Friday Fashion: Angela Adams

Once again, devoid of anything to post for this Friday Fashion, Design*Sponge has come to my rescue. I've been introduced to Angela Adams, and I think I'm in love. Her designs, everything from apparel to home decor, are lively and bright. The colors are intense and the lines crisp. Allow me to wax poetic in the vein of Maria from The Sound of Music: These are a few of my favorite things.I'm not sure I am Boho-chic enough to sport such relaxed grace, but this Manfred/Turquoise Tunic for $125 certainly tempts me to try. I think this shape could look lovely on any woman, regardless of size (available in 4-14), and the color is simply stunning.If you're looking for a more simple ensemble but still want a punch of color and sharp design, try one of her Mini Totes for $45 (I'm a sucker for tiny bags!). These come in green, black, and orange, and look both sturdy and sweet.Boy, do I love a good pillow. These Pod/Sprout beauties cost $85 (each), and the pattern entrances me. It's like a stylized peacock, slightly muted. I really think these would look amazing on our couches. Now how to convince Husband that we simply must have at least $340 worth of pillows...?Have I ever mentioned how much I love to send and receive cards? No? Well, perhaps now would be the time to mention such a fact. I don't need much of an excuse to scour the Hallmark aisle or settle in with my colorful paper and scrapbooking goodies and create my own. And wouldn't receiving one of these Lulu Stationary cards ($8.95 for the set) brighten someone's day? I guess what I'm trying to say is, please send me mail. Preferably colorful, well-designed mail. Immediately. Thank you.I can't tell you how hard it was to pick my favorite rug. This rug at least ranks very high. It is a Nasturtium/Dusk rug. The largest size, 9 x 12 (go big or go back to your comfortable dwelling), is $1,950. Unfortunately, a $2,000 rug is a little salty for my soup. I think I would have to settle for the $5 yarn card:

How many of these do you think it would take to create an entire rug...?

Happy Friday, everyone. May you all have a relaxing, uneventful weekend!

We'll go ask the chap at the gap, "Does my butt look too wide?"

I hope you remember my recent post featuring "Obama Man." Here's another certain classic, "Obama in Mom Jeans," from Greg Morton on the Bob and Tom show. Do enjoy!

The clouds begin to clear...

Dad had two doctors appointments yesterday and today, and we have been blessed with good news. Therefore, this post will include no filthy, angry language or wishes for the damnation of medical personnel, I promise.

One doctor approved the removal of his catheter (I will pause a moment while Husband grimaces customarily). The other doctor let him know that, if his blood work turns up staph-free, he will be able to be taken off the intravenous antibiotics around August 11, lose the pick line (again), and can go on oral antibiotics, probably for the rest of his life. Additionally, his physical therapy is progressing well, I think, seeing as he's only been there two weeks. His right leg is not coming back as strong as his left, so he has been fitted with a knee brace for support. He still has a lot of numbness and cannot walk unassisted, but it is definite progress from paralyzation just three weeks ago.

I honestly don't know what to expect for the future. And I also don't want to provide any conjecture. I don't want to be overly positive and say everything will be peachy keen and rainbows and puppies before we know it, because I'm terrified of whatever lurks around the next dark corner. We have been tricked before. I don't think anyone can know if he'll ever be able to walk around easily without a cane or walker or if he will be relegated to a wheelchair. I don't know how my parents are going to make it when he is released from the nursing home, because their house is not conducive to his physical needs. I hope that they do seriously pursue purchasing a new home soon, but I don't know who in the world would buy their current house. I just don't know. I can't know. And for someone that has control issues, not knowing leaves my stomach in constant knots, my head aching each morning, and keeps me awake at night. But it will work out. Somehow. Because it has to. Because it can't not work out.

Prim and rosey.

This J. Crew dress resurfaced and continues to haunt my dreams. It was originally $99.99. Now it's $49.99. The navy sold out and only pink and white are left.

But that's okay.

I'm in a pink mood today.

Please convince me to buy this dress.

Thank you.

Friday Fashion: Vanity is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, right?

No? It isn't mentioned specifically? Oh. Well, then I'm totally good (just go ahead and ignore Pride's subset, Vainglory. No one even uses that word anymore...).

