going platinum

Happy New Year everyone!  Yes, I am about a month late to the party, but honestly, this little internet hiatus I've taken has been so wonderful.  In this hyper-connected world we live in, I feel like sometimes that's just what we need in order to breathe a little, grow a little, change a little...

And speaking of change...  I was threatening to do this before the holidays and I bet you didn't think I'd actually do it.  Hell, I didn't think I'd actually do it.  But now that I'm living in Blonde Town, I have to say, I love it here and I think I'm going to stay a while.

If ever anything warranted an onslaught of selfies I think it's this...

big day

image from what katie ate

I see no reason not to shout this from the highest mountain tops: It's my birthday tomorrow!

I have no big plans, I think this year I will be snuggled up with Husband eating all sorts of decadent things and watching movies or something of the sort.  But sometimes quiet cozy celebrations are the best kind.

I do have a few birthday wishes, but like one does with all the best ones, I'm going to keep them to myself so that they come true.  If and when they do, I will let you know.

In the meantime, dear reader, go and eat a piece of cake on my behalf.  The more the merrier!

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...

supermoon

This weekend, head outdoors, breathe in some fresh summer night air, marvel at the universe, and check out the supermoon - a full moon that, due to the positioning of the earth, the sun and the moon itself, will appear bigger, brighter, and just generally better than it usually does.

Oh and PS - Happy Longest Day as well!

PPS - Aren't you glad I managed to resist some stupid Superman/Supermoon joke?  Go ahead, leave one for me in the comments, cause now I know it's twirling around in your head...

swimmingly

This is where I was swimming last month.  I know I have yet to tell you all about my Super Duper Mexico Vacation, but I still haven't finished organizing all my photos and thoughts.  Needless to say, it was awesome.  I'm back in the big city now, but I'll be damned if I give up my water time.  So...

Husband and I have joined the pool!  We started this week, committing to four full months of membership (gotta get those discounts where you can, and the obligation to keep it up is just a bonus), and absolutely love it.  My pool's not as amazing as the Caribbean, but it's pretty damn wonderful.  All this has made me think it would be a good time to go over some pool essentials.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Trust me, you need these things...

rashies

How cute is this?  No, not another bathing suit post, but close.  Today I'm talking about rash guards.  Otherwise known as rashies.  Otherwise known as shirts for cool surfer chicks.  Which I am totally not.  Though I would love to be.  One day.  Actually it's one of my top fantasy activities.  Just thinking about learning to surf gets my heart all aflutter.  But I digress...

For now, I can just pretend, and wear one of these super cute rashies to the beach.  And the bonus: they have a upf of 50+, which means they'd be the perfect thing if the sun's beating down a bit too hard while I'm lounging like a sloth.  Dreaming about doing this:

image from beach mentality

More surfer-chic fashion for us mortals to covet...

xenotes

Starting to plan our trip to Mexico in May and I'm getting all excited just thinking about everything I want to pack into such a short time.  At the top of my list: cenotes.  They're basically natural sinkholes caused by the collapse of limestone bedrock, revealing wells of fresh groundwater, and are often connected to one another by seemingly endless tunnels.  Underwater underground labyrinths.  So cool, right?  One of the natural wonders of the world (at least, they would be if I were in charge of making the list).

More exciting and inspiring photos...

black lace

Did you have a nice valentine's day?  While I'm madly in love with my husband (yes, even after 12 years together, knock on wood) we've never really been into this holiday.  Still, I'm not above an extra little dose of black lace, and any excuse is a good one.

Details, details...

snow globe joy

Remember back in december when I recommended these mason jar snow globes?  Well I made some of my own, and they turned out pretty awesome (if I do say so myself), and, since I avoided any traditional holiday themes, pretty seasonless as well.  So never mind that the holidays are behind us, make yourself some fake snow magic and enjoy it year-round! 

Follow these little guys and see how the magic was made...

it's a wrap

I wanted to go sort of minimalist this year with my wrapping, but still keep it light and fun.  Done and done.

My three wrapping essentials for 2012...

traditional cookies

Tonight is our annual christmas cookie making extravaganza.  We go all out.  ZZ Top here is from a few years ago, as is Sad Donkey below.  We obviously don't do well sticking to a holiday theme, but I think our cookies turn out the better for it.  Who can argue with total creative freedom?

Do you have any wacky holiday traditions?  Or are your traditions actually traditional?

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...

last minute lite

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

Still doing your christmas shopping?  Yeah, me too.  And if the last gift guide seemed a little too dignified and mature, if you want a little more frivolity in your choices, here's another bunch of ideas to make sure everyone on your list ends up smiling...

last minute

 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Still plenty of time to find the perfect gifts.  The folks I still have to shop for are always the hardest; I'm sure everyone as a few of them in their life. 

Here's a handful of ideas to help you fill those gaps...

day of birth

Just a quick post to say no post today.  (Wait, that makes no sense!  Wait, I don't care!)

It's my birthday!!!  I'm going to be celebrating all day long, either doing something extravagant and outrageous, or doing absolutely nothing at all, I haven't quite decided which. 

I'll be back next week, a year older and a year wiser.  Shhh.  Don't laugh.

image via pinterest

birthday suit

My birthday's coming up this week and I think maybe I need to get myself a present.  Like a nice boxy masculine coat.  Tried this one on at Zara yesterday and left totally smitten but also mildly confused.  Unbuttoned it looks stunning, so cool I almost can't even stand myself in it (though the buttons may need changing - a wee bit too shiny for my taste - but that's an easy fix).  Close it up and it goes kind of wonky.  Too much room on top with nothing to anchor it, and then very fitted across my (somewhat ample) derriere. It's ok, but not perfect.  But then, I could just wear it unbuttoned all the time, right?

I can't stop thinking about it.  I may be in love.  And I think maybe it's ok for a birthday purchase to not be the most practical item in the world, no?  What would you do?

cousins

Just a quick note to my very own Identical Cousin - Happy Birthday, Co!  Wish I could be there to celebrate in person!

Here's one more tailor-made song for us to dance around to (albeit long distance) on your birthday:

on a boat

image from monona doug

I'm headed out on Lake Monona this afternoon with family.  Placid waters and majestic skies.  But, lest you think I am all beautiful sunsets and poetic thoughts, know this is the song that will be playing in my head the whole time...

five years

Five years ago today I married the most wonderful man in the world.  And every day I love him a little bit more.  Happy anniversary my love!

(sound familiar?)

at last

Happy 2012 everyone!  I am extremely excited about this year.

I know my short break turned into a rather long one, but I really did need the time away from my computer to get back in my own head and reevaluate things.  Part of my new-year new-me involves keeping a bit of distance between me and my machines, so I'm going to have to figure out how to maintain this blog without getting sucked so deep into cyberspace.  Bear with me as I do so, posting may be a bit sporadic in the beginning as I get myself going again.   I am not, however abandoning this little virtual nest I've made for myself, just settling in more comfortably.

For now, take a listen to this magnificent voice.

Thank you Etta.  Rest in peace.