Stuff &Things

Second only to the cheese.

2011-01-14T12:56:00.001-05:00

As some of you may remember, my family and I took a little trip to Amish country in Pennsylvania a little over a year ago. The Amish are known for many things, all of which are awesome. Among these are cheese, baked goods, and these sweet ass scooters that you see them kicking all over town.

I mean, I guess if only one Amish had to get from point A to point B, hitching up the team would be a lot of work, so those who roll solo roll on these bad boys. Now, I don't think I'm over reaching here to call these things completely badass, and because I have never ever seen them anywhere else, I often find myself daydreaming about them. Today while stumbling through the blogosphere I happened upon a pretty little website that sells them! And they are tooooo lovely.

AmIRIGHT? That's right, for just $245 (plus shipping and handling) you yourself can be the proud owner of one of these lovely Amish scooters! The best part??? You get to keep your electricity and your car, you don't have to build your own house, and you can still have anonymous sex in gas station bathrooms! Hooray for the internet!

Love!

Mark your calendars...

2011-01-10T09:28:00.000-05:00

I think I peed my pants a little. Ez over at Creature Comforts spent her New Years Eve creating this loverly calendar for 2011!

Too pretty right? Well, you know what makes it EVEN AWESOMER??? She is letting you download and print it out for FREE! So you can have one all for your ownself. PERFECT! Find it here and make your 2011 even better.

A Very Merry Un-Christmas

2011-01-04T14:15:00.002-05:00

I have been told that my non red and green Christmas decor is very un-Christmassy. I don't care, I kind of like it.

I had always thought that I didn't mind not having curtains... until I saw this picture. Yeesh! Why didn't anyone tell me I needed curtains? You guys are dicks. Good thing I got a sewing machine for Christmas! Now all I need is to learn how to use it.

Don't forget the tree

2010-12-15T15:29:00.000-05:00

Christmas is FAST approaching (yeesh), and Design Sponge posted a sweet ass tutorial on how to make this awesome balsa wood tree.

No home should be without one this holiday season. I love the little deer as well :)

~Kirsten

"Tis the season for...

2010-12-10T13:54:00.003-05:00

Vagina sweaters???

This past weekend I had probably the funnest fun I've had for a long time. By this time I am sure you are all plenty familiar with the old Ugly Christmas Sweater party, and while the name alone seems like it should be descriptive enough, in fact, it is not. I have been to quite a few of these, each one decidedly different from the last. Some involve obnoxious drunkards, while others involve a whole lot of me standing awkwardly next to the wall with my arms crossed simultaneously hoping that someone/no one will come and talk to me. Urgh! The most recent of these seasonal fetes was at the home of a friend of mine who's hostessing skill I had not yet had the pleasure of enjoying.

Now, initially almost all social invites strike fear deep into my soul. As a former agoraphobe I begin first by imagining all or the terrible tragedies that could befall me should I decide to attend. However, despite my charming insanity the beau and I spent last Saturday combing the local thrift stores for an ugly Christmas sweater (which is infinitely more difficult to obtain once you are knee deep in the month of December).

So we went. We went to the party. He in his skin tight ladies' red pop collared sweater, and I in my snowman sweater, which had somehow developed a vagina throughout the laundering process.

It was weird, yes, but it was so much fun! There was awesome food, hilariously creepy table dancing, and plenty of friendly belligerence. All in all a pleasurable evening, spent in the company of friends (new and old) and one fabulous extra large vagina sweater.

Happy Holidays!

Hot like cakes, All Day, errday

2010-11-16T08:47:00.000-05:00

Girl Talk, the musical mashup master has released his new album and it's FREE, FREE, FREE! I'm halfway through and it's definitely the new hotness. Now, I may not be qualified to call anything hot, since I'm about as cool as your grandmother, but whatever, I'm dancing in my desk chair and looking like a fool, which is my second favorite thing to do at work. If you wish you were doing the same, download the whole album right here: http://www.mediafire.com/?vy057v6rld16oee, it definitely beats a few rounds of solitaire.

Enjoy!

Spring forward, Fall back...into my bad habits

2010-11-11T11:19:00.000-05:00

Well, that lovely feeling of well-restedness that came along with that extra hour of sleep last Sunday morning has finally worn off. I'm back to falling asleep at my desk. Halp!

Oh no no no, I meant everyone EXCEPT you.

2010-11-04T12:49:00.000-04:00

Permit me a moment to vent if you would. Currently at work the Recreational Committee, of which I am a card carrying member, is in the early stages of Holiday party planning. As a part of the initial stages I sent out a mass e-mail yesterday for the purposes of polling the office on how they would prefer to celebrate. This e-mail included several gently worded but explicit instructions that I foolishly believed would be simple to follow.

Jesus Wept!

I had no idea how many people believe that they alone are the exception to the rule.

When I said "Please do not hit 'reply to all' as the 54 people who received this e-mail do not care where you would prefer to eat", I did not mean "Please do not hit 'reply to all' unless you are Sal, the super awesomest person alive because EVERYBODY wants to know where Sal wants to eat.

Additionally, when I said "Please select only one of the following options." I did not mean "unless you are Andrea who should feel free to rank all of the options in her order of preference so that we can all be sure to vote accordingly".

Finally, when I ended the e-mail with the statement "The results will be announced Friday morning." This was not a free invitation for every one of you assholes to walk down to my office every five minutes to ask me how the results are looking. IF YOU ARE NOT ON THE REC COMMITTEE IT IS NONE OF YOUR FREAKING CONCERN! Unless of course you plan on offering me cash or other valuables in an effort to sway the votes in your direction.

That being said, I do not accept credit cards or personal checks, but money orders are acceptable, and, as always, my best friends call me Cash.

Dreams really DO come true!!!

2010-11-04T12:18:00.001-04:00

As a direct result of my internet pleading for a lovely embroidered purse, my super awesome friend Debbie, office manager extraordinaire and all around ray of sunshine, came through with this delicious pretty little pink bag. I didn't even realize how beautifully it matched my nails until I saw this pic! Thank you so much Debs!

Love,

Kirsten

B is for Butt

2010-10-21T16:05:00.000-04:00

I've been eating too much crap. This bear has my butt.

A new lust!

2010-10-07T14:51:00.000-04:00

It's been several years since my last visit to a retirement community or a moth-ball laden cedar chest. That being said, it's not surprising that I completely forgot about the existence of beautiful needleworked purses and bags. Thanks once again to etsy, I have rediscovered a lost love. Scope some of these lovelies for both inspiration, and Christmas gift ideas (for me).

This one would be lovely in Spring time.

This one too!

Perfect for Autumn, or for any time you are feeling super mod.

So pretty for a little girl!

Chunky and very pretty.

This one is my favorite favorite. It's so pretty it makes me want to puke.

