Much Randomness To Share

Today I took the new boots for a test run in the form of a six hour shopping spree.

They were everything that I hoped that they'd be and then some.



I was stopped three times in J. Crew with the, "Where did you find those?!" and I can still feel my toes after packing on a dozen shopping bags and a slice of Copeland's chocolate cake. If that's not success, than I don't know what is.

Oh! Oh! Oh!

And when I was at Copeland's I got recognized.

It's only the second time it's happened in public, that someones come up to me all, "Um, so I read this blog, and, uh, are you by chance..." And I think to myself, HOLY EFF DO I HAVE CHOCOLATE CAKE IN MY TEETH?! IS MY HAIR BRUSHED?!



Because I think eff instead of fuck even in my own head. Because there is something wrong with me.

(SIDE NOTE: If you go to Copeland's on Southside Boulevard in Jacksonville and you are served by Megan The Interior Design Student About To Graduate, tip her well. She might even bring you biscuits out before your entree if you tell her you're starving. Because she's down like that.)

In other news, go see us over here today.

And speaking of interweb related tidbits, guess who got a new laptop for Christmas?



I know. The Nikon AND the laptop and tons of other stuff that left me screaming, "TELL ME YOU GOT THIS ON SALE BECAUSE I AM HYPERVENTILATING." He done did skippety. I'm all high tech and shiz now. Whoa. Nelly.

But don't think that I let his gifts spank mine entirely.

I got him this.



Those Master Bedroom lamps don't mix well with my Tyrannosaurus Rex arms and that other person in the bed falls asleep in four seconds.

It's the best gift EVER, which I know because he smiled when I told him about the surprise trips I booked, but when he got this he leaped over the Christmas tree and said, "Nooo?! Yes! Where did you find this?! OHMYGOD. Let's install it!!!" And then he shrieked and did the splits MJ style.

Not kidding.

Again With The Boots

I want to pack as little as possible on our upcoming trips, which means limiting my shoes to only. two. pairs. including my running ones. Which is kind of, you know, IMPOSSIBLE.

Comfort and durability are a huge priority. Not looking vertically challenged ranks pretty high, too. Also, they have to be able to handle everything from a nice dinner to a cooking class to a thirteen mile trek during which I'll stop at least four times to get crepes from street vendors.

Very important.

I recently got these Sam Edelman Knee Boots which are lovely and comfy, but have a heel that would be swallowed by cobblestone streets.



I also considered these Etienne Aigner Venezia Riding Boots. I bought a similar version with a higher heel a few years ago, and although I love them, there's no way they'd pound out more than five miles a day without crushing my feet to smithereens. Plus, they don't go with a lot of the outfits that I wear on a daily basis.



Enter these. Born's. I bought 'em today and I seriously did a double take when I realized that they even have a heel.

They walk like a boat shoe. Cozy. Versatile. Perfect.

The Christmas Eve That We Found Out That Satchel Is Indeed Part Dog

This year we decided to do genetic testing to find out more about Satchel's mother and father. We have several reasons for being curious, first because of the way she looks, but also because she was found homeless on the streets of Miami at only six weeks old. So even though I was afraid we'd uncover that she was the bastard spawn of a South Beach hooker, we decided to go forward with the test, anyway, since she wasn't conceived during the months that Jersey Shore was filmed down here and I'm guessing that means that we're safe. Right?

We've had lots of guesses when it comes to her breed, Sheepdog to Schnauzer to Labrador, but over the last few months the two thousand dollar Golden Doodles in our neighborhood convinced us that she was a designer dog, too.

Perhaps the worst part of that explanation was that we expected her to act exactly the same as her Tiffany collared counterparts, you know, chest thrown out, hair perfectly coifed, no slobbering in the bed. And, LET ME TELL YOU, there is no disappointment greater on earth than waiting for your puppy to tilt her head on cue for strangers as she projectile diarrheas on their shoes.

You can take Jenny from the block, but there's no taking the block from Jenny.

So. I'm not sure if I should have been at all surprised when we found out that one of her parents is full blown mutt while the other is Polish and these two.

I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF A BRITTANY OR A SWEDISH VALLHUND although I may have suspected the Polish part. She could have been a hundred different breeds that I actually know about, ones that I can pronounce, but instead she's the spawn of a pantie-less pink wig and a Swedish Val something or other.

I hid the results from her on purpose and plan on telling her that she's the daughter of Jesus and Stevie Nicks conceived one risque evening on the top floor of the Delano.

She's blonde and crazy, so I don't think this will confuse her.

::New:: In The Shop

Here.

