Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A House Made for the gods...

So that sounds kind of funny. A house made for the gods? Honestly, the gods probably have more luxurious living space, like the clouds. Nice and fluffy and bouncy. Perfect for parties and snuggling.

Anyways. When I went to Phoenix at the beginning of this month we rented a lovely little villa on Palmcroft Drive, just minutes from downtown Phoenix. The bedrooms and decor were quite lovely. I really wish I had snapped some pictures of the more *ahem* frightening busts about the house.

The master bedroom in all its glory.

My bedroom. Complete with a weird picture of some naked statue man on the wall. Look the the right side of the picture, there you will see that magnificent piece of art that I awoke to every morning. I wonder if it is coincidence that I had more nightmares than usual while in Arizona. Nightmares about those people who dress up like statues so they can freak you the heck out! For real, why would you do that to someone?

This was the intricate chandelier type thing that hung above my bed.


This is a decoration.


These are some pictchers from the kitchen. I think they were supposed to just be decorational. I probably shouldn't have made sangria in it then. My bad.


And this is the lovely fountain right outside the kitchen. There was this lovely little patio complete with a pool at our house. Sadly, when I wasn't working 12+ hours a day, I was drowning my sorrows in cheap sangria from Safeway.

Not really.

Don't tell my mom.


For the final picture I have included an obligatory "take your picture in the mirror because your awesome like that, just like a pre-teen girl trying on dresses at JCpenney without her mom. oooh, rebel" photo. Really, I just like taking pictures of myself because I tend to lean more to the vainer side. Come on, who doesn't like taking taking pictures of themselves? Honestly.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Office Dog

I am really quite fond of dogs. I love the ones at home [mostly Orly though. she is unabashedly my favorite.] and I love the one at my office. Although, let me be quite frank, this dog slobbers quite a bit. And while I do adore the four legged type friends, I do not in anyway, shape, or form adore slobber. Sadly, this dog slobbers a lot. His drool is apparent whenever a treat is even thought of.

He is awfully cute though. Please enjoy these pictures of him that I took thusly disturbing his rest time. Also, please note the last one. That is the basic position that Duke is in on a regular basis while taking a little doze.

Also, he has a couch all to himself. Must be nice, little doggy.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Shoes... ohmygosh. Shoes

I ordered these beautiful shoes last night at Nordstrom! I am super excited for these reasons:

1. I've been anxiously waiting to buy a pair of Toms for about a year and a half now.
2. They're red! That means Christmas! Basically they will be perfect for this Holiday season...
3. and for my trip to Guatemala.
4. I can finally be hip. Oh thank heavens. I've waited far too long.


You can purchase these beauts here or here .

I plan on pairing them with this when the shoes come in the mail:
[just imagine this scarf with grey stripes instead of white. perfect.]

Georgetown Part Tres

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I am thrilled that the Holidays have finally surrendered themselves to their waiting fans. For your viewing pleasure, another look at the beautiful neighborhood of Georgetown.

The houses are simply breathtaking. Their construction and alignment are simple but pleasing to the eye. I love the twisting side stairs that are added to a few of the upper class homes. They add an appreciated flourish to the home.

My little sister M. is a hottie patotie. This worries me. She is far to pretty to ever be let out of the house. Unfortunately keeping her locked up in a room till she's twenty-five is just unrealistic. Look what it did to Rapunzel's psyche! What a messed up girl that was. And that hair was not natural.

I adore the yellow. Please let me live here.

Apparently this was my parent's old stomping ground. I am not quite certain why it was to wonderful and great, because it honestly looks like a gross veggie deli. And where do you even come up with a name like that? Someone was doing something that they probably shouldn't have...

Look how awesome we look with our Urban Outfitters bags and Starbucks. We like to integrate ourselves into the American culture as deeply as we can. I think it's going well.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Georgetown Part Dos

As you can see from the title of this entry, this is another little excerpt about my travels to Georgetown. Also, I know little to no Spanish. Fail.

