The Little Things

Happy New Year!

2010-01-07T10:42:00.002-05:00

I've started up a new blog. I've been in need of a fresh start, a new beginning. I actually started it a month or so ago, but didn't want to reveal this little side project until I was certain I'd stick with it. I'm hanging up my hat here at The Little Things, for now anyway. So, please follow me over at my new blog, here.

Thanks for sticking with me all this time, and once again...my apologies for staying quiet lately!

First Semester, Winding Down

2009-12-13T18:04:00.004-05:00

I want to regale you with stories that would knock you off your socks, not the reality of papers to write and finals to cram for. I am happy to report that a week from tomorrow marks the completion of my first semester of college. It flew right by and over the course of the last three months, my fears have diminished. I can do it, I learned, and I did. Not only did I keep with it, I passed with flying colors. Final grades aren't in yet, of course, but I know I have all A's. And so long as I pass in my best work for this research paper and ace all of my finals, I'll be okay. I am proud of myself and am confident for next semester, excited even.

Next semester I will be taking a math course called Elements of Math, a class geared toward prospective early/elementary school teachers. I'll also be taking U.S. History Before 1865 and English Comp. II, Honors. Yes, Honors. My current English teacher recommended me for this class in an e-mail ridden with compliments on my work ethic that made all of my hard work worth while. I am up for the challenge. And if I take two more honors classes at middlesex, I will be eligible for many scholorships so that perhaps I'll be able to attend a private 4 year college, as opposed to a state school. Either way, I have my eyes set on a masters degree, and nothing can stop me now that I've started!

Despite my enthusiasm for school, I am excited for winter break. One, I love christmas. Two, I love New Year's. Three, I love my birthday...and this year I will turn 21! Hopefully some exciting changes around the corner, as well...I'll let you know when the coast is clear.

I've got to get back to The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath. I haven't read for pleasure much this semester so it feels wonderful to be curled up in bed on a sunday night, reading. Later, Alex and I have a dinner & movie date. Can't decide between Brothers and The Blind Side. Suggestions?

(Image via we heart it)

Oh, It's Just Those Little Things

2009-12-04T17:57:00.006-05:00

It's been a looooooooooong time since I've posted an excerpt from my list of all The Little Things I love, but that doesn't mean I've stopped writing them all down! Hope you enjoy and hope you all have an absolutely fabulous weekend. PS: I hope to have some exciting news for you by next week. Sit tight and I'll be sure to keep you posted.

139. walking to get coffee on a sunday morning
140. imagining what life will be like 5, 10, 20 years from now...
141. outdoor picnics, armed with bug spray!
142. discovering fun places close to home
143. getting lost
144. finding things that exist that i cannot find on google. it's a weird sense of accomplishment.
145. window-shopping sprees
146. zooborns!
147. writing on paper plates
148. feeling comfortable with who i am!
149. cute coffee mugs
150. over-the-top christmas lights
151. buying a gift for someone special, for no reason at all other than to show you care
152. seeing a turtle crossing the road
153. disney princess stickers
154. never wearing pants around the house. ever.
155. buying classic movies on VHS
156. the tonight show with conan o'brien
157. warm dishes, straight from the dishwasher
158. after-work mimosas!
160. studying for school
161. writing papers (well, most of the time...)
162. bright pink flats
163. when alex says i look like miss frizzle
164. still getting butterflies whenever i see alex.
165. "our shows" -- community & lie to me!
166. rilo, the most precious puppy on the planet
167. toasted goober sandwiches with milk
168. paula deen. i can feel my arteries clogging up just by typing her name
169. sriracha on everything
170. eggs over hard (this is a new discovery)

(image via ffffound!)

CAN'T THINK.

2009-12-03T17:17:00.002-05:00

Saturday? November 21?! Has it really been that long since I've last updated? I went from Blogger Extraordinaire to Blogger-Who-Never-Updates in a matter of one semester. And I just said, "Blogger-Who-Never-Updates," too. Don't worry, that didn't get past me either. I just have been lacking in adequate brain power to come up with anything better. School is kicking my butt, but I've been fighting back hard and have all A's in all of my classes (right now anyway...three finals, one test and two 10-page papers left to go...all in a matter of what? Two weeks? Maybe three? I've lost count). So my apologies, again, for the lack of posts. And more apologies for the lack of brain power for the ones that do get posted.

My rationale is that if my fingers are moving and words are forming, it's good. Don't mess with it. Don't critique. Blogging should be enjoyable, and a place to let my thoughts soar. Lately, I've been over thinking it. Which results in just plain old lack of even attempting. So here I am....attempting!

Hope all is well in your world. That's all I can muster up right now. Once finals roll around, I'll regale you with nothing but entertaining stories, I promise.

Food Flags

2009-11-21T10:02:00.003-05:00

Love the idea of using popular food from each nation to create a likeness of their flag. Very cool. Can you guess which nation each of these Food Flags represent?! See the rest here.

(Spotted at A Cup of Jo)

What Storm Troopers Do On Their Day Off

2009-11-21T09:54:00.003-05:00

Whatever reason it may be, this type of photography series always hits my funny bone. I love seeing little action figures in real world scenarios. Call me crazy, but I just can't seem to get enough. (Via Wild Ammo)

Swooning.

2009-11-21T09:29:00.003-05:00

Love it all, down to every last little detail. That sweater! Those shoes! Not to mention the hat, the bold red lipstick, the nail polish, the subtle gold bracelet, the skirt... I'm swooning over here.

(Found at The Street Hearts via The Thinking Tank)

The Saddest Bear of All

2009-11-21T09:15:00.003-05:00

This is the cutest little story with the most adorable illustrations to go right along with it. When I have kids, this will definitely be one of the stories I read to them at bedtime! You can buy it here or here.

Scratch & Sniff

2009-11-21T08:44:00.004-05:00

I can think of a few family members who would love these adorable Sratch and Sniff holiday cards from Mélangerie Inc. Hope you're not reading this, Mom! xoxox

(Via A Cup of Jo)

FOUND IT.

2009-11-19T18:24:00.005-05:00

This would be the perfect Christmas gift for Alex. My boy sure does love that caffeine. Espresso on the go, no external power necessary. (Spotted via Milk)

Relaxation

2009-11-19T14:45:00.003-05:00

I'd love to spend the afternoon outside, reading on a park bench, especially since the weather has warmed up a bit. Instead, I'll be cooked up inside at my desk until eight o'clock tonight and most of the trees around here have already shed their colorful leaves anyway. Bah humbug! Spotted at Abbey Goes Design Scouting.

Squeeze-Me Mittens

2009-11-19T14:30:00.005-05:00

Remember Smitten Mittens!? Well, these Squeeze-Me Mittens are absolutely adorable and are kind of the same idea except aimed toward parents holding hands with their little one. The kids-sized mittens are actually sewn right into the adult pair! Perfect.(Via Her Name Was Lola)

Thanksgiving: Sweet Potato Bake

2009-11-19T13:46:00.005-05:00

For Thanksgiving, Alex and I are planning to eat dinner at his Mom's house followed by another full Thanksgiving dinner at this Dad's. (Definitely wearing something comfy and loose, I'm going to be full for at least a week following all the feasting next week!) I wanted to bring something to each dinner and I've decided that this recipe for Whipped Sweet Potato Bake will be the one! It's everything I love in a dish: quick, easy and cheap. Perfect. I haven't yet decided if we should bring the same dish to each parents' house or maybe bake a dessert for one. I'll have to discuss it with The Captain first and go from there.

