Notes from the Republic

Mississippi Mud!

2011-08-31T10:52:00.002-05:00

I hadn't had Mississippi Mud Pie since like...4th of July 1989. It's just as good as I remember it. While eating a cupcake last weekend...outside...in 107 degree heat...it just wasn't hitting the spot. Nothin' but love for the cupcake, but sometimes it's just not the sweet treat you want on a hot day. Sometimes you want a cool treat...a cool, creamy, chocolaty, crumbly treat.

Mississippi Mud Pie, ladies and gentlemen. ***This is i no way "lite", "skinny", lo-anything".

Recipe by my Momma

What you need:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup flour

1 cup chopped pecans

8 oz. softened cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

3 cup Cool Whip

2 each 3 & 5/8 oz. Jello© instant chocolate pudding

3 cups cold milk

Directions:

First layer: Mix butter, flour and pecans. Press to bottom of 9x9 dish. Bake at 375º for 20 minutes, then let cool. (Oops no photo of this step. Sorry!!)

Second layer: Cream together powdered sugar, 1 cup Cool Whip and cream cheese. Spread on top of crust. Chill until set.

Third Layer: Mix together pudding mix and milk (pudding will be thick). Pour on top of second layer and chill until set.

Fourth Layer: Spread remaining 2 cups of Cool Whip onto pudding. You can decorate the top with shaved chocolate if you like. Chill entire dish for several hours. Cut through all layers and serve in squares.

Ta-Da!

New addition!

2011-06-02T08:31:00.000-05:00

Last time Dad went to visit PawPaw in Covington (just north of New Orleans) he spotted this gem sitting on a shelf! He brought it back to Houston with him and it's now easily my favorite, the second being Dad's old Pentax. It's a Kodak but I keep forgetting to bring it to work to look up the serial numbers so I can date it properly. I like to imagine all the fun things PawPaw and Gammaw would do when they used this camera...all the snapshots they'd take on vacations and road trips...maybe out on the boat.

What a great addition. Thanks, Dad and PawPaw!

Scwinnnnnnnnng!

2011-06-01T11:03:00.000-05:00

I'm super excited about my new wheels! After enjoying the cruiser for ~2 years , I decided to change it up a bit and try something new. It's alot to learn and I'm vurry scared of cars...but I'm gonna go slow and steady (Not lookin' to win any races...) We're working on getting the boy a bike too so we can explore! Hurray Summer!

Walnut Banana Bread Adventure!

2011-05-25T09:27:00.000-05:00

Starbucks' recipe! They just....gave it away...on a recipe card. What's wrong with these people?

Mashin' bananaz.

Addin' walnutz!

...more walnuts on top!

Fresh outta the oven!

With butter... juuuust before going in my belly with a glass o' milk.

This was super easy and so good for breakfast!

Spring Roll Adventure!

2011-05-25T09:19:00.000-05:00

This was my first attempt so I went all veggie just to be safe. Use whatever you fancy! I saw a recipe for BLT spring rolls the other day...but bacon? Just seems weird...but it could also be fabulous.

I bought:

shredded carrots ($1.50)

a cucumber (~.50)

fresh mint ($1.70)

fresh cilantro ($1.70)

a jalepeno (~.25)

daikon sprouts (~$2)

House of Tsang Bangkok Peanut Sauce (~$4)

rice vermicelli noodles (less than $2)

rice paper/ spring roll wrappers (less than $2)

Chopped up my veggies/herbs, boiled the noodles for 3 minutes then rinsed them in cold water.

Filled a large skilled with warm water (didn't have a big enough bowl) and dunked the rice paper for 2 seconds. Don't keep submerged for longer, 2 seconds is all it takes. It may seem like it's still a little too crunchy, but I promise they soften up fast.

Placed the rice paper on a plate, put a little pile of veggies and noodles in the center and wrapped it up like a burrito!

That's it! The peanut sauce already has a bit of a kick to it, but we threw some sriracha in there for good measure. We made 7 and gobbled them all up. So much flavor! We'll definitely be making these often- next time with shrimp!

Enjoy your Gỏi cuốn!

2011 Houston Art Car Parade! * PHOTO HEAVY*

2011-05-25T08:21:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday was a beautiful day to sit outside and watch ridiculously adorned cars drive by!

MY FAVORITE ARTCAR!

HTX Happy Hour is on Twitter!

2011-04-27T13:54:00.000-05:00

So lately I've been busy with my new little Twitter venture. I figured I pretty much used my personal account just to tweet about the amazing happy hour specials I would come across (i.e. $1 martini Wednesdays, $1 reuben slider Mondays, etc). I searched for one a few weeks ago and since I didn't come across one, I took matters into my own hands. So I introduce to you HTX Happy Hour on Twitter.

On it you will find photos, menu uploads, reviews and cheap daily deals from restaurants and watering holes around Houston.

I'm learning so much about so many deals around town, I had no idea Onion Creek in the Heights had Dutch beer Tuesdays where Heineken and Amstel are $2!

Here are a few menu's I've collected so far.

I think doing the research (tasting) may be the best part.

New hobby idea?

2011-04-20T10:30:00.001-05:00

Talkin' bout picklin', y'all! Nothing better in a spicy bloody mary than an okra pickle..or pickled green beans. They're just soooo good! I used to eat my Gammaw's pickled okra by the pound and.... srsly? They want like.. almost $4 for a small jar at Kroger. That's stupid. It can't be super difficult, right? Plus I like mason jars! What if I got like.. super good at it...and came up with some amazing blend of spices no one has thought of before and I pickle everything under the sun and sell thousands of jars at farmer's markets across the country??!!

PICKLIN'.

We could have a slogan!!

You'll Relish Our Pickles?

Never a Dill Moment?

hmmmm

In other news, we roasted some sweet potatoes last night and made sriracha ketchup. It was fantastico!

If you've never had sweet potato fries (or in this case, not fried!) I highly recommend.

1.Scrub em up real good.

2. Slice em (like in circles) Then slice the circles in half.

3. Throw em in a big Ziploc with one tablespoon of olive oil.

4. Shake em up!

5. Throw on a cookie sheet and bake @ 445 (i know, it's hot!) for like.. 15 mins.

6. Flip em and bake em for 10-15 mins more.

7. Remove from oven and salt/pepper as desired!

"It's like Richard Scarry characters went to a Grizzly Bear show."

2011-04-19T17:48:00.000-05:00

this tumbler is killling meeeee (thanks nora!)

On Style.

2011-04-19T11:21:00.005-05:00

I've really been making an effort to put more thought and imagination into getting dressed instead of just sleepily grabbing whatever my hands touch first @ 6am. I mean it's early, I have to be at the office in an hour...I probably didn't get enough sleep because lately, the Fuzz won't shut her cake-hole at night and I'm usually not in a very creative mindset. BUT...In the still-dark of my bedroom with only a single, dim bulb illuminating my choices, I tell myself "Think outside the box!"...the box being my office space. It is possible to put something together that's stylish (for, say,cocktail hour or a dinner) and work appropriate!

source

Its odd to work on cultivating personal style at (almost) 30 years of age and I'm almost envious of the endless resources girls have today that didn't exist when I was in college (forget about high school!) In 1999, I was studying MLA style, not browsing personal style blogs. But I know that it's never too late. Updating your wardrobe is challenging and transitioning your style from college grad to professional, even girl to mother is tricky and there are so many people out there setting fantastic examples.

I've just been so inspired recently and it's because of a handful of ladies I'll probably never meet. I've learned that a summer dress can take on so many different personalities when paired with a great pair of shoes, a favorite clutch, a long dangly necklace, even pinning your hair up or wearing red lipstick. The perfect belt really can make an outfit. Fit/cut/shape is so important. ANYTHING can be hemmed, taken out or taken in, so keep an open mind when thrifting!

In summation, I'd like to say thanks to the following bloggers for reminding me that getting dressed can be fun and for making me thankful I'm still young in an amazing time: Jessica Quirk, Amanda Johnson, Kendi Lea, Coury Combs, Bonnie Barton, and Erin.

With these new eyes, I shop. This payday purchase is a two-fer because I've been pinching the pennies lately (and for some reason I felt like I deserved it..?). I love browsing the Modcloth dresses and yesterday I found this sweet little sea green spotted frock! (Under $50!) I love*love the color and the collar; the collar's definitely what got me. I like that it's long enough (@ 36") to wear to work- I can't wait to put this outfit together...

{Modcloth's Sea Salt Breeze Dress}

paired with a brown braided belt {UO}

and my (recently purchased) Gimmik Platform sandals by Blowfish! I'm pretty damn excited about these shoes because A) they were a good deal at $45 (free shipping @ DSW when you use promo code SHIPR) B) They have a 70s vibe to them...which is uncharted territory for me. I wouldn't exactly describe my style as 70s influenced so it's nice to get out of my comfort zone and try something new! and C) I haven't been able to get them out of my head ever since I first layed eyes on them via Miss Bonnie @ Flashes of Style

(the 3 shoe-shots below are hers!)

