Specs Appeal

Bossypants

2012-01-16T22:22:00.000-06:00

You may be wondering what took me so long to read this book. Well, it took a while to obtain it from the library. But I'm glad I did. It's smart, honest, and laugh-a-minute. There's not much else I can say about Tina Fey, but this excerpt (from page 92) about her vacation on a cruise gives a good idea of what to expect:

It is worth noting that at this time, I had been doing Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live for two full seasons. I am not recognized by anyone. Well, I am recognized by the guy who refills the soft-serve ice cream machine by the pool, but not for being on TV, just for lingering. For O! The desserts! Rows and rows of pastries laid out cafeteria-style. Some of them are unidentifiable squares of pink stuff. I think we called it junket back in the seventies. They don't taste good; but like a schoolboy at his first coed dance, I am drawn not so much by their beauty as by their unlimited quantities.

Sneak Peek...

2012-01-15T00:15:00.001-06:00

Big news is coming soon...

A Storybook Winter

2012-01-12T19:34:00.002-06:00

JK. This winter is more like Florida-lite. But I did quite enjoy the e-mail ad I received today from Cole Haan, where, incidentally, I'm almost sure I spotted Ludacris a few weeks ago.

*Note: I actually received the e-mail two days ago, when I tried to do this post. But Blogger was not cooperating. Also, it is now snowing.

2012 is the Year to Max it Out

2012-01-03T20:35:00.002-06:00

It's a great time of year, of course. Despite the holiday bloat and that whole confused/back-to-work thing, doesn't it feel like an excellent time for new possibilities?!

I know I've posted about IRAs before, but it's prime time to take another glance. This is a graphic that I scanned from Real Simple (December 2011) and then altered, color-wise, through Picnik.com. It started out green (apropos, non?), but the invert feature gave this cool purple and blue combo. This version is also a bit easier to read. You can also click the graphic to enlarge it a bit. Eye strain is never specs-y, peeps.

Anywho, open an IRA. Contribute to it. Enjoy it later. You'll be so glad that you did. And the earlier you start, the more monies you will earn. Consider dollar cost averaging, per Suze.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T20:00:00.001-06:00

I hope you guys have an excellent, relaxing Christmas! See you soon!

Insta-specs

2011-12-19T22:04:00.000-06:00

So maybe I'm a bit obsessed with Instagram. And by obsessed, I mean that sometimes I post pictures there and subconsciously think that I blogged them instead. Whoops! Here's my feed.

Here's one of my latest snaps. It's my customized stamp from Paperwink. And I. Love. It.

Siri-ously Good Camera

2011-12-13T22:57:00.001-06:00

Yum. My new iPhone camera or this sweet treat? Umm...both. This lil' jewel is from a local place called Nothing Bundt Cakes. Unfortunate name. Delightful product.

A pesto/chicken panini from Bruegger's Bagels.

Gift Guide 2011: Paper Edition

2011-12-11T18:04:00.001-06:00

This was probably the hardest gift guide to put together because there seems to be a never-ending stream of great paper items in the market. (You should see my list of bookmarked sites. Whew.) Since I already did an Etsy guide, I did not dip back into my favorites here, although there are many!

The Linda & Harriett calendar is one of my perennial must-haves. Each page is letterpressed, and the bottom half can be detached and used as a snazzy postcard. Stylish and green. $30

I have these nifty custom notepads from Paper Source, thanks to my pal Missy! This style is Bebas, but they have tons more. You get five notepads of various sizes, all with your own name. $35

How about some monogrammed little notes from In Haus Press via Felt & Wire Shop? These fun-size cards come five to a set with the letter of your choosing. $8

Can you even stand this spec-ed out ant print from Rifle Paper? It's 8 X 10 and impossibly cute. $24

For the paper lover who has (almost) everything, let me recommend custom calling cards from Paperwink. This style is woodcut, and you can pick from about 30 different colors. There are also various styles. Starts at $31 for a set of 25

To follow up with all of your great gifts this year, you could send these retro-cool thank you cards by Blanca Gomez via Red Cap Cards. I am digging the sort of vintage storybook vibe to the colors and font. $3.95 each or $14.95 for a set of eight

App-y as a Clam

2011-12-09T22:57:00.001-06:00

So I gave myself a bit of an early Christmas present. It's an iPhone. And I'm instantly/officially/hopelessly obsessed. It took me a while to come around, as I had what I somewhat lovingly refer to as my Jitterbug phone for three years. I felt practically geriatric.

No longer.

What are some of your favorite apps? So far I have Evernote, CardStar, Coupon Sherpa, Instagram, Flipboard, and Redbox. Which ones am I missing, peeps? And whare are some cool (legal) ways that you use your iPhone?

I plan on posting my final gift guide of the season either over the weekend or on Monday. Thanks!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Postage...

2011-12-06T19:48:00.000-06:00

But I love it! Sending Christmas cards is one of my favorite things of the whole year.

This time around I'm going with Linda and Harriett's Happy Holidays snowshoes and a moose that says "Get Jolly!" (I heat-embossed the snowflake.) These styles are not currently available, but they have a few other good ones as well (at a great price!), if you still need some.

I embossed this pinecone on the moose cards. I'm also going all DIY on some gift tags, as I did last year. Fun times! For those who will be getting one of these in the mail, I'm sorry I couldn't wait. This is just a sneak peek.

How is everyone getting ready for the holidays?

Gift Guide 2011: House and Home Edition

2011-12-05T17:39:00.000-06:00

This edition of the gift guide features items to make life a little more cozy and/or comforting, and everything is under $20 (individually).

These Restoration Hardware down-filled foot duvets for guys or girls are quite nice. I have a pair (in the color to the left), and when I'm awake and not working, there's a great chance these are my footwear of choice. $19

Wouldn't this glass carafe from CB2 look great in a guest room or office? One selling point is that the style can blend in with whatever decor is happening--modern, classic, eclectic. It's like a glass chameleon. $9.95

This funky felt owl from At West End could sit next to that fancy carafe and provide a bit of whimsy. It could also work in a child's room, of course. $12

Here's a glass food storage bowl from Fishs Eddy. I could imagine filling it with sweet treats or spiced nuts and giving the whole shebang as a gift. $5

Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is a no-brainer. I use this in the winter to keep my mitts moisturized, and a dab'll do ya. $13-$20, depending on size

A set of Moonstruck chocolate bars? Why, yes. Yes, please. The included four flavors are: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate espresso bean, and milk chocolate Mayan. $16.95

West Elm + Etsy = Less Than Three*

2011-12-01T22:49:00.003-06:00

By now it's pretty clear that I heart West Elm. And Etsy. Imagine my sheer delight to hear of the two teaming up for a Handmade Holiday Workshop. I just got home after attending with Ashley and was so excited that I had to blog right away.

All of the Etsy sellers are local Nashvillians. First up was Hummingbird Factory. Seller Ashley has really neat screenprinted items, like tea towels, zippered cases, pillows, and much more.

I bought five of these tags! Two have navy blue anchors, and three have dark brown pinecones. They will be used on my gifts this year.

Next up was The Shabby Creek Cottage. Gina showed an edited collection of her range of country/beachy wares. She uses a lot of burlap, aqua, and stripes. Ummm....yes!!

See that little packet to the right? I bought that! It's a set of chalkboard tags with jute string. SO neat!

I also perused really clever stationery at Adelyn Stone.

It's rather dreadful that my stationery collection is so jam-packed. I had to just walk away, or I would've gone a bit crazy. She's definitely added to my favorites, though!

And I wanted to give a little pic-love to the host of the event.

(Missy, aren't these cool?! Wink!)

Best of all, the event benefitted Oasis Center, a local charity that offers youth counseling, shelter, college assistance, and tons of activities. It was a wonderful night!

*Less than three is <3. I got that little phrase from a card from Kristan Lynn, the seller at Adelyn Stone.

2011-11-28T22:13:00.000-06:00

It's no secret that I'm a fan of a good homemade pizza. Well, sort of homemade. Here was tonight's dinner-in-a-hurry.

I used store-bought crust, pre-grilled chicken, mozzarella, and (squeezable!) pizza sauce. It took about 15 minutes total, including oven time.

I finished it off with some freshly cracked black pepper. Nums.

Gift Guide 2011: Etsy Edition

2011-11-27T11:05:00.001-06:00

I love a gift guide. And this year I thought I'd break mine up into small editions to keep things easier. First up is Etsy.

Where to start? These picks came from countless hours of perusing blogs, magazines, and Etsy itself. Most of my favorites are of the paper variety, but I tried to branch out a bit. I am a fan of supporting independent businesses and craftspeople whenever possible. You end up with unique, creative gifts while helping someone else live their dreams. Hokey but accurate.

A milk & honey candle from Sweet Petula. It's vegetable wax in a clean scent, and it will burn for 60+ hours in that snazzy frosted (reusable) glass. $24

A linen-covered journal in awesome chevron stripes from Holli Zollinger. And a kraft paper binding, naturally. Let your recipient sketch, list, and doodle to their heart's content. $12

A jar of chocolate spoon fudge from Nicole's Treats. Handmade in a really nifty 4 oz. jar, with two mini spoons! Nummy. $9

A monogrammed porcelain tray from Jeanette Risco. Customizable, 6.75" x 5.25", and just the right size for an array of finger sandwiches or your favorite cosmetics containers. $31

A chevron jotter from Wit & Whistle. I love a chevron. Guilty. At 3.5" by 5" and in sturdy kraft paper, it's perfect for marking down websites, coupon codes, blog ideas, etc. in an old-school way. $5.75

A set of me & you pencils from Knot & Bow. Now, aren't these sweet? A veritable who's who of the great food pairings, along with a lil' sentiment for a best friend or a significant otre, to round out the set of six. $12

(Note: I received permission from all sellers to use their images and to link to their Etsy stores.)