Tonight, after visiting Dad, Husband and I plan to travel to the biggest money suc--I mean one of the competitively priced home improvement stores to purchase a new vanity for our weency half bath. We bought a perfectly adorable pedestal sink months ago but had to return it recently when we discovered the shaft wouldn't envelop the hard plumbing pipes erecting from the wall (who knew home improvement could be so suggestive?). So, we are off to buy something else, hopefully equally small and adorable. This Friday Fashion is in honor of beautiful, interesting, contemporary vanities everywhere (at least on Teh Internets).First, this lovely Apple Martini-colored Espirit Custom Pedstal Vanity from Modern Bathroom costs $1,697 and is so sleek. It also comes in a variety of colors, but I love this sharp green because I would never be confident enough to put it in my own home! The base shape makes me think of a museum display stand for ancient Egyptian relics. Perhaps that faucet dates from the third millenium BC and the sink is made out of papyrus!This Modelo 47" Bathroom Vanity Set for $1,849, also from Modern Bathroom, has one of the most interesting shapes I have seen so far. My puny brain can't even begin the understand the physics that it probably takes to balance this piece, so I therefore covet what I cannot comprehend. I might not even allow guests to use this...just lookey, no touchey.Like the Apple Martini colored vanity, I don't think I posess the confidence to purchase a vessel sink. I am simply not cool enought to own this Pegasus Vanity for $199 from Home Depot. But I am in love with the shape (and price!) of both this sink and base. I'm not going to lie, I kind of squealed with delight when I saw this. Squealed. The legs are so whimsical, like they belong in a Disney movie about demure princesses and robust princes (feminism, be damned!). Oh, and that top? Black granite. Yeah, I'm just saying...
Now the vanity gods are just toying with my emotions. A floating vanity? Golly gee, is there anything neater than this Vallens 31-inch Contemporary Wall Mount Bath Vanity from Bath Vanity Experts for $1,376? No? I didn't think so.Finally, I come to my One True Desire, this Magick Woods 40" Mahogany Sonata Bath Vanity Combo for $1,329. Logically, I know that this won't fit inside our itty bitty half bath (and wouldn't hide those scandalous erecting pipes, either), but I hopelessly fell in love with this vanity set the first time I laid eyes on it in person months ago. My first thought? What a perfect shape to wash a baby! Isn't that pathetic? I know. Go ahead and tell me how old and sad I am. Go on. I'll wait.

Thank you for your honesty.

I'm not exactly sure what will result from our vanity shopping trip tonight, but you'd better believe there will be a base and a sink and some kind of water spouting device involved. And it had better be GORGEOUS. I won't let you down.

Roger, I'm looking at you...

Husband and I will be attending our fourth wedding of the season on August 1. I highly suggest that they incorporate some kind of musical/dance number into the ceremony and/or reception. I will be watching and waiting... :-D

I feel better already...

To brighten up my week and yours and to do my best to avoid another profanity-laden post, I bring you cute animals, the pissy attitude cure-all. They should really start bottling this stuff.

Source.


Source.


Source.


Source.


Source.

Rage

Last night I called my mother to check up on Dad's day. It was her turn to visit him and he doesn't have a land line in his room, so I only hear from him if he calls me on his cell phone. She relayed a story that left me shaking with anger. The night prior the nurse had administered what Dad thought was his antibiotic. It wasn't until later when she handed him a cup full of pills that he asked what they were for. Instead of his antibiotic that he needs every four hours, she had given him insulin and was also prepared to give him the pills that were actually prescribed to his diabetic roommate. Oh. Did I mention his diabetic roommate was discharged from the nursing home FUCKING DAYS AGO? I'm thoroughly shocked the nurse didn't try to cover up her gigantic mistake, but she did at least note the error in his chart, and his doctor was called, as well as my mother. Someone with some kind of authority at that godforsaken place met with my parents and apologized. My mom also impressed upon this person that the nurses weren't using proper protocol, skipping cleaning the IV port with an alcohol swab each time they administered his antibiotic (which isn't always administered on time, either). The person called it a failure in "Nursing 101" and said she would go over protocol with all of the nurses, but I won't be holding my damn breath.

