freckle-faced haynes, the dog-faced boy.

After closely examining the photo in yesterday's post, I have concluded that I need some major Vitamin D action on my face. (And the rest of my body for that matter.)

Freckle-face, activate!

domestic partners.

It's getting close! One week from tomorrow, Todd and I will be officially moved in together. "Shacked up" if you will. (I'm sure my dad loves that term.) That's right. Our books are combined. Our laundry is mingling. (Too much? But still true.) And the greatest part? We can get a joint Costco account! I know. I know. The excitement of bulk goods is overwhelming.

We bought a rug last week. (Not from Costco, from Home Goods. Love HG.) I don't know why I feel like that is symbolic of this milestone, but I kind of do. And it was on sale! About now you're probably thinking back and saying to yourself "Oh yeah... I remember... Didn't she start this blog to talk about projects she was going to do around her apartment?" Yes I did. Thanks for the reminder! Well, now that I have my main man on me like glue about cleaning and organizing our home here to help me clean and organize, I'm super excited about turning this blog back around and sharing projects large and small. (Like eventually unrolling the rug that we bought last week...)

I was hoping to have something more exciting for this post, but I guess I don't. So here's another gratuitous photo of me and the Toddmeister. (I've never actually called him that... but it felt appropriate for that sentence.) (Also, does it make me more cool or less cool for using the word "gratuitous" two posts in a row? I'm thinking more.)


This image is pretty accurate. Bring it on, Future.

4x4: be havin' and BHLDN.

This 4x4 is completely gratuitous. While those that came before have been all about cuteness for cheapness (here, here, here, here and here), this is all about drooling over BHLDN. My buddy Kristen warned me this day would come. "Anthro is launching a bridal line," she said. Uh oh. Lock up the pocketbook. (I should get a pocketbook.) And then yesterday, the email came. The launch was here. 4... 3... 2... 1...

pick out a white dress Clockwise from Top Left:
Cascading Goddess Gown; Tulle Era Dress; Burnished Organza Gown; Tierred Tulip Gown
fancy feet Clockwise from Top Left:
Brocade d'Orsay Heels in rue - $350; Firework Fringe Slingbacks in ivory - $240; Agave Peep Toes in champagne - $350; Torsade Peep Toes in sesame/aqua - $180
party people Clockwise from Top Left:
Starburst Pleated Shift in dusty purple - $200; Gin Fizz Shift in cloud - $450; Savoy Dress in navy - $220; Beribboned Dress in sunshine - $200
head and shoulders Clockwise from Top Left:
Primrose Bolero in dusty rose - $220; Silk Coil Hat in light grey - $120; Feather Bolero in blush - $350; Baguette Halo in crystal - $140
I am in no way affiliated with BHLDN - I just pretty much love everything about their vintage nuptial stylings. And their jewelry. Don't even get me started on their jewelry. I would need a whole other post. (I really shot myself in the foot with the 4x4 restrictions on this one.)

catch the fever.

Love is contagious. Pass it on!

Happy Valentine's ya'll!

(Pay no attention to the awkward laugh/kiss in the upper right corner... we really do love each other. Promise!)

v-card.

I'm excited. Like, super excited. Why? Because it's Valentimes! (As in "time for Valentine's Day".) Definitely my most favorite of holidays - I don't care what anybody says. Attached, betrothed, hitched or single, I have always and will always LOVE this day. Because it's all about the love, people. A special day to tell all those special people in your life how special your love for them really is. Special.

Although previous incarnations of my celebration included boxes covered with wrapping paper and doilies, breakfast with my family before school (Dad always had roses for all 3 of his ladies), wearing my "Somebody in Ohio Loves Me" t-shirt (this tradition stays) and carrying a red gift bag filled with candy to share, the classic exchange on this day o' LOVE is of course The Valentine. A card with a sweet message to say "I love you".



Um, how cute are these? The correct answer is this: SO cute! The otters are my favorites. I'm sorry to post such a tease (they're almost all sold out!) but these wooden valentines from Mod Cloth were too adorable not to share.

When it comes to love, honesty is always the best policy. So I am totally into these v-cards that tell it like it is.


from up up creative on etsy. (click for bigness)
And oh by the way...

it's true.

that couple.

