Pinterest Obsession....

I’ve discovered two new things lately.

1. A new (reaffirmed) love for writing with Ultra Fine Tip Sharpies.

2. Pinterest (thanks to Brooke for the invite).

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How does it work?
You get a little button on your favorites bar (much like the CraigsEasy button, if you did that) and then you can *pin* images and place them onto different boards in your collection. Its super easy.

Why is pinterest so great?
It just is.

• I don’t have to save images on my computer anymore, freeing up precious hard drive space – (and you don’t have to worry about a crash).
• I can save images anywhere (home or work) and they all go to the same place.
• It keeps the source of the image. So if I’m posting an image of a DIY project into my ‘Thing to Make’ board, I can always click on the image when I actually get around to wanting to make said item and get the directions. No more bookmarking tutorials. I would also think this would make a great cookbook…..I may need to start a food board.
• You can share with other people and other people can see your collections. I signed up using my twitter account so I’m automatically following the people I follow on twitter who also have a Pinterest account (and you don’t have to ask them to follow you, or request to be their friend or anything :)). You can also follow other people whose collections, or single boards, strike your fancy.

Basically it’s a visual reminder of a million things I like, in one place, that is easy to access and contribute to. It’s a virtual sketchbook and I’m obsessed.

I have 5 invites to give away – who wants one?

Bespoke Silhouette Bangles....

Some people choose to engrave their wedding bands with their wedding date or names - but this is taking that to a whole new level!  At Cameo by RUX you can create a custom band with a using the profile of your loved one!
Can you see the profile of the faces? 

I'm pretty sure this is the coolest thing since sliced bread.
AND for those of us that already have our wedding rings, they have bespoke bangles!

Now I just need to figure out which anniversary is 'Resin' so I can convince the boy to buy me one!
Images from Cameo by RUX

Power Tool Wish List....

As I mentioned before, my parents came down a few weekends ago for my birthday and to help us build the island for our kitchen. Within an hour of their arrival our backyard had been transformed into a complete workshop. My dad had let us borrow one of his miter saws previously, but he brought a bigger, better one to use; a table saw; compressor with nail gun (makes finish nailing so much easier); a router with attachments galore and all sorts of other fun (IMO) things to help us get the job done right. I was most jealous of his multi-max and his kreg jig.

He was not surprised to learn that I wanted all of these things and that I had watched many a late-night/early-morning infomercials on power tools.
We would definitely tackle more projects if we had the proper tools on hand. But, we don’t, so we have to schedule our big projects around my parents schedule and whenever they feel like making the 5.5hr drive (each way) to visit me, instead of playing with their new grand-daughter. Anyways, we are slowly trying to build up our tool arsenal.

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So far we have:
Random Orbital Sander
Borrowed Double-Compound sliding miter saw
Circular Saw
Power Drill
Craftsman rotary tool
Levels, Squares, Clamps, Multiple Drill Bits….I’m sure I’m forgetting something.

WANTS:
Kreg-Jig ~ $100
Table-Saw ~$200 - $400
Dremel Multi-Max ~ $100
Plunge Router (I think I can get an attachment to do this with my rotary tool ~$30) ~$100 new
Dremel Trio ~ $100 (I could live without this *for now*)
Finish nailer w/ compressor ~$300 (ouch, I think we’ll use our trusty hammer and nail set for a while)

Admittedly, my list isn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. All my wish-list items are less than the cost of this stool.*
I’m stalking all these power tools on Ebay; unfortunately there aren’t too many good deals to be had there either.

I’m thinking about taking a week off sometime this winter to make the trek to Maine and take (what I’m dubbing) ‘Dad’s Cabinet Building Class’. Building things is really so much easier and more convenient when you have gazillions of tools at your disposal and a space designed specifically for building. It’s no fun having to do projects in stages and clean up after each part because you have guests coming over and are currently using your dining room as a workshop. Although I’m not sure how I would get said cabinets back to Mass. the Volvo could probably handle a few, but I might need some cross bars.**

What home-improvement tools are on your wish list?

*You are seeing my powers of rationalization in progress here.
**Christmas List Hint.

Birthday Wish-List (the male version)....

The boy's birthday was yesterday - he gave me his birthday wish list at 8:30AM the day OF his birthday.  Although this is pretty standard (he does not share information in a timely manner), he's usually quite punctual to actual events, in fact we get to the movie theater 20 minutes early every time. 

Anyways, this is one version of a 28 year-old boy's birthday wish-list :

Wusthof Classic 8" Chef knife

32" LED LCD (for the bedroom)

BB GUN (we have a large population of unsavory animals in our backyard which he thinks he can scare away if he had a gun)  there is a skunk in particular that keeps digging holes in our yard.  I'm pretty sure this is not what he had in mind, but if I had to buy one it would be this :

Magazine rack for the bathroom - (seriously, this is on his list).

