tidbits.

- um, my kid is mobile (!!!!). thus, I can no longer sit him down to play independently without having to immediately chase him into the other room. baby gates are comin' soon, but until then, blogging has to wait until nap/bed time.

chasing the cats is his #1 favorite thing to do. 

- I am working on a little venture of my own as a way to bring in a little extra income. I'll wait til things are official, but I can't wait to tell you about it! I'm pretty excited.

- Sean is sick. AGAIN. he's been sick like 49 times since Ronin was born. men are the biggest babies when they're sick, amIright? I mean damn, I wish I could just lay on the couch all day when I'm sick.

- last weekend I went to Wine in the Woods. it's an annual event that showcases local wineries - there's yummy food and local music too. all in all, it's a grand ol time, and this mama got white girl wasted for the first time in what seems like forever (probably at least 2 years). it was a blast and I'm already looking forward to next year's festivities. 

- I'm supposed to be reading The Night Circus for my monthly book club and I'm still only like 20% into it. and I PICKED THE BOOK. we're meeting in a little over a week, so I need to start dedicating my evenings to reading instead of other shit.

- I cannot even fathom that I will be putting together Ronin's 9 month post this weekend. CAN'T. EVEN. how do you mamas do it? it kills me that he just keeps getting bigger and smarter and more like a little boy than a baby. and the fact that we are only 3 months out from his first birthday is enough to make me crawl in a hole and drink heavily, while crying uncontrollably. 

- oh yay, Ronin is up from his 30 minute nap. gotta go! 

Friday loves

new research shows that an infant's heart rate slows in just 3 seconds in his/her parent's embrace.

10 ways to spread the blog love.

most common beauty blunders.

this video - so cute, and so heartwarming. I hope this is how Ronin sees me.

these custom hand painted wooden dolls. I WANT. 

loving this colorful picnic blanket. we'll need one for our park trips this summer!

Veronica Roth released the title and cover for the third book in the Divergent trilogy. SO EXCITED.

a Hungarian theater group performs on Britain's Got Talent. - a MUST watch video. these folks are so incredibly talented. 

Happy Weekend! 

Friday loves

a smartphone wallet. 

aka the perfect little clutch for carrying minimal stuff.

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the top 100 best children's books.

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how to: create a home management binder.

dude. I love this. I NEED to be more organized at home, and this is one step I can take to accomplish that. I think once my nesting really kicks in, this will be one of my projects to take on.

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free: birth plan tool.

and another.

both of these were extremely helpful in creating a personalized birth plan for us. 

while I know a lot of people laugh at birth plans, there are a few things that I want to remember to do/to avoid during labor, and I know that having it written down will prevent me from forgetting to mention it.

I basically filled in the info in the second one and copied the results into a Word document. 

and then, when I found the tool in the first link, I just took some of the information from that and added to the document I had already created, since it contained some more options that I hadn't yet considered.

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John & Sherry's new DIY headboard. 

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how to tell if your eggs are still fresh:

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this ridiculously cute & creative love story.

holy crap, I can't imagine how much time it took to make that!

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this rug from Urban Outfitters. 

I need this for my entryway. right now.

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5 best places for party supplies.

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my baby shower is tomorrow, so I'll hopefully have a recap of that next week! 

I'm so excited to celebrate baby Ronin with my friends and family. 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my feet don't swell up TOO bad. 

from what I hear, the menu is full of delicious goods, so you can't beat that! ;)

OH, and thank you all for your suggestions on my shower attire! the navy dress was a slam dunk among voters, and so that's what I'll be wearing.

Happy Friday, folks!

lately, according to Instagram (and cell phone pics)

I finished Insurgent, which is the second installment of Veronica Roth's YA trilogy.
it was, as expected, absolutely fucking brilliant.
it might kill me to wait another year+ for the third book.

Bear is still handsome. 

... and lazy.

2 more days until I get to see my BFF!
I can't wait for her to show me the city. :)

Sonic tots are amazing.

