Thank goodness for Craigslist

You all are going to think I'm crazy and I probably am - but I just sold Mike and I's three month old dining room chairs. These ones:

Sorry for the crazy insane-glare in this photo.

Yeah, Mike thought I was crazy too when I asked if he would be alright with it. He didn't understand, but he agreed to it -- as long as we didn't lose any money on the deal. Isn't he the best?

Now I'm sure you're wondering my reasoning behind the decision, and the short of it is this: I wanted to go in a different direction "design-wise."

Burned

My posts might be a bit short - or rather - nonexistent in the next couple of days.

I burned my thumb, pointer and middle finger on our dutch oven last night and the blisters are ginormous.

Mike is fascinated by them. He keeps asking to look at them.

So weird.

I wore leggings to work today because I can't even button my pants. I'm considering wearing them the rest of the week and into next week too -- but I only have so many shirts that amply cover my behind.

Alright, no more time for rambling thoughts. This post just took me 15 minutes to type up. See you in a few days!

Pep talks

Do you ever talk to yourself?

I do all the time.

I even talk to myself about talking to myself.

  

"Laura, quit talking to yourself! It's so embarrassing. Get a grip!"

Yeah, those pep talks really work.

Design rut

Recently I've been in a design rut. For the past six months, I've been obsessed with design. Never before have I cared about what chair I sit on, what wall color greets me at the door or what hook I put my coat on. But ever since we bought this house, I've been gobbling up design blogs and magazines, and making countless trips to Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Ikea, Room & Board, Home Depot, Target and any other store that just might have a chair, lamp or curtain that will be perfect for Oakland Avenue. 

But I'm burnt out. I’ve been feeling like I can't make any more decisions and honestly, I don't want to. If I look at another curtain option for our living room I think I might get crazy eyes and end up ripping them all off the display case and throwing them in the garbage right there at the store.

But, by what I am sure was divine intervention, I recently came across this quote:

"It is the expression of a well-lived life that creates beautiful spirit and charm in a house, not the beautiful furnishings.”

Now normally I’m not one for a cheesy quote, but it came to me at the right time, when I was feeling particularly sorry for myself and my design rut dilemma. Add in a moment of rare self-reflection and you have a girl who teared up when she read that quote.

Please let me clarify: It was just a little pool of tears, you know, very mature, non-embarrassing – and actually quite stealth tears - now that I think about it. They were the kind that don’t actually fall down the cheeks, they just sit there at the bottom of your eyes and you can’t blink because then a tear might actually fall so you just sit there and have to act like nothing’s happening and wait for them to dry out for forever — I hate that part.  

But it is a good way to cry without crying.

Anyway, whether or not the quote makes you tear up, start bawling or just plain makes you think, it’s true. Mike and I can spend our entire lives decorating Oakland Avenue until it kills us, but in the end all the paint, new chairs, DIY projects, pillows and other knick-knacks are not going to make us happy -- and if it makes me crabby, selfish or depressed because I can’t get it “just right” I need to find a new hobby.

Reality says, my house will never be magazine or “top blog” worthy – but you know what? That’s slowly becoming okay with me. I’ll admit, I’m still a work in progress, but when I really stop and think (ahem, reflect) I know that what matters is that Mike and I share our home, no matter what it looks like, with an open hand, learn to be content with exactly where we’re at and what we have, and find our joy and satisfaction in the purpose we live for and the life we create — not the home we create.

Wow, the power of what just a few words can do as a simple reminder.

Do you have any favorite quotes you’d like to share?   

Via

Yes, this photo has absolutely nothing to do with the post, but Macaroons make me happy. And I could not for the life of me find a photo that I liked for this post. I hope they make you happy too.

A cute calendar (and even cuter cause it's free)

One of my favorite blogs, Creature Comforts has created a lovely, FREE 2011 calendar that you can download right here and I had to share! The coolest part is, each month's image can be repurposed as postcards or note flats once the month has passed. All you have to do is cut out the image, address it, stamp the back, and you're done! If you do this, I recommend printing it on card stock, or another  heavyweight paper, so it will stand up to the rigors of the postal service. Or you can just hang your favorites up on a bulletin board or something similar to enjoy them all year long.

