Hmmm...where could I put one of these?

Picture from O at Home, purchase it at Pottery Barn.

I have been dreaming about getting one of these lately. Does anyone have one? Do you love it? Do you actually sleep on it, or does it just look SWEET on your porch?

Le Beanock, via Curbly

Or how about this one? Can you even imagine how comfortable it would be for a mid-day nap?

Make no mistake, I DO NOT want one of these.

Oh, and here's one for your ferret...wouldn't want to leave the little guy out! Get it here.

Putting Up

So today I spent all day working in the garden. Man did it need weeding. But now it looks BEE.U.TI.FUL.

After a bottle of Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc last night, I proceeded to tell my friends that I would bring them all yellow squash and zucchini from my garden today, so I did! How fun it is to be the harvest fairy!

Lime Basil photo from here.

I also have just spent the last hour "putting up" (that sounds so professional and garden-y and all) a bunch of basil pesto. Yum, my hands, clothes, and whole house smell of basil. If you'd like to make some, it is SO easy:

• 2 cups fresh picked basil leaves


• 1/3 cup pine nuts


• 3 cloves garlic


• up to 1/2 cup EVOO (nach, Rachel Ray)

pulse first 3 ingredients then slowly add EVOO while still running the Cuisinart.

That's it! If you want to eat it right away, add a little Romano or Parmesan and yum!

If you want to freeze it, then put it in baggies and freeze it. The next time you make spaghetti sauce from the jar (you know you do) add a hunk, and it will be just like you made that sauce fresh!



I also had a bunch of purple basil to harvest, and I did the same as above, but I toasted the pine nuts. OH.MY.GOD. It is so GD good, I can't stand it. The smell when I was blending it was heaven!



BTW, purple basil shot from here: 66 Square Feet. An awesome blog. Go there. Now.

Zac Efron

Young, but yes...

Those eyes...yes!

Mmmmm...

As I told Cameron Diaz a few weeks ago, even though it is a wig for a movie...

NO!

NO!

NO!

I could make that!

I love this from Smith and Hawken, but come on, for $129 I could totally make that. I have all the supplies in my back yard right now! Besides that, it just gets covered up with plants and you don't see it anyhow!

I thought that was you, Jen...

Image from here.

I see you are advertising for Smart Water (Again? I don't remember seeing you last year).
You sure are pretty, and I really like the styling too.

I think I need this!

Check out this Palms Lounger from Curran!

Sweet!

What the Fuck Wednesday

This cracks me up...high fashion ball-sling? WTF

You know what I mean?

I was catching up on magazine reading while on vacation last week, and a thought came to my mind:

Why is it when there are people's homes and lives are featured in magazines, their husbands aren't around?

Case in point: O at Home, Summer 2008 edition. There is a really nice article entitled Where the Living is Easy about Katleen Van Roost's vacation home in the Hampton's. What a beautiful home. What a beautiful woman. What beautiful kids. Katleen talks about why she and her husband bought the home, how they live like no one else in the Hampton's, etc. But...why didn't he show up for the photo shoot? Why wasn't he there for the interview? I don't get it. Is his life so busy and important that he couldn't be there? I know she is some important Belgian banker and all, but I bet her home(s) aren't featured in magazines ALL that often. (As a matter of fact, she is so important that I couldn't find one image of her in Google Image search, so here is a photo from the feature on Oprah's website.

Second Case: Cookie Magazine, June/July 2008 edition. There is a gorgeous pictorial and article about Liv Tyler talking about her "life as a mom, the superhuman stamina parenting can require, and what she has learned from her own highly unconventional childhood." I mean, this girl is hot. Plus, she has her 3 1/2 year old son Milo dressed in $106 shirts and $99 jeans. For God's sake, they won't fit next month. But I digress. Liv talks about her husband, Royston Langdon (WTF: no name British rocker who it appears is only in photos with his well known wife) and their brownstone in New York City; how Milo tings on his toy piano while his dad plays the real thing. But...he doesn't show up for the interview or the photo shoot. Isn't this a magazine about family life (and yes, I get that family doesn't necessarily mean mom, dad, 2.5 kids and a dog), but if the article is about the family, shouldn't they all be there? You would think that ole Royston would want to be in the pics so more people would figure out who he was and he could sell some more records.

I don't get it. If my house and family was in a magazine, you bet your ass my husband would be there for the interview and photo shoot! I just don't get it, and I thought maybe some of you more worldly people would know.

[now that I have typed this whole thing, I read that maybe Liv and spouse are split up. Oh well, same wondering holds true]

My mind is spinning...

photo from phitar's flickr photostream

Do you ever get that way?

Where your mind is spinning out of control, and you can't slow down your thoughts, and you have so many things to do you don't know where to start and you know you need to sleep, but you don't think you can, and you JUST.CAN'T. SLOW.DOWN?

I am having that right now.

I just got back from a lovely 5 days with my brother, his wife and their 2 lovely girls in New Jersey. I took my 6-year-old daughter with me, and she was an angel. She was the perfect play mate for my 2-year old niece who can be a bit difficult (as most terrible two toddlers can be!). She was the perfect baby holder for my other 4-month old niece. Everyone cried when we were dropped off at the train to go home.

