Thanks for the Memories

Happy New Year's Eve!  This past year has been such an odd whirlwind.  I'm tired.  When I look back at the last year it gives me the exhaustion.

At the start of 2014, I saw something on pinterest about keeping a yearly memory jar.  I loved the idea and put this jar on our mail credenza with a little tag that at one time read "2014 Memories."  Most of the writing has rubbed off because my dog keeps putting his nose on the tag.

Throughout the year whenever something fun or weird or terrible would happen, my husband or I would write it down on a little scrap of paper and throw it into the jar.  It was fun watching the jar fill up with these concealed moments of time.

Tomorrow we are going to open the jar up and read through all of the memories.  I'm hoping it will bring up a lot of "Oh yeah, I totally forgot that had happened!"  There are so many little things that happen in a year that seem really funny at the time but then you never think of them again.  I am excited to have this time capsule each year to remind us of the good times and bad.

I hope that everyone has a happy beginning of 2015.

Trunk Show & A Giveaway

A few days ago I had my very first Stella & Dot trunk show.  The afternoon was so much fun, and I was excited to show off all of the beautiful items that you can get from Stella & Dot.  You can still shop my trunk show at: http://www.stelladot.com/ts/qfd36.

Here were some of my favorite items from the show.

I loved these two together.  This is the Somervell necklace in silver and the Rory necklace in black.  Normally I prefer a little bit of color in my jewelry, but these two dark pieces looked so sharp when paired together.  

I have always loved the Stella & Dot Pegasus necklace.  That was the first piece that I remember seeing at a trunk show and it got me hooked from day one.  It's a showstopper in person.

These bright pops of color had me thinking about spring.  The green necklace is the Linden necklace and the red and gold is the Coral Cay necklace.  Both would be so much fun to wear on a beach trip this winter…if there were a beach trip this winter.  

Here's a tray of lots of baubles.  Stella & Dot jewelry is not only adorable, but it is affordable too.  The average price of our pieces is $50.

I couldn't leave out the bags and other accessories.  I actually have multiple bags and love them all.  Some I use for work, some I use for going out.  The colors are so bright, and I always get compliments from other people. 

I am so excited to be starting this new business for myself.  And since it is the holiday season, I wanted to do something extra special and fun on the blog.  My first giveaway!  

That's right, starting today through Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. central standard time you can enter to win an Avalon Bracelet Clutch in Midnight Black.  Here's the beautiful clutch.

All you have to do is visit my trunk show at http://www.stelladot.com/ts/qfd36 and leave a comment on the blog telling me your favorite piece.  For additional entries, anyone who books a trunk show in the months of January or February 2015 will get three additional entries into the drawing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I will announce the winner on my blog on Thursday morning.  Thanks to everyone for checking out my trunk show.  Send me a message if you have questions about Stella & Dot!

Favorite Things - Stella & Dot

Now that I am a Stella & Dot Stylist, I wanted to share a few of my favorite items just in time for the holidays.  There are some great sales on the website right now, as well as the Dot Dollars promotion.  Spend $50 now through December 15 and you will receive $25 Dot Dollars to spend on a purchase made from December 30 - January 7.  As I look at it, buy a gift now and something for yourself after Christmas.  A win-win!  Check out my site at http://www.stelladot.com/sites/mollybdevoy.

Here are some of my favorite items.

I love this little bracelet for a Christmas gift.  It has a great price point at $19 and comes with the cutest packaging.  It has it's own little envelope with a beautiful foiled gold pattern on it.  This would be great in a stocking.  It would be great for a family member who needs a little extra luck.  It would be a cute gift for a hostess or for your child's school teacher.  At such a great price you can buy more than one!

One of the first Stella & Dot items that I bought was a scarf.  Then I bought another.  Then another.  During the winter I almost never take the scarf off.  Their scarves are a great quality and are huge.  They are a full-sized scarf that you can style in multiple different ways or wear as a shawl.  The scarves come in multiple colors and patterns.  All are priced at $59, but right now a few are on sale at great prices!  You will not be disappointed with this purchase.  In fact, you will probably thank me for the suggestion.

I'm a bag lady.  Or as my husband would say, a bag hoarder.  I love a good bag.  The Getaway bag is amaze balls.  Look at it!  It fits an entire baby, and that's before it's extended.  Yes, that is right…this bag can be extended!  There is a zipper towards the bottom that zips out an extended part of the bag.  Bring it on a weekend trip in the smaller form, and then extend it to accommodate all of your vacation purchases.