Jingle Jangle

2011-11-17T23:36:00.000-06:00

I saw this picture in my inbox today from Crate and Barrel. If it doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit, I don't know what will. I'd like that outfit in my size, please. (He can keep the cap.)

Magnets!

2011-11-16T17:52:00.000-06:00

I love a good magnet. Here are some recent acquisitions.

Remember this artist? Here's a picture of that doe.

The cool wooden magnet came from Peru, courtesy of my pals Lexie and James.

The three at the bottom all came from Parts & Labour in Austin. I love them and think that they are hilarious. They started as buttons, but Lexie manhandled them into submission and removed the pin part. I stuck on magnets.

Sitting Pretty

2011-11-10T21:03:00.000-06:00

I got a new chair!

I'm sort of enjoying how it has that British library thing going on. But then it's a cool blue/white stripe (like seersucker without the puckers) that gives it a little laid-back vibe.

Two of My Favorite Initials: W. E.

2011-11-08T23:21:00.000-06:00

Can you even stand it? My love for West Elm has been rather well documented at this point, but this picture that landed in my inbox almost put me in the (way-too-early) holiday spirit. I love the mix of materials and colors but with the unified font.

Oh, and I went ahead and tagged this as an ad, mostly because it makes me want to buy, buy, buy. Who doesn't need a monogrammed ice bucket?

Austin!

2011-11-07T21:02:00.000-06:00

Let me just say that I had a great weekend in Austin. My pals Melanie and Joe were wonderful hosts, and we had a brief but enormously fun tour around the Texan capital. Our first stop was South Congress (locally called SoCo) at the store Uncommon Objects.

I don't know what it is about taxidermy that alternately fascinates and terrifies me, but this baboon definitely fit the bill.

Along those lines: doll parts.

Now we come to what was arguably my favorite part of the trip. Hey Cupcake! is a company of Airstream trailers that have been turned into mobile cupcakeries. Yum. I ate four.

Here we have a red velvet and "the standard," which is a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. I also got another standard and a Michael Jackson. That would be a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting.

Parts & Labour was a recommendation from my pal Dawn. It's a really neat shop where you can find things like Burt Reynolds pillows, complete with felt mustache, and hilarious postcards (see below).

One of our last hoorahs was a trip to The Oasis at Lake Travis. It's a nice restaurant overlooking the lake, where we were able to snag a balcony table and eat some delicious TexMex as the sun set over the Lonestar State.

One night we also went to Esther's Follies, which is a wholly unique experience. It's a show that combines music, magic, and political satire--almost like a scaled-down (funny) version of Saturday Night Live. If you're ever in Austin, I recommend all of the above. I think it makes a great destination for a long weekend, and we didn't even go to a concert, which is the heart of the city. The mind reels at such prospects.

I am already planning a return trip next year.

Definitely Late 20s Now. And Austin?

2011-11-01T23:29:00.000-05:00

Well, my 20s are almost officially over. My birthday happened over the weekend, and I'm now 29.

My twin bro and I met up at our older sister's house, and along with her family and our mom, we had a big lunch. If it wasn't a simple carb, we weren't eating it. For dessert we had cupcakes. They were most delicious.

The picture above shows my placecard for the meal, handmade by my younger niece. She did one for everybody and then thought it would be hilarious to turn them around so that we all had to guess where we were sitting. Isn't little kids' handwriting the best?!

I'm going on a weekend trip to Austin to visit some friends, so I'm extra excited about that, too. Does anyone have any must-sees?!

Boo.

2011-10-24T21:00:00.000-05:00

Guess who I was for a Halloween party over the weekend. :)

Cute Specs!

2011-10-19T23:04:00.000-05:00

I ran across this Land of Nod insert in a Crate & Barrel catalog the other day. Isn't she just about as cute as can be, the way she's concentrating on those blocks?

Nums.

2011-10-17T20:25:00.000-05:00

I just tried this snack, and it's insanely delicious. It's kettle corn plus dark chocolate plus chocolate chips. How bad could that be?

Yes! New Job!

2011-10-14T18:18:00.000-05:00

I am so excited. I just got a new job. Like an hour ago. It's at my same company, which is nice, but it's in the Education Department instead of Support.

Even before this wretched economy, I've always been fairly blessed with good jobs. (Cue the theme from The Wonder Years.) I started out working in a video store in high school (like Dawson and Pacey! What?!) and moved to a bank for most of college and grad school. I had a one-year stint as a high school English teacher, but to say that it was not ideal would be a massive understatement.

That is such a long story, but the gist is this: I loved the teaching part, and I hated the babysitting/politics part. My new job is going to be all teaching, all the time. I'll work with new employees at our company as well as clients (mostly hospital employees) who pay us for training. And I'm stoked.

I've worked in Support (almost exactly two years now) for our software, so I'm on the phone for seven hours a day with hospital staff who are having trouble with our program. I've learned a ton, but it's probably the hardest and most stressful job I'll ever have. The system is so complex, and I did not receive much training before going on the phones. And we're constantly being rushed by management.

Hopefully, as an educator in the company, I can help make a change for the better. That's not to say that I am flat-out running away from Support; on the contrary, I am grateful for the experience I've gained there. It's put me in touch with lots of our clients, and it's helped me to identify with their needs and expectations. It will only make me better at anything else I do in the company going forward.

I should start in the new position in the next few weeks. Those of you who know me personally probably know how stressed I've become at work, but this move just feels right. And I know that every job has its ups and downs, and almost no job is perfect. But I'm super optimistic. I just wanted to share my news and capture this excitement, blog-style.

Long Weekend

2011-10-10T20:01:00.000-05:00

In three words. Relaxing. Flowers. Stamping.

I picked these up at Whole Foods today. Just because.

Then I stamped up some birthday lovin' for my niece.

Don't worry about this spoiling the surprise. She's not a blogger, although I did have her text me her current favorite colors. Aren't kids funny that way?

What did you do over the last few days?

Geeze. Give Me Some Credit

2011-10-06T20:19:00.000-05:00

Some things in this world just make little to no sense. Wheel taxes. The Kardashians. And credit.

The thing with credit is that it takes credit to get credit, much like new graduates feel the pressure to have job experience to get a job. It's a total catch-22.

Here are a couple of things that I've learned so far. Hopefully they will help you, too. Please bear with me. We're dealing with complicated subject matter here. (Unlike said Kardashians.)

In my quest for fiscal knowledge, I have found that one of the best ways to raise one's credit score is to use a credit card. (Remember to check Credit Karma to see your score for free.) Oh, and pay it off in full each month. Just pay a regular expense, such as a cell phone bill or a trip to the grocery, with your credit card. Come home, unpack, and virtually swipe that debit card to pay off your credit card purchase.

This way you use a small part of your credit limit, which improves your debt-to-credit ratio. And make consistent payments without carrying a balance. This looks good to Mr. FICO.

You may be saying: But TomTom, how do I get a credit card? Excellent question, you.

Recently I applied for a card from a major company and was instantly denied. Limited credit history. What a bummer. I have a steady job, stable income, pay my bills on time, etc. It didn't matter. My score was considered fair, but the 'hard inquiry' from that company lowered my score by 20 points. This is what's known as a double whammy. You try to scrape together a decent score, but your efforts are only rewarded with a swat at your points. Le sigh.

I was able to get a no-frills card from a local bank, and after using my card one time (and paying it off, as mentioned above), my score went back up by about 20 points. I look for it to increase as I continue to make a credit card purchase at least once a month, indefinitely.

Why does this matter? Your credit score is a numerical way of expressing your reliability. At least in "The Man's" eyes. If you plan to buy a house, then the higher your score, the lower your interest rate. If you apply for a job, the potential employer may check your credit score. Collections from Verizon? Goodbye, corner office. Or tiny cubicle.

These are not circumstances to be taken lightly. If you are in college, please don't be like me and treat pre-approved credit offers like they're covered in warts. Compare your offers and take a card. It doesn't mean you have to max it out or even carry it around all the time. Again--small, regular purchases that you pay off.

If you have teenage children, call your credit card company and have your child(ren) added as authorized users. Then don't even tell them until they're older. That way, your score becomes their score, and they don't have to do anything to earn it. (It's one of the few times in life that I will endorse that mentality.) When you go to remove them as authorized users, it will not affect the score of either party.

If you've made it this far, thanks! I hope that this has been useful information. On Specs Appeal I try to share only what I feel is crucial for your daily life. Please remember that I am not a financial expert and am only sharing things that I have learned in my own experience. There are tons of great books, blogs, websites, and so on, but if I can be of assistance, please let me know! Mazel!

Guest Post Alert!

2011-09-28T19:32:00.001-05:00

My blog pal Morgan of La Chapstick Fanatique asked me to do a lil' guest post. So I did one on rubber stamping/heat embossing! Do, please, check it out!

The Sunday Blahs

2011-09-26T00:43:00.000-05:00

Does anyone else just get completely side-swiped by Sundays? I mean, it's like Friday nights and Saturday mornings are glorious. But the whole time there's this little gnat in my ear. And its name is Sunday night.

It's saying, "Enjoy it while it lasts, sucker. I'm coming for ya." And tonight, I said two things. The first was: I'm off tomorrow, so take that. 2. I'm gonna light some damn candles.

This was not, like, a seance for weekends past or anything. It was just something cozy to do. I put them on top of my fridge. Just 'cause.

I remember getting the Sunday blahs way back in grade school. I'd try to stay up as late as possible on Sunday night, just to hold on to the weekend. Then I'd be a little bespectacled zombie clear through to Tuesday or so. (Shhhh. Sometimes I still do that.)

