Eleven Word Biography: 6.30.09

Dearest Ruby has decided pooping in her crate is a-ok. Imbroglio.

Just When You Thought You'd Escaped....

Daily Strip Routine from vamos on Vimeo.

I think this is a nice way to start off the week...Did anyone else feel like their weekend didn't exist?

Guilty!

Zooey, I love ya, but was it really you singing a song about Cotton?
I mean "the touch, the feel of cotton, the fabric of your life" kind of cotton?
Bummer.

Yellow Wedding Dress Inspiration

Pay no attention to the freaky mannequin, but wouldn't
this dress be so lovely for a ranch-style wedding?
I'm talking with beat-up-old cowboy boots
and long, flowy hair.
Some turquoise jewelry or flowers would make this look complete!

Available at EmpressJade's shop on Etsy.

Reason # 2118 I Love Shug So

He takes such great photos, artists want to use it for their monsters!
Check Shug out on flickr.
He's pretty awesome.
Mwah.

Guilty Pleasure #765: Zuriick Shoes

Today the Zuriick boys had a massive sample sale!
Shug has been needing a little pick-me-up, so, being the girl that I am
(and that being a girl who is obsessed with shoes),
I decided what better way to pick up my betrothed's spirit than six pairs of shoes.
.
.
.
.
.
Oh yes, I said SIX pairs of shoes.
And since I was there I picked up a few pairs of Zuriicks for my little feet, too!
The yellow pair is for Shug's wedding digs...so bright and awesome...
and the last minty refreshment is for moi...Cute, huh?
Oh.
And if you're in the SLC area, get some Zuriicks in your life!
The sample sale lasts Thursday (11-8) thru Saturday (12-4)
630 s. Stringfellow Court, 135 e. (Behind Decades!)

ScaryAwesome

I love how the beat sounds a lot like a tugboat in the fog. Spooky!

Girl Crush

I know she's smoking...apologies.
But how can we expect her to be so skinny without the smokes??
I love her personal style, as well as her talent.
But,
she DID already use her get-out-of-jail card
with "Marie Antoinette."

But,

I crush on you, Sofia, because:

~Your name is Sofia
~You used Bill Murray as a muse
~You were married to a skater turned director for awhile
~You have won an Oscar and a Razzie (for horrible movie-making magic)
~Your style is impeccable!
~You made "Lost in Translation"
xo

Gluten Free Gal

When I was 22, I did a study abroad in Costa Rica. My bestest best and I were roommates at a home-stay that had, how shall we say, "strict" rules about meals in the house.

Some of these rules included: No lunches served, coffee was brewed at 5:00am and not another pot until the next calendar day, no beans, and absolutely NO sweets. Well, not NO sweets, they were just locked away in a cabinet in the dining room that could be opened with the proper key or ingeniously bent bobby pin.

We thought we were just being exposed to "normal" Tico (that's how Costa Ricans refer to themselves) eating habits and we should be gracious guests. (And we absolutely should have been and were.) But a few weeks into the trip we realized all of our classmates were complaining of their pants not fitting and their muffin-tops a-rising...Stories of Costa Rican delicacies being served at everyone's home-stay was a favorite topic of conversation...except ours.

Bestest best and I took solace in the form of refined carbs that could be purchased on our route to school each day, mostly from a local bakery chain called Mus-Mani...i.e. the BEST bread and pastries in Central America! Some days we would find ourselves a few loaves deep for a single lunch...

Oddly enough, while my classmates were searching for new trousers a few sizes up, I was wasting away. I kept my complaints of nausea and bathroom carnage to myself. I thought I may have picked up a special Costa Rican form of Montezuma's Revenge and that's just a normal part of traveling. I told myself to buck up and get over my sour stomach.

When I returned to the states I was given an arsenal of anti-parasitic medicines and a prescription to eat as much of the foods I craved as I wanted. These foods, many of them "last meal" status, included: french baguettes dipped in Nutella, homemade mac and cheese with breadcrumbs on top, blueberry muffins, and chocolate cake.

And I was still losing weight. Now, before you point out how this is the BEST diet ever and I am soooooo lucky and shouldn't be complaining, let me illuminate you as to how sick I was. My hair was falling out, I had absolutely NO energy, I wasn't sleeping, and my skin, when it wasn't splotched with rashes, was a pale greenish-yellow hue. I was clearly really sick.

After a few more weeks and quite a few more pounds, panic started to set in. My doctor was saying the "c" word and hepatitis in a hushed tone to the nurses and that's when I decided to get a second opinion. I went to a new doctor who only asked me tons of questions about my diet. Twenty minutes later I had my blood drawn again and the next day I was called back into the office.

