flowers & tea

tumblr

2010-06-22T17:38:00.001-07:00

You may have noticed that I haven't been great about posting lately. I thought that I'd be better once school ended, but once school ended I started working, and as it turns out, working is TIRING. I don't even have a hard job... I essentially just sit and read all day... But it sure wears me out.

So my bestie talked me into starting a tumblr. So far, it's easy enough, and hopefully I'll be a bit more consistent with posting.

Please check me out here!

And let me know what you think! Thanks!

Andy Warhol

2010-06-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

I love these little Andy Warhol posters, available here. Just fantastic.

strawberries

2010-06-07T19:45:00.000-07:00

Lately, I love strawberries. They're good in cereal, with peanuts and coconut, on top of ice cream, or by themselves. And they're so pretty, as demonstrated by these great pictures from Etsy sellers.

Katy Perry

2010-05-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately! I finished finals and then flew out to Arizona for two weeks, and just got back this morning. It was a good trip but I was glad to sleep in my own bed again. I'll get back to regular posts soon, but for now, listen to this Katy Perry song. It's sort of silly, but after hearing it on the radio out there 500 times, it's probably my new favorite. I especially love the line, "Sun-kissed skin so hot will melt your popsicle." I'm not sure why, but I LOVE it.

Urban Pink Photography

2010-05-10T23:30:00.000-07:00

I love summer and I love these pictures from Urban Pink Photography.

summer outfit

2010-05-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

I really, really want to go shopping... Especially when I go to the Forever21 site, and they have all of these really cute things, and they're all pretty cheap.

On a related note... I really, really want to spend my time outside on warm days. I think these items sort of make that obvious, too. I've even been trying to make my feet look less awful so I can get some cute sandals for this summer (I have REALLY ugly feet... I know a lot of people feel that way, but I'm not exaggerating. I would post a picture but I don't want to gross you out).

What do you think? Are you ready for summer clothes?

sewing

2010-05-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's the fact that I'm just bored to death with studying, but lately I've really been wanting to get crafty and sew or crochet or something. These pictures don't really help... They're so pretty, I want to surround myself in bright threads and pretty projects.

European motivation

2010-05-05T17:02:00.000-07:00

Right now, I'm in the middle of finals and sometimes it's REALLY hard to get motivated. But... I really want to go to Europe, and so that's sort of motivation, because I can only go to Europe if I get a good job, and I can only get a good job if I get good grades, and I can only get good grades if I study. So... I've been studying a lot lately, and there's a lot more to go, so while I try to learn the relevant portions of the tax code, you get to enjoy these pictures of Europe from Etsy sellers.

Spain

France

London

Italy

Ireland

more granny squares

2010-05-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

I found some more afghan inspiration today... I love the bursts of color surrounded by white. There's just something so cheery about it, right?

via ohdeedoh

Madeline Bea

2010-05-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

How great are these pictures from Etsy seller Madeline Bea? I love them.

Rifle Paper Co.

2010-04-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

How cute are these paper products from Rifle Paper Co.? I love them.

Sex and the City 2

2010-04-29T07:49:00.001-07:00

Is anyone else BEYOND excited for this movie to come out? Last night I was talking to a friend online, and I told her, "I was trying to study, but I just watched the Sex and the City trailer, and now I just want cocktails..." I wasn't kidding.

So what do you think? Does this movie look so good or no good?

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

2010-04-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

So right now, we're in the middle of finals season which means that I spend more time than usual studying, and during the time that I'm not studying, I feel semi-guilty because I know that 95% of the other kids ARE studying. Only semi-guilty, though, because how can you really feel THAT bad when you're looking at pictures like these?

And speaking of these... I was just on the website for the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and I'm 100% certain that when all this school nonsense is finally over next month, I need to talk my husband into taking me here, because I'm pretty sure this is what at least part of heaven looks like (I think another part looks like Oyster Bay).

So it's settled.

granny squares

2010-04-23T23:48:00.000-07:00

I've decided that over this summer, I want to crochet myself a granny square blanket similar to this one, because I love granny squares and I love this blanket:

(via decor8)

spring!

2010-04-12T20:24:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been loving spring. Honestly, this is the first time in my life that I've experienced a REAL spring with trees turning green and flowers blooming... In Arizona, it just never got cold enough for the trees to lose their leaves to begin with, so there was never that period of renewal. I think spring is sort of amazing, though.... It just makes me SO HAPPY to walk through the park and see the trees blooming and regrowing after such a cold, depressing winter. There's something so comforting about knowing that you can have something so pretty come out of such a bleak period. So I think spring may be my new favorite season.

Keeping that in mind, I love these pictures from Etsy seller Judy Stalus, and you will, too.

sorry!

2010-04-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry again for the lack of posts. We went on a little day trip last weekend to celebrate our anniversary, so I'll post pictures of that soon. But... Just to hold you over, check out this goose that we saw near the water. I love him.

dishes

2010-04-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

I was looking through pictures, and I found this one, and I realized that I'm obsessed with dishes. And I can't figure out why, exactly, but I am. It's actually really hard to not spend money on pretty plates and cups, like at Anthropologie and Pier 1, but I have to resist since I have no space, and... There's really just not any reason to have that many dishes.

