The Throwback Issue

So I know we all like to reminisce from time to time. It's fun to remember childhood movies, games, and activities. http://www.retrojunk.com/ is a website you could waste an entire day on if you are between the ages 25-40. It stores archival lists of multimedia from your childhood. You will find things on that site that you swore were made up by your elementary school head because only you remember them. It's pretty fantastic.

Also, this site has a list of classic Apple games from the 80s that you probably played in school. Bad graphics and all. If you're as nerdy as me when it comes to nostalgia, you will adore these sites.

Valentine's Day, anyone?

Surpising as it may seem, I'm not really a fan of Valentine's Day. Ever since the days of trading Valentine's Day cards underneath desks and receiving chocolate hearts from my father have passed, Valentine's Day has lost a bit of it's appeal. So in an effort to remind me of those simpler times (And hopefully ignite some of the holiday spirit) I found these adorable Valentine's Day kits available at Paper Source. I'm equally in love with the vintage cards and the scratch and sniff variety.

http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/new/valentines-cards.html

vintage valentines link

sratch and sniff link

And  if you have a little more time on your hands, there are plenty of supplies available at Paper Source to make your very own lovely cards....my favorite is this rose pattern paper.

rose paper link

Cupcake Dog!

I know this is just terrible, but c'mon....it's hilarious! 

Sneezing Panda (HD)

This video (still) makes my heart explode with joy. 

The goal - new wardrobe. $365.

 Inspired by the movie 'Julie and Julia' the creative mind behind the blog 'New Dress A Day' made it her goal to forgo traditional clothes shopping for an entire year. Instead, she would limit her shopping to thrift stores or rummage sales only, and spend no more than $1 per day on a 'previously loved' item of clothing. New outfit, every day, for an entire year. That's 365 additions to her wardrobe for $365!! Her blog highlights the alterations that were made to each item to transform them into fashion forward treasures. I give this girl major credit...to be able to keep the creative juices flowing for this project even sounds exhausting!

 Check out the blog, http://www.newdressaday.com.

Adding fuel to the fire

As if I needed yet another reason to want to quit my day job.....

Check out Etsy's blog series titled none other than 'quit your day job'. The series features the stories behind successful Etsy artisans who have made the transition into selling on Etsy full-time.

Suzanne, you're with me on this one, right?

http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/quit-your-day-job/

Sandwich for you, sandwich for me

It's true, I love me some sandwiches. Check out this list of the current 'top ten' sandwiches (according to the authors of Endless Simmer). Yum! 

http://www.endlesssimmer.com/2011/01/20/americas-top-10-new-sandwiches/

A love letter for you

I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I am smitten with these love letter murals, a series of murals that were painted on the walls facing the Market elevated train in Philadelphia.

To read more about this awesome project, follow this link;  

http://www.aloveletterforyou.com/

In honor of the football madness that has spread across the Midwest, I leave you with this video of Carl from Aqua Teen Hunger Force making his prediction. If a cartoon character says it, it has to be true, right?

yes, i do....

just because...

Furniture Makeover!

I found a new blog that provides a tremendous source of inspiration when it comes to furntiture related DIY projects. One of the many projects that I fell in love with was this credenza makeover. To read the full tutorial and browse other ideas visit Censational Girl at http://www.centsationalgirl.com/.



project tutorial here



Is it too late to become a ballerina when I grow up?

please?

Everyday truths

I've read this list so many times and still find it hilarious. Not sure who the original author is but I'm willing to bet that everyone can relate to at least a few items on this list! 

Truths For Mature Humans

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. 

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong. 

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font. 

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? 

6. Was learning cursive really necessary? 

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. 

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died. 

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired. 

10. Bad decisions make good stories. 

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever. 

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? **** it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. 

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well. 

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option. 

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in. 

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text. 

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger. 

25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever. 

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year? 

29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.

31. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is. 

32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my *** everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

A couple of videos for you guys.

