October and After

You're Invited...

2011-11-27T23:11:00.000-05:00

Hello my remaining few loyal readers!
I've been on a blogging hiatus to focus on important things like laundry, grocery shopping, surfing the web and reading other people's blogs. But now, I've decided to refocus my commitments and keep them in line with what I like to do. Life is more fun that way.
I'm hosting a tiny get together for my gal pals here in the Bay Area. We're having a holiday craft party. I thought my invite was pretty funny and wanted to share. Enjoy!

Hey gang,

It's me, Kelsey. Just wanted to touch base and make sure we're all "a-go".

The new date is Sunday, December 11 @ 12:13 pm (on the dot) at my house/apt.

The new activity is crafting. Bring a craft with supplies for the three of us to each make our own "what-have-you".

Here are some ideas of things we can make:

http://all-american-quilts.com/quilts.html "stained glass nativity quilt" (might run into some time issues with this one, i've been working on a quilt of my own since 2006)

http://home.centurytel.net/BetteFranke/cwb14.jpg "santa wood carving from any old log" (could be dangerous to carve with a knife while drinking christmas cocktails)

http://www.christmastreelocations.com/glass-ornaments.htm "hand blown glass ornaments" (supplies may be a bit costly and cumbersome to transport, also danger with fire and drinking)

Hope my ideas are inspiring!!
Kelsey

A Shoe Splurge Story

2011-04-17T13:11:00.000-04:00

I'd like to start off by apologizing to Shannon Schreiber as she is on a shoe-fast for 2011...dang. you go girl.

I am not a "shoe fanatic" really. I own probably....30 pairs? But when I am out and about, I rarely come home with shoes. Mostly because everything I like is too uncomfortable.. (can anyone recommend a nude patten-leather pump that doesn't feel like wearing an ice-cube tray?)...or expensive.

But, last weekend I was out in Danville with my mom and grandma when I came across a pair of Toms. I'd been jonesin' for some Toms for quite a while but haven't been pushed over edge yet due to the $50 price tag. However, TOMS are pretty cool in that for every pair that is purchased, a pair is donated to a child without shoes in a 3rd world country. Pretty neat and worth the $50 when you think about it.

So on this day, after some time in the sun, my legs were slightly bronzed and after trying on a pair of Toms in "natural".... it was time to take the plunge.

Then, in the same store, I came across a darling pair of shoes. They looked like a boat-shoe/espadrille/ballet-flat. So much cuteness packed into one shoe, it could only be by one man- Michael Kors. I was shocked at the price tag. Not by how expensive, but how IN-expensive, $60!!!

I was torn. Surely I can't buy BOTH pairs. They're practically the same color (while very different styles) I don't NEED both and don't want to be a spoiled rotten American consumer..... (I've been living in San Fran for a year, can you tell?) With some encouragement from mom and grandma "just do it kels" "you deserve it" "you work hard, go for it". I went home with both pairs. The End.

Oh. and I don't feel guilty. Because I do work hard. DAMN hard! America! :)

A Pretty Little Ditty

2011-04-01T00:57:00.000-04:00

Looking the Part

2011-03-27T18:08:00.000-04:00

Considering how infrequently I cook, it is funny how I've managed to amass a small collection of aprons. For some reason, I just adore them. A special apron makes cooking just a little more fun. Also, it's like wearing a pretty dress, for less. There is something nostalgic about aprons that I really connect with. And even though I am far from the traditional housewife (working 60-70 hours a week, only cooking a full meal approx 2-3 times a month and on the verge of considering hiring a housekeeper for our tiny apartment) I can still tap into my inner "June Clever" whenever I throw one on, even if I'm just pouring a bowl of cereal for dinner.
Here are a few of my favorite ones :)

I picked this one up last summer in a little antique shop in Danville called "The Polka Dot Attic". This place is packed with vintage aprons and I really must exhibit restraint when in this store. I love the initials stitched onto the top "L. Marques" and the overall folky, Mexican feel of it.

You will probably recognize this apron from Anthropologie. It was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law, Nicole. I wore this baking Christmas cookies with girlfriends over the holidays and just loved it! Thanks Nicole!

This next one was another antique store find. I picked this up with my mom up in Washington a couple years ago. I love the fork and spoon design at the bottom and the colors are just so sweet and vintage.

This apron is from Crate and Barrel and was part of my wedding registry. I fell in love with the "kitchy" print and bright colors. I also have matching tea-towels in this same pattern. (pardon the wrinkles!)

This one is my newest addition! I picked it up yesterday at a flower shop of all places where I was looking for a wreath (see next week's post). When I saw this beauty hanging up, I just HAD to have it. It is SO pretty and girly and perfect for spring!!

I finally decided it was time to bring all these out of the linen drawer and hang them up!!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Is it Spring Yet?

2011-02-27T01:19:00.000-05:00

...please let it be so.

image courtesy of www.designsponge.com

The Traveling Quilt of Many Colors

2011-02-05T16:55:00.000-05:00

In January of 2009 I found a quilt top in an antique store in Washington with my mom. This quilt top was from the 1920's. All the patches were sown together, but it was never completed and turned into a blanket. I purchased this amazing quilt top for $50. Kind of an unusual purchase, but I loved the bright yet antiqued colors, the vintage patterns and the "oldness" of it. Also, I felt like I could relate to this woman. I also had sewn patches of a quilt together (fall 2006) and have yet to complete the quilt by adding a back to it. So, I wanted to help this woman complete the beautiful project she started almost 90 years ago.
I brought it back to Philadelphia with me and decided to send it to my Auntie Kate who lives in Tennessee. I had ZERO idea how to go about completing this thing and I also had a wedding to plan, a full time job and grad school. So, I sent it to my aunt with 4 children between the ages of 10 and 2, you know, since she had so much free time (I'm super considerate). Auntie Kate really is a great quilter (she made Mike and I a beautiful quilt for our wedding)and awesome at all things domestic (crochet, cooking, motherhood, etc) she said she'd be happy to take care of finishing the quilt for me.
When she saw the quilt top, I think she realized how truly old and delicate this thing was and decided it should be taken to a professional. She took it to a few different places but she wasn't quite satisfied with their "work". She knew her mother-in-law, Gail took her quilt projects to a really great quilter up in Washington state. So, the quilt was sent back to Washington. By the time the quilt was completed and sent back to Kate, she and her family had moved to Kansas (good ol' military life!).
I received the quilt in the mail last week here in Danville, California and I was completely and utterly THRILLED at the results. After 2 years, 5 states and sevearl hands, my quilt is back and better than ever! I am sure the lovely woman who sewed the original patches together would be incredibly pleased. Thank you Kate and Gail and the lady who started this quilt. I will love and cherish it forever!!

If Mike and I are ever blessed with a sweet baby girl of our own, I think this quilt will serve the perfect inspiration for her first bedroom :)

"I Want That"

2011-01-29T19:59:00.001-05:00

In order for you all to fully understand/interpret my "I Want That" phrase correctly, please watch the following video clip from Napoleon Dynaminte. This is a scene from Uncle Rico's tupperware sales.

While I don't actually want a model pirate ship. I do seriously pine for these items.

Number 1: A white Le Pliage Longchamp purse. I've been wanting this for quite a long while. I mean, if this isn't the perfect spring/summer purse, I dont know what is. You could easily tie a little ribbon/bow to the handles for a splash of color.

