Peeps, squaks, chirps and wing flapping

Dear 5 People,

2012-01-23T16:29:00.000-08:00

I am here now! Check it out...I am a WEBSITE/BLOG MAKING MANIAC!!!

Oh, My! Our Wedding!

2012-01-18T16:56:00.000-08:00

I just realized that I haven't posted pictures of our wedding. We got hitched on a horse farm on October 15th. The weekend itself was a whirlwind and I spent more time with more people that I love all at once than I have ever before. It was good. The wedding was blissful and marrying S is the best thing I have ever done. She is my heart. And I am a lucky woman to be able to call her my wife.

The wedding party

THE moment!

I love the horse in the background <3

Everyone dancing and falling in love

Food for the horses :)

The guest table (with a cute little leather book from this etsy shop)

The guest table again

We gave everyone a horse shoe from a horse from the farm

We had our rings in a little bird's nest found by a little kid

This was the note on each place setting

Me and my bff's running through the paddock

My favorite picture from the day

This was the seating area

Everyone getting ready to watch us say "I Do!"

S and I with my Omar

This is S and me and our moms

Feeling Inspired but Work is Getting in the Way

2012-01-17T16:13:00.001-08:00

My mom made a joke today and said, "Well, you can't get paid to sit home and knit." I disagree! How do I make my dreams come true-er!?

A Bit of Toast and Jam, Please!

2012-01-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

I adore the online store TOAST (and they are having a HUGE winter sale!). You can order your very own catolog here! Their website is full of cozy sweaters and pjs and everything made for a chilly night in Maine! Cuddled up next to a fire. Dreaming of days where we see snow on the ground outside our windows!

I picked a few of my favs and created a perfect sheep farming outfit! Well, maybe a perfect outfit for a cozy night at the dinner table with my wife after a long day on our sheep farm. Ahhhhh, to dream!all images are from toast:

Loving these slippers! Perfect to slip on after taking off the boots!

Time To Read More Words (and share some more of my own)

2012-01-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

So happy to have connected in the internet with this cool lady:Check out her blog (at which she and her hubby are renovating an incredible home and barn!)and her fabulous etsy site!

I have made a new decision for this upcoming year of my blog reading. Reading blogs is one of my favorite things to do after work, while cuddled up on the couch with my wife and our dogs and fat cat (often with a cup of tea and glass of wine-bliss!). But, after reading a few blogs over the past year or so, I have noticed that I feel terrible about myself after I read them...like I'm not one of the cool kids again. And it is totally ridiculous and insane but it is even more silly that I keep reading those sites (and following a few of them on twitter). I know this is totally about me and not them or their blogs but I know that there is something small beneath the surface that is a bit pretentious and maybe not so real. I can just feel it. So, my decision is to only read blogs that fill me with inspiration and depth rather than begin questioning my worth or productivity or "coolness." This is not to say that I will only be reading blogs about world peace or climate change, I will still hunt for the perfect vintage outfit, the best red lipstick, the perfect barn renovation project done on a modest budget, and I will blog about these things, too. I will also look inside myself a bit to see why not being the cool kid still hurts like hell.

With this said, I also happen to read many other inspiring and ego-less blogs (like AO and hers and hers and hers and this one and this one, too! Ooops, and more (I will share more as I find them). See, there are many fabulous women who create blogs full of art and design and crafting and share their recipes and photographs and share my love of vintage and thrifting and reading. They also share stories of their lives and all of the great parts and the sometimes not-so-great parts. All which are pretty incredible secrets to share with strangers. And I feel lucky to read them. So, thank you, great bloggy ladies! Happy New Year!

p.s. I have a twitter so feel free to follow me. I mostly post about drinking coffee, knitting, tweeting about raising our cute little chickens, or commenting about my wonderful wife's pet sitting business (to help market her).

Oh, and I got a new computer! Wooooot! So, now I will be able to blog more. My computer was slllllooooowwwwing down the past few months and I was frustrated every time I used it. Well, no more! Oh, sweet, sweet Mac, how I love thee always!

I love how Atwood loves to be right in my lap while I knit. <3

Shop update!

2011-12-10T16:45:00.001-08:00

The shop was just updated! Happy holiday shopping!

This weekend...

2011-12-09T04:01:00.001-08:00

~~-photograph new (to me) vintage wares for etsy-list on etsy~~-package sold orders-~~knit~~ (bought 3 pretty new yarns at the yarn shop last night!)-snuggle with the babies and the wife (really #1 on my list)-read-knit-finish college teaching position application (b/c I am a slacker)-submit fiction and creative non-fiction for publication (ack!)-wash blankets-stare at the Christmas tree-make a felt mouse for my mom's cat-knit some more-read some more-breathe

Trimmings

2011-11-26T10:22:00.001-08:00

Our dining room table with our tree up! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

WTF is CSS? and how do I even begin to speak?