Aren't they too too loverly? It's almost retarded how awesome they are. Sigh. I wonder, if I were to carry one, would I be overwhelmingly tempted to keep ribbon candies and starlight mints in it? Would I begin tipping with quarters and wearing knee garters? Who knows? Sure would be funny though.

Yeowch!

2010-10-06T13:31:00.000-04:00

Went to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned today. The hygienist assured me that they were lovely and healthy. THEN WHY DO THEY HURT SO BAD? I suppose it was the flossing. My gums just aren't used to that, they feel like a giant bruise. I want to rip all of my teeth out with my bare hands.

Which reminds me. I watched this movie on Netflix the other day:

It's a horror movie about a girl with vagina dentata. I am sure you can pretty much guess where that goes.

The beach is ours again!

2010-10-06T13:08:00.000-04:00

Well, it's Neptune Festival time again. That's right, every September my town hosts a grand event in celebration of the mass exodus of tourists who have been littering our beaches all summer. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand that tourism is a major part of the local economy, but it does become quite frustrating to lose your town for 3 to 4 months every year to people who have filled their bags with swim trunks and flip flops, but somehow forgot to pack their common courtesy. If I had a nickel for every time I almost got hit by an oversized SUV with New York tags while trying to cross the street in the summer, I'd have like... five bucks. Which is a lot when you consider each nickel to be a brush with death. Regardless, of how I feel about it, I can't be alone, because this whole town has a big party for three days once the season ends. There's a marathon, a parade, tons of bands and outdoor concerts, food stands, and art show and about a billion other activities for us locals to enjoy. Aside from the funnel cakes, my favorite part of the Neptune Festival is the "North American Sandsculpting Championship". It's kind of a big deal. People come from all over the world to showcase their sandsculpting abilities. Seriously, like Russia, the Netherlands, Finland, France...pretty much all over. My fact checker is currently on vacation, but I am 99% sure that this is the largest sandsculpting competition in the world. I'm not making this stuff up. It's real, and it's pretty awesome. I mean, you don't see stuff like this very often.

That is all made out of sand. SAND PEOPLE! Look at the details, the lacework, it's incredible!

There is no adhesive, no skeleton or internal structure, just pure, unadulterrated sand. It's pretty awesome really. I'm almost sorry the tourists have to miss it.

Not really though.

Oodles of Googles

2010-09-07T08:58:00.000-04:00

Google is always coming up with some new and fun way to represent their logo. I guess when you have created a corporate identity that is so completely recognizable all over the world, you can do what you want to it. After seeing this morning's fun logo, which is composed of different colored balls that are repelled by the cursor, I decided to do a little research. Turns out google has a website with a complete collection of all of the google logos ever created! You may think you have seen them all, but google is worldwide bitches!Sometimes there are logos that only show up in their applicable countries, so there is a wealth of google logos out there that you may have never seen! It is certainly worth checking out for a couple of minutes or so. Pretty amazing how different artists interpret the logo and how far they are sometimes able to stretch it. Enjoy!

You're cute!

2010-09-03T15:12:00.000-04:00

Ooooo mama

2010-08-26T08:36:00.000-04:00

My mama's so handy. Look at this beautiful coffee table she refinished for me!

This was one of those super lucky finds that just pop up out of nowhere. Over the course of the last year (or two) my mom has been working on having a house built. One day as we were putzing around the half-built skeleton of what would be her beautiful beach house, we stubbed our toes on this lovely table covered in dust and paint can rings and yuck. I guess the builders had brought it in to stand on and to place various and sundry destructive items on top of. Thanks to the vision of my brilliant mama, and her request for a palm sander as a Christmas gift, this is what became of that once dilapidated mess of a table. Sooo pretty and modern. I loves it!

Wouldn't it suck if...

2010-07-21T15:40:00.000-04:00

Check out this webcomic by Jess Fink. It pretty much slays me.

finkenstein

Oops, I did it again

2010-07-21T10:50:00.000-04:00

Every time I go to Trader Joe's I buy hummus. I can't explain it, I don't know how it happens. I think that I keep thinking that I will eventually hit upon a flavor that I simply cannot live without. Instead I inevitably end up with another tub of gritty paste wasting away in my fridge until it passes the sell by date (sometimes much longer). I'm not sure if it is an urge to snack more healthily, or if I simply get caught up in the moment. Every time I tell myself that I just don't like hummus, there is nothing wrong with not liking hummus, I just need to not buy it again. Where this lesson goes between my last trip to TJ's and my next trip to TJ's I will never know. So here I am, sitting at my desk, trying to choke down just enough to feel that I have allowed the chickpeas to fulfill their destiny. I am such an idiot.

Hot Coffee!!!

2010-07-09T08:56:00.000-04:00

So, we got a new coffee setup here at office. It's really high.

All you need is...

2010-06-15T09:08:00.000-04:00

So, I generally try my best to not be mushy in any possible way. It tends to negatively affect the tough exterior I have been cultivating as a shield for my gushy insides these many years. Something happened this weekend however that gave me pause, and I discovered that my hard outer shell of awesomeness is not quite as impregnable as I had once thought.

As you may or may not know, my mom has recently (eh, the last year or so) moved to a beautiful house near the ocean. Through a series of events at her workplace, she acquired an inside scoop involving where to find an abundance of sea glass. Throughout the course of the week her mind blossomed with ideas of what she could do in her beautiful seaside home with buckets and buckets of sea glass. By the time the weekend arrived a wild hair had sprouted and we were all signed on (my mother, my granny and I) for an impromptu drive up the Eastern Shore of Virginia to hunt our quarry of sea glass.

Aside from the beautiful drive across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the trip started off a bit disappointing. I mean, the company was wonderful, the beach lunch was delicious, but the sea glass was just nowhere to be found. We spent about two hours combing the shore (and getting severely burned in the process) with nearly nothing to show for it. We rejoiced in digging up even the smallest of shards, none of us willing to admit the steep decline in morale. Then something magical happened. Just as I was about to throw my hands up in frustration (not really, it was still a pretty fun day) something caught my eye just beneath the surface of the water. It was half buried in sand, and in all actuality, it just looked like another piece of flotsam, but something made me reach down and pick it up. What I saw when I rolled it over in my hand was amazing (to me, but I am easily amazed).

This rock. What was it doing there? Who had made it? Had they lost it, or thrown it into the sea on purpose for someone like me to find? My mind reeled with the possibilities. What was it's story? In the end I decided it didn't matter. It was there for me to find, and I found it. The chances seemed pretty far out. I mean, it's the whole ocean. We were at a beach an hour from my home to which I have never even been before. It's a ROCK. Why would I pick up a rock? Who knows? But I guess it's probably best not to ask those kinds of questions. I just put it in my pocket and walked on.

Eventually we came across a woman who was wearing a Cape Charles baseball hat. My mom asked her where the best place was to find seaglass and she pointed us down the road a bit to the other side of a jetty. There we found a pretty decent amount of pretty pices of tumbled glass. It wasn't the bucket loads we had hoped for, but it was good and we drove home happy.

