wishlist wednesday!

Today's wish list is inspired by my love of bunting. I don't care if it's paper or fabric, inside or out, over a door or a window, I just love bunting! I've made quite a few strands of it myself from a combination of different fabrics I was lucky enough to inherit from people looking to de-clutter, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to have some made by someone else using fabrics I've never had. I especially like the look of bunting made with vintage floral fabrics; it reminds me of my childhood twin sized bed with hand-me-down sheets from the 60's and 70's. I loved those big, bright floral patterns!

source: vintage greeting card garland, vintage floral heirloom handkerchief banner, bouquet vintage linens banner, vintage floral bias binding.

First, let me say that I just discovered the LiliaRose etsy shop today, and I'm in love. It was an instant favorite, and if I hadn't already decided to do a wish list on bunting, I would have made my wish list from her shop only! Well, there's always next week! Second, I know the bias tape isn't bunting, but could you imagine how pretty it would be if you used it to make bunting? I know I definitely want it...and I just may need to own it.

If you want to play along and share a wish list of your own, link back to me from your post, then leave a link to your wish list in the comments section. I can't wait to see what you find!

what i've been working on...

Sometimes I sort of get in these creating spurts - much like I believe a mad scientist would be on the verge of a breakthrough and lock himself in his laboratory for days on end without surfacing - and I just seem to have so many ideas, but worry I don't have enough time to bring them all to fruition, or that I'll lose the ideas before I get to start them! Anyway, here's a peek at what I've been up to the last few days...

Something else I've had on my list is resin casting. There are wildflowers (and pretty weeds) growing in the fields, and I've been meaning to pick some of them to preserve in resin and use for pendants. I also have several things that need to be drilled, but, call me crazy, after the whole hole through the finger thing, I don't really like to drill by myself just in case something happens, and Chris has been pretty busy. I really should get over my fear, but I don't want to get hurt...again!

This may be the most exciting bit of news I have to share... I FINALLY UPLOADED MY WEBSITE! I told myself that I would have it finished and uploaded by the first of this week, and with all the swimming I've been doing, I was starting to think I wouldn't make my deadline, but I did! So, if you're not a member of etsy, or you are and just don't like it, you can still purchase a little piece of dinosaur toes! Check it out, and let me know what you think!

What have you been working on lately? Do you have any pictures of your projects?

kitten update...and flojo, too!

If you remember from an earlier post, I became the mother to little kittens one Saturday afternoon after Chris discovered that their mother had been hit and killed by a car. Well, the babies that were once 4 ounces and fit in one hand are now about 13 ounces (it's difficult to tell for sure because they never hold still), six weeks old and so full of energy, just watching them makes me tired! The kittens are so cute and sweet, I find myself spending hours at a time just watching them play; I love the innocence of baby animals!

Although I may spend lots and lots of time playing with the kittens, that fact is, Flojo (aka Dinosaur Toes, aka Nutty, aka Kooky, aka Misses Baby) is my one and only, so I can't exclude her! Usually she doesn't like having her picture taken because she prefers attaking the camera, but today she was such a good little model!

I went to the pool this afternoon and spent time with my Grandma, and she force fed me cookies, brownies (no, I don't really like chocolate, but something about Grandma's brownies are so good...maybe the nostalgia) and coke. I got some sun, which can be difficult for me since I'm pale like an albino, but of course it was all almost completely gone by the time I got home! So, I'm going to do it again tomorrow with friends, and hopefully I'll have a tan to show for it! What have you done this weekend? Gotten in any swimming this summer?

i always thought i would be...

...a drummer. Okay, so maybe it sounds silly, but it's true. I've always loooved percussion, and I played drums for a bit when I was younger. I think it goes hand-in-hand with my love for music, and I just knew that I was going to be in a band like the ones I admired. Well, obviously life has taken me in a completely different direction and I'm clearly not a drummer, but if I could choose for one of my crazy dreams to come true, I'd still choose that one!

Okay, since I'm talking about drums, I figured this post wouldn't be complete without one of the greatest drum solos of all time...Church Lady on Church Chat! How about you? What big dream did you have when you were younger, and if you could choose to be or do anything, what would it be?

wishlist wednesday!

