Today, I am thankful for...

I took the GRE today. I like to call what I experienced at that desk a "mind rape". At any rate, I feel the need to list some things I am thankful for, since I have sort of been neglecting my life for the past three weeks, or so.

- My loving-devoted-supportive-practically-perfect-in-every-way fiance.
- My family and friends, who are also very loving and supportive.
- Tutorials on youtube. I learned to knit using nothing but youtube videos to guide me! I am going to take a stab at sewing next week!
- Two-hour walks on scenic trails.
- Cozy sweaters.
-Mansfield Park. (It is full of GRE vocabulary words.)
- Good times at The Cellar.
- Seasonal autumn sweets, like baked apples, pumpkin baked goods of any sort, and candy corn.
-Our fireplace.

via

p.s. You probably already know that in the Victorian Era there was a secret language associated with flowers. Well, one of the flowers meant to convey gratitude was the Canterbury Bell. Isn't it pretty?

Heard in Plebes

We have nicknamed our house "Plebes" in honor of the neophyte philosophers that live here. Lately we've been sitting around the fireplace just drinking wine and listening to music.

Sometimes it's super sleek techno, like this:

Take Me into Your Skin- Trentmoller

Windowlicker-Aphex Twin (fair warning, the video is a bit weird/scary as hell.)

Sometimes it's guitar playing like you've never heard:

Drifting-Andy McKee

Rylynn- Andy McKee

Sometimes it's...silly:

Scatman- Scatman John

One Last Breath- Creed

But it's always mind-blowingly good. And that's the way I like it.

Cool!

Check out those sexy....socks?

I am the proud new owner of knit thigh highs. Not only are they very practical as a fall/winter stocking, but they function as long johns do under jeans, only better. No diaper butt syndrome! I was pleased to find another totally unexpected benefit of my purchase when I put them on though. I found that I feel like a hot mama while wearing them, because I know that underneath the jeans and sweatshirts, I look like this:


via

When I saw the photos from the Hermes S/S 2010 collection, I squealed with delight at each outfit. The inspiration is tennis in the 1920s. How adorable is that?? Here are some of my favorites:








I NEVER thought I would be so in love with a jumpsuit, or a leather sun dress. (So help me God, a LEATHER SUN DRESS!) I can't believe I was even a little bummed because I couldn't find the perfect cozy flannel top for this winter. Who needs them when there are equally cozy, but twice as glamorous v-neck, drop waist cardigans to be had?

p.s.Photos of the entire perfect collection can be found at style.com.

The good, the bad, and the fear of ugly

There's good news there's bad news.

The good news is, my cake turned out beautifully and it sold really well. I made an apple-pear cake with a toffee drizzle (which hardened for a lovely croquembouche effect) and sprinkled with slivered almonds. It really was delicious, and lots of people commented on how original the cake was.

The bad news is, this morning, as I finished drizzling the cake with my homemade toffee...I accidentally splattered a bit of the molten candy on my face resulting in second degree burns. We had a guest in the living room and one room mate with the door open, so it was all I could do not to scream...but when I got to the bathroom up stairs I let the four letter words fly. I cried over the potentially drastic and permanent change in my appearance. After all, this was no scrape on the knee, easily hidden and forgotten. Luckily, my fiance used to be a Boyscout, and was able to patch me up quite nicely after a reaffirming check to the Mayo Clinic website on basic burn care. (Isn't the time we live in amazing? I have a small kitchen burn, and have a resource like the Mayo Clinic at my fingertips!) I had to postpone the Japanese Dumpling Feast I was going to host this evening since I also burned my fingers in an effort to pull the hot toffee off my face.

There is more good news. My special beau dressed my wounds himself, and did it so lovingly and gently that my heart has been aflutter all day long. He even did them again after I took my shower. I tried to do them myself, but I looked like a freak. When he does them the bandages are neat and minimal.






I can't give him complete kisses, since I have a small burn about the size of a pencil eraser on my lip...but I give him European air kisses. Tomorrow, when I've recovered a little, I'll make him some banana muffins like I used to when we lived in the apartment. I think he'll like that.

via

This week was Bridgette Bardot's birthday! (Sept. 28)