Something's fishy

2010-06-09T09:32:00.001-04:00

So, living with a dog has been quite an adjustment. For the most part she has been very little trouble at all, but the one thing I just feel like I can't quite get used to? Doggies have no snooze button. If they've gotta go out at 5 a.m., you damn well better take them, or you'll be making a lot more work for yourself in the long run. So, the getting up at 5:00 thing is really not so horrible, if I could only find a way to get myself to bed before 11:00. It is around this time that my second wind is usually peaking, and therein lies the primary issue. Buuuuutttt, I'm sure I'll get used to it, just like every other major life adjustment that comes along.

For those of you who are not quite ready to make the commitment to a wet nose at 5 a.m., there are other options. My suggestion?

Get a fish.

http://store.heliotropehome.com/ficobbyum.html

Annie are you okay?

2010-06-02T14:01:00.000-04:00

Well, she's finally home! It took over two months to work everything out, but my pretty new girl finally moved in on Monday. I really couldn't ask for a sweeter more well behaved dog. She is so quiet and peaceful and chill...just like me! Except for the quiet part. And maybe the peaceful part. But damn I'm chill, so we're a great match. I really can't thank NGAP.org enough for everything they have done, both for me and for Annie. We both look forward to being awesome together!

Mmmmm, Fast Food Mafia

2010-05-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

I found this awesome depiction of the Fast Food Mafia (we all know they run this town) via http://epicwinftw.com/. So hilarious. For more information on each character's persona and the inspiration for their illustrations check out the silent sketcher's deviantart page.

Pretty paper planters

2010-05-17T21:36:00.000-04:00

I have been a self-professed bibliophile for most of my life. I've been reading for as long as I can remember. I do it every night, every weekend, and pretty much whenever I get a spare minute. Consequently, I generally end up with quite a few books just lying around the house. Having served their primary purpose, I typically just donate most of my books to the library. Now, I'm not saying that I don't like donating the books to the library, I do, but sometimes I feel like the could serve some other purpose. So what to do with all those pretty pages? Re-nest found a great solution!

Icy spoons

2010-05-06T14:07:00.000-04:00

Okay, I don't know what my thing is with different weird ice cube trays, especially considering the fact that don't even keep ice in my freezer aside from a single lonely tray, but for some reason I always seem to stumble across the most brilliant ice ideas! The best part about this one? It's only a freaking dollar! At graveyardmall.com.

Raindrop Melody Maker

2010-05-04T14:43:00.000-04:00

This thing is lots 'o fun! Make pretty music whenever you get bored....and have a computer around.

Via How About Orange

New Roomie!

2010-04-30T09:46:00.000-04:00

As some of you may or may not know my cat and love of my life for 15 years passed away in November. Since then it's been pretty lonely around the crib, but I just couldn't see myself "replacing" her with another cat. Somehow it just felt wrong, like I would be cheating on her or something. It's weird, I know, but that's how I felt. Well, about a month ago I was doing some research on other potential pets and stumbled across an adoption program for ex-racing greyhounds. Bingo! The more research I did on these animals the more I was convinced that they were just perfect for me and my lifestyle (which is marginally sedentary and boring). So I was all amped up and ready to take the plunge when something told me to flip through the condo association rules. NOOOOOOOO! We have a 25 lb pet weight limit. Boooo. 25 lbs! Seriously? There is not a dog under 25 lbs that I haven't been tempted to dropkick, at least in passing. Wellllll, I decided that this just wouldn't do, I had to find a way around this nonsense. Well, Tuesday I met with the condo association board and presented the case for these awesome animals annnnnnddddd...... I was approved! That's right! They will allow me to adopt a greyhound! It is going to be so awesome I can barely sleep! In any case, I'm rambling, and not getting to my etsy stuff. The point of this thesis is really only to inform you that my etsy search this week involved greyhounds. I didn't expect to find too much but was very pleasantly surprised! Take a peeksie!

Love this painting from Toadbriar's shop. Artist Kim Pakhurst has some really great greyhound art and TONS of other pretty stuff as well.

I'm pretty sure I'll be needing this treat jar from Happy Hound somewhere down the road. I love the idea of a canister especially for your pet

As far as i can tell, greyhound lovers like to wear their greys on their sleeves. This pretty pin from The Creative Greyhound is a great way to let other's know who your heart belongs too. AND 10% of this shop's net profits are donated to greyhound rescue groups. How can you beat that?

The Mod Dog has some pretty pretty Martingale collars. They are sure to have something to fit your pup's personality!

Studio SRV is home to some of the most beautiful, colorful pet portraits I have ever seen. So lovely.

Well, that's it for this week. I guess I was a day late again, but hey, better late than never (I might have to get that tattooed somewhere).

Donna Wilson

2010-04-27T12:56:00.000-04:00

Donna Wilson is awesome. I stumbled across her website today via Sub Studio design blog. She does not make one single thing that is not ridiculously adorable. Enjoy.

She get it from her momma!

2010-04-22T14:51:00.002-04:00

Momma Earth that is. It's Earth Day today, and consequently I have been quite reflective concerning the gifts we are given on a daily basis by our mother earth. Now, if you know me you know that I am certainly not some crunchy granola vegan hairy underarmed hippy...nor do I ever plan to be, but that doesn't exclude me from the ability to be appreciative of how awesome our planet is. I mean, I still don't plan on carpooling to work, nor do I intend to stop using paper plates, but there are little things that I can do to make sure my little corner of the earth stays pretty.

In celebration of Earth Day, the items I am featuring today all share the underlying theme of either protecting or appreciating our pretty blue rock. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

First up, this sweet ass "Dirigible Day" necklace by Recycedelic. It makes me hum Decemberists songs in my head, and best of all, it is made from magazine clippings and a recycled sunglasses lens. Ingenious!

Okay, this is brilliant. Packaged to look like delicious chocolates, these Garden Bon Bons are actually a combination of seeds, compost, and clay. Place each bon bon in a sunny spot and keep it wet until the seeds germinate. By mid summer you will be enjoying your own home grown fresh herbs!

Speaking of home grown, this cool little pot making kit from Make Scents With Nature makes it easy peasy to make sweet little pots out of old newspapers to start your little seeds in. They are biodegradable, so when it is time to plant, just did a hole and drop the whole thing in!

I love the simultaneously shabby and structured look of this graphic throw pillow from Brin & Nohl. It is made from a repurposed coffee sack. Mmmmm, I wonder if it still smells like coffee.

Okay, these are pretty much the cutest cookie cutters of all time. Can't you just imagine all of your little woodsy cookies all pretty and painted? A fox, an acorn, a mushroom, a squirrel, a hedgehog and an awesome little gnome to rule them all! Wee Waldorf's shop actually has all sorts of cute little woodsy items. Definitely worth a peek.

