A Walk to Remember

I like to think I'm a simple girl with simple wants. I'm happy with my 1 BR/1 BA apt, 10 year old car, and Target/Old Navy-filled closet. Lately, I've been enjoying the fall weather with urban hiking around my neighborhood instead of being indoors at the gym. Like I said; simple girl, doesn't even need the gym.

I live in NW Portland, so to make it a hike, I've been taking the stairs up the side of the hills and the steep streets. But... this route takes me right past some gorgeous houses. At the very top of Fairfax Terrace there's a house with what I think were a Lichtenstein in the foyer and a Calder on the deck.

A little bit down the hill is my favorite house. It's for sale, I might be able to buy it with 9 of my closest friends. But I love it!
Maybe I am a simple girl, willing to settle for no famous art. I'd be happy with a simple 4 BRs and an amazing view.

Rise and Shout the Cougars Are Out! *

I realize I am not the official referee of the internet so I really have no say in this. But I'm saying it anyway... "cougar" is over. I thought we all agreed to this in late 2008 but I've recently found ample evidence to the contrary. Even worse, said evidence is from corporate America, meaning that very soon, your grandma will be saying she's the cougar of her retirement home. Just the thing to ruin family dinner.

Exhibit A: Really, Mark McGrath is back? And he thought this was a good idea for his new album? He does realize he's 41, right? Yes, I had to google him to find out his age, I immediately cleared my browser history and took a hot shower.



Exhibit B: I think this might be the more egregious crime since Courtney is committing a woman-on-woman crime by starring in this. But the most soul-chilling part is that I relate a little bit. Watch at your own peril.

* first line of my college fight song

C Is for Cookie

When I was young, one of my favorite toys was my Cookie Monster doll. I loved him so much I insisted he was in some of my annual portrait photos. There I was with the fake tree background, sitting on a carpeted lump, holding a googly-eyed fuzzy blue Muppet. I think the doll is in my Dad's attic in South Carolina. My love of cookies is still right here in my heart.

Cookie lovers of the world, unite! It's Girl Scout cookie time! If the girls in green didn't get by your house (do they still sell door-to-door?) don't think, "Oh well, I guess that just how the cookie crumbles." You can find a sale in your area.

Sun = Happiness

I hate losing the hour sleep but I love the rest of it. Ça vaux la peine.

Right On, Target!

Last night, I thought the best place to waste some time in between work and a 7:15 PM meeting would be Target.  Here's what I learned:

1) Lots and lots of empty shelves make me excited.  What new stuff is going to go on them?

2) I want every bit of the Orla Kiely kitchen stuff including the stuff in the end cap display photo that they aren't selling like aprons and pot holders.

3) I can spend a lot of money on lotions and mascara.

ETA: Since I have a long lunch break and work is less than a mile from Target, I went again today. Guess what! They do have the Orla Kiely pot holders, and aprons, and placemats, and shoe organizers, and magazine holders, and, and, and!!!

Love One Another

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than loving everyone. And what better way to love everyone than being nice. I have a friend who hates being called nice because she thinks it's too bland, too nondescript, too boring. That's one of the main reasons I love Operation Nice. I takes the term nice and makes it one of the best things ever, something I would aspire to be called. The site tells stories of nice people who do such simple things as sharing coupons with the person behind them in line and things coworkers do for one another. It also includes testimonials, assignments, and projects. It inspires me to be better and I really need to look at it more often.

My Fortune in the Recycling Bin

How stupid am I? Well let me tell you... In the name of being organized and fitting all my stuff in my car while being a travel nurse, I ripped pages I wanted to keep out of magazines instead of keeping all the intact issues. That seems smart, right? Well look at this!

i carry your heart

Maybe it's my medical training but I love this realistic Valentine made by a friend of a friend.


It makes me think of this e e cummings poem

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Obama-ize Yourself

It's been over a week since the Inauguration but I can still be moved to tears by any photo or story about it.  If you're like me, this is a fun site, obamicon.me.  Mine looks a bit like a dermatological poster demonstrating the T-zone.  



You can also see a gallery of images other people have made, follow them on twitter, or add the app on Facebook.

