sunday stories: doing nothing

This weekend was perfect. I didn't do anything.

Inevitably, every Monday at lunch brings the same routine question: "What did everyone do this weekend?" I always feel kind of lame saying nothing, but sometimes that's exactly what I did. To be honest, doing nothing is one of my favorite ways to spend a weekend.

All week long, we're hurried, harried, rushed, busy. Wake up for work, "What am I going to wear?", work all day, run errands, cook dinner, squeeze in a workout, do chores, go to bed, repeat. It's exhausting. Some weeks I don't even have a moment to think, let alone relax. After those kinds of weeks, a weekend filled with nothing is exactly what I need.

Nothing doesn't mean I sat and stared at the walls all day, drooling on myself. Nothing means I slept late and treated myself to something delicious for breakfast. It means I didn't put on real pants for two days. I finished one book and started another. Caught up on my favorite TV shows. I spent all of Sunday afternoon making a delicious dinner to share with my mom. I organized my desk, because when my desk is organized I truly believe I am 45% more productive. Instead of going out on Saturday night, I stayed in. Had a bubble bath, put on a face mask and painted my toes. I spent the weekend with myself, and I am, and always will be my favorite person to hang out with.

So it may feel a bit lame saying I did nothing over the weekend, but I don't really care. People may judge those of us who do nothing with pride, but I think they're just jealous. Jealous that they had plans and obligations and things to do that they really didn't even want to do on their day off. They're just upset that they didn't have two whole days of blissfully doing nothing. Pity them. They don't realize they are giving up one of life's greatest luxuries, and it's a free luxury at that: time. Time to relax and do whatever inspires us. Stay or go as the mood strikes us. I, for one, take advantage of that luxury every chance I can. And I don't feel guilty or lame about it one bit.

weekend

via weheartit

The forecast in Massachusetts this weekend is calling for cold, sleety, snowy disgusting weather. My plans for the weekend? Stay snuggled up inside and work on my to-do list that has gotten way out of hand. I see lots of tea, blankets, and fuzzy slippers in my future!

Have a good weekend!

short story

It is officially no longer warm enough for bare legs. I wore this a couple weeks ago to run some errands around Boston with Jamie. I had a bunch of stuff to get rid of at Buffalo Exchange, which was the main goal, but we figured while we were in the area, why not get sandwiches and poutine at All Star Sanwich Bar? And then because we didn't have anything else to do, why not get Belgian waffles at Saus? And shop around Faneuil Hall? So that's exactly like we did. A lot of eating. It was a delicious and lovely day.


Jacket - H&M
Plaid - H&M
Shorts - Target
Belt - H&M
Boots - Minnetonka

last rays of summer

I've held on to bare legs as long as I possibly could. Unfortunately, I think my time is up. It's really started cooling down here - snow flakes in the forecast for the coming days! Not cool, definitely not cool. Ah well, I did just get some new We Love Colors tights, so at least there's that!

I'm also in love with the silhouette of this dress. Kind of retro and oh-so flattering. Definitely a shape I'll be buying more of.

Cardigan: Target
Dress: Forever 21
Clutch: Madewell
Flats: J.Crew outlet

the prince charming of snacks

Kettle corn is one of my all-time favorite snacks.  I eat Orville Reddenbacher's delightful snack size bags of it on a daily basis, but I'd never had the legit stuff. When I went to the fair with my best friend a couple weeks ago, I was determined to change this. Since I loved the grocery store variety, I had high hopes for the real thing and went into the fair determined to get my hands on some.
The kettle corn stands all had someone standing out front, with a bag of kettle corn and a scoop, handing out samples. I stepped right up to the first stand, stuck my hand out, and the girl dumped a scoop of warm kernels into my hand. I plucked up a kernel and popped it in my mouth. The heavens opened up, angels began to sing, a synchronized dance broke out behind me. This kettle corn was the best freaking thing I'd ever eaten. I immediately shoved the rest of the handful into my mouth like a crazed lunatic. It was so good. I wanted to climb behind the counter and start shoveling that stuff into my face as fast as I possibly could and not stop until I keeled over and died.

But I displayed some restraint, and we agreed to get bags of kettle corn to take home with us, rather than gorging ourselves on popcorn. Fine. We got sandwiches, stood in front of the Fried Everything stand and contemplated whether or not our stomachs could handle a fried Oreo (no) and how one would even go about frying Kool-Aid (still a mystery). Then finally it was time to go, we got our candy apples (another staple) and went to the kettle corn stand, where we paid and were presented with our glorious bags of warm popcorn. How we resisted eating all of it on the car ride home is beyond me.

I got home, and immediately sat down with my bag of kettle corn. It was a long, sleeve-like bag and I was cradling it like a baby. My beloved kettle corn baby. I ate a fourth of it before I even knew what was happening. I was like a wild animal, I could not get the stuff into my mouth fast enough*. It was so. Freaking. GOOD. Salty, and sweet, and crunchy and everything one could want in a snack.

