bedside lights.

every single night for the past, um ... eight months, i've ended the day with the aid of a headlamp hanging off the side of our bed.  i guess we* were uncertain as to where the bed would be living in the room?  or lazy?  or both?  whatever it was our level of commitment to putting things like lights in that room was non-existent.  until last week.

something happened last week.  something good.  our shithole turned into a HOUSE.  you shouldn't get too excited or anything, i've still got a ton of work to do, but for the first time since we've moved in i honestly feel as though i could invite people over.  not a whole lot of them, and not anyone i don't really know, but still this is huge step for me.  for the past eight months mas has been asking if we should maybe have so and so over for drinks before dinner.  or perhaps over for dinner?  and i've either laughed at or nearly scolded him every single time.  i've always been so obsessive about what our home looks like that i just could not take it, having someone see all of the boxes and mess and lack of seating options.   it makes me crazy just thinking about it now.

i know, i know, i'm nuts.


*when i say we here i mean mas.  having not been around for the initial set up of the bed he's convinced it will be better on another wall.  he of course, is wrong.

frances.

she's been vacationing with her grandparents for the last week and we've missed her so. i'm picking her up this afternoon, i cannot wait.

{celia sent this to me half way through our separation. mas and i both went all misty eyed.}

pissed.

i picked frances up from her grandparents house (a place she LOVES) yesterday and these are the faces she made. in fact, there was hardly any excitement out of her for the rest of the day ... until she saw mas that is (yeah i nearly made them sleep on the couch together). it's obvious she's still mad at me for dropping her off ten days ago, bitch.

so, i'm spending the weekend sucking up to my 14 lb dog ... what about you?

the fourth.

we sunned + slept under the stars. we ate thai food + bagels almost exclusively. there was reading. there was no cell reception, and very little wifi. there was swimming in the ocean. AND there was the first through fourth car ferry experience of my life.

pictures i have found.

the other day i was sidetracked by a disaster that is a photo library. i spent a good two hours attempting to organize about 1/3 of my photos. it was fun. i found these two gems and thought i would share.

frances on the couch i will be re-covering this spring...

mas and i in iceland on our honeymoon (oh i want to go back...)

things i am going to miss : part 3

for the first time in, um, 8 or 9 years i am going to be more than a 20 minute drive to a beach, which shouldn't bother me because i never really actually fancied myself a beach person. but thinking about it now, well, it kinda scares me a little (in one those pre-move stress induced states). and i know frances and mas will be quite sad to have to drive over an hour for some sand and salt water*.

*ok, ok, so chicago wasn't exactly on the ocean, but have you been there and seen the lake? it creates it's own weather and the beaches are packed during the summer, so yeah, it counts.

it has been too long ...

since frances has given me the stink eye. i knew it couldn't last. so yesterday she finally came through.
after being thoroughly annoyed with all of my work and biking she just couldn't take it any more. i'm hoping to make it up to her this weekend when the weather is supposed to soar into the 80's, um what?!?! beach time please.

frances loves san francisco!

word on the street is ...

the air outside is beyond lovely and coming in at an absurd january temperature of 86. so i am off for the day to give frances some much needed exercise. we are going to go and do what any normal person would do in the middle of winter - walk on the beach - i can't get over this california place. (and ok i didn't get the word off the street but weather.com we have been watching the wire for the past week or so and the language is sticking a bit more than it should)

oh my ...

the day has passed with lightning speed. it was a wretched night which started with several wakings by frances who still isn't feeling well and a very early alarm. i am exhausted and so incredibly busy i can't believe it. i will be back tomorrow with some goodies but for now i must head back to my little cubby and get to work.

on the brighter side the weather here is wonderful ... for a summer day that is.

and it is the weekend

well almost. i have a few finishing details to put on a couple of projects and then i must prepare for my wonderful adventures in DIY wedding projects and letterpress tomorrow (much more on that next week). i hope everyone has a fabulous and very relaxing fall weekend. until monday ...

{the midget frances doing what she does best}