Hunt and gather.

It had been too long- I stopped at Hunt and Gather over the weekend (yes, the same place I wrote about nearly four years ago!).  

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I also stopped at Paper Hut, a new little gift shop down the road,

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and loved these scarves! Jersey knit and screen printed perfection.20120514-102224.jpg

Our weekend was busy (I’ll get to the gardening and mother’s day in another post!), but we also got our much-anticipated wedding photo albums. So ridiculously expensive, but SO worth it. Love them.

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And it was sunny and warm but not hot or humid. Perfect May weather.

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More later!

Weekend summary.

This about sums it up:

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Boooooo urns!

But I did have a lovely, rain-filled happy hour

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with this gal,

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and I watched Ms. Doubtfire! Which, I might add, came out in 1993. I remember that like it was yesterday, but it was NEARLY TWENTY YEARS AGO, WTH.

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And I lived vicariously through my parents, who went to the Kentucky Derby (a cigar-friendly environment, much to the satisfaction of my dad)

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and stopped in St. Louis to see sweet little C!

She will be here soon enough.

Oh, and I survived the half marathon. It wasn’t my best effort and I believe my worst time ever, but I powered through and checked that off the list of May to-do’s. Completing it also confirmed my recent thoughts- that I need a little break from jogging. I feel like it doesn’t really provide me with the challenges that I need, so first and foremost, I’m going to try to get back into yoga. I’m also a bit intrigued by some of the video workouts that are so popular right now. Would Insanity be insanity? I wonder if I could get Bryan to do it with me?! We shall see, we shall see.

Because every girl needs to make a birthday list.

5 weeks and counting (not that I’m counting:)

Lululemon cropped pants I have never had a pair, but have heard such good things about them / Jade link necklace Love. The color, the shape, the size. In fact, any chunky necklace will do. OR even a cute little bright one like this / Striped dress This image doesn’t do it justice- see it in action here. I tried this on at Nordstrom Rack over the weekend and it was adorable! / Kick back hoodie Speaks for itself / Rattan ceiling fixture Light fixtures for your birthday- that’s normal, right? This would be so cute in our sunroom. And why not add these for our bedrooms while we’re at it. / Nixon mint watch Fat chance, I know.  But this is a wish list, right? / Bright bracelet such as this or this, though I also saw some cute (and cheaper) ones at Urban Outfitters / A real, nice, simple, supple leather bag. Like this, or this. / Heidi Swanson cookbook I’m obviously obsessed with her lately / Wood living room lamps, or these.

Suburbia.

I am traversing the suburbs of Chicago for work this week. Not having the best of luck with my rental car nor the best control with eating on the road, but hanging in there. More soon!

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Few Things Friday.

Ahhhh!

New job = super busy.

Learning, listening, doing, struggling, succeeding, failing, trying, striving and climbing.

I will make it.

In the meantime, here are a few things for a much anticipated Friday.

1. I like my outfit today. Look! I even took a picture for you all. Is that weird? I look like I’m trying to be sultry, but rest assured, that is not the case. This photo was taken at 8 am at my desk. At work. Not a place to be sulty (nor, probably, a place to be taking a photo of yourself). But whatever it takes to get me through the day. And note the shoes!  So worth the fail.

2. One day this week, I headed downtown for an afternoon meeting. All of a sudden, my colleagues starting ordering desserts. Caramel apple pie with cinnamon ice cream, flourless chocolate torte, and even a mile-high carrot cake with layers of carrot cake and cream cheese frosting. So help me, and my thought of trying to eat healthier. Dinner here didn’t help either. This week did not go well in that regard (unless you count the one day this week that I was SICK and had no appetite).

3. Cecilia. She’s one! I miss her so. And making the trip down to St. Louis for her birthday party last weekend was SO worth the trip. She’s sassy and super and sensational. Just look.

4. My husband is the best. So patient and fun and understanding and mellow and level-headed and smart and rationale and hilarious and amazing. Neither of us are perfect, but we work. Love.

5. Downton Abbey. Bry and I just started watching, and so far so good. Downton Abbey mania!

Happy Weekending!

99 things to do.

