hark!

valentine-smashing pumpkins

Luke surprised me with a new friend on Valentine's day..

Hi, Bleu!

He said he picked this little one because it was hanging out at the end of a stick, playing with toys. A loner.

Within thirty minutes of meeting I had her hanging out on my finger, a new record!

I've had a few parakeets in my life, an early memory from childhood involves two of them flying right out the door.

She loves flying around in my studio, and listening to music.

"We love music!"

I started telling her this when she was afraid of the strange sounds coming out of the computer..she especially loves songs with whistling and quieter, scratchier voices.

 Mockingbird(Tom Waits) came on..appropriately haha! I whistled along and she clicked her tiny beak, puffed her throat feathers out, and blinked her pretty feathery eyelashes. Such a delicate, beautiful little creature..

I'm smitten. And I know she'll talk to me one day, I can feel it. We're besties.

Valentine's day treats

Strawberry Marshmallows

They taste like yummy melting strawberry ice cream in your hot chocolate, so good.

Enjoying her fave treat too, we're budgie buddies.

Happy Tuesday!

the most cake

My birthday was this past Friday, the 8th! So I celebrated all weekend of course. Isn't it the best when your birthday falls on a Friday? I like to space it out a little anyway..and just kind of go with the flow. An aquarian through and through! I usually start stressing about what to do about a week before and then I don't want to do anything..the pressure! Mom tried to plan a surprise party for me a few years ago..worst idea ever. haha

I'm too weird.

This birthday was perfect! Most of my celebrations revolve around food. Luke was off all week and made me birthday brunch, Belgian waffles with mascarpone/whipped cream, strawberries..and chocolate covered ones too! He makes them for me every year, it's tradition.

Growing up it was a pizza/movie sleepover, and these beauties in the morning.  

Mom always made them!

My time travel necklace was appropriate..it's flying by!

Sported some falsies..and felt kinda like lambchop haha

Friday was the largest indoor yard sale at the fairgrounds and my birthday dinner of choice..Italian.

Every year.

We used to always go to a restaurant growing up but I really love cooking at home, my stuff just tastes better!

Baked eggplant stacks. With mascarpone.

Killer.

cake cocktail

Saturday was sushi and thrifting with my mom and late night mexican food,margaritas,and movies with my little brother.

Luke helped me make my birthday dessert, a little white cake with layers of mascarpone and strawberry topped with meringue frosting. We nearly destroyed it..but not before two huge sheet cakes made their way into the house too! I love cake as much as the next girl..but this is just ridiculous.

 February makes me happy, Have a great Valentine's day!

winter weary

It turned into a perfect snowy scene for a bit around here.

This was one of those warm days right before it all melted. So quiet, all you could hear was the sound of plump birds rustling about in the brambles around this little semi-frozen pond.

Fresh air is good for the soul.

I dug into my cape collection for the first time this season, vintage and navy..two of my favorites!

Doubled up on the tights, an open weaved textured pair over basic thick ones- both in mint. A bit out of my usual comfort zone. I have what I like to call a "funny" bone in my right leg that curves strangely. My mom asked the Dr.about it growing up and he said they would have to "break it to make it perfect." No thanks.  But now I usually wear dark tights and try to not draw attention to my legs, I'm working on letting go of silly hang ups like that and embracing my quirks. Next it's my crooked little teeth haha! It's weird, I really love "flaws" on everyone else. 

My berets and beanies are coming in handy lately. I straightened my hair for the first time in forever..ah the joys of tirelessly growing out a pixie cut.

This winter has been taking its toll on me and I finally went to the Dr. for a check up for my thyroid autoimmune disorder (Hashimotos) and general run down-ness. I was diagnosed at around 10 but I haven't been treating it, or myself very well for that matter. Blood work was involved..needles are the worst. As someone who is afraid of going it's a small victory in itself, I kept putting it off.  I've been sad and anxious, and just haven't felt like my true self for far too long. A melancholy world. The hardest part for me was admitting that I can't fix everything on my own..and not being embarrassed about things I can't control.
 I'm headstrong and independent. And maybe a bit eccentric and aloof in general. Letting people in on how I'm feeling has always been tough for me. One of my goals this year is to take better care of myself. I'm on the right course and looking on the bright side!
 I've been busy on house renovations and living in a constant construction zone so I'm trying to get into some sort of schedule to balance everything out. I'm too all over the place most of the time to worry about myself and I need to make some changes.
It's my birthday week and Luke's on vacation, we're going to do some fun stuff around here. I'm excited!

Hope you have a great week!

hark!

♪Fit it all, fit it in the doldrums

Or so the story goes

Color the era

Film it as historical♪
lump sum

It's a Bon Iver, earl grey tea kind of weekend.

