In + Out

This door mat is just the perfect thing for indecisive/commitment-phobic people like me. Place it one way and it says "Go Away", turn that frown upside down and it displays an inviting "Come In." Simple, expressive, and versatile. Depending on how your day goes you could pull a switcharoo.

It kind of reminds me of our family cabin. Where most would post a wrought iron "welcome" sign, my dad proudly hung a barbed wire "go away" sign.

Cousin Lit

Been looking at lots of lighting solutions for the condo. This one makes me confused. I'm not sure if this light makes me want to invite it in for dinner and a movie, or slap it and tell it go run home to its mother.

The Answer Is...

Lalalalove this fashionable statement from Viktor & Rolf for their fall 2008 show in Paris.

I can think of at least a few days when I wouldn't mind wearing this, just so people got the message loud and clear: don't even bother asking.

Lalalalove: Rrribit

In honor of leap year, I thought I'd post something about a frog.

I lalalalove this little frog prince. So much that I gave it to my husband for part of his wedding gift. I thought I was so clever, giving him a spot to hang his ring every night, before falling asleep with visions of me in his head. Problem is, he hasn't worn a wedding ring since our wedding day.

But that's another story for another time. To answer your immediate questions though...No, it does not bother me. Yes, it is a long story. Yes, we are still truly madly deeply. Yes, it is partially my fault.

Dot Dot Dot

This cute little cosmetic pouch is on sooper dooper sale right now. And it matches the inner lining of the radical badical coat I recently purchased for more than I should have. If it were a clutch, I'd buy it in a NY minute.

Chick It Out

With Easter less than a month away (which, BTW, I find to be totally unfair---who wants to hunt for eggs outside in mushy grass March??? Or wear a cute pastel dress, for that matter???) I figured I may as well start poking my nose around for decorations and brunch and whatnot.

These chick feet wire egg cups have been giving me the giggles all week long. I don't even necessarily love eggs prepared in this fashion, but I'm half tempted to make them for displaying purposes.

Condo Phase I: Demolition

We bought a cute little condo nestled on the hillside with expansive views, HOA's, and friendly neighbors. It's brand new 1985. Literally. It's got bright white carpet that has never seen the sole of a shoe in its 25 year lifetime. And a dishwasher that's never seen a dish.

We'll be making some minor modifications before we move in. I'm thinking about buying this pink ladies tool kit to make it official. And to match my tiara and heels.

Seeing Red

Some thoughts on the Oscars.

First, red. Red here, red, there, red red red everywhere. 2 straps, one-strapped, no straps, feathered, fluttery, fitted, simply stunning scarlet. Red was the color of the night. I wonder if those who didn't wear red felt left out. Like they didn't get the memo.

Second, movies. I liked the bit of all the past winners throughout the show. Especially the past winners for Best Picture. I'd like to make it a goal to watch all 80 by next years show. I'll keep you updated.

Third, lalalalove. Sososo in lalalalove with Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard. Plus their smiling song, second speech and little movie---scratch that, little art, Once.

8 Is Great

Nicole tagged me a bit ago. I've been trying to conjure up 8 really radical splendiferous things about myself that would wow and bowl people over from sheer shock and awe. Turns out, I'm not that exciting. So here are 8 tried and true things about me right now.

1. One of my all time favorite movies lines is Cher from Clueless: "...and in closing, may I remind you that it does NOT say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty."

2. Next to my dog, my big sunglasses and lipgloss are my best friends.

3. I'm growing increasingly frustrated that I can't get my hair to blow out the same way my hair stylist does. I'm contemplating having him do it for me once a week. If he wasn't an hour away, I'd for sure do it. Hey, old ladies do it...why can't I?

4. I'm desperately seeking denim. Denim like the jean. I just don't know what designer to try this time. I feel like everything is so played out. Any suggestions? Nothing too wild and crazy, something more classic (yet still stylish) that fits petite peeps like me.

5. I want the new Blackberry Curve so bad it hurts. I may give up my baby toe for it.

6. I'm scared to death of skin cancer. Now I instant/spray tan and wear 70 SPF every day.

7. It's been such a cold winter, I've started wearing my Uggs outside. I can tell they're now showing signs of wear. I'm really worried about it.

8. Sometimes I clean the house in a tiara and heels. While I'm wearing a wifebeater and short shorts. It helps me feel less gross about the yuck-yuck-yuckity-mcyuckerness of cleaning.

Holiday Hangover

I'm punch drunk on love, chocolate, and flowers.

But Laura Crow's essay on Valentine's Day gave me a whole new perspective.
I'm not gonna enjoy my 2 dozen roses any less, but it sure did make me think.

*image via laura crow too (the story totally made sense of why she has so many amazing images of flowers)*

Loveseat

The name says it all. You know what to do with it. Today is your day. Cuddle up, curl up, snuggle up with a good movie, a good book, or a good looker.

xoxo.

