clever clipboards

I'm loving this simple solution for displaying a hodge podge of items on your wall while still presenting it in a somewhat organized fashion...

from Rachel Denbow, found via Decor8

It would be so simple to continually adjust and reinvent a wall (without creating more holes in it!). I'm filing this one away for safekeeping...

i know i already talked about "glee"....

...but how awesome is it that two of the songs from Tuesday's pilot episode are topping the iTunes charts? "Don't Stop Believin'" is number 1 (!!) and "Rehab" is 31.

I love it. I think I'll drop $1.98 and buy both.

inspired goodness... better than ever

Have you all checked out my sister-in-law's amazing new blog design? I was impressed with her TypePad layout before, but now... well, hello Squarespace!

I love how seamlessly her website now goes hand-in-hand with the blog and the design is stunning. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. Be sure to check it out, yo!

I'm so proud of my 'sis and am so thrilled to watch the success of Inspired Goodness continue to grow!

feeling gleeful

Did anyone catch Glee on Fox this Tuesday night? It was incredible! I am sure I enjoyed it because I'm a musical theatre nerd, but I think anyone would be a fan of the humor and heart in this show. Plus the music is nothing short of spectacular.

I have never seen Nip/Tuck or Popular, but apparently the same guy who created those shows also created Glee. So far I love every single character, particularly Matthew Morrison as teacher and glee club coach Mr. Schuester, Jayma Mays as Emma Pillsbury (I liked her as Charlie on Heroes), and Lea Michele as goody-two-shoes Rachel Berry (her character reminds me so much of Reese Witherspoon in Election, yet much more likeable.... and looks-wise she reminds me so much of Idina Menzel of Rent and Wicked fame).

The only problem is that Tuesday's pilot episode was just a teaser and the show won't be back until September! Hopefully once it's back it will have some staying power, because I am already smitten with this show.

If you haven't seen it, you should definitely check out the full pilot episode on HULU.

happy birthday, cake wrecks

One of my favorite blogs, Cake Wrecks, turned one today. Happy birthday, CW! Thanks for making me laugh out loud every single day (sometimes so much so that I'm in tears) with your witty banter about icing-y typos and poor grammar, hysterical "stories" of why the "wreckerator" used so many "extraneous" quotes, and, of course, amazing photos of some truly wrecky cake wrecks.

All photos from Cake Wrecks

If you have never visited Cake Wrecks, do it. Do it NOW. You can thank me later.

free range kids

I am definitely not ready for kids yet (aren't I still a kid myself??)... but when we DO decide to have some little mini Brookes and Nicks, I think this book is something I'd like to read: Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry by Lenore Skenazy.

I came across this book thanks to my friend Rachel and it looks like an interesting peek into the world of "helicopter parenting" and the safety of kids today. It begs the argument that perhaps the world isn't any less safe for kids now than it was when we were kids, despite the fear that is ingrained into us all through the media. Maybe letting our kids take some chances, explore things on their own and make some mistakes is actually a positive thing.

I wasn't a particularly dare-devilish kind of kid (on the contrary, I was actually scared of doing anything "wrong" so I pretty much never got into trouble or took risks), but I think my parents gave me the freedom to figure things out on my own. I guess I just decided on my own not to be a risk-taker... so, in turn, I'm sure my future children will be constant trouble-makers ;-)

I know it will be hard not to want to watch my kids' every move when I'm a mom (I'm a major control freak, remember?), but ultimately I'll have to just keep reminding myself that giving them the freedom to make some mistakes will only foster better street smarts and decision-making skills later in life. I know too many people whose parents hovered over their every move when they were kids and I see how difficult it is for them to now make even the simplest decisions on their own. I'll admit: I'm sure I'm not going to be entirely laid back as a parent or take this free-range method to the extreme, but it will be a nice reminder to lighten up a bit when I want to follow my kids everywhere they go.

Are you/will you try to be a "free range" parent? Or do you think there are disadvantages to this style of parenting in today's world?


Check out Lenore Skenazy's blog if you're interested in learning more about "Free Range" parenting.

wallpaper makeover

I can't stop thinking about these ridiculously awesome wallpaper designs. Must find excuse to buy at least one of these. Pronto.

by Aimée Wilder, found via Little Willow

Honey, we're going to have to buy a house soon so I can spruce up some walls with these lovelies!

dreamy office

I dream of someday having a home office/art studio/inspiration space as organized as this one.

from capture the moment, found via Lucky Me!

What does your dream office or studio look like?

windy, indeed

Sorry for the lack of posting lately... Nick and I took a somewhat last-minute trip to Chicago last week! We found a great deal and decided to keep up with our annual May excursions (last year we went to Boston for a game at Fenway and to see the city; the year before that, we visited my relatives in New Orleans and went to JazzFest). Overall, we had a great time in the Windy City! Here are a few highlights:

Deep dish pizza (at both Gino's East, shown below, and Lou Malnati's, our favorite of the two)...
Spending time with an old friend...Gorgeous tulips all over the city...
A Cubs game at Wrigley Field...
Seeing some amazing works of art at the Art Institute of Chicago...
Fun with the bean...
A cool exhibit of works inspired by or designed for the Obama 2008 Presidential Campaign...
Yummy food and good company (with two Chicago bees) at Carnivale...
A clear day's view from the 99th floor of the Sears Tower...
And fun with the fun house mirrors at Navy Pier.
I'm glad to be able to check #93 off my list! #94 will have to wait as Oprah was finished taping her season by the time we got into town, but that will just give me another excuse to get back to the Windy City another time soon.

sunny day

The sun finally decided to show its face today after NINE. STRAIGHT. DAYS. of rain in Philadelphia. Here's hoping the weekend stays sunny!

I'm looking forward to getting lots accomplished this weekend while Nick is off visiting his mom for Mother's Day... maybe I'll actually hold myself accountable for getting these things done if I write them here. Here's my list:

• write a few thank you notes
• dust the apartment
• clean all the windows in the apartment (or at least the ones I can reach)
• finish Mod Podge-ing the Ikea mirrors for our hallway
• order an 8x10 print from our wedding for the new frame I got at Ikea
  
• take ALLLLLL of my clothes out of their drawers/closets/mountains and organize every. single. thing. and fill up at least one (maybe two?) huge bags for Goodwill
• write a new recap post for Weddingbee
• treat my mom to lunch for Mother's Day
• de-clutter my desk
• de-clutter the bookshelf in our bedroom
• clean out under the bed (yuck)

Yes.... this is probably more than one human can possibly do in a weekend. But if I get at least a few things checked off, I'll feel better!

Happy weekend!

do something NICE

Do you read Operation NICE? I do, and it always gives me warm fuzzies. Melissa, who runs the great blog, has started something wonderful and is constantly trying to spread the seed of nice, and I think it would be really cool if she got something wonderful in return. She is currently trying to win tickets to the Bonnaroo music festival, and I want to help her win. I think you should, too.

All you have to do is read Melissa's post here, follow the link, vote for her, and verify your email address. Or you can take my word for it that her story/photo is a cool one and go right here to vote for Melissa Morris I. Your email address won't be used for anything other than verifying your vote (and your vote doesn't count until you respond to the verification email). Only one vote per email address is permitted.... so if you've got a few, use 'em :-)

I hope she wins!

sleeveface

Here's a little something that I find delightfully funny.

Yup... there's a whole blog devoted to these. So awesome.

Happy Friday!

All images via Sleeveface