Oh Happy Day, Sister Act 2 Style

Oh Happy Day, my little lovers! It's been awhile, but I'm back. I thought since I was on vacation I would be back to my ole blogging self, but alas, that was not how it played out. Vacation went a little something like this......

• 7:00 is wake up time. I like mornings and I like coffee, plus I just don't like to sleep in anymore. What a waste of life!
• 7:15 rolls around and I think, "Gosh, I have the entire day to do whatever I want. The world is mine! What should I do? Let's make this a good one, Stacy."
• 9:00 Wouldn't want to miss Regis and Kelly.
• 10:00 Wouldn't want to miss The View.
• 11:00 Shower. The days not totally wasted.
• 12:30 I'm ready to leave and do things, but it's so sunny outside, I'm afraid my life is wasting away if I spend the day running errands or doing anything that's not getting a tan.
• 2:00 I haven't left the house yet because I can't make up my mind whether I should lay our or not.
• 4:00 I haven't left the house to do errands and I haven't laid out. But I am watching Weeds OnDemand and thinking, "This season seems dirtier."
• 4:28 Weeds is over and I think I may give it up. Not only is it dirtier, the storyline is whack and HIGHLY unbelievable.
• 4:30 I think, "But if I give up Weeds, I won't get to see Silas anymore."
• 7:00 The sun is slowly setting and my hair is getting greasy. Guess I can't go anywhere now.
• 9:15 I make a root beer float. Preferably with Diet A&W.
• 10:00 Tucked in and ready for Chelsea Lately.

All in all, I'm an idiot and really let myself down the past two weeks.

I bet you can guess what else I failed at! Farmers' Market Week! (Remember that? No? You've never read my blog before and don't plan on coming back?) Well, I wasn't a complete failure, but I sure wasn't a success. I started off strong with a deep dish cherry pie! I've never made cherry pie and to be totally honest, I don't usually enjoy the texture of a cherry. But this baby was apparently baked in heaven and turned out perfect (other than being a bit runny). The crust was probably the best part. The directions have you fold it so that it is similar to a very large crostada. The second and last item prepared in honor of Farmers' Market Week was an also never attempted, blueberry pie! This pie was quite tasty despite being runny. (I am living with my in laws this summer and I'm beginning to think that Tina, my roommate/mother in law is sabotaging me with bad cornstarch! What else could the problem be?) Soooo, yeah, in my two weeks of baking, I made two pies.

Turning that frown upside down!

I started an Etsy shop! Remember how I "think" I take "cool" pictures at the markets? Well, I did some editing and had those suckers printed! You can now purchase up to 20 different 5x7 fruit and vegetable photos from Farmers' Market Delight! Please buy! I'll never live this down if nobody buys anything! Talk to you later!

Dude, that is like, so, Nautical!

Summer has got me feeling awfully nautical! Not nautical in the sense that I'm hanging out at pools and beaches, but clothig nautical. Blue, white, and gold - so Nautical! This look to me says, I'm a little preppy, but I'm also a little French. Although I don't think the French ever actually go for a nautical theme, the French do have a very distinct look and I'm working hard to make this look mine. (No, I will never stop talking about being French. How can I? It's who I am, it's who I was born to be.)

Let's see here...... I started off the summer with a pair of gold earrings. Bada bing, bada boom. You don't get much fancier than fake gold. Next, there was a shirt I badly wanted at a German Zara, but wasn't able to buy because I guess I hadn't done enough chores or something for the week. Instead I went with my second favorite look, a cardigan! (I bought a red cardigan on clearance and it's long enough to cover up underwear lines. Win, win.) Anyways, the nautical shirt I didn't get to buy really put my wheels into motion and before I knew it, it's all I could think about! I've gone on to buy a blue and white striped cardigan, blue plaid Sperry's, another fake gold piece of jewelry (I obviously only buy the finest things in life), a super cute little blue and white striped "dress" that is not a dress at all, but a long top, and I received a blue and white striped bag for my birthday! I am looking gooooood this summer!

The nautical theme has now consumed my whole life and I have begun to vision a home in which a little boys room is decorated with this look and/or a bathroom!