Ronin had his first IKEA trip.

our possible paint choices for the nursery, all Premium Plus Ultra paint from Behr.
from left to right: Misty Morn, Atmospheric, French Court, and Voyage.
we bought samples to put up on the wall and see in different light. 

love this fat face.

a rare sighting - ALL 4 kitties snoozing within a few feet of one another. 
L to R: Lily, Bear, Mama, and Pheobe.
silly felines. 

Happy Hump Day!

Friday loves

this video. 

a man took video of his daughter every single week from birth until she turned 12 years old. 

how inspiring! that's what I call dedication. 

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these free downloadable state/country prints. 

betta believe I've got Maryland saved to my computer. 

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ridiculously cute crib sheets at PB Kids. 

and they're $19 compared to the $40 I was going to pay for the ones on Etsy. 

guess my bedding design is going to change a little bit.
PS - it's changed... I'll post next week about the new shit.

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Bohemian Rhapsody on the way to school. 

Sean WILL be this dad, I can promise you.

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MODG is pregnant! again!

you have to watch the video. 

I got chills, you guys. 

like, all the hair on my arms (and it's a LOT... thank you Ronin) stood straight up. 

if you have no idea who I'm talking about, you can just go back to living under your rock. 

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use old candles as storage jars. 
love this idea - since I'm a devoted Scentsy user, I have tons of candles laying around that don't get used.

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Erinn's precious baby girl arrived 5 weeks early. 

she is absolutely gorgeous, and despite her preemie status, she is quite the healthy babe! 

congrats again, E!

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Insurgent has been released (finally). 

I read Divergent last fall, so I'm re-reading it now before diving into the second installment. 

I've already read some reviews, and it looks as though it'll turn out to be just as great as the first!

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Happy Friday, y'all! :)

Friday loves (baby-fied)

umm... so in case you haven't noticed, my brain has been full of baby crap lately. so welcome to this week's edition of Friday loves: BABY-FIED.

this AMAZING nursery I discovered recently. 

seriously, it's everything I'd want for a little boy's room - bright colors & bold patterns, grey walls (which just so happen to be my favorite grey paint - Sparrow by Behr), and a non-themey modern style. 

so hey Graham, I'm totes copying your digs. hope you don't mind!

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What to Expect When You're Expecting - THE MOVIE. 

fuck yeah. I will be seeing this one in theaters.  

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the classics, in board book form. 

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this blog post... 

it contains all kinds of useful information on pregnancy, birth photography, natural childbirth, etc. 

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and while we're at it... THIS one, too. 

10 things they don't tell you about what happens AFTER you give birth. 

hilarious and terrifying all at the same time. 

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baby Caps gear. 

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bloggy friend Vicki is also having a little boy! 

so glad to have her on team blue with me. :D

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aaaand, something NOT found on the net, but in my mailbox instead. 

a Hunger Games onesie for little baby Ronin. 

YESSSSS. thank you, Aunt Kaycie!

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HAPPY FRIDAY, YA'LL!

Friday loves (it's back!)

after a brief hiatus, the Friday loves feature is back here at TBNT! weeeee!

this top from Old Navy (thank you Sarah!). 

it's navy blue and it's covered in teeny little cats. meeeeeow. 

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my bloggy friend Vicki, is also with child.
we're only two weeks apart. I am beyond thrilled to have someone to share the joys & pains with!
yay for pregnant friends!  
(andplusalso, she's super cute & fashionable, so even if you don't care that we're knocked up simultaneously, you should check out her shit anyway)
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Pandemonium was released this week!
I read Delirium last year and LOVED it. Pandemonium is the second book in this trilogy.
I already have it waiting on my Kindle for me. I can't wait to dive in!

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this series of videos on cloth diapering.
I've known from the get-go that I would be cloth diapering our baby. the problem was that there was SO much information out there and I didn't know where to start. these videos helped immensely in identifying the different types of diapers and how to use them.

and along the same note, my friend Laura writes a cloth diapering blog. I started drilling her about cloth diapering a newborn, so she wrote a post ALL about it. check it out here.
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this collection of neon DIY projects.
I especially love the vases & the friendship bracelets.
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YHL's sneak peek of their cork flooring.
I can't wait to see how it looks completed!
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this swimsuit from Motherhood.
loving the gingham & the halter top.

oh, and this one too. love the navy color!

