Wednesday, August 31, 2011

To the Market!


I found that re-runs of Million-Dollar Decorators can also be an adult cure to overwhelming stress.  My problems don't involve finding a $400,000 table for half the price.  Thank the lord.  But, it did offer an onion tart recipe that got me itching to bake.
Can I put beef in an onion tart?  Is that a shepard's pie?  I'm not English...I'll say no.


Oh...then I got side-tracked in the 'adult-aisle'...can you bake with whiskey?  Don't think I didn't Google that.  You can...I will show you later this week.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Manic Monday. Tuesday. Etc.



 So, this week started off on a fast slope downward.  Grad classes, computer courses, jury duty summons, etc.  I decided to lay low, hoping that the bad mojo couldn't touch me if I stayed indoors.  Is there anything that a pile of magazines and chocolate coconut butter can't fix?

Monday, August 29, 2011

For the Pair


I love finding furniture that feels a little un-loved, but is full of potential.  I found these chairs ($60 for the pair) at the local thrift store.  The caning is in great shape, and the wood had a great finish.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Oh Geez...

Miss Martha's tried-and-true Chocolate Chip with nuts

Okay, don't hate.  I know some of you may feel like pulling out your hair at this comment.  The holidays are almost here.  For serious.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Little Things


I went into the pharmacy yesterday, dropping off prescriptions, with all intentions of parussing the nail polish aisle for new colors.  And then I saw this...


Maybe it's the fact that my brother and sister-in-law recently found out they are expecting their second lil weeblo.  Maybe it's the fact that it was $7.49.
But, I remember having a Big Wheel.  I remember my brother having one.  I remember the driveway races, going so fast the pedals couldn't keep up, and trying so hard to do donuts on asphalt (really hard, in case you were wondering).
No electronics, no flashing lights, nothing 'new-fangled-contraption' about it.  But really awesome.  So, with a two-year-old nephew and another niece/nephew on the way, I may be in the market for a bulk-buy discount. Does CVS do that?  They should.  I'll ask.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Happy Hump Day



 Life gets hard.  This week has been a great testament to that.  With doctor's visits, oil change for the truck, and hours of errands to run (don't forget traffic school, groceries, dry cleaning, etc) - I had to stop and breathe for a minute.
It could always be harder.  It is what you make of it.  So, I decided to re-group, and be positive.  Be stoked that I got to hang out with a girlfriend and workout twice this week with her (I don't think I would have had the courage to attend an 'Olympic lifting' class without her).


Really stoked that bacon is not a forbidden food.  Also excited that Trader Joe's loves me enough to keep the costs affordable for uncured pork bacon goodness.


Excited that I discovered a tonic water that has agave nectar and no chemicals or corn syrup.  While this may not allow me to continue my gin-and-tonic tradition while eating 'paleo', it gets me one step closer with silver tequila and a lot of lime.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Cup O' Egg


You know those mornings when you're just so distracted, that breakfast becomes a secondary thought?  Yeah, I spent too long streaming the Colbert Report and researching leave-in conditioners.  Then, I had 20 minutes to make breakfast, dry hair, and be out the door.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Nude...Not Naked


I read the fashion blogs.  I read the mags.  I even Google images at an extraordinary rate.  And, I know, there is one beauty trend I can not get on board with - bright lip color.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Current Corkboard



Okay, so it's in binder form this time.  Who cares?  Same inspirations...

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Closet Cleaning


I've been indoors pretty significantly the last few days.  Grad courses starting again, laundry, cleaning the closet.  The list goes on.  Don't know about you, but I need background noise to get me through it all.  But, guess what?  I discovered the show "Hoarders" on A&E.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Picture Books


What is it about second-hand stores that warm my heart?  I walked in with no intention of buying anything, but managed to find myself in the children's book section.  Couldn't pass up the sugary sweet sentiments, the gestural illustrations and the whimsical storylines.

Friday, August 12, 2011

The Blaze



First, let me blame Miss D for this one....her lil' man was flipping through a kids' catalogue one morning, and in the manliest-tone-possible, asked his momma for "a blaze for his birthday".  True. Story.  Swear.
But, on to the good bits.  I found this blazer at a thrift store during their 'best of the best' weekend.  Talked them down to $15 (mighty steep for a thrift store, but both parties knew I was gonna walk out with it anyway).

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Happy 100th


So, this is my hundredth blog post.  Yay!  I felt I should celebrate.  With cake.  Is there any other way?  Ready for the twist...


This was the filling.  Yeah...it tasted good.  Thanks for asking.  Full tutorial after the jump.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

But it's Only a Dollar: Black Baskets


I found these sorta' gross baskets at the dollar store.  I think the shape is pretty good (minus the terrible handle bit).  But, the green is really only appropriate if you're hanging them in a garden.  So, yeah, that had to change.

Papered Goods


I have a tendency to shy away from wallpapers.  They seem so overwhelming.  Even in smaller spaces, they can often look gaudy, overpowering or simply tacky.  So, I was on a mission to find modern wallpapers that met my aesthetic.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Running Out!


Alright, guys...it's story time.  We all have heroes, and we all feel empowered in the presence of certain people.  Those people are innately rad.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Rings n' Things


Again, in the process of cleaning and organizing the closet.  I noticed an obvious trend in my ring assortment.  I only wear huge rings.  And I mean, really huge.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Attack of the Hamper


You know when your clothes hampers look like this, and you still have clean clothes, that you might have a problem...stay tuned for the closet re-vamp later this week.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Birchbox


Do you know what this is?  It's actually pretty sweet.  I tend to be a snob about makeup and skin products (take my bad skin, add my inability to stick to a regimen...voila!).  But, my budget doesn't really allow me to play with as much amazing makeup as I would like.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Weekend Games


I don't know how your weekend treated you, but mine wasn't half bad.  Started my Friday by re-potting a very enthusiastic rosemary plant.  It seems to double in size every day I come home from work.  It needed some love.


Very strange to think that this looked appetizing to the lil guy.  Oh, well.  My dinner was way better.