But I try to remember that I am fortunate enough to have a job to go to on Mondays. And if I stayed at home all the time, it wouldn't be nearly as special. I hope you have a great week!

My Favorite Price

2011-09-20T23:38:00.000-05:00

That would be free. And here are my latest freebies that the WWW has to offer.

My new blog pal Erin of Better Than Bland turned me on to Picnik. It's my favorite of the bunch, and here's why. It's like a free (!) online (!!) Photoshop (!!!). You don't even have to sign up, and you can upload and edit pictures. If you do sign up, the site keeps track of your five most recent pics.

My favorite edit button is "Auto-fix" because it magically corrects all evils with said photos. (You know how oft I lament my dire apartment lighting situation.) I was considering the purchase of a new camera or Photoshop/lessons to operate Photoshop. But no longer.

Actually, I've gone back to some of my homemade pictures on older blog posts and corrected them with Picnik. Tah. Der.

I stumbled upon The League of Moveable Type when searching for cool fonts. This is a great place for them. Gratis!

Evernote is a site I found through Real Simple. Go figure. It's a one-stop destination for corralling virtually anything, from shopping lists to pictures to websites. And it links up and syncs up across all of your devices. Home PC. Space phones. iPad/Pod. Laptop. Dental fillings. JK. Not too shabby.

Limited Time Offer: Suze's Gift to Us

2011-09-11T22:45:00.000-05:00

You all know by now that I heart Suze Orman. Yes, she's crazy. And she's loud. And sometimes she gets so excited that she fumbles her words. But she is smart. And honest. I also love that Kristen Wiig impersonates her rather accurately.

But the point of this post is to share with you a gift from Suze, which she provided on the latest episode of her show. If you go to this link, click on the Gift Code button, and enter 'CNBC', you will get a free will and trust kit.

When I tried, I got a screen stating that the server has been overwhelmed with requests but that they are extending the offer for a week (previously it was set to expire at midnight Pacific Time on 9/13/11). If you have not yet completed the advance directive form, please follow the preceding link to my blog post. However, that form is included in this free kit as well.

If September 11th of 2001 taught us anything, it's that we should not take tomorrow for granted. I hope that this post finds you in good health and good spirits. Thank you, again, for taking the time to visit Specs Appeal.

A Little More Peace of Mind

2011-09-06T22:28:00.000-05:00

That wakeup call a few weeks ago is still front and center in my mind. I've continued to read and research, and today I found a really useful site called Caring Connections.

On this site, you can download (for free) the state-specific advance directive form that applies for you. This is basically a document that you sign (and typically have witnessed and/or notarized, depending on the state) that tells your wishes. Do you want to be kept alive on machines if, God forbid, something terrible happens in your young life? What if you develop a serious condition when you're older?

The fact is that no one can predict what will happen, and when you need to make use of an advance directive, it will already be too late. This site makes it very easy to download, print, and proceed with completing your advance directive. It is a document that every legal adult should have. And it's free.

I try not to be too preachy with my blog, but when I come across information that I feel is vital to be shared, then I am going to share it. It's because I care about each of you whom I know personally, and I also want other readers to be in the know.

Note: This is by no means a substitute for legal or medical advice. I feel compelled to add that little jewel.

Laboring Over a Hot Stove

2011-09-05T20:35:00.000-05:00

It was a delightfully restful Labor Day for moi. I made these soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies (recipe by Martha), and I have to say that they rank among the best ever. (Shhh...they're even better than these.) From her cookbook, I found a variation on the recipe linked above. Substitute half of one of the sticks of butter with a 1/2 cup of peanut butter. It's the best combination of flavors.

Nums. Of course the irony on this holiday is that they were really easy to make and even easier to enjoy. Now, the ease of burning them off? A different story.

Care for a Danish*?

2011-09-04T21:48:00.000-05:00

I just love this--from the cool Scandinavian lines of the table to the stripes on the rug. I'd probably do something different for chairs, but these do the trick fairly well.

At a cool G, the Oslo table would be a bit of an investment for me, but it should last a really long time. Plus it seats, like, 30 with the extension. :)

Thanks, Crate. Thanks, Barrel. I heart yaz both.

*(I realize that Oslo is in Norway, and my title refers to Denmark, but it was cheeky. And I was feeling it.)

I Spy Back to School For Grown-Ups

2011-08-29T19:40:00.001-05:00

I ran across this cool Daily Candy list of products for "big kids" as the smaller ones get back in the academic groove. Here are some standouts, at least from a visual perspective.

Um. Duh. :) This is a magnifying glass, of all things! Isn't it boss? Well, I'm sad to say that the price (78 buckos) matches. It is neat to look at, though. And look through, I bet.

Aren't these reusable lunch bags graphically appealing? They're normally sold in sets of 3 for $24, but you can get a deluxe set of 5 for $38, if you're so inclined. I don't know how well these will work, as they are cotton, but they would certainly be a discussion piece at the break table.

Gotta Make That Money, Man

2011-08-27T22:55:00.001-05:00

By now you probably know that I'm rather frugal. But that doesn't stop me from being interested in (reading about) the higher end places in this great nation.

I ran across an article on Time that was pretty neat; it's called The 25 Most Expensive Shops in the US. Plus, it had a cool graphic with one of my favorite color schemes:

From Failure to Frosting

2011-08-23T22:53:00.000-05:00

We had our August potluck today at work, and my contribution was these cupcakes with royal icing, Nigella-style. They are one of the easiest recipes that I make on a semi-regular basis, and the icing could not be more simple or (honestly) more stunning.

If you have just a moment, take a peek at this video clip of Nigella. My favorite, favorite thing is to hear her say in her British accent that the icing looks like white 'pay-tint' leather around 1:27-ish. Then she says that they look ludicrously perfect, as though they had been bought at a toy shop. I could watch her bake and cook all day, every day, I think.

Anywho, I hope you had a sweet Tuesday!

Failure to Prepare...

2011-08-22T16:40:00.002-05:00

...is preparation to fail.

I'm using this cool, Real Simple graphic of spoons in a drawer again because a) I love it and 2) I've been getting my collective "house" in order.

A couple of weekends ago, when I was back home visiting, I was awakened early Sunday morning by screams from my mom. Needless to say, it was unsettling. She had fallen in the dark, on her way to the bathroom, and long story short, my brother and I ended up in the ER with her.

She is totally fine now, although at the time she was beside herself with pain and confusion. And so were my brother and I. We did not react very well to this mini-crisis at first, but we picked up the slack and got her the care she needed.

All of this got me to thinking about making arrangements for life's little uncertainties well in advance. For example, I was faced with this question: Sir, what is your mother allergic to? And I promptly drew a blank. My brother knew less than I did.

Now, granted, Barb is completely back to her version of normal now. And she's way (way) too young to be "falling," but these are the kinds of things one should prepare for before they are needed. Suze always says that one needs a will and trust. I'm now working on that, despite my lack of vast wealth or children.

The important thing is to make your wishes known to your immediate family, despite your current health, income, living situation, etc. If (God forbid) your health were to take a turn for the worse, would you want life support? Who gets your house? Your money? Your creepy doll collection? Do you want to be buried? Cremated? Other?

I'm not trying to be all macabre here, but I've had a bit of a wakeup call, and I want to pass along this life lesson that I'm currently in the midst of learning.

Anywhere You Go, I'll Follow You, Down

2011-08-14T21:46:00.000-05:00

I don't guess I've blogged much over the last couple of weeks. Perhaps I'll say a little bit more about what's been going on in a later post, but I wanted to catch you up to speed on my latest purchase.

It's not these sweet sheets. Oh no. I still lust over them, even though they're mine, but it's these new pillows from Cuddledown.

Really, I can't say enough about them. Or about down in general. I have a down comforter that I got last year from Macy's. It's currently encased in this. And I like a down jacket for the winter. And a down throw for the couch. These pillows complete the set. (Tip: Check out the final pages of apparently any issue of House Beautiful, as I did, to get a link to a sweet deal for these pillows.)

If you're allergic to down, you could go with a synthetic material to get a similar loft and cushy feel. I bought a fairly lightweight comforter so that I can use it year-round. In the summer, I use it with just a top sheet (and fan), and then I add blankets as the mercury drops. My first down comforter was from Lands' End, and it lasted for years. I still miss it sometimes.

When I read blurbs that say we spend a third of our lives in bed, it makes me realize the nice-ness of outfitting one's bed in a thoughtful way. I like to take the time on Sundays to strip the bed, let the mattress breathe for most of the day (a Real Simple trick), and then start the upcoming week fresh, with clean bedding. Right now my bed (pictured above) is subtly calling out to me, aided by the Aveda candle burning on the nightstand.

It's a great way to wrap up a weekend, whether it was go-go-go or slow-slow-slow. Consistency is a quality sorely lacking in most places I look today, but this is one area that I know I can count on.

Discounted Kiehl's Monday, August 1st!

2011-07-31T15:38:00.001-05:00

If you're a fan of Kiehl's, then you know that they do not offer discounts very often. In my several years of being familiar with the company, I've gotten a discount exactly once. That was last Christmas.

Tomorrow (Monday, August 1st) you can visit a free-standing Kiehl's store to receive 15% off your purchase* in conjunction with their LifeRide for amfAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research. They are also donating $5 for every visitor to the store tomorrow--up to $100,00!.

If anyone wants anything, let me know. For real. I'm going to pop over after work and pick up a new face wash that I've been sampling. It's great for summer, which seems to last from May to November here. :) I hope you're enjoying your weekend.

*excludes gift cards and limited-edition charity products

I Zigged.

