Humbling.

My husband and I are lying around on the couch today watching terrible science fiction/conspiracy shows. We have built a nest out of our duvet and blankets and J, me, and the dog are all nuzzled up together.

Thanksgiving was wonderful, and now we're exhausted and taking a holiday after the holiday.

As we were lying here, he blurted, "You know what I'm thankful for? That we will never eat from black and yellow cans."

J remembers eating from these cans, which were the cheapest options available. (He calls it "welfare food".) They also had friends with farms who allowed him to come and pick food since they knew he couldn't afford it. He will say he had a great childhood and, in the same breath, talk about being poor.

I'm thankful for my husband, who humbles me and makes me stop, get my head out of the rat race, and appreciate our life.

Playing possibilities.

My husband and I got into a brawl yesterday over whether or not we should have a Saigon-inspired party in our future home in our future life.

 

Sometimes we really have the most ridiculous fights.

 

It started when we went to see Skyfall (I'm new to James Bond movies, but I definitely recommend). Of course, being James Bond, the main character ends up in all these exotic locations during wonderfully exotic things. At one point he has a chat with a vamp (Berenice Marlohe) in an old-world Chinese casino.

 

 

(I want to be this woman. Beautiful, no?)

 

So anyway, this is the inspiration:

 

 

 

Wouldn't it be ridiculously fun to have a dinner party with this theme? I would post paper lanterns at different heights around our (someday) yard, serve Asian-inspired hors d'oevres, play mandolin music in the background, etc.

He was already getting annoyed with this because he's more of a barbecue/tailgate kind of guy. What really pushed him over the edge is when I mulled over the idea of making one of those homemade shallow pools that people do here in the winter so it'll freeze and their kids can skate. Instead of the skating rink, I basically wanted a rigged up puddle where we could float lanterns.

Like this, but a puddle instead of an ocean.

He yelled that he doesn't want to have to create a faux ice skating rink on his one day off to "have other people come over to enjoy all our stuff" and suggested we save money on a couple of these parties and just go to China ourselves.

Honestly, I'm not opposed to any argument that ends up with my husband suggesting international travel.

Someday, we are either going on a hypothetical trip or having a possible party.

I will let you know how this turns out in, I'm guessing, 5 years.

A Very Pinterest Thanksgiving

I am totally late to the Pinterest thing, but now that I've really sat down with it over a cup of tea, I LOVE it and have decided that it will inspire a lifestyle change.

For example, Warm Apple Pie Pots look delicious and are such a different twist on one of my brother's favorites! I am not the greatest cook in the world, but I love baking and would like to get more into it. Plus, no one in my extended family enjoys baking (that I know of), so it would be fun to bring in some different ideas to the standard I-just-pulled-this-pie-out-of-the-box dessert table.

Source: roostblog.com via She on Pinterest

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 My husband would really like to see something like this little number. Doesn't this Peach and Cinnamon Cobbler look freakin' amazing? 

 

 

Source: resepmasakangue.blogspot.com via She on Pinterest

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Out of any possible dessert to make, I really, really want Pumpkin Parfaits.

Source: celebrations.com via She on Pinterest

Can't wait!

Artist: Jenny Packham

 

You know what I like about Jenny Packham designs?

 

 

 

The fabric is soft and flowy...

 

 

and the hardware and gems give a tough, sharp edge.

 

 

 

Fashion chainmail.

 

 

Artist: Penille Andersen of Just Female

I LOVE

 

 

THEIR COATS.

 

 

 

It's a Love Thing

A few nights ago, J and I were lying in bed with our laptops: he was looking up car parts, I was drooling over hammered gold jewelry. We're so typical.

Out of nowhere, he asks if I know "It's a Love Thing" by Keith Urban. I say no, so he plays it.

Mid-way through, I asked him if he liked it.

He said it reminded him of us.

Artist: Emilia Wickstead

 

Polished, structured, formal.

 

 

 

Elegant, feminine, modest.

 

 

 

 

Well-played, Duchess.