Subject: Catching Up

Melissa -

Hello friend! I am back in town and after having tackled a mountain of laundry and restocking our refridgerator, I am now ready to report on our trip and comment on your posts while I was gone. I feel like I have so much to share, so let's get started.

First things first: I loved your post about the Land of Nod Blog! It was new to me as well and I am excited to spend some time perusing it for ideas. What little I saw of it after following the link you posted has me intrigued. I saw one post by one of my favorite blogs - Making It Lovely - which was exciting. I didn't realize she was a contributor, so it will be fun to see what she has to say. The one post by her that caught my eye was about her daughter's new "big girl" room. Although it is still early (Suz just turned a year old in March), I find myself already daydreaming about what I will do for her room next. While in Rehoboth Beach, I found this amazing print that I think would be so fun in a little (or big!) girl's room:

Isn't that fun? I found the same one on eBay that is a fifth of what it cost in the store (the eBay one isn't framed). I think this is such an original idea for wall art in kids' rooms. This is an obvious choice for a boy's room, but it seems especially creative for a girl's room. I may have to keep this in mind! Plus something about it says Mad Men to me, which makes it even more appealing :)

I'm super jealous of your brother's new life in LA! I never had the nerve to move somewhere so far away, but I do enjoy living vicariously through people I know who do! Please keep sending pictures and stories via Brother Peach...especially any juicy celeb sitings!

Okay, I feel sufficiently caught up. Can't wait to share with you pictures from my trip this week!

Subject: Friday Catch Up

Melissa -

Hi and happy pre-birthday, America! I'm so sorry I have been MIA for most of this week, following my post on Monday about my sewing project. Mr. Lass was home for most of the week sick - and I never get anything done when he is home - and then yesterday, one of my favorite things turned tragic: I was peeling a label from a jar (I L-O-V-E keeping jars to use for storage or as a vase or votive holder), the razor thing I was using slipped and, well, three stitches later here is my hand:

It looks a lot worse than it actually is. The nurse admitted she is not good at dressing wounds and somehow managed to make it look like I had a fractured wrist. Of course, it did score me lots of pity points with Mr. Lass, so that has been good. Plus while I was at the doctor's office I got to read the latest issue of Vanity Fair, and I never get to read during the day, so I just pretended like I was at a spa instead of a walk-in clinic :)

The only downside: we are going to the beach all next week and my hand is not supposed to be submerged. Not that I enjoy the ocean that much (all that salt in your eyes!), but swimming in the pool with Suz is always fun. Of course, the nurse assured me I could still swim but said that my injured hand would be "the hand you hold your drink with." Or sippy cup.

Okay, now that the excuses are over: I love your yellow door! I've never painted any doors in my house, but I love the idea of a long hallway of bedrooms with the walls being a neutral color and the doors painted a fun color - maybe pale gray walls and apple green doors. And then when you get tired of one color, you can just paint the doors. Perk: painting doors is waaaay easier than painting walls. And yes, I love Mary's office but couldn't find pictures of her red doors either.

I am enjoying Million Dollar Decorators, but am holding my breath waiting for them to criticize something I love or actually own. (Of course, I don't think they are shopping at any of the places I shop, so I can't see them ever coming into contact with something I own!) On this new-to-me blog, the bloggess created a drinking game around the show. I totally agree with her summation of Nathan and Mary - at first they were annoying and now they're the best part about the show.

Okay, my finger is starting to throb so I am going to cut this short. Thank you so much for sending me the picture of the patriotic cake! People are so genius sometimes. Next week I am going to tap your problem-solving skills to find a solution for where to go next in my living room.

Hugs & fireworks,

Kara

Re: Project Progress & Painting

I have no idea why I am up.  But since I am, I've been dying to write to you in regards to your MIL's Chinese Chippendale office chair.  While I didn't know the technical name before, I am no stranger to that chair.  It happens to be a prop in one of my all-time favorite shows - Gilmore Girls!!  Not sure if you are a Lorelai Gilmore fan or not, but the Dragonfly Inn, which she owned with best friend Suki, had a dining room full of these chairs.

The Evidence:

Too bad MIL didn't want to just hand over the chair!!  In any event, you did a great job.  Did you spray paint or hand paint the chair?  I'm still debating with myself which technique is better.  Also, suggestions for online fabric stores?  I need something to cover the seats of my kitchen chairs.  I will be done painting them this week.  (Hopefully!)  I think I'm on coat 977.  OY VEY!

Well, hope you are sleeping!  I'm heading to bed now.  Night!

