still alive

I swear it, I am still alive.  I'm super busy working on a project that I hope to be sharing with you guys soon (so excited!), and I can only spend so many hours in front of the computer before my eyeballs start bleeding, so the blog has taken a bit of a back seat lately.  But I am alive and well, truly.  And if you need proof, follow me on Instagram, where I have finally set up an account and am chronicling life's little pleasures in a less wordy way.  See you over there?

frivolous friday fun

I just recently discovered Ylvis, a Norwegian comedy duo made up of brothers Bård and Vegard Ylvisåker.  And they are cracking me up.  

Another hit from Ylvis and some bonus laughs...

fantasy giving

It's my mama's birthday today!!!  I wish I could give you an entire field of poppies to celebrate.

I also wish I could give you...

cool tones

It is almost June.  Usually we'd all be moaning about the heat by now, but last night Husband and I actually had to wear our winter coats out on our date.  I'm not complaining though, I'm sure there's plenty of heat headed our way, soon.  Plus, I love that I get to wear all those spring layers that have such a small window of usefulness.  Meanwhile I've been pinning more subdued as well, cool, muted colors and comforting textures.  I know some of you are following me on pinterest, but I do like to curate a small selection here every so often as well.  And if you're not following me yet, get on it! Love to see you over there...

colors & textures

image sources available on pinterest

Every once in a while I like to share some of my recent pins, in case you're not following me yet over on pinterest.  Pinterest is one online addiction that I think is truly good for me.  In the midst of even my most hectic days, it slows me down, refills my creativity, floods my senses with colors, textures, tastes, and travels, all from the comfort of my laptop.  Are you addicted? Are we following each other yet?

(ps - if you're on other social media platforms as well, so am I! Twitter here, and facebook here.  Just saying.)

pinning away

image sources available via pinterest

Just thought I'd share some pins of late.  Little bit of everything.  Come on over and join me there!

thunder snow

This is our backyard this morning.  Thundersnow is the official weather condition, one which I'd never heard of before in all my years of Wisconsin living.  It's just what it sounds like, snow, with thunder.  It's pretty awesome.  But as my sister points out, it would also make the best wrestling name ever.  Or any name for that matter.  Should I name my firstborn child Thunder Snow?

It's so quiet, everything muffled under a blanket of magical white fluff.  The only sound was the snowplow getting stuck on the corner.  Irony abounds.  We're taking a full snow day, catching up on tv watching and making hot pepper brownies.  Full report to come soon...

colorful sky rats

You may have already seen these but I couldn't resist reposting (originally found here).  Artists Julian Charriere and Julius von Bismarck (humanely) spray painted pigeons at the 2012 Venice Biennale in an effort to essentially rebrand the much maligned birds' image.

How lovely are they?  Definitely much more than rats with wings, these birds are absolutely gorgeous.  See more portraits, plus the winged beauties in action, after the jump...

entrapment

A break from my Vancouver posts to say, "Damn you, Madewell."

Seriously.  A few weeks ago in San Francisco I went in to browse and walked out with this blue striped sweater, but of course I tried everything on and fell in love with this shirt as well.  I was still pining over it a week later (which is always a sign that it's meant to be) so I ducked back into the store to pick it up.  But of course they had new things!  Which of course I had to try on.  Which of course I am now pining over, yet another week later.  Argh.  So, at the risk of boring you all (and myself) to death, in what will hopefully be my last madewell post for a long while, I present to you the pieces that caught my eye the second time around.

striped transmission tee - the perfect soft and comfy striped shirt with a bit of spunk in the pocket

biltmore felt fedoras - floppier and slightly rumpled in the store, like an old man's fishing hat

enticing jewelry - dangly earrings that are half elegance, half rock 'n roll, delicate neon rings for stacking*, and yes, again, the llama

*I know I saw a beautiful photo of someone who had slipped a thin neon ring in with her wedding and engagement ring, just a crazy pop of color in an otherwise very traditional elegant stack, and I absolutely loved the effect.  Can't now find it, of course, but if you've seen it let me know where!

take a leap

Happy Leap Day everybody!

Did you do it yet?  Are you going to?  It's leap year, the planets are aligned, change is in the air.  Seems like an appropriate time to take a risk and just dive in to something new, don't you think?

images from booooooom, deal with pets, grand jeté

Whatever it is, just go for it.

silly rabbit

image from sumally

Rachel Comey bunny slippers, made with baby alpaca fur.  Ridiculously cute.

the road not taken

Ever think of just totally changing direction?  Spitting in the face of all that you have done and all that is expected of you?  Like an alpaca would?  One of my secret dream jobs (that I know nothing about and might actually not love if I knew what were really involved, but which in my ignorance seems perfect) is to run an alpaca farm.  A little cottage industry where we raise alpaca, sheer them, spin our own high quality wool and even design and produce a knitwear line.  But mostly, we get to hang out with these guys.

images from pixadus and chimney hill

They just crack me up.  I am resisting putting hundreds of alpaca images here, but after the jump see two videos that I absolutely could not resist sharing with you...

first things first

My first day home has been filled with lots of catch-up time with my mama, watching crappy tv curled up on the couch with the boyz, coffee from Starbucks, a naked burrito from Qdoba, and trips to Target and Walgreens.  Some of you may laugh, but really truly, these are the first things I want to do/eat/shop when I get here.

I found some great stuff at Target including a super supple t-shirt that feels ridiculously expensive and a fun printed cropped blouse that is unlike anything else in my closet.

drapey modal t-shirt (got mine in black) and cropped boxy floral top

a few more of the day's all-important purchases after the jump...

homeward bound

No wishful thinking here, I actually am homeward bound!  I cannot wait!  In 5 hours I'll be on a plane, and in 25 hours I'll be on the other side of the world nestled on the couch with the boyz and my mama, surrounded by the wet green smell of Madison summer nights.

We may not have an ocean, but our lakes almost make up for it. 

Don't let these pictures give you the wrong idea though, truth is, most of my vacation will probably be spent on the couch!  Oh, alright alright, I'll do stuff too.  Just let me rest for a few days...

images from wikipedia, and planetware

the boyz

Just 8 frenzied days until I'm home in Wisconsin hanging out with these beautiful boys.   I cannot wait to curl up with them on the couch and do a whole lot of nothing.

anna lewis

'Cathexis' is an installation by jewelry designer/multimedia artist Anna Lewis.  She hung over 3000 embellished wooden birds to swarm around the gallery.  The result is overwhelming and breathtaking.

 

more after the jump...

couldn't not share, sorry

Unfortunately (for me, and now for you too) yesterday I discovered Cute Overload.  I promise I will not fill this blog with adorable kittens, but just this once, just this once I couldn't resist.

Ok. Now it's out of my system, I swear I won't do that anymore.

One more thing though.

When Smart Husband told me it was obviously photoshopped and I defensively (in defense of what? cuteness?) asked how he knew, he said "Because raccoons don't walk around on two feet. And also, they don't carry kitties."

Excellent points.

What a face!