Love Everyday Life

Craft stores give me panic attacks

2012-02-13T06:15:00.122-05:00

Remember how I decided to be crafty and make a couple of things for Ben's 30th birthday party? In the future, please talk me out of these kinds of ideas.

If you follow me on twitter, you know that yesterday I realized something about trying to be creative and crafty. I would actually have to go into a "craft" type store. (Please excuse my tweet typos - I was in an agitated state people!)

Here's something you should know about me. I am not a crafting person. Like Carrie Bradshaw missing the "bride" gene, I am missing the "I want to use my hands and create things " gene. In fact, craft stores make me uncomfortable. I'm just...very out of my element.

But yesterday I sucked it up. I had a specific list and I was hoping to get in and out pretty quickly.

Holy mother of choices.

All I could think as I walked through that store was, this is why I'm a minimalist. There were so many choices for every tiny thing. I'm not exaggerating - I was looking for a type of straight pin, and there were 22 different options.

Twenty-two different kind of straight pins. Who needs that many options? And how do I know which will do the job better because aren't they essentially all the same?

I don't handle that kind of pressure well, people. Some people say Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and Joann Fabric stores are their mecca, but here and now I am telling you is my personal form of torture.

I've realized I will never be a mom who crafts with her kids and I'm totally okay with that. I will also rid myself of this experience in the future by continuing to support the people who have these kinds of talent.

Dramatic? Yes. But also completely accurate. Silver lining? I totally got in a cardio workout speed walking back and forth across the store for thirty minutes.

Oh. And I have the supplies for the item, yet I still have to make it. Hold me.

Are you a creative, crafty, type person or do you curl up in a ball and chew your hair when someone makes you go in a craft store? Hope your Sunday was less eventful than mine!

Playing catch-up

2012-02-10T06:15:00.100-05:00

Oh my goodness what a week! There have been some crazy highs and lows - so what better way to play catch-up than with blurbs?

(Recognize this photo?)

*Some of those crazy lows were due to my recent post about my "soft" diagnosis. It's weird because I wasn't overly emotional writing it, but the minute I started getting comments/tweets/texts about it, it was like the flood gates opened. You are all wonderfully supportive and I am thankful for each and every message you sent.

*That was one of my lows - but one of my highs was definitely seeing my Stratejoy essay go live. Nervous, scared, excited all meshed into one big ball of emotions which manifested itself by making me cry while listening to the soundtrack from Rent. (I need more sleep).

*Speaking of sleep, I've been patting myself on the back big time for reading so much. I finished four books in the past week! However, my intention of getting to bed at a good time? Big FAT fail. It is not working at all - I need suggestions as to how to make this possible!

*Another one of my highs? Seeing a post I wrote appear on The Violet's blog. Not only was it awesome to see it up there, I'm talking about one of my favorite subjects...love letters.

*This weekend I'm going to start one of the decoration projects for the mister's 30th birthday party. I'm not going to share pictures before hand because Ben and I agreed I would surprise him (I don't want him getting a sneak peek), but I will be taking pictures of the process to share after - promise!

*The main living areas of our apartment look pretty freakin' awesome right now. However, our room? Kind of a hot mess. Normally this would bug me, but I've been really embracing it. At some point I will have to clean/organize/get it all together but today is not that day and I'm totally okay with that.

*I have so many ideas for posts floating around in my head I honestly don't have enough days to review all the books I've been reading. I'm going to still review a few here and there, but if you want to keep up with it all and read my reviews friend me on goodreads - I try to make my reviews on there just as thorough.

*Ben has the whole day off tomorrow so we are packing in time together. We're going to start with getting our taxes done (we know how to party), run errands, see a movie, and have more than one meal together. I can't wait!

How has your week been? Have you had any crazy high or lows? Happy happy Friday!

Living life on my own terms

2012-02-09T17:36:00.000-05:00

I entered the First Annual Stratejoy Essay Contest at the end of January. The prompt was "how do you live life on your own terms?"

You submit your essay, 20 finalists are chosen, and then an essay is posted on the Stratejoy blog each day during February. At the end of the month anyone can vote for their favorite and the prize is awesome bragging rights and $500!

I wrote my essay and I'm so proud of it! It's real, and raw, and a ~~little~~ lot out of my comfort zone. Then I got an email from Molly saying I was a finalist and I literally squealed in excitement!

The essays that have been going up each day are blowing me away - I am definitely among some beautifully talented women. My essay is the featured one today - I'd love if you'd head over and read it - and maybe leave me some love? (I'll be posting at the end of the month to remind you about voting of course!)

Read it here!

And feel free to join me in my happy chair dance! (No really, it's more fun than you think).

Magical 2012: Little Moments to Treasure

2012-02-08T06:15:00.039-05:00

First off, thank you for all your wonderful comments yesterday. I found myself tearing up more than once because of you all - in a good way of course!

I've talked a lot about how I'm determined to make 2012 a magical year for me. I have lots of goals and plans, and I love how my energy and enthusiasm for this hasn't waned. However, as fabulous as big plans are, it's the everyday things that get me through. So I'm starting a new series - each month I'll mention a few things from the previous month that were small, but lovely moments I don't want to forget. I'd love for you to share some of yours as well!

*Savoring that first sip of a frappuchino when I know I have a long day ahead of me - it couldn't have tasted better.

*Receiving a voice mail from our 11-year old nephew raving about the insulated cup we got him for Christmas. It was sweet and hilarious. (Note to self: straws that change colors are a big hit).

*Losing myself in a good book - or nine. (I posted about reading eight books but I finished another on January 31st so I officially read nine during that month!)

*Talking to the author of a book I read. Incredible!

*Relaxing afternoons of talking and reading in Chicago with these lovely ladies.

*Laughing with Ben over silly things that no one else would find funny, and being reminded once again how right we are, and how happy I am to be married to him.

*Deciding to grow out and donate my hair again. (Definitely more on this later - I think I'm a little insane but I'm gonna go for it!)

*Pushing myself with writing - I entered Stratejoy's Essay Contest and my essay is one of the finalists! I'll be posting again later today because that's when my essay is supposed to go live on the Stratejoy blog. I'll need your help for sure! I'd love for you to read my essay and then vote for it at the end of the month to help me win the $500 prize! I'm so honored to be among the finalists and yes I want to win, but I'm more proud of myself for what I wrote and how I'm pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

What magical moments do you want to remember from January?

Oh, and thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! The lucky winner is Lauren! Shoot me an email to claim your books!

My soft diagnosis

2012-02-07T06:15:00.135-05:00

It's been a little while since I talked about my PCOS diagnosis, so I thought I'd give you all a little update.

My blood work is normal (and trust me, they've tested for everything under the sun), I have cysts on my ovaries (I saw them with my own eyes), but otherwise I'm not exhibiting a lot of the physical symptoms. This is of course good news, but it's also what my doctor has determined a "soft" diagnosis.

Nine times out of ten this soft diagnosis doesn't affect me day-to-day. I'm trying to eat healthier, exercise more, get more sleep...all of which will help. Ben and I love each other, make each other laugh, and have plenty of things planned this year we're looking forward to. (Including a milestone birthday of his that's fast approaching - more on that later!)

But there are days when it feels like I'm straddling a ledge, wondering which side of rock is going to give out first.

I wait for the doctor to call and say my blood work is no longer stable and yes, I do have to take medicine. I get frustrated at the end of weeks when I've rocked portion sizes but I'm not seeing numbers on the scales go down. And then there are days where I wonder. Is this really how I'm going to feel for the rest of my life? Could I be doing anything else? Or the kicker...will I ever be pregnant?

I love how supportive people have been. I love that they've been encouraging and helpful, and I can't even count the number of people who have told me, "I know a woman with PCOS and she's a mom with three kids!" But I also have to be realistic. Ben and I have talked about this, and while it's still a little ways off, we have to acknowledge that pregnancy may not be in the cards for us.

Just writing that sentence breaks my heart a little bit. I've always joked about how I'll be the stereotypical pregnant woman with swollen ankles, mood swings, and an appetite that could rival that of a sumo wrestler. As crazy as that sounds I always said those things with a delight in the back of my brain that I'd get to experience them - going through the battle of pregnancy with the reward of motherhood.

That might not be the case. And I know this situation could be a lot worse, and I know we aren't crossing that bridge yet, but (without getting into specifics), we're closer than you'd think. There are reasons Ben and I are talking about options, because it's starting to look like we might need a few. We're on the same page about so much, and I cannot express how grateful I am for that. It's being re-affirmed to me almost daily how right we are for each other.

Ninety-nine percent of the time I'm positive, and okay with the holding pattern that seems to be our life right now - we have so much to be thankful for, and tons of fabulous things on our plates to the point where they sometimes appear overflowing in the very best way possible. I love talking to our niece and trying to decipher her two-and-a-half year old jibberish. I love getting voice mails from our nephew that are sweet and hilarious all at once. I have friends and family who are expecting, and my heart is simply bursting with joy for them.

But every so often I start to wonder if Ben and I will have the chance to experience some of these joys, and where this "soft" diagnosis is going to ultimately take us.

The Phantom Moon

2012-02-06T06:15:00.116-05:00

Remember that Harry Potter Hoop Art I showed you? Today I'm happy to introduce you to Jenny, creator of said hoop art, and owner of the Etsy shop The Phantom Moon. She was sweet enough to answer a few questions for me, and there may even be a little something in here for you!

How did you get started with your Etsy shop? Is it your full-time business? Thanks to my Mom, I've been creating since I was old enough to hold a crayon in my hand. My family and friends have always been so encouraging and supportive about what I create and told me I should try opening my own shop. When I stumbled onto Etsy, it seemed like the perfect fit! I'm hoping to make my shop my full time business and self-sustaining in 2012.

Home Sweet Home Embroidery Hoop Art

What inspires you? I'm a very visual person so I'm constantly inspired by everything around me from movies (we're always quoting movie lines in my family), books, art, photography, family, and food. I also have an extremely curious soon to be 5 year old that helps me see life in a whole new way. I'm also addicted to Pinterest and that baby is chock full of inspiration!

When did you learn to embroider? My Mom taught me some sewing basics right after my daughter was born, and after that I picked up a few books to teach me how to embroider some stuffies I had made her. It's been one of my favorite mediums since then and makes me feel almost like I'm painting on fabric which I love.

Declan the Embroidered Bird

Is there a story behind the name The Phantom Moon? When I was in college I fell madly in love with Duncan Sheik and his music. It's beautiful and haunting at the same time. I was thinking of a shop name and was listening to one of his songs and one of the lyrics mentioned "Phantom Moon" (also title of the album)...it was the middle of the night and I happened to be looking at one of the most beautiful full moons at the same time and it just hit me that The Phantom Moon was meant to be the name of my shop.

How do you come up with the items in your shop? Do you set aside time every day to create or is it a more "as it comes" mentality? I'd say it's definitely more of an "as it comes" mentality. Mostly the ideas just pop in my head randomly during the day or as I'm working on a project. I do get a lot of ideas when I'm laying down in bed getting ready to fall asleep. The only downside is if I don't "unsnuggle" myself and jot down my ideas, I usually forget about them by morning! Bed time and sleep are absolutely my kryptonite.

Avada Kedavra Embroidery Hoop Art

What's your favorite item in your shop right now? Does this ever change? They definitely change all of the time, especially according to my mood. Right now I love my Sign Language Hoops, but I have to say my Wingardium Leviosa Hoop is always right up there as my fav.

OMG Sign Language Embroidery Hoop

And just for fun, if you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Hands down I would have to say anything Mint Chocolate Chip! I'm in lust with Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha Lattes and pick Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream over any other flavor 99% of the time. And who couldn't eat chocolate at every meal (and in between?)

What do you think? I love how creative Jenny is with all her different products! (Those Sign Language Hoops crack me up!) Jenny went an extra step and is offering you a discount code for anything in her shop! Just use the code NEEDIT15 when checking out and you'll receive 15% off your order! The code is good through Tuesday, February 14th. (Last minute Valentine's Day gift anyone?)

Thanks again Jenny!

(All photos courtesy of The Phantom Moon)

The Department of Lost and Found

2012-02-05T10:59:00.000-05:00

I read so many books in January I don't have enough time to post them all throughout the week so I thought I'd start and end this week with reviews - which means a surprise Sunday (and then later Saturday) post! However, I'm probably not going to be able to review them all here, so be sure to friend me on goodreads if you want to keep up with what I'm reading!

The Department of Lost and Found by Allison Winn Scotch

My rating: 4 stars

Quick overview from goodreads: It didn't start out as the worst day of Natalie Miller's life. At thirty, she is moving up the political ladder, driven by raw ambition and ruthless determination. As the top aide to New York's powerful female senator, she works hard, stays late, and enjoys every bit of it, even if the bills she's pushing through do little to improve the lives of the senator's constituents. And if her boyfriend isn't the sexiest guy alive, at least he's a warm body to come home to. Then he announces he's leaving. But that news is barely a blip compared to what Natalie's doctor tells her: She has breast cancer. And she can't cure it by merely being headstrong. Now the life Natalie must change is her own.

All her energy, what little of it she has left, must go into saving herself from a merciless disease. So when she's not lying on the sofa recovering from her treatments and indulging in a curious addiction to The Price Is Right, she realizes it's time to take a hard look at her choices. She begins by tracking down the five loves-of-her-life to assess what went wrong. Along the way, she questions her relationships with her friends, her parents, her colleagues, the one who got away, and, most important, with herself: Why is she so busy moving through life that she never stops to embrace it?

I really enjoyed this book. I knew of the author Allison Winn Scotch, but I'd never read anything by her. The subject of the book is heavier for sure, but the story pulls you in, and you feel the highs with Natalie, and the lows.

I'm learning to appreciate more and more as a reader, especially the perspective it provides. For awhile you get to be an observer of another life - you can sometimes anticipate things they cannot. This is what I found during this story. I could see where there the story was going - not because it was predictable - but because it was how I wanted it to end up, and at times when Natalie would do things I would get frustrated, saying "Don't you see he is not right for you?" or "Why are you being so stubborn?"

This book was full of some amazing one-liners - just thoughts or musings that stuck with me after I finished reading it. (I read this on my kindle, so again, not totally sure of exact page locations!)

"So I sat in his office, and I tasted the horror that comes from discovering you're not invincible..."

"I'd read once that brave men aren't those who never sense fear. The brave men are the ones who sense fear and keep walking toward it. I wondered if it counted if you didn't have a choice in the first place."

"You don't what you're capable of surviving until you're forced to survive it."

I know this story was about a woman with cancer but even though I've never been in that situation, I could completely relate to the character.

It wasn't all doom and gloom either - there were plenty of times when I was laughing, and there were even times when I was surprised by a turn in the story.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book - not surprisingly it's about my favorite season.

"October had set in, and it has always been my favorite month: the one where the air still captured the warmth of the previous season but also hung with the promise of the fall chill."

Have you read this book? What did you think? Have you read anything else by this author? Hope you're having a fabulous weekend!

Friday is for chocolate

2012-02-03T06:15:00.087-05:00

We all know the U.S. economy isn't great - it's getting better, but we still have a long way to go. (Don't worry, this post isn't political). So when someone from Ghirardelli recently contacted me about their "Small Indulgences" campaign I was on-board. Their idea behind this campaign is being able to upgrade your life, to indulge even if just for a moment, for not a lot of money. In doing so they're releasing three new lines of chocolate: Sea Salt Escape, Creamy Devotion, and Coconut Rendezvous.

Now you're not so confused as to why I was eager to be a part of this, are you?

You all know I'm about the little moments in life, so I did a test with the chocolate a few nights after I got home from work. I'd sit down, pour myself some wine and have a square of chocolate.

The good news? The chocolate was delicious. The bad news? I ~~never~~ didn't always stop at one square. It was really good! In fact, I was thinking about having a giveaway with a few of the samples they sent me but I ~~ate them all~~ decided against it.

I was methodical in my "testing." I didn't want to mix flavors so I tried one at a time. First up was the Sea Salt Escape. I've only recently started trying chocolate with Sea Salt and even then it was always in dark chocolate - this was in milk chocolate, and I think I like it better! It was sweet but still had that little kick of salt that brought a nice balance and didn't make it too much.

Next up was the Creamy Devotion. While I thought the name of this one was a little weird - it's all milk chocolate and I wouldn't necessary guess that from the name - the taste was wonderful. In fact, I had to break each of these squares in half because it was so rich it was almost too much eating a whole one by itself. Yum!

And last but not least, was the Coconut Rendezvous. I was actually nervous about this kind because I'm a little bit of a snob about coconut. (I went to Hawaii when I was 14 and had fresh coconut there - ever since coming back, having coconut has never been the same). I figured it would be like a lot of other coconut chocolate bars - good except for the coconut.

There are times when I enjoy being wrong, and this was one of those times. Oh my gosh you guys, it was so good! I honestly felt like the coconut was as fresh as what I had in Hawaii - the Coconut Renezvous ended up being my favorite!

Do you ever escape with chocolate? How do you "upgrade" your life in a moment?

Happy Friday!

*Disclaimer: Ghirardelli contacted me about reviewing this chocolate and sent me samples for free. I was not compensated for anything else and all thoughts/opinions are my own. When I say this chocolate is good, I mean it!

Psst - don't forget about my giveaway - it's only open until tomorrow night!

I need you to meet these people

2012-02-02T06:15:00.077-05:00

When I was working on cleaning out the clutter, one of the things I did was purge through my bookshelves. I packed up bags and bags of books - some I took in to trade at used bookstore, but most I donated to the library. I was very realistic about what I would and wouldn't read, and if I kept a book I'd already read, it was because I knew I would continue to re-read it.

However, I paused when I came to my Chesapeake Bay Saga books by Nora Roberts. I mentioned yesterday how much I love these novels. They are not just books to me - these characters are people, and their stories live in me.

They're based on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and they're centered around the Quinn family. Three boys - Cameron, Ethan, and Phillip - are all teenagers who have gone through hard lives. They are each taken in by Ray and Stella Quinn, and are given a home. Ray and Stella take three boys who would fight anyone coming into their house and managed to create a family. Each book is about a different brother and they are ordered the way they were brought into the family - Cameron, Ethan, then Phillip. They are men now, and their lives are changed by a boy named Seth, another "lost" boy their father took in. The brothers find themselves making a promise to their father to take care of Seth, which is the start of their lives being turned upside down in both good and bad ways. There are so many things I love about these stories - Cam's quick grin, Ethan's unflappable patience, Phil's sharp mind, and Seth...the boy you watch grow up...his story is the last, the fourth book.