2011-11-23T05:32:00.001-08:00

I am at war with myself. (I always want to say "elf" after I say "myself" as in myself the elf- but I digress) I want to make an all-star blog full of fabulous vintage finds, pictures of the food I make, the cakes/brownies/cupcakes I bake, or will be baking more now that we have eggs, noteworthy mentions of fashion, art, the world that grows around me. But, in order to do this I need to speak the language and thus far, CSS and Photoshop and HTML is as foreign to me as, um, some other foreign language that I do not speak. The war with myself (the elf-whew, I feel much better) is fueled by looking at other beautiful blogs, blogs written by women who appear to be amazing and carefree and fluent in the words of the machine, i.e. the web design environment. I am committing myself(I didn't do it this time...ok, stopping now)to learning Photoshop CS5 since I freaking OWN it and maybe watching all of the youtube.com tutorials will help me. I am in need of arrows and pointers and fun fonts and creative cutouts of my favorite internet finds, yo! I need brushes and tools and cut little pinking shear borders around my blogness. Stay tuned, folks. Stay tuned.

What?! What?! Etsy update again!

2011-11-20T08:46:00.001-08:00

The shop has been updated again! I'm on a freakin' roll, people! A huge vintage item listing roll!

Etsy Update

2011-11-14T11:46:00.001-08:00

Been busy on the shop! Let me know what you think!

Planning and Manifesting and Enough

2011-11-13T15:15:00.001-08:00

I wish that I could let you into my synapses for a small bit. Five minutes would be enough. Well, maybe it wouldn't be close to long enough but anything is better than nothing. Our weekend away did our hearts and minds good. We planned and dreamed. We decided that although we are happy, we aren't happy enough. We are alright with our live and our home but as I noted in the last post, we just aren't thrilled with flat Florida. The close proximity of neighbors is annoying. So, we have made a semblance of a plan. We know that we must stick it out here for at least 3 years, possibly even 5. The house is great as it is and will give us quite a profit in a few years. This also gives us time to learn all about fiber farming (sheep, etc.) and decide where we will move. I am also applying to teach at the college nearby to give me a bit of extra practice in teaching and I will also be submitting my writing. Shocker! I. Me. Yes, me. I will be sending in some of my fiction and Creative Non Fiction to publications. Soon. I even have permission from one of my old professors to name drop which I hope helps. We'll see.The etsy business is also doing quite well so I will be working on stocking it up more and doing some advertising to get more traffic. Also, as if I wasn't busy enough (there is that word again...enough), I will be teaching myself yarn spinning and plan to sell the yarn on my etsy shop. I am getting some wool from a friend soon from here shetland sheep that she sheared herself.I have a stack of books en route to our house on farming, sheep, goats, and alpacas so we can begin to make our decisions. So far we are leaning towards sheep.

Coffee and Conversations About Future

2011-11-11T07:33:00.001-08:00

Sitting with my wife right now, sipping coffee (me) and tea (her) and planning our future. We are wanting to leave Florida one day and how to make this happen seems like it will require much planning and dreaming and manifesting. And I know that all of these things will take time and patience. Patience is often not my strongest or best quality. I want what I want when I want it and that is NOW! And this all makes me sound bratty and obnoxious (both of which I actually might be). I crave land and trees and greenery and farm animals and seasons. We live in a 1600 sq ft 1925 cottage which we LOVE but even though we are in what is considered a double lot in our town, it is still too close to our neighbors for our liking. We have 3 hens (which aren't even allowed in our town), 5 dogs and a fat cat. We need land for gardening and silence. We need seasons for our souls and hearts. I need inspiration in the form of changing leaves and silent snow to write my novel that is only 25 pages in. I need. I need. I need. I want. I want. I want. Patience.

Photoshop and blogging

2011-09-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

So, I now have the newest version of photoshop and a heck of a lot of desire to learn how to use it effectively for blogging. I have already learned how to add text, mess with the pixel/resolution, and a few little things to do with photos. I have ordered a new mouse b/c I am not able to use my track pad very well with photoshop. Not sure why this is....I see KMH do it and she does it just fine (super talented lady)! I guess I am still so very new to it (and am completely learning through watching videos on youtube). I have also done a bunch of research on the Bamboo tablet and may be getting one of those soon, too. I am still trying to figure what all I need/want/have to have to be able to do what I want with my blog. I am giving myself the next few months to really get this going...find it's direction, purpose, meaning. Fashion? Decorating? Life? House renovating? All of the above? I guess we will all see how this evolves. Ha...that sentence made me laugh. Since there are just SO many of you following this blog. I mean, really! ;)Hold on to your seats, peeps.

Playing with picnik and loving it!

