faded willow

thoughts on autumn

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:04:00 +0000

{image via lepiaf.geo on flickr}

There have been so many changes happening lately in my life, so it seems very fitting that we're now heading into such a transitional time of year. The leaves are just beginning to change in the DC area, but I know that when we visit Maryland this weekend, just a few hours away, the colors will be in full bloom! Can't wait to see that.

Autumn really is my favorite time of year, and it goes by so quickly. It makes me really want to just pause and enjoy each moment of these lovely days, while they're still here, before Winter creeps in. Though, Winter does have its charms, but I'm much more of a Fall kind of girl.

Crunchy leaves. Spiced coffee. Warm scarves. Can't really beat it.

Have a great Fall weekend, guys. Enjoy every minute!

another magazine!

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:12:00 +0000

Being the ~~absolute magazine freak~~ avid magazine reader that I am, I of course agreed when Southern Living asked to send me a copy of their October issue so I could take a look and share my thoughts on the recent "modern redesign" of the magazine. So, better or worse (I've been working on this for an insanely long period of time between other tasks and am a bit sleepy), here goes! Woohoo!

Now, truth be told, I've never read Southern Living that much, outside of doctor's offices and waiting rooms. However, I love and am a subscriber to Country Living, and I adored to pieces the no longer published Cottage Living. I really can't explain why, but SL just never jumped out to me as a magazine I wanted to sit down and read. Who knows, coming from Maryland, a state just barely below the Mason-Dixon, maybe sub-consciously I was too much of a Northerner!

But, it never hurts to try something new (especially a free magazine), so I happily agreed to flip through it. Overall results? I enjoyed the read, I appreciate some of the new features, but I'm still not convinced that I'd subscribe. I just don't know. I'm not saying I wouldn't subscribe some day, or maybe buy an issue now and again, I'm just saying I'd need to read a few more, perhaps, to be sold on it. (Yay for wishy-washy, passive responses!)

Considering it may just not be my personal cup of tea, there were a few new features that I did really enjoy. "Made By Southern Hands" showcased products handmade by artists in the South, a feature that I really loved. I think it really reflects people's shift toward buying handcrafted items and I was happy to see that as a regular new feature. I also thought that "Mama's Way or Your Way" was really fun. The same recipe two ways: Traditional, with all of the time-consuming (but delicious) bells and whistles (mmm, whistles), or a "modern" way, using a quick and more streamlined process. Though, I do worry that the "modern" recipe used a ton of pre-packaged, processed items and there were more words like "quick" and "easy" used, rather than "tasty" and "delicious." But, at least they gave you some options. (More wishy-washy comments! Do I like the magazine? Don't I? Who knows!!)

Otherwise, I think my favorite parts were the ones that have been there all along -- the stories of the people and places of the South. It's great to flip through a magazine and walk away with a better sense of the communities and towns across different regions of the country.

So there you go. Sort of. Have I really provided you with any sense of what the magazine is like? I can't even tell. I've been writing this post for the past three hours off and on (Did you see Jim and Pam get married? Best episode ever.) so I'm ready to call it quits on this post regardless. Bottom line, if you've read SL in the past, I think you'll love the changes that they made. The magazine is more modern, for sure, but still has the same charm that it always has. So, it's really a win-win for current readers.

As for me, I'm going to bed. And, I may just take my copy with me to read more about that bungalow makeover in Chattanooga.

are you there blog? it's me, karen.

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Well, I know my blog is still here. Me, on the other hand? Well, I've been a little absent. Sorry about that.

You see, I've been a little busy. You know, getting married and such.

That's right...I went and got hitched. On September 19 at 4:30 in the afternoon. On a perfect sunny, 75 degree day in Maryland. With trees in the background. And lovely decorations made by my Mom. And to a wonderful fellow, I might add.

Yep, it was pretty perfect. Then we danced the night away, surrounded by tons of family and friends. (And when you find out: several of the guys ended up in the pool outside, my dad told the bartender to tap another keg with only 30 minutes left in the reception, and people were still partying it up long after we headed out in our getaway car...you know it was a good night!)

We honeymooned in Cape Cod, which was just perfect for us. Few tourists, great weather, some whale watching, some antiquing, and lots (LOTS) of delicious seafood.

And...now we're back. Well, have been back for about a week or so now. Physically, that is. Mentally...I'm still on that beach, watching the sun go down over the bay. Yep.

