a bookcase for everything

I am dying to get back to IKEA so we can pick up our Expedit bookcase and desk. We've been talking about making this happen for far too long, and since we're not willing to pay the cost of shipping (Over $100 and we still have to assemble? Nope.) it will be a 6 hour drive round-trip. We have a lot of stuff, some to store and some to display, and we want to make this shelving unit both functional and stylish so I've been scouring the web for ideas. I think I have a pretty nice and inspiring collection to consult so far:

via Design Sponge.

via In The Hushed Hours.

via Dans le Townhouse.

via The Decorologist.

via Apartment Therapy.

So many options to consider. We will have to buy file folders/totes for some of the cubes for sure. I think we're firmly set on the white finish, although the one dark example I have above is easily a favorite. Fingers crossed we make the trip back up soon, I can't wait to clear some clutter in the office and have a proper work space. Jason stays even busier than I do with his business, freelance work, and regular job, and while I know he's ready for new furniture, I hope the organization of the space helps with the stress of all the things he has taken on.

friday thoughts.

I haven't just written a post on a whim in a while, and with this Friday dragging on and my refusal to go out into the monsoon for lunch, I'm taking that break to step away from my tasks briefly for the sake of my sanity. So, a few thoughts for this rainy Friday afternoon:

-I'm hungry. I had cranberry Red Bull and a banana on my way to work at 8am and for some reason I feel like I haven't eaten in two days. I rarely eat breakfast and it figures that when I do it makes me feel more hungry. Also: I just wrote three paragraphs about eating my hand and deleted them, you're welcome. I think it was only funny to me because I feel brain dead after this day.

-I made an awesome dinner last night and I'm pretty sure it won't be long before we have it again. Seasoned chicken breast with spinach + shiitake mushrooms and rosemary gnocchi. We also had a dijon mustard cream sauce that I made as a back up (in case the gnocchi or spinach + mushrooms didn't turn out well) that actually paired well with everything. And now I am more hungry just thinking about it.

-I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow because we have plans outdoors.

-I hope it doesn't rain on Mother's Day because, well, that's just not cool.

-I feel so incredibly lucky that I have the amazing mother that I do. She is an incredible woman and I know that for a lot of reasons some people aren't so lucky, and while I hate that for anyone it makes me that much more grateful. When I was little and people would tell me "You are your Mama made over!" there were times when I would get so frustrated and tell them "I don't look like her! I don't act like her!" I'm sure it either made them laugh, or made them think I was a brat, but it never made anyone stop telling me that. By the time she was my age she already had four kids, so there are certainly some differences, but any more when someone says those words, suggests I'm anything like her in any way it makes me smile. She is one of the greatest ladies I have ever known, and ever will know, so now I take that as a huge compliment.

-She made me a birthday cake last week, just like she's done for every birthday I've ever had. It was huge. We didn't even make a dent in it.

-Jason's mom also made me a cake. Also huge, no dents made.

-Jason's mom is one awesome lady too.

-Last Mother's Day when we went to Jason's parents' house there was a snake. (Bear with my horrible description please.) Part of their house has a stone wall and the stones stick out past where the mortar connects them, so the snake got in and had his body all bent around the various stones. This is not the first time this has happened by the way, oh, and it's right by the front door. Needless to say, I was not okay with this. Jason's family loves animals, more than people, so unlike a lot of people who would probably want to kill it and keep it away from the door the plan was to get him down and move him back over into the more wooded area behind their house. I stayed back and took an amazing video of Jason's dad getting the snake off the wall and trying to get him into what (I think) was a cloth bag to take him down to the trees alive, screaming the whole time. Jason and his mom tried to help and they eventually put him back where he needed to be. It was hilarious and unfortunately I am forbidden to ever post the video online, so I hope your imagination sufficed.

Okay, that's all I have time for, hopefully the next little bit will pass quickly. I am ready to get the weekend started -first by eating something, and then relaxing after this stressful work week, and of course, by spending some time with our wonderful mamas. Hopefully it will be a snake free Mother's Day weekend!

Wait, I turned 26?

Last Thursday I turned 26 and somehow a birthday that thought would be rather uneventful, especially in comparison to turning 25, was very much the opposite.