Last but not leat are these beautiful, earthy AirPlant Pods from Mudpuppy. Lovely! They come in a glossy white as well, for a more modern decor.

Heartbreak

2010-04-20T14:49:00.000-04:00

Someone did this to my car yesterday (my freaking birthday). She was just parked in her usual spot, minding her own business, when someone decided she looked too nice I guess. There was no note or information. I am crushed.

I am also incredibly dissappointed in mankind over this. Who would destroy something someone so clearly loves and then just skip off into the sunset? It pains me to know these people exist.

Jammy

2010-04-19T12:10:00.000-04:00

I'm not quite sure what exactly you use a jam jar for. I mean, I get that it's for jam...but I'm just not exactly sure when you are hosting the kind of event for which a jam jar would be appropriate. That being said...I wish I knew, because this one from Plasticland is super adorable AND at $16, quite affordable!

Better late than never

2010-04-16T09:20:00.001-04:00

I realize that it is Friday and that Friday is not the same as Thursday... but I'm taking baby steps here people! At least it is the correct week.

I have been thinking about sweets this week ALOT. In particular I have been daydreaming about delicious, creamy, dreamy ice cream. I love ice cream. I eat it all year long. I don't care whether it is snowing outside. I do however recognize that ice cream's satisfaction level seems to increase exponentially as the temperature begins to rise. Here in good ole' Virginia Beach, summer is seemingly right around the corner, and my dreams of cold creamy goodness are ever in the forefront of my mind. Please enjoy some super awesome etsy finds that make it ever more difficult to resist the siren's call of the freezer section.

First up: Fruit Fly Pie's delicious looking ice cream trinket box. Looks so good I could eat it...or store tiny things in it. There are really some great ceramics in this shop. Some are retro, some are modern, all are awesome.

This Frida Kahlo Diego Rivera Ice Cream Cones print by Candylei makes me lust both for sweet treats and awesome art.

This sweet little coin purse keychain from dolls and molls reminds me of the badass Lisa Frank folders and notebooks I used to beg for every September.

Bean Forest has long been one of my favorite etsy shops to browse. Of all the shops I have visited, this one makes me shoot water out my nose more frequently than all the rest.

Seriously, who can blame Mr. Whippy for knowing what he likes? J.T. Nee's awesome polymer clay sculptures often require a second glance before you realize what is really going on...and then laugh your ass off.

Boopsiedaisy's super saturated prints are like dessert for your eyes. Yum.

Not quite sure where I would wear this hat, but it is EFFING AWESOME!

From Love Me X Leave Me.

LOVE this lunch bag from blueyeduckstudios. The inside of the bag is coated so you can fill it with messy desserts and not worry about ruining the bag...just wipe it clean!

A humorous (and delicious) look at a sad time in our Nation's history. I think I love this print so much because I have always been one of those people who laughs at the things that hurt the most. I love it, and it makes me smile! From Just Look at These Things.

Finally, this print from Water Bears makes me want to cry. Too fat to fly up to his beloved ice cream, don't you just want to give this little guy a boost? I mean, how could you deny ice cream to a face like that?

When it's time to change it's time to rearrange

2010-04-13T20:34:00.000-04:00

Well haircut, it's been a good run. We had some great times together, but times are changing... The summer's on it's way, I'm turning 30, and hair fashion styles are changing. Today was our last full day together. I have loved you, and maybe some day I will see you again...but for now, let's not say goodbye, but only, see you around.

~Kirsten

Cephalotacular!

2010-04-08T15:53:00.001-04:00

Well, it turns out I'm not that great at this whole blogging thing. I try to make posts as regularly as possible, but, to be honest, it just slips my mind most of the time. I should probably get a calendar or something to try and regulate my posting, but buying a calendar always seems to slip my mind as well. It occurred to me today that I haven't done an etsy theme post for a while (read: a LONG while) and that I need to get my act together.

With Summer being in the air and all I got to thinking about the sea, and as I thought about the sea, I got to thinking about cephalopods. Mmmmmm, invertibrates, how are you so adorable? So, with my mind thus occupied these squichy little fellows are the theme of today's fabulous etsy post. I hope you can scroll and swoon simultaneously.

I've seen a lot of octopus earrings out there, but these by Mark Poulin are the cutest by far!

There is something very Japorn about these awesome "Unique Prints" from Kudu-lah. I also love the juxtaposition of vintage and new.

BirdQueen's shop is filled with incredibly unique and beautiful illustrated jewelry. I am seriously jealous of artist Gretchen Diehl's drawling skills.

NoirNouar"s entire shop is pretty badass. That is, assuming the idea of being simultaneously charmed and terrified appeals to you...which it does me.

Perhaps this is what I need to keep me on top of my blogging. I believe I have posted stuff from boygirlparty before, or if I haven't I have wanted to and forgotten about it. Who knows? What I do know? I love their stuff!

Oh little squidlet! How I wish I were snuggling you! I heart amigurimi, and I heart sereneonion's shop.

Blue Bayer Designs has a pretty large selection of wildlife inspired jewelry. All are hand cast in solid metal and all are crazy interesting and beautiful.

So, I'm going to try to turn these etsy themed posts into a weekly event. In fact, I'm writing it on my desk calendar right now. If you don't see one up here by next Thurday, please feel free to remind me to get my life together and get kraken.

My new favorite thing!

2010-04-05T20:46:00.000-04:00

I LOVE getting packages in the mail! Today I got my super awesome "new" vintage paint by number painting from Michelle and her Dog's etsy shop! So pumped!

Love it!

Vegetable Medly

2010-04-03T21:51:00.000-04:00

It seems the weather gets a little bit prettier with every passing day, and the prettier it gets the more I want to get outside and enjoy it! I live in an apartment myself, and don't really have an outdoor area for dirt digging, so I spent the day at my mom's house digging in her dirt. Today we spent a little time planting groundcover in between the flagstones in the sidewalk we built together last summer. We are hoping it will spread out and creep between all the stones for a been-here-forever old cottagey look. We'll see how it turns out as the full effect of our labors won't be apparent for a few weeks at least. HOWEVER, never happy to wait for excitement, we decided to take on another project with a more instant gratification. We built a vegetable garden box out of building scraps she had laying around the shed. I was a little skeptical at first, but it turned out SUPER CUTE! She had an old wrought iron gate that we fastened to the back of the box using antique drawer pulls. I swear that lady is a creative genius. She's really modest about it, but she is just filled with brilliant ideas. I found these awesome garden markers

at thesteelfork.com that I think would be the perfect finishing touch! Perhaps a project for another perfect Saturday afternoon? So pretty, so perfect.

A little pretty positivity

2010-04-02T09:11:00.000-04:00

I absolutely adore the genius of Fred. Every new product they come out with is more brilliant than the last. Just try to drink out of this glass without a smile :) via http://store.heliotropehome.com/hafuglbbyfrs.html.