Number 2: Michael Kors, Horn Jet-Set Watch. I've never really wanted a watch before. The only thing I wear around my wrists are hair-ties,(even accidentally left one around my wrist for half my wedding day, whoops!) I think bracelets look great, but I find them cold, clanky and bothersome. Plus, I have crazy tiny wrists and forearms and most bracelets bounce around between by elbow and hand, annoying! But this watch is quite stunning. I mean truly, just look at it. And if I could get it small enough to stay-put on my wrist, well that'd be just heavenly.

Number 3: J Crew, Rainy Day Ballet Flats. Yes, I'll have one in ever color please, thanks.

Kitchen-Capades with Kelsey

2011-01-23T17:27:00.013-05:00

Hey guys! I decided to make cookies today. I've become pretty adept at chocolate chip cookies (if I do say so myself) and Mike is always asking for oatmeal cookies. So, I searched the web for a great oatmeal cookie recipe without raisins (since neither Mike nor I care for raisins much). I stumbled across this Maple Oatmeal Cookies recipe and decided to give it a shot. Note: I added a few ingredients/steps of my own.
Enjoy!

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Step 2: Put on super cute apron

Step 3: Gather ingredients for charming photo-op

Step 4: Start actually baking

Step 5: Turn on some fun music (ex: Michael Jackson's Number Ones)

Step 6: Continue actually baking

Step 7: Finish actually baking

Step 8: EAT!!!!!!!! (and dance to sweet MJ beats)

Disclaimer: No cookies were burned during dance sequence photo shoot. Please don't try this at home. Or do, and beware of the consequences. Either way, have fun!

A Fashion "Do" that I "Don't" (yet!)

2011-01-15T19:46:00.009-05:00

I typically don't buy anything that I can't wear the very next day. And in these colder winter months I pretty much dress to be as warm and comfy as possible. But, even in warmer months, I tend to dress as comfortable as possible (whilst looking fabulous of course). I have a lot of cotton tanks, tees and long sleeve crew, v-neck and turtle necks. I also own a TON of cardigans. However, I've been trying to get/wear more "blouses". You know, lady like, grown up "tops" that are silky and breezy and trendy and usually require a special bra. The kind of top that if you take your coat off you know you'll be cold but you take your coat off anyway because it's just too cute to keep hidden. So, I am making a conscious effort to spend my money on tops like this rather than long-sleeve v-neck tee's in grey, black and brown from the Gap. Although I'll probably never be able to resist a good 2 for $25 favorite tee sale.

Two months ago I purchased this top for $24 at H&M per my new resolution to buy more blouses. I fell in love with the print on this top- little blue birds perched on branches, with sprigs of cranberries and yellow and blue flowers. It looked very "Anthropologie" to me.

Isn't it great? The problem is, I haven't worn it yet. Every time I put it on, I feel awkward (not to mention cold). The sleeves are kinda poofy and girly (like the "pirate shirt" on Seinfeld) and it rides up too high on my waist. I think I might have picked up a size too small (2 at H&M). I guess maybe I don't know what size I am in "blouse"? Also, I don't know how to wear it. Do I tuck the cami underneath in? Is white the right color? Grey? Can I wear a long-sleeve under it? The sleeves are too poofy to wear anything over it. It's just cumbersome and I am disappointed. Here are some pics of what it looks like on me. Any suggestions would be great!! Thanks!!

*Note, please disregard the hounds-tooth fold-over yoga pant. Obviously I wouldn't wear those with this top. Obviously. I just picked up these pants today from Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale for $8! Holla!! (I told you I like to wear things right after I buy them, right Ellen?) :)

2011, in with a bang.....and a kick and a punch.

2011-01-08T19:36:00.005-05:00

I hate to whine, but seriously, my first week of 2011 has been no pleasure cruise. And if this past week is any indication of the year to come, then I'm really in for it.
New Year's Day, the hot water heater goes kaput. Ice cold showers for Mike and no showers at all for me for the next two days (I'd rather be dirty than cold, thank you very much). Then, Monday morning I wake up with my first ever UTI and experience a hectic, greasy haired, uncomfortable Monday at work. Monday night the UTI progresses and I am freaking out, crying, alone (Mike was in Phoenix for work) and don't know what to do. I'm google-ing UTI and start worrying about getting a kidney infection.
I end up at the doctor's Tuesday morning and am able to get in without an appointment. After a urine sample, my UTI is confirmed and I'm put on antibiotics. Great. Every time I go on antibiotics I get a yeast infection, always. I'd rather have a UTI than a yeast infection, hands down. So there I was, sitting at home, using my hard earned PTO to recover from a UTI and brace myself for a yeast infection. I commence the yogurt and cranberry juice diet. yum.
Tuesday evening, my dear friend and co-worker stops by to drop off my work lap-top so I can try to catch up. She let's me know that our department has been assigned a project which essentially gives each of us an additional 80 cases to close over the next two days. On average I close about 40 cases a day without taking a lunch break. So essentially, my workload has doubled. Wednesday and Thursday are 12 hour days for me at the office (including the 1 hour each way commute).
Mike returns from Phoenix Thursday night (he beats me home from work) to a messy apartment which I generally make my best effort to avoid. At 2:30am construction begins on highway 680 which runs just about 100 yards from our apartment. I am kept awake several hours by the sound of mack trucks beeping in reverse and crew men yelling. Construction continues on highway 680 Friday night with several jack hammers and more mack trucks and yelling. It literally sounds like a war-zone outside our bedroom window.
This morning, I drag myself to the gym I joined but really haven't been able to go to since I started my new job, and realize how horribly out shape I am. Yet again. Afterwards, I start to cry at how unfair it is. How after two months of regular exercise, I might see a little progress and start to feel good. But, after a few weeks away, I am worse than when I started.

However, as bad as this week has been, I was hit with some perspective while driving my car this afternoon. I am blessed to have the means and access to medication to recover from my UTI. And I am blessed that I didn't actually get a yeast infection. I am blessed to have a husband who loves me and doesn't mind when I call him at midnight crying because I just dont know what else to do. I am blessed to have a job I enjoy and co-workers that are friends at a company that is thriving. I am blessed that I dont actually live in a war-zone, but instead, a construction site which is imporving the road I drive on every day. I am blessed. So do your worst 2011.

On a side note: What decade do I live in? Why is Forever21 selling this outfit right now? Earth to Forever21, it's 2011 not 1992. Blossom called, she and Six are going to a party and she wants her cool outfit back (including the hat of course). The "Peach Pit"is throwing the party and Brandon and Dylan are going to be there. It's going to be epic.

The Look For Less...

2010-09-25T19:09:00.011-04:00

I fell in love with this dress at Anthropologie today. It's $158.00 :( which would just do too much damage to my monthly alloted retail spending to allow for much fun for the rest of the month (not to metion my Halloween costume!)

I know it looks rather simple but it's quite stunning in person! The pleated tweed skirt with pockets, the pin-tucked silk top and embroidered shoulders. I am sad to have to say no to the "Harbingers of Fall" dress

But I haven't given up! I did some research and found a skirt/top combo at forever21 that just might measure up.

The "beaded grecian top" is $24.80 and the "elastic waist linen skirt" is a steal at $15.80!! This is a grand total of $40.60, that is ONEHUNDREDSEVENTEEN dollars LESS!! Now I love owning something special, expensive and luxurious just as the next girl- but not as much I love money in my bank account. Can I get an AMEN!?
How about you? Have you discovered any favorite looks for less??

Lovely Living Room

2010-09-15T23:52:00.005-04:00

I picked up this month's issue of House Beautiful Magazine this past weekend. I'm not a big magazine person but when I saw this living room featured on the cover I had to pick it up!! This might be my dream living room (minus the odd art on the wall). I LOVE all the mixed patterns and bright colors!!

