Bentley turns 5

He's the talk of the street ;) everyone wants to stop and chat and pet him, people downtown recognize him and give him treats, and some stores let me bring him in because he's such a teddy bear. I cannot believe I’ve kept an animal alive and kickin' all this time! I have had the world’s best cat stolen, rabbits hop away, parents give dogs away, fish/lizards die, and although my mother has kept my sweet baby Bella [my 10 year old polydactyl wildcat] that I rescued when I was 16, Bentley has been the one little guy I alone have taken care of for a whole 4 years! (he was rescued at 1) Cheers to you, my little Scottie boo, we’re growing up!

The Best Decade for movies

I so love '90s movies. Cheesy but lovable story lines, predictable characters but you still love em. Unpretentious clothes, goo goo dolls soundtracks and one hit wonders. Bill pullman, sandra bullock, meg ryan, tom hanks, and julia roberts could do no wrong... I feel like now all that comes out are animated childrens movies with underlying adult humor, or another comic book story. I want to go to the movies and there's nothing good out... bring on the holidays, good movies are bound to come out then.

And is it just me, or is black friday becoming grimm thursday? First 6am, now 4am, malls at midnight, and "pre black friday" sales starting at 8pm thursday? That's a Lot of people getting taken from thanksgiving dinners, and family time. I plan on doing a lot of local shopping for gifts, I don't want to feed into the sales madness that fuels this craziness.

shop local!!!

Another midnight premiere!!

Twilight Day!

Sitting outside in the freezing cold!, with hundreds of people for the midnight premiere of Breaking Dawn Part 1. It was about 4 hours before they let us into the grand auditorium but we had great seats! *nerd love*

:)

Well I just won $50

Sheer genius

Wait for it....

Wait for it!!!

Oooooooh...

Mr. Architect, designer, whoever came up with this magnificent concept, I salute you.

and if a tornado comes, I'll be down in the cellar folks...

Thanks Apartment Therapy! You know the stuff I love...

This hard day

The church was filled, an army of motorcyclists guarded the perimeter, and held doors open for us, brave and beautiful speeches were given, a soldier came home to thank the man of the hour for saving his life just two weeks before. His name's been all over the news, people lined the streets with flags to honor and welcome him home, and my whole heart goes out to his sisters who were strong enough to talk about their brother. I can't believe all this... The motocyclists were so wonderful! Bowed their heads as my blubbering tearstained face said thank you. I hate funerals. And I never understood when people said this until now, but it was absolutely beautiful. All my love, Bret

This Soldier,

Sept 9, 2011

i havent been able to let it sink in, keep hoping to wake up and find that this whole wkends been some dellusional bad dream. or a mistake, he's just wounded, it was a miscommunication, he'll be fine... a few days ago my heart broke, when we lost an amazing soldier in afghanistan, this funny, thoughtful, bighearted guy we know as Bret. i'm so thankful for him, and every soldier that sacrifices their life and leaves their family to protect us at home. Leaving their comfort zone, putting their dreams on hold, not knowing where they'll get sent next, so brave, and here I am so selfish bc all i want is them home. here. i wanted bret to find someone amazing. i wanted her to be perfect. and i wanted to see him have babies, and i wanted to see him laugh about his thinning hair, and kids, he loved kids. they gravitated to him. he was so happy to be a firefighter. always a protector. I can't even gather my thoughts... Bret, I can still hear your laugh, and see that look on your face when you roll your eyes and smirk before you tease me about whatever. I can hear your laugh when I told you oops I just backed into a tree in ryans front yard. I miss your stories. And talking to you over in Iraq while I was off in malaysia... I'm laughing, but i'm crying, suddenly there are a hundred things I want to to tell you. Your brothers love you. And you will never be forgotten. There's no one like you, always so hardworking, always looking out for your friends, always a gentleman, i don't think you ever once let me get my own door... even offered to take me to see Twilight :) and cook for me just to cheer me up after a funeral. So sweet... And to hear that you saved another soldier's life just 2 weeks before yours was taken, you're nothing short of amazing. It's an honor to know you and call you a friend. With all my respect, and love, and prayers, our heavy hearts will never forget you.

Playing with yellow

very cute! reclaimed wood

Feng shui says yellow inspires thinking and creativity. Great for an office space and the kitchen.I just like it :) such a sweet focal point in a minimalist's design. How very Swedish :) *adore* and those chalkboard walls and floor make me miss my chalkboard kitchen...
Images from google & anthropologie...

My Little Trixie

A little black soft top mustang, so perfectly made for me, you were a wonderful car... You were my college life. Thanks for the memories :)

In five years, you've driven on roadtrips, gotten 2 speeding tickets (5 warnings), carried furniture like a jigsaw puzzle, and helped me master a stickshift! What a trooper. Even after my little sis nearly ripped your door off on halloween! Thanks for never getting a flat tire. And for making it thru all those ice storms. I'll miss driving with the top down, hair swept up, sittin behind sunglasses, drivin on a long stretch of highway, with john mayer playin. Even the girls have great memories of you. You'll be the car I always remember...

and as your new owner pried your keys out from my hand, I bawled and watched him drive away, revving your engine, my heart sank. I just bought those new exhaust pipes! I've become so attuned to the sound of a mustang... having one is like being apart of this American tradition. Some say they're ubiquitous, but that's part of their charm, they were intended for any household in the '60s to enjoy a sports car. Ford's special little baby. From Caroll Shelby racing, to Steve McQueen and the most famous cinematic car chase ever, to "Eleanor", and even Britney Spears videos, it's The Car always picked for fast, sleek, American muscle. And they're sexy as hell! I'll miss u Trixie!!

-p.s. i kept your spare key, just as a token. i couldn't help it.

Sweet Southern Summers

So pretty...

I don't know if I could scoop into this, it's too perfect

recipe here

I found a strawberry huller

at a craftshow for about $6 The Chef'n StemGem, can also be found at Williams-Sonoma or on amazon.com.
Now I want a strawberry trifle... guess I'll have to make one :)

Hello Amy Butler bedroom!

I just found my new treasure hunt!

I've seen people post pics of their homemade amy butler rooms (which are stunning!), and I'd heard somewhere she had a small linen collection, but that it was a bit tame, basic hues, not amybutler'esque... but this is gorgeous!!!

She has other brighter colors in her line, but this one takes the cake! The bright tangerines and hot pink paisley prints are fun, but I like my bedroom to be either crisp white like a spa resort, or dark and cozy. And her sheets are organic and 400 thread count to boot! Wow...

images via amy butler

Summer Hair Care

Summer months always send me for some Paul Mitchell tea tree products. They smell amazing, have great clarifying shampoos and conditioners (to get all that beach water out!), and are known for the cold, massaging tingles.

You know when you smell something and it transports you back to a place? When PM first launched the Lemon Sage (omg!) quite a few years back, I had brought some with me during a summer in Malaysia. I knew I'd be at the beach a lot, and it's incredibly hot so of course I'd love some good teatree shampoo to cool off. Well I fell in love with the new Lemon teatree scent. Every time I took a shower, the whole bathroom had a light air of this lemony herbal fragrance, and now each time I use it, I remember my grandmother's house, and fixing my hair in front of the hanging mirror against open white shutters.

PM Teatree. It's good stuff :)