November 28, 2009

Reading is Sexy



And the kiwi's know it! This video for the NZ Book Council is beautifully done. I can't imagine how long all that paper cutting and attention to detail must have taken!

November 19, 2009

Nerd Love


So we all know I'm a huge dork and have a deep crazy love of nerds. So, of course, one of my daily reads is Nerd Boyfriend. And while I am always delighted by the choices, I think November 17th may be my all time favorite.

Image found here.

November 16, 2009

'Tis the Season of Mint

Living in the northwest, I suppose that peppermint is really a year round flavor. It grows in great abundance everywhere, and I love it. Peppermint in salads, in tea, in pasta, as a breath freshener... My largest pot is devoted to my mint plant, which has gone from a couple wiggly stalks purchased at a local nursery, to the abundance seen below.


That said, the candy flavor variety is still near and dear to my heart, and I'm very pleased it is in season at a grocery store near you.

Mint M&M's are pretty much a divine gift from on high. I stockpile them as soon as they appear in stores, hide them from myself as a surprise out of season, and devour them in really unhealthy quantities. Stir a few into your morning coffee or glass of milk, mix them with ice cream or froyo, add chopped ones to cookies, or just enjoy a handful with another guilty pleasure.

Candy canes are another fave option, but I'm a bit of a snob about them. The cheap kind taste like (I know, I'm deranged for thinking this) old washcloths -- kind of mildewy and moist. Gross, right? I have no clue why I have this association. But a truly delicious candy cane, in either a classic hard style or a softer melt-in-your-mouth-like-dinner-mints style, make me very happy. I like to get a cold glass of milk and use a candy cane to stir it until it dissolves, leaving me with pink minty milk. It is SO good.

And for those of you who have decided that this quantity of sugar consumption is unforgivable for either dental or scale related reasons, I understand. Try some faux-sugar peppermint syrup in your coffee or maybe some good old fashioned peppermint herbal tea. Meanwhile, I'll take your share of M&Ms, thanks.

November 11, 2009

Ooh! Pretties!

This new-to-me tumblr, found thanks to You Are My Fave, is making me very happy.


You're welcome.

Winter Dressings


This pretty series of images is making me very sad I will soon be dressing very differently for winter. I love cold weather clothes! Promise me that you will wear them for me whenever possible, and I promise I'll post pictures of palm trees and sunny beaches in return.

Image via Happy Cavalier, first spotted on You Are My Fave.

Movin' on Up

So I've mostly abandoned my diy projects for the home at the moment, as it turns out that we will be moving to Los Angeles at the end of the year, and this may involve a purge of all large sized (read: furniture) belongings. Thus, no more need for fancy pants slip covers, no more hunting for the perfect objects to turn into drawer pulls, no more worries about how exactly to decorate three story walls without access to a ladder. Instead, my energies are focused on the how, what, when, and where of moving, after which, they'll be focused on how to make our miniscule new place a cozy home.

That said, I'm starting to say good bye to Eugene, OR, my home for the last two and half years. I haven't always loved it, but there are many things I'll miss. Here are a few.


My daily commute to work (well, post school, anyways). A lovely bicycle path along the river. I'll also miss having autumn. The southwest doesn't really experience autumn, which quickly became my favorite season after my first northwest October.

Speaking of fall, I'll also miss the gray skies of winter, the rain, the fog, and the wonderful clothing options that one simply must have to deal with these things. Boots, scarves, lots of layers, and a warm pretty coat. Oh, and hoods or hats. I love hats.

The really delicious food. Northwest cuisine is fresh, local, and full of yummy things like hazelnuts, cheeses, berries, greens, mushrooms. Also salmon, but I don't eat sea food... The places I recommend most include The Vintage, Papa's Soul Food, The Sweet Life, though there are many more.

The wine! The Willamette Valley is great for vintners and there are tons of local wineries in the area, many of which have free or cheap tastings and food, and all are nestled in gorgeous scenery. Spending a late afternoon with rare March sunshine on the patio of Sweet Cheeks or a summer morning sampling the amazing pinots at King's Estate is pretty much perfect. Plus, they have the Oregon attitude and much of what they do is sustainable, organic, and local. I'm going to miss that.

I will also, of course, miss the lovely and wonderful people I've met while here, but I'll let them keep their antics off the blogosphere...

MIA

Yeah, yeah. It's been awhile. I've no excuses. I'll try to be better now. Anyways, here's a present to make you feel better.

xoxo