2011-07-27T23:58:00.001-05:00

I framed another little piece of somethin' somethin' recently. This one came from Linda & Harriett's sale! The frame came from Wal-Mart (for about $9-ish), and I scored this awesome piece of paper for about a buckaroo. It's one-of-a-kind, aesthetically pleasing to me, and totally replaceable, in case it can't handle the steam. (It's in the bathroom.)

Again, I apologize for the lack of great lighting. I tried it with the flash, and things went from ehh to ugh. And I had to do a wonky angle so you didn't just see a splotchy reflection of me on a Sunday afternoon.

Still Poppin!

2011-07-21T21:24:00.000-05:00

My Poppin order came in yesterday! Stoked is not even the word for it. The box itself made my day. You can click on the pictures for larger versions.

I got the signature green ballpoint pens, black wood pencils, erasers, navy notebook, and silver clips. What?! I have so many pens now that I've already started sharing with co-workers because I just couldn't keep the goodness to myself.

Another thing I like about this site is that they offer many supplies in lots of different colors. I think their main reason is so their business customers can cost-effectively develop a branding identity with a certain color of supplies--which is cool. But how about the idea of a color-coded gift bag for a child's birthday party or showcasing multiple rulers or push pins in a single color in a glass jar?

Anchors A'cheap!

2011-07-18T21:02:00.000-05:00

Whilst perusing my local Target over the weekend, I ended up in the kitchen/dining section, which is not at all unusual. However, this time I stumbled upon this nice glass trifle bowl from Anchor Hocking. Immediately I pictured it above my kitchen cabinets. Or maybe on top of a bookcase. Or filled with delicious figgy pudding. Ok. Not figgy.

Then I looked at the price tag. $10.50. What?! I knew that I had seen similar pieces at Crate & Barrel for way more--and not nearly as nice of a shape.

Exhibit A:

The Miranda. It is a cool shape, but it is also three times the price of the Anchor Hocking piece.

Exhibit B:

The Charleston. It's fifty dollars. That is 5-0. And it's glass--no platinum or rims or anything.

Granted, the one I bought is not pristine, in the sense that you can see a seam here and there, but turn the thing around! Sheesh. I think this would be a great way to display flowers, seashells, potpourri (if you're into that), Christmas ornaments, etc. You can't beat the design or the price. With this brand, you know it will last a long time. Mine will probably just remain a stylish space-filler above mostly empty cabinets for now, but it has tons of potential.

My Desktop is Poppin'...My Desktop is Cool

2011-07-15T18:46:00.000-05:00

Today I caught up on the blog Design Darling and was most pleased to be introduced to the office supply company called Poppin. This site has just about everything--pens, clips, laptop bags, and notebooks. And everything is reasonably priced! There's an emphasis on color and wit, which are excellent talking points.

Most people at my job don't pay any attention to what's on my desk (except for the chocolate), but that's ok. I feel that office supplies are things you should buy solely for yourself. And when you can pick up a bundle of cool pens for less than $1 each? Yes.

It won't be long before I'm placing an order. That is for sure.

Blog Much?

2011-07-11T22:37:00.000-05:00

A few semi-recent posts on blogs that I regularly read and admire have gotten me to thinking about blogging in general.

Why blog? What's the point? How do you classify blogs?

I have to say that Specs Appeal is, admittedly, somewhat random musings. I started it back when I was still living at home, finishing up grad school. Oddly enough, I had much more time then to blog and to read other blogs than I do now. I had tried to post every day, or at least every other day. Now it's more like once or twice a week.

I mostly blog when the inspiration strikes, and if you have been reading my posts for very long, you know that you're likely to see book reviews, things that I'm lusting over, or my latest trophy. It started with this title of Specs Appeal because my friend Joe Y. said that phrase to me a long time ago, and it just cracked me up. Now I sort of operate with the idea of what appeals to me through my own specs.

Blogging for me is fun, and I'm constantly looking for things to post, being careful not to copy/paste the same things that make the rounds everywhere else. If I do post something, it's because I think it's either valuable or funny or informative or some combination of these things.

And my opinion of ads on blogs is not very positive. That's why you probably won't see any here. Well, that, and my blog is rather small. Scratch that. We'll say intimate. Yes, intimate. That is why I do appreciate every visitor, follower, and comment. Thanks for your support.

Which blogs do you regularly visit? What are your thoughts on blogs? Life in general? Puppies?

Await Your Reply

2011-07-05T22:17:00.000-05:00

It seems that I've been on a roll with some fairly good books lately. And this one is certainly no exception.

Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon is really hard to classify. It's fiction, yes. But it really seems like so much more. And I realize how hokey that sounds.

This is a story of twin brothers (check!) and identity theft (un-check!), but it's engrossing from the very first page. Each chapter focuses on different characters and the intrepid dynamics between them. The story definitely has some twists and turns, and it made me think about things in this modern world that had not yet crossed my mind. I pulled a few references from my banking days, and I made other connections just from being an American consumer.

And this Dan Chaon knows how to turn a phrase, let me tell yaz. Every page was rife with lush imagery and plain ol' addictive storytelling. Example from page 65:

Nebraska was even worse than Ohio--if such a thing were possible. There was a soundlessness about this place, she thought, though sometimes the wind made the glass in the windowpanes hum, the wind running in a long exhaled stream through the weeds and dust and dry bed of the lake, and sometimes unexpectedly there would be a very startling sonic boom over the house as a military plane broke the sound barrier, and there was the rattle of the grasshoppers leaping from one weed to the next--

But mostly it was silence, a kind of end-of-the-world hush, and you could feel the sky sealing over you like the glass around a snow globe.

Tommy / Love

2011-06-29T20:43:00.000-05:00

I don't know what it is about vintage trophies, but I like 'em. I picked this one up from Mechanical Stag on Etsy. It's a prize for tennis prowess. And there's a little surprise....

Tah dah! It's bright blue inside!

It was about a year ago that I bought my other trophies. Maybe it's something about this time of year that makes me semi-wistful for any type of athletic ability. Oh well. Pointing and clicking are more my speed.

More Like This, Please

2011-06-28T18:38:00.000-05:00

Restoration Hardware should really consider more ads such as this one. It's graphic and slightly witty without being too cute-sy. I like it.

Now...if only they'd come down about 85% on their prices....

Trading Up

2011-06-27T20:21:00.000-05:00

I may have mentioned before, but I love Trader Joe's. Just love it. I took today off and treated myself to a little TJ sweep. Yum.

Here are some of my Trader Joe's all-stars.

1. Chicken drumettes. They're like frozen chicken nuggs but way tastier.

2. Dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Smooth and creamy. And antioxidant-y.

3. Organic peanut butter sandwich cookies. Imagine Ritz Bitz but with flavor.

4. Gone Bananas! Frozen, chocolate-covered banana bites.

5. Fudge and/or Caramel Sauce. ...

Sorry. I'm back. :) Trader Joe's is just so beyond. Everything is so neatly packaged and extremely well priced. Most of you know that I'm not a big veg-eater, but they have such a nice selection that it's almost tempting.

If you're into fresh flowers and plants, they have you covered, too. What are some of your favorites?

What I Know For Sure

2011-06-16T20:40:00.000-05:00

I guess Oprah inspired this new series of posts. When the inspiration strikes, I'll share some of my life lessons so far. The first is one that I stand by.

People will make time and money for whom and what they want to make time and money for.

I mean this in a fairly general sense. I don't mean that if someone wants a Mercedes, they will have a Mercedes, although they could. I'm talking more about the day to day stuff.

My Friend Roth

2011-06-08T23:33:00.000-05:00

A Roth IRA is for me. And you.

I have been reading about Roth IRAs since my days of working at a bank, and I meant to open one then. It's one of those things that can easily get away from you. I'm telling you that right now is the time. It's a breeze. Please bear with me in this post; I only share what I feel is valuable information. Wink!

Starting my own was part of getting my financial house in order over the weekend. The gist is this: you save money for your retirement, and this is money that has already been taxed. Ideally, you would want to practice that whole out-of-sight-out-of-mind thing, but if you do need to access it, you can always take what you deposited (not the earnings) tax-free. There are fewer rules than with a traditional IRA, and you can access the money at a younger age (59 1/2). You can also pull up to $10,000 for the purchase of your first house. Bonus!

Consider this as well: taxes will most likely be higher when you and I retire because, much like the mercury in a Tennessee summer, they rarely go down. Also, you could make bank and be in a higher tax bracket when you retire. Good for Uncle Sam, bad for you.

The current maximum amount for the year of 2011 is $5,000. You can open one at places like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Vanguard. Depending on which place you choose, you can generally start small and work up to the maximum amount if you are so inclined. Remember that if your company offers a match for their 401(k), you'd want to contribute first to that account, at least up to the amount that they will match. That is what's called free money, which is a rarity in this day and age.

If you're interested, there's a lot more information here and here. Someone once said that you should pay yourself first, and I definitely agree.

Shady In The Best Way

2011-06-07T21:15:00.001-05:00

Warby Parker is coming out with a line of sunglasses. And just like their regular specs, for every pair sold, they'll donate a pair of glasses to someone in need. Plus, soon enough they'll have prescription shades.

I can't wait. It will be the first time I've ever been able to wear sunglasses. Ok. That's a bit dramatic because I've always had options. But they have not been up to par. Not the case with Warby Parker.

Money Talks

2011-06-06T20:57:00.001-05:00

I spent a chunk of the weekend getting my financial house in order, as it were. Not that it was out of hand, mind you. But it was time for me to take control. Remember my resolution? My first stops were LearnVest and Money Under 30, which are great resources for financial information. Then it was on to Mint.

Mint is this totally free, totally awesome site that allows you to securely see all of your money matters in one place. There are charts, graphs, text alerts...oh my. You can set a goal, track spending trends, and learn tons of information.

