a peak at my christmas list

thankgiving came late this year so it's a bit of a scramble getting everything ready to go in time for christmas.  in case anybody is itching to get me crossed off their shopping list in time for the black friday/cyber monday holiday shopping madness, here's a look at what i'm drooling over right now.

crown vintage tabitha bootie (black size 11)

urban outfitters black panama hat

american rag tribal print sweater (medium or large)

artemis stud duo earrings

crystal lana drop earrings

warmen nappa leather plush lined button gloves (camel size large)

sandra dieckmann graphite stag throw pillow

sandra dieckman graphite bear throw pillow

buddha and yin yang iphone 4s case

talisker 10 year old single malt scotch

tibetan turquoise mantra earrings (charitable purchase from the campaign for a free tibet)

chateau cap de mourlin grand cru 2005 (bordeaux st. emilion blend)

deadwood: the complete series (on DVD)

happy holidays y'all!

word count: 35,770

excerpts from my bucket list

1.  visit italy, peru, norway, greece, australia, and egypt.

2.  publish a novel,

3.  drink mint juleps and wear a hat at the kentucky derby.

4.  watch michigan win the rose bowl live in pasadena.

5.  buy a boat.

6.  ride in a hot air balloon.

7.  take my kids and grandkids to disneyworld.

8.  see a live performance at the paris opera house.

image

so good news and bad news: the bad news is i was still wrestling with malware last night so i didn't get a chance to upload photos from the sculpture park (it's really an outdoor art musuem, i promise you should totally come back and check out the photos because meijer gardens is so beautiful it is unreal).

but the good news is: i feel like a computer whiz kid because i eradicated the virus from my laptop all by myself!  and i have a functioning computer once more!  huzzah!

sometimes we don't go to the arb

happy happy happy monday!  (yup today gets 3 happies... fun things are happening at work, but more on that later this week).

i'm going to rewind the weekend a little more slowly than usual because i'm starting to notice my monday posts are getting a little out of control (what can i say, we like to pack our weekend full of fun).

now that steve is done studenting and we are going to be living together, the two of us are really starting to embrace ann arbor as a city instead of just a college campus.  we've been poking around trying to find new corners of the city we haven't yet explored (guess what: there are a TON).

even though we did go to the arb on saturday (the peonies are blooming so i'll post all the pretty pictures later) steve wanted to check out someplace closer to the huron river, so we spent sunday afternoon walking on the boardwalk at gallup park.

shhh i may have told steve to take pictures of me, since there are so rarely any on this blog that don't involve my arm holding out the camera.

hope everybody's week is off to as good a start as ours!

spring fashion favorite

happy friday!  hope everyone has had a lovely week!

you may remember that earlier this week i bought myself a hat.  i am telling you right now:  best life decision ever.  if you have ever wanted fashion advice from me (not likely, but still) take this: buy yourself a hat.  wearing an awesome hat is the easiest way to stand out.  there's also something terribly romantic and old fashioned about finishing touches like hats and gloves that complete an outfit, but very few people wear anymore.

there is also the potential to go horribly miserably wrong when wearing hats

seriously guys, i cannot stress enough how glamorous you feel if you are pulling off a hat on the street.  i was literally complimented by 4 different people on my walk to lunch when i wore my new hat, and only one of them was homeless.  to help you get started i've put together three spring/summer outfits that will make a statement when paired with a hat.

1.  unisex outback hat // 2.  ruffle top // 3.  floral skirt // 4.  earrings // 5.  sandals

1.  sunhat // 2.  maxi dress (sold out) // 3.  cuff bracelet // 4.  sandals // 5.  diamond earrings

1.  bonnet // 2.  earrings // 3.  flip flops // 4.  one piece