It Snowed . . . A Lot

Here's a few photos I snapped around the backyard Saturday evening.  Six inches of heavy, wet snow fell from they sky and blanketed The Lou.  As you can see, Spring had arrived and things were starting to bloom - and then suddenly green and yellow became splashes of color against a white canvas.  

Today the snow has mostly melted - and probably by the time the day is over the only indication that we had snow will be the muddy ground that is left in it's wake.  It was pretty while it lasted.

Etsy Finds

One of my favorite things to do is to surf Etsy.com and look at all the pretty things.  I find a lot of amazing things - both old and new - tucked away on differnt pages.  I daydream about putting the things I find in my imaginary home.  It's oddly relaxing and kinda calming - you should try it sometime.  Have I ever steered you wrong?

This made it to the Etsy homepage - isn't it precious?  I love letters (just in case you didn't know that about me) and I love finding different ways to organize things.  I mean - how many of us just stack our magazines on a table and call it a day. M is for Magazine comes in other colors - check out Paper Doll Wood Shop to get your very own.

Cuckoo.  Cuckoo.  Cuckoo.  I grew up in a home with a cuckoo clock from The Black Forest, so my love for the silly clocks runs deep.  Truth be told I too have a cuckoo clock . . . but it's got a boo boo and I've yet to find someone to repair it.  Other than the fact that there is a cuckoo clock on this tea towel, what else drew me to it you ask?  Uh, how about the color?  Remember me?  The girl who ♥ orange?  If you like what you see head over to Pony & Poppy to see all the other fabulous things for sale in the shop.

The minute I saw this I feel in love.  And it has everything to do with the red shoes.  For as long as I can remember I've had a thing for red shoes.  Specifically red patent leather shoes . . . I have a pair of peep toe wedges in my closet that I hold dear.  Is it just me - or do all women (and girls - the fascination with red shoes started early) secretly spend their time looking for the perfect pair of red shoes?  Pay homage to the classic-ness of  red shoes by visiting Kiki & Polly and picking up a print . . . and check out the rest of the wonderful artwork while you're there.

If you haven't ever visited Etsy.com you really should, especially if you like supporting local (and not so local) artisans.  I've purchased things from Turkey and England, as well as things from the United States.  I like the fact that I'm supporting the artist directly and I like that since it's not available just down the street I am usually the only one with said item 

It helps me be even more unique.

Not that I need help.

Ask anyone.

Unique is my middle name.

But really, check out Etsy.com and see what you can find.  It's like going on a treasure hunt, but only on-line.  It's really fun. 

It's Almost Here . . .

I can't wait.  April 5, 2011.  It's a Tuesday.  I will be rushing somewhere that sells books to purchase the next installment in The Mortal Instruments series, and then impatiently waiting for the weekend so I can devour what will no doubt be another stellar book.  I'm so glad - infinitely glad - that the series was expanded upon what was originally supposed to be just a trilogy (especially since the last book didn't really "end" everything).

I know there is a movie being made about this series . . . and I'm not really sure how I feel about it.  I think the only successful transition from page to screen (of late) is the Harry Potter franchise.  I was never that "in" to Twilight - but most people agreed that the transition wasn't a good one.  I think a lot of that has to do with the amount of the author's involvement . . . never, ever sell the rights to YOUR words and give someone else creative license to make it into something - that's where the trouble begins. 

I have hopes that The Mortal Instruments transition will be better than most . . . but until the movie comes out I have the books.

Things I Covet & Love: Happy Feet

We spend a lot of time on our feet.  Some of us more than others.  And, if you're like me you went from a job at a book store (where I was more or less on my feet the entire time) to a job where I sit in a cube and my feet don't get much action . . . unless I'm at a trade show (anyone else go to Orlando this year for HIMSS) and then I'd give my eye teeth to not be on my feet for five minutes.

So, in honor of my feet and the hard work they put in - here are a few things that I know my feet would love to have and a few of my favorite things (with the sole purpose of making my feet happy):

These Sperry Angelfish shoes are a Nordstrom Exclusive, and I think they're absolutely lovely.  These would look great with jeans, khakis and of course when the weather finally warms up (it snowed in The Lou on Monday) shorts!  A classic favorite redone with a bit of sparkle - I especially love the tweed detail that runs along the side of the shoe.  I think I might end up springing for these before summer shows the first signs of life . . . now only if I had a place (and more than a niggling desire) to go sailing.