The Devon Layering Necklace would be great as a gift or for yourself.  The necklace is OMGSOLONG.  You can layer it in multiple ways so you just wear it how you like it on that particular day.  It is so versatile, gets you many compliments, and is only $49.  It comes in both silver and gold.

The Petra Braided Bracelet is one of my splurge items.  This picture does not do it justice.  The bracelet is large, so it makes a statement.  That statement is "Hello, I am gorgeous and sparkly and just plain fabulous."  Mixed in with the chain links are multiple rhinestones, so the bracelet catches the light and really sparkles.  It would add a dramatic finish to a holiday outfit.

There are just some of my favorites.  It was hard to pick because I love it all!  Check out my website for more lovely items, http://www.stelladot.com/sites/mollybdevoy.  Let me know any questions that you have and happy shopping.  Act fast for Black Friday deals and Dot Dollars.

Fever

Do you all remember that feeling you'd get in school right before the holidays?  That crazy,wild abandonment where you couldn't actually do any learning because you were so excited for vacation and presents and all the candy you could eat.  I loved how the teachers surrendered to the fact that no one was paying attention and did Christmas arts and crafts or extra story time or secret santa stuff. 

I'm feeling like that times a million-bajillion because I'm getting married in 2.5 weeks.  And I'm not paying attention to anyone or anything.  I just can't wait.  I can't wait for the wedding, I can't wait to see how all of the planning has turned out, I can't wait to dance the night away with friends, I can't wait for people to see my dress, I can't wait to be Mike's wife.  Mostly the last one.  Mike and I are so excited to be married, we can hardly contain ourselves.  Unfortunately, work isn't giving me a pass like my school teachers did.  Concentrating these next two weeks is going to be difficult.

Which is why this morning was so weird.  First off this morning, I looked in the front pocket of my work bag and didn't see my work keycard or office keys.  Panic!  I looked in my bag and there they were, safe and sound.  I grabbed them to deposit into the front pocket where they belong.  Next, I get to work and am walking up the bridge to my building when I hear this loud screaming man say: "STOP THE TRUCK!  STOP THE TRUCK!  I'M STILL FUCKING BACK HERE!"  It was this really panicked voice too.  So, I turn to my right and notice that this semi-truck is barreling up the bridge with the back gate open and a man leaning out trying to get the driver's attention.  He was literally screaming at him all the way up the bridge.  It was so scary. 

When I finally get to the crosswalk at the top of the bridge, the semi-truck was nowhere to be seen.  I start fishing in my front pocket to find my keys and can't find them.  Which was impossible because they had to be there!  But, they were not.  They weren't in my bag anywhere.  I have no idea what I did with them this morning.  Organization fail.  Luckily, I knew the deputy that was working the front door and he let me in without my keys. 

When I got up to my desk, I put my lunch and can of diet coke into the refrigerator that is in the hallway outside my workspace.  I do this every day.  At lunchtime, I went to retrieve my goodies and someone had stolen my diet coke.  That is shameful.  Honestly, downright terrible.  I wrote a note to the person about how I am a woman on the edge and they just stole the last bit of my sanity.  It made me feel better, but I didn't put it on the fridge, I just threw it away.

So, yes, today has been a random day.  And nothing has helped my insane wedding fever.

Falling for Nothing

Kirby is pretty unimpressed with this year's Fall television schedule.  The new shows are lackluster.  He's still pissed that they didn't renew GCB; he loved that show.  I have to admit that I agree with my furry friend.  What is going on with this season's television shows?  It's one crapfest after the next.  With that being said, I'm sure I'll find something to watch.  Here is a day-by-day breakdown of what I'll be watching.

Sundays

• ABC has a trifecta of awesome TV.  Once Upon A Time (one of my favorite new shows from last year), followed by Revenge (which was probably the best new show last year; think awesome 80's nighttime soaps amped up with drama) and finally a new show 666 Park Avenue.  I think this show will probably be good.  John Locke is back and as creepy as ever.  I will also be watching a lot of Sunday Night Football this fall.  Yay!

Mondays

• The only possible show is Revolution on NBC.  The previews look decent, but not totally exciting.  I'm giving it a shot. 

Tuesdays

• Another night where only one show looks good to me.  Vegas is on CBS and is about Las Vegas in the 1960's.  I think there's a mix of wild west sheriffs and big city mob bosses who clash it up.  It looked pretty good.

Wednesdays

• Arrow on the CW will probably be terrible.  I'm going to watch just so I can see if it's the good side of terrible or the crap side.

