Deer!

Outfit info

Sweater - Old Navy, Button up - H&M, Jeans - Gap

Deer Scarf! - Madewell, iPhone case - J Crew, Watch - Michael Kors, Bracelet - J Crew

Much to the chagrin of many of our Texas friends and neighbors, Christian and I have a love for deer.  There's a herd (?) of them that live in a business complex right next to our apartment area.  And we love driving by, saying hello, exchanges stories about the weather, how the family's doing, etc.  Yes, that probably makes us weird, but we're OK with that.  Anyway, my love for our deer made me jump for joy (slight exaggeration) when I saw this scarf at Madewell the day after Christmas and doubly on sale.  So I bought it and wore it even though it really hasn't been cold enough during the day here for two layers and a scarf.  Whatever.  

I wonder if our deer will also enjoy my new sparkly iPhone case?

Running out for Chinese

Outfit Info

Sweater - J Crew (on sale!), Jeans - Gap, Boots - Aldo, 

Purse - Anthropologie, Watch - Michael Kors, Bracelets - J Crew 

Some good friends called us the other night and invited us to meet them for Chinese food.  So I threw on as many Christmas gifts as I could and ran out with Christian for some delicious food.  All of that's true except the running part; I never run.  

The purse is a big sister to the little blue/white one I wore to impress Jeremy Renner.  (I know, I know, quit talking about Jeremy Renner, especially while wearing all those gifts from your husband.)  That little bit on the back of the purse isn't a lowjack installed by Christian, but it is a compass so I can always find my way home.  Also, so I can find my way back to First Chinese BBQ.  Often.  The eggplant with Szechuan pork was beyond delicious.

Back to the clothes.  I plan on wearing this snuggly J Crew sweater as often as I can before it's back up to 100 degrees here in Austin.  So basically as many times as I can in the next six weeks.

A year worth of Christmas gifts

One thing on my Christmas wishlist was a Birchbox subscription.

I love going out and buying new clothes and accessories, but besides my nail polish fixation I tend to be very basic when it comes to beauty products, so I thought it would be fun and push me a little to get a box of samples once a month.

When I opened the first box Christmas day, I was a little worried because in addition to a cute Jouer gloss and dry shampoo from Oscar Blandi, which I was totally excited about, there was perfume in there.  In the past five years, I've stuck to Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein Euphoria, and various manifestiations of those two perfumes and nothing else.  See what I mean about needing to be pushed a little?  The Yogini scent from Harvey Prince is growing on me, though, and I've already worn it a couple times.  I normally shy away from new fragrances because I often get headaches from them but this one seems to have passed that test.  Describing perfume isn't really my strength, so if you're curious, I would check out the Harvey Prince site.

Thanks, Mom!  And thanks to Christian for giving her the rec!

Besides, the perfume, shampoo and gloss, there's also ShowStoppers fashion tape, EBoost orange energy booster and Nuxe mulit-usage dry oil shimmer, which I think I'll try in my hair.

Office party (OMG look out - you're about to get eaten by that huge tree!)

Outfit Info

Jacket - Banana Republic (similar here), Sparkly tank - Old Navy, Skirt - Madewell, 

Belt - J Crew (similar here), Wedges - J Crew, Clutch - H&M, Deer Ring - Target

My work office party was several weeks ago but I forgot to post the pics.  Whoops!  Since then I've fixed those ridiculous dark roots that I'm rockin' in these photos.  The tree is still large and looming.  The cats have almost beaten it into submission, though.

I love everything in this outfit and I wear most of the pieces a lot (as evidenced by the sparkly tank also making a showing when I went out to impress Mr. Renner).  The shoes are comfy, the ring is fun (although not a good piece if you're doing a lot of clothes trying on), and the skirt is one of my favorite purchases from the fall.  I like that even though the skirt is light the weather here's so mild that I can keep wearing it through winter.  And that clutch, I bought it 6 years ago at a Paris H&M, and it never fails.  My jacket is getting a little overworn, though, so I may need to investigate that similar one at J Crew soon.

Dressing to impress Jeremy Renner

AKA what I wore to go see Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol.

Cardigan - JCrew (similar here), Jeans - Gap, Sparkly tank - Old Navy, Boots - Aldo, Belt - Old Navy, Watch - Michael Kors

Hmm... Where should Jeremy and I honeymoon?  Does he love board games as much as I do?  Would he enjoy having them in the bedroom during the holidays because the giant Christmas tree has taken over a third of the living room?

