1/2 Marathon Training: Week 1, Run 3

Today's 3-mile run was fueled by pure aggravation! Apparently this makes me run fast, because I did it with an average pace of 11:05-minute miles, which is very speedy for the likes of me.

How do I know my average pace? Well, that would be thanks to my new Garmin watch ... one of my triathlon gal pals highly recommended it, and Linda has it, too, so I took the plunge. I have no earthly idea how to work most of the features, but the very basic ones (time, distance, pace) seem doable enough for now.

I was aggravated because I spent two hours today driving to and from a very cool sounding estate sale that apparently did not exist ... I carefully followed the explicit directions, and I arrived at what can only be described as a shack/junkyard, where four muddy, barefoot children confirmed that the address listed in the ad was their house. "There ain't no sale here," they assured me. "But let's check with Maw Maw." Maw Maw confirmed: no sale. I'm not sure what happened, but it was kind of a pain. Oh well! At least I had some good tunes to keep me company on the way to the country and back. I consoled myself by stopping at a neighborhood garage sale and buying myself a fake orchid and a fake gold necklace.

I think I also went a little faster today because I was being dragged by Zuko. I ran with him a lot over the summer as part of Project Exhaustion to get him over his OCD leg licking, and it totally worked. However, I haven't taken him out in a good while, and I noted the other day that he's started again, this time on the top of his paw. I was a little worried that it would hurt him to run on it, but he seemed as jazzed and spastic as always and totally unfazed. I have no idea if I'll keep taking him running with me, but I enjoyed it today, even when he'd try to pull my arm out of socket when chasing a flock of ducks into the lake or a squirrel up a tree. The sky was totally sunny and cloudless and beautiful, and I definitely got tired -- shins and calves, mostly, as usual, but it felt good.

Meanwhile, I think another friend might be training for the race ... this makes me very happy.

Today's Best Running Song: Dying Day by Brandi Carlile.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 1, Run 2

Today's 2-mile run wasn't too bad! The weather is perfect, the sky was still blue, and there were cute dogs a-plenty being walked round and round. Plus, I saw a chicken. An actual full-grown chicken, walking around in the middle of the street a block from my house, pecking at the ground.

My calves are definitely very sore, but I'm trying to stretch the bejeezus out of them post-run.

Even though I'm planning to follow a time-based rather than a mileage-based training schedule this time around, I didn't receive it until today, and since I started the week with mileage I'm going to finish it that way. I'm just kind of a mental case that way. I finished in 22:30, which is about right for me right now. Slow and steady and all that jazz. (P.S. I'm also posting over here.)

Today's Best Running Song: Kick Drum Heart by The Avett Brothers ... my heart like a kick drum, my love like a voice.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 1, Run 1

Mamma Mia! Here I go again. That song came on during my run tonight, and I thought it was very apropos.

All I wanted to do when I got home today was change into my pajamas, settle in on the couch with a big bowl of my mom's strangely delicious carrot salad, watch this morning's season 7 Bravo reruns of The West Wing, and then transition into the first competition night of season 6 of So You Think You Can Dance to find out what in the heck is going on with Billy Bell. You know, really productive stuff.

But I told myself it would be dumb to squander one of the last evenings of the year when it would be light outside after work, threw my keys down when I walked in the door, changed immediately into my running clothes before I could change my mind, and hit the road.

It wasn't an easy three miles. I was tired after two, and I felt myself actually feeling hungry. I guess my decadent sliver of quiche and amazing pear tart and latte that I had for lunch from my favorite cafe were not the greatest fuel for running. But I soldiered on. The sky was beautiful, the runners and dog walkers and bikers were out in full force, the egrets were gliding over the water, and all was peaceful.

I started thinking about the word "squander" and how if I am ever sitting before James Lipton and he asks me the Bernard Pivot questions, "squander" is definitely in the running as my least favorite word. Squandering is just not a cool thing to do. Squandering good will. Squandering money. Squandering fitness. Squandering time.