Are you all excited for Thanksgiving!?? Are you cooking the whole feast and celebrating at home or traveling to see family? What dishes will you be making?

Newsweek: Palin Controversy.

2009-11-17T17:04:00.008-05:00

When politics are brought up at the dinner table, you can't promise there won't be a food fight. And when you bring them up in a blog, you can't guarantee someone's panties won't get in a big ol' bunch, that's for sure. To avoid any discomfort of my readers' panties, I generally steer clear of anything even remotely related to politics here. But (and you knew there would be a but, didn't you?) I can't stay mum this time, I just can't.

I happen to enjoy Newsweek, to be perfectly honest with you. With any political news outlet you can expect some bias, though, and I'm not blind to that at all. But look, I think Sarah Palin is a bit of a flake but I do not think it was right of Newsweek to take a photo taken for "Runner's World" and use it as a cover for the magazine this week. The original photo shoot was taken because Palin is an avid runner not because she's some bimbo flaunting around. To take a photo of Palin in running shorts out-of-context, to me, is a bit sexist. And if you don't think so, that's fine.

To be fair, Newsweek's Editor Jon Meacham's response: "We chose the most interesting image available to us to illustrate the theme of the cover, which is what we always try to do. (...) We apply the same test to photographs of any public figure, male or female: does the image convey what we are saying? That is a gender-neutral standard." Maybe so, but this time I think that the magazine went too far. Am I going to boycott it forever? Certainly not. Do I think that whole thing was in bad taste. Absolutely.

(Images via Runner's World & Newsweek. Story via Newsweek & Yahoo!)

Puppy Playdates

2009-11-14T08:56:00.006-05:00

It's raining hard outside today and the sky is dark and gloomy. Despite the weather, I've found myself in good spirits because it's finally Saturday, my weekend.

Rilo had her first puppy playdate last night with my good friend Nate and his fabulous Alaskan Elkhound, Leonardo. As soon as we woke up this morning, Alex and I talked about how the next dog we get has to be a big and furry! Rilo was ecstatic the entire time, she loves playing with other dogs and as soon as they left she went right upstairs, climbed into our bed and fell asleep. Absolutely adorable. So adorable, in fact, that we've planned another little date for tonight. Tomorrow, Alex and I plan to play cards with a few friends in the afternoon and then see A Christmas Carol in IMAX 3D. I'm so excited! Monday will likely be another day packed with errands, specifically cleaning and puppy-proofing the house a bit better. We've been slacking!

Anything fun planned for your weekend? And is anyone else already daydreaming about cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes and big, delicious turkey already!?

(Image via weheartit)

Excited

2009-11-10T16:16:00.007-05:00

The best thing happened to me this morning: after letting it completely slip my mind all weekend, I finally realized that I have tomorrow off for Veteran's Day! What a fabulous way to start my week. I plan to spend a few hours at the library working on a few papers, grocery shopping, walking the puppy, and most importantly: some well-deserved (if I do say so myself) R&R. A nice, long bubble bath, face masque and at-home mani/pedi are certainly in order.

And you can bet on my watching some Real House Wives of Orange County, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Bridezillas or Say Yes to the Dress, all of which Alex will not stand for my watching around him. Understandably so, but it's totally a guilty pleasure of mine.

It goes without saying that I'm looking forward to a day off tomorrow. Here's hoping that you all have a fabulous Veteran's Day, too! Any fantastic plans on the horizon?

(Image via Flickr)

Reading Hiatus

2009-11-07T10:47:00.004-05:00

Since I've started school I've gone on a bit of a reading hiatus (not by choice, trust me) because I've just been too busy with work, class, homework and reading my textbooks over anything else. When I do have a chance to read for pleasure, I tend to read Newsweek or Real Simple or O magazine because I don't have to commit to it in any way. I'm still in the middle of reading The Poisonwood Bible for the third (or forth?) time and I have a few books that I've yet to read on my bookshelf but I hope to tackle those over the next few weeks. But with the semester nearing its end (well, about a month or so) I've been wondering what book to read next, any suggestions? (Image via Book Lovers...)

Leaves Falling

2009-11-07T10:13:00.003-05:00

Is it just me or did autumn just start? Didn't the trees just start turning colors yesterday? Now as I drive along the roads of our small New England town, I'm finding more and more leaves on the ground and less and less leaves on the trees. It's beginning to feel like winter already; but what happened to the fall? I didn't even get a chance to go pumpkin picking this year! Major bummer.

On the flip side, Thanksgiving is around the corner and Christmas is lagging just behind. Have to admit, I'm already looking forward to The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. (Image via Flickr)

Midsummer Night's Dream...with some flare!

2009-11-06T11:07:00.005-05:00

Alex and I are going to see a production put on in Harvard Sq. this evening by the American Repertory Theater with our friend, Mike. "The Donkey Show" presents Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" but with quite a twist and not to mention a little 70s, disco flare. Read more here, and I'll certainly fill you afterwards! Anyone have any fabulous plans for the weekend?

Up, Up And Away

2009-11-06T11:03:00.003-05:00

I'd like to climb into the basket of this hot hair balloon with Alex and our puppy and just fly away. Fly away from all of our responsibilies and look at the world from a bird's eye view. A girl can dream, right? *Sigh*

Happy Friday, everyone! I can't wait for my weekend to begin tomorrow....xoxox

(Image via Flickr)

Can You Tell Me How To Get, How To Get To Sesame Street?

2009-11-06T09:37:00.003-05:00

Google has taken part in celebrating Sesame Street's 40th anniversary, which first aired on PBS on November 10, 1969. Congratulations, Sesame Street! One of my best memories of childhood definitely involved staying home sick from school and curling up to watch the whole gang on TV!(Images via Google)

Til Death Do Us Pay?

2009-11-04T18:22:00.005-05:00

I'm not really sure how I'd survive my hour-and-a-half commute in and out of work without Tom Ashbrook's daily broadcast on NPR, "On Point." Here's an excerpt of what Tom has to say about his show:

"In ballet, “on point” means up on your toes. In war, it’s the lead soldier on patrol. In conversation it’s the heart of the matter. That’s where we strive to be every day with our listeners — up on our toes, out front, at the heart of what’s going on. Here at On Point, we’re looking to create a different kind of conversation about the country and the world we live in — about who we are, and where we’re going. Maybe it’s the kind of national conversation you’ve always wanted. Fast, fun, serious, surprising. Open to everyone. And above all, unflinchingly honest. With voices from all over the planet. Fresh voices. Passionate voices."
The other day, there was a really interesting broadcast about alimony called, "Til Death Do Us Pay?" which touched upon the issue of who should pay for what in divorce and for how long, gender bias in the system and also the possibility of some states even changing their laws on the topic. There were so many different perspectives and scenarios brought up that it really made me think about the fact that maybe we do need to address that "[i]t's not Ma and Pa Cleaver splitting up anymore." And ain't that the truth.

