Roundup: Spring Patterns

Today I did a little spring shopping at J. Crew (thank you, J. Crew Rewards) and Old Navy (thank you, Old Navy sales), and this is what I bought. Hey, does anybody detect some sort of pattern? No? It's probably just me, then.

I am actually looking forward to putting several of these items together, like some sort of demented sailor with a penchant for neon. Ahoy, y'all.

1. Old Navy 2. Old Navy 3. J. Crew 4. J. Crew 5. Old Navy 6. J. Crew 7. J. Crew

A Bunch of Stuff You Need To Know About.

Thank you all so much for the kind words about the bathroom. Excellent website Houzz even included it in an ideabook today, which was real nice of them.

A few of you had questions about the bathroom, which I will now answer. 

Q: What are the black and white striped things on the back of the toilet?

A: Those are candles. They burn with fire. 

Q: How do your Polaroids fare in the bathroom with all the steam and humidity?

A: The Polaroids seem to be doing OK; it's the Japanese masking tape that's all fragile and wimpy. It peels off on a regular basis.

Q: What are the dimensions of the bathroom?

A: The bathroom is approximately 5' x 8'. It is teeny-tiny, much like the arms Tracy Anderson wants you to have. Be quiet, Tracy.

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I feel that this photograph needs no explanation. Please enjoy.

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My friend George -- y'all remember George, right? Sweet? Sensitive? Cries when he loses at darts? Makes the best gumbo in the state? That one. Here's a visual aid:

 

AB, George, 1996

Anyway, George sent me this wonderful short film, which has been nominated for an OSCAR, and was made by some people in SHREVEPORT. LOUISIANA. Please take fifteen minutes and watch it. It's about books, and how they can make even the darkest days brighter. Try not to cry. Like crybaby George.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

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I run tomorrow. Cross everything. I will report back. And thank you all for the encouraging comments. They made me cry, like crybaby George. Love y'all.

Dewit: Make a Sazerac

It's Super Bowl weekend, and since a) I love the Saints, and b) Eli Manning hails from the great city of New Orleans, we are making a quintessentially NOLA cocktail: the Sazerac. Now, there are many ways to make a Sazzy -- the always reliable Gumbo Pages details several -- but I prefer the confusing and overly-complicated traditional method you see above. (This recipe heavily based on the recipe from GP.)

Come on, when is the next time you get to use two glasses to make one drink? Your six-pack of Miller Lite can't provide that kind of entertainment, people. So, go ahead: get your Rotel dip and chicken wings ready, then class that noise up with a deliciously complex New Orleans cocktail. DEWIT.

Happy Super Bowl! May your favorite team win, and may your Rotel be extra spicy.

PS. Thanks to the brilliant Mrs. Lilien for the Mr./Mrs. glasses, and for the design inspiration!

Bathroom Addition: After

A couple of years ago around this time, we knocked out a wall between adjacent closets and added a bathroom to our one-bathroom house. The renovation was a major project, but one that was worth all the annoyance/dollars/tears, and changed our lives. Here is a quick refresher on the before:

Real pretty.

I have been promising to show y'all the after since that time. I guess two years is long enough, so please accept these pictures I have taken for your enjoyment: 

Facing the sink.

 From just outside the bathroom door.

Stripes! Jars! Colored Pencils! Fun times.

A look inside the shower.

Various Polaroids/Japanese tape/blogger cliches.

From the shower looking out.

I don't know if you can tell from these angles, but the bathroom is kind of tiny. For instance, in the above photo I am standing inside the shower having a relationship with my tripod.

So there it is. I hope you enjoyed it. I sure did, except for the part where I had to crawl under and THROUGH the tripod legs to get to the shutter button.

Sources:

Floor: Generic black penny tile/charcoal grout
Mirror: PB Teen
Sconces: Hudson Valley Lighting
Glass shelf: IKEA
Sink: IKEA
Toilet: Toto
Fixtures: Kohler
Shower curtain: IKEA, then custom sewn and monogrammed
Rug:eBay
Stool: Vintage
Hooks: The Hook Lady
Art: Lot 9 Press, Lisa Congdon, various Chaos

PS. Those of you waiting on rate sheets will have one in your hot little hands in the next day or so. Thank you for your patience!

PPS. Thank you for the nice knee notes. Not only was it neighborly, I guess you could say it was KNEE-ded. (I'll show myself out.)

Crip Tuesday

Benched.

As you may know if you follow me on Twitter, we are training for the NOLA half-marathon again. My knee has been bothering me for the past couple of weeks, and the pain did not abate despite constant ice/elevation/foam rolling/yoga. So, yesterday, I went to the orthopedic doctor. And the doctor was all like, "Oh, hm. Well, it's either something that will get better in a few days, or a tear in your meniscus."

SO, TOTALLY NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

Anyway, I am super depressed about it. Y'all probably couldn't tell from my personality, but I am addicted to endorphins. I am also addicted to the strong, powerful, superior feeling that comes from running really fast for a long time. Which I cannot do for at least another week. Which makes me cry. For real, I have been PMS-weepy since I left the doctor's office. Perhaps I should see another kind of doctor for another kind of medicine?

I received a cortisone shot and a prescription for anti-inflammatories, so let's all just cross our fingers (and knees!) that it works. Because if it doesn't, I am burning down the doctor's office and then my own leg.

In happier news, here's a sneak peek at a before and after that I'll be posting later in the week. Hint: a) it's in my house, b) I've been promising it for about a year now, and c) it is real cute.

Upside down monkey!