Google Reader Griever

Well, I guess I can't procrastinate any longer.  It's time to say goodbye to the easiest way that I read and follow blogs, which was via Google Reader and Google Friend Connect. Why they are fixing something that ain't broken is a puzzle to me-I guess they don't realize how hard we all work and the thrill that we get seeing that follower number rise rise rise.  I feel like it's back to square one.

Many people are making the switch to Bloglovin', and that switch is easy since it imports all the blogs you currently subscribe to.  I don't think anything that is "starred" in reader (which is saved) is imported.  So all those blog tips, pictures, and ideas are down the drain.  One thing I don't like is that all the posts are truncated in Bloglovin, so that means you have to click through to every blog to see the whole post.  I can't see myself doing that, so it probably means I'm going to miss a lot of good stuff.  But of course i'll expect you to click through to mine.  Wink wink. 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Pretty pretty please. 

Somehow I have followers on bloglovin' already.  Bless your hearts.  When I figure out what i'm doing, i'll put a follow widget up.  Or, you can tell me how.

Please also consider signing up for emails and Pinterest and Facebook over on the right hand side.

I'll never let go, internet friends.  I'll never let go!

I don't know, Alaska

What did Delaware? 
I don't know, Alaska.

State humor.  Always fun.  Especially when you're going to one of those states.  And if you think my annual vacation is to a state i can drive to in 20 minutes, you are clearly wrong.  Because this is a bucket list trip.  And while there's nary a thing wrong with Delaware, it's probably not on anyone's bucket list to visit.

So that leaves Alaska.  I can buy a small car with the amount we are spending on this trip.  Bucket list vacations ain't cheap. This is also our 15 year anniversary thing, so going big is ok.  Bucket list items that I will cross off are as follows:  Alaska.  Pan for gold.  Icebergs from balcony.  Glass top train.  Baby moose.  Fancy pants camera.

via fineartamerica.com

 

Yes, that's right.  I've invested in a fancy pants beginner camera. On which I've been practicing for the last month.  Which means taking oodles of pictures of my cats.  My cats are ridiculously photogenic. 

Which means I need your fancy pants camera tips (mine is a Nikon 3100 with a 200 zoomy lens which will hopefully allow me to see baby moose/eagles/seals/elk/caribou/bear/whales). 

Also, I need your Alaska tips if you have any.  Namely for clothing.  And shoes.  And must see things.  Or tips aboard ship (our first time on a Princess ship).

We're going for two weeks.  First on land, then at sea.  Fairbanks-Denali-Talkeetna-Anchorage-Whittier-Hubbard Glacier-Glacier Bay-Skagway-Juneau-Ketchikan-Vancouver.

I'm freakin' out here.  It'll be here before I know it.  Help a girl out, please. 

 

  

 

Aruba-One Happy Place

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aruba Tourism Authority for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Many of my regular readers know that the boyfriend and i take a nice long vacation every year, and last year was no exception. Some of our travels lend to be more go, go, go type vacations, and some are more leisurely.  Usually, we try and alternate years, and last year (after my father passed away in late summer 2011)  there was a real need to escape and not think too much about itinerary.  Somewhere relaxing.  It was a complete no brainer about where we would go, since for the last 20 years my father had been vacationing in Aruba.  He always told my brother and i how he can't wait for us to experience the island for ourselves, and this felt like paying tribute to my dad and keeping up the tradition of my family continuing this Aruba travel.  Armed with recommedations of restaurants from my stepmom, i set about seeing what else the island had to offer.  Eating great food and sitting by the pool holds appeal for us, but we both like to explore and get to know the place we were vacationing.   I'm also really thrifty, so seeing what deals and steals are out there is of great importance.  What we found and experienced truly was getting to know the whole island.     We went to beaches that usually only locals frequent, we went to a crazy bar that many repeat vacationers have never heard of, and we went to a weekly festival that, when asking what time it started, staff thought we were referring to a completely different festival because they hadn't heard of this one.    Like the people in this video, Aruba is a place where people return time and time again.  I wholeheartedly believe it's because the island feels safe and is so user friendly.  You don't have to rent a car, but if you do driving is on the same side of the road as us even though it's a Dutch island.  You don't have to worry about going out of the "resort" area.  You don't have to be embarrassed about rocking a floppy hat, which i proudly did!    As i write this, my stepmom is there enjoying her vacation, and my brother and his fiance are going next year on their honeymoon. I can absolutely see us going back again in a few years when we need another relaxing and easy vacation.  If you are thinking about going to Aruba, visit Aruba.com, but i'll also glady offer recommendations or answer any questions.  Ask away!

No scroll left behind

Am I in the twilight zone or something?  Is there a boyfriend doppelganger in my midst, one who does crazy things like make window boxes and removes iron scrolls from railings at mere suggestion?  Clearly that can be the only explanation....I'll be testing it out tonight, when I request a home cooked meal cooked by someone other than myself.

Out came the grinder.  Look at those pretty sparks fly!  Be gone, scrolls, be gone!

Yes, yes, these scrolls were very harmless, but they "fuddy duddy-ed" up the whole look of the cape to me. I feel like they scream "I'm a house made in the '50s.  Don't confuse me with anything more modern." What, you don't hear see it?

Alternating patterns of swirled and straight rods, but to me, it's better than scrolls.

Good thing there was nothing in those pots, as this was taking quite a direct hit (yes, this was done before I went on my green painting frenzy.)

Now in the backyard, we switched to the sawzall and chopped those puppies right off.  Unlike the front where the railing was still in place, we had to replace this with something.  Can't have little children falling off and wrecking my plants. Or, you know, hurting themselves.  Sure.... 