Thursdays

• Finally a decent night of television!  First up is ABC with Last Resort.  This show does not look good to me, but I will watch it to see Scott Speedman.  I love Scott Speedman and wish that Felicity was still on so that I could see him every week. 
• The Vampire Diaries is back on the CW.  I still think this is one of the best shows on TV that not enough people give credit to.  Every episode is a game changer.  Literally.  It's like every episode so much happens that it feels like you just watched 3 hours of TV.  If you aren't watching this show, please do.  You won't regret it.  And for those who need to catch up, it is available on netflix instant.
• CBS has another one of my favorite shows from last year Person of Interest.  I love the combination of Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson (Ben from Lost).  They are a perfect odd ball pairing.  After POI there is a new show debuting called Elementary.  I have mixed feelings about this one.  It's a Sherlock Holmes reboot set in modern times.  It will either be terrible or brilliant.  But, I have a feeling it's going to be terrible.

Fridays

• America's Next Top Model is back.  If the show doesn't improve, I am out.  Last seasons British invasion was so terrible.  The models were awful, the challenges were lame, the pictures really dull and unattractive and the final challenges were so stupid.  I think Tyra's lost her marbles.  This is it's last chance to keep me.  And if you lose me as a viewer, then you are really doing something wrong.  Also, did anyone watch the British invasion season?  In the beginning, they painted the girls lips to look like either the American flag or the British flag and it was the most distressing thing I've ever seen. 
• Grimm has already started on NBC.  Have you guys been watching?  I love Grimm.  The characters are so great and the story lines are really fun and engaging.  Plus, it's graphic. 

So, there you have my TV schedule.  I guess less sitting on my butt means better possibility of exercising.  However, I have a feeling that this lame fall television schedule will make me bored around January.  Are there any shows that I'm missing?

Things I'm Excited For

I've started to feel that coolness in the air that we get in late summer nights.  Although, I really believe that summer is far from over.  Or is that just the optimism talking? 

On that note, I'm really, really, really looking forward to this fall.  There's so much good stuff happening that I can hardly stand it.  My big fear is that I won't have quite enough time to really enjoy the season, but c'est la vie.  I'll try to enjoy as much of it as time allows me.

On that note, here's my list of the Fall Things I'm Excited For:

• The Wedding.  I can't wait.  I feel like there's so anticipation for the actual wedding, but I really can't wait to be married.  The wedding and all of the pre-wedding festivities are going to be so much fun and so special to me.  I get a little bit sentimental when talking about it all; it feels like an event that has already happened and when I think of it, I'm just remembering it fondly. 
• Fall Football.  I'm not really a football fan.  I will admit that.  But, Mike loves football and he likes to have friends over to watch football which means I get to do my favorite thing: cook for other people!  I love making pulled pork and dips and brownies and can't wait to have excuses to cook like a maniac.
• Fall Movies.  There's nothing I love more than going to the movie theatre.  This is evidenced by the fact that every "Things I'm Excited For" post has movies in its list.  However, I don't know a ton about the big movies coming out this fall.  With the wedding planning craziness, I just haven't paid all that much attention, but I'm still looking forward to seeing some great movies in a cozy theatre with my buttered popcorn.  One huge highlight will be the Breaking Dawn movie.  I'm excited about the movie and to see the awkwardness between Edward and Bella at the premieres.  I feel like a fourteen-year-old.
• House Decorating.  I have amassed quite a collection of Halloween/fall decor.  I'm not a great home decorator, but I like putting up seasonal decorations.  I just think it warms up the house and sets a festive mood.  I can't wait to break out my pumpkins and leaves and really jazz up my house.  It's looking pretty boring right now.  
• House Organization.  Once the wedding is over, I am doing a full home re-organization.  Since moving out of my mom's house, I've never lived in a place for longer than a year and a few months.  Which was nice because every time I moved, I'd purge.  Mike's been living in his house for two years and me for almost a year and a half.  We need to purge.
• Chili.  Is this weird?  I love chili, but haven't made it since last winter.  Some days, it's all I think about.  What kinds of peppers will I put in the chili?  Should I add any new spices?  What kinds of meats should I use?  I'm drooling now.

Obviously, this fall will be hectic for me, but I'm really hoping to savor the season and slow things down a bit.  Do you want to know what I'm not excited for this fall?  TV.  Are there any new shows that look good? 

Summatime

Summer is almost here!!!  I count Memorial Day as the first day of summer season, so for me it's only a couple of weeks away.  This summer is going to be insanely crazy.  Let's hope I make it through to the fall season because I'm supposed to be getting married then.