Then it was on to annualcreditreport.com. This is the place that Suze (and the FTC) recommend. It's the only legitimate and free place to see your credit report. You can view your report with each of the three major agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) once a year, per the government. There's also information about disputing false information. Sorry--there's a lack of flashy graphics here, but that's sort of for the best.

My last stop was Credit Karma.

Similar to the last link, this place provides your actual credit score instead of the report. For free. And you can check your own score as often as you'd like. For free. They also give tips about dealing with debt in all of its incarnations.

Note: I do not purport to be any type of financial expert. I'm simply telling you how I spent several hours of a Sunday afternoon. My point in all of this is that the information is out there for us. And it's free. (Have I mentioned that?) And secure. And no one is going to do this stuff for you. If you take some time on the front end, I promise you that it will be worth it.

Don't wait too late to pay yourself. The time value of money is a very powerful thing.

NOT Wallet-Friendly

2011-05-30T18:55:00.000-05:00

So Nashville is soon getting two of my favorite stores ever. And I'm stoked about it.

First up, in August, is Paper Source!

It's going in the Hill Center, where it will live in excellent company--with West Elm, Whole Foods, Anthropologie, California Pizza Kitchen, and several other cool spots. If you're not familiar with Paper Source, I have to ask what the holdup is. They have some great gift ideas, along with cool papers and basic stationery goodness. (This is a picture of the Atlanta store.)

Then, in November, The Container Store is opening!

It will be at The Mall at Green Hills, presumably taking over the space left vacant by the Davis Kidd bookstore. I won't be buying so much here, but it will be a great place to browse and get ideas. Again, nifty gifts can be found here. Thanks for the head's up, Missy!

Now...if only we could get an IKEA. I think that would make my retail life complete. I'll definitely take what I can get, though! Who's up for Christmas shopping this year?!

States Appeal

2011-05-25T20:21:00.000-05:00

A while back I posted about where it makes sense to rent vs. buy. Now I bring you this:

also from LearnVest.

Isn't it great?! Again, we have something that's graphically appealing. That guitar represents me and several of my friends/readers. I love the idea of living simple.

Where do you fall? (Sorry, international readers. This one's got the home court advantage.)

Unbearable Lightness

2011-05-24T21:15:00.000-05:00

Confession: I read the following book expressly because of Oprah. She had Portia de Rossi on her show a few weeks ago, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

This is a memoir that centers around Portia's struggles with eating disorders and body image issues. And it was fascinating. Even though I pretty much knew the ending (she is married to Ellen, for those who may not be aware), it was still a page turner.

I remember Portia from her breakout role on Ally McBeal, which I loved in high school. She played the ice queen so well. And then she turned around and did Arrested Development. Genius. It showed a totally different side of her and her acting abilities--one that is whip-smart but vulnerable at times.

Early on in her career, she had lingering insecurity from her teenage years spent as an emotionally needy model. This book tells the story of her rise to fame while her personal life (and health) spiraled out of control. All I can say is that she does a great job of taking the reader right to the dark places in her mind at the time. It's definitely worth the read. My quote from page 230:

"Not just anyone could have anorexia. It was a disorder of the highly accomplished, cultured, beautiful. It belonged to models, singers, and Princess Diana."

Redbox Roundup

2011-05-18T22:58:00.000-05:00

When isn't a movie weekend a smashing idea? One of my semi-new favorite things in life is Redbox. New releases for $1. You can't beat it. (Especially in a recession. Am I right?) Last Sunday I had a mini-marathon, as I was woefully behind on some movies I'd been jonesing to watch.

First up was Hereafter.

Did this one pass you by? That's a shame because it's really interesting. Matt Damon is the biggest name in the cast, but there are lots of great performances. Plus, it has twin brothers. And they're British. I'm a twin, so I'm always intrigued by stories like this. It's not a very fast-moving story, but that's ok. Not everything has to have Furious in the title.

Then we have this one.

Oh, Natalie. You just chewed up every piece of that scenery, didn't you? But I liked it. I guess it was sort of a bummer to have seen most of the pivotal clips on awards shows and whatnot, but the overall tone of the film was unlike anything I'd ever watched. I was rooting for Nina, but I sort of knew how things would end.

I rounded out the film fest with The Social Network. And I know some of you may disagree with me, but I could not get on board with this movie. I think that the Oscar buzz was way overrated and not deserved. It just seemed like a movie of the week to me, and Jesse Eisenberg seemed completely one-dimensional. I hung on for about an hour and then had to cut and run. At that point, I did not really care what happened. Facebook is still around. Fin.

If you're not familiar with Redbox, it's time to get that way. $1/night is super cheap and legal. You can find one here.

Misnomer

2011-05-16T22:47:00.000-05:00

It's funny how GQ can be so polarizing to me. In one article, they'll gripe that $6 is too much for a lip balm, and on the next page they'll tout a $400 shirt. That's probably more than I spend on all clothes I wear in a year--including shoes.

Anywho, imagine my surprise when I glanced the latest cover:

Back? Where did he go? Since The Hangover, I'd go so far as to say that Zach G. has been damn-near ubiquitous. Due Date. Dinner for Schmucks. Up in the Air. SNL.

Can I get an amen?

Also, mini-rant: The Hangover was a funny (definitely R-rated) movie. Why couldn't we leave it at that? Why did they have to do a sequel? The obvious answer is the money. But wasn't it somewhat refreshing to watch that comedy way back in 2009 and actually laugh?

Of course I have not seen the sequel and can't speak to how funny it may or may not be. But look at the movies in the last, oh, I don't know...ten years. They're either fairly terrible remakes or comic book movies. That's why I blog about movies such as Rabbit Hole and Away We Go and even Kramer vs. Kramer.

What are some of your favorites?

Down the Rabbit Hole

2011-05-09T20:54:00.000-05:00

If you have not yet seen Rabbit Hole, it's time to hit up a Redbox. It's a dollar. And it's awesome.

Granted, this is not the feel-good movie of the year--quite the opposite, actually. But to say that the cast is wonderful is a major understatement. Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, and Sandra Oh are the central players, and they all turn in performances that are aptly described as layered and moving.

The story centers around a middle-aged married couple whose son is killed in an accident a few months before. We get to see how they continue to grieve in their own ways, and I found that this movie put a few new ideas in my brain. I definitely recommend giving this one a spin.

A Taste of the Islands (Mon)

2011-04-28T22:01:00.000-05:00

Imagine the quandary. One digs the industrial aesthetic, but one has limited options. Then one gets two catalogs back to back. Exhibit A:

This is West Elm's interpretation.

Exhibit B:

A disconcertingly similar offering from Crate & Barrel.

The difference? Two Benjamins. As a sidenote, I would love to have the specs chart in B. Which would you prefer? I'd take every seating option shown in both pictures, too.

What's a boy to do?

Tip for the Day

2011-04-27T21:19:00.000-05:00

Let's just put it in plain terms. If you can do something for someone else (no matter how small or large), please do it. This could include donating to a charity, smiling at someone as you walk by, or pulling your car up so that someone else can get around you. It's just going to make the world a better place. Trust me.

Spoons? Well, sure. Why not? This picture is from Real Simple.

How Did You Get This Number

2011-04-25T18:08:00.000-05:00

I thought I had posted about Sloane Crosley's first book (I Was Told There'd Be Cake), but I guess I'm mistaken. In the vein of David Sedaris, Crosley has made a name for herself by composing books of short stories/essays. I read her first book with reckless abandon because it was just so darn funny. She's roughly my age, so I can relate to a lot of her references of cartoons and foods and the like.

I was pumped when her latest book, How Did You Get This Number, came out last year. It took that long for me to be able to check it out of the library, but I'm glad I did. There are stories about running into one of the 'mean girls' from her younger days, scoring some discounted homewares, and taking a solo international trip.

While there was at least one good laugh for each story, it was nowhere near as endearing as her debut collection. With that one, I could not put it down. Nope. Not at all. This one was a bit less consuming, if you'll allow me to say so. Well, of course you will. I think that there was just less overall nostalgia in this book, to be honest, but it's still worth a read...after you get her first book. Here's a notable passage from page 152:

"When your classmates move away, it seems impossible that they could ever come back. As if the world's events since have happened to you but not to them. It's the reason you can look at your middle-school yearbook and still see your peers. But someone else's middle-school yearbook looks like a bunch of thirteen-year-olds."

More Nummy/Specs Milestone

2011-04-18T19:47:00.001-05:00

Well, well. I'm a little behind, aren't I? All I can say is that work has been bonkers. I was on call the last week/weekend. And it's like a prison sentence. The weekend before that I made some peanut butter/chocolate chip cookies. Again, I used the recipe from Smitten Kitchen (minus the rolling sugar).

Tah dah. It also passed me by that my last post was # 200 on the ol' Specs Appeal. Yay!

How have you been?

Nummy.

2011-03-29T22:45:00.001-05:00

By now you probably know that I have a sweet tooth. Sweet teeth, actually. Over the weekend I made this layer cake.

I used the Best Birthday Cake and Instant Fudge Frosting recipes from Smitten Kitchen, which is a stellar baking/cooking blog. For the frosting, I did not use a food processor, as she recommends. This is mostly because I do not own a food processor. I whipped it and whipped it good, though.

I had taken a few other pictures, but the lighting situation is dire. The cake was fairly scrumptious, though. I took it to work on Monday to share with co-workers.

Sidenote: I used what I call my cake cozy, which I found here. It's one of the best things I've bought over the last six months or so. A steal at $13.95. It does not budge and has a built-in slicer/server. Genius.

I Swam Dirty Water, But You Pushed Me In...