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Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm.
I bought this at the store this week, and I lurve it.
I got the "Hibiscus" color and it's perfect. I love that it's not a lipstick, and it solves my chapped lips problem that has been consistent through this pregnancy so far.
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Happy Friday, folks! 

Thursday Thoughts

linking up with Miss Sar for some random musings :)

{one}

I finally made an appointment to have this mop cut! I haven't had anything done to it since JUNE of 2011. it's in definite need of some TLC. I think I'm going to keep my color the same, but trim the ends and add some more layers. still undecided on whether I want to grow out/keep my bangs. 

{two}

I don't like the new actor playing Spartacus. I'm glad they're continuing the show, but I don't think it'll ever be the same without Andy Whitfield.

{three}

I have no idea who I'm going to root for during the Superbowl. I hate the Giants (Redskins fan), but I don't really like the Patriots either. 

{four}

we have a little mini photo session planned with Jessica this weekend - it's been so long since we've had our pictures taken so I'm a little nervous. but Jessica is a fabulous photographer, so I know she'll work her magic. can't wait to show you all! 

{five}

I may or may not still have Christmas decor up. no lights or tree, but stockings? yes. Christmas cards still hung? yes. talk about being a slacker. 

{six}

I think Punxsutawney Phil is full of shit. it's 60 degrees here in Maryland today (and was yesterday too), so I don't see Old Man Winter hanging around for another 6 weeks. I'm sure I'll have my foot in my mouth when it snows next week or something, haha. 

{seven}

I've read 6 books this year already! yeehaw! to be fair, they were mostly young adult fantasy crap, so I flew right through them. I'm working on The Red Tent right now, and it's proving to be much more adult, and therefore a little harder to get into. 

Friday loves

Missoni for Target. duh. 

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book stamps! 

this one is immediately being added to my Christmas wish list. 

(and yes, I already have one started).

I lend my books out a lot, so I figured this cute stamp would help me keep track of my shit. also, my friend Jen has one and she LOVES it. yes please!

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this post by Veronika about how to pack, move, and stage your home. 

lots of great tips, especially for those of us who tend to stress out about packing and moving.

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West Elm & 20x200 collaborating.

fabulous pieces, fabulous artists. weeeeee!

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the discovery of this blog. 
this girl has lost 135lbs and has SUCH a great outlook on life.
her journey is so inspiring and I've found myself reading through her archives all week long.

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this DIY art project.

I'm thinking I will definitely be attempting something like this for our future office.

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John & Sherry's updated office light. 

it's amazing what a little spray pant and a big ol' drum shade can do to transform an outdated fixture.

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Design*Sponge at Home. 

yes please, for the love of Richard Gere, and thank you very much. 

ALSO going on my Christmas list rightfuckingnow.

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Lisa Sherry's home in the newest Lonny. 

if you haven't seen it, check it out. you will not be disappointed.

Lisa is one of my favorite designers and it is very clear that she didn't spare an ounce of talent when it came to designing her own home.

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Jenna Marbles' new video on creating unique pickup and hookup lines. 
effing hysterical.
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I would also like to give my best friend a heartfelt congratulations on the birth of her new baby boy, Rhys Anthony! he is just as beautiful as the rest of the family, and I cannot wait to snuggle him! 

Happy Friday, ya'll! 

ketchup

I just now switched to the new template for Blogger, and ya'll? this shit is weird.

how do you pronounce the word "ketchup?" it's "cat-sup" or "catch-up?"

uhhh, so things have been pretty busy lately. lots of school work. my drawing class is a lot harder than I thought it would be, honestly. I guess I'm just not used to creating "realistic" art... I'm more of an abstract girl myself. I'd rather slap some paint together or do more graphic art than draw a flower or a self portrait, both of which I had to do yesterday.