Tough guys turn cute

2010-03-30T17:35:00.000-04:00

The Wall Street Journal published an article yesterday about what truck drivers do in their free time. It seems that since the economic down turn, truck drivers are finding themselves with a lot of extra time on their hands. After making a long haul and unloading their deliveries, they may spend a day or even two waiting on a load of cargo to take on their return trip. So what do they do for two days in a truck stop? Well, it's probably not what you're thinking. It seems that a lot of truck drivers have taken up crafting. That's right, from quilting to knitting and everything in between, these tough guys are rolling up their sleeves and making something pretty. I love it!

Mmmmm, iced mocha

2010-03-25T11:22:00.000-04:00

Sometimes things are so obvious you wonder why you didn't think of them first. Then you slap yourself in the forehead. Then, before the violence takes a turn for the worse, you decide to just sit back and enjoy the simple idea, and pretend like you don't hate yourself for not thinking of it first.

Found this over at Fred Flare

Of course, despite it's brilliance, I suppose there could be a downside to these fabulous little ice cubes. That being, you aren't quite sure how much caffein you have consumed until it is far too late. Kind of like in college, when you would go to those trash can punch parties. It tasted so good, who knew it would get you drunk? 9 months later your walking away from your dumpster baby. He never would have known his father anyway.

Seems familiar....

2010-03-24T15:52:00.000-04:00

I stumbled across this little gem at passiveagressivenotes.com. It made me think of a young me and I just can't help but smile...despite knowing the havoc she will wreak on friends and co-workers in the coming years.

Ahh, if I had a nickel for every time I told somebody to just do what they were supposed to do...

Let there be light!

2010-03-23T17:36:00.000-04:00

Okay, I've lived in my current digs for close to 6 years, and there have been a few things over that course of time that I just never got around to changing. One of these everlasting eyesores was the nasty brass "chandelier" that had been hanging in the dining room since the Reagan administration. Well, last weekend I finally found the motivation to stack my ladder on top of my dining table and change that sucker! Now I can bask in the warm glow of Ikea style and function, while simultaneously illuminating that dark corner that has labored so long under the paltry gloom of 25 watt flame bulbs. Blech.

Before...

After!

Venntastic!

2010-03-15T09:38:00.003-04:00

So, a friend of mine requested a Venn Diagram in response to the decency complaints filed against the Grammy Awards for this year's show. The complaints were so ridiculous that I just couldn't say no. Here is the result:

Beautiful Storage Solution

2010-03-09T09:03:00.001-05:00

Living in a tiny (but comfortable) 900 sqft apartment, I am always looking for creative storage solutions. I absolutely ADORE this one by Thomas Wold.

How beautiful is that? This man is a freaking furniture genius. Check out his photostream. You'll melt, for serious.

I wants

2010-03-02T12:05:00.001-05:00

I want this for my bathroom...

Pot O' Gold Print

By Jesse Kuhn

Color Career Counselor

2010-03-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

It's always good to get a little career advice...even if it is from a computer. Take this color quiz and get your results.

http://www.careerpath.com/career-tests/colorcareercounselor.aspx

My results were as follows:

You're a CREATOR

Keywords
Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

CREATOR WORKPLACES
Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.

Modern Kittehs

2010-03-01T13:03:00.000-05:00

So, I've been thinking more and more lately about kittehs. I had to put my best friend of 15 years down several months back, and it was probably the most difficult thing I have ever had to do up to this point in my life. I was sure at that time that I would never love again, but the times at which I find myself gazing absentmindedly out the window and imagining little kittehs frolicking in fields of daisies seem to be increasing with each passing day. Then I remember how they take over your life and get their little fluff balls in corners of your house that you didn't even know existed. I need to cogitate a bit more.

On the other hand, kittehs provide the opportunity to build fun and functional (and beautiful) little kitteh shelves all over your house! You can find the DIY project for this and many other kitteh projects over at moderncat.net.

This makes me laugh...

2010-02-26T15:30:00.001-05:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xorsyst/3515851512/

I've been replaced!

2010-02-21T19:55:00.000-05:00

For as long as I can remember my mom has dreamed of having an English Bulldog. The combination of ugly/cute, laziness, and adorable playfulness has really appealed to her for years, but as is the case for many of us, it was "never a good time". This past year she finally finished building her dream house and, after previously living in a 1200 sq ft condo, the sprawling floor plan of her 1400 sq ft house has proved too lonesome to ramble around in all alone. That's right, the time has finally arrived for a new companion. After months of searching Petfinder.com and other various internet resources, she finally found the girl of her dreams...

Sassy(pants). We're not overly fond of the name, but she previously belonged to an older lady who sadly died. I suppose if she was going to get an old lady name, we are lucky it wasn't Princess or Cupcake.

And so, it seems I have been replaced with a new daughter. Sassy may have my mom's heart, but she will never have opposable thumbs.

Green Graffitti

2010-02-12T14:52:00.002-05:00

How byoooootiful is this??? It's things like this that make me (sometimes) wish I had a yard. IT'S MOSS!

The potential applications for propigating moss in any shape you want are endless! I think I might force my mom or my aunt or my granny to do something like this somewhere, just so I can try it! Full instructions and additional photos can be found at Apartment Therapy.

There's always something to do!

2010-02-12T09:35:00.001-05:00

(I like his undies)

Well, it's Friday, and there is another weekend of wintery precipitation on the horizon. Blech. At this point, the novelty of snow in Hampton Roads has worn off for me. I am ready for Spring and the weather it brings. No more wind whipping around my windows at night, no more bundling up my face to slosh through the parking lot to my car, no more driving 25 mph in a 45 because everyone in front of me is scared of black ice. I AM READY FOR SUNSHINE!!! Which, incidentally, was my first word as a baby. That's right, I skipped right over all the traditional monosyllabic first words right into the precocious realm of two syllables. But I digress.

My original point (if you could call it that) was that the potential for being trapped inside my house with nothing to do for another weekend is nauseating. For those of you with children, I am sure the idea is even more daunting. Fear not! There is hope! If you have a computer and a printer, some scissors and some tape (or glue) you have a recipe for hours of entertainment. Readymech is an awesome website that I stumbled across several years ago and only just remembered about RIGHT NOW! It is filled with papercraft patterns for you and the kiddies (not to be confused with kitties as they do not have opposable thumbs and would not be of much assistance) to print, cut, and assemble. Enjoy!

Here is what the patterns look like, but visit the site for a full sized pdf.

A Pretty (Re)Purpose

2010-02-10T08:20:00.000-05:00

This beautifully repurposed light bulb bud vase is so simple and eye-catching, it makes me wish that every horizontal surface in my home was not already covered in crap that I love. The trouble with loving beautiful things is that there are a lot of them. Simplistic minimalism seems to fly out the window rather swiftly.