Unfinished Business

2010-09-12T19:14:00.013-04:00

I'm the first to admit that I've been a shameful blogger this summer. Sorry gang. The inspired content isn't flowing the way it used to. But blogging isn't the only thing I've been ignoring. I've also all but given up on several knitting/crocheting projects that I have been "working on" since Christmas! I watched "Julie and Julia" recently and Julie's mom said something to her on the phone that stuck with me- "For God's sake Julie, you gotta finish SOMETHING in your life!" This got me thinking and left me feeling a little dejected regarding all the projects I've never completed... not to mention grad school. In 2006 I started a quilt, sewed all the patches together, and then never completed the back of it. I used it as a Christmas tree skirt last year. My potted plants are not thriving like they once were, so that's a bit of a bust. I cant even finish my laundry in a reasonable amount of time. It always ends up sitting in the dryer for a week before I fold it. So, one day while mulling over my lack of follow through I glanced at my big yarn basket which holds three unfinished projects.
Knitting and crocheting are very sedentary, indoor activities. When you live in a place that is sunny and 85-90 degrees EVERY DAY you dont much feel like cozying up with a ball of yarn on your sofa. However, now that fall is approaching (it's still sunny and 85 by the way)I am more inclined to spend less time doing my summer hobby (tanning) and more time cozying up with all that yarn.
Here is a glance at the projects I am determined to finish before the end of 2010. Let's call it a "3/4 Year Resolution".

My neglected knitting basket bursting with heaps of yarn.

This is a baby blanket for my nephew Benjamin. I originally wanted to finish it in March when he and Kim came up to visit in Philly. Then I thought I'd have it ready for when I saw Benjamin at the Outer Banks for family vacation in July. No dice. Then I thought "His first birthday is in August! A perfect gift!" Didn't happen. So this one is my priority at the moment because at this rate, Benji will be off to college before I finish this thing. And by that time the blanket will have to be 5 times bigger in which case I'd be totally screwed. And while the blanket is looking a little "Jewish prayer clothy" right now, there is no way I am starting over. Maybe I'll add some yellow buttons or something.*

I started this blanked in January. My friend/ex-coworker, Meghan Bierschmitt, taught me this crochet technique and we used to work on our blankets together during our lunch breaks. When I moved to CA it made me a little sad to work on this blanket because I would reminisce and miss Philly. But as soon as I finish Benjamin's blanket, this one is next! I'll put on my big girl pants and crochet! This one is nearly done anyway so it shouldn't take too long.

These bad boys are another result of tutoring under Meghan. Granny squares are a lot of fun to make. I worked on these during my morning commute on the BART train here in CA a few times but, it made me a little nauseous so I stopped. I am not sure what I'll do with all these. Any ideas? I could attach them and make a blanket but I'd have to teach myself how to do that... which will likely result in it not happening at all.

Thanks for your support! If any of you still bother to check and see if I actually posted something- THANKS!!!

*Note: Not that Jewish prayer cloths are bad, it's just that neither I, nor my nephew are Jewish so it wouldn't make sense to make one for him.
** Just remembered something else I haven't finished- mastering Spanish via Rosetta Stone! Mike and I bought it as a Christmas gift for each other last year and neither of us has advanced past Lesson 2.***

***I would just like to say that the reason I have not advanced passed level 2 is NOT because it is too difficult. I minored in Spanish!

Cardigans, Clogs and Clutches- An Evolution of Personal Style...(I Guess)

2010-07-10T20:58:00.008-04:00

I was never much of a "girlie girl". As a kid I played with dolls and barbies but also played sports and climbed trees with boys. I wore whatever my mom bought me which was often a "s'prise" waiting for me on my bed after school. When I was a teen, I was a little more high maintenance I guess, but nothing outrageous. Any makeup I had was just stuff my mom got tired of using and passed on to me. I liked to get my clothes from American Eagle (like every teen did in the late 90's early 00's) and loved looking through Dehlia's magazie but wasn't really obsessed and never actually begged my mom long enough to end up ordering anything. In college, fashion-wise, I was all about the holey jeans*, cool t-shirts from salvation army, clogs, and trucker hats. (thanks for that, Ashton Kutcher). Of course it was fun to dress up for special events with my roommates but that was a once in a while activity. But in general, style-wise, college was a contest to see who could look the best while looking like they cared the least. Then came "career Kelsey" when I was suddenly forced to shed the clogs and jeans for pumps and pencil skirts. Not an easy transition when you're used to dressing for comfort. One day I was poked fun at by my boss at my first job for wearing 5 different shades of brown- khaki pants, beige cami, brown cardigan and brown shoes (cheap suede loafer wedges that were different shades of brown from one another-oops). I've improved since then, but I still typically dress for comfort and avoid wearing high heeled shoes, especially since I commute into the city now.
However, since moving to California I have acquired a taste for some very girlie things. First, I was unemployed for a month during which I played "real housewives and of Danville" aka "bored housewives of Danville". I learned that a $12 pedicure is a lovely and cheap pick-me-up and it's so pleasant to have a decent set of nails. Since then, I've upgraded to getting shelack nails which is between acrylic and basic paint. It's strange even knowing that. Since then I've become employed with an organization where I work with and serve a primarally low-income, urban population which I love. However, there are times when I need to escape the "street" and I head to the glorious Bloomingdales right next door. Just the smell of the perfume and leather handbags is like being in a spa. A few months ago I bought a JPK Paris tote as a "congratulations to me for getting a job" gift. A few weeks ago I purchased a canvas Michael Kors tote. (On sale for $80! Are you kidding? How am I supposed to ignore and walk away from that?). I have my eye on a Tory Burch wristlet (not to mention those black leather ballet flats with the gold medalllion- dont get me started!). I'm also perusing the market for a large Longchamp tote, although I am undecided on the color. I have a small black one which I adore (thank you Ellen and Nicole!). And a special shout out to Ellen for getting me my first legit designer bag- a Coach clutch. I'm ammounting a small collection of purses, totes, clutches and wallets these days. I dont need designer jeans, high end make up or name brand shoes- but I wont carry a cheap purse. Where did this come from? I blame California.

I Want That.

2010-06-16T00:42:00.003-04:00

gorgeous colorful kitchen featured on design sponge (of course)
clean. bright. cheery. perfect.

sorry for the lack of writing lately. more content coming!

Funny Girl

2010-06-04T21:08:00.006-04:00

So I recently discovered that an old friend of mine, Heather Adams, is currently living the dream and doing stand-up comedy. She's doing gigs in southern cali and I am so thrilled for her, proud of her and inspired by her! One of her recent gigs was posted on youtube.com
take a look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi8WDAgYwIo
(Sorry, I can't figure out how to friggin' hyperlink! Just copy and paste it. It's worth it, I swear)
We keep in touch via facebook and I was so excited to see her status about a gig! I could only assume it was stand-up since I know personally how outrageously hilarious she is and that she doesn't sing or play any instruments. I left a comment asking for confirmation on the comedic nature of said "gig" and she wrote back this: KELSEY!! You gotta do stand up, you are hilarious, you were my comedic shaman in Carlisle. Without you I never would have filmed my first improv film, Chubby Lovin' or known about Spinal Tap and Drop Dead Gorgeous. FIND AN OPEN MIC STAT!
WOW! I am so pumped by that! I've made lame attempts at doing "bits" before in front of people but it's super awkward, I have ZERO stage training. I really want to take some kind of improv class- I've been thinking about it for a while. But I really think I am better at writing and coming up with material than I am at performing it. Oh well, maybe writing will be my gateway to performing?
I've been told I'm "funny for a girl" by guys and my parents think I am absolutely hilarious. My friends laugh AT me as much as they do at my jokes. I've had a lot of inspriation in my life to be funny. Heather is definitely in the top 3.

