Some Finished Work

Happy Friday!

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Not a fan of Jan.

First of all, that was NOT our apartment.  Don't want to mislead anyone into thinking that...I just really quite loved it and filed it away under "dream on fool".

Second of all, can we get some variety on the weather?  I'm so tired of this cold crap.  Time to wrap it up.  You know I was loving my new puffer just a mere month ago and now I want to burn that thing to hell.  Every day...zip on, zip off, get zipper stuck in flap thing, zip up, zip down, tie around, look like Michelin woman, repeat.

I don't need to go frolicking outside much as I have PLENTY of work to do.  I sorta overbooked January and have been designing and html-ing like a mad woman.

Another reason I think I'm so canty...too much computer time and not enough outside fun time.  But, it's not fun out there.  Elsie thinks so and continues to romp to victory in the snow, ice ..you name it.  She charges forward with constant vigor and might, huffing and puffing her way to our destination...causing complete embarrassment to my soul and society.  I get one of two reactions from fellow passersby:
1. So Süß!  They love it and her and cause even more disruption in my life by paying her attention and sending her tail into turbospin.
2. They tell me what I should be doing with her so that she isn't so perked and pulling or that she is dying from suffocation.  Does it look like she is dying?  Did I ask for your horrific advice?  She does this to herself.  She loves it.  (she doesn't do it on the way home.)

Another tidbit: Did you know in some of my friends' home towns it's like -34 degrees.  Come again?  My friend Monica (Grüß Gott, Monica!), from Canada, said it's a whole nother kind of cold.  Your nose hairs freeze...your rubber boots feel and sound like metal.  That sounds great.

Obviously, I need some respite.  Usually that comes in the form of carb loading.  Usually it's not good that there's a fine pastry shop down the street...

Our Apt

Last time I showed our apt it was shortly after we moved in and I wanted to show you what we've done so far with what we have.  It's not much, but it's perfect for now.

I did the painting one dreary, grey afternoon that you see above the antique settee that we found for 60 Euros at a flea market here.  I've always loved our tall windows.   You can see we redid our herringbone lighter colored wood floors one weekend with longer planked darker ones.

We had to throw in some Euro-mod with the Panton chairs.  The desk is where I do my blogging and graphic designing.  The pillows on the floor are you-know-whose.  Do you think it was a good idea that we let the curtains puddle onto the floor?  I like the relaxed feel.

And, I'm only gonna show you one more room cause I don't want to show you our whole apartment.  But, I am going to show you our bedroom since it's cozy and simple.

I love me any shade of darker pink, so our suzani-esque coverlet (another score for 35 euros from the flea) adds some much needed pizazz to the bedroom.  The vintage suitcase belonged to Art's great-grandfather.  I do love our little oval windows.   Lamp on the bedside table from Ikea as well as the Lack table acting as a nightstand (right).

I hope you enjoyed the little tour.  And all my lies.

In all honesty, I just LOVE this place.  Not matchy matchy or out-of-a-catalog looking and just a wondey mix of textures and love.  It's somebody's place in Barcelona.  From here.  Seen over here.

Room to Blog

This wondey wondey room...

(courtesy of Southern Living mag)

would be this as a blog:

{click to see larger}

I just did this for fun like people do room to outfits, but it can be available for purchase if anyone wants to be hip like that darling guest room.  

(p.s. that pillow, one of the best parts, is from an anthropologie rug)

Come walk with me...

Most of the time when I show you Graz, it's sorta with Glamour Shots, so sometimes we need to just give you Graz raw and unedited.  (I don't edit my pics a ton...just lighten and brighten..which still makes a big diff.)

So, what better way to do that then with my first edition P.O.S. iPhone camera, complete with 4 screen cracks and a wobbly power button.

We had glorious weather (still pretty cold) the past four days and I took a little run/walk through the city this weekend and then at midpoint started snapping some city pics.  This may be more for my future self's benefit as they aren't particularly exciting photos...more for me to remember the little things that make up our memories here.

Ready?

Blue skies for miles...love it up.

"I am not allowed inside" 

sometimes a familiar view is nice.

Enjoy coke for a snack.

Where I shop #1.

Where I shop #2.  And that's it.

sparkle store. 

No water in any fountains this time of year (much to Elsie's dismay).

Pronounced like B.O. and means organic.
"Fresh daily!" and then some lamb and mixed meat loaf options.

always a favorite.

almost home.

Auf wiedersehen.

Graz was Featured...

...on the front of my side of the family's Christmas card this year.  Actually, since my mom asked me about a week into my stay in Texas (which would be around December 10th) to craft up a card...the most socially busy two weeks of the last 2 years of my life, it instead came to be a New Year's card.

You see, the challenge is all in the photo as it is with most families.  There aren't many occasions where all 16 of us (including grandchildren) are together.  There have definitely been years where I've had to photoshop a sibling in.  There have also been years that family members are mysteriously missing.  (Whoops..well, that's almost all of us..who's gonna notice?...it's good enough...SEND.)

Let's look at some past cards, shall we?  (I have the files being that I am the obliging creator year after year.)

::2006::

made a booklet of pages held together by a brad since we didn't have a pic of everyone.

Jimmy in the back was photoshopped in.  so terri.

Bridget's Own Diary is just a pipsqueak here.

::2007::

 

::2008::

 Not only did we all make it this year, but we are matching.  And we took some pics with Art in them and some without.  We were just dating, but little did I know Art had asked my dad if he could marry me on this trip.  People are not allowed in the card unless there's a ring, k?

and the inside came with a numbered map of who was who and description on their life dreams and hopes.  not really, but what they were up to.  i cut that out because it is top secret Wikileaks type info.

::2009::

The year of two weddings.

front

back

inside

and now...

::2010::

Featuring: Graz!

(I apologize for these horrific photos...I have the shakes and can not take a steady photo.)  Oh, and I designed this and we just used Zazzle.com for the printing...it was fair.  Not super impressed.

those unfortunate souls that missed out on Graz got their own blurb on the inside cover. 

(Is that family beach photo not wondey?)

and there you go.

I hope you enjoyed this peek inside the makings of a family's Christmas card.  It's a serious job, folks.