10 Things you can do when you don't have a car and you're stuck in your apartment

1. Plan a bachelorette party for your DG little sister.

2. Fantasize about delicious meals you will create because you have a lot of free time.

3. Organize that area in your guest room that you have been avoiding like the plague for at least the past 2 weeks.

4. Take online French tests to see how "proficient" you are...then be sad and realize how "proficient" you aren't.

5. Look up the lyrics to that Adele song that you can't quite figure out.

6. Wish you were shopping for all of those Spring basics your heart desires.

7. Consider working out, but then decide against it.

8. Set aside some time to read the book you just started and hopefully will finish in the next month or so.

9. Come up with a creative activity to surprise your hubby with...too bad picnics are a no-go in 40 degree weather.

10. Be content with where you are, what you have, and what you're doing.

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."- Epicurus

What does your to-do list look like today?

P.S. I'm really excited about my new signature. If you are interested in creating one, go to: MyLiveSignature and create one for free.

The Joy of Flowers

For me, there is no better gift then a beautiful bouquet of flowers. It doesn't bother me that they don't last a lifetime...and I adore the life they bring into a room.

Just like a bouquet of flowers, floral details in fashion bring a little life to whatever you're wearing. (I think J.crew has made that very clear these past few years).

Not being a wild flower print kind of gal, here are some other ways to incorporate flowers into your life in a more subtle way....well, except for the hat..it might be a little over the top for everyday.

1. Cheerful yellow earrings from Etsy shop: Pompom-mum-almond 2. Romantic white pillow from Etsy shop: Dedeetsyshop (which was highlighted on Good Morning America) 3. Dried rose wreath from Etsy shop: Sunnydayz5 4. Flowerhat from Etsy shop: Mignonhandmade

Another fabulous resource for flower details is Etsy Shop: No.144 They have some awesome flower shoe clips that can add a pop to any outfit.

My advice is this: Don't feel the need to resist the urge to buy yourself some new flowers.

Lungemente vive a'limento Italiano!

Tell me it's NOT a good day when it starts with this:

And ends with this:

Ok, so my day didn't go in that order at all, but it did include both of the above delicious food items (that you are currently salivating over right now...its ok, I won't tell)

I had early morning volunteering and was so looking forward to coffee with my new friend, Tiffany, at Shaw's Coffee at The Hill. 

So... I had heard of latte art...but I had never experienced it...

Until now.

I was standing there behind the expresso machine patiently waiting for my cup of joe when I realized that she was taking her time with the froth. Hmmm...I wondered.

I looked at my mug and realized that there was but a humble flower resting itself in my froth. (imagine a bad English accent there).

Froth art is a great start to a new friendship. Tiffany and I were officially set up for success.

We spent the next 2 hours talking about everything---the way you do when you really connect with someone

...and enjoyed our lattes...froth art demolished.

Having not really explored the Hill to its fullest, and having a stomach whose rumbling was becoming very hard to ignore, I ventured to the next door J.Viviano and Son's grocery store to see what they offered.

Dude. They had rows and rows of sauces, pasta, olive oils, spices, cheese, wine...and on and on.

I guess this is to be expected considering it IS an Italian specialty store...

I quickly felt the need to provide myself with a lunch from thus Italian specialty store and came home with these groceries:

"Hello, loves. You have found your way to my home...and no worries, you will soon find your way to my belly."

Ok...so after professing my love to the groceries I fulfilled my promise and helped them make their way to my belly. 

Cooked it. Sauced it. Ate it.

All I have to say is:

Long live Italian food!...and froth art!

(Hopefully not) Stagnantly Yours

It has been a beautiful day today---clear and cold...but beautiful.

Red and I took this opportunity to go work-out...inside. It is an unfortunate thing when you must work-out inside because it is still too cold (for me at least) to get a good run in outside. 

That whole breathing thing gets in the way...

Anyway, one small joy of the day was that we ended our work-out with a nice round of shooting hoops. Now, I would love to say that I dominated and it was a game that would put the final-four to shame...

But I can't.

I can't even say that it was a friendly game of horse.