2011-03-22T19:46:00.000-05:00

This album is amazing. And people throw that word around quite a bit these days. But it's true. Stellar. I don't know why I did not jump on the Adele train sooner. I bought this and 19, her first album (coincidentally, also her respective ages when each album 'dropped') a few weeks ago and have not looked back. You may remember "Chasing Pavements" as her first big single from a couple of years back.

21 has been in constant rotation. Every song is a keeper. The first two are "Rolling in the Deep" and "Rumour Has It," and it took me about fourteen days to get past them because I kept hitting repeat. Thank goodness that I did because that soul is evident in the rest of the CD. She oozes talent. The link above is to Amazon, where you can preview. Except for the awesome cover of The Cure's "Lovesong," the tracks are all originals.

Give it a whirl; you won't be sorry. Oh, and she's British. It doesn't get much better.

Blink!

2011-03-21T20:33:00.000-05:00

Saving money + being green = a stellar idea.

Today's post is brought to you by the letters L & V, as in LearnVest.

Derailed.

2011-03-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

My resolution train is seriously off its tracks. *sigh* Linda & Harriett has a new outlet and craft bin. My order has been placed. Enjoy, but hurry! Things are going fast.

To The Victor...

2011-03-07T18:52:00.001-06:00

I feel like the trip to Atlanta was a whopping success. Although my resolution had to be put on the back burner, as it were, much fun was had by all. I also spent monies at Ikea and Young Blood Gallery. Here is what I bought:

The frog print is by Ryan Berkley via Young Blood Gallery (also available on Etsy), and the frame is from Ikea. I just love how it came together. I also love the caption that came with the print:

This unassuming frog is a high school math teacher. He also coaches the mathlete team who have gone undefeated under his leadership. The students like him for his laid back attitude and his "Fractal Fridays" slideshows.

This artist has tons of options for different animals in spiffy outfits. Kermit meets Mr. Rogers was the vibe I got from this one and had to have it. The prints come in different sizes, and some are even made into magnets. (Shhh...I may have bought one of a doe that says "Best Eyes," yearbook style.)

Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent

2011-03-03T20:13:00.001-06:00

Do you remember how I'm recently obsessed with LearnVest? Well, via LV I found this:

I think it's graphically appealing, but more than that, it shows which places in the country are smarter for renting versus buying. It's just some cool food for thought.

(via Trulia)

Just Peachy

2011-03-02T21:24:00.001-06:00

I spent a nice, long weekend in Atlanta with my pals Samantha and Jonathan, a fun married couple. We went to Paper Source, Yeah! Burger, CB2, Lotta Frutta, Youngblood Gallery, Highland Row Antiques, The Beehive, Richard's Variety Store, and IKEA.

I had a blast. Here are some pictures. :)

I want two of these stools. Bad.

Cool succulents at CB2.

Random antique-y goodness.

The Beehive is really neat. It's like an in-person Etsy. That's how Samantha described it--spot-on.

You know I always have my eyes peeled for specs.

Here Samantha is chilling with her imaginary wine in a 67-cent glass.

We had an excellent time together. Thanks again, Samantha and Jonathan!

I Can See Clearly...

2011-02-23T18:03:00.000-06:00

Hey blog friends! Thanks for bearing with me through the last couple of no-update weeks. I had a few bumps (and ice) in the road, but I'm back. And I brought specs-y with me. (Sorry.)

The second collection from Warby Parker is now available! These new frames just cause optical lust in many ways. WP has also added a little feature where each frame's page tells you which face shape that style will work best on. The prices have not gone up (about $95 for each pair), and they still donate a pair for every pair purchased.

I'm going to keep rocking my Coltons most days of the week and spice it up with Thompson from time to time. Has anyone else tried out Warby Parker?

The Magicians

2011-02-06T15:09:00.000-06:00

The Magicians by Lev Grossman has been on my must-read list for about a year now. When I moved to Nashville, it was one of the first catalog searches I did at the public library; much to my dismay, of the dozen or so copies they had across the various branches, all were gone. They were also on hold. All of them. For a long time.

This was a bittersweet recognition that people here actually read. No offense to anyone from my hometown, but there was usually not a line on a book, unless it was the latest Harry Potter. Hmm....speaking of which...

This book was a blatant rip-off of C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling. I'm surprised he didn't sign his name as L.V. Grossman. There's nothing new here. Nothing. Almost every aspect was apparently 'borrowed' from a highly known book or movie. I am getting a bit ahead of myself, though.

This is the 400-page story of Quentin Coldwater, a bright high school student who is getting ready to apply to colleges. His life takes a wild turn when he is accepted into the magic school called Brakebills. It's a thousand wonders he was not a neglected orphan as well.

As I mentioned, there's not really anything new here, but there was a bit of magic--at least for me. It's a definite page-turner, but for this reader, it was more about getting down to when the real story was going to start. Around page 357 or so, I realized that Grossman was running out of time. I never got particularly attached to Quentin because he doesn't really seem to have many unique or redeeming qualities. Maybe this was the magic? I kept reading, despite myself. It was a decent book, but it was mostly like Hogwarts with some f-bombs and alcohol thrown in for good measure.

Notable excerpt:

"...perfection is a nervy business, because the moment you spot the tiniest flaw it's ruined."

...still here

2011-02-02T23:04:00.000-06:00

Hi all. I'm still around. Work has been insane in the membrane. I've been putting in tons of overtime. Please bear with me. I have some ideas for some new lust lists, more food coming soon, and a new book review.

How have you been doing? (Don't be shy. I love a comment.)

Everything Matters!

2011-01-23T17:18:00.000-06:00

Well, well. This book is not like anything I've read in quite some time. As you can glean from the flap, the world is ending relatively soon, and only young Junior Thibodeau knows it. You can imagine how this might affect any person, much less a child, and it's an interesting predicament to ponder.

Extremely bright but often misunderstood, Junior seems to grow up with most everyone else at arm's length. To further complicate the sitch, his silent, absentee father works non-stop, and his mother has drunk herself inert. Then (cue the predictability factor) he meets Amy, a fellow smartie/similarly troubled youth.

Everything Matters! by Ron Currie, Jr. is not a book I'll read again too soon. It does have a few poignant (and sometimes funny) moments, but overall it didn't speak to me. Although Junior is privy to the when and how of the apocalypse, he doesn't seem to do much with it. For my time, I'd just as soon spend the hours I read this book on watching back episodes of Lost.

Choice quote from this book, by Junior:

So instead of venting my anger, which is really just hurt dressed up for a night on the town, I ask if anyone needs a drink.

Lust List: CB2 Spring 2011

2011-01-18T21:14:00.000-06:00

What is it about the impending spring that makes one want fresh linens and a house? I'm not sure, but these catalog people certainly know. Because they milk it.

I posted about CB2 before, but 'tis a new season with some fresh products that inspire lust in this heart.

What can I say? I love a task lamp. I wish this one came in other colors--namely, a really dark gray.

Are you sensing a theme? As with anything, you get the good staples, you will go far. This shower curtain would be really cool in a bathroom with charcoal gray paint on the walls. You could go with ice blue towels. Not bad, huh?

These glasses are so simple. I could see one holding ice water, a cocktail, a pound of paper clips, or a toothbrush. Not at the same time, hopefully.

Doesn't this sconce have that mid-century flair that's so nifty?

I would like this whole tableau, please. Yes, I just said tableau on my blog. The light fixture is a major enhancement here, and those chairs make such a cool contrast againt the boxy table.

I couldn't quite get the pictures to cooperate with me this time around, but if you like any of what you see, please click on the links. You'll be directed to the product page, where you can see enlarged images. Tah dah. :)

Lust List: West Elm Spring 2011

2011-01-06T22:15:00.001-06:00

This is how my Lust List idea started--a new West Elm catalog. Guess what. I got another yesterday, and I'm loving the new direction this company is taking. It's very Americana with a twist. Very Etsy (literally). Very clean and fresh. So I had to kick off a new season of the Lust.

How could I not? Look at this. It's almost enough to make me want to break my first-quarter-no-shopping resolution.

This is like my favorite sheets, but it's in a friggin' duvet. What?!

You have to appreciate a simple task lamp.

Here's an awesome metal-framed mirror. I would like to take this, turn it on the horizontal, and hang it over my couch.

Typically I shy away from red. But this black/white/red rug is calling my name.

Oh, wow. This industrial metal bath cabinet blew my mind.

Ok. I know, with the stripes, but I love them. They make this cool shower curtain in the same gray color as the duvet. There's a good chance I'll own it before the year is up.

To make the resolution-keeping that much harder, I got a coupon from West Elm in my inbox today. *sigh* I'm trying to stay strong.

Oh, It Begins...

2011-01-01T17:06:00.001-06:00

First off, happy new year! Thanks for reading, as always. I can appreciate humor in advertisements, but for some reason, this one struck me as wholly un-funny.

It's from Kenneth Cole and was waiting in my inbox today. At first I wondered why I even get e-mail from Kenneth Cole. Oh yes, I thought, the ads are usually pretty choice. Not this one. I guess I can't totally blame KC.

It's that time of year again. I'm doing another first quarter of no extraneous spending. It shouldn't be too difficult, really, but ads like these are just shy of irritating. It's akin to already seeing Valentine's ephemera on the shelves.

Other resolutions: Exercise more. I started today with 45 minutes on the treadmill; tonight I have a date with the yoga mat. My plan is do that tomorow and the next day. I go back to work on Tuesday, so let's see what happens after that.

Get more informed about money. I'm counting on LearnVest and (no kidding) The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s.

Take the time to be more thankful for people and things in my life. It's so easy (too easy) to whine and moan about what sucks, so I'm challenging myself to look at the alternatives. Thanks to Megan at Pink to Green for the inspiration.