Oh that?  That's a new Anthro Christmas purse from my real husband.  It's so pretty and cute and perfect.

Now that I think about it, Jeremy and I probably aren't meant for each other.  As much as I enjoy him in action movies, I'm sure he doesn't have that awesome taste in handbags.

Prepping for a house (apartment) guest

One of the things I was so thankful for during Thanksgiving is that my brother came to visit.  We hadn't seen him since our wedding two years ago so it was awesome to have a couple days to hang out, eat a lot, show him a couple things in Austin (like great sushi at Kome and the amazingness that is the Lamar Whole Foods store).

Since we had a guest coming and I was off work and puttering around the house, I decided to put a couple extra touches in our guest bathroom.  Usually that bathroom is just home to the cats' food, a thing of soap and a hand towel.  Not so welcoming.  So I added:

A mug from our anniversary trip to Marfa (bought at the Thunderbird Motel - LOVE) with some toothpaste (I always forget mine);

Airborne since there are colds going around; some Malin + Goetz shower gel also from the Thunderbird; and Kleenex + Q Tips because those are always useful.  All gathered together in a bowl from Anthropologie.

And I was super nice and let him keep the soap too.

Thankful (and excited)

So excited about the awesome spread I helped my husband cook up (I was chief chopper and I made the starches and pie) that I forgot to really take pictures.

You'll have to trust me that a lot of food went on this table about 30 minutes later (the flowers had to evacuate).

The menu (I couldn't fit Turkey on the list but 17 lbs of it were also there):

And by pie, I mean Pecan Pie with Bourbon Whipped Cream.

Hope everyone else had a wonderful and tasty Thanksgiving as well!

The Lost Interview featuring a snood

Cardigan - J Crew (gift), Jeans  - Gap, Tee - Target, SNOOD - Target, Flats - Strut Austin (not sure brand), Earrings - Target

You say infinity scarf, my husband says snood.  And this snood came in handy for beating back a chill at the Violet Crown Theatre while we were watching the Steve Jobs' documentary The Lost Interview.

Every year for the husband's birthday we go to see a movie of his choosing.  Usually a really bad movie. (For reference, please see Southland Tales.  Don't actually see it because then you'll hate me, but feel free to check out what others have said about it.  Although, Justin Timberlake is in it so you could always just push mute and fast forward through any non-JT scenes. Sadly, that wasn't an option when we saw it in the theater.  Thankfully, walking out was, which is what I did along with a lot of other folks.)

Anyway, this year we went to see The Lost Interview.  And even though there was no JT and I wanted to reach into the screen and push back a random piece of Jobs' hair for close to half the movie, it was darn good.  I think my snood enjoyed it as well.

Oh, hello there, new lipstick

#86 on my Day Zero list is to find the perfect nude lip color.

I'll be honest.  That seems like an easy one, but I was really worried about it.  Because I've been trying for a long time.  And I always end up with something that's too dry/too orangish/or a gloss.

But, lo and behold, I was wandering around Target one night after a work happy hour and I stumbled upon Revlon's Colorburst Lipstick in Pink Sugar.  It's perfect for me.  Nudey.  Moisturizy.  And, most importantly, doesn't have any weird smell or flavor, which is the downfall for many lipsticks for me.

I was so impressed that I went back this weekend and got an orange shade (Tutti Frutti) and a hot pink (Candy Pink).

A Halloween-ish trayscape

Missoni for Target tray with a "fruit" basket from Antho, skull candle from Target, bird S&P shakers from Red (awesome, awesome store), and what we like to call Muppet flowers from Whole Foods.  I love those flowers because they're cute, affordable and last a long time.  Our cats enjoy trying to shorten the poor Muppets' lives. 

Photos taken with my iPhone 4 using the Cameramatic app.

Day Zero

My wonderful friend Jess at Points of Interest challenged several of us to create Day Zero lists.

As she explains it, Day Zero is a (little less than) 3 year bucket list. You have 1001 days to complete 101 goals that you set for yourself. They can be simple, they can be complex--they just have to be specific and measurable.

So here goes!  The list is kinda organized but not really.  Helpful, I know.