Here's a peak at what Todd and I received from our respective families for Christmas 2010.

gray j.crew peacoats and classic l.l.bean boots What?

penny porkers.

There are coins all over my floor. Todd has a charming habit of dropping coins (and reciepts and paper bits) from his pockets right out onto the floor... and leaving them there. This must have started long ago, because he seems to be used to it. There have been times that I stayed at his apartment and needed bus money/toll money/milk money for the day, and found at least $3.00 in change on the floor of his bedroom. It must happen when he drops trow. Though I've never had the same problem and I've been taking my pants off for over 20 years. (Not like that, creeps...) I often wonder how much money has been lost in his lifetime through the Loose Change on the Floor policy. It reminds me of the Clean House: 2010 Messiest Home in the Country episode when they found almost $2000 in loose change and lost cash in the family's home. That could be US! (Hopefully minus the "Messiest Home in the Country" title.)

It was Todd's idea to find a way to collect all of our loose change in one place and use it for our travels. Hmmm... if only someone would invent some sort of object in which to place your loose change... What's that you say? They did?! Stop the presses!

As with anything else, I'm very particular about the piglet who will grace our shelf. He must be large enough to hold lots of change, he must NOT be pink and/or plastic, he must be cute and he absolutely MUST have an "exit" hole... if you know what I mean. I will not commit pigicide just to get him to spill his coin guts.

The little guy below made a cameo in a gift guide post on design*sponge before the holidays, and I fell in love. I mean, a cork snout and a wooden bead tail?? Adorable and functional. He's for sale on Velocity, and comes in two sizes - small and large - for $20 and $30 respectively.


This next guy I saw at Target. They have this pig in every color and costume imaginable. (Did you guys see him dressed as a mummy last Halloween?? Too cute.) But when my sister and I saw him dressed up like a chalkboard, he was almost too cute to resist. And for only $12.99, I'm still questioning why we didn't pull the trigger.


And then came the hybrid from Ladies & Gentlemen. The cork-snouted chalkboard pig. Bestill my heart! Get out of here with that. And look at his pointy feet. Oh jeeze... but as with most hybrid animals, he comes with a hefty price tag - 60 big ones.


Last but not least is this bright Mexican Piggy Bank. I'm not sure what makes him Mexican, really. The Etsy seller is in Florida. But maybe she's from Mexico. Whatever the case, he's very cheerful. A bit smaller than I'm looking for, but he charms me with his droopy ears and pointy feet. (Again with the pointy feet!) For $34, he's handmade to order using a vintage mold from the 1960's. He also has a brother who's white.


I'm loving all of these guys, but I think I'm leaning towards Numero Uno clear-glass cork-snout pig. I think I will like seeing all of the coins filling his belly. It will also give me satisfaction when I'm able to point to him and say "Hey Todd! Look at all the coins that are not on the floor!" Yes. That will make me feel good.

hello again everybody.

image via cubby-blue

Holy Cow. I'm back. What just happened? Oh, let's just recap, shall we...

Begin: Friday, December 17th 2010 at 5:00am - on the road.

Three days full of driving and blurred Christmas-wedding-madness. Did that even happen?

Three days back at work, and three nights of crazy-lady-apartment-cleaning-mayhem.

One half-day at work, and then an immediate dive into 3 and a half days of travel-agent-family-Christmas-planner-hotel-hostess-with-the-mostest-insanity. Was Christmas even one of those days? It had to have been.

Two hours of hysterical-post-stress-breakdown.

Two days of juggling visiting-friend-time and nauseous-sick-time.

Four days of new-years-traveling-fun with the bf, bff and bfb (best-friend's-bro).

Two days off to allow for complete-body-meltdown.

End: Wednesday, January 5th 2011 at 10:00am - back to work.

The most stressful three weeks of MY. ENTIRE. LIFE. Hands down. No contest. I really hope the holidays never turn out like this ever again. The wedding was beautiful, my family all enjoyed our Christmas in Chicago, and I loved spending time with Todd and the Nee Bros in San Fran. But it didn't feel like Christmas to me. Or New Year's for that matter. It didn't feel joyful or festive. It didn't feel like the holiday season, which I usually like to celebrate for a good three months. And now I'm back in my routine and feeling a little out of sorts. I have forgotten what it feels like to have absolutely nothing on the horizon. No events, no holidays, no travel. I just get to be regular for a while. And concentrate on just MY stuff. Like MY apartment, and MY life, and MY boyfriend moving into MY OUR apartment! (That's right - you heard it here first! Or you already knew because we told you in person... either one.)