2011-09-15T14:38:00.001-07:00

This is Zenny and he likes to eat.

The list

2011-09-02T04:30:00.000-07:00

-Costco
-make eye dr appt
-get ring cleaned
-get hair did
-food shop
-plant seeds

Wedding bells will be ringing in less than two months!

2011-08-16T16:33:00.000-07:00

I will be marrying my sweet girl on October 15th and I am so looking forward to making this commitment to my soon-to-be-wife in front of our dearest friends and family is beyond what I could have ever imagined myself doing. I guess I thought I would commit to someone but I don't think that I actually understood what "long haul" meant or what standing with someone through the good stuff, wonderful stuff and terrible stuff. I am so grateful for all that I have learned over the years. Some of the learning was severely sad, hard, difficult, terrible, lovely, inspiring, etc. Everything we ever thought love would be or life would entail. I guess what I am saying, or attempting to say, is that life is every little experience, moment, tear, smile, happiness, disgust, hug, kiss, kiss off, heart break, break up, starting and ending....it is all ours. My life and yours.

Needing a quiet place.

2011-07-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

I am seeking quiet. Silence. Peace. Serenity. A moment void of noise. I do not want to run away from my life. Rather, I would love to take a trip with my wife and one or two or our dogs and take a drive into the mountains. Away from Florida. Away from the work chatter. The stressful days and busy streets. We would bring books, music, coffee, wine and cheese and other yummy munchies. This weekend is Shaun's bday weekend and we are celebrating by having a quiet weekend at home in our house. No visitors, no dinners out, no going over people's homes. Just the two of us. Blissful. I am craving a cabin over looking a mountain, a lake, a river, anything.

Some jewelry pics

2011-05-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

The etsy jewelry site is up and ready for business!

2011-05-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

My etsy site for jewelry!

An etsy treasury just for you!

2011-05-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

This is my very first etsy treasury!

The etsy shop is up

2011-04-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

Let the buying begin! I will be posting more at least once a week (maybe more on the weekends).

My etsy shop!

Enjoy!

Getting Over Myself

2011-03-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

I care, some may say too much, about what other people think about me. Not all people really. Just the people who I really admire, care about, like, love, respect, etc. This includes a lot of people. I worry about what they think about my choices, decisions, actions, comments, etc. It is exhausting and sad. Why I do care so much? Well, I want people to like me. This does not mean that I am a "people-pleaser," rather, it means that I like who I am, I'm just terrified and fearful that others do not. And I'm sure that other people are sick of stepping on egg shells around me and my delicate ego and mushy emotions. I have one friend who is the one to tell me how great I am and how ridiculous I am being when I am worried that someone doesn't like me, get me, love me, want me, respect me, etc. It goes on. But, this friend has told me that I have gotten better. That my worry is at a much more normal scale than where it was a few years ago. She said that I am gaining self confidence and self esteem in areas of my life where it was lacking and she said it shows. This was what I needed to hear today when I was concerned about what a woman, whom I respect very much, was thinking about me. I needed to hear that this woman likes me and respects me. And it must all come down to ego. The ego that I constantly try to smash. And it often rears it's ugly little ego head. And then I must remember to crush it again. I know that wanting others to like us is an important part of our development and part of being a social creature, I just wish that life didn't hurt so much sometimes.

Drinking a cold beer and other musings.

2011-03-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

So, I am cranky. Super duper crankpants. I'm sure that it is not the first time. I am drinking an ice cold beer to ease my crankiness.
These are my musings:
I want people to smush, smash, shatter their egos. I want people to communicate with others from place of love, even if they don't love each other. I want people to put aside their feelings of feeling slighted and begin to see the bigger picture. The bigger picture is this: not just us. not just me and not just you. It is about the well being of our world. I know, seems rather lofty and heady, but I mean it. Japan. Haiti. Laws of telling undocumented people to leave a safe place. Denying human rights for all humans. Allowing the Earth to fill up with our trash. All of these things that occur around us all of the time and I feel powerless. I try so hard to treat all with kindness and compassion and I know that I am feisty as hell a bunch of the time, but it is all with good intentions to stand in my soap box, to protect and advocate for others, to fight the good fight. And I guess sometimes I just feel cranky. And I guess this has to be ok. S may feel differently since she has to live with it. Ha!

The girls are here!

2011-03-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

We brought home our girls yesterday. They were born on Wednesday! They are soooooo sweet and cute and delicate. Right now they are living in the guest room because it is a little chilly here (by Florida standards). They will move into the garage this week. After 5 weeks or so they will be ready to move into their coop. This whole process is pretty wonderful. They already have their own little personalities. Meet the girls:
The two Buff Orpington's are Enley and Scout and the Maren is Gilmore:

This is Gilmore, she is a Maren and will be laying dark brown, organic eggs in a few months!