I need you to meet them.

So...I'm giving away my copy of these books. They are the ones pictures above - a little worn, but completely loved. I don't need the hard copies anymore - I'll keep these stories with me forever.

All you have to do to enter this giveaway is leave a comment on this blog post. It's open to everyone, and it'll close this Saturday (February 4th), at 10 PM EST. I'd love it if you tweeted about it as well, but to make it easier, there's only one entry per person - again, just by leaving a comment.

I hope you'll find as much joy in these stories as I have.

It's all about the story

2012-02-01T06:15:00.085-05:00

Each month I share a new recipe I've tried, something I've read and want to recommend, and something I ~~am craving, want~~ really need.

Eat it: Cinnamon Blueberry Breakfast Quinoa - I first saw this recipe on twitter via Megan and Ashley, and considering how much I love quinoa, I couldn't wait to make it. It is good, people! I used regular milk instead of soy, and I divided one batch into half cup portions so it made three cups (or six half cups). Plenty of breakfast for a few days, it's quick to make, and it's so many different flavors and textures. In a word? Yum.

Read it: The Chesapeake Bay Saga by Nora Roberts. When I first mentioned reading romance novels, this series was what I had in mind. I love these stories. It takes place not too far from here (Inner Harbor, Maryland), and the characters are so real I find myself sometimes thinking about them. Our romance novel book club recently read the first one in the series, and I couldn't stop there. I read the whole series again - more of a review to come, but trust me, you should read these books.

Need it: This Hoop Art from The Phantom Moon. I recently watched all the Harry Potter movies from start to finish (and finally saw the last one for the first time!), and it reminded me how much I love the stories. Don't you think this would be such a fun conversation piece?

(Photo courtesy of The Phantom Moon)

Are you a fan of quinoa? Have you ever read that Nora Roberts series? What do you want to share today - something to eat, read, or need?

The best intentions

2012-01-31T06:15:00.015-05:00

So...tomorrow's February. How did that happen?

I have a lot of energy coming into this year, and I want to stay motivated in all different ways, so I'm participating in 12 Changes for 2012. My challenge for January was to create more time for reading.

I rocked it.

According to goodreads, I read eight books in the month of January. EIGHT! I can't remember the last time I read eight books in three months, much less one! I set a goal for myself to read 40 books this year and I'm almost a quarter of the way finished. In one month!

So what did this look like for me? I tried to fit in time for reading when I could, but it also meant sometimes choosing reading over other activities, like watching shows on hulu. I made conscious decisions, and remembered how the more I read the more I want to read, so after awhile it once again became second nature.

I want to build upon each of these months, which brings me to my intention for February: Going to bed at a decent hour.

I'm here to tell you - this is not going to be easy. I have become somewhat of a morning person, but a lot of the times you'd never know that because I got a second wind at 10:30 the night before and stayed up past midnight. Getting more sleep is going improve my mood, help with my health, and I think make me an all-around more cheerful person.

Because I know I struggle with this, I'm setting some limitations for myself. I'm going to give myself a little wiggle room on the weekends (with the thought of at least trying to get eight hours of sleep), but on nights when I have to go to work the next day, my goal is to be in bed by 10 o'clock and lights out by 10:30 PM.

Again, I'll be building on my January intention because when I get in bed at 10 I'll read for half an hour before going to sleep - that way I'm not on the computer, or on my phone right before bed.

This also means I have to be careful with my time in the evenings. If I don't get home until 6 PM I only have four hours until I have to be in bed. That sounds like a lot, but between dinner, doing stuff around the apartment, spending time with Ben, blogging, etc that time can fly by. I think I'll also see an improvement in not wasting so much time on the internet. I'll admit, I feel a little like a 12-year old with a bedtime, but I know in the long run this is going to help a lot!

Does getting a good night's sleep make a difference for you? Have you ever given yourself a bedtime? Are you creating intentions for yourself each month, or do you prefer to set them for a longer period of time?

(Photo: Taken by me while at Magnolia Bakery in Chicago!)

More fancy Fridays

2012-01-30T06:15:00.010-05:00

My plan was to show you all the progress I made this weekend purging our walk-in closet. I was on a roll after taking care of our linen closet last week, but yesterday afternoon found me laid up on the couch feeling crappy, so the closet isn't quite finished.

Instead, I thought I'd show you the most fabulous Friday night ever. (It's okay to be excited).

Let me just start by saying my book club is awesome. We visit houses, masonic temples, and have fancy meals. Last Friday evening upped the bar even more. We read The Bungalow by Sarah Jio as our book, and not only did we have a great time catching up and talking about it, but we actually spoke to Sarah herself!

But first...we had chocolate-covered strawberries.

It was so cool to be able to talk to the author of the book we had read! She simply called us, and I put it on speaker phone while we asked Sarah about inspiration, process, and so many aspects of the story. I felt like we were talking to a celebrity, only a really grounded, super sweet, I-want-to-be-friends-with-her celebrity.

(I might have been a little excited).

We even got some information about Sarah's next novel coming out in September. I can't wait! All in all it was a wonderful way to spend a Friday night!

Are you part of a book club? Do you try to do activities that relate to the books you read? Have you ever gotten to speak to or meet an author or a book you've read?

It's time we had a chat

2012-01-26T06:15:00.094-05:00

Dear Mother Nature,

I've always been a fan of yours - the way you create seasons blows me away. (No pun intended). While I'm not that into spring or summer (allergies, sunburns, etc), I understand there needs to be a little bit of something for everyone. Besides, I love fall, and winter isn't far behind. There's something about the cool air that's rejuvenating. You can be truly amazing.

But you're also pissing me off.

I live in Northern Virginia. Vir-gin-ia. Not California, or Florida, or any other state that is periodically warm throughout the typical "winter" months. So could you please tell me why we've been experiencing temperatures close to 60 degrees lately? Sixty degrees. It's January! I'm not requesting blizzards or sub-zero temperatures, but an average around 30 wouldn't kill you, would it?

So here's my request, woman-to-woman. Get your act together.

Everyone has been tiptoeing around you, but I think it's time you hear some tough love. I'm telling you this for your own good because right now you're acting like a stereotypical woman who constantly changes her mind. You're better than that.

Or are you? You've been doing this for awhile now. I can understand growing tired, but maybe you just don't have it anymore.

That's right. The gauntlet has been thrown. You gonna show me what you've got or are you going to keep hiding behind random "chilly" days?

And don't think you can keep it cold through April and skip right to summer, either.

Sincerely,
Someone who'd like to use her winter coat

P.S. Global warming? You're next. Consider yourself warned.

Cleaning the Closet Clutter

2012-01-25T06:15:00.103-05:00

Happy hump day! I've been inspired by Ashley's Cleaning The Closet Clutter posts, so today I'm linking up. I took on the linen closet and the cabinet under the bathroom sink and showing you the good, the bad, and definitely the ugly!

When we moved into this apartment I was overjoyed that we had a linen closet! We didn't have one in our first apartment together, and it was one of those things that made all the difference - it even allowed us to get rid of a bulky piece of furniture. However, it's a bit of an odd shape (more long than deep), so over the months we've ended up shoving things in there haphazardly.

I'm not sure you're ready for that before photo yet though, so I'm going to ease you in with our under the sink bathroom cabinet first.

Again - kind of a place where things just get shoved.

Before.

And after. (Look at all that space! And the basket actually closes now!)

Next up was the linen closet. Again, because of the shape (tall and long) I couldn't fit it all in one picture, so just imagine this all the way down.

Before.

(All the contents from the linen closet. You can't really see it in this picture, but the towels pretty much take up the whole couch).

This is all we're keeping. Looks better, right?

After. (I even folded the towels so they actually fit on the shelves. Genius, I know).

Speaking of shelves...do you see the empty one? Yeah. It's awesome.

This whole process took me less than half an hour, and it was amazing the amount of things I was able to throw away. (I'm looking at you expired Tylenol from 2007). Also, we had a ridiculous amount of towels. We are only two people! We kept enough in case some start to wear down and so we'll always have something on hand for guests, but really, I don't know where they all came from. (Maybe they multiplied in the linen closet?)

A friend of mine stopped by last night, saw all the towels I was going to donate and offered to take them by our local humane society. Purged and out of the house in one evening? Please and thank you.

I've been slowly purging through things this year (I have a whole post brewing about books - stay tuned), and knowing I wanted to link up with Ashley today was the small kick in the pants I needed to make sure it got done.

Have you gotten rid of or donated things lately? What does your linen closet look like?

(Banner: Our Little Apartment)

The best for last

2012-01-24T06:15:00.076-05:00

The best part of this trip were the women I was with.

You'd think blogging friends are different than "real life" friends. You get to know someone through their words, and you don't get to see facial expressions, or know when they laugh at something. But this also means by the time you meet them you've literally known them for years, and it's not awkward or difficult - it's just like you haven't seen them in awhile. (And as Lisa pointed out, we don't have the luxury of grabbing a cup of coffee. It's either make weekends like this work, or unfortunately we don't get to see each other at all).

So without further ado, some shots of the incredible women I spent the weekend with!

(Amber is nothing if not helpful).

I'm not so good at the mirror shots...

Chicago was a fabulous weekend trip - I find myself daydreaming about being back there all the time. Thanks for putting up with all my excessive picture-taking!

Have you had online or blogging friends become simply friends?

Taking in the sights

2012-01-23T06:15:00.103-05:00

Ready for more Chicago? (I told you I took a lot of photos!) I've shown you details, food, signage, and even a quick video from the trip. Today I thought I'd talk a little bit about some of the activities we did while visiting.

Saturday afternoon we trekked to Oak Park, where we toured the home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW). My book club took a tour of a home in this area of a house Frank Lloyd Wright created that I really enjoyed, but it was even more amazing to see the house and studio he designed for himself. Our tour guide was wonderful - I learned a lot and while I think FLW was kind of an ass, he absolutely knew what he was doing when it came to design.

I would recommend doing this tour after reading Loving Frank, only because I think you'll have a lot more to talk about! I wish we could have taken pictures inside, but even if we could I'm not sure I would have been able to capture the beauty of it. There was just so much space - or if there wasn't, there was the allusion of it.

Sunday morning found us strolling toward the bean. It was cold and windy, but so fun to visit! I have a picture of me in it during the summer time, so I of course needed one in the winter!

I love how you can see the reflection in the back too!

Do you try to see the well-known sights when you're visiting a city? Have you been to the same city in different seasons?

I've got one more post of Chicago pictures - tomorrow will be the last. (I can't believe it's already been a week since I've been back!)

Happy Monday!

Saturday Signage

2012-01-21T06:15:00.007-05:00

Details, food...how about some signs? I'm a sucker for big attractions.

This makes my former English-major heart so happy!

This tour was awesome - definitely a must-do if you find yourself in Oak Park!

We didn't go in, but how could I not get a picture of this?

Do you like fun signs? I'll admit it does expose you as a tourist - someone started to ask us where something was our first night and then said, "oh nevermind, you're not from around here." (What, like I had a huge camera around my neck or something?)

Happy weekend!

Good Eats

2012-01-20T06:15:00.076-05:00

Yesterday was about details from Chicago, today it's all about the food. We had some amazing food last weekend. I could tell you about it...or I could just show you.

Two words: veggie skillet.

I'm not a fan of cheesecakes, but these minis looked so good I almost wanted to try one!

I can however, attest to the delicious-ness of these cupcakes!

We wrapped it up by ordering Pad Thai Sunday night, but we ~~inhaled~~ ate it too quickly to be able to take pictures!

Are you a fan of finding good food on trips, or is it more important for you to see the sights? What are you up to this weekend? (It's crazy to think a week ago I was leaving for Chicago!)

Happy Friday!

Delight in the details

2012-01-19T06:15:00.067-05:00

I thought about doing a video picture montage of my Chicago trip, but there were just too many pictures! I wasn't kidding when I told you I took a lot of photos...I managed to whittle it down from 200 to 126. (Don't worry, I won't be putting them all on here!)

While I'm still sorting through them, I thought I'd do a quick post with a few of my favorites...and they all happen to be detail pictures. (Surprise, surprise, right? I mean, it's not like I live for details or the small stuff, in any way - what's the name of this blog called again?) Everything from theater lights to nail polish, to coffee creamer, and tweeting.

Yes, this was actually a tree - there were several like it - and no, we weren't the ones that did it!

I think one of the reasons I love blogging so much is detail pictures like this suit it so well. Don't worry, more substantial Chicago pictures coming soon!

Do you tend to take detail pictures or are you more of a landmark type of person? Happy almost Friday!

(Psst - did you see the video I took at the bean? We witnessed a proposal!)

A quick hi

2012-01-17T06:15:00.033-05:00

Happy Tuesday! I got back from Chicago yesterday, and while I'm still trying to decide which pictures to share (I think I took over 200!), I thought I'd show a quick video from the trip.

And here's a picture of the proposal I mentioned - so sweet. (The girl was so surprised, she started crying!)

The weekend was amazing - a perfect mix of activity and down time. It was full of good friends, fabulous food, and lots of laughter.

How was your weekend? Have you ever witnessed a proposal?

Metro chic

2012-01-16T06:15:00.009-05:00

Ohhh, this color. I've posted about it before, so I think it says something that more than a year later I'm still absolutely, positively, head over heels in love with it.

Meet Metro Chic.

It's the perfect gray. Light, not too shiny, and with a little purple undertone. It's elegant and pretty, but still professional (I never hesitate to put it on my fingers for work).

I really like it for January's color because it's soft - a great winter neutral, but not boring. This also is the color I ~~forced Lisa to wear~~ I painted Lisa's nails last night. (Pictures coming soon!)

Have you ever worn this color? Are you a fan of gray nail polish? What's your color of the month?

Fabulous Friday

2012-01-13T06:15:00.118-05:00

Happy Friday! I hope today finds you rested, and eager for the weekend! I'd planned a whole post in my head for today, but I thought blurbs and maybe a few fun facts would be a more fun way to end the week.

*I mentioned this yesterday, but I'm a little obsessed with my kindle. I read so fast on it, and it's light and easy to use. Plus one-handed reading? Please and thank you. I don't want it to ever replace real books for me, so for every few books I read on my kindle, I read that many actual books as well. (This is not a hard thing to do - I have a lot of books I own that I haven't read).

*I'm also a little obsessed with the site Revolutionize Her. It's a group of self-employed women blogging about each of their respective journeys and the writing that's coming out of there is nothing short of incredible. This week alone I was blown away by two posts: Don't Be a Female Lobster and The Fair Price of Handmade. Don't Be Rude. It's okay. I'll wait while you go read them.

Back? Okay.

*Have I mentioned on here how much I hate sand? (Sometimes I forget that I haven't known all of you my whole life so there are things you may not know about me). If I could have the beach without the sand, I'd be fine. The ocean and I are cool. Waves, seagulls, salty water, the boardwalk - all of it good. But sand? Ugh. It's the devil.

*Amy wrote a brilliant post about being kind online, and encouraged her readers to not be so negative on twitter - and maybe to peruse their tweets to see if they could change any negative thinking they might be having, before tweeting in the future. I took Amy's suggestion yesterday and looked back over my tweets for the past week. I was pretty proud to see that I only had one in the last seven days I could really see as negative, and even then it was more sad, not angry. I'm actually pretty hilarious. (And humble, of course). It was cool to see what I'd written - so often a tweet is a quick, fleeting thought, that I didn't even remember half of what I'd said! (Which obviously speaks to the caliber of my thinking, hmm?)

*I'm going to Chicago! I have been obnoxiously tweeting about it, (what's that - this isn't making you want to follow me?) but I can't help it - I'm so excited! I think I associate independence with travel.

My freshman year of college I bought a plane ticket to surprise the guy I was dating at the time for Valentine's Day. He was in Texas and I made the plans, bought the ticket, managed to keep it a surprise from him, and then told my parents - not exactly as an after thought, but definitely an "oh I did this, FYI," instead of an asking permission kind of thing. I was 18. I remember feeling grown up and responsible, and slightly terrified. (It was my first time flying alone and it was the February after 9/11. I got through security and the first thing I saw was a soldier with an M-16. I almost peed my pants).

Now I'm 28 and am still as giddy and excited as I was ten years ago. Ben and I love to take trips, but this one is for me, and we're established and comfortable enough in our relationship where that's more than okay. We normally wouldn't spend money like this, but things just kind of fell into place financially (hello discount airline code), and it worked out perfectly. I'm flying to a different city, where I'll meet up with friends, have a great time, and then come home and go back to work, no big deal. I can't help but feel fancy! (If I drink tea while I'm there I might not know what to do with myself!)

How are you this Friday? What are your weekend plans? Do you associate something tangible with independence? And seriously - go read those posts I mentioned!

P.S. I've been seeing a few new readers pop up - so hiii! Welcome! I'd love to hear from you!

Wine and Love: 2012 Style

2012-01-12T06:15:00.081-05:00

My first wine and love of 2012! Let's make it a good one, shall we? (If you don't know the deal, you share what's making you want to drink a glass of wine, and what you're loving this week. Nora hosts it and it's awesome. The end).

Things this week that make me want to drink a glass (or bottle!) of wine:

*My still not totally functioning laptop. Remember how I spilled wine on the keyboard? Thankfully everything inside of it is functioning, but some of the keys are just done. So I'm still plugging in an extra keyboard and typing on that. It...kind of defeats the purpose of a laptop.

(Nice, right?)

*I'm that person who still hasn't put their Christmas decorations away. In my defense, they're taken down, just not packed away. Details, details.

*Co-pays to see specialists. I'm grateful we have good insurance, but to see a specialist (pretty much anyone other than a regular doctor) it's $35 a visit. That adds up, real fast.

Things I love this week:

*Oh, you know, just the fact that tomorrow I'm going to Chicago! I'll be there for a long girls weekend, where I'll get to see Lisa, Nora, and meet Amber! Pumped does not even begin to describe it. I'm not taking my laptop (see above reason!) but rest assured I will be taking tons of photos and videos and I'll report back next week!

*I also get to hang out with Hannah for an evening next week. You know, just this amazing person I work with on all those love letters. We've texted, called, and video chatted, but we've never actually met in person. I can't wait.

*How fast I read on my kindle. I've always thought I was a pretty quick reader, but I read crazy fast on this thing! (More on this tomorrow).

*Speaking of reading, I'd say my January intention is going well so far, considering I read FOUR books just last week. Two on my kindle, two regular. I'm loving it!

*That I have more loves than wine.

What are your wine and loves today? Be sure to head over to Nora's and see who else is linking up!

