The Look For Less...

I fell in love with this dress at Anthropologie today. It's $158.00 :( which would just do too much damage to my monthly alloted retail spending to allow for much fun for the rest of the month (not to metion my Halloween costume!)

I know it looks rather simple but it's quite stunning in person! The pleated tweed skirt with pockets, the pin-tucked silk top and embroidered shoulders. I am sad to have to say no to the "Harbingers of Fall" dress


But I haven't given up! I did some research and found a skirt/top combo at forever21 that just might measure up.



The "beaded grecian top" is $24.80 and the "elastic waist linen skirt" is a steal at $15.80!! This is a grand total of $40.60, that is ONEHUNDREDSEVENTEEN dollars LESS!! Now I love owning something special, expensive and luxurious just as the next girl- but not as much I love money in my bank account. Can I get an AMEN!?
How about you? Have you discovered any favorite looks for less??

Lovely Living Room

I picked up this month's issue of House Beautiful Magazine this past weekend. I'm not a big magazine person but when I saw this living room featured on the cover I had to pick it up!! This might be my dream living room (minus the odd art on the wall). I LOVE all the mixed patterns and bright colors!!

Unfinished Business

I'm the first to admit that I've been a shameful blogger this summer. Sorry gang. The inspired content isn't flowing the way it used to. But blogging isn't the only thing I've been ignoring. I've also all but given up on several knitting/crocheting projects that I have been "working on" since Christmas! I watched "Julie and Julia" recently and Julie's mom said something to her on the phone that stuck with me- "For God's sake Julie, you gotta finish SOMETHING in your life!" This got me thinking and left me feeling a little dejected regarding all the projects I've never completed... not to mention grad school. In 2006 I started a quilt, sewed all the patches together, and then never completed the back of it. I used it as a Christmas tree skirt last year. My potted plants are not thriving like they once were, so that's a bit of a bust. I cant even finish my laundry in a reasonable amount of time. It always ends up sitting in the dryer for a week before I fold it. So, one day while mulling over my lack of follow through I glanced at my big yarn basket which holds three unfinished projects.
Knitting and crocheting are very sedentary, indoor activities. When you live in a place that is sunny and 85-90 degrees EVERY DAY you dont much feel like cozying up with a ball of yarn on your sofa. However, now that fall is approaching (it's still sunny and 85 by the way)I am more inclined to spend less time doing my summer hobby (tanning) and more time cozying up with all that yarn.
Here is a glance at the projects I am determined to finish before the end of 2010. Let's call it a "3/4 Year Resolution".

My neglected knitting basket bursting with heaps of yarn.


This is a baby blanket for my nephew Benjamin. I originally wanted to finish it in March when he and Kim came up to visit in Philly. Then I thought I'd have it ready for when I saw Benjamin at the Outer Banks for family vacation in July. No dice. Then I thought "His first birthday is in August! A perfect gift!" Didn't happen. So this one is my priority at the moment because at this rate, Benji will be off to college before I finish this thing. And by that time the blanket will have to be 5 times bigger in which case I'd be totally screwed. And while the blanket is looking a little "Jewish prayer clothy" right now, there is no way I am starting over. Maybe I'll add some yellow buttons or something.*


I started this blanked in January. My friend/ex-coworker, Meghan Bierschmitt, taught me this crochet technique and we used to work on our blankets together during our lunch breaks. When I moved to CA it made me a little sad to work on this blanket because I would reminisce and miss Philly. But as soon as I finish Benjamin's blanket, this one is next! I'll put on my big girl pants and crochet! This one is nearly done anyway so it shouldn't take too long.



These bad boys are another result of tutoring under Meghan. Granny squares are a lot of fun to make. I worked on these during my morning commute on the BART train here in CA a few times but, it made me a little nauseous so I stopped. I am not sure what I'll do with all these. Any ideas? I could attach them and make a blanket but I'd have to teach myself how to do that... which will likely result in it not happening at all.

Thanks for your support! If any of you still bother to check and see if I actually posted something- THANKS!!!

*Note: Not that Jewish prayer cloths are bad, it's just that neither I, nor my nephew are Jewish so it wouldn't make sense to make one for him.
** Just remembered something else I haven't finished- mastering Spanish via Rosetta Stone! Mike and I bought it as a Christmas gift for each other last year and neither of us has advanced past Lesson 2.***

***I would just like to say that the reason I have not advanced passed level 2 is NOT because it is too difficult. I minored in Spanish!

