Happy Leap Day!

I hope you've found something exciting to do on your extra day of 2012! Wouldn't it be great if it was really an extra day that everyone had off? Or at least was celebrated with fun and candy. Leap Day Williams anyone?

Do you ever wonder why we have leap year? I always knew it had something to do with keeping the calendar nice and tidy, but I definitely learned a lot from this video:

28 by 28

print here

I've always wanted to make one of those 101 in 1000 days lists, but honestly, I just like the act of making lists but rarely keep to them. Not to mention that big projects like that can easily overwhelm me, so instead, I've decided to tackle a much more manageable list of 28 things to do before my 28th birthday next February. I'll check-in periodically to update my progress, and can't wait to see how much I've completed over the next year!

1. Do a cartwheel
2. Watch 3 black and white films (I've probably only seen two my entire life!)
3. Sell something I've made
4. Go on a real, grown-up vacation
5. Bake a loaf of bread per month
6. But a dslr and lean how to use it properly
7. Run a half marathon
8. Fully decorate our house
9. Go to a drive-in movie
10. Spend a weekend at the beach
11. Only buy quality jewelry (I have a thing for buying cheap jewelry that smell like pennies)
12. Plant a vegetable garden
13. Make a piece of art
14. Sew an item of clothing I will actually wear
15. Make another quilt
16. Join an city sport league
17. Read a book each month
18. Learn how to change a tire
19. Make beef bourginon
20. Find my signature drink
21. Sort through and sell my inherited record collection
22. Not cut my hair above my shoulders (I have a problem keeping it long)
23. Handmake all Christmas presents
24. Launch a fun series on Ever So Emily
25. Get a professional massage
26. Start a photo series
27. Organize all photos and make books and albums.
28. Memorize my favorite recipes

Weekend in Review

New laces to brighten up dingy sneakers | Reading a book before bed | Soaking up the sunbeams | A new restaurant | Finally finishing my wedding album on Blurb.com | Saturday afternoon walk

This weekend was supposed to be relaxed, but both days (especially Sunday) turned out busy. Saturday I woke up to snow, which doesn't happen around here often, let alone in late February. It came down like mad for about 30 minutes and then disappeared within the hour. People have no clue how to drive in the snow here, and on a quick trip to Starbucks I was almost involved in two parking-lot accidents (neither my fault)! Later that evening, after deciding we hadn't seen many of the Oscar nominated movies, we caught a showing of the Descendants (really good!). 

Sunday included heading out to lunch at a new restaurant (where I geeked out over the Tolix chairs & stools), a walk to the library, coffees and cookies at a cafe, grocery shopping, Target (really, what is a weekend without a trip to Target?) and puppy class. We've had Zander enrolled at the PetCo puppy classes since he was 10 weeks old, and I can't recommend them enough! Not only does he learn basic obedience but a few fun tricks, too. The classes are just as much for Chase and I as they are for him - we've learned a ton!

This week I'm looking forward to: relaxing, cooking and preparing for my trip to SXSW next week!

Friday Thoughts & a Weekend Routine

Whee - it's Friday! Even for a four day week, this one flew by. It was so busy that I didn't have a chance to put together my typical Friday Links! Other than meeting some friends for drinks tonight, we have a wide open schedule which is kind of nice. I like to get going right away in the morning and I'm not a huge fan of TV on the weekends (aside from a serious lack in weekend programming, I can't sit still for long!). A typical weekend morning starts with me getting coffee, some quality time with my Google Reader, and maybe running a few errands I know Chase wouldn't enjoy (he is, after all, usually still asleep!). Tomorrow, I think I'll head to Michael's to get everything I need to make this guy:

I love the little anchor detail! I've always said that if I got a tattoo, it'd be a little anchor.

What about you, what is your weekend routine like?

Have a great weekend everybody!

(image via)

Getting My Downton Abbey Fix

If my sources (a semi-thorough Google search) are correct, Downton Abbey isn't coming back until 2013. Sigh. 