McSteamy in My Shower

Lately I've had to do some work on my car which means being outside in the cold rain. One of my favorite ways to warm up is a nice long bath. But the only time I've taken one in this apartment, the water flooded into the neighbor's basement. So right now, a long, hot shower is my only option. These emotibombs by Lush make the shower so much better. Here's how it works:

SNL on NPR

During lunch today I caught part of Fresh Air on OPB.  Terry Gross was interviewing Seth Meyers from SNL.

Saturday Night Live and I have a long history. When I was about 5, I begged my parents to let me stay up and watch it.  I still remember being so tired and trying so hard to understand Mr Bill.  In high school, my prom was 2 nights. One was the traditional dance. The other was a dinner where the Junior class chose a theme and put on a play impersonating the Seniors and teachers. My Junior year, the class picked the theme I suggested, SNL. The principal = the church lady, the jocks = Hans and Franz. You get the idea.

So when Seth Meyers called this skit "one of the best performance moments in the history of SNL", I had to watch it again to see if I agreed. Plus I crush Jason Sudeikis, less so when he is Todd Palin, but still his cuteness shines through.  

Small Triumphs

I just got the last box of regular (not sugar-free) hot chocolate at Fred Meyer! If you need any food staples, I would suggest avoiding the Fred Meyer on Barbur; those cupboards are bare.

Brrrr!

Yesterday I called in frozen to work and watched cars slide around from my comfy couch. One car across the street got hit twice by stray sliders.

Today, after trudging up my icy hill, unable to get my car out, and taking the over 2-hour bus ride to work, I wonder, why don't I live in South Carolina anymore?

When You Care Enough to Hit Send

You know all those IM abbreviations like lol and rotflmao. Well, ever since I found someecards, I have been csak. I can't guarantee these are sweet, endearing, or appropriate, but they are darn funny and free! Here are a few I have either sent or wish I had reason to send recently.

Snow Day!

I don't yet know if I get a snow day tomorrow. Don't you think if the schools are closed, work should be too?!

Today Lizzy and I walked up to the corner market for essentials like diet Coke. We live on a steep hill and while it was OK for walking, cars were sliding all over the place. It was good to get out and the short walk was fun if somewhat treacherous. Once I got home, all I wanted to do was get cozy. Don't these look delightful!

Lutz and Patmos throws for West Elm

Handknit bobble top from Lutz & Patmos

Cocoon cardigan from Lutz & Patmos, could anything sound cozier?

Are your feet always cold? Socks to brighten up a dreary day

I don't have a fireplace, I like to pretend a few candles warm up a room

This time of year, I definitely think having the oven on is great but just in case you can't get out from under your blankets, you can still have cookies from Whimsy & Spice. These pumpkin ginger sandwich cookies sound especially good.

Need something to dip those in? How about hot chocolate on a stick...

Stay warm!

Oh My Darlin'

Are you like me this time of year? This is what my grocery budget looks like during clementine season.

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

Today was cloudy and I think the rain is about to start. But we did have a bit of a reprieve for the last few weeks. It has been so amazingly beautiful here in Portland. Usually, just about when the leaves start falling, so does the rain. I miss out on the crunch of leaves under my feet. But this year has been perfect. Blue blue skies, red and gold leaves. Everything seems extra colorful. Emily had this quote on her blog and it captures how I feel about fall.

Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower
-Albert Camus

The view from my porch Wednesday morning.

Super-Cute Commercial

Lately, with a DVR, I rarely see any commercials. Usually this is a very good thing. But every so often, a commercial is worth seeing. This one makes me laugh.

A Life's Work

I like to check the PostSecret site but some weeks they don't leave me feeling happy, some of the secrets are so dark. Recently, I found this site, Before I Die I Want To... The "about" section says this:

"The Before I die I want to... project was inspired by a combination of factors: (1) the “death” of the Polaroid, (2) a psychologist’s tool called safety contracts, and (3) a passion to get people to think about (and act upon) what is really important in their lives through this simple, very straight-forward question."

I love the peek into people's hopes, dreams, and goals. And it reminds me to set and reach some of my own. Here are a few favorites:

Yearbook Yourself

Remember when yearbook day was the best day of the school year? Or how much fun it was to flip through your parents' old yearbooks?  Yearbook Yourself lets you upload your own photo and see how it would looks from the 1950s through 2000.  I grew up in a very preppy Southern town and have very straight hair that no amount of perming or aqua net could tease big so I missed some of the most cringe-inducing styles.  But this site lets me see what I might have looked like.