The Bungalow

2012-01-11T06:15:00.099-05:00

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

My rating: 5 stars

Quick overview (from Amazon): In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war. A timeless story of enduring passion, The Bungalow chronicles Anne's determination to discover the truth about the twin losses-of life, and of love-that have haunted her for seventy years.

I've had this book's release date marked on my calendar for months. I loved Sarah's first novel, but I can only explain my feelings about reading this one as similar to a second date - excited, nervous, and wondering how it could possibly be better than the first.

The second date was incredible.

From the start, I was enchanted: "He was there, of course - in uniform, shyly smiling at me as the waves fell into the shore. I could hear them - their violent crash, followed by the fizz of a million bubbles kissing the sand."

(That's from the first page people!)

It took me awhile to process the story - I was enraged by the actions of some of the characters, and swooning at others. It takes a lot for me to really fall in love with a leading male character, but I fell head over heels for Westry. However, I couldn't figure out why I was angry at the end of this book. I liked the story, I connected with the characters, but I was in a bad mood for the rest of the day when I finished it!

The next day (after I woke up, still thinking about the story), I realized I was angry because it ended. The love the author created between these characters was so heart-warming and incredible I was angry I didn't get to experience more of it!

The love was almost tangible; I can still feel myself wrapped up in the relationship like a warm, cozy blanket. (And let me tell you, if Westry was real, Ben might have serious competition).

There were twists in the story I wasn't expecting - at the end there were things I was anticipating and I found myself almost holding my breath! I won't go into details (I don't want to give anything away), but I was engaged the whole time. This book was a quick read (I finished it in a day), but I was in the story the whole time, and the few times I had to put it down I felt weird because I missed it, and wanted to get back to it.

I originally gave the story four stars but realized I've been thinking about it so much it had to get five instead. I'm already thinking about re-reading it!

Have you read The Bungalow or anything else by Sarah Jio? Are you as enamored with her writing as I am?

Happy hump day!

(Photo: Sarah Jio)

Setting the stage

2012-01-10T06:15:00.102-05:00

Another month, another fabulous guest beauty post by Megan! Once again she makes me laugh while also helping me realize how much I love certain products. (And she may or may not use the word ninja).

Foundation. When building a house, the foundation is the first and most important part of the process. It literally sets the stage for the success or failure of the entire structure. The theory applies with your make-up as well. Yes it does! Putting on make-up is just as epic and important as building as home! Right? Right.

In all seriousness though, there are a few products that can be considered the foundation of your beauty and make-up routine; falling under the skincare umbrella we have primer and moisturizer. Today though I'll be touching on make-up and both a product I've used for years, and a new one that I'm enjoying.

Foundation can be a tricky item to get right. Depending on your skin tone and type, not all foundations will work for you. As I mentioned in my previous post, my skin can become extremely oily but also has dry patches. I've tried so many types and brands of foundation over the years and have discovered a few things: cream and liquid formulations literally wipe right off my face, and so does tinted moisturizer.

That didn't leave me with many options.

Luckily, when I was 14, my lovely Mama bought me Bare Minerals powder foundation. I've literally used it ever since. My eyes would be tugged in the direction of New! Shiny! Matte! Fancy! Ooh la la!, but I would always go back to my stand-by. It never fails me! It's easy to apply, EXTREMELY forgiving, and best of all is the only thing I've ever found that keeps my face from being a complete oil slick by noon. I'm not even kidding you about how forgiving this product is.

For years I could never remember which shade I was and would alternate between Fair and Medium, but no one ever noticed, because both shades looked natural. They've since made things easy for me by creating a shade called Fairly Medium which is literally my face shade in powder form.

You can easily layer coverage. I probably use too much on a daily basis but my skin tends to get those red, splotchy bits on my cheeks. The best part is that it's SO HARD to put on too much. Don't get me wrong...I'm sure it's possible but you'd really, really, really have to try. It's made of natural ingredients, so my face doesn't feel like it's got a layer of gunk on it, and the times I've fallen asleep in it, I think it's actually made my face look BETTER. The best compliment I can give the Bare Minerals foundation is that I've been told innumerable times how fantastic my skin looks. My skin is not that good. It has its moments of clarity but they are just that...moments. Unless I'm constantly vigilant about exfoliating/cleansing/moisturizing/drinking water my skin is splotchy, has uneven tone, dryness and occasional spots. This make-up FOOLS PEOPLE. It is like a make-up ninja.

One downside, as with many beauty products, is price. The current selling price is $26. Eek! If you can keep yourself from layering it on like I do, the pot will easily last you up to a year. The way I use it, I'd say I can get close to 6 months out of one pot. All in all that's not too bad, but sometimes there just isn't $26 to blow on make-up. Much like when I was on the hunt for a cheap, quality moisturizer, I figured there just HAD to be a drugstore option out there that would work!

Well my lovely people (since I know now that at least ONE dude reads this blog!), I found one! L'oreal True Match Naturale mineral powder foundation in Natural Ivory. I picked it up at Ulta so I was able to carry around a pot of the Fairly Medium Bare Minerals to compare. It appears to be literally the same shade! AND it's half the price! (I think I spent $12.50 on it). It comes with a built in brush which I find to be neither a plus or a minus. It's not the highest quality brush but it does fit in the pot and make it easy to travel with. I find that the brush can become a little harsh and seems to create dry patches on my face. Overall though, the coverage is great, it appears to last throughout a work day, and it still feels a lot more natural on my face then any cream or liquid formula I've ever tried.

The Bare Minerals will always be my go-to foundation but I've happily found in the L'Oreal True Match Naturale a cheaper option that gets pretty much the same results. Definitely recommend giving either one a try!

What do you think? Do you use Bare Minerals or do you prefer a cream? How much use can you get out of your foundation before you have to replace it? (For more of Megan's beauty advice, or just her hilarious-ness in general be sure to follow her on twitter!)

The way to my heart is through t-shirts

2012-01-06T06:15:00.124-05:00

So remember these awesome shirts I've been talking about? Today I'm happy to introduce you to Ryan - the creator behind NIFTshirts. His sense of humor is fabulous - just read these shirts if you don't believe me!

How did you get started with your Etsy shop? Etsy was actually suggested to me by my mother. My mom was watching the Martha Stewart show one day, and on the show she had a guest that had a shop on Etsy. My mother checked out the Etsy site herself and was instantly in love with all the creative creations. She told me to take a look into it and I too was hooked.

What inspires you? What inspires me...hmm. Well when it comes to t-shirts. I'd like to say that happiness is what inspires me. It sounds kind of corny I guess, but people always say, "do what you love," and I have finally found it.

Is your Etsy shop a full-time business or something you hope to grow into a full-time business? Has it always been that way? The shop is now a full-time business. In the beginning it started out as a "part-time" business, due to the fact that it took a bit of time to get the orders going and to get the shop name out there. After graphic arts school I jumped right into a desktop publishing job. It was the worst job ever! The job scared me - I'd studied graphic arts in high school and also college and was working in the field and couldn't stand it. It was a bad feeling, so after quitting the desktop publishing job, I worked part-time jobs while I started creating a website and selling t-shirt designs.

After a few years the t-shirts began to take off, so much that I had to quit my part time job and work full time on my website. I had t-shirts featured in Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, and People Weekly magazines. I also had two shirts that found their way onto the TV shows Scrubs and Kyle XY. Seeing something that I made in magazines and on TV was and still is an amazing feeling.

How did you come up with the name NIFT Shirts for your shop? I forget the exact way it came about, however there are a few things that I do remember that I was very specific about. I wanted to make sure that the name was short and an even amount of letters. You'd be amazed at how a word with an odd amount of letters can mess up a design, which is why there is no Y on the end. Once I had the name NIFT then the acronym was soon to follow. New Imaginative & Fresh Threads.

How do you come up with the items in your shop? Can you explain your process? A lot of the designs originate from a story or something that has happened to me. I could go on and on and tell you a story and where I was when I came up with the idea for some of the t-shirts. I also use my notepad to take down notes or ideas when I get an idea for a new design. Ideas can hit at anytime or any place. Once I have an idea, I'll come up with a few designs and pass it around to some friends, or email and post it on facebook to get some feedback. Once I'm happy with it, I post it on Etsy to sell.

What's your favorite item in your shop right now? This is tough, I have so many of them. Right now though my favorite is Cat Plisken. It's based on one of my favorite sci-fi movies growing up Escape from New York City. The main character (Kurt Russell) played Snake Plisken and since I couldn't make a shirt of the exact character (infringement issues), I did the next best thing. I took a cat, put a cig in his mouth, added an eye patch and some cross bones and there you have it. When I wear it out, 9 out of 10 people don't have a clue what is going on with the shirt, but the one person that gets it usually comes up to me and we'll have some random conversation about the movie.

And just for fun, if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Ravioli with lost of cheese please.

What do you think? Aren't his creations awesome? And how cool that he's been featured in magazines and on TV, right? Be sure to head over to his Etsy shop to see a lot more!

Happy Friday!

(All photos courtesy of NIFTshirts)

Energetic and loving it

2012-01-05T06:15:00.095-05:00

You know how I talked about having a Magical 2012? I'm doing it people...this isn't just idle chit chat. So much that when Stephany sent me an email about "12 Changes In 2012" (bloggers focusing on one thing a month they'd like to change in their lives), I was all about it. (Actually, I'm not sure I responded to her email, so I might be unofficially participating, but I'm doing it all the same!)

My intention for January: Create more time for reading.

If you follow me on twitter, you know this has already been happening. Since Sunday, I've started and finished two books, and am already on my third. I know there are ebbs and flows of reading, but I'm trying to carve out time for myself each night to just read, so it becomes more of a habit, instead of something I love that gets pushed to a back burner. Plus, this means more books reviews on the blog. (I know you're excited...please contain yourself).

I'm just so pumped for this year! I know, I know, it's only the first week of January, but for once I don't think this feeling is going to fade, because I finally have the tools to help me carry out my goals - to help make my dreams a reality.

I want you to be just as excited too!

I'm going to give another plug to the Create Your Magical Year course over at Stratejoy, because it's awesome. I've since ordered the Joy Equation course, which has caused my love for journaling to re-assert itself in full force!

I have badges with these links on the side of my blog where they're going to stay for awhile. I'm excited to be an affiliate for these courses (i.e. if you purchase either of them from the links on my blog I get a little something back), but more importantly, I believe in these courses.

You all know by now that I'm about full disclosure. And I wouldn't keep talking about something that wasn't worth it. I want you to have as awesome of a year as I'm planning to have! So just know that option is there, and if you want to do something for yourself (and a little something for me!) have at it, but for now...I'm off to read.

(Photo: pinterest via Natalie)

Stay

2012-01-04T06:15:00.125-05:00

Stay by Allie Larkin

My rating: 5 stars

Overview (from amazon): Savannah "Van" Leone has been in love with Peter Clarke ever since she literally fell head over heels in front of him on the first day of college. Now, six years later, instead of standing across from him at the altar, Van's standing behind her best friend Janie as maid of honor, trying to mask her heartache and guilt as Janie marries the only man Van's ever loved. Before, Van's mother died, she told Van never to let Peter go, but as the couple exchanges vows, Van wonders if her fairy tale ending will ever come true.

After the wedding, Van drowns her sorrows in Kool-Aid-vodka cocktails and reruns of Rin Tin Tin, and does what any heartbroken woman in her situation would do: She impulsively buys a German Shepherd over the Internet. The pocket-size puppy Van is expecting turns out to be a clumsy, hundred-pound beast who only responds to commands in Slovak, and Van is at the end of her rope... until she realizes that this quirky giant may be the only living being who will always be loyal to her, no matter what.

Van affectionately names her dog Joe, and together, they work to mend the pieces of Van's shattered heart. And it certainly doesn't hurt that Joe's vet is a rugged sweetheart with floppy blond hair and a winning smile. But when the newlyweds return from their honeymoon, Van is forced to decide just how much she's willing to sacrifice in order to have everything she ever wanted, proving that sometimes life needs to get more complicated before it can get better.

I'd heard of Stay before - the author is a blogger, and when it first came out, I saw dozens of reviews about it - all saying good things - but for some reason or another I never got around to reading it. As I was setting up my kindle (a Christmas gift - much more on this later!), I stumbled across Stay, and decided to give it a try. It sounded sweet - a girl loving her dog to get over a man.

Holy shit. This book was phenomenal.

In fact, I didn't even pick up another book for three days after I finished reading it. I was still so wrapped up in the story, at one point I remember thinking, this story was so good, it might have ruined me for all other books.

Yeah.

The writing pulled me in, and kept me engaged throughout. The author paints such great pictures with her words - funny or uncomfortable, I always felt like I was right there next to Van, the whole time. Let me give you a couple of examples. (Although since I did read this on my kindle I don't know page numbers!)

"I knew he was blushing, and I knew he knew I was blushing. It was the best kind of uncomfortable there is."

"...I wanted to cry, hard and loud. I wanted to throw that kind of tantrum kids throw when they fall off their bike and skin their elbow and their mom is all out of Spider-Man Band-Aids. I wanted to scream and cry and have someone carry me home and tuck me in bed and press the back of a cool smooth hand to my forehead and kiss my cheek and tell me it was all going to be okay."

I think after the Band-Aid passage is when I actually put my kindle down, and took a deep breath - that description literally took my breath away...because I knew what she meant.

This was the theme throughout the book. I haven't experienced a lot of what Van went through in the story - losing a parent, being in love with your best friend's husband, even getting a dog - but it didn't matter, because I knew these characters, right from the start. I found myself smiling and laughing, or getting irritated with the characters (at one point I even screamed in frustration, at which point Ben advised me to put the book down and go to sleep), because they were mine. I felt like the story was written just for me to enjoy, because it had so many things I loved in it.

I don't want to give anything away, so I won't talk about the ending, but there was a quote near the end (at least I think so - no page numbers can be frustrating!), and it was like Van and I had the same brain.

"I looked down at the kitchen table. It was old and nicked. Mug marks and water rings, scratches, and indents. It had history."

She was talking about a table, but I can't get that quote out of my head. Those few sentences? That's what I want out of life. I want marks on me from battles I've fought, and wrinkles (or water rings) to show how long I've been around. I want my history to be something I tell to others and pass on someday.

I feel like this review is a little all over the place, but I have so much joy bursting out of me after this book that I'm going to obnoxiously push it on anyone I know. (This includes you).

So tell me - have you read Stay? Did you have the same I'm-in-love-I'm-in-love-and-I-don't-care-who-knows-it reaction? (Points if you can tell me what movie that's from). If you haven't read it - what are you waiting for?

Happy hump day!

Traditions for the new year

2012-01-03T06:15:00.019-05:00

Each month I share a new recipe I've tried, something I've read and want to recommend, and something I ~~am craving, want~~ really need.

Eat it: Ultimate Breakfast Casserole - I got this recipe from a friend, and Ben and I made it for breakfast Christmas morning. I would use less onion next time, and maybe brown the hash browns a little bit first, but otherwise, it was good - I think we started a new Christmas tradition! (Although Ben's determined to use tater tots next time). So good.

Read it: Stay by Allie Larkin - Full review coming later, but holy mother of amazing writing. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it hit me on so many levels it's almost a week after I finished reading it and I can't stop thinking about it!

Need it: This shirt from NIFTshirts. What can I say, it makes my former English major heart happy! I actually won the Harry Potter t-shirt I mentioned, and it's really comfy. I've been wearing it so much Ben has informed that I do have other shirts.

(Photo courtesy of NIFTshirts)

Are you a fan of breakfast casseroles and clever t-shirts? Have you read Stay? What do you want to share today - something to eat, read, or need?

A Magical 2012

2012-01-02T06:15:00.114-05:00

I've seen a lot of 2011 recap posts floating around, and normally I would be all about that. I was sitting on my couch the other day, wondering why I didn't really want to do a post about last year - and I realized it's because I've already moved on.

At the end of November, I signed up for the Joy Council - Creating Your Magical Year through Stratejoy, not really knowing what it was about. It was 21 days of emails, challenges, phone calls, letting go of 2011 and planning for 2012. Or, as Molly (founder of Stratejoy) puts it, "dreaming and scheming, and plotting and planning, for a magical 2012." (Her words are way catchier!)

I didn't know what to expect going in, and I had never worked with Molly or Stratejoy in any sense and I was afraid it was going to be a little too "kumbayah-ish" for me - I wasn't sure I was ready for 21 days of repeated "you can do it" cheers.

There are times when I love being wrong. This is one of them. The course was amazing.

There were emails with questions to get you thinking about how you viewed things, or why you wanted to push yourself, I got to listen to interviews with "gutsy girls" - women who forged out on their own to create a business and a lifestyle they love, and I even got to pair up with a couple other girls in the Joy Council to talk about how we were processing everything. Yes, Molly told me I could do it, but she also showed me how.

It's interesting, because normally I would put things like this off. I would start off strong, and then slowly fizzle out. But I want big changes in 2012, and the only person who can get that process started, is me. I was tired of waiting for things to change on their own. I was tired of always putting others' needs before mine. This course was for me, a time where I could think, and process, and grow.

I am done with running scared.

I'll be sharing bits and pieces of what I discovered (about myself, what I want to be doing, etc) throughout the year itself, but I wanted to let you know a little bit now.

My theme for 2012 is Advocate Passion.

I have three goals for the year - two project (with an end result), and one maintenance (something that will require continual work). My maintenance goal is my health.

Health is probably a pretty common goal - I mean, who doesn't want to be healthier and lose weight, right? But the key to this, is I've already started. I didn't wait for the new year to start exercising, in fact, there were times during the course where I was jumping in my seat, wanting to get to how to map out a goal so I could start already!

Exercise is a priority again, and while I'm starting off slowly, it feels really good to accomplish something, knowing I'm working towards a bigger picture. This not only helps my knee, but will help with symptoms of PCOS, so it's a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone mentality...and so far, it's working. I've set a time line for myself with check-ins to re-assess and make sure I'm not only meeting my expectations, but that I'm continuing to set attainable goals.

I feel like my old self has emerged - the enthusiastic, energetic Becky who laughs easily, and for a long time. I have a plan, and wonderful support, and I'm ready to make 2012 the year where things happen, not just where I talk about dreams.

Molly has packaged up the Joy Council course into a big downloadable file called Create Your Magical Year, available for purchase. I would encourage ALL of you to think about it. It's affordable, it's eye-opening, but most of all it's an investment in yourself. That's worth it! You can find details of it here - there's even a little testimonial from me in there!

How was your New Year's readers? Did any of you participate in the (live) Joy Council course? What did you think? Do you set goals or resolutions for yourself? How do you keep your motivation for them alive?