Sky Rockets In Flight, Farmers' Market Delight

Two weeks off + one chubby girl = baking!
The family I nanny for is on vacation for the next two weeks, so I have designated this time to be Farmers' Market Desserts week(s). This is based "loosely" on the cookbook, Farmers' Market Desserts by Jennie Schacht. (I say "loosely" because it obviously totally copies the name. Did you pick up on that? You don't care? Okay.)

This cookbook couldn't be more perfect and helpful! She tells how to deal with different fruits and vegetables, what fruits and veggies are in season at certain times, and of course, has many recipes that look amazing. I've tried to get to as many farmers' markets as I could this summer so I can eat 'locally' and 'seasonally,' but mostly just so I can take 'cool' pictures. Also, this is what French woman do, so you know I'm on top of that. If French women love fresh markets, so does this girl!

I don't end up buying all that much food when I'm there because I think to myself, "Now Stacy, are you really going to end up making Gwynth Paltrow's kale chips from that $12 bunch of kale you just bought? Do you even like kale?" I think we all know the answer to both of those. However, I really do enjoy myself at the farmers' markets and it's nice to see that not all the food we eat is super manufactured and mass produced! DEATH TO CORPORATE FARMING! (Fyi, most of your USDA approved 'organic' food is not even slightly organic and you'd be better off buying 'non-organic, but local.') I highly recommend getting out to a farmers' market if one is near you! Berry season is almost over, but peach season has only just begun! And don't even get me started on the tomatoes, don't even get me started. If nothing else, there's usually a coffee stand and muffin/donut/pastry stand set up!

Now I will bless you with visions from the markets! Is there anything more beautiful than fresh fruits or veggies? Heavens no, as Mother Marianne would say. ***Pictures had to be edited because I now sell them on Etsy! If you would like to see these little gems, you can visit my Etsy shop, Farmers' Market Delight! Hope you like!***

And if you're totally against all of the other pictures, there's always this guy.......I'll let you know what I've cooked up at the end of the two weeks. I just spent $20 on blueberries, so my fingers are crossed this isn't a total flop!

So Simple, So Perfect

Sometimes, you just need a little reminder......

'This is the day that the Lord has made,
I will rejoice and be glad in it'

Big Spendaaaa/Mo' Money, Mo' Problems

Derek and I were recently talking about how I'm not exactly the smartest girl in the world. You know, I'm okay with that. Because I like to laugh and talk loudly however, and have blond hair, I think people sometimes assume I'm not smart at all. *Newsflash* I'm highly intelligent! I have come up with a genius plan to make it look as though, at 29 years of age, I am fiscally responsible!

**GENIUS ALERT**GENIUS ALERT**

I surround myself with those who are also in high amounts of debt, such as myself, and then we all just act like it's normal and EVERYONE buys EVERYTHING with credit cards! I think that's why I've always enjoyed working at restaurants. Every single person there is a hot mess, but in our little restaurant world, it's okay. Accepted even! It's probably also why I like to think I'm "in" with the "artistic" crowd (even though I'm most definitely not) because they usually have nothing going for them, other than their newest midcentury oil and watercolor painting on cork that resembles VanGogh during the Renaissance. Like ANYBODY in the ENTIRE WORLD wants to hang that in their living room!

I share this information with you only to tell you that I truly have done something responsible! I saved a good chunk of cash from our wedding money and plan on buying a lovely little set of dinnerware with it. I'm not talking china that will be displayed in a china cabinet along with porcelain figures, but never ever used (Mom, I'm talking to you). I'm talking china-esque dinnerware that makes you feel fancy and definitely makes the food taste better, but is for everyday use. I've had a hard time really finding anything because dinnerware isn't exactly my forte (that 'e' is to be pronounced) and of course I have a very specific picture in my head.

Now who here likes Anthropologie? Silly question! We ALL love Anthropologie! As I mosied through the store a few weeks back, I came across two dinnerware gems and let me tell you, it was love at first sight. One is this:

Goo goo, gaa gaa!! I'm not usually the biggest fan of the 'fleur de lis' because it often times screams, "Look, I'm French, but not really, but am because I have a fleur de lis." The 'fleur de lis' however is extremely subtle when you see this collection in person. And it has a similar look to distressed wood that's been painted white.