The first 3-mile run of my training took me 36 minutes. I can only get faster from here. (I hope.) These next 18 weeks are going to get ugly. The strategy I've always tried to use, which I'm going to try to use this time, is one breath, one step, one run, one aching calf, one Kelly Clarkson song at a time.

Today's Best Running Song: "My Life Would Suck Without You."

Plans

The only thing I didn't like about Bright Star was that it made me hate a character played by Paul Schneider, otherwise known as Lars' kind brother in my beloved Lars and the Real Girl and Mark Brandanowitz on Parks and Recreation, which surprised no one more than me by turning into one of the funniest shows on TV. (I thought it was really dumb last season when it started, but now it makes me laugh a lot, and I love it.) I do not need Paul Schneider to put on a Scottish accent, wear strange plaid jumpers, and be mean to Fanny Brawne. I need him to be adorable, which he is. (Not that adorable on Parks & Recreation: Bright Abbott. I blame Anna Faris.) It's not that Paul Schneider wasn't good in the movie -- he was, and the realization he comes to in the end is very moving. I just wasn't crazy about his character. Or his outfit.

I'm only about 40 pages into Looking for Alaska so far, but I can tell it's going to be special. I love knowing this about a book when I still have most of it left to read.

Had a lovely get together today with ladyloo, whom I'd never met before. She is delightful, and we ate an abundance of pastries.

The big news around these parts is that I received notice about registration for an upcoming half-marathon that I was not even considering registering for until I noted that it is taking place on my 35th birthday. 35. 35th birthday. This is not really something I had visualized, and suddenly it is right around the corner. Well. It took me about five minutes to realize that one way to avoid deranged feelings of woe about this number that is supposed to arbitrarily mark some point in a woman's life span -- and one way to enjoy life more in general, which I always do by leaps and bounds when I have some sort of fitness event to train for -- would be to sign up for a half-marathon that day! So I did.

And I know I'm a big talker, and I decided to do this last year, too, and I quit after nine weeks of training. But all I can do is decide to do it and have every intention of following through this time. Happily, some friends are planning to come down and do it, too, and some of my triathlon gal pals are signed up, too, which is fantastic.

(If you want to come, too, just come! This is an event where thousands of people come, and it's expected to be bigger than ever in 2010. There is room for everyone. Also, to clear up any confusion, this does not actually happen on Mardi Gras weekend ... that's two weeks earlier. If you don't like running, there are people who walk it. Or people who cheer on the sidelines. So ... that's an option! I don't want anyone to feel left out, is all I'm saying.)

I know that the flurry of the excitement of deciding this yesterday will fade as I decide I hate running like I always do, but sometimes you've just gotta say WTF. In a very self-centered way, I am thinking of it as a great big birthday party for myself, ringing in 35 with a big bang in the Big Easy. Hopefully thinking about it this way will help me to actually show up!

Meanwhile, I also signed up for a 10-day, pre-dawn boot camp. I think maybe I have lost my mind.

Cool weather and cool times

A few misc. thoughts to start:

I am continuing to regularly update my House Ideas post.

I never tire of Scouting NY. It is full of such cool photographs and stories.

I am in the market for a small coffee maker. Most of the time, one or two cups will do just fine. If you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them.

I finished Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, which I mostly loved, which I knew I would, except that now I feel guilty every time I eat a banana. Which I just did. I really want to be better about eating locally, but I don't want to give up bananas. I am working on this. It's a process.

Because I apparently cannot stop reading books about food, I know I am going to end up reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. I am bracing myself for this one, though. I am easily influenced and know it's going to make me go through a dilemma about whether or not to go vegetarian. But I kind of like putting myself through such dilemmas sometimes. As someone who unapologetically loved his first two books, I know I'll like the way it's written.

This review makes me really want to read Craig Ferguson's memoir.

And now for a weekend update. It was a nice weekend. I went to the farmer's market and got lettuce and a loaf of whole wheat bread and organic potatoes and organic satsumas.