Wishing you a magical new year!

Enjoying the moments

2011-12-26T22:39:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a lovely long weekend. Mine included laughter, family, and a busy, but full of love schedule.

I'm going to be taking a little blogging break this week, so I can spend some time relaxing and reflecting on the past year, in order to hit the ground running in 2012.

See you then!

For you

2011-12-23T06:15:00.037-05:00

In the spirit of writing love letters, I couldn't think of a better way to start my holiday weekend than to write a love letter to all of you!

Dear Reader,

Do you know how fabulous you are? How absolutely, truly wonderful you are? If not, I just wanted to take a minute to let you know.

I was excited to start a blog, but I never imagined what it would turn into - a community of bloggers and readers whom I love so much. I never thought I'd be saying that about a group of people who I've never met through the internet. But it's true.

On days when I'm frustrated, and am not sure I have anything left to blog about, I go back through old posts and read comments. Every time, I am amazed at the humor and insight left in comments by my readers.

I know a lot of bloggers who say they write for themselves, and in a sense that's true for me as well, but YOU are the reason I keep coming back.

Yes, little ol' you.

So thank you. For coming back every day, for leaving comments, and for bringing more joy into my life than I would have ever expected.

I hope you have a glorious weekend.

All my love,
Becky

A very appropriate wine and love

2011-12-22T20:16:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday - even though it's almost over at this point! I'm participating in Nora's weekly Wine and Love series today. If you don't know the deal, you share what's making you want to drink a glass of wine, and what you're loving this week. Here are mine!

Things this week that make me want to drink a glass (or bottle!) of wine:
*My laptop. Or rather, my clumsiness. Earlier this week I accidentally spilled a glass of wine all over my couch, my laptop, and me. I originally thought my laptop was fine - the wine seemed to be all on the surface - but while the internal parts seem to be okay, a lot of the keyboard is messed up. We've cleaned and cleaned it, but for now, I'm using an old mac keyboard attached to my laptop. I'm nothing if not classy.

*Not getting enough sleep. I talk about this every other week, don't I? I'm determined to change this starting tonight!

Things I love this week:
*Harry Potter trivia Scene It game. Some friends and I were playing it for the first time tonight, and it's so much fun! It only covers the first five movies, and it's movie focused (not the books), so there are some weird questions but we laughed a lot.

*The fact that I'm drinking wine while writing this post. Or, before I started it. (Ben doesn't trust me with wine near a computer anymore, and I can't say I blame him).

*Elf. This movie never gets old. The end.

*The number of letters we received for the 12 days of love letter writing. 602 letters. I am blown away.

*Time with family. It's been a fun couple of days, and I don't go back to work until Tuesday. I'm looking forward to a fabulous relaxing holiday weekend (and hope you are too!)

*All of your wonderfully supportive comments on my last post. You all rock.

*That I have more loves than wines. Always a plus.

Happy almost Friday! What are you wine and loves today? Be sure to head over to Nora's post to read hers and see who else is participating!

An adjustment

2011-12-20T06:15:00.151-05:00

A little over a week ago I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS. I won't get into lots of technical terms or explanations (I'm sure there will be more of that later on), but essentially it's a hormonal imbalance that can be treated, but can also lead to bigger problems (diabetes, heart disease, and infertility being a few of the bigger ones).

I'm still learning, so I don't have any hard and fast answers about causes, because the more I read/talk to people, the more I realize no two women with PCOS are the same.

What I know for sure: it's not life-threatening, it can be treated (but not really "cured"), and it can be a pain in the ass. Or the uterus. (Not really. But you get my point).

By the time I was diagnosed it wasn't a complete surprise, but when I originally went in to see my doctor and she told me this was her suspicion I was blown away. I didn't know a whole lot about PCOS (truth be told, I still don't), but I thought if you had really irregular cycles, that was the biggest indicator. Apparently there are a lot more indicators that aren't necessarily as well-known, but still signs that you might have PCOS. (Which is really interesting because apparently this is so common, one in every fifteen women have it).

That night Ben and I were discussing these other indicators, one of which is mood swings. We realized if the diagnosis was positive, it would make a lot of sense. We were quiet for a minute, both thinking about how this might impact us day-to-day as well as big picture (or at least that's what I was thinking about), when Ben turned to me and said, "yeah, this would make sense, because let's face it, you were kind of a bitch in high school."

I have never laughed so hard in my life.

It was the absolute last thing I expected him to say, but it was also so true. (This is why I married this man. He tells me the truth, but still makes me laugh).

So that's where I'm at right now. I'm talking about it, I'm processing, and I'm reading as much as I can. I have doctor's appointments set up, and I'm figuring out what the next step will be.

There are things I could be at risk for, but that's a post for another day. (Plus, until I know more, I'm trying not to jump to any conclusions). It's definitely been a bit of a roller coaster, but I'm letting myself ride it out, and seeing where it takes me.

I thought about not blogging about it, but that's not how I do things. I tend to word vomit, then sit back and process. (Remember my excessive earthquake cussing?) I'm all about full disclosure, and making people aware, and honestly, it would feel weird not to blog about something so big happening in my life.

There are going to be good days and bad while I'm learning and dealing and processing, but I've had amazing support from friends and family alike.

So for right now? It's an adjustment.

A good day

2011-12-19T06:15:00.101-05:00

What a weekend. It was full of dog-sitting, salted caramel sauce-making (epic fail - more on that later), a video chat with a lovely friend, goal setting, and a five-year old's birthday party where kids attacked a pinata with an awesome ferocity.

I read two books, laughed with friends, and returned to The British Pantry for the first meeting of the romance novel book club with Megan and Sarah. (We were also joined by an English friend who gave us tips on how to have a proper tea!)

Can you spot me?

Yes, those were all as good as they look!

(I may have been a little obsessed with these centerpieces).

This weekend felt like a good day.

And man, have I needed that. There's been a lot going on lately, and it seems like December is flying by.

It was lovely.

Do you feel like this month has been going by quickly? How was your weekend? What do you do when you need to re-charge your batteries?

Last call

2011-12-17T10:22:00.000-05:00

We did it. This is officially the last day of the 12 Days of Love Letter Writing, and we made it through!

Thank you to everyone who wrote a letter - over the next week we'll be putting up images and writing posts on the love letter blog, showcasing all your hard work.

Today we're encouraging you to write one more - a last call of sorts. We have all the requests up so you can look through them, and choose one more person to write to.

And if you're a rock star and wrote a letter for each of the 12 days? We'd like you to script a letter to someone in your life who might need one right now.

Head over to the blog to see the requests - and thank you for helping to spread so much love this season.

Let me help you rally

2011-12-15T06:15:00.109-05:00

Okay, so I've talked and talked and talked about More Love Letters. Last week I even introduced you to the 12 Days of Love Letter Writing. But in case you ~~have been hiding under a rock~~ missed it, bear with me for a moment while I tell you about the most heart-warming, soul-fulfilling project I've ever been a part of.

The World Needs More Love Letters is a community of love letter writers who write and leave letters across the map in hopes that the right people will pick them up. We leave them everywhere - books, coffee shops, coat pockets, trains. Love letter writers document the letter writing and dropping through photos, blog posts, and social media. Each month we take an extra special letter request and send it to our email subscriber list. Those on the list have 10 days to script a love letter for the individual in need and mail it to our P.O. Box. We then bundle up the love letters and mail them to the unsuspecting recipient with a letter from MoreLoveLetters.com on top to explain just why they are holding a pile of stationery from strangers.

For the month of December, instead of one bundle, we are sending off twelve! We are creating 12 Love Letter Bundles for 12 individuals (all requested secretly by someone in their life that cares about them) across a 12-day span. From December 5-17 we have been highlighting an individual in need of some extra encouragement in the form of handwritten notes and are asking people to write a letter and send it to our P.O. Box to be bundled up and mailed off to the person.

That brings us to today. Still with me? Because this is the best part. I'm sharing today's love letter request with you - and asking for your help to send some love and encouragement!

Today's love letter request is for Alenka.

Last year, Alenka was diagnosed with cancer. After five intense months of chemo, her cancer went into remission, only to come back three months later. Her doctors have told her that all there is left to give her is time. Her daughter wrote, "She's in a very dark place sometimes...hopeful that something can be done and willing to fight but also scared that time with her loved ones is coming to an end." Alenka's daughter believes that love letters offering hope and encouragement would do wonders for her mother.

I'd planned on showing you a picture or two of my letter and maybe talking about my experience in writing it. But I was so moved by this request, and I want you all to be as well that I had to share it. Here is my letter to Alenka.

Dearest Alenka,

I'll be honest - starting this letter to you is hard. You've been through so much that I'm sure you're exhausted. Let me help you rally.

Maya Angelou once said, "Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, and penetrates walls to arrive at its destination FULL of hope."

I know you're tired, and I know you're uncertain of the future, but OH MY GOODNESS you are LOVED! By your friends, by your family, and oh so much by the people writing you these letters.

Let us be the hope for you. Think of our words when you grow weary of the fight. We will be the strength when you think you don't have any left. Because you do.

You can continue to be the marvelous woman you always have been - and know that you have tons of people rooting for you!

I'm wishing you all the peace and joy and love possible - this season...and always!

Love,
Becky

I need your help so we can send Alenka the biggest and brightest bundle of love possible! Would you write a letter to her? It doesn't have to be long, and it doesn't have to solve the world's problems - it just needs to give a little encouragement - and it only takes a few minutes!

Please mail your letters within one week of this post to:

Alenka's Bundle

P.O. Box 2061

North Haven, CT 06473

If you take pictures of your letters, tweet @moreloveletters or put them on The Love Letter Facebook wall - we would LOVE to see them!

I know some of you have already written letters, but can you find it in you to write one more?

Happy letter writing!

Very merry

2011-12-14T06:15:00.045-05:00

Several weeks ago Ashley shared a code, where you could get two Zoya nail polishes for free, you just had to pay shipping. You better believe I was all over that!

I needed a new red nail polish. My favorite red is OPI's Vodka and Caviar, and I've been looking for a red that's as good for awhile. One of the colors I chose when I placed my order was for Zoya's Dominique. It looked sassy and bright on the website, but not shocking, so I crossed my fingers (no pun intended!) and waited for it to arrive.

Friends, it did not disappoint.

It's elegant, but still bright and fun, and unlike some other reds I've tried it doesn't oxide and change shades after a few days. It's perfect for December! There's something about red nail polish that's just...classic to me.

Do you have a favorite red nail polish shade? What's your color of the month?

(Be sure to hop over to Amy's and Ashley's blogs to see about the love letter request for today - or read more about it here).

Ice and cookies

2011-12-12T06:15:00.084-05:00

Ohhh, what a weekend. The end of my week was not great, so I was looking forward to a couple of days where I could relax but also be productive. Well, one out of two isn't bad.

Saturday morning found me cleaning the kitchen, listening to podcasts, doing the dishes, and preparing to bake some cookies. I was in the laundry room (which is off of our kitchen), moving a couple of things around and I was getting ready to walk out when something started making a noise. I turned back only to watch our ten pound metal step ladder that had been leaning up again the wall come crashing down right on my bare foot.

I kind of stood there in shock for a minute and then started swearing. (Oh, friends, I think I invented a few words). I didn't break anything, but since it hit the top and the side of my foot I spent the rest of the day sitting on the couch, icing it and taking ibuprofen. So much for productivity. (I think it's a bone bruise and I later told Ben I thought I was cheated because there should at least be an ugly mark to show for the pain I was in!)

Sunday though, I could carefully walk, and after some more icing, I made it over to Darcie's annual cookie exchange. Every year we all bring two dozen or so cookies, sample them, drink cider, laugh, talk, and then head home with a few of each different kind of treats.

Yesterday was just what I needed.

(And what's a cookie exchange without a handsome little charmer?)

A good time was definitely had by all! I came home, wrote some letters for the 12 days of love letter writing, iced my foot some more, and called it a night. Here's hoping I can walk like a normal person today.

How was your weekend? When was the last time your day (or weekend) didn't go as expected? Did you fight it or just roll with the punches?

(Be sure to check out the love letter blog - today's request - and the response we're already getting is incredible).

It's like riding a bicycle

2011-12-08T06:15:00.071-05:00

It's been awhile since I've done a wine and love post, but what better way to start a Thursday? If you don't know about this yet, you should! Nora hosts it - you share your wine and loves, link up, then see what everyone else is saying too! So without further ado...

Things this week that make me want to drink a glass (or bottle!) of wine:
*Sprint. I spent most of last Saturday talking and dealing with Sprint. Long story short, my phone would not send or receive text messages, and this was not the first time I had this problem. (I've only had this phone since May). They had fixed it once, but decided to give me a new phone to make sure the problem was totally taken care of. Except I'd had the new phone for two hours and it was having the same problem - a brand new phone, but they told me it wasn't a "known issue." Yeah.

*The dog who lives above us and owners-obviously-don't-walk-him-because-he-runs-all-the-time is moving. Well, the owners are moving, but they gave me false hope because they told me near the end of November they were moving at the end of the month. To me, that meant they'd be gone by December 1st. Not so much. I want to believe that means they're moving at the end of December, but I'm a little afraid to get my hopes up.

*I'm going to a funeral today. A former co-worker's wife passed away last week and there is a service today I'm attending with another co-worker. I didn't know the wife, but I worked closely with her husband for a few years and I cannot imagine what he is going through. Especially since they have eight kids. Holy sh*t.

Things I love this week:
*My new phone. After the debacle on Saturday I asked Sprint what they were going to do for me in the ways of a new, totally different, but equivalent phone. They gave me a list, I chose this one, and I'm a little bit in love. I was nervous to go to an all touch screen, but so far I love it! Plus, the mister is crazy jealous because according to him this phone is so much better than the one I had. (Is it bad that I think that's funny?)

*Our tree. We've had the decorations up for the holidays for a little while, but this is our first holiday season NOT in the tiny apartment in the basement, and it just feels...cozier. The tree is lit up from the moment I get home until I go to bed at night. It's lovely.

*The 12 days of love letter writing. Hannah and I knew this would be successful, but it's been exploding in the most awesome way - I'm so excited for the momentum to keep building as the days continue!

*That I can tell Ben the silliest, grossest, most inconsequential things and he'll sit and listen to me (or laugh with me) as if it's the only thing he needs to do. Boy, do I love that man.

What are your wine and loves today? As always, thanks to Nora for hosting - be sure to see what other people are saying. (And be sure to hop over to the Love Letters blog to see about today's request!)

Who says you have to choose?

2011-12-07T06:15:00.088-05:00

So last month, you officially met Megan, as she (hopefully) inspired you to try out a bolder lip color. This month she's back with another beauty post and I have to say, I barely made any edits to it. That's right people, the hilarity you're about to experience is all her. (Get excited).

The moment that Becky gave me the all clear on this monthly Celebration of All Things Beauty, the tiny hamsters in my mind started running overtime in their wheels! What to discuss next? SO. MANY. OPTIONS. The choices for my follow-up to the Month of Red was almost pathetically easy though. Ladies, (and gentleman? We need to clear up how many smart men read this blog!) may I present to you...$5 moisturizer. I almost don't want to tell you the name of it. What if you all run en masse to Target and buy it up? Yes...I said Target. Cheap AND easy to find!

Alright. You've twisted my arm. It's Boots Expert Sensitive Hydrating Moisturiser! (Boots is an English company so they spell moisturizer with an 's'...fancy!) I will now regale you with the scientific, well researched way that I came to buy this Miracle of Skincare.

You see, I only had $12 to my name until payday. I really needed moisturizer. I also really wanted Chipotle. I think you see my dilemma. I knew my delicious chicken burrito bol would cost $6 and change, which left me with the highly possible task of finding a moisturizer that cost less than $6.

At least I THOUGHT it would be highly possible. Can we just talk for a minute about how there are basically NO drugstore brand skin creams that cost less than $10-12? I wasn't really even looking for quality - price was my only factor! I can't tell you the number of Olay and Neutrogena creams I picked up just to see the $12 price tag. That obviously was not acceptable - burrito bol, people! I needed one!

Just was I was despairing of finding anything and was about to decide whether or not having dry, flaky, oily skin was worse than no burrito bol...I saw it. A skin cream that cost...did my eyes deceive me? $5! And wonder of all wonders, it actually fit my skin's needs! Needless to say, I snatched up the nearest tub and headed for the checkout line. (Chipotle, here I come).

There are a few reasons this $5 cream is so amazing.

I have extreme combination skin. It gets oily very easily, is sensitive to the weather, my moods, the air, you name it. For years I would buy moisturizer made for sensitive and/or oily skin and/or combination skin only to have it feel like I was spreading paste on my face. Within five minutes I couldn't tell if I had an oil slick or a forehead. Or I'd have the opposite reaction and end up feeling itchy and dry, in which case I would keep slathering on MORE cream. It would still feel like my face could never get enough.

Over the years I'd managed to find a couple of options that worked, mainly moisturizers that were a gel formation like the Korres pomegranate one. The only problem was the $25+ price tag. (Update: It was $25 when I first started buying it, but now it's $32!) Don't get me wrong...I LOVE that Korres moisturizer and it's a fantastic option for combination skin if you can afford it. When I had the extra spending money, I didn't mind using it on my beauty regime but...ouch. Especially if I had to buy two or three containers a year.

I'm happy to say I've been using the Boots moisturizer for about two months now and I STILL love it. I'm almost down to the bottom of the tub and I actually can't wait to go back to Target and get a new one. As the weather has gotten cooler, the moisturizer has continued to be what I need. I use it morning and night all over my face and also on my decolletage. They have other lines that cater to different skin care needs but from what I can tell, each line has a $5 option!

I realize skincare is a very personal thing. Everybody has different needs, so this moisturizer may not work for you. (And I think it goes without saying, if you have problem skin or are already seeing a dermatologist, then stick with whatever they tell you. I'm not a doctor...I just play one on TV). I hope it does help though - I love the idea of so many women being able to have a decent product for practically no money!

Before this gets too long, I wanted to ask if there was anything you wanted me to talk about or try out? I'm willing to be a guinea pig...as long as I can afford it!

What do you think readers? Would you try this moisturizer? (I'd been hearing Megan talk and tweet about it so much when I ran out of my regular moisturizer I picked this up and I have to agree - I love it!) Do you find Meg as hilarious as I do? (I was snorting with laughter while reading this!)

Happy hump day! (And stop by and say hi to Lisa as she talks about her experience with today's love letter request - or head over to the love letter blog!)