{source}

Snowball Bliss!

2011-04-18T07:52:00.001-05:00

Sunday was the most gorgeous day! We officially kicked off our Spring with the first snowball of the year. We went to Mam's House of Ice in the Heights for the first time (WHY it took me so long to go is beyond me...) I got lemon, Ryan got pink lemonade and they were fantastic! I hate it when snowballs are too crunchy and this one was perfection, super-soft ice...tart and refreshing. The little trailer was cute, too- pale blue with lime green accent trim. It felt so good to sit in the grass in the sun with a frosty treat and I think I could make this a weekend ritual.

The lines can get a little long, but it's so worth it.

Keep Calm and Eat an Entire Onion

2011-04-15T10:02:00.002-05:00

I've been a little fussy lately so I was sorta looking forward to my second ever yoga class. I needed to stretch, breathe, focus, etc. Calm it down, basically. It's the Hatha, which is supposed to be the pretty easy going one (so I've heard...if I'm this sore after the "easy going" yoga, I don't want to know what intense yoga is like). So I was all like this:

(just kidding y'all, no way in hell I could do that)

and as with any exercise (I hate exercise) during the class I was like.. "You know what? Forget this...I quit" But a little voice inside of me was like "Don't quit! This is a good thing!" and then I was all "Yeah? Well what do I get if I stay?" and the voice said "Fried onion strings".

So after Yoga, Ryan and I proceeded to fry an entire onion. (a la Pioneer Woman!) And then eat it.

And it was good....for the first 10 minutes. I don't feel so awesome now.

Side note: I'm so happy my yoga studio doesn't make us pair up and put our butts on each other. Maybe this is couples yoga or something...

[photos google images and pioneer woman]

Tutorial Thursday: Sea salt and vinegar kale chips

2011-04-14T08:19:00.000-05:00

So Danielle over at Sometimes Sweet posted her kale chip experiment (she got the recipe here) and I admit I was skeptical. I don't think I'm veggie-clueless (maybe a 'lil bit?) but I had never tried kale. Maybe I was a little intimidated by how intense it looked, mega-leafy/super-thick, etc. I guess for greens my default is lettuce and spinach...but I was intrigued. I like salty and crispy..so, good-for-you just seemed like a bonus!

I picked up a bunch (1.89 @ Kroger) and went home to experiment. Here we go!

1: Make yo'self a drink (you did just have a long day at work...you probably deserve it) Rocks martini w/ lemon and olive pictured.

2: Rinse off your kale and dry it thoroughly with a paper towel.

3: Break kale leaves into bite size bits (I made approx 22 pieces).

4: Throw kale into a large Ziploc bag. Throw 1 tablespoon of EVOO and 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar (or any vinegar you fancy) into the Ziploc, seal and shake it like shake n' bake.

5: Toss kale onto a cookie sheet, space them so the pieces don't touch.

6: Sprinkle with a little sea salt and cracked black pepper. I also sprinkled with cayenne...because...well we put cayenne on everything.

7: Place cookie sheet in 350 degree heated oven for 10 minutes. After 10 mins, give em a poke. They should be hard to the touch. If not, you could flip them & give 'em another minute.

Using a spatula, put your crispy kale chips on a plate and nom! They're salty, crunchy and they're good for you! I just learned: Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein and reasonably rich in calcium. Take THAT potato chips!

My cousin Rebecca says they resemble smushed frogs...I can see where she's coming from, but I'm not discouraged! I could see this kale chip thing becoming a weekly snack in our house.

* Note: Was informed that they do not keep well so if you make 'em, eat em up!

Tiny Shop Update!

2011-04-12T09:57:00.000-05:00

After a month of 0 shop updates...BAM! I've added a pair of earrings and a ring! I recently acquired these pretty little peach colored roses and had to make some jewelry. They're perfect for spring! I love this color.

{ring}

{earrings}

#winning

2011-04-08T15:00:00.002-05:00

I won these vintage thermoses (thermi? what is plural for thermos?) on eBay! I don't need 6 those grey mugs but the 4 thermi (we're gonna go with thermi) are totally worth it. 10 bucks! TEN! WEEEE! That wood grain one? That one with the...what is that.. wheat? on it? AWESOME. I know collections are supposed to be...collected. You're supposed to find one unique piece at a time...maybe from different places...over a period of time but when something like this falls in your lap, you gotta take it! They'll have such a good little home on my round kitchen table.

Damn allergies

2011-04-08T09:48:00.000-05:00

First it starts off as a nose-itch. Then maybe a sneeze here and there...then your throat gets a little scratchy, then it feel like you gained 30lbs in your head. I don't know what it is... exactly...that I'm allergic to. Oak? Ragweed? My office? Maybe all three? But I'm ready for it to be over because I've been substituting my glass of wine at night with 2 benadryl and I miss my Pinot. I'm sure Ryan is totally thrilled that his girlfriend is a Zombie.

In other news, I've resisted the urge (strong, strong urge) to buy any clothing online this pay period. (remember when I said I would allow myself one new dress each pay period?) The Mercury recently had some costly repairs so I'm pinching pennies this month. My last few trips to Leopard Lounge were disappointing which was odd because I usually have good luck! SO! Last week I brought 3 of my long vintage dresses (Leopard Lounge finds from last year) to the tailors so she can wave her wand and magically turn dowdy frocks into brand-spankin' new summer mini dresses! I'm picking them up today after work. SO EXCITED. I do hope she cut enough off...I'd hate to be on the receiving end of a disdainful look if I ask her to cut them shorter. But I've been making an effort to restyle the things that are already in my closet. I absolutely need to update my shoe and accessory stock but as far as dresses, skirts, etc go I'm not buyin'. I also resolve to clean out my closet sometime this weekend and make a big bag for Goodwill. The thing about Goodwill is...when I go to drop off a bag...I usually leave with a bag. Sigh.

I just realized that my toiletries and makeup were more organized when I was 15... in my caboodle... then they are now. Ryan...30th birthday present idea, plz?

Also what happened to Kissing Coolers?

OH SNAP you can buy it on eBay... FOR $10-15 EACH WHAT THE WHAT. Isn't that how much MAC lipsticks are?

It's Friday...so I gotta go listen to Rebecca Black as she is now part of my celebratory ritual.

Happy weekending!

Oh hai! Let's ketchup.

2011-03-31T11:02:00.001-05:00

So I haven't been around much as you can see, but things...life...has been very good. The Omaha trip was wonderful, fast paced craziness but I think next time we'll go the airplane route. There's just too much we want to do when we visit that wasting a whole day in the car isn't worth it! Instead of car-riding we'd like to sip an Irish Coffee @ Mr. Toad...get the creme brule at M's Pub...hit a few more antique shops...the list is endless! This is the only photo from Omaha... a silly picture of Pat (looking a little suspicious) and I at Slowdown before the Lady Gaga show...and as Gaga shows go..it's always too much, too fast.

Work is A-Ok (I got a new office!... with a window!)

A few weeks ago Living Social had a great deal: 20 pilates and yoga classes for $20! I snagged one and so did a few friends so twice a week I've been going to yoga! The first class I signed up for was called "Fundamental pilates"... I'm thinking... ok fundamental.. like.. beginners, right? hooollllyyyy crap..that class was NOT for beginners. I don't exercise regularly. I'm not proud of it, but I would make an effort.. maybe... twice a month. After years and years of gymnastics and cheerleading, I guess I was just over it. So I thought "ok... lets start slow.. ease into it with a little "fundamental" class. NOPE. The instructor was great, but she was going at like...fitness guru pace. She was Denise Austin on speed. She didn't really modify anything for someone who.. oh I don't know... hadn't worked out in a month and had never taken a pilates class in her life. By the end my body was shaking horribly...my muscles feeling like jello. For a split second I though "oh shit...I can't stand up"... and it freaked me out. So with focus... I got up..and walked very slowly to the door...then to the car where I proceeded to get into the drivers seat butt first and lift each leg...one by one.. into the car. It freaked me out and so until I they offer a beginner's pilates...I'm done with pilates.

Probably because I'm a spaz.

Yoga on the other hand... I liked! It was challenging...I learned that I don't know how to breathe which is funny...and that I'm about as flexible as a bread stick now. I have another class scheduled next week! Today I'm doing something called Shimmy Express...which I believe is something like belly dancing? Basically a gut focused work out which it something I am all for. So... I've been working on my ~~fat ass~~ fitness, trying to be active at least 3 times a week. Swimsuit season y'all. It's still coming.

We went to the Bayou City Arts Fest last weekend which was fantastic! Made By One Girl was there again and I bought two more of her map love notes. I just love them!

Last weekend was also the first Braud family (minus Michelle+Dylan and Peter) crawfish boil of 2011... SO EXCITED FOR CRAWFISH!