Okay, second off is this collection: (I can only copy the pics that use the 'mint' color, but I would actually go with the 'grey'.)
Since you have an idea of what I like now, if you know of any places that have dinnerware similar to this, please let me know! And as always, I thank you for your time. It's been a ruuulllll pleasure!

7.4.2012

From July 5th of one year to July 3rd of the next year, I look forward to one thing.

This:


Today is my day! Does it get any better than listening to this song over the loudspeakers, watching fireworks? I think not!!

Happy 4th of July Americans!!

Schmina Tey

Lately, it seems as though people have been coming out of the woodwork, OUT OF THE WOODWORK!, asking what is on my summer reading list. You know what I say to those people? What's NOT on my summer reading list? Am I right or am I right? Chuckle, chuckle. If the Morton Grove Public Library has it, this girl is reading it.

I normally prefer to read non-fiction, specifically history, because I like to learn. Knowledge is power! Am I right or am I right? However, I chose at the beginning of the summer to make this a 'Fiction Summer' and I've been sticking to my word (until this past week when a World War II book crept in there). Thankfully, Tina Fey's 'Bossypants' doesn't seem to fall into any category whatsoever. Even biography! It's nothing but a bunch of words that make up so much funny-ness, you won't be able to stop lol'ing! Not the lol that you write in a text or email just because, but a real LOL that leaves you in good spirits the rest of the day. (And I suppose it is a biography.)

Tina Fey is FU-UU-NNY! Like, this book, is so good you may even reread it. I can't help but notice that Tina and I have quite a bit in common. These common traits range from physical ailments to the fact that she must have lived right by where I lived in Rogers Park last summer. I highly, highly recommend reading this, I was done in one day!

*Side note* I was so happy to be reminded, by Tina, about the 30 Rock episode where Jenna is starring in a movie called 'The Rural Juror.' Pure comedy!!

YES! YES! YES!

Awards Season

Very Good Husband Award goes to: Derek Edwardson!

Very Good Sister-In-Law Award goes to: Kim Edwardson!

They both ordered me one of the burlap bags, from White Apple Threads on Etsy, I talked about a few posts ago for my birthday! So thoughtful! I love them both, but am going to have to send one back because I don't really need two of almost the same exact bag. I choose to keep...... Kim's bag. Thanks sister!

Teenage Thoughts

Teenage Stacy to Teenage Derek:

"Please don't be in love with someone else,
Please don't have somebody waiting on you"

And Many More!

I don't like to toot my own horn, buuuuuuutttttttt........

Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
I look like a monkey
and I smell like one tooooooo!

"You don't look a day over 52." Tess Haskins (Umm, I'm 29.)

You're Grounded!

This past Saturday night I turned 17 again. I babysat. And then I found myself watching the MTV Movie Awards while the kids were sleeping. I've noticed a big change in maturity in the past few years, in that I have stopped watching these awards shows, along with The Real World, Road Rules, and any type of Challenge show. I liked life like that. I was happy with myself for growing up. Now I've gone and ruined everything.

I really enjoyed the movie awards!

And you know what I enjoyed the most? Robert Pattinson!

I don't enjoy vampires. I don't enjoy reading about vampires. I also don't enjoy watching vampires. I've never read or watched any of the Twilight series and I was okay with that. It never saddened me that I wasn't in love with a vampire...... until this weekend! Robert Pattinson was SO charming and SO funny on the awards, I realized I've been majorly missing out. He told the funniest jokes that kind of actually bombed, but then he would keep laughing and then I would laugh and I felt quite a bond with him. He was even shaking as he read his thing for Reese Witherspoon. So sweet!

(I had to google this to make sure I was getting the right name)

TEAM EDWARD!

Shoulder Candy

Remember how I said I love burlap? Just say yes. (In all fairness, you really should remember! Considering you're my best friends and I just said it in my last post....) I love everything burlap. Burlap pillows, burlap table runners, burlap Christmas stockings, BURLAP ANYTHING! It makes any room look 'french' in a hurry, therefore I like!