Here's my list of excitement for the summer:

• Wedding Fun!  There's a lot of wedding stuff that will be going on this summer, showers, bachelorette parties and other merriment.  It will also be the time for addressing invites (which I am oddly excited about), crafting photoboxes, putting together programs and the like.  My mom and I had stayed really on top of our crafting until the last month.  And now we have a lot to do.  Anyone up for some awesome craft projects?
• Outdoor Eats.  The weather has been so great and I've loved seeing all of the sidewalk cafes around town.  Last summer I was going home every day for lunch to let out Kirby.  We are no longer spoiling him like that, which means that this summer I can go to the food trucks.  Even though I miss snuggling with Kirby at lunchtime, I'm kind of happy to be free of lunch duty.  Sorry Kirbino!  I am also excited for the farmer's market and getting a grill this summer (FINALLY!)
• Summer Movies.  I saw The Avengers last weekend and loved seeing all the scenes that we saw filmed in Cleveland.  It is amazing to me how they can take what we saw in Cleveland and turn it into what I saw on the big screen.  The Avengers got me excited for summer movies.  Here are the ones I'm thinking about today: The Dark Knight Rises; Prometheus; Moonrise Kingdom (I heart all things Wes Anderson); Brave; Lawless; Snow White & the Huntsman (which I want so badly not to like because I don't really like Kristen Stewart, but this move looks pretty bomb); The Odd Life of Timothy Green; The Dictator.  The last few summers haven't been great for movies, but this one seems to be shaping up.
• Summer Concerts.  Most notably The Avett Brothers at Basilica Block Party and Rufus Wainwright at Music in the Zoo. 
• Lakes and Parks.  I can't wait to go for walks around Como Lake, Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Falls Park.  Mike and I have also been talking about making day trips to some state parks.  Kirby loves going to the state parks and walking on the trails, so I'm hoping to get out to a lot this year.
• Gardening.  We planted 32 pepper plants.  32!  Most hot peppers, but some sweet.  I am so excited for these to start producing peppers.  We also planted a grape tomato plant and will hopefully get a couple more tomato plants.  My peonies have a ton of buds on them and most of the lilies will come back this year.  My favorite lily, this bright pink one, was eaten up by a rabbit and probably won't produce any flowers.  Bummer!  I will also be planting (and by "I", I mean "Mike and I") basil, rosemary, thyme and maybe oregano for pizzas.  It's so much fun to watch things grow and see how they change day to day.
• Relaxing in the Hammock.  A key to me surviving this summer is going to be relaxing.  I don't relax easily.  The hammock and a good book helps. 

This summer is going to go by so fast.  How can I slow it down?  Any suggestions?!

Avenge This

This past summer, Mike, myself and Mike's dad went to the fair city of Cleveland, Ohio.  We went there to watch a baseball game, Go Twins.  Mike and his dad love to go to baseball games in different cities and see all the different fields.  It was a fun mini-trip that had a lot of surprises for us.  The first being that after we arrived at our hotel in downtown Cleveland, we were walking to lunch and literally stumbled upon a real, live movie set!  How random and awesome is that?  


The Avengers was filming in Cleveland and had set up shop on a one-block street.  It was so weird to see a movie set like this.  It's apparently the scene of a great battle as is evidenced by the smashed car below.  Plus, I always thought a movie set would be swarming with security so that you could not get anywhere near close to it.  Not so in Cleveland!  You just stood at police tape and took as many pictures as you want.  I went back to the scene multiple times during our trip, but always missed filming...and Chris Hemsworth.  Bummer.

On our last day, the movie set was very altered.  They must have filmed a bunch of explosions the day before, look at that debris!  The cars were all real, but the rest of the large building pieces were foam.  It's amazing how real the pieces look in pictures because in person they were almost comically fake.

On a separate street, we found a lineup of NYPD cars and other cars that would probably be blown up the next day.  This reminded me of MGM Studios Lights! Motors! Action! stunt show.  

I actually can't wait to see The Avengers.  In the previews, there are a lot of scenes that look like they were filmed on this street in Cleveland, so I'm excited to see what the final product looks like.  It was so much fun to go into a random city and find something like this.  Yay Cleveland!

Spring Things

Spring is just around the corner! Yay! Here are things I'm looking forward to:

• Movies. The Hunger Games on 3/23, The Wrath of the Titans on 3/30, The Pirates: Band of Misfits on 4/27 (can anyone say asexual claymation?) and The Avengers on 5/4 are ones I'm really looking forward to. I will post more about The Avengers closer to the premiere date as I actually saw some of the filming in Cleveland, OH.