I didn't see the first season until I devoured them in one weekend last October, so the wait for the second season wasn't so bad, and it makes waiting a whole year seem especially unfair. What ever happened to shows that just started in September and ended in early summer? I miss that. Anyway...I've come across some fun things in the past week that I thought might help with the Downton withdrawals. 

Paper Dolls

Trading Cards

Valentine's Day (or anytime!) Cards

Downton Dinner

Sybil and Edith inspired cocktails 

There is also a name-generator (I'm Lady Hermione, Marchioness of Blackadder). What's yours?

Or, you could just go there. Yes, please.

Currently Loving [2.22.12]

Here are five things that I have been loving recently, in no particular order:

Normally I wouldn't have given this show a chance, but I heard the buzz about it (uh, like 3 years late) before I knew the plot. I'm so glad that Chase got me to watch it because it's really great. I usually blow through a series as fast as I can, but we have been watching a few episodes every couple of days and it's been nice to take it in slowly - it makes each one that much better.

I bought this shirt about a month ago and it's what I wear 75% of the time when I leave the house. Working from home has definitely saved me money in the clothes department, but I am getting a bit bored with my current wardrobe...

I'm sure you're heard people singing it's praises in every corner of the internet, so I won't go on and on, but I'm glad I spent the money on this last November.

I am usually a Rimmel eyeliner gal, but this came in my December Birchbox (What? You haven't signed up for Birchbox? Do it!) and has quickly became one of my favorites. It goes on smooth, doesn't smudge easily and has the tiniest little flecks of gold.

It is an understatement to say that one of my favorite parts about flying is the Biscoff cookies, so when I learned about this spread I bough it as fast as I could. Fair warning: it is delicious and very dangerous. I ate a whole jar by myself in a timeframe that I do not care to admit. For my the sake of my thighs, I've resisted buying another jar, but I have some baking ideas that I'm excited to try it with!

Pictures From My Weekend & Me Elsewhere

Happy Monday, everyone! We had a pretty low key weekend and I didn't take many pictures except the four above. We kicked off the weekend with a Friday breakfast date (an old tradition we started in college and are trying to bring back), then spent most of Saturday helping prepare for a friend's baby shower. Last night I watched the season two finale of Downton Abbey (I dread the wait until season 3!) and finally started taping off the Erslev rug I bought THREE months ago. It took almost three hours and was actually quite a workout (a lot of crouching and bending), so let's hope it works!

In other news, I'm so excited to be guest posting for Haley over on Cardian Junkie today while she is away on vacation! It's currently raining cats and dogs here, so I'm dreaming of spring's bright colors and put together a few dream outfits and a room inspiration board. Go check it out - and thanks for having me Haley!

It's A Good Thing

Check out the (semi) new Martha Stewart line for Staples! Like many of you, I'm a bit of Martha and stationery nerd, so these have me pretty excited. I'm especially smitten with the labels and tags - there are a bazillion ways you could use them. 

On Repeat

I'm a longtime fan of the Punch Brothers, and am ridiculously excited to listen to their newest album just released yesterday. I've only had a chance to listen to a few seconds from each song, but have had this single downloaded for a few weeks now. Enjoy!

Choose Your Own Adventure - Valentine's Day Edition

Happy Valentine's Day! I thought this would be a great day to kick off a new weekly series called Choose Your Own Adventure. I used to love those books as a kid, and thought it would be fun to apply the premise to more grown-up things. First up - picking a V-day look!

Dress: 1 | 2 | 3 

Hair: 1 | 2 | 3

Weekend in Pictures

Birthday cake | Yummy drink ingredients | The cutest dog treat ever 

New grown up couch | Saturday snack | Sunday snack

Friday Finds & Favorites 02.10.12

Don't you love those Domo cookies? I have no clue where that little guy came from or why he is so popular, but I love him just the same.

Another Friday already! This week flew by in record time. Wednesday was my birthday (27, eek - officially the late 20s!) and it was pretty great. I went to lunch with my aunt (we share a birthday) and Chase sent me text messages from work leading me on a present scavenger hunt around the house. We topped off the day with a delicious dinner where I ate crab for the first time in far too long. This weekend I'm looking forward to visiting with friends, bowling, cake and enjoying our new couch (set to arrive sometime today!).