 It was, however, an intense shoot-out that I completely failed at.

Ok, so I started to make 1 in every 6 or so shots...not bad for a wimp like me. But it still wasn't pretty.

Red was doing a good job shooting the ball IN to the basket (novel right?)...and these two young boys (meaning 3rd grade or so) were totally rocking the court.

Me, I was getting fancy and spinning the ball in my hands before shooting and missing.

Hahaha--ok. Well, all of this was not just to highlight my inability to play basketball...but rather the randomness of playing basketball when you don't play basketball. 

It felt good to get out there and pretend like I knew what I was doing. It felt good to dribble the ball, shoot, and maybe make it in.

It felt good to be like a kid trying to get better at something...and to not mind when that doesn't happen immediately

I find that I am less physical with my experiences as I get older...and though I'm still young, it is getting easier and easier to be stagnant.

I don't want to be stagnant. It makes me think of a disgusting puddle that is brown and has something green and furry growing on it.

Stagnant water

...disgusting.

So, cheers for getting out of your comfort zone!!!...and doing something that makes you not stagnant (and brown with green stuff growing on you)!!!

What is something that you enjoy doing that keeps you from being stagnant?

Freckles

Freckles are highly under-rated. I actually wish that I had a better sprinkle of freckles. They add interest to the face, you know?

I was searching this awesome site that gathers pictures/videos of artists that they are inspired by.

...and this picture reaffirmed my love for freckles:

Freckled Stranger

Beautiful.

Have a joyful Monday!

Anthro at Home!

I nearly bit my tongue off when I opened an e-mail from Anthropologie highlighting their new line of products for decorators...and people who like to pretend that they are decorators *clearing throat* me.

As you know, I have been hunting for things to decorate our little abode, and though these items highlighted here are for a home far in the future, they are still eye candy.

And who doesn't appreciate eye candy?

Here is some wallpaper that made my heart flutter:

You can learn more about these wallpapers and even get swatches if you'd like here.

I'm also loving the gallery presented by Anthro as well....such a cool way to highlight up and coming artists and designers. 

I always wonder how everyone discovers new creative things/people/experiences...and I guess it happens organically...

But it seems that such cool stores...aka Anthropologie, are finding ways for consumers to be exposed to more whether or not they are buying their products.

Who can say no to inspiration?

Hallo little chicken

I am so glad the weekend is here...though it feels like every day is the weekend when you're not working....but hey, there is something about TGIF.

So last night we had a couple of friends over (aka. Micah and Jackie) for dinner. It's been a while since I've cooked for 4 people and so I took this opportunity to be creative.

Therefore, I roasted a whole chicken. Yes. It's true. Please don't be scared.

This is how it went down.

Here is Jed. The chicken. Red, the husband, is exposing him for all he has.

He sings; He dances; He washes dishes; what more could a gal want? (Wait, you say, are you talking about Red or the chicken?)

I'm not really sure how to answer that question...moving along.

Jed was filled to the brim with garlic, onion, carrots, sage, oregano, basil, salt/pepper, and love.

He was then rubbed down with a butter/herb mixture. (I was trying to get under his skin, you know?)

And then he was roasted for 1 1/2 hours at 400 degrees...

And this is what he looked like before our ravenous selves destroyed him.

Moment of silence.

Jed appreciates it. Thank you.

I've never roasted a chicken before, but you gotta try something new at some point. (I put together a few recipes I found, but here is one that really appealed to me)

One of my fears of marriage was that I was going to get stuck in the same 5 recipes and never have something new to offer.

This is new, baby.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, NOT

Woke up this morning to snow. I was a little sad about it. BUT the good news is that I still have Zumba this morning which gives me a reason to dance, dance, dance! Whoop whoop!

I'm stoked. It gets my blood flowing, and my booty shaking...And to be honest, it is a lot of fun to shake your booty with people who could be your mom or grandmother. There is just a lightheartedness about it, you know?

No pressure to be the next Beyonce. Although, I could be. Well, maybe not.

I hope your friday is warm and exudes the feeling of Spring that you deserve. I'll be posting later about an adventure I'm jumping into tonight.