I was a little more than panicked, since the first doctor had been uttering some serious stuff that could be wrong with me, but when I sat down at the new doc's desk I was met with a diagnosis I'd never heard of before: Celiac's disease.

"Wha? Does that mean I'm screwed?" I asked. The doc replied, "Well, no...and yes..." We went on to discuss all of the things that I couldn't eat anymore: wheat, barley, any thing with wheat or wheat derivatives, etc, etc, etc. I also worked in a bakery and needed to find another place of employment where inhaling the flour wasn't an occupational hazard.

I was so relieved that I didn't have a giant tape worm dwelling in my gut or a hollow leg. I had Celiac's and this was manageable...I hoped.

And it was. Trust me, figuring out how to order a meal at a restaurant was excruciating and family get-togethers can be harrowing, but now that I know what the deal is, life is soooo much nicer....and puke-free!

Photo via Happy Home Baking.

Punky Rubester

This week was HUGE for Ruby-baby...

~She made it through the night without crying her sweet little face off.

~She learned how to RUN!

~She met Grandma and Grandpa. (And bit Granny...oops.)

~Learned the words: "no," "owww," and "stop it, please!"

~Got used to her collar.

~Learned to drag her plushies into the sunshine to have a comfy nap.

So pretty much she's the
Best.
Puppy.
Ever.

Dad Day

My dad is the best! Thank you for teaching me:

~ How to drive a car
~How to throw a foot ball
~How to ski really fast
~How to believe in myself
~What being "honorable" means
~How to crack a joke

I love my dad! What things has your dad, grandpa, uncle, or brother done that makes
you proud of them?

Image via ArtofManliness.

Lucky.

Look what I just treated myself to...!
I found this lovely seller on Etsy, CakeandWine.
This is an original watercolor and pencil painting that I think would look great
in the hallway...
Hooray for awesome art!

Neat-o Cooking Show

I wish I could cook like this!

Mid-Century Cocktail Party

Found here, here, here, and here, on Etsy...
Love these! Especially those highball glasses with the big polka dots!

This song made me fall in love...fo' realz...

The art of a well-made mix has been the subject of many heated debates, arguments, and John Cusack movies. The song selection, song order, and the mix length could be distilled down to an algorithm for some mixtape masters, while others let their "gut" lead their organic process of mixtape creation.

I am here to attest that the power of the well-made mixtape is why I am getting married. Me: super-pessimist-feminist-ice-queen was reduced to a melty-mess-of-kittens-and-hot-chocolate-with-whipped-cream-on-top after a single listen to such a mixtape.

Shug knew I'd be a hard sell, so he cowboyed up and came out with mixtape guns blazing. I knew I was in deep trouble after listening to this Talkdemonic song for the first time.

Oh, Drew...

I don't know whether to lovelovelove this for being so out there
or hate her for biting some contrived "white man" idea
of how Native Americans dressed...

What do you think?

Photo via Jezebel.

Guilty Pleasure # 864: The Interweb

Some days I really wish the Internet didn't exist...

Now before judgment occurs in my general direction, I will state that I understand the blatant irony and ridiculousness of that first statement coming from me - a blogger that must post daily and a rabid Etsy aficionado.

That being said, let's get to my gripes...:)

I wish it didn't exist because I miss the thrill of going into a record store and picking an album blindly. I miss the excitement of finding out what movie a new acquaintance is loving from the acquaintance, not their Facebook. I miss the time I'd be spending creating a horrible painting instead of browsing online for one that is more creative and crazy.

I guess I'm just feeling overwhelmed by the glut of information that is omnipresent and at my fingertips. And, more so, my inability to NOT consume it! It makes me wonder how "true" creativity and originality are tainted or, at the very least, interconnected by this conduit of information.

So in honor of my self-proposed "Interweb Free Day," I'm planning on going outside, gardening a little, drinking a soy latte and reading, calling a friend, and NOT tweeting, reading, clicking, and browsing.

How would you spend your interweb-free day?

P.S. I'm sure I'll miss it by this evening;)!

Photo via HeidiLyn.

My First Concert Tweets

Usually I'm struck by the beauty, insanity, ridiculousness, or _________ of the band and crowd when I go to a concert. I'm also usually scribbling these thoughts down on my arm, gum wrapper, paper cup, or other ill-intentioned notebook substitute...

Then along came Twitter that lets you tweet all sorts of unimportant drivel in real time...! This means no more deciphering my chicken scratch the next day! I gave tweeting a show a test run with our much anticipated Animal Collective experience in Boulder.