In 4 days, I leave for a week of work in Georgia. I have to go out of town tomorrow for work for the day. I am scared to open my work email, and I KNOW my mailbox is full. I will have piles and piles of mail on my desk when I get there in the morning.

On my way home today, I got a million text messages about a million things at work. I wonder when it became ok for work to happen while on vacation? I sent emails to everyone before I left letting them know when I would be gone and when I would be back. I don't mind working while on vacation, but I want it to be on my own time and choice, you know?

So here I sit, in bed, typing, watching Discovery Health at 12:18am, and I can't stop the spinning.

Thanks for listening!

What the Fuck Wednesday

Check out these shoes that are supposedly all the rage in Japan...

Now check out what they looked like "back in the day," and what your feet will look like if you wear them! Yuck!


Sorry...these came in an email to me, and I don't know where the photos came from. If they are yours (and by some amazing miracle you are reading this blog, let me know and I will credit you ASAP!)

Melissa Borrell

I saw this in O at Home magazine and I was intrigued.

These shades can be custom designed to glow when lit by the sun. I have no idea how well they work to block out other outside "distractions" but I have a few windows in my house that would be really cool with one of these shades on them.

Check Melissa out and her other designs here.

Piperlime + Maloles

Ok, so I forgot for a bit there that Piperlime.com was part of Gap. Old Navy, Banana Republic...but I still love it!

This post was going to be about these cool shoes that I saw in a magazine for sale at Piperlime. However, I can't get the GD picture of them to come out right!

So, I have spent the last hour searching the web for a good photo of those shoes. In the search, I came on the Maloles website...which is too cool, go visit it.

Then I discovered this cool site: Little Fashion Gallery, where they have these Fuchsia Nubuck Ballet Pumps petite Maloles for sale for only about $US 120.00:

Look at these: they will set you back a year on your retirement, but I LOVE THEM!
Hmmm, I love virtual shoe shopping!

Tiger Woods

Yes...

Oh Yes...
OMG Yes...

Well, maybe if you get rid of the 'stache.

The Next Two Buck Chuck?

We don't have a Trader Joe's here in the middle of Kansas, but (unfortunately) we do have a Wal-Mart.

I hear that this Oak Leaf , exclusive to Wal-Mart is really good. The best part? It costs $2.98. YES!!! $2.98. Can you even believe it? I might have to venture into that god-awful mecca of white-trashiness just to try a bottle. Here is a review, if you don't believe me.

Have any of you tried it? What do you think?

What the Fuck Wednesday

This is cracking my shit up! It has to be photoshopped or something, don't you think?

Of course it's from here!

They Celebrate the 100th Day...Why Not Me Too?

In Kindergarten, both my kids had a big party to celebrate their 100th Day. They did things like bring 100 of something from home to count at school, have snacks, show how they can count to 100 and write their numbers to 100.

Thanks for celebrating the 100th post of this here little blog with me...

**Really, Beckham has nothing to do with this post, but it looked like he was clapping just for me!

SMIT

SMIT is a renewable energy start-up company. Currently they have a solar collection prototype at MOMA called Grow, and the design was inspired by ivy leaves.

GROW.1
First realized as an Industrial Design Thesis project at Pratt Institute in Spring 2005 by Samuel Cabot Cochran, GROW.1 employs thin film photovoltaics with piezoelectric generators and screen printed conductive ink encapsulated in ETFE fluoropolymer lamination.

GROW.2

GROW.2 utilizes a structural stainless steel mesh system, which is manufactured by Carl Stahl Decorcable in Germany. Their system is designed to enable plants (such as ivy and other crawlers) to grow up the sides of buildings without causing damage to the building's exteriors, a typical problem of many vertical gardens.

Some of you smart people may know what that means, but I don't. All I know is it is cool as shit. If and when this comes out we all will be going solar.

All photos courtesy SMIT website. I learned about SMIT in Plenty magazine.

Vonzell Solomon

Some of you reality TV fans might know who the heck Vonzell Solomon is (uh, hum, SGM). I for one didn't, and really it doesn't matter. (She was the third place loser in season 4 of Idol)

My friends at People Magazine were telling me how Vonzell accidentally took her unloaded handgun into the airport in Florida. Really, it was just a mistake.

I can't say it any better than her father/manager:

“Vonzell wants everyone to know that this was an honest mistake,” her manager and father, Larry Goethie, tells PEOPLE. “She had a big purse and just didn’t realize that the gun was in it.” He notes that Solomon has a permit for the weapon, and carries it for safety during her long road trips. “She’s a single woman, and she is sometimes in situations where she needs protection."

For God's sake. Who accidentally takes their handgun to the airport? Jeezus. Dumbshit. No wonder she got third place.

Delightfully Duralee

I pulled this out of a magazine the other day because I love what they have done with the bench. I have been looking for a way to bring my weathered teak bench inside to use at my dining room table.