I'm thinking this will be the perfect addition to The Library.

A turkey baster and a meat thermometer

Last Sunday, Mike and I's dishwasher broke. I tried to run it and the thing wouldn't even turn on. Turns out we also had a very large, very disgusting pool of water at the bottom of the dishwasher that I hadn't even noticed for a week. Yeah, a week. I'm not very detail oriented. 
 

The good thing? The very large, very disgusting pool of water explained the smell.

The bad thing? We had to figure out how to fix the darn dishwasher - and if you've learned anything about us so far - we are complete novices when it comes to "fixing" anything.

Anyway, we unloaded the dishwasher and took a look. Well, Mike took a look. 

Do you know how hard it is to fit TWO heads in the dishwasher? 

We learned the hard way that it's actually impossible. 

Yes, I did try to stick my head in after Mike's was already in there. 

When I did, Mike turned to me, about 2 inches from my face and gently told me that though he appreciated me taking a look, could I please "help" from a distance? So instead I started wandering around our 5 foot wide kitchen (not a lot of room to wander, especially when your dishwasher door is down taking up half the space), asking him questions and trying to peak in there without him noticing. Help from a distance? No such thing, Mike!  Finally I gave up and decided I should go do something else. When I came back, do you know what I found? Mike fixing the dishwasher with a turkey baster and a meat thermometer. 

Yes, these are the exact ones he used.

Remind me to purchase new ones the next time you see me. 

But, I suppose it was worth the sacrifice because it did work - at least to fix the flooding part. But by Sunday night we were both pretty exhausted and gave up on trying to figure out why it wouldn't turn on. I'm just crossing my fingers hoping that it doesn't take Mike using my Kitchen Aid and food processor to fix it. Those things are much more expensive to replace.

Home Cooked Meals and Candlelit Dinners

Don't you hate it when you plan a meal, purchase all the ingredients and get ready to make it, only to have something come up at the last minute? Then you can't cook and all your food to spoils before you have a chance to use it.

It seems to happen to Mike and I all the time. I’ll plan the week’s menu on Sunday, go grocery shopping on Monday, and by Saturday I’ve only used up half the ingredients I purchased for the week.

The thing is, I always have every intention of coming home from work and fixing a nice meal for Mike and I. Usually I've taken off my shoes, put away my coat and  even donned an apron (highly necessary when I cook - for me and anyone else who happens to be within a 20 foot radius of the kitchen). As soon as I take out the first ingredient, I’ll get an unexpected phone call from a friend asking me to hang out, or Mike will call saying we’re going to dinner with some friends, or an episode of Modern Family comes on and I have to watch it, or Mike and I suddenly need to run some errands so we eat in the car – and I end up not making dinner and our food spoils.

When we were first married, I had visions of making a home cooked meal every night that was filling, healthy and used seasonal ingredients. Mike and I would eat by candlelight and we would wash dishes together after dinner, laughing and flirting late into the night.

Via

Yeah, right. Like that ever happened.

For some reason I thought it would be achievable. It wasn't like I was going to ground my own flour or something. 

At first, I felt terrible. I wished that I hadn’t wasted our money or the food, and that I had gotten a nice healthy meal on the table, serving my husband in the process and being a “good wife.” But the truth is, the most important thing is that Mike and I spend time together, no matter if that’s eating on the run, over at a friend’s house or heck, eating a frozen pizza at 10 p.m. Those memories are worth it. I love the spontaneity of our lives and am enjoying the fact that we can drop everything in a moment. I know these years will be short lived and once kiddos come into our lives, we won’t have the same kind of freedom we do now.

Besides, who defines what a “good wife” is, or her duties? I’m learning that as long as my husband is happy with how I do things, I shouldn’t punish myself because I didn’t to live up to the nonexistent “wifely standard.”

