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wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That I lived closer to an Ikea. Shipping from that place is insane!

* Some sunshine. This rain is for the birds!

* A cake just like this one for my birthday (it's Saturday!).

* I think the twins would love Jacques the French Baguette!

* If I could tell time, I would wear this watch every day.

What's your wish?

I can't wait

I never minded reading classic lit in high school, and The Great Gatsby is one reason why. They're not classics for nothin'!

I cannot WAIT for the new movie version.

(double) wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* Have you ever seen anything cuter than Sir Hopsalot?

* The color of this chair + ottoman is so soothing.

* Awww.

* I've heard such lovely things about this book.

* We all know how much I love Eric Carle.

What's your wish?

(And did you figure out my little secret?)

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* These riesling strawberry slushies look so delish!

* One of these floppy hats for upcoming beach trips. I very much like the yellow one.

* These wedges look like a perfect height!

* How excited are we that one-pieces are back? This one would be especially flattering!

* That I were near a pool right now.

What's your wish?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* How 'bout just a good day?

* Pretty much every Butter London nail color. I have "Trout Pout," and I love it!

* Some cute, neutral wedges that I can wear to work. I still love these.

* A Brazilian Blowout for my hair. I think I'm a great candidate.

* A lifetime supply of this lotion. It smells so clean and wonderful.

What's your wish?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?


image from here


* That I hadn't just eaten a Snickers. (embarrassed face)

* I still want a white blazer. Am I too young for this one from Talbots?

* That my hair were tame enough to do this cool braid featured on A Cup of Jo.

* To be able to survive this summer. How is it already 90 degrees outside?

* How adorable is this custom portrait? Wouldn't it be a great anniversary gift?

What's your wish?

guess who's back?

Surely I'm not the only one excited about my sister's return to the blogging world.

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That I'd planned some posts for you while I was out last week. No doubt you were devastated.

* How cute is this dress? And it's from JCPenney!

* That I hadn't left my favorite self-tanner in my hotel room. Bummer.

* Skinnier legs. It's practically summer, people.

* This pillow reminds me of The Lion King. And who doesn't love crewel?

What's your wish?

kate the great

image of the lovely couple from here

It seems like Americans have always been more enamored of the British Monarchy than the Brits themselves. Most of my friends overseas were irritated by last year's royal wedding, while I (happily!) woke up at 4:00 a.m. that day to watch every second on my phone, even recording the rest of the day (on BBC, naturally) so I wouldn't miss a single moment.

But in a world of Snookis and Lindsays, it's nice to have Kate, don't you think? And it seems from this article from Stylist, even those skeptical Brits are embracing her.

What are your plans this weekend? I jet off to Los Angeles tomorrow for work! Wonder who I'll run into...

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

you can buy it for me, if you want.

* To meet up with Joy the Baker when I'm in L.A. next week!

* A total yard makeover. Any volunteers?

* Pretty much any dress from Madewell these days.

* A super-cute one-piece swimsuit. Is there such a thing?

* Who wouldn't love a couple of these adorable chairs?

What's your wish?

i love cheese

image from here

So, maybe I'll make this soon.

What are you doing this weekend? I'm going to see the Avett Brothers with Mary-Kathryn! I'm stoked!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?


image from Wagon Wheel Candles


* Jen Lancaster's new book. Hurry, May!

* I'd feel like Katniss in this bad-to-the-bone bangle.

* An Abita Strawberry for lunch. How come work always gets in the way of my fun?

* I'd love to have these candles all over my kitchen. They smell as good as they look!

* The perfect marriage of my love of a nesting doll and a manicured nail.

What's your wish?

sneak peek

Much has been made on this blog about my bedroom makeover. I've got a sneak peek for you, if you'd like to see...

What do you think? The orange and green fabrics are velvet, and I could die I love them so much. And you'll likely recognize the pillow in the back as well.

What are your Easter plans? This will be our first one just the two of us, and I'm going to make my first attempt at dressing. I'm nervous!

Have a blessed weekend.

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That I could keep this blowout. My hair is so straight!

* Some Jon Hart luggage. Which color would you choose?

* I love Tokyo.

* The colors in this hummingbird throw pillow are so lovely.

* A "hoppy" Easter for you all!

What's your wish?

recipe round-up...

via

…and how I adapted (one of) them.



I typically don’t love a baked bean, but this version was pretty delicious. I liked the back of the stirring spoon (and put it promptly in the sink, of course).


These green beans were a pretty, dressed up way to serve the side staple. Be sure to use fresh, not canned, beans, and salt them VERY well when you blanch them.