To listen to a podcast of the show, click here.

Girl Power!

2009-11-04T17:31:00.002-05:00

Just read this really great article my English professor e-mailed me from CNN, "Collins: Letter to young American women." Definitely worth a read. It really made me think and reminded me not to take all the wonderful opportunities I have -- including to be enrolled in college in the first place -- for granted. A particularly lovely excerpt: "For the entire history of recorded civilization, people had ideas about women's limitations, and their proper (domestic) place in the world. That all changed in my lifetime -- came crumbling down. The fact that I got to see it, in the tiny sliver of history I inhabit, just knocks me out. You taking it for granted knocks me out." Read the full article here.

Our Baby: Rilo

2009-10-30T14:13:00.005-04:00

Here's a few photos of our new ~~baby~~ *ahem* ...puppy, Rilo! Trust me, there will be more.

Mommy and Daddy are in love. xoxoxo

Exciting News!

2009-10-27T13:50:00.003-04:00

I couldn't wait until I uploaded pictures of her to tell you that....

WE GOT A PUPPY!

And she's absolutely perfect. Black lab/pit bull (or bull mastiff, we're not sure!) mix. She's loving, gentle, playful and unbelievably obident. At only 10 weeks old she can already sit, come, and lay down on command. She follows me and Al around the house while we're doing this & that and when we turn around and look at her, she sits with this, "WHO ME?" expression on her face. Adorable. Can't wait to show you pictures, but I couldn't hide the news any longer (and it's only been one day).

Hope you're all having a fabulous week! xoxox

(Image via vi.sualize.us)

Red Fingers, Red Toes

2009-10-23T09:50:00.003-04:00

Inspired, I think I'll find some time this weekend to paint my fingernails and toenails a bright, bold red. Happy Friday! xoxox.

(Image via a new favorite, Audrey Hepburn Complex.)

Freckles

2009-10-17T09:37:00.000-04:00

(Via The Sartorialist)

Leonera

2009-10-17T08:40:00.003-04:00

Last night, Alex and I watched this incredible foreign film, Leonera, about an incarcerated woman who struggles to raise her newborn child in jail. It was a moving story that highlighted the connection between a mother and her child in a beautiful, extraordinary way. Highly reccommended.

Also, check out the opening credits for the movie. The song and the little cartoon are absolutely adorable. You won't regret it!

Ryan & Felicia's Wedding

2009-10-16T09:31:00.010-04:00

Happy to report that the photos from my brother's wedding at the end of August are finally up, thanks to the lovely and incredibly talented photographer, Rachel! The ceremony was beautiful, my now-sister-in-law was so not a bridezilla what-so-ever, and everyone who attended raved for weeks about how fun the reception was! Ryan and Felicia definitely know how to throw a great wedding! Here are some of my favorite moments, though I'm sure there will be more to come! xoxox

Another Fab Pixie

2009-10-10T11:34:00.003-04:00

Inspired by Michelle William's sassy Vogue cover, one of my favorite bloggers, Heather Armstrong, took the plunge and went for a similar do and it came out just fabulous! Baby steps, Kerri, baby steps.

Open Letter to the Blogosphere:

2009-10-07T12:17:00.003-04:00

Aren't these little tea cup piglets absolutely adorable?! It goes without saying that I just have to have one. Let me be frank here, there is absolutely no shot in hell that I could ever come close to convincing that lovely boyfriend of mine to spend a measley $1,100 for one of these babies. It just would. not. happen. Tragic, I know.

Any takers? I'd love you forever if you got me one and I'd even let you come over any time you wanted to play and cuddle with him! Think about it.

Gorgeous

2009-10-05T14:30:00.002-04:00

Michelle Williams looked absolutely stunning on the cover of Vogue this month. I wish I could pull off an adorable pixie like hers but I'm content with my little chin-length bob for now; baby steps. Read the fab interview here.

Locks of Love

2009-09-26T11:51:00.010-04:00

Yesterday, I chopped off 12 inches of my long, curly hair and donated it to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that donantes hairpieces to children under the age of 18 who are suffering from hair loss due to any medical diagnosis.

"Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need."

I was really nervous, excited and anxious and it was so weird to have to take my foot-long braid home with me to mail out! And I was really suprised that I didn't cry, usually I cry even when I get a trim! But I knew it was for a good cause and I really just wanted to help, especially when I found out that it takes five 10-inch donantions to make just one hairpiece for one child, so it's important for those of us who can, to help out!

Now, on to the good stuff.

Before:

After:

Oh, and lucky for me...Alex loves it, too!

PS: as you can see, I did end up buying a cute little beanie. It's not the particular one I was lusting after but an even cheaper one from Forever 21, where I also bought two shirts and three headbands. Ooops, just couldn't help myself!

Leggy

2009-09-26T11:30:00.001-04:00

Absolutely stunning. The shoes are fabulous and c'mon, look at those legs! Forever inspired by The Sartorialist.

He Said She Said

2009-09-26T10:16:00.003-04:00

Couldn't resist posting this fabulous wine bottle spotted at Lovely Little Things; like me, she's a huge sucker for cute lables and this fall right under that category! I'm a red wine kind of girl but I could go for a glass of white wine for a bottle this adorable, for sure.

(Source: LLT/The Lake House)

Adorable

2009-09-25T11:06:00.003-04:00

Spotted over at Milk. I mean really, how cute is Taylor Swift?

UO Lusting: Beanie

2009-09-24T18:53:00.005-04:00

Lusting after these two adorable beanies, one slouchy and one chunky, from Urban Outfitters. I'm leaning toward the chunky, striped one. What do you think?

Must See: Community

2009-09-24T17:57:00.004-04:00

Anyone see Community, NBC's new series that piloted last week? I was going to preface this by saying that I could be a little biased since I'm taking classes at a community college now, but I honestly don't think that has any factor in how aboslutely hilarious this show is. Don't miss it, this is undoubtedly a must-see!

Alex introduced the show to me last week and since he's going to be out spending some quality time with his friend Josh tonight, I think I'll DVR it so we can watch it together. While he's out, I'm going to use the opportunity to give myself a mani/pedi and watch the Kardashian's On Demand, a show I can't help but to love and that Al can't stand what-so-ever.

PS: to try and combat being repetitive, I'll stop appologizing for the lack of posts and comments throughout the semester! But I'm still here and still reading, it's just been nutty over the last month or so! Hope you are all doing fabulous! xoxox

Can We Get a Round of Applause for Mark Fast, Please?

2009-09-24T14:09:00.011-04:00

Designer Mark Fast chose to have two plus sized models (read: average sized women) model his work at London's Fashion Week causing "creative differences" among staff and ending with two of his stylist ditching him last minute over this choice.

Well, especially in this economy, I would like to wish those two losers happy job hunting! Hopefully, they'll both eat away their sorrows and re-think their opposition to having a real woman model the designer's form-hugging clothing line.