That being said... I've decided that when I'm done with school, employed, and can afford to travel, I'm going to go to lots of different places and make it a priority to buy a dish from each one. A pretty plate, or a delicate teacup, or... Whatever. And then I'm going to display them, because even though I really only need to USE a few dishes, I'm okay with LOOKING at infinity dishes.

via most beautiful darling

(Is it obvious that I'm absolutely obsessed with this blog right now? She finds the most gorgeous pictures.)

kitchen

2010-04-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

Let's just talk about all the things here that make this sort of my dream kitchen:

-- open shelves instead of high cupboards

-- bright white counters, shelves, and cupboard doors

-- bowl of lemons

-- flowers

-- bar area

-- lots of counter space

-- etc.

Do you love it?

via most beautiful darling

apron

2010-03-29T23:06:00.000-07:00

I 100% need this apron from Anthopologie. I'm so serious.

Pottery Barn Emma collection

2010-03-28T18:02:00.000-07:00

I am pretty much in love with these "Emma" pieces from Pottery Barn. They're simple and adorable and I want them all... Even if I don't actually have any space right now.

lemon bars

2010-03-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

You know how I've been loving lemons lately? Well... I love them so much that I actually made lemon bars today. I got the recipe from Bakerella, and while mine aren't quite as pretty as hers, they do taste delicious. It's definitely a recipe that I'm planning to use again and again, and I would totally recommend it.

Bakerella

lemons!

2010-03-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

Lately, I really love lemons. Just look at them in these flickr pictures. They're sunshine in fruit form... And with numerous rainy days expected in the coming days, I need all the sunshine I can get.

On a side note... Sorry for not posting as frequently. School is getting to the end of the semester, which means things are getting hectic, so I might not be on here as regularly. I'll still do my best to share pretty pictures, though, so just hang in there with me, okay?

Piccolina Photography

sarahpigeon

2010-03-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

It's finally warming up and these pictures from sarahpigeon make me want to be outside more than anything. Also, I finally got some new blue and yellow sheets, so I can start working on my beach-themed bedroom, and her beach photos are perfect inspiration. I love it.

the love shop

2010-03-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been having sort of a rough time lately... I won't get into details, but I think the worst is finally over. I think that, if nothing else, I've gained some new perspective, and I've grown more appreciative of the little tiny things that actually mean the world. Because really, when the big picture seemed to be falling apart, thinking of all the little things made me want to keep trying and kept me from giving up.

So anyway, I was a bit down lately, but these prints from the love shop totally make me smile. They're bold and simple and absolutely wonderful, and I think they'll make you smile, too.

Claudia Kay

2010-03-07T05:42:00.000-08:00

It's finally warming up. And by "warming up," I mean that it's been getting into the 40s. If my mom back in Arizona heard that I considered 40 to be "relatively warm," she'd probably ask what I did with her real daughter (the one who used to need a sweater when it was 75) so then I would just have to explain that after you've walked to school in snowstorms, 45 feels amazing. Trust me. I even wore just a sweater and flip flops to the laundromat yesterday, and while it was chilly, it was totally bearable for the half block walk. I can just see my mom's face if I told her THAT.

So I'm clearly excited that it seems like winter is finally bowing out to make room for spring, and I found these pretty pictures from Claudia Kay Photo to demonstrate of all the pretty days and things I'm going to hopefully be enjoying soon.

buttons

2010-03-03T14:57:00.000-08:00

I think buttons are ADORABLE.

William Wordsworth

2010-03-01T22:57:00.000-08:00

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

warmth

2010-02-28T13:27:00.000-08:00

I know I whine about this ALL THE TIME, but I NEED it to be warm outside. Yesterday, I was thinking about how over the summer, when we first moved to New York, we'd just go out at night and walk around the streets by our apartment, and we'd go to the little sweets shops and get gelato or cannoli. Or we'd go to one of the parks and walk around and it was just nice to be outside. Or we'd go down to the beach and walk along the board walk. But now... You go outside and your bones hurt, and it's just so worthless. It's not healthy to be cooped up inside all the time... It's just so frustrating. BUT. These pictures from bellalucephotography give me hope, and remind me that soon enough, I'll be able to go outside without having to cover nearly every inch of skin, and I'll be able to take a walk without telling myself, "It's okay, you're almost inside. Walk faster, you're almost there." And right now... I need that sort of hope.

winter/spring

2010-02-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

So yesterday was a snow day, which I don't exactly mind (I'm not going to protest class getting canceled, that's for sure)... But Monday is March, and to me, March should mean spring, even if the weather outside is determined to keep winter hanging around.

So I think these pictures from NatureMandalas are appropriate. They're a perfect blend of winter and spring, and they capture everything beautiful about both.

