We have to go back!!!

 

Sure, it was colder there two months ago than it is here now.  But I still feel the need to go back to Colorado AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Of course, there's a reason why we were there.

We saw this dude at the expo.

And my dad and his friends rocked their first ever marathons.

And my mom and I spent some time chilling in the city of Denver

But the real fun came when we experienced the natural wonders that Colorado has to offer.

First in the Garden of the Gods.

And then at Pike's Peak

I'm not exactly sure when during the trip my brother became a teenage girl in Japan, but it happened.

Apparently the climate this year caused the Aspens to change a little early, and they were peaking exactly when we were there.  We were lucky.  Really, really lucky.

Bad habits

I've always been a nail biter. It's a gross habit, for sure. And it keeps me from using my extensive nail polish collection.

I've heard it takes 21 days to break a habit. And I'm proud to say I got there.

Now I just have to stop picking at the skin around them and I'll be good to go.

Thirty before 30: two months in

I thought I would give a quick update on how I'm doing and how I feel about my "life list."

When I started the list, I had 36 months to complete, and thirty tasks.  So I'm attempting to go at a pace of one a month.  Of course, some of them will take more time than others.  But here's a quick update.

1.  write a letter to my grandmother every month

I am LOVING this.  We've exchanged two letters so far and she'll get another from me next week.  She's telling me stories about when she was growing up, and I look forward to reading it each time.  I have big plans for this, but it's a surprise.

2.  make a quilt

Um, the pieces are cut.  No more progress.

3.  make a beautiful piece of art

I've been practicing my watercolors and have all the supplies!

10.  climb a mountain trail

Okay, I intended this one to mean planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains with Brett and hiking up one of the smaller trails with Brett.  I never planned on seeing the things I saw last week.  So while I didn't CLIMB the 14,000 foot peaks we saw, I am checking this one off.  Because those experiences were all I was looking for and more.  Done!

Post about this one to come.

11.  see Lady Gaga in concert

US tour starts like next month, and tickets go on pre-sale next week!  I'm planning on seeing it in St. Louis with another Gaga super fan, my mom.  Which brings me to...

13.  travel somewhere with my mom

So we'll be spending a long weekend in St. Louis together in January.  We had so much fun last weekend maybe we'll plan something else too!

19.  frame family photos in a beautiful way

Have the pictures, just need to decide how I want to do it and get the frames. I'll probably add some pictures from our trip this week too!

22.  get rid of the clutter

Working on it.  Our kitchen is SO much better organized now it's ridiculous.  And my closet too.  We also got rid of cable/satellite (which is kind of like mental clutter?) and were able to get rid of some living room furniture which I am loving.

23.  stop biting my nails - for good!

This is hard.  If I have a manicure I can do it.  Otherwise they're in my mouth.  Gross.

24.  get my Six Sigma Green Belt certification

I passed my test!  Just working on the paperwork!  Whooooooooooo!!!!!!

27.  donate $1000 to charity

I'm trying to decided what to do about this one.  I don't think I was really thinking when I set this goal.  I guess I was thinking that it would be fun to write a $1000 check all at once to a charity.  But the reality is that over three years or even over a year this is not really a lofty goal for me.  So this one is likely to change to a different, but related goal.

Check it off

Every once in a while, there's one of those experiences where you never even realized it was on your bucket list. But when you experience it, it's so incredible that you have to add it and check it off at the same time.

Driving up Mt Evans was one of those experiences.

More to come from my trip to CO once I sleep and get the pictures from the camera!

PINK

I'm pretty sure I'm in a full on obsession with pink.  And red, orange, and yellow.  I think it's interesting that I love brighter, warmer colors and patterns when I'm in a better state of mind.  But guys, this is more than just a crush.  This is a love affair.

Here are some things I'm obsessed with lately.

Pink suede loafers from the Gap.  $40.  They had yellow ones with tassels too (I DIE FOR THOSE) but they're already sold out.

The pink wash on this pottery by Dawn Vachon via Design Sponge.  A GORGEOUS color.

A large scale polka dot in bright pink, from spoonflower. 

A painting by Emily Rickard.  I am obsessed with the colors.

Ankle boots from Zara.  $100.  I feel like I might deal with heels for these (they also come in a berry pink).

Phone cases made from Jenny Vorwaller's art.  We have tentative plans to switch carriers, and I'm waiting for the iPhone 5.  But if that requires a new case this will be it as soon as they make them.

