oh goodness

expectations.

They're terrible.

Have you noticed that when you have expectations you will almost always be let down?

I suppose that's why I don't expect much of others or from experiences. Because when you don't expect much, things always go great. When you don't expect much, you appreciate what you get. When you don't expect much, it's hard to get angry over little things, that in the broad scheme of life, matter very little.

All I'm saying, people, is to expect less and enjoy more.

spunk

Last summer my mom came home from a garage sale with a huge box full of old photographs. And of course I permanently borrowed some.

When I look at these,
I wonder who they were.
What was their story?

I suppose I'll never know their reality. But it's fun dreaming them up.

Like this girl?
In my imagination, she's full of spunk. The slightly quirky girl that everyone adores and wishes they could be.


And these girls?
Fifty years later they still get together every Wednesday to gossip.


This woman has traveled the world. But nothing makes her feel quite as good as coming home to her cactus garden.

music for your Monday

Beautiful music, right?

This is Andrew Bird, who I'm new to, and then, if you have a longer attention span than I or time to kill, you'll see a bit of St. Vincent!

I'd say that's a pretty sweet deal.

Pom Pom Paige

This afternoon my family had a little get together to celebrate January birthdays, but I only managed to snag about twelve or fourteen shots. These are of my cousin Holly's little girl Paige, who just turned two. She had fun playing with my old dress up things, and carried these pom poms around the farm.

resonate

are there ever any quotes that just really resonate with you?

Here's one that's been getting at me lately-





This is my only self portrait from my Europe experience in 2008. Some of my happiest memories. Looking at this photo almost two years later, I hardly notice the disgusting blanket, my fuller cheeks, or my bad Italian haircut. What I see now is contentment.

Because I threw off the bowlines.

I long to feel that once again. The rush of stepping outside my comforts and fully embracing life. Which means I have some changes to make.

Glad we had this chat.

risotto

I learned a valuable lesson today.

The next time I'm hungry for risotto?

I should go to a restaurant and order it.

Attempting to make it myself?

Bad. Very bad.

music for your Monday

I like to dance around to this when I'm getting ready to go out.

Actually, that's not true.

I like to dance to it for absolutely no reason, anytime I please.

It's just such a happy song. Especially the video, doesn't it just make you long for warmer days? And a convertible? And sunglasses that magically change color?

The only negative about this video? Thinking about how much it's going to hurt when she combs out those windblown tangles. Ouch.

P.S. I first saw this on someone else's blog quite some time ago, but I can't remember whose! Sorry and thank you to whoever (whomever?) introduced me to this wonderfulness.

Oh geez, I just can't help myself... I also love this song by Mozella, Can't Stop. It's been on repeat all weekend.

one of those days

Do you ever have one of those days when you just wake up in a mood? Where you have a closet overflowing with clothes but ABSOLUTELY NOTHING looks good once you put it on? When your smile rarely comes out to play? When you come across as the supreme bitch? And you can't explain it? You're just in a bad mood and you want to stay that way, no matter how much you tell yourself you're being ridiculous?

Today. Today was just one of those days for me.

My poor mother. I don't think she knew what hit her. But she took it well. I guess I just had a case of the mean reds. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, oh man look out. I don't yell, or snap, I just become easily irritated. I become quiet. And perhaps overly sarcastic. Which could very well be worse than yelling. The worst part is, my family members usually take the hit. Innocent pedestrians, have no fear. Family, take cover.

Thankfully, approximately three hours ago, I snapped out of it.

I think the fact that I bought an adorable pair of lacey pumps from Nordstroms and a fun apron from Anthropologie helped.

