Animal Crossing: Gamecube versus Wii

My sister's random bog inspired me in my own game post. She asked her readers to post comments with their favorite video games for fun, and this reminded me of mine!


I was introduced to Animal Crossing a year ago from my roommate in the Gamecube format and was addicted from the beginning. It was at the end of the semester around the holidays so it had that extra charm to it.


What I love about this game are as follows:

1. There are several things you get to collect throughout the game including fossils, fish, bugs and such that all accumulate in the museum. Certain species can only be found in certain seasons and times of the day which requires a more spaced out playing time.

2. The timing is in real time, which can get a little frustrating at times because the store hours are only open at set times and certain peddlars and events occur scheduled. This adds a more realistic element to the game though and makes playing each day more motivating and exciting.

3. The goal of the game is to pay off your mortgage and then debt, but as you do you also get to decorate your little house, and then renovate and decorate some more! Such fun!

4. Finally, you get to do little quests and jobs for your fellow neighbors and are rewarded with special gifts which is probably my favorite part.

The Animal Crossing Wii seems a little too busy for me, but I like the fact that you can chat with other animal crossing players at the same time and visit eachother. I can be comfortably resting in my living room with my fire and be chatting away with just anyone and go fishing together! So cute.

Here is the gamespot review for the GameCube version. It did pretty well by the critics.

http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/rpg/animalcrossing/review.html?page=2

Zooey Deschanel

I have been in love with her acting since the first performance I saw, and ever since revel in her character renditions. Most obvious are her roles in Elf, All the Real Girls. Hitchhiker's Guide, 500 Days of Summer, Failure to Launch, Tin Man, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and finally from what I have seen, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. That last was an awesome movie btw...

Her musical performances have been scattered throughout her acting career even though music is her main passion.

Her recent release of Volume One creating She & Him is a throw back to the old jazzy croon songs in our past.

But besides all these accomplishments, I love her fashion sense! She seems to always be able to throw together vintage articles with the current trends successfully and artfully.

Yay for vintage fashion inspiration!


Who has seen a bathing suit of lace? Really now? I would utterly die to have one!

These next shots are just fun and love the attitude.

Did I mention she is married to Ben Gibbard from Deathcab for Cutie?

Ummm, and that she is the sister of Emily Erin Deschanel, the star actress in Bones, one of my favorite television shows of all time?

For realsies people. For reals.

The Perfect Man

Ok, we all know he doesn't exist in reality... But the closer I can get the better!

Matthew Gray Gubler, aka The Gube, is mainly known for his role in Criminal Minds as Dr. Spencer Reid, a fact obsessed member of the Behavioral Analyst Unit in the F.B.I.



I have never been one to find characters in shows or movies as anything more than attractive, but this man is Simply Delicious.

There are no other words.

At first his high intellect, nerd like aspect, and shyness immediately endeared me to his character, but eventually the pure sweetness of his intentions toward others has completely undone me.

This realization had me seriously thinking of the qualities I most desire in a partner, which led me to thinking about the qualities I most desire in myself, to be fair.

I understand its simply ridiculous to have such high expectations of someone else while not following through myself, so with this in mind I created a short little list of the things I need to work on to help motivate myself and to maximize this single part of my life.

1. Financially independent/secure
2. Ambitious/Set career goals
3. Passionate (about anything!)
4. High intellect/Educated
5. Shyish (only because I then trust much more easily)
6. Humorous
7. Active

Steps to take on my end:
1. Follow my budget and continue to pay off debt
2. Commit to MCAT studying more vigorously
3. Follow through with art inspirations
4. Begin and continue a regular exercise routine

Reward: This man! .... ooooor not lol.

Mmmmmmmmmm. Yum.

A Feast!

When I first started out thinking about the reception, I automatically pictured several round tables all scattered about a beautiful garden scape with hanging string lights from above casting a soft yellow glow at first twilight and glowing more strongly as night crept on until only candlelight and these floating lights above remained.

Now, though, I wonder if keeping everyone seperated is really the feeling I want. After seeing several large rectangular feast tables, I really like the idea of having, if not everyone, at least a lot more people, within conversation range. Shouting and laughter is a definite must, and I think that these large tables foster that much more so than the smaller ones.