So for now, I’m working on planning fewer meals (I’m aiming for one to two a week), being more creative with leftovers and spicing up Suddenly Salads,* and enjoying the impromptu evening plans.

Besides, if we really did sit down to a fancy-schmancy candlelit meal every evening and washed dishes late into the night - I don’t think Mike and I would be laughing and flirting – we’d probably set the house on fire and be arguing about who washes dishes the best and whether or not to let them air dry or towel dry. (Yes, it is a MAJOR point of discussion between us.)

*If you haven’t heard of Suddenly Salad, allow me to introduce you to it. I lived on this stuff in college and it is the easiest, most tasty “instant meal” you can find. Add a bit of chicken and fresh vegetables and you have a rockin’ pasta dinner.

A Scream: Try it Today

There are two things Mike hates more than anything: seeing me cry and hearing me scream. I'm not even allowed to make a tiny, harmless little gasp when we're driving in the car. Mike tells me it's because he thinks we're going to get T-boned every time I do it and it freaks him out. I tell him it's because I just saw a girl walking on the sidewalk with a pair of super cute boots that I'm just going gaga over. What's the harm in expressing my love for a pair of boots? 

Via

If we were going to get T-boned he would know it.

YOU would know it.

The world would know it by my blood curdling scream.

One night, at my parent's house, we went around the table and everyone had to scream as loud as they could, one at a time.

* Please pause here and picture an all-American family of five watching each other scream - one at a time - at the top of their lungs. Then dissecting each scream based on pitch, volume, facial gestures and color, authenticity and blood-curdlingness. (Yes, that was a category.)

Have you ever heard your dad scream? I never had until that night. Once I got my hearing back, I fell on the floor laughing and I couldn't breathe for about three minutes - it's the longest I've ever held my breath. My stomach hurt so much I about ralphed all over the lasagna. Mike wasn't there at the time, but if he had been, I know he would never complain about my scream again.

 
Next time you have a family dinner try it out.  You have absolutely no idea how liberating it is. And, it'll really lighten the mood - I promise.

It's embarassing but...

...I'm 24 years old, not to mention a WIFE, and I have absolutely no idea how to do laundry. 

Via

I can hear my mother wailing on the other side of the computer from that statement.

A couple of days ago I went downstairs to throw a load of laundry in and here's what happened:

1.  Turned the dial on as far as it takes until water started coming out. 
2.  Dumped a bunch of detergent in the little blue cup, then into the washer, tried (and failed) not to spill in the process.
3. Tossed in the clothes - as many as I can get to fit, I didn't want to have to go back down there to switch loads more than necessary.
4.  Shut the lid and walked away.
5. Forgot about it for three days.
6. Once remembered, rushed downstairs when Mike wasn't home to rerun it and and stuff it into the dryer before he would find out about it.

When we first got married, Mike and I thought it was sooo fun to do everything together in our new house. One day we were downstairs and Mike was watching me do laundry with a silly little grin on his face, as happy as can be because we were together. Well, just like always, I turned the dial, dumped a bunch of detergent in, stuffed in some clothes, closed the lid and looked fabulous while doing so.

Then our house blew up.

The Future of Oakland Avenue...

Recently in my New Year's Resolutions post I wrote that one of my goals was to "let Oakland Avenue evolve or dissolve into whatever it should be." I'm sure some of you were confused by that statement, others began praying for it to dissolve, and most of you probably just sped right through that sentence and didn't think another thing of it. 

Well, I'm a stickler for accountability, so I thought I'd dive deeper into that statement in the most public place in my life - this blog. For now, here's what I'm thinking I'd like OA to look like going forward into 2011:

1)      To start with, Mike has self-appointed himself as my editor.

Okaaaay. Deep breath -- I thought I was supposed to be writing these goals here?