After spending the early part of my birthday with my Mom, Mamaw, and my littlest brother Sam, I spent the afternoon being a boring adult and getting my teeth cleaned and running to the bank, waiting for Jason to get home. He had mentioned getting sushi for dinner and after watching an episode of Hemlock Grove we left for dinner. He even asked me which restaurant I wanted to go, so I was more than confused when we walked in to my favorite local sushi restaurant and Jason urged me to walk past the hostess stand and I suddenly noticed that the booth in the back was full of our friends, surprise! Kudos to Jason for pulling that off, and our friends for keeping quiet! I seriously had no clue. It was a great dinner and I am so happy everyone was able to come out!

A few favorite frames from the Photobooth at the mall w/ Sam

Now, that wasn't the only thing Jason planned for my birthday. Some time ago he told me that he booked a hotel room in Cincinnati and made reservations at a restaurant for us as well, he just didn't tell me where. We've been wanting to make a trip to Ikea forever, so it all just seemed like a nice little overnight trip (after all it is a three hour drive up there and three more hours back.) Thursday night he decided to tell me what our plans were: staying at the new 21c Museum Hotel downtown (!!!) and dining at Orchids at Palm Court. WHAT?! The 21c in Louisville is one of our favorite places! Hotel, art gallery, restaurant, and bar all in one. We love to grab drinks at the bar and walk around the gallery, so we were both excited to check out the new Cincy location.

We got up early Friday morning and left for Ohio. After several hours of driving, we ended up at Newport On The Levee where we had lunch and decided to check out The Newport Aquarium. We love visiting aquariums and zoos, and I had never been to this one before so it was something fun to do while we waited to check-in to the hotel. There were adorable Port Jackson shark pups (something I'd never seen) and the cutest little pair of otters in their rainforest exhibit. I don't know how often any of you watch the Discovery Channel or Animal Planet, but the ocean is terrifying place and some of the things that live in there scare the hell out of me, so there were some critters I glanced at and then walked away from. None of them were sharks, surprisingly, but some of them were Japanese spider crabs. Freaky, and I did not share a photo of them below.

Driving into downtown Cincinnati

The Newport Aquarium

Port Jackson shark pup!

Scary monster.

Jason + the giant manta ray

Me + the creepy shark

By the time we made it out of the aquarium it was time to check into the hotel and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was! We've visited the 21c in Louisville a few times to view the gallery and we've eaten at Proof, but we never stayed in the hotel. The Cincinnati location is brand new and it was amazing! Our room was amazing, the service was outstanding, and our experience in general - absolutely perfect! This is somewhere we will stay again in the future and I urge anyone to consider it if you have the chance - there are only 3 of them in the country, and they all share the signature penguins. (Each location gets its own color, Cincy's are yellow.)

We made it over to the restaurant, Orchids at Palm Court, that night and little did we know that we weren't just in for a nice dinner, but truly an experience. Not only was the food extraordinary, but our server was wonderful! He even had the kitchen send each of us a complimentary appetizer for the occasion - tuna crudo, which Jason noted as essentially being a deconstructed sushi roll. Delicious! We ordered different entrees and ended up trading once we tried one another's. In the end I had roasted chicken seasoned with rosemary gnocchi, spinach, and mushrooms and Jason had duck breast with a cara cara orange sauce, mushrooms, and bok choy. And after choosing our desserts from their cart, mine came out with a little lit candle and 'Happy 26th Birthday' scrawled around the edge of the plate in chocolate, something Jason was even clueless about.

There were two penguins in the lobby during our stay, this was one of them. We noticed they were moved around periodically.

Before dinner: The first photo would have been perfect if someone had been ready...

Mirror shots, our only option.

Dessert! That big bright spot was the candle.

Not a great photo, but our hotel from across the street.

After dinner we walked around downtown and viewed the lower level of 21c's art gallery, since the second floor was closed for a private event. After such a long day we were worn out and actually ended up crashing really early. I do think that I could have drank five cups of coffee and passed out in the bed in our hotel room  though, it was that comfortable.