So, pardon me while I get back into the swing of things. I've been reading all of your blogs...I promise. Even commenting on a few of them! But also, I have a to-do list about a mile long consisting of name-changing paperwork, house cleaning, grocery shopping, reorganizing (and figuring out where to put a whole new set of glasses and dishware and the like) and oh, just a ton of other things.

Otherwise though...married life is good. Loving every minute of it...except for the parts where new hubby and I have to be apart. (awwwwwwww)

See you guys again, real soon.

i want.

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:02:00 +0000

I want. I want.

I'm so ready for fall, aren't you? It was really cool and crisp outside this morning and it made me hope that the days of 90 degree weather are soon coming to a close. Of course, really cold temps need to hold off for the wedding (am I crazy for having it outside???) but aside from that, bring it on.

chocolate covered bacon

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:10:00 +0000

I know, I know, I haven't posted in forever, right? Gimme a break. I have a wedding coming up in one month plus one day!

(Okay, so I haven't really been doing much for that lately, but it makes a really good excuse. Feel free to use it yourself!)

So what brings me out of blogger-hiding? Bacon. And chocolate. Together.

Don't knock it 'til you try it. And oh, you really should try it. I've had the commercial variety before, but today I sampled some homemade choco-bacon made by Rex over at Savory Reviews (you really should read his blog; it's delightful). Delicious.

I'd show you a picture, but...I already ate the whole piece. You can see more images here to get the general idea.

In other news, I recently saw Julie & Julia and LOVED it. And also, I now want to cook all day, all the time (as opposed to before when it was just most days, most of the time). Have I? Eh, a bit. But, the desire is there. I have a countertop full of fresh veggies from my Dad's garden waiting for me to make some Eggplant Parm later this week, and I just bought My Life in France, and Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking, and am this close to buying Barefoot in Paris...so I'm knee-deep in cooking literature, recipes and food.

If you're going to be knee-deep in anything, that has to be one of the best combos, no?

a few thoughts...

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:34:00 +0000

...Because I haven't been here in a while (Hi!) and I felt like I should stop in and say hello. So, some thoughts (or observations, or gripes, or whatev)...

1) I'm watching PBS coverage of the Sotomayor Confirmation Hearing and no matter who is sitting behind the person speaking, they NEVER look happy to be there. This one girl behind Sen. Cardin looks not just bored, but down-right sad and maybe just a little ticked off? I dunno.

2) We went "old stuff shopping" yesterday and visited three Goodwill stores in the DC area. Got a bunch of cute vintage items (some of which will be going into my Etsy store, as I gradually move it towards more of a vintage goods shop and less of a jewelry shop...more on that later.)

3) Also at Goodwill, found Guitar Hero for the Wii for $8.99! Yes, that's like getting a 90% discount off of the retail price. Also got a Wario game for the Wii for just $2. It was a good day.

4) Did I mention that we got a Wii? My awesome friends and co-workers went in together and bought us a Wii console and accessories for my work bridal shower. Best. Co-workers. Ever.

5) I've also been checking our wedding gift registries several times per ~~day~~ week. I know I shouldn't, and I really don't want to get caught up in all of that...but...stuff! We're getting stuff! What can I say, I'm a sucker for cool kitchen items.

6) Something happened on Saturday or Saturday night that completely messed up my back. Can sitting on a hard bench for several hours do that? Hmm. I'm sitting here, full of Aleve, waiting for one of those nifty heat pad things that you strap to your back, and trying my best not to turn to the left or right. You never realize how much you actually "twist" until you can't, at least not without searing pain shooting through your body.

Okay, that's all for now. Back to PBS, back pain, and registry snooping...

slo-mo dove

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:03:00 +0000

zack morris is back

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:56:00 +0000

Best thing on Jimmy Fallon's show thus far.

happy birthday, here's some fish

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:02:00 +0000

{via whipped bakeshop}

Hello again...sorry about this whole "one post a week" type of deal. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things soon. Or, it's summer and we'll see how things go. Either way, hi! (Wow, I really need to lay off of the late night postings...)

At any rate, in honor of my birthday, tonight Seth is taking me to my favorite sushi restaurant, Flying Fish, for some yummy raw deliciousness. Okay, who am I kidding, I eat mostly the cooked crab and spicy salmon rolls, but whatev. It's my birthday and I'll eat cooked sushi if I want to.

