Preppy Nonsense

sunday eats

2011-08-28T19:46:00.004-04:00

This Sunday, the Husband and I headed out of Suburbia and ventured downtown to check out Dig Indiana, a local food festival-type adventure. I read about it a few weeks prior and bought discounted tickets. The Brother also was able to come, which was nice. There were booths from restaurants and their respective chefs, breweries, wineries, and local food sources. The weather was delightful. I brought my DSLR but found it hard to balance my drink with my plate and eat while standing, let alone take photos at the same time. I did manage to snap some pics when we sat down though - much to the Husband's dismay. The Brother didn't seem to mind.
There's a fancy dancy JW Marriott downtown now. We're all ready for the Superbowl in 2012!

I was even lucky to get a photo with the Husband - he proposed to me not far from where we sat down here 4 and a half years ago! Time flies.

So that was our enjoyable Sunday - do anything good this weekend?

what i've been eating lately

2011-07-24T22:12:00.003-04:00

I've not felt inspired lately. Between the ridiculous heat and being busy, I've been reading other people's blogs but neglecting my own. So instead of something terribly creative, I bring you a summary of what I've been eating lately:

GRAPES. Lots of grapes.
I'm doing Weight Watchers so I keep a bunch of them at my desk to prevent uneeded grazing in the break room.

Fresh Corn
It's that season in Indiana, and the husband and I hit up our local farmer's market every Saturday to buy My Dad's Sweet Corn.

Baked Almond French Toast
I don't have a recipe because I just wing it, but I can tell you two things about this awesome dish - 1)baking is so much easier than cooking French toast on a griddle and 2)almonds and french toast are awesome. I use a little almond extract and top my toast with sliced almonds and raspberries.

Grilled Chicken and Corn Salad with Avocado and Parmesan
I subbed limes for lemons and manchego for parm because that's what we had in the house and it was SO. DARN. GOOD.

Turkey Jerky
I'm not ashamed, I like jerky. It's tasty and low in calories. I got a two pack at Costco and keep it in my desk for when the grapes just don't cut it.

Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper Quakes
The combination sounds questionable but trust me, these little rice cakes are delicious.

So that's it for now - hopefully I'll be inspired lately and things will pick up around here.

summer salad

2011-07-06T17:29:00.000-04:00

YUM!

trellis transformation

2011-07-05T08:02:00.002-04:00

When we bought our house, there were two established clematis plants. The blooms themselves are quite lovely but the trellises? Ugh. Do you see the wood on the left that's busted off? And the post nailed in at the bottom that is holding it up? Not really attractive. A few questions from the husband and some renderings, and we were off! He built two of the trellises out of cedar we picked up at Lowe's. He came up with the design too, he's awesome like that.
This is the clematis in the backyard - I ended up doing a hack job to get it off of the old trellis but it'll grow back.

And this is the side yard - quite the improvement! It looks a little wonky but it will (hopefully) fill in.

pretty pretty pantry

2011-07-04T17:26:00.006-04:00

Over the long weekend I finally tackled a project that was on my list for awhile - I organized our pantry. Not sexy or very exciting, but it had to be done! Here's a quick phone photo to show you what it looked like before...

When we bought our house, I bought some contact paper and lined the shelves before throwing all of the food in! You can't necessarily tell here, but the contact paper didn't stick to the bottom of the shelves and looked pretty bad.

A few weeks ago at JoAnn Fabrics, I found a cute fabric and thought it would be cute to line the pantry shelves with. The shelves were a royal pain in the rear because I had to take them out one by one, starting from the top and then put them back starting from the bottom. A few hours (and sweat and tears) later, here is the after...

I cut the fabric to size and used Fabri Tac to adhere the fabric to the shelves, both on the bottom and a thin bead on the top.

I also threw out a lot of stale or expired food - something that I wanted all too long to do! I should calendar myself to clean things out at least once a year. Am I the only slacker out there with stale boxes of Wheat Thins and soup from 2009?!

jumping back on the skinny train

2011-06-26T21:23:00.003-04:00

Holy cannoli, have I been a busy lady. One that forgets to blog, obviously. In the past week, I:

made black bean burgers a la Annie's Eats - DELICIOUS

fantasized about taking a trip to the Four Seasons Nevis because of their great specials right now

looked up the location of Nevis on Google Maps becuase I had no idea where it was

started back up on Weight Watchers to prevent by rear from getting any larger

commiserated with a coworker who is doing WW as we ate grapes and bemoaned not eating the delicious cake in the break room

had some red wine and a fire in the chimnea with the husband on Saturday night

searched 3 DSW locations and all of the internets looking for a pair of Bandolino pumps that a coworker of mine recently got - I'm hell bent on finding them

worked a lot

weeded the yard and tended to my garden - I have peppers now!

Okay, so my list isn't that exciting but such is life! Have a great week.

reupholstery magic

2011-06-07T07:56:00.000-04:00

This used to be our family room. This photo was taken after the floors were installed but before the windows were replaced. And we got a new rug. And TV. And ugly Craigslisted TV cabinet that was a total mistake. But I digress. We're here to talk about the sofa. The sofa was a hand-me-down I acquired when I was in grad school. I was thankful to have it, because it was a nice print and it meant I didn't have to buy anything! The matching ottomans and coffee table are also hand me downs from the same generous people.

I thought I wanted a sectional in our family room. We got a big TV and it made sense... except that I wasn't sure. The giant sectional I pined over would have to always stay in the family room because of its size, which meant no rearranging or moving furniture. Plus the placement of the fireplace in the room is a bit strange. So I started thinking about two couches.

I figured I could get my old couch reupholstered. I checked out the label of the couch and as it turns out, it was a fancy brand made in North Carolina with down-filled cusions. I can't believe I didn't notice! I wondered how after 6 years it still looked the same as when I got it. After a lot of fabric searching and coming to an agreement with the Husband, I found a great cotton/linen blend and an upholstery guy that does meticulous work. It was delivered Saturday. These photos aren't great, but that's what I get for taking them at night. As you can tell, Miss Patty is SO EXCITED. I'm really happy with it - I plan to find some more fun fabric for pillows and get the little ottomans upholstered too. This is another recent purchase - an ottoman from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. It's a darker brown color when the camera flash isn't so bright. It's between the two couches now. And you can see the Craigslist TV cabinet of shame. Also in the photo are the love of my life... and the Husband's feet. Just kidding, Husband! But the iPad does have Angry Birds, and I do love me some Angry Birds. So that's the progress in the house- it's ever changing, but sometimes it seems like it's at a snail's pace. Baby steps!

alaskaaaaa

2011-06-06T22:40:00.005-04:00

I've been away - in Alaska! We spent a week here... ...and did some drinking here. But don't think I wore a t-shirt and shorts. Nope. It was more like this. And I was still cold. Yep, that's a glacier. And icebergs in the water. The husband's photo is a little better. His eyes are both open.We also went on a trip in this... ... and got to see scenery like this. Beautiful! That's me on Mendenhall Glacier - and no, it's not retouched or anything. Just a glacier with a layer of water. And me bustin' some moves.
This was our first cruise, and it was, uh, different. It might be our one and only, given that we're not ideal "cruise" people (the husband hates waiting in line and I am notoriously type A). But regardless, it was a great way to see Alaska. But we've gotten our pups back in the house (we owe the in laws- dogsitting is no walk in the park with our mutts) and it's business as usual. Home sweet home!

quick rundown

2011-05-08T21:34:00.004-04:00

I've been a neglectful blogger. I've been a total photo slacker for my outfit of the day posts - I only have one set of photos on my computer I haven't posted yet. Hopefully this is proof I am not reverting to my hobo ways.

I got the top at Forever 21 in Chicago and it's one of the 3 F21 pieces I own. I love their clothes online and in magazines but their return policy scares me. And the stores overwhelm me.

The house from the movie Home Alone is for sale in Winnetka, IL. How fun would that house be, especially during the month of December?! Though the kitchen has been redone - and though it's alright, I kind of like the old, dated version better! The barstools are especially fugly.

I bought some flowers and plants for the garden in Saturday. And today (Sunday) I picked weeds. I sure wish yardwork took less time!

We're having a little party at our house next Saturday now that the husband is done with grad school. Though we're almost 30, the odds are 37-to-1 that beer pong and/or flippy cup will be played by our guests.

Let's hope it doesn't rain on Saturday, because no one is playing any drinking in my house on my wood floors.

We leave for Alaska SOON. I am looking forward to our trip but a little nervous about going on a cruise. I have nightmares about being trapped on a dirty boat with nothing healthy to eat - if I end up like that one ship where they had to eat Spam I will cry.

I have been using the Alpha Beta Glow Pads by Dr. Dennis Gross and they are AWESOME. I can't really speak to the antiaging effects, but the self tanner is the best and not streaky AT ALL. Beauty.com is having a sale starting Tuesday and I'm going to get some more then.

makeup monday: VIB goodies

2011-04-25T06:45:00.000-04:00

I always fall for the Sephora VIB sales. Even if it's only 15% off (as it was this time around), I convince myself that I just NEED to get something. I picked up some more Make Up For Ever HD foundation to replace the Mat Velvet + that I tried last time. I liked it, but it actually has too much coverage for me. So back to the HD it is. I got one of the new Clinique Chubby Stick lip balm in Whole Lotta Honey. I'd read a good amount about it - and it is a pretty good formula. It's a good mix between a gloss and a lipstick. I like it, but next time I'll probably get something with more pink. I already told you about my love for Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush, and I got the shade Tipsy. At first, I thought I would take it back - just look at the bright orange color (Tipsy is on the right, Adored is on the left). But after I tried it, I really liked it. The color isn't as severe as it looks, and it's a nice coral shade on. I'm pretty pale, if that says anything.

I got some other goodies like self-tanner for the face and some perfume, along with this year's sun safety kit. I am picky about sunblock so I love that the kit is inexpensive and allows me to try things. I also got one for my mom! Did you get anything good during the Sephora sale?

LOFT goodies

2011-04-23T13:37:00.004-04:00

Yesterday (Friday) I stopped by the LOFT while I was at the mall. I knew they were having a sale (do you get the daily emails from them too? it's borderline obnoxious) so I thought I'd quickly see if they had anything good. They were (and still are today) offering 40% off everything in the store, from full price down to sale items.

Of course, I found some things I liked. I got two fun shells for $23.99 each. I found the one on the right online - it's called Poppy Explosion and is still available.I also found a pair of Marisa modern cropped leg chinos, also for $23.99.My boldest buy was this skirt for only $20.99 - I have no idea what to pair it with, but it's certainly not boring! And last, but certainly not least, I found this dress, all by its lonesome, also for $35.99. Judging my the fold lines, it was an internet purchase that got returned. I just found it online - it's called the Island Flower Dress and they still have some petite sizes available. I like the detail at the neck - it has a slight cowl and one side (the one with the print) is gathered. I thought it would be good for the cruise we're going on in May - although I'll have to add a sweater because it will still be chilly in Alaska!

dressing better, vol. 6

2011-04-22T17:23:00.006-04:00

The good news? I took photos this week! The bad news? I'm still not great with my camera. I'm just now realizing how fuzzy my efforts are. Maybe I should use a tripod?

On Monday, I tried the new skirt I got from Gap, along with a top that was also from Gap. I didn't like the result. So I went with a sweater from Banana instead.

sweater - Banana

skirt - Gap

tights - Gap

booties - Madden Girl via DSW

And a necklace from Anthro. Hello, boobs. Sorry about that.

Oh Tuesday, I wore a black tank with white tulle flowers from Banana with a sweater from Old Navy.

tank - Banana

pants - gray modern boot from Gap (that were RETURNED because by the end of the day, the hem fell out of both legs and I looked like a hobo)

sweater - Old Navy

shoes - Banana

Wednesday brought STRIPES (I love stripes) with a tee from Old Navy.

striped tee - Old Navy

pants - Editor from Express

shoes - honestly, I can't remember and I own a lot of black shoes

Thursday (which was my work Friday) brought skinny jeans and a ruffled button down from Banana.

My mom has gotten me this necklace twice! She got it for Christmas and then my birthday two years ago. So now she has one of them too - she said it looked like something I would wear.

ruffle front button down - Banana

skinny jeans - Always Skinny from Gap

brown leather boots - Rider by Franco Sarto via Piperlime

necklace - White House Black Market

And Friday, I wore another striped tank from Old Navy for running errands because I had the day off of work. I will probably never wear straight jeans with flat shoes again because I look stumpy. My audience (the yellow dog in the photos - his name is Linus) doesn't seem to mind.

striped tee - Old Navy

straight jeans - Real Straight from Gap

shoes - Old Navy

But the shoes are cute! Old Navy is very hit or miss, but right now I like their stuff a lot. It's probably because I only shop online. The closest store to my house is a disaster - everything is a mess. I wanted these boat shoes in gold but they were sold out in my size and now they only have a few sizes in the red color.

So that was my week - I'm hosting Easter here for my side of our immediate family - so I'm setting up a Sandra Lee-esque tablescape. Yes, tablescape. Have a great weekend!

makeup monday: tarte amazonian clay products

2011-04-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

Big news, people - I have a new love of my life.

Behold Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush. It is, hands down, the best blush I've ever used - even beating out Nars's Orgasm and many other mediocre blushes that don't hold a candle to its awesomeness. For good measure, let's start at the beginning, shall we?

There was a time when I wasn't a huge blush person. Mascara? Yes. Lipstick/gloss? Yes. Foundation? Well obviously. But blush? Eh.... it took a backseat to everything else. Then, shortly before our wedding, I had my makeup done professionally and what do you know? Blush makes a world of difference.

The Sephora junkie (yes, it's a problem) that I am, I saw the Tarte Amazonian Clay Discovery Set online and pulled the trigger almost immediately. It seemed like a good deal at $39 since a blush alone is $25 and it includes a gel liner that is $22 (the sizes seem like they're different in that the regular one is smaller than the one included in the set - not sure if it's a typo or what). Nevermind that the day after I ordered it, I got an invite for the VIB sale - boo hiss but whatever.

But back to the blush. The set includes the shade Adored, which it looks like isn't available by itself at the present time. It's highly HIGHLY pigmented, blends easily, and lasts ALL DAY. Seriously, ALL DAY. IN CAPS. I just ordered another one in Tipsy, which is more coral. I want to order them all. Except for the plummy one - I'm too pale for that.

The only negatives? There are two - first of all, I'm not a huge fan of shimmer, especially for work, but the shimmer is fine in texture and doesn't look like I'm going out to a club. I wish they made some shades sans shimmer, but I imagine they will in the future. The only other bad thing is the price. The amount of blush is fantastic and worth it, but I wish they were closer to $20 so that I could rationalize buying more shades.

So if you're looking for a blush, I highly recommend Tarte's line. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go stalk my 3 (!) packages en route from Sephora now....

dressing better oops

2011-04-17T22:03:00.003-04:00

It's hard to do a post on dressing better when you don't take any photos! This past week has been crazy busy, hence the lack of anything good. Sorry sorry.

A trip to the Gap last week was full of bargains - a cute black dress for $20, skirt for $18, a super cute coral striped tee, and this floral tank. Some coworkers and I ran out during lunch time and made a mad dash through the store. Tops were buy one, get one free (even on sale), so I got both of my tops for <$30! I can't believe the disparity in pricing for the dress and skirt - I know that online is different, blah blah blah, but still. It makes me wary of ordering things online if I'm going to find them in the store for 1/3 of the price.

On a shopping-related note, I am loving all the stripes in stores lately. I have a love affair with stripes, and I got this shirt in the yellow and tan stripe from Old Navy last week (bought it online, it's probably like $2 in store!). I had to find a navy tank to go under a blouse I got in Chicago, and since I get free shipping from the Gap family (thank you, Gap Silver status), I turned to Old Navy. And of course, got a few extra things just because.