With Valentine's Day fast approaching (bastard) you may find that you need a place to store some flowers and keep them lovely. You can find a full tutorial for this little lovely at the Readymade website. You can make the entire project for under five bucks (assuming you already own a few simple tools). Additionally, if you do not already subscribe to Readymade magazine, I highly recommend it. It is filled with fantastic projects, pretty pictures, and tons of inspiration.

Lunchbreath Brilliance!

2010-02-03T15:22:00.001-05:00

Lunchbreath Brilliance!

Just when you think you are completely random and unpredictable, something comes along and slaps you in the face, letting you know exactly how predictable you actually are. It would be sad if it wasn't so freaking hilarious.

Tobias Lunchbreath (suspicious nomme de guerre) is a brilliant Art Director at a mysterious locale, somewhere in the vicinity of Chicago IL (I am assuming the "IL" part, I suppose there could be a Chicago, Kentucky), with a ridiculous knack for quantifying the seemingly unquantifyable. His entire photostream is retardedly awesome. Thumbs up.

Feed Your Soul

2010-01-29T14:48:00.001-05:00

Feed your soul is a free online art project that makes me giddy with joy! It is the brain child of Jen Wallace (indiefixx blogger extraordinaire) and is so wonderful and beautiful that I literally get choked up. The idea behind it is that no one should be denied art and beautiful things, regardless of their financial situation. I couldn't agree more! Every month she asks different artists to participate by donating downloadable versions of some of their art for you to print and love! This makes art accessible to everyone, and also provides a little publicity for the artists themselves. PLUS, you can now change out your artwork as regularly as you change your underwear! How cool is that?

Blech!

2010-01-29T08:52:00.000-05:00

Baked Doritos are NOT delicious.*

*Please don't tell the Doritos people I said that.

Drool....

2010-01-28T14:28:00.001-05:00

If you were to ask me:

You: "Kirsten, what are two of your favorite things?"

I would say:

Me: "I'm glad you asked! I love good design, and good food!"

Do you know what falls under the good food catagory? Cookies. Good design? Helvetica. You know what would be completely overwhelmingly awesome??? HELVETICA COOKIES!!!

Ummmm, HELLO! This is brilliant!

Thank you Beverly Hsu, for being a gastronomical design genius!

Do you know what would be the opposite of this? Comic Sans shaped dog poop. I think if I ever were to get a dog, I would teach him to poop Comic Sans. Yes. I definitely would do that.

Pitching a tent

2010-01-27T15:35:00.001-05:00

Look, I don't know who was taking this photo...or if they had any clothes on, but it seems the fellas on this camping trip are having way too good of a time. It's really the kids I worry about, more than anything else.

Via Awkward Family Photos.

Help for Haiti

2010-01-22T10:35:00.003-05:00

I think that we can all agree that the disaster(s) that have occurred in Haiti over the last two weeks have been both surreal, and devastating. I cannot pretend to even begin to understand the absolute Hell on earth that these people are living in, and it just keeps coming. Their entire world has been upended in the most horrible way imaginable. It is nearly impossible to watch the aftermath unfold on our nightly news without feeling the need to do whatever you can. My heart breaks a little bit more every time I see another somber face who has lost everything.

Call me the perpetual cynic however, because I am loathe to donate money that I have worked hard for to sketchy organizations who may or may not have just popped up on the internet with the intention of taking advantage of the charity of others. It seems cold, but it is a reality that there is no shortage of soulless bastards who wait around for "opportunities" such as these to prey on those who choose to help through donations.

That is why I have been scavenging the magnificent World Wide Web to try to figure out if there was only some way to know. I needed to do research before leaping into action (by action I mean clicking a few buttons which doesn't really seem all that philanthropic when I think about it in real terms, and kind of makes me feel like an asshole if I am really being honest with myself). In any case, I stumbled across the most brilliant charity website of all time. Charitynavigator.org offers a consolidated source for reliable charities all over the world. Each charity listed has an associated page for its income statement involving the organization's revenue and program expenses. This page also includes salaries and compensation for the CEOs and Presidents of each organization. There is a star rating system, an overall scoring system, and a comments section where those who have participated with different charities can comment on their experiences. There is also a news section for each charity where you can access any articles that have been written about that particular charity.

While it may seem callous or cold of me to take such a pragmatic approach to charitable donation, I just can't sleep well at night throwing money out into the universe and simply "hoping" that it will land where I intended it to go. Giving to charity feels good, but giving to a charity who you trust feels even better.

Heart attacks and holla backs

2010-01-21T10:31:00.003-05:00

Okay, I've been slacking on the whole blogging thing...I know, and believe me, I feel awful. I mean, I am pretty sure that my two followers have been losing sleep wondering if I am okay. I'M OKAY GUYS! I've just been busy. I am knee deep in the process of re-doing my downstairs bathroom. It is a mess, and I'm not even doing hard stuff...just time consuming. I will post before and afters someday, when I get my life together and finally finish it up. In any case, enough with the excuses.

I took some time out of my oh-so-busy schedule on Tuesday night to go out to eat with my little bro. Pretty much he is the awesomest brother ever, but I never get to see him...even though he lives one street over from me. He works for a boys' home so he has this crazy schedule that usually involves nights, so we are never around at the same time. Anyway, I digress. In the process of trying to decide on a restaurant my little bro informs me that he has begun the Atkins diet. I worry about Atkins as a lifestyle change because something just doesn't seem right about it, but as a short term weight loss plan I am all for it if it works for you. My brother used to use this method to make weight during his high school wrestling days, so I know that it works for him, and I am so proud of him for taking the initiative to cut a couple of extra pounds in an effort to prepare for his life long dream of becoming a cop.

So, obviously, the thought of cops and the Atkins diet got me to thinking about meat. I am not super into meat, I mean, I don't hate it or anything, but I get cravings for it less frequently than say...cheese, or bread, or chocolate. I would probably be the worst Atkins dieter of all time. But meat sure is pretty. All those swirls of red and pink and cream. I mean, aesthetically meat sure is a great thing. Just seeing it makes me want to slap it...and then wash my hands vigorously.

So, I got to thinking...I can't be the only one who thinks meat is pretty. Let's see if anyone on etsy feels the same way. Then I discovered something that hadn't even occurred to me. Meat can be hilarious too! Please enjoy my meaty etsy selections for your viewing pleasure...

I love this simple little embroidered meat trio

from Crazy but Cute.

They would look so sweet hanging in a row next to the stove.

Ummm, hello! This is a plush toy!

That means STUFFED ANIMAL people! Post mortem of course.

Find it and many others in Sweet Meats' wonderful etsy shop.

The Dainty Squid has got a plethora of brilliant pouches. But this one is super meaty!

Mmmmm, bacon underwear. I wish it was scratch and sniff.

From That Bear is Knitting.

LOVE this beautiful line drawing by Tommy Kane.

He is a super talented drawler.

These funny little meat heads slay me.

AND they are finger puppets!Doesn't get much awesomer.

From What's on Your Finger?