• Pirates. The Science Museum of Minnesota has a pirates exhibition going on. I'm hoping to see it soon. I have mad love for the SMM and this exhibit looks really different and neat. Hopefully it's not a dud.


• MN Landscape Arboretum and Como Zoo Conservatory. I am so anxious for daffodils and tulips to start popping up. I've never made it out to the Arboretum for their spring gardens, but hopefully this will be the year. The conservatory also has a gorgeous display every year.


• Hammock. For my birthday last year, Mike got me a hammock. It's the most luxurious and relaxing thing. I can't wait to put it back in the yard and lay in it while reading.


• Florida. My mom and I are going back to Disneyworld this spring. I'm so, so, so excited. I need to get some new material, so we will be trying out a couple of new restaurants and also going on a behind the scenes animal trek in Animal Kingdom. Can't wait.


• History. The Minnesota History Center is exhibiting an early version of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights as well as an original edition of the Minnesota constitution. I feel like this is the perfect activity for a rainy spring day.


• Baseball. I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I don't hate it either. I really love ballpark hot dogs, though, and I've been craving one lately. I'm hoping to get out to Target Field early this year.


• Things I'm Not Doing, But Wish I Was. Florence and the Machine is coming to the Twin Cities and I really, really wanted to go. Like, really bad. But, when tickets went on sale to the general public, there were literally 5 seats available and none of them were sitting next to each other. I've looked on stubhub, but they are so expensive. Sorry Flo, not this time.

I think this is going to be a very hectic spring. I'm hoping to enjoy it to the fullest!

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

One of the joys of being a homeowner is gardening. It's nice being able to plant pretty flowers, herbs and vegetables and taking pride in your yard. I had no idea, though, that having a few nice plants would take quite as much care as it does.

Last spring, I was shocked at how many plants were already at our house. First, I had planted some tulip bulbs the previous fall. All of the tulips came up, although some were mowed down by a wayward rabbit. I love, love, love tulips. So, my goal is to have tons of them. I planted more this year and the house had a few already planted. I don't, however, have any idea about the maintenance of tulip bulbs. Are you supposed to dig them up and split them in the fall? Or can you just leave them planted in the ground?

Our house also, randomly, had a bunch of raspberry bushes. When Mike moved in, they were totally overgrown in one area, so we hacked them all down. I don't think this was the right move, though, because we didn't get many raspberries last year and they were all very sour. I didn't touch them this fall, so I'm hoping they will be sweeter this year.

I was pleasantly surprised to find two peony bushes and multiple lilies already planted around the house. The peonies need cages this year, though, because last year they flopped over and died right after they bloomed. The lilies were gorgeous with bright pinks, reds and yellows. I'm worried that they won't come back as healthy this year because I stopped watering them in late summer and I didn't cut anything back.

We also found a terrible fern and hosta garden on the side of our house that was completely overgrown. We dug all the plants up and instead planted a small vegetable garden of hot and sweet peppers. We got a lot of jalapenos and banana peppers. However, the sweet bell peppers never flowered. I might try the same thing this year. I also want to try a cherry tomato plant, but I think I will put that in a pot because our soil isn't very good.

I'm hoping this year to be a bit more attentive to our plants. I want to add some new things to the garden now that I know what's already there. I am so excited to see if my tulips come back.

Santa Was Here

This Saturday, I spent the afternoon wrapping gifts. I am a terrible gift wrapper, so it takes me a long time to get everything all wrapped up. Part of the problem is my anal retentiveness. All packages have to be wrapped in only red, white and green.

I'm really particular about wrapping paper. This year I couldn't find exactly what I wanted, so I had to settle for what I could find. I'm not sure it all meshes together as cohesively as in year's past.

When I had them all stacked up, I couldn't even see the Christmas tree over the top of the stack. I wanted to lay them out to get a better picture.

Voila! Here they all are. The photos turned out a little bit dark. I've been experimenting with camera settings and obviously this was a fail. But, you get the idea. Can't wait for everyone to open up their gifts and see what they got! I had some really good gift ideas this year!

Christmas Magic

How insanely awesome does my mom's Christmas tree look this year. Well, she has me to thank. I am kind of a genius at lighting Christmas trees. My secret is that I wrap each branch individually with lights. The tree above has 750 lights on it. My mom says it hurts her eyes. But it looks amazing. I've been experimenting with my camera a lot and this was the best shot that I got. I love the way the lights glow. I'm going to have to go back at night and see if I can intensify this effect.

