Daily Eye Candy

Check out this beautiful felt and leather reader sleeve from Rib & Hull! $44.28

You should visit

If you're into conservation or recycling or papermaking or just plain incredible people, you should visit http://anne-morningstar.blogspot.com/. She's pretty much the coolest thing since sliced bread.

Speak softly and carry a big stick leave me the hell alone

Here is a great piece from The Atlantic entitled "Caring for Your Introvert." Hilarious!

I love the last paragraph of Rauch's piece:

How can I let the introvert in my life know that I support him and respect his choice?

First, recognize that it's not a choice. It's not a lifestyle. It's an orientation.

Second, when you see an introvert lost in thought, don't say "What's the matter?" or "Are you all right?"

Third, don't say anything else, either.

Daily Eye Candy

A little touch of gold on a rainy morning.

Sequined box clutch, $57.90.

Friday Fashion: Headbands

I am a lover of headbands. Always have been. In spite of frequent headache side effects, headbands are the hair accessory du jour pour moi. I've never been into barrettes or been able to effortlessly pull off cute hats, but I can rock a mean headband.

I found this headband in a hat store in Michigan on vacation with Husband. It is black and sparkly and satin (and admittedly hard to see in this image), but it contrasts nicely with my blonde and sits comfortably flush against my noggin.

So, in honor of headbands, I bring you a few that I think are cute.

This Pluma Grace headband would be wonderful for bridal wear or a fancy cocktail party. It looks sturdy and sparkly. $65.

I first thought this Final Flourish headband from Anthropologie was made out of some kind of feather, but upon closer inspection I discovered intricate beading and sequins. Lovely! $28.

Ban.do is a really wonderful site if you have never taken the time to peruse. They offer a special heart clip that can glam up your hair, outfit, shoes - anything you want (and 25% of the proceeds benefits the relief aid in Japan)! I am quite taken with their simple but sweet Girlie Satin Bow headband, $35.

On feature writing

If I could write like anyone in the world, I might pick Tom Junod. Everything he produces blows me away. In the last week or so, I've read two of his Esquire pieces in particular that I thought were amazing (and were linked by a common food theme). If you have time, check them out, "Mom's Cooking" in particular. The last sentence made me catch my breath.

Funeral Food

This article really made me think about my own personal "tribe." To me, Americans often seem to be the most culturally confused people in the world. Nearly everyone who lives here comes from somewhere else originally, and are often the product of a number of cultures getting together and making babies (that is, mutts). "Old country" traditions are abandoned as the reproducing generations cause further and further distance from their homeland. Fourth of July and apple pie replace Dia de los Muertos and lutefisk. It isn't a bad thing, embracing the American culture, but so many seem to look back and search for the sense of community that once existed; their own tribe.

For my own family, made up of mutts from many European cultures who have lived in the United States for numerous generations, we are fully assimilated. We retain no British or German or Swedish traditions. We have substituted Methodist potlucks. If I died tomorrow, I would fully expect green bean casserole and creamed corn and jello salad and any number of pies to show up at my funeral reception. My family prefers to eat their feelings, so the dishes would touch a place in their hearts that let them know everything would be okay.

Mom's Cooking

My own mother is quite unlike the author's mother. Mine hails from a long line of good female cooks. My mashed potatoes will never taste as good as the childhood memory of hers. My grandmother's angel food cake literally melted in your mouth. Their family banana bread recipe is perfection, and I cannot be convinced otherwise. My grandma no longer makes big meals for the whole family, but the group still gathers around the table when they want to reconnect (full mouths lead to fewer arguments). Still, this article is incredible.

Matthew and Dedra's Wedding

On Sunday I had the privilege of participating as a bridesmaid in my friend Dedracula's wedding. Our relationship came full circle, from starting out as just a "friend of a friend" to becoming completely enamored with her awesomeness. She is so funny and kind and intelligent. And she has met her male equal, so together their awesomeness may be able to break the sound barrier.

