See you tonight!

You'll be there too if you know whats good for you.

Talent

I have said it before and I will be forever saying it- I have talented friends.
My friend Katy has entered one of her incredible pieces into Threads Summer Sewing Challenge. The material? Linen? I never knew linen could look so beautiful. Click HERE to vote for Katy (it only takes one click).

Baked Goods

I am not usually one for baked goods but THESE I could devour!

Run!

photo via Vegetarian Perspective

Last year I think I heard the sound of chocolate loving Costco members everywhere lament their buy in bulk establishment's bad, bad decision. Really bad. They discontinued their $1.50 chocolate coated hand-dipped almond ice cream bars. Today as I entered Costco's air-conditioned cement heaven I saw the announcement "They're back!" And they are, and I ate one, and it took about ten minutes, and boy am I proud of it!

Loved 'em but lost 'em? Never tried 'em? Whatever the case you need one. And remember calorie counters, you only live once so buy things that don't have wrappers. Because things that don't have wrappers don't have calories. Right?

Holy!

this is incredible!!!
via Booooooooom

You can tell a lot...

Ladies, I, like you, have heard that you can tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear. Let's start there. I'm not going to talk about what I think about Megan's flip flop wearing or my husband's scuffed slip-ons. I am here to talk about blinds.

I have wanted to say this for a long time: You can tell a lot about a person by their blinds.

See, if there is one thing I do both often and well it is walking. When walking around my neighborhood I experience the entire gamut of thoughts regarding the homes on my block, and most of these hinge on window treatments as seen from the sidewalk. Some homes have well trimmed trees with an assortment of knee high vegetable plants that make me wonder what they did for such green and full gardens. There are other yards that I want to lend my mower to, and some homes make me wonder what kind of a lazy, good for nothing, idiot slumlord would rent to single boys. (Answer: the same kind of people who put ads of Craigslist seeking a sales associate who, "...has served a mission and knows how to talk to people and work hard". I responded to that prospective employer and informed them that just because someone served a mission doesn't mean a damned thing and that if I knew who they were I would report them for equality violations based on religion.)

I am sure at this point you are thinking, "Whoa! Wait bird, your are talking about yards here! What does this have anything to do with blinds?" My answer: everything. See blinds indicate a lot. Call me Freud but blinds are an excellent indication of a long, long list of states, and moods, and traits including, but not limited to the following; how much a person works in their yard, personal hygiene, organization, responsible family planning, the making of beds, depression and various mental states, clean underwear, manners, courtesy, and finances.

Let me explain.

Blinds drawn in late morning= Troll
If my blinds are drawn by eleven a.m. it is safe to assume that I am in my pajamas and have not had breakfast yet. I may have been up since eight, but I am busy and cannot be bothered with blinds. Everyone has their own version of what this particular status means. For some, late morning blinds are the sign of a hangover, for others, daysleepers. Megan and I refer to this state as, "being a troll".

*Being a troll is not to be confused with living in the ghetto or desert heat where having the blinds open suggests idiocy.

Open blinds early= Superwoman
If my blinds are open by ten a.m. I am open for business. I probably went running, did laundry, ate, cooked muffins, wrote in my journal all by nine. I am a hero today. I am, what I refer to on Twitter, Superwoman! This is my favorite blind state. I am a morning person and I don't care who knows it! Look at my blinds neighbor friends and neighbor strangers! I am in charge today!

The next blind category is my least favorite. I abhore it. Let me qualify my hatred. When we moved back in November (I was eight months pregnant and convinced the Dotter was coming early) it was into a rental that had been left in a most deplorable state that made me more mad than I had been in a looooong time. Cheerios in the cupboards, hairs from places I don't want to mention on the bathroom walls, food bits and even a COMB under the fridge! (My blood is boiling again.)

