I’m old.

I’m pretty sure this needs no additional dialog.

Super. Market.

Etsy has got some competition. Hard to believe with as much fabulous stuff as I find on there daily, but I kid not – it’s true. Supermarket is very similar to Etsy and sells itself on connecting people with great designers and the things they make. I actually find it a little bit easier to navigate as well with its understated navigation at the top. Separated into categories like “everything”, “wear + carry”, “space + place”, and “paper + prints” – you can find just about anything you need (or just really, really want). Like these, a few of my personal favs:

1. Number 8 Sail Tote
2. Linked Necklace
3. Forests Matter Print

Calgon, take me away!

It’s that time of year again, when I get itching to take a vacation. Hell, who am I kidding – it’s that time of WEEK again – it’s Monday! Even though I have a small vaca planned for late October, I am ready for one now. And I do love to travel in style, even on my peanuts and beer salary. I figure if I’m going to pay to stay somehwere, it had better be nice! Which is why I was so excited when I found this Vacation Palm Springs site!

This site has tons of Palms Springs rentals in all sizes, from studio condo spaces to Britney Spears sized luxury estates. And they are all really beautiful – many with retro styled interiors and most with gorgeous pools. My mom and step-dad usually take a small trip out to Palm Springs every Christmas and this year there might be some extended family as well so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try a new place. Or maybe for my next girls weekend away…who knows!

Evil, party of one.

I just cannot get enough of this picture. While it’s true that I will probably end up in a horribly hot and fire-y place for getting such enjoyment out of something potentially VERY offensive, it will be worth it. I am the absolute least religious person I know which is probably why I like it so much. That and the fact that I can picture me and my friends there instead of these silly guys (Heather and Melissa, you know I’m talking about you!). So, I guess I’ll just book my ticket to hell now. Whatever, that’s where all the cool people will be…

as if…

Wouldn’t it be nice if it were just that easy to get the men in our lives to be that nice? Or even to get people to do things we wanted? Ahh, wishful thinking…

Carbohydrate Friday!

Yum. Yum. Yum. What better comfort food is there than Mac n’ Cheese? From Martha to Kraft, I’ll take em’ all – I don’t hate! But it is not impossible to improve on an old staple. How, you ask? Like this:

GORGONZOLA MAC & CHEESE

1 lb elbow pasta
1/2 cup raw walnuts
2 1/2 cups milk
2 bay leaves
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1-1 1/2 cups mild cheddar cheese, grated
1-1 1/2 cups Gorgonzola or other blue cheese, crumbled
dash of hot sauce
salt & pepper
2 Granny Smith apples, diced finely

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place walnuts on a dry sheet pan and toast in the oven for 3 minutes. Watch the nuts carefully as they are easy to burn. In a blender or food processor, chop the walnuts to a fine ‘dust’. Set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to boil; add pasta and cook according to the directions on the package, under cooking the pasta by 2-3 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.

In a saucepan over medium-low heat, warm milk with the bay leaves. When bubbles form at the edges of the pan, remove from heat and let bay leaves steep for 5 minutes. Do not let milk come to a boil.

In a deep skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add flour and cook for 3-4 minutes, whisking constantly. Once the a paste is formed and is a golden color, remove the bay leaves from the milk and add about a quarter of the milk to the skillet. Whisk thoroughly. As soon as the mixture becomes smooth, add a little more milk, and continue to do so until all the milk is used and the mixture is thick and smooth. Add the cheddar, stir and remove from heat.

Add the cheese sauce, Gorgonzola crumbles, hot sauce, salt and pepper to the pasta pot and stir to incorporate. Let the pasta stand for several minutes to soak up the sauce. In the meantime, butter (6) 3-inch ramekins or (1) large casserole dish. Fill the ramekins/casserole with the mac & cheese, top with walnut “dust” and bake until hot and bubbly. Just before serving, top with chopped apples.

So Very Happy

I love, love, love this birdie print by Studio Mela on Etsy. She has many other similarly uplifting and adorable pieces in her shop in all colors and size. Choosing just one as my favorite was hard as I love them all. So let’s just go and add Etsy to my list of personal obsessions while we’re at it. The talent there is almost stupidly amazing and the prices are right up my alley!

Anyhoo…as I said, I have been admiring this piece for quite some time, trying to find just the perfect place to put it. I want to hang it somewhere prominent so that it can be my inner mantra and remind me not to sweat the small stuff. And I thought it would set the mood nicely for my house when I have visitors. It’s definitely a conversation starter to say the least!

Thank you, Captain Obvious

Did you hear??? Clay Aiken came out of the closet today.

Um… DUH! Does he think the American public is retarded?

WARNING: have tissues ready!

I came across this photologue (new word – just made it up!) a while back. Titled “days with my father” by Phillip Toledano, he journals through photographs the relationship and life of his father before he passed on. The navigation is interesting and the photos are beautiful, heightening the anticipation and apprehension of the next photo. The story is so filled with emotion, both photographically and through his journal that it’s hard to explain in words. I cried when I saw this site the first time – at work, no less – not only thinking of my own father and how we will spend his last days, but also at the obvious frustration Phillip’s father felt and the despair Phillip felt having to watch him go through it all – knowing he could do nothing to help.

While very sad and wholly tissue worthy, it is an amazing view into another’s mans life and is definitely worth viewing. I have Googled Toledano with no success as there seem to be several individuals with that name. If anyone know who this particular one it, I’d love to commend him on his work!

days with my father by Philllip Toledano

One step closer to fall

I’m sure many of you, like myself, are ready for some kick-ass fall weather. I didn’t say winter – FALL. The kind where it’s still sunny but there is a slight chill in the air. You are plenty warm in your fabulous new boots and coat (thank you, Nordstrom’s Rack), but the sky is blue, the leaves are changing colors and all seems right with the world. Especially with a spiced (oops, I meant spiked!) apple cider in your hand.

So as we get closer to fall – what goes better with a new pair of boots than a great pair of colored tights? Nothing, I tell you. Nothing at all. That’s why We Love Colors is the perfect place to complete your fall wardrobe. They have tights in every color under the sun, and in all shapes and sizes from footless to fishnet! And for under $15 – you can certainly afford more than one pair!