{ryan's photo}

My brother's been living in Peru and visited Machu Picchu this last weekend- abso beautiful!:

{pete's photos}

Michelle and Dylan are still surrounded by snow in MN but it's getting better, right? RIGHT? IT HAS TO WARM UP. SRSLY.

This weekend the Final Four is in Houston. I loathe basketball...I hate the squeaking sound the sneakers make BUT...because of the final four there are tons of free things to do in Houston this weekend! (Free is good... the Mercury needed some repair work this week...VERY inconvenient). So Friday the Hold Steady is playing a free show and Saturday-- Kings of Leon! The shows are @ Discovery Green which is one light rail stop from our house! Free things we can walk to! Which means... first we walk to the pub... THEN to the park. It works out.

What else has been going on? Oh, I've just started season 2 of LOST. Y'all I know I'm all late to the party but that show....is so good.

Ryan and I watch an episode of X-Files every night before sleep. It's one of my favorite new traditions. The other night we made an X-Files fort...it lasted like.. 10 minutes before it got kind of annoying (we're not architects...I'm gonna have to look up how to properly build a blanket fort on the Internet) but it was fun for those minutes.

I hope you've been well, happy, busy (good busy...not the "oh my God I'm going to die" kind of busy). I'll be around more. Getting back to blogging is on my to-do list along with losing 10 lbs, letting my hair grow, eating less crap-food and being a better person.

ROOOAADD TRIPPPP!

2011-03-03T07:54:00.002-06:00

I'm 90% sure we're going to Omaha in two weeks and since plane tickets are 400$ a pop (DUMBBB!) we're gonna fill the tires with air, get the oil changed and hit the great American road...(but we can only stop for bathroom breaks....we're on a time crunch!)

KIND OF EXCITED.

Cooler will be packed full of Red Bull and Starbucks espresso shots. It will definitely be a challenge, but we can do it!!

It's coming, y'all...and I'm scared...

2011-03-02T10:10:00.000-06:00

I'm talkin' bout swimsuit season...but I'm trying to be optimistic! After browsing lots and lots of suits I found one...I present to you my 2011 suit aaaand I have to lose about 8 lbs before I can put it on.

It's being delivered Friday! I better stop eating.

Have you found your spring/summer 2011 suit yet? Are you even thinking about it?

Rodeo Houston!

2011-03-02T09:42:00.000-06:00

Just a few shots from the Houston Rodeo BBQ cook-off Friday (I didn't actually take any photos once we got into the cook off, just the carnival outside... derf. ) and Trail Riders Parade on Saturday.

After one too many beers and gorging ourselves on BBQ, I can't believe we actually peeled our faces off the pillow @ 9am on Saturday to catch the parade. I'm glad we did... I love seeing all the horses!

How do i get this job? I want to be a prancing cotton candy SO bad!

Snacks! Healthy Edition

2011-03-01T11:47:00.000-06:00

I call meals "snacks"... because I think my favorite meal is comprised of snacks. If we go out, I'd rather order and share 3 or 4 appetizers/ small plates than one big plate or bowl of just one thing. I like to taste, mix it up, and have variations in a meal. At home, one of my faves is an assortment of cheeses, some fresh veggies, fresh french bread and herb olive oils. I like to think it's what I'd be eating if I lived in the South of France...drinking Bordeaux and being skinny. I wanted to share this snack idea:

Tonight we're having one of my new favorites, blueberries and goat cheese on water crackers. It's super easy to do- you can mash the cheese and berries up together or my favorite, food process to a beautiful, creamy blue. There's just something about the tartness of the cheese and the light sweetness of the blueberries that go together perfectly. Plus blue food is always fun.

BONUS!

Goat cheese:

When compared to cow milk products like cheddar and cream cheeses, goat cheese is lower in fat, calories and cholesterol, has greater quantities of potassium, vitamin A, thiamine, niacin and is rich in protein

Blueberries:

One of the most antioxidant rich foods!

Blueberries also contain a high amount of vitamins, including: Vitamins B1, B2, B5 and B6, which help your body convert food to energy; Vitamin B3, which aids in lowering cholesterol; B12, which is good for your metabolism.

HURRAY!
The crackers aren't horrible for you either...I mean you can eat 10 plain at 120 cals. shazzam. They're pretty big crackers, man.

SNACKTIME, Y'ALL.

Vandalz.

2011-03-01T10:23:00.000-06:00

I'm just sayin'... if I spotted one of these guys on a lamp post downtown...it wouldn't exactly... ruin my day.

Holy... shop update!

2011-02-21T13:30:00.000-06:00

It was a busy weekend in the sweatshop! Brooches and rings, earrings and necklaces, cool hooks to hang those necklaces on...

Go check out all the new loot! Yippeeee!!

Etsy Love

2011-02-17T11:06:00.000-06:00

I am loving these little cameo framed original art brooches! They're so cute and unique. You know that if you go out with one of these pretties pinned to your cardigan no one else will have one like it.

above {Nan Lawson}

above {Storybook Rabbit}

The Tattoo Baby Doll Project

2011-02-15T13:48:00.000-06:00

So while I'm at Goodwill...maybe rummaging through toys, looking for a vintage Fisher Price record player or some old Viewmaster reels...never have I ever looked at an old cloth-body baby doll and thought "I could totally embroider tattoos on that baby doll"...but it did occur to Sherri Wood over 10 years ago.

I randomly came upon this project today, started in 1998 by a lady who happened to like embroidery and tattoos.Its a precursor to the handmade art/craft movement that is so prevalent these days. I admit that I didn't immediately love the dolls (a smidge creepy?), but the more I read about them, the more interested I became.

It was a simple idea. (from the artist's statement on the project site) "I find cloth bodied baby dolls at thrift shops and send them to tattoo artists who then draw original tattoos directly on the dolls. They send the dolls back to me and I hand embroider the images on the cloth bodies".

Her purpose was this: "to break down barriers and prejudices about women’s work and roles, tattoo subculture, craft and art. The project strikes a subtle balance between these varied traditions and the communities they represent, thus questioning the lines that define, separate and empower each tradition. It draws together two distinct and distant marginal groups".

I like that it blends the talents of two different people using two different art forms. I like that it takes a very familiar part of many girlhoods and gives it a drastic makeover...as us girls have so changed since we last held a baby doll (some of us even tattooed?).

It sort of encourages me to think outside the box...to maybe use more re-purposed materials, more mixed media, explore non-traditional style...use things from my own childhood to create something new and fun.

Style

2011-02-14T10:47:00.000-06:00

Alison Mosshart's all like... "check"....

a day at the downtown houston aquarium

2011-02-14T08:45:00.000-06:00

Shake it like a...

2011-02-11T13:24:00.000-06:00

Hurrah! Finished my pink polaroid embroidery!

NEXT!

Paper Hearts and Treasure Hunts!

2011-02-11T08:10:00.000-06:00

20 paper hearts cut from this super cute scrapbook paper found @ Hobby Lobby for like.. 30 cents for Ryan's Valentine's day TREASURE HUNT!!! He'll be all over the apartment building...in the lobby, in the parking garage, etc. I wrote 20 little riddles he's got to figure out in order to find his next clue. There will be little treats hidden here and there and a surprise at the end! YAYYYY!! I probably had more fun planning it than I think he'll have actually doing the treasure hunt

In other treasure hunting news, we found a new happy hour place yesterday- The Community Bar in Midtown.

OHHHHH WOW the food... this was no "bar food".. it was absolutely amazing food. We split 2 appetizers, Bangkok ravioli (dumplings) made of chicken and mushrooms in a green curry cilantro sauce and the goat cheese and pork egg rolls. I mean... I love goat cheese... you could put it on a dog biscuit and I'd call it a delicacy...but they were out of this world. Check out a review and photos here. Apparently Chef Bob does alot off the menu too. You can ask him to whip up a snack for you...whatever he's feeling..and he'll make you something unique and fantastic. The couple next to us were eating ribs which I didn't see on the menu. I was being nosy... telling them they smelled amazing... and the guy actually put a rib with BBQ sauce on a plate and gave it to us. HE GAVE US A RIB. LIKE ADAM GAVE TO EVE. How nice is that?? FOOD SHARING.

The drinks were great, too! We had a Moscow mule which is vodka and ginger beer (something Ryan and I drink often at home with Goya ginger beer, the spiciest we're found aside from Beaver's homemade) and a Moteato, tea vodka with mint, lemonade and soda water.

We'll definitely be back! If you're in the area, it's highly recommended.

Candy jar.

2011-02-10T14:59:00.001-06:00

This week's Instax is my Mammaw's (my mother's mom, pronounced Meh-Maw) candy jar. It's lost a strawberry and some have been repainted. It was always filled with something good... those little sugar coated orange slices or goldfish crackers (I would eat the whole bowl...I think it's why I still love goldfish to this day). I love having this candy jar- it always reminds me of her.