Creative director Amanda May stated that the "decison to use fuller girls [was] something [they had] been talking about. There is an idea that only slender women are able to wear Mark's dresses and he wanted to combat that. We wanted women to know that they didn't have to be a size zero to wear a Mark Fast dress - curvier women can look even better in them."

And ain't that the truth! In fact, I would say they both look better than the usual starved-size-zero models that usually grace the runway.

Congratulations, Mr. Fast. You undoubtedly made the right move. As for your stylists? Um, not so much.

(Source here.)

Getting Over The Cold

2009-09-20T10:36:00.006-04:00

Finally feeling a lot better after a tough three days of all that fun stuff that goes along with a head cold. Now, as is customary, Alex is feeling under the weather (I insisted on no feel-better kisses but he just kept 'em coming!) and it's my turn to take care of him! This morning I went to the grocery store and stocked up on more essentials: soup, tea, honey, fruits, english muffins, etc. We'll just be laying low until both of us feel back to our normal selves which (hopefully) will only be a couple of more days!

(NOTE: I'm so happy that I quit smoking cigarettes - it's been five months and this is the first time I've caught a cold since we quit and believe me, I've never bounced back from a cold faster since I first started smoking 5 years ago!)

Back to normal posting soon, I promise. I'm finally getting a normal routine going in terms of work and school and now that everything has been in full-swing, I'm a lot less stressed about the whole ordeal than I was before!

How's everything going with you, my dears? xoxo
(Image via We Heart It)

Home Sick

2009-09-17T17:04:00.003-04:00

I've got it all: sore throat, stuffy nose, tummy ache, headache, stiff neck, high fever, oh the list goes on and on. It's too early in the school year to miss class and my classes are early enough that I decided to just suck it up and go. Stayed home from work because I knew that if I didn't get rest today, I'd end up being out tomorrow or Saturday. I thought it best to try and nip this cold in the bud, but unfortunately it seems my symptoms are getting worse, not better.

I guess I should have anticipated catching a cold easier now that I'm in school with all those germs floating around. From here on out, I'm using my hand sanitizer liberally in class; I've certainly learned my lesson.

(Image via We Heart It)

Quick Question:

2009-09-16T08:58:00.002-04:00

Why isn't this my house??? How gorgeous, I love the lighting in the bedroom and the open, airy feel and the exposed wood beams in the ceiling. And let's not ignore how adorable that dog is!

(Via ArchitectureWeek)

Our Dinky Apartment

2009-09-14T23:13:00.006-04:00

Check out me and Alex's CRIB. I know, I know...we're huge dorks and our apartment needs lots of work but it's coming together slowly! :) Oh and sidenote: the er, ahem, public hair comment made by my lovely boyfriend was in reference to no longer finding facial hairs, etc. in the sink now that we no longer have roommates! Hallelujah!

PS: sorry I haven't been able to post/comment much lately. Still adjusting to going back to school but I'm starting to get the swing of things and will be back in action soon. Stay tuned!

Kanye West: Less Mature Than A 19 Year Old Girl

2009-09-14T00:38:00.003-04:00

MAN, Kanye is an asshole, huh!??!

But Taylor AND Beyonce are both classy ladies, you go girls!

EDIT: The video I initially posted, as expected, has been taken down. If by some miracle of God you haven't seen the clip of Kanye's VMA explotion, you can watch it here.

First Day of School

2009-09-10T21:59:00.003-04:00

Had my first two classes today bright and early, then commuted into the city with Alex for a loooooooooooong day at work. *yawn* Time for bed! xoxo

(Image via vi.sualize.us)

Street Chic: Ankle-cuff sandals

2009-09-07T16:51:00.001-04:00

Could never pull it off myself, but I love this look.

PS: Happy Memorial Day!

Sorry to get all sappy...

2009-09-04T12:59:00.001-04:00

...but he really makes my heart melt.

Happy Friday, everyone! xoxox

Health Care Debate

2009-09-03T13:50:00.003-04:00

This whole health care debate is really getting everyone's panties in a bunch, isn't it? And not for nothing, either. It's a pretty big deal. And to be perfectly honest, I don't really know enough details to have formed my own opinion quite yet. But this article from Newsweek, titled "The Five Biggest Lies in the Health Care Debate," was pretty informative, relatively unbiased and did a decent job attempting to clear up some of that All We Want To Do Is Kill Your Grandma mumbo jumbo.

PS: Aren't these pictures of people's faces at Town Hall meetings intense!?

Ben & Jerry's: Hubby Hubby

2009-09-01T18:07:00.002-04:00

Looking for something to make you smile? Ben & Jerry's has joined in celebrating Vermont's recent legalization of gay marriage. Click here to read more!

Quickie

2009-09-01T17:04:00.005-04:00

Can't wait to give you more details about my crazy week, but for now I'm still trying to get back to reality (and that means work - humph) and into the normal groove of things. But to sum things up: my sweet boyfriend surprised me quite a few times for our anniversary and the rest of the weekend was spent focusing on my brother's wedding and helping Alex's mom move.

I cannot wait to show you photos from the wedding -- as soon as I get my hands on some, you'll be the first to know. The bride looked stunning; you will die when you see her dress. The ceremony was lovely, the reception was tons of fun, the floral arrangements were perfect, and most importantly: my brother and his wife have never looked happier, and really, that's all that matters.

As for me and Al, I think it's safe to say that we'll be spending the rest of the week relaxing and staying low-key; the past few weeks really have been nutty and next Thursday life will get hectic once again with the start of school for me. (I keep flip-flopping back and forth between excitement and nervousness!)

But tell me, how is everything going for all of you? Are you enjoying the last few weeks of your summer?! xoxox

(Image via vi.sualize.us)

Chinese Monastery

2009-08-29T02:11:00.005-04:00

The Kanding monastery located in the Sichuan chinese province. The architecture is absolutely stunning. And look at those mountains in the background. So calming, so peaceful. More here.

Heaven

2009-08-29T02:01:00.002-04:00

Love the couch. Love the books. Love it all.

PS: Be prepared for my blog to slowly become Book Porn, thanks to this awesome site spotted at Milk.

iPhone

2009-08-29T01:51:00.003-04:00

"I want to get into blogging, too. But I want to do it on an iPhone." - Alex

We really need matching iPhones, huh?

Electrifying

2009-08-26T23:19:00.001-04:00

Astounding images of lightening, courtesy of a digital photography newsletter my nerdy boyfriend subscribes to.

April Turns One

2009-08-25T22:15:00.003-04:00

Celebrating April's first birthday was a blast! Seriously, aren't Suzie's little ones the cutest!? Look at those big, blue eyes! Love them.

(Please do not re-post any of these photos. Thanks!)