I think this would be just perfect. That particular fabric wouldn't work for my room, but I like it too.

I'll take one of those...

Ebay finds:

Antique glass jar wasp trap

Moravian Tile

iron weathervane floral ornament

Uzbek hand embroidered suzani

Elizabethan

Now that I am typing this, I think I might have told you about her before, but oh well, I love her stuff THAT MUCH!

Now, friends, look below at the wonderful finery:

This gal, Elisabeth Delehaunty, makes all of her stuff from recycled fabrics she finds at garage sales, thrift stores, and the like.

Come on, how cool is that special Olympics shirt? And that skirt (which is very similar to a red and blue one I bought last year). How about that scarf? Yummy!

I tell you this not to make you jealous, but I actually get to see Elisabeth's stuff in person for 3 days starting tomorrow.

This is because we have the fabulous Smoky Hill River Festival starting tomorrow. I know it is too late this year, but you really should make an effort to come here some time for the festival. It is a wonderful festival of food and arts and music; award winning, in fact! Read more about the festival at it's website here.

Since you can't see Elisabeth this weekend, you can look at and buy her things here at her website.

More posts about the festival coming up this weekend!

Google Reader

As if I have all the time in the world these days, Google Reader (or some other computer software thingy) has decided to send me the last 20 posts from everyone on my reader that uses Tumblr (maybe).

Come on...I love reading all of you guys, but when the reader says there are 17 posts to read, that is a little overwhelming.

But, never fear, I just slogged thru them all and got everything read!

Please, Google (or Tumblr), not ever again!

What the Fuck Wednesday

OK, this is eyeball bling.

Come on...WTF?

And of course it is from here.

Petunia Face

If you are missing her, it might be because she accidentally deleted her blog. Find her now here! If you don't know her, go there now and introduce yourself! You won't regret it!

Open Letter to Matthew:

Dear Matthew:

You know how much I love you and am concerned for your health and the health of your unborn baby, so I must tell you of my disappointment.

My friends at People magazine told me about you and Camila hosting the gig at the Viper Room for reggae artist Mishka, I couldn't help but be mortified. Come on, Matthew, we all know how much smoke was at that show. And not only cigarette smoke, but god for the pot smoke. I know, I know, You can't get addicted to pot, but still, that little baby.

Because I am planning on my daughter or son marrying your spawn so that we can finally be together, I need to be sure things are on the up-and-up with Camila's pregnancy. I worry that if she is out with you exposing that child to smoke and loud music, what else is she doing? Eating sushi? Licking the bowl of brownie batter made with raw egg? Having a tuna sandwich each morning for breakfast with all of that mercury and stuff?

And, how about that outfit Camila is wearing? Is that a denim vest? And that bag you are carrying? You don't have to try to smuggle your friends into the concert, you are a star, dude. You can get anyone in.

So, my love, please be a little more careful when you are out. Think of your child, and more importantly, think of me!

TLA,

Amanda

ps, Mishka is HOT in this photo! Could you set me up?

Word of the Day

From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

nonplussed

Main Entry: nonplus
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): nonplussed also nonplused \-ˈpləst\; nonplus·sing also nonplus·ing \-ˈplə-siŋ\
Date: 1591
: to cause to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do : perplex
synonyms see puzzle

My sentence: After I told my boss I was leaving work today at noon and I wouldn't be there tomorrow, he was definitely nonplussed.

Barack Obama

Yes...

Yes...

Image compliments of Lima’s Flickr, via Thought Merchant

Hell Yes...

Photo found via Crazed Mom of 3

What I am reading...

Currently I am reading (listening to) My Life on a Plate by India Knight...she has the best vocabulary EVER as well as some sentiments that I totally echo...like this one:

I don't believe in dieting. Me, I am anti. I constitutionally disapprove of any slimming regime on the heartfelt principle that life is too short, which principle also applies to aerobics, pooper-scooping and anal sex.

Yeah, what she said!

I really must have these:

I am such a sucker for bookplates. You too can get them from The Black Apple's Etsy shop.

What I had for dinner...

fresh spinach with:

cilantro, lime basil, purple basil, garlic chives, cottage cheese, croutons and vinigarette.

by the way: all but the last 3 were FRESH from my garden!

I love summer in Kansas!

Things I did today

1. sent my kid to the park with my mom and niece (they fed the ducks)

2. sent my other kid and his dad to the farm pond to fish (they caught 60 fish!!)

3. vacuumed the whole house and porch and read outside (by myself for an hour)

4. took my kid to enroll in a week-long basketball camp for the first time ever (he's 8)

5. played a Wii bowling tournament with my kiddos (my oldest beat me at bowling)

6. took my kid to basketball camp to last for 4 hours (it's the first day, tomorrow it is from 7:45am until 10:15pm!!!)

7. took my youngest and her friends to the swimming pool for 2 hours (it started getting cloudy, thank god)

8. took my youngest to her friend's house for dinner (hot dogs)

9. met my hubby at some friends for wine and dinner (sans kids)

10. had too much wine (and hubby drove home)

NOW I AM READY FOR BED! GOOD NIGHT!