dublin doors

I bring you today a photo of the famous Doors of Dublin. While I was in Ireland many years ago, Brendan, our personal tour man, and Irish prophet at large told us a wee tale as we flew by this colorful sight in our tiny yellow half-bus packed with stinky college wanderers. When asked why the doors were each painted a bright, and distinctly different color he replied, "Well, it is well known that men in Ireland enjoy their drink, and their pubs. And as you can well see, each home here looks much like the other- so much that on some nights when the men would wander home soused from the pub they sometimes let themselves into the wrong house. Imagine waking up and finding a strange man passed out on your floor or in your bed! So they painted all the doors a different color so that the men could find their way home when the pubs close down and prevent embarrassment." Happy St. Patrick's Day!

addicted to chevron

Currently addicted to chevron...slurp, slurp.....drool.

love...that four letter word...

whether you're a brother, or whether you're a mother...

For my loyal followers, a little something to keep you going 'til Friday!

Click the link....for your pre-friday funk oasis.

Stayin' Alive

dreamy day

While perusing my favorites list on Etsy I realized that there was a bit of a theme going on. Here are a few lovely items I've weeded out to send you on your weekend. (click the link below each to go to the items Etsy listing)  Have a dreamy one!

by ellemoss

by sewtara

by robinandmould

by bovinebubbles

by allthingspretty

by kittyrogers

s'more quiet please

Today after all my homeschooling, house cleaning, kid tending, etc, etc, etc duties were done I hung up my virtue for a few short moments and sneaked into my bedroom with two little treats....okay three. I grabbed some of the leftover s'more-making-stuff in the cabinet and created two little sandwiches in my toaster oven, then I grabbed the latest copy of Free People and closed the door...I even turned on my heating pad and stuck my feet under it. It was glorious, it was quiet, it was sweet, and it was all mine.

I really enjoy them without chocolate too...wierd? Try it!

If you've never experimented with oven-made s'mores I highly recommend them. They are fantastic for a little afternoon pampering and even better for entertaining friends at a winter party. No one will expect that summery smell in your kitchen as they open you're door, and when arranged on a colorful tray they look better than the average hors d'oeuvres. I've kind of got them down to a science, so here are the guidelines, folks:

Oven S'mores

You need:

Graham crackers
Chocolate bars
Big, fat marshmallows
Marshmallow fluff (optional)


Take half of a graham cracker and stack 2 sections of chocolate on it. Then slap a little bit of marshmallow fluff on top of the chocolate to act as glue (the adventurous can slather on some peanut butter or Nutella if they wish). Then plop the marshmallow on top and put it in the oven at 225 degrees. (I tend to put mine in the oven without anything underneath if I'm making one or two, but you can arrange a whole bunch on a cookie sheet if you're making them for a party.) Leave it in until the top of the mallow reaches your favorite color of brown...at least 6 to 9 minutes (if your the type that usually enjoys the burnt s'mores when around the campfire, then I advise you to watch them carefully). Take it out and smoosh the other half of the graham cracker on top. Serve immediately.

Bon Appetit!

short winter

My husband says I'm cold-blooded like a lizard...if I get cold I get slow, tired, and sad. Cold to me is painful. As a result of this, I wear long johns under everything I put on starting in October and don't stop until  April...and I live in Virginia. But even though cold is my lifelong nemesis and even though I struggle to never, ever, ever to feel even one spindly finger of jack frost touch even my nose, well, I can't help but want to try the shorts in the winter look...and I doubt it would be the same with my lovely long john's peeking out from underneath. Maybe if I dye them black.....