Much love!

I am so grateful for the YMCA

I was rummaging through Goodwill a few days ago and stumbled upon this:

What do you think it is?

Let me tell you.


It is a an antique Vibratone exercise machine...does that rev you up?

 Haha--well all you have to do is wrap the strap around you, lean back, and let the vibrations shed those pounds. (And, if you're near me, it'll cost you only $25! For real.)

I'm not so sure that vibrating exercise is effective, or for everyone...but I had a good time looking up some old school exercise videos...and appreciating the evolution of exercise.

Here is a 1930's exercise promo video...  be glad that we move the machines now-a-days instead of the machines moving (on) us. (you'll see the Vibratone being used in the upper left corner in the beginning of the video!)



 whew! I'm in pain just watching it!

Let us all be grateful that the YMCA provides a safe and normal place to work out.

Let us also be grateful to Goodwill for providing interesting items that impact our daily lives. ie. the Vibratone.

From Bollywood with Love...

I was on the phone with my friend Sudha yesterday, and our conversation reminded me of this lovely memory.

A couple of years ago I needed to come up with a creative idea for Red's birthday and I didn't have much money. Sooo, I took him to India... In my apartment. Is your imagination rolling?

Get ready for a wild time my friends. No, it's ok. You can definitely keep reading.

Sudha, my dear friend from India, was not only my inspiration, but also my secret weapon. She lent me an incredible sari a lot like this one:

AND, most importantly, taught me how to wrap it. (It could have been very dangerous if I didn't learn how to wrap that thing correctly. It's an art people.)

I worked all afternoon fixing a traditional Indian recipe that Sudha provided me. It's aromatics filled the air. If you walked past my apartment, you would have felt like you were in New Delhi. I promise.

Red came over that evening and I was there to greet him, posted up in my bright red sari; a scarf covering the chandelier (to lend to the Indian feel...until I took it down because I was afraid it was going to catch on fire, and then where would our night in India go?); and a Bollywood film playing in the background. The music is so moving and unique. Here is an example:



To say the least, Red was extremely surprised by his birthday celebration. I figured I didn't have much to offer, but why not take him to another country for the evening. (Who could argue with that?)

Besides, it gave me an awesome excuse to cook delicious Indian food and wear a sari. It had been a secret desire of mine for a long time to wear a sari...and now that I've done it, its no longer a secret...and wait, now that I've written it on here, it's definitely not a secret...

All of this to say, Indian culture is rich and well worth exploring. I am lucky to have a friend that can teach me so much and expose me to so much outside of my world. How sweet!

In case you have a desire to wear a sari  for a birthday, wedding, or just because; or you'd like to create a craft from a sari, here are some resources for you:

• http://goodgrace.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/58-ways-to-recycle-saris/
• http://www.indianwomenclothing.com/articles/howtouse-oldsaree-recycledclothing.html

Highlight of my Day

So yesterday was a big day of taking care of business. You know, the usual. Working out, going grocery shopping, and then, spring cleaning. ugh.

So in the midst of doing a lot of things that I don't particularly care for, there was a bright spot. A glimmering moment. A happy time.

And it was here that it all went down:

Anthony's Produce

Something particular about the St. Louis area is that there are farmer's markets permanently stationed right in the middle of town. They might board up for the winter, but they are back with a roar come Spring.

Love it. Not only does it give you a self-esteem boost because you are shopping locally, but it also gives your wallet a boost because it is typically less expensive then your local grocery store.

Go eat some fruit.

Animals and Fries

So yesterday was the official first day of spring and its arrival could be felt everywhere you went in St. Louis.

The sun was high and hot, and the air was clear (if you ignored the pollen), and everyone was outside working in their yards, washing their cars, and exercising.

You could feel the energy swelling up and infiltrating the day. It put a little pep in my step.

I woke up early in the morning to go to church and then went on to lunch with some friends I volunteer with. Already a good day, the highlight was the fact that Red and I were meeting our friends at the Zoo.