Georgetown is quite prestigious in its own right. They are home to the Hoya's who have won some sports awards in the past [please don't ask what awards or trophies. something having to do with basketball. something like... i'm drawing a blank]. Some really smart people have gone there [i had to look this up because i didn't actually know anyone who had graduated from there. apparently, however, bill clinton went to their foreign service school. the prime minister of lebanon attended GU as well. use that bit for your weekly trivia tournaments!]. Georgetown's buildings follow in the tradition of being prestigious. I quite honestly expected the boys to be wearing blazers, ties, and pressed slacks. Sadly no.

The cute little chapel on campus. Apparently scenes from the Exorcist were filmed here.
Doesn't make it sound so cute anymore. More horrifying if you ask me. And you should ask me.
I'm the one writing this down.
This just got real.

No, I'm not being fecicious in the least. This alluring building is the one in which my parents first met. *gasp* Say it ain't so! Yes, yes. It is true. They met here. On the Georgetown campus. My dad worked in the back. My mom worked in the front. Was it love at first sight? Good gracious no. The whole process took a while.
My mom is front of her alma mater. Looking super adorable per usual.

Just one more photo. Part three will be along shortly. Perhaps next week.



Thursday, November 18, 2010

Georgetown Part Uno

Back in the 1800's my parents went to Georgetown University to learn, party, and get a degree in higher education. Quite the babe on campus [she was a hippy to the max. Birkenstocks and all], my mother and father met on that distinguished campus. The rest, as they say, is history. 

My friend L. [which freakishly enough, a good number of my posts have her picture in them. hopefully no one has gotten to the point of stalking her. except for me of course. but that doesn't count. right?] now works in Georgetown as an assistant pasty chef at the renowned restaurant 1789. Being the fully supportive friend that I am [i really just wanted free pastries], I decided to make the trek to Georgetown, a magical land which I had never traversed. My mother accompanied me, as did my sister, and we met up with my friend C. to have lunch at the Tombs, the pub situated right near Georgetown University.

As you can clearly see, we are shameless hams for the camera.

Complete and total hams. C. [if you must know. really, you are quite nosey] is really enjoying her internship at CNN with the animal man. She is quite good at inserting herself into a situation and being awesome at whatever she needs to do! Congratulations, C.!

Now onto the real good stuff. What you've all be waiting for [you really need to get yourself off the computer and outside. get some sun on those wan cheeks!]!

That's right, the beautiful streets of Georgetown. I want to live here. The colors are simply superb.

Picturesque churches. I wonder how often its doors are opened?

I love this flower. Simply gorgeous.

I am saving my mother's pictures at her alma mater for another time. I don't want to give away all my secrets all at once! I have to keep some things up my sleeves [i have to admit that my sleeves are getting pretty bulky. hiding stuff up there isn't as good an idea as it once seemed. i don't recommend it in the least].

Thoughts of Noel

The joyous Christmas season is upon us.

Before you grow angry because I dared bring up that holiday season too far in advance, let me explain something to you. This is pertinent information by the way.

I absolutely, positively, adore the Christmas Season!

No joke. None whatsoever. I truly love the hustle and bustle. I love the baking, the decorating, the creativty, the whole Jesus thing, family, presents [giving and recieving], the colors, and general merriment that abounds. Don't get upset by my love for the holiday, embrace it.

Yesterday I purchsed some holiday-esque items.


This twine is perfect for wrapping presents in a totally adorable way.
Purchased at Anthropologie.

These stickers will be used with the twine. They will look positvely lovely together.
Purchased at Paper Source.

I am thrilled that Christmas is right around the corner. I am already listening to Christmas music and compiling a shopping list. I know that I am not the only one in the world excited by such things. So don't mock me.

Okay, mock me. It won't penetrate my Christmas spirit in the least!




Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Something Different

Maybe it's the Annapolitan in me that just loves this picture so much.

Or maybe it's my love affair with sepia toned prints.

Either way, I would love to hang this on my future wall in my future home.


Same for this beautiful collection of black and white snapshots.

I read that the photographer of these prints [his name escapes me right now] was one of the first people to incorporate movement into their model photo shoots.