Red Velvet

If ever there was an appropriate time to make red velvet cake. Theme-colored and sinfully delicious, this cake is seductively screaming (not sure how that happens) to be the sweets for your sweet this Valentines Day.

*Just make sure you use a recipe with the right frosting. None of this buttercream or cream cheese frosting nonsense.*

3 Easy Steps To Get On My Good Side

Step 1: Leave on a jet plane, late at night from Manhattan, bound for SLC. Tuck a 25 lb. bag of the best cookies ever 'neath your arm:

Step 2: Arrive to SLC in the wee hours of the morn. Leave this on my bathroom counter:

Step 3: Share them with me for breakfast every day for a week, until they're gone. When all hope is lost and the last nibble enjoyed, find the last precious one, and surprise me all over again:

Special thanks to my bro-in-law, B., who shares my eating habits and is therefore officially on my good side.

Resolved

It's already February. I haven't even thought about making my own New Years Resolutions. Naturally, I looked to my trusty blogroll for a little inspiration. Found some great motivators/ideas to bag, borrow, and steal:

• Ali's create more and try new things
• Marta's creatively penned ideas (an oldy, but a goody)
• Lane's new direction
• Lori's mid-year reminder to listen, learn, labor, and love
• Angies desire to stand a little taller
• YHO's higher education
• 100 Percent Cottam's well-rounded resolutions
• Would Be Writers Guild's bravery/occasional wussiness
• Caroline's organization
• Unruly Thing's deadline, among other things
• Favourito's golden ticket
• Olivia's autographed photo of Scott Baio
• A Little Sussy's great find to get you thinking, an inspirational one upper

For now, the one thing I can add to this list is that I'd like to start dressing a little more my age. With the hope that it will eventually encourage me to start acting more my age too. Right now, it's a longshot.

Warm Thoughts

It's only the end of January. Yesterday, my friend said "Don't you wish it was summer right now...like the middle of June?" The weather is so miserably cold and smug, that in my extreme desperation I replied, "Right now, I'd settle for April." You know it's bad when you'll settle for moderate average temps instead of warm fuzzy ones.

If it can't be April, I might as well pretend. To get in the spirit of April-ness, I purchased 2 springtime jackets this week. At a discount no less. What the? Who the? How the? Apparently online retailers are as desperate for sunnier days as I am.

Dumped (aka, Last Week We Got 24" of Snow in 24 Hours)

I spy with my little eye,

A Mini so very buried--poor little guy.

My husband saw his lil' car and he almost started to cry.

The weatherman says more is on the way--sigh.

With a winter like this, we're just hoping to get by.

*according to the weather report, we've only just begun*

xoxo

I'll miss this man, his contagious smile, witty humor, wisdom beyond years, and the cane he waved about.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all leave this world knowing we made it a better place.

Well done Gordon B.

Experiment

I'm a pretty petite person. By that, I mean sometimes I purchase childrens clothing from retailers simply because it is the exact same as the adult line and it costs less. I decided to try out Crewcuts by J.Crew. I could only find it online in my neck of the woods, so I purchased a zebra-stripe cardigan. In size XXL, which JCrew says is supposed to fit a 10-year old.

Result: It totally fits me.
Which can only mean one of three things: 1) I am incredibly small, or 2) JCrew's sizes are incredibly large, or 3) 10-year olds just ain't what they used to be.

This Is Why I Can Never Be BFF With Apple (Yet Continue To Buy Their Products)

Those folks over there at Apple just don't get it. And even if they do, I still think they're jerks. I've had the old school iPod Mini since its inception. A cute little pastel pink one that has been hanging on for dear life for the last 9 months. It works some of the time, but not most of the time, and I just can't bear to let it go. Why, you ask? Because the Nano doesn't come in pink. So I've been holding out.

Until Christmas, when G. bought me a new one. Being the loving and wise husband he is, he bought me the next best thing to pink, which is, naturally, red.

But, looksey whoosey popped into my inbox this morning. Just in time for Valentines Day. Blast it all to the moon! I swear this love/hate relationship I have with Apple will be the death of me.

Breakfast At My Place...Or Yours

Does this bathtub sofa look familiar? It's said to be a modern twist on the pink and purple one Audrey made famous in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Now, all you need is that sweet eyeshade, a guitar, a tiara, and a silly cat to re-enact the whole shabang! Killer looks wouldn't hurt either.

LalalaLOVE LalalaLIVE

This is the living room of my dreams. It's the Paris apartment of Cordelia de Castellane (who also happens to have the legs of my dreams). I once heard it perfectly described as a "colorful and modern mix of luxury and frivolity that definitely doesn't take itself too seriously." I think I once heard someone describe me that way too. Now, if only I could get those LOVEly pillows in that lovely room to say "lalalaLOVE".

When Fashion Must Be Sacrificed For Function: The Goose

This is the warmest coat on the planet. I've tried it. I've tested it. So have my NY pals. So have Arctic researchers. It is the truth.