When I woke up bright and early at 7am I couldn't believe it. After a half hour I realized I would not be sleeping anymore so I got up and got ready for the day while Jason slept in a bit more. We needed to pack, tour the second level gallery, and checkout before 11am. We managed to do all of that and check-out not long after 9am, which has never happened before. (A few photos from the galleries below.) We grabbed some coffee and made our way to Ikea!

Vee Speers from the Birthday Party series 2007

Julie Nord

Ellen Kool gallery

We spent three hours in Ikea. Three hours. We didn't even realize it. We walked the showroom area twice, picked out furniture, shopped the marketplace, bought a dresser and other things for the apartment, and didn't even realize how much time had passed until we were loading it all into the car. After Ikea we did a little shopping in Kenwood, ate some tasty Chipotle (we don't have them in our area,) and then headed home. We were hoping to not only avoid Derby Day traffic in Louisville, but to make it home in time to watch the race...

Somewhere along the way we drove out of clear, sunny blue skies and warm temperatures into rainy, cold awfulness. Oh spring in Kentucky... And luckily we made it home just in time to catch the Derby! (Seriously - ten minutes before the race.) Our horses did not win, but it's always so exciting to watch. I can't wait to go hopefully next year, and for sure in 2015! Once it was over I had to get to work putting together my dresser. I was a little anxious since I've heard that Ikea furniture can be a nightmare, but the only issue I had was a few screws I over tightened on the drawers, and once I loosened them up it was perfect! We're making a trip back up soon for a few other things -coffee table, book cases, and a desk. In our book - Ikea rocks.

The rest of the weekend was definitely spent winding down from all of the madness. No laundry, no groceries, just rest and some freelance work for the mister. This birthday far exceeded the expectations I had for it even just a few weeks ago. I knew it wasn't going to be boring by any means, but I just wasn't expecting such a fun, whirlwind weekend. Jason certainly knows what he's doing when it comes to planning weekend trips for the two of us and I am so appreciative of the fact that he takes the time and likes planning things like this! It doesn't hurt that we enjoy the same things one bit, I think that's not only why the dates/trips/activities we do together are always so much fun but also why we just work together. I absolutely love being in love with my best friend!

The trip was great and we had a fun time, but all of that aside - a birthday spent with family, friends, my mister - I really don't know what more I could have asked for :) So far, 26 is pretty sweet.

Derby week, traditions, and mint juleps - I love you Kentucky!

It's Derby week here in Kentucky and while Derby Festival activities technically kicked off with Thunder Over Louisville a couple of weekends ago, this week is certainly the week to be in Louisville. I overheard someone say nothing was going to be getting done up there this week, and if that's true - then so be it! Derby Festival is a huge ordeal leading up to the main event - the Run for the Roses on Derby Saturday. Around here we grow up not only learning about our state's past, but the proud traditions that are part of our history, present, and future.

Credit: Reed Palmer / CD via Churchill Downs

I still remember helping making Derby pie in my fifth grade class to celebrate Derby week, accompanied by mock (non-alcoholic) mint juleps. Many of our classroom activities for the week or so leading up to the race tied in with the traditions of the event. Among other things we designed and colored jockey silks and participated in a Derby hat making contest. We made our hats at home and then brought them in Friday before Derby and students from other classes would vote for the best ones. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners got ribbons. There were lots of plastic horses, fake green Easter grass, and red ribbon roses glued to those hats. And in some cases, for reason I can't fathom - glitter, so much glitter. I assure you, none were actually Derby worthy. Not mention, everyone once in a while someone would go a completely different direction - I still remember a boy bringing in a hat covered in tin foil. (No idea, but he thought it was hilarious. He also did not win.) Oh, how I wish I had photos of some of those hats... (This blog post will give you a pretty good idea on that hats, I just didn't want share a photo of someone else's kid.)

Having been born on Derby day I always associated my birthday with the event, but like most kids - my birthday trumped all. Many people who aren't attending still host Derby parties and spend the day playing friendly betting games while watching the races, but luckily (for me) my parents weren't those people and I got my birthday parties. I'm not as big on birthdays as I was back then, and since Derby is certainly more of an adult event (Mint juleps!) I can't believe I still haven't been. We have other plans so it's not happening this year, but I'm really hoping for next year! And if for some reason that doesn't work out - my birthday falls on Derby Saturday in 2015, so I'm declaring it now - I must attend. (There. Hold me to it blog world.)

