Color Me Katie

This is my new favorite blog today.

Color Me Katie.

Lovely.

Victory Ford's Apartment

I only discovered Lipstick Jungle after it was announced it was canceled. This is, sadly, how I roll. And now I'm in love with something that will no longer exist. Drat. (If you are like me and somehow missed it completely, you should seriously search it out on iTunes or reruns or wherever it is you can find lost things.)

The show is definitely aesthetically pleasing. Completely lovely.

And Ilene Rosenzweig of Swell is a lead writer for the show, so it's smart. (She is married to Cad writer Rick Marin. Their apartment is amazing. Of course it is.)

And okay now I'm seeing that the show is maybe not going away. Not sure. But you can sign a petition to keep it here.
Also, Victory Ford's apartment is my new inspiration for our middle room. (Images here are from the Bandelle blog. Another fantastic discovery...)

Right now, I'm thinking about the walls. Blue. Definitely blue. While I was typing this, I just ordered five samples from Benjamin Moore to try out (oh how I love you Internet) I'll keep you posted on the progress.

I Want a Simple Bed.

I want a simple low-to-the ground bed. Nothing fancy. Nothing expensive. Just a change. I'm thinking this Malm bed from Ikea might be worth a try.

If I Could Only Have One Treat, I'd Have It From Marie Belle.

So I've decided in 2009 I'm going to limit myself to one sweet treat a week. That's right. 52 a year. Not 52 a day like I normally have. Hopefully this will encourage me to be choosier.

And if I only got to choose one for the whole year, it would be chocolates from Marie Belle. Oh yes it would.

A Pot of Sunshine.

Okay, I realize I'm possibly going through a bit of a yellow phase. But how fun and cheery would it be to whip up some soup in this Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven?!

Blurb Books

Blurb Books.

I've loved them from afar. But it's time I got closer.This year, I will make four of them. At least.

Inspiration.

I'm not sure why but I think it would be even more fun to type on my keyboard if I were wearing this ring from Star of the East.How's that for justification?

The "Cool" Fanny Pack is Dead. Long Live the Hip Sack.

As I was walking this morning, I realized I had finally reached a point in my life when I found a reason to use a fanny pack. I also realize this is a not a good thing. At all. It means I'm approaching 80. But that said and in all honestly, it would help me quite a lot to have a place to put a phone and keys while moving around the university near my house.

So when I got back, I googled "Cool Fanny Packs." Sad. I know. The results were sad too. And then I remembered Etsy.And I found the hip sack by may.tree.ark. Sometimes it's all in the marketing. Because it's not a fanny pack. It's a hip pack. For the hip. So it's hip see? For the hipsters. And for the people that need a place to put their phone while they walk.

Reality Check. I need to read more.

Since my #2 resolution involves reading more (and drinking more hot green tea while I'm doing it), I'm making Reality Check my next book to finish. I started it before the holidays, and it's really just fantastic. Realistically inspirational. And a great gift for anyone starting a new venture or adventure. Plus. It's funny. So there's that.

A Dream Workspace

Otherwise known as office porn (or my version of it anyway).

It's quite clear to me that if I had this lovely office, I could accomplish great things! I'd be happy doing them anyway. Everything you see is from West Elm. And it's joyous.

Black Eyed Peas Bowl

This is what I'll be using all day tomorrow.

Kitchen bowl from my beloved Fishs Eddy.

Putting the Tee in 3T

Harry needs new tshirts. I know. Weird right? It's so wasteful how he keeps growing out of his perfectly good clothes. Gah.

Good thing Amazon has this easy click three buttons and you've spent $172.72 on tshirts feature. Or maybe I didn't actually click purchase. But if I did, I'd buy these.

The World Peace Please Tee.

The Johnny Cash Tee.

The Peace Music Love Tee.

And the Punk Rock Tee above.

Get On With it Already.

I love cool stuff. And it's all around. (Hooray!) And I'm about eight months behind in posting some of the cool things I've seen or that people have sent me. Sooo... I'm going to stop feeling bad about that and just do something about it. And I'm going to start right here and right now with this lovely and motivating series from Orange Beautiful.

