How long is it going to take Internet Explorer to catch up to every other browser? IE has been a pain in the rear since I first started playing with html. That was literally when I was 13 years old. I’m now 25 years old and IE is still the worst browser for website compatibility. And I still waste the same amount of time trying to fix coding that the browser simply refuses to cooperate with. IE sucks. Get on that, Microsoft.

I’ve redesigned my business cards for 2013 and they’re just about ready to be sent for printing. I’m changing up my card stock to something thicker also. These will be mighty pretty.

I’ve also added ‘social media share buttons’ to the bottom of my posts because they’re practically standard components of a blog these days and I should’ve jumped on the bandwagon months ago but have been too lazy to figure out how to do it. I’m happy to finally be getting around to making these updates and have been in HTML / CSS mode. This short and sweet window of freedom must be exploited.

Today I spent some time updating charleneprecious.com. It has been long overdue and the photos showcased on it were so ancient, I barely wanted anyone to see them. I’m trying to get these bigger must-dos out of the way before school starts and we’re moving along well. I’m also getting new business cards printed because I have about 30 of the old ones left – will post the new design tomorrow. Business has been good this week – there has been a steady flow of etsy orders and I received my first one from Quebec today. We’re sitting at 443 sales. :)

I am getting my hair coloured at the salon as I post this. Yes, I absolutely bring my laptop to the salon. I just can’t do these 4-hour hair appointments anymore. Too much loss of productivity and it kills me inside. I’m going back to black. Really, really black. Level 1 black.

On another note, the travel destination for 2013 is Jamaica. Chris and I have officially booked our trip last night and we’re heading to Ocho Rios in June. I’m so excited for fresh travel photography. Kenya is still nagging at me because I’m dying to experience an authentic African lion safari, so I’m hoping to do a trip to Africa in 2014. And at some point, I still want to squeeze in a mini trip to San Francisco. How long have I wanted to go to San Francisco? Let’s see… here, here, here, here, here, here… should I keep going??? Take me there already!

This is the Rhine River in Rhine Valley in Germany. I was there in 2010 and this was shot from the castle on a hill that we stayed in. How often do you get to hang out in a castle?

Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. So travel often!

William Shakespeare said it best.

Check out the new Canon EOS Rebel T5i and Canon EOS Rebel SL1. They’re beauties. The Rebel SL1 is smaller than my hand and I have child-size hands, as my peers would call it.

This past week, I received orders from Paris, France, and Exmouth, Australia. Orders that come in from outside of North American borders make me exceptionally happy. Art, like love, is universal. :)

I can’t wait to fix my -stupid- hair this weekend. Yes, hair can absolutely be stupid.

I’m starting to get into a new show called The Killing, although it’s a stifling downgrade from Dexter, Breaking Bad, American Horror Story, and Homeland. I really hope that it’s at least mildly gripping because I’m running out of TV shows. It’s not like I’ll have much time to watch them when school starts, but for the time being, I do need my TV shows. I miss Homeland terribly and hate The Walking Dead. What happened to The Walking Dead anyway? Season 3 is as interesting as watching paint dry. Shows don’t usually start taking a turn for the worse until about the 5th or 6th season. The Walking Dead went to bed early.

This is the new all-star Charlene Precious Etsy Shop tag team: my awesome mom and little sister. Business doesn’t stop just because life gets busier than it already is. =P I’ve temporarily transitioned the bulk of the work involved with the shop to my mom and little sister while I focus on work and school for the next little while – my first class commences on April 29th. You are in good hands and they will handle everything with just as much love and care :). I’ll still be processing orders in the background but mom and little sis will be packaging and shipping them out. It’ll operate like clockwork in no time.

I literally drove to my parents’ after work this evening just to take my wonderful helpers outside for this picture. It was taken with an iPhone and we all know that iPhone in low light settings just isn’t going to happen, so you have to work extra hard to turn them into blog-worthy photographs. Anyway, the snow turned out to be a nice touch.

Dinner time!

Chris and I spent most of the weekend re-organizing and setting up my pretty little study area. It’s looking so beautiful. God knows we need any and every reason to sustain my enthusiasm and motivation to keep my head down and work. An inspiring work corner is sure to help. I’m madly in love with Homesense, by the way. They sell the best and most gorgeous home furniture and decor.

I’ve enrolled in my first two courses: Financial Accounting and Organizational Behaviour. These are mandatory core courses and are nothing erratically exciting just yet. I really thought my Accounting days were over but they’re absolutely not. I do hope to enjoy them a little more this time around. After all, what could be worst than the GMAT? Plus, I embrace opportunities that sharpen my numbers skills.

Note that Schulich’s service quality and response time is top tier style and they continue to impress. All obstacles I’ve encountered have been minutes away from resolution. Things get done fast and I love it.

We’re setting up my study room as I post this. :)
My hair is all sorts of ungodly right now. I can’t wait to fix it next weekend.

I’d freeze it right now. Every now and then, you come across a perfect place in time and desire for everything to stop so you can stay a while. I’m in that place right now.

It’s my dad’s birthday today. Happy birthday to the Father of the Year every year. I love you, dad.

Here’s the beautiful BMO stadium against the beautiful Toronto skyline. We live in a beautiful city.