Pain-what is it good for?

I have been absent from blogging the past few weeks for many reasons, all of which, lead to the cause of my pain. Simply stated: I do too much and I don't listen to my body enough. I listen to the constant, silly, coaxing, enticing chatter that goes on in the gray matter between my ears. I like things around me to be perfect. House, school, writing, work, everything, everything, everything. And, apparently, I go to extreme lengths to ensure that perfection has a chance. In reality, I am far from perfect. I am the opposite of perfect, actually. The pain that I have been feeling has forced me to slowwwww downnnnn, to take meds that I hate to take, to stay in one place, to sit still and just be. Ugh, to just be is a task of amazing will power but I have proven to myself that sitting still for 2 and 1/2 days is possible, albeit odd for me, and something that I will be practicing more often in order to nurture my body and mind.

Not so knitty.

(image from http://disenyo.blogspot.com)
I would love to be able to knit but my wrists already ache from hours on the computer...I am thinking that maybe learning to crochet will be something less daunting. Not so sure, but, I want to make this!

Depth and Vainity

So, I have been wanting to buy a matte, red lipstick. It sounds quite silly, but finding the "right" red lipstick is difficult. Not difficult like curing-cancer-difficult, but in a vain-pointless-silly-way-difficult. Believe me, I am aware of the depth of this post. But, this is more for me and Kristin as she helped me pick it out. It took 15 minutes of both of our lives. Oh, and her hubby was a trooper, following us around and around, even offering up a lipstick while saying, "What about this one?!" Ahhhhh, friends!
Whatta think?

Kitchen pictures...

At home, watching a webinar, drinking coffee, trying not to scream at my computer over absurdities...being narcissistic. Can you pick out which picture I have my Oh-no!-I-just-stepped-on-my-cat's-tail face?
p.s. also loving my new favorite sweater. $14.99???!!!! What!?

Thinking about the backyard...some inspiring pictures

I am in the midst of planning the design for the backyard. For the town that I live in, this house has a big backyard and it is basically a blank canvas which is both exciting and terrifying. Here are some pictures that I find inspiring. I am thinking: overgrown English cottage garden mixed with veggie garden, mixed with Bohemian modern.








What do you think?

(I just realized that I don't know where I collected these photos from over the years. If you ever see a photo on here that is yours, please let me know and I will give you photo credit for it, or I will remove it if you request for me to do so. Thanks!)

Pictures from a Sunday (yesterday)

Me after brunch, reading Arch. Digest at the Ice Cream shop (b/c Shaun wanted ice cream. I ate my fruit tart from the cafe-yummma! See a photo of the tart below)

Anai had a haircut then a bath-she is so cute!

Me walking:

Shaun making her cappucino disgustingly sweet:

My strawberry tart:

Our table at brunch:

A close up of the amazing sandwich (brie with tomatoes, lettuce, and dijon all on a fresh, homemade baguette:


What did you do this weekend?

I feel like a magazine article...

Just a quick post to say:

I just bought THIRTEEN, yes 13, new (not thirfted-shocking, i know!) pieces of well-made clothing for work (everything was on sale except for one item). Now, as much as I love to be comfy and fashionable on the weekends and weeknights, I <3 to be in classy and interesting work attire at my office.
I grew up with a mother who worked in the fashion design/textile design industry and we were in NYC often while she visited her agents and my aunt was the Fashion Director for Women's Day (back in the day on the 80's-Hello, big sunglasses and plastic jewelry galore!), so, needless to say, I was surrounded by fashionable women who used their clothing as art. When I was a kid my aunt would give me items that were left over from photo-shoots: Christian Dior sunglasses, big purses, lace socks, etc. (remember-it was the 80's).
I feel more productive at my office when I like how I look and feel...odd? I don't think so. I am sure that there have been studies (I'm too lazy to google it right now, but, I digress...) that say that people who feel better about themselves perform better.
I feel like one of those magazine articles that has a two page spread to show how you can buy 10 or so pieces of clothing and you have a whole new wardrobe! Maybe I will photograph my purchases later today. Sound good?