Oh, my.  That sums up how I feel about one of the newest editions to the Kate Spade shoe family.  Normally I am not that big on neon - but, look at these!  I love that it looks like the toes were dipped in paint.  These are the perfect spring/summer shoe to wear around the office, to the park, on a date and around town.  Class with a splash of edge - they also come in neon yellow, but I am partial to the pink - probably because it looks so sassy (but classy).

Love, love, love THESE socks!  They come three to a pack - just another way that Little Miss Matched lets those of us who cringe at the thought of wearing matching socks be creative.  LindaG picked up a set of these lovelies (though not the ones pictured) for me when she was down hanging with me in Orlando last month.  I generally only wear Ralph Lauren Polo Ghost Socks (not because of who makes them but because they are the most comfortable socks EVER and my feet like the squishyness of them) but I will have to add more of these adorable socks into my collection.  Also, and I think this is really neat, you can enter designs for socks and they just might get picked as a featured design.  To enter the contest, click here (you have until April 5th, 2011 to enter - good luck!).  

ps - my love for wearing mismatched socks developed from never putting my socks away matched and then when it came time to wear socks I would just grab two - usually unmatched - and call it a day.  I guess you could say it kinda stuck - but now it's more of a compulsion to not wear matched socks.  I'm not sure what this says about me.  I can wear matching socks and not feel any different . . . the same does not apply to my strange necrosis about pumping gas but that, as they say, is a tale for a different time.

 

Finally we come to the most important part of having happy feet: a pedicure.  It really is a must - even if you do it yourself (which I don't, or rather can't - I mess it up all the time).  I try and treat myself once a month (especially in the summer time) to a spa pedi at my local nail salon. 

There is nothing better than getting a pedicure on a Friday evening after a long week.  My nail salon is right up the plaza from where I used to work, so from time to time I run into old friends/customers and get a chance to catch up - which is the other reason we women folk flock the salon from time to time.  It's nice to be pampered - it's nicer to unexpectedly see friends. 

My only quirk about getting my nails done is that my toes almost ALWAYS have to be black.  Nine times out of ten they're black - or the darkest color you can find that is still a color but basically looks black (dark purple).  In the past two plus years the only time my toes weren't black is when I was in a wedding (the first time my toes were grey to match the dress, and the other time  my toes were pink to match the flowers) and once in the middle of the summer I went through a day-glow pink phase.  

I guess you could say having black toe nails is kinda my thing.

Well I hope you enjoyed this combined edition of "things I love" & "things I covet"  - until next time . . .

Organizing the Bookcase

The Big P

Yup.  That's right, folks.  I have a BIG case of pneumonia . . . and it's knocking me flat like nothing else I've ever experienced.  So I'll be laying low, resting a lot, eating some of Edna Mae's Noodle Soup and recuperating.

Hoping to be a fully healthy & happy Thummprints soon.

ps - the only interesting thing to come of this is getting to see my chest x-ray . . . the fact that I'm sick didn't keep me from wanting to see what the inside of my chest looks like - lungs (and the pneumonia), heart, ribcage and clavicle (I just love saying that - clavicle, clavicle, clavicle).  Okay - I'm going to put my exhausted self to bed now.

Edna Mae's Cheese Log

FYI - this is another catching up on things that happened (or were made) over Christmas post.  This should be the last one . . . I think.  Who knows what's still on my camera.

Every year at Christmas my dear grandmother (aka Edna Mae) goes overboard and makes all kinds of good and delightfully yummy things; including but not limited to: fudge, toffee, peanut brittle, Chex party mix and her wildly famous cheese log.  This cheese log is . . . there are no words.  It's just, yum!

It can be eaten plain or on a cracker - anyway you like cheese.  Sorry, I find it kinda difficult to wax poetic about cheese.  No matter how good it is.

And really, it is.  Garlic, chili powder, pecans and most importantly cheese!  If you've ever seen Wallace & Gromit imagine me doing the cute little cheese hand wave.

Make some and see what I'm talking about.  You won't be sorry, trust me.  Have I ever steered you wrong? 

Edna Mae's Famous Cheese Log

Ingredients:

1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup nuts

12 ounces cream cheese

2 Tbsp cream

Directions:

1. Whip room temperature cream cheese until smooth, stir in grated sharp cheddar.

2.  Add garlic and nuts.

3.  Roll into to logs.

4.  Sprinkle with chili powder.

5. Refrigerate at least 24 hours to let flavors settle.