For all you 80s babies out there--Pee Wee Herman on SNL! Dee-lightful.


And for all you Elijah Wood/Shirley Manson/fancy eyeglass/arty short fans out there, this:

still obsessed....

As soon as I stop moving around so much I swear I'm going to invest in a new aquarium. I love the idea of using an old television set as the aquarium base, but there are so many other pieces of furniture that could just as easily be converted. 

http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-an-Old-TV-Into-a-Fish-Tank

And check out these little repurposed betta fishbowls for sale on Etsy!! 

link to the Etsy store

The efficient thrifter...

There are few things I enjoy more then shopping at thrift stores - if you're willing to be patient I promise you will find something that you will cherish forever.  But thrifting is truly an art form - something that can be perfected. If I don't walk into the store with a clear goal/list of items that I am seeking I usually get overwhelmed and leave empty-handed. I was so happy to see this post from bluebird vintage about thrfting tips and techniques from a pro. Check it out -

http://candimandi.typepad.com/heres_lookin_at_me_kid/2011/01/miss-james-of-.html

I think you're great

happiness.....

Hmm...what's your opinion of this? I feel like it's hitting pretty close to home for me lately. Or maybe I'm just tired!

(found on http://www.aish.com/sp/f/48968901.html)

Happiness doesn't drain your energy. It adds more!

Ask a happy person: "I have a boat. Do you want to go fishing?"

"Great! Let's go!"

Now ask someone who is depressed, "C'mon, let's go fishing!"

"I'm tired. Maybe tomorrow. And anyway, it might rain..."

Happy people are energetic and ambitious. There's never enough time to do everything they want to do.

Monday's NEW mantra

"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

The unfortunate polarizing of our country in recent years has come to a head. I hope we can all learn something from it.




The victims.

Cold days, warm nights....

....thanks in part to this snuggle bear. meet maddie's head. five years, four couches, and at least a dozen dog beds later, she is thankfully becoming the lazy st. bernard that I had signed up for. until recently, she was one of the most energetic dogs I had ever met, and when you weigh 120 pounds, that can be downright destructive. 

Repurposed Furniture

Repurposed furniture: Eco-friendly, allows for originality, and can save you lots of money. What's not to like? Check out this easy tutorial for an 'office in a chest'. This is the perfect piece of furniture for folks like me who don't have the luxury (or need?) for a separate office space. 

link to this tutorial and additional repurposed ideas

Office in a Chest

Transform a traditional piece of bedroom furniture into a multitasking mini office, complete with bulletin board and filing cabinet. You'll have easy access to all your essentials -- and be able to tuck them away at a moment's notice. It requires only minimal construction to reconfigure a chest.

To make the bulletin board: Cut a piece of 1/2-inch-thick cork (available at office-supply stores) to fit the underside of the lid; affix it with craft glue.

To make the sliding supply organizer: Cut two strips of molding to fit inside the long sides of the chest; use small nails to attach a strip along each side, several inches below the lip, to support a tray (as pictured).

 To make the tray: Cut a piece of kraft paper the length and width you'd like the tray to be (make sure it will be wide enough to rest on the strips of molding), and mark the depth needed on the template. Bring the paper to a home-supply store that sells wooden drawer organizers, and arrange enough organizers on top of the paper to cover the surface. At home, paint the organizers to match the chest, and let dry. Use wood glue to attach to one another.

To create a filing system: Insert adjustable hanging file-folder frames inside the chest.