I just love it.

Especially the one with the woman stepping off the curb. The height in her bounce expresses life and vitality to me. Either that or the wind is about to sweep her away.


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Ray's Birthday Edition

My dear friend L. is just adorable and thoughtful. I was just explaining to my mother last night how lucky I am to have such a friend. The only difference I could ask for is if she would give me a million dollars a week. My sister chimed in at this point saying, "I would be happy with a million dollars every two weeks!" We are the classy types on my family.

But I digress.

L. has done it again. She baked the most delightful looking cake, miniature style, for our friend Ray's happiest of birthdays.

Stunned with her masterpiece, Ray could only but pose for a few pictures where in he accepts the gifts that L. bestowed upon him. The shaking of hands truly made the cake his own. It was if he was accepting the keys to a great and delicious orange city. A miniature city though. Not a real sized one. Like Rome, New York size [reader, you may be confused by the Rome, New York reference. do not fear. i speak not in confusing terms on a general basis. what i mean by this is that Rome, New York is not two different places that I speak of. instead it is one small, sleepy town in upstate New York that boasts a Walmart and Aldi's Bargain Food Store].


 Then Ray quickly consumed the cake sans utensils as the parking lot of Main Ingredient does not boast a utensil stand.

Happy Birthday, Ray!

May all your greatest wishes come true [except for the whole flannel becoming the staple piece in every single persons wardrobe wish... not gonna happen]!

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Two "J"s

Alright, so I'm starting this whole thing on the wrong foot. I promised "J"s, but instead I am presenting a "L". Please don't hurt me. I simply wish to honor the one who actually took the pictures. It is rather difficult to take pictures one handed [although it can be most definitely done]. 
What a lovely lady.

Our first picture was fairly normal. We can be normal. I give you scouts honor.

The problem with the above statement is this: Who is Scout? And why am I giving away her/his honor? It can't to To Kill a Mockingbird's Scout because she is purely fictional [sad, but oh so true]. Perhaps it is in reference to a scout [see below].

scout 1 (skout)
v. scout·ed, scout·ing, scouts
1. To spy on or explore carefully in order to obtain information; reconnoiter.
2. To observe and evaluate (a talented person), as for possible hiring.

Okay, really? No. This just doesn't make sense.

So this ensued:
Madness I say! Who let these crazy animals out of their cages?

I do miss J. though, and I look forward to the day that we will live in the same abode and have crazy dance parties at 2am just because we can [in all reality that won't in fact happen. i love my sleep simply too much. to give it up just so i can dance? i would have to be bitten by the dance bug pretty hard. or it would have to be a really bug bug... i digress]. Come home soon, J.!

Some final images for your enjoying pleasure:

Sunday, November 14, 2010

So there was this one night...

 Downtown Annapolis really does have a lot to offer, especially if you are willing to do stupid dares for a dollar. Let me tell you, a world of excitement and idiotic behavior will open up right in front of your unbelieving eyes. My sister is plagued with this disease known as, "Can't let a dollar slip out of my fingers"-syndrome. It is really quite sad. But then again, who's showing off her skills via crab walk around State Circle? Not you. Not you at all. 

I'd like to find the silver lining in this picture for a moment. L. looks super cute. She looks really put together aside from the whole being on the really disgusting sidewalk thing.
 As you can clearly see, this whole opportunity opened up just a crazy amount of communication between coworkers/friends/adopted parents [L.'s adopted parents, not mine]. When in doubt, or looking for some bonding experience, dare someone to crab walk in a public place. Believe me, it truly works wonders on an outing.
Unless of course, there are already waffles involved. Which in that case, there is no need to make the night any better. With waffles bonding experiences are at your proverbial feet. 
 But if doubting that this "hang out time" isn't quite as fun as you had made it out to be [you liar, you], just look for the oh-so-subtle "this is awesome" hand gesture.
Phew, this evening has not been a waste of maybe bonding experience. 

AND WHEN IN DOUBT:
Just give them a Guinness. 
[the only reason i know how to spell that is because of the glass P. is holding]
[my bad]