The Name Game

I've always been fascinated with names and how they translate into other languages. I loved the name Kasia after I learned it was interchangeable for my first name in Polish (although I originally found this translation in a dusty, old Swedish book from our attic, so perhaps it is applicable in more than one country). I even love made up languages. Visit this site and learn how to write your name in Elvish in ten minutes.

Friday Fashion: Kitchen Decor Galore!

Please understand that I don’t enjoy being around people who intentionally brag about what they own. Having said that, I beg you to allow me to be completely hypocritical and show you what I received for an (early) second anniversary gift.

Isn’t she beautiful? I named her Sheila. She’s a svelte 5-quart KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. I have coveted her for a long time now, and she is finally here, gracing me with her onyx black presence.

I’m sure you must be thinking, “What a sexist gift! A husband giving his wife a stand mixer, a mere kitchen utensil, for a wedding anniversary? Why didn’t he just buy her a vacuum cleaner and an ironing board?”

Well, because that’s what I got for my first anniversary.

(Just kidding. I didn’t get anything for my first anniversary.*)

People, I have no shame. I don’t care if I’m setting women’s suffrage back 100 years. I’ll gladly don my apron and pearl necklace and high heels, waiting by the front door with a cocktail when my husband gets home from work, just to have Sheila in my kitchen. I love her. She is a piece of elegant machinery, to be used and buffed and passed down from one generation to the next.

In honor of my newest love, today’s Friday Fashion will be a little kitchen-centric.

Speaking of that apron...

Please. Please don't judge me. This is frickin' frackin' adorable. And the pockets make it totally utilitarian, right? I would prance around the kitchen in this Bib Audrey Pink Poppy Fields Apron from Jessie Steele for $32.95. PRANCE, I TELL YOU.

Uhm. And there's even matching Pink Poppy Fields Oven-Mitts for $11.95. STOP JUDGING ME.

What kitchen is complete without salt and pepper shakers? These Whale Salt And Pepper Shakers from Jonathan Adler at $48.00 are cuter than two kittens in a boot. If whale's aren't cute enough for you, he also has penguins, fish and cats, among others.

And every kitchen needs two essential safety features: a smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher. I can't imagine a beautifully designed smoke alarm, but I wish the extinguisher we purchased was as cute as these by French Fire Design.

I'm not a hot tea girl (iced is my tea of preference), but I definitely think I could stomach drinking hot tea from such a sweet little pot like these Anne Kraitz LUST Tea Pots from Huset for $170.00. Just gimme a lemon wedge.

Finally, every kitchen needs a few tea towels! These Atelier LZC towels for $19-$20 are so colorful, at least one of them is sure to match your kitchen! I'm partial to the one of the far left. I've always had a soft spot for butterflies. Which one do you like?

*I didn’t get anything for my first anniversary because Husband and I made the mutual decision to put our money toward a house…that we would not end up buying for another six months. So don’t go yelling at Husband on my behalf…he’s an excellent, doting man. And what an ass!

Those Summer Nights

I don't mind the summer nights so much. It's the days that have me sweating me face off. And for those of you who know me, you know that I despise sweating. And, of course, summer also brings a profusion of bugs, an affront that I have bemoaned previously. I encountered both of these annoyances last night while push mowing (most of) our front lawn. It was my first-ever foray into push mowing, and we did not get along well. I'm used to helping mow my parents' yard (which consists of a front yard, orchard, and barn lot) that requires a minimum of two riding lawnmowers and takes about five hours. I always appreciated the adorable little townies with their push mowers and tiny, manicured plots of grass, and Husband and I toyed with the idea of purchasing an eco-friendly Reel Mower (no gas or electricity...just powered by pure human endurance and self-hatred). But now I'm having second thoughts. I will confess, we are not good homeowners. We have too much going on inside the house to worry about the outside right now. So, our yard gets neglected. Luckily, my in-laws own a fleet of lawnmowers and love putting them to use, usually tackling our long grass before we get the chance. I think they assume we're just not going to do it. And they're probably right. At least until I abandon the idea of a push mower and purchase some kind of tractor that can mow down my lawn in a single pass (trees included...because they're stupid). They make those, right?

In spite of the sweat and the humidity and the bugs and the grass, you still can't beat the Summer Lovin'.