She died in 1996 but would have been 100 years old today. I hope she's having a martini in Heaven with Pappy.

Happy Birthday Mamma!

Random acts of Irish Festival/ Stew cook-of in Downtown Houston

2011-02-09T08:44:00.001-06:00

This past Saturday Ryan and I hopped on the Metro-rail downtown to see what kind of adventures we could cook up. We hopped off a few miles down the road because we heard music & saw lots of people hanging out on a blocked off street. Turns out it was the 4th Annual Rory Miggins Irish Stew Cookoff and we got our St. Patty's celebrations off to an early start. We paid a little entry fee which went to the Houston St. Patrick's Parade Comission, grabbed a couple of Guinnesses and walked around to each tent to taste their fare while listening to Irish bands.. There was one tent that had an amazing spicy chili...not Irish.. but awesome anyway. Nothing like a random festival on a beautiful Saturday!

Experiment

2011-01-28T12:40:00.002-06:00

Stitching these little triangles onto flour sack cloth was harder than I thought it would be...maybe other people use a dot of fabric glue or something... I need to find a cheat method...but it was fun! No real reason for it other than to just celebrate... HUZZAH WEEKEND!

I felt very craft-productive this week...stitched 2 little projects, made 3 pieces of jewelry, updated the Etsy for the first time in months!

Looking forward to sleepin' in pretty hard this weekend. It's supposed to rain a bit on Sunday so maybe Ryan and I will get totally crazy and crack open the giant paint-by-number I got for my birthday.

We're so nuts.

Happiest Friday y'all!

New items in the Etsy shop! Hurrah!!

2011-01-26T15:41:00.000-06:00

Tea, my Dear? Necklace!

Go-Go Rocket Fuel Necklace!

Whew! Bout time, y'all.

Both necklaces are 30" long and I love them both equally like children!

How every lunch break should be spent

2011-01-26T13:47:00.000-06:00

outside in the sun with a cold beer.

Sparklers, Stitches and Sassy Dresses

2011-01-26T09:31:00.002-06:00

In a fit of randomness last night, Ryan and I decided to light some sparklers my dad gave us for new years...25 days late. But srsly, is it ever a bad time for sparklers? I don't think so. Same with champagne.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In "What I'm working on" news, I snagged this dollhouse miniature @ hobby lobby yesterday. Love it because it looks like my grandmother's old singer and would make a super-cute necklace on a long chain.

[Gammaw's vintage singer]

Also working on stitching this little guy up...gnomes y'all. gnomes.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It's almost payday! Whew!

My payday purchase this week is Modcloth's Terra Firma dress. I love the cut, the sleeves, the length..

It would look so cute with cowboy boots. This is my 3rd official modcloth purchase. Sadly, after I purchased the Flora dress a few weeks ago, I got an email saying they oversold and I wouldn't be getting my dress. They were super apologetic about it and gave me a coupon to use on my next purchase plus free shipping which was really nice. It still hasn't been restocked (I hope hope hope it will be soon).

Meanwhile also waiting for this guy to be restocked, too. The fabric has little foxes all over and I love the neckline.

Hurray dresses!

"I like my sugar with coffee and cream" - Beastie Boys, Intergalactic

2011-01-25T15:50:00.000-06:00

There's actually going to be a shop update this week! Things have been so absolutely nuts the past month but they're finally slowing down and I made a few things! I'll have some new necklaces in the Notes from the Republic shop before this week ends. PROMISEZ.

Here's what's comin':

Go-Go Rocket Fuel necklace

Tea Service necklace complete with serving tray, teapot and sugar and cream bowls!

for getting back in the game!

[hooray on weheartit}

Foodhatz

2011-01-25T10:35:00.000-06:00

Was feeling inspired by the fabulous gaga during snack time @ work today....

You like-a my giant ricecake+peanutbutta hat?

Pancake bunny feelin' it too...

I gotta go... there's peanut butter in my hair.

52 weeks

2011-01-25T07:55:00.003-06:00

Like many others on the web (a la Miss Squid), I decided a few weeks ago to start a new photo project documenting 2011 by taking one Instax photo a week for the whole year. I'm not doing a theme.. or following any guidelines, just snapping whatever I feel like. There's a Flickr group here called 52 weeks (of Instax) where folks are uploading their weekly pictures. I think it's such a neat idea and a fun way to get to know my Instax (got it for Christmas! Thanks Mom!) I'd love to make a neat little photo book to keep all my weekly snapshots. Here are my first 3 photos for the first 3 weeks of the year. I haven't taken this week's photo yet, but I have a feeling it might involve some leftover new years sparklers!

1: Week of Jan 3rd, Ryan on New Year's Eve

2: Week of Jan 10th, Pretty daisies on my dining table.

3: Week of Jan 17th, my favorite Polaroid in my collection.

How are you doing with your resolutions/ new projects? Are you still eager or finding it difficult to stay motivated? I'm not getting my 4 days of exercise in each week like I wanted...It's so hard to come home after work and put my workout gear on when I just want to have a nap or a glass of wine and watch Brian Williams... I need to stay focused! We can do it!

Gorgeous weekend to explore the HTX!

2011-01-24T10:02:00.003-06:00

This weekend was a busy busy one! We kicked it off Friday night @ Dolce Vita with Mom and Dad! I had been trying to get them to go for the longest time. It was amazing as always! After dinner Ryan and I went over to Royal Oak to celebrate the birth of our friend Sam. We woke up early on Saturday and cashed in my massage coupon Ryan gave me for Christmas! That is THE way to start the weekend...

[ Tennison]
Snapped a quick photo of the apartment as we were leaving. It was the most gorgeous day so we walked to the spa!

[tacos!]
After our massages, we got all cleaned up and headed downtown for the day-long Main street block party which was held at The Continental Club, The Mink, The Mink Backroom, Big Top, Pachinko Hut and Natachee's.

You can't block party without some amazing tacos first so we stopped into Tacos-a-go-go for lunch!

We hung out at Mink and Backroom for a while, listened to a few DJ sets and then went over to the Lawndale Art Center for a free screening of Handmade Nation! It was such a fantastic and inspiring film...You've gotta see it! Etsy Houston had a table set up in the front where you could make cute little paper crafts and there was even free St. Arnold's on tap! Such a cool event and I got to meet Miss Roxy of grrfeisty!

[showing off my paper hearts!]

[ Lawndale]

After the film screening we went back over to the block party and watched a few more bands and DJ sets. The long day was starting to catch up with us (and the tacos were wearing off) so we went down the street to check out the new Natachee's Supper N' Punch! We split a turkey burger and some fries- it was delish! Can't wait to go back to try more. Below is a shot of the bar area. It's such a cool vibe in there, they play 1950s doo-wop music so you can sing along between mouthfuls.

[Natachees]

It was only about 10:30 pm when we called it quits, but we kicked the day off pretty early.

Sunday morning was pretty grey and dreary so we decided to try another new place suggested by my friend Lauren, Asia Market in the Heights. OOOOhhh man. This place is amazing!! It's an Asian grocery mostly, but there are about 10 two-seater tables in the little cafe area. We ordered two chicken pad kee maos and boooyyy was it amazing. I mean... I'm still thinking about it.. It's definitely going to fill the hole that Pei Wei's Thai river noodles left (after they took it off the menu!! Argh!) But you know what? Take THAT Pei Wei... I've found something better AND CHEAPER.

[asia market]

Maybe it doesn't look beautiful....I guess Thai noodle dishes aren't that photogenic...but it's my new favorite thing.

So now it's Monday again and I'm feeling refreshed and inspired...ready to kick this week's a$$. Last week Ryan and I went jogging around downtown and came across the coolest random fountains and parks. I hope it stops raining so we can do some more exploring!

Happiest Monday y'all!

Yamz, y'all.

2011-01-18T08:32:00.002-06:00

Not even joking. We ate yams for dinner.... 3 to be exact. But they were gooooooood! Ryan scrubbed and sliced into wedges...I brushed them with a little olive oil and black pepper and baked at 435 degrees for about 25 minutes (flipping the wedges 1/2 way). We devoured. I was never a huge fan of yams, but the past few months I can't get enough. They're high in vitamin B6 and potassium and a great source of fiber so you feel full!

Next time I'm gonna add rosemary!

Tonight's experiment? Spaghetti squash

[photo]

Payday Purchase!

2011-01-12T15:07:00.002-06:00

One of my resolutions this year (still need to post my list) was to add to my dress collection. I have a cute little dress rack in my room now and there are quite a few vintage and retro-inspired frocks hanging from it. I told myself that every payday I can choose one dress that's $50 or less. This way I won't make a hasty purchase because I have 2 weeks to choose and I'm adding a well thought-out piece to my (practical) collection! This is my payday purchase for Jan 13th:

{Modcloth}

Aaahhhh can't wait to get it! See how it's out of stock? Yeah I just bought the last one. HUZZAH!!

I was a teenage mutant ninja turtle in another life.

