Pretty!

Preparation: A little off Track.

It is finally close enough to school starting again that I can begin to pack and get things ready without being considered crazy and overly anxious. (Well some might still call me crazy with the label making fiasco that has been going on, but that is beside the point). A few days ago I started going through the things that I had packed away in May, which seems forever ago and I was pleasantly surprised to find many things that I had forgotten about.

Exhibit # 1: Last spring I was obsessed with saving all the tops to my Snapple bottles, because I thought the sayings on them were so clever and quirky. I found a whole bag of them, and after they still made me chuckle I decided I couldn't throw them away, so I cleaned them off and made them into little magnets for our refrigerator!

Fun Snapple Facts:

The first lollipop was invented in Connecticut.

Broadway is one of the longest streets in the world, it is 150 miles long.

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

A spider's silk is stronger than steel.

The planet Saturn has a density lower than water. It would float.

An average of three billion cups of tea are consumed daily, worldwide.

The most popular ice cream flavor is vanilla =)

After getting out my boxes of school supplies I found a lot of my Sharpie collection that I thought had gotten lost. Yay for hidden storage places! I thought as I went through these that I have two favorite colors that I usually take notes with, plum and burgundy. They are the perfect colors, they don't really bleed as much as others, they are more interesting than black yet still dark enough to not have to try to read. I really wanted to buy more of just those colors, doesn't seem too unreasonable right? Well let me tell you! After going to three craft stores, I went online and still found nothing that would satisfy my needs. Although I did find this Sharpie Gem! Awesome, right? So, I decided to email Sharpie and ask them straight up if I could buy just those colors in bulk. They were about 50% helpful, I can buy plum in bulk but I am still on the rampant search for burgundy, let me know if anyone knows more than me!

Exhibit #2 Plum and Burgundy!

Last year I had many bouquets of fake flowers in my room (God knows I couldn't keep up with real ones!) But I didn't have my favorite kind, sunflowers! I was having trouble finding some that I really liked, they either looked way too fake or were way too expensive. In the mean time, my mom picked up the real deal! at the grocery store and I was having fun taking pictures with my camera that I discovered had a setting for plants, who knew!

Also on another note before I left, my sister Katie and I wanted to visit Old Milford and go to a cupcakery called Sugar. Sugar was featured on the show Cupcakes Wars earlier this summer, (apparantly I am now obsessed with going to places that are on the Food Network? Three in a month, woah now!) It was super cutesy and decorated in browns and purples, and the cupcakes were delicious, it is a close second to the first cupcake store that I have mentioned, Sweeterie. It might have to do with the fact that Sugar is all organic, which as healthy as that is, it just can't beat that real sugary goodness. You know, the stuff that might eventually kill you, but tastes damn good until it does.

Sugar, on Main Street in Milford

Official Countdown until Baumhart (aka 17 Cherry Tree Lane) Move-In:

10 days!

Her Face, I forgot about Her face! So Frickin' Excited!

Last week my favorite Chagrin-ian, Abby Hudson came to visit. Typically I would have taken her to all the places that I thought were uniquely Cincinnati, and places I loved to go, but some how we ended up at a bunch of places that I have never been. Imagine that. Someone from out of town showing me the BEST things about my stomping grounds! First stop, The Root Beer Stand, Open since 1957 (approx.) who knew? Awesome Root Beer Floats right before dinner? Yes please!
Later that day Abby and I were on our way to Downtown Loveland, the closest area that could rival her Stars Hallow-esque town back home. But we made a detour when we saw the signs for the Loveland Castle. I might have been there once when I was young, and I just laugh when I see the signs for the infamous "Chateau la Roche" (aka Rock Castle). But, its actually pretty frickin' sweet, and I have now decided that I have to live in a castle just like that, my lover (yes, I believe its a "lover," not husband, when you live in a castle) will just have to deal.
Another thing I never knew, Hobby Lobby is a unique to Cincinnati, or at least they don't make them in Cleveland. Abby about flipped when she found out about this über craft warehouse! We spent about an hour and half among the stickers, fabrics, and decorations (Rodeo Themed Room in Chicago, Check!). This sort of set the mood for the rest of the visit, which turned out to be full of projects, heavy on the splatter paint.