Christmas is officially here. Every year it sneaks up on me, but this year I'm hoping to be ready for it. I've got my own tree up, half of my gifts purchased with the other half already decided upon and my Christmas card list made. Plus I am stressed out! The holidays are here!

Here's a list of my most favorite holiday traditions:

Looking at Christmas Lights. I love driving around to see how people have decorated their houses. The area that I live in always has lots of decorated houses. This year the weather was really nice the weekend after Thanksgiving, so I'm expecting there to be more lights outside than usual. Yay!

Baking. My mom and I go nuts with baking cookies. I'm pretty sure that if you dug in her freezer you'd find some cookies from Christmas 2010, Christmas 2009 and probably a couple of stragglers from Christmas 2008. We are currently nailing down our cookie list for this year.

Christmas Movies. So far, the only Christmas movie that I've watched is Grumpy Old Men. I'm hoping to get in Christmas Vacation, Home Alone & Home Alone 2, The Santa Clause, The Grinch, Elf, Charlie Brown, Rudolph and Frosty. I love sitting down with wine, popcorn, candles and a good Christmas flick.

Wrapping Gifts and Writing Cards. Nothing gives me quite so much joy as writing Christmas cards. I have always loved it. And I love displaying cards that I get, although this year I'm looking for a new method of displaying them. Any suggestions? I also love wrapping gifts and having a tree full of gifts underneath.

I am excited to celebrate this holiday season with my wonderful family and friends!

It's the Most Terrible Time...of the Year!

Oh, awesome, snow. I don't know what it was about this year's first snow storm that caught me so off guard. I wasn't mentally prepared for it, I guess. Even though the snow looked so lovely and white and pure, inside I felt like crying. This past Saturday was a depressing day. So, now I need to gear myself up for all of the fun and exciting things that are going to be happening this winter. At least something has to get me through!

• Science Museum fun. Right now, the Omnitheatre is showing a movie called Amazon, it's playing through January. I'm guessing the Omnifest will be in January and that's always good. Then beginning February 18, 2012 will be a new exhibit called Real Pirates. It's all about the Golden Age of Piracy. That actually sounds pretty awesome. Aarrgh you going to go?


• Disney's The Lion King Broadway show. It's coming in January to the Orpheum. I'm really hoping to get some tickets from stubhub and go.


• The Winter Carnival Beer Dabbler. I am not a beer drinker, but I can at least find a couple of beers that I enjoy and there will be entertainment that I am hoping is in the form of a good band. You really don't need much to get me out of the house in the middle of winter. The fun is on January 28th at the St. Paul Farmer's Market.


• St. Paul Winter Carnival. I think the winter carnival is a little bit hokey, but what else are you going to do? The part about the carnival that I like the best is looking at the ice sculptures. These are usually pretty neat and at night they light up the area so it's very pretty and romantical if that's what you are looking for. That all happens in Rice Park. Another fun thing to do is walk around for an hour outside and then go into the St. Paul Hotel for a hot toddy. January 26-February 5.


• Movies! There are some good movies coming out just in time for the winter season. Sherlock Holmes, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Beauty and the Beast 3D, One for the Money, The Vow. A lot of times the crappy movies get shoved to January and February, but more often than not you can see a lot of cinematic gold during this time.


• Award Shows. There's something about award shows that I love to hate. They are so boring and yet I always watch beginning to end. Mike and I have created a special awards show dinner that consists of: shrimp cocktail with Byerly's Vidalia Onion and Meyer Lemon cocktail sauce, Boar's Head Buffalo chicken sandwiches on toasted kaiser rolls, Byerly's Asian Ramen Salad and Prosecco. We have this dinner while playing board games and making fun of celebrities.

So, there's my list so far. Let's hope Spring comes soon!

All Spooks Day

Look at our crafty pumpkins. They were freestyled. I think it's better that way. Look how happy they are!

And look who decided to photobomb this shot. Kirby was obsessed with the pumpkins. He loved the smell, the seeds and the actual flesh. I think he was just hoping that we'd allow him to go Hannibal Lecter on their asses. We did not. At least not yet.

And here's Kirby in his Halloween best. He was made honorary sheriff for Halloween night. His bay definitely keeps the hooligans away. Tomorrow he will sadly have to relinquish his badge until next year.

Happy Halloween!

Please Don't Cancel Me

Who has been watching television lately? The last couple of years there hasn't been many shows that I've been too curious about. This year, however, WOWZA. There was so much I wanted to watch. I'm hoping that none of my new favorites get cancelled. Here's what I've been watching...