Chicken picking!

2011-03-11T16:52:00.000-08:00

We are picking up our girls tomorrow! Stay tuned for adorable pictures of our new baby chicks!

Narcissism.

2011-03-10T04:10:00.000-08:00

My first go at making rosesttes! and a few random pics!

2011-03-07T13:54:00.001-08:00

Gettin' crafty! I think I burned by fingertips off....At one point, S yelled from the other room, "I think you should take a break so you still have fingers left!"so I put the glue gun down for a bit and then went back to it and perfected my rosette making technique! Viola!

My sweet girl out to breakie at The Pelican! Yummmma!

Us

Me

Feed and more

2011-03-06T04:40:00.000-08:00

Well, the coop is done (except I must stain it) and the organic chick starter has arrived and the chicks have been ordered! All set! Except I haven't finished reading the Keep Chickens book yet. I have read many, many blogs on keeping chickens and talked with people so I am feeling fairly confident.

Other things on the home front- both S and I are feeling "off" and even though we both don't know exactly what that means, we are doing well. We are just extra tired, extra crabby, and extra antsy. Maybe a good, long bike ride todaybwill set us straight (gay-er)!

On the crafty front- I made rosettes for the first time last night and even though I thoroughly burned off many of my fingertips with the glue gun, the rosettes look amazing! I am super impressed with myself. I will post pics later.

On the wedding front- I went to the tailor yesterday to try on the dress and it fits beautifully...the seamstress is fixing one little spot and I can pick it up on Tuesday. I can't post pictures of the dress on here because S reads the blog. Sorry! But, I will post tons of pictures after the wedding!

Ok, off for more coffee and some snuggling with my girl and our fur babies! Happy Sunday, y'all!

Urban chicken time!

2011-02-28T15:42:00.000-08:00

We had a wooden child's playhouse thingie and I knew it would be a PERFECT chicken coop. So, over came Penelope and together (mostly him) we built a coop! See the before and after below.

Allow the illegal chicken raising begin! Mmmmmm, organic, fresh eggs and more furry/feathery family! We are picking up our new baby chicks next Saturday!!!!

Yay!

2011-02-25T03:21:00.000-08:00

What? I'm published!

Our home...some befores, durings, and now. Specifically the kitchen and bedroom.

2011-02-23T14:24:00.001-08:00

Bedroom peeks:
So, when we first moved in, the bedroom floor had carpet. Ech. Used carpet makes me want to vomit. Strong reaction. I know. But, the idea that other people's skin cells are all up in there grosses me out. And I am not easily grossed out. Believe it.
So, we had Penelope (more about Penelope in a bit) pull up the carpet within hours of closing on the house. He then patched the wood, sub-floor and then painted it white. Ahhhhhh. Blissful white bedroom floor. How dreamy. No. It turned into a mess of a disaster. Within a few days, and our five dogs going in and out of the back yard, through our bedroom, the floor was FILTHY! Having the housekeeper come every week as opposed to every other was not in our budget and niether S nor I are big into mopping. So....we had the floor re-done. Viola.
See? White floor.

Bye white floor.

Some little pics of our bedroom:

And a peek into our closet. We came out long ago-so funny, I kill me! We recently had some shelving put in. Again, the amazing Penelope's handy work!

The kitchen:
Before:
These pics are mostly from the walk-through, the day of closing. I have a few more pics from when I first saw the house and holy, freakin' whoa! It was baddddddd (imagine the first picture and times it by 1 million)! Too many wolves howling at the moon on too many blankets, shower curtains and rugs! (I cannot even tell you how difficult it was to take down those dusty as all get out fake ivy from above the window. They were SCREWED in!!! I had to get the drill out!

During:
Ok, so Penelope is the BEST carpenter around. He is amazing and talented and a major perfectionist! He has done every single project that we have hired out for in this house. He made the pantry, did all of the counter-tops, the wainscoting, installed our outdoor shower (shhhh, don't tell code enforcement), did all of the crown molding, built one of our decks, and will be assisting (actually, I will be the assistant) in the making of our chicken coop!
Here is Penel in all of his glory!

After:
After many trips to Goodwill over the years, I have finally collected my dream kitchen decor. All vintage-y and sweet!

Any new re-dos in your homes? Share! This means you, KMH (since I believe that you are the only one who reads this)!

