5 things . . .

5 things I am wishing for at the moment . . .

1. A weekend that didn't involve working more than a couple of hours.

2. A bath with my favorite Kiehl's lavender foaming-relaxing bath with sea salts and aloe.

3. For 3 of our cases to settle, or to just magically disappear.

4. A glass (or 2) of pinot noir or a malbec.

5. A massage and/or a mani/pedi.

Sproost Quiz.

I often wonder how best to describe my design taste. So when I saw this online quiz at www.sproost.com to take "to discover my personal style," I was hoping it would help me pinpoint my style. After taking it, I think it is pretty accurate. Here are my results:

Here was my own take on my style in a previous post -- "traditional, modern, glamour, and a touch eclectic." So it looks like I wasn't too far off. After reading the description under each category, I think I may lean towards Modern Elegance more than the others, but I am pretty evenly distributed among the three.

French Eclectic: "Somehow manages to be both formal and casual, classy and unassuming at the same time."

Hollywood Couture: "You can take it in any direction and add almost any style into the mix — perhaps a contemporary leather sofa paired with lacquered Louis XIV chairs that have been upholstered in lush velvet. The key is that each item feels as rich and over-the-top as possible and yet everything still seems livable."

Modern Elegance: "You may love contemporary, but wish it wasn't quite so cold and austere, or perhaps you're drawn to traditional rooms but you'd like to create a less cluttered and busy space. . . . The room feels simple and sophisticated, elegant and hip."

Definitely check it out. Besides figuring out your style, there are some great (and not so great) rooms on the site for inspiration.

Valentine's Day Recap.

We celebrated Valentine's Day today, the 15th. I know, I know -- we're rule breakers. We started the morning off with delicious pancakes. I am a strawberries and whipped cream (read: reddi-whip) kind of girl, and Justin likes maple syrup.



I know what you're thinking. . . . No, we did not eat all of those pancakes.

We both had some stuff to do for work after we ate the tasty breakfast. Then we went to Backstreet Cafe for an early dinner. It is always super good, and the restaurant is so cute!


We had to make it an early dinner because we went to see Joel McHale (host of The Soup) tonight! He was hilarious. I absolutely love him. The "security" staff at the Verizon Wireless Theater, however, is a whole different story.

We had to park and couple of blocks away and then stand in a fairly long line to get in. But it was not until they are patting you down they inform you that no cameras are allowed. Um, that would have been nice to know several blocks and our time in line ago! So back we walk to the car to put the camera up and head back. This time the line was 2 times as long as it was before. Ugh. Oh well.

The show itself was good. He did some Soup type material and then some family-centered jokes. All very funny. He definitely did not disappoint.

Then after the show, Joel announced he will be signing shirts and tote bags that are for sale. I am like a 14 year old girl and the Jonas Brothers when it comes to Joel McHale -- so heck yeah I was buying a bag and having him sign it. As we waited in line for him to sign it, the lovely "security" staff comes along and made everyone who does not have a bag or shirt get out of line -- including those people who were standing with others who had an item. Meaning Justin would have had to wait outside for me. How dumb is that? I got ticked and blew off waiting in another long line, this time by myself. So I didn't get to meet Joel, but I was okay with that. I walked away with an awesome tote, which won't make a darn bit of sense unless you watch the show.

Side 1:

Side 2:

All in all, today was a great day. We both have been so busy with work recently, it was nice to take some time out and just spend with each other (and Joel).

5 things . . .

5 things I love about Justin, in honor of Valentine's Day . . .

1. He makes me laugh every day.

2. He has the patience of a saint. (I guess he has to make up for all the patience I lack.)

3. He makes the best coffee.

4. He loves me like no one else in the world could.

5. He is a great friend and husband.

(photo: martha stewart)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Rachael Ray.

I am not going to lie, I used to like Rachael Ray back in the early days of 30-minute meals. But for the past couple of years, she has annoyed me with her goofy laugh, acronyms (EVOO), and made-up words (stoups, sammies). I have not watched any of her shows in a while, and I am cringing just thinking about it.