LyndaNaranjo

2010-02-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

Check out these amazing pictures from Etsy seller LyndaNaranjo... I can basically guarantee that you will love them.

Anthropologie

2010-02-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

So Anthropologie's prices make me sort of sick. Even if I DID have money, I don't think that I would actually buy their furniture ($2,500 for a chair is excessive, to say the least). However, these pieces do have structure and they are great looking, so... I suppose if you don't have anything better to spend money on (vacations, retirement savings, children's educations, CHARITIES...) it might be worth it.

And I don't mean to hate on Anthropologie. I do think they have amazing housewares, and I think sometimes you can find REASONABLE prices... Just not on furniture.

bottles

2010-02-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

I love these bottle pictures from Etsy. There's something so simple and classic about glass bottles, right? They make perfect decorations.

road trip

2010-02-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

I won't lie. I've been feeling pretty antsy lately, like... Sort of overwhelmed with school and stuff. And I suppose that's totally normal, but I mostly just wish we could get away. I remember last year, when we moved out here, we basically took a cross-country road trip, and I want to repeat that... Except this time, without the cat and without knowing that my husband has to start school in a week, both of which forced us to hurry and not take many stops. I want to take a road trip where we can just drive and enjoy the open space and not have to feel suffocated by everything else that happens in life... A chance to just get away and not have to worry about anything or anyone else, and just be able to be alone together. You know? Do you ever feel like that, or am I nuts?

brightness!

2010-02-19T07:02:00.000-08:00

So the past week or so has been sort of miserable with snow and general cold weather... I think that's why I'm especially drawn to bright colors lately. These pictures from Etsy seller HeyZee are perfect for scaring away the winter blahs.

my bathroom

2010-02-18T21:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a little peek into my bathroom. It's not much, but I sort of like it.

Baby food jars make excellent medicine cabinet organizers. And yes, I did buy that Old Spice for my husband, and yes, I do like when he wears it. I'm not embarrassed.

And pressed flowers make excellent decorations. It's sort of lucky that there's a little tiny ledge there, so the frames just sit without any nails. And do you love the pink shower curtain? Because I do. Seriously.

template, part 2

2010-02-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

Okay. I think I've settled on this one. What do you think?

And don't worry. I'll be back with substantive posts soon!

template

2010-02-17T18:13:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be messing with the template for a few days, so if you visit and things look awful... Don't panic. I'm just trying to mix things up a bit... And hopefully I'll have something even better than this soon!

facts.

2010-02-15T09:51:00.000-08:00

I'm going to steal this idea from Holly at haus maus. You may or may not be interested, but just in case you ARE interested, here are 25 random facts:

Our cat is named Sophie after the girl Sophie Scholl. You can watch this movie about her work with the anti-Nazi resistance movement, the White Rose.
My great grandma taught me to crochet.
My favorite part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the section with the old colonial silver and china.
I got married on a beach. I didn't realize until 6 months after the wedding that I could have made that the "theme" with seashell centerpieces and all that jazz.
Because of things like #4, sometimes I don't feel particularly intelligent.
My favorite movie is Elizabethtown. My second favorite is the Royal Tenenbaums.
I LOVE Harry Potter. It's sort of obsessive.
I have a thing for scarves.
I have discovered that there aren't any clothes more comfortable than my husband's t-shirts.
My favorite scent is white tea and ginger lotion from Bath and Body Works.
As a general rule, I only wear solid colors.
I love to bake. I can't make anything fancy, but I love little cookies and cakes.
I prefer super hot showers. Like, the goal is to look like a lobster when I get out.
I have very curly hair. I get a lot of compliments when I wear it in ringlets, but it makes me feel like a little kid (think Shirley Temple).
I really, really, really wish I had a washer/dryer in my apartment, because I think carrying your laundry outside to go to a laundromat is weird.
I think Post It notes are one of the greatest inventions ever.
I enjoy picking up seashells when we go to the beach.
When it comes to kitchens, I prefer shelves to cabinets.
My two biggest fears are snakes and failure.
People have told me that I'm like a mom because I carry things like tissues, Ibuprofen, and hand sanitizer in my purse.
Whenever my husband gets me flowers, I press a few of them in a heavy book so I can keep them forever.
I am looking forward to the day when it is finally warm enough to wear flip flops, even though I have really ugly feet.
I really, really admire Hillary Clinton. I think the fact that she was wildly successful on her own, combined with the fact that seems to have done a good job raising a daughter, combined with the fact that she and her husband still seem to care about each other despite how much they've been through... I think all those things make her a really great role model. And maybe some people will say differently, and will say that she shouldn't have worked so much or that she only stayed married to further her own political agenda, but... I would like to be more romantic about it than that, and I think she's got a lot of strength, and I really respect her.
Holidays make me wish I still worked around kids, because I love seeing how excited they get about their little cards and candies. Adults can't match that enthusiasm.
I need to go study. I feel like I've sort of been slacking this semester, and that needs to change immediately.

love poems

2010-02-14T08:35:00.000-08:00

ee cummings

Shakespeare

Valentine's Day, Round 2

2010-02-13T09:14:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help it. These are some of the sweetest cards ever, and I basically want to send all of them to my husband. Aww.

shirts

2010-02-12T17:41:00.000-08:00

I may or may not be addicted. But Forever 21 has these shirts for $3.50, so I really didn't have any choice but to stock up. You can't in good conscience pass up a deal like that.