Cardigans, Clogs and Clutches- An Evolution of Personal Style...(I Guess)

I was never much of a "girlie girl". As a kid I played with dolls and barbies but also played sports and climbed trees with boys. I wore whatever my mom bought me which was often a "s'prise" waiting for me on my bed after school. When I was a teen, I was a little more high maintenance I guess, but nothing outrageous. Any makeup I had was just stuff my mom got tired of using and passed on to me. I liked to get my clothes from American Eagle (like every teen did in the late 90's early 00's) and loved looking through Dehlia's magazie but wasn't really obsessed and never actually begged my mom long enough to end up ordering anything. In college, fashion-wise, I was all about the holey jeans*, cool t-shirts from salvation army, clogs, and trucker hats. (thanks for that, Ashton Kutcher). Of course it was fun to dress up for special events with my roommates but that was a once in a while activity. But in general, style-wise, college was a contest to see who could look the best while looking like they cared the least. Then came "career Kelsey" when I was suddenly forced to shed the clogs and jeans for pumps and pencil skirts. Not an easy transition when you're used to dressing for comfort. One day I was poked fun at by my boss at my first job for wearing 5 different shades of brown- khaki pants, beige cami, brown cardigan and brown shoes (cheap suede loafer wedges that were different shades of brown from one another-oops). I've improved since then, but I still typically dress for comfort and avoid wearing high heeled shoes, especially since I commute into the city now.
However, since moving to California I have acquired a taste for some very girlie things. First, I was unemployed for a month during which I played "real housewives and of Danville" aka "bored housewives of Danville". I learned that a $12 pedicure is a lovely and cheap pick-me-up and it's so pleasant to have a decent set of nails. Since then, I've upgraded to getting shelack nails which is between acrylic and basic paint. It's strange even knowing that. Since then I've become employed with an organization where I work with and serve a primarally low-income, urban population which I love. However, there are times when I need to escape the "street" and I head to the glorious Bloomingdales right next door. Just the smell of the perfume and leather handbags is like being in a spa. A few months ago I bought a JPK Paris tote as a "congratulations to me for getting a job" gift. A few weeks ago I purchased a canvas Michael Kors tote. (On sale for $80! Are you kidding? How am I supposed to ignore and walk away from that?). I have my eye on a Tory Burch wristlet (not to mention those black leather ballet flats with the gold medalllion- dont get me started!). I'm also perusing the market for a large Longchamp tote, although I am undecided on the color. I have a small black one which I adore (thank you Ellen and Nicole!). And a special shout out to Ellen for getting me my first legit designer bag- a Coach clutch. I'm ammounting a small collection of purses, totes, clutches and wallets these days. I dont need designer jeans, high end make up or name brand shoes- but I wont carry a cheap purse. Where did this come from? I blame California.

I Want That.

gorgeous colorful kitchen featured on design sponge (of course)
clean. bright. cheery. perfect.


sorry for the lack of writing lately. more content coming!

Funny Girl

So I recently discovered that an old friend of mine, Heather Adams, is currently living the dream and doing stand-up comedy. She's doing gigs in southern cali and I am so thrilled for her, proud of her and inspired by her! One of her recent gigs was posted on youtube.com
take a look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi8WDAgYwIo
(Sorry, I can't figure out how to friggin' hyperlink! Just copy and paste it. It's worth it, I swear)
We keep in touch via facebook and I was so excited to see her status about a gig! I could only assume it was stand-up since I know personally how outrageously hilarious she is and that she doesn't sing or play any instruments. I left a comment asking for confirmation on the comedic nature of said "gig" and she wrote back this: KELSEY!! You gotta do stand up, you are hilarious, you were my comedic shaman in Carlisle. Without you I never would have filmed my first improv film, Chubby Lovin' or known about Spinal Tap and Drop Dead Gorgeous. FIND AN OPEN MIC STAT!
WOW! I am so pumped by that! I've made lame attempts at doing "bits" before in front of people but it's super awkward, I have ZERO stage training. I really want to take some kind of improv class- I've been thinking about it for a while. But I really think I am better at writing and coming up with material than I am at performing it. Oh well, maybe writing will be my gateway to performing?
I've been told I'm "funny for a girl" by guys and my parents think I am absolutely hilarious. My friends laugh AT me as much as they do at my jokes. I've had a lot of inspriation in my life to be funny. Heather is definitely in the top 3.