Matt and Madeline, from one of the blogs I follow (Matt, Liz, and Madeline), were on the Rachael Ray show today. I recorded it and watched only that segment tonight. Matt is such a great dad and Madeline could not be any cuter (and looks such much like her mom). If you don't read Matt's blog, it is worth the read, but be prepared and have the kleenex nearby.

I have a couple of observations from the show . . .

(1) why does Rachael Ray sound like she needs a cough drop?;
(2) why does she do that thing were she licks her lips super awkwardly?;
(3) did she not know Matt's name? she kept calling him "dad."; and
(4) could the segway into the snack of the day been anymore awkward?

In other TV show news, I watched Demetri Martin's new show tonight. It was funny, but the stand-up routine last night was better. I found a clip of one of the best parts: watch it here. Enjoy!

Too Funny.

I have been super busy with work lately, but it's not all bad. I am writing my first ever U.S. Supreme Court brief, which is challenging and exciting. Which leads me to the point of this post . . .

I was doing some work tonight in front of the TV and didn't change the channel after the Colbert Report was over. The show Demetri Martin.Person was on and it was phenomenal. I am so glad I caught it. He is hilarious and my side hurts from laughing so much.

Evidently, he has a new series starting tomorrow on Comedy Central. I will definitely be tuning in. His website is here.

Here are some of my favorites quotes from the show tonight:

- I saw a door that said exit only. So I entered through it and went up to the guy working there and said "I have good news. You have severely underestimated that door over there. By like a hundred percent."

- Whenever I'm on my computer, I don't type "lol." I type "lqtm" -- "laugh quietly to myself." It's more honest.

- I was on the street. This guy waved to me, and he came up to me and said, “I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.” And I said, “I am.”

Lip Balm Review.

I love lip balms. I also have a terrible habit (and always have for as long as I can remember) of biting my lips. So good lip balms are a necessity -- they heal my lips and prevent me from biting them in the first place.

Here are my go-to balms/treatments:

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1

I have been using this stuff for a long time. I have tubes and jars of it in my purse, briefcase, desk at work and home, and on my nightstand. It is a great balm and stays on forever -- I'll put it on at night and my lips are still coated and soft in the morning. The only downside is that it is a little on the greasy side and a tad pricey, $6.50 for a tube. It also comes in various flavors, I usually stick with the original, but the mint is great too.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

I just got this balm for Christmas. It has a lemony scent, which I love. I usually put this stuff on in the morning when I am getting ready. It is not overly greasy and leaves my lips feeling super moisturized and silky. My main complaint is the price -- it is $22.50 for a tube of it. I would buy it again, but it is definitely not a budget-friendly balm.

Rosebud Salve

This stuff is hands down my new all around favorite. It is not too greasy or waxy, like some balms tend to be. It has a nice sheen and hydrates my lips like nothing else I have tried. I have also used it on my cuticles, and it leaves them nice a soft. The salve also reasonably priced, $6.00 for a tin, which lasts a while. It smells like roses, which takes a little while to get used to, but the scent has grown on me. The only negative is that it only comes in a tin. I don't like having to use my fingers to apply it, but it is so amazing otherwise, it it totally worth it.

Aquaphor

Last, but not least, a great go-to drugstore product is Aquaphor. I was told to try this on my lips way back in high school and it really does work to heal chapped lips. It is also good for dry skin. The price is great too, around $6.00 for a huge tube of it. The major downside is how greasy it is -- it is definitely more of a night-time treatment rather than for use during the day.

5 things . . .

5 random thoughts/observations for the day . . .

1. Sometimes Microsoft Word tries to be too smart. I really wish I had the option to prevent it from automatically making "th" after certain numbers superscript.

2. I love these shoes that are on sale at J.Crew


3. I think it is interesting that the Supreme Court requires you to use a font in the Century family (e. g., Century Expanded, New Century Schoolbook, or Century Schoolbook). What happened to good old Times New Roman?

4. My sacroiliac joint is not cooperating. I wish it would stop coming out of place and let me get on with my life.

5. I love the creamy jalapeno sauce from Chuy's (and their queso too).

Interior Designs.