Okay, so I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but Chris and I are pretty much the biggest cheapskates you'll ever meet...almost. In our nine years of bring married, the only furniture we've actually purchased is our sectional sofa, and antique trunk, a loveseat and a $2 end table that I still can't get Chris to admit is awesome. Our dining room table & chairs, bedroom suite, my desk, and our guest bed/futon are all hand-me-downs, so if you can imagine, our house is a little bare in the furniture area. When we were in our old house it didn't matter as that place was tiny, but now that we're in a house twice that size, it's become apparent that we need more stuff! I wouldn't mind having these things to fill up our space...

folding table from hindsvik, bear rug from concu, wire stand from moxie thrift, rocking chair from the unique seat company, steamer trunk from topsy design.

In dinosaur toes news, I've been working my big butt off on a dinosaur toes website. I always make impossible deadlines for myself, and I decided that I should be able to have it up and running by Tuesday evening (which gave me three days to create it from start to finish), but I'm thinking it's more reasonable to say it will be up and running by the first of next week. Of course I'll let you know because I'll need your input!

If you have a wish list you'd like to share, leave me a link in the comments; I'd love to see it, and maybe find a few new things to covet!

venice, california

After I left my blogger meet up weekend, I stayed with my friend Haley who lives in Venice, California. We did a little eating, a little rocking and a whole lot of shopping! I'd never been to Venice, but I'll tell you, I saw a lot. A whole lot. Abbott Kinney has too many great shops for my wallet, but if you find yourself in Venice, and I suggest going at least once, be sure to visit Skylark!

So, we went to the Promenade and shopped at Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and American Apparel, then we went out on the boardwalk to a restaurant called Fig Tree Cafe. All of their food is organic, and I got fish tacos worth selling your grandma for!

The next day we went back out on the boardwalk in the daylight so I could see the craziness that is Venice Beach. I bought two huge rings for $2.50 each, I saw a two-headed turtle, caught a contact high from all the legal marijuana, and spied these decorated motor homes where the homeless beachcombers live.

Before we left the boardwalk, we went out on the beach for the drum circle that happens every Sunday. I definitely enjoyed it, and I really liked watching this Native American man dance with his feathers.

When we left the drum circle, we did a little more shopping (okay, a lot), then we went to a greek restaurant and I got the best authentic pita sandwich I've ever in my life eaten. Once we got back to Haley's apartment, she changed her clothes and did my eye makeup (I'm so not a girl) in preparation for the show at The Viper Room! We went to see her friend's band, Stevie Starlight, and it was an awesome show! We drove through Beverly Hills on the way there so I could see all the places I'd never be able to afford.

california, again.

Okay, before I go any further, I'm gonna warn you, there are a lot of pictures! I thought I'd finish showing you everything from my California trip in this one post, but there's seriously no way that's happening. It was hard enough to choose which pictures to use without overwhelming you, but I also figured that I should finish telling you about my blogger meet up fun before I introduced you to Haley, the friend (who isn't a blogger) that I stayed with for the second part of my trip. Haley pictures will come tomorrow. Now, without further ado...

On Friday we spent much of the day at the beach, and I must say, it was breath-taking! And yes, of course I took a picture of a bird!

Lauren and I took a picture of one another taking a picture. Kassi looks cute as always, and Brandi poses for our pictures. Chris loves her mirror sunglasses. I wish Kelly could have come, too!

Kassi's kids were our company and entertainment for the day. Tannyn and Tayli were our photographers, and Tyler left us to girl talk while he surfed. It must be said, Tyler is any mom's dream. Seriously, he's the most respectful and helpful 12-year-old boy I've ever had the pleasure of meeting!

We went to Brandi's friend's store Pretty in Pink in Costa Mesa, CA and I fell in love with so many things. I ended up only getting a double finger ring, but there was a tank top, a pair of pants, a few shirts and a dress that i really wanted! Then we went to the fair for my last bit of time with my three favorite bloggers before it was time for me to leave and go stay with Haley.

I had a great time with them, and I can't wait to do it again. I don't know if the next meet up will be in another state, or maybe at my house, but either way, I'm ready!

day 1 - laguna niguel

Day 1 was actually a really long day for me. I found out the night before I was supposed to leave that my first flight was delayed, meaning I'd miss my connecting flight from Philadelphia to LAX, so I had to get US Airways (who were very kind and helpful by the way) to put me on an earlier flight going to Philly...the only thing was, I had to get up at 5:00 that morning! So I ended up not going to bed in California until 5:30 Virginia time! I'd do it again though because we had so much fun talking vulgar, eating cheeses and drinking something delicious Dan made for us!