It's 6 degrees here right now. It feels like the coldest place on the planet.

I wish I wore the Goose.

*update:* inchworm version here

Why I Have Reason To Believe There's Hope For Me Having A Career In Product Design

Pisellino, the mischievous cotton swabs holder puts a smile on my face.


Mr. Suicide, the depressed and drowning bathtub plug and float gives me the giggles.

Rondo, the spewing toothpaste tube cap makes me laugh my head off.

P.S. I have no current ambitions to delve into product design. But if I did...

Dainty Desserts

This ice cream scoop and stack is very clever and perfect for making delectable desserts with discs of ice cream that look gorgeous. They would also make it sooper dooper easy to freeze ice cream ahead of time for a dinner party. Plus, they come in fun colors.

Confessions of a Weekly Hair Washer

My stylist once told me this: "Long hair is big and gorgeous and sexy. Short hair is sassy and stylish and fashion forward." After that I chopped all my hair off. Like a ton of it. I went from hair grazing my bum to hair barely covering my ears. Woah. I felt naked.

That was 3ish months ago. Since then, I've changed. In my long-haired life I washed my hair once a week (if that). The shower cap was my best friend. Now, I wash every other day and (gasp!) sometimes daily.

I never knew/remembered how washing my hair frequently could feel so good. I'd forgotten what consistently clean hair feels like. Yes, in my former life I was that gross (though I cross my heart and hope to die, you'd never know it). Sometimes my husband would finally say to me "You're not getting in this bed tonight unless your hair is clean." Ugh.

I feel like a changed woman. Semi-daily hair washing has changed my life. Indeed, I feel sassier, stylisher, and fashion forwarder. But I also feel cleaner. Funny how that happens.

Macarons were Sophia Coppola's inspiration for the color palette in Marie Antoinette.

So pretty. So petite. So perfect. Lalalalove it.

To House Or Not To House? That Is The Question.

We're still looking for some permanent digs here in our new locale. It's been a struggle to find something we both like/agree on. Five months and a few hundred home tours later, we're finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

We've come to the decision that it is quite likely we do not want a house. We are condo dwellers. It was a hard fought battle. Here's how it all played out:

Me: I don't do boy jobs, i.e. mow, snowblow, rake, take garbage out, shovel, and the like.

G: I don't really do them either.

Condo:1 point.

House: 0 points.

Me: Why do said jobs when I can pay a reasonable monthly fee for someone else to do them?

G: I've built a financial model that shows the benefit of the fee as it offsets the cost of purchasing equipment to do said laborious jobs.

Me: Life is too short to snowblow.

Condo: 2 big ones

House: nada.

Me: Trash shoot.

G: 'Nuff said.

Condo: 3 ways to melt my heart

House: starting to look unappealing.

Me: I want a pool!!!

G: I want a hot tub, heated garage, gym, and clubhouse.

Condo: 4 dancing panda bears tossing rose petals for excess

House: nearing extinction.

Me: It's no NYC pad with a sweet view and wacko neighbors, but it'll do.

G: Synthetic city living. I like the idea.

Condo: 5 "you had me at HOA's"

House: 6 feet under.

Enchanting

Peachy, puffy, poofy, and perfectly over the top. What's not to like?

Plus, it's filmed in my old 'hood. Woot! Woot!

Pancakes

The Animal In You. My actress friend brought this book over. She uses it to determine personalities/habits/social interaction/general make-ups of characters she is studying. We used it for a late night of fun fun fun.

Take a short quiz. Use the answers to determine who the animal(s) in you are. The key to getting a (relatively) accurate result is to be totally honest with your answers. Don't be hard on yourself. And think of yourself in the most genuine terms. I turned out to be a cottontail/otter/sea lion. I reminded myself of The O.C. (my favorite TV show, may it RIP).

Cottontail: Summer had a pet bunny rabbit named Pancakes.

Otter: Seth Cohens spiritual animal was the otter.

Sea Lion: Signature animal of SoCal.

The bad news is my beloved turned out to be part wolf. Whimper whimper whimper said the cottontail.

Take the quiz here. Strange, as I used the same answers but got different results online. But still, which animal(s) are you?

The Song for the 3 a.m. Sled

Sheesh! I've been gone for a long time. Or so it seems to me. I didn't mean to do it. Its just that I was having too much fun...dashing thru the snow, on my no horse open sled. Down the hill we'd go, laughing all the waaay. Don't even have to walk, 'cuz 'mobiles give us rides, what fun it was to ride and laugh and sled all thru the night. Oh, sleddings great! Sleddings fun! Sledding all the way! Oh what fun it is to ride on my no horse open sleigh!

I just lalalalove it when I break into song.

And yes, in our family, we take sledding seriously. I've got the bruised tailbone, fat lip, and hoarse voice to prove it.