Enough with my ramblings, it's time for bed. Have a great week!

weekend antics

2011-04-10T21:52:00.006-04:00

The husband and I had a pretty low-key weekend. We bought some new trees and shrubs for the backyard and got them planted, saw my parents and brother, and enjoyed some outdoor time on Sunday.

The pups had a spa day on Friday (okay, they just had a bath and a vet visit, but I tell them it's a spa). Many prescriptions and cute bandannas later, I picked them up. Holy moly, dogs are expensive. Worth it, but expensive. My brother used my new camera got took these of the pups: Linus's face is getting so white! I am in denial that he is getting older. Miss Patty doesn't have any white fur... yet. On Sunday, the husband and I had a his and hers lunch - we each made something and then shared. He made a Gruyere and pancetta sandwich on sourdough. It was delicious. And I made my new love, fresh spring rolls. I've had variations of them at different restaurants, but a trip to Cheesecake Factory a few weeks ago got me thinking about them. I picked up the necessary ingredients and tried them on Friday night, and then we had them again on Sunday. Inside I used rice vermicelli, romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumber, water chestnuts and avocado. On Friday I added shrimp too. I didn't take photos of how I made them, but I found a good tutorial here if you're interested. They might not look delicious, but they are SO TASTY! I use Red Hot's Sweet Chili sauce on them. It's not that spicy and adds a nice flavor. So does the diet Coke. So that was our weekend - no fashion posts this week, I was out of town for work and then at a conference. I'm back on track this week though!

dressing better, vol. 4

2011-03-27T11:26:00.005-04:00

First off, I have an update for you - I got a NEW CAMERA! And not just any camera, a fancy dancy DSLR. I am going to have to learn how to use it, so bear with me. But I LOVE the quality of the photos I've taken so far.

I practice outside in my front yard so my neighbors probably think I'm crazy. Onto the clothes...

I think I am obsessed with pink and yellow lately - case in point? My outfits this week. First up? pink and cream.

cardigan - Old Navy camisole - Express pants - Editor from Express black pumps - Calvin Klein

And then some yellow. I got this dress at Target, of all places! It looks better without a cardigan but it's too cold to go without.

cardigan - JCrew herringbone dress - Mossimo via Target belt - JCrew Outlet tights - Target or Gap, most likely patent Mary Janes - JCrew

Back to pink!

pink tank - Limited chiffon-tiered tank - Old Navy cardigan - Express pants - Editor or Gap perfect bootcut shoes - Bandolino

And yellow again! striped tee - Gap Outlet (I saw almost the same tee at Nordstrom for around $40! It was seriously the same. Of course, I can't locate it online.) necklace - made my a friend pants - Gap perfect boot shoes - Seychelles

I added a cardigan and scarf not only to make things interesting, but because it got colder later in the day.

scarf - Old Navy cardigan - Old Navy

I have to show off the shoes! I got them via Piperlime last year and have gotten so much use from them. They have gray, gold, and yellow, and I've worn them during the summer through winter using thin socks / knee highs. I am now a Seychelles junkie - they're SO comfortable.

I only have for outfits this week - on Friday we had some work done on the house so I worked from home in the morning and had a client meeting in the afternoon. I did dress up for it, but was rushed to leave the house. I wore this tank in pink, which I got from Gap during their Friends & Family sale.

closet reorg - happy birthday to meeeee

2011-03-20T10:43:00.000-04:00

Today is my 29th birthday. Pretty uneventful, especially considering it falls on a Sunday. My family and I had a nice lunch yesterday, and the husband and I are going out tonight. I'm a home body - so I'm perfectly happy with that plan!

I got some great gifts, but one of the ones I'm most excited about is HANGERS. Since the husband built my closet, I've had visions of matching hangers but was too thrifty to pull the trigger. For my birthday, my parents wanted to gift me wood hangers, but one Saturday at Costco I found these skinny huggable hangers that have black flocking. They are from the brand "Creative Concepts" and for the prize - $15.99 for 50 - they can't be beat. I picked up a couple {okay, way more than a couple} of boxes and got to reorganizing. While I was rehanging everything, I sorted through my clothes and got rid of a good amount of stuff.I also had to reorganize my shoes - I have too many for my shoe racks! Instead of being side by side, they now look like this: Unfortunately, my suits and pants still have their old hangers. Some of the suits have wood hangers, others are still on dry clean hangers. Though I love the flocked hangers, they aren't good for pants. I need to find wood pants hangers with a bar in the middle - anyone have suggestions? Right now, it's plastic and dry clean hanger city. I realize it's completely ridiculous to be so excited by HANGERS but I like organization, what can I say?! I also took a photo of the light fixture in my closet that's not completely blurry. We got the chandelier from Lowe's and it was <$200 - it might not look that attractive here but in person it's very pretty.

Have a great Sunday!

dressing better, vol. 3

2011-03-18T16:10:00.013-04:00

I had to rename this series on outfits of the day - "dressing poorly" sounded like I had been outfitting myself in thrift store rejects. Hopefully this title better reflects my goal - which is to dress better and be less boring!

I started off the week in a new top from Collective Concepts via Piperlime. I first saw it in either the February or March issue of Real Simple and loved it. I usually am not the type to find something in a magazine and lust over it, but the price tag was very reasonable and I kept on thinking about it, so I sought it out from Piperlime and bought it.

On its own, the top isn't particularly flattering with work pants (I don't have any skinny work pants... not jumping on that bandwagon yet) but I do like it with a sweater.

I got these shoes 2 weeks ago at Anthro on super sale - they're Plenty by Tracy Reese and I got them for $30! They were originally $120. I found them in black (mine are gray) on Endless if you're interested. My Anthro doesn't carry shoes, so they don't bring shoes out until they belong in the sale room. So thank you, other size 6 person who returned them!

top - Collective Concepts via Piperlime

sweater - Ann Taylor

pants - Editor from Express

shoes - Dolly from Plenty by Tracy Reese via Anthro

I put on a cardigan with a tank underneath (yawn!) but spruced it up with a scarf for some color. Not the most exciting ensemble but I was running late!

cardigan - Old Navy

tank - Old Navy

pants - modern boot from Gap

scarf - Old Navy

booties - Madden Girl via DSW

The next day, I opted for something comfortable.

I love the detailing of this tee - no necklace needed.

embellished tee - Banana

open sweater - Old Navy

pants - modern boot from Gap (I have a few pairs, I don't wear the same ones THAT much!)

stacked heels - gray flannel Union high heel pump from Banana (same style, different color here)

Then it was St. Patrick's Day, so I had to wear green.

And I have worn this Coach scarf all of about 4 times. But it's cute!

green tee - Old Navy
cardigan - Jackie via JCrew
pants - Limited
gold flats - Nine West via 6pm.com

And then it was Friday. And my photo is fuzzy, but it was a long week!

black ruffle tank - Gap
short sleeve cashmere cardigan - JCrew
jeans - real straight from Gap
leopard pony flats - Johnston & Murphy

So that was my week - did you wear anything fun?! I just made a big order from Gap's Give & Get sale - so I'm excited to receive it soon.

makeup monday: skin savvy

2011-03-14T06:44:00.000-04:00

I try to be good to my skin.

I wear sunscreen, I don't use tanning beds (anymore), and I wash my face at night. At my annual trip to the dermatologist (which you know you should do - everyone needs a dermatologist), I asked about preventing wrinkles. I also asked about Botox, but more on that later. I don't have wrinkles yet, but from time to time I'll see a photo of myself with slight lines around my face or eyes and I start to panic that the end is near.

At my derm's recommendation, I upped the ante by adding a retinoid to my face routine. It can be used to prevent wrinkles and get rid of the zits I still get from time to time? Sign me up! I've only used it for a week (and I'm using it only twice a week at that), so it's not like I've seen any benefits. But I like to think it's doing some good.

Beauty isn't without pain, however. A side effect of Retin A, Renova, and others like it? It can make your skin super dry. As in I had to apply moisturizer 6 times the day after I used it - and I only used a tiny pea-sized amount! And like other brand-name prescriptions, retinoids generally aren't cheap. I didn't get a generic, and I'm not even sure if there are any available.

The point of my rambling nonsense? Any makeup you put on your face needs a good canvas - and your mother was right, you should definitely wash your face before you go to bed.

Can any of you ladies recommend your moisturizer, while we're taking about face products? I'm in the market for a new one!

trying not to dress poorly, vol.2

2011-03-13T06:41:00.001-04:00

I took this week off of work, so I won't have any new photos! I also can't find my damn camera, which is causing me some stress. I know it's around here somewhere...

Thank you for all your wonderful comments last week - I appreciate every one of them. Have a great week of awesome outfits - see you next Sunday.

card catalog update

2011-03-12T08:05:00.002-05:00

Remember how I bought a card catalog? I have a small update for you - I labeled it!

I measured the dimensions of the the space for the labels on the drawer fronts and used Microsoft Word to create a custom template. Then I made a list of all the names I wanted to use and made "labels" using a thick cardstock I had already. When making the template, I kept the lines on there so that they were easy to cut out. Since all sides of the "label" are covered by the metal holder, they didn't have to be perfect.

I used Honey Script from dafont.com- it's free to download. It's one of my favorite fonts - a little retro and super girly.

Here's one of the drawers - with my regular label making supplies! Yep, I get excited about labels. I actually have two label makers along with different types of labeling tape.

But all of my labeling and organization doesn't hold a candle to this setup from Miss Martha herself. She has a nicer label maker - the PTouch.

For the record, I have not labeled my label maker.

Yet.

Photo from Martha Stewart via Little Green Notebook.

my lazy week

2011-03-09T12:25:00.003-05:00

This week, I took some much-needed vacation time and took a week for myself. I didn't go anywhere fancy, and the husband still worked every day - but I had some time for moi. It was wonderful! I'm looking forward to getting back to work, but it was nice and relaxing.

I painted my Craigslist credenza... and don't love it. I think it has to go lighter or more grey. And it needs hardware and drawer fronts to be put on... details, details. Our big TV looks miniature on it!
I also got this hilarious tee at Target. The diet Coke 12-packs were 3 for $10, and get a free t-shirt, so of course I had to get one. It's actually really cute for around the house. Except for the "I", which looks like the font Comic Sans.

And then I got new hangers for my closet, squeeeee! Instead of the wood ones I had been lusting over (yes, I lust over hangers... and the Container Store catalog), I got these skinny ones from Costco. I got them mainly because they were cheaper (50 for $15.99) and available in-store, not something I'd have to order online and wait for. I did a good purge on items from my closet too - I had been puttig it off because it makes me feel guilty but it had to be done! I'll be taking a trip to a consignment store this time. I used to just take things to Goodwill but I have some nice clothes - I'd like some money back.

I also listed some items on Ebay - I already sold an old Coach planner and leather briefcase! It's kind of a pain to sell things and then mail then but you definitely get more in return, so it's worth it. Especially since I had a free week!

trying not to dress poorly, vol.1

2011-03-06T15:08:00.013-05:00

I'm going to try out a new type of posts - outfits of the day. I love reading what other bloggers wear and it always gives me new ideas! And I do need some ideas, because here is my outfit this past Monday - yes, really:

sweater - Banana

pants - Gap

shoes - Jendrick pumps from Bandolino

SO BORING. And not particularly flattering. That's what happens to me when I'm without ideas and am pressed for time. So starting on Tuesday, I tried to spice things up a bit.

sweater - Loft

dress - Banana

tights - Target

belt - yellow patent from JCrew Outlet

shoes - yellow patent Mary Janes from JCrew (not purchaed together - but they are the same shade - what luck!)

I just love these shoes. I've been on a yellow kick lately.

shirt - Anthro

sweater - Ann Taylor

pants - modern boot from Gap

shoes - Merona Reta t-strap pump from Target

necklace - monogrammed CN-41 necklace from Danielle Stevens

shirt - old old old from Gap

skirt - Avant Tweed skirt from Anthro (found on sale last week!)

tights - random crappy brand from TJMaxx that start falling down midday(not fun!)

shoes - ruffly suede pumps from Anthro

fuzzy shot of the bracelet - Banana

jacket - Banana

tank - chiffon-tiered tank from Old Navy

pants - modern boot from Gap

shoes - leopard pony peeptoes from Johnston & Murphy

Love them - so cute!

So that was my week in outfits - join me in getting out of your fashion rut and dressing better!

craft time: flower pins

2011-02-28T06:20:00.000-05:00

I've been a little obsessed with making these little guys lately.

They look craptastic in this photo, but that's what I get for my cheapy camera taking photos at night! I first saw a tutorial for these fun flowers on Jones Design Company. It's been quite awhile but I finally got around to making them - and now I'm hooked! I suggest you check out the directions on the link above - I just followed her instructions and the flowers look fabulous. This is a headband I made for myself. I bought a pack of multicolored Goody headbands and as luck would have it, the deep purple matched the fabric I already had!This is, again, a bad photo, but I've tried using different color beads and rhinestone buttons for the middle of the flowers. Pink and olive green flowers!

And pink, yellow, and blue ones! Aside from the headband, I've attached backs to them and worn them on my coats (it is cold this time of year, after all). I've attached leaves to some, none to others - but they're oh so cute.

toning shoes: squeaks and squawks

2011-02-27T17:10:00.004-05:00

Last week, I bought the husband some shoes he wanted via Piperlime. I also added a shirt I had seen featured in Real Simple and a pair of running shoes on final clearance. The price was right and although I totally dismissed toning shoes and their list of supposed benefits, they were kind of cute. And if they actually tone my rear? An added plus.

I got the Reebok RunTone Action in pink. The reviews were good, but no one mentions that when you wear these, you SQUEAK LIKE MOUSE. Or a middle school boy walking back into the school after being out in the rain. Am I the only one?! It's not deafening by any means, but it's definitely noticeable. I wore them for the first time today (yay warmer weather!) and was distracted by it.

And the unappealing squeak is totally not featured in the commercials.

makeup monday: a mascara montage

2011-02-07T07:01:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I visited Ulta and my local CVS to restock my mascara supply. If there is one beauty product I am always obsessed with, it's mascara.

My favorite high end mascara is Dior DiorShow mascara in black. It's wonderful - but there are two issues with it - 1) it's $24.50, which isn't cheap; and 2) the regular (non waterproof) version doesn't last that long on me. It's fine for an evening, but for a regular day, it leaves me looking a little raccoon-y. The waterproof DiorShow sadly isn't as good as the regular stuff, in my opinion.

My favorite drugstore mascara is the CoverGirl LashBlast in the orange tube. It works well, comes in a waterproof variety, and it's inexpensive.

But I'm always on the hunt for something new! I ended up getting a few different drugstore mascaras to try:

L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara in Blackest Black

I had seen these commercials but didn't buy into the whole "beauty tubes" thing. It seemed strange. Although this mascara is not waterproof, it works really well! I've only used it a few times this past week, but I really like it. It's easy to remove but doesn't leave me lookin' like a raccoon at the end of the day. This might be my new favorite drugstore mascara.

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara in Blackest Black

I got this because of the funky wand that looks like a knockoff of the Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes. I haven't tried it yet but just saw a bunch of negative reviews on L'Oreal's site - we'll see if I like it!

Revlon 3D Extreme Mascara

I tried this twice this week - it's alright but nothing special. I got both the waterproof and regular versions, and have only tried the waterproof. It was hard to get off at the end of the day, which is annoying.

Revlon Fabulash Mascara

I haven't tried this one either. I do like saying "Fabulash" - as I'm a fan of made up words in general, but we'll see.