I enlisted help that required six people working for close to fifty hours to make it liveable. One of the last things needing improvement after scrubbing and santizing from ceiling to floor was the blinds. I told my landlord that the blinds were "unacceptable" and needed to be replaced. We replaced them and he took the money off our rent. What made the blinds unacceptable? The blinds had little cut outs in them and were splattered with bits and dropplets that made my paranoid mind jump to the likes of vomit and semen. Yeah. Sick.

Dishevled blinds= dishevled life.
While you may not have been privilaged to see these blinds from the inside, as I have, I promise you have seen these blinds from the outside. Sometimes they have something leaning on them and othertimes they appear to be permenately closed, occassionally the blinds are bent or melted and if they are closed, they are closed with a portion of mustard colored drapery tucked between the slats.

I am a sometimes troll, sometimes Superwoman gal who loves to rise and accomplish early but doen't always get it done.

What do your blinds say about you?

Oh yeah- AND! Here's the thing. If you are a renter this is your new rule: Leave the place better than you found it. Yeah, I know. You're just a renter. I get it. Life is horrible and everyone owns a home but you. Poor, poor you. Life is hard- get over it. If you are a renter who is moving here is your check list:
- Vaccum
- Sweep and mop all floors including under fridge and stove
- Wipe down all baseboards, cupboards and drawers
- Sweep porch
- Clean bathroom until you could eat soup out of the toilet bowl

Independence

In celebration of my independence, and yours, I am announcing that I simply cannot be bothered with blogging or interwebbing this weekend.

Tomorrow is my favorite holiday of the year and I will be steeped in P-town's finest offerings of the Freedom Fest. Parades that make you wonder why anyone in their right mind would line University Ave with their quilts at 3pm the DAY BEFORE!!, overpriced food, being overheated and liking it (really liking it), swimming (hopefully), fireworks (hoping they don't frighten a certain Dotter), and sharing the honor of what it means to have the American heritage that we do.

Cheers!

Personalize

Your going to want to click on that there image above. Do take my word.

I happened upon this wedding invitation via Heart Fish. It is such an amazing invitation that documents the finer details of how two people come together. It reminded me so much of Olivia and Ben's amazing timeline invitation.

Tonight- The Night

WHAT: 30 Strangers- by Justin Hackworth
When: July 2nd TODAY! from 6:00-9:00pm
Where: 1 East Center Street- Suite 215

I'll be there will you?

How I love thee!

Call me crazy....

but J Crew needs to iron their clothes a little better.

Baby Come Back

My friend Sarah just opened her Etsy shop called Baby Come Back. Her store is filled with vintage goods that I promise she can find better than you can. Believe me, I've been thrifting with this girl- she is the master thrifter.

Photo blog: UPDATED

I've been working hard. Very hard. Check it HERE.

Monday Morning Reminder: Stranger Stranger

In the master's own words,

What is 30 Strangers

"A Justin Hackworth photography project. It went like this. For the entire month of April 2009 I made a portrait of a mother and daughter every day. 30 portraits - 30 days.
Our exhibition for the 30 Strangers 2009 project will be held on July 2, 2009 in Provo Utah from 6-9pm. The address is:
1 East Center Street, Suite 215.

Cool detail: On this evening only, at the opening reception, we’ll be doing another special fundraiser for the Center for Women & Children in Crisis. For a $25 donation to the Center, folks will receive a mother-daughter portrait session. You may choose select dates from July - September for your session.

What about those that would like their whole family photographed? For a $75 donation we’ll give them a free family portrait session. The Center does such critical work. We’re thrilled to be raising awareness and money for them. Thanks for how you’ve already contributed, and thanks in advance for letting others know about the opportunity to help.

If you just can’t make it on Thurday, the gallery will also be open on Friday night from 5-9 pm. Minus the party and opening night sizzle, you’ll still get to enjoy a great exhibit.

Everyone is invited. Don’t be a stranger. Come say hello."

Michael Jackson

Best dancer and pop song writer ever. Hands down.
Whats your favorite MJ song?