I think it is completely utterly fucking unacceptable. I wanted them to immediately look into transferring him to some other, possibly slightly less godforsaken nursing home, but I think my parents feel trapped because there are few places that are considered "skilled nursing" and also provide physical therapy (the place must be labeled "skilled nursing" for the insurance to cover the outrageous $600-a-day antibiotic bill). I wouldn't call what he has received "SKILLED nursing," but what do I fucking know? We're just peons of the system.

If I were to make some horrible mistake at my job, I would get fired. However, if I misspell a word or use the wrong verb tense in something I am editing, the world keeps turning. If a nurse administers the wrong medication becaues of blatant laziness (and/or idiocy), people fucking die. I don't want that responsibility in my job, that's why I am not a nurse. They voluntarily receive education and take a position that places this weighty responsibility on their shoulders. If they can't take the precious time to look at a goddamn chart and verify which patient they are actually caring for, then they should just go back to their hovels and light up yet another cigarette and stay seated on their fat asses where they won't have the opportunity to destroy someone's life.

The best thing my dad can do at this point is be proactive in his own care. He is fortunate to be there for physical therapy, not a long-term living situation, and he has a sharp mind. He is able to speak up for himself whereas I imagine many patients in the facility suffer from dementia or other mental or physical shortcomings that make it impossible for them to assure their own safety. It shouldn't have to be this way. He was at Clarian for almost an entire month, and they were exceptionally dilligent, constantly checking and double checking to make sure he was, in fact, John, and was there for a certain medical reason before administering medication or commencing testing. He hasn't even been at this nursing home a week. The sooner he gets out of that hellhole the better.

Obsessed

I've been having an affair with Lily Allen for several years now. Her first album, "Alright, Still," was the soundtrack to our honeymoon two years ago. Seriously. I think it's still in the car's CD player. Now she has released her sophomore album, "It's Not Me, It's You," and Husband dutifully downloaded the iTunes. Please enjoy.

Friday Fashion: Don't forget the bug spray

So, perhaps I'm producing this Friday Fashion post for the sole reason that I can show the world again what I got Husband for our anniversary. Or maybe I'm just really into grilling in the great outdoors. You decide. Either way, today's post is inspired by Bubba.Sorry 'bout that. I couldn't resist.

If you're planning to grill out, you don't want to leave the chef all alone to tend to your steaks and burgers while you languish, sweat-free in the air conditioned house, right? (Let's pretend like I would never, ever do this.) If your dining party is going to enjoy the warm summer evening outside, then you're going to need some seating. May I suggest the outdoor dining table and chairs to end all others? This takes wicker to a whole new level.


This Mezzo Round Outdoor Wicker Dining Table from Allegro Classics is $2,195 for the 70-inch version ($300 less for the $59-inch version). And you can even pick the wicker color (sand or ebony)! I won't include a tablecloth in this post, because who would dare cover such beauty with mere cloth? Oh, did I mention the dining benches are $599 each? No? Silly me...do you think they would accept firstborn as payment?

Now once you're stuffed full of grilled meat and potato salad and fresh baked apple pie, who has the energy to do the dishes? Not me. You could always opt for plastic picnic utensils. I know, I know, it's not a terribly green option, but how can you turn down such a cute set?

How beachy! With this Picnic Utensil Set at $4.99, you can pretend you're on the coast even if you're actually surrounded by the corn-infested tundra of the Midwest!How adorable would these Magma Stone Votive Holders from Uncommon Goods at $50 look sitting at each place on the table? They would provide a wonderful glow as the sun slipped below the horizon! Or, if this ultra-modern votive holder doesn't tickle your pickle, how about a single, vintage-looking votive statement?

How lovely, a Rustic Ring Candle Holder at just $19.99. However, I bet we could totally make something similar to this with some old chicken wire and spray paint. Who's with me?!

So we've got something to grill on, sit on, eat with, and look at. How about the most important part? Something to drink with:These Sea Stone Wine Glasses (set of 2), also from Uncommon Goods at $58, are simply too earthy chic. Personally, I dislike the taste of wine (although my exception to this rule is my newly found, much beloved, hard to find Stella Rosa *sniffs*). If you're not a wine drinker either, think how sweet these would look with some iced tea, garnished with fresh lemon. Or you could put in some rum and coke. I won't tell.