Start Date: November 1, 2011

End Date: July 29, 2014

Items complete so far: 0

1. Have a baby
2. Get a new passport with my married name so I can go out of the country again
3. Go out of the country
4. Go to Santa Fe Fiestas
5. Go to Ten Thousand Waves
6. Go to Marfa again
7. Go to Seattle
8. Go back to New York (for a visit, not to live)
9. Go to Maine
10.  Go to Napa
11.  Go on a roadtrip
12.  Go on a trip with someone other than Christian
13.  Stay at Hotel Saint Cecilia
14.  Go on the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory tour
15.  Get to the point where I can fly without taking anything, including Dramamine
16.  Visit 5 of the organizations we work with
17.  Try 50 new (to me) restaurants or food trailers
18.  Go see at least one Ballet Austin performance
19.  Go to AMOA at Laguna Gloria
20.  Go to Arthouse at the Jones Center
21.  Go to the Pecan Street Festival
22.  Go to Eeyore's birthday party
23.  Go kayaking
24.  Go skiing or try snowboarding
25.  Go for a bike ride
26.  Go to Le Garage Sale at least once
27.  Go to Bloom (Kendi Everyday's store)
28.  Go see the one man show of Lord of the Rings 
29.  Go to a UT football game with Christian
30.  Go to an Astros game
31.  Watch the bats come out at Congress Bridge
32.  Go to Salt Lick
33.  Go to the Kite Festival at Zilker Park
34.  Get a tattoo 
35.  Ride a Vespa 
36.  Learn at least the basics of Photoshop
37.  Complete a 365 photo challenge
38.  Make our wedding album
39.  Get new pro photos taken of Christian and me
40.  Learn how to knit something other than a scarf
41.  Take a screenprinting class
42.  Take an upholstery class and re-upholster our green chair
43.  Take a pilates class
44.  Make 5 quilts (any size counts)
45.  Make a dress
46.  Spray paint something
47.  Embroider a set of napkins
48.  Make at least 10 things that I pin on Pinterest 
49.  Gift something I've sewn/embroidered/knitted to 10 different people
50.  Beat Christian at Trivial Pursuit
51.  Read 100 books
52.  Read How to Win Friends and Influence People and try to implement
53.  Read an entire issue of The Economist - every.single.article
54.  Continue with my current mentor and then find another one
55.  Go a week without TV 
56.  Go an entire weekend without email or internet (laptop or phone).
57.  Go a month without spending any unnecessary money (basically, no clothes or random things from Target)
58.  Figure out my 401(k)
59.  Get rid of bad debt
60.  Buy a house
61.  Make a budget and stick to it for 3 months  
62.  Make a 3 year career plan
63.  Build my blog 
64.  Open an Etsy shop
65.  Help someone with an organization or interior design project
66.  Make a new friend outside of work
67.  Clean out all the cabinets, closets and drawers of unnecessary stuff
68.  Go 1 month without refined sugar
69.  Cook dinner once a week for a month three times
70.  Re-learn how to make my Grandma's taffy
71.  Take a charcuterie class with the Kocureks
72.  Make a meal using only local ingredients
73.  Make Star Wars cookies using the molds from William Sonoma, including the fancy icing
74.  Make at least 6 new recipes a year
75.  Learn how to bake a pie other than pecan
76.  Make a cake from scratch, rather than a box  
77.  Dress up for Halloween every year
78.  Send holiday cards every year
79.  Decorate a Christmas tree on 360
80.  Spend a Thanksgiving with our friends
81.  Spend a Christmas just Christian, me and the cats
82.  Learn how to curl my hair with a straightening iron
83.  Once my hair gets longer, wear it down rather than in a ponytail at least once a week
84.  Get my acne under control and gone if possible  
85.  Wear red lipstick at least once a month
86.  Find the perfect shade of nude lip color
87.   Learn 3 new board or card games
88.  Complete Couch to 5k
89.  Try 10 new fruits, veggies, foods
90.  See a psychic
91.  Have a party
92.  Visit my niece or have her visit us
93.  Get allergy shots so I don't have to worry about ant bites
94.  Start playing the piano again
95.  Don't complain about anything for a week
96.  Pay for the person behind me in the drive-thru
97. Volunteer at the Austin Public Library
98.  Make a donation to the same nonprofit every year
99.  TBD
100.    TBD
101.    TBD