Class let out early so we could attend the book festival, which was fun, and what's not cool about seeing Ernest Gaines in person? I bought Printz winner Looking for Alaska and an anthology called How Beautiful the Ordinary: Twelve Stories of Identity, chosen because I liked the title and because I am very charmed by David Levithan. So far, I've only read his chapter, which begins the book, and it made me cry.

Following the book festival was high tea at my favorite cafe, where we were served four courses of awesome. It was a delight.

Back at home, the afternoon was one of open windows with the chilly, fresh air blowing in, the baking of white chocolate macadamia oatmeal cookies (which I ended up dreadfully overcooking, oh well!), Brandi's album on the stereo, and a visit with a friend. I also took the dogs out for a long walk in the late afternoon. They were hellions, but it was great to be outside in the sun and actually get some exercise, of which I have done exactly none for weeks.

It got down into the low 40s on Saturday night, which was kind of bananas. I slept in until 7 on Sunday morning when Zuko could be contained no longer, so I got up, released the hounds, and then went back to bed until 9. It was the first cold morning since right around the time I got my new bed and comforter, so snuggling in it in the cold felt so decadent and luxurious and heavenly. It is a cloud. I love it.

Lamenting the rock hardness of the cookies of the previous day, I evaluated the ingredients I had left on hand and made a giant batch of simple sugar cookies, which I have to tell you, were melt-in-your-mouth good. Note: if you stick to the wee teaspoon-sized balls, which I did, do NOT cook longer than 7 or 8 minutes. You will be sorry. Also, I creamed my butter and sugar with an electric mixer, which I never knew I supposed to do (oops). But it worked. They were perfect and tiny and very buttery and divine. I will never make store-bought sugar cookies again. Never!

Once I was done with my baking extravaganza, I pumped up my bike tires and went out for a ride for the first time since the last triathlon of the summer, also known as the last week of August. Wow. It was a little cool outside, but it was sunny and felt kind of magical to actually ride it again and be back among the exercisers. I totally felt like one of them all spring and summer, but then I left the group for about six weeks or so. It felt good to be back. One uber-cyclist in a cycling suit on a super whizzy fast bike and I came to a bridge at the same time and I said, "Sorry!" as I bumbled clumsily in front of him and he chirped, "Don't apologize, I'm the maniac out here!" And I said, "I'm kind of slow!" and he cheerleaded, "At least you're out here riding!" And that was that. He smiled at me later as we passed each other again while I was in the midst of yelling "ASSHOLE!" at a pushy car. Oh, drivers of cars. A little patience as we cross an intersection. Is all we bikers ask.

I attended a party for my friend who's selling jewelry, where I overindulged in cocktail meatballs. I don't even really like meat. But they are so good. Then it was book club, with Persepolis and yummy homemade bread and chili and nice people.

Tonight in the works is a dinner of new potatoes from the farmer's market roasted in a hot oven with olive oil and minced garlic and salt and pepper alongside some whole wheat angel hair with tomatoes and broccoli florets and chicken and purple onions. And I might need to eat three or four satsumas for dessert. And Every Little Step is on its way.

In the mood for swoony romance what with the colder weather and all, the only thing to do yeterday was see Bright Star. The actors who played Fanny Brawne & John Keats were very pretty and good, the overall look of the film was gorgeous, and even if it was all made up for all I know, it was utterly heartbreaking. There may have been noisy, copious weeping. I kept thinking back to when I visited the Keats-Shelley house Rome in 1998. Here's what I wrote in my journal that day at the age of 23: "All I have to say is that the Keats-Shelley Memorial museum was 100% amazing. Locks of Keats's hair, original pages of 'Lamia' and 'Ode on a Nightingale,' his last letters to his sister before he left for Italy which talked about how he wanted to fully recover -- and the room where he died. So young. So sad. Moving. Awesome." For years, I had framed postcards I bought there of his gravestone and of this image, sketched by his friend as Keats lay dying. I'm not sure what I did with them. Anyway, my thoughts on the movie are all wrapped up with how I felt visiting that place all those years ago. Overall, it wasn't a perfect movie, but it was very lovely and very romantic and very sad, if that sort of thing does it for you. (It does it for me.)