For the travelers

2011-12-06T06:15:00.079-05:00

Last year I pledged to have a handmade holiday, buying handmade gifts for everyone on our shopping list. With the exception of one or two things I accomplished it. I had so much fun I want to try it again this year...but what's fun handmade shopping without friends? I'll be sharing handmade products twice a month in hopes you find a great gift idea for someone!

I'm sad to say this is the last handmade holiday post. I thought about continuing them through the month of December, but the one thing about handmade gifts is you need to allow enough time for the making and shipping of them, so in order to give you enough time for that today is the last post. I've had so much fun finding these items and categorizing them for you - I hope you've enjoyed this series as well - it will definitely be back in years to come!

Today's post is for the traveler. There are a lot of "travel" type items that you could get - essentially anything in a three ounce size would be perfect - but I tried to find items that someone who travels would really appreciate, and not just use - so there aren't as many in this post, but I think the quality definitely makes up for quantity.

Do you know a traveler that loves a certain state? (Or even a country?) Why not give them the gift of that - in a tangible form? I've talked about how I think pillows can be statement makers - and this one is no exception - look at that detail!

(Photo courtesy of Mybeardedpigeon)

Maybe throw pillows aren't really their style, but jewelry is? They can pick their favorite country or state and wear it when they travel - so they'll always have a little bit of home with them. (I am, of course, partial to the Virginia necklace - home is where the heart is, right?)

(Photo courtesy of Truche)

One of the most important things I think to have while traveling is good lip balm - and what's better while coming home from the holidays than peppermint on your lips? In fact, forget the traveler - this is so cute and affordable, you could put one in every stocking!

(Photo courtesy of Lippincott Soap Company)

Do you travel a lot? Would you like to be on the receiving ends of any of these gifts? I hope you've enjoyed my Handmade Holiday series as much as I have!

(Oh, and be sure to visit Amber and Ashlee to see today's love letter request as part of the 12 days of love letter writing!)

The 12 Days of Love Letter Writing

2011-12-05T06:15:00.087-05:00

So you all know I'm really involved with The World Needs More Love Letters. But what you might not know is each month we pick a love letter request that comes in and we send it out to our email subscribers, asking them to write that person a love letter. They in turn, mail their letter to our P.O. Box, and we tie up all the letters and send off a literal "bundle" to that person. (In fact, there was a post last week about the reaction of a bundle recipient - it made me cry!)

In November we changed it up a little bit and instead of one love letter request we created our barista bundles - and left them all over coffee shops in NYC.

And December? Well, December's going to be a little bit different and a whole lot of awesome. In fact, 12 days of awesome.

We've gathered twelve different love letter requests, and starting today have assigned each request a day, with the end goal being to send off 12 different bundles, just in time for the holidays. We have bloggers and various groups signed up for each day, and each blogger is asking their readers to write a letter for their request.

You can participate in this too! You can pledge letters and let us know via twitter or facebook, you can follow the love letters blog each day to read the request and see which blogger has it, and you can of course write love letters - as many as you want.

I'm going to be tweeting about it each day, and I'll try to let you know on here as well who has the requests, but I'd love for you to join this campaign. You can help brighten someone's holiday season - with just one letter.

I'll answer questions if you have them, but please check out the site to see more details. I'll be writing about the request I have next Thursday, so stay tuned! (And then maybe head over to Sarah's blog, because she's one of the lovely ladies kicking it off for us today).

Will you pledge a love letter for The 12 Days of Love Letter Writing?

Happy Monday!

Don't you love a good Funnelcloud?

2011-12-02T06:15:00.082-05:00

I was so glad to see you all loved the raindrop print I mentioned yesterday, because today I'm interviewing Rachel from Funnelcloud Studio - the creator behind that print and so many other amazing things! I've met Rachel and I'm happy to report she's as sweet in real life as she seems on her blog. (And she used the word bad-ass in her interview - who doesn't love that?)

How did you get started with your Etsy shop? I've always been creative and was educated as an architect. I had wanted to start an Etsy shop for years before I actually got the courage to just do it. While I dreamed of quitting my day job, it never really occurred to me that I could make a living as an artist. I was becoming increasingly frustrated with the field of architecture and needed a creative outlet, so I opened Funnelcloud Studio, and ultimately decided to quit my day job to focus on my art full-time. While it can be challenging to not have a full-time salary, it was the best decision I ever made!

Is your Etsy shop a full-time business or something you hope to grow into a full-time business? If it is full-time, how did you transition that? Funnelcloud Studio is my full-time job, though I am always looking to grow. My shop has been open for 18 months, though I still consider it to be in its infancy. I do most of my business through Etsy, but I also sell in person at art markets and I freelance as a greeting card designer. As a self-employed business owner, I'm always looking for new opportunities to diversify the way I sell my art.

What inspires you? Patterns, bright colors, geometry, architecture, photography, travel, and nature.

Your blog and shop are both named funnelcloud - how did you come up with that name? The name Funnelcloud is a reference to the fact that my studio is always a disaster - it looks like a tornado ripped right through it! Creative types are always messy, right? Plus, Funnelcloud Studio sounds way more bad-ass than Puffy Cloud Studio!

How do you come up with the items in your shop? Do you set aside time each day (or week) to create or is it more of an "as it happens" basis? I keep lists and sketches of concepts for new pieces, but I've found I'm most successful if I create a new piece as soon as I come up with the idea. My goal is to someday be disciplined enough to work exclusively during normal business hours, but right now my work schedule is very erratic. If I have a great idea late at night, I'll stay up and work while I'm inspired. I'm a total night owl, so this happens pretty frequently. I try to do something creative every day. I often work on weekends, too.

What's your favorite item in your shop right now? Does this ever change? My current favorites are my dodo and ostrich illustrations. But I have a new series of gouache illustrations that will available in the shop in early December - those will probably be my favorites next month!

And just for fun: if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Only one food? Seriously, I've been losing sleep over this question! I consider myself a foodie and an avid home cook, so I wish I could give you a sophisticated answer, but I always fall back on pasta (topped with cheese!) - I live on the stuff whenever my boyfriend is out of town. (Speaking of Larry, I just asked him how I should answer this question and he said "pine nuts.")

What do you think readers? Isn't Rachel talented? I actually get a little overwhelmed when I look through her shop because I go into "must have EVERYTHING" mode! Be sure to check out Funnelcloud Studio - the shop and blog! Happy Friday!

(All photos courtesy of Funnelcloud Studio)

Um...don't eat it

2011-12-01T06:15:00.075-05:00

Each month I share a new recipe I've tried, something I've read and want to recommend, and something I ~~am craving, want~~ really need.

Eat it: Um, this should actually be called DON'T eat it. Ben and I have tried a bunch of new recipes lately and for some reason, none of them have really clicked. This one was simply the latest casualty. I'm all about full disclosure, so instead of giving you a lackluster recipe I'm going to ask you for some this month! (And in the meantime revert back to the comfort that is crock pot chicken and potatoes).

This was Potato & Watercress Soup which sounded wonderful...but definitely was not!

Read it: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. You know I've been reading romance novels lately, and this is one I've read before - I'm happy to report I loved it just as much the second time around! In fact, Megan, Sarah, and I have formed a romance novel book club and this is the book we chose to read first. (I can't wait to discuss it with them over tea!) The characters are wonderful, and it's okay that you don't want it to end because there's a whole series about the siblings in the family. Trust me, it's worth the read!

Need it: This raindrop print from Rachel's shop. I love that the print is of rain, but it's still so cheery - it brings a smile to my face every time I look at it!

(Photo courtesy of Funnelcloud)

Have you had any recipes lately that haven't turned out the way you'd like? Did you ever think raindrops could be cheerful? What have you been reading lately?

And please, share some recipes in the comments! I'm in a baking/cooking funk and I cannot have that before the holidays!

For those who appreciate whimsy

2011-11-30T06:15:00.071-05:00

Last year I pledged to have a handmade holiday, buying handmade gifts for everyone on our shopping list. With the exception of one or two things I accomplished it. I had so much fun I want to try it again this year...but what's fun handmade shopping without friends? I'll be sharing handmade products twice a month in hopes you find a great gift idea for someone!

It has been a couple weeks since I've done A Handmade Holiday post, and I'm sad to say this is the second to last one! I've had so much fun finding items and trying to decide what "category" to put them - it's like I've been able to virtually shop for all my fabulous readers! I hope you've found something you've liked, or gleaned an idea or two from one of these posts.

So without further ado, I give you gifts for those who love to be whimsical. (Otherwise known as people-who-have-a-good-sense-of-humor-and-like-to-laugh). Strangely enough, I feel like these could all be gifts for guys as well, so if you're looking for something funny for a spouse, boyfriend, dad, or brother, I think any of these could work!

First up, a nerd pocket pillow. I cannot express how awesome this is. It's a nerd pocket, but it's a pillow! Wouldn't this look awesome on a chair or sofa - talk about a conversation piece!

(Photo courtesy of Dirtsa Studio)

For the person who loves tea and zombies. What better way to express your love than zombie style? You can't tell from the picture, but wrapped across the bottom of the cup it says "I love you more than zombies love brains." I actually got this for Ben for his birthday one year and he still uses it - and laughs every time, I might add. (Plus the seller shipped it really quickly - great customer service!)

(Photo courtesy of foldedpigs)

Want a different look for your iphone or ipod charger that's not so streamlined? How about this wooden one - it's made from cedar but still gets the job done. It's a little pricey but at the time I wrote this post (last night) it wasn't as high as it normally is and the seller was offering free shipping to the U.S. and Canada.

(Photo courtesy of woodtec)

And last, but certainly not least, some zombie pops. Yes, you read that correctly - zombie pops. Again, this is something I got for Ben at one point, and they were a hit. (What can I say? The dude likes zombies!) They are milk and white chocolate combined and according to Ben, tasty. But really, who doesn't laugh at this? They're a great (inexpensive) stocking sstuffer!

(Photo courtesy of StarlingSkies)

What do you think? Are you a fan of whimsical gifts? Do you enjoy zombies as much as Ben does? Happy hump day!

Giveaway winner

2011-11-28T06:15:00.022-05:00

Happy Monday! (Hmmm. After a long weekend of turkey and relaxing, that sounds even more cruel, don't you think?)

I'm not in the zone today, so no really in-depth post, but I wanted to let you know I finally got my act together and chose a winner for my giveaway.

The lucky winner of A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare is Ruth! Ruth, send me an email to claim your prize!

I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving if you were celebrating, and if you weren't I hope you had a great weekend. I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

(Don't worry, I'll be back tomorrow with a non-pathetic post).

Happy Monday! (Ugh).

For you

2011-11-24T09:37:00.000-05:00

So my ten days of thankful kind of fell by the wayside. (This is what happens when you work 20 hours in two days - you lose your blogging mojo a little bit).

I'm thankful for being able to let go. A year ago, I would have worried because I didn't post Tuesday or Wednesday, I would have worried about losing readers, being consistent, and essentially just stressed myself out. Now I know that my readers stick around, even if I don't post for a day or two, and that it's better to not post than to force something that's not genuine.

I'm thankful for a lot of things today - good food, a warm home, friends, family, laughter...but I'm also absolutely, over the moon, one hundred percent thankful for you.

Yes YOU! You, the one reading this post right now. When I started blogging I never imagined that I would meet so many incredible people, get involved with amazing causes, or that it would helps me be a better me.

I'm thankful for every comment, for every page read, and especially for the fact that you all keep coming back to read more.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving, and know that I'm sending you all a huge virtual hug right now!

(What are you thankful for today?)

Soul sisters

2011-11-21T21:02:00.000-05:00

Today was a shitty day.

But I am thankful for good friends. For a girlfriend who is so similar to me she gets it, without me having to say anything.

I'm thankful she's the kind of friend who doesn't miss a beat when I unexpectedly burst into tears mid-conversation.

I'm thankful for her wonderful husband who left the room when I started crying not because he was uncomfortable, but to get me tissues.

I'm thankful for her ability to lift my spirits, just by being herself, and how when I left her house I was still upset, but my heart was a lot lighter.

I have incredible friends. And I'm thankful they make me realize I have so much to be thankful for.

What are you thankful for today?

Quiet moments

2011-11-20T09:50:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thankful for quiet moments.

Moments where I'm appreciating a well-made cup of tea, and thinking about how lucky I am to have everything in my life.

Moments in the morning where I get to stay in bed and be a little lazy - delighting in my comfortable bed and warm covers.

Moments where I think of a friend and it makes me smile, because the joy they add to my life cannot be measured.

Moments where I wonder about the future of my life - when I get nervous about what might or might not happen - and then I think of my husband being there supporting me no matter what, and I know anything's possible.

These moments come when I'm surrounded by a crowd of people, or alone in the car. They're pushing me to be/give/do more, while also letting me take some time to reflect for myself. They can be simple or life-changing - but I cherish them all.

What are you thankful for today?

Psst - the giveaway closes tomorrow evening! Have you entered yet?

Looking polished

2011-11-19T09:25:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thankful for nail polish. (Um, does this surprise any of you?) I got this mini nail polish (called Noel) in my Birchbox this month - they must have known I was at the end of my subscription so this is how they reel me back...well played, Birchbox, well played.

This color is a bright metallic blue (it's a little darker in the picture than it is in person), a color I would never choose myself, but just like Wallis, now that I have it I love it!

I realize nail polish is a pretty silly thing to be thankful for, but it's definitely one of the little things in life that always picks me up. It's relaxing to paint my nails, it forces me to take some time for myself, and every time I see them after they're polished it makes me smile. It's strange because even a few years ago I wasn't this into nail polish - I'm not sure what changed, but I'm glad it did!

Do you have something that's small, but can totally change your day? Are you a nail polish lover like me? What are you thankful for today?

Psst - have you entered my giveaway yet?

Managing with Meds

2011-11-18T06:15:00.103-05:00

Today I'm thankful for medicine.

That sounds weird, right? I don't mean it in a unhealthy, pill-popping kind of way, but more in a it's-amazing-how-medicine-can-help-our-bodies-function-kind-of-way.

I've talked a little bit about what Adult ADHD is, how Ben and I have found a few things that work for us, but there's also a big component of this journey I've been hesitant to talk about. Medication - specifically, medication that's associated with ADHD.* Partially because I'm still learning and I don't want to misspeak about what a medicine can do, but also because there are a lot of stereotypes about medicine for people with ADHD.

Anytime I mention the words ADD or ADHD to someone and the word medicine is thrown around, the first word out of someone's mouth is Ritalin. Ritalin (technically methylphenidate), is used to treat a number of things - ADHD, narcolepsy, sometimes even depression. It increases activity to the central nervous system, and can help keep your attention focused. It's a controlled substance, so it has to be used cautiously and of course prescribed by a doctor, but if used correctly it can help. However, it's not the only medicine that can be used in conjunction with ADHD - just the most commonly known.

Ben took Ritalin for years and saw the benefits of it. He doesn't take it anymore - not because it stopped working, but because he found something that worked better for him. I won't get into the names of what exactly he takes, but through trial and error, he's found that a controlled substance (to help focus his attention) and an anti-depressant (to narrow his field of emotions), works best for him.

I say trial and error, because it took a long time, and a lot of doctor's visits for him to feel like he's at his best. This was a huge adjustment for me - I didn't know a lot about different types of pills (and trust me, I still don't), and I didn't understand that Ben needed me to talk to him about things he would do - to help him observe his behavior on certain medications.

If I ever had a health problem that needed medicine, I took the medicine and it was solved. But Adult ADHD is not a "quick fix." I've learned Ben needs to see how his body reacts to medicine, and how his behavior impacts others (through feedback from me), so he could talk about it with his doctor.

It's interesting, because for as much as an impact as Adult ADHD has on Ben, it has an (albeit smaller), impact on me as well. I had to train myself to pick up on little things, like how he reacted to information. There was a medicine we thought was great at one point, but then realized he was having extreme emotional reactions - his highs were really high, and his lows were really low. When we discovered it wasn't working for him he discussed it with his doctor and she lessened the dosage.

There are plenty of ways to work with Adult ADHD that's not medicine based - herbs, a regimented schedule, exercise, diet, etc. These can be combined with medicine or done on their own. You have to find what works for you.

I would never begrudge anyone their coping strategies - I'm not claiming to have the answers to anything. But for us? Medicine works. And for that I'm thankful.

If you have ADD or ADHD have you found medicine to be helpful? Why or why not? What are you thankful for today?

*I asked Ben if I could blog about this - his response was "of course, I don't care!" but I wanted to make sure I did this justice - because it's not just part of his story now, it's part of mine too. Anything I express in this post is my opinion, and should not be taken for medical fact. (If you think you might have ADD or ADHD consult a physician - i.e. not me!)

New experiences

2011-11-17T06:15:00.022-05:00

Today I'm thankful for the opportunity to experience new things. I was recently traveling for business, and was able to explore an area I would have never visited on my own, but absolutely loved.

I got to try some great barbeque...

...got a little terrified at some displays...

...and enjoyed Southern hospitality all around - even in the form of a goat in our hotel.

It was a great trip!

What new experiences have you had lately? What are you thankful for today?

A Salacious Stigma

2011-11-16T06:15:00.016-05:00

Reading used to be something I took for granted. Then I met P. He taught me about resilience, determination, and about being enough - simply by choosing what he wanted to read.

I am thankful for the gift of reading. But even more than that, I'm thankful for the gift of choosing what you want to read. I may not like a book, but if that story gets someone to start reading again, then by all means, pick it up.

If you follow me on goodreads, you've seen that the books I've been rating lately have all been romance novels. I think romance novels have a bad reputation (ha, no pun intended!), but they've always been a great escape for me. So much of what I read is non-fiction, or a novel with a heavier topic, and when life gets crazy, it's nice to escape into a lighter read. I've read a decent amount of romance novels - varying from well-written to laughable, and like everything else I read, I don't waste my time on stories I don't enjoy.

Some of the best love stories I've read have been in a romance novel and it has nothing to do with sex. It's about the writing, and the chemistry between the characters, and how you smile at the end of the book because you're just so happy with how the story turned out. My sign of a good book has always been if I'm still thinking about it later - so those are the romance novels I keep on my shelves...the ones where re-reading them is like catching up with an old friend.

There's this stigma attached to romance novels, and it makes me a little crazy. I've encountered one of two reactions from people when they hear I'm reading a romance novel.

1) A response of, "oh okay," and then silence while they wait for me to tell them what it's about (this is the reaction I expect and receive when talking about any other type of book).

Or...

2) The response of "ohhhhh," and then the immediate change of the subject because they're uncomfortable and embarrassed for me, because they assume I'm reading a book where every other paragraph must be about sex. (Nine times out of ten, someone with this reaction has never read a romance novel, and really, how is reading a bedroom scene different than watching it in a movie?)