I gave up dessert for Lent, but this No Bake Strawberry “Cake” was simple and delicious, according to the Mr. The homemade whipped cream is the only way to do this. I left off the ganache.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is a great way to use up spotty bananas that no one will eat but me.

I’m a mac and cheese connoisseur, and this Five-Minute Microwave Mac was GOOD. If you shred your own cheese like I did, be sure you toss it with a teaspoon of flour to keep the cheese from getting lumpy. I added a teaspoon each of onion powder, ground mustard and white pepper. After the time in the microwave, I transferred to a fancier dish and topped it with some extra cheese and some panko bread crumbs and baked it at 400 degrees or so until the top browned.

You can find more recipes like these on my Delicious Dish Pinterest board!

Happy Monday. If there is such a thing.

car covers

In my mind, this is what I sound like when I sing in the car.

I'm certain it's slightly different in real life.

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* A bring-your-dog-to-work day!

* To be BFFs with Jennifer Lawrence. Check out her interview with Chelsea Handler on YouTube. You'll see what I mean.

* Some of these sherbert-colored jeans. I love the peachy-pink!

* An Easter dress. I can't seem to find one that I adore in my price range. Any suggestions?

* Someone to whome I could give this little tooth fairy pillow.

What's your wish?

the hunger games

image and other HG wallpapers from here

I saw it this weekend...

I gave it a B for the following reasons:

1. Other than Jennifer Lawrence, I didn't think the acting was all that good. But she killed it.

2. I didn't feel like Peeta was all that in love with Katniss like in the book. And he seemed a little pathetic. He was supposed to be this big, strong guy, and Josh Hutcherson is puny.

3. They left out Madge completely.

4. Gale is HOT.

5. Lenny Kravitz was perfect. And hot.

6. Woody Harrelson was much better than I thought. Still not drunk or mean enough for my taste, though.

7. Prim and Rue were GREAT.

8. Conceptually, they did a good job. Most things were just as I'd pictured.

9. They totally blew the Mockingjay pin introduction.

10. Stanley Tucci could not have been ANY better. Perfection.

11. Why did they leave out the bread from District 11?

12. Finnick better knock my socks off.

What did you think?

yipes! stripes!

I have a sewing machine. It’s sitting in a cabinet in my dining room, collecting dust, as we virtually speak right now. I’ve even used it once, under the supervision of someone who knew WAY more about what she was doing than I do. I’d like to learn, I want to learn, but I’m scared of messing up or breaking a needle or having to thread the bobbin and not know what to do.


So I’d like to add horizontal-striped curtains to the list of things that I can’t do because I can’t/won’t learn to sew. I cannot quit thinking about how badly I want these…



How great is this watermelon-y color?
From Better Homes & Gardens



Amanda Carol sewed together West Elm shower curtains for her home office.



The Alluvian was doing horizontal before horizontal was cool.



Perfection in a nursery. (source unknown)

My absolute favorite! (source unknown)



Don’t you love this look?

Of course to have these custom-made would probably cost a fortune (these on etsy aren’t too bad, but the fabric isn’t what I want). How hard would it be for fabric-maker-people to make horizontal striped fabric? Seriously? If there are any fabric designers out there, be aware that you are missing a huge chunk of business, especially with the all the striped curtains I’ve seen out there. I found a tutorial for painting them, and I’m considering trying it out.

What do you think? Do you love this look enough to DIY?

wish list wednesday - birthday edition!

What do I wish for Harris this Wednesday?

* That all the water fountains would be Diet Pepsi fountains.

* This kitty soap dispenser in every bathroom.

* A House of Harlow shopping spree!

* That everyone would call her Katniss today.

* Coconut cake for every meal!

What's your birthday wish for the diva?

top knots

images from Pinterest

Do you like the top knot?

I, like most women I know, have a love/hate relationship with my hair. It's actually more like a love/jeez-why-is-there-so-much-of-it-and-why-does-it-feel-like-a-horse relationship, so it's no surprise that I put off washing it as long as I can. Which of course means I need to do some careful maneuvering a few days every week.

I have yet to figure out how to make the top knot work for me (I have a giant forehead that typically needs some "softening"), but I love it! Here's a good tutorial, or you could use these.

Would you try it? Maybe this weekend?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?


photo from HowSweetItIs


* Dry shampoo for curly hair. Is there such a thing?

* The J.Crew No.2 pencil skirt. How great is the citron color?

* That this humid weather would hit the road! It's too early for frizz like this.