Recent Happenings

2009-08-25T12:32:00.008-04:00

With my brother's upcoming nuptials and prepping for school (only 2 more weeks to go!), things around here have been a little nutty. Let's break it down in list form, because I'm having a little trouble forming a coherent thought right now. Here it goes:

this past weekend

bought all my textbooks/most of the school supplies for this upcoming semester. feels so surreal to actually be going back to school. needless to say, i'm super excited.
finished up some last minute errands done for my brother's wedding: picked up my bridesmaid dress, made arrangements for priming, went with alex to buy a new suit, etc. the wedding is this sunday; it's coming up so fast!
cleaned and organized our apartment. getting adjusted to this commute and finding time with friends has left us with little time in between to really get settled. finally, there are no more cardboard boxes in the living room. hallelujah!
speaking of the wedding, we had a girls' night out for felicia at margarita's on friday night. so much fun!
this saturday my best friend susan's daughter celebrated her first birthday (pictures to come) and though i could only manage to stay for about an hour, it was so lovely to be able to catch up with her whole family.
we finally had a much needed day off this past sunday. we ate nachos and got ice cream with alex's friend, mike and spent the rest of the day relaxing and doing a little shopping here and there.

this upcoming week:

our one year anniversary. and i love him more today than ever. to celebrate, we're heading to a local amusement park. would you believe me if i told you alex has never been to one in his whole life? definitely the perfect time for him to ride a rollercoaster for the first time!
possible lunch plans with felicia and a mani/pedi on friday. later in the evening, alex and i are considering going to a drive-in movie theater about an hour away from where we live. we want to celebrate this anniversary, big time. one day to celerate this past year is just not enough.
saturday is the dress rehearsal & dinner.
sunday, sunday, sunday! the big day is finally here. my big brother is getting married. i can't believe it. i've mentioned here before how well suited i know ryan & felicia are so i'm incredibly happy for the two of them.

Get ready for some picture heavy posts to come. And don't be surprised if things are a little quiet around here for the next week or so (though, knowing me, and with 5 days off from work...it could be the exact opposite!)

But I'm curious, how are things for you, lovelies? Tell me what's going on in your world this week!

ps: I like how at the beginning of this post I was having trouble forming a complete thought, and by the end I couldn't seem to shut up! ooops.

Lazy Sundays

2009-08-23T20:53:00.002-04:00

When you commute for two hours a day (at minimum), a simple Sunday with no highway driving and no traffic jams is definitely in order and deeply appreciated.

(Image via Flickr)

Bubbles.

2009-08-21T16:17:00.007-04:00

Today was kind of a blah day and it just seemed like one thing after another just kept going wrong. A quick, comforting phone call with Alex helped immensely but we didn't have much time to chit-chat so it simply wasn't enough to pull me out of this funk.
But as I drove downtown on my way home, I noticed tons and tons of bubbles floating around my city. I spent a few moments trying to discover the source when I noticed a man on a bench sitting next to a bubble machine! And the best part of all was to watch people get just as excited as I did as they noticed, or simply watch them pop on an unsuspecting passerby. How incredible is that?

I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face since.

(Another image brought to you by vi.sualize.us)

Feathers, Feathers, Feathers!

2009-08-20T17:56:00.005-04:00

The other night, Alex and I had some friends over to celebrate Josh's birthday and two old friends of mine dropped in to say hello and welcome us back to our old stomping grounds. Moments before I found out they were coming over, I had slipped into some gym shorts and a t-shirt because it was getting late (ahem, midnight. I know, I'm an old lady) and I was at home, afterall. Perfectly acceptable, right?

I was feeling a little ho-hum about seeing friends I hadn't seen in a while in my yucky gym clothes and instead of changing back into those too-tight jeans and that cute top I'd adorned earlier in the evening, I decided that I should throw on some accessories -- a feathered headband and a pair of long, black, silky feathered gloves -- from last year's Halloween costume. Did I mention that we were drinking tequila?

What on Earth am I getting at with this???

Well, whether it was because he was buzzed (read: shitfaced) or not, Alex was so excited when I put on that feathered headband that he started going on and on about how I should be a peacock for Halloween next year! And he can be...something that goes with a peacock! But you have to be a peacock! You look so good in feathers! Total loser, I know.

So, when I saw this photo over at Creature Comforts today it made me smile and think of that nerdy guy of mine. He may be a loser, but he's my loser. And if he wants me to dress up as a peacock.........well, I'll think about it.

Melancholy

2009-08-19T14:05:00.002-04:00

The sun may be shining outside, but today I'm feeling gloomy. Something just doesn't feel right. Something is missing. I'm almost always perky, but I'm having trouble smiling today. Ever have one of those days that you wish you could just crawl back in bed and start over?

(Images via vi.sualize.us)

Happy Birthday!

2009-08-18T17:14:00.003-04:00

Tonight we're celebrating the existence of my good friend, and Alex's boyfriend, Josh! Happy birthday, buddy! Thanks for providing an excellent excuse to get smashed on a work night and get reacquainted once again with that Love/Hate relationship I have with tequila. Hangover, here I come!

(Image via vi.sualize.us)

Housewarming

2009-08-18T12:49:00.002-04:00

My boss gave Alex and I this adorable reed diffuser from The Body Shop as a housewarming gift for our new apartment. How thoughtful! The link above is for the Japanese Cherry Blossom scent (which I can't wait to try) but the one she actually gave us was Cranberry scented and it's smells fantastic! Bonus: not too girly for Alex, either. Thanks again, Marisa!

e.e. cummings

2009-08-17T01:16:00.003-04:00

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;
wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world

my blood approves,
and kisses are a better fate
than wisdom
lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry
—the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids' flutter which says

we are for each other: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph

And death i think is no parenthesis

(Image via vi.sualize.us)

Makes Me Think

2009-08-17T00:27:00.008-04:00

"Why Are Two Men Holding Hands, Mommy?"
"Because they love each other."Check out this spin on the FML site. Makes me think.

Nerdy Chic

2009-08-15T11:51:00.002-04:00

Really diggin' this sexy bookworm look, spotted over at Refinery 29! What do you think? (I might be a little biased because my boyfriend is quite the dork himself!)

Cute Etsy Find

2009-08-15T10:42:00.002-04:00

It's official: I need this dress. But since we're still lacking a couch in the living room, I'll have to save my pennies and hope it's still available sometime down the road!

Glowing Flower

2009-08-15T01:14:00.002-04:00

I really want to try this someday!

"Some people think I'm an old ding-a-ling, but that's okay. I can see."

2009-08-12T17:00:00.006-04:00

For most people, the last thing they want to think about after a long day at the office is work. But I'm not most people. As a secretary at an eye doctor's office, I've become very interested in any and everything relating to eye glasses, vision and the overall health of the eye. I know that I'm a dork but the way I look at it, if you have to work somewhere full-time, you might as well try to make the best of it, right? Just because this isn't necessarily the direction I'd like my career to head in doesn't mean I shouldn't soak up all the information that I can during my time here. Plus, I have to admit, I really do think it's all pretty cool. *Insert nerdy four-eyes joke here*

At any rate, over the past year while working at this Vision Center, I've accumulated tons and tons of hilarious anecdotes from the work place. For Alex, our commute home is more like a revision of that CBS hit hosted by Bill Cosby: Patients Say The Darndest Things. So, you can imagine my delight when I came across an article about a 90 year old man named Marty Alvey with macular degeneration (a loss of central vision due to damage to the retina) who claims he woke up one day and has suddenly regained much of his sight! How amazing is that?