Kelsey on California #3

2010-05-11T22:59:00.005-04:00

The Guilty Grocer:
Within a 5 mile radius of my home there is a daily farmer's market, a weekly open-air farmers market, a Trader Joe's, a Whole Foods, and a Lunardi's (a hoity-toity grocery store). Needless to say, the trend here is to buy local and to eat fresh, natural, organic, and healthy good food.
What's a girl gotta do for some oreos and hot dogs around here?*
It's embarrassing enough arriving at the check out line with all my non-organic, frozen vegetables, frozen pizzas, potato chips**, and Coors Lite... But then I never remember to bring in my pile of canvas bags from my car. So not only am I that bad cook and unhealthy eater but I "hate the earth" too. It's a lot of pressure at the check out lines around here. (And as much as I'd like to load up on fresh fruits and veggies, I happen to live with a die hard carnivore and I've already wasted too much money throwing rotten uneaten food away.)
So for all you rich liberals who turn your nose down at my hot dogs (Yes, I'm talking to you Mr. "I rode my $8,000 bicycle here with my vegan grocery list on my i-pad) Don't judge me just because I don't like hummus and I use plastic grocery bags in my bathroom trash cans. At least I'm not wearing a helmet in the grocery store. dork.

* There is a Costco nearby. However, I prefer not to buy my hot dogs in packs of 50. Oreos on the other hand.....
** For the record, I'd like everyone to know that we buy the BAKED Lays.

Shout out to Philly!!

2010-05-04T21:29:00.006-04:00

Cool posting today on one of my favorite blogs www.designespongeonline.com (Design*Sponge)

Illustration by Julia Rothman

The post is a feature of all the hot spots in Philly listed by neighborhood. Embarrassingly- I haven't been to any of the spots. Except for Steap (a tea shop where my dear friend Ashley used to work)
Check out the posting at Design*Sponge via the following link http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/05/philadelphia-guide.html

San Francisco Farmer's Market

2010-05-03T22:48:00.012-04:00

Last weekend I spent my Saturday in the city with my new friend Miss Carrie Springman. I took the train to Embarcadero station and walked 2 blocks to the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. It was a perfectly beautiful day. While I waited for Carrie I sat at the edge of the market and watched a pleasant little protest/parade stroll by. It was an anti-rape* demonstration and they had posters with clever slogans that said things like "Don't rape! Masturbate!"
Anyway, it was a beautiful day! Carrie and I finally found each other and she showed me around to all the wonderful stands and shops and vendors.
Can you believe the size of these hanging baskets!? My grandmother would adore these!

*(note: the pro-rape crowd was nowhere to be seen but likely planning some kind of retaliatory demonstration. ladies, pack your tazers!)

The Ultimate Summer Top

2010-04-23T18:24:00.005-04:00

I've mentioned before that I ADORE Anthropologie's products for the home. If I had the means, I'd furnish my entire house with their stuff. As far as their clothing, It's typically a little "much" for me (price-wise and style-wise). However, I saw this blouse a few months ago when their spring stuff started coming out and fell in love! The Salitre Blouse.

Isn't it awesome? It reminds me of an orange Popsicle! I waited for it to go on sale but, alas, it never did. Then, while in the store, the last one in my size was on the mannequin and I couldn't pass it up. I used a gift card that was given to Mike and I has a house warming gift towards the purchase. (Sorry Greg and Chris! And thank you!!) I know I technically should have used the gift card for somethings towards the home but, I just couldn't resist. Can't wait to wear it!

Kelsey on California #2

2010-04-21T02:14:00.004-04:00

Californians LOVE personalized license plates. Based on my calculations it seems as if 4 in every 10 cars has a personalized license plate. Whether it's a giant Cadillac Escalade being driven to Whole Foods by a soccer mom or a Prius driven by an aged hippie, Californians love to "represent" via license plate numbers. Personally, I think it seems a little self absorbed. These days you can personalize anything and everything to represent "you", as if the color of my lap top speaks to my character and personality. Who gives a rip? But I digress.....

Here are a few memorable license plates I found in the Target parking lot yesterday (keep in mind this is ONE moment in ONE parking lot)

1. FUN SLED
2. AT UR CVX-(maybe this person was a gyno?)
3. ZGOLPHR
4. GUTZFAM-(on a minivan of course)
5. NFLGHT-(maybe a pilot)
6. GYM SOC
7. I DESGN-(maybe this person designs stuff??)
8. GANDHAM-????

Have you seen any interesting license plates in your neighborhood? Would you get a personalized license plate?

Weekend Update

2010-04-20T16:48:00.018-04:00

My mom and dad came to visit us here in Danville this past weekend. We had a lot of fun dining out, visiting Napa and sprucing up the apartment. Here are a few photo updates of the apartment.

I added another picture to the other wall (not pictured). It's a vintage travel poster advertising Florida via the Pennsylvania Railroad. I picked it up at a local consignment shop. There are a couple of pretty cool furniture consignment stores nearby I'll be frequenting. I also added this serving tray to the window sill. My mom put it there and I thought it looked great so it's staying.

Mike and my dad hung up a curtain rod above our couch....not to hang curtains on but, remember that awesome Moroccan style rug I love? Well, I decided to hang it on the wall. I didn't want to ruin it by keeping it on the floor and walking all over it. I think it looks pretty cool there. Also, I put a bright table runner on our coffee table. (Please disregard our ill-fitting slip cover and the flash of sea foam green near the floor.)

The main project of the weekend was adding potted plants to the balcony. I don't know anything about gardening but my mom has a beautiful patio and a green thumb so she jumped right in and showed me the ropes. We don't get much direct sun on our balcony so we had to get plants that do well in the shade (which my mom picked out). My mom also generously purchased the heavy, colorful, earthenware flower pots. I learned a lot and love how it turned out!

I didn't only put my parents to work this weekend. We had some fun too! We spent a day in Napa Valley and visited a small town called Yountville. We walked around, had lunch, sampled wine and relaxed. See pictures from our trip on my facebook page.

Kelsey on California #1

2010-04-13T01:50:00.005-04:00

I'm starting a weekly feature called "Kelsey on California" where I'll share by musings and diagnoses of life on the left coast.

I'm still not sure how I feel about living in California. Not because I don't like it here, but because it's "California". I guess I've always had a pretty stereotypical bias towards this state and the people in it. As if everything here is basically what you see on "Real Housewives of Orange County". I feel very weird and uncomfortable associating myself with "that". I feel awkward saying "I live in California" out loud. I understand that Northern California is VERY different from Southern California, but still, it's California. I mean, there ARE palm trees here. So right away its glamorous to me, which makes me feel the need to wear high heels and dangly earrings even while running to the grocery store, or just running for that matter. I have been wearing makeup every day, but I think that's just because I'm bored since I'm unemployed at the moment (hopefully only for another week), and I did buy a new pair of dangly earrings. But, in general, I don't see myself changing a whole lot. At least I guarantee I wont be dying my hair and getting a boob job.