Kelsey on California #3

The Guilty Grocer:
Within a 5 mile radius of my home there is a daily farmer's market, a weekly open-air farmers market, a Trader Joe's, a Whole Foods, and a Lunardi's (a hoity-toity grocery store). Needless to say, the trend here is to buy local and to eat fresh, natural, organic, and healthy good food.
What's a girl gotta do for some oreos and hot dogs around here?*
It's embarrassing enough arriving at the check out line with all my non-organic, frozen vegetables, frozen pizzas, potato chips**, and Coors Lite... But then I never remember to bring in my pile of canvas bags from my car. So not only am I that bad cook and unhealthy eater but I "hate the earth" too. It's a lot of pressure at the check out lines around here. (And as much as I'd like to load up on fresh fruits and veggies, I happen to live with a die hard carnivore and I've already wasted too much money throwing rotten uneaten food away.)
So for all you rich liberals who turn your nose down at my hot dogs (Yes, I'm talking to you Mr. "I rode my $8,000 bicycle here with my vegan grocery list on my i-pad) Don't judge me just because I don't like hummus and I use plastic grocery bags in my bathroom trash cans. At least I'm not wearing a helmet in the grocery store. dork.

* There is a Costco nearby. However, I prefer not to buy my hot dogs in packs of 50. Oreos on the other hand.....
** For the record, I'd like everyone to know that we buy the BAKED Lays.

Shout out to Philly!!

Cool posting today on one of my favorite blogs www.designespongeonline.com (Design*Sponge)


Illustration by Julia Rothman

The post is a feature of all the hot spots in Philly listed by neighborhood. Embarrassingly- I haven't been to any of the spots. Except for Steap (a tea shop where my dear friend Ashley used to work)
Check out the posting at Design*Sponge via the following link http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/05/philadelphia-guide.html

San Francisco Farmer's Market

Last weekend I spent my Saturday in the city with my new friend Miss Carrie Springman. I took the train to Embarcadero station and walked 2 blocks to the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. It was a perfectly beautiful day. While I waited for Carrie I sat at the edge of the market and watched a pleasant little protest/parade stroll by. It was an anti-rape* demonstration and they had posters with clever slogans that said things like "Don't rape! Masturbate!"
Anyway, it was a beautiful day! Carrie and I finally found each other and she showed me around to all the wonderful stands and shops and vendors.
Can you believe the size of these hanging baskets!? My grandmother would adore these!








*(note: the pro-rape crowd was nowhere to be seen but likely planning some kind of retaliatory demonstration. ladies, pack your tazers!)

The Ultimate Summer Top

I've mentioned before that I ADORE Anthropologie's products for the home. If I had the means, I'd furnish my entire house with their stuff. As far as their clothing, It's typically a little "much" for me (price-wise and style-wise). However, I saw this blouse a few months ago when their spring stuff started coming out and fell in love! The Salitre Blouse.

Isn't it awesome? It reminds me of an orange Popsicle! I waited for it to go on sale but, alas, it never did. Then, while in the store, the last one in my size was on the mannequin and I couldn't pass it up. I used a gift card that was given to Mike and I has a house warming gift towards the purchase. (Sorry Greg and Chris! And thank you!!) I know I technically should have used the gift card for somethings towards the home but, I just couldn't resist. Can't wait to wear it!

Kelsey on California #2

Californians LOVE personalized license plates. Based on my calculations it seems as if 4 in every 10 cars has a personalized license plate. Whether it's a giant Cadillac Escalade being driven to Whole Foods by a soccer mom or a Prius driven by an aged hippie, Californians love to "represent" via license plate numbers. Personally, I think it seems a little self absorbed. These days you can personalize anything and everything to represent "you", as if the color of my lap top speaks to my character and personality. Who gives a rip? But I digress.....

Here are a few memorable license plates I found in the Target parking lot yesterday (keep in mind this is ONE moment in ONE parking lot)

1. FUN SLED
2. AT UR CVX-(maybe this person was a gyno?)
3. ZGOLPHR
4. GUTZFAM-(on a minivan of course)
5. NFLGHT-(maybe a pilot)
6. GYM SOC
7. I DESGN-(maybe this person designs stuff??)
8. GANDHAM-????

Have you seen any interesting license plates in your neighborhood? Would you get a personalized license plate?

Weekend Update

My mom and dad came to visit us here in Danville this past weekend. We had a lot of fun dining out, visiting Napa and sprucing up the apartment. Here are a few photo updates of the apartment.