Two ophthamologist examined Mr. Alvey and neither have an explanation for it; they both say that there has been "no anatomical change within the eye to account for his subjective visual improvement."

Regardless, this retired carpenter* couldn't be any happier and can finally spend some of his time gazing at old family photos -- something seeminly small to those of us who have perfect (or at least relatively decent) vision! So, when you're looking into the eyes of a loved one, enjoy a long drive down the highway, gazing at the stars, watching your favorite TV show or even just gushing over all of those lovely blogs you frequent...try and remember not to take your eye-sight for granted!

Again, I know I'm a dork but this story completely made my day!

*I actually work for the Carpenter's Vision Center, in which only members of the New England Carpenter's Union (and a few other unions, though not many) are allowed to come in for eye exams, etc. Which made this story even cooler!

New Used Books

2009-08-11T08:35:00.008-04:00

On the hunt for a couch for our new apartment, we checked out a Salvation Army close by, and left with a few great books that I'm really looking forward to reading (and even re-reading!)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:
I'm ashamed to report that I've never read this book, so I'm really looking forward to cracking it open!

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver:
One of my all time favorites. Can't wait for Alex to read this for the first time!

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See:
This jumped right off the shelf and into my hands -- Lovely Little Things recommended Shanghai Girls by the same author not too long ago so I wanted to start with this and see how I liked it! Can't wait.

What books have you been pouring over this summer? Got any recommendations for me??

Brainwashed

2009-08-08T10:07:00.006-04:00

FYI: Finally having TV has completely altered the way Alex and I live. Not to mention the fact that when we signed up for Comcast, they had some deal going on that gave us 300+ channels and a DVR box. We went from having no TV at all for a whole year to being glued to the screen. How did I miss horrific "reality" television like, "Paris Hilton's My New BFF!" (gag) or the fabulous mini-series, "16 & Pregnant" (note: some of the episodes are absolutely heart-wrenching). I never really thought not having a TV was a big deal and now after just one week, I can't remember how we lived without it.

Wallpaper Fun

2009-08-08T09:29:00.004-04:00

Love the idea to use decorative wallpaper as a framed piece of art or to spice up a closet. If only I was allowed to use some in our new apartment! Maybe after we've been tenants for a little while, the landlord will loosen up a bit and let us experiment!

(Via A Cup of Joe)

Freed Journalists

2009-08-07T12:36:00.012-04:00

I'm sure you've already heard the news but it's big enough to merit repeating: Laura Ling and Euna Lee have finally been reunited with their families after being held captive for over 4 months in North Korea and facing a sentence of 12 years of hard labor in a prison camp for illegally entering the country near the border with China.

The news of their release brought tears to my eyes, just listening to Ling's voice shake as she expressed her deepest gratitude to Bill Clinton and all those involved in securing their release was unbeliveably moving. All I can say, really, is thank God they've returned back home safe and sound.

PS) I wonder if one (or both) of them will write a book about their experiences??? I'm looking forward to hearing their incredible story, one way or another.

(Images Via New York Times)

Touch of Happiness by Nivea

2009-08-06T13:38:00.007-04:00

Nivea's new Touch of Happiness body wash is definitely a must have. If you haven't tried this already, go buy it. Seriously, this product will change your life. You'll step out of the shower feeling refreshed, clean, rejuvinated, invigorated and happy. Plus, they have this new "Skin Sensation Technology" so that the soap gets extra foamy when it touches your skin which is pretty awesome.
And unfortunately, despite sounding like an informercial, Nivea has not paid me to gush over their new product...though I would gladly accept if they offered. A girl can dream, right?

PS: The move went very smooth, with lots of thanks to my brother for so generously helping out. Alex and I are settling into our new digs and and slowly but surely unpacking and getting used to the commute! More details soon to come.

DIY: Dining Room Table

2009-07-31T10:21:00.006-04:00

I am in love with this DIY project I spotted over at Design*Sponge to turn an old door into a dining room table. Alex and I are trying to find a way to work the idea into our new apartment -- even if that means cutting the door in half in order for it to fit. Keep an eye out for our twist on it, (hopefully) coming soon!

5...4...3...

2009-07-30T19:21:00.006-04:00

Dotting those t's and crossing the last of the i's. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it.

It's been somewhat exhausting to tie all these loose ends before the Big Move. Packing our belongings has been more of a project than I thought it would be and not just because, let's face it, packing is a drag, but when you have two people sharing a room that makes a phone booth look spacious...where do you put everything as you take it out of their respective hiding spaces? Luckily, we do have some space in the living room to store away the boxes full of God-knows-what and the half a dozen trash bags stuffed to the brim with clothes.

But that hasn't even been the stressful part in all of this. It's waiting on hold for 30 minutes to set up Comcast, just to be transfered to the wrong department...in Pennsylvania. It's the impending commute that lies ahead, and the school days that are just around the corner. It's the previous tenants and the condition they left our soon-to-be home in. It's setting up the electricity, changing our address, trucks breaking down, switching around plans, the lack of communication with the landlord and our conflicting schedule that makes getting the keys and some important information difficult. And it's the countdown. Five days. Four days. THREE MORE DAYS!

Sure, it's been a bit of a stressful week, but nothing that is not to be expected when moving. I just keep reminding myself that this time next week, I'll be sitting butt-naked in my living room, drinking a glass of wine, watching the Lifetime Movie Network, eating a pint of ice cream and listening to Alex play guitar from the other room without having to worry about roommates. But that's only if I survive the move.

To be continued...

"Can I See Some ID?"

2009-07-28T15:24:00.006-04:00

It's still kind of hard to believe that there was, in fact, a time when people didn't know the risks of smoking cigarettes. Point & case: look at these eight photos of kids no more than 13 years old puffing away! Boy, how times have changed! PS: Alex and I are still going strong; it's been over three months since we both quit and the two of us have never felt better!

(Image via vi.sualize.us)

Split Up

2009-07-28T10:48:00.004-04:00

I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little sad about Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush's break up.

Isn't She Lovely?

2009-07-25T13:32:00.005-04:00

I love this photograph of Sophia Loren (taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt circa 1961). Not only is she gorgeous, but she looks genuinely happy.

And look how adorable and perfectly at home Sophia and her husband, Carlo Ponti, appear cuddled up in their lavish Italian villa. Stunning.

(Images via LIFE)

Happy Friday

2009-07-24T09:24:00.006-04:00

Fridays are a breeze at my work - I work at an eye doctor's office and the doctor only works 4 days a week so she's never in on Friday (lucky!) and the day just flies right by. My wonderful co-worker, Phyllis, brought me two new books to read: "The Snapper" and "The Woman Who Walked Into Doors" by Roddy Doyle because I've been complaining about having read all the books I own! How sweet is she? I can already tell they'll both be a quick read but with school and the Big Move coming up, that's exactly what I need!

Hope you all have a fabulous (albeit rainy) Friday!
(Image via vi.sualize.us)

Google: Comic Book Edition

2009-07-23T18:00:00.004-04:00

Anyone else geeky enough to be excited about today's comic-style Google Doodle?! I'll proudly admit that seeing this really brightened my day. How awesome!