My China Finally has a Home! (and other fun stories)

2010-04-10T18:05:00.009-04:00

For my birthday back in March, when we still lived in PA, Mike said that once we were in California we could buy a china hutch as my gift. And today we finally have a hutch in our dining room (aka breakfast nook).
This is a big deal because I've been "collecting" my china for the last 4 years. My mother decided one afternoon that she would take me to Macy's and I would pick my pattern and she would buy me one place setting to start my collection. Her mother did the same for her and so on, it's a tradition thing. Some people might think it's odd that a single, 23 year old girl would begin a fine bone china collection but a) I like pretty things and b) I wasn't going to stop my mother from buying me something. So, we headed to the Columbia Center Mall in Kennewick, WA to visit the housewares department at Macy's. We browsed the well lit displays of place settings- Vera Wang, Kate Spade, Lenox, Villeroy & Boch, Noritake, Waterford, Wedgewood... all the big names were present. I landed on a setting called Opal Innocence by Lenox. I typicaly go for bold, colorful, ethnic looking pieces and patterns in my home decor. But for my fine china, a potential family heirloom and holiday place setting, it would need to be timeless and seasonless. And because a china collection is such an innately feminine thing, I felt safely compelled to go for a rather girly and frilly patter.

I just loved it and still do!
As I had made my decision a sales lady asked if we needed any help. My mother spoke up "Ah yes please. We'd like one place setting of this Lenox Opal Innocense"
"Of course, no problem, come on over and sit down" we sat at the desk in the middle of the display area which was just across from the bath towels and shower curtains. "And who is the registry under?" said the seasoned and piano teacher-esque sales woman.
"There is no registry. We just want to buy one place setting."
"Oh! So you need to start your registry. Who is the bride?"
"There is no bride, no registry, I just want to buy my daughter this one place setting to get her collection started"
"That's unusual, I've never heard of that. Let me check with my manager"
After a few moments of hushed whispers and confused glances by spinsterly old ladies over by the "every day" china section, our sales woman came back.
"Okay, one place setting for you......So, what are you planning to do with this? Reheat meatloaf on it?"
I think my mother and I just politely laughed at that point.
I walked out of Macy's that day feeling like a young woman of the victorian era fighting for women's sufferage. Really? Was I really bucking the system so much here? It was my mom's idea anyway. Whatever. That lady needs a life.
A year later I was living back in PA where I saw a Macy's Memorial Day Sale ad in the paper. My Opal Innocsense pattern was super mega on sale! I called my mom to let her know "just incase" she was thinking of buying me any more. A day or so later my mom called me back.
"Kels, you're never going to believe this. I went into Macy's to get your china. I asked the sales woman for two place settings. She proceeded to asked me which registry this was under, just like last time. I started explaining to her that I was just buying this for my daughter and there was no bridal registry and she goes...'Oh I remember you, she's still not married?' can you beleive that woman!?"
My mom and I were totally floored.
So needless to say, I'm a bit...whats the word...defensive when it comes to my china. The whole process of me coming to own any at all was a battle so I feel the need to justify why I have it. Now that I am married and have all 10 place settings, it's high time I put it on display proudly. So this gorgeous hutch and all my china in it is sort of my big middle finger to that sales lady. (I mean, between the meat loaf and the still not married comments, she deserves at least that).

Happy Birthday to Me! (and Mike......but mostly Me)

2010-03-10T09:25:00.005-05:00

I was just saying to Mike the other day that sometime down the pike I'd like to get a new camera so I can have better quality pictures on my blog. I visit other blogs frequently and wonder how these people get such great photos of their own house, crafts, food, family, etc. So I am SUPER pumped that "down the pike" is NOW!
The ever generous and thoughtful Mr. & Mrs. Logan Sr. have birthday-gifted Mike and I with an AMAZING new camera! A Nikon D3000! I don't know jack diddly about photography so I am a little intimidated by this fancy piece of equipment. But, with my pending unemployment, I am sure to have plenty of time to play and learn.

Lot's to do in the next few weeks: packing, shipping, loading, closing, opening, moving, hugging, crying, unloading, job searching and picture taking :)

PS- Get ready for tons of great (amateur) pictures of my knitting, crocheting, new apartment decorating and Danville, CA!! Thank you Tim and Ellen! You won't be disappointed :)

Apron Nostalgia

2010-02-26T16:28:00.002-05:00

I just received this in an email from my Auntie Kate and enjoyed it. Thought it was pretty cute.

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..
And when the weather was cold grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow,
bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folks knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.
Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons.

>REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill
to thaw.
They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.
I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron.

Feliz Fin de Semana

2010-02-19T16:18:00.004-05:00

Happy Weekend! Here are some pretty pillows to look at. I bet these would inspure some lively dreams during afternoon naps on the couch.

adios!

Improv

2010-02-19T12:11:00.003-05:00

It is a sunny winter day with mounds of snow all over the ground. I left my sunglasses on my dresser this morning and regretted doing so the moment I turned the corner in my car. I made it to work this morning with a crease in my forehead from squinting. I had the visor down and my hand shielding my eyes but I still managed a small head ache during my 15 minute commute.
I was at work for about 2 hours before I had to leave for a doctors appointment. I braced myself for the blinding light of the outdoors again. Ten minutes into my driving and fed up with the squinting and hand shielding- I decided to start rummaging through my car to find ANYTHING to help. I opened up my center console and found remnants from my days in the tanning salon: orange-mango tan accelerating lotion and goggles. SCORE!! Although I had zero peripheral vision (who needs that while driving anyway?) I had sweet relief for my eyes!! I continued to my doctor's appointment driving down Lancaster Avenue like this:

I laughed at myself quite a bit. When I got back to my office I wrote a quick scene for the show Modern Family. If you watch the show- don't you think this would work perfectly!? I need to contact the writers immediately with this gem!

Scene: Modern Family
Dad is forced to drive his teenage daughters car. Its full of crap: food, cd’s, gadgets, books, papers…
The sun is super bright and he is squinting, pulls the visor down, holds his hand over his eyes. He begins to search through the car while distractedly driving to look for relief for his eyes. He comes across a pair of goggle like things in the glove box next to a bottle of lotion…. They are tanning goggles. He puts these on while he drives. Turns on the radio, rolls down the windows and blasts some top 40 hip-hop hit. He assumes they are some cool new type of sunglasses and keeps them on while he gets out of the car and runs errands around town. He bumps into one of his daughters friends...

My Blog of the Moment

2010-02-09T14:45:00.005-05:00

I stumbled upon this site one day while looking up crochet ideas. (a post to come soon about my latest hobby). I just looked up "crochet" in google images and clicked on the prettiest thing I saw which led me to this site.

http://www.wardi.dk/default.html

This woman, Carina, is Danish and living in England and makes beautiful, bright things!! My friend Meg learned how to make "granny squares" from her site. See Carina's granny square blanket below.

She embroiders, water colors, draws, crochets, photographs.. she even makes her own fabric!

Hope you enjoy and are inspired by this site. I am!

A Kitchen

2010-02-09T14:35:00.003-05:00

I Wrote a Rap Song

2010-02-03T15:56:00.002-05:00

Hey this is my hit new rap song: Wine, Dine and get Crunk in the City

Enjoy!

Ohhhhhhhhhh YEAH!!!! You know what time it is!!!

Don’t make me say it twice! You know how we DO! UHHHH!

Come on ladies!!! Lets WINE, (wine!) DINE (dine!) and

GET CRUNK IN THE CITYYYYYYYYY!

(boomboomboomboombooombooom)---> “beat drops”

Time to get loud, time to get fresh, I had it with this mess

Time to get fly, time to get high, I aint bout to stress

Got my heels on, my fly is zipped,

Clutch is packed, im well equipped

Girl you gotchyo cell? Oh hell I got my cell

Girl you gotchyo money? Girl I don’t need no money

‘cause Boys buy me drinks just for a little dance

And if they think they want some more I just kick em in da pants

Cause I WINE (wine!), DINE (dine!) and get CRUNK IN THE CITY!!!!!