2011-01-12T08:04:00.003-06:00

I won't try to hide it. I love pizza. Pizza is my kryptonite, but because it's not amazing for you, I love looking for healthier options, where you can obliterate 2 big slices and not want to curl up in the fetal position afterwards, swearing you'll never eat again. One of my favorite meals to cook is homemade pizza because it's not just dinner, but it's a fun activity! Pour a glass of wine and get to choppin. I like to peruse the produce aisles looking for anything that can be diced and sprinkled over a thin crust. Fresh Roma tomatoes, onion, green bell peppers, artichoke hearts, black olives, big plump mushrooms... oooo even though its 7:44 am... I'm craving. We always end up with this massive, 4.5" high concoction, piled with fresh veggies. It really is a sight to behold. More mushrooms? Yeah throw em on there...Oh, we missed a spot...needs more tomato. Done. Sometimes we'll even bypass the sodium packed tomato sauce and brush olive oil over the crust...maybe a little pesto.

So last night we tried something new! Instead of a mountain of veggies, we chose 3 little ingredients to layer on top of some fresh naan bread and made naan pizza caprese! It was divine. We spread olive oil and freshly grated garlic on slices of tandoori naan and topped with organic basil leaves, diced Roma tomatoes and low fat mozzarella. (probably threw a few goat cheese crumbles on there because I have an addiction). Boy did it smell good in the oven! It even tasted better, the naan was so crispy! Will definitely make again. So much flavor!

Do you ever make pizza at home? What kind of crust do you use and what are your favorite toppings?

[ images google, weheartit, and my own ]

Wo/Man vs. Her/Himself: Weight loss, Donuts and the Struggle

2011-01-11T11:37:00.005-06:00

FACT: From Thanksgiving to Christmas, I gained 10 lbs. It didn't sneak up on me...but it wasn't what I'd call a completely conscious decision. I just didn't deny myself the tasty treats that come along with the holidays (and in an office environment, tasty treats are never few and far between this time of year). So many pretty, homemade delights...how can you say no to a wonderful lady who spent all day in the kitchen baking something delicious for you just to see your smile as you say "WOW... that is AMAZING... you MADE this" ? It would be plum rude. Who wants to be rude?

But now that the holidays are over and all the treats wrapped in red and green have been consumed, it's time to go back to eating like a human, not a garbage disposal. I'm eating salad, baked chicken and rice, fresh seafood, low sodium soups, opting for cottage cheese, honey and fruit instead of my soy milk & cookie before bed, laying off the beer...and even hitting the little gym we have in our building. 11 days have gone by and I'm happy to report that I've lost almost 5 lbs. (small victories!) It's not much but come on... it's half of what I gained! For the most part, I behave at work. I bring my own lunch so I'm not tempted to go out and buy something terrible, I'll pass over the cookies, brownie bites & kolaches that vendor's bring...(If you buy my fittings & flanges, I'll bring you breakfast tacos! Come on! Give me your business!)

But every now and then, I think it may not be the worst thing in the world to fall of the wagon for a second, just make sure you enjoy the hell out of it and exercise a little restraint/ self control, i.e. no seconds). If you limit yourself to raw asparagus spears and lemon water, you'll stop before you even start. You'll think "I hate this diet, I can never have anything that tastes good, this is bullsh!t, I quit". If I don't allow myself some small indulgence during my quest to drop the holiday 10, I'll just be another bitchy dieter. The rigid discipline can have a negative effect on you and your diet psychologically.

Sure running for 2.5 miles and then eating a donut might be counterproductive... but it's definitely better than NOT running and eating the donut anyway, right? Am I justifying my donut consumption today? Maybe. Am I taking a step back? Possibly.Duh, they're bad for you...I don't eat them often (I seriously haven't had one in... oh... 6 months...) So at that rate, 2 donuts a year ain't bad.

Yes, this donut was 217 verrryyy empty calories (it was a glazed Shipley, I looked it up) and truth be told, if I hadn't left my lunch in the car this morning (only to remember it as Ryan drove off...) I may have passed on the donut. But while I'm on the treadmill this evening...sweating, with the incline as high as it will go, I'll think "Damn, that was a good donut".

And I'll look forward to July 11th, when I can have another one.

** this is in no way any kind of dieting advice...just ramblings and observations about my current situation**

Weekend outings!

2011-01-10T09:15:00.001-06:00

Hihi! So it appears that the holidays are officially over and I'm back to working full 5 day work weeks. ARGH! I'm gonna be counting down until the next day off which is... I don't even know when. I guess all the more reason to enjoy the weekends even harder.. like this one, for instance! We explored the neighborhood and a few little spots in walking distance from our house.

Friday night we tried out a new spot, Bitterman's Market Square Bar and Grill. We enjoyed good, old fashioned hamburgers and cold beers while watching LSU beat the Aggies! (Hooray!) Their slogan is "It's every Texan's right to hold a burger in one hand and a beer in the other!" and I couldn't agree more.

Saturday didn't start off as I would have hoped. Ryan was going to go into work to get a few hours of OT so as we're walking to the car, we see the back windshield is shattered. Of course I start to cry because I'm A) super mad and B) worried about how much the replacement windshield will cost. We couldn't figure out what happened! There was a small spot that looked like the point of impact, but we couldn't really find anything around the car that would have done it. It wasn't theft because the window was broken, but it hadn't fallen through yet. Were there drunks on the patio that just got a little rowdy and threw something? Was it a freak accident i.e. a rock that hopped from the interstate or from the roof? I guess we'll never know because there are security cameras on parking garage floors 1 and 2...but not on 3. Funny. (Not funny). SO... to the internet I ran, looking for someone who would come out to my complex on a Saturday afternoon to replace it. I found Xpress Windshield, they found a used but in-perfect-condition back windshield and came out to replace it for 160$ total. (Thank goodness).

While we were waiting for the tech to come over, Ryan and I decided to make lemonade out of lemons and try another within-walking-distance place for lunch. I passed The Broken Spoke numerous times to and from work, but always thought it was a little hole-in-the-wall bar! I thought wrong because it is a fantastic Belgian restaurant that specializes in steamed mussels!! One of my favorites! We had the entire restaurant to ourselves at noon on Saturday but it was quickly filling as we were leaving. I had the mussels a la escargot (steamed mussels in a garlic butter sauce) with a glass of Blanc du Blanc champagne and Ryan had the chicken curry salad sandwich with a St. Arnold. Such a good lunch and a great way to take the sting out of the morning. Below are a few shots of Broken Spoke with it's colorfully decorated walls and ceiling murals.

Sunday we woke up early to go to Trinity Downtown Lutheran church. We've been trying out different churches downtown, seeing which ones we like best. This weekend we went to Ryan's (as he's Lutheran) and next weekend we'll try out St. Joseph (I'm Catholic) downtown. Trinity and St. Joseph are across the street from each other (convenient!) so after Trinity we walked over to St. Joe to check it out and I snapped a few photos of the pretty interior.

After church we met up with Mom, Dad and Pete for a little goodbye-brunch at Mia Bella (a favorite!) as Peter is moving to Lima, Peru on Wednesday! So exciting. I'm going to set up a blog for him so he can upload photos and stories about his adventures.

Happiest Monday!

Texas is so pretty.

2011-01-06T08:36:00.002-06:00

2010 Year in Review

2011-01-04T09:20:00.026-06:00

2010 sure was busy...filled with some wonderful and some rough moments. The Saints won the Super Bowl, something the city of New Orleans badly needed. What a morale booster! Can we do it again? We're sure as hell gonna try. Ryan went to his first Mardi Gras parade, the first of many to come! I bought my first sewing machine, opened my little Etsy shop and actually sold some stuff! Can't wait to get-to-makin again! My favorite thing: Ryan became a Houstonian! Proud moment: my brother graduated from Texas State and my sister became a student again. We kicked it with Gaga (def one of the weirdest weekends of my life), enjoyed a wonderful beach vacation, had fun, lazy days at the lake and Dad had a bit of a close call, health wise (NEVER AGAIN, OK?) I turned 29, got a new job, moved into a new home. Peter bought a plane ticket to Lima, Peru, where he'll be living for the next 6 months. Woo! We also lost Gammaw this year and she'll be so missed.

Even with the rough stuff, If 2011 is half as good to me as 2010 was, I'll be pleased as punch. I already have so much on my list of things to do, including plane rides to Omaha, St. Paul and New York.

Strange, but things feel.. mostly "in place"... and the things that aren't quite...well, I feel like they're headed in that direction. I'm so very looking forward to what this year will bring. I'll post my 2011 goals list sometime this week.

Yesterday was my first day on a treadmill in... oh.. like 10 months. YIKES. I don't know how it happens (oh wait, yes I do...I eat everythingggg) but between Thanksgiving and now, 10 lbs seem to just... find a happy little home on me. They're being evicted.

Happiest 2011 everyone!