Yes, I said it. The zoo. I am like a little child when it comes to the zoo. It lights me up from the inside. It makes me get goose-bumpy. The feeling I get may or may not actually make me want to skip through the entrance. (Today I resisted for our friends' sake).

Mixed tapes are back...sorta

Do you remember your first cassette tape? Or, how about this, do you remember the first tape that REALLY left an impression on you?

After the "Mickey Unrapped" cd that truly ruled my boom box...

       

It was Mariah Carey's "I'll be there". The single.

 Dude. I heard it one day in carpool on the way to school, and my life was changed. Ms. Sherri lent me her tape...and I think I repeated the song 100 times in the first hour. (yes, I know that isn't possible). To say the least, I was obsessed.

We have now evolved from radios, to records, to mixed tapes, to cds (walkman anyone?), to playlists, to ipods, to Pandora, to 8tracks.

Oh. Wait. Do you know what 8tracks is? You need to.

My friend Sarah introduced this to me. Sort of like Pandora radio...but not.

It works on the premise that there are millions of people out there who make playlists everyday...for every mood and situation. So, here, they can upload their playlists for free--and you can listen to them for free.

So here is "radio" for you based on every mood and experience you can imagine. I hope you enjoy finding new artists...and, haha, new feelings/experiences that you may or may not have known existed.

Go let your hair down and let the good times roll!

Swedish deals

We currently live in a smallish apartment...and let's just say that it takes a lot to feather this particular nest. So, I've been hunting for some finds (ie. a cool chair, curtains, perhaps some wall art...) to add to our homeyness...Ikea is always a go to.

Jump in the Nude

No, no, I don't mean it THAT way. I mean, jump into the trend of wearing nude colored clothing. I know, the thought of wearing something the color of your skin is intimidating. But throw on some splashy lipstick or some bright accessories...and just take the risk, you'll be just fine.

Dry Cleaning, what happens if you don't pick it up?

Haven't you ever wondered? There has to be thousands, if not millions, of items in the U.S. that are left to die at the dry cleaners.

Dry-cleaning

So where do those things go? Well, by law, the dry-cleaner must keep them for 1 year (yay! It's not too late, you can totally go get that dress you have left there for 2 months)

Here in St. Louis, the dry cleaners send their items to a Sheltered Workshop in Hermann, MO, where they are sorted and sold VERY inexpensively.

A sheltered workshop is based upon an industrial model, instead of a medical model, and provides work for people with disabilities. The idea is that, by working, their employees with disabilities will gain confidence and increase their abilities, self-worth, and enjoyment of life.

 We stumbled upon this place and found a treasure trove! I got a full suit (The Limited) for $3.00 and a pair of fully lined white linen pants (To the Maxx) for $3.00.

My new suit!

    

They had everything that people get dry cleaned! Suits, dresses, dress shirts, ties, bedding, winter coats; and nothing was over $10.

Two reasons this is worth the drive:

• You know everything is clean and ready to wear
• It benefits their sheltered workshop!

I was unable to determine if all sheltered workshops do the dry-cleaning thing. Feel free to check out what your local sheltered workshop offers. Who knows what you might discover!

So now you know somewhere out there, that favorite suit you left behind at Dry and Go, is being worn by someone who paid $3.00 for it and is giving it all her love.

                                

Give me a coffee, give me connection.

Sometimes, there is nothing better then to go to a coffee shop, curl up on their broken-in couch, chat with a friend, and drink a hot cup of mocha..or tea......or, if you're like  me, a latte topped with lots of froth...

In college, down in Hattiesburg, MS, I found myself going to Javawerks to be productive...but really, it was in hopes of running into someone I knew...or meeting someone I didn't...I mean, the possibilities were endless.You can learn so much at a coffee shop.

Come on... don't you ever just sit back and listen to other people's conversations? You hear things about WWII, an upcoming thesis on pop culture, two professors arguing about who is right about poly-something or another. It is fascinating.

Coffee opens doors. Like in old world Vienna, Austria, the coffee house is the meeting grounds for intellect and community.

http://crookedtreecoffee.com/

A favorite local coffee house is The Crooked Tree, in Old-Town St. Charles, MO. Their food is good, their service is friendly, and it offers a great blend of old-world charm with new. Located close to Lindenwood University, there are always groups of students and professors cycling through. There are also business people and others, such as myself, just there enjoying themselves.