Gettin' Hitched on a Farm

2011-02-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

It's true....I am getting married! I am saying "YES, I DO!" to the woman of my dreams this October. I have been in full wedding planning mode and it is FUN! Even though gay marriage isn't legal in Florida yet, we are making this the real deal holy field! So, when gay people can actually get married legally, all we will have to do that day is jump on over to the lil' ol' court house, sign some papers and then go out to dinner!
For people who know me....like, really know me, like KMH from this blog then they know that making this commitment to S is nothing to scoff at. I am smitten...actually, beyond smitten. I am in love. Like knock me down, head over heels. S rocks my world. She challenges me and pushes me and loves me in all the ways that I didn't even knew existed. I am a lucky lady!
Needless to say, but I'm gonna say it anyway (why do people say this?), that for the next 9 months, this blog will probably be a bit wedding planning filled. I have been searching every website, every etsy wedding treasury, every photoblog, for all things wedding planning. We are throwing this shindig by ourselves and I am planning on making almost everything. Even the food! Ahhhhh! Shhhh...with the help of Costco. ;)

Below are some pics of inspiration. I hate that I don't remember where I found them online so if you happen to know, let me know and I will give credit where amazing credit is due.

Oh, and we are getting married on a HORSE FARM!!!!!!!!!!! YIPEEEEEEEE!

Binging and Purging

2011-01-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

So, for the past 3 hours I have been cleaning out my closet. I filled 4 huge bags full of stuff to bring to Goodwill. What does this mean, you ask? Well, it means that I need to stop the madness! I am a clothing fan! I loveeeeee a good deal and I enjoy the hunt at a thrift shop or any store really. I love to shop. Period. There. I said it. I need to not do it so much...even if they items are a good deal...or free...or expensive. I now have a closet that feels organized (even more than before...KMH, can you believe this?!?!) I am not into New Year resolutions but maybe I could make a new mindset about shopping this year. I will ask myself before every purchase, "do I need this?...do I have something at home just like this?". And if I answer "no" to the first question and "yes" to the second, I will simply allow my delicate wrists to place the item back on the rack, smile, and walk away.

Love...oh, what a joy!

2010-12-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

I am super smitten with my sweet girl and we are having our commitment ceremony this coming October! I will keep you all posted with plans and ideas!

Yard. A lesson in patience and weeding.

2010-10-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

Sleep and Accomplishments

2010-09-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

So, the 3-day weekend came and went and the backyard looks anew (well, semi). The gazebo is no longer hideous as I had it painted and had a roof put on. The yard has been landscaped a bit and a wood platform is now hiding the concrete slab. It looks like the yard is coming along! Pics to follow later.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

things. in no particular order. also known as, the disorder of things.

2010-05-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

-find out what it feels like to be centered. everyday.
-decipher what it means to be successful in my own mind.
-practice yoga more. and remember the key term is "practice."
-be peaceful in the process.
-write more. start by not paying attention to what I am typing..
-start to love my body more.
-make one new dish per week.

another.

2010-05-16T15:36:00.001-07:00

Blood can clot, a toilet will overflow and dough for whole wheat bread will rise all at the same time. I am quite the multi-tasker. I can imagine what life feels like, I can even tell you how everything feels inside of my body, like warm water seeping out of the corner of your mouth. I can tell you these things because it has happened to me. I am an expert of sorts, the person people call when they are researching a project about ontology. I am an accurate example of “being.” I can fall apart and be rebuilt in twenty minutes. Enough time to cry, hyperventilate, wash my face, re-apply black liquid eyeliner, breathe slowly a few times, shove a brownie (maybe two) into my mouth, chug a glass of whatever is closest and then head held high, walk back out into my life.

One from the "oh" poem series.

2010-05-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

I want to write miles of poetry on butcher paper so you will always have something to read in the quiet moments. I want to order squid ink from the depths of the Pacific that will never fade so my words would always be near you...crumpled in your pocket next to subway tokens and lint. I draw lines of words that form sentences. You catch glimpses of things I try to hide with smirks and subject changes. Oh..I am a tricky girl with a pen. And it feels good. It feels good to say these things, feel these things, use pens and typewriters until my fingers ache with alliteration and meter...words spill over from one stanza to the next. I break the rules of Villanelles and Sestinas. I give new definition to the sonnet and write your name over and over ten times on fourteen lines and call it a work of art...my best yet.
I came on my fingers and drew pictures on the curb and stopped traffic just so everyone could see the beauty of it glisten in the afternoon sun...they said the portrait was uncanny. I agreed until my jaw unclenched...until I felt you crawl inside of me. Until I felt like a museum.
A candy store full of nickel sweets for the insatiable craving for sugar on my tongue was buried under stacks of acid free paper, cradled between your thighs and mine. Sharp tips of felt markers drag across my wrist as I attempt to show you how I bleed; how it all comes out onto you. A
And you smile because this rhymes somewhere inside your tissue and marrow. Somewhere that no one else has been. Somewhere that science didn't know existed.
And because of this we are pioneers.

Still flapping and squaking

2010-04-25T11:23:00.001-07:00

I'm still here. I'm in DC right now for a work conference and feeling pretty inspired. I'll be blogging again soon about all things that make me tick. Ps anyone listen to the entire new Broken Social Scene album. Good?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pain-what is it good for?