Fine. I know I need it. I know!  Let’s get real, here’s what I’ve been doing – I’ll write a post, give it a once over for any sentences that might be a bit too embarrassing and hit “publish.” For some reason though, I have a problem with leaving out words. Don't ask me why. I have no idea what is wrong with my fingers. But I do know that when it is all said and done, it's not fair to you, I look bad and, well, Mike becomes my editor. 

No promises that you won't see anymore errors on here, but I will promise you'll see a whole lot less of them. 

My Love for Top Tens

I have a soft spot for Top Ten lists. Or Top Five, fifteen or heck, even twenty. I love lists and I love recaps – hence, “top” lists make me giddy.  So of course, when Twitter analyzed the whopping 25 billion Tweets sent out this year and came out with 2010 Top Trends on Twitter, I was all over it. I know it’s a little late in the game to post this, but I’m still in the “reflection” mode, so bear with me.

Check out what made the list:

1.       Gulf Oil Spill
2.       FIFA World Cup
3.       Inception
4.       Haiti Earthquake
5.       Vuvuzela
6.       Apple iPad
7.       Google Android
8.       Justin Bieber
9.       Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
10.   Pulpo Paul

On their blog, Twitter wrote a little about what they thought these trends meant:

“These Trends indicate the things that are most meaningful in our lives. Each day on Twitter, people tweet about news, sports, entertainment and cool new technology--and everything else in between. The list of 2010 Twitter Trends reflects what’s happening in our world, demonstrates the power of turning any event or story into a shared experience, and underscores Twitter’s value as a real-time information network.”

I have to say, the above paragraph sums it up quite nicely, but there’s one thing I don’t agree with: “These Trends indicate the things that are most meaningful in our lives.” I mean, come on. Justin Bieber? Harry Potter? The iPad? For some reason, I wouldn’t apply the word, “meaningful” to them -- instead, I’d reserve that for my family (or something of similar significance). 

Don’t get too full of yourself Twitter.

But, as the rest of the post said, it is fascinating to see how these top trends reflect what the world was interested in this year. The list truly captures what grabbed our attention and made us talk during 2010.  Won’t it be interesting to someday look back at this list and say, “Remember when that happened?” Or “Oh yeah, I had forgotten how big that was!”  

With all this reflection, it’s got me wanting to look forward, so what trends do you think the 2011 list will hold? All I know is I hope Justin Bieber never makes it again.

The toilet brush

If you struggle finding motivation to clean your bathroom and scrub your toilets, maybe this will help.

Danish manufacturer Normann-Copenhagen released a toilet brush that makes me want to scrub toilets all day long. Called "Ballo" the brush was designed by Jozeph Forakis. Ballo means dance in Italian, and the brush wobbles back and fourth when you put it away. It comes in four sweet colors: blue, green, black, and gray. I'm gunning for the green one.

What's that? You think it's lame I've written an entire post on toilet brushes? Well, I don't think you'll be saying that when you see how sparkling clean my toilets are once I get my hands on one of these.  

Cappuccino Fudge

I know we're all supposed to be eating healthier and working out since it's the new year, but tomorrow's the weekend and isn't that when you get to take a break from your New Year's Resolutions?

Just keep nodding along with me and make plans for indulging in this Cappuccino Fudge. I made this over the holidays for a Christmas party we hosted and for an engagement party we attended. It's an incredibly easy recipe to make and it's great for making ahead of time - perfect for when you're hosting a party - or when you're by yourself breaking your resolutions.

It's totally worth it.

Cappuccino Fudge

Ingredients:
1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow cream
½ c. sugar
2/3 c. heavy whipping cream
¼ c. margarine/butter
1 t. instant coffee powder
¼ t. cinnamon
¼ t. salt
1 (12 oz.) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Line an 8” square baking pan with aluminum foil; set aside. In a 2 qt. saucepan, combine marshmallow cream, sugar, cream, butter, coffee powder, cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue to boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Place on cutting board and cut into 36 squares.

Source: Annie's Eats

Color of the Year

Am I the only one that never knew there was a "Color of the Year?" I really hope I'm not living under a rock.