While we're talking about it, I've never attended any kind of horse race actually, let alone bet on one. There is just something about the Derby, and being from this state, that makes me feel like it's a necessity to participate, to go, at least once. I'm feeling really oblivious to most other states' traditions since I've always lived here in Kentucky, but do other states have events like this? As much I have worked in, and do keep up with, the news I just can't think of any right off the top of my head. I'm sure no one in New York or California has a week centered around Derby history in their school curriculum, but I know the tradition does garner quite a bit of national attention. I'm assuming there is something comparative elsewhere that I just can't put my finger on right now? I would love to hear about it if your state or even local area has a tradition/event like Derby/Derby Festival, so please share!

‘The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved' print by Louisville graphic artist Rachel Sinclair, available here.

I know I didn't care about things like this when I was younger - I mean, I wanted to win that hat contest and everything - but I didn't grasp the importance of this tradition or any other really, and it certainly didn't occur to me that the Derby was so wonderfully unique to Kentucky. Now that I'm older it seems to have value. I find myself thinking about the future, not just attending the event, but when Jason and I have kids (one day, a long time away from now.) They may get to make Derby pies at school (they definitely will at home, since they are J's favorite and I have my own recipe,) they will get to design jockey silks of their very own, we will certainly introduce them to the Kentucky hot brown, and I'm sure we will do fun things on race day so they will feel like they are part of all the fun.

It might sound silly if you're not from around here (it may even sound silly if you are!) but I just think it's really neat how traditions, like this one specifically, carry over. Obviously that is what traditions do, but this is on a much bigger scale than having Christmas breakfast at your grandma's house every year. The fact that an event of this magnitude has continued on for 139 years now, the longest continuous sporting event in the U.S., and that so much about it has remained unchanged is fascinating. It's not just a horse race, and it never will be.



a few notes:
If you've never had a mint julep by the way, recipe here. I say skip the Early Times though and go for Knob Creek or Woodford Reserve instead!

Or, if you'd like to make your own Kentucky hot brown, check out this recipe.

new layout for spring!

As of late I have been getting tired of visiting our blog page and seeing the black, white, and gold tones. The color scheme was fine for winter, but it was dragging me down. So, when we don't like something - we change it! If you happened across the blog yesterday you may have caught a glimpse of the new design, if not it's live now!

I found the perfect vintage flower vector set recently and decided to purchase, download, and use it to create a new look and feel. Even Jason loves it! Below you'll find a preview of our new banner, and I urge you to visit our home page and check out the latest updates! What do you think?

a quiet weekend at home... and foreign horror films.

After endless weeks of plans and running around non-stop I put my foot down as far as plans for this weekend went - I wanted some time spent doing nothing, at home. We've spent so many weekends away for holidays, family functions, birthday parties, community events, and with friends that it was just wearing me down. As much as I enjoy doing all of those things we've been up to, I needed a break.

Last weekend at Thunder Over Louisville

We have had quite the rainy, gloomy weekend around here - the best kind to spend at home. (Well, I saw that now, as the sun is creeping out from the clouds.) I finally got to tackle the mess that has been accumulating in our laundry room and kitchen. Jason helped, of course. And while he headed off to visit a friend and play music I got to spend a few hours re-designing the blog while watching horror foreign films.

I'm not sure if any of our readers are fans of horror at all, but if you are ESPECIALLY foreign horror, please comment below and share your favorites! I would love to hear them. Foreign horror films are my favorite, so much scarier than American horror films. And for anyone that isn't a fan of reading movies, if you love horror as much as I do I promise you, the reading is so worth it.

I watched [Rec] 3, a Spanish horror flick where people get extremely sick at a wedding and well, let's just say worst wedding of all time. (The original [Rec] was much more freaky than the American re-make Quarantine, and I have yet to see [Rec] 2, but it didn't make a difference.) I liked it, not as scary as some horror films but it wasn't bad at all.