Aside from an icy wind that snaked up the back of my lovely sangria-colored dress and violated my most special parts, the day was beautiful and the event went off without a hitch. The only downside of participating in a wedding is that I can't take pictures of the ceremony itself. Don't worry though. I made a thorough nuisance of myself before and after with my extra-bright flash!

Their guest book was Dr Seuss' Oh! The Places You'll Go! Adorable.

Instead of a ring pillow, the little bearer carried a ring dinosaur. Of course.

BlindIrishPirate officiated the ceremony. Her words were so thoughtful, entertaining, and poignant. I hope the couple had a video camera running! No one else could have spoken so eloquently.

Dedracula's sister was the maid of honor. Her speech at the reception was funny and heartwarming. She is a lovely lady!

My mommy and daddy were able to attend the reception. They even made it onto the dance floor!

I adore the way he is looking at his new bride. That is love.

A picture of the bling is required. And he is still giving her that look! He's twitterpated, I tells ya! P.S. Doesn't her skin look creamy? Yum. And I love that she wore her glasses. She is one special bride.

This is my favorite picture of all of the images from the day.

The couple had umpteen varieties of cheesecake for dessert. And these two quackers adorned the table.

The bridal party left a few surprises on and in the car. Just a little something for later! Emphasis on little.

Congratulations, Matthew and Dedra. Your Thug loves you with all her wittle heart.

Dirty Harriet

My friend is getting married this Sunday, and I have the honor of being a bridesmaid. I am so excited for her. She deserves so much happiness. She is a good, good, good person, down to her very core. I've mentioned this story before, but it bears repeating. When my dad was very ill in the hospital, she visited him. Out of the blue. Without even mentioning anything to me. Just because she wanted to. And she brought him treats. Some of my closest family members who live in the same town as the hospital didn't visit him. Ever. But she did. Because she is so very good and kind and loving. And I can barely remember this act without crying, because it meant so much to me. More than she knows.

And the fella she's getting hitched to is pretty darn cool, too. I hope he knows how lucky he is.

BUT! Before marriage and the baby carriage comes the bachelorette party, which we celebrated Saturday. And the bride-to-be wanted to go to a gun range. So we did!

Eight girls. Zero experience. One dangerous firearm. Priceless.

I don't know what I expected, but I certainly didn't know to bring someone with previous handgun shooting experience. Which I did not do. Luckily, we charmed the Gruff Range Overlord. We got a gun, a quick and dirty explanation of how it pretty much works, and were sent into the range with a weapon.

Remember readers: Guns don't kill people. Inexperienced bachelorette partygoers kill people.

Luckily, there was a kind gentleman in another range lane who helped to explain the process further. On principle, I despise relying upon men to show women how things are done, but in this case the advice was greatly appreciated. So the first three girls learned how to shoot, and taught the rest of us as we donned protective glasses and earmuff thingers and cycled in and out of the range.

The bride seemed to have an awesome time.

They should really clean those windows more often. Don't they know my photo-op was foggy? Sheesh.

The bride, like an old pro, showed me how it was done, and I only broke the gun twice.

Future Clint Eastwood. Or perhaps Charles Bronson. Or gang member. Congrats!

The Gruff Range Overlord was suitably terrified impressed by the bride's shooting handiwork.

Dirty Harriets, every one of 'em.

After working up an appetite, we went for dinner at Dave and Buster's. Where else?

I think the party was a success. I know the wedding will be. Congratulations, Dedracula, from the bottom of my heart.

Daily Eye Candy

I stumbled upon Conroy & Wilcox yesterday, and hoo-boy, do they ever have some lovely pieces. They offer lots of beautiful and unique jewelry (including some one-of-a-kind pieces, the prices of which might make you wince), but I was particularly taken with their "Fern Collection." These instantly made me think of BlindIrishPirate's wedding; they just looked like something she would have donned while walking down the aisle as a lovely, ethereal bride.

Fern Head Pin, $250

Fern Headpiece, $350

Daily Eye Candy

This Golden Moment Ring is on sale at Anthropologie ($19.95), and it is unimaginably gorgeous! I wish I possessed the cojones to wear something this large and beautiful and striking!

An added plus: the gold metal band is also elastic and stretchy, so one size fits all!