I also got some hair goodies and picked up the Urban Decay Naked Palette, which I LOVE so far. I used it last week and can see what the fuss is about. My Ulta had three in stock, but I can't find it on their website, so maybe it's sold out? Sephora has it in stock at any rate. Have a great week!

social media and... uh, real social situations

2011-01-30T19:08:00.003-05:00

If you're around my age (which is 28 for two more months!), you probably remember when your college or university got The Facebook, (oh yes, you remember when) assuming that you went to college. I signed up immediately at my Alma mater when it was available, got freaked the hell out a few weeks later, and deactivated my account. It wasn't until grad school that I finally jumped on the Facebook bandwagon again. And then, I used the highest privacy settings to make sure that my information was quasi private. Remember when there were limits to your amount of friends too? I think it was 1,000, not that I ever have had that many. Just an observation.

Things have changed in the last 2-3 years... not that they've gone to hell in a hand basket, but it's just... different. The husband and I rented The Social Network two weeks ago and it got my mind thinking about how things have progressed.

When I finished grad school and got a "big girl" job, I had a Facebook account and didn't even think about befriending anyone from work until I got to know them more. But now businesses are in the Facebook space, on Twitter, and blogging, and my workplace has a blog (that I started and still post to), Twitter account (that yours truly coordinates), and a Facebook fan page (yep, I post there too). Facebook is more than just a bunch of drunk college photos and antics - it's about your personal brand and connections. So I, much like most of you, have had to adapt. I went to a technology conference last fall and 99% of the speakers had their Twitter accounts listed under their bios - it was a sign of the times to me. I started a Twitter account with my real name - partly to ensure that no one else had it that was a hooker or something crazy, and partly to interact with people that I see on a regular basis.

But this blog isn't "out there" - if you wanted to find my real name, I'm sure you could, but for the most part, you don't know where I work, exactly where I live, etc. My coworkers don't know about it (that I know about - though it's certainly not a big deal and I'm not highly controversial with my love of jackets for dogs and Paula Deen recipes). Some blogs that I read are "out there" - some are completely anonymous - and some are in between.

I guess what stops me from using my real name is that I'll say something that someone I know in real life finds offensive - like that I don't like those vinyl words you put on the wall or that if you buy a puppy from a pet store or puppy mill over a shelter or a real breeder, I think you're ridiculous. There's a certain level of anonymity that the Internet has, even if it's not completely anonymous and it's completely out in the open.

an adult lunch box

2011-01-13T21:12:00.006-05:00

Earlier this week, I ordered a fancy lunch box for myself - the Laptop Lunch Bento Set 2.0 along with a set of Bento Buddies containers. I was excited to receive it via Amazon today! I like to bring my lunch to work for several reasons - the main ones being 1)takeout is usually unhealthy and 2)it gets expensive to eat out every day! I use regular Tupperware-esque containers but they get to be a mess in my work bag, and I think I lost my cute monogrammed lunch bag somewhere in the past few months.

This is the lunch box. It's a hard, BPA-free plastic. This it the inside. The lunchbox comes with three lidded containers and two unlidded ones. Because of that, I also got a set of Bento Buddies, which are interchangeable sizes with the other lidded ones. You can shuffle the containers around to fit your food. The far right holds silverware that came with it!

I think the unlidded containers could be used depending on the type of food you put in them, but I don't want anything falling out. It also came with a cute book with lunch ideas - though it's mostly geared to kids. Spending almost $40 on a lunch box is borderline ridiculous, but I hope it motivates me to pack healthier lunches.

it's hard to buy boots when you have stumpy legs

2011-01-10T20:38:00.008-05:00

This fall and winter have been all about the boots. Laced up ones, over the knee ones, riding ones, rain ones, heeled ones, ankle ones, bootie ones, and furry ones.... but alas, much of the time I look longingly but am not able to buy any of them.

The short version of my sob story? I am short and I have stumpy legs. If I find a boot I might like, often times it will be too high on my leg and go over the knee, even if it's not meant to be that high. And over the knee boots? Forget about it! They go way too high on my legs... assuming I can even zip them up. Because my other problem is stumpy-ness. It's not like I'm grotesque or anything, but even at my thinnest, my legs have been, uh, robust. It probably also doesn't help that my shoe size usually runs between a 5.5 and a 6. In review:

my height (or lack thereof) + stumpy legs = no fun tall boots

But this fall, I resolved to get some boots. I tried skinny jeans on and liked them (much to my shock!), so my first mission was to get some cute riding boots. After an unsuccessful try at DSW, I tried my favorite online shoe store, Piperlime, and found these - Rider by Franco Sarto.

They are beautiful - the leather is a great color, they fit around my legs, aren't too tall, and are very flattering. And the zipper on the back goes all the way to the bottom - so they're simple to get on and off. They were more than I wanted to spend, but I think they're worth it. On the same Piperlime order, I also got these - Intyce by Steven by Steve Madden.

I read a lot of good things about these, but couldn't get the brown in my size, so I thought I'd try the black. Overall, I like them, and they meet my criteria, but I wish the heel was a little bit higher and the leather a bit nicer. Not sure if I'd buy them again. I then got a pair of fun yellow rainboots from Target... though I kind of wish I would have gotten another color. Part of me feels like the Gorton's fisherman when I wear them, but they are fun and happy.
I could have stopped there, but then last week I read that shoeWoo.com was going out of business and that they had some good deals. So I checked them out and decided that the non-returnable risk was worth it for 80% off. I got two pairs of the Eyecandy boots by Bandolino. I got them in taupe suede, which I received today, as well as black suede that has yet to arrive. Suede isn't normally something I would bother with, as I live where it's cold and snowy, but for <$32, I can wear them and not worry. I'm also not able to wear the "flap" up when I tried them on because of the whole height thing, so you'll have to visualize what it looks like down. Endless won't let me copy their photos so you can click through to the website if you're interested. They do fit my legs, but they're a little snug.

On the same order, I got this Kaiser bootie by Enzo Angiolini. I don't have anything like them, but I plan on wearing them with boot cut jeans, not jeggings or anything. I like them and they're nice quality, but I have to admit that the toe is pointed a little bit upward and it makes me feel slightly like an elf... but maybe that's my height talking too!

So that's my boot saga - if you're looking for boots, I am a huge fan of Piperlime. They're owned by Gap and I have always been pleased with their shipping (it's quick and they offer free return shipping) and their prices. They offer cash back through Ebates, too. You can sort by boots with extended calves, which is helpful. I like DSW as well, and though they don't offer free return shipping, I have a brick and mortar location near me so it makes returns easy. And lastly, shoeWoo.com, even though it's going out of business, had very quick shipping and was accurate on my order. I didn't know of them prior to this order, but if you are familiar with the brands they carry and are comfortable with final sale items, I highly recommend checking them out.

I've not been compensated by any of the websites or brands mentioned - but obviously, this girl likes a good deal!

makeup monday : sephora on sale

2010-12-26T20:28:00.008-05:00

Sephora is having a sale on all their previously marked-down products! Save an additional 20% by using the promo code "EXTRA" during checkout. Here are some of my favorites:

MAKE UP FOR EVER Rock for Ever Aqua Eyes, $23.20 after discount
If you've never tried MUFE's Aqua Eyes, this is a great way to test them out without committing to the full-sized eyeliners. They stay on all day and are one of the best eyeliners out there. I'm not sure about the yellow/gold one... but the other four look very promising.
fresh Brown Sugar Escape boxed gift set, $52 after discount
If I could eat the body cream and polish, I totally would. I've never used the soap in the middle of the photo, but if it's half as good as the cream and polish, it will be fantastic! fresh products are wonderful. ghd Classic 1" Styler, $132 after discount
I got this straightening iron in late November after my CHI died and I LOVE it! It's better than the CHI and well worth the money. CLEAN Miniature Trio, on sale this week for $10 (I don't think the 20% markdown applies since it's a weekly special)
I love the Shower Fresh scent. These little bottles are great for traveling and testing out a perfume before committing to a large bottle. Stila Adventurous in Aspen Palette, on sale this week for $10
Stile shadows are great quality, and this cute little palette would take up a tiny amount of room in your travel makeup bag.

The sale ends January 1st, so you still have some time to mull over what you're buying. I'm not sure if I'm buying anything yet - I bought myself an early Christmas present from Sephora in mid December!

Sephora did not sponsor or compensate me for this post, and all opinions are my own.

shutterfly card wrap up

2010-12-26T14:07:00.007-05:00

Hello readers, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Before you pack up your holiday decor and ornaments, I wanted to share our Christmas cards from Shutterfly. I was offered some free cards from Shutterfly in exchange for posting about them - and all in all I was pleased with the outcome.

I opted for the Lovingly Wrapped design that's part of the American Lung Assocation set of cards. Although it wasn't one of the original cards I chose, I saw it and thought it was festive without screaming CHRISTMAS!!! A percentage of proceeds from the cards goes to the ALA, which I thought was a great idea. I chose some photos of the husband, myself, and our doggies from the past year. Such world travelers!

The inside can feature photos as well. I chose two bigger ones for the inside - you can choose your layout there, which is nice.

And on the back, the ALA logo sits next to the Shutterfly logo, along with a bar code (I'm assuming it was my order number?). And those are my chippy nails!

So, as I mentioned above, I was pleased with the cards and used them for our friends and family. Being a list maker by nature, I present to you my pros and cons:

Yay!

I could customize my cards quickly and easily - and could have had Shutterfly mail them out for a reasonable charge.
The cards arrived in a mere few days.
Having your photos printed on the cards eliminates a step of stuffing a photo in the envelope and makes things easier.
The cost - they were free, after all!

Nay.

The quality, though okay, is not spectacular. You can tell in the first photo a little bit that the cards tend to buckle and bend.
Shutterfly didn't process my order correctly - I was charged the full amount even though I used a coupon code. They (at first) offered me a gift code towards a future order, which I was not happy about. After two rounds of back and forth, they offered to refund my order and give me the cards gratis, which is what they should have been in the first place. I was happy at the end of the day, but annoyed that I had to complain.

So - that's my review of the cards. If you used Shutterfly this Christmas, were you happy with yours? Let me know!

Shutterfly gave me free greeting cards in exchange for my initial blog post - this follow up post is not required and I have not been compensated for it. All thoughts and opinions are, indeed, my own.

if you like tea and elephants

2010-12-14T12:25:00.003-05:00

Yesterday on the Effortless Style blog, they featured this beauty from Pier 1:It's a white ceramic elephant teapot! I thought it was darling. And after I read the price (under $5!), I decided I just had to stop at Pier 1 on my way home from work last night. Luckily, they had a few of the teapots in the clearance section. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it but since it's multifunctional (as a teapot or vase), I'm sure I can find a use for it. It's on clearance (down from $19.99), so if you're interested, I suggest going for it!

With a nice boxe of tea and some fancy honey, you could have a cute little gift for less than $20.

new bedding and monogram fun

2010-12-13T06:44:00.001-05:00

I've been on the hunt for new bedding for awhile now. I had a plain white duvet, but it was pretty boring. I wanted something with blue and brown that was fun but soothing. I routinely hit up Pottery Barn, Macy's, West Elm, C&B, etc., but didn't see anything that I liked.

I started with this Canopy quilt from Wal Mart (I cannot believe it myself, to be honest). I think I read about it on someone's blog, but I can't remember who. It says that it's silk in the description on Wal Mart's website but it's definitely cotton. I'm super impressed by the quality for less than $50 (for the full/queen size). It also comes with two matching shams.

Then I saw this Chelsea Paisley sateen duvet from Kohl's when looking for some Christmas gifts. I'm not usually a Kohl's fan but the price was reasonable and the colors looked right on the website.

Luckily, unlike some of my recent decorating projects, I think I made some good choices! Sorry about the craptastic photos, my point and shoot doesn't do anything justice and it's dark outside. Here's how the fabrics work side by side:

And here's the bed and the picture above. It's a mirrored frame with a print from TJ Maxx. The teal in the print is pretty close in color to the quilt. The husband and I DIY'd the headboard last year. I also picked up some monogrammed pillowcases from Horchow - the thread is dark gray. They spent some extra time sitting in the dryer so they're wrinkled, but hey, they're clean!
And this is what the bed area looks like now. I'm on the hunt for some night stands that match and are the same height, but one thing at a time! Sometimes I rush into bad decorating decisions because I just want to be done with things and then regret it, so I'm trying to slow down and make sure I only buy things that I actually like. They make it so darn easy on TV, but in real life, it takes much longer than 30 minutes.
So that's it for now - if you're in the market for new bedding, I highly recommend the duvet and quilt. As for other bedding finds, our plain white sheets are from Costco (not available online, not sure if they still sell them in-store). Our comforter for the winter is a down one from Macy's, I think Hotel Collection? And we have a bamboo blanket from Martha Stewart for Macy's that appears to have been discontinued.

I have not gotten any of the products I mentioned for free or anything, though the duvet from Kohl's was on sale!

company christmas party

2010-12-12T15:47:00.000-05:00

dress from Ann Taylor (on sale!)

cardigan from Ann Taylor a loooong time ago

earrings from Banana

best of intentions and florida fun

2010-12-12T10:56:00.008-05:00

I have the best intentions to blog regularly and all that, but life gets in the way sometimes! Instead of apologizing and all that, let me share what I've been up to lately.

The husband and I went to Florida for Thanksgiving. We weren't with either of our immediate families, which was a little sad for a few minutes but eating seafood and laying out on the beach more than made up for it.

We had a senior citizen-esque tan Malibu for our rental car, so we fit right into my grandma's condo neighborhood. If you drive a Malibu, I say that with love, as it was a pretty nice rental car. I was also glad that it was not a Chevy Aveo like we ended up with on one vacation - holy Moses that car was scary.

While in Florida, we saw some peacocks, which we slowed down to take a photo of, and I stuck my head out the window and made peacock-esque noises at them. The husband was less than pleased with my antics.

One of the highlights of our mini vacay was going on a kayak trip. We used Almost Heaven Kayak Adventures, which we have used for tours before, but this time we just rented a kayak for the day and went off on our own. These birds used the wake of our kayak to catch fish for their lunch.

And the husband and I decided we want a house like this in our retirement - not fancy but on the water with a putting green in the back. We do want a dock for a fancy boat, though, in case you're wondering.

Our kayak trip was in an area with a state park that has mangrove tunnels. If you're ever in the Sarasota area, I highly recommend going on a kayak trip - it's always a good time! Though we don't have kids I imagine it would be very fun for them too.

We never take any photos when we're in Florida! Maybe because we stay at a condo and it's not a "real" vacation?! I'm not sure. I always kick myself for not taking more.

While we're on the topic of Florida, some fabulous Floridian things I enjoy:

Tervis tumblers - I took some vintage tumblers home with me from my grandma's condo. They remind me of her. Although I normally eschew plastic, I love me some Tervis tumblers.
Sand dollars - I favor beaches with shells, and going for a walk where I find a perfect sand dollar is the best!
The Lazy Lobster - We had Thanksgiving dinner at the Lazy Lobster - Good, quick service with a casual atmosphere. YUM.
Mixon Fruit Farms - Our families are getting boxes of fresh citrus delivered this week as an early Christmas present. My grandma used to send our family boxes of Mixon treats and now that she is gone, I'm happy to continue that tradition. Skip the Harry and Davids of the world and go with a local business!
Pattigeorge's - My new favorite restaurant on Longboat Key - we had a wonderful waitress and the food was very tasty without any pretentiousness, which I love.
Crispers - Yes, people of the South, I realize that you have Crispers all over the place. But I'm a Yankee and we don't have them here! I love salad and the husband and I like to get Crispers takeout after the beach.
Southwest Airlines - I can fly nonstop to Florida and not pay anything for my checked baggage? Yes, please.

oh target, i still love you

2010-11-17T20:10:00.006-05:00

Target and I have an on-again, off-again kind of relationship. Though a good amount of the time, we're on good terms, sometimes it makes me mad. Like when it waits two months to send me the shoes I ordered. Or when it overcharges my credit card for my order.