I hope you all have a fab weekend!

Here are some Friday Finds & Favorites to send you into the weekend - better late than never!

// Obsessed with these tumblrs: 1 & 2

// I've found so many awesome interiors on Pinterest and I don't even want to attempt to link to them all, so just check out my board.

// Best use of a meme. Ever. 

// Cely is hilarious in general, but this collision of my two favorite things (Downton & Mean Girls) is genius.

// Cucumber feta toast. A yummy lunch.

// Looking for a manly Valentines Day present? Try Sir Jack's.

// I was going to make these and create a post about it, but then I got lazy. Rose water is delicious, and you should still make them.

// I despise writing out my address, and think we should get this stamp. Also, they are offering 20% now through 2/14 using the code STAMPSALE.

Party Hats & Cake

Bear in party hat? Yes! Why? Because it is my birthday! 

Tonight, Chase is taking me out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (can you claim a restaurant you've only been to once as your favorite? It was by far the best food I've had in this town, so I think it's fair). Festivities will continue this weekend with friends and perhaps some cake. Any of the below will do!

Bear | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Pop of Pink

I'm not much of a pink girl, but when it's done right, I'll absolutely take it. I even recently bought a pair of pink pants, which not long ago I would have considered the staple of a first-grader's wardrobe, not a woman in her mid to um... late 20's. 

When decorating, pink is definitely not the first color I think of (especially living with a manly-man), but just a pop is the way to do it. Ok, so some of these are more purple or fuchsia, but those are kind of pink, right?

1 - The Connaught | 2 - Trevor Tondoro | 3 - Country Living | 4 - Abigail Ahern 

Weekend in Pictures

This weekend went by pretty fast, but it was a good one. Friday night we rented Moneyball (great) and Cowboys and Aliens (not so great). Saturday's weather was gorgeous, full of running errands and taking Zander on his first family walk. Sunday was, of course, all about the Super Bowl. We just about maxed out our living room space, and ate a ton of food. We have so many leftovers, I had Chase take them to work so I wouldn't be tempted.

Puppy nap time

Saturday breakfast

Making kitchen curtains

I'm not a huge hot chocolate fan, but I am a huge marshmallow fan.

Watching TV with the pup

Lunch

Is it just me, or did they change the recipe for these things? They taste different.

New curtains. Probably getting returned.

Zander was pretty overwhelmed by all the people, so we made sure he had extra attention.

Super Bowl snacks!

Friday Finds & Favorites 02.03.12

I have a serious case of the Fridays this week and am sooo glad that the weekend is finally here. This past week I participated in a clean eating challenge and while it was difficult at times, especially the first few days, I really enjoyed it! In the beginning it felt so unfair that I couldn't have any excess sugar and I even baked a whole batch of cookies without once trying a single crumb. Overall, I learned a lot about my eating habits, like how frequently I go to packaged foods and sweets throughout the day and how often I eat when I'm not hungry. I never intended for it to be a permanent change, but I am definitely going to adopt some of the eating habits into my daily life, like making sure all snacks throughout the day are clean.

As for my weekend, we're having some people over for the Super Bowl and I'm looking forward to it all: the football, the commercials and the food! I'm also hoping to do a tiny bit of birthday celebrating since mine is in the middle of next week. Although, according to my husband, if you birthday falls in the middle of the week you should celebrate the weekend after. I say, celebrate it before, during and after!

Also, today is Haley's first Blogger's Must-Have series (with a submission by yours truly) over on Cardigan Junkie - check it out!

Have a great weekend and enjoy the links below!

// I've been using this trick to write fancy lately.

// Thinking I might make these for our Super Bowl party this weekend.

// Come on, guys. This is pretty amusing.

// Alt Summit will be offering classes year-round - only $15 each!

// Chocolate. Oatmeal. Pie. I'm there.

// I need to remember these 10 (very funny) reasons why running doesn't suck.

Picture via stevetsuida

On Repeat