xo my little darlings.
elle

This is the chaos in which I made my little film. I sat myself down one Saturday night and pressed my shutter button hundreds of times until I had every frame. I filmed the whole thing too- so later today I should be also posting a video of the making. =)

I’ve been on youtube this week more than I’d like to admit- out of the 20 finalists, I am 8th on overall views, so that’s good- just need to crank it up a little to get into one of those top stops- it’s be rad if I could move on to the finals! If you’ve got an extra 53 seconds- would you mind heading over there and giving me a thumbs up today?
I also created a playlist of all of the HP entries made by Hawkers (Joshua, Julie, and me) so you can enjoy them all in one place. =)

Laura’s semi-finalist video
All Hawker family entries

Merci everyone!
Hopefully you’ll be seeing some of us in the finals!

xoxo
elle

I haven’t been this excited about a project in a long time. I’ve been losing sleep over it for days (that spinning mind that won’t wind down) and you should have seen me tonight- I was just outta control with adjusting lights and getting Garth’s opinion on exposure and white balance and the background color.

I am making a stop-motion short film.

These are from the tests tonight, but they are so darn cute. I had decided on the color on the last one, but after looking at them on my computer I’m really digging the color on the first- do all ya’ll have an opinion? Please chime in! Leave me a comment with your vote or you can send me an e-mail at elle@xoelle.com. You’re totally the greatest peeps ever.

xoxo
elle

Jack, at 4 months, is already solid-gold-worthy. He totally rules.
Garth recently posted a bunch of family videos on his youtube channel. It is pure silliness.

xoxo
elle

You might want to take a seat. =)

(This commericail is brilliant, it made me want to purchase a Cabrio, and I did!)

love and peas.
elle

I am finishing sewing projects for nieces and nephews that I’ll see the day after Christmas, something special for the husband, and stockings. (yeah…we have some up that I made last year, but they really aren’t big enough for what Santa is going to be bringing). My procrastination does not limit itself to Christmas presents though. I find myself tonight scrambling to complete a video or two for the Hawker family video yearbook that my brother Joshua compiles. The video editing program that I use on my PC is from the dark ages so I didn’t even attempt to do anything with it, and Garth’s beautiful iMac made me feel like a kindergardener trying to figure out iMovie- so I turned to where the desperate turn for quick and easy video: animoto.

I’m working on my second video just now, but here’s one that I threw together in 20 minutes with the help of the magic robots at animoto.

If I don’t come back before then, Merry Christmas everyone!

love!
laura. =)

We made a super entrance to the ball on our bicycles. The ball was taking place downtown at Palafox Pier and we live less than two miles away. It was pretty entertaining to see people stare at us as we rode through downtown.

We had a delightful time and danced to the ONE slow song that was played all night, some karaoke version of Unchained Melody. And then, it was back on our bikes for the dark ride home through the deserted streets.

This is when I like Pensacola. =)
loves!
Laura. =)

Bruno came into our lives a teeny tiny puppy the summer of 2000. He was named Bruno because he was born in San Bruno, CA. He would whine when left alone so I would sneak him into my room at night to sleep with me. He wouldn’t fall asleep until I was cuddled into bed with him, not content to sleep on his own.

He came to us with a stuffed squeeky octapus. It was quickly unstuffed and desqueeked by Bruno, but he continued to adore “Octi” throughout his life. His affection for it, and the fact that it had six tenticles instead of eight prompted us to nickname it “Sexi”.

Bruno had no idea that he was a small dog, or really even a dog. He barked down the largest scariest dogs, and never fully understood why we didn’t provide him a plate at the dinner table.

He would lick one to death for a belly rubbing and was endlessly frustrated by Missy, a chihuahua/pomerianian mix that came into our family several years ago.

When I moved to Seattle Bruno came with me and we walked daily overlooking the Puget Sound. He was my roomate and most favorite companion. He would drive the neighbors nuts in my absence, barking at my departure. I quickly learned to feed him in the kitchen, coat and keys in hand, then jump the puppy gate and leave the apartment before he noticed I was gone.

When I moved to San Diego we walked the streets of Bankers Hill and discovered Balboa Park together. He stayed up late and watched movies with me, traveled on planes with me, and became my closest friend.

When I married Garth, Bruno watched over our seats as a sentinal, and even joined us in our first dance. He stayed with my parents as we went on our honeymoon and moved from San Diego to Florida. A few days before I left San Diego to pick him up, a year ago today, my Mom called to tell me that he was gone. She’d watched in horror as a clueless Bruno, having slipped behind the protective fence in my parents yard, was snatched by a coyote.

We’ve searched the hillside below the fence several times and have never found anything. No collar, no bones, no “Bruno” bone-shaped engraved pendant (my valentines day present to him), so sometimes I like to daydream that he’s the Elizabeth Smart of the dog world and will one day come strolling back into town in a wig, thinking that he’s a coyote.

I still miss him.

Josh made this for him, it’s the first draft, but still pretty dang sweet.

rest in peace Bruno.

xoxoxox
Laura

Some updates:
I’m still constantly sick.
I drove to the Columbus, GA Red Robin last week for my third interview for management.
Today I turned down the position (and the two months in Spokane, and the moolah!) because I don’t think I can handle working a 60-hour-a-week opening being 8 3/4 months pregnant. And, since Garth works 12 hour days as well, I thought it might be nice for the baby to see one of us, at least.
Hurricane Gustav came through and brought us lots of rain and wind, but that was the most of it.
I need to always have gum in my mouth.
I entered a contest at threadbanger for a serger. Here’s my entry:

And, I’m making costumes as fast as I can (which is pretty slow considering I need a nap every few hours!)….
Love all ya’ll.
Laura. =)

And, something very special is happening this week. 10 points if you know.

xo elle!