I think that's about all, but they're fairly major ones. Do you have any resolutions? I hope that your year is an excellent, healthy, happy one.

Sights of the Season

2010-12-30T19:01:00.000-06:00

I've been meaning to post these few pictures from the last month or so. Here are: a pumpkin spice Bundt cake, homemade mashed potatoes, and mini-loaves of banana nut bread.

Happy New Year, dear readers.

Merry Christmas To You

2010-12-24T11:32:00.000-06:00

I hope you have a great Christmas. Mine's a work in progress. I'm "on beeper" for my company, trying to put out e-fires at hospitals around the country. I do have the whole series of Arrested Development to keep me company, though.

I may not post much for a week or so, but never fear; like a phoenix or a runny nose, I shall return.

Deja Vu...Scary

2010-12-15T18:53:00.000-06:00

Do you happen to remember this post? Whew. I do now.

It's because today, over on Manifold Destiny, I saw a link to this:

I thought, "Dang. I should do a quick post on this bag from Hickoree's Hard Goods. And I should call it It's In The Bag." Then I searched my own blog for the word bag. Hmmm....

All I can say now is I'm nothing if not consistent.

If Only You Could Wear It...

2010-12-13T23:40:00.001-06:00

I am talking about LearnVest. I first heard about this on The Nate Show, and I recently saw a little mention in a magazine. An investigation ensued.

This is a website dedicated to uncomplicating our finances. Retirement, taxes, insurance, real estate. It's all there--and more. And it's all free. They even have a daily e-mail. (Check!)

I've only spent about thirty minutes at this point, but so far it is excellent. It's easy to see how this could have an Etsy effect (wherein you start out looking at one thing and find yourself, three hours later, with so much more in your mental inventory).

I have already read articles on getting a better cell phone rate, making your own 'green' cleaners, and brushing up on your auto insurance policy.

Confession: The site is targeted at women. Don't care. They break it down, Outkast-style. Ok. That's a bit strong, but for real, it's simple and easy to follow, without condescending to the reader. I really recommend this to everyone, but it would be especially good for younger people who are just graduating and starting to work/save money. Spoiler alert: one of my resolutions for 2011 is to learn more about investing and jump on it.

Mini-Gift Guide 2010

2010-12-08T19:32:00.002-06:00

Ok. So the gifts aren't mini, but this should be a fairly concise guide to finding something for most people on your list, most under $20. Tah der. Remember to buy locally when possible, too, but these are some ideas for those with limited options and/or time. Please bear with me and read on until the end. It's worth it! Promise.

Oh, and the rules I gift-shop by.

1. Shop year-round. (Whoops. Well, this guide is a great place to start, if you're a little behind. And you'll know for next year.) This strategy allows you to constantly browse for items on sale or out of season that could be useful later. Think birthdays as well.

2. Only buy it if you're sure it's something the person will use, read, display, eat, play with, or wear (this can be the trickiest one--see #4).

3. Is this something you'd rather have for yourself? If you answered yes, then get a duplicate. You'll only come to resent your loved one.

4. Consider the person's lifestyle. Are they trying to watch their weight? Well, stay away from Godiva. If she's a T-shirt and jeans person, avoid fancy jewelry or sweaters. She will not wear them. I had to learn this lesson from some of my family members.

5. Only give a gift card if it's a last resort or you just want to help them purchase something they've mentioned that you do not want to spring for. Hehe. Is the person just impossible to buy for? Do they already have everything they could possibly want? Have they dropped no hints throughout the year? You can always donate to a charity in their name. I like St. Jude and Gilda's Club. The organization will usually mail a card to the "in honor of" person, and your donation should be tax deductible. It's a win-win.

Without further ado, here are some ideas that should be crowd pleasers.

2011 Planner from Dozi on Etsy. Confession: I ripped these right off of Freck. She won't mind. They're great and a steal at $11.50 each.

Silver bowls from Jamali Garden. Ina would approve. These are $12 each, and you could present one as-is or fill it with candy. Ghirardelli squares, anyone?!

Aveda's Shampure Candle. This is my new favorite thing. The candle with recycled/reusable glass container is $32 and burns for about 50 hours. The refill candle is $22. It's an earthy scent, so girls and guys should dig this.

Stationery from Rifle Paper Co. I feel that paper is always a good gift. This set would be ideal for dog lovers, but Rifle has an excellent selection for other people in your life. The price is $16 for a set of 8. That's only $2 per card (with envelope), which is not too shabby. For a licensed character at Hallmark, you'll spend twice this. Also consider something like this for children. It's never too early to teach good manners (like sending thank you cards) in this day and age.

How to Be Popular at FredFlare. You cannot go wrong with cheeky books. The cover alone is worth the $13.95.

iPod case from Byrd & Belle. Yes, I blogged about these before, but they warrant a second look. Angie, the designer, makes cases for just about any Apple product your techie's heart could desire. This one is $26, and it will be unlike anything s/he will see in stores.

Hopefully this guide has given you some good ideas. I don't have a promo code or a giveaway or anything except a thank you for taking time out of your day to visit Specs Appeal, throw a little comment love my way, and share part of your lives with me. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

Christmas, Real Simple Style

2010-12-01T19:21:00.000-06:00

I may have hinted at this before, but if you're not signed up for one or all of Real Simple's free daily e-mails (or the magazine itself), you're missing out. Today's message was no exception. There was a nifty link to several decorating ideas. To wit:

You know how much I like a shoe form. :)

Aren't these cool ideas? See more here. Their ideas are actually doable and would not cost a fortune. Oh, and I'm trying to get in the spirit. Can you tell?

This Is Where I Leave You (the book, not a personal statement)

2010-11-30T18:18:00.003-06:00

Wow. I heart this book.

It's all about the life of Judd Foxman, a non-practicing Jew (it comes into play!) whose wife cheats on him with his boss. Oh, and Judd's father has just passed away. He returns to his New England childhood home to observe the shiva (see?) with his mother and siblings. In case you're not familiar, which was me until reading this book, shiva is a Jewish tradition in which the close relatives of the departed person mourn his death and welcome co-mourners for seven days.

It was fascinating enough just to learn more about this practice, but throw on some family drama, childhood memories, and a ton of hilarity, and you have a real winner. This was seriously a book that pained me to put down; I have since checked out Tropper's Everything Changes, which is very much in the same vein of being addictive. (See what I did there. Vein. Addiction. Drugs. Hehe.)

Favorite quote from this book, spoken by Judd's older brother:

At some point, being angry is just another bad habit, like smoking, and you keep poisoning yourself without thinking about it.

Thanks!

2010-11-25T12:15:00.000-06:00

Today I'm thankful for my: health, job, friends, family, American citizenship, collection of lip balms, subscription to Real Simple's daily e-mails (see picture above), and DVR.

I'm also thankful for your: blogs, comments, and visits here.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

Watch Me Go Green

2010-11-22T23:21:00.000-06:00

Ok, ok. Back in the summer I posted how I always go for relatively inexpensive watches. It's true. Or was. I saw this and had to have it.

It's a Citizen Eco-Drive, and I'm crazy for it! A month ago I saw this same watch in GQ and thought how nifty it would be. And I'm not the kind of person who usually runs out and buys something just because I saw it in a magazine.

Plus, I decided that since this one is solar-powered and never needs a new battery, I should not feel guilty about spending a tiny bit more than a few Timexes. It's still not a Rolex or anything like that. Granted, I am the slightest bit terrified to scratch it, but I know I'm in good hands. My pals Steve and Missy, who own Steve's Jewelers back in my hometown of Union City, have got the hookup. In the event that I have a watch or jewelry question, they always know the answer.

And they happen to carry Citizen. I sent Missy a picture of this one, and they had it in stock. Color me green!

I do like the band it came with, but it was a little too military for everyday wear for my taste, so I switched it out with this one.

I found it at J.Crew for $20, and it's a lot more flexible and classic than the green one. Of course I'm still keeping that one to mix it up, but the gray is my go-to band now. Plus, it's kind of cool that this is a custom creation and no one (at least for many miles) has this same watch/band combination.

You Cheated on Me with Choreography. And That is the Worst Kind.

2010-11-18T22:19:00.000-06:00

I really don't know why I have not yet blogged about Modern Family.

It's genius, really. My pal Ashley had been trying to get me to watch it shortly after it premiered last year, and I'm glad I finally came around. Normally I shudder at "family" comedies and sometimes really wanted to sue the vile CBS because everybody does not love Raymond. But Modern Fam is different. Because it's actually funny. And it's on ABC on Wednesday nights at 9/8 Central.

TV veteran Ed O'Neill plays Jay Dunphy, the patriarch of this crazy extended family. He marries the spicy, much younger Gloria, who has a (hilarious!) son named Manny. His daughter Claire (Julie Bowen, also a vet) is married to the delightful Phil, and they have three children. Then there's Mitchell, the son/brother who, with his partner Cam, have adopted the adorable Lily.

The show has already racked up Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series. If you're not watching yet, click here to see a bit. You won't be sorry.

Oh. This post was going to be about last night's episode, in which they celebrate Manny's birthday at Maggiano's, which I also love. But I decided to make this an official endorsement. Enjoy!

April & Oliver

2010-11-17T21:06:00.000-06:00

If you're looking for a particularly season-specific book, I think I've found it.

This is Tess Callahan's story of April and Oliver, childhood friends whose lives remain intertwined, for better or worse. Upon the sudden death of April's younger brother Buddy, the title characters are reunited after growing apart post-high school. Oliver is the preppy, quiet law student, who is engaged to the seemingly perfect blonde Bernadette. April is the tough-exteriored bartender whose dark hair matches her mood.

