So much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.

A few days ago, Cupcakes and Cashmere posted a top ten summer to-do list. It seemed like a great idea as I always end up finding myself at the end of August and wishing there were certain things I had accomplished. By posting them on a blog, I will have a constant reminder throughout the summer months. So, I made one!

Summer To-Do list:

1) Visit both families
2) Celebrate our 5 year anniversary
3) Buy a red top and red dress
4) Go for a run on the beach
5) Read five books of my choosing
6) Bike around the Arnold Arboretum
7) Ride the swan boats in the Boston Public Gardens
8) Make curtains for our bedroom
9) Run a 5k
10) Take a sewing, knitting, or crochet class

*image: www.erie.pa.us

I'll have to make a reading list as well : )

Fanny Pack Kingdom

I want a fanny pack.

Yep, a fanny pack.

Let me clarify: I want a fanny pack for cycling. I could pretend to wear it ironically, but I really just need something small to hold my keys and wallet while biking. Messenger bags are too big for me and I hate wearing my backpack unnecessarily. Sometimes I need to bring clothes or larger things with me while on my bike, and a backpack is great for that...but sometimes I don't...and then it is just annoying and cumbersome. Not to mention that I don't need another layer of fabric against my back while riding in the summer.

So I've decided to return to the 80s and get a fanny pack. But which one!

I've narrowed the candidates to the following:


1) subtle plaid and fitted to the body. minimal bulk.



2) similar to option #1. minimal bulk, close fitting, but the color is more versatile.


3) this one is just fun. bright plaids, ruffles, and when slung over the shoulder (off the bike) it could easily transform into a super cute purse. however, this bag is not very versatile and is very bulky. but it sure makes a statement!


4) old school. if i'm going to go for it, i might as well go for it. super bulk, polka dot, and equipped with a super-big yellow plastic zipper.

thoughts?

Secondhand Wonders

For as long as I can remember, I have been surrounded by secondhand wonders. Every Saturday morning my mom would (and still does) wake up early and hit the yard-sales, furnishing our house, our toys, and our wardrobes with treasures from another person's past. While this was sometimes frustrating as a teenager as the clothes or the accessories are never exactly what one wants, as an adult I am happy that I have been raised to care less about labels and prices and more about saving money for more rewarding things, meeting neighbors, and finding a good deal.

When I moved to JP I knew that there would be a ton of yard-sales around; but as I jumped from room to room in what I considered to be other people's apartment's, I never felt like acquiring many "things" since my housing was only temporary. Now that Simon and I live together my bargain-hunting gene has set its roots. I really enjoy walking around on sunny Saturday mornings to see what sort of gems I find. Below are some of my recent favorites:


This beautiful 70s dress came from the SOWA vintage market in Boston's South End. Other than some buttoned straps which needed to be shortened (easy), it fits like a glove!


The fantastic oven mitt comes from a JP yard-sale and the super-sturdy cutting board from a local thrift store.

Buttons! Lots of them! Another great yard-sale find which my mom bought for me; and they make for pretty decor in the apartment.


Recipes are a kind of secondhand item, right? We obtain them from others who have used them before us. This recipe for rhubarb streusel muffins is another Smitten Kitchen winner. They were SO easy and they taste SO good. I recommend them to everyone.

My heart belongs to you, Jamaica Plain

There are many things I love about living in Jamaica Plain...


the outdoor dining...


the flower sales at the MSPCA...


the crafts, and the hipsters on bikes...


the ladies on stilts?!?

What??

I was walking around town this past Saturday and you can guess my surprise when I came across...


Spontaneous Celebrations! It's the Annual Jamaica Plain "Wake Up the Earth Festival"!! Technically the festival proper took place at the Stony Brook T station, too far of a walk for me, but I did catch the parade!


In addition to tall people in silly pants, the parade included the above teptraptych of Picasso's "La Guernica" - a painting which I just saw in person while in Spain!


City Feed's group featured rabbits on bikes...I'm not quite sure why, there were posters about it that I didn't bother to reader because I was too distracted by this AMAZING bunny riding a pretty fixed gear. S/he had friends on both sides to make sure s/he stayed on course.


No parade would be complete without a mariachi band.


And, of course the entire parade was led by local elementary school students.

Adorable.

Of course things like this don't happen every day in JP, but my love for this Boston neighborhood grew even more when my otherwise boring Saturday became one of sun, music, and happy people.

Wedge Obsessed

I don't think I've ever done a "fashion" post before - because, well, I'm not very interested in fashion. That said, I have a new love...its called the wedge. In the past few years I've been a bit of a wedge-ist, judging those harmless shoes far too severely and never even bothering to put them on my poor aching feet.

Oh, how naive.

Wedges. Are. Amazing.

As spring rolled in, the wedges rolled out; and I saw them in an entirely new light. They give the wonderful height of heels along with the comfort of slippers. That's right, I said slippers. I've been running around the house in these little doozies for weeks now.


The ones above are my newest pair which I haven't had the pleasure of wearing outside yet. They are from Sperry Topsider. As you can see, they are adorable and incredibly well made. I bought these as a reward for my tootsies after running the half-marathon in February.



These espadrilles are as authentic as they come, straight out of a tiny shop in Madrid. Simon's mom, sister, and I all bought a pair in varying colors. They were very reasonably priced, especially when I saw this pair at DSW at $70 for the same exact shoe (I paid 1/3 of that).

This style, also from Sperry Topsider, will hopefully be mine soon.

The only downside I've found is that none of my current pants are long enough to wear with wedges, which isn't surprising since I bought them to wear with flats. Either I need to buy some new pants...or I need to work on my patience and wait to show the world my shoes until it is skirt and dress weather...I think I'll manage.