Re: Re: Clutter

My friend Peach,

I totally hear you on the madness that is working from home! There are days when I have nothing to do and could sit and watch grass grow, and then there are days when I pray Suz sleeps an extra half-hour so I can cram meet my deadlines. Unfortunately, the lazy days are getting fewer and far between, especially with my ambitious 2011 Project List I am developing. Hopefully I can share with you next week!

Your (okay, Oprah's) picks for reading in 2011 are awesome! I even put A Tale of Two Cities on my reading list...which I also hope to reveal next week. Between your pictures and my lists, next week is going to be busy! Plus, I have my 2011 Goals that I also need to share with you. (If you can't tell, I LOVE lists. Mostly I love crossing things off, which is why on my reading list there will be a few books that I have recently read, just so I can cross them off. I think it builds momentum when you can cross a few things off right away.)

Wouldn't these postcards be fun to send out to your other reader-friends or to remind members of your book club of an upcoming meeting? If we lived in the same town, we would have such an awesome book club!





And speaking of classics, JCrew has a slideshow of their 11 New Classics of 2011. The highlights: a quilted jacket, pearls, sneakers, pencil skirs and khaki pants. I am totally on board!


See you here next week! I hope you guys have a great weekend and I can't wait to see your 'after' pictures!!


Xoxo,
Your friend Lass


P.S. And yes - Suz was into the ribbons on her packages and she would thoughtfully crinkle the tissue paper between her fingers - she loves that sound!

Re: Clutter!

Did you think I fell off the face of the earth?!  Despite the fact that I worked at least two hours each day of my vacation (The joys of being a business owner!) I have been SO behind on work this week.  It's like it would never stop!!

I finally feel like I can breathe, which means I can finally blog!!  Merry Belated Christmas to you and your gorgeous fam!  Your presents looked great, with each ribbon and bow perfectly in place, and I can't even imagine how much more fun this year was since little Suz was in the picture.  Someone I know who is a mommy, I can't remember who at this specific moment, but they mentioned that their child was more into wrapping paper than the actual presents.  Was that Suz's case?  

So, we are already seven days into the new year.  I, too, have so much that I want accomplish this year.  On the book front, I just want to read more!!  As an English minor, I took two classes in school where the assignments were pretty much read this great book and either write a paper on it or take a test.  All the books ranked among the classics.  And there is a reason that those books have that label.  Any there any that you are dying to read?  

A few weeks ago, Oprah announced that her book club selection was not one, but two great classics.  Charles Dickens, "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations."  I'm interested in reading both.  I think I will add that to my to-do in 2011.

Besides more reading, I have my laundry list of home renovations of course and I'd like to grow and herb garden.  I also would LOVE to plan a great trip.  My dream would be to go to Italy.  (With a one or two day stop in Paris of course!)  

I think if I keep the list minimal I should be able to accomplish a lot!  I also look forward to seeing your 30 before 30 list.  I think I should work on mine sometime this year, too.  (Now that I'm an OLD 28 year old!) 

Well, that's all for now.  This weekend I will snap a few pictures around the house because Hubby and I, along with my wonderful parents, made a TON of home renovations!!  You'd be so proud!

Re: Mad Men Party UPDATE

The party came out AMAZING!!  Love all the pictures you took!!  I wouldn't have been able to get the full effect without them!  Your friend did a fabulous job.

So, Hubby has been reading our blog, which is borderline invasion of privacy since these are basically our e-mails, but he thinks in costume you looked like...

Great job getting into character.

Subject: Happy Birthday to YOU & Cake Prints

Melissa! My long list friend. Oh-ma-gosh...I am so sorry I have been MIA this week. No, Suz is not taking up ALL my time (although a great deal of it - who knew babies were so needy?!). However, I did spend some time this morning whipping up some homemade baby food (sweet potatoes). Can I just say: there is nothing quite like the feeling of satisfaction I get when I open up my freezer to a half-dozen bags brightly-colored, ice cube-shaped fruits and vegetables for my little girl. And the number is growing as she gets older and tries new food. (Variety is the spice of life, after all, even if you are only 8.5 months old!) And it's cheap! I bought four sweet potatoes at $.15 a pound (a POUND) and just filled up two ice cube trays, which is the equivalent of 32 meals. That is nuts!

Anyway...I just felt very accomplished and had to share. Moving on...

So, I LOVE those cake prints too! Wouldn't that be such a great birthday gift for someone to enjoy year round? Something about the sweetness (no pun intended, seriously) reminds me of the Etsy artist Janet Hill, who I am obsessed with and would one day like to own at least a print, if not an actual original. Aren't these fabulous???

The colors are amazing and would look great in my bedroom, although my uber-masculine husband may object to paintings of dresses hanging in his eyeline so it's the first thing he sees in the morning. But a girl can dream! Don't you just want to BE in these paintings? Love.