Octoberfesting

My Lord, what a month!

I spent the entire first week in Hawaii, which I won't say much about other than I loved being there. Lots of baby-love and friend-love and eating potato chip encrusted fish sandwiches and coffee toffee nut gelato.

After arriving home, I spent a few days stumbling around as if drunk trying to readjust to the five-hour time difference. I think I might be very constitutionally weak when it comes to jet lag. Then it was time for the biggest football game of the year, which I attended with my mom and brother and where we had a great time despite (a) the rain and (b) losing.

Then it was time for a road trip ... my brother and I drove 400 miles to see Brandi Carlile (opener: Amy Ray). It rained and took six hours and we got a little lost walking through the dark and desolate sidewalks between our hotel and the venue, but all was good. The venue was just fantastic, I cannot lie, and of course the acts were great. Amy Ray definitely rocks out way, way more when on her own, and she and her plaid pants were really great. Brandi joined them for a song or two, which obviously excited the crowd. Stand and Deliver was unsurprisingly a highlight.

And Brandi -- well, if you've seen her, you know what I mean here -- what can I even say? Even though I saw her in May, and even though some of the stories and moments and songs were similar, it was like a whole new world of delicious awesomeness in this beautiful venue with my brother.

I'd prepped my brother with some of her songs on the way there, including her new album which just came out last week, so he was vaguely familiar with her. But when she and the twins and the drummer and the cello player came out to sing "Oh Dear" in harmony with some kind of old-timey-sounding microphone, I was pretty sure I could hear his jaw dropping behind me along with everyone else's in the room. We all just kind of froze in the beauty of it. (Here's a video of the actual performance. While I am psyched this video exists, it absolutely does not do justice to the sound in the space. The acoustics were phenomenal.) Incredible opener! And now I shall list the rest of the setlist in order!

Looking Out: Amy Ray joined the band for this song, as she does on the album. Totally awesome! My mind was blown by seeing them together, for real. The sound isn't great here, but you get the idea.

What Can I Say, Late Morning Lullabye, My Song: These older songs were audience faves, of course, and we were encouraged to sing along, and lo, we did.

Dying Day: Performed unplugged at the edge of the stage. Sensational in every way. Video from our very show.

I Will: Acoustic. Here's the video from our show! This is a new song that didn't really make much of an impression on me until hearing it live. I got a tiny bit teary, to my surprise. I basically thought about various estrangements in life. "... It hurts to be the one that you'd regret. I have to say that I am proud to know you, and I'll never be the same because we met. You might not miss this, but I will ..."

Hiding My Heart: Acoustic. She said they rarely play this one in concert but had started to ask for fan requests, and this was one. Video from our show; gorgeous, obvs. This is quite a depressing song, in case you were wondering.

Dreams: Possibly my favorite song on the new album. You can see the official video here.

Before It Breaks: Kind of heartbreaking. (Video from our show.)

Turpentine: Audience singalong. Fun.

The Story: I am not sure how I have never noticed that she actually switches guitars in the middle of this song. Noticing this made me happy. Obviously, it was awesome.

Let It Be: Very Pretty.

Jackson / Folsom Prison Blues: I thought this first encore would be it! But it wasn't!

Johnny Rottentale: With Amy Ray. Very fun. I like when singers share a single microphone. It warms my heart.

(Brandi mentioned how she had done Cannonball with both Indigo Girls the night before in Atlanta, which made me fantasize briefly that Emily was going to appear. She did not, but here's a video of that performance. It might be a good thing I did not see this live, as I'm not sure my heart would have been able to take it.)

And still, there was more!