Wedding season is in full swing...

This past Saturday, Husband and I attended a beautiful wedding for a sweet and lovely couple. The ceremony was what I would like to call abbreviated Catholic, which, as every good Protestant knows, is the best kind of Catholic and was most appreciated.

The newlywed couple left the church in a horse-drawn carriage and everyone ventured just a few miles away, to the bride's parents' house, for the outdoor reception.


The weather was humid and everyone ended up sticky, for one reason or another, but the huge tent shaded us from the sun and the down-home appeal was undeniable.


Plus, we got to play with our favorite kid in the world (thanks, face-obscuring orange sippy cup for keeping the Internet creepies at bay!).


Husband donned aviators (but the tux and the boat were missing) and was reunited with some of his favorite boyfriends (keep up the good work, orange sippy cup).


And then there was dancing.

And although this is wedding three of five, I don't think I'll ever get tired of wearing this dress or being the plus one for this man.

Friday Fashion: More home decor!

I hate to make this statement, because I'm pretty sure I'm going to jinx myself, but our home renovations are really starting to come together. I've been busy spackling and sanding all of the trim that has been re-nailed throughout the downstairs, my F-I-L and B-I-L have been putting up our beautiful blinds and only have three windows left to complete, and this weekend I think we've conned some extra help into coming over. Perhaps we will have the tile in the master bath/closet complete and our cabinets attached to the wall! Of course, as usual, we homeowners will be suspiciously absent, at least on Saturday, due to a wedding.

In the spirit of actually possibly maybe just maybe moving into our damn house, I bring you assorted, interesting wonderfulness from j-me.com. This site has some seriously cool home accessories! (Note: This is a UK company, so I will include the pricing in U.S. dollars as advertised).


This Nest Shoe Rack (wall-mounted for $115 and freestanding for $147) looks so sleek and still utilitarian! I would probably have to get fifteen of these puppies to hold all of my shoes, but turning my footwear into an architectural piece of artwork? Priceless.This simple Magazine Rack retails for $39.00 and would look absolutely adorable in our half bath! Let's ignore the fact that I don't subscribe to any magazines...but don't worry...Husband has that covered, but I won't tell you with what publication *winks at better half*.


These Candle Holders (thumb up and thumb down for $15.50 each) positively scream my husband's name. Should I ditch the elegant crystal candle holders I received at my bridal shower and our authentic wooden African candle holders that we purchased at a charity auction and go with these instead?
These are called "Frame Hooks," and I am assuming they are to hang coats on, but I suppose you could hang about anything here. How about a set for bathrobes or towels? For $8.00 each, they're not a bad buy and you can customize them with any picture you desire!

Finally, I am totally in love with this Wave Coat Rack for $77.50. There's even a small space at the bottom for one to store keys or sunglasses! This. Is. Cool. Me. Want. Now.

As a reminder, this Sunday is Father's Day, so go get a card for your father and grandfather right now or I will paddle your hiney! One of the many reasons I love my dad is his cinematic taste. My gifts to him this Father's Day? Clint Eastwood's Gran Tourino (I think he invented new racial slurs just for this movie!) and The Tale of Despereaux (uhm...adorable). My dad loves hard-ass characters and animated mice equally. My biggest concern? That he has already bought The Tale of Despereaux for himself...love you, Daddy!

Better than breakfast...

To start your day out right, check out this list from YesButNoButYes entitled Top 15 Unintentionally Funny Comic Book Panels. It's hi-larious. Here's my favorite:

Self-Flagellation

As of today I have been in my current position for one year. The year has slipped by quickly, and such anniversaries offer an opportunity for inner reflection. I am much more confident in my position today than I was nine, six, or even three months ago. But I am still plagued often by self-doubt. I know that I was hired because I am young and inexpensive and that there are many other people out there, perhaps also young and inexpensive, that would do a much better job. Still, I haven't run the place into the ground. I worked my way through months of backlogged projects and am now even ahead of schedule. I gained invaluable experience in my field. I clarified my plan for the future and am beginning to realize what avenue I want to drive my professional career. But I still doubt my ability.

Fittingly, today I came across an article from The Wall Street Journal entitled "Silencing the Voice That Says You're a Fraud." It is a medium-sized read that everyone could probably benefit from. It also includes a short test to determine "How Self-Critical Are You?" A score of 24 or less represents a low level, 39 is average, and a total score of 54 or more indicates a high-level of self-criticism and perfectionism. I scored 74.