Whenever we're actually able to use our grill at our house, I'll let you know. You're invited to our first barbeque. Bring booze.

Halfway House: A Roundup

This week has gone mercifully quickly but has seemed jam-packed. Since my brain is no longer putting together coherent thoughts, here is a roundup of recent events.

Tuesday they moved Dad to Heritage Healthcare (room 56B). He called this nursing home his "Halfway House." He certainly hasn't lost his sense of humor. There, he will be able to continue his IV antibiotic treatments, adminstered every four hours, and will also receive physical therapy below the waist and occupational therapy above the waist. We have no idea how long he'll be there, how his recovery will go, or if he will eventually have to come home with the pick line (IV) still in his arm. Time will tell. We are just happy that he is in a place that he can improve, hopefully.

Tuesday was also Husband and my second wedding anniversary. Remember Sheila? Well, she was my anniversary gift from Husband. I could never top a gift as beautiful as Sheila, but I tried (momentary bragging alert...I'm terrible sorry...please look away). I don't think Husband has named him yet, but I think I'll call him Bubba. He looks like a Bubba.

Bubba is a 22 1/2-inch Weber charcoal grill, and he's pretty handsome. My mouth is watering for some A1 sauce on meaty steaks right now. If only we were living in some kind of house that we both owned and resided in...hmmm...stay tuned for our first barbeque...probably sometime in early December.

So...other things have happened, but they are too trivial for me to even write about, let alone force you to read about, so I will sign off for now, but watch tomorrow for a Friday Fashion that will require a few bibs and citronella candes. Enigmatic, I know.

Addendum: The Fazoli's on Chauncey is apparently closed. This is a travesty. Please write your congressman immediately.

Second Anniversary

Today is Husband and my second wedding anniversary. Two years ago today I was already awake, showered, and driving to the hair salon to meet up with the rest of my bridal party. Two years ago today Husband was...probably still sleeping. It takes so much effort to be a woman.

This past year has not been the easiest, but it has been filled with joy and laughter and new experiences. The first year of our marriage we lived in a one-room dorm. The second year of our marriage we lived with my in-laws. I'm not sure if this is a step up or down, but we can at least now call ourselves homeowners. Maybe the renovations will be complete and we'll actually be living in our house by our third anniversary. We both settled into our jobs, me as an editor and Husband as a systems administrator. Our immediate families struggled with health issues, and continue to struggle. We celebrated many weddings and birthdays and milestones with beloved friends and family and mourned the loss of others. But most importantly, we continued to grow as two individuals and also as one complete unit. Our relationship expanded and developed in new, fresh ways while remaining blessedly familiar.

My life would not be complete without Husband. I am a better person for knowing and loving him, and my hopes for the future are bright. With him, I can continue to get up in the morning and go to bed at night; I can continue breathing and my heart can keep beating. With him, I am happy as the moments slip away.


This image was taken by Amanda Duchemin Photography at my redhead cowgirl's wedding in April. Please visit Amanda's site, view samples of her amazing work, and book her for your next event, because she is such a wonderful person on top of being fabulous and talented!

Friday Fashion: Papercutting

I was introduced to the art of papercutting through one of my favorite blogs, Design*Sponge. And I am in love. I would rush out to the store right this minute to pick up an X-acto knife and self-healing cutting board if I thought I had the talent and/or patience for this craft. I suppose I will have to settle for sighing over these beauties.

The first piece I ever saw was by Elsa Mora (nicknamed Elsita). She has an Etsy shop, which is where I obtained this example of her fine craftsmanship and incredible detail. The piece is entitled "Secret Anatomy of a Young Girl" and can be purchased for $25. If I ever had a few extra dollars burning a hole in my pocket, I would purchase as many of her pieces as possible and frame them and paper my walls with the frames.
Today at Design*Sponge, an artist named Deanne Cheuk was featured, which reminded me about this craft that I just had to share with my fashion-forward readers. Cheuk's Web site's shop offerings seemed to cost $150 each, but she also does simply amazing work. Observe:

Are these people even serious with this? So incredible. Something as simple as these truly delicate silhouettes of trees can be so graphic and powerful. This is from papercutdiecut and is $100 for this 21" x 21" piece. The uses for this craft are endless: wall hangings, cards, lampshades - everything you can imagine!