2010-04-10T05:05:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from blogging the past few weeks for many reasons, all of which, lead to the cause of my pain. Simply stated: I do too much and I don't listen to my body enough. I listen to the constant, silly, coaxing, enticing chatter that goes on in the gray matter between my ears. I like things around me to be perfect. House, school, writing, work, everything, everything, everything. And, apparently, I go to extreme lengths to ensure that perfection has a chance. In reality, I am far from perfect. I am the opposite of perfect, actually. The pain that I have been feeling has forced me to slowwwww downnnnn, to take meds that I hate to take, to stay in one place, to sit still and just be. Ugh, to just be is a task of amazing will power but I have proven to myself that sitting still for 2 and 1/2 days is possible, albeit odd for me, and something that I will be practicing more often in order to nurture my body and mind.

Not so knitty.

2010-03-20T05:38:00.000-07:00

(image from http://disenyo.blogspot.com)
I would love to be able to knit but my wrists already ache from hours on the computer...I am thinking that maybe learning to crochet will be something less daunting. Not so sure, but, I want to make this!

Depth and Vainity

2010-03-19T13:01:00.001-07:00

So, I have been wanting to buy a matte, red lipstick. It sounds quite silly, but finding the "right" red lipstick is difficult. Not difficult like curing-cancer-difficult, but in a vain-pointless-silly-way-difficult. Believe me, I am aware of the depth of this post. But, this is more for me and Kristin as she helped me pick it out. It took 15 minutes of both of our lives. Oh, and her hubby was a trooper, following us around and around, even offering up a lipstick while saying, "What about this one?!" Ahhhhh, friends!
Whatta think?

Kitchen pictures...

2010-03-18T13:12:00.001-07:00

At home, watching a webinar, drinking coffee, trying not to scream at my computer over absurdities...being narcissistic. Can you pick out which picture I have my Oh-no!-I-just-stepped-on-my-cat's-tail face?
p.s. also loving my new favorite sweater. $14.99???!!!! What!?

Thinking about the backyard...some inspiring pictures

2010-03-17T15:15:00.001-07:00

I am in the midst of planning the design for the backyard. For the town that I live in, this house has a big backyard and it is basically a blank canvas which is both exciting and terrifying. Here are some pictures that I find inspiring. I am thinking: overgrown English cottage garden mixed with veggie garden, mixed with Bohemian modern.

What do you think?

(I just realized that I don't know where I collected these photos from over the years. If you ever see a photo on here that is yours, please let me know and I will give you photo credit for it, or I will remove it if you request for me to do so. Thanks!)

Pictures from a Sunday (yesterday)

2010-03-08T15:30:00.001-08:00

Me after brunch, reading Arch. Digest at the Ice Cream shop (b/c Shaun wanted ice cream. I ate my fruit tart from the cafe-yummma! See a photo of the tart below)

Anai had a haircut then a bath-she is so cute!

Me walking:

Shaun making her cappucino disgustingly sweet:

My strawberry tart:

Our table at brunch:

A close up of the amazing sandwich (brie with tomatoes, lettuce, and dijon all on a fresh, homemade baguette:

What did you do this weekend?

I feel like a magazine article...

2010-03-06T05:01:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to say:

I just bought THIRTEEN, yes 13, new (not thirfted-shocking, i know!) pieces of well-made clothing for work (everything was on sale except for one item). Now, as much as I love to be comfy and fashionable on the weekends and weeknights, I <3 to be in classy and interesting work attire at my office.
I grew up with a mother who worked in the fashion design/textile design industry and we were in NYC often while she visited her agents and my aunt was the Fashion Director for Women's Day (back in the day on the 80's-Hello, big sunglasses and plastic jewelry galore!), so, needless to say, I was surrounded by fashionable women who used their clothing as art. When I was a kid my aunt would give me items that were left over from photo-shoots: Christian Dior sunglasses, big purses, lace socks, etc. (remember-it was the 80's).
I feel more productive at my office when I like how I look and feel...odd? I don't think so. I am sure that there have been studies (I'm too lazy to google it right now, but, I digress...) that say that people who feel better about themselves perform better.
I feel like one of those magazine articles that has a two page spread to show how you can buy 10 or so pieces of clothing and you have a whole new wardrobe! Maybe I will photograph my purchases later today. Sound good?

Photo projects

2010-02-27T05:20:00.000-08:00

I have been consistently taking the same types of pictures since I was a kid. I remember my mom gave me a little camera (110 film?) and I was hooked. Since then, I still shoot with a simple camera but I am still focused on taking pictures of my feet, pictures from over my head, pictures of me in mirrors, and pictures of me drinking coffee. Now, I have added to the list and I take photos of me in my favorite vintage finds or pictures while I am walking and, since I travel sometimes for work, I take photos of myself in hotel rooms.
What kinds of habits do you see in your picture taking? Care to share?