Calling All Angels: With her sister Tiffany Carlile. Unspeakably perfect & beautiful. (That link is an excellent video of the two of them performing this song).

That Year: Just Brandi and her guitar and a stool. Heartfelt explanation & lovely, very sad song.

Pride and Joy: Closed it out. (Video from our show ... starts out kind of dark but sounds GREAT.) A powerhouse of a finale to be sure. The instruments got so explodey at the end I thought the top of my head and roof might blow off. Greatness!

Overall, it was a magnificent experience and one that produced such euphoria that it was totally worth driving 800 miles in two days.

Meanwhile, I'm in the middle of this, which probably deserves its own post one of these days. And I'm taking a class on Saturdays, and this weekend is a high tea and a party and a book club meeting and it's just all kind of pouring over, the fun. So ... October isn't even halfway over, and it's already been so chock full of excitement. I'm liking this crazy autumnal bliss, even though it rains every single day.

To close, I would like to share an e-mail I received today from my mother, just because it made me smile. She is making her way through season three of Friday Night Lights for the first time.

I am sobbing. I just watched the scene where [spoiler about Smash redacted]......

I looooooooooooooove this show........except for too much casual sex, it's just about perfect!

Love you!
Mom

And my dad's reply:

So Mom comes into the bedroom all teary eyed and says [spoiler about Smash redacted]. I look at her and say, "Who the F* is Smash?" Clearly, I don't know the plot line.

Dad

House ideas

Continuing ...

I was at the bookstore yesterday and spotted some cards by Xenia Taler and fell instantly in love. It's like my heart leapt out and said, "Yes!" (They look like this and this.) While searching around online for more of her stuff, I came upon a store, and I looked for lighting, like I always do, and I saw this pendant, and I liked it. I checked with my expert design consultant, and she approved! So I bought it. It was my first AB-sanctioned house purchase, and I am very excited about it. I will rid my home of the b00b lights one by one, so help me God!

Meanwhile, I kind of like this shower curtain. And I like the idea of having something in my office where I can display unframed cards and photos in a makeshift and spontaneous manner, and if not an inspiration line, maybe something insane like this birdcage. I love bird stuff, but I don't want to go too all out with it and be a Crazy Bird Lady. (My bird prints remain my favorite bird-related item at present, and I really want to frame and hang them nicely somehow.)

Continuing ...

According to my expert design consultant, Eames Hang-It-All is cute alternative to current ugly mirror hook contraption in foyer.

I love this calendar.

I like everything she sells and her house very much.

I like the blue wall color in this post.

Newly formed crush on Thomas Paul, particularly the fabrics.

Continuing ...

Note to self: Stop shunning rugs! Rugs can be pretty. AB says these are good.

If I ever live in a home with no pets, or only with pets who are bald or don't shed, or only with pets who never throw up (sorry), I will fill it with beautiful rugs like these from Angela Adams.

I like the colors in this room.

As I mentioned previously (below), I am in the market for some new light fixtures throughout my house. I saw this one looking cute in that bedroom and was surprised to learn that it came from Target. I've had a few epiphanies about lamps and lighting. First, even though I am pro-color, generally, I find that I like lamps made of metal with skinny necks that you can adjust. (That do not cost hundreds of dollars like those, preferably.) I think they are cute. Also, I do not want any ceiling light fixtures to have little shades on them. As I start thinking seriously about all this stuff for the first time ever, it's comforting to discover Things I Know For Sure. No lamp shades on chandeliers for me!

Meanwhile, who knew Target had cute house stuff? Not me! I like this chair and the colors it comes in:

My problem with cute upholstered furniture is the fur. My cats just get everything so m-effing furry. Maybe I could somehow train them to keep them off the furniture. But I doubt it.

In another direction, I'm starting to have really radical thoughts about things I could replace in my house. Big electrical things and other big endeavors. I obviously want a new living room ceiling fan, as mentioned below (preferably with a light fixture), but now I'm having thoughts of refrigerators and stoves and kitchen cabinetry. And one day, a new bathtub. Madness! My next-door neighbor has a beautiful clawfoot tub that makes me want to pass out, it's so beautiful. One day, maybe, one day.