Shoe Inspiration + Sassy Hat

2009-07-23T17:45:00.003-04:00

That hat! Those shoes! *swoon*

And while we're on the topic of shoes...I need a variation of these heels, ASAP.

(Via The Sartorialist, as per usual)

Pay It Forward

2009-07-23T09:22:00.004-04:00

Everyday on my lunch hour I typically give Alex a quick little phone call just to hear his voice...it helps me get over the hump of the day, and makes me even more anxious to get home to him for after work hugs & smooches. And I'm sorry for calling you out, hun, but almost everyday I'll ask him a variation of the same question -- what are you having for lunch? and just about everyday he shamefully admits that, once again, he's eating orange chicken from the mall. (Have I mentioned on here yet that we're both health freaks??? hahah, yeah right!)

Usually I tease him a little bit or make some comment about how I can hear his arteries clogging up via telephone and we move forward in the conversation. But not yesterday....yesterday, when I heard the words "orange chicken" my ears perked up, and I heard the voice of God beckoning me to rush to the mall as fast as I could and get myself a heavenly portion of this forbidden treat. And before the guilt could set it, I was already barreling down Arsenal Street, just barely making it through one yellow light after another until I reached the mall (this is Boston...yellow lights mean speed up, not slow down and red lights mean you can fit at least two more cars through the intersection before the light on the other side turns green!)

By the time I park the car and make my way upstairs to the food court, my mouth is watering. I have to have fried rice and orange chicken and hey! what's that? spicy chicken? yeah, throw some of that on there, too!

But when I get down to the cashier, I suddenly realize that I don't have my wallet on me. The wallet my dad gave me for Christmas a few years before he passed away. The one with love notes from Alex tucked inside. The Burberry one. Oh right, AND THE ONE WITH ALL MY MONEY AND CREDIT CARDS INSIDE OF IT, TOO. Naturally, I panicked and called my co-worker, Phyllis, to see if I had left it at my desk (of course, I hadn't). While I'm explaining to her what happened, I overhear a man who had been in line in front of me telling the woman to charge my lunch to his card. I closed my phone immediately (without even saying good-bye, oops!) and began pleading with him not to and expressed how utterly embarrassing this whole ordeal was. He smiled at me and said, "I lost my wallet last week...I know how it feels, please just let me do this." And without another word, the woman at the counter swiped his card and he walked away to eat his lunch alone. No ulterior motives what-so-ever, he just did it do be a good person, to help someone while they were down and out. And I promise to find a way to pay it forward, to try to help someone the way that stranger in the mall helped me. I thanked him about ten-thousands times before heading back to work.

Happy ending: Alex called me once he got home from work; evidently, I left my wallet on the bed after running to the store earlier that morning to grab milk. Ooops.

(Image via vi.sualize.us)

Obama Drama: "Those Jeans Are Comfortable"

2009-07-22T11:00:00.005-04:00

Anybody else think all this fuss about Obama's mom jeans is a bit ridiculous?? Let's face the facts: our Commander in Chief is looking pretty damn good, if you ask me. And I, for one, am delighted to find out that the President of the United States doesn't care for shopping...because, well, the guy does have a lot on his plate right now so we're probably better off that he's not overly concerned about his clothing, right?

packing up

2009-07-21T22:09:00.001-04:00

so much to do before the move.
we're going to need to start packing soon, but i've been on a pretty sweet lazy streak as of late and i'm enjoying it a little too much to even think about any of that right now.

instead i'll listen to alex play guitar from the other room and drift off to sleep, all smiles.

*yawn* too tired to pay any attention to capitalization or proper grammar. oops.

(image via vi.sualize.us)

Cooking + Ballroom Dance Classes

2009-07-18T10:40:00.004-04:00

Since the very beginning, Alex and I have always talked about taking dance classes (ballroom, salsa, swing, etc...you name it, we don't know the moves but are eager to learn!) so I started perusing Craigslist for some local ones in the area. I found a few for a reasonable price but realistically, we probably can't even think about doing something like this until we settle into the new apartment -- which we're moving into on August 1st, yikes! -- and by that time I'll be getting geared up for school. I'm thinking it could be nice to plan for a class over winter break from school depending on our schedules. Naturally, I'm completely getting ahead of myself here. But what else is new??

But while I was at it, I tried to find some cooking classes to take as a couple because I think it would be 1) useful, 2) fun, 3) entirely worth the money and 4) an excellent bonding experience for the both of us. Honestly, even though both of us aren't anywhere near Top Chef status, everytime we fumble around the kitchen together to whip up a meal, we always seem to have lots of fun so why not expand our horizons a bit?

I'm sure these classes will provide endless embarassing and hilarious stories, so look forward to that somewhere down the line...I already am!

PS: Have you ever checked out the Best of Craigslist??? If not, you are totally missing out. Don't believe me? Start with this...too funny!

Confession

2009-07-17T12:25:00.005-04:00

It's rare for me to really ever swoon over a celebrity but I have to admit it...I think I have a bit of a crush on Shia LaBeouf. Sorry hunnie, he's not as much of a stud as you (duh!) but Louis Stevens is all grown up and lookin' fresh!

(Images courtesy of People Magazine)

Bridal Shower

2009-07-14T16:10:00.005-04:00

Felicia's bridal shower last Saturday was tons of fun! We held it at the Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover which was really, really nice. As soon as Ryan delivered the bride-to-be to the shower, my grandmother grabbed a hold of her, and wouldn't let go of her hand! It was adorable. And at the end of the lovely breakfast, Ryan popped back in to give Felicia a dozen roses and make all the women in the room leap from their chairs to snap pictures and swoon. I love the way he's scrunching his nose at her! So cute, I couldn't have hand-picked anyone better to marry my big brother. Awww, what a little shrimp my grandma is!... you can't even see Ryan!

Later on in the night, Alex, Josh, my sister, my cousin Sarah and I stopped over Ryan and Felicia's house for grilling and of course.......Guitar Hero! Hahah, it was a great way to top off a wonderful day! Can't wait for the wedding!Hahah look at those Game Faces!

Feelin' Good

2009-07-14T16:03:00.002-04:00

Sometimes you've just gotta pamper yourself! I love throwing on a fresh coat of nail polish, getting my eyebrows done or just using a face mask at home! So, spice up an otherwise average Tuesday and give yourself the 5 star treatment. You won't regret it.

PS) Look how frightened my poor guy is! Hahahahah

Oh Snap!

2009-07-13T14:17:00.004-04:00

Check out this hilarious post over at Refinery 29 that has the whole blogosphere abuzz on how to catch the eye of our favorite Street Style blogger, Scott Schuman. Really, I'm still laughing!
(Via A Cup of Jo)

Starting To Sink In

2009-07-13T12:57:00.008-04:00

Maybe it's from all the clouds that have blanketed the sky for much of the summer, but quite frankly I'm having a hard time believeing that it is already July 13th. Excuse me, but when did that happen?? All this time Alex and I have been planning to move on August 1st, but it wasn't until we got the apartment yesterday that it really started to set in. Holy cow, we're moving in THREE weeks!@!! There's so much left to do between now and then, and even more to buy! Right now we still need:

-a couch (yard sale? thrift store?)