Cause I WINE (wine!), DINE (dine!) and get CRUNK IN THE CITY!!!

Me and my girls, we don’t mess around,

We get ish done when we go downtown

Hit up the spot- you know the one with the hookah

And smoke up some flavors and we don’t spend no moolah

Then off to the bar in a taxi cab

Catch a free ride cause Muhammad is our man

I say, yo Muhammad can I bum a cig?

And he says- yea girl but can you get me a new gig?

Cause I wanna

WINE (wine!) DINE (dine!) and get CRUNK IN THE CITY!!

WINE (wine!) DINE (dine!) AND GET CRUNK IN THE CITY!!!

(all rights reserved, copyright 2010, k-lo entertainment)

Obsession of the Moment: Kitchen Linens!

2010-01-29T22:47:00.006-05:00

Kitchen linens: fun to say and look at! Linens can add a lot to a room and pack a serious punch. Whether a table cloth, table runner, napkins, placemats, hand towels, tea towels, or even aprons- they are all functional but extremely fashionable as well. My kitchen walls are a lovely shade of beige which coordinate beautifuly with my beige cabinets and beige countertops. I purposely hung my aprons on the wall to add color. I used a tea towel to hang over my tiny window and bright hand towels drape over my fridge handle. Pot holders hang on the side of my cupboards- easy access and fun to look at :)
Here are a few kitchen linens I saw on the internet (thank you anthropologie.com yet again) and am currently coveting......

check out some AWESOME tea towels at http://www.todryfor.com/

Antique stores often have lots of awesome linens in all sorts of vintage prints and colors. I picked up a few great things this past weekend. Pictures coming soon!

DIM?

2010-01-10T19:58:00.004-05:00

Do it myself? I was on the Anthropologie website (www.anthropologie.com) checking out their knobs since I've been wanting to put new knobs on a couple dressers we have. (Although, with the cheapest ones being $6.00 each, I am not so sure this will be happening soon). ANYWAY- while on the site I came across an adorable hook that I think could easily be made at home.

I have some old silverware that I think I could make this with. I have a hook in my kitchen that I use to hang my aprons on. I imagine it couldn't be too hard to solder (or just super-glue maybe?) the spoons onto it. I think I might do a fork and a spoon instead of two spoons. How CUTE!?

Our First Christmas

2010-01-10T19:28:00.011-05:00

Although it was a little anti-climactic, it was very peaceful. Mike went and got the tree and I decorated it with the help of my friends while we baked Christmas cookies. I didnt go out and buy lots of decorations. I decided I want to let our Christmas tree accumulate decorations over the years as gifts or things our kids make. So this year our tree was a little sparse. But I liked it that way. We received a few "Our First Christmas" ornaments, we picked one up in Antigua on our honeymoon, and a few others we happened to have.

The tree

The honeymoon ornament

A "First Christmas" ornament from Jaime. It was a bell and ended up as the tree topper!

A nativity ornament from Sarah. She said I needed to have a "Chreche" which she explained is a nativity scene (she's so knowledgable).

This was from Mike's co-workers at USLI. It is a Lenox "First Christmas" ornament.

This one is from Mrs. Logan :)

For the tree-skirt, I used a quilt I made a few years ago and never finished. It is green, red, white and brown and looked great as a tree skirt. Now that I've found a new purpose for it I doubt I'll ever get around to adding the back and finishing this quilt!
Next are some pictures Ashley, Jaime, Sarah and I in the kitchen making cookies!

Jaime wore her festive attire :)

In the middle of making sugar cookies I realized I didnt have a rolling pin! I cleverly used a tall pasta jar, covered it in flour and used it to roll out the dough. It worked but a rolling pin would have been much better.

Reading

2009-12-28T22:13:00.010-05:00

Not having cable has proven to be a means to productivity for me. In the last 2 months I've started a very successful and critically acclaimed blog, cooked more meals than in the previous 25 years combined, re-taken up knitting, began re-learning Spanish and read four great books. Having finished four books is the greatest of all the above accomplishments in my mind considering that the last book I read, The Fountainhead, took nearly 3 years to finish. Granted, it was a rather long and heady novel, but 3 years is embarrassing. I really liked The Fountainhead; despite taking a few years to get through it. I felt very accomplished after finishing the book. I persevered through it and not only finished it but learned about a new philosophy. I wanted to understand the book better so I followed by reading some commentaries on the author, her philosophies and the theme behind her novel.

The past two months, however, have been a hale storm of literary activity for me compared to the last few years. I've read Jane Eyre by Emily Bronte, Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Wolfe, The Hours by Michael Cunningham and The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. I won't be writing a book report or review of each. I'll just explain how I came to read the last 3.
My sophomore year of college the film The Hours was shown on campus. I went to see it with my roommate and dear friend Miss Sarah Thompson. The story was about Virgina Wolfe writing her novel, Mrs. Dalloway in turn of the century London, Laura Brown who is reading Mrs. Dalloway in 1950's California and Clarissa Vaughn who IS the modern day Mrs. Dalloway; three connected stories in one happening across time and space, very interesting. I found this film captivating and the symphonic soundtrack by Phillip Glass was haunting and moving.
I recently spent an evening with a friend from my church, Kristin Hall, who is a school teacher with a very large personal library. I saw that she had The Hours AND Mrs. Dalloway.

I was very excited to talk to her about the film and the novel which the film is based on, Virginia Wolfe's Mrs. Dalloway. I gladly accepted her offer to borrow both books.
She also had several books by C.S Lewis who is a favorite author of mine. I ended up borrowing The Great Divorce since I had not read it yet. I also wanted to read this book because a certain song lyric had been, and is still, stuck in my head "And the weight of glory, if you held it in your hands, it would pass right through you, so nows your chance, would you fall to pieces in the high countries" and another line "out in the green plains, I am but a ghost" I had heard that the song, "The High Countries" by Caedmon's Call was about C.S Lewis' book The Great Divorce. The more I read the book the more and more I thought of this song and how it really is like an outline of the book.

All the books were excellent and I highly recommend them. Thanks for letting me borrow them Kristin! I'll be returning them soon!

Alright, alright, alright

2009-12-28T20:53:00.010-05:00

Alright already I'll post something! Its been over a month since my last post and although I was sick and then it was Christmas time....the show must go on! The fans have spoken (Ellen) and they want more! So, I am posting some pics of a few updates to the apartment. Enjoy!

This is the AWESOME new rug we got from our friend and neighbor and mike's coworker, Pat. He has a very similar styled mat in the back of his SUV that I always comment on. When he found this rug in his basement while he was moving- he decided it belonged to someone who will truly appreciate it. ME!!! Someday I'd like to hang it up with a large wooden rod on a wall, like a tapestry. I love the Moroccan pattern and bold colors, definitely a focal point of the room. Here is another shot of it.

Next up is a photo from our dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Logan Senior. Mike and I invited them over for pulled bbq pork sandwiches, cornbread and garlic butter greenbeans (which were a bit al dente!)

Probably the best part about the evening though, was that we answered the door dressed in our finest and "most expensive" attire.

Tim and Ellen were only slightly underdressed for the occassion. So, Mike and I changed into our street clothes in order to make them feel more comfortable. haha!

In early November, Sarah and Ashley came over. We cooked a meal together and then went to see a screening of a movie my church was showing called "Call and Response"
The meal we made was an apple and dijon mustard chicken dish, cornbread (I make that a lot) and asparagus. We had fun in the kitchen together and the meal was great!

As God as my Witness- I'll Never Chop Onions Again!