I feel like 2011 has big changes in store. Is it the "Space-Age" yet? I'm ready for flying cars and personal robots. (Like Rosie from The Jetsons, not killer robots that rebel against humans.)

tis the season.

'Tis the season for lots of list making. (Fa-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la.)

To say I have a lot on my plate would be the understatement of the century. For the last month or two, my life has been consumed with planning and/or preparing for several events:
a bachelorette party (the day after Thanksgiving), a wedding - in which I am a bridesmaid (the weekend before Christmas), coordinating Christmas in Chicago for 10 out-of-town family members and 5 locals (this is the first time we've ever done Christmas outside of Ohio), and having two of my visiting cousins stay at my apartment (which still has a little bit of that just-moved-in/storage-closet feel to it).

I have grocery lists, Christmas shopping lists, house cleaning lists, packing lists, wedding lists, party planning lists, activity lists, phone number lists, task lists, lists of my lists (okay, that one was an exaggeration...)

Last night I knocked out a number of things around the house, but this weekend is bound to be a doosey. Especially because I ruined my cookie dough and have to start all over instead of just having to cut/bake/decorate. I used a new recipe this year... serves me right for cheating on Paula Deen. I mean, what was I thinking? Ms. Deen starts pretty much every recipe with two sticks of butter. How could any other recipe be better than that? (You could be making steaks and I'm pretty sure she would start off with "Okay, take y'er two sticks of butter and grease the gri'll with 'em...") I love you Paula Deen.

Paula Deen's Monogrammed Sugar Cookies
(pssst! I use two teaspoons of vanilla and NO almond extract. And I add an extra egg.)
But I digress. With all of the hullabaloo that has surrounded this holiday season, I have really had a heckuva time getting in the spirit. I have my tree up, I strung garland, the stockings are hung on the bookshelf with care... I'm hoping this weekend will be extremely productive (Todd is out of town, so I won't be distracted by him and the kittens laying around the house), and that by Monday I will be overcome with excitement for the weekend nuptuals and our first family holiday-on-the-road!

P.S. I've just made the determination that all of the pressure that I have been putting on myself lately is going to flood out of me in tears at Kate and David's wedding. I am going to be so happy/emotional/relieved that I'm going to become a puddle of salt water. (Note to self: Add waterproof mascara to Packing List.)

bluster busters.

I have a super-top-secret-insider-scoop for you. This season marks my seventh winter here in the Windiest of Cities. That makes me seven times smarter about cold weather than I was when I moved here from Columbus (via Pittsburgh). Over the past seven winters (which usually last from Nov/Dec all the way through Mar/Apr), I have tried out many different underlayers, overlayers, inderlayers, everylayers, in order to beat the heat frigid cold that bites as soon as you step outside. Last year, a miracle happened. I found the magic combo. You better believe it.


Patagonia Capilene Bottoms (Level 2 - Lightweight) and Smartwool Socks (Crew height or higher). The Level 2 bottoms are thin enough to wear everyday, even under my skinny jeans, but that Capilene hocus pocus keeps you warm all day without making you sweat like a maniac when you go indoors. (FYI - They make tops too, which I will often don for snow-play and exceptionally wintery days.) And oh, Smartwool, how I love thee. I have both the Margaritas (left - wearing them now, btw) and the Popcorn Cables (right). I love that they give me options for weight/cushioning depending on my choice of footwear.

So there you go. The solution for all your cold-weather woes. If you're still confused, here are some simple instructions:
Layer 1: underpants.*
Layer 2: Patagonia Capilenes.
Layer 3: Smartwools. (Note: Layer 2 should be tucked in to Layer 3. This is of vital importance.)

And now you know what I'm wearing under every single outfit from November through March. Over-share? Nah. Best winter advice ever? Yup.

*Underpants can be of your own individual choosing. I go for boy-shorts usually. Now there's your over-share.