{sigh.}

so chic...

via the satorialist.

sweet story.

{CBS Newscast video}
Such a sweet story of loyalty... with a great little happy ending.



I can't post a great dog story without some pics of Senga though... little nugget.

I can rest easy...

{click on pic for animation}

My amazing parents gave me this sewing machine for my birthday and I have many plans for it already. I don't know if this little video is interesting to anyone else, but doesn't this clear up the mystery?

thanks a latte.

I don't know about you, but this was very helpful for a boring coffee girl like me who has a minor tweak out everytime at the cash register at starbucks.

via swissmiss.

home again, home again...

I got to spend the last 9 days straight with this boy on an unbelievable trip... great to be home, but missing the freedom and lack of responsibility a vacation warrants.
High Points:
- We saw 6 states in 8 days.
- Got to spend great time with the Fraziers, and lost in many games of spades.
- Dined on Tapas with Stroupe and Rusty, then went to a fun dive jazz bar for sips.
- Went to the Monrovian Tile Museum in Bucks County. Loved it.
- Saw U2 perform in concert in Giants stadium... jammed with the best of the other Jersians in attendance.
- Got to finally see NM's little baby CUSP in the flesh.
- Ate a yummy lunch in central park in the sunny weather.

- Walked to a arts & crafts fair in downtown, Newtown.
- Got showered with amazing J- Crew b-day goodies from the in laws.
- Found my new all- time favorite dessert, white chocolate covered sherbet balls, at a fabulous Italian restaurant in New Town, La Stalla. Thank you Fraziers!
- Went to the Jersey shores, stuck our feet in the Atlantic, and romped around the beach.
- Indulged in plenty of seafood... mainly LOTS of crab cakes and crab dip, oh and more crab.
- Did some fun shopping.
- Grabbed some wine, cheese, meat, fruit, and crackers from a local DC farmers market, walked to the Lincoln monument, and had a picnic.
- Ate unbelievable homemade ice cream on the sidewalk and people watched in Georgetown.
- Went to the new Top of the Rock to snag an amazing view of the city I adore.
- Meandered around Annapolis, ate more crab, spent great time with awesome friends in Maryland, and danced our feet off.

and how, we're home... and I do love home, but again, miss the adventure. We soaked up lots time together and it made me so excited for the rest of life together... wherever that may be.

sweet spot.

I got to wander around this little mecca the other day in the garment district. It housed some of the most amazing patterns, textures, and colors I have ever seen... it seemed to go on & on... and guess what, you can shop online! B&J Fabrics... check it.
B&J Fabrics 525
7th Avenue
New York, NY, 10018

skate on.

Love this photoshoot from Marie Claire of Drew Barrymore & Ellen Page for their new movie, Whip It... how cute are they? Drew Barrymore will be in Dallas tonight at Urban Outfitters in Mockingbird Station if anyone fancies an autograph from the Drew-bie, herself.

early surprise.

My husband is one talented man... a masterpiece of spice cake and cream cheese icing; created completely freehand. He knows my love language is food, specifically cake... & he's my soul mate.

what if...

What if all the world were like this... the way it was intended to be?
Cheers.

{sigh.2}

Dear SJP,

I really like you a lot, actually, "I adore you" would be more truthful. I like your style, vibe, and attitude towards life. I love that you traded in your Blahniks for Louboutins. Please give me them when you are finished, Thanks.

Your admirer,

MSF

she's one muggle I would very much like to dine with one day...

I love J.K.R... I would LOVE dig around in her little creative head one day.

9.11.01

Pausing to Remember.... those who's lives were lost, those who served for so long after, and those who still suffer.

indecisive.

I am afraid I am a bit of a freak for fall and the changing of seasons and I adore to nest and change up the wall color a tad bit too often. It is a problem. I fear that this combination is never good... Ry walks in daily and something is moved and worries we are going to loose about 3 inches worth of square footage on on every wall due to our multiple coats of paint.

We painted our living room, ehh, 4 months ago, and this was after buying three cans of paint.... and I still hate the color. So, in the spirit of fall, pumpkins, and warmth, the walls are going to be washed in a warm glow of orange. We have some orange in our bedroom, and I love it. Now I am not talking painting it a crazy circus orange, but a candlelight orange.... Here the point of this post and the question: Is this very wrong to want to paint your walls to match the seasons?