But now we're friends again. I placed an order on Sunday and received it today - I love fast, free shipping! Here's my new purchase: And I love it! I saw it 2 months ago in the October issue of Real Simple. I did a quick search on Target's website at the time for "black Merona watch" and turned up nothing. Nada. Zilch. But this past Sunday I looked again (could you tell it was on my mind?!) and it was there! For $12.99! Here it is compared to my white Fossil watch. It's bigger, but I still like it. At first, I thought I'd have to get some links taken out, but I then realized - duh, it has a removeable link on the back. I actually worked at the watch counter of a department store in college and barely noticed. That's a nice feature. I will say that the length of the links aren't that big, so if you have large wrists you might look for something else. The other slightly odd thing is that the dials on the watch (aside from the main time hands) are fake, so they don't move. They're just for looks. Not a bad thing, mind you, just something to keep in mind.

I also got this sweater, which is terribly cute... ... and this one, which is a little strange. I thought I would like the colors but it's really cropped in the length, even for a shortie like me. I have a feeling it will be going back. I'm so glad I found the watch though - what a great deal!

makeup monday: origins

2010-11-15T21:01:00.006-05:00

I hate to admit it, but I totally fall victim to advertising campaigns. When I saw this VitaZing ad with the slogan "Tired of looking tired?" in several magazines, I started to think "Why yes, I AM tired of looking tired!" in my head. Plus, I'm not sure what exactly a mangosteen can do for my skin, but it sure looks exotic. I used drugstore.com to find the VitaZing because they had emailed a 20% off coupon and it seemed like a good deal. They offer free shipping if your order is over $25 too. Technically, I think it's via beauty.com, but whatever, it's basically the same website. I got three things from Origins (all out of my own pocket, I might add, in case you're wondering if this is sponsored or something).

The VitaZing is a moisturizer with SPF 15. It's supposed to leave your skin radiant and refreshed. I am always on the hunt for new moisturizer with SPF. I haven't yet found one that I love. Prior to this, I had been using philosophy's hope in a jar and then DDF's Weightless Defense Hydrator. The verdict? I like it, but don't love it. My skin doesn't look any more refreshed, but it does a good job hydrating. My biggest complaints are 1)the smell and 2)the look of the product. It smells kind of like clay and looks like a mask you'd put on and wash off! I was really hoping it smelled orange-y like the ad photo. Once you rub in the moisturizer, it goes into your skin, but it's kind of strange at first. I probably won't rebuy this one.

Next on the list was Eye Doctor, which I got to compare to Clinique's All About Eyes. To be honest, I'm not sure if I really need a special eye cream but it makes the skin around my eyes nice and hydrated. I'd honestly say that Origins and Clinique are a tie. The formula is pretty similar. I probably won't buy this again, however, because with Clinique I usually wait until they do a free gift with purchase event to buy what I need. And no matter what the crappy makeup is in that bag, I always feel like I need it!

Last on the list was Zero Oil, which promised to make my face look matte all day. My face isn't horrifically oily, but it does get some shine I'd like to avoid. It's kind of annoying to use blotting paper or powder, so I'm a sucker for mattifying products.

Don't buy this. Sorry Origins, but it totally didn't work for me. My skin was pretty much the same all day, no change in shine. It didn't do a darn thing. Zero Results, more like it.

So the Origins skincare products were a bit of a disappointment. I have used some of their Ginger products and liked them, but these three I tried were all kind of blah. I do still want to try the Brighter by Nature serum to see how it works, but I think I'll probably stick to philosophy and other brands that have worked for me in the past. But it's always fun to try things out!

holiday cards from shutterfly

2010-11-13T20:16:00.013-05:00

Can I confess something to you? This is embarassing, but I have not done Christmas cards for the past 2 years! Yes, 2! Fall and early winter is the busiest time of year in my field, so Christmas cards always fall to the end of my to-do list under buying gifts and decorating. I haven't ever sent out cards from the husband and I as husband and wife since we got married. SERIOUSLY.

So earlier this week, I bookmarked Bakrella's website, not for her sweet treats, but for the Shutterfly cards she featured.

I made a commitment to myself after last year that I am going to send out Christmas cards this year, darnit. Just look at all the photos on this one! It's called the Merry Bright Wishes card. I love the modern font. It's cheerful and warm while having clean lines.

And this one - called Peppermint Pink. You can choose your initial! And it has polka dots!

When I went to Shutterfly's section of holiday cards, I also saw this gem:

Even though the photos are reasonably small, this card is PERFECT for a key reason - you don't have to write a big long story about how you're doing because the card does all the talking! It doesn't require another sheet of paper that you typed on your computer and stuck in there, mucking up your presentation out of the envelope. It's a winner! I think I'm going to use these and spring for a fancy return-address stamp. Since I haven't purchased one since we bought our house and all. Yeah. All of my correspondence has taken place with free address labels, some bearing my mispelled name. Not even kidding!

Though I planned on posting this on my own anyway, Shutterfly offered me 50 free holiday cards in exchange for sharing my favorites with you.

If you're a blogger, you can also get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly! Happy creating.

amy butler rug love

2010-11-11T16:32:00.007-05:00

I recently got a new Amy Butler rug for our entryway area from One King's Lane. I was reluctant to order anything from OKL, and sites like it, initially. I like the ease of returning a product to a brick-and-mortar store and avoiding return shipping! But the Nester had a blurb about OKL rugs on her blog that day so I signed up to become a member to check out the selection.

It wasn't that long ago that I had another rug in our entryway - the Coco rug from Pottery Barn. It was cute initially, but over time it started to fall apart and look terrible. It was made of looped pile, which didn't fare well (AT ALL) with the dogs.

So I found one I loved, ordered it, and a few days later it was at my door. And it's perfect! I usually am not that impulsive with home decor purchases but I really liked it.

And so does Patty, who decided that she wanted to be in my photo shoot.

Here it is sans dog. It's wool and reasonably cushy, but the pile isn't too high. I added a rug pad underneath, more to protect the floor than to add any padding. When one dog comes, so does the other: And here it is sans dog again. I painted the entryway navy blue before I got the rug. My mom gave me the pictures - they're watercolors of a garden, a building, and a sailboat. They're beautiful! I love original art. This is the view from upstairs. You can kind of see the rug in our den/office, which is obviously not the same pattern but I think it works. It's from Pottery Barn, if you're curious. And to the right you can see the cream flokati rug in the dining room. It's from Home Depot, of all places! It's cheap but you'd never know.
We have plans to repaint the stairs but are probably going to hire a painter for that project. If you're interested in the rug, it's the Temple Garland Rug from Amy Butler by Chandra. It was $399 plus shipping from OKL for the 5x8 size. And if, by chance, you want a referral to OKL, let me know! Happy shopping.

funeral trends and other morbid nonsense

2010-11-04T18:13:00.004-04:00

I had the best intentions of being a more frequent blogger, but life kind of got in the way as it often does. On a sad note, I've been to two funerals in the past three weeks - one for a dear family friend and the other for my grandmother. Both were rather expected, but at the same time, I wasn't fully prepared. Is anyone ever?!

I returned just yesterday from the services for my grandmother, who was a fantastic lady. She lived to be 90 years old, which is a feat in itself! It was nice to see family and all her friends, but I can't help but feel a wee bit sad that I'm now grandparent-less.

I also got to write my grandmother's obituary, which was cathartic. I felt honored to come up with the words that told the story of her life.

Attending funerals makes me think of what I would want at my funeral... maybe it's morbid but I can't help it. I don't like singing songs at funerals (personal preference here, I know everyone has opinions) and I also don't like the trend of afghans being displayed. Perhaps I'm alone in my opinions but I just don't like it. Maybe it's because I wouldn't ever use it? But it seems to be a trend that if the florist ~~runs out of flowers~~ decides to offer them, people buy an afghan for the family with cheesy sayings or pictures of Jesus and children. There is nothing wrong with either but I just don't like the idea of cozying up to a funeral blanket while watching a movie.

day 5: the brother

2010-10-22T06:01:00.004-04:00

Day 5-Your siblings

I have a younger brother. This photo was taken at my wedding, isn't he handsome? Of course, I'm biased as the big sister.

The brother is in med schoool and will be a fantastic doctor. I've already put him to work taking stitches out of my dog!

day 4: parental units

2010-10-21T06:00:00.001-04:00

Day 4-Your parents
It's appropriate to talk about them because we had a family photo shoot a few weeks ago. I know the photo is small - my parents don't need their mugs all over the internet. Or all their information. But I love this photo. It's all you need to know.

day 3: first loves

2010-10-20T06:00:00.004-04:00

Day 3-Your first love

This title makes me gag. I don't want to talk about my "first love" any more than I want to talk about any other unpleasant thing.

Like mice. Or bugs. And those fake ladybugs that aren't ladybugs at all.

Can you tell I'm avoiding the question?

My first love was High School Boyfriend. High School Boyfriend was a cool guy, drove a cool car, and we had a nasty breakup. Actually, it was a few nasty breakups. Oh the drama of high school and 16-year-old love. Looking back on it, I wish I would have never dated him and instead made more friendships with girls (instead of being boy crazy!), but hindsight is always 20/20. Had I not dated High School Boyfriend, maybe I wouldn't appreciate The Husband so much.

day 2: blog naming

2010-10-19T06:00:00.005-04:00

Day 2 - Meaning behind your blog name

My first blog was called "Wedding Nonsense." I picked the name because in the movie Steel Magnolias, they use that phrase to describe all of Shelby's wedding planning. Actually, it's more like "Weddin' Nonsense" but I'm a Yankee, so I have to add the -g back in.

I started that blog because I enjoyed reading about wedding details from both friends and internet strangers. After I got married, and after I realized I had a ton of personal information on that blog I should probably remove from the internets (yes, I meant that to be plural), I started this one and needed something else to call it. I couldn't think of anything particuarly witty, so I kept the "Nonsense" part and added "Preppy." I don't even know if I'm all that preppy. I like to shop at JCrew but my name isn't Muffy. And I live in the Midwest, not Conneticut.

If I had to do it over, I would probably think of something more descriptive. But most of the things I do post about are kind of nonsensical, so at least that part fits!

day 1: introductions & other nonsense

2010-10-18T14:00:00.002-04:00

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Hi there. I'm Brittany, spelled -any, not -ney, -ni, -nee, or -ny. I live in the Midwest with the husband. This is us.

1. The husband and I have two dogs, Linus and Patty.

2. Yes, they're named after the Peanuts characters.

3. I work in a field I never thought I would be in - heck - I didn't even know it existed until grad school.

4. I love to travel. Luckily for me, the husband does too.

5. Hawaii and Italy are next on my travel hit list.

6. The husband and I are spending this Thanksgiving away from both families in Florida.

7. I love our families but I also love the beach. We're lucky to have a condo in our family that we can use gratis.

8. The husband and I bought our first house shortly after getting married (2+ years ago). It's still not finished - I imagine just after we finish updating and changing things, we'll move!

9. The biggest project we've done to date is installing hardwood floors. I don't recommend them for everyone but I'm really glad we did them. I'll be even more glad when we finally finish the damn trim!

10. I would much rather watch people on TV tackle home renovation projects. It's much easier that way.

11. Obviously I watch a great deal of HGTV, TLC, and DIY Network.

12. And a lot of TV in general.

13. I was sad to find out that Better off Ted was cancelled. I love that show!

14. At least Big Bang Theory is still on. Phew.

15. I like to bake. I really like to eat things I bake. This does not always go well with the size of my pants.

updates and blog challenge

2010-10-17T22:09:00.003-04:00

I've been away from my blog for almost a month! I've been busy with this and that - and I needed some time away. I've read a few blogs that feature a 30-day challenge to introduce readers to you and have found it very interesting. Here are the items:

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

Onto post one!

vanishing peacocks

2010-09-20T21:06:00.005-04:00

Over the weekend, I flipped through the October issue of Real Simple and came across THE PERFECT duvet cover. It matches my walls, my aqua quilt, and my drapes. I'm also relatively sure it would make me smarter and thinner. It's just that good of a purchase. It also has peacocks! How fun is that?! So I hurried over to Dwell's website to find out how much it is - $280, a little steep for a duvet, but worth it, I think. But the darn thing is SOLD OUT. I filled out a form to get notified when they restock, but with its feature in Real Simple, I imagine it'll be gone for good.

Has anyone seen fabric like this? I did a quick search online but didn't turn up anything. Oh peacocks, if only!

the dorkiest craigslist purchase ever

2010-09-07T06:15:00.000-04:00

For the past few months, I've been trolling Craigslist for a card catalog. I'm not sure where I first got the idea, but once I got it in my head, I couldn't shake it. From time to time, I searched, but usually turned up nothing. If I found anything, it was either junk or ridiculously expensive.

And then, one Saturday morning, I found it: A card catalog just for me! A quick call to the owner and the husband were on our way that afternoon. It was a beast to move (and that is putting it mildly), but we finally got it to our garage, where it sat for the past week until I cleaned it up. This afternoon, my brother stopped by and helped the husband move it to one of the spare bedrooms. I am going to use it for craft and decorating supplies. I also have plans to put casters on the feet to lift it up a little bit. I think that originally, it had short legs. The middle of the card catalog pulls out to take notes on, which I love.

The previous owner had thin pieces of plywood at the bottom of the drawers but I took them all out since I don't really need them. I'm not sure how old the card catalog is, but I'm guessing late 1950s-early 1960s based on the drawers being a plastic type material.

Coach boxes make the perfect size drawer liner for all my random things. I think I should buy things to get some more of them! One of the drawers still has the metal brackets from the actual cards in it - of course I'm going to leave it as-is.

I can't wait to label all the drawers!

sweet {almost} home chicago

2010-09-06T21:38:00.007-04:00

The husband and I went to Chicago over Labor Day weekend. We live close enough that we're lucky to visit a few times a year. The husband was just there in late July. It's nice to know where things are and to have a routine when we're there!

We went go a wonderful wedding (on a boat, nonetheless!) and got to spend some time together without the normal responsibilities at home. On Saturday evening, we boarded the boat and took off, and the ceremony took place on the river. The city served as a lovely backdrop.

Going under Michigan Ave. - the boat was dangerously close to the bridge! The husband couldn't even stand up on the top level when we'd go under. Aw, the husband and I Buildings at sunsetThe happy couple's first dancePeople dancing - unfortunately most of my photos look like this because of the low light! But I was able to snap a few shots of the skyline! We were with other boats on the way backThe next day, we slept in and then walked around the city. We visited the Bean and I snapped a quick photo with the husband. We did some shopping and later on, had a nice dinner. It was nice to get away! While we were in Chicago, my parents watched our dogs and took them to the family farm a few hours away. They had a wonderful time and were on their best behavior. Now they're completely worn out from all the fresh air and new smells!

accessory this and that

2010-08-23T20:05:00.004-04:00

Aside from some new jeans from the Gap, two random cardigans from Old Navy, and a sweater from Anthro, I haven't really purchased new clothes lately. But I have been on a bit of an accessory binge! Here are some favorites I'm into lately:

Stella Mini White Glitz Watch from Fossil

I have pined for a white watch for almost a year, and though the husband bought me a lovely ceramic one for Christmas, it was just too big! I scoured the internets and local retailers for a suitable replacement before finally settling on one from Fossil. Yeah, I said settling - I initially wanted a fancy brand. I really would have liked this number from Michele but I can't just spend $2k on a trendy white watch I'm not sure I'll be wearing next year. But you know what? I love the Fossil version. It's the perfect size for my wrist and though I wasn't initially sold on the mother-of-pearl face, I really like it now. The compliments I've gotten on it probably cemented my choice, I'll be honest! At $85, I can easily replace it next year. Or buy this fun Michael Kors tortoise one too.