As for fans, I wouldn't mind one in my bedroom while I'm at it. I come from pro-fan people. I'm liking the idea of something like this or one of these, but am not sure if something that modern would look psychotically dumb in my house.

:::

Continuing ...

Seeing these beautiful walls makes me re-thinking my recent post about being more neutral on walls. I am indecisive and conflicted, as usual.

Can someone please talk to me about Urban Outfitters? Every time I've walked into that store, I've fled almost immediately because I find it overwhelming and everything to be kind of ugly. The overall vibe is kind of nauseating. Maybe it's because of the music they play and the fact that it's three stories tall. I started digging around the website, though, and I like a lot of what I see. At least I think I do. It's all relatively affordable, which makes me wonder if it's all kind of cheap at heart. Here are some things I spotted that struck my fancy. I particularly like that set of yellow cannisters, that storage bench contraption, and that ridiculous yet adorable (to me) blue alarm clock.

But then I ask myself: is that blue alarm clock something a grown woman should own? When do you cross the line from something that looks cute to something that looks stupid? I have no idea.

And God help me, do I want that pistachio couch? I don't know if I believe in couches without sides. How are you supposed to lie down on that to lounge while watching So You Think You Can Dance without falling off? Still, I like the look of it. I just wonder if it's super shoddily made.

Maybe something like this from Macy's would be better ... I am a fan of arms:

Or this Crate and Barrell couch ... which I like in both green and blue:

How much is a sofa supposed to cost? Who the eff knows? I am also a fan of fur-friendly furniture. That makes me want something leather. This is such a dilemma. I kind of love this monstrous camel-colored couch because it's the same color as one we had made of naugahyde growing up, but it costs $1m:

(Note: I am not saying I actually plan to spend tons of money on a sofa. This is mostly just for ideas.)

Also, I love having a ceiling fan in my living room, but it is very, very fug. Suggestions for cute ceiling fans are welcome. (I'm going through these suggestions at the moment.)

Is this cute for over a dining room table? I have no idea!

:::

Continuing ...

Lately I've been reconsidering splashing ferociously bright colors on my actual walls. With the colors I've been eyeballing, it's a fine line between bright and beautiful and the set of Miami Vice. Maybe it would be best to highlight those colors that I've been feeling lately (see the post below) with furniture, lamps, pillows, and other accents and be a little more calm on the walls. For example, I really like the blue on these walls and this light-ish gray. Jessamyn, who supports this concept, recommends Silver Sage and Flower Wood, for those keeping track! More soon ...

:::

I'm in the very preliminary stages of starting to map out ideas for changes I want to make in my house. By "preliminary," I mean I've done nothing. But I want to. So I'm going to use this post as a way to collect some of my ideas. I've been working on this for a while and decided to just go ahead and post it. I'll add to it over time. It's totally stream of consciousness because that's where I am right now.

Architecturally, my house inherently lacks any semblance of style or charm. If it's going to have either of those things, I'm going to have to create it with my bare hands. Deciding to buy a house was a smart move, but it was one I made at the very dumb age of 26, when I didn't really think through what I would really love my house to have: A front porch. Nice windows. A fireplace. Interesting angles and nooks and quirks built into the house when it was built. Basically, my house is a very boxy box. It has its good points, like a carport and a large backyard, but ... that's it. In a neighborhood filled with a variety of extremely adorable architectural styles, including a bevy of craftsman bungalows, it's sort of a dud. I know this, and I accept this, but I am now ready to embrace the power I have to make it better, to help it to do a better job of reflecting who I actually am. I am ready to give my house a soul.

