holiday lite

Homemade glitter xoxo's, a Trader Joe's wreath, and the most generic, cheapest stockings I could find.

Decorating for the holidays is easy when you will be out of town for 15 of the 31 days in December.  We wanted a tree but knew the cats would be living in it when we got home.  As the temperature outside finally seems to be dropping permanently for the next 4-5 months, I'm really looking forward to our trips to California, Florida, and abroad a cruise ship to the Bahamas.

stripe me a river

Collection of stripes

I love stripes.  Pictured here are seven of my favorite linear tops, all on heavy rotation, not to mention the handful in the dirty laundry.  Even my cat falls into the "striped" category, although in this particular photo you might be mesmerized by her bold white chest.  I'm even registered for striped bedding.  I think a striped car would be pushing the limits of my obsession...but hey, aren't there cars with racing stripes?  I may be onto something...

He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.

{surreal, child like photo of me}

Maurice Sendak is a good penpal. 

Saw this on a few blogs around the web and just had to repost. Children's primal nature is totally rad.

Light up my life

Flowers from Angela, print by Blanca Gomez 

I'm forever blown away by the benevolence of my friends.  Today, awaiting my return on the doorstep of my home, was an aromatic and gorgeous bouquet of roses.  This bundle of flora was the very thing I needed to brighten my rather gloomy week.  Thank you, Angela.  My heart was lifted, despite the tears.

The interview

This afternoon, I endured my first job interview in five years.  Ego-bruising and nerve-wrecking as they can be, I felt blithe and carefree, which is surprising because my heart starts to pound if I even THINK about asking a question during a conference session.  My easy going demeanor was no doubt the result of the job being one that paid $10 an hour and would, in no way, add anything substantial to my resume, and yet, as I shook the potential "boss's" hand, my heart went all a flutter.  Said job quickly became the first place prize I wanted to win and as nervousness washed over me, I classically misspoke, not once, but twice. A stutter here, a mind going blank there, and then it was over.  The cheerleader inside made an attempt at encouragement with some flimsy chants and cartwheels, but I still felt somewhat deflated.  For all I know, I aced the interview and will be receiving an offer tomorrow. But, no matter what happens with this particular job, I can now truly sympathize with the millions of Americans who sit through countless interviews, for jobs they are far overqualified for, only to be rejected time and time again.

Please rain on my parade

At 5am this morning, I was violently awoken from dreams of friends' imaginary engagements, to the sound of howling, gusty winds and rain drops pelting my window.  After the shock of sudden consciousness settled in, I was mesmerized by the heavy weather whipping about my new home.  Rain in California consists of a sky covered in low gray clouds dripping a steady, medium-grade downpour.  Mind you, this only occurs during the winter aka "might be rainy season," depending on if it's an El Niño year or not.  The storms on the east coast are manufactured in a much more intense factory.  Deafening thunder, sky electrifying lightning, and wind to knock your socks off.  I sat on the window sill and observed the storm until sleep beckoned me back to bed where stormy dreams needed a good snuggle.


{Photo credit: me, on another rainy morning}

Ziggy thought of the week

why do I have wait an extra hour for my meals?  my life revolves around my feedings and I don't like waiting.

How I feel about winter's arrival

This horrifically awkward photograph of Prince Charles and the lovely late Princess Di succinctly captures my feelings about the inevitable arrival of winter. As I sat in my kitchen drinking my morning tea, I watched as a never ending shower of leaves cascaded onto the roof of my car. Leaf peeping was fun while it lasted but now its time for the trees to make like a passenger going through airport security. {sigh}

But how fabulous are her digs? Hunter green wellies and a pink fair isle sweater! It seems that yellow lab shares my sentiments and wants to get the hell out of that awkward encounter...

{Photo via A Cup of Jo}

I miss Paris

{Perched on top of Notre Dame with the gargoyles}

{The Eiffel Tour all a twinkle}

{Parisian boulevard}

One month ago Joe and I were walking the streets of Paris arm in arm. A warming memory on a chilly late fall Monday in Massachusetts.