See, this is a problem. Nonetheless, I am extremely excited and hope to finally mesh the aesthetics of the room. I might even keep this one for a while... :) I'll keep you posted on orange. Cheers to fall!

simplicity.

Simplicity is defined as freedom from artificial ornament, pretentious style, or luxury; plainness; as, simplicity of dress, of style, or of language; simplicity of diet; simplicity of life.

Simplicity is something so hard to grasp in our day in age and I struggle with it in my profession. The word 'superfluous' comes to mind when I think of everything that grabs our attention and robs us of the simple truth & purpose of our lives. We are surrounded by so many distractions and for lack of better words, stuff. I am working on truly getting back to the basics.

Loving these images that remind me of the basics and at the end of the day, what really matters.... who you live your life for & who you live your life with.

I do love who I get to come home to at the end of the day and for just that alone, I am forever grateful.

PS.- Isn't she one chic image of 'The Boxcar Children." Come on, who didn't want that chipped pink mug that Violet owned or want to own a dog named Watch.

{images via verhext.}

nimbostratus.

Have you stared at cumulous clouds for hours on end? Or wondered what omen that altostratus floating up there means? Well, the Cloud Appreciation Society is with you. Besides their breathtaking photo gallery, they have a selection of music to listen to while you cloud watch, some pretty hip cloud gear to sport, and poetry and art sent in by its members. I mean, its just nice to know that there are other dorks out there that enjoy cloud spotting just as much, if not more, than yours truely.

TED.

I don't know if any of you people have heard of the TED conferences, but in previously admitting my dorkiness, I might as well fess up and share with you my love of listening to these inspiring talks.(posted on their site)The main concept or mission of TED is promote & share "Ideas worth Spreading." Every year TED puts on a 3 -4 day conference in varying cities, and if you have the wallet or privilege to attend, you are able to hear from some of the most intelligent, inspiring, and creative people from the widest gamut of industries combined. They have anyone from engineers to authors to politicians... and they are 15 minute little excerpts that will no doubt leave you thinking differently and more inspired. Just today I stumbled across this link for viewing all of the seminars for free... and they are catalogued by topic, speaker, and a brief synopsis with a link to ALL the talks:
click here
I just fell into a slice of cyber heaven.

I am so leery to give book reviews.

About a month ago, I read the book, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein.... now let me preface, I read a lot, (a couple of books a week) & I keep the doors of the library constantly revolving... it errs on the side of dorky, obsessive, and "get a life" commentary. Now, I am always leery to recommend books because I am not all too picky when it comes to my literary choices. However,I am laying down my reservations and whole- heartedly recommending this novel. I adored it... however, I was utterly shocked when I found myself not able to put it down: It is about a technical race car driver and his dog, and it is written from the dogs point of view? I know, I know... but it is a beautiful story of dreaming, death, life, love, family, and courage... and I cried about 74% of the way through. (and it has nothing to do with me loving my dog) All this say, it presents a profound view on life that only through the lens of a dog can offer. It sincerely has changed my view on life:

"To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live. To feel the joy of life. To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter every day. To say I am alive, I am wonderful, I am. I am. That is something to aspire to". - Enzo, The Art of Racing in the Rain


On this note, For some reason, last night felt like the end of summer. Now in Texas, I am fully aware that this is not true... however Labor Day, in my little head, seems to mark the end of the sunny season. Without planning to, Ryan and I bid a great farewell to summer last night. We went to a park, swung high on the swings, raced in a field with Senga, named our states on the painted blacktop, made homemade strawberry lemonade, played games, and indulged in rich ice cream sundaes on the back porch.

I am reminding myself to "live every day as if it were stolen from death"... because, indeed it is...

Go grab this book, and if you hate it, its ok, you can blame me, and Garth. :)

TEKLA tea towels.

I think these little tea towels have been one of the greatest "investments" I have made over the past couple of months... I use the word "investment" lightly only due to the fact that they were a whoppin' .49 cents at Ikea. I am kicking myself that I only bought 4, because I have used them for everything... they are cute little ditties made out of 100% cotton, so they are absorbent, yet chic too.

I really can't believe I have just blogged about tea towels, but heck, I had to share... they do anything from drying your freshly washed hands to keeping your french bread toasty & warm...

oh, how quickly life does change... the stages of life are so interesting to observe. Sometimes I think I would have loved to have been an anthropologist, but for now I'll stick to the windows... and save that can of worms for another day.

Go pick yourself up some of these fancies at Ikea... you won't regret it.