Bacon Fish. If I were Catholic, I might not mind Fridays so much.

According to the artist: "This is the fish that bacon would

come from, if bacon came from fish."

Here fishy fishy fishy. From Hamburgerpanda.

This recycled piggy bank is so brilliant to me.

If you follow the link, the rearview is pretty stellar as well.

From clancyslover.

Last but not least Mike Geno's beautiful meat paintings are

absolutely mouth-watering,and yet somehow make

me giggle at the same time.

Hope you enjoyed Meaty Thursday. I know I did. Holla back.

The Museum of Bad Art

2010-01-15T09:19:00.001-05:00

Okay, this is probably one of the awesomest ideas I have ever unwittingly stumbled across. The Museum of Bad Art hosts a collection of some of the all time worst artwork on the planet. Charming in its overwhelming horribleness, these works have been collected from trash heaps and thrift stores around the Boston area, as well as donations from fans and sometimes the artists themselves.

Only slightly less imaginitive than the artworks themselves is the wry commentary describing each one. If you've got a little time to kill, I highly recommend a visit to the website at http://www.museumofbadart.org/ , or, if you live in Massachusetts, either near the Dedham or the Somerville areas, there are two location to serve you. As impressed as I am by these artworks online, I can only imagine that being faced with them in my immediate vicinity would either be overwhelmingly gratifying, or terribly horrifying.

Mama and Babe

"The flesh tones bring to mind the top shelf liqueurs of a border bistro. With an astonishing emphasis on facial bone structure, the artist flirts with caricature and captures features of Mamma's face which remind us of a Presidential candidate. The upright marionettish pose of the babe hints that the early bond between mother and child is as formal as it is familiar. Good old fashioned parental respect is at the center of this celebration of color and contour."

Lucy in the Field With Flowers

"The motion, the chair, the sway of her breast, the subtle hues of the sky, the expression on her face -- every detail combines to create this transcendent and compelling portrait, every detail cries out 'masterpiece.'"

Gilded Nude

"The viewer is struck immediately by the youthful female subject's oversized arm."

A L'INTERIEUR DE L'OEUF (INSIDE THE EGG)

"The French title adds to the mystique of this disturbing example of art brut."

Long Arm of the Law

"Bare-breasted blind Lady Justice is portrayed here in a variation on a traditional subject. Rather than cover her face with a blindfold, the artist depicted her with no eyes. While she is often seen holding the scales of justice, a sword, and/or a book, she is in this painting juggling a ball of dreaded kryptonite in her ample hand at the end of the long arm of the law."

It wasn't until just now, reaching the conclusion of this post, that I noticed the continuing theme of bossoms in outsider art. This raises the question, are those artists who find themselves fascinated by the Devil's sandbags destined for a life of anonymity? Is their bravery in putting to paper (or canvas) the thoughts which endlessly run through the collective unconscious of mankind rewarded only by an inability to understand the natural proportions of the human form? Perhaps boobs hold a deeper evil than we are prepared to understand.

Oooooo, MAGIC!

2010-01-13T12:30:00.001-05:00

So, I was taking some online training at work this morning when my mind started to wander. Shocking, I know. Two hours of holding a phone to your ear and staring at someone else's desktop is only really engaging for about ten minutes. Anywho, I began stumbling around flickr so that I could do something mindless while I followed the course and I came across this super-awesome tutorial for levitation photos from lauren {elycerose}.

You can find it here.

It's pretty much brilliant and I can't wait to try it whenever my new camera arrives!

Who doesn't love bacon???

2010-01-11T21:59:00.000-05:00

Crazy people, that's who. Wouldn't you love to snuggle and cuddle with your very own?

Yes you would, I can tell. Find it here.

GAAAHHHHH! SOOOOO Excited!!!

2010-01-11T09:27:00.000-05:00

Meet my new baby!

Just purchased on ebay! I haven't gotten her yet but I am super-duper excited. I can't wait! It's a Canon D30. It's really the oldest model Canon DSLR on the market, with only 3.11 mega pixels, but who cares? It's a digital SLR! I have been dreaming of one for some time now but have thought them too cost prohibitive. This one was a bargain at $165! I mean, it's not the newest or the brightest or the shiniest, but I have never been one to go for the biggest and best anyhow. I will be happy with SLR capabilities of any kind, as long as I can get the pics from the camera to my computer I will be a happy monkey. I hope I can sleep at night waiting for my new friend. I have been considering naming her. Please let me know if you have any suggestions!

My First Valentine

2010-01-10T19:45:00.000-05:00

So, I finally finished my first new cross stitch for the etsy shop in preparation for Valentine's Day! Let me know what you think...

My Secret Shame

2010-01-07T10:09:00.001-05:00

Those of you who know me are probably aware of my secret shame. I have a problem, I admit it. Believe me, the guilt that I feel about it is punishment enough. I have tried to justify it in a thousand ways, but none of them ever seem like quite "enough"...until now.

Thank you Em & Sprout !

Phew, close one!

2010-01-05T20:48:00.000-05:00

Here is the accident I (thankfully) was not involved in over the weekend. Not to worry, this is not me rubbernecking and holding up traffic to take a picture (I hate those guys!). We were all stopped here because the accident had JUST happened. This poor girl. She looked to be about 21 or 22. I am sure she was so terrified. I'm not sure if you can tell from the picture or not, but there was nothing but a guard rail on each side of this road. After that, nothing but mountainside. Thank heavens the girl wasn't hurt, but losing control on an icy road is terrifying enough, I can only imagine at 70 mph with a drop off on either side!

Well, I guess it's resolution time...

2010-01-04T11:58:00.003-05:00

I know I'm a bit late, but working on my procrastination was not this year's resolution. Which is fine, because I work better under pressure. I think.

This year marks the first year that I have ever made a New Year's Resolution...EVER. Well, I mean besides the ones that you were forced to make in elementary school as a homework assignment but never really took very seriously. This year's resolution is to make something (or at least begin work on something) every single day. My real problem here is discipline. I mean, I can daydream all day about what I want to get creative with when I get home from work, but when I walk through that door, and the couch calls to me in that pleading and romantic way, I find it difficult to really buckle down on the making stuff. NO MORE! This new decade will mark the beginning of a new era! An era of creativity, of brainstorming, and of earth shattering new ideas! Lofty I know, but I am confident in my own brilliance. I am also aware that historically this level of confidence often leads to the ultimate downfall of the protagonist. Luckily, I am also confident that as per usual, I will be the exception to that literary rule. Gird your loins America! It's about to get crazy all up in this piece!

Also, some pretty calendars for the new year!

This calendar by girl*in*gear studio is super extra awesome

because it is printed on seeded paper. That means you can

plant it when you are done with it, and beautiful flowers will

pop up in its place!

Yee-Haw Industries makes this sweet ass wall calendar.

When the year is out you are left with a beautiful letterpress
print on recycled card stock, just right for framing!