This is an ode to all things local. I think we can agree that though Starbucks may have their drinks down to an art, they don't offer the ambiance that your local shop does.

Think about it...if you need some human contact...some warmth...or just some caffeine, head down to your local coffee shop---you'll probably get more than you ask for.

They call me mellow yellow...

I love all things yellow. Last Spring I vowed to wear yellow everyday...and though I succeeded for only about a week, it was a good challenge. 

Yellow cheers me. And I always want to sing "Mellow Yellow" by Donovan...partly because I was obsessed with that GAP commercial that came out...a long time ago.

It's not Spring. And, it's dreadfully snowy. So here is my salute to all things yellow...not dreadful or snowy...

I love these "Brentwood Curtains". They would add freshness to any room. Picture a room with dark floors, light walls, a large bed with white linens and a crazy amount of pillows...and these gorgeous curtains shifting with the cool breeze moving through your open window. sold? I am.

 These glorious pants,  lead me to imagine a day of "business" in...Miami, perhaps. You could join me there, and we could match. I'm totally down.

I've always imagined myself having a fabulously rad yellow couch to lounge on in my personal library. So, I'm eyeing this one now, and praying that I can afford it in 20 years when I might actually have my own personal library.

And while I realize that having a home phone is completely passe', I also realize that this phone would be completely worth not fitting in with society. I'm sure it would add not only personality but a wonderful presence to your home. Phones have presence, you know.

This chic vest makes me feel like running errands. Errands may not be your thing. Maybe you're a picnic kind of gal, or someone who would rock this on a date...whatever your fancy is fine by me. If a vest is a little too much for you, these fab yellow moccasins could be an easier way to add a pop to your wardrobe. J.Crew's newest collection is right on the money folks, and these are just a couple of pieces that will make you giddy.

Wowthatsbeautiful, from Etsy, makes beautiful jewelry. I particularly love this large and in charge necklace. It could bring a little flavor to any outfit you got.

And the field...really it just makes me happy. Reminds me of my time in France when I would pretend to be a runner just so I could be surrounded by all of those yellow fields...

I hope this inspires a bit of happiness in you. It made me feel a bit better, no doubt.

Thought I'd leave you with a little Donovan to fill in any GAPs.

Haha, I had to say it. Forgive me. 

Get-away from it all...and ride your bike.

Went away to delightful Hermann, Mo this weekend, where we celebrated our 1-year wedding anniversary. Yep, we have thrived for 1 full year...whew! How time flies my friends!... 

An hour west of St. Louis, Hermann provided me the perfect dose of small-town needed to slow down and make me appreciate life.

We woke up early, soaked in a hot-tub overlooking the river, did wine tastings, and rode bikes...

...around the town....in the middle of the street...on the sidewalk, where-ever we could, like we were in 6th grade. People stared a little.

Here is a picture of Red riding in front of a super cool, crazy-colored, Victorian house:

While out riding, we stopped at a few shops that had a lot to offer, here are some that I think will pique your interest...

All Things Lettered: A wonderful shop with plenty to sort through. Vintage posters, advertisements, and signs abound. 

 I particularly loved the handmade vintage-y cards made by local artist: Susan Brockman

Who wouldn't love to get a wedding card with their great-great grandparents staring back at them?

This store comes together in a witty way, and if you don't find anything to buy, you'll definitely leave with something to think about.

PS. Kathy is a doll and is great with answering any questions you may have!

Contact Information:

Tom and Kathy Durham

209 Schiller St.

Hermann, Mo 65041

573-486-1519

The Gold Rhino: Come here and, seriously, get your funk on. This place is stinkin' cool. Walk in, look around, do a little shimmy, kind-of-cool.

This is the gold Rhino

Obvious lovers of all things retro, and vintage, the owners do an excellent job of hunting down the cool stuff for you. They have already staked out the estate sales, dug through that pile, and scavenged the internet. Here, you get the good stuff.