And, while I don't have this cake waiting for me, how cool would that be? It's a cake that looks like it's made out of sushi! There are some awesome bakers out there...totally jealous.

Oh, and while we're on the subject of cool and like and totally and lots of exclamation points...has anyone else been watching "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" on NBC?? Seth and I are addicted to the awfulness that is that show, especially the train wreck that is "Speidi." Of course, now that Heidi and Spencer are off for good, what will we laugh at and bitch about? Oh, right, there's always Janice.

So, to recap: Hi, Birthday, Sushi, Reality TV.

And that pretty much sums it all up. Until next time...

eat better

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:24:00 +0000

{image via eatbetteramerica.com}

I've been flying low on the blogging radar lately. So low, I hadn't read a blog in days (gasp!) until this morning. What can I say, it's almost summer, my birthday is right around the corner, and I've been otherwise occupied. C'est la vie.

Anyway, I was browsing around this morning in search of a few good recipes, and I went back to one of my favorite "healthy" cooking sites. Now, usually I don't care much for recipes from big corporations (too much product placement and not-so-great food) but I gotta say, this site from General Mills is pretty good. It's called Eat Better America and it's chock full of darn tasty recipes (like that one above...delish) that are healthy and also pretty quick and easy, which is great for weeknights when I'm more tempted to veg out with some Chinese food than to cook a hot meal.

So, just wanted to pop back here to blogland and share this with everyone.

Enjoy and have a happy Thursday!

misunderstood

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:55:00 +0000

This is not the first time I've had some minor difficulty understanding the lyrics to songs I hear on the radio, but it might be one of the oddest cases of "what the lyrics actually are" verses "what I hear in my little head."

This song comes on the radio all of the time and until I looked it up just now, I didn't even know the name of it or who sang it, let alone the words.

During the chorus, all I could hear was this:

Tressanwordsandyeahyeahyeah
Never Van Zandt
Never Van Zandt
I don't think so

Yes, as in Steven Van Zandt. As in the E Street Band. As in, Silvio Dante from The Sopranos.

I just figured out the actual song (see above) and the chorus goes a little more like:

Try to see it once my way
Everything zen
Everything zen
I don't think so

So, in case any of you also thought that Bush wrote a song about Steven Van Zandt, well, now you know the truth. You are very welcome.

...Happy weekend!

trying new things

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Herr's Cheese Curls.

Could it be? A variety of cheese curl that I have yet to try? I believe it is.

The result? ...meh.

They were 'okay' but not great. They have a cheesiness similar to that of the #1 ranked Snyder of Berlin, but with a slightly odd aftertaste. Not as hard/crunchy as the Utz variety, but still, not fluffy enough for my tastes. I think the Cheeto brand still ranks higher, in the #2 position.

Stay tuned for next time, when I try the newest variety of cheese puff goodness.

You may now continue your day, slightly more enlightened. That is all.

it'll be fine

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:18:00 +0000

{via the charm lady}

Work has been a bit hectic lately, and with wedding planning in full swing as we are now in the "less than four months away" category, I've adopted a new motto.

"It'll be fiiiiine."

Although, I am considering keeping the above charm, or something similar, close by as an additional reminder.

With that said, I'm checking out for a loooong weekend. Well, after I go back to work tomorrow, that is. Okay, so, more like, regular weekend, plus one day.

Whatever...it'll be fiiiine.

funeral cake

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:15:00 +0000

I snapped this while walking around town on my lunch break. Someone, please tell me how this cake belongs here.

If this doesn't deserve a big WTF?? I don't know what does.

Note: My friend actually called the funeral home and apparently it is the owner's 95th birthday. Well, good for him. But still...

talkin' it up

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:40:00 +0000

The trip to Williamsburg was fun -- but man, trying to keep up with my parents over a few very full days of shopping and sightseeing was a feat in and of itself! I really gotta get myself into better shape, or at the very least, start taking some kind of energy supplement.

Sadly, I forgot my camera, so no pictures this time. Imagine colonial period houses, lots of seafood, a few stores, and you've pretty much got the scene covered.

Nothing much to post on today since I'm trying to catch up and dig out of the pile of emails that somehow amassed in the one day that I was gone from work. I'll get back into the swing of things in a day or so.