Rotary Tiller - he has grand plans to dig up our backyard and replace all the grass.  He does not like the grass we have now, he says it makes him sick just to look at it.  I'm pretty sure its standard grass.

Landscape Plans for the Backyard -

Obviously I did not get him any of these things, as I do tend to shop BEFORE the actual BIRTHDAY, unlike some people.  I feel this is a pretty random list of things.  Knives and guns to landscape plans and magazine racks?  Who did I marry? 

I heart September....

September is my favorite, and not just because it's my birth month.  I love the weather - I love that I can eat hearty soup, wear sweaters and snuggle under blankets - but that I don't have to wear a jacket and when the sun is out it's still warm.  I love the way September sounds, at least in the northeast, it is rustle-y; the leaves are turning and they are crunchy and you can hear it everywhere.  I love the apple cider and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. 
But anyways, my birthday is in less than a week - woohoo!  I'll be a ripe old 26.  I was asked to put together a list of gift suggestions :

Dolce & Gabbana - Light Blue (I love this scent, and I'm out).

50mm Prime Lens

Pretend Wide Angle Lens

A deep tissue massage

Tory Burch Reva Flats

A Classic Burberry Trench (always on my list, will probably never happen)

 Some art for our walls, like this Boston Diptych, by StudioKMO

I would love a personalized city print to commemorate our wedding by JHill, like this one Meredith got -

or maybe a Ork Poster of Boston?

and I think these books would look fabulous on our bookshelves, once we get bookshelves that is.

The boy turned 28 this morning - I'll share his birthday list with you later (as I recieved it all of 15 minutes ago) he's a little behind schedule :)

Whats on your wishlist?

Pillow Love....

I happened to be browsing Etsy yesterday and came across the shop of WillaSkyeHome and her gorgeous pillows.  Her site says she is an interior designer with a passion for chic home decor fabrics -

And chic they are - you know I cannot resist a bold/classic pattern in fun colors :)

Charcoal & Taupe Greek Key

Sky Blue & Ivory Quartrefoil

And Navy Blue Lattice Work are some of my favorites -

Alright, cleaning the drool off my keyboard now.
If you are in the market for pillows (or covers) I would check out her shop -

*all images taken from her Etsy page

A Summer Love...

Kind of completely in love with these.

They remind me of picking strawberries with my mom.

And would make a fabulous housewarming gift (hint hint).

From Jayson Home & Garden ($20-$38)

I have a new Love...

I have a new love.
Her name is Grace.
She is a 7 week old Lab/Weimaraner mix.

She was recently rescued from a kill shelter in NY and is looking for her forever home.
I'm dying to go get her.
DYING.

Please comment below to convince my husband we have to go get her ASAP.

Car Recs?

The upside of moving away from the city is that I no longer have to take public transportation.  The downside of moving away from the city is that I no longer can take public transportation.  Which means...I need a new car.
I'm thinking I want some type of small to mid-size SUV or cross-over.  Ideally this:

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The Volvo XC60 - I come from a devout Volvo family, but I don't think it would be the wisest choice for two new homeowners.
The challenge is I will be driving a lot, so I want something with decent gas mileage - but also want space (esp. for the puppy).  We don't have a truck or anything to haul things with and we plan on becoming Home Depot regulars so it will come in handy for those runs.  Plus, I just like being up high.


SO, please tell me, what do you drive?  Do you like it?  What is your dream car?

On my Reading List...

I haven’t read a lot of ‘the classics’, but I want to.

Especially if they look like this:

Designer Coralie Bickford-Smith created these gorgeous cloth bound book covers for the Penguin Cloth-Bound series and they are now available in the US.

Please add these beauties to my Christmas list.

Dear Santa .... Round Two

cont. from previous list :)

A Parking Spot @ Work 

Seriously, this would make me so happy.  I HATE taking the T and bus.  I hate always having a cold because people are always coughing/sneezing on me.  I hate waiting and waiting for them to show up.  I miss listening to the radio and not having other people's sweat drip onto me in the summer.

Medium to Large Puppy with Big Feet or Floppy Ears (preferably both)

and obviously puppy accessories :)

xoxo,
C

P.S. Did you have one of your naughty/nice henchman driving my bus today?  The driver looked very much like your namesake although not as large or as jolly, this leads me to believe that he was maybe a first cousin?  Anyways,  if he doesn't report back to you regarding my naughty/nice status, I always offer open seats to the elderly and injured before I sit down. He just might have had trouble seeing that since the bus was so crowded (ref. gift #1).

Dear Santa .... Round One

Dear Santa,

I noticed you have started placing your Christmas paraphernalia in stores already.  I assume this means it is acceptable to start sending you my List (s).  There will most likely be multiple editions, they are meant to be 'in addition to' not 'in lieu of' previous lists.

Let us begin:

A shiny DSLR.

A classic Burberry trench coat. 

Dior 'Copacabana' Sunglasses in Havana (the black is too harsh on my face).

I'll let you get started on these first few things and get back to you later.

xoxo,

C