Better Very Late Than Never

Remember this chair?


Well, here it is now! I made lots of mistakes, had to undo lots of stitches, and broke one zipper, but it's done!

Boot-y Call

A lazy start to my Saturday included a browse of google reader. I mostly read blogs of friends but I do like to check out a few of the pretty ones too. Bliss, by the always inspiring Traci French, is one of my favs. I have met her IRL and she is amazingly sweet so maybe I can move her over to the first group. Her post today showed some beautiful green boots and reminded me of a pair I saw at Imelda's last week. While I couldn't find the green boots (Biviel 2257, if you find them, let me know), I did find lots of other boots calling my name. I hope to have more than a one-night stand with several of these.

Biviel

I think I could buy a closet-full of only this brand.

La Canadienne

Cordani

David Tate

Biviel

Jeffrey Campbell

Franco Sarto

Fly London - Doris II

Biviel

Sorry about the title, I just couldn't resist. I did have a lot of sugar last night and I think it's still affecting my judgement.

Rainy Summer Soup

It's been a little cloudy and rainy here lately. I thought Portland and I had an agreement, 9 months of rain is fine as long as July, August, and September are sunny and dry. The cooler temperature and grey skies made me crave warm soup. But since it's summer, I wanted it to be very fresh. Here's what I came up with.

2 sweet red peppers

1 onion

2 cloves garlic

3-4 medium tomatoes

olive oil

1 bag of frozen roasted corn (Trader Joe's)

1 C fat-free cottage cheese

3 C water or chicken stock

2 links of chicken sausage (I used an smoked apple chardonnay flavor from Trader Joe's)

Herbs and spices - I used thyme and cayenne (weird combo but good)

Salt and pepper

Cut peppers in half and remove seeds. Quarter the onion and tomatoes. Place peppers, onion, tomatoes, and garlic on a baking sheet and spray with olive oil. Bake at 450˙ for about 30 minutes, turning at least once. Place in heat-proof container. Add stock, 1/2 bag of corn, and cottage cheese. Use immersion blender to puree it. You can also put it all in a blender/food processor. Dice the sausage and saute until browned. Add sausage and rest of the corn and mix. Enjoy!

I ate a bowl with a salad and a slice of olive bread with cambozola cheese.

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

When A Problem Comes Along

It's months away and I'm already excited about this movie! I've watched the trailer 3 times today!

My Homemade Home - Floor Cushions

I moved into a new apartment about 2 months ago. It's much bigger than my last place. And if you remember all the minor details of my life, I was a travel nurse not too long ago, so I had very little furniture. It's been so fun buying some new stuff and re-doing/re-working other stuff. I thought I could share a bit.

I have a sofa and a few other chairs but wanted floor cushions. There are lots of cute options but most of those are well over $100 each. I found some faux leather cushions at Target, on sale for $29.



Then I recovered them with Amy Butler fabrics. I love them!

A Little Night Music

It seems like KaRyn just got home for Korea and she's already on her way to D.C. But she's a smart girl so at her going away party, she asked each of us to bring her a mix CD for her cross-country drive. I've made that drive a few times and it can be dangerously sleep-inducing. Do you remember that VW commercial from a few years ago, with the convertible and Pink Moon by Nick Drake? While I don't recommend too much night driving on long trips,that was the feeling I was going for. Relaxed and happy and hopeful for the future. Well mostly, I might have thrown in more than a few Portland bands so she doesn't forget us. Here's a copy of mine if you want it. (click link to download)



Go On, Say It - Blind Pilot
Paul's Song - M. Ward
Wires - Coconut Records
My America - A Camp
Help I'm Alive - Metric
Rock & Roll - Eric Hutchinson
The Reeling - Passion Pit
White Daisy Passing - Rocky Votolato
Vermont Avenue - Ferraby Lionheart
Hurt Feelings - Flights of the Conchords
You Don't Know Me - Ben Folds featuring Regina Spektor
Dimmer - Bishop Allen
Beat (Health, Life and Fire) - Thao With The Get Down Stay Down
Hearts On Fire - Cut Copy
Airstream Driver - Gomez
Breaking It Up - Lykke Li
All My Days - Alexi Murdoch

Remember Me?

So it's been a while. Wondering what is good enough to get me back to blogging?

Well, I won't keep you waiting any longer...

My grandmother recently moved in with my aunt and had to downsize. Since I live 3000 miles away, I couldn't ask for any of her furniture or larger items I've always eyed. But I did speak up about a pillow. I have always loved it. And best of all - she made it! And I just got it in the mail.

Here's a photo I took the day I got my first Polaroid, I was about 7. Aren't my grandparents the cutest!

And here it is on my favorite chair

One Thing Down, So Many To Go

I'm moving into a new apartment by the end of April. I haven't found that apartment yet. I still wonder if I should buy rather than rent. I don't have very much furniture. So many things to still figure out. But, as of Saturday, I own a couch. Macy's is nice enough to hold it for delivery until I move. It was on sale, on sale again, and I got a Macy's card so I saved another $100.

Just Wait Till Alaska Melts

My roommate, Lizzy, is about to take a vacation in Texas. This time last year, I lived in Austin as a travel nurse. Giving her suggestions about places to visit has made me miss it. Nothing like sunny and 75 in the winter. Here's a postcard I found in Smithville, TX and a few songs that make me think of the great state.



That's Right (You're Not from Texas) - Lyle Lovett
Under the Texas Sky - Ferraby Lionheart
Texas - PlayRadioPlay!
Songbird - Willie Nelson and Ryan Adams