Jefe and I have finally joined the 21st century and decided to get iPhones. One of the first things I did was download the Instagram app. Now I just HAVE to have the Photojojo lenses as well. Santa? You listening?

And of course there is the question of the case. What kind of case should I get? The cross stitch cover? I am actually leaning to something more along the lines of this Kate Spade polka dot cover. Too many choices!

Latte heart at Cafe D’Arte in Seattle. Jefe LOVES this place and we always stop here for coffee.

This is probably a good time to mention that I got a new camera (HUZZAH!) for my birthday and it’s super complicated with many dial and buttons and settings. It’s going to take me a while to figure it out. The pictures looked amazing on the camera view screen, yet when downloaded to the computer, it seemed like I wasn’t focusing on what I thought I was focusing on. Oh well! Learning, right? The tulips at Pike Place Market are sooooo pretty right now, in focus or not.

This was my first time visiting the Gum Wall at Pike Place Market. After all the years going there, (my sister-in-law has a booth) I hadn’t even HEARD of it until a co-worker wen recently. It’s unreal.

And finally, a very bad photo of my new Wellies taken with my new camera. These babies are going to be seeing a lot of action in the garden. All in all it was an awesome weekend in which I was spoiled with presents, good food, and too much booze. I am sort of glad it’s over. Sort of.

Now that the tile is up, and the grouting is done I can almost start to think about all of that extra little fun stuff to add to the bathroom. These are my super wishlist items, not very practical (cabinet knobs aside) but that’s why it’s called a wishlist, right?

1. This beautiful glass nest from HeatherHeather, for cotton balls perhaps? So pretty, via Sunset magazine.
2. Hanging Air Plant Pod by Mudpuppy- I have seen these everywhere and I love love love them. Perfect for my bathroom.
3. Tissue holder! From Uncommon Goods
4. I think these are the cabinet knobs I am going to get. I have been looking EVERYWHERE for something perfect and I am not finding it. I keep coming back to these Anthropologie knobs, so I think I just need to get them already.
5. A Glassybabby votive. These are made locally (well, Seattle) and they are so beautiful. I think pretty much any one of these colors would work just beautifully.

• Hope in a Tube. I have had a teeny weeny sample-size of this cream, dewy, glorious eye cream and it’s almost empty. I love it enough that it has passed the test. I am actually going to buy a larger size.
• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. I love this stuff. I bought it after reading all the hype about it and it SO deserves it. I am almost out and need to refill, but it’s a little pricey so I might hold off until absolutely necessary.
• I am having a serious love affair lately with Urban Decay eye shadows. They are sparkly and the neutral colors are so pretty and interseting. I am a gigantic MAC fan and have quite a stash, but one can have only so many variations of brown before getting bored with them.  I am trying to decide between Roach and Lounge.
• I am wanting a gel liner in a lighter color like grey, or taupe and I think Bobbi Brown has the best color selection, but I will have to see them in person. Her gel liners are indeed long wearing. I have a plumish black that I really like. But…this is not a high priority item. I just want to look.

Yay! Seattle here we come!

I found another set of flute playing pig salt and pepper shakers yesterday (the guys with the yellow flutes.) I thought it was so odd. They look like they are from different molds as my original pigs have sharper sculpted features. Nothing on the bottom to indicate origin although I am going guess that they were made in Japan. I didn’t intend to collect these, but I guess this is how collections start. The compulsion to acquire suddenly flares up and before you know it you have purchased two more sets (thank you internet!) This will be enough I think. I like to have at least three of something, but I have to exercise some self control because I do NOT want to turn into crazy totchke lady.

Okay, so…another pig. I am not collecting pigs I promise. I did go into the flea market with the intent of buying something funky to put Q-tips and cotton balls in. And I do admit that I was looking particularly for either small white ceramic/glass vessels or something with a face on it.  I found a lot of really expensive mugs with old men who looked like sailors and then in a corner of a locked cabinet I found this guy.  It says “Made in Japan” on the bottom. I really like that he does not have a handle and is quite an ugly little bugger so he fit the bill completely. Plus, he was only eight dollars!

So…you know the mug collection I inherited? And you know how I said I wasn’t going to add to it? Well…how could I not? But I swear I am going stop here. Maybe.

I have the day off and have a huge list of items to do, which included taking the cat to the vet. Yay me. There is a new store that opened here in Olympia called Whittle that I am extremely interested in.  From what I gather it’s sort of like one of those paint-it-yourself ceramic places, but with wood.  I took a woodworking class in school and absolutely LOVED it and have been wanting to get back into it ever since, but have been overwhelmed by the idea of acquiring tools and accessories. This place just may be able to scratch that itch.

So anyway, this is Earl, my experiment wih trying to make a custom fur brush in Photoshop, and he DEMANDS that you have a good weekend!

I have a day off today and am heading up to Seattle for a little beautification and some retail therapy. It looks like the weekend will be fairly lovely up here so I am hoping to get out into the yard and kick some ass.  I have my grow light system set up in a closet upstairs and I need to get some seeds started!  I am so slacking on that. I have been furiously weeding and cleaning up the yard that I am so tired by the time I am done all I want to do is sit on the couch with a cold beer.

But—not today. Today I get highlights.