* That these shams came in king-size. This king bedding stuff is hard!

* Garlic Bread Pizza Crust counts as breakfast, right?

What's your wish?

re-do to do

What’s the deal with Daylight Savings Time? (Doesn’t that sound like the opening line of a bad Jerry Seinfeld act?) I totally get why we did it in the beginning, but is it really necessary in 2012? This pretty much sums up my thoughts on it:

PC? No. True? Yes.

While I was lying awake last night at 11:30 p.m., I put together a to-do list for my bedroom makeover and even set a deadline for myself: Memorial Day = installation day. Why then you might ask? Supposedly that’s when the mattresses at Miskelly go on sale. Who knew? Kell did. And since I have not heeded his opinion on anything décor-related yet, I decided to give him that one little nugget.

3 Euro shams

Ivory king shams

Throw pillows (one of which is my beloved Chiang Mai pillow)

Mattelasse bedspread - ivory

Paint walls

curtain panels

Sunburst mirror (I got one at Big Lots!)

headboard

Lamps for bedside tables

Painting above bed

Bedside tables

Art above bedside tables

And I will say that for me, the best way to get started was to choose a color pallette. Fortunately, Chiang Mai Dragon has so many great colors, Shumacher did that for me.

So, now there’s no excuse but to get to work, right? Oh, and there’s that little hurdle called a “budget” to get over, but shoot first, apologize later, right?

a challenge...or maybe not

Well, Pinterest sure has taken off like wildfire, yes?

I myself got sucked in months ago (all the blame rests on Laura Merrill), and I. Love. It. It's like shopping, but you don't have to actually pay for the stuff. And it's like hoarding. but cuter and you don't end up on TLC clutching old Target sacks and dented canned goods.

Always having been one of those people who had to be "in the mood" to get creative, Pinterest seems to do the trick most of the time. But how many times, myself included, have we pinned with the best intentions, only to do nothing with it? Is the road to shoulda/woulda/couldas paved with good pin-tentions?

So here you go, readers (all five of you). I'm taking part in the Pinterest Challenge that I spotted on Hi, Sugarplum! blog (that's where I got the banner, too). The rules are simple: find something you pinned, actually do it/make it, and blog about it! It can be a DIY, an outfit or a recipe; just do something! Oh, and don't forget to tell me about it, and I'll mention it here. Let's share some blogger luv!

Today I'm off to Gulfport to help host a baby shower for my dear friend, Morgan. What are your plans for the weekend? I hope it's pin-credible.

You like those pin puns. Don't lie.

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* A brightly-colored jacket. Doesn't this one just scream "spring?"

* More gorgeous weather like yesterday!

* Wouldn't these wedges (spotted on A Cup of Jo) be a great everyday, wear-with-everything shoe for spring and summer and maybe even early fall?

* A free yard makeover by an actual professional (read: not me).

* I need this for March 23.

What's your wish?

chicken and mushrooms in a garlic white wine sauce

Can you guess by the title what this post is about? I'm hilarious.

I recently mentioned I’m back to square one on Weight Watchers. My eating has gotten a little out of control, and I’d gotten lackadaisical about the whole thing. So, I’m getting back on the wagon – counting points and tracking and everything. It’s tedious, yes, but I’ll admit my personality thrives under such structure.

WW does a great job of informing you of generic food values and even the points of restaurants, but their recipes on the website are iffy at best. They have weird ingredients and almost never look appetizing to me. No thank you, I do not care for any Autumn Fruit with Tofu Whipped Topping (yes, that’s a real recipe). But I would love a Nutella-Banana Wonton.

As you know, there is no shortage of cooking websites out there, but not too many are healthy, and the ones that actually figure out the points for you (this lazy girl’s dream come true) are even harder to find. Enter SkinnyTaste. This is one of the best blogs out there for healthy cooking if you ask me, and her recipes are delicious. Even better, the ingredients are totally normal! No tofu!

Here’s a new favorite at my house…

image from here, too!

Chicken and Mushrooms in a Garlic White Wine Sauce
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 4
Serving Size: divide between 4
Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 6 pts

8 chicken tenderloins, 16 oz total
2 tsp butter
2 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp all-purpose flour* (use rice flour if gluten free)
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
12 oz sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup white wine
1/3 cup fat free chicken broth
salt and fresh pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 200°. Season chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge in flour.

Heat a large skillet on medium heat; when hot add 1 tsp butter and 1 tsp olive oil. Add chicken to the skillet and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side, or until chicken is no longer pink. Set aside in a warm oven.