Atkins Farms

Shortly after moving to the Amherst area, my brother, who is a proud alum of Amherst College, sent me a great list of his favorite sites and restaurants. While chatting with him on the phone about his recommendations I took away two very important pieces of information: Amherst is pronounced "AmERST," the h is silent, and I'd better learn to say it properly to avoid sounding like an uneducated ninny in my new home, AND, more importantly, Atkins Farms is famous for their cider donuts. The very next day I was on my way, mouth watering for this undiscovered delicacy.
On my way into the market I spotted some colorful leaves of the countryside surrounding Hampshire College and Atkins Farms and
some cute as a button, sugar pumpkins. These adorably charming distractions only briefly deterred me from my goal. The glorious cider donuts...
I also acquired some pumpkins and a little gourd. But oh joy, the cider donuts. Soft, sugary rings of wonder. Very similar to cinnamon sugar cake donuts but with a tang of apple cider. So delicious. Ziggy was very jealous as I dug into the appley goodness on the porch. Later, I gave her some cat nip and she forgave me, for now.

Honeymoon dreaming

This guest post featured on 100 layer cake aroused my excitement for my impending honeymoon next year. Finding a location is the first priority and once we've settled on that, I can start thinking of what to pack. How great are these selections?!

Cool runnings

Weather conditions may not permit these late afternoon runs much longer but I sure am enjoying them while the cool, not yet cold, temperatures last. About a half mile from our front door is a fantastic biking/running trail that offers stunning vistas of the fall foliage...

...the Connecticut River...
...the trail...
...and the gorgeous cloud dotted sky. I'm hoping for a tardy winter arrival so I can enjoy more of these outstanding runs.

Macaroon Mayhem

Our recent trip to Paris delivered many delights. The most delightful being the airy, chewy yet crispy, taste bud titillating deliciousness of Laduree macaroons. If you ever want to feel like Marie Antoinette pick up an every flavor (sans licorice for me) box and share a few with your fiancee every night of your vacation. Delicieux!

Thin blood

After a 28 years living in a) SW Florida; b) Central Florida; or c) Southern California, I finally find myself in a locale that enjoys the weather of all four seasons.  Today was the first day since we've arrived in Western Massachusetts that the sun didn't at least cast me a loving ray.  And I'm scared.  The fall foliage is as glorious as a technicolor dream coat but the chill in the air has me shivering in my ballet flats and breezy cardigan.  I think it's time to upgrade my winter wear...I'm loving this Northface Woman's Brooklyn Jacket and these very warm yet chic looking duck boots from L.L. Bean.  

New new England

We made it. After months of waiting, anticipating, procrastinating, saying our farewells, packing, a trip to Paris, and a vicious cat bite later, we made it. Northampton is the now the city listed on our return addresses. First impressions: super friendly folks, lotsa restaurants--representing all regions of the globe, a dabble of independent movie theaters, a scant array of music venues with nicely varied lineups, and most importantly, all the fresh air we can suck into our heads. The air people, my toes, the AIR is so CLEAN. If the air in LA is a gritty industrial paper mill, the air in Northampton is the exhalation of a million peonies. I feel like President Skroob inhaling the canned Perrier oxygen in Spaceballs.
Now I'll leave you with a little taste of what I'll be posting about in the coming week. The utter adorableness of my new house and all the decorating I'll be doing. Check out the heart on the door knob!

Home is wherever I'm with you

Hidden treasure?

This table will be the host to our party weekend. Asshole, Kings, and Uno will be it's subjects. Tonight I depart for Fort Lauderdale. Tomorrow I arrive in Key West.
Pictures taken around this table over the weekend will depict a much more jovial scene and I can't wait to make some memories!

So fresh, so clean

Love the look of this crisp white bathroom with little nuances of sunshine dappled about. That's all.