Aah retail therapy.

spent

Today was spent

wondering why amazon hasn't delivered my book, Hatch Show Print. I ordered that and another book (French Milk which has already been read and found a place in my bookshelf) two weeks ago. Hurry up!

driving to town to meet my friend Taylor for lunch. We recapped on her first few days of cooking school. Entertaining to say the least. You see, Taylor has this reputation of looking fabulous. ALWAYS. No matter what she is doing. However, in cooking school, you're required to wear this jacket (which she plans on taking to the tailors, to put darts in and to shorten- fashion always comes first), man pants, and a "muffin" hat. Oh, and a kerchief. No jewelry, hair completely back. As Taylor put it- she just needs some kind of "dazzle." Love her.

running errands that didn't need to be ran because I got dressed up today in a skirt and heels, and I felt that my cuteness should be shared with my fellow Sacramentans. I don't dress up just to go back home.

making paper cranes. Back in October, I stumbled upon some origami paper in my room and decided it was time I learned how to make those really cool cranes. So I googled. Folded all the paper and decided FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON that I NEEDED more origami paper. I went out and bought a four hundred page pack. Then promptly forgot how to fold them and was too lazy to re-google it. So this paper has just been sitting on top of the heap on my desk. To add to it, santa gave me even more origami paper. Great.

dancing to commercials. Something about sitting during commercials drives me crazy, I usually end up getting up and dancing around the living room. To which my father always says- "it's past 8pm, she's finally starting to wake up."

watching American Idol. I didn't get into it until last year. Now I, like nearly every other American schmuck, am hooked. I decided tonight, that Randy is infinitely meaner than Simon. I mean, at least Simon is honest from the get go. Randy pretends like he's into you and then dashes your dreams by saying "you know dog, I just wasn't feeling it." Yeah?

feeding my mom's damn chickens. Dewey, Etta, Dora, Ollie, and Martha. Or maybe Martha is the one that died? Who knows.

working on my guitar finger calluses.

waiting for work to call me in. They didn't. Could've been out with my friends having fun instead of listening to Simon and Garfunkel's Cecelia on repeat. Which, all in all, is not too terrible. Makes me dance every time.


the sky was AMAZING today. Driving shot. Probably not safe but unless a cow was going to run across the road I figured it was all good.

oh boy oh boy

you know when you're excited about something, but then time takes so long to pass so you eventually forget about it?

And then you remember it?

Well I just remembered that the new Vampire Weekend album comes out today, and I am ridiculously excited. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent listening to their previous album. Lately it's become a very rare thing for me to download and entire album, but I just have a feeling that this one is worth it!

Okay, enough about music.

I'm here to tell you, that you should most definitely go check out this blog-

...sending postcards. This couple wins the I-am-super-jealous-of-your-awesomeness award. Quitting their jobs and selling their house to become vagabonds? Yes. It seems like just about everyone (including myself) loves to talk about doing this but never follows through. And the follow through is what counts.

I'm off to take a walk to my mailbox, one of my favorite activities on lazy days like this one. The hope that there could be a pretty catalog or snail mail from a lovely friend makes the long, cold walk worth it.




Wow. There really is no rhyme or reason to this post. Typical.

music for your Monday

I think this little bit is the sweetest-

oh home
let me go home
home is wherever I'm with you

I want someone to say that to me someday.

obsession confession

I just went a little out of control.

And bought an incredible amount of envelopes online at Paper Source.

I had bought some from the store in San Francisco with my mom last week and have spent a good portion of my day making cards to go with them. Writing good old fashioned pen to paper letters. Thinking about how cute these envelopes were, I decided to visit the website.

"Over 600 items on sale!" it read.

Uh-oh.

Immediately after the message appeared saying that they had charged my card, it hit me. I just bought one hundred envelopes. One hundred envelopes that I do not need. One hundred envelopes that will take me forever to use.

They're beautiful envelopes. I think that fact alone should make it okay, right? They were on sale, too. But one hundred envelopes?

Well... just think of all the joy they will bring to whoever I desire to send a letter to. I mean, come on! To open up your mailbox to find a colorful envelope addressed to you, whose contents aren't credit card offers or magazine subscription renewals?

That's A LOT of joy you could be spreading, Courtney.



Purchase justified.