I love the above photo. I took it in Campeche, Mexico, about three years ago. I love the colors, I love the walls and the wood and the way it all fits together. I want to print this, not poster-size or anything crazy, but larger than the current 4x6 print I have in an album and use it somehow in my house. Not only as inspiration for the colors and aesthetic I like, but in a place that will mean something. Really, I just want to put things out in my house that mean something to me and also look cute. This photo is one way to start me thinking in that direction, I hope.

I also really like the colors in this stained glass window project my sister made when we were kids.

In my recent foray into design blogs, I came across a quote that really spoke to me. I've been persuaded by a friend that painting my walls is priority number one. I knew she was right, but I REALLY knew it when I read this:

"The quickest way to change your life is a coat of paint.
We all go through transitions and color helps us get there faster."

Yes, yes, yes! This conviction has newly seized my heart. I can't wait to get started on the painting project. My friend and I picked out some swatches in Hawaii recently (I'll post a picture of them once I actually take it), but I still have a long way to go in this area. I've been reading up on different kinds of paint sheens and trying to get a clue because I have none.

I have some pieces that I think I'd like to keep but re-fashion in some manner. Pretty much every piece of furniture I own is brown. I am a big fan lately of the concept of repainting brown furniture. The Before and After section of Design*Sponge is a great source of ideas for this. It's where I first spotted this yellow dresser re-do that's so dazzling to me that I'm ready to copy it immediately (not that I actually know how). Yellow is another color that I am loving the idea of lately, but my problem is which yellow? How yellow? Where yellow? Etc. I keep reading about yellow to try to get with the yellow program. I like the way this yellow looks. Mainly I don't want my yellows to be (a) blinding or (b) the color of mustard. The last time I tried to paint a room yellow, this happened. Tragic on every level.

I am also mildly obsessed with the color aqua, but am not sure how to manifest this obsession in a way that is (a) healthy and (b) cute. I really like the color in a rug I already have. Aqua placemats? Aqua chandelier? Heck, aqua piano? Yes, please!

I want to purchase a photo by my friend Jessamyn. She is so very talented and just getting started in her business, and I want to not only support her in this awesome creative endeavor but have a little piece of beauty launched from her eyes and hands in my home. (Right now, I'm leaning toward this one, but I also really love this one. Among many, many others!)

Recently, I have purchased the following things:

This photo of vintage bottles from Boho Photography ... I framed it and hung it in my bathroom. I find it lovely and soothing.

This Manhattan print from Three Potato Four, a shop I love beyond reason. It is waiting to have a room built around it, at least in my mind. I love the color blue in the print, and I love the memories it calls forth about all of my great trips to New York.

These four bird prints by Geninne Zlatlkis. I love and adore them, but they're kind of an odd size for framing and I've yet to do anything with them. The colors really inspire me, though, and I like the idea of making them key in a room in some way. (The thing is that I have no idea how.)

This print ... before I learned when starting to read design blogs for the first time that this has become a giant cliche. Oh well! I still like it. Right now it's in a white frame propped against my kitchen wall atop my refrigerator. I dare say it's kind of helping me keep calm and carry on.

On that note, I really want to make an effort to incorporate actual photographs and paintings and other art by actual artists, things made by actual people and signed by them with an actual pen or pencil and not mass marketed. (I know I won't always stick to this concept, hello, KC & CO poster), but I really want to embrace the concept when I can.)

I also really like photographs of paths and bridges. They have always spoken to me. Not because they are so original or artistic but because of what they signify -- to me, they represent a journey, something beyond the horizon, something on the other side. And because they're outside in places that are pretty, and as stupid as it sound, nature is inspiring. Obviously. And the blues and greens of sky and trees and leaves and grass -- I dig those colors the most, basically. Here are a few I've taken that I like, in Colorado, England's Lake District, Costa Rica, Mexico ... maybe I could do something theme-y with these? Is that stupid?

