Sisters' Weekend

First of all, as always, thank you guys for your sweet comments on my last post.  I know that sometimes I can be incessantly whiny when it comes to my husband so your tolerance is much appreciated.

This weekend was a much-needed respite from my few days of loneliness. On Thursday and Friday I sat in on a class for work, and I'm not sure why but I have a terrible time focusing in an LVC (online class) so I tend to get easily distracted by Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  I made it though and got a lot of good information.

Also, I drew some shower art on one of our breaks so that Robbie would have something fun to see when he comes home.

Finally the class ended on Friday, just in time for my sister Ashleen and my niece to arrive at my door.  I stuffed my niece full of icing-covered brownies (like a good aunt should) and we were off on our way to my mother's house, who was watching Brielle for the weekend, to meet up with Megan.

My sister Megan, as most of you know, has an adorable little studio in Boston that I rather enjoy visiting when 1) I want to see her and/or 2) want a taste of city life.  Now that my niece is older and it's easier for Ashleen to leave her with family for extended periods, we've been trying to hang out at Megan's and enjoy time together.

On the first day we went to IKEA and holy schnikees you guys, why didn't anyone tell me how amazing it is?! I wanted every goofy little room setup we saw.  The most exciting part of the trip, however, was that I found a new table for Robbie and I.  Our current table is a hand-me-down, is ugly, and is rather big and obnoxious to transport.  We thought it'd be perfect to buy one at IKEA since the boxes are compact and easy to move.  I don't have a picture of the table but you can see it here.

By far the strangest development of the day, though, was the temperature. If you don't live in the Northeast, let me stress to you that it never gets into the 60s in January.  Honestly I think this has literally happened one other time in my life.

And though 60 degrees feels pretty cold in August, let me tell you that it feels downright tropical in January.

Anyway that night we went out to a little restaurant called Davoli's and got yummy drinks and delicious food.  My dad had texted us earlier asking us casually where we were going, and used that information to call the restaurant and pay for our meal.  How sweet is that, right?! I love my dad.

Also, check out how much of a classy bitch I am.

 

I know, I know, pictures aren't all the same width.

On Sunday we did lots of shopping which was bad for my bank account but great for my closet.  I just love H&M, as a side note. 

Ashleen and I got back to my house late, made dinner and crashed with my niece.  She left early this morning for work and I've been sitting in on yet another class, in between folding laundry, closet-purging and trying on a few of my new outfits:

Birds on belted dresses? Ironic "vintage" sweatshirts? I'm such a hipster.

Anyway, it was a lovely weekend spent with two of my very favorite people.  I'm really going to miss them when I leave for Santa Fe, especially because Ashleen hates planes and likely won't be in a hurry to come visit me.

I'm leaving for the airport in about an hour to pick up my husband.  He did very well at Fire Camp and made a few new friends, just as I expected him to, but he is more than ready to come home.  He told me it felt a lot like Basic training and he feels like he's been away from home for months.  I wholeheartedly concur.

Well friends, I hope you had a lovely weekend and an even better week ahead.

Some Misconceptions You Might Have

Sometimes I look around our apartment and realize that someone walking into the house might have some misconceptions about us.  I can't say that these misconceptions would be totally unfounded because, let's face it, we can be kind of misleading.

Below are some of the things in our house that might give you pause or make you think we are either far better or far worse than we actually are.  For your convenience I've included the most probable misconception and the actual truth of the matter.

1. Our liquor collection placed on one of our major countertops.

 

What it says about us: We are raging alcoholics.

The truth: My husband is a raging alcoholic. 

We don't have space in our liquor cabinet for it all.

Rob wanted to make Long Islands for Veteran's Day and they require a lot of different types of booze. We're too lazy to put them away.

You know what, never mind.

2. Empty bottles on another major countertop.

 

What it says about us: We genuinely care about recycling and we really like Yankee Candles.

The truth: Our shed is almost literally bursting with empty bottles and cans that we have yet to take to the redemption center.  That's right, in Maine we can make money off our recyclables and it's still not enough to get us to drive them the 3 miles to the redemption center and we really like Yankee Candles.

3. Layers upon layers of shower drawings.

What it says about us: We're free-spirited hipsters who feel the need to create art wherever and whenever it comes to us.

The truth: We have the collective sense of humor and taste of 5-year-olds and we're too lazy to clean off a layer of drawings, and instead just draw other inane crap on top of the old stuff.

Lord help us when we finally decide to have children.

What does your house say about you?

Don't forget to enter my Funk Off! giveaway!

Thanksgiving Eve Snow & a Christmas Wishlist

Yesterday Rob and I looked at the weather and noticed that a rather significant snowstorm was making its way straight for us, so instead of waiting until today to make the 3.5-hour trek to my dad's house we left that evening.

This morning we woke up to this...

...so I feel that it is totally appropriate for me to create a Christmas Wishlist, no? As a side note, doesn't this picture look like it was taken on film?  It wasn't, obviously, but I'm glad that this Instagram filter gives me the appropriate amount of hipster cred.

1. Beams boots by Blowfish.  I'm currently having a love affair with boots and I blame my reintroduction to blogging.  Before I could totally justify walking around looking like a slob all day but now I spend my time looking at all of your cute outfits, so, thanks for that.

2. Any iPhone case from this site for my new iPhone 4 or 4S (which I should get before our trip toFlorida in December, eee!). I especially like these (1 // 2 // 3 // 4).  If I didn't get them as an iPhone case I would love to have them as prints, especially 1, 3, and 4.

 

3. A Magic Mouse for my MacBook Pro.  I use a little USB mouse but the navigations are all backwards and it hardly works in Photoshop.  I think my darling sister Megan will be getting this for me this year.

4. Logitech Keyboard Case for iPad 2.  There have been a couple times (like this trip home) that I drag my laptop along only so I can blog or easily type on the go (first world problems or what, amirite?) If I had this keyboard I would only need my iPad. I talked to my dad about it so I think this might be a reality this Christmas! Wee!

5. A new tattoo.  I mean, why not right?

6. I would like my camera to celebrate Christmas by magically working again.

What do you guys want for Christmas, or for your preferred holiday?

Also, does anyone else feel like materialistic a-hole after posting stuff like this? Damn hipster guilt.

Things I Love Thursday

Check out these stunning photos of baby animals inside the womb...insane! I love the elephant best.

I've been debating getting a pair of TOMS and I think if I do they will be these.

Rob and I made this Gypsy Soup from Moosewood the other night...it was amazing! Totally vegetarian and can be gluten-free, as long as you get gluten-free veggie stock!

21 Images You Won't Believed are Photoshopped, part 8.

I've been waffling on whether to buy these shoes from Modcloth.

I would love to make this (seems so easy) but I have a feeling it would look a lot worse if I did it.

Awesome beer packages.

Check out this badass Where's Waldo? tattoo! (thanks to my seester Megan for this)

I could get lost in this picture. {credit}

If you are having a bad day, I guarantee that this video will make it better.

10 Best Places to Live for Escaping World Conflict (wouldn't this be amazing?)

 

Some amazing creative truths.  My favorite: "Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist when you grow up." - Pablo Picasso

How to be a Hipster, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Just a reminder of how unoriginal we all are.

The World's 10 Creepiest Abandoned Cities.

I want to thank you all for the kind words on Tuesday's post.  You're all amazing and I felt instantly better after writing that and reading all your comments.  Love, chocolate and Chipotle to all of you.

Oh, and keep your eyes out for my first vlog tomorrow.  The skies might collapse from the weight of my awkwardness.