2009-11-27T10:11:00.008-05:00

In 1992, second grade, I was in Girl Scouts. We were living in Germany at the time and I think it helped the American parents think they were keeping their kids American by having their children in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. I only did Girl Scouts for 2 years and I never made it past "Brownie". Come to think of it- I had a couple bad experiences as a Brownie which I'm sure deterred me from signing up the following year. One was being forced to go on a horrific kiddie ride at a German amusement park during our "Browning Outting". (I was afraid of EVERYTHING when I was little). I screamed and cried and made a huge scene on this tiny rollercoaster that didnt get more than 3 feet off the ground. I think I embarassed everyone because all the German people were staring at us.
But the most memorable experience in Brownies was the time we earned our cooking patch. Our troop leader, Mrs. Biamonte, decided we were going to make soup (A bold decision on her part.) As she was assigning each of us 8 year old girls our part I eagerly awaited my duties. I hoped to get something fun and important to do like "add the chicken" or "stirring".
"Kelsey Primus- you'll be chopping onions!"
Okay! Cutting stuff could be fun! We made our way from Mrs. Biamonte's basement den to the kitchen where we all got aprons and were put to work. I was given an onion, a knife and very explicit directions on how not to cut myself (which obviously fell short of being a life long lesson: see- the pot roast)
I went to town on the onions. Peeling off the outer layers, then chopping and dicing. It was fun for a while. With all of us girls in the kitchen it was crowded but cozy, lively and bustling with actvity. Shortly into my duties however, I began squinting and squeezing my eyes shut. Soon the waterworks came. My eyes were tearing up making it hard to see. My eyes were stinging! And it just kept getting worse and worse. It felt like how lemons taste- sour and bitter, but juicy. I had no idea what was happening or why. I went to tell Mrs. Biamonte that something was wrong with me and she said that this is what happens when you chop onions. And that I just had to close my eyes until it passed and keep going. I am sure at some point I tried to wipe my eyes and got onion juice in them. I've since then learned my lesson about that one. YEOWZA! Somehow I managed to earn my cooking patch. I think I should have earned two. None of the other girls cried while making soup.
This story leads me to yesterday's Thanksgiving cooking adventure. Since I am a married adult now I feel inclined to contribute to the dinner like an adult (maybe not so adult that I help out with the dishes yet though). And, I like to cook. So I made a cornbread, apple, sausage stuffing. It's basically a sweet stuffing, almost like bread pudding. Instead of chicken broth I used apple juice. Oh yea, it had onions in it too.
So I embarked on chopping the onions. I braced myself- knowing what was in store. I had 2 dear friends of mine over a few weeks ago for cooking, dinner and a movie. Sarah bravely volunteered to chop the onions. She was tearing up of course and I was struggling to keep my eyes open just being in the same room.
So I dove right in.

and of course- the water works came.

and came...

and then I had a stroke of genius. I put on my sunglasses! I knew their hugeness was good for something practical!

it worked for a little bit. But in the end. I only chopped half an onion. I found in the frozen food section in the grocery store that you can buy pre chopped onions....why everyone doesnt use these, i'll never know.
The stuffing was excellent though! Onions. Who needs em?

Zumba

2009-11-09T21:35:00.007-05:00

Some people love to sweat, love the burn, love the way they feel after a run. I don't like any of those things. I love to sleep, love to eat and love the way I feel when I lay down. And even though I don't really look like that is the case- it's true. I completely and utterly take my body, its metabolism and genetics, for granted. I am 100% unmotivated to work out because, in all honesty, I look the same whether I do or not. Some people argue "but you just feel so much better when you exercise regularly......" but I just say to myself "yea. sure. whatever you need to tell yourself to get you to the gym"
I know that being physically fit is more than just about looking good, its about being heart healthy, strong and robust for life. But, for some reason, that just hasn't been much of a priority to me, it still isn't. Why do I need to be able to run far? In case someone is chasing me? Why do I need to be able to lift 50 lbs? In case I'm trapped under something heavy? Why do I need to be able to touch my toes? Is there a special treat down there for me? No. I've tried just about everything to make exercising fun or at least important to me so I stay motivated. But in the end, its slippers over sneakers.
The funny thing is though, when I go out dancing with my friends I get really sweaty and I have an awesome time. And it's not because of the a-a-a-a-alcohol (that was for you Mr. Tim), it's because I love dancing and I'm not embarrassed to throw myself around on the dance floor. I am jumping and shaking and flailing and kicking and bouncing and pumping all night long. The next day I am sore all over and laugh about how fun it was.
Almost a year ago I heard of this thing called Zumba. A friend of mine brought her Zumba DVDs to our annual new year's eve weekend but the cabin's DVD player was broken so we didn't do it. She kept going on about how its a fun Latin dance workout. Now, I LOVE all things Latino (more on that in a future blog post I'm sure). Then, for some reason within the last month it's crept back into my mind. On Thursday I looked up where there might be a class nearby just to try out. On Friday, I was in a class.
The hour went by in a flash (I even stayed an extra 15 minutes just because I WANTED to work out LONGER!). The music was loud and fun (M.I.A) and the moves were easy but cool. But above all it was enjoyable, I was sweaty after class, sore the next day AND I want to do it again! Ladies and gentlemen, I think I've found a winner!
Zumba is a Latin-fusion-cardio-dance workout. It's fun, fast, and freakin' awesome. Cant wait for next week's class where we are learning the Paso Doble...I think that's what the Brazillian instructor said, she's a little hard to understand.

Nesting

2009-11-05T13:37:00.005-05:00

I bounce back and forth between two moods of shopping 1) clothes 2) home. I remember when I was young and my mom would take me to the store and we'd inevitably end up looking at curtains- I hated it and could care less. But my mom always said "you just wait until you have your own home missy, you'll be looking at all this stuff". Dear Mom, lets go curtain shopping; and furniture and wall hanging and area rug and patio and...... do all those things that Mike likes to refer to as "nesting".
This weekend I have some lofty nesting goals. There is a piece of furniture in Mike's old bedroom I want to bring over to the apartment. It's a little dresser made by his grandfather. I'll post pictures when it's all set up. I also want to frame some family heirloom pillowcases that are embroidered and put more things up on the walls. I've got some ideas brewing thanks to inspiration from realsimple.com and marthastewart.com
Hopefully I'll have some fun photos for my two followers to look at after the weekend! Hey guys!
ps- check out this bed. isn't it neat!?

When Boys Move in with Girls

2009-10-30T20:21:00.003-04:00

I took this picture before we were married when Mike was just starting to move some of his things into the apartment. I thought it was an interesting contrast- my frilly girly decorative thing sharing a wall with his skateboard. An interesting and symbollic juxtaposition.

Oh! That's new.

2009-10-30T19:28:00.008-04:00

Tomorrow marks our 3rd week of marriage. It feels like quite a bit longer than that, but in a good way. Or rather, in a "I'm adjusting to living together" kind of way. There are a few things I've learned about Mike in these last three weeks. Some are cute and quirky while others are down right frightening.
#1 Sleeping Habits
Mike thrashes in his sleep like a shark in a cage. Most people gently, slowly and comfortably roll over or change sides in their sleep. Mike, however, does a full body, horizontal, rotating, jump-thrust with arms and legs flailing about. His most impressive act during his sleep, however, I dont usually even notice until morning. Somehow, he manages to not only pull his pillow case half off, but also rotate it so that the seams are on the center of the pillow.

I have a heck of a time getting those pillow cases on and off when I do laundry. I tug and toss and jossle and wiggle..... Maybe I should solicit his help for this more often.