Well, a few weeks ago my sister in law Kim was in town for a wedding where the bride gave some of the cutest bridesmaids gifts, loosely based around her wedding theme. I squealed in delight upon seeing A BURLAP BAG! Heaven on a strap! I will be the first to admit that while I just love these bags, they're a little more 'beach' than 'french.' However, I would never use one of these as a beach bag only, these would make amazing summer bags! Now I give to you, JessBecause. I would buy from here simply because the name is so clever! This link takes you to an actual site, but the links on that page take you to an Etsy shop and from there I'm confused. I guess they now go by White Apple Threads. To top it off, they live in Encinitas, CA, the very city I would choose to live in if I could live anywhere in the continental United States. Thank you very much.
Look! They have a special deal for 6 or 12 bags specifically as bridesmaids gifts. Brills!

I Dream In White And Burlap

Anything white is a favorite of mine! (Except people...then I prefer tan, of the Mexican or Central/South American variety.) I just love how clean white is. And most of all, I love splashes of color amongst all white. Once Derek buys us our dream home (very soon, right Der?), I'll be able to install my all white dream kitchen! From what I hear, there's ALWAYS extra money left over to remodel after you buy a house!

Luckily for me, there is another person who also loves white! Dreamy Whites! This is her house people! Do you know who lives here? Dreamy white herself, white husband, and approximately five children. Maybe a pet, who knows?
How, how, HOW does she keep this place so clean?!?! I absolutely adore this house and couldn't ask for a more perfect home, buuuut, I just don't think there's any possible way I could live here! I like to start pretty much every morning with at least three coffee spills, white stains on my shirt from toothpaste, and hairsprayed nose hairs. Sadly, that means I do not EVER get to live in an all white, "french farmhouse." Isn't this home beautiful though?! Thank you for letting me daydream, Dreamy Whites!

I love burlap too!

More like Year-o-Love

I guess this is what it's like to grow up.....

There have been engagements, weddings, and babies galore lately!!

• Congratulations again to Tess and Ray! The day went perfectly and the wedding/reception was beautiful. Like, seriously, beautiful! The bride looked amazing (Not a surprise. She looks amazing even when wearing her 12 year old, torn, pajama sweatpants, no bra, and 18 year old crooked glasses.) and danced like a swan. My only complaint was that it was very hot while the sun was still up, so I had a touch of B.O. by the end of the night.
  
• Congratulations to my sister in law, Kim, also known as Sister, and her boyfriend Billy on their engagement! Their wedding will take place next summer and I am the unofficial volunteer wedding planner because I'm bossy and never got to plan a wedding. I just take it upon myself to try and plan weddings now and then I pretend it's mine when the day comes. I'm sure she won't mind!
  
• And this just in! Congratulations to Kelly Daly and Matt Jones (This is a link to their blog. I just actually read it for the first time b/c I could never find it and it's new. Turns out these two are very angry people! I apologize ahead of time for their dirty mouths, my goodness!) on their very brand new engagement! This is Tess' best friend who accompanied her to Italy for my wedding. I got to know her on that trip and she is truly a delight to be around!! I am so happy for you, mostly because we had JUST talked about marriage and she had NO idea this was going to happen!! However, as great as she is, she is also a dream ruiner! She lives in LA and likes to tell me, a celebrity lover, how awful certain celebrities are. Not cool, but congratulations anyways!

Now is there anything that makes me happier than a wedding? Yes!!! BABIES!!!!
I think there are too many to mention and I honestly can't remember all of them because I'm pretty sure every single girl I know, plus every celebrity in Hollywood, is pregnant or just had a baby! Your bellies are adorable, your babies are adorable, your big breastfeeding boobs are adorable, and congratulations to you all!

Day-o-Love

Today I will say goodbye to single, pretty wild Tess and say hello to married, Bed Bath & Beyond-lovin Tess! I couldn't be happier for you! I wish you all the love in the world and from the bottom of my heart, LOTS AND LOTS OF PATIENCE!!!!

Happy Family!

Congratulations Tess and Ray! Love you!