When I was thinking about writing this post I was afraid it would come off as really defensive, especially considering I want this to be about how I'm thankful for the choice I have to read what I want, so let me clarify. I am in no way embarrassed or think I need to defend any choices I have about what I read. But I'm all about being an informed consumer, and I don't see why that shouldn't extend to reading as well.

So in the spirit of giving, I'm giving away a copy of the book A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare. Megan recommended it to me, and it is awesome! I'd never read a book by Tessa Dare before, and I can't believe how much I laughed during this story! The characters are stubborn but sweet, and there are a lot of other story lines in this novel so the attraction between the two main characters isn't always the main focus. Plus there's a minor role of a sheep that is hilarious. (My favorite line in the whole book is "Hullo Dinner." Trust me, you'll laugh too when you get to it).

This giveaway is open to everyone, and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post. (The giveaway will close Monday, November 21st at 7 PM, EST).

Have you ever read a romance novel? Did you feel like you had to hide it from people because of reactions?

What are you thankful for today?

*Disclaimer: I was not asked to do this, or compensated in any way for this review or giveaway - I just really loved this book and thought I'd share!

To my favorite barista

2011-11-15T06:15:00.060-05:00

Today I'm starting up a series (inspired by Lisa) that I've been doing for the past two years - Ten Days of Thankful! Each day from now until Thanksgiving, I'll write about something I'm thankful for - big or small, silly or serious, I'm going to take time each day to recognize something - and I'd love if you'd participate with me in the comments!

Today I'm thankful for Love Letters. I can't believe this site only started in August because it's been growing leaps and bounds ever since! I'm thankful for being part of the team, and for the amazing letters that are left. For the month of November we're writing love letters to baristas - leaving them in local coffee shops, and encouraging people to send a letter to the P.O. Box to be scattered throughout New York City.

Baristas have a special place in my heart...considering I'm married to one. So when I left on a recent business trip, I left behind a love letter especially for him.

To My Favorite Barista,

I know how much you like your job. I know you love your co-workers, and there are people you've formed relationships with because they're such good customers. I know how hard you work and I know how that can sometimes be exhausting.

I know, because I see it every day - being by your side, and listening to your stories.

But what I hope you know is how loved you are at your job. By co-workers, by customers - even by the little kids who smile at you when they come in with their parents.

You make people's day brighter just by smiling and being yourself, so on behalf of your customers I just wanted to say thank you.

They all love you - as do I.

xoxo,

So I guess today's thankfulness is two-fold. For love letters, and for my favorite barista. What are you thankful for today?

(I'd encourage you to visit the Love Letter site - this post is also up on our blog today too!)

For the type who love typography

2011-11-14T06:15:00.004-05:00

(Photo courtesy of Restyle Design Prints)

For fellow letter writers, I would recommend these sweet cards from Ashley's shop. I've actually used these (she sent me some when I won a cookbook from her) and I love them! They're flat cards, and give you just enough space for a quick note to say hi or remind someone you're thinking of them.

(Photo courtesy of Joyful Star)

Know a wine connoisseur? This print is for them. Serious in its plea, but still cheeky with the request. Jenny actually tweeted this print at me after I'd had a long week, and I spent a good amount of time looking at all the great prints in this shop!

(Photo courtesy of PaperPaper)

I'm all about natural beauty, and when I head out the door looking a little unkempt, I own it. However, for those who might need a little encouragement, and a reminder that they are awesome regardless, I would recommend this print from Rachel's shop. I actually met Rachel when we brunched and her shop is a great reflection of her personality - sweet and fun!

(Photo courtesy of funnelcloud studio)

And since I started this post with coffee, it's only appropriate I end it that way, don't you think? Bloggers and coffee kind of go hand in hand - so what could be more perfect than this print?

(Photo courtesy of MadeByGirl)

What do you think? Do you know someone who could use a print about wine or coffee? Are you a fan of cute prints like these?

I love seeing them in hallways or just inside a bathroom - the sentiment is true, and they seem even more fun and unexpected that way!

Happy Monday!

A name that makes me giggle

2011-11-09T06:15:00.040-05:00

So last month I used my first Butter London polish and tried a color I would never have chosen myself, but the mister insisted, and I loved it. (Too bad he doesn't have that great of taste in bags, hmm?)

I received a couple more Butter London colors from the fabulous Stevie, and once again, I'm surprised at how much I love the colors. This month's color is extra interesting because in the bottle it looks like a different shade than on my nails. But the name?

The name is the best part.

I give you....Tramp Stamp.

Does it make me immature for giggling? (Because I'm going to do it anyway). It's just such a hilarious phrase and I love that they actually named a nail polish after it.

See how it looks lighter there than in my hand?

I'm loving Butter London for their non-toxic ingredients and colors, but I have found that the nail polish tends to chip easier than other brands - even when I apply a base coat. I have to apply another coat every three or four days and that's gotten old, really fast. But honestly? To be able to tell people I'm wearing Tramp Stamp? I'll put up with it a little while longer.

Have you tried any Butter London polishes? Do you have a problem with chipping? Would a topcoat fix this problem? (I've had not great experiences with top coats so I'm a little hesitant to try them again). What's your color of the month?

A day in the life

2011-11-08T06:15:00.010-05:00

Do you ever have days where you feel like you do a lot but still haven't done anything by the end of the day?

Head over to pinkflipflops' blog to read my post on exactly that - and see what a day in my life looks like!

Red Alert

2011-11-07T06:15:00.139-05:00

Hi readers! I'm really excited about today's post! You've all heard me talk about my best friend Megan, and if you've ever looked at the pictures in any of those posts, you've seen how cute and stylish she is! Meg is my go-to beauty guru. I ask her any and everything, and it's to her credit and patience that I wear mascara, tights, and love nail polish as much as I do. She's great about suggesting beauty products that will look great, but also force me to step outside my comfort zone a little bit. Meg's going to start doing a monthly guest post for me about beauty related topics, and I'm thrilled about it! Today she's here to talk about a month-long experiment she tried - I'm sure you going to love her as much as I do!

I read an article once about a woman who wore red lipstick everyday for a month. I see women in red lipstick ALL the time and I'm amazed at how instantly classy, beautiful, and put together they look. I've attempted red lips in the past but never felt confident with it. I recently decided that NOW was the time to try my own "red lipstick every day for a month" experiment.

A week or so into my self-imposed Month of Red I thought to myself, "I shouldn't be the only one to benefit from this!" Luckily, Becky agreed with me and now all you lucky ladies (People? Are there any dudes who read this fabulous blog?) get to find out what I discovered along the way!

I started out with only one tube of lipstick, two glosses, and one lipstick/gloss hybrid. After three days, I was only wearing the lipstick, and was bored with the same shade over and over. I decided to use this as my opportunity to try out some new products, shades, and textures. I've always been a lip gloss kinda girl. A pink, neutral, lip gloss kinda girl. No longer! I wanted to be Gwen Stefani!

Wearing H.I.P.

The first thing I learned is that not everybody looks good in the same shade of lipstick. If you've tried red in the past and thought it looked horrible, try again. When all was said and done I had a roster of two glosses, three lipsticks, and that hybrid.

About a week in, I was already over my little experiment. Red lipstick requires work! It's not hard to wear, so much as time consuming. At least more so then the skin colored lip gloss I was used to. A red lip makes you SO much more aware of everything that goes into you mouth - or comes out of it! At my job, I talk ALL DAY LONG. I was very aware of my lips and teeth. I don't know that this was a downside but it required an adjustment period. Also, I re-evaluated just what "wear red lipstick every day for a month" meant. I decided that as long as I wore it at some point during the day, it counted. If I drank or ate if off, I was not morally obligated to re-apply. Some days I did, some days I didn't. (Rebel!)

In addition to being more aware of my mouth, I also became more aware of my whole face. Since I tend to wear neutral lip colors, I add color to my face in other ways such as blush or eyeliner. There were a few days I felt like I was perilously close to being Clown Girl! Hard to say if this was true, or just my own paranoia, but I found a red lip is the easiest to pull off with a simple, clean make-up look.

A few tips and tricks:
*Don't feel like you can only apply and wear lipstick straight out of the tube. Blot it, wipe it, layer it! Do what makes you feel comfortable and what you think looks good.
*A red gloss sometimes is an easy way to try out the look. It goes on quickly and having a built-in applicator makes things much smoother. (However, I found that sometimes my two glosses and the hybrid would feather/bleed outside my lip line).
*If you still aren't sure, then do what I did...take advantage of a CVS sale to buy one, get one half off! That way you can pick up a few different shades and textures to find one that fits YOU.

Products I used (all drugstore brands so easy to find!):
*Maybelline ColorSensational in Red Revival - A deeper red, had a strong smell, and the formula felt more matted...liked but didn't love, wouldn't buy again.
*Rimmel London Moisture Renew in Berry Queen - More of a berry red...I liked wearing this one in a more smudged on capacity, but it kind of smelled like sunscreen. It wasn't my favorite but I didn't want to throw it out either - might buy again but in a different color.
*Revlon ColorBurst in True Red - Very much a true, BRIGHT red...if you follow me on Twitter (@rosehillmb) you've seen pictures of me obsessing over it. I LOVED this lipstick - the color, the formula, the feel, and it stayed put! It was the most expensive lipstick I bought but SO worth it. I could put it on and almost forget I was wearing it! I would highly recommend this line and plan on buying other colors!
*Revlon Super Lustrous lipgloss in Firecracker - Another Revlon winner, smells good, covers well, not too opaque so you can build up the intensity...this was a more orangey red, and reminded me of my favorite Zoya nail polish, Maura.
*Jemma Kidd at Target lipgloss in Dress 2 Impress - Liked it but didn't love it, it was a pretty color but didn't make an impression.
*L'Oreal H.I.P. - H.I.P. stands for High Intensity Pigment and it stands up to that name! This color felt like it needed the most upkeep but it only required one application to create a full color lip.

Wearing Revlon True Red

In the article I read all those years ago, the woman mentioned how red lipstick was a bold departure for her style-wise. While I might be prone to pink lip gloss, I'm also partial to bright green eyeliner or purple eye shadow. The point being I'm not scared of big, bold beauty and style statements. For me, red lipstick was more about sticking to a goal and trying something new, then doing something that scared me.

If you aren't ready to take the red lunge, try something else. If you don't wear anything on your lips now, try graduating to my stand-by pink lipgloss, or a more neutral lipstick. All in all, this was a fun beauty look to try out. It certainly took the fear our of wearing lipstick, especially a bright, bold color like red.

What do you think? Would you ever try wearing a month of red like Megan? I don't know that I could start with red lipstick, but I think this has inspired me to truly conquer eyeliner. (I'm notoriously afraid of it). I can't wait to see what Megan talks about next month!

What don't you do?

2011-11-03T06:15:00.075-04:00

I was inspired by a post Ashley wrote the other day about how she doesn't do it all. So in the spirit of embracing imperfections, a list of things I don't do.

*I don't always comment on blogs, even when I really want to - if I'm not at a good place to do it (my computer at home), I keep it as "unread" for later, but posts usually pile up and I end up "marking all as read." (If I want to comment but can't, I at least try to tweet at the blogger).

*I don't always take my dishes from the table to the kitchen, but I nag the mister about it when he doesn't either.

*I rarely put my clothes away after I wash them. They're folded or draped on the bed, ready to be hung, but it's like the five-minute task of putting them on hangers is too much to ask so they stay draped in a pile that gets moved from place to place until I either put them away (and vow to never do this again), or I've worn them all and have to wash them and start over.

*I don't use the perfectly fine desk in our bedroom, I tend to spread out on the dining room table. So the first thing you see when you walk in our door is papers, my laptop, and usually my camera. (Actually you wouldn't see that, because I only clean when people are coming over - so as far as you're concerned our house looks tidy and put together).

*I don't wash my hair every day. (It would get way too greasy, plus drying it that much wouldn't be good either - I'm an every-other day kind of girl).

*I don't always take advantage of the time with my husband when he's home in the evenings. We'll both be in the same room but engaged in totally different activities (usually both on our computers).

*I don't go to bed early enough. Ever. Twice this week I've been so tired on the way home I could have cried. (Ben lectured me yesterday because he said I sounded "run down" on the phone).

*I don't leave myself enough time in the morning to get ready. Actually, that's not true. I get up with plenty of time but I get on the computer and ~~get distracted~~ start reading blogs, and then rush around trying to get dressed, do my makeup, and pack a lunch in 20 minutes or less.

What don't you do?

For the wee ones

2011-11-02T06:15:00.095-04:00

(Photo courtesy of Fiddlestyx Studios)

Maybe the only thing cuter than baby hats are baby leg warmers! I have friends who swear by these, because you can keep the baby warm, but not have to worry about pulling pants on and off when it comes time to change a diaper. (Isn't the argyle the cutest?!)

(Photo courtesy of Giggle Rainbow)

If you're looking for toys instead of clothing, how about hand-carved wooden blocks? Great for motor skills, and using their imagination, plus I love that these can be a gift for a baby who's just learning how to grab things, or a toddler who likes to knock things over. (Plus, wouldn't it be cool to do this with them?)

(Photo courtesy of littlealouette)

And let's not forget about the parents of the little ones! I think this sign is sweet and humorous, but also true. When you have little kids running around, the last thing you want to be doing is running around picking up every single thing after them.

(Photo courtesy of As Unique As U)

And last but not least, maybe a little something for a new mom? I think this necklace is sweet and understated, but so meaningful. I've ordered things from the shop CinnamonSticks before, and I will tell you while the end result is beautiful and amazing, I think during her busy times the customer service leaves a little to be desired. I'd recommend this shop if you don't forsee having any questions or needing to contact the shop owner about anything. (She responds, just not in what I'd consider a timely manner).

(Photo courtesy of Cinnamon Sticks)

What do you think? Would you put your baby (or a friend's baby) in that hat? Are you a fan of blocks? Do you like jewelry with initials and names or is that not your cup of tea?

Happy hump day!

Crock pots, good reads, and prettiness, oh my!

2011-11-01T06:15:00.084-04:00

Each month I share a new recipe I've tried, something I've read and want to recommend, and something I ~~am craving, want~~ really need.

Eat it: Crock pot chicken and potatoes - I found this recipe from Sarah, and it is awesome. It literally took five minutes to put in the crock pot...and then five minutes to devour it once it was finished. Go make it.

(This is not the final product, because that was consumed too quickly. I told you it was good!)

Read it: Articles from the latest volume (twelve) of the ADHD magazine, ADDitude. My mother-in-law got us a subscription to this magazine and it is wonderful! Ben goes through and reads it cover to cover first and marks things that he thinks especially apply to him, then I go through and read it as well. Two of the articles really stood out to me this month - one was "You're So Sensitive" by Zoe Kessler. It talked about HSP, (a hyper-senstive person), and how they take things really hard and can internalize the most innocent of comments. It's made me more conscious of how I say things to Ben. The second one is "Med Mantras: 10 Ways to Tell if Your Doctor Knows What He's Talking about" by Gina Pera. I have a whole post brewing in my head about medication with Adult ADHD and finding what works, and this article goes hand-in-hand with that.

Need it: This Eisley necklace from Kerri's shop yourwishcake. The necklace is named after her daughter which so sweet to begin with, and the grey with polka dots? They're somehow light and pretty and unexpected, all at once, don't you think?

(Photo courtesy of yourwishcake)

What do you want to share today - something to eat, read, or need?

Happy November!

A little chit chat and a winner!

2011-10-28T06:15:00.053-04:00

First thing's first - we have a winner for the e-reader case giveaway! Congratulations to #12, Amber from Girl with the Red Hair! Amber, email me within 48 hours and we'll get the case out to you. (Thanks again to Jenny for this giveaway!)

I don't know about you, but this week has taken it out of me, and I am so grateful it's the weekend. I have a really busy November so I'm looking forward to relaxing before that kicks off. (Um, and can we talk for a minute about how November is next week? When did that happen?)

I have some posts I'm working on this weekend that I'm excited about (there might even be another giveaway!) so more to follow in the next couple of weeks.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with this - a picture of the fabulous mustard bag I recently purchased. It's the size of a tote, but fun and huge and has eliminated the need for me to take a purse and a work bag each day - everything can now fit in here.

The best part? It was $4. Yeah. Four. Dollars.

(Pardon the wrinkles, it's still pretty new)

The mister doesn't like it (when I showed it to him he said it looked like it was $4!), but I told him he's a fool and I am taking it everywhere with me. It just says fall, doesn't it?

Do you swap out bags based on the season? Have you found a really good deal lately? What are you up to this weekend? (Oh, and feel free to leave comments telling my husband how wrong he is about the adorable-ness of this bag).

Happy Friday!

The one with the birchbox

2011-10-26T20:55:00.000-04:00

Awhile back, I won a three-month subscription to Birchbox from a giveaway Ashley hosted. I've heard a lot about it, so I was really excited to try it out! Birchbox is a beauty site where you can watch videos and tutorials, buy products, and most importantly, subscribe (it's $10 a month) and receive four to five samples of products each month.

The first month I received a box was September - right around my birthday and perfect timing if you ask me. September was Birchbox's anniversary month so it was a little different than a "traditional" box you would receive. They had been in business for a year, so they filled the box with products that had been "favorites." Maybe I'd built it up in my head too much, but I was disappointed.

At least it looks pretty, right?

Kate and I were texting about it - and for an "anniversary" edition, we thought the items in September's box (a yarn bracelet, perfume I had a bad reaction to, moisturizer, and some pretty hideous applique press-on nail strips), made it seem like they were going out of business, not celebrating it! Needless to say I was not impressed, but hey, it was free, and we'd see what the next month brought.

I'm happy to report, October was much better.

Redken spray on shine, mints, lip exfoliator, facial/exfoliating scrub, and mascara

So far I've at least tried all the samples from my October box, if not used them up! (I love the Blinc mascara and those lime mints are a staple in my purse now). I rated the products on the Birchbox site as well, because that earns you points that can be used towards purchases.

I'm excited to see what my November box brings. Will I re-up my subscription at that point? I'm not sure. Part of me thinks since I don't use an extensive amount of beauty products it's too hit or miss for me, but I like getting a package in the mail each month, and there are products I would have never known about that I now love. The November box might be the deciding factor!

Do you have a Birchbox subscription? What do you think of it? Would you want to try it out?

(Psst - Have you entered my giveaway yet? You only have until 7 PM EST tomorrow night! What are you waiting for?)

