top 10 Tuesday: the sequel

I have decided that today is going to be glorious. It's sunny outside, I'm going to have some iced coffee in approximately 25 minutes and I'm going to see an Ingrid Michaelson concert tonight.

I also just finished catching up on blog reading/random Internet explorage. Here are 10 things that are catching my fancy today:

1.) Scarf heaven: I'm such a sucker for scarves and color in general...so this is a win-win for me.

{littlebrownpen}

2.) Spring crafts: you're going to see a lot of them in this post. I love how simple these birds look.

{poppytalk}

3.) Super-cool floor coverings: this rug is simply fabulous...if only I had a house of my own...

{poppytalk}

4.) Yellow pianos: enough said.

{designsponge}

5.) Alternative uses for tea tins.

{intimateweddings}

6.) Book art: I think I'm too OCD about my book conditions to try this...alas...

{ruffled}

7.) More fun crafts: these ones look so doable...it gives me hope that I'll have time to do crafts again soon.

{emmallamb}

8.) Hair funkiness: and it's yellow to boot.

{abeautifulmess}

9.) Excellent wallpaper: not sure what the bugs and scorpions are all about, but it's still super cool.

{designsponge}

10.) Easter eggs: I don't think I've decorated Easter eggs since I was a kid, but I really think I might give it a try this Sunday.

{designsponge}

Have a glorious Tuesday!

simple life

I was accepted to graduate school this week.

For some reason, I feel like my life will be simpler if I go. Not sure if that will be true, but right now it just seems right to think that way. My life right now doesn't seem very simple, but, in fact, extremely complicated and busy.

But I'll survive, because now I have the idea of simple grad school life to look forward to.

{blog.howdesign.com}

Happy weekend

my crafty things

My dear friend Monika was kind enough to photograph some of my craft projects this evening. You'll see some of my afghan squares (it's so close to being done! I just need to finish sewing up the squares) as well as some other fun projects I've been working on.

Enjoy!

The Unrealistic Morningtime

Wondering what the "Unrealistic Morningtime" is? Let me explain: so you know how you'll be watching a movie or reading a book and the characters in the story seem to have a copious amount of time in the morning? I can't decide if it cracks me up or annoys me. Probably both. But you do know what I'm talking about. You'll be watching some cute romantic comedy and everyone seems to have time to be fully dressed (and looking ridiculously fabulous, of course), eat a very decent breakfast (sometimes even sitting down at an actual table) and solve 12 or 13 major relational problems all before work/school/apparently 8:00 a.m. To me, this is so unbelievably improbable. I never, ever, ever have a morningtime like this. My morningtimes consist of the bare hygienic essentials, most of the time zero food and maybe twice in my life problem solving (and by "problem" I mean having no pencil lead or getting shampoo in my eye.)

I was particularly lamenting the unrealisticness of this Unrealistic Morningtime the other day as I woke up 35ish minutes before my first class and dressed so fast that I forgot to check if the day's weather would require socks (it did but I unfortunately didn't wear any), the whole time silently wishing the Unrealistic Morningtime were, in fact, attainable. As I my thoughts got the better of my attention during that 8 a.m. class period, I found myself dreaming of how I would use my Unrealistic Morningtime...

1.) There would, of course, be croissants and coffee. Essential for a perfect morning.

{feteafete.com}

2.) Some light reading. For me, it's currently "Oranges" by John McPhee.

{macmillan.com}

3.) A really fun outfit and some really great hair.

{jcrew.com}

{stylemepretty.com}

4.) Some time for crafty things.

{seesawdesigns.blogspot.com}

{ruffledblog.com}

5.) And maybe some singing. Come on, it's the Unrealistic Morningtime. Anything can happen.

{rika gemmell's wedding photos}

The Unrealistic Morningtime is just that: unrealistic. But, truth be told, I should stop complaining and be thankful I have mornings at all.

{ruffledblog.com}

Happy, happy weekend and long live the Unrealistic Morningtime.

Top 10 Tuesday

Here are 10 things that are making me smile today:

1.) The Handsome Men's Club. Jimmy Kimmel would be their president...

2.) Making of a Book Cover. Makes my Photoshop skills seem...well, lacking for sure, but it's also quite inspiring...

3.) Betty White will be on SNL! Next up, pigs flying...

4.) Cupcakes. Always, always, always...

{images from a posts on Style Me Pretty blog}

5.) Anthropologie is launching a wedding line...

6.) Temporary tattoos (or maybe not so temporary ones, too...)

{image from a post on Green Wedding Shoes blog}

7.) My new-found love of oranges (yes, believe it or not I actually wasn't a huge fan until this weekend...)

{image from a post on Little Brown Pen blog}

8.) Family members that aren't really related to you, but special beyond all reason nonetheless...

{photos lovingly stolen from dear Monika Bliss Morris}

9.) My Amazon wishlist (unfortunately it's not getting any smaller...) Most recently added item? Yep, that's right: the Pride and Prejudice graphic novel...

{image from amazon.com}

10.) Springtime is almost here...and therefore, tulips...

{image from purepetals}

Happy Tuesday!

Pro/Con Monday

There's a song that says something about hating Mondays. There actually may be more than one of those songs, but I can only think of one right now. I felt like singing that song pretty much all day long. Today was my first day back at school post spring break (therefore I must hate today just on general principle), I spilled coffee all over my shirt at work (and it was very good coffee, too) and I have to stay at work until 10pm.

I love a good pro/con list, so on the flip side:

The weather was absolutely beautiful (my mother said it reached 76 degrees. I believe it.)

I only had one class (at the horrifically early hour of 11:00am)

I have no homework

I ate mashed potatoes for lunch.

I read this blog post about movie talkers and laughed out loud.

I dreamt about crochet projects...post-afghan completion, of course...

[image from flickr]

On account of the whole no homework thing, I spent most of the afternoon reading. I'm currently making my way through "Saturday" by Ian McEwan...pretty slow so far, but I have great hopes it'll pick up.

Upon reflection, I suppose I really have no right to be feeling such unhappy thoughts towards poor Monday after all...

March

As unoriginal as it may sound, I cannot believe it's already March.

I'm pretty sure I graduate from college in roughly 8 weeks.

That is a frightening thought.

For now I will choose to think about more pleasant things:

1.) Ever heard of Reknit? It's an absolutely ingenious idea. I wish I'd had it first!

2.) Katie and I tried on possible graduation dresses today at Anthro...we unfortunately have expensive taste...but will watch their price fluctuation like hawks...

(This one caught my eye first...super adorable...)

(this was the one Katie liked...)

(this is my favorite...the back is adorable too...)

(this is the back...)

[all these images are from anthropologie.com]

3.) I am so very close to being finished with my afghan! I think I have around 33-ish more squares to go.

4.) I've been on a foreign film kick over break. I watched one of my French favorites, A Very Long Engagement, the other day. I just love Audrey Tautou (and not just because we share a name...but that's cool too...)

[totally snatched this picture from some other adoring Audrey fan's blog]

I'm going to have some tea and go to bed.

Happy, happy weekend.

And happy, happy March to you, too...