I added another picture to the other wall (not pictured). It's a vintage travel poster advertising Florida via the Pennsylvania Railroad. I picked it up at a local consignment shop. There are a couple of pretty cool furniture consignment stores nearby I'll be frequenting. I also added this serving tray to the window sill. My mom put it there and I thought it looked great so it's staying.

Mike and my dad hung up a curtain rod above our couch....not to hang curtains on but, remember that awesome Moroccan style rug I love? Well, I decided to hang it on the wall. I didn't want to ruin it by keeping it on the floor and walking all over it. I think it looks pretty cool there. Also, I put a bright table runner on our coffee table. (Please disregard our ill-fitting slip cover and the flash of sea foam green near the floor.)

The main project of the weekend was adding potted plants to the balcony. I don't know anything about gardening but my mom has a beautiful patio and a green thumb so she jumped right in and showed me the ropes. We don't get much direct sun on our balcony so we had to get plants that do well in the shade (which my mom picked out). My mom also generously purchased the heavy, colorful, earthenware flower pots. I learned a lot and love how it turned out!





I didn't only put my parents to work this weekend. We had some fun too! We spent a day in Napa Valley and visited a small town called Yountville. We walked around, had lunch, sampled wine and relaxed. See pictures from our trip on my facebook page.

Kelsey on California #1

I'm starting a weekly feature called "Kelsey on California" where I'll share by musings and diagnoses of life on the left coast.

I'm still not sure how I feel about living in California. Not because I don't like it here, but because it's "California". I guess I've always had a pretty stereotypical bias towards this state and the people in it. As if everything here is basically what you see on "Real Housewives of Orange County". I feel very weird and uncomfortable associating myself with "that". I feel awkward saying "I live in California" out loud. I understand that Northern California is VERY different from Southern California, but still, it's California. I mean, there ARE palm trees here. So right away its glamorous to me, which makes me feel the need to wear high heels and dangly earrings even while running to the grocery store, or just running for that matter. I have been wearing makeup every day, but I think that's just because I'm bored since I'm unemployed at the moment (hopefully only for another week), and I did buy a new pair of dangly earrings. But, in general, I don't see myself changing a whole lot. At least I guarantee I wont be dying my hair and getting a boob job.

My China Finally has a Home! (and other fun stories)

For my birthday back in March, when we still lived in PA, Mike said that once we were in California we could buy a china hutch as my gift. And today we finally have a hutch in our dining room (aka breakfast nook).
This is a big deal because I've been "collecting" my china for the last 4 years. My mother decided one afternoon that she would take me to Macy's and I would pick my pattern and she would buy me one place setting to start my collection. Her mother did the same for her and so on, it's a tradition thing. Some people might think it's odd that a single, 23 year old girl would begin a fine bone china collection but a) I like pretty things and b) I wasn't going to stop my mother from buying me something. So, we headed to the Columbia Center Mall in Kennewick, WA to visit the housewares department at Macy's. We browsed the well lit displays of place settings- Vera Wang, Kate Spade, Lenox, Villeroy & Boch, Noritake, Waterford, Wedgewood... all the big names were present. I landed on a setting called Opal Innocence by Lenox. I typicaly go for bold, colorful, ethnic looking pieces and patterns in my home decor. But for my fine china, a potential family heirloom and holiday place setting, it would need to be timeless and seasonless. And because a china collection is such an innately feminine thing, I felt safely compelled to go for a rather girly and frilly patter.

I just loved it and still do!
As I had made my decision a sales lady asked if we needed any help. My mother spoke up "Ah yes please. We'd like one place setting of this Lenox Opal Innocense"
"Of course, no problem, come on over and sit down" we sat at the desk in the middle of the display area which was just across from the bath towels and shower curtains. "And who is the registry under?" said the seasoned and piano teacher-esque sales woman.
"There is no registry. We just want to buy one place setting."
"Oh! So you need to start your registry. Who is the bride?"
"There is no bride, no registry, I just want to buy my daughter this one place setting to get her collection started"
"That's unusual, I've never heard of that. Let me check with my manager"
After a few moments of hushed whispers and confused glances by spinsterly old ladies over by the "every day" china section, our sales woman came back.
"Okay, one place setting for you......So, what are you planning to do with this? Reheat meatloaf on it?"
I think my mother and I just politely laughed at that point.
I walked out of Macy's that day feeling like a young woman of the victorian era fighting for women's sufferage. Really? Was I really bucking the system so much here? It was my mom's idea anyway. Whatever. That lady needs a life.
A year later I was living back in PA where I saw a Macy's Memorial Day Sale ad in the paper. My Opal Innocsense pattern was super mega on sale! I called my mom to let her know "just incase" she was thinking of buying me any more. A day or so later my mom called me back.
"Kels, you're never going to believe this. I went into Macy's to get your china. I asked the sales woman for two place settings. She proceeded to asked me which registry this was under, just like last time. I started explaining to her that I was just buying this for my daughter and there was no bridal registry and she goes...'Oh I remember you, she's still not married?' can you beleive that woman!?"
My mom and I were totally floored.
So needless to say, I'm a bit...whats the word...defensive when it comes to my china. The whole process of me coming to own any at all was a battle so I feel the need to justify why I have it. Now that I am married and have all 10 place settings, it's high time I put it on display proudly. So this gorgeous hutch and all my china in it is sort of my big middle finger to that sales lady. (I mean, between the meat loaf and the still not married comments, she deserves at least that).