Still Hating This

I know this is sort of old news, but I saw it again the other day and I still can't imagine what kind of asshat would approve this.

Just wondering.

An Early Birthday Present (READ THIS BEFORE HE CENSORS THE PHOTO)

A few days ago, I was booking an early birthday present for Andrew and the lady on the phone was like, "Just keep in mind that you cannot go out the night before you do this." And I was like, "What? New Year's Eve? OF COURSE NOT. I wouldn't get my husband inebriated the night before surprising him with the chance to fly an authentic World War II airplane. I would totally not do that." And then I felt a teensy bad for Andrew because I realized he had no idea what a boring New Year's Eve we are in for and so I actually considered stocking up on some Fat Tire and Romeo + Juliet's and just spiking the beer with a double dose of Dramamine. But the thing is, I don't actually know how to properly drug someone, exact dosing and combinations and yada yada, so I decided to just tell him about his present early instead. You know, easier.

He didn't even ask about New Year's Eve, and I feel way better knowing that he won't be flying a vintage plane four hours after Twelve By Twelve played naked while dancing to Prince's 1999 in a bedazzled tiara. Not that he would even do that.



He's not a big Prince fan.

Money Confessions

Since it's that time of year when everyone is spending money, why not test the taboo and write about it?

I came across this post the other day, and thought I'd share a few confessions of my own.


1. I have no concept of the real cost of college since mine was paid for entirely from scholarships. I was shocked when Andrew explained to me the price of his private school MBA.

2. When I was single and dating I always offered to pay, even when I was really young and didn't have the money.

3. The largest amount of money that was ever stolen from me was taken by a long term boyfriend. Who had plenty of his own.

4. Out of all the jobs that I've ever had, practicing architecture at a traditional office was my least favorite, in part because I negotiated a salary that was around thirty percent higher than nearly everyone else at the firm. And they all knew it.

5. Two years ago I missed out on a job in the last round of interviews when they found out how high my salary was at my previous job.

6. I once fronted a contractor $3000 in cash for work that he hadn't done. It was a few days before Christmas, and he told me that he needed it to buy his daughter presents and pay his rent. I never saw him again.

7. My freshman year in college, I was Christmas shopping with a wad of cash in my back pocket. At some point two men bumped into me and pick pocketed me. That money was every single dime I had in the world at the time. I was so upset and embarrassed.

8. In my twenties it wasn't uncommon for me to have up to $50,000 in credit card debt at any particular time. It was always composed of renovation expenses, put on zero percent interest rate cards, and paid off in months. We carry no credit card debt today, but unlike a lot of Americans, I don't think it's necessarily something to be frightened of.

9. I hate paying for valet. I'll walk six blocks wearing four inch heels in ninety degree weather before I'll pony up a twenty to have my car parked. I also refuse to pay for bad service. If I receive it even once, I never use that business again.

10. I sold dishes door-to-door one summer in college, and it was very humbling. A couple of years ago, a girl showed up at my office selling make-up. I overheard the secretary sending her away, because I was in a meeting. I stopped my meeting, ran out, caught her and bought three cases of cheap eyeshadow and clumpy mascara. She looked like she'd won the lottery.


So there are my confessions. What are yours?

Feel free to answer anonymously.

Apartment Therapy: Best Of 2010

I was holding out for People's Top Fifty Sexiest List, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, but I suppose this will have to do.

Manny was pretty stoked about it.

Many thanks to Regina Yunghans and Apartment Therapy for including us in their Best Of 2010 post!

Go Fish

Before we get into the catty fishies let me just hug you for all of the stuff you've been sending about our vacays. Extremely helpful.

Thank you.

So. With that out of the way. Today I decided to make Catfish Stew for lunch. When Andrew came downstairs and decided to assist, I was all, "Great! You can clean up the mess you made in The Kitchen!"




And he was all, "You mean the mess I made MAKING YOU BREAKFAST?"

Anyway. Back to the Catfish Stew.

First, you cut up the fish.

Or, if you've cut off your index finger twice, once while butchering a cantaloupe and once in a second year studio class in architecture school, you let someone else cut up the fish.

Either way.

I like to buy the catfish that's already cajun seasoned. It's easy and makes for a tangier, spicier stew.

Next, fry the bacon over medium heat for two minutes or so.

Add tomatoes, water, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and thyme.

Add the fish. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Cook about twenty five minutes.

Voila. Prepare yourself for delicious.

Catfish Stew

serves 2

1 pound cajun seasoned catfish fillets
4 slices of bacon, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup of water
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme

This post is linked to The Thrifty Home's 65th Penny Pinching Party.

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