The carnage follows:

1. Waiting for Animal Collective to take the stage. Enduring the Dead and Red Hot Chili Peppers.9:23 PM Jun 2nd
2. And some J Dilla redeems...9:27 PM
   
3. Ballet dancer projection is pretty dope. And pretty fitting! Lovely!9:35 PM
4. Shug has agreed to polyamory. But only with Avey and Panda Bear.9:45 PM
5. My Girls are about to KILL.9:53 PM
6. People are clapping, singing along, and dancing. Are these concert goers really hipsters?!9:59 PM
7. Animal Collective just played the organ song off of Post...take me now, Lord.10:13 PM
8. Um, Panda Bear is, like, a really good drummer.10:30 PM
9. The sing-along continues. Feels like church camp. Except a lot cooler lyrics to sing along to.10:38 PM
10. Finished already?!?10:50 PM
11. Encore!10:50 PM
12. Strawberry Jam is making a strong appearance. Unsolved Mystery is sounding pretty damn amazing right now.11:04 PM
13. Over already:(11:13 PM
14. My cilias' swan song is a fair price to pay for over two hours of Animal Collective live.11:36 PM

Image via Stereogum.

Sun...finally!

Happy Sunday!
I like to use my Sundays to catch up on some reading.
Right now I'm engrossed with We Were the Mulvaneys.
I don't care that it was made into a made-for-tv-movie.
It's good.

I also like to try to avoid the panic that is setting in about certain someones getting married.
In.
Two.
Months.

Photo via Lolita SE.

Guilty Pleasure #975

Popcorn.
Especially the horrible neon-yellow abomination that is drenched in butter-flavored motor oil and promises to clog your arteries and fatten your derriere.
I love everything about you!
THAT's why it's a guilty pleasure...

One of my favorite "recipes" is as follows for "Healthy Popcorn":

Ingredients and Supplies:
BIG bowl to harness that popcorn power
Air Popper
Popcorn kernels
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt

Options galore:
Black cracked pepper
Burger seasoning
Brown sugar
Marshmallows
Chocolate chips
White chocolate chips
Hershey's Syrup (messy, but soooooo good!)

How-to:
Throw your popcorn kernels in the popper and plug in. Make sure your bowl is big enough for your delicious treat. While the popcorn cascades into the bowl, give it a little squirt here and there with the olive oil. While it's still warm toss in whatever seasoning or sweetener your heart desires. Inhale.

Photo via holamun2.

Get this in your life.

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

a.maz.ing.

We Have Band

Pretty cool. I like the whistling!

Boulder To-Do List

Shug and I had so much fun on our little road trip! It was really nice to just spend time with each other, play dumb driving games, eat greasy food, and sleep in;)! I've made a little must-see list for those of you who are willing to make the hop-skip-jump over there...It's only a 6 hour drive from Salt Lake City!

1. Pearl Street is the bomb. Anything you need, they got.
2. Hapa Sushi Bar is the place for sampling all sorts of delicious and delicate sakes. Being Gluten-Free means I don't get to imbibe beer, so sake is a nice alternative. If firewater ain't your thing, Hapa also has the most amazing broiled sushi roll called the "Orgasm." Annnnd it IS that good.
3. The vintage shops are really moderately priced! They're no D.I., but what is these days? The inventory is pretty awesome, as well!
4. Whatever you do, see a music show ANYwhere in town. The experience is so antagonistic to Utah show experiences! People are TOTALLY aware of your personal space. Read: Not one of my BOOBs was touched during the entire Animal Collective show. Average Utah boob encounter per show: Left gal - 3.7. Right gal - 5.2. Average Boulder boob encounter per show (Shug not included;)): Left gal - 0.0 Right gal - 0.0 No lie.
5. Having a bad latte is an impossibility in Boulder. I think it's due to the fact that Boulder has the highest PhD per capita in the U.S. I KNOW not all of them are teaching in town, but, my, do they make a mean latte! If caffeine isn't your morning cup, do yourself a favor an get a gourmet hot chocolate or steamer...You won't be sorry!
6. Stay at the University Inn. It is centrally located so you can walk almost anywhere there is something to do. This is a bonus since parking is kind of a nightmare and is pretty pricey. If you are in town to see a show, show the front desk your tickets when you are checking in and you may be able to get a discount!
7. Check out the Tea House next to the Boulder Museum of Modern Art (and check out the museum while you're at it!)...It's so beautiful and intricate, inside and out! (That's the tea house behind me!)
   
8. If you run into the band that you traveled 6 hours to see, don't just giggle like an intoxicated school girl on helium. They are most likely human beings that also speak human, not squeaky-groupie-wannabe-speak.
   

Ok, so maybe don't worry about that last one...But if you are ever in the neighborhood, give Boulder a day or two on your itinerary, you'll be so glad you did!

Ruby Movie

Shug and I made a little movie starring Ruby. We're kind of obsessed with her.

Woo hoo! I won!

Em from Ruffling Feathers was a dear and awarded me with this!

