Friday Favorites, vol. 30

1. gnarly gourds






2. aprons







3. baskets on bicycles







4. firepits





5. kissing in taxis

This weekend, we will not be in Albuquerque.

Which I'm a little sad about. Because, this weekend is the annual International Balloon Fiesta (I always want to call a Festival, but it's not. It's a Fiesta.)







Nathan and I have said for years that we want to go, and not just because he grew up in a tiny town about thirty minutes outside Albuquerque.
It just seems so magical. Strolling around hand-in-hand, taking gorgeous pictures of gorgeous hot air balloons. Add a pumpkin spice latte and I go weak in the knees.






"No one can be uncheered by a balloon."
-- Winnie the Pooh

"Me" time

I've never, never in my whole life needed "Me" time. I'd heard before of this mysterious thing people did where they'd go off (all by themselves!) and do whatever they wanted. Alone. I heard about people going to the movies by themselves. It's true! I heard about people taking long walks alone, just themselves and their thoughts. I've never had that need for alone time. In fact, if I knew any inside government secrets (I don't, by the way) the fastest way for terrorists to get me to talk would be to put me in a quiet room all by myself, with all my friends in the next room over, so that I could hear their talking and laughing. Oh my god. Just thinking about that would've tortured me a few months ago. But not now.

I've discovered how AMAZING it is to take an hour or two after work to shut myself into the back room and read in bed. It's like the most luxurious thing I've ever done! I'm talking chocolate and champagne kind of luxurious. Only without the calories. I think it's also related to getting away from the tellie, and back to my original love: books. Not to get too touchy-feely, but it feels like I'm plugging back into my true self or something. Ahhh. It's wonderful.

Are you the type that needs alone time-- and were you always that way? Because this change is kind of freaking me out, you guys. OK, not really. I love it.

Monday Dose of Cuteness, vol. 13

Just when I think I don't have a single idea for this week's Dose of Cuteness, I find this on Joanna Goddard's blog!






This awesome little robot man is available here.
Thanks, Joanna! Way to help a sista out.

Friday Favorites, vol. 29

1. pretty headbands





2. laundromats






3. metallic flats





4. woody station wagons






5. record shops





BONUS: Zooey Deschanel, massive girl crush since 2000

Monday Dose of Cuteness, vol. 12 (a day late)

I had to resist the urge to say "a day late and a dollar short." I don't even know what that expression means, other than a state of patheticness. Patheticity? Patheticdom? Eh. You get the idea.
What's not pathetic are these cute photos. (How's that for a transition?)

For this Monday (OK, Tuesday) Dose of Cuteness, I give you babies in stocking caps.