For the statement makers

2011-10-25T06:15:00.131-04:00

(Photo courtesy of Morado)

I love it when people can pull off a look that's chic and vintage at the same time. This is how I feel about the Miss Evelyn sweater clips from Erin's shop Sunshine and Carousels. It's old soul meets modern elegance, and I can't get enough. I've never seen Mad Men, but it's what comes to mind when I see this clip. (Joan Holloway anyone?)

(Photo courtesy of Sunshine and Carousels)

For the semi-rocker, I give you The Kyla bracelet. Moorea recently came out with a line of bracelets named after her friends, and this one's namesake is the lovely Kyla Roma. (You can order them separately or all together!) I've ordered items from Moorea before and both her products and customer service are delightful...I can see myself becoming a frequent shopper.

(Photo courtesy of Moorea Seal)

Big chunky jewelry can be great, but sometimes the best statement is found in the understated, like these Little Twig Earrings, from Zoe's shop Pretty Zoo. They're pretty and delicate, but they still say so much! I'm always amazed at craftsmanship that can bring life into something and Zoe definitely did it here.

(Photo courtesy of Pretty Zoo)

Statements don't have to be made just with jewelry. These Orange Damask Pillows would be perfect for the bold at heart. I actually gasped when I saw them - the colors just pop, don't they?

(Photo courtesy of Brown Betty Style)

What do you think? Do you consider yourself a statement maker, or are you friends with one? I hope you're enjoying this series so far - I have to admit, it's been a delight to put these posts together - I'm having so much fun with it!

Happy Tuesday!

(Oh, and if you haven't entered the e-reader case giveaway yet, you should - it's only open for a few more days! Plus, if you leave a comment saying "thanks for the giveaway Jenny" you get an extra entry!)

Quite lovely

2011-10-24T06:15:00.070-04:00

This past weekend was my best friend Megan's birthday. True to our tradition, I planned the event, she didn't know what we were doing, and we had a great time! I have to admit, half the fun of our "birthday adventure" tradition is the surprise of it all. I could tell you what we did...or I could just show you.

I will share the "instructions" I sent to Meg about how to have a great birthday - you can be the judge of whether or not we followed through.

1. Rise and shine with a smile, and be ready at 10 AM to be picked up for the birthday "event."

2. Arrive at said event by 11 AM.

3. Delight in the awesome-ness of birthday event.

4. Dress semi-fancy.

5. Arrive back at my place to partake of wine, cheese, meat, etc. as we laugh the afternoon away, watching anything of the birthday girl's choosing.

(Yes that is an owl wine opener that says "hootch owl." It was awesome & very efficient!)

It was so much fun! We went to The British Pantry - a place I learned about when Ashley blogged about it. I made a reservation for us to have m'lady tea which included sandwiches, scones, and delicious tea. It was quiet and sweet, and gave us the opportunity to talk the morning away. We want to make it a monthly excursion!

Do you have any fun birthday adventures or traditions? How was your weekend?

Time for a giveaway!

2011-10-21T06:15:00.096-04:00

Happy Friday! I hope you're having a wonderful day so far, and if not? I think this post might make it a little bit better.

Remember that e-reader case I featured earlier this week? The one Jenny made and is listed in her shop? Today you have the chance to win it!

Yes, that is the inside - isn't it beautiful and unexpected?

The winner will get to choose which color they'd like (green or orange), and Jenny will send it right to you!

The giveaway will be open through next Thursday, October 27th, closing at 7 PM Eastern Standard Time. A winner will be randomly chosen and once announced, must email me within 48 hours. This giveaway is open to everyone, no matter where you're reading from!

To enter:
*Visit Jenny's shop, Secret Nook and leave a comment telling me your favorite item.

For extra entries:
*Tweet about this giveaway (be sure to tag me in it) and leave a comment with a link, letting me know you did.
*Like Love Everyday Life on facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did.
*Leave a comment with a shout out to Jenny, thanking her for this giveaway.

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!

Oh, and hop over to Jenny's blog to find a discount code good for the whole month of October in her shop!

Happy Friday!

(All photos courtesy of Secret Nook)

The Help

2011-10-19T06:15:00.146-04:00

Book: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My rating: 5 stars

Quick overview: This book focuses on three very different women living in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962. Skeeter is a white college graduate, looking to use her degree, while her mother is looking for a man who will marry her. Aibileen is an older black maid, who is raising her seventeenth white child, trying not to get attached to avoid the inevitable heartbreak later, if she leaves the family. Minny is Aibileen's younger friend - also a black maid, but full of sass, which makes it hard for her to keep a job. These women are in completely different places in their lives but their stories weave in and out, intwining over and over until they all join together for something they want (and hope) to be bigger.

I find the hardest book reviews for me to write are the stories I love the most. It's difficult for me to pin down where I want to start and what I want to talk about, because there were so many good things in the book. I want you to like it as much as I did and I get nervous I won't convey the great-ness of the story.

I loved this book.

This is what my book club chose this month, and while I was interested, I was also a little nervous to read it. If a book is talked about enough to where it is classified as "popular" fiction, I tend to not like it. I go in with a lot of expectations and then get disappointed when I can predict what happens or the writing isn't good. (Don't believe me? Try this. Or this). So I purposefully didn't find out anything about this book before I started it. A couple people told me I might have a hard time getting into some of the chapters because the author wrote how people would talk, but otherwise I just picked it up one night and began to read.

From the opening page I was hooked.

I didn't have any problems getting into it, and I was laughing, crying, gasping, and cheering out loud throughout the story. I was just so....involved, right from the beginning. The characters in this book are courageous, and funny, and oh so wonderful, each in their own ways.

And the writing? Phenomenal. I kept marking different quotes to share, and coincidentally enough, these were all from different Aibileen chapters.

"Cause that's the way prayer do. It's like electricity, it keeps things going (pg 23)...And Miss Skeeter asking don't I want to change things, like changing Jackson, Mississippi, gone be like changing a light bulb." (pg 24)

"That's all a grit is, a vehicle. For whatever it is you rather be eating." (pg 283)

"The summer rolls behind us like a hot tar spreader." (pg 294)

Aren't those analogies wonderful?

Unfortunately, this is one of those novels where I can't tell you specific parts I liked because it will give away facets of the story. Not that it's a big mystery, but it really ebbs and flows well, and I wouldn't want to be responsible for disrupting that for you.

I read the note from the author in the back though (another sign this book was good - normally when I finish a book I'm finished, I don't read anything else past the last page), and I enjoyed reading about her hesitation and development of writing as these characters. She's from Mississippi, but wrote this when she was living in New York - and all the different opinions and expectations she ran into during that time were great insight to hear about.

"Mississippi is like my mother. I am allowed to complain about her all I want, but God help the person who raises an ill word about her around me, unless she is their mother too." (pg 450)

I can't recommend this book enough. Borrow it, buy it, but somehow, take the time to read it.

Have you read The Help? Did you like it as much as I did or was it not your cup of tea?

Happy hump day!

(Photo: but does it float via ffffound!)

For the literary lovers

2011-10-18T06:15:00.018-04:00

I know I said I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this, but I couldn't - I'm too excited!

(Photo courtesy of Secret Nook)

The print of this quote made my former English major heart swell with pride. So true. (I don't care what you say. The book is always better).

Photo courtesy of karimachel

This shirt from NIFTshirts almost makes it a little easier to bear that the books are finished. (And in the Gryffindor colors!) If you don't know who these characters are you a) have been living under a rock and I'm sad for you, and b) need to get thee to Amazon, stat.

Photo courtesy of NIFTshirts

Know a Jane Austen fan? Gift them this swoon-worthy print of Mr. Darcy's proposal from Brooke's shop. (Am I the only one who thinks it's romantic when words from literature are used because a person is too overwhelmed to express how they feel?)

Photo courtesy of Brookish

And last but not least, these bookends from KnobCreekMetalArts are fun and practical! (I got my dad a set of bookends from this shop last year and he loved them!)

Photo courtesy of KnobCreekMetalArts

What do you think? Did any of these items strike your fancy? (Yes, I did just use that phrase). Would you wear that t-shirt in secret, or proudly down the street?

And if anyone can convince Ben that buying me an e-reader wrapped in that case is completely necessary, let me know.

Happy Tuesday!

A handmade holiday

2011-10-17T06:15:00.059-04:00

Wait! I know it's only October! I know the last thing on your mind is holiday shopping!

However, last year I pledged to have a handmade holiday, buying handmade gifts for everyone on our shopping list. With the exception of one or two things I accomplished it. I want to try and buy handmade again this year, but what's fun handmade shopping without friends? So this series was born.

I'll be posting about this twice a month from now until the holidays with ideas, suggestions, pictures, and links to great handmade gifts. Fun, right? I shop on a budget, so with the exception of maybe one or two items, I'm going to try to keep the prices for everything I suggest to $50 or less.

The first post will be going up this Wednesday, and I'm so excited to share it with you! Some of my recommendations will be from shops I've ordered from, some will not. However, I will be upfront about any experiences I've had - if the product was great, but the customer service was not, I'll tell you, so you know what you're getting into. (I'm all about being an informed consumer).

Last year I took three things away from this experience, and this is what I'll be using as a basis in my guide for you:

1. It can sometimes be challenging - you have to be willing to get creative and think a little outside the box for gifts.

2. I fell more in love with Etsy, which I didn't think was possible. (There are other places to get handmade items of course, but I relied on Etsy for the majority of them). You will too. Get excited.

3. You have to start early. The only drawback was the lead time - because each item was handmade, it required more time to prepare, so ordering two days before Christmas is not an option. This actually worked to my advantage. I started shopping in October (one gift here, two gifts there), and by the time the "holiday rush" hit I was almost finished! Plus, I had to research gifts more, which made me narrow down options to truly consider each person I was giving a gift to and what they'd like - I put a lot of thought into each item.

I'm really excited for this series - I hope you will be too! I'm going to try to do the posts as categories, so similar gifts are grouped together. I have a lot of ideas but if there's anything you'd like to see, or a person you'd like ideas for (someone who might be hard to shop for), let me know and I'll try to work it in!

Happy Monday!

I have no words

2011-10-14T06:15:00.026-04:00

But people pledging love letters sure do.

Hannah and I were talking about the love letter site last night and the stories we were sharing nearly brought me to tears.

We have a goal for October - to leave 100 love letters. People have been pledging like crazy on twitter, and it's incredible.

Actually, why don't you see for yourself?

Happy Friday!

(Photo: hula seventy via fiddlesticks and funny girls)

Drinking tea makes you fancy

2011-10-13T06:15:00.121-04:00

Happy Thursday! It's time for another wine and love, hosted by the lovely Nora.

Things this week that make me want to drink a glass (or bottle!) of wine:

- My knee. I was boasting earlier this week about how I think I've turned a corner with my physical therapy, and how I'm ready to try some light exercise (like a stationery bike), but I'm really nervous. My physical therapist has said it's fine to do anytime I'm comfortable with it (and as long as it doesn't cause me pain), but I'm just afraid of regressing.

- Not getting enough sleep. I'm sure it's because I ~~have been going to bed at almost midnight every night this week~~ work too hard, but regardless, it needs to change soon.

- Needing down time. I looked at my calendar the other day and I have one (if not two) big things every weekend through early December. Yeah. I mean, I'm really excited about all these plans, but it's a little overwhelming when I look at the big picture.

Things I love this week:

- My new love for tea. A friend of mine just came back from a year in England and when I told her I wanted to like tea (I've only found one kind I really love), she made it her mission to help. So far I've enjoyed Irish Breakfast tea, and I am head over heels for Lady Grey. Drinking a cup has become my morning tradition, and I am now fancy. Because let's face it, if you drink tea you're fancy. End of story.

- One of my friends typing this to me on g-chat (in regards to nail polish): "I try to channel you and think, what would Becky pick."

- Patio reading. Ben and I did a little of this on our anniversary, and I've become addicted. I get home too late in the evenings during the week, but I plan on time this weekend to enjoy the fall weather and read a good book. (Have I mentioned how much I love that our new apartment gets sunlight and is not in the basement?)

- Baking. I bought a huge bag of my favorite apples (honeycrisp, in case you were wondering) at the store and I've made a pie and an apple coffee cake this week. Baking used to stress me out, and now it's a way for me to relax and unwind. Ah the times, they are a-changing.

- A co-worker of mine who is fast becoming a dear friend. (She's the one who shared her coffee recipe, and who writes sonnets with me). I try not to talk about work too much on this blog but in any job there are going to be things that are tedious, or that you don't want to have to deal with. Working with her has been so much fun those kinds of things don't seem so bad. (I know she reads this blog - hi C!)

- That I have more loves than wine. Always a plus.

How do you get over the hump for exercise once you've had an injury? Are you a tea drinker? (Oh my goodness, what if I drank tea while reading on my patio? So fancy I can't even stand it!)

What are you wine and loves this week?

Loving the unexpected

2011-10-12T06:15:00.070-04:00

Another month, another polish! I'm really excited about this month's color - it was my first time ever using Butter London nail polish, and I have to admit, I'm hooked. This brand of nail polish is non-toxic which is great, but after a little reading, I love them even more because I didn't realize how many gross/toxic ingredients there were in nail polishes. I'm officially a fan.

I also have to admit I didn't choose this nail polish color myself. Awhile ago Ulta was having a buy one, get one free sale on Butter London polishes, and I asked the mister if he wanted to come Ulta with me. His response? "It's a trap." (Ben has a problem with not touching things in stores and has on multiple occasions accidentally sprayed himself with perfume while we've been there).

He ended up going with me and when I started looking at polish colors, I was automatically gravitating toward the reds. Ben rolled his eyes, told me I had too many reds, and that I should pick a different shade. I offered a challenge of him choosing a polish for me.

He picked Wallis.

I told him it made me want to throw up a little, and that I would never choose that for myself. Ben said that's exactly why I needed to get it, and that because I was pale it would look good against my skin tone plus it would pick up the warm undertones of gold in my eyes and hair. (Nice, right? Being married to an artist who knows his color theory can be awesome).

I figured why not, and that night I put it on. When I crawled into bed and told him I loved it he mumbled, "I told you." Then he said "you have to tell your readers I picked it!"

So without further ado, I give you...Wallis.

The lighting isn't the best in this picture, but trust me, this color is fabulous. I love it. It might be my latest obsession.

Do you have this shade of nail polish? Do you try to get out of your comfort zone sometimes? What's your color of the month?

A Year Without Made in China

2011-10-11T06:15:00.130-04:00

Book: A Year Without "Made in China": One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy by Sara Bongiorni

My rating: 4 stars

Brief description from inside jacket: On January 1, 2005, Sara Bongiorni's family embarked on a yearlong boycott of Chinese products. They wanted to see for themselves what it would take, in will power and creativity, to live without the world's fastest growing economy - and whether it could be done at all.

I mentioned this book last week, but it was so good I wanted to do a full review of it. I found it in a used bookstore and thought it sounded interesting.

It was not interesting. It was so much more.

The premise seemed catchy enough, and if anything I figured it would be like Nickel and Dimed - good, but at times a little pretentious. I am happy to report it was not like that at all.

The author was upfront and honest about her reasons for the boycott. It had nothing to do with the people of China, and she didn't expect anyone outside her immediate family to abide by it (they had a rule about gifts not counting toward the boycott so they didn't impose it on anyone else), and while she gets excited about finding Danish legos, or Swedish shoes, she also struggles with guilt for not being able to give her son the toy he wants so badly.

She strikes a great balance of serious and funny, including referring to her husband as the Weakest Link (yes, with capitalization), and her often expressed hatred of Wal-Mart.

"One day, Wal-Mart's dark angling for 'Low Prices' will catch up with it and the company will implode, Enron-style. It my take 40 years, but, in the end, I'll have the last laugh. It will be death by a thousand cuts. Just wait and see." (Pg 144)

She really brings you into her world during the boycott - her writing is friendly, almost conversational, and by the end of the first chapter I was already laughing at her jokes and thinking of what great friends we'd be. I've talked about how I demand a lot as a reader, and this author definitely drew me in - at first because I didn't know if the boycott would last a whole year, and later as I cheered the family on. I grinned when she found a lamp made in the USA, and found myself frustrated along with her when she realized some of the parts had been individually made in China.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but the biggest thing I walked away with was the balance the family struck, and the awareness it brought them. I'll leave you with two quotes (appropriately enough from the introduction, and the afterword).

"My hope is that readers will use my family's experience to better understand how China is quietly changing their own lives and how the choices we all make as consumers shape China's place in the world, and our own. I had always seen myself as a mere speck in the global economy. I still do. But the boycott made me see what I had missed before. I might be a mere speck in the larger world, but I can still make choices, and China is both limiting and expanding my options. I hope our story prompts readers to look closely at the choices they have available to them." (pg 3)

"In pushing China out of our lives, I got an eye-popping view of how far China had pushed in." (pg 2)...."At the same time, the boycott gave us a discipline that we had lacked as consumers." (pg 225)

Have you read this book? Do you think you could ever embark on something like this? And if so, could you do it for a whole year? As a consumer how aware do you think you are about where things are made? (Honestly, before I read this book I didn't even think to check!)

(Photo: A Book Lover's Diary)

Unplugging

2011-10-10T06:15:00.069-04:00

Happy Monday! Thanks for all the well wishes on our anniversary. It kind of snuck up on us this year so we didn't have big plans, which ended up being perfect.

We always "unplug" on our anniversary. We turn off computers, cell phones, and we have a day just for us. Some years that involves hilarious surprises, but this year it was taking our time over coffee, visiting the church where we got married, some reading and relaxing on our patio, and a trip to the first Steak 'n Shake in Virginia. We didn't wear watches or worry about how long anything was or had been taking. Simply lovely.

(One of his co-workers made this for us and sang a little "happy anniversary" song - so sweet!)

(We didn't get married outside but this is the outdoor chapel where we took some pictures after our ceremony - beautiful no?)

This is one of the many reasons I know the mister and I are made for each other. Because no one else gets as excited about Steak 'n Shake as I do...except Ben.

Do you have a place that makes you relax and unwind - even if no one else gets it? How was your weekend? Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!

Four

2011-10-06T06:15:00.109-04:00

Dear Benjamin,

We've been married four years today. On one hand it seems like our wedding was so long ago, but it also seems like just yesterday that I felt butterflies before walking down the aisle.

You've taught me a lot these past four years - everything from how to truly trust someone, to realizing watching a movie is way more fun than worrying about dishes.

Some days I'm amazed you put up with me, and then you make a joke that makes me cry with laughter and I remember just how perfectly suited we are.