I finally had dinner last week with my wonderful wedding photographer and friend, Jen. it's always so much fun to get together and catch up on what we're reading, our pets, families, and the like. I'm sure the wait staff at Four Seasons hates us because we sit there for 30 minutes gossiping before we even order our meal. oh, and for anyone who thinks that I read a lot? ... Jen has read 100 books this year! she is crazy! ;)

I've recently discovered Mio Liquid Water Enhancer. it's possibly the best thing to ever happen to me. I'm currently drinking the shit out of the peach tea flavor. and no, they didn't give me free stuff to say that. I wish.

I just finished reading Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. it's about a busy woman (think powerhouse professional, mom to three, and doting wife) who suffers brain damage following a car accident - she is no longer aware of the term "left" - meaning her left hand, someone else's left hand, the left side of a building, etc. it was an excellent read... full of witty snark and exploratory emotion.

one of my very best friends is moving to NYC in February. I am very, very, VERY excited for her and her fiance, who has been waiting for this opportunity for a very long time. they both deserve all the success in the world, and right now, that success lands them in the big city. but on the other hand, I'm so sad that I won't be able to just come over on a whim and play games with them on Friday nights. selfishly, I think it will be very hard to handle for both Sean and I. I'm going to miss them both VERY much, but I'm so proud of both of them for making this huge step towards their future. I know it's not for forever, but damnit, I love my friends.

my other best friend, Kaley, is going to give birth any day now. Mr. Rhys is scheduled for eviction on Friday, but we're keeping fingers and toes crossed that he makes it here on his own before then. either way, he'll be here for the weekend! I'm so thrilled to finally be able to meet his little face. I know it's going to be hard having a toddler AND a newborn, but Kaley is superwoman, so I know if anyone can make it work, it's her.

we semi-cleaned the garage over Labor Day weekend. basically, we got rid of all the junk that we could, loaded up the truck, and then realized that the dump is not open on Sundays. sooooo we took our load (that sounds so dirty) to the dumpster at my work and then came home and pushed everything out of the middle of the garage. it's not done by ANY means, but it's an improvement, fo sho.

once we get some storage solutions figured out, everything will have it's own place and we'll be able to really organize. for now, this'll have to do.

and yes, Kaley, those are your beach chairs. promise to get them back to you before next summer. :)


Happy Tuesday! 

tidbits & updates [long post]

grrrr, I caught a chest cold at some point in the last week or so and have been at home in bed for the last 2 days. thankfully, I'm feeling MUCH better and am back at work today. woo! so... now for some updates on what's going on lately... 




SCHOOL
I started fall semester courses last night. I will be taking classes on campus this semester for the first time in 5 years. I'll be at school three evenings a week... Monday nights (Drawing I) from 6-9:45 and Tuesday/Thursday nights (Physics... barf) from 7-8:15. Sean is taking classes on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and he also has season tickets to Ravens home games, which means that we'll really only see each other and spend time together on Friday and Saturday nights until December. super sad face about that. 


I'm really nervous about the physics class. in high school, the highest level of science that I took was biology, because it wasn't a requirement to take anything further... which means that I never took chemistry or physics or any of that. the instruction is on light & sound, which makes total sense for my degree, but I hope it's not as scary as it sounds. 


the drawing class, on the other hand, is going to be a lot of fun. I went and got all my supplies last night, which included a couple 18x24 size drawing and newsprint pads, a bunch of different kinds of charcoal and graphite pencils, and other tools such as erasers and a portfolio to carry everything in. I wish I would have held onto all my supplies from years ago, and I would have saved a lot of money, haha. the main project in the course is the homework portion, in which we have to do 7-8 drawings a week in our sketch books, totaling up to 100 drawings at the end of the semester... which means my social life can pretty much be thrown out the window. I think it'll be interesting to see how the quality of the work changes from now until December. 




READING 
thanks to vacation, I've been on a roll with getting through my to-read list. I just finished Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah over the weekend, and can't wait to review it. while at the beach, I also finished Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, and am now reading the second book in the series, called Pretties. I'm glad I scaled back my goal for the Good Reads Challenge, because I'm right on track. I'm extremely proud of myself for reading so many books thus far, and I have no doubt that I'll reach my goal of 35 by the end of the year. 


here's a list of what I've read so far this year... 


1. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
2. A Scattered Life - Karen McQuestion
3. The Help - Kathryn Stockett
4. Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
5. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
6. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
7. 19 Minutes - Jodi Picoult
8. Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin 
9. Something Blue - Emily Giffin
10. Baby Proof - Emily Giffin
11. Matched - Ally Condie
12. Delirium - Lauren Oliver
13. Love The One You're With - Emily Giffin
14. Dead Reckoning - Charlaine Harris
15. If I Stay - Gayle Forman
16. Where She Went - Gayle Forman
17. Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat  - Gwen Cooper
18. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephanie Meyer
19. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
20. Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me - Chelsea Handler
21. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
22. Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah 



KITTIES
Skillet went to his new home on Friday night. I'm going to be honest. I may or may not have cried a little bit. he was that poor little sick cat that, at one point, was being medicated for three different illnesses and had to be quarantined in my bathroom. he grew to be such a little lovebug, and therefore, I grew VERY attached to him. and while I'm very happy to sleep past 5AM without a little purring, I miss him SO much. I know that his new mama will take good care of him, and I look forward to getting updates and watching him grow. 


the other kitties are doing well, with the exception of Pheobe, who is still on eye drops for a little conjunctivitis that she received via Skillet. her eyes are looking much better than they were last week, so she should be off the meds soon. Bear seems to be ecstatic that Skillet is out of the house, and relieved that he is no longer the object of playful torture from a little kitten. 




HOUSE
not a whole lot of updates on the home front. the table we bought from IKEA is still in a box waiting to be put together, which will have to happen soon since I'll need the space for art stuffs. we did finally order roman shades for the windows in the kitchen and dining room, and since they were all custom sizes, they took 7 weeks to arrive. they showed up at our door last week, so hopefully we'll have time to install them this weekend. 


I also want to take time in the next few weeks to get more things on the walls. I have a mirror and a few prints that I bought a looooong time ago that I want to hang in the living room. photographing the gallery wall in the entry wall is on my to-do list as well... especially since the frames actually have prints and photos in them now. 


now that we're not constantly taking care of kittens, we should be able to get quite a lot done inside. what I NEED to do is make myself a list of things that need to be completed in each room and start attacking one room at a time. I'll put "list making" on the to-do list. ;)




HEALTH
as of the 12th of August, I am 10 months smoke-free, and it feels AMAZING! I honestly don't even think about smoking anymore, unless I smell it, and in that case, I think nothing but "GROSS." I still can't believe that I was a pack-a-day smoker for so long, and that it completely ruled my life for years and years. 


I'm still eating pretty healthy... not perfect, but much better than I did a year ago. we eat at home most nights, but will treat ourselves to a meal out about once a week/every two weeks. I very rarely eat fast food anymore, and it upsets my stomach if I do have a craving for a greasy burger. when we eat at home, we eat mostly quick meals like breakfast (eggs, bacon, toast), pasta (usually salad, ravioli, garlic bread), or chicken (marinated chicken with fresh/steamed veggies). we have a bunch of regular recipes that we stand by during the week and usually introduce new things on the weekends. I drink 1 cup of coffee and 1 20oz soda everyday, and other than that, it's water ALL day long. occasionally I'll have a cup of sleepytime tea at night. 


with both of us in school, I'm not sure how dinners are going to work. I brought a sandwich for dinner tonight, but I know that's going to get old pretty fast. if anyone has any easy to-go dinner ideas that don't require heat, they'd be much appreciated! 


as far as exercise goes, I'm sad to say that it's pretty much non-existent. I do work up a sweat doing things around the house, and I've been pretty busy running errands on weekends, but I'd hardly call either of those things true exercise. although because I'm eating healthier and not being AS sedentary as I was before I started my workout program, I've maintained my weight... so while I've not lost any, I haven't gained any either. 


so even though I still eat fast food once in a blue moon, and I'm not working out as much as I should be, I FEEL great, which is the most important thing. instead of coming home and sitting on my ass most nights, I try to do things around the house or stimulate my brain with words instead of mindless TV. don't get me wrong, I still watch TV at night, but I feel much more active in taking care of my home, and my mind and body are grateful for it. 




