Birthday Plans.

Birthday, birthday, birthday. This year, I love my birthday.

Last year I was slaving away, stripping a deck in scorching heat on my big day. I was, however, wearing my birthday hat, which made everything better.

I don't think there is going to be a birthday hat this year but regardless, it's still going to be a great birthday weekend. 

It was Christina's birthday on Wednesday and Julie's birthday is Sunday so we're going to have celebrations on both nights this weekend. For three people we need at least two parties. It's going to be good!

This year will be extra special because it is the first birthday that I have ever celebrated with TC. Until now, I've always been either at camp already or living in different country.

There are a few other things going on this weekend too. It's so busy that I just had to make myself a to-do list.

First up, the Michael Todd Challenge: Round Three began tonight and continues tomorrow. For Round Two we had to get a photo of ourself feeding a real life baby. Fortunately, Gwen was available and is always hungry.

For round three I have to get a photo of myself playing in an actual public fountain tomorrow. 

Is that even legal? I'm a law abiding citizen. Do you think I'm going to get arrested?

I'm leaving in a week and have several projects on the go that I have to finish up. Numero uno, reattaching my fire place mantle. 

I've been desperately trying to make my living room tolerable. I bought all new mantle decor this week and then decided that the maple colored mantle was killing the whole thing. So, off it came and is currently being stained black. 

I'll let you know next week how it all turns out.

Last weekend I did my first "paid" (it was offered, I declined, they gave me wine) photo session. I'd show you photos but I forgot to ask the family's permission and I'd rather not get fired this early in the game. However, I figure I can't get in trouble for posting feet. Notice the six year old's shoes. A 1st grader in purple sequin shoes? That's my kind of kid.

I was feeling a little confident this week and through a series of random events I may have the opportunity to photograph a ballet recital this weekend - individual photos, group shots and performance. 

Logistically, it may not work out. And that is okay. Then I won't embarrass myself when I vomit everywhere because I'm so nervous and soooooo out of my league.

You know what though? I figure you've got to start somewhere. Why not go out and push myself and do something a little scary?

Playing in a public fountain, dismantling a fire place, photographing a ballet recital - all out of my comfort zone. 

What a good way to celebrate another year.

Key Wall.

I'd like to tell you that I'm not much of a collector, but that would be a gigantic lie. If I'm being honest, I hoard Isabelle Bloom pieces, picture frames, and colorful wine glasses. Oh, and skeleton keys.

A few years ago I got the idea to create a key wall in my house.

TC liked the idea because he's all about decorating with anything authentic. Basically, he likes anything that has a story. Skeleton keys from Pottery Barn don't fit the bill. He'd rather spend the next ten years digging through antique stores and collecting real keys from every town we ever visit....all while the designated key wall remains bare.

That's all cool with me, except I don't have the patience for that. I want my key wall now, dammit. If that takes a few purchases from Pottery Barn, then so be it. There is a compromise to be had here.





Finally, after two long years of hoarding and gathering we finally have enough keys to put up on the wall.

I really like it.





I think its something interesting and different for the long hallway.

I love that I can continually add to it, like forever.

I really love that I don't have to put any real thought into centering or measuring where I hang each key.

I love that key collecting gives us something affordable to look for when we're wondering around an antique store or flea market. It justifies our shopping.

It also gives us the perfect souvenir to bring home from every trip or new place we visit.

I really like that TC enjoys it too. Cheesy, I know, but its pretty cool to collect something we both like.





The window frame is actually an old window from my first cabin at camp. Many of our cabins are named after trees and that particular cabin was called Maples. Hence my dog's name.

See, that is just the kind of authenticity and story TC is talking about.

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Workout: 30 minutes on the bike and 50 push-ups -


 back in the saddle baby!

Book Club.

While I am an avid reader, I am a book club virgin. Until tonight, that is.

A friend of a friend sent out an invitation last month looking for a few girls to start a book club. I totally jumped on board because 1) apparently I am a huge nerd and 2) when you're new to town (and the country) it doesn't hurt to spread your wings a bit and make some new friends.

There are only seven of us, but that is plenty to kill a bottle of wine and talk about how a book TOTALLY relates to our life.

Actually, that is a lie. Only four of us showed up tonight for our meeting about the first book. Totally okay because it was the three other girls that I know best.

We read What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn.

Jaclyn, our hostess, loved it. Ashley liked it. Laura hated it. I thought it was okay.

Let's be honest, I read only the trashiest $0.99 novels I can buy on kindle. Anything over that price is way too classy for me. My standards are nice and low.

We did a potluck style meeting and everyone was supposed to bring an appetizer or dessert.

I made a delicious artichoke dip with a fresh baguette that I sliced and toasted. Clearly, my taste in appetizers and bread is much higher than my taste in books.

You need this recipe because it's so damn easy to make.

The Only Artichoke Recipe You'll Ever Need:


-Whisk together 1 cup mayo, 1 cup parmesan, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp ground pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder. 
-Mix in two 14oz cans of well-drained and chopped artichoke hearts. 
-Bake for 25 minutes at 375, 35 minutes if chilled.
-Sprinkle an 1/8 tsp paprika on top. 
-Serve warm with thinly sliced and toasted baguettes. I popped mine in the oven with the dip for ten minutes. Or buy a box of crackers. Whatever floats your boat.

The artichoke dip was fresh out of the oven so I packed it up in my monogrammed, insulated casserole dish carrier. I thought I was so fancy and only a tad nerdy.

But then I got there and the other girls were all "I have one at home too! I love mine." Here I thought I was something special. Not so much.

Even still, I still think it is a great item to have and would make an excellent gift.

We had so much fun sharing a bottle of wine and briefly discussing the book. Inevitably someone would go off on a tangent and we'd end up talking about random issues like exporting infected potatoes to Algeria or the amazing video about the nine year old boy who started Caine's Arcade. Have you seen it? Watch it by clicking this.

It'll be the best ten minutes of your day.

Next month we're reading the story of Frank Lloyd Wright called Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. It's supposed to be awesome.

Anyone read it?