As you can probably tell from the rather striking composition of the cover, this is not a feel-good story. But it's not a total downer, either. What happened in their respective pasts that caused them to turn out the way they are? Are they ever going to just hook it up and end the suspense? Way before the end of the story, I wanted both of the main characters to succeed, in spite of their challenges. And even though part of it takes place at a beach house, you still get that sort of crispy, cool feeling that's present throughout most of the book. I read it in bed, as I often do, and it was a nice one to snuggle up with.

What are you reading right now?

Swirly Goodness, Indeed

2010-11-15T19:01:00.000-06:00

While I will always be loyal to my favorite guys, barring a catastrophic outbreak of lactose intolerance, I have a new discovery in Nashville. It's Pinkberry. And it's de-lish.

Yum is really all I can say. I'd heard about Pinkberry from magazines and blogs (it seems that stars are usually seen cavorting about with those little containers), so I thought it was time to check out the new location on West End Avenue. Oh, and in case you're wondering what it is, let me clarify. It's fro-yo, yo! (I didn't know for the longest time. I wondered if it was snow cones or frozen berries or what.)

Ashley was down with that, so we hit it up on Saturday night. They have several flavors of yogurt and a variety of fresh fruit and fully machine-made candy toppings. I picked chocolate (duh) with chocolate crispy drizzle and a chunk of waffle cone. Ashley got two mini swirls of pomegranate and mango. We were both on cloud nueve. Unless you like that super-tart, not very sweet flavor, steer clear of the original.

Of course it's not health food by any means, but it's a fairly smart way to treat yourself. Nonfat or low-fat yogurt. Active cultures. All that. But also tasty.

Ace in the Hole

2010-11-10T19:59:00.001-06:00

I'm hooked on lip blam. You may remember that from a while back, but in case you're new, this brings you up to speed. And I just realized that I started this post with the same sentence as the older one. Oh well. I'm nothing if not consistent.

Anywho, I had read about the brand Jack Black and how awesome their lip balms are. On my last trip to Sephora, I decided to give them a whirl. I'm glad this happened.

Jack Black is a men's line, which means that it's sort of low on the frills factor. These lip balms are not too shiny or sticky, and they really work. Plus, they have some SPF going on. I'm for that. I've taken to putting them on before bed, and I'm hoping that they pass the test of the dry winter air.

Do you have any new lip discoveries?

Boo-lated

2010-11-03T21:34:00.000-05:00

Ok. I'm a tad late with this, but I wanted to share.

I made these whoopie pies to share with my pal Emily on Halloween, when I helped her pass out pounds and pounds of candies. She lives on this crazy-cool street, and it was bonkers. There were kids everywhere. My favorite was a girl wearing a sweater vest, cool glasses, and scales down her back. I asked what she was; she said a thesaurus. Loved it.

I got this little word puzzle from a co-worker last year, and it's hung in my cubicle ever since. Check out those directions. Circle the correctly spelt halloween words. And is RIP in this context really a word? Again, love it.

I hope you had a fun Halloween and ate plenty of candy.

Lost

2010-10-28T18:39:00.000-05:00

Gregory Maguire is a name that you may not be very familiar with. It's one of those that you've probably heard a few times (like Mitt Romney or Barry Diller) but are not quite sure who they are. Well, I have a word for you. Wicked. Wicked, to be more precise. He's the author who inspired the hit Broadway musical with his version of the Oz tale.

Maguire takes classic children's stories and reworks them in a way that is fairly unique. He usually throws in a dash of intrigue, a romance, and a deeper, more grown-up sense of magic.

Lost was the last of his big-people books that I had not read. (He also writes truly kiddy books, which I'm sure are great.) It seemed to hold the same promise as his other stories, but it fell flat. And quick. It was sort of a pastiche of Ebenezer Scrooge, Jack the Ripper, and a modern-day writer who travels back to her ancestral home in England. Quite simply, there were too many references and not enough cohesion in the storyline. I did make it to the end, but I really didn't care how it turned out. (See also: this season of Project Runway.)

Let me say that I really enjoyed the Wicked series. Ok...the third book (A Lion Among Men) could have been completely left out, but the first two books more than make up for it. I loved Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Mirror Mirror, too. You can see his other books here. I definitely recommend reading from his catalog, but don't start with Lost, or you may not get much further.

Iconoclastic Specs

2010-10-25T18:34:00.000-05:00

Have you ever seen the show Iconoclasts on the Sundance Channel?

It's great. Robert Redford produces this show, which brings together two standouts in different fields who interview each other. This weekend it was Cate Blanchett, one of my favorite actresses, and Tim Flannery, a fellow Aussie friend of hers who studies climate change. This was right up my alley, but imagine my surprise when I saw Cate's crazy-cool specs.

I love them...and her. Not everyone could pull off such a dramatic (ha) frame, but she is one of the few. The show comes on Saturdays at 9 Eastern/8 Central, but they re-air episodes all the time. The week before it was a re-run of Fiona Apple with Quentin Tarantino.

Look out when Charlize Theron meets Jane Goodall. It promises to be a (insert-clever-monkey-joke) time.

Pop Chart!

2010-10-21T19:09:00.000-05:00

I saw this link today on Daily Candy, and I got quite a kick out of it. It's a poster called Grand Taxonomy of Rap Names from the company Pop Chart Lab.

It includes such jewels as Doodlebug, Lateef the Truthspeaker, and Krust. If you click the link, you can roll over the image for a magnified view. Be sure to look for categories like Familial, Virtues, and Audacious Misspelling. I know some of my fellow children of the 90s will appreciate this as well.

At 20 bones, I'd say it's a flippin' steeeeel, yo. Yeah. I took it there. What?

Valet Says: Try This At Home

2010-10-20T18:24:00.000-05:00

I usually read Valet each day during lunch at my desk, or if I go out, I may or may not read it while taking a mini-break from work. They're sort of hit or miss, in terms of what is actually wearable and/or affordable for most American guys, but they always have something entertaining.

To wit:

Today it's an assortment of home decor items based on clothing style. The post is called Try This At Home. This collection is called "Urban Rake," which made me smile. I'm sort of a mixture of three of the four featured styles. Can you guess which one did not make my list?

Geek in the Pink

2010-10-19T22:03:00.000-05:00

I'm mildly obsessed with Warby Parker and have been thoroughly enjoying my new specs. Even though I probably won't be buying more frames any time soon, I still find myself perusing their website every few weeks.

Here's the most recent discovery.

Isn't this awesome? They've made a new version of their Japhy style in this nifty pink shade, and $50 from each sale goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Style and substance. That's a rare combination these days.

WE (Still) Love

2010-10-18T18:00:00.000-05:00

So I guess I'm somewhat of a creature of habit, but if lovin' West Elm is wrong... Well, you know the rest.

I've had my eyes on this for a while.

And now it is mine. It's a duvet cover, and the color is sea spray, which is sort of a blue-gray. Go figure. :)

I had a coupon for 10% off, so I picked this up, along with the 2011 Linda & Harriett calendar. It's so awesome that Liz from L&H is selling her calendar through a national retailer like West Elm. You can find one at your local store or through her website.

If you're thinking of buying one, though, now is the time. Last year I don't think they lasted through Thanksgiving.

I'm also going to try to pick back up with more regular blogging. Things have been a little tricky lately. I hope you're all doing well.

(pictures from westelm.com and lindaandharriett.com, respectively)

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

2010-10-11T23:31:00.000-05:00

Do you happen to remember this post on the first Flavia de Luce novel? Well, I'm happy to report that I picked up the second book, and it was equally entertaining.

Just like last time, Flavia is up to her old tricks, but now there's a new mystery afoot. It all starts when a shady puppeteer and his mysterious female companion show up (or rather break down) in the town of Bishop's Lacey. Of course Flavia senses that something is fishy from the first minute, and she's completely right. Throw in some good, old-fashioned town gossip and a rich, visiting aunt, and you've got a few hours of entertainment.

Again, this is a fun story of intrigue, science, and humor. Best line of the book: Boil me dry! Flavia is always using really odd expressions, and I'm into it. Alan Bradley continues to do an excellent job of writing from the perspective of a young girl, even as she begins to mature and see the world in two different ways.

If you have not read the first book, then, really, what are you waiting for? The weather is about to get cool, and these would be the perfect start to your hibernation.

What are you reading now? Do tell.

Let's All Go to the Lobby...

2010-10-07T23:58:00.000-05:00

...and then promptly back to our seats to revisit some classics, especially after seeing these reimagined movie posters on the unfortunately named EveryGuyed. I love the simplicity and the graphic punch, and even for the few movies in this lineup that I haven't seen, I know exactly what they're getting at. Yes, I just ended a sentence with a preposition.

I first saw these linked from Valet and then again over at Manifold Destiny, but that won't stop me from posting here.

A Visit Home/New Specs Debut

2010-09-29T19:01:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I got to go home and visit some friends, including Lexie and James, Holly and co. (including Stella!), and my mom and brother.

Here is a picture of me with that sweet baby. Isn't she precious? She loves her Toms. Sorry. And those are my new Coltons from Warby Parker.

This is my other new pair, called Thompson. This shot was back from the demo days, and I tried my best to doctor the picture within an inch of its life.

Originally I thought that the Thompsons would be the go-to, everyday frames, but the more I wear the Coltons, the more I like how they're just slightly oversized and funky. My mom called them tiger. She meant tortoise but wouldn't concede. It wasn't worth the argument. Believe me.

Aren't Hue Ready for a Quiz?

2010-09-22T23:46:00.000-05:00

I had to. This quiz was in my inbox today from Real Simple. It's called What's Your Color Personality?.

I already knew what I would "score," but it was still fun to take the quiz and read the information at the end. It only took about five minutes. Give it a whirl, won't you?