morning's light

t.g.i.f. - seriously

I'm quite ready for it to be Friday.  HELLO, WEEKEND.   It's been an emotionally draining week.

Looking forward to taking a friend's two oldest children to see the new movie "UP", getting my car tuned up, and going for long walks in hopefully spring-like weather.

Meanwhile, here are some photos on which to gaze.

Images: dress, design, decor

brightness. french.

images: olivelse  (a French blog containing bright, colorful photos of items and children I wish were mine)

and my moop clutch!

and my moop clutch!, originally uploaded by tiffanyinthetrees.

I have a moop market bag in rosewood...but now I'm going to save up for the moop clutch! probably in black. love me some moop!

sing it + shout it

"Eye of the Tiger" has been in my head since hearing the kids from PS22 singing it yesterday.

I particularly like the boy in the green shirt who is not as into it as the others.  I love watching the kids nod, sway, and move to the music.  

One of the best times on my San Francisco trip last week was going to brunch with Linda and Madeleine before a surprise they were taking me on.  We sat in a quiet restaurant, eating brunch, and catching up.  Soon enough we were on the surprise - a 30 minute speedboat tour of the Bay where we whooped and hollared and lost our voices.  A mere 30 minutes after that, we're in Starbucks, quietly catching up again.  

Later I just shook my head and thought of the quiet brunch, CRAZY WOMEN SCREAMING ON A SPEEDBOAT TOUR, then quiet catching up over coffee.  

holiday + movies + sofie

images: sofie andersson

Seems like Monday.  It's Tuesday. 

The three day weekend was so very, very nice.  Saw four movies (Night at the Museum 2, Terminator 3, X-Men Wolverine, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past:   Museum 2 was funny, T3 was fluffy I thought, Wolverine had depth and great cinematography, and Ghosts was "eh" - crude and not that great.) 

Spent time with friends and family and attended my home church for the first time in awhile.

Cleaned my kitchen thoroughly.  Tonight will be laundry and sorting paperwork. 

House Tour: Anne's Adorable Home

I was visiting Sacramento with a friend last weekend, and we stopped in to see Anne and her family. They're adorable and so is the little house that they've worked so hard to re-do.  She graciously allowed me to share these photos with you.

Anne's kitchen inspiration came from an old Pepsi bottle logo with red/white/blue on it.  She painted this cabinet the colors to match the logo, and then the plan for the entire kitchen fell into place.  She did the beadbord (not pictured) herself. 

Her husband Patrick's office is painted in rich colors and includes heavy, elegant-looking drapes to block out light and noise. 

A glimpse into the kitchen.

Anne used the prettiest paint color and wallpaper for the baby's room.  

This bathroom is apparently a multitude of times better than the way it was when Anne moved in.  I just like the gleaming white tiles!

A simple bedroom is appealing and soothing.

If Anne allows, I'll include their family photo.  Elias is the most adorable 17 month old who turned model in front of the camera.  I've used "adorable" a lot today but that's okay.  The house and family are certainly adorable and worthy of the title.

my deck as an outdoor European cafe

I haven't fixed up my deck as an outdoor European cafe yet...maybe this weekend.  the inspiration below is from a new favorite blog, the haystack needle.  my closest-deck-neighbor lives on her deck...from early morning to late at night - since the bugs have yet to arrive in full force.  Perhaps it's time to join her - occasionally giving the 'sup nod or saying hello.  

Hmmm..perhaps my deck will not be an entire cafe...but more of a personal cafe for two... or six if hosting a dinner party.  that would be me hosting the party - not my deck.  imagine the invitations:  "The Deck invites you to party Cafe Style at 106.  And Sunny might be there too."

less IS more

That's it. I'm going to most definitely go through piles and boxes of merely "stuff" and it has to leave - to go to friends' homes, the thrift shop and tossed out.  I love this home.  Their advice is "less is more" and the house displays that theme from top to bottom.  Here are photos from their Apartment Therapy House Tour.

Many more photos here.

back from vaca!!

follow the map, originally uploaded by perfectbound.

Hello! Am back from San Francisco - a whirlwind of a trip. Saw many friends but didn't get to see everyone. It was non-San Francisco weather (90+ degrees!). Took tons of photos and videos..so there'll be SF to share all week with you!

Meanwhile, the caption to this photo from Perfectbound is "I love the intricacies of maps" which takes me right to the MadTV sketch "Can I Have Your Number??" I introduced it to three friends the other day and they adored it.

Favorite lines include: "Work that UPDO! Grace Kelly, Grace Kelly" and the "intricacies of cinema".

PS: Just realized the post title could also refer to "back from Vacaville" - where the Ciudad girls live!  How was Idol LIVE IN PERSON?

Travelin' Today

Remember her?  She's from my childhood.  My mom found her in a drawer last year and gave her to me.  She (the fisher price little person mom) spent a day with me last year which I documented here.

Turns out, she's going to San Francisco with me today.  She chose to be blurry in the photo to protect her identity, so SHHHHH.  It's because she's stowing away in my purse but will make occasional appearances. Recognize me?  I'll be the chic traveler who is laughing at the photos she's taking of her little...friend..er..doll..or, umm.. ???

