Rainbow to the Sky

I must admit (and I've done it elsewhere on this blog) that I adore the rain. I mean, so long as I don't have to drive around in it trying to run errands all day, it's the perfect excuse to cozy up with a book, lay under the covers, snuggle up in a thick sweater, and now that I have cats who love the sound of rain and watching it fall outside, I've got even more reason to feel happy when I wake up to an overcast sky. Having it serve as the precursor to the appearance of a multicolored ladder to the sun doesn't hurt either, though...

Thank Fuck This Week Is Over

Crazy ass, horrible week. Like tears ever day bad. So let's review the good stuff that kept me from jumping off my balcony and rejoice that it's Friday mf-ers (even though I am staying home like a granny tonight to work on my e-portfolio for school)!

 I picked up this sweet little card at Ige on Beverly Blvd. after having a seriously tasty salad over at Susina Bakery with my mom on Monday. Man do I wish I could have tried one of their almond croissants!

 Ayelet in eyelet. More noteworthy, however, is that I took this photo using Apple's Photobooth application. Because I am the proud owner of a brand new MacBook Pro laptop! Mark brought it home to me as a total (major) surprise the other day as a sort of make-up gift for our anniversary and Valentine's Day. I am such a lucky lady and cannot wait to stop using this old, ugly, and annoying PC. Apple for life, bitches!

 I am currently obsessed with filling the pantry with Weck jars. They look so much more streamlined than having a bunch of ugly boxes or loose bags of lentils spilling their contents all over the place. After picking up some Hawaiian black salt up over at the Broome St. General Store that was packaged in a tiny version, I realized that everything just looks better in coordinating jars! I picked up some local produce (and a package of Justin's dark chocolate peanut butter cups-so sue me...) at Atwater Village Farm over the weekend and loved being able to immediately give the items a pretty home.

Between the Weck jars and Martha Stewart's new line of office supplies for Avery, I'm totally in organizational mode. Get. It. Done. We reorganized the bedroom on Tuesday and it looks a million times cleaner and more open now. I picked up these elastic tags to keep our plethora of cords under control, a folder that adheres to the inside of a cabinet drawer to keep all of our random appliance guides in one out of the way place, and labels for the Weck jars. I'll be buying a billion more of the items once I have time for extra projects.

Today I went on a tour of the LAPL's Central Library with the San Jose State ALA student chapter. While I'd been there before to pick up research materials I never quite realized what a beautiful and massive space it is. This stained glass globe light is surrounded by the twelve zodiac symbols and a ring of lights to represent the library's central theme-the light of learning. It's spectacular and cost $50,000 in 1933.

Sante D'or Lovefest

Life is happily crazy-busy right now. Between overtime at work, some really productive projects for school, and my new role of being on the board at Sante D'or and trying to get some animals adopted, I don't have much time for things I really need to do like exercise, let alone extra things like blogging. One thing I found time for: buying some pretty little heart shaped sprinkles for the brownies I baked for tomorrow's adoption event at Urban Pet on Beverly Blvd. Since I rarely bake, I also made a run to Surfas in Culver City to buy some quality goods like Valhrhona chocolate, and discovered the wonder of Maldon salt. Holy crap is that stuff delicious and where have I been? Nevermind the fact that each crystal is legitimately pyramid-shaped like a mini Chichen Itza-the stuff tastes so good topped on everything from roasted cauliflower to baked salmon and would undoubtedly turn soft caramels into a godly treat.

What everyone who comes out and makes a donation, big or small, will be getting tomorrow.

Pay It Off To Rack It Up Again

Clothes shopping! How I've missed you! My (final, thankfully) student loan came in and helped me pay off my credit cards in full. Sure, trading one set of debts for another isn't much of an accomplishment, but I'll take my lower interest rates and run with 'em. My recent haul:

What can I say, I'm a Nasty Gal...

Baller! For One Night, Anyway

Today is my five year anniversary with Mark (woot woot, yay us!). We are going to celebrate tomorrow, but a preview of things to come:

Granted, a bottle of Perrier-Jouet vintage is a tad excessive for anyone who is hardly making much more a month than it costs, but thankfully Mark isn't as tragic as me and didn't mind marking the occasion with the most expensive bottle of bubbly either of us ever hope to purchase. Besides, while the bub might not last past the night, that pretty Art Deco painted bottle isn't going anywhere. Hopefully just like Mark!

Plans To Make God Laugh

Remember how I was going to remain hopeful that 2012 was my year? That the things holding me back from moving forward in my life would start to come together? Yeah, this past week has pretty much all but snuffed out that enthusiasm. Still, there have been a few things this week that along with finally making some good money have made getting out of bed worthwhile.

 A trip to Michael's resulted in the purchase of this package of neon glitter. What am I going to do with it? I dunno, but it's neon! And it was the last one-I couldn't bear the idea of leaving, deciding afterward that I needed it, and then not being able to find it. 

I did top off my nail polish with the glitter, which sort of fluoresces under black light. I plan on using them on candles and maybe for jewelry but for now I'm just happy I have them for when the creative forces strike.

J. Crew is ridiculously overpriced (esp. because the quality is mediocre, at best) but they have good sales on their basics and I scored a bunch of stripy wonders for about $10-15 each. This pink thermal is way more vibrant in person and I'm sort of living in it right now...

Jason Wu for Target comes out on Sunday. Kitty items are obviously adorable, but if I can get my mitts on a dress or two without getting beaten up by another fashion-hungry vulture (or eBay reseller...), I won't complain either.