balance.

This post on decor8 needs to be framed and hung on my wall (or around my neck so I don't forget it). Do yourself a favor and read it — you don't have to be a freelancer (like the author, Holly, is) to understand the need for work/life balance and taking time out for what's important. Let me know if you find yourself nodding along to her thoughts.

photo via Decor8

DrikaB bags

It's kind of funny how much I talk about bags on this blog considering that I rarely buy them. (I guess when it comes to bags and shoes, we girls are always dreaming.) Recently in the blogosphere I have seen the gorgeous creations of DrikaB on Etsy and after drooling over her bags, I just couldn't help myself any longer... I actually bought one!

I originally wanted this one:

gray square tiles basic tote - $69 plus shipping

But after hemming and hawing over if I really wanted it, it was already gone when I went to buy it last night :-( I also REALLY loved the larger weekender bag in the same pattern:

gray square tiles weekender - $99 plus shipping

... but couldn't justify the pricetag. HOWEVER, today I checked the shop again and found that DrikaB is having a sale! All weekender bags and pouches are 20% off plus free shipping today (May 28). That means the $99 weekender bag was reduced to $79 with free shipping — about as much as the basic tote would have cost with shipping!

I feel like this is a small victory and a nice treat for myself after finalizing a few Etsy sales of my own this month. I can't wait to take this bag to Austin for the HOW Design Conference next month. I'll be stylin' on the plane, that's fo' sho'.

If you love DrikaB's work as much as I do, check out the Shop Live sale hosted by Heart Handmade going on tonight at 7:00 for just 30 minutes for more amazing deals.

spaghetti and meatballs (on a cupcake!)

While perusing Facebook last night, I saw some photos from a college friend's birthday party. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the AMAZING "spaghetti and meatball" cupcakes that his girlfriend made for him.

Photo and recipe found on foodbuzz.com

After a little Googling I found that this adorable idea comes from the book Hello, Cupcake! which I'm prettttttty sure I need to have. I mean, come on — I AM Mrs. Cupcake!

The "spaghetti" is piped icing; the "meatballs" are Ferrero Rocher candies; the "sauce" (or gravy, if that's your thing) is raspberry or strawberry jam; and the "parmesan cheese" is grated white chocolate.

About.com has it pegged as an April Fool's Day recipe, but I think these would be adorable anytime. Maybe dessert following a yummy Italian meal?

are you an unclutterer?

I love this post from Unclutterer. It's a nice reminder that not all clutter is physical "stuff" (although the physical "stuff" is definitely my biggest clutter hurdle). Go ahead... read it... I'll wait.

I always say that I am an organized person stuck inside a disorganized person's body... I am such a slob/lazy bum by nature in many ways, but I have become such an OCD nut in other ways. I ALWAYS had a messy room when I was younger, and I still acquire piles of randomness throughout our apartment pretty often; yet, I can't function at work until everything on my desk is organized and in its place, my web browser has the necessary tabs open (different Basecamp tabs for our different companies), I have read every new email in my inbox, and I have a nice to-do list set up for my day. It's almost like all of my organizational tendencies go into my work and there's none leftover for the rest of my life. (I'm weird... I know.)

These days, I'm trying to pinpoint what aspects of my life have too much clutter and I'm striving to rid the rest of my life (and our space) of clutter; I definitely feel a lot calmer and happier when there is less clutter surrounding me. It would also be great if when we're ready to move into a house, we can pack up everything in our apartment knowing that it's actually useful to us because we've already weeded out the junk. That's the goal, at least... we'll see how it goes!

What are your clutter habits?

perfect piano

I always wanted to play the piano when I was younger... but alas, we had no piano in our home so that would have made it a bit difficult to learn how to play and practice. Instead, I was stuck with the stupid clarinet that I inherited from my older brother after he gave it up (but I'm not bitter... really). Blech, I still get the heebie-jeebies when I think of sucking on that gross reed. Eww. I lasted about two years before I quit that damn instrument like a bad habit.

Anyway, when we have a house and kids, I would really love to have a piano. I want to encourage our kids to learn how to play it and I would love to hear it singing in another room while I'm working/attempting to cook/pretending to clean. This post on Design Mom totally inspired me when I came across it... I love that she took a sort of beat up piano that wasn't worth restoring but was still playable, and made it into a pretty and quirky addition to her home. It has so much charm in this bold kelly green color and I am now dying for my own kelly green piano :-)

Do you have a piano? Do you actually play it or is it more of a decoration in your home?

nice to meet you.