Also, as a side note, I've all but formally adopted an "I only wear solid colors" rule. There are exactly three exceptions... I have a grey and blue striped tank top that I LOVE, a Marines screen print tee that apparently used to belong to my brother-in-law but that conveniently is small enough for me now, and a polka dotted polo that only sort of counts because I can't actually remember the last time I wore it. So... Probably a little weird, but I'm not afraid to admit it. I like solid colors.

spring/summer

2010-02-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

Pretty pictures from dsbrennan.

spring types

2010-02-10T08:50:00.001-08:00

It's snowing. It's really not that bad, but I didn't feel like marching around in the wet, and I only had one class today, so... I'm taking my first snow day. And to celebrate my first snow day, I found these lovely pictures (that remind me of spring) from wrenandchickadee.

New York

2010-02-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

I've been doing a lot of (almost obsessive) thinking about the future lately, and I think I've decided that I ultimately want to stay in New York after I finish school. Obviously, I might change my mind by then, or after a few years of work, but I don't really know where else I would go (I have really logical reasons, but I'll spare you an explanation, unless you're REALLY interested).

Honestly, though, I love New York. Okay, I hate the weather, but if I look past that, I really love New York. And if you look at these pictures from irenesuchocki, I'm pretty sure you will, too.

Valentine's Day, Round 1

2010-02-07T21:02:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest... I don't love Valentine's Day. I think there are plenty of better holidays, and I think it's sort of silly to have one day that's supposed to be all about love. I'd rather be affectionate ALWAYS, you know? But... These Valentine's cards from Etsy sellers are so cute that I can totally forget that I don't care much for February 14.

cuppy cakes

2010-02-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some more delicious cupcake pictures, this time from Etsy sellers.

As a side note... I remember every year for our birthdays, my mom would bake creative cakes for my sisters and me, and I loved it, but I think it would be really cute to start a CUPcake tradition for birthdays IF I ever had kids. Do you have a birthday tradition in your family? Please share!

living room furniture

2010-02-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

I like this furniture from Crate and Barrel... But to be honest, when I do finally buy a sofa and whatnot, I'm going to have to avoid light colors because I'm sort of messy and I can basically guarantee that I would ruin something this light... I love looking at it, though, and would totally go for something with similar shapes but a darker color.

The Royal Tenenbaums

2010-02-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

This was probably the longest feeling week ever, so to wrap it up, I came home after classes today and wound up re-watching The Royal Tenenbaums. I'm not sure exactly how many times I've seen it, but it's a classic (and my second favorite movie, directly behind Elizabethtown). If you've seen it, I expect you love it, too. If you haven't seen it, rent it or order/stream it from Netflix IMMEDIATELY. I'm serious.

Here's the trailer, which honestly doesn't really do it justice. It's just one of those movies with so many good one-liners... When I was watching it, I noticed all these phrases that have made it into my everyday usage (some of which I didn't even remember stealing from this movie). That's how good it is.

earrings

2010-02-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

I really like these earrings from Forever21. It's probably better if I just avoid going in there for awhile... I can't afford a shopping spree, and I don't want to be TEMPTED. You know? But I can e-window shop.

Country Living

2010-02-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

I'm digging these kitchens from Country Living. The pale colors and light accents make them look super airy and spacey (qualities I definitely admire in a kitchen). I also love the flowers and lemons as cheery accents. Perfect!

Joy the Baker

2010-02-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

I think it's probably impossible to dislike cupcakes, but have you seen these pictures from Joy the Baker? They look delicious and adorable. And who doesn't love a delicious and adorable dessert?

And let me just say... This last picture is of a "cupcake sundae" idea, and I NEED to have a cupcake sundae party now. Honestly. Genius.

healthy rainbow

2010-01-31T13:51:00.001-08:00

I think it's kind of awesome that there's some fruit/vegetable to correspond to every color of the rainbow. And I also think it's kind of awesome that Etsy photographers capture the colors so well in their work. See what I mean? Awesome.

(On a side note... I've honestly never had eggplant and I really don't care for carrots, BUT you can't deny that these pictures are great, so I put my vegetable preferences aside for their sake. That's okay, right?)

cardigans

2010-01-30T14:43:00.000-08:00

I'm sort of surprised that the Forever21 website has so many cute cardigans, considering I couldn't find ANY good sweaters at the actual store when I visited it about a month ago. I would go check it out again now, but... I have to buy a suit for job interviews, and I imagine that's going to cost a nice sum, sooooo... I should probably avoid spending money on anything else.

