bad friend, good surfer* (web, that is)...

i've not been a great friend lately (yes, that's to you, if i've tried to make poor plans in the last 2 months and flaked - i'm sorry), but i'm looking forward to getting together with a good friend of mine, em, on thursday (after 3 months of trying to meet up)! i've known em over 10 years (crazy, right?!) and have always been a bit 'picky' when it comes to opening up to others and making real friends... maybe this is why it's hard to make friends over 30...

but i have been really good at sorting through a few of my top blogs lately, and have been green with envy over the DIYs, before/after project reveals, and all other 'crafty' sorts of things. honestly, i swear i could become a full-time blogger and DIYer if i had the time - and resources ($) - to dedicate to it! tim and i had been really good about getting a lot done around the house (part of why i've been such a friend flake), but since he recently started his new job [as high school art & design teacher] we've been slacking on the house stuff, and i've been more focused on reading a monthly book for my 30 before 30 goals...

hope you're all doing well! i promise - really this time - that i'll be a better blogger :)

*after surfing the web, site through site, i came to this nytimes article via cup of jo, through one of my daily favorites - apartment therapy, etc, etc, etc...

30x30 update

really?! what was i thinking when i made this list? this is crazy - anyways, here's a little update:

1. donate blood

     done! actually done!
9. complete a big home improvement project

     working on it...the laundry room is half-finished, and we're getting the kitchen done before august!
13. gamble - play a blackjack table (no slots)

     went to Laughlin a few weeks ago, but couldn't muster up the courage... there's still time!
19. run (at least a 10k)

     ran 1.5 miles on monday and thought i might die... definitely need some work here ;)
20. read a book a month for 12 months

     march: a dog's purpose (actually read this in april, but i'm going to count it anyways) 

     april: the reader

     may: the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime (actually, i think i may have read this before?)

30 by 30

alright, so i had been working on this list back in december/january, and apparently felt quite ambitious! i wanted to go back and revisit or revise it, but instead i'm gonna go with it - so here's a few (okay, okay - more than a few...) things i'd like to try and do before i turn 30:

1. donate blood
2. participate in a flash mob
3. snowboard (or at least snow ski)
4. watch all 6 star wars movies (in the order they were released)
5. establish a new wardrobe/style
6. hike the grand canyon (see the grand canyon!)
7. do another 30-day yoga challenge
8. visit seattle - eat an oyster at pike place market
9. complete a big home improvement project
10. go back to college - at least one class
11. re-learn French
12. visit NYC: include statue of liberty & empire state building
13. gamble - play a blackjack table (no slots)
14. SXSW (might be right after 30...)
15. take a ballroom dance class
16. grow a garden
17. create a tasty recipe of my own
18. start a business
19. run (at least a 10k)
20. read a book a month for 12 months
21. take a road trip
22. go camping - tent it
23. get involved with a co-op or similar group
24. participate in a habitat for humanity project
25. sew a piece of clothing or piece a quilt
26. tackle 1 pintrest or design*sponge inspired project a month for 12 months
27. go geocaching
28. enter a photography competition/contest
29. go to a shooting range
30. jar/can my own jam/fruit

wish me luck!

mad men ads

love it, love it, love it! check out some new mad men inspired ads that newsweek is featuring in their latest 60's throwback issue...

i yelped

scott's generations - don't go: i yelped it here

wit & delight

found a brilliant tumblr, wit&delight and her blog (via pintrest post, somehow...)
it's like she knows what i love to look at! i've just spent over an hour (at 1am, no less) rolling through it: fashion meets design meets beauty meets food... would like to see a bit more furniture and housewares mixed in... but i love the whole feel of it

2012

this month has been so busy with work and life that i haven't taken the time to blog in a month, but i've got big plans for this year! tim & i have been working through a plan on how to tackle all of the projects around the house that we want to do and our final "deadlines" to get each done:

january-february: new laundry room
march-april: backyard/frontyard grass
march-may: kitchen remodel
may-june: media room
june-july: guest room
august: studio
september: bathrooms
october: finish interior paint
november: new flooring
december: enjoy :)

we'll see how it goes! so far, we have made quite a bit of progress on the new laundry room, and am hoping to have it finished before valentine's day (or at least before my birthday), so we can get started on a kitchen demo and tilling, leveling, de-weeding & seeding the yard...

i'm also working on a 30 before 30 list (like a mini-bucket list) - which gives me about 13 months to get it done - and i've already tackled 1 or 2 on my list; it's not quite finished, but i'll get that published soon!

our new stereo

we bought a new stereo today - bit different than an ipod dock, but the sound is so warm!
went to bookmans to get our record collection started :)


*photo by geoffrey chaucer

ipad

I got an iPad... awesome :)

marcel the shell

adorable and hilarious... so is the first video :)