14mm Bead Earrings from Tiffany

Okay, these aren't new, but I've been wearing them a lot. The husband got them for me for my birthday, and though I didn't wear them much initially, they've been an almost-daily staple these days, replacing diamond studs or pearl earrings.
Red Stripe Calypso Canvas Wedges from Toms

I saw these in either a magazine or on the internet and was smitten. I love the purpose behind Toms Shoes but the flats are not my style. But the wedges?! Hello lovelies! After looking on the Toms website, they were sold out. So the husband, the sweet man that he is, called retailer after retailer looking for them, and finally found a shoe store in Alabama that sold him a pair. A few days later, they were on my doorstep, and the husband got a big smoocheroo. I have gotten more compliments on these than anything - except for my white watch!
Windstorm Necklace from Anthropologie
I picked this necklace up on sale at my local store. It's fun and sparkly, and the colors are good into fall. the photo is deceiving though, on my neck it's layered and doesn't look like a collar the way it does in the photo.

I had more things I wanted to show, but Blogger is being a booger with photos tonight. So enough about me - what fun accessories have you gotten lately?!

quarterlife crisis

2010-08-09T22:17:00.004-04:00

If you would have asked me in a college what a "quarterlife crisis" was, I probably would have told you it's some crap that John Mayer made up to sell CDs. Yet, as I approach my 30s, I feel the anxiety and pull of getting older. Yes, I realize that 30 is not old - but as each year passes, the stranger it all is. I don't feel old. But a recent photo shoot for work turned up - gasp! - the beginnings of crow's feet! And bags under my eyes! Luckily, a kind retoucher made me look halfway decent, but still... I get carded less and less.

And aside from my vanity, there are days when my inner monologue is deafening.

There are career decisions. Do I truly like the field I'm in? Do I see my future in it? Will I know when is the right time to look elsewhere? How will I know? Should I try something else just to see what it's like? Should we move to a bigger city? Smaller city? Should we move to the west coast to try it out? Am I happy living life in the midwest? Will I be forever?

There are life decisions. Should we be closer to family? How long will we stay in our house? Should we replace the windows? When should I start looking for a new car? Mortgage rates are lower now - should we refinance the house? What color should the master bedroom be?

And there are family decisions. These are the hardest of all. Do we want to have children? If so, when? I only have so much time... do I have time as it is with my schedule to have a family? What would I have to give up? Am I willing to do that? Will I have to work less to be happy with a family? Will I want to give up my job? Will I be okay with that? What does the husband think? Will our lives be full without being defined as "a family?"

So is it a quarterlife crisis? No, not really. I would use the word "crisis" to describe anything. But it's hard, not because these are issues that no one else has to deal with, but because for a girl that craves black and white, the answers are in shades of gray.

sharpie lovers, unite

2010-07-18T18:33:00.006-04:00

I have a confession - I love back-to-school time. I'm not in school anymore, and the husband and I don't have any little ones. So why do I love this time of year? Two words -

Office.

Supplies.

My obession with seemingly petty products is well known in my office because I'm so vocal about them. Generic sticky note pads? No way, sister. They have to be Post It brand Super Sticky notes. Sharpie pens? Yes please, but I prefer the capped ones, not the retractable variety. Though I have both - in mass quantities!

Today at Target I moseyed through the office supply section, maneuvering through the parents and kiddos with their school supply lists. I found an exciting item - Sharpie pens in new colors!

If only they made a nice dark pink... that would be great. I have a Bic dark pink pen but it's no Sharpie!

After looking at the Sharpie website, I noticed I've never seen the Sharpie Pen Grip - does anyone use them? Do tell...

i heart pickles

2010-07-11T22:31:00.002-04:00

If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I love pickles. If you like pickles as much as I do, you're certainly my friend!

Some time ago, I stumbled upon a recipe for dill pickle spears on the blog Annie's Eats. I've made them many times since then, but a few weeks ago I read a pickle post on Fly Through Our Window. I got some fresh dill and bought some ingredients, and one night I made the pickles.

Oh. My. Word. They are so good! They're slightly sweet, but not overly so, and the onion and mustard seed adds great flavor. I followed the Bon Appetit recipe pretty closely except for white pepper - my grocery store didn't have any so I just used a smaller amount of black peppercorns. I agree with Darby that I didn't have enough liquid, so I added some water to fill the dishes (I didn't use jars and went for rectangular glass storage containers with plastic lids instead).

I am almost done with my second batch of pickles and will be making some more. I wish my cucumber vines were cooperating but no veggies yet! If you're a pickle person, make some and tell me what you think!

you need to buy this

2010-07-05T22:11:00.004-04:00

I love this cardigan. Ordered it from Old Navy, of all places, along with its two other colors and four pointelle-trim cardigans. They're all cute, fit well, but best of all, they're CHEAP. I wore the yellow one on Friday and got lots of compliments. Definitely looks like more than $26.50!

it's been awhile

2010-07-02T17:34:00.003-04:00

Hello, world. It's been awhile. I took a little break from blogging. I was burnt out and tired, not from blogging, but from life's little annoyances and stressors that get in the way. Instead of filling each post with my complaints and diatribes, I took a step back. It was nice.

The husband and I have been busy around the house, whether it's yardwork, cooking, or vacuuming the endless amount of dog hair that shows up. Sometimes I really wonder if the dogs have friends over when we're at work - where does all the hair come from?! This weekend I have big plans of being lazy and catching up on my magazines.

But I do have things to tell you, including a recipe for the best refrigerator pickles EVER and my new cardigan wardrobe. Yes. Wardrobe. There are that many. It would be embarassing if I wasn't so giddy about them. So until next time - have a wonderful weekend!

signs of growing old, concert edition

2010-06-14T20:38:00.003-04:00

You know you're getting old when you eschew lawn concert tickets for pavilion seats so that you can avoid being around high schoolers. And when you pay a premium for said tickets, one of the perks is an air-conditioned VIP bathroom, which you are overly excited about.

Forget the days of getting lawn space or tailgating in the parking lot. I'm excited about not waiting in line for the potty! Is my AARP card in the mail yet?!

napa valley food review

2010-06-13T20:03:00.004-04:00

So - you want to eat well in wine country. The Napa Valley area has no shortage of delicious food and drink, that's for sure. When I made our dinner plans, I had two objectives - 1) I wanted to eat well; and 2) I didn't want to completely break the bank. So any chains were out, as was the French Laundry. Some day, Thomas Keller, some day! I like fresh food with local ingredients, especially seafood, so any menu with inventive seafood caught my eye.

This was not my first trip to Napa, and my parents have been there many times, so I had some idea of what areas we wanted to visit. I then checked Tripadvisor for current reviews and Open Table to see if there were reservations available. In some cases, I had to call the restaurant directly because of our party size. I started this as soon as the plane tickets were purchased, which was about 2 months in advance. On to the goods...

Tra Vigne, St Helena

I really liked this choice for our first night in the area. We had great service and there were several standout menu items - the mozarella cheese 'al minuto,' short ribs, and a special of the day - scallop risotto. The pasta was very good too. I would eat there again.

Redd, Yountville

This was our best meal of the trip, in my opinion. The fish was the highlight of the menu (halibut, skate, and John dory), as were the desserts. The boys mixed it up that night by having local beers and I had some fun mixed drinks. Unfortunately, I don't have more than 3 photos of the evening because we were so busy eating! I would definitely eat at Redd again.

Brix, Yountville

I have mixed thoughts about Brix. On one hand, the scenery is amazing. There is a lovely garden behind the restaurant that made for a nice little walk while waiting for our salads. And the sunset with the view was great, especially since we sat outside. But. The food wasn't great. It was good, but not great. I had two appetizers instead of an entree - the mussels and the onion pizza. The pizza was not very good, even though I love onions and everything that was on it. I think it might have been undercooked, but it seemed to be browned enough. Other dishes were better but not as good as our previous nights' fare. I would probably not eat at Brix again.

Girl and the Fig, Sonoma

I really wanted to like the Girl and the Fig, but it fell short. The dishes were good but nothing particularly stood out, aside from the cheese platter. Our table also didn't like the pickled figs - maybe we're in the minority but they were pretty gross. I probably wouldn't eat there again for dinner. Maybe for lunch though.

So that's a brief overview of our dinners - we also ate at Rutherford Grille, Cafe Sarafornia, and Pica Pica at Oxbow Public Market. If you're going to Napa I do have some brief points of advice:

Make reservations. You don't have to, but restaurants get busy quickly and you won't want to wait 3 hours to eat dinner.
Don't be afraid to stay at the bar. If you're not interested in a full meal, sit at the bar and enjoy a drink and appetizer or two.
Keep your wallet open because food and drink will be expensive. It's the way it is! That doesn't mean that you blindly turn over your Amex, but just realize that you will pay more than you expected. You get what you pay for in most cases.

weeks that suck and other nonsense

2010-06-13T13:04:00.006-04:00

This week has kicked my ass. It's Sunday and I'm tired. I was out of town Thursday morning through Saturday afternoon for work, and now I have one day to rest, get my stuff together for the week, and fix my hair issues because tomorrow at work is PICTURE DAY! We are having photos taken for the new website. I probably have note told you about my old website photo, but it is terrible. You know it's bad when you meet people for the first time and they say "You look nothing like your photo on the website! You look a lot better in person!" Seriously. It's that bad.

I begged my hairdresser for a Saturday afternoon appointment yesterday and she left me with highlighted, golden locks with a hint of curl. Just like the photo I showed her.

But when I try to do my own hair (because duh, I have to practice before photo day tomorrow), this is what I come up with.

If you couldn't tell, they're not the same. I have spent the last 5+ years using primarily a flat iron, so using a curling iron is a little foreign to me now. Also add to the difficulty that new hair requires the hair to be curled back, away from the face (a la Farah Fawcett) instead of toward the face a la 1995.

I now have our spare bathroom outfitted with curling irons, flat irons, and hair potions and it looks like Mission Control for hair. It is going to get fixed and I am not spending another three years on our website looking ridiculous.

I might need reinforcements. Or alcohol. Or a sick day with a retake. Please say a prayer.

for the husband

2010-06-07T22:38:00.001-04:00

While the husband and I were in California, we celebrated our second anniversary on May 31st. It hardly seems that two years has gone by... although last year I thought the same thing!

I am very lucky to have the husband. He's handy, patient, and above all, kind. He always sees the best in people. He's a good influence on me. He is so patient, in fact, that he spent multiple hours in a car with my family on our California trip - with no complaints! And when I have to work late (which is often), he makes me dinner because he knows I'll be tired. Like tonight. I love you bunches, husband.

photos of delicious desserts from our dinner at Redd in Yountville, CA

wining and dining

2010-06-02T13:01:00.002-04:00

The husband and I are in California for the week. We've been in the Napa area for a few days, and tomorrow we head to San Francisco. I brought along my new fancy dancy iPad, so I've been learning to use it. Typing takes me at least 5 times longer but I'm getting better!

Trip recap to follow when I get home- we have had the pleasure of eating in some darn good restaurants and I have to share them with you. Enjoy your week!

lost questions....

2010-05-26T22:40:00.004-04:00

Did you watch Lost on Sunday night? I ran across this video on Perez Hilton about all of the unanswered questions and thought it was perfect! If you're a Lost junkie you have to watch.

So You Want Some Answers from Lost

(sorry, I don't know how to embed!)

hola and bienvenidos

2010-05-17T21:35:00.014-04:00

The husband and I returned on Sunday night (actually, early morning... damn flight delays) from Mexico. We had a wonderful time, though we're happy to be home. Mexico was very welcoming and we would definitely go back again (oh Mayakoba, I will see you someday soon). I think the husband and I have decided we are not All-Inclusive People. Or Cruise People. And that I'm a travel snob. But that's a different post for a different day.

We ventured out on a snorkeling trip of cenotes (caves, complete with little bats, yes, BATS!) and the ocean. You walk through the jungle to a cave opening and the temperature instantly dropped a good 20 degrees.

I'm reluctant to post a photo of me in a bathing suit, but it's one of the few of us. I never get any good photos on our vacations! Our guide was awesome though and took some shots with an underwater camera. When we got back he made us a CD with all the images.And here are the caves, complete with stalactites. Or stalagmites? I'm not a geologist and I'm too tired to look it up.This is me freezing my ass off, which I'm very serious about, apparently. The water in the caves was COLD. After the cenotes, we headed to the ocean where it was hot but felt good. We jumped on a boat and went out to a reef. This photo looks nothing like me the more I look at it. But I assure you it is. We saw fish. And a semi-serious conch - you can't smile with all that gear. And some more fish. And a sting ray. All in all, we had a good time. But the water was rough it was pretty scary. Usually snorkeling is low key and easy but I kid you not, I was like flipping Finding Nemo out there! Between trying to keep away from the reef and keeping up with the group, I got a great workout, which lead to an early bedtime. The first reef area was the worst and I got burned by a piece of coral. It didn't hurt, but I did take a photo to send to my little brother (the PADI-certified expert diver) to show him how tough I am.

Also while in Mexico, we found two pieces of home - can you tell what it is from this photo?Oh yes, it's a Wal Mart Supercenter. In Mexico! We went there to buy some sunscreen and look around. It was oddly familiar but very different, if that makes any sense whatsoever.There were also two Starbucks in close proximity to our hotel. Starbucks is everywhere!

So when we were there, I didn't really want any trinkets. I'm not a big souvenir person. But I found two perfect presents... for my pooches!

Yes, I bought the dogs mini sombreros. I'm that pet parent! They were not thrilled with my photo request. But Linus (the yellow one) wanted the pretzels I had in my hand, so he kept pretty still.

Patty looks like she had too much tequila.

Ahh, much better. Pretzels solve a world of injustice and hat wearing ills.

my new ww love - thomas bagel thins

2010-05-05T22:06:00.005-04:00

Now that I'm doing Weight Watchers, I have the same breakfast every morning - a Thomas Light Multi Grain English muffin and a slice of melty Kraft fat free cheese. Although I like to eat a variety of foods in general, eating the same 2-point breakfast keeps me in a routine and makes things easy when I'm pressed for time.

Roaming around Costco last week picking up my standard double-pack of English muffins, I spied a new, low calorie option - Thomas Bagel Thins. They're the same point value as the English muffins (just 1), but they're bagels! Thin bagels! Of course I bought some to try, and you know what? I LOVE THEM. They're my new breakfast, along with a piece of my beloved (and strangely low calorie) fat-free cheese.

If you're doing Weight Watchers, or you just want an alternative to your breakfast offerings, I highly suggest trying them. I've only tried the plain version but according to the website, there are also multi-grain and everything varieties. I haven't seen those in my area, but they must be available somewhere! Even a teeny Lender's bagel is still 4 points, so it's a welcome change for this carb-loving girl.

you can't take it with you.... okay, well you can

2010-05-04T22:21:00.003-04:00

With the husband and I going on a beach vacation soon, I've been thinking about taking my engagement and wedding rings. Or not. Or maybe. I don't know.

(insert gratuitous photo of rings here - but then i decided it was kind of vain. like LOOK AT MY FANCY RING so no photos.)

I am obsessed with my engagement ring. Still. It's been more than 3 years since the husband and I got engaged and it still makes me ridiculously happy.

On one hand, I fully realize the point of having insurance on jewelry is to wear it, so this should be no exception, right? I should wear it. I like looking like a married lady anyway. Is that vain? Maybe.