She said, "I've been killing zombies all night."

2010-02-24T17:33:00.000-08:00

So, Shaun is home, on the couch, zoned out, playing a Wii video game in which she is killing zombies. Now, I am NOT a fan of video games to begin with, nor am I a fan of violence, but her comments while playing are cracking me up! Now, does she LOOK like a zombie killer?

I just got home from cutting my friend's hair. You know how sometimes you meet someone and then you think, "huh, how did I not have this person in my life before?" I think this often about many of my friends and it never ceases to amaze me that I am so lucky to be surrounded by so many strong and brilliant women. One thing that this particular friend has said to me many times is: "change your thinking." This small sentence has truly shifted the way in which I process things. It is so true...sometimes we just have to alter our thoughts and by doing this, we can create something positive from something troubling and/or painful.
Picture of Marsha and I at an art show last summer:

Every night I go to each of my favorite blogs...Here are some links. Enjoy!!! this one, this one, too, yup-love this one, and I'm a big fan of this, and this.

I am lucky to have a very creative friend, Kristin, who has this blog that I frequent for inspiration. Kristin is an artist, an art professor, a fabulous friend and a wonderful neighbor! She and I both bought our first (and probably forever) homes this past summer and we often get together and talk design, thrifting, art and our ever-crazy schedules and supporting each other in finding balance in all that we love to do.
Kristin and I...At Havana Hideouts, eating tacos and drinking triple berry sangria:

Say Something Sunday

2010-02-21T13:57:00.000-08:00

My plan on this blog is to write about things I do, things I like, things I love, people I adore, things that make me tick, peep, squak and flap my wings.

On Sundays I will be posting "Say Something Sunday" which will be a weekly post where I will tell you things that you may or may not want to know, or may or may not be interested in, but they are things that I would like to share. :)

So....For my first "Say Something Sunday" I will tell you about my views on vegetarianism. I have been a strict vegetarian for over 16 years. I had decided when I was 14 yrs old that eating meat was something that I refused to do. It was something that I had started thinking about when I was a little kid. I used to love checking out books from my elementary school library and I checked out "What's Inside An Egg" numerous times. The book rocked my world...I never knew that CHICKENS lived inside of eggs...Eggs were full of baby chickens!" I'm sure that I knew that already on some level but the book nailed it all home and it was shocking.
When I was 14 and told my mom that I wanted to become a veggie, she said that I could once I read a book on how to be a teenager and still be healthy as a vegetarian. I read "A Teen's Guide To Going Vegetarian" and shared the info that I learned from the book with my mom. She then cooked meat-free, protein rich foods for our dinners every night.
Since becoming a vegetarian, I strongly believe in my decision for numerous reasons. One of which is that I believe that I make less of an impact on our environment (and there is research to prove this) and I also believe that I am not causing pain or discomfort on any living being in the world around me.

Leaving you with something to think about:
A vegetarian driving a hummer is better for the environment than a meat-eater on a bicycle.
Interesting, huh?

Street Painting Fest!

2010-02-21T12:45:00.000-08:00

We went downtown this morning and had breakfast on the avenue at The Pelican and then walked around the Street Painting Festival for a while. We rode our bicycles from our house to downtown and it was LOVELY out. Perfect weather here today. I feel like I need another weekend day since I worked yesterday and Friday afternoon and evening. I am beat.
Shaun is taking a nap right now but I can't sleep. I have loads of laundry to do...I am thinking that I should make an ice coffee. mmmmmmm

How was your weekend? What did you do?

Gifts are good.

2010-02-19T11:21:00.000-08:00

As a gift to myself, and Shaun, I have been buying fresh flowers for the house every week. I am actually surprised by how much seeing them everyday affects me. I smile every time I wash the dishes because I put one flower in a small vase by the sink and the rest in vases/pitchers on the dining room table. Some of the vases/pitchers are thrifted, some are from Ikea and some are from TJMaxx...a small investment towards your heart and home.
I suggest that if you need a odd bit of joy, but yourself flowers. Make it a habit!

To do: drink coffee and write

2010-02-19T05:36:00.001-08:00

Good morning!
Working from home today, and then writing (revision of a short story due this weekend), and setting up for a conference that I am presenting at tomorrow. Oh, joy! So much to do. And then, this weekend is STREET PAINTING FESTIVAL!
I have gone to the festival every year for the past 15? years. I have pictures on my computer from last year's fest and I will try to post some later today. The handy man is on his way over to give me an estimate for installing the outdoor shower. Shaun thinks I am nuts to want to shower outdoors. Ha! It is bliss I tell you, pureeee bliss!!!!
Any one else like to shower outdoors?