Here are a few shots of things I found:

Cool suitcases anyone?

Stephanie, one of the owners, was extra cool and openly gave tips on places to eat around town. Having recently moved from our area, she was an awesome help in figuring out some estate sale hotspots in St. Louis. I'm especially stoked about that.

Contact Information:

Stephanie Weaver

211 East First Street

Hermann, MO 65041

573-486-2400

thegoldrhino@rocketmail.com

Red Barn Crafts & Antiques: This place will blow your mind. There is so much stuff! And by so much, I literally mean piles of things...with basically everything priced. The people at the welcome center said that we had to come here just to experience it. And, I agree. Check this out...

Mr. Wilding, the owner, moved this barn from outside of town with his Dad, and re-built it here for the store. It is filled to the brim!

This beautiful stain glass door made my heart jump in a fabulous way...just imagine the possibilities!

And, well, this little guy actually did make me jump. I think it is a coconut monkey? Creepy little fellow.

And this picture is just for the experience of how much stuff there was to look through. Please don't be overwhelmed. Be elated. This is for real.

You could find a deal here you didn't know you needed. They have a lot of everything you might want to consider, one day, collecting.

Contact Information:

John and Mae Wilding

523 West 9th

Hermann, MO 65041

573-486-5544

redbarn@mchsi.com

Now, I know you are having a hard time paying attention because you are way too busy day-dreaming about riding a bike. It's ok. 

I completely understand and fully support your decision to get lost in the perfection of riding a bike on a sunny day.

How about you do it, instead of just dream it?

Soul for the Soul

 I just got through listening to Adele's sophomore album "21"...and it is one of those albums that cuts straight through you like a knife...only, in a more positive way...

 She sings with so much emotion...passion, angst, love, anger. Her sound is expressive in a way that few can muster...and in a way that draws people in to her. (could this be why she has already won 2 Grammys?)

 I adore her retro-vibe and honest lyrics. The album is sweetly filled with influences from the 60's, country, gospel, blues, pop, and old standards. You could easily jam to some of the songs while working out, or take it easy with some friends while listening to the others.

My favorites are: Rolling in the Deep, Rumour has it, Take it all, and Someone like you.
Really, I should just list the whole playlist.

This album is soul for my soul.

Check out her first single from the album, below:

You should know who Olive Kitteridge is.

A couple of months ago, I stumbled onto a second-hand bookstore in Kirkwood, Mo where I found a stack of books that needed a home.

One of these books, Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout, was amazing. I had never read a novel where the author uses vignettes, or short stories, told by 13 different people to make one character ring clear and true.

Strout's prose are powerful and paint a picture of life in a small town as well as explores life's hurts and pains, peace and joys. There are moments where you are unsure if you like Olive and others at which you so closely relate to her that it's scary.

Olive can be stern, depressing, strong, bossy, enthusiastic, observant, intentional, and loving. You definitely finish this book wondering what your relationship with Olive would be like and what Olive's relationship with you, would be like.

An added plus: the cool interview with the author in the back of the book with Olive "chiming in". She made me laugh out loud...a few times.

This is just one of the books I found that day. I'll definitely let you know how the rest are...as well as look up the address to that book store!

It's a whole neeeeew world!!

Yes. That is a snippet from the famously romantic Disney's Aladdin. And, yes, I did sing it while I typed it. But the point is, this is a whole new world.

Having recently moved, I have truly realized how small each person's world is. And though there are millions of people out there who get some sort of high from traveling and exploring, there are ten's of millions of people who have no motivation to leave their neighborhood.

Dude. This is the place for you. My hope is that through this blog, you will be inspired to stop at that corner cafe you have always wondered about; that you will try a new food you have never heard of; read a book that challenges you; or find a good deal you didn't know existed.

Tap into your world like no one else can.

Soupity Soup Soup Soup

This is my Grannie.

And, this is her bowl.

Now. This isn't just any bowl, but this is her childhood soup bowl. Isn't that incredible? My Grannie is 93 years old, and still has her childhood soup bowl! ( I don't think I'll have anything like that when I'm 93!)