My couch/cuddling areas have been looking particularly cozy.

                                                                                                                                                                                   

pattern play

Fave floral ever- this perfect vintage fabric caught my eye a few years ago "unusual daphne" Nothing could go more perfect with the couch's unique shade of green.

chartreuse crushed velvet

I can't resist that tail and those little mitts.

Hope you had a great weekend!



comfort

Lately..

making & eating yummy food(too much!)

french onion soup

lots of lattes

filled donut holes (nutella and rasberry jam!)

poached egg & potatoes/onions

Cinnamon sugar pull apart bread 

Aaand I need to get back into an exercise routine. I was doing really good walking but now that it's freezing out I'm thinking yoga, inside my bedroom..where it's warm. What do you guys do to stay fit in the dead of winter, besides the gym? I loathe it.

a little lazy..

winter warmth

cozy candles blazing

more snow today!

I've been taking tons of photos on my new phone and going instagram crazy..

Follow me! dearwinsome

Feeling a little lonely haha

Hope you're having a great week!

fresh

the world isn't in your books and maps...

it's out there

Luke and I had two glorious consecutive days off this week. We didn't make any plans, just adventured. Which meant walking to Main St. to explore our favorite dusty thrift shop and lugging a bunch of stuff back home. Should have thought about that part haha. The weather was incredible, sunny and 60! Love when that happens. Isn't it the worst when it rains on your day off, and all you want to do is go outside? The next day was gloomy and rainy so we had Mexican and margaritas and slipped into our historic 'Lincoln' theater for an early afternoon Hobbit fest. Popcorn with real butter, strawberry Twizzlers too! He's a Sno-Caps kinda guy. We read the entire book out loud before bed a few years ago(Luke's idea) so we were excited to see it. In line I realized we were surrounded by the white haired crew..and told him," This is it, we're officially old people" haha

fresh tech

We've been using Luke's Christmas present daily, this little Mr. Coffee espresso machine is just right..and a steal for under 40! mmm foam.

He surprised me after the holidays with a record player I've been mentioning for the longest..his dad's 1970's setup was always on the fritz, and never played my thrifted records. This one is the perfect teal, and converts my tunes to mp3's..love it so far! He's pretty great too, and lets me sleep in and wake up to the smell of lattes and cinnamon rolls.

 it folds up..fits right in with my vintage blue suitcase collection

bar cart 

Finally got a smartphone, I've been waiting forever! Fairly certain that I'm the last one on the planet to join the cool crowd. I don't know what to do with myself, new technology! haha I was really sad without an instagram, and a good cell camera. 

Caved and got hulu plus. We're totally caught up on Parks and Rec and I've already made my way through New Girl,Merlin,Portlandia,Once Upon a Time..working on Downton Abbey now. I 've been missing all of my favorites, I need my stories! We used to love watching masterpiece classics on PBS every Sunday. I'm horrible at watching shows in real time.They have a bunch of criterion classics too, and french new wave.

Let's just say I've been watching a lot..but I always have my hands busy working on a project. And I've got plenty.

I was pondering what my New Year's goals should be, I always set them too lofty. Thinking simple this year..

Peter LaFleur: I found that if you have a goal, that you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed. And I got to tell you it feels phenomenal.

-dodgeball(haha)

Like keep plants alive.

This orchid is my pride and joy right now. Even my succulents and ivy have shriveled up into pitiful little things. Yes, succulents. The plants that can't be killed. haha

This beauty has been alive for a few months now, and has even bloomed more flowers. That never happens.
'Grow where you are planted'

My mantra right now.

We're learning how to crochet together, I need help. I always pick up hobbies and get frustrated and forget them. He's just better at stuff like this.

Someone was over recently and said "It's like going down the rabbit hole when I come to your house,  You're usually in some weird outfit,with the hair..you're sort of ordinary today" haha! That's about right.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

treat : iced wintermint cake

After making too many sweets from scratch for the holiday bakery boxes I wanted something much easier for my wintry cake..box mix and frosting to the rescue. A trimmed doily works perfect as a stencil with the remainder as a pretty base, I knew I would use them for something! I fancied it up a bit with a dusting of powdered sugar(snow drifts?) some pine garland, and my vintage deer family.

the sweetest little faces..

Drops of food coloring(7green,3blue) and mint flavoring(1tsp) made my basic yellow cake a bit more festive.

I'm notorious for using the wrong tools for the job in the kitchen..too small bowls, a spoon instead of the potato masher,etc. It drives Luke bananas. I've yet to get myself some proper cake pans..as shown in the uneven layers. Pyrex works wonders in a pinch though haha

Hope you're having a sweet weekend!