Gum paste hearts make for possibly the cutest cake on the planet.  $24 from Signe Sugar.

I'm a tray addict.  They're my favorite thing from corralling things that the cats like to knock off the bedside tables.  This floral one would bring some color and cheer to my bedside table for $34.

Besides pink and red, I'm also obsessed with hearts.  This Andy Warhol print would satisfy all of those at once.

And while we're on the subject of prints, how about this one from Christopher Wool.  It's sold out, but that shock of color would be such a great shot of color.

Maybe I'll get tired of this quickly, but maybe pink is here to stay.  I'm trying not to make rash decisions, like the previously mentioned painting my bedroom pink.  But there is currently a pink house for sale in our dream neighborhood, and I would be lying if I said the color didn't scream IT'S PERFECT at me when I drive by on my way to yoga.

For the short term, I desperately want some new art to go over our bed, so I'm going to be painting something that would fit right in this post.  And I'm hoping I can raid my fabric stash to make some throw pillows that will wake up the place.  We also have a print I made in our kitchen that's in the blue family (it says "I love you like biscuits and gravy").  Cute, but I'm tired of it and I don't even like biscuits and gravy.  So I've made a replacement that's a cute printed version of Brett's great grandmother's cornbread recipe.  In pink.  A little something for both of us.  Win win?

I enjoy being a girl

I've had this song stuck in my head for days.  Anybody remember that Gap commercial with Sarah Jessica Parker? Which, hey guys, was 7 YEARS AGO.

Anyway, maybe it's because I watched the Sex and the City movie this weekend (again).  But dammit, I do enjoy being a girl.  Especially lately.

I like flowers.  Everywhere.

On my nails and on a little vintage stashbox I got for my birthday.

I'm loving watercolors.

On my shoes, and as a new hobby.

I'm loving patterns, of all kinds.

 

Basically, I'm enjoying being a girl and having fun with life.  Pottery class starts tomorrow!

-----------------------

A quick update on my 30 before 30 list.  I've been 27 for a week and I'm already making good progress!

1.  write a letter to my grandmother every month - July 2012 letter is in the mail!

2.  make a quilt - the squares are all cut out (it's possible I had this done before I made the list)

3.  make a beautiful piece of art - I got a watercolor set from my sett husband for my birthday, and used a gift card from my brother to but large watercolor paper.  I'm on my way!

19.  frame family photos in a beautiful way - I've been going through some pictures and am planning to spend the rest of my birthday money at least starting this.

22.  get rid of the clutter - kitchen cabinets, paint closet, our vanity, hurricane closet, and thank god, the pantry are DONE.  We threw away stuff from the pantry I swear we've been hanging on to since college (powdered milk? gross)

23.  stop biting my nails - for good! - so far so good.  Having a manicure helps.

So none of the big ones yet.  But I'm proud of myself for getting proactive and getting shit done.  Especially since I'll get nothing done other than sitting on my ass watching the Olympics for the next two weeks!

30 before 30

In eleven days, I turn 27.

How did THAT happen?

I have a swirling mix of feelings about it.  Pride at what I've accomplished, sure.  But it seems SO CLOSE to thirty all of a sudden.  I used to think thirty was so old.  I got married when I was 22 (we were too young, for the record), and I though I would wait a year or so and be done having babies by 25.  By thirty I'd be up to elementary school and be making cupcakes for PTA while working the perfect 50 hour week.

Yeah, that'll happen.

So, several years later and I'm so glad that none of that transpired.  Life and mental illness put any plans on hold, but it also helped us realize what a strong marriage is, how lucky we are with what we have, and how much we love each other.  We've also had a lot of fun that probably wouldn't have happened if we'd had a couple of kids running around.

So.  We're still not ready for babies.  Or to be full fledged grown ups.  But I'm ready to face the fact that I'm 36 months away from 3-0 and get some stuff out of my system before it hits.