[photo]

Christmastiiiiiime!!!

2010-12-27T09:30:00.000-06:00

How was your Christmas weekend? We all had such a good one, so nice to relax, eat dinner in your PJs and...well basically live in your reindeer PJ pants for a full 24+ hours. We drank homemade eggnog, watched movies, had a singalong, ate (and maybe ate a little bit more), sat out by the fire pit, made s'mores, went to a nice Christmas mass, slept in and just enjoyed the company of fam.

Santa brought me a super neato chandelier I had been pining for for my bedroom and an Instax mini camera that i looooove! My sister gave me a fantastic handmade vintage fabric apron that one of the mom's from her school made. LOVE IT! Can't wait to use. My brother gave me the Indie Craft book- so inspiring! My friend Nora gave me a gift card to one of my favorite shops, Paper Source and a Viewmaster with TONS of picture reels! SUCH a fun gift. My love gave me a fantastic Nan Lawson print, a gift certificate for a spa downtown (that will most likely be redeemed for a massage! Desperately needed!) and tons of embroidery hoops! He knows me so well! Speaking of, Ryan left for Omaha Christmas eve morning so the night before we had a mini-Christmas with him, complete with turkey dinner and presents! He comes back to Houston today...Yayyyy! I've missed him!

Yesterday we rounded out our Christmas festivities with a little bowling, our second annual Boxing day bowling outing! Afterwards, I went back downtown and spent a little time with my lovely friend Amy who is in town from New York...indefinitely since pretty much all flights are cancelled. BLIZZARDZ Y'ALL.

Now it's back to work...I needed a quadruple espresso today and...probably an extra day to recoup from all the eating that happened (happened...like it's a passive activity. I can not be held accountable).

Do you guys ever get the post- Christmas blues? I sure do. After a whole month (and then some) of preparing, planning gifts, decorating, cooking holiday treats (maybe putting on like.. oh... 8 lbs...) listening to Christmas carols 24/7 and just relishing in the merriment of the season, it just kind of.... stops. Like.. that's it, it's over. Now you have to wait 365 more days for it to happen again. wh... what? Whyyyy? So much build up and then all of a sudden, its December 26th, you're surrounded by piles of wrapping paper, and there's chocolate on your face.

Anywho, here's a teeny amount of shots from the weekend- I hardly took any photos, I was too busy playing and having fun!

Christmas Eve dinner @ Perry's Steakhouse. AMAZING GOOD.

Michelle opening presents Christmas morning.

Stockings hung by the chimney with care....

Have you guys started to think abou 2011 resolutions yet? I need to make a list of mine!

Is 29 too late to learn a musical instrument?

2010-12-21T09:12:00.000-06:00

want. to. learn.

need:

Room Tour: Bedroom

2010-12-20T11:03:00.000-06:00

With each passing week we're making progress and making this house a home. We got so much done this weekend and I wanted to share. Welcome to the bedroom!

Hung painted frames and wall art.

Ryan put our dresser together and I got a clothes rack to hang my vintage dresses (and it's a pretty good spot to let clothes hang-dry).

We sat the TV on top of a vintage olive green American Tourister

Decorated some exposed pipe with green and brown finger knitted "ropes".

...and now the part I think I love the most! Our re-purposed headboard! We found this great louvered door at a junk shop in Montrose for $25. It's the perfect size! We took it home, scrubbed it down (thing was dirrrtttyyyy) and hung it on two nails above the bed.

I love the scratches and imperfections on the door and just the overall effect it gives the room. The little slats are so perfect for tucking in cute note cards or decorative papers.

We're still hunting for a cool old bench for the foot of the bed, but I think we're almost done in this room!

So fun!

Anatomy of our Christmas Tree

2010-12-17T11:25:00.001-06:00

Happy almost Christmas y'all! Last night Ryan and I finally got around to decorating our tree... we had a tree up before we had a TV or even silverware (priorities). But we're finally getting to the point where things are sorted and it's looking more and more like a home everyday! I thought I'd share a few shots of our modestly adorned tree:

Above we see a vintage paper Santa bought from an antique shop in the heights. I only wish I had 50 instead of just 5. I like how the paper ornament adds a different texture and dimension to the tree as opposed to glass or plastic. You can also see the "cornament" from Omaha!

We've got a touch of Mardi Gras already! Mom and I snagged a box of these pretty glittery fleur de lis when we were in Louisiana last weekend. It's hanging next to the Czech Kitchen Witch I bought in Prague in 2007. She's missing a foot... i know i have it somewhere....

Crocheted red and white garland!

Pretty glittery glass owl.

Sleepy fawn I bought at the Nutcracker Market this year!

Handmade German owl ornament I bought at the Nutcracker Market 2009

Close-up of the fantastic vintage paper Santa.

I love this fuzzy little owl my friend Amy gave to me last year. Before we decorated the tree we had the ornaments sitting on the counter and the Fuzz kept jumping up and dragging it all over the apartment. We'd try to hide it and she'd always find! Poor little owl...but I definitely see it's appeal to the Fuzz.

We really have a hodgepodge of items on this tree. Some weird, random things...I mean.. I may have (may have..) hung my 2007 TX state graduation tassel up there.... Srsly what else are you supposed to do with those things? We have a really pretty Nativity scene in a glass bulb,a cat wearing pink socks and a scarf, a gorgeous pelican ornament my mom gave me this year along with other wildlife, even a tranny Santa which is probably the strangest thing up there but... I really like how it came together. When you don't have much, you have to imrpovise!

All in all, it's a good little tree.

Do you guys have any weird things hanging on your tree?

Finger Knitting!

2010-12-13T13:24:00.000-06:00

Fantastico finger knitting video right here! I learned on my lunch break today... I only wish I came across this before I crocheted 100 feet of Christmas tree garland!

Heavy Hearts

2010-12-13T08:01:00.000-06:00

You'll be missed, Gammaw.

Before the Chaos

2010-12-02T09:48:00.000-06:00

Bedroom

Living room

View from front door down hallway and into living room

View from window

Snapped these on our initial walk through when we got the keys. I'll take some tonight to show progress, i.e. a bunch of crap...everywhere. The best is the view from the patio, promise to get one of those today too! More coming soon!

movins progress report

2010-12-01T07:39:00.001-06:00

DAY 1 DOWN! pr... probably 2 more to go... I have a busted lip (couch + face = fat lip) and Ryan has a swollen ankle.

I guess we're 'doin it rong'.

We're trying again after work today.

Lets hope no one bleeds.

[google images]

Bee Arrrrr Bee

2010-11-29T14:06:00.000-06:00

Moving commences tomorrow! Be back soon!

{photo}

BEST TURKEY DAY WISHES!

2010-11-25T10:36:00.000-06:00

Happiest Thanksgiving y'all! Hope your day is filled with family and/or friends and lots of delicious treats! With love from a very unseasonably warm Houston (srsly, is like..80 outside...I'm wearing flip flops, my Saints t-shirt and a demin skirt... so festive...)!

I'm Thankful For: Part II

2010-11-24T08:56:00.000-06:00

II: by Lena

"I am thankful for my sweet baby girl, Claire. She is my little sunshine and I have many reasons to be thankful for her. One of my favorite times with her is the nights I get to tuck her into bed. I have come to cherish and love our little routine of reading a book, scratching her back, and singing “You are my Sunshine.” It’s in this moment that I know she knows just how loved she really is."

Thanks so much for your story, Lena!

To read more from Lena, hop on over to her blog Stella Sola!

I'm Thankful For: Part I

2010-11-23T11:42:00.003-06:00

This is the first of a special set of Thanksgiving posts dedicated to highlighting what my friends and family are thankful for (since I'm so thankful for them!). I'll be posting them throughout today and tomorrow and encourage you to let the people you're thankful for know how much they mean to you!

I: by Stacy

"I am thankful for my wonderful grandmother and that I get to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her! She’s been through a lot over the last few years – breast cancer, a double mastectomy, and now bladder cancer twice, which unfortunately isn’t responding well to radiation and chemotherapy this second time around. We have to be realistic in that this may be our last Thanksgiving with her and although that makes me sad and angry and a whole mix of other emotions, I have to also think that I’m lucky to have had her in my life for the last 24 years. She’s always been there for me, we have a very close relationship, and besides always being supportive of me and full of words of wisdom, she’s never failed to make me laugh. She’s a typical Jewish grandmother, originally from The Bronx, and I will always think of her when I drink my cwoffee and walk my dwawg. Oy vey. I’m getting verklempt..."

Thanks so much for your story, lady! To read more from Stacy, be sure to visit her at Stacy Says!

She's good people.

Stay tuned for more stories of thanks to come!

Crafty Christmas Bonanzaaaaa

2010-11-23T09:36:00.001-06:00

Hello sweet visitors! I know Thanksgiving is in two days, but I'm still thinking a month down the road.