Add additional oil and butter to the skillet, then garlic and cook a few seconds; add mushrooms, salt and pepper stirring occasionally until golden, about 5 minutes.

Add wine, chicken broth, parsley; stir the pan with a wooden spoon breaking up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
Cook a few more minutes or until the liquid reduces by half.

Top the chicken with the mushroom sauce and serve.

What’s your favorite foodie site?

yip yip yippee yay

he even had his own stamp!

It’s Dr. Seuss’s birthday!


We all know his books, but how much do we actually know about the man? Here are a few facts I dug up on one of my favorite author…

* He came from a family of German brewmasters, which is probably why he loved to throw a big party in his Dartmouth days.

* His widow says he wasn’t crazy about kiddos, but they wanted them and couldn’t have them. He made up a fake child to reference when his friends bragged about their own kids.

* He wrote Green Eggs and Ham on a bet! His editor bet him $50 that he couldn’t write a book using only 50 different words.

* He’s an Oscar winner! He won an Academy Award for a documentary called Design for Death, about the US occupation in Japan after World War II.

* Horton Hears a Who was written as an allegory for America’s treatment of the Japanese following World War II. (he must have loved the Japanese like I do!)

* The Butter Battle Book was influential in the anti-arms race during the Cold War.

* He’s not a doctor, and his last name isn’t even Seuss! He’s Theodore Seuss Geisel, and the name got started as a pen name when he was the humor editor of his college newspaper.

* He created many words, but the word “nerd” is all his own. It first appeared in If I Ran the Zoo.

* The voice of Tony the Tiger sang the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” in the original cartoon special (the only one that matters), but he didn’t get any on-screen credit for it. Dr. Seuss wrote letters to editors of newspapers all over the country to correct the mistake.

* He wrote Cat in the Hat because he thought the Sally, Dick and Jane books were boring.

What do you think? What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* Just a few days of winter. I never got to bundle up this year!

* I love this handpainted necklace! The colors are so great for spring.

* That Joy the Baker would swing through the South on her book tour.

* I bet Mary-Kathryn is wishing for this storage bench.

* That the Avett Brothers were coming to Mississippi soon. Oh wait, they ARE!

What's your wish?

sweet

I've always loved lullabies.

(lyrics here)

me, currently

I thought this was pretty cute. (stolen from Heather who stole it from this blog…)

My current state of affairs

Current guilty pleasure: Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest.

Current nail polish: bare at the moment, but OPI’s Give Me Moor is on deck.

Current play list: My trusty Avett Brothers Pandora station, but with Arcade Fire, The Civil Wars, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver added. (And yes, I knew who he was long before the Grammys.)

Current read: Well, I was reading In Cold Blood, but I’m putting it aside for the moment to re-read The Hunger Games in preparation for the upcoming movie premier. Cannot. Wait.

Current drink: I’m trying to drink more water at the moment, but it’s still Diet Dr. Pepper.

Current food: Kell and I are very much into homemade hummus now that I have a food processor (thanks, Freddie!).

Current favorite show: Modern Family kills me. And Fashion Police, too, but strictly for educational purposes.

Current wish list: see Wednesday. Duh.

Current needs: wisdom, patience, faith and courage

Current triumphs: I’m giving up dessert for Lent! That means I’ve gone like three days without it.

Current indulgence: not dessert anymore.

Current blessing: new batteries. It’s the little things.

Current excitement: TGIF!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* One of these candles for every room in my house. They are divine!

* That this cordless mouse wasn't so wonky.

* To try some of this beer risotto. Would you make it?

* How cute is this dog wrapping paper?

* That I hadn't eaten so much at Ubon's today. But it was worth it!

What's your wish?

diet sprite cupcakes

(sorry about the Christmas liner)

I've recently decided that my eating is out of control. Seriously. I don't know who I think I am. Certainly not Giselle or SJP.

So in an effort to get going on WW again (go J-Hud!) and make the most of my day off, this afternoon I tried a recipe for Diet Soda Cake.

Success is a 2 point cupcake!

All I did was mix a box of strawberry cake mix with a can of Sprite Zero (per skinnytaste) and baked them per package instructions. The taste was exactly like a regular cupcake, I tell you! And what's a little cake without frosting? I mixed a couple of tablespoons of Fat Free Cool Whip with a drop or two of almond extract (makes it taste more indulgent and less Cool Whippy) and a few slices of strawberry and voila! A pretty little cupcake without the eater's remorse.