{photo credit: Emersonmade}

Wake up proposal

A few weeks ago we planned to head north to Baccali's to sample their famous strawberry shortcake, see post below. However, Joe had a different agenda. At 6:30am on May 15, 2010 he proposed!! On his knees, next to the bed while the cats mewed with hunger! Spontaneous, sincere, perfection!! After a celebratory brunch at Millie's we did end up heading north, but altered our destination to Malibu to meet some friends for a beach BBQ. The trip to Baccali's had to be postponed!

Strawberry fields forever

As an attempt to curb my road tripping urge, Joe and I are heading north, to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark, CA, for some good ole' fashion strawberry pickin'. You pay by the pound and I've heard there are berries as big as a fist! Joe doesn't know it yet but I'm going to propose a contest--whoever can pick the BIGGEST strawberry, gets to watch the LOSER whip up a delicious strawberry shortcake that will hopefully resemble this:
Photo credits:
{photo 1} http://loveyourchaos.tumblr.com/post/588354226
{photo 2} http://happythings.tumblr.com/page/23

Dream tripping

The allure of stuffing a car with junk food, blankets, games, great music, a full tank of gas and heading east, making pit stops all over the country to pick of my best friends, with the final destination being Key West has been occupying my mind of late. Drunk and barefoot on the beach with the very women who define the person I am and will become...definitely not the worst day dream in the world.

Photos courtesy of: http://weheartit.com

The smoke monster really shouldn't have left the Iceland

Curtailed by a volcano cemented in a region with a name that no one on earth can pronounce. Seriously, Eyjafjallajokull, could you have picked a more INCONVENIENT time to express your feelings?
Joe and I were supposed to leave for Sweden yesterday afternoon-->we've rescheduled for tomorrow at 9pm. So far in the battle of Joe and Sarah vs. the Volcano, Volcano: 1, Joe and Sarah: 0.

Fika

In Sweden there is a daily tradition, if you will, of taking a break from one's activities, whether it be construction, applied physics, or say, writing a novel, to sip on a hot caffeinated beverage and munch on delicious pastries with your friends and/or family. This tradition, known as fika would be an easy transition for me.

Spongebob wine pants

Wine glasses and champagne flutes are the red headed step child of my Sinkdom. The rims never retain their immaculately polished finish and a little pond of alcohol constantly bevies out of my sponge's reach. This is why a queue of glassware gathers militantly next to my sink until my hand can no longer find a wineglass on the top shelf of my cabinet and defeated, I'm forced to tackle the defiant soldiers.

Alas, CASABELLA, seems to have solved this precarious predicament. BEHOLD, a sponge designed to spotlessly clean the rims and easily scrub the bottom of even the sveltest of champagne flutes.

Life just keeps getting easier.

Herring Meatballs

{Swedish meatballs}

{Belgian painter, James Ensor's painting of Skeletons fighting over pickled herring}

Sweden. Meatballs. Meatballs and herring. PICKLED Herring. Gorgeous, skyscraper tall women with white blond hair and blue eyes. These are just a few things that come to mind when I think of this Scandinavian country.
{Swedish Bikini Team...is there really such a thing?}
{Gothenburg}

My lover has an interview at Chalmers University, in Sweden's second largest city, Gothenburg. While the interview is on April 19th, we'll be leaving next week to explore the seaport city as a potential relocation destination.

OH wait. I can't forget Bork, the Swedish chef from the muppets.

{Bork}

Beware the Ides of March

The Ides of March marks the anniversary of Julius Caesar's assassination by Brutus and Cassius. This coin, just put on display at the British Museum, commemorates the event. As the story goes, a seer warned Caesar, "beware the ides of March," which Caesar regrettably ignored, as would most dictators in perpetuity. Have you ever been warned about some impending doom in your future? Like if you keep eating girl scout cookies, your ass will get bigger?