A couple of weeks ago I was talking about our anniversary with someone and she asked if we were happy. I of course said yes, but the question made me laugh because happy? Doesn't even begin to describe how you make me feel.

You make me dance-around-the-room, grin-until-my-face-hurts, giggling-even-when-stressed-out kind of happy. You make me believe-in-the-magic-of-love kind of happy. You make me steal-one-more-kiss-in-the-morning-because-a-workday-is-too-long-to-be-away-from-you kind of happy.

We've laughed, we've grieved, we've faced some rough times, but through it all I've never doubted you or our love for each other. I have no idea what the future holds for us, but if the past four years have been any indication, I'm not sure my heart can take the joy.

Happy fourth anniversary my love. Here's to the next forty.

All my love,
Your Wife

Psst - and for all of you readers who made it through this sappiness, I thought a little video might be fun to share. (I kept it to mostly pictures of us because I'm never sure who's comfortable being on the blog - and the song was our first dance!) I'll be back Monday!

A secret nook in a pleasant land

2011-10-05T06:15:00.115-04:00

Remember that adorable pouch I mentioned yesterday? Well today I'm happy to feature the maker of that pouch and some other amazing items. I'd like to introduce you to Jenny. I recently found her blog and it's now one of my favorites to read. When I realized she also had an Etsy shop I ~~might have~~ developed a girl crush. She's so sweet and talented and I love her use of color in her designs! But enough from me - let's hear from her!

How did you get started with your Etsy shop? I've always been "crafty" in some way; my mom made me take cross-stitch and sewing classes at a young age. When I discovered Etsy, I was amazed at this community of creative people who actually craft for a living. That's when I started to realize that sewing didn't just have to be a hobby. I opened a different shop initially, just to test the water, and loved it. So I decided to start dedicating more time and effort to it, which is when I opened Secret Nook. I love everything about the process: sewing the products, emailing customers, and even going to the post office to ship the packages.

You say your shop named is inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson - which makes my former English major heart happy - I need to hear that story! I was an English major too! Emerson is probably one of my favorite authors and I love his poem "Good-bye," which is where Secret Nook comes from. The poem, as a whole, doesn't reflect the theme of my shop as much as the one line does, "A secret nook in a pleasant land." It just sounds magical.

What inspires you? First and foremost, people who are living their dream inspire me more than anything. I love reading about other people who have turned their craft (or any other dream job) into a career. I'm also very inspired by fabric, print, and color. Fabric may even be to a fault, I can spend way too much money on it if I'm not careful. It's an investment, though, right?

In your shop profile you talk about your love for re-using things, and how you don't think "vintage" should necessarily be "exclusive" - what a great perspective! Is this something you've seen/decided over time or have you always felt this way? I do love re-using things and I like to think of it as recycling, because it is. Maybe it's the environmentalist in me, but I much prefer something used over buying brand new. Sometimes, though, I think that people can put incredible prices on items just because they are vintage. There are rare pieces and collectibles, but in general I think vintage style should be accessible.

How do you come up with the items in your shop? Do you set aside time each day (or week) to create or is it more of an "as it happens" basis? I feel like I live for my weekends! That's when I do most of the work for my shop. I have a full-time day job, so it's sometimes difficult to find time. My dream is to do this full-time, but it can be a slow process to get there. I try to do at least one thing, however small, everyday that contributes to my shop or blog. The only way to get somewhere is to take steps, if even baby ones.

Do you do custom orders? Yes! I'm always happy to accommodate.

What's your favorite item in your shop right now? Does this ever change? Yes, it changes all the time. I feel like every new item is my favorite! Right now I really love the houndstooth pencil pouch. I also love the gnomes - my husband got me that fabric for my birthday and it's actually a top-seller (way to go Tyson!). I'm currently working on some new things that I am just in love with. They should be in the shop soon!

And just for fun: if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?
Oh wow. I would have to say pasta, definitely. I could live off of any kind of noodles.

Aren't her pieces gorgeous? The colors and patterns bring a smile to my face! Be sure to head over to her shop, Secret Nook, or her blog to find out more about her! (I promise, you won't be disappointed!) Thanks for answering my questions Jenny!

(All photos courtesy of Secret Nook)

Let there be light

2011-10-04T06:15:00.059-04:00

When we moved, the mister and I had to figure out how to make things work in the space we have, and while we've tried to be more minimalistic, we still have stuff. I want where we live - whether it's a one-bedroom apartment or a huge house - to feel homey, not just a hodgepodge of clutter. I figured this series would be a fun way to share!

As I was thinking about what to post about next for this series, I was curled up on my bed, reading, and loving how cozy I was in that moment. And then...(bear with me)...a light bulb went off.

No literally, the bulb in my night side bed lamp blew and I wasn't sure if we had any extra so I could replace it. I realized how nice it was to have a light to read by, thus my post for today. (My life is thrilling, I know, try to contain your excitement!)

I truly think lamps make a difference though. I love overhead light fixtures because they're easy and they get the job done, but table lamps just seem cozy to me. We received all the lamps in these pictures from our wedding registry and it's amazing how so much has changed since we got married, but I still love these lamps as much as the day we unwrapped them. Not surprisingly, I'm drawn to the details of them.

Are you a big fan of non-overhead lighting? Do you like the aesthetics of lamps or is that not your thing? Happy Tuesday!

Let's just say mmm...

2011-10-03T06:15:00.074-04:00

Each month I share a new recipe I've tried, something I've read and want to recommend, and something I ~~am craving, want~~ really need.

Eat it: Baked Apples - My friend Danielle brought these to our fancy book club and they were amazing! The recipe says to core the apples and fill them with the sauce, but mine didn't really stay together so I just did apple slices instead. I tripled the amount for the sauce, and at one point I may or may not have uttered the words "I want to bathe in these apples." Yeah. It's like that.

Read it: A Year Without Made in China: One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy by Sara Bongio - I found this book in a used bookstore and thought it sounded interesting. A family decided to not buy anything with a "made in China" label for a whole year, to see if it was possible, and how much the American economy was dependent on China. I figured even if it was dry writing, there would probably be some good anecdotes, but it was so much more. The author is engaging and funny, and she really pulls you into all the different emotions and thoughts she has over the course of the year. I'm going to review this more thoroughly soon, but I would highly recommend it!

Need it: This charcoal and mustard pouch from Jenny's shop, Secret Nook. I stumbled upon this recently and it not only seems perfect for fall, but also just the right size to fit all the little things I don't want loose in my purse.

(Photo courtesy of Secret Nook)

Have you ever made baked apples? Can you imagine trying to buy completely handmade (or something to that extent) for a year? Do you "sub-bag" things in your purse or are you a throw-it-in-there-and-dig-for-it-later kind of gal?

What do you want to share today - something to eat, read, or need?

Happy October!

Fancy Friday

2011-09-30T06:15:00.057-04:00

A week ago, my book club met, with the idea of having a "fancy" meeting. I kept saying it was Fancy Friday, so today I thought I'd share! Brooke was the host, and the one who put together all the loveliness you're about to see.

She said she'd been reading my blog, so she knew how much of a hummus kick I'd been on lately...

Look how pretty!

We had a breakfast for dinner theme, which included quiche, a light salad, crackers and dip, and some ah-mazing baked apples. (Recipe coming soon, I promise!) I'm not great at cutting things, so when I started serving the quiche...well, let's just say it didn't really look all that fancy anymore. And some people insisted I show you the results of my serving abilities.

(It doesn't matter what it looks like - just what it tastes like, right? Don't judge me).

And for dessert? Caramel apple spice cake. Words can't even describe.

Our meeting coincided with the first day of autumn which was perfect! We had a fancy meal, and fabulous conversation - only some of which centered around the book. (We read The Elegance of the Hedgehog and none of us finished it - we wanted to like it but just couldn't get into it).

I can't wait until our next meeting!

Are you part of a book club? If so, do you ever try to do creative or out of the box type stuff for your meetings? What have you been reading lately?

I hope you have a fancy Friday!

You are not what you own

2011-09-28T06:15:00.029-04:00

"Sometimes we fear that getting rid of certain items is equivalent to getting rid of part of ourselves......We have to remember that our memories, dreams, and ambitions aren't contained in these objects; they're contained in ourselves. We are not what we own; we are what we do, what we think, and who we love."

- Francine Joy from The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Living Guide

I started reading this last night and do not want to put down.

(Photo: Griege via Walking Around)

The beauty of baskets

2011-09-27T06:15:00.061-04:00

When we moved, the mister and I had to figure out how to make things work in the space we have, and while we've tried to be more minimalistic, we still have stuff. I want where we live - whether it's a one-bedroom apartment or a huge house - to feel homey, not just a hodgepodge of clutter. I figured this series would be a fun way to share!

I've shown a little bit about how I make our apartment pretty, so today I thought I'd show you a little bit of the functionality. We've become more minimalist, but we still have odds and ends, or groups of things that need a home.

Enter the basket.

I love baskets. They look nice, they can match or not match, and they can hide things that aren't attractive like ~~video game controllers~~ wires or cords.

I'm also a big fan of going up with your space. These baskets hold bags - extra purses, laptop bags, small bags that are good for traveling - and since we don't use what's in the baskets a lot, they're on the top shelf of our closet. (You can even see a few hangers below the shelf).

Since we're working with a small apartment, we want it to feel as big as possible. Going up with our space (baskets, hanging shelves, etc), does wonders because it gets stuff off the floor and opens up the area.

Do you live in a small apartment or house? Do you find going up with your space helpful? And do you love baskets as much as I do? (The fact that we live close to an Ikea can be a dangerous, dangerous thing).

Happy Tuesday!

Bloggers who brunch

2011-09-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

Have you ever had a blogger meetup? Maybe you met someone for coffee or a group of you got together for some event.

You get nervous like it's a first date, you spend 20 minutes looking for a parking spot, you take a deep breath before heading inside...

...and then you feel silly for ever doubting how natural you'd feel around this amazing group of ladies.

You eat delicious food...

...you meet someone who went to the same college you did (with the same major!) and now lives up the street from you...

...you drink coffee and talk about everything from traffic (because they all live in this area so they get it), and husbands...

...to kids, friendships,

...and jobs that may or may not be helping you follow your dreams.

You admire nail polish colors - and have a deep conversation about the validity of the base coat,

...then you take a little jaunt down the street so your good friend Gus can see the fountain.

You laugh at the colorful pile of bags, and how all the ladies have fancy cameras.

You drive home with a grin on your face, wondering how you ever existed before the blogging community - and how you can't wait to get together with these girls again.

(Huge thanks to Ashley for organizing this get together and sending me that last picture - so much fun!)

How was your weekend?

Fun fact Friday

2011-09-23T06:15:00.108-04:00

Happy Friday! I've seen a few new readers popping up here and there (hiiii!) so I thought today would be a good time to share some fun facts about myself you might not know.

*I cuss more in real life than I do on this blog. I have no objection to swearing - it doesn't offend me when I read a "bad" word in a post - but something about writing it kind of takes the passion out of it for me. (Because we all know I really only swear when I'm angry or freaking out).

*My all-time favorite book is The Great Gatsby. I have a slight love affair for F. Scott Fitzgerald, and when they demolished the building that inspired that novel, I might have cried a little.

*There are a few foods I loved so much as a child that I can no longer eat them: String cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese. Just the thought of any of them makes me want to throw up. (And no, I did not eat them all together - that would make anyone want to throw up). For tomatoes it's the opposite - I couldn't stand them when I was little, but now I'll eat them like apples!

*For years, I was obsessed with Patrick Swayze. Obsessed. When I had to make a "flour baby" in high school for my child development class I named him Jonathon Cole Swayze, and at one point in my life I had ten different copies of Dirty Dancing. I got as many texts and phone calls checking to see if I was okay when he died as I did when the mister and I got married.

*I played the tuba from sixth through eleventh grade. When I started I was so short I had to turn it sideways to reach the mouthpiece, I marched with a 75-pound sousaphone for two years, (I even had one pushed over on my foot once), and I loved every minute of it.

*In our house, if you can't make noise to tell me you're hungry, you're probably going to die. This is why the mister does not buy me flowers very often, and if we ever get a pet, fish are totally ruled out - they'd be screwed from the start! I have the best intentions, but I just...forget about things that can't indicate they need feeding and/or watering. Don't believe me? The before...and the after.

*Lately I have been on a huge hummus kick - I can't get enough! I've been eating so much I might turn into a chickpea.

What's a fun fact about you? Have a great weekend!

(Photo: doppelganger via ffffound)

Lessons taught to me by Cindy Lou Who

2011-09-22T06:15:00.020-04:00

Yes I realize it's only September, and no this is not a post about how much time is left until Christmas. It's about how my life has changed since starting to write love letters - and the post is up on the love letter blog today.

Trust me, you'll want to read it.

(Photo source)

The book that plans my life

2011-09-21T06:15:00.182-04:00

I've been talking about my Erin Condren life planner for awhile, and if you follow me on twitter you've seen me tweeting about it a lot.

I would love to say I'm doing this review because I was given one to try out, but I didn't. This review is simply because there's been a lot of talk about these planners lately and I wanted to show you what the hype is all about.

First off, let me say I love this planner. Love. I was so excited when I saw that it shipped I stalked it like it was my job. (No really, Ben told me it was unhealthy). It was packaged nicely, and there were even a few coupons included.

Yes that is bubble wrap - they don't mess around!

However, I will say my excitement about this planner has dimmed a little because it was such a process to get it.

I like that it seems almost handmade - you have to wait about a week and a half or so from when you order it to when it ships, and that's the time where they put it together and customize it for you. (There are so many different cover options to choose from!) When it finally shipped the FedEx site was slow to update - for days it told me it was in California, and then the next thing I know it was on the truck for delivery. (I know that has nothing to do with the Erin Condren company, I'm just putting that out there as why it was frustrating).

The night I got it I was excited and giddy and I had a whole evening planned of writing things in this planner - it goes through December of 2012, so I know it would take awhile. (I know how to party, huh?) I put in Gilmore Girls, started writing in dates, and before I knew it I was already up to July of 2012...when I realized I had no month of August.

I thought I was looking at it wrong for a minute but the planner went right from July to September of next year. Ugh. A pain, right, but okay...things happen. I got on the website, sent them an email about my order and then tweeted about how I'd have to wait to finish writing things until I heard back from them. (Really? The fact that I tweeted about writing in a planner doesn't make you want to follow me? Please).

I was kind of at a standstill because I wasn't sure how the company was going to proceed. I didn't want to continue to write things in the planner if they were going to send me a new one, but it seemed silly to not use it. When I didn't have a response that evening, I sent a follow-up one. I'd given them more than 24 hours (I realize they're not a tiny company and I wouldn't necessarily be their first priority), so sending another email asking about the status seemed fine.

By late that night I was getting irritated. I'm on the East Coast, and the company is on the West Coast so they easily could have emailed me something before close of business their time. I was really only looking for an automated response acknowledging they received the information from me - but I didn't receive a response.

In the meantime, I think Erin Condren herself (or whoever tweets from that account) must have been on a trip because I was seeing all these tweets from that account about fun times and I was getting more and more irritated that they had time to do that but not respond to a mistake they made. (I will admit it was late and I did some angry tweets tagging the company about how I thought it was crappy they hadn't emailed back).

The next morning I waited until lunchtime on the East Coast (again, to give them time to be in the office and respond) and then called their customer service line. The guy was very nice, he said he'd contact the office, and they'd follow up with me by the end of that day. A few hours later I got an email and once I was actually talking to someone they were very helpful and the problem got resolved pretty quickly. They told me I could send it back and they would add the month and recoil it, but since I had written things in it through July of next year I wasn't comfortable sending it back to them. They were completely fine with it and told me they'd make me a new one and overnight it the next business day.

The planner arrived the day it was supposed to - no thanks to the stellar employees at FedEx, but that's a story for another time. It was a pain to recopy everything I'd already written in the first planner, but the silver lining is I have a lot of extra stickers now. (I kept the extras from the first book).

Wow. That was a lot of text! Would you like to see the actual planner itself? (Disclaimer: the camera gets a little shaky in the middle, but it really shows the inside of it well - and thanks to this lovely lady for filming it!)

Things to consider:

*If you don't have a busy schedule, this life planner is probably overkill. I love that there's so much room to write, but I try to pack a lot into my days.

*It's big. (Did you hear me bang it on the table?) It won't fit in a small purse - you need a bigger bag to carry it in. (And what's the point of having it if you're not going to keep it with you?)

*Once I got a hold of the customer service people they were great, but either they don't have enough employees to keep up with their orders or they need to manage their time better because it took two emails, a phone call, and a lot of tweets to get any kind of response, and that's not an effective way to do business.

*If you don't like stickers this isn't for you. (They're so much fun to use!)

*Cost. As I mentioned in the video I found a great discount code and paid half price. Considering how much of a pain it was to get it, I was very happy I didn't pay more. I have no doubt this is an investment and I've already used it more than I can say so I think it is worth the price they charge, but for my initial purchase I'm glad that's not what I paid.

It kind of sounds like I'm not recommending this planner which really isn't the case - I love it - but I believe in being an informed consumer. I know tons of people who got their planners without any problems, but my experience wasn't all sunshine and rainbows - and I'm not going to gloss over that just because I like the end product.

And thus ends my crazy long review!

What do you think? Do you have one of these planners? Is it the be all end all for you, or are you a free spirit who doesn't plan things out to this extent? (How I admire you!)

Happy hump day!

Pretty but functional

2011-09-20T06:15:00.082-04:00

When we moved, the mister and I had to figure out how to make things work in the space we have, and while we've tried to be more minimalistic, we still have stuff. I want where we live - whether it's a one-bedroom apartment or a huge house - to feel homey, not just a hodgepodge of clutter. I figured this series would be a fun way to share!

Last week I showed our outdoor fall decorations, so this week I thought I'd give you a peek into the ones inside as well. We have limited space in our living room so I try to balance comfort (i.e. pillows) with not cluttering up our seating options.

I couldn't fit our whole living area in one picture (oh wide angle lens how I want you), but this gives you an idea. There's an end table tucked on the other side of the couch, the space is open, but there's more places to sit than just the couch.

The ottoman acts as extra seating, we keep blankets inside of it, and when it's just the mister and me, it's easy to pull in front of the couch to prop up our feet!

(And what's fall without a little color on your table?)

I actually don't do a whole lot of seasonal decorating, so next week I will share my love for baskets and ~~the clutter they hide~~ the organization they provide.

Do you decorate for the seasons? Do you have small spaces to work with in your home? How do you get the most out of your space?