Sweet Sunday

Today Chris and I ventured to Centerville, OH to try Bills Donuts. Delicious. Consuming those sweets reminded me that I neglected to share my sweetest valentine. To die for. I know. These were from the yummy Phraner lady. You can find her recipe here. I delicately devoured mine with a hot mug of tea. They were perfection buttery, tart, and sweet. I miss this girl so much!

Treasure Find Tuesday

This weeks treasure comes from Goodwill in Ohio. I usually lightly browse this Goodwill, but last week I spent 2 hours digging. One of the deals I came up with was a new leather wallet. My current wallet is small and difficult to get things in and out of. I have to take my ID out a lot to get on base and the hassle has been wearing on me. I thought this wallet was a great deal for 99 cents and was even happier when I got home and found a forever stamp inside! This means I only spent a quarter and a dime on it.

It is a soft genuine leather with a buckle and coin purse attached.I also found two other small bags to keep things organized in oversized purses.You may be thinking 2 hours in one Goodwill!? Well, I spent a lot of time trying things on. I found some great spring dresses I'll share come warmer weather. Happy Hunting!

The Wolfman

No not that one silly.

This one.

I don't know how he did it, but Chris convinced me to go to the movies on a SATURDAY. I typically try to avoid any mall or theatre on a weekend if I can. I can't stand a crowded movie theatre full of dun dun dun ... teenagers. I did the whole teenager thing. I get it. It is time to be loud, outspoken, and make out in the dark. fine. I just don't want to be a part of it (anymore). It's not just the teens that get me, not all adults are well versed in movie theatre etiquette. This is another reason why we usually do movie date nights on Tuesdays. It is glorious. Most places are discounted during the week and you pretty much get the place to yourself. Try it if you can. I'm not the only one who loves it, I know my puffy winter coat always prefers its own seat next to me over popcorn covered coke spills.

Anyhow Chris did convince me to go see Wolfman with him this past Saturday. He has been pretty amazing dealing with my cabin fever, so I couldn't say no. The film is made well, but I don't recommend it if you want to learn anything about warewolves or don't like to see guts strewn about. I spent a good portion of the attack scenes with my eyes shut. They really went all out making prop guts for this movie. I was a bit disappointed with the lack of history and explanation behind the whole Lycanthropy thing. I didn't realize I was disappointed in the lack of details until the movie was over though, which means they did tell a story. I tend to prefer stories that include a detailed history. I like to know how things get started. Anthony Hopkins of course is amazing. I would watch it again (but not pay for it) just to watch him more closely.

Climbing Mt. Laundry

The sun came out yesterday and it was glorious! I even went to Goodwill and got a few goodies that I will share on Tuesday.

Once the sun set, I was off to climb Mt. Laundry.

I know. Judge me. Whatever. I managed to do all 10 loads while we had a break in the weather. We don't own a washer and dryer yet. We still collect quarters and haul it to the clubhouse. I am hoping to improve this method before next winter. The main thing is that I got it done and did it with a smile... that's all that matters right?

If you know how to get a washer and dryer cheap or have any tips for picking one out I am all ears!

Treasure Find Tuesday

I scored this tool chest for Chris' birthday at the base thrift shop. The woman who brought it in listed it as a filing cabinet,

but I think it makes the perfect size tool chest for a man in an apartment.

I had the tool chest sitting in the dining room wrapped up a week before his birthday. Of course Chris never mentioned the tall comic covered gift all week, but I knew he had to be curious as to what was under there. I love gifts that are unexpected. Chris opened his gifts at midnight after a serenade of Happy Birthday. It was a pleasant surprise and should fit our apartment and limited tool collection quite nicely.

Pig Out

"when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

We spent our valentines day playing pass the pigs and watching When Harry Met Sally (the movie we watched right before Chris and I proposed). All in all it was a good day ... even though we are beginning to feel like we are living in a snow globe.

I didn't get to send out all of my valentines which is a bummer, but no worries everyone it's not a snub. I love and miss you a gazillion times over. So far the snow is winning the battle of Rachel in Ohio, but come spring time this state better watch out because I will be all over the place.

Valentine

A Shopaholic Confession

I have gone over a month without buying a piece of clothing. This is a good and bad thing. It's great because it means I haven't been spending, but considering I usually shop for clothing as a celebration or reward... YIKES! What does that say about my 2010?

To ease my winter woes I did some online browsing at forever 21. I had the idea when I saw this top

on this blog YOUR TRASH, MY TREASURE. Check out these other tops (drool)

Treasure Find Tuesday

Week before last I left the base thrift shop feeling like a pirate. Usually I come home with a mason jar full of buttons, but this week one came in that was full of intrigue. I couldn't wait to empty it out to see what treasures were hidden inside.

SO many things were crammed into the jar! I couldn't possibly post pictures of them all but here is a partial group picture.

There were quite a few brooches

almost a dozen wacky screw on earrings

charms

necklaces

and much much more for just 3.75

On the Menu

This Sunday was Chris' birthday. I thought hard about what to get him. He isn't very materialistic and I refused to get him another video game that I can't play too. I know it sounds selfish, but I prefer games that bring us together rather than the ones that he gets sucked into and becomes dead to the world. If you or a loved one plays video games you know what I am talking about.

If you keep up, you know I am not the best cook. I still need lots of practice and am often discouraged (which I assume is less than pleasing for the hungry bear I married). As his Birthday gift I made him a menu with dishes planned for all weekend! I took on quite a lot since every meal was a new recipe, but we managed to avoid a meltdown with the help of this months Food Network Magazine and this beauty:

This copy of the Joy of Cooking was my great aunt Laura's and is not exactly an easy read. After a day of sifting through the text and sifting through cake flour I somehow managed to pull this off from scratch with no pictures!

We also enjoyed sipping these sweet lables with our weekend meals.

Happy Birthday

Thought Bubble

My mind is on overload today. I have so many thoughts and ideas. There are things that I want to do and see, but I keep sitting and thinking. For some reason all of this thinking is very satisfying in this moment. Should I feel bad that I am not getting anything done? It feels like I have been doing a lot because I have been thinking a lot … I just have very little to show for it.

I totally got up bathed and put pajamas on =)

Treasure Find Tuesday

This dress was another amazing NYC find. I picked it up over a year ago for $20 at the Goodwill in on 25th street in Chelsea. Though I normally consider twenty dollars a hefty price for a second hand item this baby was spotless, just my size, AND still had the Anthropologie tag on it. JACKPOT.

on our honeymoon in Antigua

This particular Goodwill has never disappointed me. When I was in NYC this past September I met up with this striped DKNY jacket. (I love it so much. When got to Texas and I realized that I had lost it at the airport I had a fit. I was leaving for Ohio from a different airport the next morning. After I left, my parents called lost and found then they drove back an hour each way to pick it up from the first airport and mailed it to me in Ohio. They are amazing.)

Hot pink J.Crew top

and X-Large J.Crew argyle sweater

I pretty much live in this oversized beauty when I am around the house.

Turtle Love

This little guy now has a happy home on my office filing cabinet. Turtles always make Chris and I laugh. When our nephew was little we took him to the zoo and no matter what animal we were looking at be it lion alligator or elephant he managed to find and point out turtle in the exhibit. We would say "oooo look a tiger" and he would say "look a turtle!" When we found this drawer pull we had to bring it home.

I just wish I could throw one of these rugs down on the floor to pull the room together.

All of these lovely items can be found online at Anthropoligie.