On a similar note, I tried to explain once to this girl that I am sort of bad at taking care of clothes (like, I tend to just throw everything in the wash and I always spill things, etc.), plus I'm cheap, so I would rather buy multiple inexpensive items than one expensive item... She still doesn't get it, but I sort of swear by my closet full of F21 t-shirts. Seriously.

pink is love

2010-01-30T14:23:00.000-08:00

AliciaBock

2010-01-28T21:21:00.000-08:00

Today, I woke up and it was SNOWING. I don't have anything against snow, exactly, but I REALLY just wish it was spring/summer so the trees didn't look so bare and depressing, and so I wouldn't feel like I was dying every time I leave my apartment.

These pictures from AliciaBock make me feel WAY better, though. She has SO MANY good ones... It was hard to narrow it down to five. Wonderful.

Pottery Barn

2010-01-26T19:40:00.000-08:00

I need these things for my dream beach bedroom:

Hilary Upton

2010-01-26T14:28:00.001-08:00

I like these pictures by Hilary Upton. I thought you would, too.

Lola's Room

2010-01-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

You NEED to check out Lola's Room on Etsy immediately. Don't these dreamy pictures make you absolutely swoon?

flowers

2010-01-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

I really hate cold weather, but these flower pictures make me think of sunshine on my face and definitely cheer me up. Honestly, I don't think there are many things that I love more than flowers. Last night, we watched this episode of No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain where he went to Vancouver, and there was part where he was on this little island that was covered in flowers... It was gorgeous.

headbands

2010-01-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

I think headbands are the perfect way to dress up hair and outfits, and I especially love these ones available on Etsy:

Pottery Barn

2010-01-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure that when I actually have a real income and slightly less debt, I NEED to shop at Pottery Barn for beach bedroom accessories. I am in love.

tea cup artworks

2010-01-16T21:14:00.000-08:00

Did I mention that I love tea cups? There are SO many good finds on Etsy. Here are some of my favorites:

tea cups

2010-01-15T16:27:00.001-08:00

Today I got a package from Poodle, and inside, it had this photo from Gabrielle Kai:

Don't you LOVE it? This is basically my favorite of her pictures, because I love tea and I love the colors... The green and gold are perfect together. Plus... How can you not love tea cups? I tend to dislike the idea of collecting things, but I'm totally open to collecting tea cups. Or pictures of tea cups. Yay for pretty things.

Oh, she also sent a Taylor Swift CD and some hand warmers... So, pretty cool package all around.

baby blankets

2010-01-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

Back when I maintained an Etsy shop, I got a custom order for five crocheted baby blankets. Since I was in school, I couldn't work on them much, but over break, I FINALLY finished all five. I hope the lady likes them. My personal favorite is the purple one... The bluish one in the top left of the first picture is my second favorite.

botanical prints

2010-01-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

I'm sort of in love with these botanical prints from Etsy sellers. They're SO pretty!

1. livelaughvintage

2. LoveElizabeth

3. blasts from the past

4. slinkimalinkicat

5. my victory garden

beachy inspiration

2010-01-05T11:31:00.000-08:00

As I said in this post, I'm basically set on a beach/ocean theme for our bedroom, so I sought out some inspiration. Enjoy these great pieces from Etsy sellers:

1. erin jane illustrations

2. Susannah Tucker

3. Mag Artsy Crafts Too!

4. L. Young Studio

5. maile lani

6. shoreside chic

design goals and strategy

2010-01-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

Right now, we're renting an apartment that I have a love-hate relationship with. I love the location and I love the price (compared with how much apartments cost in other areas near here, not compared with prices back in AZ). That being said, I hate the size (it's bigger than some places, but there's no dining area, which means our table is in the living room, which means there's no living area), I hate the wall colors (for some reason, instead of standard white walls, we have peach colored walls), I hate the kitchen linoleum, and I really HATE the kitchen cupboards. All those things add up to mean that we're obviously only staying here temporarily. I don't want to move again soon, so I'm THINKING we'll just stay here until we finish school (a few more years), and then when we have actual careers and incomes, we'll move to a place about which I can say "I love..." more than "I hate..."

But, right now, given the fact that I don't see this apartment as a particularly long-term residence, I don't want to invest much time/money in large-scale improvements (so I'm not interested in painting, etc.). I do, however, want it to be as cute as possible via small-scale improvements.

That leads me to my new design strategy: I've decided on room themes that I would be comfortable having in each room assuming I were in my "dream home." I'm going to keep these themes in mind as I make housewares and decor purchases, and decorate here as if it were that dream home. That way, when I FINALLY DO get to move into a home that I love and can see myself keeping for many years, I'll already have the little decorations that will make it unique.

So here are the themes:

bathroom: pink, black, and white color scheme with soft decor, such as pressed flowers -- pretty but with black accents so it's not TOO "granny"

kitchen: various colors with botanical prints decor

bedroom: blues, whites, and tans with beach/ocean decor

living room: various colors with travel decor

dining room: undecided... but probably something similar to the kitchen

Obviously, I picked the bathroom and kitchen ideas without much input from my husband, so to compromise, I settled on the travel theme for the living room because he's been wanting a travel theme for awhile, and then I asked what we should do in the bedroom and the beach theme was his idea... And since I LOVE the beach, I figured that wasn't a bad way to go.