It is rare when I look at a picture of a room online or in a magazine for inspiration and really like everything about it. My style seems to be an interesting mix of traditional, modern, glamour, and a touch eclectic. However, I have come across 2 design websites recently (by way of desire to inspire) and am totally obsessed with the style of the rooms.

Enjoy!

Coddington Design

Liz Levin Interiors

5 things . . .

5 things I am thankful for . . .

1. My baking frenzy this weekend. This week is starting off to be super busy at work for both me and Justin, and there is nothing better to relieve some stress than munching on some peanut butter cup cookies or a piece of chocolate cake.

2. My half-priced dress from Anthropologie. Major score!
3. An hour long Office after the Super Bowl.

4. Justin and Riley laying next to me right now snoring.

5. Luke winning Bromance! I have liked him from the beginning.

Pantry Organization.

Okay, so I promise I don't work for the Container Store and this is the last of our new Elfa products, but we also bought some drawers for the pantry.

We have tons of small tea boxes, drink mixes, coffee, and baking accessories/goods. To keep them more contained, we organized them all conveniently in these great sliding drawers. Now nothing gets lost in the back of the pantry anymore.


It is also easier to keep things better sorted and organized when they each have their own place in the pantry. And it just makes me happy when I walk in and see the handy drawers.

America's Best Dance Crew.

Another MTV show that I am a fan of is America's Best Dance Crew.


Justin watches it too, but at least with this MTV show he doesn't have to pretend that he doesn't enjoy it, like he does with the others. We jokingly call it "RJPABDC 3" for "short" because it is always super awkward when Mario Lopez, the host, says the name of the show. And let's be serious, the official title is pretty tedious (but Randy's got to get his shout-out).

I knew things were off to a good start tonight because the crews were dancing to songs by Britney Spears. Justin also didn't disappoint -- as soon as he saw Mario, he said "Man, Mario hasn't looked that slick since the days back at Bayside High."


Besides the dancing (of course) and the endless jokes about A.C. Slater, my favorite parts of the show are Mario's sweet play on words before and after every performance. His "witty" comments are painfully predictable. Here are some favorites from tonight's Britney-themed show found on MTV's website:

• Were you beggin' "Gimme More" after the Strikers All-Stars' performance?
• Did this week's Dynamic Edition performance make the crew "Stronger"?
• Have Quest Crew made themselves a "Toxic" competitor?
• Did the Ringmasters live up to their name with "Circus"?
  

Even though the puns "Drive Me Crazy" ("Oops! I Did It Again"), the crews are extremely talented and every season I am more impressed with their skills. In case anyone actually follows the show, my favorite crew tonight was the Beat Freaks, followed by Strikers All-Stars (how cool were those mirror illusions?).

Bye, Domino.

I will have one less magazine now to look forward to receiving every month. Domino is closing, and its last issue will be in March.


So much for one of my birthday gifts from my in-laws back in August. While I haven't been overly impressed with the last few issues, I will certainly miss reading it every month.

Happy Birthday, Riley!

I may be biased, but Riley has to be the cutest dog ever -- and he is especially cute on his 4th birthday. Here he is on the way to his new home.

and 4 years later . . .

Mission Organization -- Part 2.

The Elfa madness didn't end with our second floor closet. I have been wanting a better way to organize my t-shirts, tank tops, and sweaters for a while, but wasn't ready to fork over the dough for the Elfa drawers I had been eying. But the combo of the 30% off sale and me no longer being able to stand the cheap plastic containers I was using was enough to convince me it was time to take the plunge.

Looking at these horribly messy before shots makes me so thankful I did. I guess I had just gotten used to the disaster!




And the afters . . .


In these drawers, I have my tank tops sorted by color, my t-shirts sorted, and all of my sweaters organized in one place (rather than in multiple plastic bins or laid on top of them).


We have built-in drawers to the right of these Elfa drawers that I was able to clean out and organize too.

While I was at it, I cleaned out any clothes I hadn't worn in a while to donate and made sure all my shirts were hung on plastic hangers. I used to sort them by color, and while I love the look, the shirts that I wear most often always end up towards the front anyway.


Needless to say, my closet is a much better place to get ready in the morning!