Happy Birthday to Me! (and Mike......but mostly Me)

I was just saying to Mike the other day that sometime down the pike I'd like to get a new camera so I can have better quality pictures on my blog. I visit other blogs frequently and wonder how these people get such great photos of their own house, crafts, food, family, etc. So I am SUPER pumped that "down the pike" is NOW!
The ever generous and thoughtful Mr. & Mrs. Logan Sr. have birthday-gifted Mike and I with an AMAZING new camera! A Nikon D3000! I don't know jack diddly about photography so I am a little intimidated by this fancy piece of equipment. But, with my pending unemployment, I am sure to have plenty of time to play and learn.



Lot's to do in the next few weeks: packing, shipping, loading, closing, opening, moving, hugging, crying, unloading, job searching and picture taking :)

PS- Get ready for tons of great (amateur) pictures of my knitting, crocheting, new apartment decorating and Danville, CA!! Thank you Tim and Ellen! You won't be disappointed :)

Apron Nostalgia

I just received this in an email from my Auntie Kate and enjoyed it. Thought it was pretty cute.

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..
And when the weather was cold grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow,
bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folks knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.
Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons.


>REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill
to thaw.
They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.
I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron.

Feliz Fin de Semana

Happy Weekend! Here are some pretty pillows to look at. I bet these would inspure some lively dreams during afternoon naps on the couch.





adios!

Improv

It is a sunny winter day with mounds of snow all over the ground. I left my sunglasses on my dresser this morning and regretted doing so the moment I turned the corner in my car. I made it to work this morning with a crease in my forehead from squinting. I had the visor down and my hand shielding my eyes but I still managed a small head ache during my 15 minute commute.
I was at work for about 2 hours before I had to leave for a doctors appointment. I braced myself for the blinding light of the outdoors again. Ten minutes into my driving and fed up with the squinting and hand shielding- I decided to start rummaging through my car to find ANYTHING to help. I opened up my center console and found remnants from my days in the tanning salon: orange-mango tan accelerating lotion and goggles. SCORE!! Although I had zero peripheral vision (who needs that while driving anyway?) I had sweet relief for my eyes!! I continued to my doctor's appointment driving down Lancaster Avenue like this:


I laughed at myself quite a bit. When I got back to my office I wrote a quick scene for the show Modern Family. If you watch the show- don't you think this would work perfectly!? I need to contact the writers immediately with this gem!

Scene: Modern Family
Dad is forced to drive his teenage daughters car. Its full of crap: food, cd’s, gadgets, books, papers…
The sun is super bright and he is squinting, pulls the visor down, holds his hand over his eyes. He begins to search through the car while distractedly driving to look for relief for his eyes. He comes across a pair of goggle like things in the glove box next to a bottle of lotion…. They are tanning goggles. He puts these on while he drives. Turns on the radio, rolls down the windows and blasts some top 40 hip-hop hit. He assumes they are some cool new type of sunglasses and keeps them on while he gets out of the car and runs errands around town. He bumps into one of his daughters friends...

My Blog of the Moment

I stumbled upon this site one day while looking up crochet ideas. (a post to come soon about my latest hobby). I just looked up "crochet" in google images and clicked on the prettiest thing I saw which led me to this site.

http://www.wardi.dk/default.html

This woman, Carina, is Danish and living in England and makes beautiful, bright things!! My friend Meg learned how to make "granny squares" from her site. See Carina's granny square blanket below.




She embroiders, water colors, draws, crochets, photographs.. she even makes her own fabric!

Hope you enjoy and are inspired by this site. I am!