So, now that I have themes, I'll occasionally post "design inspiration" photos and items, and I'll make sure to document and share my new dream-home finds as I work on acquiring them. I'm excited!

Crescent Moon Papers

2010-01-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

I won! Well, honorable mention, but I'm still excited.

Crescent Moon Papers had a blog promotion/giveaway to come up with a new paper product design, and my idea was one of those chosen. Read about the promotion, and then keep tabs on the shop for the tea cup paper debut.

Thanks, Crescent Moon Papers! Such a good way to start the new year.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

It's resolution time! I'm NEVER good about sticking to these, but it's a new decade, so maybe the winds of change are upon us. Here's what I've come up with this year:

be more organized: I used to be SO GOOD about keeping everything organized (papers filed, desk straightened, etc.) but now I'm sort of a slob. I need to redevelop a system of keeping everything nice, and stick to it, so I'm not rummaging through 500 papers to look for one thing. I ESPECIALLY need to get more e-organized (categorize my saved documents better, delete pictures I don't like, get rid of old emails, etc.).

be healthier: Living in New York, I get significantly more active-time than I ever did in Arizona, simply because I walk so much, climb lots of stairs, and have to carry books and groceries blocks at a time. And I've gotten a little better about what I eat/drink: I only have soda occasionally, I don't buy big bags of candy and consume them myself, etc. That being said, there's always room for improvement. I need to learn to cook more (and eat less Chinese food, even though I LOVE this place down the street), and I need to incorporate more vegetables and fruits into my diet, because I think the extra vitamins would probably help my mood and energy levels, which is definitely a plus.

develop better money management skills: Right now, my money management skills are pretty basic: I pay the bills each month, we do lots of spending each month, and then I look at the bank account each month and figure out how much we lost (I only say "lost" because we're both in school and basically living off loans, so we don't have monthly income per se). For not sticking to a concrete budget, we've been surprisingly consistent each month. That being said, I think we can cut back a bit, and I feel like I should be slightly less passive about where our money is going. SO, I signed up for M int, which is a money management site that lets you categorize your spending and shows you exactly where everything is going (bills, transportation, food, shopping, etc.). It automatically categorizes your transactions, but they're all customizable so you can make it work for you and make them as broad or narrow as you want. I just started my account today, but I already LOVE it (mostly because I'm geeky about pie charts, but too lazy to make my own... I really didn't want to go through and tally up all my trips to the grocery store and Starbucks). I think I read about the site on Martha Stewart's website, and had been considering signing up for awhile, but I think the new year is the perfect time to take the plunge. I think now I'll be a bit more conscientious of my spending, which, I think, is a good thing (borrowing Martha's favorite phrase).

So that's that. What are your resolutions? And, if you've stuck to resolutions in the past, do you have any tips or tricks for keeping yourself motivated?

Ingrid Bergman

2009-12-23T20:33:00.000-08:00

Last night, I finally watched Casablanca. It was absolutely wonderful, and I am now in love with Ingrid Bergman. Isn't she gorgeous? And SO sweet!

win these!

2009-12-22T18:32:00.000-08:00

During a somewhat uncommon fit of inspiration the other day, I decided to make some little note cards. I think these guys are cute, but I really don't need any more paper products around here, so I'd like to pass them off to one of you! There are just three of them -- nothing fancy -- but they're little (approximately 3 inches by 6 inches) flat light blue note cards with button flowers PLUS I made the green envelopes too.

So... Win them! Just leave me a comment on this post with your name, email (so I can contact you if you win!), and any other nice things you'd like to add (but don't worry if you don't have too much to add... I'll randomly draw a winner).

I'll draw a name on Thursday, December 24, around 9 pm New York time, so make sure to enter by then. And... Sorry, but I'm going to limit it just to US residents (easier shipping!).

Okay. I think that's it. Yay for free things during the holidays!

Central Park

2009-12-21T06:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we went to the park, so here are pictures as promised. Do you love it?

snow!

2009-12-20T07:52:00.001-08:00

We had a huge snow storm last night, and... Well, it was sort of deep when we went out around 8 (as shown in the first boots picture), but it was SUPER deep when we came home around 11 (as shown in the second boots picture).

And... Can you tell that I finally found my real camera? These pictures are SO much better than the ones I've been taking with that silly camera phone.

Today there's a 70% chance we're going to go to Central Park, so if we do, I promise to have more pictures up tomorrow.

Happy Winter!

chocolate chip cookies!

