this is the most adorable thing i've found on the internet in a while.

your kid draws the cutest thing and then in 7-14 business days it is delivered right to them! magic! watch the video, the president did and asked if i had applied for this job yet haha.

its SATTTTTUURDAY! working in the business world makes weekends THE BEST. i remember from my last office job thinking about and making lists for everything to do on the weekend. and then all you want to do is sleeeeep. but no, stuff is going to get done today. as soon as, yeah. soon.
xox

Im soooooo close to being finished my christmas shopping! i just hope everything comes in the mail in time.

today my boss and i are having our 'christmas party' by going out for high tea. i can't wait! dainty little sandwiches and yummy treats. its not really a christmas thing because she doesn't celebrate christmas but i bought her a present anyway. because thats what i do.

xox.

521

today i was browsing through my facebook albums and looking at pictures from the past. once upon a time i lived with my three best friends and had the BEST time of my life. un-comparable to anything else. absolutely and utterly perfect.
this picture was taken before L7 moved in, at this point it was just three sides of the square.
will you live with forever? YES! haha. it was pure coincidence really that it even happened at all. first one moved in, then two, then all of the sudden there was an empty bedroom for the third and dearest fourth might as well live here too! i don't think we could have planned it any better then fate let us enjoy it.
it was four girls living in a three bedroom apartment but it didn't feel cramped. there was too much love to get in the way and its not like someone being home stopped us from walking around in our underwear or well ANYTHING haha.
when we drink there is always spills. always. but sometimes there are also balloons and high heels and beautiful people doing ugly things.
<3
and sometimes there are mountain goats poking out from daves body.
we had the best parties. really. truely. our dinner parties were to die for. four housewifes in training. and then sometimes we went on safari
and that was fun.
and sometimes it didn't matter who was on the dance floor (no one) it was okay to just dance your little heart out (by yourself).
the number one thing for me was always having someone who knew you so well, inside and out that could give you advice, make your day or bake you a cake. there was always something exciting to come home for. someone always had a plan for the weekend or a new place they wanted to go. it was four girls, exploring the city, learning about themselves, making lasting impressions and loving each other no matter what.
it was perfection.

xox miss you girls.

sweet tooth

if i had to choose salty or sweet i am defiantly a salty lover. all dressed and miss vics salt and vinegar are my best friends when im having a bad day or just veggin out on the couch.

but in the last few days (of my monthly cycle haha) I JUST WANT SWEET. chocolate, cookies, pop! i never drink pop, and all i can think of is bubbly gingerale. its sooo not like me to crave sweet but i just need it.

in a moment of sweetness hysteria i got the peppermint mocha at starbucks. ever tried it? Deeeeeeelightful. there was tons of chocolate minty-ness at the bottom of the cup and i was in need of a pre-drinking cup for the streetcar. and this story isn't really going anywhere except that chocolate leftovers plus amaretto made my night. it was cold and windy but my stomach and insides were sooo toasty. toasted really.

side note. at the bar i went to they had these sailboat glasses that my parents used to have/might still own and all night i felt like i was in this weird universe where my childhood collided with being of age to drink. when the bartender handed me my first drink i was so taken back down memory lane that i walked away without actually paying for my drink. wait! this isn't my own house! im sorry mr. bartender, my parents don't make me pay for drinks you see...

alright where were we...SUGAR. sweet ness. i'm thinking of making this recipe...possibly using it to fill mason jars to hand out at christmas. Orangette's recipe for caramel popcorn! yummmm...


Caramel Corn with Salted Peanuts
Adapted from DamGoodSweet, by David Guas and Raquel Pelzel

A few notes to help you along:

- I used Newman’s Own brand microwave popcorn in the “natural” flavor.
- Be sure to have a whisk and a rubber spatula close at hand. You’ll need them both on short notice.
- Before you begin cooking the caramel, measure out the baking soda and the vanilla, and chop the peanuts. You won’t have time to do it later.
- Do not try to make this recipe without a candy thermometer.
- If you plan to give this popcorn as a gift, know that it looks very handsome, and keeps nicely, in a Mason jar.

1 (3½-ounce) package plain (unbuttered natural flavor) microwave popcorn
1 cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup light corn syrup
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup lightly salted peanuts, roughly chopped

Preheat the oven to 250°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Pop the popcorn according to the package instructions. Coat a large mixing bowl with nonstick cooking spray, and transfer the popcorn from the bag to the bowl, taking care to pick out and discard any unpopped kernels.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt, and 2 tablespoons of water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Continue to simmer, whisking often, until the mixture reads 250°F on a candy thermometer, about 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately remove the pan from the heat, and whisk in the baking soda and vanilla. Quickly pour the hot caramel over the popcorn. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the caramel into the popcorn, taking care to distribute it as evenly as you can. Stir in the peanuts, and transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, stirring and turning the popcorn with a spatula every 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and place on a cooling rack for 20 minutes. Gently break up the popcorn, and serve.

Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days (or thereabouts).