I have three years.  Some of this stuff will be hard.  Some of it will be REALLY hard.  Hopefully I can make it.

personal fulfillment

1.  write a letter to my grandmother every month

2.  make a quilt

3.  make a beautiful piece of art

4.  have a bedroom that makes me happy

Louisiana experiences

5.  go to a baseball game

6.  ride a horse

7.  visit the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom

8.  pick berries at a you-pick farm

9.  go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans

travel opportunities

10.  climb a mountain trail

11.  see Lady Gaga in concert

12.  canoe a river with Brett

13.  travel somewhere with my mom

14.  go camping

15.  go whitewater rafting with my brother, dad, and cousins

16.  take a quick trip by myself - for play, not work!

beautiful objects

17.  own a piece made by Heath Ceramics (or by another ceramic studio I find equally beautiful)

18.  own an original painting by a "real" artist (I get to define real artist)

19.  frame family photos in a beautiful way

20.  learn to take beautiful pictures

dropping bad habits

21.  streamline and improve the quality of my wardrobe (mainly streamline)

22.  get rid of the clutter

23.  stop biting my nails - for good!

career fulfillment

24.  get my Six Sigma Green Belt certification

25.  mentor a young engineer

getting involved locally

26.  give time to a local charity

27.  donate $1000 to charity

the big ones

28.  get happy with my body

29.  have a baby (yep, apparently I didn't learn from anything I wrote above)

30.  buy our dream house - probably the hardest one on the list

So that's it.  It's pretty daunting.  Brett said I shouldn't have anything I've already done on here (5, 6, 7, 9 and 10).  But I disagree.  It's important that I have those experiences again, either because it's been SO long, like with the horse and the mountain, or because I want to replace a bad experience with a good one, like with Mardi Gras (don't ask).

Let's hope I can do this.  I'm already working on #22 and I bett have #24 done by the end of this year.  Oh look, I picked the two most boring ones on the list for first!

Sad day

I'm a fan of my outfit today (bright purple mullt hem skirt, black and white stripe tee shirt, favorite gray sweater, standby watch and bracelets, and my coral captoe flats).  But something is missing.  I jumped on the bandwagon a few weeks ago and ordered two of the bubble necklaces.

Since I didn't pony up $300 for these, of course they're knockoffs from China.  And that means it will be a while.  But for some reason (no idea why since their shipping estimate window is like a week and a half long, although it ends tomorrow, who knows) I thought they would come tomorrow.

I thought the turquoise would be a classic that goes with a lot.

But I loved, loved, loved the two tone coral.  I'm totally obsessed with pink, especially coral tones.  And although I kind of stayed away from this trend for a while, as soon as I found out this color was available I jumped in.

Gorgeous, right?  And I think the slight differences (the turquoise is supposed the be faceted ) will be cool too.

This has started a full on obsession with bibs and collar necklaces.  I'm usually very picky about what I wear.  Long, brass or gold chains with pendants or small clusters.  That's it.  But I love the color and cheeriness these bring to outfits.

But now I really, really, really want the milky white one.  Really.

If you're into colorful jewelry, check out bauble bar stat.  The prices seem really competitive, and all the color is so enticing.  Here are some of my obsessions.

Tangerine Triad necklace, $32

Tangerine resin links, $58

Candy Spike Collar by House of Noble, $110

Orange

I'm having a months long, well documented love affair with pink.  And I'll be honest you guys, I think it's TRU LUV 4EVER.  I remember a conversation I had with Brett once about my favorite color being gray and he said, no your favorite color is pink.  And I think he's right.  It's always been pink.  I just didn't want to submit to the girlyness and frillyness of it all.

But there's another color that's always been high on my list.  I took these pictures in my office on Friday.  And I realized, if I'm in a space that's mine, I'm never too far from flame orange.

From top:  my shirt, a painting I made for our house and moved here (also at right), my new calender

And the funny thing is, I know I wrote a post on my old blog (gray background, by the way) about how awesome cool toned colors are and how much I love them.  And I still do love gray.  But I also want to paint my bedroom pink and I'm seriously considering making some heart patterned fabric on spoonflower for pillows.

I'm in my late 20s, still young, but I feel more sure of myself and my style than ever.  Maybe some of the stuff I like is juvenile.  But maybe it's joyful, too.

Another thing I love about summer

Pure silliness

Simple. Summer.

I love the relaxed pace of summer.  Everything takes longer when it's 100+ degrees, right?  After work, I might have yoga, I might go home, or I might stop at the store to see what looks good.

We tend to stick to simple suppers in the summer.  Something one of us can get on the table in around a half hour.  I prefer less of a focus on meat, but that doesn't always happen.

These onions and bacon were on their way to becoming a cream sauce for spinach.

Creamed spinach doesn't really seem like a dish that screams summer.  Not in flavors, not in heaviness.  The cream, the cheese, the bacon, they're not on the same page as a plate of cheese and strawberries (another weeknight favorite).

But the fact that I just had to slice an onion and chop a few slices of bacon, then throw everything together on the stove?  Perfect.