If you would like to see more of this amazing craft, just type "papercut" into the Etsy search box. There is some seriously incredible work out there. Oh, how I wish I could show you each and every piece...or do this myself!

Update and thanks

One week ago today my father was taken to the hospital via ambulance, essentially paralyzed. Today, thanks to the invasive but effective surgery, he is able to move his left leg and is now regaining the ability to wiggle the toes on his right. He was moved to room 537, which is a far less intensive care unit. He is also off his morphine drip and oxygen and is taking oral pain pills. He was even able to sit up in a chair for an hour or so yesterday, although the exertion did exhaust him. He still has a long road of rehabilitation ahead of him, but I think his stamina and quick recovery, in spite of his advanced age, surprises even the doctors who oversee his care. He may be moved to another hospital or nursing home facility soon to receive the physical and occupational therapy that he requires. He won't be able to join us this coming week to celebrate our second wedding anniversary, but he is still here, and he still lives with vitality, and I am so thankful for that. I cannot adequately express my appreciation for your support - both acknowledged and silent. I struggle with my own religious views at the moment, but I do know the placebic power of prayer and well wishes for the patient and loved ones. Thank you.

P.S. I am not really sure if "placebic" is a real word or not, but it sure sounds like one, right?!

God jul (och gott nytt år)!

One of my favorite contemporary writers is David Sedaris (brother of Amy Sedaris, of "Strangers with Candy" fame). While his primarily autobiographical books are extremely insightful and funny, I feel he is in his element when writing short pieces. He has a number of articles archived on the New Yorker Web site about his life and his travels with his boyfriend, all very entertaining and also poignant. This article, entitled "Six to Eight Black Men" from Esquire, takes a few minutes to read, but it is entirely worth it. Sedaris chronicles his interaction with a Dutch man he encountered while in Holland and learns about their Christmas traditions, including a thin, robe-wearing Saint Nick and his child-kicking henchmen, vaguely, six to eight black men.

I came across the Sedaris piece indirectly from one of my favorite blogs, Cake Wrecks, which displayed confectionary delights celebrating the Dutch Santa Claus and his blackfaced (yes, I wrote blackfaced) cohort, "Black Pete." I made none of that up, I swear.

It got me thinking about our own traditions in this country and their significance (Christmas in July, anyone?). I think it would have been so neat to retain traditions from my ancestors. For example, my Swedish ancestors could have kept up on choosing a Lucia every year, a tradition celebrating Saint Lucia that kicks off the Christmas holiday on December 13. A Lucia was a girl that dressed in a white gown and wore a crown of candles in her hair while carrying a tray of pastry sweets and warm drinks around the house to family members. Sounds beautiful. And delicious. And a little dangerous. However, that tradition was certainly abandoned by my personal family members long ago, especially after they married new citizens from other parts of Europe and the children, like myself, became American genetic mutts. Seemingly, my ancestors also abandoned the practice of making "Lutefisk" to go along with the Christmas meal. "Lutefisk" is a serving of dried whitefish. That you soak in lye. That you then eat. Okay, so maybe it is okay to let some traditions go...perhaps the Dutch should think about doing the same...

Thanks...but I'll have the beef instead...image from here.

P.S. The headline is "Merry Christmas (and a Happy New Year)" in Swedish. See? Aren't you glad you visited my blog? You learned something today!

Things are getting a little serious around here...

...so let's lighten the mood with some good, old fashioned sexism from Retro Comedy's "The 15 Creepiest Vintage Ads Of All Time."


Click on the image and view this poster in a larger size. You won't be disappointed. I was unaware that my favorite germ-killing household cleaner can perform double-duty as a douche. How convenient. Whenever I'm on my hands and knees scrubbing my bathroom, the only thing on my mind is how I just don't feel so fresh. But Lysol can take care of that lickety-split. Observe:

"One most effective way to safeguard her dainty feminine allure is by practicing complete feminine hygiene...So easy a way to banish the misgivings that keep married lovers apart." Methinks your italicization signifies innuendo. But forget that self-cleaning organ nonsense. After all, "'Lysol' has amazing, proved power to kill germ-life on contact...truly cleanses the vaginal cavity even in the presence of mucous matter."

And don't worry. There's "no greasy aftereffect."