I know this one seems very holiday themed, but the red color is perfect and not too overdone. Something like this would be great with possibly two centerpieces spaced out apart along the table and with candles all along the center like this in between.

This just has another view of the table set. I do want more of a small wedding, but considering that can range from 70-100 people... obviously there will have to be several of these setup. I love the feast theme!!!

This one has a great outdoor feeling about it that I also love. Oh to be planning a wedding! ... if only I could actually plan a real one lol. How much fun would that be to finalize plans and such.

My Patio Garden!... in the future!

So even though its fall, nothing is even thinking of growing and every little seed is hidden away in a warm cacoon of soil, I am still contemplating the potential future of my little patio.


I know I am vastly limited in both space and the rare morning sunlight that bathes it, but there are some things that I can do to make it my own little getaway.


I love both the Japanese maple tree in the corner, and all the mixes of potted flowers displayed. Obviously the square footage is much more than mine, but I do like this one. The one below shows a great use of dwarf conifers which I never thought of using until now. They stay green throughout the seasons which is a great bonus, and they vary in so many sizes so getting that visual interest factor is super easy with them. Definitely a must for my patio garden!!





Now for the real fun! Picking out plants!!! :D I am seriously excited about it!


At first I thought I wanted more of a vegetable herb garden, but because I only get sun in the mornings I don't think there are many vegetables that would like the space. I still might end up with one pot of garlic, thyme, and rosemary and then another hanging pot for tomatoes, but thats still up in the air.


I really wish I could get a Japanede Maple because they are pretty much one of my favorite little trees, but it would severely limit the patio in regards to grilling and just sitting and relaxing out there. There has to be space for me as well!


The first plant that I HAVE decided on though is the Clematis "Prince Charles". Its actually a climbing vine plant with these beautiful soft blooms in the late summer and early fall. I have always been in love with ivy, but because the architecture of my apartment isnt stunning or quaint in the least (which is the only match in my mind for ivy). I think this plant will do nicely.




I am going to get three long rectangular pots lined up alongside eachother in front of my patio fence and place small wire trellices in them in such a way as to foster plant growth up the trellises and eventually on to the fence of my patio to further entertwine. It will be another way to create a more private feeling garden for the patio without needing large english hedges (my plans for the future when I have a home and the land to grow a secret hidden garden!). The trellises will also enable me to transport a substantial amount of the plants with me once I have to move again.

This next plant is a Foxglove and they really come in all sorts of shades and colors. I seem to gravitate toward all the cool colors so I will probably get some like these ones. They grow quite well in pots so a few of these will be placed in the corner for sure. I love that they grow quite tall which will be a great visual interest, especially with a few smaller tiny flowers planted right in front of them. Don't we all love the tiered effect?

And of course Hydrangeas! I don't think anyone can not like these round snow balls of color! They just seem so fun! The only dilemma I have with them is that they are more of a bush... I did some research though and it seems it is possible to plant then in a larger pot and they will grow quite nicely. I will only be able to have one but the little bush of happy color can probably go into a corner just fine.

Now I know Golden Creeping Jenny is usually used as a great ground cover plant, but it also loves to hang out from potted plants as well! It has a wonderful bright green fresh color to it, and trailing out in front of a pot or dangling from a hanging pot it is just wonderful.

One day I will have the space for a great entertaining and grilling area right off the back door with a covered eating out space, plus the beautiful landscaped space I can play with. Trees of course will be a must have, and not the crap that grows here in texas. What I would give for some huge pine trees anything! I want at least an area to have a forest feel to it. Then of course a small little orchard would be great with a little wooden table for picnics or tea parties. (I do want children SOME day lol). I still remember living in a place in Washington that had that and I love the memory.

Of course I love hedges and plan on utilizing tall ones to create a feeling or privacy all about the yard, and any fence area visible, will most certainly be covered in ivy or a creeping vine plant.

I also want two hidden gardens. One just for flowers like rose bushes and such, and another vegetable garden! I will probably have hedges lining my fence but then use that to create spaces between the hedge fence and the real fence for these gardens. Ah I do love the english sometimes... ;P