The pink bag in the background is the duffel bag that contains the small wardrobe of items being taken along to wear for weather ranging from 40 degrees to 85.  (yeah, good luck with that!)  It's all about friends this weekend.  Haven't seen most of them since 2005 when I left San Francisco to move back to the Midwest. I'll also make time for repeated trips to the Ferry Building for the farmers market (crepes anyone?  Miette confections?) and a trip to Japantown to the Japanese bookstore/stationery store.

See you soon!  

pretty French sweater

Happy Saturday, originally uploaded by nataliezdrieu.

Is this adorable???

Am meeting deadlines at work and running errands/packing for Thursday's flight to San Francisco. Was basing my trip wardrobe on 60 degree weather...and it's going to be 83. Need a few things to wear in hot weather. Any trip wardrobe ideas for me?

Until I read the weather report today, my duffel bag contained: two white cotton tees for layering, two black tees for layering, a black cardigan, black cropped pants, two pair of cute flats, and a dress (yet to be determined...have two in mind) - to go along with my favorite gray scarf that's been a constant companion lately.

grays + greens + blues

, originally uploaded by allie pasquier.

beautiful photo by allie. loving the colors in the photo.

not enough time?

, originally uploaded by allie pasquier.

ever feel like you don't have enough time? I am reaching information overload.

a netflix film that's been around my place for 40 days now - unwatched, of course.

a stack of magazines - unread.

another stack of magazines - to go through and tear out the favorite pages.

ten library books when I can only read one at a time - over lunch.

a stack of shows, or so it feels, on my DVR's "to watch" list.

a list of projects around home - that's been largely undone.

a stack of papers to sort through - and probably recycle most of them.

and I'm single with no kids. however do parents with kids do it?!
umm..happy weekend to you?!

moop + family friday + girls night out

Received my Moop bag (Moop's Market bag in Rosewood) recently!  It's perfect for my trip to San Francisco next week.  

My brother Jay and his family are staying in my mom's small home for another month or so until they move to their new house in Appleton.  So it's one big happy family!  I was there over the weekend - while they were shopping online, playing (the kids), and playing cards.  Documented it because they're all so darn cute!

Nephew Hudson (age 2) wearing his sister's necklace and swim goggles.  He cares little that he's wearing girly pink items! 

Niece Mimo (age 4) coloring while wearing wings she received at a princess party that afternoon.

Shanghai Rummy.  I'm addicted to it but watched Mom and my nephew Caleb (11) play.

Ha!  Trek shirt + diaper.  Classic ensemble. 

I love this photo of Hudson and don't know exactly why.  Maybe it's because he took it himself when he was "using" my camera.

Hudson got bored with "coloring" and "taking photos" so he wandered over to a comfy chair and began chatting on the "phone" (toy phone).  He looks so relaxed that I wonder if he'll be a teen that talks on the phone for hours and hours?  Speaking of teens and phones...

...Monday was a girls night out with three youth group girls.  Texting appears to be a common interest they share.

It's Friday.  Will be making lists, packing for vaca, maybe seeing the girlfriends/ghost movie, watching shows from the week, going to church, reading on the deck, sorting paperwork, and listening to music.  What are you up to this weekend?

tomorrow is danny gokey day in milwaukee

Tomorrow is Danny Gokey Day around here (not sure if it's official or not).  Danny has a day-long schedule of events - from radio station appearances to a mini-parade in the afternoon before a performance at the Summerfest grounds and then heading to the Milwaukee Brewers game to sing the national anthem.  Who can complete work or home projects with that cute face on the computer screen?

Not I.

Also, you must agree with me that he looks like the actor who plays Danny on CSI:NY.  Right?  And are you jealous yet that my friend's mom (Mrs. Bjelland) was the kindergarten teacher of Danny's years ago at a Christian school in the Milwaukee area?  Yeah. That's all I got.  

Gotta go stare at the photo of Danny and cancel all Friday appointments so that I can spend some time on the lakefront.  Priorities, you know?!

only 350 square feet????

Beautiful, beautiful apartment.  Loving how cozy it is and pretty.  They merged two households into one apartment - and have two dogs as well!!  AT post is here. 

maria?

So.......funny thing. I was on staff of a church in California where I'd answer the phone, "Hello, this is Lea Ann", enunciating pretty darn clearly. On two separate occasions within weeks of each other, separate callers heard my greeting, and at the end of each conversation, I would hear, "Thank YOU, Maria!!!" I began wondering what part of "Hello, this is Lea Ann" sounds like Maria??? These calls prompted coworkers to begin strolling past my desk singing, "Take a Letter, Maria" or "Ave Maria" in my presence. I was called Maria so often I began to respond to that name. Its been years, but moments ago I heard the song being sung. Good times.

PS: if you watch the video..check out the groovy outfits and hairstyles.

orange + organized

My bedroom is currently like what I assume a teen's room looks like:  unmade bed + clothes on the floor + books and magazines in piles.  That is why this bedroom and closet appealed to me.  Can't wait to explore the rest of the photos from Super*Junk!  I love the colors, the simplicity, and the accessories! 

friday tasks

, originally uploaded by dj plaid princess.

I'm in the midst of a project but hope to post another "family friday" post later today. Meanwhile, this photo represents the work I'm facing today. Best to just start it and soon enough it'll be accomplished!