What are your favorite lightened-up recipes?

re-do

bedding by Urban Outfitters

I’m overwhelmed. May I tell you why?


Kell and I are re-decorating our bedroom (I even started a Pinterest board for it!). Actually, I shouldn’t say “re-decorating” because it was never decorated in the first place. Unless by décor, you mean some hand-me-down furniture from our parents and the comforter Kell had on his bed in college. True story. Don’t even ask for a before picture.

So I decided to sit down and make a list to share with you of everything I want to do. Well, now I’m daunted. Look what I have to do…in no particular order!

Choose paint color

Headboard

Euro shams

A little chair to throw stuff on

King shams

Bedspread/Coverlet

Throw pillows

Curtain panels/hardware

Bedside tables

Knick knacks/sit-arounds

Lamps

Art for over bed

Paint chest of drawers (if Kell will let me)

I have some ideas for a few things, but seeing it in list form seems like so much! I’ve never liked decorating a little at a time. I suppose it’s my impatient nature, but when I want something done, I want it done now! Oh, and there’s this little thing called a budget that we have to take into consideration as well. Of course my first plan is to win some money from a raffle to which Laura Merrill sold me tickets. But in the off chance that doesn’t happen, I need to be prepared to some bargain-hunting and DIY.

What are your ideas for me? What should I invest in, and where can I be frugal? What other advice do you have?

I’m getting worked up just thinking about it.

Have a lovely weekend, friends!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* I'm not afraid of the dark, but for this nightlight, I could fake it!

* Sir Paul's new CD. The man's still got it!

* That Uggs were work-appropriate.

* How cute are these red cropped pants? I actually wish I had them on right now.

* Some Spicy Parmesan Shrimp. That'd be fine for breakfast, right?

What's your wish?

Love

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

homemade is better

Wow! I sure have neglected you. Between traveling for work and helping with showers and supper club, needless to say my little blog has suffered. But fear not - I'm back and with a Delicious Dish! Does that make up for lost time?

After this weekend (see above paragraph), I am a 100% believer in homemade frosting. You know how the canned stuff kind of makes your teeth hurt because it's so sweet? Well, homemade is the way to go. No diggity.

I made this frosting yesterday and used this cake pan for a fun birthday for a friend, and it is incredible. I'd recommend starting with less evap milk if you want something a little stiffer, like for piping. If you need to thicken it, use more sugar or cocoa powder.

Creamy Chocolate Frosting (image from there, too!)

Ingredients


2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1.In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa, and set aside.

2.In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with evaporated milk. Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar.

There you have it. Go forth and lick spatulas.

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* Caller ID on my work phone. It's like Russian Roulette every time I answer!

* This adorable dress from Madewell. I LOVE the colors.

* Some motivation to exercise. I'm a little doughy.

* How cute are these blue heels? The look so sturdy, too!

* Some Jon Hart luggage for my 2012 travels. Which color would you pick?

What's your wish?

house of fifty

Do y'all read House of Fifty? It's an incredible online magazine about home, lifestyle, food, blogs - basically everything I love - that's a spinoff from Isabella & Max Rooms, a beautiful home design blog that I adore.

Check it out here (they have an iPad and iPhone app!), and maybe you should follow them on Pinterest, too. Like I just did...

celebrities read?

I like celebrities to have an air of mystery about them. I don’t care anything for those pictures in tabloid mags that say, “Stars: they’re just like us!” because frankly, no, they’re not. I would be so disillusioned if I ever saw Nicole Kidman picking her nose or George Clooney wearing Crocs. Don’t try to convince me of how down-to-Earth you are or how you are still so surprised you get recognized in the street. You’re famous. Zac Posen does not call me to offer a dress to wear to my friend’s wedding.

Still, hearing that that you have one teeny thing in common with a celeb is so fun, right? My friend, Erin, sent these articles to me about celebrities’ favorite songs, movies (they called them “films” of course) and books. Alec Baldwin and I have the same favorite book! And Roger Federer’s favorite movie makes me love him even more…

Do you share a fave with anyone?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* How 'bout some actual cold weather in January? I'm practically sweating over here.

* A cool print shirt like this to spice up my usual weekend uni of top + jeans + boots.

* I LOVE the colors of this club chair! With the right throw pillow, it could go from super mod to traditional in a snap!

* Have y'all seen these? They affix to Ikea furniture to make it custom!

* A storage bench for all our blankets. This cool ikat one is from Target!