#2 Doing Dishes
We decided before we were even married that he would do the dishes when I made dinner. My mistake was not deciding when he would be doing those dishes. I came home from work today and found some undone dishes in the sink. Although they were dirty, I couldnt help but smile at how he "arranged" them.

Very nice. Thank You.

#3 Furniture Arrangement
He is currently using a coffee table as a night stand. Ladies- I've tried. I really have. But he makes a valid point in that we dont really have a better option at the moment. But it's a coffee table.... as a night stand! I mean just look at it. It's ridiculous.

Not to mention all 5,000 motorcycle magazine strewn about on it. Dont even get me started. Oh, the things I do for love.

But he does hang is towel up very nicely every morning whereas mine just hangs over the bedroom door. I am well aware that there will be infinitely more encounters such as these in the years to come. Cant wait :)

Deep Thoughts....

2009-10-25T21:12:00.007-04:00

Note: I'm about 60% silly, 40% serious (give or take about 20% based on the weather, song playing, room temperature, the meal I previously ate, who I am with, comfort level of my shoes, the dream I had last night, etc.....) This entry is a little more serious than silly. Also, this has nothing to do with being a wife. It's just some thoughts I had. okay bye!

I love beautiful and lovely things. My affection for pretty things is problematic at times (shopping) but generally harmless because I'm not just referring to things I can buy. Whether its a tea towel, an eye shadow pallete, a sun lit tree or a baby- I could spend hours "just looking" (men refer to it all as shopping). I really enjoy and appreciate watching, observing and taking in beauty. Miss Sarah Thompson, a very beautiful friend of mine (she radiates you know), taught me a lot about beauty, where to find it and how to appreciate it. It used to annoy me in college when she'd scream/sing "This day is so beautifully glorioooooous!" But I get it now. Although, I might not express my sentiments the same way, Sarah helped me to see beautiful things all around me. Whether in nature, art or daily life.
There is a scene in the movie American Beauty where one of the characters is watching a plastic bag blow to and frow in the wind. He finds it beautiful and takes time to watch it dance in the breeze. The scene probably had some other important significance to the movie; but I like it for what it is. Beautiful. Taking time to pause, observe and experience the small beautiful wonders in life is important. I believe God speaks to us in these ways. At least for me, it's how he shows me he's there. Beauty is from God even if it's a painting by an atheist or a song by a heroine addict. Their talent come from God whether they choose to acknowedge it or not and I am free in Christ to appreciate it as such. (just my 2 cents for all those Christians out there who reject "secular" art)
One night last winter I came home late and it was snowing. I parked my car, got out and stood silently. I listened to the sound of snow softly falling all around me. It was a beautiful, worshipful moment. This morning when I got into my car to go to church I noticed how brightly lit the golden, autumn trees were. I stopped and took a picture with my cell phone. (although it did zero justice to the scenery).
I dont really have a point to all this other than Sunday, October 25 was an incredably beautiful day here in the Philadelphia area. It was fall in all it's glory and now I know God just at tiny bit more because of it.

Feliz Fin de Semana

2009-10-23T14:12:00.004-04:00

tackling laundry this weekend....
image from www.todryfor.com

The Pot Roast

2009-10-22T17:25:00.008-04:00

As mentioned, I've been feeling compelled to make a pot roast. It's pretty much the mother of all suburban house wife meals. Why not start at the top? Our first week home from the honeymoon we've eaten at Mike's parents' house twice and had frozen pizza once...and its Thursday. Tonight we have pot roast!
Last night I "prepped". I scrubbed and diced a few potatoes, put them in a bowl and placed them in the fridge for the next day. I also set the meat out to thaw in the fridge, hoping it would be ready to cook this morning. At 6:00am this morning, Mike found the roast still frozen solid so he took it upon himself to set it out on the counter. Nice move Logan! He asked me why I didnt just set it out on the counter in the first place. I retorted with a very experienced and domestic response, "It's better for things to thaw in the fridge, because of germs and bacteria and stuff."
I came home today at lunch to put my thawed hunk of meat into the crock pot! Very exciting! I found the meat to still be just a little stiff. I put it in the microwave to defrost for 3 minutes. I have learned that 3 minutes of defrosting frozen meat is about as useful as three minutes of breathing on frozen meat. But I was pressed for time since I was on my lunch hour so I decided to just go with it as is. The directions on my packet of seasoning said to trim the fat. I didnt see any fat but when I turned it over.... a whole friggin slab of fat! Ugh, so now I had to trim this bad boy up. Unfortunately I didnt get the butcher block or knife set off my wedding registry. So my choices were butt loads of butter knives or a giant butcher knife that came with a cutting board or some pan I got. I went with the butcher knife....

And OF COURSE I cut myself...

And got blood on the potatoes...

but it ended up smelling and tasting delicious and therfore devoured by Mike and I and our neighbor, Pat :)

All in all, my first pot roast was a great success!

Grocery Shopping for Mother Hubbard's Cupboards

2009-10-21T10:15:00.002-04:00

I wont write about the wedding. Don't worry.
I'll start with my first trip to the grocery store. I didn't go anywhere cool and hip like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. I went to Wal-Mart. Sorry, it's the cheapest and most convenient. I'm sure I'll need organic vegan rice at some point.....
Anyway, I stopped at the grocery store on my way home from work on Monday, the first Monday back from the honeymoon. I grabbed the shopping cart, put my purse where the kids sit and felt like a real adult. I mean a real, legitimate grown up for the first time. It was a very primal sense of pride; I was out to gather food for my family. I'll never forget that moment.
I'll also never forget thinking "now what the hell should I gather?" I had a cupboard full of dry goods that my good friend gave me when she moved. Lots of Lipton Soup mixes, Hamburger Helpers and rice. A few weeks ago I bought milk, eggs, a loaf of bread, peanut butter, grape jelly and oreos. I bought all that so my when my parents came for the wedding, they wouldnt just see the cases of Miller Lite and Heineken in my fridge and think I was living like some poor college student.
Lately I've felt compelled to make a pot roast for some reason. I wandered the "meat" section for a while and was really confused as to which hunk of red meat was a "roast". Do you put steak in a crock pot? Then I found a pot roast kit... a little hunk of meat with pre chopped potatoes, carrots and onions with a packet of seasoning. I was tempted but decided to carry on as planned and venture on my own. This is what I walked away with that day.
Two frozen pizzas (ha), ice cream, an assortment of frozen veggies, a ham roast, a rump roast, frozen chicken breasts, frozen shrimp, hot dogs (for mikey- later found out they're beef dogs and he prefers pork: note to self!), bacon, tasteycakes, instant oatmeal, sugar, popcorn, canned artichoke hearts (they just looked good), minced garlic, corn muffin mix, honey, honey nut cheerios, bisquick, syrup, vegetable oil, cinnamin rolls (in the tube), corn starch (isnt that something you're supposed to have?), package of salad mix, mushrooms, bananas, sack of potatoes, various pasta noodles (including lasagna- stay tuned for that adventure!), peanut butter m&m's (for mikey), pam spray, baking soda (again, necessary right? what for? no clue), extra virgin olive oil, ranch dressing, pasta sauces, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes.
Next was fitting all this into my cabinets that are full with insane amounts of glasses, china, mixing bowls, caserole dishes and tupperware. Still working on the best way to orgainze my kitchen. I have a very domestic friend I might call for help on this. She is the only person I know in the world who has a cute pantry. seriously. Shannon Schreiber- expect a call from me soon!
Also- if anyone knows what I can actually make with the stuff I bought- that'd be great! thanks!