But on the hand, at the beach, I don't really like wearing jewelry. Sunblock and sand = no good for settings. Add to that my paranoia of the diamond falling out - does anyone else worry about that?! My mom had a friend that had that happen, so that's always in the back of my mind.

Ugh. Decisions decisions. I am a Type A person that HATES losing things with a passion. HATES. In capital letters. It's not often that I lose things but when I do, it drives me batty. And I would just HATE if I left my loverly ring in our hotel room and then it went missing. What a pain that would be.

Maybe I'll just wear my wedding band only and call it a day.

lack of blog-spiration

2010-05-03T21:53:00.003-04:00

I've been lacking in the blog content department. Do you ever feel that way? Like there's nothing really interesting to write about? To document? To share? Life has been busy, but it's pretty routine. Can life be stressful and boring? What a lame combination.

Luckily, the husband and I are going on vacation this weekend - to Mexico! We're giving the all-inclusive route a shot again, which I hope will result in a stress-free, relaxing vacation. I hope to relax, get some sun, snorkel, and drink an impressive number of margaritas. I've been stalking our resort on Tripadvisor and I feel good about the place. Even better now that the husband confirmed that all rooms have wifi. Yes, I need the internet. Even on vacation!

Mexican sombreros and phone calls to Costco

2010-04-26T23:07:00.005-04:00

The husband and I are Costco members (duh, we live in the 'burbs) and I get their quasi-daily emails letting me know all the wonderous deals they have going on. Today's email had the following links, but my eyes got stuck on one of them. Maybe it's because the husband and I are going on vacation in 3 weeks... and I'm mentally already there!

Let me point it out for you in case you didn't catch it(circled):Because when I make phone calls concerning travel to Mexico, I always wear my WOVEN SOMBRERO.

The more important question is - why don't you?

spring is here, and I've got the flowers to prove it

2010-04-12T21:26:00.003-04:00

I love fresh flowers. If I could, I'd always have fresh flowers in the house. Luckily, the husband is sweet and indulges my floral obsession, like this bouquet he got me on Saturday that's hanging out in our kitchen. Along with my diet Coke and dog poop bags. Just keepin' it real.

But you don't have to buy flowers from a florist or grocery store... you can look in your backyard. Or your neighbor's backyard if they're not home! KIDDING. Maybe.

Here's a crystal bowl I filled with water and lilacs (they're not regular lilacs, they're some varietal - and were planted when we moved into the house). They smell delicious. They're sitting on our breakfast table.

And here's a little arrangement I'm taking into work tomorrow for my desk. It has mini daffodils, some... type of purple flower, and blossoms from a shrub in the backyard. I like plants but I'm no experts on what they are! Even though the blossoms from the shrub aren't a typical flower, they're kind of fun and add some interest.
I put them in an old milk bottle instead of a traditional vase. What flowers do you have growing in your backyard?!

diapers, cakes, and... bubbly?

2010-04-11T08:46:00.008-04:00

On Saturday I went to a baby shower for a high school friend who is expecting in May. I wanted to make her a diaper cake, which I thought would be helpful for her AND a good use of my Martha skillz. Yes. Skillz with a 'z.' Here's what you'd need for the project:

a 40-pack of Size 1 diapers (yes, there are two here, but you'll only need one)
a cake base - I got Wilton brand thick silver covered bases
ribbon to circle your layers
a dowel rod
assorted small baby supplies - most of mine were from the registry
a jumbo clear poly bag
scissors and both single sided and double stick tape
regular rubber bands
clear hair bands - mine were Goody brand

It's helpful if you also have an assistant for this project. When I opened the diapers, I found that they had a design with Winnie the Pooh. At first, I was annoyed, but they matched the ribbon I got at Michael's so it was a happy accident. I really like the birds below - so cute! You start by rolling up each diaper and securing them with a clear band. There are tons of good videos on YouTube on how to do this here, here, and here. I actually rolled mine up backwards so that you could see the design on the diaper - so you could do it either way.

And now - my secret 'weapon' - a bottle of champagne! I'm sure this isn't new but in thinking about cutting the dowel rod (which this takes the place of), I came up with this. I think it's a good idea. You could substitute a bottle of sparkling cider if you so desired - but I think the new mom and dad need some adult beverages!

I started covering the champagne bottle with circles of diapers - two layers around the bottom and one around the middle and top. If you didn't use a bottle, you'd need both packages of diapers (80ish total). Here's what it looked like then:

I used a gift tag and attached a thin ribbon to the bottle in the middle wishing the proud parents well.

I stuck it on through the top with the ends of the ribbon a little visible. At this point, I'd also layered the ribbon by using double stick tape strips and layering them, and then covering the rubber bands with the ribbon pieces.

And here is what the cake looks like with the ribbon and gifts:

And the side of the cake:

We're getting there!

My assistant was pretty worn out at this point:

To make the cake easy to transport, I used a jumbo gift bag from Michael's. I wasn't sure if it would fit, but it did!

When they say 'jumbo,' they're not kidding.

I tied some more ribbon to the top after securing the plastic with a clear band. I wanted to make a big fancy bow but I was unsuccessful. I'm not really good at bows.

I didn't secure the little gifts - just stuck them into the spaces between diapers. I also took the clear plastic sides of the bag and taped them underneath the base so they wouldn't stick out so much.

The baby wash fell down in my car but I straightened it up after getting there.

So there you have it! It was a pretty simple project once I got the hang of things.

laundry room redux

2010-04-04T09:06:00.001-04:00

Last fall, I gave you a tour of our laundry room after we got risers for the washer and dryer. Shortly after that, I decided I'd like to do something about the sink in the laundry room. You might have a similar style in your house. It's very handy for washing paintbrushes, but it doesn't do much for me. Mine even has the SKU sticker still on the front. The house was built in 1989, to give you some reference. So I decided I was going to make a skirt for it. My mom gave me my grandma's sewing machine (she was going to anyway but it had to be taken into the sewing store for a tune up) and I ordered some fabric from www.fabricguru.com. Love that place! I got a cute plaid embroidered with bees for a steal. And the finished product...

Tah-dah! Nothing major but definitely an improvement. I also took the fabric and redid the window "treatment" in the laundry room by taking off the old fabric and replacing it with bees. It's this strange foam with a space in the middle. I'm almost positive it was purchased from an infomercial in 1991. But for now - it's fine. You just cut the fabric to go over it and wrap it up like a gift. So there's not much commitment there.

To make the sink skirt, I used Velcro around the lip of the sink and then hemmed the edges of the fabric on all sides, leaving room for the inward pleat. You might think it's tricky but I assure you - if I can do it, you can do it. The last time I sewed was probably in high school, and the majority of my knowledge is from my sixth grade home ec class. I didn't even sew on the Velcro, I just bought the kind with adhesive already on it.

The only part I didn't like is that around the pleat, the bees don't line up, but it's not enough to look like it's meant to be that way. Oh well, it's just the laundry room! To finish off the skirt, I did use a piece of grosgrain ribbon on the top and bottom, and hot glued them on. I had already stuck on the Velcro, so I saw no reason to sew it on and worry about breaking a needle.

All in all, I'm happy with my little project. It's pretty low risk using cheap fabric and decorating a room that you aren't in for long periods of time! I hope to get out the machine again and make some new goodies.

To see other rooms of our house, check out the links on the upper left of www.preppynonsense.com.

garden plotting

2010-04-03T20:13:00.000-04:00

I picked up some seeds for my garden this summer - and then got out the seeds I already had from last year. Holy cow, I have way too many. I get all kinds of excited in front of the seed displays, and that I get home and realize my garden is way too small for all that activity. The carrots might not make the cut - I've never grown them so I thought it might be fun... but who knows. Can you grow carrots in a pot?
But the squash is going to happen, just not be in the actual garden area. The raspberry plants have already been planted on the side of the house as well.

I have like, 8 kinds of peas! I had so much good luck last year with peas, I thought I'd try some new varieties. And this year, I have three trellises (is that even a word?!) so I think things will be even better.

On Friday I tilled the soil and made my trellises.

Here's my little map:

I already have some exciting things growing - like asparagus, chives, and parsley. All were planted last year. In addition to the garden, I mentioned a few weeks ago that we signed up for a CSA this year, so we should have no shortage of veggies this summer!

macaroons and firing up the grill

2010-04-03T11:40:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I had the day off of work, so I did some work around the house, ran some errands, and prepped my garden for spring (more on that in another post!). I also made macaroons. I get weekly emails from Real Simple that have recipes of the week, and this week's featured macaroons. Oh, I love macaroons! Even if you're not a big coconut fan, these are delicious. While I was at the grocery store I picked up some Splenda Sugar Blend. I've written before about my dislike for Splenda in baking but this fake sugar redeemed itself for me today. You use half the amount of the Splenda "sugar" that you normally would for baking. It doesn't have that acrid taste that some artificial sweeteners have. And here are the finished products! This is after I moved them all to one baking sheet for the evening - you don't want to bake them that close together. I'm taking them today to my family's Easter dinner. The coconut makes them look like little nests. And when the husband got home, he made duck risotto with peas and lemon. Now that the weather is nicer, we can eat outside! And I once again appreciate our lovely outdoor furniture. I finished the risotto with some grated Parmesan and pea shoots. And finished my dinner with a Cream Ale from Sun King.

Ah, spring. Nice to see you again.

when you should have just stayed in

2010-03-28T19:41:00.003-04:00

The husband and I went to a local Mexican place this weekend, expecting decent food with a beer or margarita. We try to frequent local places over chains, which, given where we live, is no easy task. We have just about every chain on the face of the earth within a 10-mile radius. I kid you not - name a chain, any chain, and it's probably in my backyard.

We walk into the restaurant and the decor is... questionable. Even for a Mexican place. Fake flowers, fake stucco... the works. We then proceed to wait 5 minues for someone to seat us. At this point, I kind of wondered about the place but talked myself out of it. We were both hungry and how bad could it be?

As it turns out, it was very bad. We left an hour and a flipping half later after being served a cheap ass beer instead of regular beer (those frat party college years yielded excellent taste buds to discriminate between Natty and Keystone and real beer), waiting half an hour to get our bill, almost throwing up from smelling the disgusting fajitas at the table next to us, and the husband being served a the most pitiful teeny tiny piece of brown avocado. And those are just the highlights!

Luckily, we don't have experiences like this often, and this time it was comical. But the next time I get a bad feeling about a place, I'm not going to apologize for high-tailing it out of there!

seriously, stein mart

2010-03-23T19:47:00.007-04:00

Have you seen this commercial for Stein Mart? Basically, it's a lady talking about how she loves to shop and how much money she saves. Nothing outrageous about it. Pretty boring, actually.

And then she says this line:

"....and you don't have to hide it from your husband, you can actually tell him about it!"

Think about those words.

It's 2010 and as a woman, I should identify with hiding purchases from my husband so he won't see what I bought? Uh-hunh.

Missed the boat on that one, Stein Mart. Marshall's and TJ Maxx are lookin' pretty good right now.

feeling funky... and not in a good way

2010-03-18T22:39:00.004-04:00

I am in a FUNK lately. Maybe it's the dreary weather and overall lack of sun, but a more likely cause is the copious amount of fluorescent lighting in my office building. And the time I've been spending there! I am not, by nature, a particularly positive person. I'm okay with that - but prolonged Debbie Downer-ness is hard for even me to deal with. And when that happens, you know it's bad!

So to get into a better mood, I thought I'd make a list of things that have made me happy today, in no particular order:

Our dogs and their sweet dispositions
Reese eggs
Gap's Friends and Family sale, and new Banana turquoise earrings!
The husband, even though he is currently in NYC running into Kelsey Grammar in lobbies of hotels
Daffodils in our backyard that will soon bloom
Weight Watchers and the size of my arse getting smaller - though not much this week, see #1 on this list for why
Netflix and The Wedding Date I rented to watch for the 349085th time
Thank you notes
Magazines, especially the ones that just arrived today
Sushi takeout

makeup monday: maybelline eye studio color pearls marbleized eyeshadow

2010-03-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

Why the folks at Maybelline decided to go with an eyeshadow name 6 words long is beyond me! But I picked this up about 2 weeks ago in Ivy Icon (pictured) and really like it. It was $6-7 at Target. I use the right side in the crease of my lid (it's a goldish brownish greenish color once it's all together), and the left on an angled brush for some color on the bottom lash line instead of brown or black liner. To see more colors from the same line, visit Maybelline's website.

ww update and 10 year old pants

2010-03-14T14:00:00.006-04:00

I'm sure you're all dying to get an update on my battle against flabby arms and muffin tops. Maybe you're not, but let's pretend, shall we?!

Progress - I lost 2 pounds last week, which brings my total to 9! I also bought some skinny jeans this weekend, which oddly are WAY too long on me (which makes no sense, as the other types from Gap fit me just fine) and will need hemming (and I'll need to do a shot of tequila before I wear them because I'm not convinced they're a good look for me). I am now down a size in the Real Straight jeans, which is exciting. I know - size is just a number blah blah blah but it feels GOOD.

Setbacks - I kind of fell off the wagon this weekend, eating out a few times (PF Chang's is not at all WW friendly)and discovering Reese Eggs at the grocery store. I'm not going to beat myself up over it, but I have a feeling I won't lose any weight this next week because of it. It's disappointing.

I want to share with you a goal of mine - however shallow it may be - and that is to fit into these pants:

They have been sitting in my closet for a good long time now. They've moved with me from place to place to place. I do a decent job editing my clothes and getting rid of things I don't wear anymore, but I've kept these around with the goal of fitting into them again. I bought them in high school almost exactly 10 years ago when Mrs. H and I got jobs at a movie store in the mall and had to wear only black and white. We watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off a million and a half times at that job, but that's a different story for a different day.

The pants are from Aeropostale and they're a size TINY. Really they're a 2 but that is tiny.

Is it silly to fit into a pair of pants I wore in high school? Well... yeah. But it's not just about the pants. It's about the way I felt when I was able to wear the pants. At that point in time, I didn't wonder 'does this make me look fat' about every item I tried on, and I felt comfortable in a bathing suit. I didn't look at myself in photos and get disgusted. And my goal is to feel that way again. I think it's a goal for many of you too! College, for a number of reasons, brought out my insecurities and even though I was still roughly the same size, it wasn't the same.

I haven't tried the pants on yet, and I'm sure they're not going to fit me right now. But I have hope, which is more than I had a few months ago. But as I'm looking at the rise on the pants, I'll just be trying them on, not wearing them. Pretty sure that they would go past my belly button! And that's even less desireable than my hangups with skinny jeans.

back to your roots

2010-03-10T21:54:00.003-05:00

On Friday, I caught Who Do You Think You Are on NBC with Sarah Jessica Parker. If you haven't seen the show, basically, these celebrities (one per show) work with genealogists and ancestry experts to explore their family history and to find out more about themselves. They travel to different locales and visit the places where their family lived.

I was glued to the TV! I find ancestry fascinating. When I was little, my dad's side of the family had a family member that moved to a town where there was a large genealogy library. She put together a huge index of research back to the 1700s! It has photos, copies of articles, and even interviews. I remember flipping through the book and reading it line by line.

Of course, Ancestry.com was a huge sponsor of the show, and it motivated me to sign up. It was probably the incessant brainwashing at every commercial break. My dad's birthday is coming up soon and I think I'm going to make him a family tree book or poster, since he's interested in this stuff too. The site is really neat - they even have scanned copies of census data and records! Especially interesting for a geek like me.

it's csa time

2010-03-06T21:00:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week, I signed the husband and I up for a local CSA for Summer 2010. A CSA, or Commmunity Supported Agriculture, is usually a weekly delivery of fresh produce for a set price that you prepay before the season starts. The CSA we chose has locations all around the metro area where I can pick up the veggies on a set date and time window, so it's very convenient. You can't choose the contents, so if you're a picky eater, this probably isn't the best idea for you. I've read that at some CSAs, you have to work weeding and picking veggies in order to sign up - but that's not how any around us work.