Pretty, pretty, pretty! These colors are so rich and vibrant
it makes me want to lick them! Kokeshi Darling 2010 Calendar
from Stephanie Fizer.

I adore the original textiles over at Cicada Studio.

This loverly Tea Towel Wall Calendar is no exception!

I want to snuggle with each month of JooJoo's Giclee Calendar.

Giclee prints are archival, so the little characters can be framed

and enjoyed long after 2010 is but a distant memory.

O-H-I-O

2009-12-31T11:26:00.001-05:00

nataliedee.com

Today I head to Ohio...as soon as our boss cuts us loose. Phew, it is a long drive. I am collecting new music to make the time go faster, and snacks. Music, and snacks will both be key to making the time pass. Music, and snacks, and comfy shoes (which I am not wearing right now). Probably some coffee as well, although that may necessitate more frequent restroom stops. Geeeee. Wish me luck!

WOO HOO!!!

2009-12-26T12:43:00.000-05:00

Great news for crafters out there. Starting January 1st Hobby Lobby will join the e-commerce brigade! For those of us who do not have a Hobby Lobby anywhere close by, but who are familiar with its general awesomeness and pine for it endlessly, we can begin shopping there online in the new year. HOORAY! Find their awesome bargains here : http://shop.hobbylobby.com/

Feeling Foxy

2009-12-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm not quite sure how it happened exactly. I'm sure it had something to do with those bizarre lateral brain-leaps that my mind makes throughout the day. A combination of daydreaming and thinking. Typically this is a dangerous combination, but today more of a happy accident. I got to thinking about foxes. Fox? Foxen? Whatever the plural is, I got to thinking about them, which prompted an etsy search. I found some really, really wonderful and beautiful things. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

LOVE this beautiful Silver Fox Stole necklace from Bbel.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36958195

I am simultaneously disturbed and enchanted.

Pamela Klaffke Photography

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33205682

Adorable necklace from The Poppy Tree!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37276787

Okay, I guess I was on a bit of a necklace kick too. Love this one from Danielle Rose Bean.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37210030

I totally just want to snuggle up with this little guy from Sleepy King's shop!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37095582

Food, Glorious Food!

2009-12-22T09:44:00.000-05:00

So, I accidentally stumbled across my new favorite food blog today while looking for a recipe for macaroons.

http://blogchef.net/ - Guacamole Bruschetta? WHAT?

Absolutely EVERYTHING I have seen on this site seems to be right up my gastronomical alley, so to speak. Check it out!

Someone is watching you.

2009-12-20T15:47:00.000-05:00

So, my brother and I drove up to Northern Virginia last weekend to visit my dad for the holidays. We had a really nice time visiting with family and napping. On Saturday afternoon we were getting a little bit of cabin fever so we decided to make a quick jaunt to Ikea since it was only about an hour away. We spent some time buying bunches of well designed affordable things that neither of us really needed, packed up the car, and headed back to my poppa's crizzy. Now, the thing about my dad's house is that he and my grandmother and uncle (who all live there right now) try to conserve in as many ways as possible, since they live in the middle of nowhere. They don't use AC in the summer, they burn all paper garbage instead of taking it to the dump, and all the men have to pee outside. Luckily, the women don't have to, due to the particulars of our plumbing being less conducive to these things. In any case, my brother and I pull up back at the house around 6 p.m. Well, in December, 6 p.m. looks like the middle of the night, pitch black darkness in the middle of nowhere, I could barely see my hand in front of my face. First thing my bro says as we pull up is "I have to pee", so he stumbles off into the darkness to my right and dissappears into the night. Moment later I hear a startled noise, followed by hysterical laughter. Apparently just as he was prepping his "equipment" for full relief, he glanced up and saw this:

How he saw it in the complete darkness is entirely beyond me, and the only reason I even saw it was from the flash of my camera. Needless to say he packed up and hightailed it back to the car. I believe they let him pee inside that night.

Snarf!

2009-12-08T20:06:00.000-05:00

I can't stop laughing at this. I've tried, but I can't.

MondayFunday!

2009-12-07T20:02:00.000-05:00

Today was poo. Well, not totally poo, but it didn't start off very well. I came about 14" from being smashed by a wreckless driver this morning, had to wait around in the cold to be a witness for those who weren't so lucky, then strolled into work just in time to be bullied by my bully supervisor. Boooo. In an effort to wash that poo right outta my hair I have picked a few favorite etsy finds to share today. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

I just LOVE doubleparlour's polymer clay creations!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/doubleparlour

I simply adore the pencil drawings in Zanurism's etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Zanurism

Kittehs! Kittehs playing melodicas! It doesn't get much better.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/boygirlparty

I can't believe this is polymer clay!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PsychoticReaction

Bacon!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/waterbears

I scream you scream...

2009-12-04T19:30:00.000-05:00

I am a sucker for brilliant new items. Things that make your life easier, or if not easier, at least more beautiful. When form and function come together in one perfect product it brings a single tear to my eye, just like pollution did for that Indian Chief in those public service announcements from the '90s, but in a good way instead of a crappy way.

Enter the Cuisipro Ice Cream Scoop and Stack. There is absolutely nothing about this thing that isn't badass. First of all, the product itself is beautiful, and B, it creates something EVEN MORE beautiful...AND delicious! Pretty cylinders of creamy dairy goodness. Om nom nom nom. I mean, this thing can take the most mundane dessert option and make it into a beautiful gourmet treat!

The most brilliant thing of all to me about the Cuisipro Ice Cream Scoop and Stack (they maybe should shorten the name) is the incredible innovation it took. I mean, the ice cream scoop is one of those products that has operated in the exact same way for so long that we just assumed there was no other way to do it. Now we know, ice cream can be both delicious and super sexy. Thank you Cuisipro.

If you decide (like me) that you just can't live without this product, you can find it here:
http://www.wrapables.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=C57237

Getting Started

2009-12-04T15:39:00.000-05:00

So, here's the thing...I start things...lots of things, and I wouldn't say that I am not a "finisher", but I get really really excited about new things pretty frequently, and then the old things just sort of...fade away. In the interest of practice, and learning to finish, I have started to write. My plan here is to create an online record of the multitude of things that I get really excited about, in the hopes that I will be able to maintain that magical feeling of can't-wait-to-see-where-this-goes all the way through to the end. To be honest, I have already begun to lose interest, which has convinced me even more fully that this is something that I need to do. There are several different tacks I could take here as well. Do I go funny (if so this is a rough start), do I go intellectual (not much better than the last), do I post about things that I love, things that I want, things that I do, things that I read, people that I know, events that have occurred, interesting anecdotes? HOW DO I DECIDE??? I have no idea, and figuring it out is looking pretty bleak at this point. What have I started? Is this just one more thing I have signed on for that is going to drive me that much closer to the brink of insanity? Probably. I guess it's the journey though. Wish me luck.