I write this blog because I love to write, share fun and interesting findings from the interwebs, share personal experiences as I attempt to become a "grown-up," and I enjoy the blogging community that has come to inspire me on a daily basis. I write this blog for me, but ultimately — I'm not going to lie — it's really nice to get comments, see new followers, and see some jumps in visits in my Google Analytics and Feedburner.

I'm constantly surprised by the posts that get lots of comments, and the posts that get zero comments. I know that my posts are a conglomeration of lots of topics, events, and interests, but I think that keeps things interesting. Ultimately, I'm going to write about whatever inspires me or whatever is going on in my life on any given day... but I'm still interested in getting some feedback from you to maybe help to guide me. Tell me:

• who are you, what do you do for a living and where are you from?
• how did you find my blog?
• what type of my posts interest you the most?
• what type of my posts interest you the least?
• what would make this blog more interesting to you?

forgotten tune: "I Would Do Anything for Love"

Nearing home after a Memorial Day weekend visiting my in-laws, we were growing weary of aggressive and stupid drivers and just ready to be home already. We decided to get some fresh air and roll the windows down/open the sunroof. Moments later, we were treated to a serious forgotten tune... the guiltiest of guilty pleasures, "I Would Do Anything for Love" by Meatloaf. I'm sure Nick was thrilled that I knew every. single. word. and couldn't NOT crank up the volume and belt it out. I think I caught him singing along a few times, too.

Meatloaf - Anything for Love (But I Wont Do That) -

Go ahead. Just try not to sing along. It's impossible, I assure you.

My favorite ridiculous line? "Will you hose me down with holy water if I get too hot?"

HAA! So hysterical. Love it.

jon and kate...

Do you watch Jon and Kate Plus Eight? I do... and I was really saddened by last night's episode. It seems like they have thrown in the towel and given up already. Jon, especially, speaks as if they are already done. I don't think I was expecting it to all be so blunt.

Kate is certainly not the easiest person to deal with, I'm sure... but most of the time I give her the benefit of the doubt (although maybe that's a flaw of mine). I feel like if I had eight kids, I'd probably lose my mind fairly often and get a bit snippy, too. I don't know if the fame factor has had more to do with their problems or if it's the fact that they have eight kids and essentially no privacy or normalcy in their lives, but I don't think I blame them for doing the series. If I had eight kids and made a meager salary, lived in a fairly small house, and didn't have a ton of options for financial stability, I'd probably consider the opportunity if it meant being able to buy a more comfortable home and eventually send all eight kids to college someday. But I'm sure they never expected how things would unfold over the years, and I wonder if they regret it all now.

What say you?

remembering

My maternal grandfather was in the Navy during WWII. My mom speaks with such pride about her father and his time in the service and I am sad that I was never lucky enough to know him or my grandmother.

My grandparents on their wedding day in the 1940s

I have thought about them often over the years, wondering what they were like and what our relationship would be like if they were still around, but I think about my grandfather especially frequently on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. My uncle (my mom's brother-in-law) told me recently that my grandfather was, hands down, the nicest, most generous, most giving man he has ever known. It made him (and me) a little misty when he was talking about him. I have no doubt that he was a man who would have done anything for anyone, including his country and his fellow Americans.

Thank you to all of the fine men and women who served and continue to serve our country today. I am humbled to think that anyone could ever be so selfless and brave. Thank you.

bag love

I have a $30 DSW rewards certificate burning a hole in my pocket, and I love this bag... I wish it weren't sold out in gray with the adorable purple lining and perfect button detail. Hmph. I really don't need to spend "real" money on another bag if this beauty is for sale somewhere else, but it would be nice if my "free" money could buy me this! It would be a perfect bag come fall.

thank goodness...

The greatest reality talent competition in the history of the world is finally back. So You Think You Can Dance, oh how I have missed you!



Nothing beats the raw passion that these dancers have for their craft... it always makes me want to go back to dance class and bust a move. Auditions began airing on last night's premiere and I can't wait to find out who the top 20 dancers are. If last night is any indication, the competition is going to be fierce. And I still think Cat Deeley is the most spectacular, likable and genuine host on television.

The only complaint I've ever had about this show is that it's a summer show... meaning only 1/4 of my year is graced with it's presence and the other 9 months are spent awaiting the next season. Well, it looks like Fox has finally gotten their act together and realized that it's nearly impossible for us superfans to wait 9 months between seasons... after this summer's fifth season, a sixth season will soon follow in the fall! VICTORY!

Any other SYTYCD fans out there? If you don't watch — what's holding you back? (Rather, how can I convince you? :-)

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...