Have a fresh Wednesday, everybody.

Independence Day

This fourth of July, instead of practicing all-American pastimes like grilling steaks and eating pie and setting off fireworks, the holiday found us - my husband, mother, and myself - sitting in a hospital waiting room for the better part of the day while my father was operated on.

It all began the day before, when my mother went off to our woods to pick black raspberries. My dad tried to push himself up out of bed using his walker, but he slipped to the floor when he found his legs essentially paralyzed and useless. While he could feel someone touch his skin, he could not make the legs move. He was unable to reach the phone and lay on the floor until my mother returned several hours later. He told her to call an ambulance, and they took him to the hospital. My mother then called me, audibly upset, which of course made me upset, and Husband and I abandoned our house projects for the day and immediately went to the hospital. After an MRI and other testing, the doctor determined the staph infection was likely back and the inflamed tissue was pressing on the spinal nerves that controlled his legs. He had arrived at the hospital in the early afternoon Friday and was in surgery by 8 a.m. the next morning, July 4.

The surgery that he endured had been suggested at the beginning of his previous recovery. It was a major, invasive surgery that the doctors wanted to avoid, if possible, so they had given him a clamshell back brace instead, which had been working out well. Just one week prior he tottered easily out of the house to meet me when I pulled up, using two canes and wearing his clamshell brace. He had even taken a short drive to rubberneck the crops just a day before. But the insidious infection had returned after his antibiotics were stopped, and again wreaked havoc on his body.

A heart surgeon opened his front/side, removed a small piece of rib, spread the ribs, and deflated a lung to provide access for the neurosurgeon to operate on his vertebrae. The inflamed area of "reactive tissue" was removed and replaced with a metal cage. We were able to visit him, in protective gowns and gloves, several hours later. He was loopy, but he had not lost his sense of humor. When we returned to visit the next day, he was able to move his left leg, although the right still has not caught up. Yesterday, the physical therapist made him sit up on the side of his bed, and he was moved out of the ICU into the acute care wing. Still, the doctors speculated he will be in the hospital for three weeks.

I pray that this surgery, performed on Independence Day, will signal true independence for him, finally. This has been a long, long road for my father and his devoted nurse, my mother. Only time will tell if this will set him free. Please send healing thoughts his way.

But by the grace of God...

...our kitchen cabinets are up. More or less.

By the end of tonight we will have had a contractor out three days this week to hang them with Father-in-Law and Husband. By tomorrow we will (again, God willing) have our dishwasher and microwave installed. Maybe the cabinet doors will even be placed on each frame. And perhaps our master closet will be tiled. Although I'm not getting my hopes up.

Here are the cabinets that hang on the (west?) wall, the wall with the new back door and new matching French patio doors. The refrigerator will be placed at the far end and the stove and microwave will go in the middle. Also, observe the beautiful, newly hung blind!


These cabinets hang on the opposite (east?) wall. There is nothing in the center because that is where our sink will be located, and I don't appreciate head trauma while washing dishes. Our dishwasher will go next to the sink cabinet (not installed at the time I took this photograph).


These two cabinets will be placed tonight and comprise our new breakfast bar. There used to be a wall where they sit, with about a one foot tall by three foot long opening in the middle (a mystery to us). We removed the wall, opening the kitchen into the dining room. A much nicer layout.


These aren't cabinets, but they are exciting. As you can see from the previous picture, they hang directly above the new breakfast bar. The middle one doesn't have a light bulb yet, so you can see the white ribbons of glass. I've been thinking more and more about ditching the granite and (sob) quartz countertops and going with a very clean, crisp, white Corian, to keep the room light in spite of all the dark wood (and hopefully save a few, precious dollars). But that's just me kicking around ideas in my head. Depending on the price difference, granite is unfortunately (or fortunately?) not that much more in many cases. However, it requires upkeep. And I do not care for upkeep. This is why I will continue to prove myself to be a bad homeowner.


This is our dining room light. I can't call it a chandelier (although Menards called it that) because my requirement for a chandelier is that it be sparkly. But this isn't bad. This doesn't have any crystals dripping from its arms, but it does have nice shades that have not yet been placed. Husband picked it out, and I think he did a bang-up job. Now if only we could rectify that acute light bult shortage...