So I discovered two new cites in Cincinnati while Abby was here, Mariemont and Madeira. Mariemont looks like Germany, no matter what anyone else says and Madeira is cute and kitschy. First we went to see the movie Babies, and I know this is hard to believe but I wanted one so frickin' bad afterwards! Below is the mischievous Mongolian child that I am planning on stealing, shh! After that, Jackie took us to the Dilly Deli, which was a precious as its name. Above the Dilly Deli is the Sweeterie, which was the cutest little cupcake shop I have ever seen. Abby got a cupcake that looked like a flower with a malted milk ball and mine tasted like Coffee and had a chocolate covered bean. Afterwards, it was raining but suddenly as we came upon the little town of Madeira t let up so we took that as a sign that we HAD to get out and explore. Good thing we did! Not only was there a little book shop, bead store and a paint your own pottery place called Mad Potters, there was also a Toy Store (where I have to admit we spent alot of our time).

Needless to say, our adventures rightly earned the title BEST DAY EVER!

Jackie painted the wolf-pack family crest on our kitchen table, Abby and I were great cheerleaders for her artisticness =)
Despite the odd stares we received from passing cars, splatter paining in my front yard proved to be extremely rewarding. Does mine look a little unique? Well that is probably due to the fact that the neighbors dog ran through it, mid splatter. You know what, I call that character.
Since we decided that the theme of our life was now going to be as chaotic as splatter paint, we finished the table with splattering the legs with black paint, I don't know if our bodies or the table got messier.
After the painting, still clad in the messy clothes and painted legs, Abby tasted her first bit of Skyline Heaven. Back in Chicago, Jackie and I had fed others the dip as a bit of foreplay, but nothing compares to that honest to goodness first bit of noodly, soupy chili topped with mile high cheese. Now doesn't that face just look like someone who is about to REALLY enjoy themselves?

Sadly after Skyline, it was time to part ways, but we already have ideas in the works for the next BEST TRIP EVER!

Glitter is the Herpes of Craft Supplies!

I have taken a lover. His name is Micheal. Just Kidding, but my relationship with a certain craft store of the same name is getting pretty serious, even Perez has covered it. Definitely not hatin' on Loveland (last week's town of the week, Woot Woot!) but I have needed something to fill my not so busy and slightly boring schedule and have taken up the renowed art of crafting. 

My first inspiration came from Abby and Jackie's suitemate Lucy. Since now the Bachelorette is back on, I was reminded of her joyous appearances during the Jack Pavelka era. And also, this means her craft time. I found the other day a hat box much like the one that she decorated and put my own mod-podging skills to use. Just like in the 8th grade, with OC sleepover nights. This time it was a little classier, black and white with both Barbra and Katharine for goodness' sake! (Streisand and Hepburn for those of you who aren't Sarah Akers) Since then I have filled it with the preliminary makings of a craft corner. Stickers, Glitter and of course my 120 pack.

 

The next project also has colors in common with a zebra, but on a much larger scale. Jackie and I embarked on a remodel of an old table to be fit for 17 Cherry Tree Lane next year. Although it is still in the process of being decorated, progress is B-E-A-utiful! Jackie is planning on using her creative wiles to add flowers and swirls and all sorts of gorgeous things to the top!  (Pictures to come when it is finished =) you just wait)

Another secret project includes gifts for my little baby graduates... but that is all I will say about that...

P.S. Crafting has taken up a good share of my time, but another new favorite thing is accompanying my friend Jacqueline "Champion" Dulude while she is training for the Chicago Marathon. So far, so good. But, she has yet to see how hardcore of a trainer I am. She thinks I am joking about pelting her with dixie cups to prepare for those crazed sideline volunteers. This could get interesting.

P.S.S. Joe wanted to share an ice cream fact with the world. Ice cream is meant to be enjoyed with a metal spoon, so no longer will I settle for those knock off plastic ones the Whipty-Do! has been offering. I believe I deserve the REAL DEAL. And Nicole Weinrich gave me the little factoid that back in the day, Nestle wanted to mass produce ice cream cones so they hired food science majors from Ohio State. Their result? The Drumstick. The Secret? Delicious chocolate coating INSIDE the cone. Oh Hey Ohio, way to go.