I am very inspired by other people's houses. Obviously, my homestate girlfriend AB Chao's house is a work of art, and I, like many of you, I'm sure, have been in awe of her skills for years. (Details on latest awesome feat is here.) More recently, the home of Kelly Rae Roberts (I don't know her) has inspired me in a major, major way. I love her big, bright colors and all of her beautiful touches. The color of that green couch has really been zinging with me lately. I want to incorporate it in my new home look, but I'm not sure how. Furniture? Walls? Doors? Accents? Office chairs? Lamps? Who the hell knows? And how to pick the right shade of paint -- it seems with a color like this, it would be easy to get it very, very wrong.

I like this picture. Even though it was taken with an iPhone. I'm not sure when displaying your own photos becomes crazy and overkill-ish, though. Mostly I just like pretty colors and happy memories.

I like this pink heart house in New Orleans.

And this 8x10 photo from the '60s is very special to me. It's a night blooming cereus photo that belonged to my grandmother. It means a lot to me because of her. And also because of The Bean Trees. I need to showcase it! In a way that looks good!

My house also needs structural things done. Like a new A/C and heater and better windows and an outdoor laundry room renovation. But those things can wait for now, I think.

Here are some things I want to work on and change, in addition to what I've already rambled about above:

(1) I'd like some ceiling light fixtures that do not look like b00bs. You know the ones I mean. I like cute pendants [ALERT: I love pretty much everything sold in this store, apparently, even though some of it is $1 million] and chandeliers and whatnot, but I'm not sure where to get them and certainly have no clue how to hook them up.

(2) Window treatments. I have wide, short windows in most rooms that normal curtains don't work on very well. My curtains and curtain rods, such as they are, are a sad state of affairs.

(3) New doors in the back. This is the main "structural" thing I'd like to do sooner rather than later. My sliding glass door is on its last legs and is totally energy inefficient when being blasted by full western afternoon sun and causing my house to fry like bacon. Also, it looks heinous.

(4) Some things need to be discarded, such as ugly lamps and other ugly things, which are myriad.

(5) Reupholstering easy things I can do myself. Not sure about major reupholstering at this point.

(6) A new couch that does not come from a garage sale. My cats spend a lot of time on my couch, so this might need to be taken into consideration, sadly. I'd like a couch off of which cat hair can be easily swept rather than vacuumed, as this is my most hated household chore and one of my excuses to never have people over.

(6) If I'm keeping the twin beds when I rebuild the rooms they are in, I will need to decide on some new bedding and whether the headboards should be repainted and what color. Lately I am drawn to really bright, floral bedding. I am not sure why. I might change my mind about this. (I'm currently happy with my all white bedding in my own room.)

(7) Some cute new stuff that can be bought to spruce thangs up.

(8) A new headboard of some kind for my new bed. I don't want anything made of fabric because fabric in my house is a magnet for dust and pet hair. Sad but true! And I don't want anything too bulky. I like iron beds lately. I love and adore this Ikea bed painted yellow. Or something like this or this? Or this or this, but painted? This is, however, not a major priority at this point.

(9) I hate my shiny gold doorknobs.

(10) I like the colors in this room.

(11) I like this random tea towel. Really, I like lots of tea towels.

(12) These are cute throw pillows. So is this one.

(13) I love this Mississippi Sea print. I think I might have a print problem.

(14) I love Orla Kiely but suspect I might be very late to this party.

(15) I love this quote about design.

(16) I think maybe I should have some ledges. I like the look of a good ledge with some cute, meaningful stuff on it. Not sure where they should go, though.

(17) I like lamp shades, but sometimes I get a little paralyzed. Really cute? Really ugly? I go back and forth. Mostly, I think cute. But I don't really trust myself all that much. I like Anthropologie shades, but their prices are fairly redonkulous.

(18) I like the idea of some kind of cable from which I can hang photos, postcards, and other little bits and pieces of things I like but aren't sure what else to do with. I think this might be a good fit for an office. Again, not the most original concept on planet earth, but I still like it.

(19) I was told by a very bossy woman to order Flea Market Style, so I did. It just arrived about 15 minutes ago. I am excited!

To be continued ...