flirty aprons.

Last year I bought my mom an apron from Flirty Aprons (link will take you directly to their website). The one I bought her is purple and green and totally adorable. It's got little ruffles and pockets + nice, long ties so that you can bring it around to the front and make a pretty bow. 

To be completely honest, I wear it more than she does. Personally I think that when you look cute, you feel confident. And what better place to feel confident than in the kitchen? I know I need it because I have burned enough dishes that I need as much help as I can get.

Anyway, I just wanted to suggest a great gift idea if you are stumped as to the perfect gift for mom or grandma or sister or friend or maybe just buy one for yourself. They cost $24.95 which at first, I thought was a bit much for an apron. But it was actually totally worth it because its nice quality, durable material. Plus when you wash it, it doesn't need ironing or anything. It's awesome. If you get one, let me know what you think. 

P.S. They also have children's aprons that are basically mini sizes of the women's designs. And they also have manly men's aprons too. Check them out!

P.P.S. BYU/U of U fans, they ALSO have aprons with sayings like "Real Men Bleed Blue" and "I like Cougars...medium rare". 

black friday 2009.

All last month I was checking Black Friday deals like crazy. But nothing really caught my eye. Maybe because I'd already planned out + chosen everyone's gifts? I don't know. Other years I've gotten crazy over it. The thrill of standing in the cold for hours + then discreetly pushing my way forward (while also discreetly shoving others) has been reason enough to go.  So really this year I was only going for that. And a $9 vacuum.  And the cute bags that Target was giving out to the first 500 people.

Thanksgiving night I went to bed at around 1AM with plans (+ an alarm) to get up at 3 so that I could be in line by 3:30. But things did not go according to plan.

Sure, my alarm went off at 3AM. But when it went off, I jumped out of bed thinking that I had to get dressed for work. And then I realized it was a holiday. So I got back in bed + didn't wake up until 11.  Go figure.

 

new uses for old things.

I used to subscribe to this magazine called Real Simple. Its fabulous. Check it out. Even their website is phenomenal. But anyway. My favorite section to read every month was "New Uses for Old Things". I don't get the magazine anymore but fortunately I can still get my fix! And now, so can you. Just keep reading.

Pretty vase instead of scary face.

Tin cutters as sun catchers.

The perfect martian helmet.

An unexpected side table.

More later.

hello december!

What a long week since last post, eh? Here's the deal. I haven't hooked up the internet at my new apartment yet. Its been about 2 weeks. I sold my laptop months ago and my phone is not internet ready. Nor do I want it to be cause the screen is itty bitty and it just totally wouldn't be worth it. So my posting is done in the spare moments I get at the library or at other people's houses or on my cousin's iphone or whatever. 

And I don't really mind as much as I thought I would. Cause guess what?

I'm becoming crafty jennifer extraordinaire. Or at least trying to be. And by that I mean that I am learning to sew for the first time ever. And sewing means making 1-of-a-kind skirts, baby blankets, pillows + whatever else I decide to make. I am also wanting to make some of the furniture that will don my new home from scratch! 

Or at least fix up cool pieces I find at D.I. 

Plus guess what else, I'm all into cooking too! I am collected fabulous recipes to be tested out in the very near future [if anyone has a killer veggie lasagna recipe, send it on over]. 

So I've decided against having internet at home. For now. Cool, right? 

Now, about Thanksgiving. Wednesday afternoon I packed up my nasty cold and headed to Idaho to be with my family. Dinner was delicious, of course. But really, not any more special than any other dinner with my family members. I don't really care for Thanksgiving food that much. So I eat some green beans, a bit of mashed potatoes and a few strips of dark meat. And that's it. In fact the best part of Thanksgiving for me is the relaxation, the fun, and Christmas in the Nighttime Sky [I have photos of this to post later].  First you park at the Kmart parking lot. Then you are shuttled over to Kimberly Nurseries on a bunch of school buses. And then you give your new, unwrapped toy and in return you get to enjoy free chili, a baked potato, hot chocolate, half a dozen bonfires, Christmas carols and fireworks! The coolest part of all is that Colby came up late Wednesday night and was able to watch the fireworks with me. 

I always think that's pretty romantic. 

Anyway, here I am. It's December now and I am back at the old grind. Grocery lists, 8-5 hours, local traffic. And Christmas shopping! Which I'm really excited about this year for some reason. Like, I-heard-a-Christmas-song-on-the-radio-a-month-ago-and-almost-cried kind of excited. 

What about you?

half sick.

Does anybody else get just, half, sick?

Like if a bad flu is going around + everyone around you is dropping like flies...you might feel a teeny bit achy with just a light touch of nausea? Or maybe your boyfriend has a deafening cough + a fever...and you, your eyes might get a tiny bit watery & your throat might itch a little.

That's totally me. At least for the past 5 years or so. I attribute my awesome immune system to my employment at a certain community college in slc where I encountered so many "interesting" people germs on a daily basis that my body put up quite the protective shield. Then I moved to another part of the state. I managed to survive notorious, epidemic of swine flu. But as fortune would have it, this week I got totally punched out by a simple cold. Or not so simple. Whatever.

So anyway, I have been officially knocked down this time around. I've got it all. Body aches. Stuffy nose. That my-throat-is-on-fire feeling. Watery eyes. And of course, the sneezing. Because what cold could be complete without the nasally sneezing?  

My nights this week have been spent cuddling up to Colb while he does homework and I watch King of Queens. He's the best. And he is especially wonderful after last night. After a sick, emotional day I came home to find that Colby had done all of the dishes for me and even (GET THIS) folded/hung up all of my clothes that had been sitting on my bed for a week. Why was there a huge pile of clothes on my bed to begin with? BECAUSE GUYS, when I moved into my new place I just threw all my clothes + hangers on top of my bed for later sorting. And I've been so preoccupied with getting the rest of the apartment put together that my bedroom has been neglected. I was planning to clean it all up last night after work before the holiday but Colby's sweet act of service made it possible for me to lay down and relax instead. So, like I said. Wonderful.

 I'VE DEFINITELY POSTED THIS PICTURE BEFORE BUT ITS MY FAVORITE OF HIM SO HERE IT IS AGAIN.

love.

Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of eternal passion. That is just being in love, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.”

Louis de Bernieres

the coolest earrings have mustaches.

cute, right? earrings and unique leather jewelry from handle & spout. plus check out the cute flower hair pins.