The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Beverly Hills. This is my guilty pleasure. Both have been exceptionally good, although I'm getting a little tired of the NJ family drama. I just hope that they keep the same cast and don't do a shakeup like they recently did with RHONY. The BH season has also been good. BH is basically what I think the Real Housewives show is supposed to be about. I mean, those people are super, super, super rich. Except Kim, I have a feeling Kim's not that rich.

Ringer. I'm having a love/hate relationship with this show. The premiere was okay, the second episode was better. Plus it's got a lot of glitz. I'm hoping they don't give it the boots soon because I think it needs a few more episodes to pick itself up.

America's Next Top Model. Oh Lord. I love this show and the fact that they have brought back all of the has beens from past seasons is fabulous squared. The elimination was especially brilliant because these girls heads were so inflated that to watch them get the heave-ho left me in hysterics. I'm expecting a lot more of that.

Up All Night. I didn't love the first episode like I thought I would, but it showed glimmers of real hilarity. Maya Rudolph is basically playing Oprah Winfrey, so right there you've got me. This is another one that I'm hoping amps it up and doesn't get canned.

The Vampire Diaries. I love how this show isn't afraid to kill someone important for shock value. How many shows have this many main characters just die? Plus a million different things happen in each episode. So, the entertainment value is very high.

The Secret Circle. This was probably my favorite surprise so far. I thought it looked dumb in the previews, but had a premise that I would normally like. So, I was going to give it one episode. And it sold me. Teens who are powerful witches. Hook, line, sinker.

The Biggest Loser. How can you not love the tubs? In the premiere when all of the tubs ran back to greet the losing team of elderly tubs in Death Valley, I started crying. Plus, this is a show that you can basically fast forward on your tivo in the slowest mode and figure out exactly what is going on. First they are downtrodden and recap the pain of the last week, then they are inspired in their workout, then they have a challenge that reminds them to work as a team, then the weigh in where all you really need to see are the numbers. Then a tub is sent home.

Revenge. Holy Dynasty awesomeness. I really imagine that this show is what Dynasty and Dallas were in the 80's. Rich Hamptonites involved in murder, mystery, corporate shenanigans and affairs. I have had a rough week and watched the episode on my tivo last night. For those 42 minutes, I literally forgot all of my problems. Please watch, my heart can't take this one getting shitcanned.

I've got other shows lined up in my tivo queue that I haven't gotten around to yet. But Fall of 2011 is off to a good start. You'll find me on my couch until December when all the shows go into reruns for awhile!

My Dog Reads My Blog

Remember how a week or so ago, I wrote about wanting to get new pillows from the Missoni for Target collection. Even though I really wanted those pillows, internally I was all "I don't need the pillows." It was a true struggle.

Young Kirby, who loves to spend money as much as I do, helped me out this weekend. I think what happened was he read my blog and was all "I got your back mom". So, then he proceeded to do something really uncharacteristic and chew our current pillows up. Which prompted Mike to say to me, "I guess these have to go to the basement now." We put all of our crappy stuff in the basement.

Kirby didn't destroy the pillows. He just kind of chewed on a corner of it. I really think it was an act of love for his human mom. He's very kind like that. Internal struggle no more, now I need the pillows and tomorrow's the day to buy them.

Things I'm Excited For - Fall Edition

I will be enjoying lots of things before Winter 2011/2012. Here's what they are:

1. Fall Movie Season. During Fall, movies are typically at their finest. There's actually not a ton that I'm excited about this fall. Leonardo has a new one (J. Edgar), Breaking Dawn of course. Even if nothing new comes out, there's plenty that I missed this summer that is sure to be playing at the Riverview. You really can't beat $2 tickets and real buttered popcorn.


2. Fall TV. My Tivo is already stocked up and I can't wait until next week when the new shows come out. Which ones is everyone else watching?


3. The Lion King 3D! For two weeks Disney's movie The Lion King will be out in 3D. How awesome is that? The fun begins September 16.


4. The Target Missoni collection. I've already blogged about this. Those pillows are mine starting September 13.


5. Apple picking, pumpking carving and leave viewing. The colors, the smells, the decorating. Even though I don't love Fall like others do, I still appreciate the things it has to offer. There is no other season that has such a feeling associated with it as Fall does.


6. Gardening. Now that I have space to garden, I've gotten into it. This fall I will be expanding my tulip garden, planting some daffodils and irises and adorning the front of the house with gorgeous fall flowers.


7. Omnitheater. I know that I'm always going on about stuff at The Science Museum, but it's my favorite. September 22 brings a new omnitheater movie, Amazon.