Were You Raised By Wolves?

Do you know someone who needs to get a clue about the mysteries of adulthood?

Perhaps someone who is just graduating from college?  Or entering the adult life force?  Or maybe someone who's been in the adult world for a while, but still just needs a clue. Or two. Or twenty.

Well.

This is your book. 

Were You Raised By Wolves? Clues to the Mysteries of Adulthood by Christie Mellor, author of the three-martini playdate.

This girl is funny. And a wonderfully delightful writer.  She says what we're all thinking when the hordes of interns enter our worlds around this time each year...oh people, get a clue! And stop acting like you own the joint. And it's not good to smell like joints. And the way you're bodyslamming yourself to be cool is hurting my joints. So just stop. And read this book. 

It covers it all with style and candid humor.  Straight up guides on getting lipstick stains out off of shirts, first jobs, first bosses, easy recipes, ironing, tipping, paying taxes, throwing dinner parties, and other things to avoid when drunk.

Let it be known that this is my official gift of choice to all college grads, and I'm keeping a copy or two in my desk for overachieving and underachieving interns.

In the author's own words, "It's time to set down that bottle of expensive water, review some simple rules of etiquette, and take a few totally random tips that will help you get through life without irritating too many people." 

Where was this book when I was 22?

Also, I reviewed this for Parent Bloggers Network. And I'm giving a copy away. So leave a comment here between now and Friday May 23. The Hurricane will pick a lucky winner. And as always, I really hope you win.  

Mama Rock. Oh Yes She Does.

Rose Rock has one famous son. But more impressive, she raised 17 children and foster children. So she's super successful. How did she raise all these kids I ask?

She had 10 rules.

And she shares them in this most fantastic book: Mama Rock's Rules (Ten Lessons for Raising a Household of Successful Children). The lovely parent bloggers of Parent Bloggers Network sent me this book to review it. And I must say, even though I'm only a moderate Chris Rock comedy fan, I loved this book. 

Loved. This. Book.

Each rule is broken up into chapters with titles like "I Am Your Mama, Not Your Friend", "Push Unable Off The Table", "Spirituality is Not Just For Sundays" and "Don't Lie Down With Anything You Don't Want To Live With Forever". No nonsense.

Seriously great.

But the included advice and sections are my absolute favorites. In fact, I firmly believe Ms. Rock should put out a tshirt line with some of her one liners. Because I want shirts with Roseisms on them like this:

"Don't Quack Like a (Gangsta) Duck - Unless You Are a (Gangsta) Duck"

"Feed Them and They Will Tell You Everything"

"If They Don't Accept You Because of Your Hair: Don't Be There"

Fantastic.

I don't want to go into too much detail and give anything away, but this is a must read. A fresh, wholesome very direct approach about raising kids. Because, really, when you're raising 17, who has the time to mess around?

And okay, sure, it takes way more than just a book to raise so many successful people. But it's a great read and a great way to think about this all-important job of parenting. As far as I'm concerned, she knows what she's talking about. At least 16 times more than I do. At least.

So it's official. This is officially my favorite Mother's Day gift I've seen so far.  You can buy it here. You can also watch a fun video of an interview with Rose Rock here. 

Want to win one? Leave a comment here. The Hurricane will draw a winner by Friday morning. And seriously, I hope you win.

It's Shelf Porn.

Do organized shelves get you going?
Check out organize dot com.

The Keenest Shoes Around

If you happen to be an extremely active two-and-a-half-year-old person with impressively wide feet, I very strongly advise that you spend the summer in these durable, cool, waterproof shoes (Newport H2 from Keen). They are worth every penny. Trust me.

Free Music.

Check it. On Cool Mom Picks.

You Know I'm Obsessed With Cupcakes Right? Now There Are Designer Cupcakes. I'm Doomed.

Wow. These are the Christian Loubotin of cupcake wrappers.
But I doubt they're red on the bottom.

See Kai Run this Spring

The new See Kai Run line is in.
Check it.