-kitchen table set (yard sale? thrift store?)

-mop

-mop bucket

-broom

-vacuum

-general cleaning supplies

-shower curtain liner

-kitchen & bathroom trash cans

-some sort of filing cabinet/storage boxes

-closet organization system of some sort

Not to mention the packing we have left to do. I want to start getting packed and ready to go as soon as possible, but it's so difficult to manage in such a small space that I'm thinking covering our tiny bedroom in cardboard boxes may be hard to work around. Oh well, we'll figure something out in time. For now, I'm just excited to be moving into our very own, first apartment together!

PS) The apartment we ended up going with will not let us paint. The one that would ended up being too small for us, so you'll all have to help me along the way in figuring out ways to incorporate lots of color into the place. Pictures to come in a few weeks!

(Image via Flickr)

Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop

2009-07-13T11:09:00.003-04:00

My sister made a really cute video/photo montage of her and her new beau that I can't for the life of me figure out how to embed on here! When I do, I'll post it for the blogosphere to swoon at, but until then check out this adorable video using the same song! Xoxo

Good Morning

2009-07-13T08:38:00.003-04:00

Hope you're all having a fabulous Monday morning. I'm not used to being at work on Mondays (especially since I'm working alone -- it's weird how quiet it is in the office) but I can't complain, I'm still so excited about how well the weekend turned out. Between my future sister-in-law's bridal shower, getting a long overdue haircut, (finally) getting the apartment and a lovely date to Castle Island with my hunnie, things have been absolutely wonderful! How was your weekend??

PS) Don't you just love Wall-E?? Al and I fell asleep watching it last night so it was the very first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning!

TGIF

2009-07-10T14:16:00.002-04:00

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend! For once, I don't have to work on Saturday (but don't be too jealous of my second 4-day week in a row, I'll be working six consecutive days next week to make up for it). And for once, I can join all of you in saying, TGIF!! Do you have anything fabulous planned for the weekend? We're having a bridal shower for my future sister-in-law tomorrow (which I'm so excited about) and Alex and I are going to get haircuts together on Sunday! xoxox

(Image via vi.sualize.us)

Just Hangin' Out

2009-07-10T11:23:00.003-04:00

Have you heard about this yet? Tiago Primo (27) and his brother Gabriel (20) have been living on the side of a building that stands 33 feet tall in Rio's old center as part of an art exhibit. They spend 12 hours a day on the hammock, bed, & dining room table they've attached to the red and yellow walls on the side of the building. Pretty cool, huh?

Oragami Fun

2009-07-10T09:53:00.006-04:00

I've never had the patience for Oragami (it always ends up looking like a crumpled ball of paper after any attempt by me), but these make me want to give it another whirl.

Movie Night: Take Two

2009-07-09T09:47:00.006-04:00

With a little better planning, we decided to give the whole movie thing another try. After Josh finished up with school, he zipped over to our place and the three of us ventured out to the AMC Loews Theater at the Boston Common to see Public Enemies. Earlier in the day, the boys had been poking around the city and bought our tickets in advance to save some time so we ended up early, with a chance to grab some curly fries, soda and popcorn!

Overall, I liked the movie a lot. I did have a few minor critics regarding character development, some corny dialogue and some scenes I found a little unnecessary, but overall none of the negative aspects were bad enough to overshadow the rest of the movie. But hey, who am I to say? (worth noting: I think I could attribute some of my complaints to being sleepy and cranky since the movie didn't get out until well after one in the morning. I definitely want to rent this and watch it again once it's out on DVD.)

(PS: click here to watch the trailer!)

Some Little Things

2009-07-08T18:01:00.017-04:00

I stayed up way past my bedtime last night after catching the last showing of Public Enemies in downtown Boston (more on that later), so my brain is in no condition to form anything even closely resembling a coherent thought. So instead, here's a few things that have caught my eye that you should check out...

*I really love this well-written, thought-provoking post by Erin over at reading my tea leaves

*This gorgeous, gray, vintage doctor's bag has my name written all over it

*Between the August issue of Good Housekeeping and Rachel's recipe, I'm in the mood to make a delicious homemade fruit tart!

*Since Alex and I are unsure how much closet space we'll have in our new apartment, I've been poking around on Real Simple's website for some creative ideas to keep things organized. (How do you organize your closet?? If you share your closet space, do you just mix everything together or keep it separate?)

*I love, love, love clouds. Just ask the boyfriend - every other sentence that comes out of my mouth is, "hunnie, hunnie, hunnie, look at the sky!"

* Oh, and speaking of being sleepy...check out these tired little guys!

On that note, I'm thinking it's time for some more coffee! xoxo

Sorry, Hun...I Had To.

2009-07-08T17:12:00.005-04:00

Text message from Alex; July 8, 2009 at 5:11pm:
"Taking a real shower for the first time in 3 days! Wish me luck"

HAHAH, too funny not to post! Boys are so stinky, but I can't help but to love my stinky boy all the same.

All Hypothetical

2009-07-08T16:39:00.006-04:00

Alex asked me a question last night that left me stumped: What colors would you like to paint the new apartment? The problem is, I have so many ideas that I'm having trouble settling on just one. (That's normal though, isn't it?) Not to mention the fact that this isn't just my apartment so I need to incorporate Alex's ideas, too. His favorite color is red so I want to find some way to include that in our plans, but definitely NOT in the kitchen! (According to Feng Shui, pinks and reds in the kitchen can tend to make couples fight!)

The only suggestion I really had was to paint two walls a deep purple, and the other two walls a more neutural tone in the living room, with this one photo from House to Home in mind:Granted, it's the bedroom but I can see this color scheme working in the living room (especially because we haven't even bought a couch yet!) Alex suggested a bright green bedroom which I was in total agreement of -- my bedroom in my last apartment was a happy, bright green and I always seemed to wake up in a great mood because of it! I don't have any pictures of my old room, but it was something along the lines of this:

As for the kitchen, we toyed with the idea of yellow, but who knows what we'll decide on.

Honestly, I'm totally jumping the gun here since we haven't even found an apartment yet, but the one that seems most promising at the moment will allow us to paint the walls so we can't help but to think ahead! Any (hypothetical) suggestions???

PS) I'll keep you posted on when we do officially sign a lease for the fall -- I'm going to be back in full force with decorating (on the cheap) and will definitely be inquiring for any and all ideas!

Happy Hump Day!

2009-07-08T15:28:00.005-04:00

Happy Hump Day, everyone! I always feel left out in the blog-world when bloggers from all over wish each other a happy hump day -- for me, it's more of a HUMPH day since I work Tuesday through Saturday so my Hump Day always lands on Thursday. But this week, I'm joining the club since I have Saturday off for my future sister-in-law's bridal shower! Of course, this means I'll be working six days in a row next week to make up for it, but I'll worry & whine about that later. For now, HAPPY HUMP DAY! For once, I'm counting down to Friday just like the rest of you! :)

(PS: In case you're wondering, Alex and I are still going strong with kickin' butts! Neither of us have had a cigarette in just about three months...but I just love that top photo too much not to post it!)