And then Jason came home while I was watching Hell, a German horror film about a group of people seeking sanctuary from the heat (Earth's temps have risen 10 degrees and turned much of the world into a desert, and everyone burns easily when exposed to sunlight.) As they travel complications arise, they get tricked and trapped by others, and what these other people are up to is really messed up. I didn't like this one as much as the first, but it was more realistic where the other one was more gory. I've been trying to talk J into watching more horror films - foreign or American, he just doesn't love them like I do. (He also doesn't share my love of pizza, so whatever!)

It was nice to have those few hours to myself. After all, sometimes you just need to do something nerdy and get away from everything else.

*   *   *

Today is also the anniversary of our engagement! I can't believe a whole year has flown by. It makes me so nervous that this next year will be the same way. We have SO MUCH planning to do. Please let it all slow down!

My birthday dinner, right after Jason proposed last year!

Celebrating with out friends on 4th Street

The night Jason proposed was such a fun night! I thought I was just going to have a night out, celebrating my 25th birthday with my friends (a few days early) but we also got to celebrate our engagement! I couldn't have asked for a better birthday! We're going out of town for my birthday this year, but sorry J, you just can't top last year ;)

Now that we have a venue I guess we need to buckle down on a few other things... Right now I'm hoping to have a dress (picked out and ordered) by the end of summer and engagement photos in the fall, so we can use them and send out save the dates. I probably need to ask people to be in the bridal party and pick colors too... So far - I'm really bad at this wedding planning business!

I'm going to flip through some bridal magazines, try to convince this man that one more scary movie is a great idea, and maybe tweak the new blog design I did this weekend. Of course, Mad Men later. If you watch too - tweet with me about it. (I'm pretty good about keeping it vague and not posting spoilers too, if you don't want to tweet with my about it but would like to follow me on Twitter.)

exploring the flea off market

Other than booking our venue, we spent that same Saturday checking out booths at The Flea Off Market. If you're from the Louisville area you may have heard of it, if not - it's essentially an outdoor bazaar/flea market where you can find a little bit of everything - there are food trucks if you're hungry, vintage clothing/jewelry/furniture, records, handmade jewelry and crafts, home decor, all natural baby items, kittens (at times), and more. You can even buy a cocktail or beer and drink while you shop!

(You can read more details for The Flea over on Creative Sweet. For here, we'll try to keep it a bit more personal.)

Jason and I both found out about the community event through Instagram. Louisville Music Culture has quickly become a favorite to follow because not only do they share images and inform followers about music events, but various local events as well. When we saw the post we knew we had to go! Coincidentally we were meeting with our prospective wedding venue coordinator person that same day, so we needed something to do to kill a little time. Not only did we explore the market while we waited, but we went back to purchase a few items after our meeting.

Loved this booth - retro furniture, home decor, and decanters

The event is held once a month, usually the second Saturday (and Sunday sometimes) and we are certainly making it a point to go every month if possible. I scored a hobnail milk glass vase exactly like one I missed out on online a few months ago, plus some fun retro floral napkins that I'm loving for summer. I also snagged some all natural, handmade baby goodies for my nephew who will be here in September. Jason found a record by a local band (and based on how surprised and excited he was, I think it must have been both good, out of press, and/or a limited pressing.) The more I think about it, the more I think I am considering incorporating milk glass into our centerpieces for the wedding (maybe) so, this may be the place to snag quite a few pieces at reasonable prices...

I had a headache developing the entire time we were there, and while my head was miserable I couldn't resist walking back through the market a couple of more times just to make sure we didn't miss something. The weather was nice, the wind wasn't even too bad, we met the cutest little puppy, and if only we hadn't stuffed our faces prior to stopping by I would have been all over those food trucks! (Now we know for next time. I will also be taking some ibuprofen with me, just in case.)

We're also supposed to check out Second Saturday locally too, which makes me wonder what's all the fuss over the second Saturday of each month? So, currently taking suggestions on how to be in two places at once, that are approximately 40 miles apart.

Do you enjoy any community events in your area, that you can't resist venturing too on a regular basis? Especially if you're in the Louisville/Cincinnati/Nashnille area - please share in the comments below, we love finding new things to do!