Also, I love your wish list for your birthday. I am very much intrigued with your at-home wardrobe. I am in desperate need of an alternative to pajama pants (it's bad for morale) that aren't actually jeans. Plus it's COLD here, but winter clothes always look so bulky that I feel like a big marshmallow if I layer on too much. Your JCrew sweats (I use that term losely) are the perfect choice, though. I also love the idea of something like these from the Gap:

They would be great as house shoes but also super warm to run out to the mailbox in too. I don't think I would wear them to the grocery store, but I'm not making any promises! I've realized that Stacey&Clinton (they're like one person) have no idea about staying home and the wardrobe necessities therein. I don't want or need to get dressed to the nines everyday, but I do need something that isn't pajamas. I think I could take some cues from Gwyneth's "uniform" on GOOP too.

And I love the plates from Anthro! Something about the inky blue of the octopus is really nice to me and the Ladies-in-Waiting would be adorable in your Ruffle Bathroom!

I have missed you! It's so good to finally catch up!

Kisses,
Kara

P.S. In the time that I have been writing this, Ina the Cat has climbed onto my lap and fallen asleep...and I'm on a laptop! I forget how snuggly she is in the winter!

Subject: Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen

So, K, I guess I will just continue to talk to myself.  Where are you?!?  Is that baby of yours taking up all your time??  :)  Hi Suz!!

Just wanted to send this your way.  I came across it a few months ago, but never sent it to you.  Too cute right??

Recipe Box by Rifle Designs - $125

Spoon Recipe Cards by Rifle Designs - $10

Subject: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

So, my birthday is less than one month away.  Lately, I haven't really wanted for much, but after Hubby and I ran to the mall this weekend, I spied a few things that top my list of "I'd love to have this."

While some may say these are so early 2000, I live in my brown uggs.  When it's cold outside nothing keeps your feet warmer.  Plus they are great in the snow!  A pair in black surely makes the list.

Classic Short Ugg Boots - $140

From one JCrew lover to another, here's what I spied when returning multiple pairs of sweatpants that I purchased and did not need.

JCrew Marled Knit Snood in Ivory and Black - $49.50

JCrew Button Flap Mittens in Poppy - $25

JCrew Vintage Pajama Set in Navy - $69.50

Here's a bag that I've been eyeing for about a year now.  It also comes in gold, so the toss up is which color to choose.  I think the silver would surely make sweatpant outfit days a little more fun!  Oh, and for those interested, it's on sale at Bloomies!

Foley + Corinna Wrapped Chain Leather and Mesh Crossbody Bag - Originally $325 Now $227.50

And to round out the list, some plates I've been swooning over to hang on my dining room wall.  Here are my favorite Anthropologie picks.

Petite Fille Plate - $24.00

From the Deep Salad Plate, Octopus - $18.00

Ladies-In-Waiting Dinner Plate - $24.00

Hope you had a great weekend!  

Mel

PS - Love Gwyneth, Love GOOP, Love Apple, Moses and Chris, too.  Oh, and her mother is just so beautiful and talented as well!

Subject: GOOP

Mel -

Going into the weekend, I thought you might like some good Internet reading, so I wanted to share this link with you. Have you read GOOP before? I'm kind of obsessed. It's Gwyneth Paltrow's own personal blog. Now, I don't know if she writes all the content herself or if she tells someone else what to write...and frankly, I don't care. I love it! I love reading all the health articles (I really want a juicer now!) and all the links and ideas she shares...brilliant. I can't wait to visit a city where she recommends restaurants. My friend Michelle has been to her recommendations before and said they are spot-on. For example, she had the best Mexican food of her life (seriously) at a Gwyneth-recommended spot in London.

I have decided I am a big fan of Gwyneth's. I like that she is a legitimate actress (who was darling when she won an Oscar) but she hardly ever gets any bad press. She really seems all about her family and kids and being down-to-earth (except when she talks about clothes and everything is waaaay out of my budget). And I like how she married a rocker (because that's what actresses do, right?) who happens to also be British so she spends a lot of time in England but she hasn't adopted this annoyingly fake British accent (i.e. Maddona). Plus she was great on Glee (and I loved her character name, Holly Holiday) and she doesn't hide the fact that she eats lots of pasta but also busts her butt in the gym to keep herself looking svelte (contrasted with actresses who shrug and insist they have good genes). PLUS she was amazing at the CMA awards. Who knew she could sing? Country? Exactly.

Anyway. I'm reaching Creepy Fan Status, so I'll stop.

Happy weekend and happy reading!
Kara

P.S. One more thing: She is a big fan of the site Smitten Kitchen. Me too! I love the thought that Gwyneth Paltrow reads the same sites as me. It makes the world seem smaller, you know?

Image courtesy of People.