I hope my christmas card doesn't make people feel sorry for me

Damn, what was I thinking? I should have gone with a generic holiday card, instead I went with a photo card... of my dog. In a santa hat. Well, I didn't want to put a photo of me on the card. And I think my dog is funny. And I think it's funny that she looks unhappy in a santa hat.

But I think my card may worry my loved ones that I abuse my dog....and that I am officially a spinster that needs to get a life.

Damn damn damn

Quick Rant- Long blind dates

How is it that I'm always getting roped into long first dates? Why is it that no one believes me when I say "let's meet for a quick cup of coffee"? Do they not believe me? Do they think perhaps I will be overwhelmed by their charm and wit and want to spend hours upon hours with them?

No. I said let's meet for A beverage. Singular. Not dinner. Not drinks. Not a long drawn out walk where I get progressively more annoyed at my time being stolen. A blind date should be short, in case one person finds the other unattractive, obnoxious or annoying in person.

After the initial meeting, if both parties want to see each other again, a proper dinner date should be planned. I'm not Ms. Manners but I'm pretty sure that's the proper protocol.

FYI-I hate getting roped into dinner, long walks and hanging out at your place on a blind date. I hate it!

Why do I even bother??

-end rant-

Um... there's a tree on top of your car.

I'm not sure why the sight of a car driving with a Christmas tree tied to the roof amuses me, but it does. It just looks so ridiculous...so incongruous. A tree, which should be standing upright in dirt, is cruising down the freeway at 65 mph on it's way to be used briefly indoors, possibly a foyer, adorned with pieces of plastic and glass and lights while dying a slow death in a pail of water. It's weird, right?

Why on earth do we do it? I'm not a tree hugger so that's not my problem...I just think it's a hilarious custom. It's, like, a lot of work! My dad hated it. Getting sap all over his hands, forcing the tree somewhat vertical into the stand and then wrapping all those damn lights.

And the holidays have enough going on as it is. Why don't we just save ourselves the hassle of purchasing, hauling, lighting, decorating, and cleaning up the mess the needles make and just decorate a tree or two in our yard? You know, sometimes at ski resorts the pine trees are decorated with bras discarded from the ski lift. That could be interesting in your front yard!

Also, I noticed that super big Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is an OUTDOOR tree. Perhaps that's the way it should be? Not that I know anything about the history of the Christmas tree tradition. Maybe there's a really great reason for it. Maybe back in the day it totally made sense to do so (although I can't really imagine there being a practical purpose).

It seems to me that stockings hung over a fireplace are pretty and festive and handy. And could be a reminder that that's all kids used to get for Christmas, a sock filled with sweets. Reality check, in your face!
I'm just not sure why the tree is necessary.

I'm no grinch. I love Christmas. In fact, I think it would be awesome if instead of placing presents under a tree, families piled presents into a tree shaped pyramid, jenga style. That would be a fun consumerist way to celebrate the birth of Jesus! No tree needed.

I'll stop now...

My first pie

This was actually my practice pie. The one I brought to my mom's looked marginally better but then it got a little roughed up in transport.

No more cardboard box nightstand!

After searching for quite some time I finally found the unique nightstand that I've been hunting for. I picked up this tiny corner secretary at a cool antique shop called Vignettes in Ocean Beach (http://www.yelp.com/biz/vignettes-antiques-and-collectibles-san-diego).  

Unfortunately, it was done in an awful shabby pink. The terrible sanding job took away from the pretty details.

But, after many, many, many layers of spray paint, here is what it looks like now:

I added a pretty knob to the drop leaf drawer and I am quite pleased with it.

Look! No more cardboard box!

Bedroom Blues, Part II - Dreamy Bedroom Inspiration

Okay, I'm almost ready to get serious about doing something about the cardboard box night stand situation in my bedroom.  I've been collecting photos of bedrooms trying to get a few ideas for mine.

A chair in lieu of a bedside table seems to be popular

Pretty

I know that this is a little girl's room (probably has a hipster mom) but I like it anyway. I kinda want a similar hutch or bookshelf in lieu of a nightstand.

Photo via Decorpad

Gahh! I love this bedroom. I want to live here. 

Photo via Design*Sponge, Ore Studio

I saved this photo because it gave me an idea. I want a shelf or cabinet to place my laundry hamper under so it's not such wasted space and to sort of hide it. I'll also use it as a nightstand.

Photo via Design*Sponge, Susan and William Brinson

Vintage suitcases at the foot of the bed also seems to be popular. Don't think it's my style though.

Photo via Domino

Like the mix and match of patterns. Don't care for the stack of books on the floor as the nightstand.

Photo via House of Turquoise

Loving this attic bedroom! Love the girly wall sconces and the fact that bedside tables do not match! Totally cool.

Again, bedside tables do not match, but it is still very very symmetrical which I like

Photo via La Maison Boheme

Ooooh how pretty.

I'm a little sad that I'm pretty sure that I will never own a chandelier like this one.

Photo via House of Turquoise, Mabley Handler Interior Design

Not really my style but I love the symmetry and patterns.

Photo Mansucco Warner Miller

Hmm, wallpaper? It's pretty

Photo via House of Turquoise

Oooooooh, what I've always wanted. A nook for just my bed. You can shut everything else out and hide =)

So fresh and so clean! Me likey.

Stella Tennant, photo by Francois Halard

Love the silkscreen behind the bed. Hate the bedspread.

Also, notice the bedside tables do not match.

Hmm, pretty cool. N'est pas?

Photo via Martha Stewart

What a cool idea for a nightstand!

Photo via House of Turquoise

I like everything about this except the hanging globe chair.

Photo by Ditte Isager, Bloomingdales catalog

Oooooh dreamy! A hanging bedroom.

It reminds me of the Ewok village or Avatar

Photo via La Maison Boheme

This is sort of what my bed looks like now with the mosquito netting but without the cool exposed wooden beams.

Should I try to make a headboard like this one??

Photo-The Cross Design and Decor

Damn I want this bed! It's only $3,495 CANADIAN dollars. FML.

Saturday in November

Sunset over Sail Bay

Hummingbird

I love hummingbirds at my feeder!

New music

Sun of  Gun- Oh Land.


I like!