To pass on the loveliness, here are the rules:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

It was so nice to be surprised with this awesomeness when we were on the road!

So here are my 15...

1. nienie - Because she is strong, beautiful, and inspiring.
2. hunting for porkchops - Always a trustworthy source of comedy and sick fashion sense!
3. $10,000 Wedding - Cause I'm getting married...
4. childhood flames - Camille already has a cult following and I'm part of it!
5. GlutenFreeinSLC - I can't eat wheat and this is a great resource!
6. Cannelle et Vanille - Food porn.
7. Root Down - Hilariousness and horticulture.
8. Dog Eared - Fashion and photos that are top notch!
9. Ruffling Feathers - Pretty, awesome, headbands, more! Check her out!
10. New Voyager - Pirates, the sea, and excellent taste.
11. Straight into Bed, Cakefree and Dried - More gluten-free goodness!!
12. Lolita SE - Beautiful pics and interior decorating sense!
13. PacingthePanicRoom - A photographer dad with a great writing style.
14. le love - Cause I'm a girl and eat this stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
15. the selby - Great photos and great inspiration about people that are way cooler than me.

I know some of these blogs may have huge readerships...but I've got to pass the love to blogs that I truly read every day!
xo.

Ok, here's another...

I'm looking frazzled because Ruby HATES her crate at night...
I feel so mean just leaving her in there!
Photo courtesy of Haigen.

Meet.....

Ruby!

She's pretty much the cutest puppy that ever lived!
She's sooooooo good!
And she loves Shug's beard almost as much as I do!

Boy Crush

Now I know I'm in love and all with my Shug....But Tim Gunn is probably the next most lovable cuss on the planet.

A couple of years ago, on some Project Runway extras, Tim Gunn was interviewed about his love life. Much to everyone's surprise, Tim said he's single and hasn't been on a date in years!

This is a tragedy, people. This silver fox needs a man!

Assuming he's still single, I love to imagine who would be the perfect match for him...Who do you think would be cute with Tim Gunn?

My votes:

Daniel V. from Project Runway Season 2...actually he is a front-runner, since his style is refined, he's ridiculously adorable, and he and Tim seem to have a great chemistry together. (Since everything I see on reality T.V. is legit, right?)

Marc Jacobs. 'Nuff said.

Wes Anderson. They both are quirky, lanky, cute, and misunderstood a large portion of the time. Plus, they both love three-piece-suits. This might not work since the "power" this eponymous couple would generate could very well stop the rotation of the planet, hence causing a cataclysmic death to all that inhabit it. Or they'd just fight a lot.

Mad Style

Check her out.

And I say, "Yes, please."

Meet Coclico.
All of these little beauties can be found on Endless.
Oh, yes.

We should be getting back from our road trip today!
Pictures will ensue:)!

Liars Where Have you Been?

I was lucky enough to see this insanity at the 2006 Pitchfork Music Festival. It was so crazy and it sounded probably crazier than this video!

Puppiness

Shug and I get to bring our puppy home in a little more than a week!
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.
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.
.
.
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Still taking name suggestions!

Contenders:
Lady Mongoose
Hazel the Defiler
Penelope
Coco Chanel the IV
Mildred (Millie, for short:))

Help!

Either/Neither.

1. bra or no bra? Support matters even with the smallest of cuts!
2. Couch or Sofa?

3. vaccinate or not? Been traveling? Ever?
4. wedding or elope?Cause my Mumma would never forgive me!

5. polyester or wool? Duh.
6. Bikini or one piece? Look at my tummy so you won't look at my bum!!

7. Dog or cat? Dogs-4-Eva.

8. Are you morning person or night? Just because I get to drink coffee!

9. what came first....the chicken or the egg? They evolved from dinosaurs, really.

10. if you were stranded on and island..which one item would you have to have? Sunblock! :)

11. Homeschool or not? Nothing beats school survival skills!
12. Beach or city? Waves, sand, and sun vs. Concrete, smog, and noise. Come on!

13. is it Grey or Gray? Gotta show Big and Little Edie some respect!

14. red wine or white wine?

15. caviar or escargot? Not bad at all!

16. soda or pop? We say "Coke" for everything! Coca Coca Light from Mexico, please!

What are your choices??

Outside chairs for the inside fo my house, please...

And they're on sale!
Found at Anthropologie...
Apparently, it's the only place I want to spend moolah I don't have!

Road Trip!

Shug and I are leaving on a little road trip today to go and see Animal Collective in Boulder, Colorado!
We are a little more than excited, since this will be the first time we get to see this amazing band live!!
We'd love to hear about cool restaurants, pubs, or coffee shops we should check out while we're there! Let us know what we shouldn't miss in Boulder or Denver!!