Yield: about 10 cups

did some shopping on etsy this weekend and bought a bunch of people things from crumpetcakes shop.

i wont tell you which items are mine and which are not because every person who is recieving something from this shop reads this blog. GET EXCITED for your gifts girls!!


this morning i was craving apple cinnamon pancakes BIG TIME and since i had all the ingredients i made some. but. they were not good. too dry and thick. don't you just hate when you are craving something specific and you go to all the trouble to make it and its just not what you wanted. such a shame, apple cinnamon pancakes are the best. usually.

i wrote this post sunday and it is now wednesday morning, whooooops!

gooood evening. what a week!! holy tolito. phewwwwwww, i honestly almost didn't make it through this one! last night i met the president after we both finished work and had a pint, by the time we got home at by 7 and had a shower i literally walked out of the shower and fell asleep by 8. needless to say my hair is comparible to a crows nest today hehe.



i just finished some online etsy xmas shopping! i am really looking forward to having a night where i can get out all kinds of ribbon and paper and go to town wrapping everything but first it all has to come in the mail. i'm staying true to my pledge to try and buy things that are handmade, and for the other non-crafty type people on my list i am trying to buy online. mostly because its cheaper but also because its like i get to open the gift first! also malls STREEESSSS me out when they are busy and generally i find everyone else in the mall is in the worst mood. i'd rather laze around and drink tea while shopping then deal with screaming children and haggard sales people.

somehow whenever i buy gifts on etsy though, i always end of buying something for myself. combined shipping, gets me EVERY time.

spent the night at home tonight. just chilllllllllling. its been way too long and i am verging on being burnt out and that is certainly not what i want to happen. its so much nicer to go into the week feeling motivated and refreshed then wondering where the time went and feeling like i got no sleep at all (which has happened the last few weekends, they were wild in the best most fun way possible)

random facts:
-almost finished a dear love, shop update
-am the keynote speaker at an event in january (need to get that together asap!)
-did not eat dinner tonight, instead opted for chips and french onion dip
-this is my 400th post
-need a christmas gift for the president, anyone have any good man gift ideas?
-really should clean up the apartment but instead am going to bed.

GOOD NIGHT!

there's a baby upstairs

just a quickie tonight. i've been a buuuuuusy bee lately. these eyes need to get away from the computer screen. probably going to be blind when i'm 55.


i wouldn't be sad at all if any of these tea towels were under the tree for meeeeee. check it.


pet peeve: google maps says it take 16 minutes and it takes over an hour. blarg.

munchies + new season of amazing race + all dressed chips = here i come

magical

this weekend i was feeling very festive, so i made this red and green pendant garland! every time i went out and was walking around downtown it kept hitting me that christmas is coming. we didn't have any decoration or seasonal touches in the apartment and every time i was going to buy something i would stop myself because either it was expensive, tacky or both. instead i went to the best second hand store near my house and rummaged around the skirt section until i found a green and a red fabric i was happy with.
i cut them into triangles and then sewed them together. it was pretty easy and i think the result is really nice and festive without screaming christmas. when i was at the second hand store i found a bunch of really cute wooden ornaments that i huge from the garland with ribbon. we don't have a tree but i think this is better.
when i got home from a looooooong day at work today the president surprised me with the little reindeer on the top of the mantle! so cute.
also, this cd was free from starbucks because my bill was over 15$ and even though it only has four songs on it i really like it and am kind of addicted to it hehe.

also i thought that i would show off a little design piece i did for my mom. i signed her up for this amazing site called ravelry.com and it is the coolest place for knitters. you can have your own profile and keep track of your patterns. its a great resource for questions or finding new designs. i know she is going to love it, and i wanted to present her with something more then just the username and password written on a card at christmas so i designed this little 'gift card' and printed it out on this great thick brown recycled paper i had. i think it turned out well. oh and the account is free to get, you just have to wait until they email you back an invitation to the site.

we have a new client at my work and i spent the whole day today immersing myself in everything they need from us. its almost like i am starting a new job, since i am going into this without any knowledge about their business or how they operate. it was nice to work out of an office for the day though, i miss that feeling at 6pm when you finally get out the door and the rest of the night is yours to enjoy. when i work from home i never get that 'leaving the office' feeling of accomplishment.

also i just watched the last three episodes of project runway season 6! soo good! go to ninjavideo.com to watch it in perfect HD.

hope your monday was as productive as mine!

heres the munity i promised you and heres the party it turned into

hello darlings. yesterday was a a big day with work. i was helping to organize a networking event and it was a huge success. we had over 90 people come! and the food, ohhh goodness the food was amazing. i have plates of it in my fridge right now, so yummy and stuff i would never splurge on all at once.

im rather blue today. no particular reason...i don't know why i feel the way i do. something is just off, not quite right. i can't put my finger on it but its somewhere inside me and its hard to ignore. i can't, won't, say what.

part of me is shutting down, and as opposites cosmically attract, i am discovering things about myself that i didn't think possible. i don't know were in me to do. i know i am being so vague and pointing my finger in the air and trying to describe what it is that i'm touching. its just hard. its difficult to be honest with myself and with others and see both sides of the coin.

some days the future is right onfront of me. its the ground i'm about to step on, its waiting for the thumbs up without even needing to look back.

today is a day when the future is like looking through a paper tube. its there i can see it, i know i'll find it, its just beyond the next distance. the shaded curves on either side are rather hard to get though in the meantime. i'm already too far to look back now.

tomorrow will be a better day. xo.

bicept tricept liecept

source

dearest carly, i found this photo and thought immediately of you. Happy monday! (and ps I am redoing/changing the etsy banner, i want it to be simpler)

today was super exhausting. i worked really hard all morning, then ran a bunch of errands, had a meeting with my boss, and then went to the gym for my personal fitness assesment. YIKES. they really push you like crazy and test you on your 'weaknesses'. its rather unfortunate that in order to sell you personal training they make you feel like crap and the only way you will improve is to spend tons of money to get one-on-one training. it was pretty horrible, they make you do all the exercises in the middle of the weightlifting part of the gym (read: testoterone central) and give you weights that are struggle just to pick up let alone do squats with! blarg. so many other things wrong with my experience, but i have ten days to cancel my personal trainer contract* and i will be doing just that.

* i was hardly given a choice to sign it anyway, i don't know how many times i asked if i could have the night to think about it and was pretty much told that i was to sign the contract before i left and if i decided i didn't want it then i could cancel it then. backwards logic.