At Home Depot we got some straight rods that you just cut to your desired length and weld to your space.

A little spray paint and 36 dollars later, we're rocking a more streamlined look.  Still needs touching up, but a huge improvement over the ornate pattern that was there.

 

So yeah, you saw the cute boyfriend with the safety glasses, and there was a welding mask when that was happening, but still, he ended up with metal in his eye.  A sleepless and stressful night and an opthamologist later, the metal was removed.  It left an indentation and a scratch, and thankfully, with eye drop antibiotics, he's fine now.  No eye patch necessary, though he couldn't go to work for a few days.  The computer nor the sun would have been good for him.  The piece did not fly in when he was welding, but somehow got transferred there after, maybe when he rubbed his eye or changed his shirt. Just a word of caution.  Eyes are serious business. 

 

Zero scrolls, one afternoon, two eyes.  

 

All is well.    

 

 

 

I'm partying here: Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Pinterest Challenge @ Bower Power, Power of paint @ Domestically Speaking, Outdoor Extravagnaza @ Living Savvy, Sundays @ Suburbs Mama Craftomaniac,  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,  Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, beyond the picket fence,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, spring into spring, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, charm of home, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, simply link @ simply designing, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,   a round tuit

 



Novogratz Collection at CB2 #CB2NovogratzBrasilSweepstakes

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CB2 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

i love the modern look of CB2's furnishings, and now they've partnered with designing couple Robert and Courtney Novogratz to feature new products influenced by their vacation home in Brazil.  The CB2 and Novogratz Collection combines punchy pops of colors and warm wood tones for a true tropical feel.  This rouge coffee table is all over the polka dot trend, which i pretty consistantly rock, although not usually in my home decor.  This piece is a fun and funky way to try it.   One more reason to love these two?  They've partnered with CB2 to give away a trip to Brazil.  Not only that, you'll be staying in the Novogratz's actual home.  Enter the CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes to win a week's vacation in Trancoso for you and three friends.  Make that you and 2 friends, since you'll be taking me, right?!  10 other winners will recieve a CB2 giftcard for $100 and a personally signed copy of Bob and Courtney's book, Home by Novogratz.  For a chance to win, enter at cb2.com/sweeps from now until June 3rd. To stay updated about this trip of a lifetime, follow CB2 on Twitter (@CB2Tweets) and check them out on facebook.

I got the need. The need for green.

Springtime gives me what i like to call the "itching for the greens." It's like the running of the bulls, but with a lot less goring. I get in a "what can i make green" or "where can i add green" or "man, i want more plants but my cats will eat them" mindset. I need green!

Enter free sample of paint called Herb Cornucopia.  Springy green goodness?  Oh yes. You down with OPPP? Other people's painted pots? It was time to paint some of my own.

Oh heck yeah. 

Loving this punched up view of the garage!

So why the green love?  Just look at how well these front flower beds are growing.

Not bad for someone who has no idea what they're doing, eh?

And inside, the best green space, and the best place to observe nature but be removed from it (oh yes)

Le sunroom.

Le sigh.

Anybody else get the itching for the greens?  Not to be confused with poison ivy, or anything...


I'm partying here: Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Pinterest Challenge @ Bower Power, Power of paint @ Domestically Speaking, Outdoor Extravagnaza @ Living Savvy, Sundays @ Suburbs Mama Craftomaniac,  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,  Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, beyond the picket fence,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, spring into spring, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, charm of home, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, simply link @ simply designing, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,   a round tuit

This weekend i was one of THOSE bloggers....

the one's whose partners OK their DIY/honey do/latest idea and get right to it.  Usually when i ask the boyfriend to help me hang or make something, it goes a little like this.

Me: I'd really like to ....insert random DIY idea here....
Him: Yeah, I'll get right on that.
Me: Frowny face

OR

 

Me: Did you see, across the street, they ...insert random DIY project here...
Him: How am i supposed to finish the basement/bathroom/current project if you want me to do that?

OR

 

Me: I really want to ...insert random DIY wish here...
Him: How's it feel to want?
Me/Him mimicking me: Oh, i know exactly how it feels to want, don't you worry.

 

But this weekend-this weekend of glorious Saturday weather-it went a little something like this.

Me: I'd really love it if you built a flowerbox under the garage window.  Don't we have any wood lying around? 
Him: And what would this box look like?
Me: I'm sorry, what now? 
Him: The box, what would it look like?  Just plain?
Me: However you want the box to look, darling.
Him: What color would you paint it?
Me: White?
Him: We have extra tan paint that matches the shed, you could use that.
Me: And we could add white trim to really match the shed?
Him: Let's go, get your painting clothes on.
Me: Woo hoo!

And then there was skipping.




This was early spring last year.  Note the frustrating rate at which the hostas unevenly grow.  But don't you think that window is just calling out for a window box?  And imagine this with stucco, as i have been doing since we built this behemoth.

So while i was basking in the sun and the breeze, enjoying the fact that there are no bees out yet, and painting the trim,

S was constructing the box.

This is what the shed looks like look, so we painted it to match.

Then Lily and I watched as S hung it....

under the watchful and approving eye of the Lady of the Garden, aka creepy garden lady whose partial body we unearthed whilst building the garage.  I propped her there to keep an eye on things. 

This will look so good when i can fill it with flowers!

 Or, apparently until the time comes, gnomes. 

Me: Don't you think it would look great if we built huge flower boxes for the front of the house?

Him: Yeah, I'll get right on that.

 

Sigh.

 

What have you been up to?  Finally feeling like Spring?

Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, fall into fall, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, simply link @ simply designing, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, my romantic home, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,  power of paint @ domestically speaking, a round tuit