I hate it when that happens.

Anyway, I just found out that Pantone  has announced the Color of the Year. I may really be throwing myself under the bus here, but I never even knew Pantone was a company. Sure, I knew that the most exact way to tell someone a color was to give them the Pantone numbers, and I've worked with it on the Adobe Suite before, but I never knew it actually had staff, and a building, and an LLC after its name.

Here's what I found out from their website:

"Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the world-renowned authority on color. For more than 45 years, Pantone has been inspiring design professionals with products, services and leading technology for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity."

Wowsa, who knew there was a "world-renowned authority on color?" No offense, but it seems a little hokey. It's like saying, "We're the world-renowned authority on shapes!" or "We're the world-renowned authority on pancakes!" It just seems like something that is impossible to own or be in control of.

Ahh well, I know little old me is not going to be able to change it. So, are you dying to know what this year's color is?

It's a lovely shade of pink, I mean, ahem, "Honeysuckle."

 Here's a snippet from their news release announcing the new Color of the Year: 

"A Color for All Seasons
Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.

While the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, served as an escape for many, Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.

“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

Eiseman continues, “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”

Honeysuckle is guaranteed to produce a healthy glow when worn by both men and women. It’s a striking, eye-catching hue that works well for day and night in women’s apparel, accessories and cosmetics, and in men’s ties, shirts and sportswear. Add a lively flair to interior spaces with Honeysuckle patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Honeysuckle for a dynamic burst of energy in the family room, kitchen or hallway."

Okay, that was a little more than a snippet, but I couldn't decide where to cut it short. It was just so darn informational!

Mike, I know we just painted, but I am now considering painting again, transforming our entire house into a lovely shade of Honeysuckle for an added flair and a dynamic burst of energy. And get ready for me to blow a bunch of money on clothes, because I'm needing Honeysuckle sweaters to provide some "spirit lifting" and a reminder that summer will actually come after this frigid Minnesota winter. I'll also be picking you up a couple of Honeysuckle scarves to give you that "healthy glow."

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

So I must ask, did anyone else know about the whole "Color of the Year" thing? If so, what do you do with that information? Do you actually act on it?

Calendars

In order to get organized for the new year, I thought I'd post a round up of a few calendars I've seen online. I know you're supposed to get your calendar before the new year starts, but I'm a bit behind. If you're behind too check out a few ideas below.

Young House Love had a fab calendar that you can personalize if you have Photoshop and it's free!

I love Amy Marcella’s 2011 wall calendar with it's beautiful floral inspirations. Pick one up on clearance for $15, down from $25.

Here's one from Etsy seller Kring Design Studio. They have a great yearly calendar that has a gorgeous letterpressed wreath on top. Nab this one for only $10.

And finally, I love this free calendar from 120 Inspired. I love how it looks when it's all framed up. And bonus, it has all the federal holidays circled for you. Just go to her site and print out the free PDF.

No Junk January

In high school, a couple of my friends, Mel and Kerrie, started a little something called "No Junk January."

You can't eat any "junk" food during the entire month of January.

Yes, it's as bad as it sounds. For about three years come January 1st they would always convince me to suffer with them.

I lasted about three days.

Typically my demise was due to my two eternal weaknesses: Fritos and Mountain Dew. I would make excuses for my behavior, claiming they were in no way junk food - they were part of my daily nutrition and I would go through withdrawals without them. They were as essential to my diet as fruits and vegetables - highly necessary if they wanted me to live.

This stuff is Heaven sent.

A couple years after its creation, "No Junk January" had spread so rapidly, it seemed like everyone was participating. Some, especially the creators - Mel and Kerrie - were religiously perfect and made it well into February before junk food once again entered their mouths. Others failed immediately, which included me (darn Fritos...) and ended up just watching others suffer. But most made it through the month of January giving it a valiant effort under the guidance of Mel and Kerrie.