Suddenly, a panicked text came in from the best friend: "Dad ate HALF my bag already!" I shuddered. I wasn't sharing mine with anybody, hell no. "I can't stop eating it! It's so good!" I replied. Then realized how crazy I was being and put the twist tie back on the bag and went about my business. I watched TV, sans kettle corn. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, got into bed.

But I needed a fix! I didn't give a damn that my teeth were brushed and I was already in bed. I grabbed my kettle corn baby, now much smaller than it was when I got it, and pulled it into bed with me. I sat there, in bed, ten o'clock at night, and I ate the rest of that popcorn. As I was eating it, realizing how completely insane I was being, another text came in: "I think they put crack in this kettle corn. I can't stop eating it! I only have one handful left!" I looked down at the empty bag in my hand. "I'm in bed eating it!" I replied, "I just finished the whole damn thing! I'm already having withdrawals!"

My love affair with real kettle corn was short and fast, but it was worth every morsel. Now the best and I are planning on perfecting an at-home version of our favorite salty sweet treat, but I think we're both a bit hesitant to start on that quest. We recognize that we have a problem, should we really start producing something we're so addicted to? I mean, commandment number four: Never get high on your own supply. But man, I just don't think I can live without that stuff any longer. Sorry Orville, we're breaking up. I have found my Prince Charming of snacks.


*Yeah, yeah, "That's what she said."

photo diary: topsfield fair 2011

I went to our local county fair last weekend with the bestie. These are some pictures from the fair - including before and afters of our German fries, duck racing, the prerequisite "lost children" picture and various animals and vegetables. It was unseasonably warm the day we went, which was both a blessing (80 degrees in September? I'll take it) and a curse (everyone was at the fair). We also got kettle corn and a candy apple to take home with us. We almost tried a fried Oreo, but decided it was best for our health if we just stayed away from fried cookies.

Do you guys have any fairs in your area? Have you eaten a fried Oreo and lived to tell the tale?

life lately: iphone photos vol. ii

1. Mia's Halloween costume  2. Copy of Cupcakes and Cashmere's mani 3. Crazy chicken 4. New J.Crew socks 5. Like a BOSS via @glitterguide 6. Faneuil Hall 7. Fall woods at sunset

halloween 2011

Halloween 2011 by sparkleisacolor featuring low heels

I'm going to a Halloween party in a couple of weeks with the bestie. My plan for Halloween this year was comfort. I'm tired of wearing uncomfortable heels, scratchy costumes, and being freezing. I originally wanted to be an Indian (Native American?) - hello, comfy moccasins. Then I found out this party had a theme - take something innocent, and make it evil. At first i was all put out, like now I had to use my brain to come up with something clever. Then I remembered the Minnie Mouse ears I got in Disney, and an idea was born. I want to find a black polka dot shirt instead of the corset, but I've been having some trouble. Anyone seen a black and white polka dot shirt anywhere recently?

What are you being for Halloween this year?

lady like

This is a work look from last week. I got this dress at H&M for fifteen dollars. Fifteen dollars! I don't have any other dresses with sleeves, so I thought this would be good for fall/winter. It's really comfortable and I like the longer length. I'm usually a mini skirt/dress kind of girl, since I am so short, but I felt rather sophisticated in this dress. I might run back to H&M and get it in another color.

I'm up in Kittery, Maine at the outlets today, trying to score some sweet Columbus Day deals! This pretty much means I'm at J.Crew, saying that because I'm at the outlets it's totally okay to blow my clothing budget for the month in one place. ;)

Dress: H&M
Boots: Forever 21
Belt: J.Crew (outlet!)
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

breton stripe

I cut my hair you guys! I needed a fall refresher, so I cut off all the scraggly dead ends and colored it a bit. I seriously love it. I also seriously love this shirt, and these boots, and this whole outfit really. I got this shirt at Uniqlo when I was in New York in August. I think I wore it the entire weekend I took these pictures, it's amazing.

We've been having the craziest weather here. It's been muggy and warm most of the time, then yesterday morning we had an insane thunderstorm with torrential downpours. There was flooding everywhere and the morning commute yesterday was a mess - roads closed all over the place. School was even cancelled in my town because it flooded so bad. Today? Warm and sunny, a perfect fall day. Then tomorrow the temperatures are going to drop. This weekend? Sunny and near 80. What the heck, fall, get your act together! I'm going to the Topsfield Fair this weekend and really just wanted a crisp fall day for it. I shouldn't complain about the warm weather, I know, but I am so ready for fall.

Top - Uniqlo
Shorts - H&M
Necklace - H&M
Boots - Minnetonka via Madewell

life lately: iphone photos vol. i