snowtober

Snowtober is correct. As if I needed an excuse to stay in my pj's, drink hot tea, watch football and eat scones on this snowy October Saturday. 

Yes. It is still October. Have I mentioned, I love cold weather? It's my favorite time of year! 

this will make you like halloween

I might lose readers by admitting this, but I really am not a big fan of halloween. There is something about wearing a costume in the city while taking public transportation. But I am a fan of Halloween treats and I don't mean mini Snickers or 3 Musketeers. Hello Betty Crocker!

Image borrowed from Cute Hoots

And these adorable chocolate dipped marshmallows that were on Live! With Regis and Kelly this morning.

Image borrowed from Live! With Regis and Kelly

if only i had more space

I would immediately commission furniture designer and maker, Anthony Hartley, to create a custom sideboard similar to the one featured in his first furniture collection. Very much a modern, colorful, one-of-a-kind, hand crafted piece of furniture. I'm adding this to my dream apartment/house decor list. 

The fabulosity of Anthony Hartley was brought to my attention by 

Living Etc. magazine's blog. 

Another storage solution (and more fitting for my pocketbook) is this awesome recycled file cabinet. It reminds me of teachers mailboxes from high school. From my post yesterday, this thrifty find would be a great way to store my "magazine mountain." Isn't this a creative trash to treasure idea? 

Pictures and project idea borrowed from the quippy blog, Crap I've Made. 

if you ever called me a hoarder...

According to dictionary.com --
Hoard
noun
1.  a supply or accumulation that is hidden or carefully guarded for preservation, future use, etc.
verb (used with object)
2. to accumulate for preservation, future, use, etc., in a hiddenor carefully guarded place.

Then by definition, I could sort of be considered a hoarder, but only in one sense --- preservation. The picture to the left is only a quarter, maybe a fifth of the magazines I have in my apartment. Not to mention I have 2 years worth of Esquire and GQ in a storage unit in Arkansas.


I know I have mentioned this ordeal countless times, but I've started to get a hold of things. For several of my subscriptions, as I read them I tab my favorite layouts, typography, or product images. Then  after about six months I go through each and cut out, yes, cut not tear, the tabbed pages of each magazine and carefully put them into plastic page covers which assemble into large black binders.

Between covers, feature stories, mastheads, unique department pages, and the rest of each magazine, at least I am able to slim down the mass somewhat? Currently, I have tagged, cut, and filed two years worth of Women's Health, Runner's World, Allure, Southern Living, Women's Day, Outside, Details, Better Homes & Garden and Redbook. I like to think I've at least made a dent in my vast collection of publications. (Please note I do recycle all unused pages).

Magazines that will not be cut up, filed, or recycled --- any magazine that includes my photos and/or designs, GQ, Esquire, old issues of Domino and Dwell. All in all, I could be considered a hoarder of magazines, but for probable cause... it is my industry, my livelihood, my passion. That is justification for keeping some magazines, right?  Other than that I have to figure out what to do with the multiple fashion magazines I have. Mostly, I read fashion magazines for pleasure but am occasionally surprised by the designs. So, should I just suck it up and cut up the massive stack of fashion magazines in my apartment? File them and recycle the rest?

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

small gesture, big impact

When I moved to New York 28 months ago, my mother threw an impromptu "going away" shindig. It was very nice and I received several precious gifts from close family and friends. One of which, I keep on my bathroom counter and look at multiple times a day. Not only is it a beautiful hand blown glass heart by James Hayes, but with it came the perfect message. 

"Follow your heart but never forget where home is --"

This token of love reminds me daily that while I am following my dreams, home is always within reach. As I embark on another trip home for two out of town weddings, I found this picture on my computer and remembered I have been wanting to post this picture for some time now, but I think today is perfect.

I can't help but smile each time I see this treasure. Thanks Ms. Cindy!