Our deliveries start in June, and I'm already looking forward to it. Although I'm still going to try and have a bigger garden this year, there are some things that I just don't feel confident growing! I'm also looking forward to it because I think it'll force me to eat more veggies, which is never a bad thing. To find a CSA in your area, check out Local Harvest.

saks, you sneaky devil

2010-03-06T09:37:00.003-05:00

I got this email from Saks earlier this week and thought - wow, that's all stuff that I like. How would they know that?! What a coincidence. And then I realized they're taking my search and viewing history to send me targeted emails so that I'm more likely to buy something. Sneaky, sneaky, but SO EFFECTIVE. I have been drooling over a white ceramic watch since the husband got me this one for Christmas. It was beautiful but took up my entire wrist and I wouldn't have been able to type with it in. Or move my left arm. So back it went. I looked at the Toy Watch above but it's also huge. There is a Michele version that fits the bill EXACTLY but it's mucho dinero. Maybe I'll check out this Fossil version though.

the scales of justice

2010-03-01T20:11:00.004-05:00

I had moment of scale-induced panic on Friday. I've been using my Wii Fit to keep track of my weight (it has cool graphs! and a little Mii!) and on Friday, it told me I was 7 lbs. heavier than my heaviest weight ever. I was disappointed and angry with myself. What was I doing wrong? Could the Weight Watchers be backfiring? What the hell?!

I was grumpy and went upstairs to the other scale we have in the house - an old school dial one. I didn't have much faith in its accuracy but I thought there was no way I was 7 lbs. heavier. I don't really care about my weight, I mean, to me the way my clothes fit is more telling than a number - but still! And it said... that I was the same weight I'd been for the past week. I was relived but wondered what my real weight was. After weighing myself again at work like a crazy person and losing a pound, I confirmed that the Wii was not accurate. I don't know what's wrong with it but it is WRONG. And I'm relieved.

So on Saturday the husband and I picked up a new fancy scale at Costco. It's not on the website but it's glass with bioimpedance to test body fat. So the scales of justice are prevailing (hardy har har) and the weight is coming off... slowly but surely!

found in my reader

2010-02-25T20:46:00.006-05:00

I have some new blogs in the sidebar on the right side of the page - we're not talking sponsorships or paid space, just things I've been reading lately. Check them out if you're looking for something new! Yes, you'll have to click out of your Google Reader, but I promise it's worth it.

Our Suburban Cottage

Newlywedisms by Bryn

The Newlywed Diaries

Living with Lindsay

wan life to live

imperfect

Hooked on Houses

All Things G&D

Little Green Notebook

Centsational Girl

Copy Cat Chic chic for cheap

First Comes Love Then Comes Marriage

86'n It

TiffanyD

Working Woman's Guide To Domestic Success

veggie couscous: a weight watchers-friendly recipe

2010-02-24T20:35:00.005-05:00

Tonight for dinner I made veggie couscous, a recipe that has evolved over the years. I think it originally started with a Cooking Light recipe but I wasn't able to turn up anything. I'll have to check through my recipe binder to see if I can find where it came from! My mom and I make different variations and I think it deviates from the original recipe more and more each time. I love it because although it has a fair amount of veggies, it doesn't taste like a salad to me. I like salad, don't get me wrong, but I like to mix it up.

Veggie Couscous
serves 6ish

one box of couscous (Near East is a popular brand), I usually use Parmesan or original flavor
half an English cucumber, diced
one red pepper, halved and seeded
1 large zucchini or 2 small ones, cut lengthwise
10-12 stalks of asparagus
one container (8 oz) of fat free crumbled feta cheese
one can chick peas, rinsed
one pint cherry tomatoes, halved
one lime, squeezed
2 T olive oil

Prepare couscous according to package directions. While that is cooking, get out a grill pan (if you have one - if not a skillet is just fine) and spray with nonstick spray. Grill asparagus, zucchini slices, and red pepper halves until lightly cooked and still a little under done. DO NOT OVERCOOK! Dice up grilled veggies and add to large bowl. By this time, the couscous should be done. Uncover and fluff with fork, and add to bowl with the rest of the veggies. Add 1 T olive oil and squeeze lime into mixture. Add cucumber, tomatoes, feta, and chickpeas. Add salt and pepper to taste. Can be served room temperature or cold.

According to Weight Watchers, each serving of a little more than a cup has 4 points. If you're a WW expert and you think it might be wrong, let me know! I inputted the items into the recipe calculator but it's the first time I've done it.

I've made variations with oregano and basil to season, adding chicken for some more protein, cannellini beans in lieu of the chick peas, and fresh mozzarella boccocinni instead of the feta. I also add veggies based on what I have, so it varies based on what's in my fridge. The only change I might suggest is using low fat feta instead of fat free - it tastes so much better! But I don't know what the difference in points would be... I should look that up. Happy eating!

sad day with no Samoas

2010-02-23T17:24:00.006-05:00

I have started to write this post no less than nine times,

"Nine times?"
"Nine times."
"I don't remember him being sick nine times."
"That's probably because he wasn't sick."

not because it's difficult but because I've been busy. And tired. And tired of being busy. (Gold star if you get the reference above.) Although I have a million and one ideas for posts, I got up at o'dark thirty this morning and I'm just out of gas. And also, out of thin mints. As in I never got any. As in the girl scout took our order but has NEVER DELIVERED THEM. I want a Samoa so bad I could taste it. And thin mints. I love me some thin mints. It doesn't help matters that we ordered from a neighbor's daughter instead of from coworker's kids, only to have coworker's kids already deliver the cookies in front of me at work and neighbor's daughter not deliver a single cookie. Speaking of calories...

Weight Watchers has been going alright. I'm down 5 lbs. but didn't lose any last week. I'm not terribly surprised, as Valentine's Day was in there, but it was a bit disappointing. On the plus side, I wore a dress that was previously tight on me around Christmas this week, which feels fab-u-lous. I'm surprised that I actually like the whole WW thing. I looked at it as a necessary evil but now I'm very glad about it.

Also fabulous is a trip the husband and I booked to Mexico in the month of May. I finally bit the bullet and just did it - and I'm very excited. May also brings our second anniversary and the husband's first mini marathon. And me laying on the beach drinking a Corona! I've never been to Mexico, but I'm excited to break out my subpar Spanish skills and put them to the test.

"¿Nueve veces?"
"Nueve veces."
"No lo recuerdo ser nueve épocas enfermas."
"Eso está probablemente porque él no era enfermo."

Just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? Hopefully I didn't butcher the language too much, lo siento. But here's one I'm sure of: Tres cajas de Samoa, por favor. Muy gracias.

what's mine is yours, unless you touch my food

2010-02-17T10:48:00.002-05:00

The husband and I are a team. We share everything. Bank accounts, passwords, a toothbrush.... kidding. Or am I....

But we do not share everything. Case in point? My 100 calorie packs, English muffins, or any other diet food I have declared to be mine. Now that I'm doing Weight Watchers, I know what I want, how many points it's going to be, and when I'm going to eat it. And you don't mess with this hungry girl and her points!

After asking around, I'm not the only one who goes to great lengths to keep the husband out of my stash. It's not like I'm the food Nazi either, there is plenty of food in the house. The husband is not going hungry. And I'm generally not hard to get along with - as long as you stay out of my Lorna Doones and Mr Salty packs, we'll get along just fine. But if you eat the last Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich, there will be hell to pay. And don't even think about touching those No Pudge brownies.

seriously, jcrew?!

2010-02-11T20:34:00.005-05:00

I love you, JCrew, but you're hit and miss lately. Ain't no way I'm wearing this jacked up mess. Seperately, I'm sure the items look good, but together? And with wrinkles in the shirt?

I'll take my Juliet pumps and Jackie cardigan and be on my merry way.

Love,
Brittany

valentine treats

2010-02-10T21:16:00.002-05:00

I'm tired. This post is going to be quick and not at all witty. One of those days!

I try to make care packages for my grandma as well as the husband's every now and then. For Valentine's Day, I made sugar cookies, cake pops, and cake balls. I made royal icing for the hearts - I made waaaay too much but it worked out really well. I piped the outside edge with my Martha cake decorating kit. Apparently they don't sell it anymore at Macy's but it looks like this.
Here's a not-so-great photo of one of the boxes. The foil isn't a hat - it has the cookies inside. On the left are the cake pops and on the right (in the plastic box) are a few cake balls. It looks cuter in person - you'll have to take my word for it!

I used a Martha recipe for the royal icing and one from Bakerella for the cake balls and pops. I don't know how Bakerella does it - my pops don't look anywhere near that cute but I'm trying!

checking in!

2010-02-08T11:53:00.007-05:00

It's been 2 weeks since my last blog post, and I owe some sort of an update to assure you that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! My miscellany, as of late:

The Colts lost last night. Because they're my home team, of course I wish the outcome had been different. I take comfort in the fact that our loss was not to the Patriots, however.
I've spent the past two weekends taking apart an old curio cabinet from my grandma's house, priming it, painting it gray, and now installing a wine rack into the middle section that I picked up from World Market. I think the project will end well. I certainly hope so!
I made about a million cake balls and pops a la Bakerella. I have a few observations: 1) Bakerella must be magic because my balls were nowhere as even as hers; 2) the use of low sugar cake mix doesn't make for round balls; and 3) i feel somewhat dirty typing out "balls" as many times as I have in this paragraph. I am a 14 year old boy. But not really.
I can't get into the Bachelor. Playing the field with that many girls at once is reeedonkulous. And it's only worked once - with Trista and Ryan on the Bachelorette.
Apparently their new daughter's name is Blakesley - to each their own I guess. And all that.
I still remember their wedding. The flowers were amazing. I can't find a picture of their ceremony setup but it had shades of pink row by row. I know a few of you remember!
You know what dating show I miss? Temptation Island. That show was horrible and fascinating at the same time.
The last baking project I have for Valentine's Day is to ice my sugar cookies with royal icing tomorrow night. Then I'm ready to mail packages to grandmas.
The National Weather Service is predicting more snow for us tomorrow through Wednesday. I'll believe it when I see it.
I've lost 4 lbs. so far on Weight Watchers in the 2.5 weeks since I've started. I'm pleased I've lost weight but frankly, I thought it would be more! Especially because there are times that I am STARVING. But slow and steady is good - that's 2 lbs. per week, which is reasonable.
I joke with the husband just about every day that I need to get a vacation on the books in order to feel right with the world. I'm not joking. I really need to constantly work towards a vacation. It's motivation, right?
Big Bang Theory and Better Off Ted are two of my favorite newer shows. I love Portia del Rossi in Better Off Ted, she's hilarious.
I really want a card catalog from a library. I have no idea where I'd put it - spare bedroom for craft items, maybe? But I need to find one. I've been searching Ebay and Craigslist but no dice yet.
I got the cutest fabric online at fabricguru.com. I'm skirting the big plastic utility sink in the laundry room and doing a treatment for the window.
I was so excited to read the comments on the silver leafing! I don't have a permanent place for the table but I'll make sure to let you know. Right now it's still under our flat screen in the master, but I did add a vase of pink tulips, which are beautiful.

Well, that's about it for now. Work is busy and it ain't easy being Betty Crocker every night! All two nights in a row, that is.

adventures in gilding

2010-01-25T21:58:00.011-05:00

Last week, I went to the mall to return some stuff. As I was leaving, I passed by Kirkland's, which I generally despise. I could see this from outside the store: My mind immediately went to this post about silver leaf I had read over at Little Green Notebook. Aha! I would silver leaf my bargain basement find! I took a photo and sent it to my mom, who was confused about what I was doing but who said that I should go for it. As I was on the phone, this rogue man wandered up and started opening the drawers in front of me. Luckily a salesperson let him know he couldn't buy it because I was going to.

When I got home, I looked online for gilding supplies and ordered the tools and goods I'd need from GildedPlanet.com. I chose to get aluminum leaf because of the price. In 5ish days, my order arrived. Pretty! Here's the brush. To get the piece ready, I covered the stenciled areas with two coats of charcoal eggshell paint. I didn't worry too much about covering the stencils too well because I knew that the silver leaf would go on top. You can see another project back there. I'm painting my grandma's old curio cabinet. It's like Santa's workshop - only with less of a work ethic. And a fondness for Coors Light. After the paint dried overnight, I covered the whole thing with the sizing and waited an hour for it to cure. Or dry. Or whatever it does.

Then I started to gild. And it was a damn mess. I definitely don't recommend doing this indoors. Between the fumes from the sizing and the metallic flakes flying everywhere, it's not a neat project. You can't do it outside either - those thin sheets of aluminum would fly everywhere. This is what it looked like when I got done and cleaned it up a bit. I left the finish kind of rough, mostly because of my inexperience. But if anyone asks, I meant for it to be that way. I left the piece alone overnight and then painted it with a layer of poly. I need the durability. I took off the old knobs and replaced them with old glass knobs I found in my grandma's basement a few years ago. I like them, but I think something dark might go better. But I'll probably keep them as they're sentimental. And here's the finished product.

I'll be honest - I'm not loving it where it is. Right now, it's underneath the wall-mounted TV in our bedroom, but it can't be centered because of the bathroom door that swings to the left. The TV is already mounted to the wall, so it's certainly not moving! I think it'll get moved somewhere else. But I do like it and it was an interesting project! And I have 2/3 of my book of aluminum leaf left, so I will have to find other things to fancy up. Another table? A photo frame? The husband's Mac Book Pro? Hmmm......

curtain call

2010-01-24T21:49:00.003-05:00

Over the weekend the husband installed shades and new curtains for our bedroom! I'm quite excited. They were expensive but so worth it. There is, however, one small problem - they weren't at all expensive! Did I fool you?! Well, if not... just humor me. We had new windows installed recently, which meant that I had to buy new window shades. The old windows had Roman shades mounted inside the frame of the window, which is pretty standard. For the new windows, I wanted to mount any window coverings outside the window. As it turns out, windows are expensive and I'm not drilling anything into them. Or if I do, it's going to be for good.

So I started looking. I ordered Roman shades that I was kind of indifferent about and the husband didn't like them. I had to get something though - I had sheets put up as makeshift curtains, which were oh-so klassy. I finally decided to go with a roller shade that has a scalloped border and curtains. The roller shades are cordless and black out, and I can always replace then when I find something else. The curtains are from.... Wal Mart, as are the curtain rods.

I have to say, the curtains are pretty nice. They look like silk, though they're polyester, and from a distance you really can't tell. The only part I don't like is that the edges aren't sewn with much precision. But I kind of rolled them under and it's fine. For $20, I'm impressed. I'm rarely a Wal Mart shopper, but they do have a lot of cute things. I can't get over how bright that place is though. I need sunglasses to go in. At least they have a website where I can avoid the burning glare.

After I strung the panels up and put the curtains in place, the husband remarked "it looks like grown ups live here!" So I guess that's it - we're grown ups. We've got curtains. From Wal Mart.

hopping on the weight watchers (band)wagon

2010-01-21T19:09:00.002-05:00

I joined Weight Watchers Online yesterday. The decision to do so wasn't easy - I had been thinking about it for awhile - mostly because I didn't want to turn into a calorie-counting crazy lady. But I have to do something and I can't commit to working out as much as I'd like. And I think the crazy lady thing is just my paranoia.