What's your wish?

bedroom re-do

It's no secret that I am totally enamored of Jenny Komenda and Joanna Goddard. Fortunately, they are blissfully unaware of how stalk-y I am of their blogs. Imagine my happiness when Jenny re-decorated Joanna's bedroom! Have you seen it yet? I'm so envious of Joanna's life in NYC with her cute husband and little boy; this did NOT help.

Here's her before...

Pretty, but how cute is the after?

Joanna and Jenny both posted about it on their blogs (images from Joanna's blog), so you should read them and get inspired like I did. Kell and I (well, let's be honest - just me) are working on re-doing our bedroom (Thanks, Freddie!), and I can't quit thinking about fabric and paint and bedding! I even created a Pinterest board dedicated to it so I don't forget the stuff I like!

In other totally awesome home re-do news, check out Mary-Kathryn's uber-cool Oxford crib. Yes, that's a garage door in her kitchen! Fab, right? Go to her blog to see the whole thing. I'm telling you, it's like something out of Garden and Gun.

I'm so envious of her vision, and her adorable hubby's handyman-ness!

What's your favorite room in your house?

for a friday giggle

I don't particularly care for Star Wars OR the Super Bowl, but I do love a dog AND a VW. Check out this ad scheduled to air during the game!



Have an epic weekend.

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That Harris would hurry home from her honeymoon!

* A cupcake from Muddy's Bake Shop in Memphis. Just go.

* A white blazer. Maybe like this one?

* Some Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn. Could you die?

* How about some snow?

What's your wish?

bored

I'm one of about 5 people in my whole office at work today. I suppose what they say is true: when the cat's away, the mice will play. Needless to say, I'm finding it hard to get motivated to be productive.

Can you think of some sites that are good time wasters to help me survive the day? I know I'll be hanging out on Pinterest and Suri's Burn Book for sure.

I hope you're having a lazy MLK day!

wish list wednesday - etsy love!

What Etsy items am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* I love the color combination and pattern on this pillow.

* I'm not sure what I'd do with this yellow lantern, but I love it!

* These adorable gift tags, hand made by Mary-Kathryn's talented sister-in-law Amy. The burlap is perfect.

* One of these sweet custom house portraits. She can add dogs, too!

* You could wear this cool bracelet with anything...year round!

What's your wish?

grammar nerd

English was my favorite subject in high school. I loved studying grammar, and diagramming sentences made me giddy. Still does. I laughed out loud at this article about diagramming Sarah Palin's particular, ahem, "style" of speech.

Grammar is one of those thing that you don't notice until it goes terribly wrong. A person can be impeccably dressed, perfectly coiffed and have a spot-on handshake, but when he or she opens his or her mouth and says "whelp" instead of "welt" or hands in a memo incorrectly using "it's" or "its," the facade is ruined.

If you are like me (not "I"), you'll love this article as well.

Speak well, or forever hold your peace!

welcome 2012 - better late than never...

Yowzaa!

Where did December go? Remember being a kid and it seemed like Christmas would NEVER get here? Maybe it’s a sign that I’m aging at a rapid pace, but man, it flew in and out to me.

I am going to admit something to you guys: I hate new years. Not New Year’s Eve, a new year. I know everyone always says they can look ahead with fresh perspective, think about all the good things that could happen and all the stuff they are looking forward to. Well, perhaps it’s my anxious nature, but I can’t help but think about all that bad things that will/could happen. I’m not going to run through the list that’s in my head; trust me, you don’t want to hear it. Plus, that’s not the operation I’m running here.

Instead, I’ve decided to make a list of things I’m looking forward to in the next few months or so. I can’t think too far past spring, so forgive my lack in forward-thinking.

The Civil Wars concert January 10

MK and I are going to see the Civil Wars in Memphis next week, and I am so jazzed! You might remember my post about them a few weeks ago. One of my resolutions for 2012 is to go to more concerts, and I think this is a great start. YAY!

My sister’s wedding January 14

I can’t believe my little sister will be a Mrs. soon! I still think of her as the little pipsqueak that I used to steal french fries from. Sweet tee, Harris. You would.

Joy the Baker’s cookbook – out February 28!

I cannot wait for this. I was so disappointed to find out that it wouldn’t be out before Christmas, but now I’m glad so I can look forward to it! I love a cookbook.

Making my master bedroom presentable

Ever since we moved into our house, I have closed the door to our bedroom whenever we have company. I finally picked out the color palette for the room, and I’m so ready to start getting stuff together. It will be so nice to have pretty bedding and curtains on the windows and coordinating bedside tables! Oh my!

What are your feelings on a new year? What are you looking forward to in 2012?