8. Twin Cities Marathon. Hell no, I do not run this. But, I usually like to support those that do. Plus, I love seeing shirts soaked with blood from chaffed nipples.


9. Sports. Mike loves watching football. I don't really love it, but I do love cooking and Mike always has people over for the games, which means I get to cook for multiple people. So, I guess I can support it. Plus, the Wild will be back. So, maybe I'll sneak a couple of games in this Fall.


10. Long, crisp walks. Kirby has gotten to be a much better walker. Lately we've been able to take him on lake walks and nature walks and he has loved it. I'm looking forward to much more this fall.

The nights are already getting much cooler and I'm grabbing for my sweater more often. I can't say I'm loving it, but you can definitely sense that change in the air and maybe it was needed. Even though I rebel against it, change is always a good thing.

Please Get in My House

Have you all heard about the Target Missoni collaboration taking place this fall? That's pretty big. I love Target, LOVE IT. Mike says it's my favorite place in the world and he's right. Where else can you get a wedding gift, new baby gift, DVD, tampons and chicken all in the same place? Plus, how much cheaper are Target's groceries??? It's amazeballs.

Anyhow, I just glanced through the lookbook for the Missoni for Target collection and it's pretty fabulous. The clothes are very Missoni. I don't know that Missoni clothes are really my thing. I love looking at them, but I'm not a pattern wearer. However, the home accessories in the line are unreal. They are so me.

And I need that pillow on the right. I need it bad. Mike will hate it. He doesn't like pillows with things on them and there's a lot of hot pink going on. But this pillow needs to be in my house. And not hidden on a chair in a room where no one goes. This pillow needs to be displayed. But displayed in a place where Kirby can't reach because he will love it. He won't love it in the way that I love it. Kirby will love it because he thinks it will taste good.

August is a Favorite

August has always been a favorite of mine. I love that it starts out all hot and sticky and by the end you are getting some Indian Summers in. Is that phrase even socially acceptable? Or is it taboo? Anyhow, I love those summery nights where the day is blazing but in the evening you are reminded that fall is coming soon. Here are some things I am excited for this August:

• Harry Potter. I will finally see it! Yay!


• Vacation. I'm going to the great city of Cleveland. Not so fancy, but I think it will be fun. Not so great will be leaving my little Kirbino for the first time.


• Laying/Reading in My Hammock. I got a hammock for my birthday, but it's been so hot that I haven't been in it a ton. August will change that.


• Raspberries. There are a few raspberry bushes in the backyard and some early raspberries have already come, but there are a bunch more that should be ready soon. I love raspberries right from the bushes!


• Mikey's Birthday. Mike will finally be as old as me.


• Babies. I have one friend who just gave birth and two other friends who are due in August. I love new little babies and can't wait to meet the new bambinos.


• Back to School. I haven't been part of the back to school rage in quite a long time, but I always love this time of year. I love the commercials, the store displays, that harried fever in the air at the end of the month.

I can't believe that it's August already. I'm hoping for a warm fall because I'm definitely nowhere near ready to let go of these warm temperatures.

Can I Handle It?

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that the last Harry Potter movie premieres tomorrow. Cue the tears. Wait...are you not crying? Because anytime I have seen a preview for the last Harry Potter movie, I have started crying. And I've gotten the chills. I've actually avoided watching previews because the tears and chills are that bad. Kids, this is a problem. Michael actually said to me the other day "I'm just not sure that you can handle this."

He's right. I don't deal well with change and things ending. And I have a rusty faucet in my eyes that once turned on, is difficult to shut off. Add that to the fact that the previews for this movie look so intense and the fact that I just read the wikipedia article on the last Harry Potter book to remind myself of what happens and I started weeping. Openly. At work. I had to go to the restroom to compose myself. So, again, while I really want to go to this movie, I might not be ready for it.

I don't remember it being this bad with reading the last book. That might be because I always knew I'd have the movie to look forward to, but it also might be the timing of when the last book came out.
The last Harry Potter book was released a week before I took the Minnesota Bar Exam. To say I was stressed is an understatement. The day the book came out, I went to the local Barnes and Noble to purchase it. I propped the book up on my desk as a little incentive for studying. It kept singing to me, just study one more week and then you can read me! So, that's what I did. I studied for a week, took the test, then hibernated for a few days. During that hibernation, I read the final Harry Potter and haven't touched it since. I think the main reason why I got through it was because the test had left me so defeated that the book didn't seem that emotionally draining.

But here I am four years later with a fairly emotional stress-lite life and wondering if I can cope with a movie about magical wizards killing each other. I'm thinking that I probably can't, but I'm going to try anyways.