EARTHQUAKE
this just happened. please never ever let me feel one again. at first I thought a military plane was flying over (I work right outside of DC and next door to Andrew's Air Force Base), but then I realized that I didn't actually hear the plane, and that the floor was shaking. and then my desk... and then the walls. and I looked outside, and the cars in the parking lot looked as if they were bobbing along in a body of water. my heart is still pounding and I may or may not have peed myself a little bit. 






ummm. so I guess that's it, I think. I figured I'd write up a little post for you guys full of updates, since it seems pretty rare that I actually dive into those subjects here lately. I'm sure you'll be hearing MUCH more about school though, since it's sure to rule my life for the next few months!


on a completely unrelated note... is anyone else ready for fall weather? I'm ready to decorate my house in warm colors, and I'm excited for boots and hoodies! 


Happy Tuesday! 

The Book Thief [book review]

SUMMARY:

this book made a huge impact on me, and along with the fact that I really just want to review it, I honestly don't feel that I could accurately describe the plot and impact of The Book Thief (uh, and I'm lazy this week), I'm borrowing this description from GoodReads:

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Narrated by Death, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she discovers something she can't resist- books. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever they are to be found.
With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids, as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

REVIEW:
I won't lie... it took me a long time to get into this book... months, in fact. I started this book on March 6th and finished it on August 5th... took me almost 5 months exactly to read it. that's not to say that I spent a continuous amount of time trucking through it during those 5 months, because I've obviously been reading other things since March... but I got to a certain point in the book where I was completely and utterly STUCK. I wasn't sure whether the story line just leveled out or if the narration was annoying me too much to want to pick it up, but I put it down on page 80 in April and picked it back up in July and finished it in about 2 weeks. 


ANYWAY. 


as a whole, I really enjoyed this book a lot. it took me a bit of time to get familiar with the narration, but through the eyes of Death, a beautifully developed and heartwarming story unfolded. any author who can turn Death into a positive voice with true emotions and connections to the souls he must take will receive a standing ovation from me. I should also mention at this point that if you only like books that are happy and are all wrapped up together nicely with a bow on top, you should not read this book. this is a book centrally located within the confines of Nazi Germany and there are many tragic and painful events that take place... I physically cringed several times. 


the relationship between Liesel and her books is so special, it's as if the books are human beings, with whom she is completely infatuated with. Liesel's innocence and childlike naivety make her an especially likable character, and her genuine curiosity into the world of literature helps to shape her personality throughout the years. the several other relationships within the novel flow together organically and allow you to really know and love those in Liesel's life as they grow with her. from her Papa, who heroically takes on the task of teaching her to read, to her best friend Rudy, whom she playfully taunts through their whole lives... the entire cast is displayed vividly and with a certain care that makes you cherish them immensely. 


as I said, I think Zusak did a fantastic job with this book, and while some parts are truly heart wrenching, the overall message is astounding. it shows how the power of words can influence the minds of those who learn to appreciate them... either in the way of propaganda in a time of war and destruction, or in the way of discovery and hopefulness in the eyes of a young girl. 

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me [book review]

confession: I have a major girl crush on Chelsea. the way to my heart is through my funny bone, and she gives me a major comedy boner. I've had the pleasure of seeing her stand-up live and it's just as amazing, if not better, than her books and her TV show. 

SUMMARY:

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me is a collection of embarrassing and prank filled stories by Chelsea's co-workers, friends, and family. unlike her previous books, this edition wasn't actually written by Chelsea herself, save a little excerpt at the end of each chapter in which she addresses the person who actually wrote it.  