I actually don't really have that many pictures of day one, or any day for that matter, and I think it's because I was having such a good time, I forgot to get my camera out! Kassi's sweet little girls kept snatching my camera so they could play photographer, too, so the last two pictures are from Tannyn and Tayli!

Kassi's house, as well as Orange County in general, was so pretty! I couldn't wait to see the way she decorated it, after seeing pictures on her blog. Let me just tell you, the pictures don't do it justice! Dan (her hubs) and I beat Kassi, Brandi and Lauren back to the house, so I was a little nervous for the big meeting, but it went great, and I felt like we were old friends who'd known each other for years!

Here are some fun giveaways that I wouldn't mind winning! This one, and this one.

just the four of us

Well, I've only been home for 14 hours, and 7 of it was spent sleeping, but I'm already itching to go on another trip to hang out with Kassi, Brandi and Lauren again. I had so much fun on our blogger/friend meet up, and I just wasn't ready to leave! I knew they were amazing from their blogs and emails, but I was so excited to find that they were even more awesome in person!

I know, this isn't really the best picture, but like the rest of me, my arms are pretty short, so this is what I got! I've got lots more pictures to share, but to be honest, I'm still all groggy from jet lag and getting used to east coast time again, so they'll be showing up for the next few days.

So I took this picture in Costa Mesa, CA in the last few hours i had with them before I met up with my friend Haley who I stayed with for the last part of the trip.

And, in case you remember a previous post about my fears regarding the Philadelphia airport, I can tell you that it is nothing like people said it was. It's nice, clean, and has all the food you could ever want. See, I wasted all that time worrying about nothing! The flights there and back were fine (with the exception of the rocky landing in Phoenix) and I feel like a big girl having solo flying under my belt! Next flight, please!

much love monday: pendant lights

Yesterday I said that I've been having one long, drawn out blogging brain fart, and it's actually really simple; I'm so excited about my trip to California that I can think of little else. I do have a giveaway in the works, so I'll probably post that tomorrow and then announce the winner on Tuesday the 15th.

Last week I forgot about "Much Love Monday" until Tuesday, but I'm on time today! This Monday I'm loving pendant lights. I have the Urban Outfitters bird cage pendant light that was given to me for Christmas, but I'm still waiting for it to be installed in the breakfast nook area of my kitchen. I'm thinking I wouldn't mind having on in my dining room, too!

Back to the California trip... I'm going to have so many pictures to share when I get back, it won't even be funny! 1. I've already been told that Kassi is going to get Brandi, Lauren and I drunk on our first night there, so she can steal our wallets loosen us up! Weighing in at less than 100 pounds, it only takes a sip or two to get me tipsy. 2. I've washed most of clothes and packed half of what I need already, so the only thing to worry about now is navigating the dreaded Philadelphia airport! 3. I have to admit, even though I'll miss Chris, I know he can take care of himself, but I'm really getting sad thinking about being away from Flojo and the kittens (who have doubled in weight and are eating A LOT). 4. I'm sure once I get there I won't want to leave. Hopefully I won't cry as we're taking off on the way home like I did in San Francisco last November. Don't get me wrong, I love Virginia, but it's definitely no California!

stuff.

I'm kind of embarrassed to say it, but I really don't have much to blog about. I feel like the blogging side of my brain has shut down because I got nothin'. Well, almost nothin'. I did add something new to le blog, though. Over to the right, I added an item of the week type deal. I'm not out to get your money I can assure you, but I know that some people aren't on etsy and have been interested in some things. So, it's over there and will change every week, and since you're lovely enough to visit my blog, you get a little discount, too!

I was browing some pretty pictures on blogs this evening after I got home from a cookout, and I found these. They're so gorgeous, and I thought I'd share...

In addition to going blog brain dead, Chris and I went to a cookout and had so much fun. It's been a few years since we've been to a cookout with those particular friends, but even the rain couldn't spoil it! Of course, being the food addict I am, I ate entirely too much. I even ate a big fat brownie, which, if you know me, you know isn't common as I don't like chocolate. It's funny what mother nature can do to your appetite once a month. I've also been thinking about almost nothing but the California trip I'll be leaving for on Thursday morning. I have some laundry left to do tomorrow, then I should be all set!

How has your weekend been? Have you been enjoying any cookouts yet this summer?