Because of the rapid popularity gained by "No Junk January," Mel and Kerrie were getting spread pretty thin answering questions about what was and what was not "junk." People became so competitive and passionate about making it the entire month, there were debates,bets, arguments and bloody noses about the idiosyncrasies of junk every day.

I'm drooling just looking at the bag.

In order to stop the bloodshed, Mel and Kerrie created the "Thou Shalt Nots of Junk." It's a handy little reference guide for anyone who chooses to participate in "No Junk January." If you'd like to participate with all these crazy people, by all means, feel free. I know we're a couple days behind, but trust me, in a week you'll be thanking me for saving you from at least four days of pain. Below is your handy little guide book to get started. If you still have questions, don't ask me. I'll encourage you to eat anything your heart desires, and even show up at your doorstep with Fritos and Mountain Dew.

______________________

THE THOU SHALL NOTS OF NO JUNK JANUARY

1. Thou shalt make sure to eat well balanced meals and still receive proper nutrition.  Our bodies' needs are our first priority, regardless of short-term deprivation.  If you are anemic or have extremely low blood pressure due to lack of sugar or fat--EAT SOMETHING! We don't want anyone suffering for the cause of our stupidity and stubbornness.
2. When you are compliant with #1 the first thing to avoid is Fast Food.  And by fast food we mean your mom. No Hardees, McD's, Wendy's, Bottlerockets, BK, etc. This does not include restaurants such as Subway, Jimmy Johns, Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits section, or King Buffet. *Note to self: salads area acceptable in any building, whether it includes a drive-thru or not.
3. Pizza and pancakes (with syrup) are allowed as meals, along with honey in cream-of-wheat or teas.  Pizza at supper is different than pizza at midnight, and who can resist some good bonding over a hearty brunch of waffles (complete with syrup traps. when you get to the butter--split up! *Please google video Mitch Hedberg for full hilarious description of what was just typed. It will make more sense that way).
4. No chocolate. Not even in drinks (mochas, hot chocolate, etc).
5. No pop. Don't argue with this one, or we'll kung fu chop you in half and you won't even be able to enjoy that pizza for dinner.
6. Candy and ice cream are definitely out of the picture. The only exception is to attempt a large DQ blizzard and successfully eat the entire 32 oz 1300 calorie treat in less than 7 min, 38 seconds. (Congratulations to Jonathan West, who still holds this record).
7. After days of reviewing nutrition labels and pouring our lives into seeking the truth behind the contents of pretzels, cereal, popcorn, and jello the conclusion has been reached by an elite panel of judges that they are perfectly safe to consume and do not breech any contracts binding your souls to "No Junk January." *Movie theater popcorn, however, did not make the A-list and is still not allowed. NO ARGUMENTS. PERIOD.
8. Nate Bock, this year please remember that chocolate chip cookies ARE junk food. Even homemade ones.
9. Chips, brownies and cookies are also definitely not allowed. If there is something else you are unsure of, it is your call whether to eat it or not. We give you the right to exercise your freedom in this area. Just remember: It's on your conscience, not ours.
10. If you find yourself going through a life crisis, all rules are to be thrown out the window and a chocolate fondue and dairy queen blizzard party is to be instigated immediately.

 ____________________________

If you'd like to hear more from Mel and Kerrie, check out their blogs here and here. 

A New Year Means New Resolutions

I’m back! I've missed you guys! I hope you all had a lovely holiday celebrating Christmas and New Years.

Before I write anything else, I feel like I need to warn you, with 2011 just beginning and everyone talking about new beginnings, revamping, refining, etc., I’ve been feeling a bit more reflective lately and I think I’m very nearly on the edge of being -- ugh, I hate to admit this -- sappy.

This isn't me, it's just a very accurate representation.

If you watch me closely you might catch me staring out the window, resting my chin on my hands and letting out a soft sigh.

It’s embarrassing really, especially when a boy (ahem, Mike) catches you.

They just don’t get it.

Anyway, with all that reflection bubbling within me, it’s been the perfect time to create my New Year Resolutions.