2009-12-19T15:32:00.000-08:00

Now that school is out for awhile, I finally have the time/energy to BAKE again, and so I made a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies. I used the Nestle Tollhouse Recipe, except with the mini-chocolate chips instead of the regular sized ones, and I made the cookies smaller... With one batch, I made slightly more than ELEVEN DOZEN little cookies... And they are SO GOOD. I put a bunch in a butter cookie tin to take to a get-together tonight, and then... I need to figure out how to get rid of a few more so that I don't eat them all by myself (since the husband has decided that he'd like to lose weight and apparently that means no cookies haha).

Here's the recipe... It's SUPER easy, and definitely the one I'm going to stick with:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I'd forgotten to get vanilla at the store, so I cheated and just used a teaspoon of brewed orange spice tea, BUT there's really no difference in flavor... A teaspoon is such a negligible amount when you consider how much dough you're really making)
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) chocolate chips (like I said, I used the minis and they were really cute)
1 cup chopped nuts (I didn't actually use nuts, which just proves that these are optional)

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely (I also didn't use a wire rack to cool them, mostly because I'm too lazy for that. I DID line my cookie sheets with parchment paper, though, and honestly... Whoever invented parchment paper is a GENIUS. The cookies slid right off with no cooking spray or grease, AND clean-up was ridiculously easy, since you just have to wad up the paper and toss it).

NY Aquarium

2009-12-18T19:53:00.000-08:00

I really need to start using my regular camera and learn to take better photos, BUT today we went to the NY Aquarium and these are the best shots I could get with my phone camera... And I'm still trying to decide how I feel about the black and white.

recently...

2009-12-16T15:14:00.000-08:00

Here are some (not great) pictures that show what's been going on lately... Enjoy!

1. This is left over from when we went to my brother-in-law's house for Thanksgiving. He lives right by the beach and I LOVE this boardwalk.

2. When another brother-in-law and his wife were here this weekend, we went to Rockefeller Center and saw the Christmas tree... So pretty.

3. From Rockefeller Center, you can see these huge lit-up snowflakes, and I think they're adorable.

4. I'm still obsessed with that arch in Washington Square, but now I love it even more because there's a huge Christmas tree set up right next to it.

5. My husband finished finals and I'm ALMOST done so we got some cheap wine (that one is Yellowtail) to celebrate. It took me a really long time to start liking wine, but now I'm a huge fan of cheap bottles poured into our fancy Ikea wineglasses. So classy.

My last test is tomorrow and then... Three weeks off! The break is going to fly by, but HOPEFULLY I can start updating with better posts and get this blog back into shape.

I NEED this.

2009-12-11T21:32:00.000-08:00

from Etsy seller LittleEdithBee

SO random:

2009-12-09T16:37:00.000-08:00

Alright, alright, I haven't been doing a good job keeping up with this blog. Finals are almost done, though, and that is EXCITING.

Here's what's been on my mind other than studying (which, honestly, I probably don't do often enough):

1. I rented Planet In Peril via Netflix and it got here today... I'm really looking forward to it because I LOVE Anderson Cooper. In high school, the vast majority of my celebrity crushes were in bands (Julian Casablancas, Conor Oberst, etc. etc.). Now... I'm basically over that giddy celebrity crush phase, but I HAVE developed a sort of weird obsession with Anderson Cooper. Anyway, here's a trailer for the movie:

2. My break to do list includes: baking cookies, job hunting, crocheting, spending lots of time in my bed, drinking ridiculous amounts of tea, hanging out with my mom and sister, and seeing both Jon Stewart and Martha Stewart. Three weeks are going to FLY by, and I'm sort of disappointed about that.

3. I LOVE the Christmas decorations that have gone up on my street... And I love the little area of the sidewalk that's now surrounded by Christmas trees for sale, because every time I walk to the store or subway, I get to pass by and it smells SO great.

4. I also sort of want to watch Elizabethtown again, even though I've seen it about a billion times... I watched the trailer today on youtube, and I just can't stand how good it is.

I think that's all I've got right now. I had a test this morning, and ever since then... My brain has been basically shut down.
So tell me... What are you doing for Christmas-time?

Corinne Bailey Rae

2009-12-05T19:40:00.000-08:00

This song makes me wish it were summer... And I could go on picnics and wear tank tops and flip flops instead of heavy coats and boots. Oh, sunshine.

working hard.

2009-12-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

My first final is in less than a week, so... Lots of studying and tea. I am beyond excited to finish this semester.

leaves!

2009-12-04T19:56:00.000-08:00

I got some pictures of the leaves in Washington Square park about a week and a half ago. So cute.

I am thankful for...