So far, it's going well. I haven't checked out the entire website but I've been searching for things I normally eat to check their point values. And I found their mobile site, so I entered my lunch via my Blackberry and it was ridiculously easy. Kind of fun, actually.

I hope that I can actually make time to visit the gym, but when I get home at 7pm after a 12 hour day, it just isn't happening. But having accountability is proving to be a good motivator.

So, WW gurus, what are your favorite foods? If you've written a blog post about it, feel free to link via a comment!

makeup monday: keeping the crows away

2010-01-18T05:54:00.000-05:00

I don't have wrinkles. Yet. And I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible.

So I use some lotions and potions designed to keep my face looking young and get me carded as long as possible. Here's my current product lineup:

Olay Pro-X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream - I use this at night after washing my face. The texture is light and the smell is nice. I can't tell you for sure if it's working but I feel like it is.
Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller - I use this at night along with the Pro-X and in the morning before my makeup. I love the roller pen! It feels cold and refreshing. It has some bad reviews on Olay's website but I have sensitive skin and have had no issues.
DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew - I use this in the morning as my moisturizer. It has anti-aging properties, but I mostly like it because it's light and doesn't have a scent to it. I only use this in the winter when I won't be in the sun.
Kinerase products - I got this favorite set at Sephora and really like the lineup, especially the Under Eye Rescue and Extreme Lift Face. Unfortunately, the price is a little steep. But it's justifiable if they work and your face stays wrinkle-free.

So that's it - like most thing it's constantly changing. What's your favorite face/anti-aging item?

wearing skinny jeans if you're... not

2010-01-16T19:26:00.006-05:00

I have a confession. I am a huge fan of flare leg jeans. The Gap Long & Leans have been my bff since... oh about 2003ish. Yeah, I know. 7 years. Thinking about it now, it seems a bit ridiculous. Even more ridiculous is that I still have my first pair. But anyway... that's not the point.

The point is that flare jeans aren't really hip anymore. Gap still sells them but... in the words of Clinton and Stacey from What Not to Wear, just because a store sells something doesn't mean that you should be buying it. Not to mention that at 5'1", flare leg jeans make me look... not so long or lean. I've tried more pricey options but I've never been really happy with the fit. Being short, I would rather find a shorter inseam off the rack than have them hemmed so that they keep the original look of the jean. Paige Premium Denim and Joe's Jeans both make petite sizes, both of which I've puchased, but neither of which I've been 100% happy with.

I've worn slim jeans before - as in tapered leg Guess brand jeans back in 1994ish. Oh, those were the days. But I hadn't touched anything aside from a flare for a good ten years. So when Gap introduced their new line of jeans a few months ago, I bit. I looked all of the different fits over at the store and tried on the Sexy Boot jeans. And they looked good! I bought two pairs and congratulated myself on my little push towards being halfway fashionable. Since then, I've seen more and more women in skinny jeans and wondered if I should even go there.

Because skinny jeans are skinny. And I'm... not. I'm not going to get into some 'I'm so fat' tirade, but even at my thinnest, I haven't really been skinny. I'm not built like that. I'm built like Rachel Ray and Kelly Clarkson, not Rachel Zoe and Kelly Wearstler. So why in the hell would I want skinny jeans?

I was curious. And as I saw women wearing leggings and even jeggings, I wondered if I should suck it up and at least try. I ordered the Real Straight jeans from Gap (can you tell I have a Gap Silver card that gives me free shipping?!) and waited. When I got them to the house, they sat for a few days before I tried them on. But when I did try them on, I was surprised. I didn't hate them, and I actually thought they were flattering. I've worn them twice since and on casual Friday at work, I even got some compliments.

So the moral of the story is - yes, Virginia, there are versions of skinny jeans you can wear that don't make you feel like the Goodyear blimp. It might be a for-real skinny jean, a jegging, or a straight leg style that's slim enough for you. Changing things up might even make you feel good. Especially with free shipping.

random ramblings - blog content, sharing your life, and being stalked by strangers

2010-01-11T19:19:00.005-05:00

So, in writing content for this tiny blog, I have to keep a balance with how much I want to share all over the Internets. Some bloggers share everything, some go to great lengths to remain anonymous. Most are somewhere in between. I'm conflicted in how much I share for various reasons that most of you probably identify with: my job and employer, my friends and family, the husband, but also longevity - if I ever want something deleted, is it really deleted? Or will it lurk in virtual limbo forever?!

Not to mention that if you knew my name, you could find me in one Google 'I'm Feeling Lucky' search.

There are days, as I'm sure most of you identify with, that you wish you could write a funny story or gripe about something. The hilarity of real life is sometimes funnier than what you could dream up. Seriously. If you would go to the Wal Mart closest to my house I'm certain you'd agree. But almost all of those times I write something on the edge of being too personal, I end up hitting the backspace key because I'm just too on the fence about the consequences. I mean, there probably wouldn't be any but what if there would be?

So far, the worst consequence to speaking your mind on other blogs appears to be the negative comments that come along with putting yourself out there. I'm all for your right to an opinion and having a debate, but hiding behind 'anonymous' with nasty comments? Come on now. Certainly you're all familiar with Google Analytics by now, right? Anonymous is not ever really anonymous.

I think what it boils down to is that you shouldn't write anything you wouldn't say to someone in real life. That's probably a good rule to follow. Although if you heard me talk in real life, you'd probably be surprised at the amount of profanity I spew into conversation. I curse like a sailor. Maybe the internet is a good filter. Maybe.

makeup monday: urban decay

2010-01-11T05:00:00.002-05:00

Shortly before Christmas I treated myself to Urban Decay's Hall of Fame Kit via Sephora. I really wanted the primer potion, but the kit seemed to be a great value (at $29) so I got it instead. I unpacked the goods when they arrived and happily used the products. I really like everything, aside from the Pocket Rocket lip gloss. I don't like the color or the stickiness. But the eye pencil, lipstick, and mascara are all great. I took them on our trip to Florida and their size was perfect for traveling.

The primer potion is one of the best primers out there, and if you do some research you'll find that many agree. I really like it and use it every day.

So why am I telling you this? First, because it's a great value, and secondly, I like the products. But ALSO because I saw in Ulta's Sunday ad that they are carrying it for $18! It's confusing because Sephora has the "only at Sephora" logo next to it, but obviously looking at the descriptions, it's the exact same kit. Perhaps Sephora will lower their price - we'll see. But if you like the items and need some new eye primer, head to Ulta and save yourself $11.

indoor blooms: sprouting bulbs inside

2010-01-10T14:27:00.006-05:00

Last year, the husband and I picked up a 4-pack of bulbs at Costco, complete with vases and little plastic stand things. After the bulbs had sprouted and were past their prime, I clipped the shoots and dried the bulbs, and put them into a paper bag in our laundry room. And promptly forgot about them.

This year, after seeing this blog post from the Centsational Girl (whose blog rocks and you should add to your Google Reader immediately), I decided to get out the bulbs and see if they would grow. And to my surprise, two of the little bulbs had sprouted! A good sign, indeed.

I rinsed of the bulbs and got out the vases, and stuck them in the plastic things, and put them on our mantle. Note that I didn't store them in the cold or anything like you're supposed to... and it still worked. They started to sprout and grow! Nature always amazes me that way. Here are the growing bulbs in our house. The cabinet is the Faulkner Library Cabinet from C&B if you're curious.
And here is the progress so far...

They are growing more and more every day - and the best part - they're effectively free because I just reused everything from last year. Quite a deal!

the end for max factor

2010-01-06T21:41:00.006-05:00

This morning, I got an email from drugstore.com with the subject "Stock up on Max Factor before it's gone‏." I thought that was rather strange so I opened it and found this:

Stock up before it's gone?! What are they talking about?

A visit to maxfactor.com confirmed that they are closing up shop (at least in the US) and referred users to try CoverGirl cosmetics. Although I'm not a huge Max Factor junkie, they are an American company and have been in business for a long time. And I used to be a HUGE fan of the 2000 Calorie waterproof mascara. It was my go-to mascara in high school, along with the pan-stick makeup.

Sad, Max Factor. I'll miss you! To stock up, click here or visit your local drugstore. I might do some shopping just for nostalgia...

makeup monday: covergirl smokyshadowblast

2010-01-04T20:41:00.007-05:00

One of my goals from last fall was to look more put-together. Better makeup, more variety, and more professional. Less looking rough and tumbled. I've been amassing goodies from Sephora and the drugstore and have some winners, along with some losers.

I saw an ad for CoverGirl smokyshadowblast (yes, the name is lumped all together on the website) with the lovely Drew Barrymore and was intrigued. Two shades of shadow on one stick?! And I could use the darker one as an eyeliner to get a smoky eye? Sweet!

I had to search to find these. My Walgreen's and CVS didn't have them in yet but Target did on an endcap. I picked up Purple Plume and Citrus Flair. Bronze Fire and Silver Sky were already sold out, so I took what I could get. They were $7.29 each at my local Tar-jay.

I opened the Purple Plume and used it after applying the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion and CoverGirl's lashblast volume blasting waterproof mascara in very black to continue my CoverGirl theme.

And then I took photos of eyes up close and scared myself. I don't know how you makeup experts do it. I won't be posting them on the internets anytime soon. And I promptly tweezed my eyebrows. Seriously.

The end result? Eh. I love the idea in theory but in practice, the creaminess creates really bad creasing, even after an hour or so. And that's using a good primer! My eyes looked nothing like the Drew Barrymore ads and I ended up adding a black kajal liner to the mix. I'm going to try the Citrus Flair one and see if I like that better. But in the meantime, I wouldn't really recommend them. The reviews on CoverGirl's website echo my sentiments, so I don't think I'm alone in my complaints. If you've tried them, let me know!

No one sent me any free stuff - I paid for it all myself. But if you want to redeem yourself, CoverGirl, come on down! And yes, my opinions are my own and all that. In the unlikely event that anyone ever sends me anything, you all will be the first to know. Really. The husband doesn't give a darn about my makeup addiction. Can't say I blame him!

finding a cute laptop bag that's not made for a boy

2010-01-03T22:33:00.003-05:00

For a couple of months, I've been on the hunt for an acceptable laptop bag. My old version, purchased on impulse (by need!) from TJ Maxx was made of vinyl and started to show its cheapness. And one of the straps eventually split in two. Klassy. And don't get me started on the bag that came with my work laptop from Dell. Seriously? A dorky male wouldn't even be caught with that thing. Not to mention that it lacks a shoulder strap, making it hard to carry. Ick.

My qualifications? Black leather, big enough to hold my 15.4" laptop, and preferrably in a tote style. I started my search with Coach, because they specialize in leather goods and I wanted a basic leather bag. Easy, right? Nope. Nothing good. Next, onto Levenger. I have a portfolio with my initials from them that looks fabulous and surely, they have basic leather bags, right?! Eh. Nothing that stood out.

So the search was on. If you're looking for a nice bag, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It might take you awhile to get there - but there are places out there that sell nice, cute bags. They just don't pop up in a Google search easily! Here are a few I found that I thought I'd share:

Theresa Kathryn

They look like purses but are laptop friendly. The pricetags are a little steep, but I'm sure the quality backs it up. Many of them are made of leather.

Kerri Mack

These bags are trendy but still good for work, depending on your profession. They're available at Best Buy and other mass retailers. Some of them are a bit Kathy Von Zeeland-esque, which is not my style. None were made of leather that I looked at closely.

Careerbags.com

This site has a variety of designers that run the gamut from PVC to leather with a wide variety of prices. Great place to start your search.

Coakley

These bags are made by a woman-owned company (woo woo!) and there is obviously a ton of thought put into them. I especially like the feature in some of the bags that open on the bag to stick over your roller-bag handle (visit the site for photos - great idea!). But sadly, the main fabric is not leather (trim only) so I had to keep looking. But Coakley was my second choice.

1154 LILL
These bags met none of my criteria but they're cute as a button. Sadly, their bags big enough for a laptop don't have a built in sleeve, which was something I really needed. And no leather. But so cute!

FranklinCovey

You've probably heard this name before, and it makes you think of boring businessmen and day planners. At least, it does for me. The husband and I visited the store in the mall and I found this beauty:

CUTE BLACK LEATHER BAG THAT HOLDS MY LAPTOP?! AND ISN'T UGLY?! SCORE!!! It does lack a full tote strap, but has a longer handle and a shoulder strap. I thought about it but the husband convinced me that I should buy it and return it if I changed my mind. So I did. When I got home, being the smart shopper that I am, I checked the website to see if there were any sales or coupon codes to make it less expensive.

And there were! Gah! So I bought it AGAIN (clicking through Ebates to get my 6% cash back, thankyouverymuch) and will end up paying $15ish dollars less, not including the cash back. The 'regular price' in the store was $220 and online it's $199, go figure. I understand when things are priced differently online than in-store but when the regular price is different, that's kind of strange.

So my laptop search is over and I'm sure the husband is glad I'm not complaining about it anymore. Who would have thought a good laptop bag would be so hard to find?!

hitting reset

2009-12-31T19:34:00.005-05:00

2009 is coming to a close. Sheesh, it's been a quick year. It doesn't seem possible! As the holiday season wraps up, it's a time for reflection and all of that.

I've read several posts from fellow bloggers about the past decade, and like many of you, I've gone through many changes. From high school to college to grad school to the real world.... from dates to boyfriends to the boyfriend, engagement, and marriage. Ten years ago I lived with my parents at their house, and now I live with my husband at our house. Our house. It sounds so grown-up, doesn't it?! And I didn't know the husband 10 years ago, though I have known him now for the greater part of a decade. And of course, things wouldn't be the same without him.

I do have some resolutions, among them: to eat healthier (less takeout for sure), make a commitment to the gym, and leave work at a reasonable time. And to travel! The husband and I were lucky to travel a few great places this year (Washington, DC; Virginia; Florida; Michigan) and although we don't have any plans for 2010, I'm sure we will soon.

I'm not a big New Year's Eve person. Getting all dressed up and going out is fun in theory, but I'd much rather stay in with the husband and our pooches (who are currently in their beds conked out and snoring loudly).

More than anything, a new year is a time for hitting reset. It's a new year, a fresh start, and a good time for change. Here's to a great year!

i kind of hate my fake xmas tree

2009-12-22T22:36:00.005-05:00

Last year after Christmas I bought a fake tree at Target. It was 75% off and I rationalized it was a good deal and would be easier than a real tree.

And now I hate it. You kind of get what you pay for. And I paid for a craptastic tree.

Granted, it doesn't look that bad in this photo, but it's just a blah tree. Next year I think we'll ditch it and go back to the real one. On a sidenote, holy cow, my flash is bright. You can't even see that the lights are on. The tree has ornaments from the husband's childhood as well as mine, and now our time together. I like old ornaments - I like unpacking them and going through them every year.This is our TV cabinet - I got the faux mercury glass trees at Target last year. I love them. This is the mantle that faces the hearth area. I took a fat faux garland, put a silver leaf magnolia garland over it, and filled it with some feathers and rustic looking picks from Michael's. It does look nice in person, but in this photo it's kind of drab! I put Christmas cards on top of it as they come in.

Also on the mantle I have my Ball jars and some clear vases with some winter bulbs.This is one of the wreaths outside. The blue is turquoise in person. The super duper flash of my camera washes things out! This is my horrendous photo of the outside of our house - we used big lights around the porch and on the fence on both sides and red mini lights on the boxwood bushes.
This is the fence on one side - I like the big lights. When we bought our house, we didn't really think about Christmas light placement. We only have bit trees in the front of the house, so we can't really decorate them aside from maybe wrapping lights around the trunk of the tree. I think we might have to plant a small pine tree or something to decorate - is that crazy?! Probably. Oh well!