Oh you guys, there is so much I want to share here. To name a few, I need to do a post on the Maui portion of our honeymoon, some wedding crafts, the process and outcome of painting our bedside tables and my upholstered headboard, all the homemade ice cream we have been making, a check-in on my thirty before thirty list, our christmas at home and new years in Colorado, and more! Where does one start? I know, I know- this is not my job but I just love sharing and documenting what we have been up to, personally and creatively. I’ll get there, but no promises on when.

For now, a few random fillers.

I LOVE this wall color. What would you call it? A muddy gray? If we ever get around to painting our guest room/office/future nursery, I would love this. And that red/orange sofa is pretty rad for contrast.

Here are a couple lighter versions,

and my ideal version would have more furniture/texture/colors like this:

But I’m not all about the dark everywhere, as I saw this room on Emily Clark’s blog and immediately loved it. And THEN I saw the K + B pillow. Meant to be. Ha.  

What is it about inspirational phrases? They are all over Pinterest, and I can’t help but save/repin a few.

and finally, I have committed to not buying any clothes or shoes or accessories or any other type of wearable item in January or February. December was an expensive month for us, and those of you who know me, know I have zero need for another scarf, wedge or cardigan.

If I were to buy anything, however, it would be something like:

these,

and this,

and this antler ring too!

Cocktails.

I fear my crazy holiday work party days are over, but this chart made me laugh. Where do you fit in?

Cheers, to the freakin’ weekend.

How fun is this mug? Perfect for serving milk and cookies, coffee and doughnuts, tea and biscotti, or your favorite snack-time combinations. Would be such a fun gift for a colleague or friend. Love it!

I also love this design board from Bryn (she’s the best),

and these boots at Nordstrom’s half-yearly sale (yes, I have the short plaid ones, but I want these too!).

Not a ton of plans this weekend- thank goodness. Ole.

and now for my business PSA: I can’t believe people are really buying into Groupon’s IPO at $20/share. I really don’t see it being a sustainable business.

food for a day.

An ideal day would start with this,

a little of this around lunchtime,

and this in the evening.

Happy weekending!

Life.

Mine is good.

Full of friends, love, dogs and smiles. And weekends.

Weekends when we can sleep in, sip coffee, and stroll outside.

Ahhhhh, weekends.

If only they lasted longer.

But if they lasted longer, we probably wouldn’t cherish them as much.

And weekends are meant to be cherished.

Oh! My birthday is on Monday.

So this weekend, we will celebrate.

Life is good.

How we feel about the onslaught of Spring:

Happy Frizzzzday.

Howdy friends. Hope you all are doing well on this 11th day of March, which also happens to be our sweet dog Tilly’s 2nd birthday (or so we think at least. When we got her on Sept. 11 last year, we were told she was 1 1/2, so we logically assumed she was born on March. 11. And that she was exactly 1 1/2 on the day we got her. . .).

As for the weekend, I’m excited to have one at home. I have been out of town the past three weekends, and that makes me yearn for one at home. I have a fun little agenda in my head of what I want to get done, and will be happy if I achieve at least half of it. We shall see.

In other news, I have these four items saved in my cart at Free People. Do I need them? No. Will I end up getting any of it? Probably not.

{Herringbone Puff Sleeve Jacket, $39.95}

{Sanita Slouch Boot, $129.95}

{Ruffle Stretch Waist Belt, $9.95}

{Off Shore Lace Up Boot, $69.95}

Enjoy your weekend!

Totes.

I totes love canvas totes.

1. Duluth Pack Zip Top Tote $115 / 2. MLNT Dr. Talls Bag $180  / 3. Ally Capellino Large Fabric Tote $195 / 4. Lands End Natural Open Top Canvas Totes $22.50 and up / 5. J. Crew Spannaus Purse, $98

Change.

Things at work are changing, and while change is definitely good, it is also hard.

This is how I feel.

Wait a second. . . that isn’t just how I feel, it’s how I actually look!

Outside of work, I’m certainly staying busy as well. Madison, Chicago, Birkebeiner, wedding planning, new babies, decorating, Ipadding and more. Life is busy, but good.

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