John Vanderslice - The Mansion

I admit it - when I moved to Southern California I jumped into my new lifestyle pretty blindly and wasn't sure what to expect. But of all the things that you could have told me about my future life in Los Angeles I can tell you what I certainly did not expect....a blizzard. Granted at the time I was headed to the mountains, but with my destination residing at a humble 2500 feet (altitude) I thought I was still fairly safe from snow. Wrong indeed. As I cruised through Pasadena, cursing myself for leaving my Ipod back home on the kitchen table, I noticed the light drizzle outside turning to snow. The sight of snow so close to my new home made me giddy with excitement. I used my cell phone to attempt to snap pictures of the snow falling on palm trees and enthusiastically sent the pictures to everyone I know. After all *clearly* I was witnessing some sort of miracle (or sign of impeding doom). 20 miles and three hours later I had lost my initial enthusiasm. I watched as traffic stood still; a sea of brake lights stretched out  in front of me as far as I could see and vehicles began to slide sideways, falling victim to the inward slope of the road. Vehicles that had lost traction and given up all hope in proceeding any farther were scattered all over the highway. I methodically tried to navigate through the mess and am quite sure that I held my breath for the entire five hours. Too scared to take my eyes off of the road for long enough to change a CD, I listened to this song on repeat, and it's been in my head all week. This video doesn't really do the song justice, but I still haven't figured out how to share digital downloads so this will have to do for now. It's great. I promise. 

Water, water everywhere....



I think by now we all know that drinking plenty of water is a good thing. A very good thing. Staying hydrated flushes toxins, keeps your skin looking fresh and dewy, helps maintain energy levels, etc. The list goes on and on. But do you ever get tired of drinking boring ol' water? I sure do. Which is why I was ecstatic to find this water pitcher at CB2. 



buy one HERE



Imagine all of the delicious flavored waters you could make using fresh fruit, veggies, and herbs!!! The possibilities of creating the ultimate combination are endless, but here are a few ideas to get you started. If you have any more ideas, please share!

- Lemon slices and fresh basil

- Cucumber slices and fresh rosemary

Watermelon cubes and fresh mint

- Raspberries and lime slices



not here nor there

Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Cant See Land

Out with the old, in with the new.

I'm kind of a scrooge for New Year's. I think this is partially because I've felt stuck in a rut since college. Every New Year's Eve it the same; I look back on the year with contempt that I haven't changed my life enough to matter, yet I live the following year the exact same way as before, falling into the comfortable ease of my old routine. I vow to change many things all at once and then, exasperated, take a turn and meander down that well worn path on the journey to next year. I genuinly feel hopeful that the new year will bring the much needed change and then there I sit, cynical every December 31st. So this year I didn't care about New Year's Eve. I couldn't give two shits. Oh, I tried, but my effort was quickly covered up, not by end of the year cynicism but by premonitionary distrust that this, this year would be different. I wasn't buying it. I was asleep by 11:40 and when my husband woke me up for the changing of the day, I said, "Great. Let's go to bed." And, honestly, I haven't given much thought that the year now ends in '11. The ironic part to all this is that this grudge I hold for the beginning of 2011 just might be enough to change my poor attitude for all things change. So here's my resolution, vague as it might be--Just be happy. And if you aren't happy, then do something about it. Damn it. And stop wallowing the the comfortable routine of your life just because it's easy.

I think 2011 might be a good year afterall.

And to finish up this post, a quote:

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot

Why hello, 2011

2010 was one of the most tumultuous years of my life. In an effort to dig deep into the meaning of life and happiness, I wound up taking every single aspect of my life that has ever been stable and/or comforting and absolutely shaking them to the core. Relationships were tested. Hope was lost and then found again. It's been an exhausting, humbling, yet incredibly exciting year. And I'm ready to do it all over again. 

My New Years Resolutions

1) Write a book. I swear I've subconsciously been working on a book since the day I learned how to put pencil to paper. This year I'm going to devote the time needed to collect my various bits of writing that are scattered among the pages of my notebooks and figure out how to transform them into one, cohesive story. 

2) Be healthy. Eat well, stress less, etc, etc. We only get this one body and mind, so we better learn how to take care of them. 

3) Live in the moment. Spend less time worrying about tomorrow, and learn how to enjoy today. 

I'll leave you with a quote by Neil Gaiman.....a perfect New Years toast! 

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."
— Neil Gaiman