good."

Richard G. Scott, "Living Right," Ensign, Jan. 2007, 14

Utah is pretty

Sometimes the desert where I live is pretty. Like yesterday. Yesterday it was really really pretty.

Good news from TOAST

I just got this in the email. Looks like I'll be in style this fall with my skirt lengths. Awesome. Thanks, Toast.

Oh Radiolab...you're so clever

This video was produced in conjunction with the Radiolab episode Words, which can be heard here. I'm always a sucker for fun with words.