Here is a picture of Zenny in the guest room. The canopy is vintage and I bought it at Goodwill a few years ago, knowing that it would be lovely hung above the bed! Bed spread at foot of bed from Anthropolgie. Book case: Goodwill

Last night we had dinner at my mom's house. She made an incredible salad with kale (who knew?!) and mac and cheese from scratch with Coastal Cheddar cheese...omg, yum! I had cold Stella with a slice of honey-bell orange. Amazing! Thanks, mom!

Two beers equals a too-exhausted-to-link-to-the-resturant-kind-of-girl

2010-02-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

Ah-hem....I know that last night I promised to link to the Havana Hideouts page on but I was so tired and full and chilly (50 degrees in SoFla!) and I immediately got in to bed and viola, dream land shortly arrived!

So, here is the link to Havana Hideout

p.s. it just took me 15 minutes to create that link above and now I am off for a POWER walk with my friend, K. I will attempt to create many more links later, b/c Buddha knows, I need the practice!
A picture from a few months ago of my friend, K and me, at Starbuckies, playing scrabble!!!

Tuesday is TACO NIGHT!

2010-02-16T13:59:00.001-08:00

In the adorable little downtown that I live in, there is a little place called Havana Hideouts (The restaurant was on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on Food Network-I'll link to the show when we get home from dinner). On Tuesday nights they serve tacos for ONE DOLLAR with the purchase of a drink. I usually order a glass of their homemade Berry-Basil Sangria with two black bean tacos. Yummmmm!

Yoga and french fries (and maybe a milkshake, too)

2010-02-15T16:54:00.000-08:00

So, I went to yoga tonight, even though I really wanted to stay home and cuddle on the couch and watch TV or get in my chair and read, but I haven't been to yoga in over two weeks and I thought, "JUST GO!" so I did. And when I left yoga I wanted french fries and a strawberry/vanilla milkshake from Checkers. Now, I guess that I could feel guilty and gross, ok, well I do feel gross, but the guilt is not here. I believe that it is ok that I went and worked my arse off in yoga and left there craving greasy fries. I say, "listen to your body!" And I did. I listened to my body and now my body is telling me that I am feeling full and sleepy and achey and I think that I may have go lay down.
Good night!

A random picture that just made me laugh...mmmmmmmm, Starbuckies!

Introdustions-aka Time to meet the kids

2010-02-15T16:41:00.001-08:00

Atwood-old man chihuahua...adopted last February 2009

Bela-5 year old chihuahua-quite the well trained kid-Shaun's kid

Shumi-ugh..he breaks my heart b/c of how cuddily and mushy he is. He just turned 3 on November 1st 2009

Bela and Atwood on a ride downtown

Three more kid introductions to come!

It was only a few months ago...

2010-02-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

that I bought this cottage, my first home, the home I plan to own forever, adding to it's original charm and creating my dream home!
A picture from the day I closed on my own-SOLD! An amazing, yet surreal day!

Years ago I bought this chair for myself as a graduation present when I graduated from under grad. I wanted the "perfect reading chair" and searched for MONTHS for a chair. I finally found this gem at Goodwill and was so amazed that someone would have given this baby up! I love the way it looks in this corner....mushhhhhhy!

I am heading out to yoga class in a little bit, but much of me would rather snuggle up in this chair with a glass of wine and the book that I am currently reading, "How the Light Gets In" by M.J. Hyland. Ahhhhhhhhhh

Where in your home is your favorite place to read a book?

Thrifted!

2010-02-14T16:05:00.000-08:00

I am a HUGE vintage fan- clothing, art, housewares, furniture, etc. Below is one of my new, well new to me, dresses from Goodwill- a simple cotton dress, great with flats or boots!

Welcome to my new blog!

2010-02-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog! This will be a place for me to link you to some of my favorite blogs that I read, posting pictures from decorating and renovating my 1925 house, writing about foods, thrifted finds and other things about my life. My goal is to post daily, some days more than once, but, we shall see!

Here is a few pictures from re-doing my library. Being a rather big book lover, I always knew that once I bought a home, I would have a library! The chairs, rug, pillow, table and throw blanket are from Ikea. The black, chipped paint desk is a vintage find from Goodwill, the knobs are from Anthropologie, the green vase on the floor is from Marshalls, the chandelier is from Lowes (I HATE wires! I made a wire cover for the wires coming down from the ceiling and ceiling medallion from thick black fabric from Jo-Ann Fabrics), the cabinetry was built by my handy-person, the paint is all Valspar in eggshell (I will write the color name next time) for the walls, and semi-gloss in Beluga for the inside of the shelving, the white is called Muslin white and it is used on all trim, including the wainscoting and the crown moulding.
A large round mirror will be hung later this week, as well as two amazzzzzing thrifted pieces of art.