Christmas 2010 = D. I. freaking Y. With Ryan and I moving into a new apartment next week, our moneys will be a bit smaller this Christmas, but there will be no stressing out. There will only be...busy!

I got a bit of a jump start this year since I anticipated the move...I had about 75% of my gift shopping done and my Christmas cards made at the beginning of November. But there's still a fair bit to be done, like decorating the apartment after all the boxes unpacked. Decorating my home for Christmas is one of my favorite things about the holidays. I absolutely watching (or maybe directing? "More of the colorful lights! More on the bottom!") Dad string the lights and garland on the tree so we could dive into the boxes of ornaments, carefully unwrap the delicate Kleenex-packed ones are get-to-decoratin'.

This year will be the first time Ryan and I get to spend the Christmas season together. I'm determined to go (a bit) overboard with the cheer and super determined to use mostly handmade, vintage and re-purposed items to do it

There's no limit to what you can do or make, just google Christmas DIY or look up tutorials and go nuts! Etsy has an endless supply of amazing vintage pieces and supplies, even pre-made kits, like this Winter Wonderland cupcake kit , this Holiday journal kit, and this needle felted snowman kit just to name a few, that can be shipped to your doorstep in days!

If you like to shop local, hit up any antique shop. I guarantee they will have lots of vintage Christmas ornaments, figurines, cards and books. Last weekend Ryan and I snagged this 3 foot Santa

at August Antiques in the Heights (If you're in the Houston area, I recommend stopping by; they have tons of Christmas items from the 50s and 60s!

I also bought a handful of these vintage Santa cut-outs to string up in the apartment.

At the moment, I'm waiting (not so patiently) for my Jenni Bowlin chipboard buttons to come in the mail (via Etsy!) so I can make this awesome garland per Amanda's awesome tutorial found here.

So if you'd like to get your hands dirty this December, here are just a few of the hundreds of ideas and tips to help make your Christmas super DIY and unique:

Reuse broken or old ornaments to make a beautiful wreath!

Use scrap yarn to wrap foam balls!

I LOVE the candy cane candle in the upper left had corner! I think the evergreen pieces on the outside of the glass adds such a classy touch to a table setting.

Great tutorial for making your own antique tin candles

This is what I'm working on now...crocheting Christmas tree garland. I chose fluffy white sparkly yarn to look like snow!

Use blank cards and scrap booking stickers or chipboard pieces to create your own unique cards!

Chose pretty holiday fabric to make your own cheery bunting. Here is a no-sew tutorial!

Even if your gifts aren't handmade, you can add your own personal accents to the packaging! Use stamps, ribbons, buttons, or stickers to create your own gift tags. Blank tags can be found at Hobby Lobby or any craft store.

This is a great idea if you have kids and even if you don't making paper ornaments or decorative (using pretty holiday scrapbook paper) paper chains is a fun and easy way to add a handmade touch to your decor.

Happy Christmas crafting!

[photos from google images, light up Santa is mine]

Movin' on up ( movin' on up...) to the East side.. (of I-045)

2010-11-23T09:06:00.009-06:00

{notes from the past...my future home}

It's official!! After 2 wonderful years in Montrose, as of Monday November 29th, Ryan and I will be residents of Tennison Lofts. We even get a shiny new zip code! 77002 downtown whaaaaat! We're vurrrry happy...but this whole process wasn't without it's "hairpulling" moments, I kept telling myself it would be worth it. It's such a cool old building, originally the Tennison Hotel, built in 1921. From the Tennison family site "Henry Booker Tennison commissioned architect Joseph Finger to build the Tennison Hotel at 110 Bagby Street in downtown Houston, TX. The Tennison Hotel opened for business in 1922, and was among the closest of all hotels to Houston's Grand Central Station"

I'm super in love with the fact that the original brick is exposed in the loft:

View from outside, facing the Northwest:

On top of the parking garage is a fantastic, huge patio area with a beautiful view of downtown. I can't wait to see what it looks like at night.

Tennison Hotel:

Found this newspaper clipping regarding the funeral of H.B Tennison!

Vintage Christmas Etsy Lovlies

2010-11-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

Mini Santa cup

Paper Christmas ephemera

Reindeer Family

Roly Poly Santa tin

Vintage floral ornaments

Antique Italian Nativity

1950s Holy Family figures

Vintage cookie plate

Christmas Bunting

Holiday wreath

Good thing it's slow today...

Found these today at Goodwill....

2010-11-18T13:53:00.000-06:00

But...I didn't buy them... and I find myself thinking about them...posing questions to myself like "If you go back...and they're gone... will you kick yourself?"...

the answer may be yes.

I just feel like I could give them a good home and they could continue to spread their sassy 70s joy to my guests....

I just hope no one that sees them between now and 4 feels the same way

Amazingness

2010-11-17T07:37:00.001-06:00

I loveee these Nan Lawson (blog and etsy shop) illustrated save-the-date cards.

Want your own? The process is really easy... you simply send her a few photos of you and your sweetie, describe what clothing you'd like to be wearing in the drawing, and Voilà, you will receive a custom 8 X 10 illustration, plus a digital copy (to use however you like) for around $50!

The save-the-date cards and thank you notes above were created by Make Merry from south Florida.

Giveaway winner and beautiful Emma Watson

2010-11-15T14:07:00.000-06:00

Happiest Monday everyone! How was the weekend? Mine was grrrreat AND productive! Friday after work the boy and I went downtown to view a loft! I turned our applications in today so now we're just keeping our fingers crossed!

Saturday Mom and I went to the Houston Ballet's Nutcracker Market. I got a teeny bit more Christmas shopping done but I didn't do as promised...I took like.. 4 photos. IT'S SO HARD TO SNAP PHOTOS WHEN YOU'RE HANDS ARE FULL OF GOODIES, YOU'RE TASTING THINGS LEFT AT RIGHT AND YOU'RE HOLDING A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE!

First news! Congrats to Whitney from Sparkles and Frosting for winning the Thanksgiveaway that was hosted on Stacy's blog! Your ring and note card are coming straight from the heart of Montrose, hitting your mailbox soon!

In super-pretty news, I flipped through the new Marie Claire on lunch today and was stunned by how beautiful Emma Watson looks. I LOVE this hair on her.. the color, the cut.. everything. The styling and color palette they used in this spread is amazing... TOPS.

Ok so one day closer to Friday, y'all. We should find out tomorrow if we're approved for the loft and if so we can start getting things in there.

STOKED.

Shop update and Nutcracker Market excitement!

2010-11-12T10:18:00.001-06:00

Three new rings in the Notes from the Republic shop today!

Up for grabs we have....

This lovely floral fabric rosette ring...

this miniature coffee (or tea) cup ring....

and this miniature vinyl ring.

Yaaayy new things!

Happiest Friday everyone! Any big plans for the weekend? After work today Ryan and I are going to look at more lofts (exciting!!)

Tomorrow is the much anticipated 30th annual Nutcracker Market. If you live in Houston and have never been, GO. ohmygod GO. It's fantastic!! So much to see, buy, taste, smell, and oh... you can drink champagne while you peruse aisle and aisle of wonderful goods from national and international vendors. It's so inspiring, too! One of my favorites is a Russian shop, they have such pretty handmade wooden ornaments, hand painted brooches, nesting dolls...there's also a vintage glass ornament shop that I go nuts over. I can't wait. I didn't take many photos last year but I promise I will this year.

DIY Christmas cards for 2010

2010-11-11T14:34:00.003-06:00

YOU GUYS.

Hobby Lobby has ALOT of Christmas things on sale! You could TOTALLY raid the Christmas scrapbooking stuff and make your own one-of-a-kind Christmas cards! I bought a box of 10 blank stamping cards (with envelopes) at an art supply store in town the other day for less than 4$. Today on lunch I found these little 3D-ish guys with their super-cute winter outerwear and was like.. SHAZZAM.

UNIQUE HANDMADE CHRISTMAS CARDS!

Snag a little holiday stamp to embellish the scene a bit (maybe snow flakes? I also bought a little "Merry Christmas" stamp for the inside of the card...) and you're done! Most of these scrapbooking 3D things already have sort of sticky backs but I super glued them to the card for good measure so they don't pop off in the mail.

I love that they're personal...YOU designed and created a holiday card for someone special.

It's gonna mean that much more!

Inside in red and green (stamped):

I know it may be a bit early (I mean, I'm not mailing them yet...)...but it's one more thing you can scratch off that holiday to-do list!

How do you make 20 years of beer drinking last forever?

2010-11-10T23:00:00.002-06:00

Houston's very own BEER CAN HOUSE!

So odd... yet so very pretty. Especially when the wind blows, it's like hundreds of wind chimes.

Where mac and cheese isn't just a side, it's the main event....

2010-11-10T16:00:00.001-06:00

Last Friday was a gorgeous day to venture on over to the Heights and wail on some mac and cheese for lunch. What else? Nothing else. We all had mac and cheese for lunch. Doesn't sound impressive? WELL IT IS.