2009-11-26T19:20:00.001-08:00

This sort of post is really unoriginal, but here it is:

I am thankful for...

my husband (because he still holds my hand when we walk and lets me put my head on his shoulder when we ride the subway, and because he makes me try new things)
Poodle (because even though I'm not always a great friend, she still puts up with my rants and laughs at my jokes, and because she sends me weird websites and links that make it hard not to laugh at inappropriate times)
my mom and sister (because they're always there when I need to run my mouth)
phones and internet (because they make people 3,000 miles away seem closer)
the opportunity to go to a great school (even though I spend too much time whining about how school is sort of a bore for me, I'm still really lucky to be doing what I'm doing)
cups of tea (because they calm me down)
my kit cat (because even though her wet nose drives me nuts, there's something so sweet about a cat purring on your lap)

jars

2009-11-20T19:22:00.000-08:00

For a little while, I was being cheap and getting canned pasta sauce. I didn't make much of a habit of it, though, because (1) canned pasta sauce isn't really that good (I'm actually in love with Ragu sun dried tomatoes and basil right now... and that comes in a jar), and (2) the jars from jarred pasta sauce make great holders for things like thread, coins, buttons, etc.. I'm sort of obsessed.

decor style

2009-11-18T15:22:00.001-08:00

I found this quiz on this blog, and according to it, my decor style is...

COUNTRY CLASSIC

You have a naturally refined sensibility with an appreciation for tradition and history. You value beauty, craftsmanship, and family heirlooms, but you like to open things up with pretty, easy-going pieces like painted wood or distressed furniture, lovely florals and other patterns, and bunches of fresh flowers that give your home a breezy, relaxed feeling. You love unique finds, have a thrifty, creative side, and can make these things work together.

You value order. You feel happiest if your home is well organized. You understand that when your house is in order, your mind feels clearer. Rather than a lot of meaningless objects or overly-designed items, you are happier with a few well-placed things. Your home is your respite from a busy life. Try to avoid letting things into your home that you don't really love.

Julian Casablancas

2009-11-18T15:07:00.000-08:00

At first, I was really iffy about this new album, but the more I listen to songs from it, the more it grows on me. I don't really know if he could make a song that wouldn't grow on me if I listen to it a few times... Honestly, I think he's that impressive.

future attorney.

2009-11-16T20:23:00.000-08:00

maggie and milly and molly and may

2009-11-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

I miss summer and trips to the beach, and I hate cold, gloomy days, but I love this poem because it brightens my mood:

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea

-- e.e. cummings

bright bouquet

2009-11-12T17:31:00.000-08:00

tea and flowers

2009-11-09T21:40:00.001-08:00

1. zuppaartista 2. kristinenoel 3. Emmalynne

I just finished a very long, very last-minute type paper for school, and before I finally get to sleep, I wanted to share these Etsy pictures of my two favorite things: tea and flowers. Enjoy!

Washington Square

2009-11-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

I'm semi-obsessed with this arch. Every time I walk past it, it seems sort of awe-inspiring. I mean, it's not that huge or anything, but I still adore it.

I'm so excited for people to come visit this month and next month so I can show off all my favorite things about the city... This arch is definitely on the list.

hot drinks for cold days

2009-11-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

Starbucks is really growing on me. For instance, on Halloween, we went there and I had the best hot chocolate ever. And then on Wednesday, I had to stay at school for more hours than should be allowed, but a chai tea latte made the experience much more pleasant. I just wish they weren't so expensive, but I suppose you can do what you want when you know that people are obsessed with you.

Alright... Time to get busy. Finals are in less than a month and my best friend is coming in slightly less than three weeks, so I need to study and clean. Hooray for work.

I want THIS kitchen.

2009-11-06T21:46:00.000-08:00

I keep complaining about how much I can't stand my tiny kitchen, and then today on Design*Sponge I found this picture, and I'm in love. This is my new dream. I love it... The bright colors, the open shelving (as opposed to dark closed cabinets), the counter space... Everything. I am going to save this picture and use it as a reminder of why I need to do well in school.

RAAAAAW!

2009-11-05T06:48:00.000-08:00

I love dinosaurs, so you can imagine my excitement when I was casually walking to the subway from school and noticed this raptor hanging out in front of a restaurant.

Honestly, though, my dinosaur obsession is weird because... Dinosaurs are huge reptiles, and I'm actually terrified of some not-extinct small reptiles. I'm mostly just horrified of snakes. Sometimes lizards would freak me out if I would hear one in the bushes and not know whether it was a snake or a lizard. Gila monsters and komodo dragons are cool, though. Alligators and crocodiles are sort of cool, but I wouldn't want to meet one. I mean, I wouldn't want to meet a carnivorous dinosaur, either (I'd like to see an herbivore, though... They remind me of elephants, and I also love elephants). Turtles are pretty neat, too... Especially the giant ones that live infinity years.

So... Now that's everything you ever needed to know about my feelings for reptiles.

pretty good

2009-11-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs is pretty good. Go there and you will love it.

autumn trees

2009-11-01T12:41:00.000-08:00

Trees in the park are so pretty right now.

about.

2009-11-01T09:33:00.000-08:00

I kept trying to convince myself that I could maintain a blog focused on something specific (decorating, Etsy, photographs, etc.) but... life (and blogs) are more random than that.

So... I'm starting this project to feature posts about things I like. Anything that I like.

In that vein, here are some of my favorite things:

flowers

lists

cats

scarves

baking

Bleak House

candles

tea

cocoa

Christmas

etc.

So that's what this blog will include. I hope you enjoy it!