A Day In the Life of PandaErica

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This was me Thursday night. I am a children's picture book designer by day. By night I am a freelance illustrator. It has its own set of pros & cons. I love what I do though, so despite the surely, bumpy, stressful, and mentally strenuous road ahead of me I am very happy. 

Summer time in a corporate design office is more than a little stressful. While people are out sick or out on vacation, I am left with all of the extra responsibilities of books that I am not normally in charge of. Needless to say, all the stress has sort of been frying my poor, fatty brain. 

After a day of hard work and putting out corporate "fires" (ironically, I am now a deputy fire warden for HarperCollins in our new office building. I have an arm band and everything! ;] ), I feel pooped. Especially on the days that I decide to cook dinner. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE it when I can successfully please my loved one and my own's tastebuds through my own efforts. And I seem to thoroughly demolish the food that I made with my own hands more so than any take out/delivery food (except for Napoleon's red velvet cake waffles & chicken wings. HEAVEN).

But after all that energy expended throughout the day, after a very relaxing, hot shower, I end up passing out into my deadly comfy and snuggly bed. My bed is pure evil anytime past 4pm. The soft comforters trap me in its warmth and it is practically impossible trying to wake me up after it has me in its grip. 

Does anyone else have similar problems? If so let's converse some time. :] Misery like company. ;]

Well, moral of the story, today and Monday night I certainly have to double up on my freelance hours to make up for my slacking these past few nights. And eats my vitamins (bleck! yuck!)! 

Have a happy Saturday afternoon everyone!

Love,

Erica

Maladventures Without Heat

This past week we've been without heat and hot water. It's been fairly chilly here in NYC, could be worse. . . but it's been tough. 

I feel like it all started with the radiator in  my room. And me desperately trying to fight off these nose bleeds I've been having due to the stuffiness of my little room and this massively HOT radiator chugging away, basically BAKING me in my sleep. I've been waking up with nose bleeds and dry skin around my eyes this past month. I never get nosebleeds. EVER. (But that may be due in part because I was born and raised in sunny, warm, moist Florida.)

So I've literally only taken 2 showers this whole week. Not TOO bad in normal circumstances. You can get away with bad hygiene habits as long as you have strong deodorant and nice perfume. Plus it's winter, you're bundled up anyways, no need to shave. (Heehee.) 

But these baths consist of me boiling a large pot of water and then commencing to use a small pail to wash my hair and very QUICKLY rinse my body with. 

And to make the week more uncomfortable and unbearable, our microwave decided to stop working. . .

  

Thus having to heat up leftovers on the stovetop. . . 

But thankfully God said that we could have heat again. And so there was heat. I just had the MOST blissful shower I have ever had. Word to the wise, don't complain about having HEAT in the winter time. God spurns you. Lesson learned. 

#YouDon'tKnowWhatYou'veGotTilIt'sGone

Love, Erica

ps. Maybe I'll come back to these and color them up? Possibly.