Jus' Mac is "Houston's first and only establishment to exclusively cook and serve Macaroni and Cheese".

Exclusivity, y'all.

So here's the thing. I love mac and cheese, but I'm pretty damn good at making it myself. It's my mom's recipe and it's perfection. It's gooey but the noodles aren't slimy...I use 3 different cheeses, I throw jalapenos and crushed red pepper in there.. (because if it's not spicy, why bother?)My roommate Nora recently brought some to a party and she over heard someone say "I want some more-a- that spicy mac and cheese!"

Hell yeah you do.

So on Friday, some of my lovely coworker ladies and I paid Jus' Mac a visit and I wasn't disappointed at all. I have absolutely no problem eating mac and cheese as the main course. It's delicious and filling. No, it's not health food, but I don't think anyone would really come here expecting a "lite" menu option. It's served on a hot skilled with a lil' potholder handle (of course i burned myself because I burn myself on everything...)

So without further ado, here's my photo tour and review combo of Jus' Mac.

Where it's at

Inside! Cozy...

Tuscan mac, basil, tomato, garlic! SO GOOD. The basil tasted so fresh, such a good flavor!

Taco-Mexi mac & cheese, with beef, tomato, onion, avocado and tortilla chips. THIS... is a meal.

I feasted upon the jalapeno mac... because... well i had to compare! And it was good. I could only finish half.

So that was our experience! It's not something I'd do every week for sure...maybe once every like.. 3 months or so...

I should mention that it's not as cheap as you'd expect... I got the jalapeno mac skillet and a blue moon bottle and spent a smidge over 10$...

If you happen to go, let me know what you thought!

If at first you don't succeed....

2010-11-10T09:00:00.004-06:00

So, the homeowners picked another couple over us to rent the apartment. Realtor said our applications were almost identical but that they could move in sooner...

like tomorrow.

The search continues!

At least now I can stop scouring the interwebs for tips on decorating small spaces...

[image found here]

UPDATE: we have an appointment to view another apartment today @ 4:30. Fireplace, hardwood, almost 1000 sq feet... the price is right and the neighboorhood is good so we'll keep our fingers crossed that the bathroom and kitchen pass the test! X

2010-11-10T08:03:00.000-06:00

I finally finished stitchy us! I need to iron and find a permanent hoop for it. but it's all done! YIPEE!

I started stitchy us about... oh.... 3 months ago and just left it in my craft box... I'm happy I dug it out again. I love the way a freshly completed project feels :)

We're mostly back stitch, Ryan's "stubble" is french knots!

Today, I fell in love with...

2010-11-09T15:04:00.001-06:00

Yellow Owl Workshop!

I decided that I will be making/stitching/stamping my Christmas cards this year and while perusing the big interwebs, came across these amazing stamp sets.. you think these are fantastic, but no.. oh no it doesn't stop there...

DROOL:

This TEAPOT. YES.

AND THEN... came these fantastic prints of old cameras!

AND THEENNNNNNN.. the paintings! The acrylic on wood teapot makes me way too happy. I wanna make one. ASAP. like, now.

So this was my discovery today. Tonight, I'm going to have sweet, sweet dreams of pressing big inky stamps onto crisp white paper....

SHAZZAM!

2010-11-09T10:55:00.000-06:00

Little Pumpkin embroidery on sale! $2.00 off, now $4.50!

My brand spankin' new, 40 year old thermos!

2010-11-09T07:00:00.002-06:00

This... is my new thermos. After the stressful afternoon on Saturday, Ryan and I went down the street to the Texas Junk Co and poked around for a while. After a few minutes, I stumbled upon this gem! I can't wait to get some red carnations in it.

I sent this photo to my mom. She replied "Oh my gosh! Pappy (her daddy) had one just like it. Amazing!..."

It was meant to be mine.

"When the boxes are gone and you've cleaned up the mess you'll make a home of the house that was just an address". -John Bratton.

2010-11-08T14:36:00.001-06:00

It's-a-movin'-time! You may think it's sick...but I love moving. I typically don't stay in one place for more than a year, and I've been at the Fargo house for almost 2, which is bizarre...but that just means I'm a year overdue for "the purging".

I love the process of going through drawers and closets, sorting, throwing things away, absolving the nooks and crannies of things I've held onto for absolutely no apparent reason. Carrying bag after bag to the trash can feels like dropping pounds. One trash bag = 5 lbs and y'all I'm gettin' skinny! (not literally...I'm throwing back boxes of nerds candy down my gullet as I type..) It just feels so good, in the immortal words of Outkast, I feel so fresh and so clean, clean...

After spending countless hours on the HAR site (Houston area real estate), and touring 7 units on Saturday, we applied for an apartment in this bad boy on Kipling near Dunlavy in Montrose. The house is broken up into 4 individual units, we're looking at the one on the bottom left. The neighborhood is fantastic, in super-short walking distance to Brasil, Poison Girl, Anvil, Boondocks and so many other coffee shops, bars and awesome vintage/ retail shops on the Westheimer curve....aaannddd they're building a big HEB at the corner of West Alabama and Dunlavy so that would be ridiculously convenient.

The unit comes with stacked washer and dryer, we get our own private garage with storage space... It's almost perfect... almost.

[ we've agreed that the bathroom is a little snug with no counter space and the bedroom may be about 3 feet too small ]

So here it is:

View of front

View of living room from front door

View with back to living room windows looking at front door, tiny view of hallway.

Dining room painted a dark red color with original vintage hutch (hello, bar area!) Would probably use this as office/craft space.

View of bedroom, looking at closet doors.

View of bathroom with accent tile.

...........................................................................................................

All of the above are realtor shots, except for this one....

I took as Ryan and I were leaving... after our apartment locator guy drove us around for about 2 hours, Ryan was patient enough with me to go back, hours later, to the two properties we liked the most and walk around for a while. Thinking. Talking. Comparing. Contrasting.

Saturday was a stressful day. It's so hard to decide because there are so many good things we loved, and a few things we didn't and it's just... hard, you know?

This will be our first home together so maybe I'm letting that weigh on it more than it should...a home is.... it's where the heart is, it's where you hang your hat, be it ever so humble, there's no place like it... in the words of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, it's where ever I'm with you.

So with that attitude, I'm awaiting (not so patiently) a call from the realtor to see if we got it (we were competing with one, possible more people for it..).

I'm promising myself that if he calls to tell us we got it or if we didn't that it's meant to be and that if it means we keep looking, that's A-Ok.

Happy Monday Giveaway!

2010-11-08T08:52:00.001-06:00

Happiest Monday to you! Can you believe Turkey day is just around the corner? Hop on over to my friend Stacy's blog, Stacy Says, where she's hosting a little Thanksgiving-time Notes from the Republic giveaway!

Here's what's up for grabs:

.............................

One embroidered "Give Thanks" note card and a sweet birdie fabric button ring.

...................................

You should be her friend, too!

Mad Men: Don Draper Says "What?"

2010-11-04T15:05:00.003-05:00

This absolutely slays. Nora brought this delightful nugget to my attention this afternoon. I don't know how I've never noticed that Don was deaf.... did you? WAT WAT WAAAATTTT... even in a flashback of him in the war.. he's all "WUT".

slays.

Amy Sedaris LOVE

2010-11-03T16:00:00.003-05:00

This is her new book...and I must have it.

Over here on the Renegade Handmade blog they have a video of her and Martha baking.

Amazingness.

WIP Wednesday: haaayyy stitchy boooyyfriend!

2010-11-03T13:13:00.002-05:00

Today is WIP WEDNESDAY! So here's what I'm werkin' on:

so basically.... it's a stitchy cartoon of Ryan. It's a WIP because I'm out of black DMC floss and my office is too far for me to run to Hobby Lobby (or Joann's...or Michael's..) on my lunch break. Actually it's been so long since I've been to a Hobby Lobby I've forgotten what they smell like..(I'm sure they're already playing Christmas music though).

See? Lookit. "I am here"...and there are all the hobby lobbys.

WHY HOBBY LOBBY. WHY can't you be close to me??? Sigh. Bad luck I suppose. But maybe it's good luck because if there was one close, I'd be poor...

What are youuuu guys workin' on?

Strawberry crumbs

2010-11-03T10:00:00.002-05:00

sometimes snacktime crumbs are pretty!

Happiest Wednesday!

For Shame!

2010-11-02T12:13:00.000-05:00

...this is the only photo we have from Halloween. I made a shower curtain dress, complete with rod and rings, smeared fake blood on it and covered my hair in gel (for that wet-looking effect). Ryan had a great matronly-looking dress, a granny wig and a plastic knife. We were pretty proud of ourselves! I only wish we had more/better photos...instead of this one, crappy phone pic. NEXT YEAR... we'll do better!

ETSYLOVE

2010-11-02T10:48:00.000-05:00

Just a few lovely items I've been drooling over lately!