A Kitchen

I Wrote a Rap Song

Hey this is my hit new rap song: Wine, Dine and get Crunk in the City

Enjoy!


Ohhhhhhhhhh YEAH!!!! You know what time it is!!!

Don’t make me say it twice! You know how we DO! UHHHH!

Come on ladies!!! Lets WINE, (wine!) DINE (dine!) and

GET CRUNK IN THE CITYYYYYYYYY!

(boomboomboomboombooombooom)---> “beat drops”


Time to get loud, time to get fresh, I had it with this mess

Time to get fly, time to get high, I aint bout to stress


Got my heels on, my fly is zipped,

Clutch is packed, im well equipped


Girl you gotchyo cell? Oh hell I got my cell

Girl you gotchyo money? Girl I don’t need no money


‘cause Boys buy me drinks just for a little dance

And if they think they want some more I just kick em in da pants


Cause I WINE (wine!), DINE (dine!) and get CRUNK IN THE CITY!!!!!

Cause I WINE (wine!), DINE (dine!) and get CRUNK IN THE CITY!!!


Me and my girls, we don’t mess around,

We get ish done when we go downtown

Hit up the spot- you know the one with the hookah

And smoke up some flavors and we don’t spend no moolah



Then off to the bar in a taxi cab

Catch a free ride cause Muhammad is our man

I say, yo Muhammad can I bum a cig?

And he says- yea girl but can you get me a new gig?


Cause I wanna

WINE (wine!) DINE (dine!) and get CRUNK IN THE CITY!!

WINE (wine!) DINE (dine!) AND GET CRUNK IN THE CITY!!!

(all rights reserved, copyright 2010, k-lo entertainment)

Obsession of the Moment: Kitchen Linens!

Kitchen linens: fun to say and look at! Linens can add a lot to a room and pack a serious punch. Whether a table cloth, table runner, napkins, placemats, hand towels, tea towels, or even aprons- they are all functional but extremely fashionable as well. My kitchen walls are a lovely shade of beige which coordinate beautifuly with my beige cabinets and beige countertops. I purposely hung my aprons on the wall to add color. I used a tea towel to hang over my tiny window and bright hand towels drape over my fridge handle. Pot holders hang on the side of my cupboards- easy access and fun to look at :)
Here are a few kitchen linens I saw on the internet (thank you anthropologie.com yet again) and am currently coveting......




check out some AWESOME tea towels at http://www.todryfor.com/

Antique stores often have lots of awesome linens in all sorts of vintage prints and colors. I picked up a few great things this past weekend. Pictures coming soon!

DIM?

Do it myself? I was on the Anthropologie website (www.anthropologie.com) checking out their knobs since I've been wanting to put new knobs on a couple dressers we have. (Although, with the cheapest ones being $6.00 each, I am not so sure this will be happening soon). ANYWAY- while on the site I came across an adorable hook that I think could easily be made at home.

I have some old silverware that I think I could make this with. I have a hook in my kitchen that I use to hang my aprons on. I imagine it couldn't be too hard to solder (or just super-glue maybe?) the spoons onto it. I think I might do a fork and a spoon instead of two spoons. How CUTE!?

Our First Christmas

Although it was a little anti-climactic, it was very peaceful. Mike went and got the tree and I decorated it with the help of my friends while we baked Christmas cookies. I didnt go out and buy lots of decorations. I decided I want to let our Christmas tree accumulate decorations over the years as gifts or things our kids make. So this year our tree was a little sparse. But I liked it that way. We received a few "Our First Christmas" ornaments, we picked one up in Antigua on our honeymoon, and a few others we happened to have.

The tree

The honeymoon ornament

A "First Christmas" ornament from Jaime. It was a bell and ended up as the tree topper!

A nativity ornament from Sarah. She said I needed to have a "Chreche" which she explained is a nativity scene (she's so knowledgable).

This was from Mike's co-workers at USLI. It is a Lenox "First Christmas" ornament.

This one is from Mrs. Logan :)

For the tree-skirt, I used a quilt I made a few years ago and never finished. It is green, red, white and brown and looked great as a tree skirt. Now that I've found a new purpose for it I doubt I'll ever get around to adding the back and finishing this quilt!
Next are some pictures Ashley, Jaime, Sarah and I in the kitchen making cookies!



Jaime wore her festive attire :)



In the middle of making sugar cookies I realized I didnt have a rolling pin! I cleverly used a tall pasta jar, covered it in flour and used it to roll out the dough. It worked but a rolling pin would have been much better.