Friday, January 21, 2011

Bar Carts: Portable Party

I have seen some pictures of gorgeous bar carts and I really really want one.  I was poking around on Overstock and it suggested this industrial cart that isn't meant to be a bar cart, but sure would make a good one for $56.99! 

 Here are some of my favorites I've seen around the block...

Cupcakes & Cashmere

Apartment Therapy
Kitchenisms

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Let Them Eat Cake

The most unique and unexpected Christmas present I got this year came from my dad.  It was an oil painting kit that came with everything you need to get started.  Paints, brushes, canvas, and a how-to book.   I felt a mixture of excitement, inspiration, and terror thinking about what in the world I was going to do with it.

The walls in my parents house feature a few of my dad's masterpieces from over the years.  After a long hiatus he started painting again, and I got dibs on one of the first ones he did when he started back up.  It's hanging in my kitchen, isn't it nice?  I left Christmas with some pointers from my dad, but was still terrified at tackling a landscape.

While reading Jordan Ferney's blog I saw an old post about a collection of cakes her husband Paul Ferney painted.  How freakin amazing is this?  And each painting has a cute little phrase like "After a slice of that chocolate cake she was in the mood to crash a party." and "As she sat there with her sisters, giggling and devouring an entire cake, she felt like she was 12 years old again." I love them all!



So while legitimately snowed in today, with my DVR bordering on empty and Netflix devoured, I pondered what to do with myself.  DING DING DING!  Today is painting day.

Not completely sure what I was doing, I pulled out all of my brushes and paints and planned my attack.  I took a look at a bunch of Paul Ferney's paintings and settled on which cake/cake stand/background combo I thought was do-able and I set up shop.  Do notice the laptop playing a marathon of Friday Night Lights on Netflix.

Now the smart thing to do would be to sketch out my attack plan with pencil, but I couldn't find one anywhere, so I drew ever so lightly with pen, which gave me enough of an idea of where to put paint to canvas.

I started with the cake stand, which I was hoping to be a nice jade green.  It came out a little darker than I was hoping, but I quickly realized that the more you try and fix a color the more paint you wind up with.  It was getting out of hand!

Next I moved onto the most fun part, the cake!  I outlined the cake and filled it in solid brown, then went back and really caked it on (no pun intended).  I wanted it to look like thick, gooey frosting.  I added a candle, painted in the background, and voila!  She was done.  And for the record, it may have been easier to paint the background before the rest of it instead of trying to paint around everything!


This is by no means a Paul Ferney, but I'm glad I took the plunge and gave it a try.  Here it is.  Not quite good enough to eat, but I tried.  I think I might attempt a painting class to actually learn what I'm doing, but this was a much better way to spend an afternoon than shoveling snow.  Although eating cake may have been better...

Thursday, January 6, 2011

I Robbed The Gap!

Well, not litterally.

Growing up, one of my mom’s favorite activities was taking us to the Gap when they were having a major sale. We would clean out their clearance section then go home and huddle around the kitchen table with our shopping bags and a calculator. We would carefully peel back the sale stickers until we could see the original prices, and add up what we would have spent at full retail vs. what we actually paid.


This was the only time I ever showed even a modest interest in math.

Last night the nostalgia flowed back as I did this again. I had time to kill before a movie, and the Gap had a sign out front that all clearance was 40% off! I didn’t have a ton of time, but I did my best impression of Supermarket Sweep and snatched up the best stuff I could find including the ballet flats that I wanted before Christmas. Two pairs in fact. Worth the wait!

Here is a recap…



Tuesday, January 4, 2011

2011 Inspiration

Flash forward... there I am!

I wanted to wait a few days before doing an official New Years post.  I don't know why, I guess all the talk of resolutions and "new year new you" bologna was too much, but I'm ready.

In reading everyone else's New Years posts, I came across an amazing post from Mighty Girl about Esquire's "What I've Learned" section.  There were some serious gems in there that have definitely helped me to look at this coming year and my attitude in a new way.

Here are some of the best quotes, followed by my favorite "Get up off your ass and be proud of yourself, girlfriend" anthem. 

“Some people understand what it is to create something special, and others are thinking what they can get out of it.” -Al Pacino

“There was an incredible power that was against me. And that power, I hope I was able to use it to do something good. Power is power. It’s energy. And if you get big, big energy, you can use that in a good way.” -Yoko Ono

“People don’t remember who the critics were.” -Robert Redford

“Running from something and running to something are the same thing.”

“There’s always going to be someone smarter, prettier, nicer. It’s better to appreciate it instead of being threatened by it or defending yourself against it.” -Mary Louise Parker

“I don’t look ahead. I’m right here with you. It’s a good way to be.”

“I don’t want to impress people I wouldn’t cross the road to talk to. I want there to be a strict door policy at my club. I want to go, “You can’t come in. You won’t like this. And I don’t want you to like it.” -Ricky Gervais

Now, I dare you not to dance a little, and feel a whole lot better about yourself after this one. 


Update: While we're on the subject, check out this non-resolution from Bridget from It's a Hunt Life.

"basically, i would just like to be a better person, but that's what we should all hope to be as each year flies by.  complain less.  love more.  be more patient.  take more time with the kids instead of shooing them away because i've got other things that can't wait (laundry can wait.  computer can wait.).  take more time to tell my husband what i'm proud of him for.  be grateful for at least five new things at the end of each and every day.  learn to be more like gracie (dogs really are the best teachers, aren't they?).  compliment more.  stress less.  read more.  eat well.  listen to beautiful music.  go to more concerts.  make some delicious new recipes.  write more snail-mail letters.  be a better person."

Amen Bridget!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Chic On The Cheap - Old Navy Edition

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

In my attempt to be more financially responsible this year, I thought it would be a good idea to just write about things I want, and not buy them.  Well, not buy them all anyway.

I have always been pretty cheap when it comes to clothes, and people are shocked at the finds I get from places like Target and Old Navy.  So, while nursing a hangover (oh hey 2011) I put together some Old Navy Outfits.  One item is $50, most are $30 or less.  Can't beat that!


Lightweight Ruffle-Trim Tops | $20 
Pom-Pom Ballet Flats | $19.99 
Tasseled Totes| $28.50 
Button-Front Boyfriend Cardigans | $24.99

Ballet Flats | $19.50