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Love

Objects Of Affection (And Car Obsession)

June 20, 2013

My son is obsessed with cars. And I don't use the word "obsessed" here lightly: over the past two months, each and every trip to CVS has resulted in the purchase of one of the items that you see above (have to say, though, I'm rather proud of his classic tastes when it comes to vehicle selection; above please note two Mustangs, a Bug and a Lamborghini).

When sitting at an outdoor restaurant, this is how the conversation goes, always:

<Frantic pointing>

Me: That's a car. That's a truck. Car. Van. Car. Car. Car. Big red car. Bus. Truck."

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Home

New Use For An Old Thing: Toothbrush Holder

June 20, 2013

You may not think of toothbrush holders as "collectibles". Or even as "attractive", really.

And that makes sense; they're usually not. The one I had in college, for example, was a teal plastic thing that I think cost 99 cents and that went straight into the trash on graduation day. But there are definitely some very pretty versions out there - little silver holders that look like mint julep cups, simple white porcelain styles, modern wood ones, colorful ceramics like the My Mela holder pictured here - and sometimes they're so pretty that it seems like a shame to use them for their intended purpose.

So. If you happen to have an especially lovely holder laying around...well, first, wash it thoroughly in hot water with anti-bacterial soap before doing anything at all.

And then try these ideas!

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Lifestyle

I Would Just Like To Announce

June 19, 2013

That I have a spider bite on my arm the size of a walnut, and am totally dealing with it like a grown-up, by which I mean only Googling "black widow spider bite" once (side note: do not ever Google "black widow spider bite").

In recent days I have also:

1) Walked through a web with the circumference of Texas and not freaked out (very much);

2) Handily dispatched a very large and unidentifiable creature that I found sitting on the guest bed in our attic; and

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Style

Ex-Boyfriend Tees

June 19, 2013

Q. Hi Jordan!

I would love your advice....since I know how much you know (and love) a good t-shirt.

I have been searching for great vintage t-shirts. Preferably in shades of grey and faded black, with some sort of (cool) graphic on them, and preferably faded and worn to perfection already...but they are so hard to find! And they are usually extremely expensive when you do find them.

I have a grey one that has been my go-to for literally 15 years, but it's from an ex. It's time for something new.

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DIY Projects

Variegated Yarn Baby Blanket

June 18, 2013

Knitting is one of my favorite things to do in the world...but really, the only things I'm good at making are blankets (my baby hat was kind of a disaster and ended up looking more like a Bizarre Pom-Pom Elf-Cap). That's OK, though, because while blankets are pretty time-intensive they're also super relaxing to make once you get the hang of them.

All I did to make this blanket (which is being shipped off today to Morgan, who's expecting a daughter in just a few weeks) was cast on 100 stitches*, knit and knit and knit (no purling) until I had a 36" x 36" square (the typical size for a baby blanket), and then cast off. So easy.

The reason I chose not to knit-purl or create a pattern like I did for this basketweave blanket: when you choose a variegated yarn** (one that's dyed lots of different colors) like the one pictured here, the color variations basically create a pattern for you; there's no need to add any texture because it's visually interesting as is.

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Makeup & Beauty

Five Hat Hairstyles

June 18, 2013

I'm kind of in the mood to hide out at the moment. Mostly because I'm both super busy and interested doing exactly zero in the beauty department.

Lip gloss and sunglasses and hat and Hairstyle #5 from that video up there, c'est fini.

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Style

Baby Doll

June 17, 2013

I don't usually love babydoll dresses. Loose dresses, yes; babydolls, not so much. Mostly because I feel like they require you to explain that you're not expecting the arrival of an actual baby in 4-6 months (I'm not).

I do, however, love this dress. I found it at a thrift store in Canada while on a trip to visit my relatives, and originally planned to wear it to Stephen and Dave's wedding. I ended up not wearing it to the wedding after all (it felt too short and casual)...and then ended up not wearing it to the next thing I'd planned to wear it to (it felt too girly and fancy)...and now it's been sitting in my closet unworn for over a year.

Which makes no sense, because it's really pretty. It's just one of those things that I put on and can't figure out how to make look more "me", and so I end up just giving up and taking it right back off again. Putting on denim shorts or leopard skinny jeans. You know the drill.

But on Saturday afternoon (for our pre-movie dinner date) I decided to give it another shot, and ended up dressed like I was playing hide-and-go-seek at Coachella (hat and sunglasses, fringe and floral).

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Style

Lust Or Less: Floral Sandals

June 14, 2013

Despite the fact that I do not enjoy the price tag on the J.Crew version, for me this one is a no-brainer...those Tabitha Simmons sandals are just summer-perfect, and I love the unique country-girl-goes-glam pairing of the soft ruffle and gold sole. They can go everywhere from a wedding to a BBQ to a cocktail party and look completely chic. Still: for less formal events, I think the H&M pair would be adorable with jeans, denim shorts or a simple dress.

Speaking of J.Crew: these silk pants are J.Crew Collection, which ordinarily would mean they're Lust-Only. But they're also hugely on sale ($69.99; also available in black with a white stripe), so...Must.

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