I've got hoes in different area codes.

I'm not going to lie. I've been waiting to use that headline for months. And today is the day.

Since my dad has been ill and mostly bedridden throughout the late winter and early spring months, I offered to put in my parents' garden for them this year. Luckily, our pastor generously dropped by with his new tiller, so I didn't have to wrestle with my dad's contraption. The soil was all ready to go on the very dreary but warm Memorial Day when I came to stay with Dad, relieving Mom to take a shopping excursion with her sister visiting from New York. As you can see, I was not without help.


Thanks Irwin, for all of the impromptu fertilizer. I picked up some pea, bean, and corn seeds as well as some tomato and watermelon plants from a local store. This year it was agreed that a small garden would be best since my mom would mostly be the one to water and tend the plants.


Does this tool have a specific name? If it does, I don't know what it is. I've always just called it "the row hoe-er." Perhaps I should re-name it to "the back breaker."


I kept imagining the delicious, crisp crunch as I crawled down each row, sowing my seeds.


Or the juicy tartness of one of these "Big Beef" tomatoes.


My rows weren't too straight, my planting wasn't too precise, but I could have done a worse job.


Husband and I also tried our hands at cultivating our own garden in our backyard. The original owner had a lovely little garden all plotted out and tilled up, but it had slowly been overtaken by lawn. We got out Husband's parents' tiny tiller, hoed, scraped, and tilled for an hour or two one evening, and never returned. We realized that we just have too much going on inside the house to worry about the outside right now. As you can see, our efforts are already also being overtaken by lawn. We hope later this summer (once we're moved into the house) to really till up the plot and mix in some fertilizer from one of Husband's friends (err...from the friend's cows...not the friend himself...). Then, the garden will be all ready to go for next spring.

Yesterday, while visiting my parents, I helped hoe some of the weeds from their garden. The plants are coming up quickly and seem to be flourishing. Our own garden will see no such life this summer. Maybe I can con a few ears of corn out of them...

BAM!

This past week we celebrated both my mother-in-law and father-in law's birthdays (Tuesday and Friday, respectively). Lately, with so many bowling pins being juggled, I easily lose track of important events like these, because I am a terrible, terrible friend/family member/human being. Husband and I put our intensely creative minds together and gave each of them the most inspired birthday presents ever: gift cards. Yeah. I promise to put much more thought into the next round of gifts once I reclaim my brain from the house renovations, which are currently holding it hostage. At least I got my pah-tootie in gear and made each of them a special birthday dessert.

M-I-L requested Red Velvet Cake, and I found a wonderful recipe here. Before:


Note the innocent white buttercream frosting that hides the intense gore that only two full ounes of red food coloring can provide. After:

When asked what birthday dessert he would like best, F-I-L simply said "surprise me...just no pumpkin pie," which made me adore him even more (because pumpkin pie=ick). So, I did what any clueless D-I-L would do; I consulted M-I-L. She told me that he loves banana pudding/banana/Nilla wafer combo desserts (no recipe...that's pretty much it...). So that's what he got.

Since my baking gears were grinding and I had some buttermilk left over from the Red Velvet Cake (seriously, who just has buttermilk laying around these days?), I visited one of my new favorite Web sites The Pioneer Woman, which has a special cooking section, and found a recipe that I've been dying to try that includes buttermilk. I know, I know. You clicked on the link and realized that the cake I'm recommending is Prune Cake. Honestly, people, trust me on this one. Your life depends on making and consuming this cake in its entirety today. I didn't take a picture because I snarfed it up too quickly. I also took a few pieces to my parents, and there's still a bit left, but I think I'll finish the rest off tonight. It's tough acting like an Emeril wannabe.

Decisions, decisions

I am in love with this Strapless Swiss-Dot Maya Dress from J. Crew. So simple, sweet, and elegant. I would totally pair this with a contrasting shrug and wear it to one of our many summer weddings! (Note: I would NOT wear the heavy gold necklace sported by the model. Ew.)

The dress was originally $135, but select colors are only $99.99. Did you hear that? ONLY $99.99! My only question now is, white, pink, or navy? Commence voting.