"My tendency to make up stories and lie compulsively for the sake of my own amusement takes up a good portion of my day and provides me with a peace of mind not easily attainable in this economic climate."--Chelsea Handler, from Chapter 10 of Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

the tales told mostly involve the various pranks that Chelsea loves to play on those that she loves... from tricking someone into thinking that someone filed a sexual harassment suit against them to convincing a friend to perform a "duet" with the bride at a wedding. Chelsea has the ability to create the most absurd lies and stories, and is able to keep them going for months on end, if only to make a complete fool out of those around her.

REVIEW:

as much as I love Ms. Handler, I am certainly glad that I'm not friends with her in real life. some of the tricks and jokes she plays on people are down right cruel, but they are still hilarious nonetheless. however, I am entirely too gullible and would fall for every single one. they are often so well thought out that everyone around is in on the trick, with the exception of the victim her/himself. some of the pranks are so outrageous and elaborate that it's somewhat hard to believe they really happened. but then you read Chelsea's "notes" to each person, and realize that she really does act like she doesn't give a shit about them, haha.

while the memories themselves had me laughing so hard I was -----><----- those close to peeing myself (as Chelsea often does, apparently), the writing could have used a little more work. it was pretty obvious that those involved in the book were not skilled or published authors. through parts of the book, I kind of felt like the people telling the stories were trying to be funnier than they really are, and I found myself really missing the voice of Chelsea herself, along with her dry and witty humor. I mean I guess Chelsea would surround herself with other funny people, but I felt like a lot of the humor was forced.

it's been made very clear that Chelsea Handler is an asshole with big boobs, who treats those she loves the most with the biggest asshole-ish pranks she can fathom. while this book strays from her norm, it did exactly what Chelsea sets out to do, and that is to entertain people. I found myself laughing and smiling like an idiot throughout the book, so it is deemed a success in my eyes.

Friday loves

NOTE:

I will be most likely taking next week off from blogging. it's time for our annual beach vacation and we're leaving bright and early tomorrow morning for the 8ish hour drive to South Carolina. I'm so relieved that tropical storm Emily is not threatening to rain on our parade - I am ready to enjoy the beach and truck my way through a few books, too.

so... I might post next week, I might not. it all depends on how much time I have and whether or not I feel like it, honestly. also, our anniversary is on Monday and I can't wait to celebrate with a spa day for the two of us - couples massages, facials (not the dirty kind, you freaks), and pedicures... we are both in dire need of some pampering!

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anyway. onto this week's loves!

this hair. 

I want it so bad. I think I'm going to be paying my hair stylist a little visit when we get back from vacation so he can do this for me. and then, once it fades out and get icky, I can just cut it off.

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the discovery of this blog. 

basically? free vintage graphics. sweet.

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Suzanne's chevron painted wall. 

she makes it look so easy. I'm really thinking that I need a chevron wall in my house, but I have NO IDEA where I'd put it. maybe in the bedroom? but then I wouldn't get to show it off. only one wall in the living room has no windows or doorways. hmmm.

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this tour of Amy Butler's home in Ohio. 

(the tour is from April, but I just stumbled upon the post via Pinterest, so it totally counts). the fact that one of my favorite designers just happens to also be a cat fanatic makes my heart smile. seriously, her home is TO DIE FOR.

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finding this blog. 

probably the most hilarious "mom blog" I've ever read. keepin' it real is what I like. 

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potato stencils. 

weird, right? but holy crap, it works! Sherry cut a star shape into a potato and stamped Clara's closet walls with champagne shiny paint. and it looks amazing. WANT TO TRY. 

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Lauren's collection of grey baby spaces. 

I love grey (in fact, we have two rooms in our home with grey walls) and would love to incorporate it in to our future nursery. oh, and no, I'm not pregnant yet. but being enthusiastic about design means that I pretty much already have our FUTURE nursery planned out in my head. and it has grey walls, fo sho. 

... and maybe some mustard. 

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I am 86% of the way through The Book Thief and it is getting SO GOOD. I wish I would have just kept reading it when I first picked it up back in March. it took a little while to get into (as is the case with most books), but now I can't seem to put it down! will review once I finish! 

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HAPPY FRIDAY, readers!