In the meantime, watch this video and try not to get the theme song stuck in your head for the rest of the week. It's no easy task, I assure you.

bag lady

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:06:00 +0000

{image via Shoestring Home}

I'm going a bit handbag crazy lately (then again, when am I not) with all of the cute new Spring and Summer styles out there. I think this one from Shoestring Home would be perfect for a sunny day stroll around town, or a day at the beach.

In other news, my parents are trying to burn off a few of their leftover timeshare points, so we're headed back to Williamsburg, Virginia tomorrow for a long weekend with the folks. If it's anything like the last time we were there, I'm sure we'll have a blast. It's really all about the eating and the shopping. Then again, aren't some of the best vacations usually about those things?

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend--See you all Monday!

move over snuggie

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:38:00 +0000

Move over Snuggie and Slanket...the Sealpelt is where it's at. And at the bargain price of only $399, might as well get two.

{Image via Birkiland, found via DivineCaroline}

i heart tom hanks

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:32:00 +0000

How can you not adore Tom Hanks? The best part comes about a minute in...

Found via Amanda at every little thing.

tartlet pincushion

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:42:00 +0000

{image via Notebook}

Is it food? Is it a pincushion? Who knows! It sure is cute though...

family photos

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:17:00 +0000

I double-dog dare you to browse through this website and not laugh out loud. Make that a triple-dog dare.

Awkward Family Photos: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

{found via The Stimulist }

penguins and werewolves

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Sat, 09 May 2009 04:17:00 +0000

Apparently, I have a bit of trouble saying certain words. This is a fact that I was completely unaware of until I started dating Seth, which makes me think it's probably somehow his fault. Anyway.

If you were to hear me talk about, for instance, the movie March of the Penguins, you may very well laugh in my face. See here for reference and further explanation.

Well, the most recent discovery in this area came about over a discussion of werewolves. (What, don't you have regular discussions about werewolves?) It seems, that I have been taking out the "l" and the "v" all together, creating a word that could only be spelled "werewuffs" or "werewuff" in the singular. Yeah, like: "wear" plus the sound a dog makes.

This cracks Seth up to no end. Seriously. No end.

Our conversation last night went something like this:

Seth: "Say werewolf."
Me: "Werewuff. What? Oh. Wayerwolllllfffff."
Seth: "Werewolves."
Me: "Werewolves. Ha. See!"

Then it went in rapid fire succession to see if I could get it right.

Seth: "Say werewolf."
Me: "Werewolf!"
Seth: "Werewolves."
Me: "Werewolves!"
Seth: "Werewolf."
Me: "Werewuff! Oh...crap."

I think this may have gone on for about 15 minutes. We are so cool.

Oh, and I still can't get it right.

Werewuff. Woof. Arf.

But still...so cool.

all right

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:10:00 +0000

I can't seem to get enough, lately, of Madeline Peyroux. Join me in listening to this lovely song, won't you?

for the love of cheese curls

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:53:00 +0000

{blurry cellphone pic via me}

Natural, organic, un-processed. That's all well and good, but, I have two words for you: cheese curls. Now, I have four words for you: Snyder of Berlin Cheese Curls. Okay, that was five words, but whatever. They are the best little bits of puffed up processed cheesey goodness that you will ever eat.

Am I being overly dramatic? Perhaps. Am I being completely truthful? Yes.

The sad, heart-wrenching thing is...I can't get them in Virginia. At least, not at any of the grocery stores I've ever shopped at in this area. From the distribution information on their website (yes, I've checked) it seems that they do ship them to various stores here, but perhaps Northern Virginia is just a little too "different" from the rest of the state. Whatever the reason, it really is a sad, sad thing.

Anyway. A co-worker of mine was traveling this week and guess what he found?? Yes, that's right. My beloved cheese curls.

Best. Thursday. Ever.

spring dreams

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:26:00 +0000

{images via lepiaf.geo}

I don't know how you feel about this sort of thing, but I couldn't be more ready for Spring. It's here, technically, but as dreary and rainy as it's been lately I'm starting to wonder. Though, I suppose some rain is natural this time of year. Nature. Hrmph.

Hopefully the weather will be just a touch better when we're visiting family this weekend. Tomorrow, we're headed back to Western Maryland/Pennsylvania for a few Mother's Day celebrations; the sun would be an awful nice gift, don't you think?

Is it really, truly, Spring yet where you are? Could you send some of it my way?

vintage love

karen.fadedwillow@gmail.com (Karen) — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:05:00 +0000

{image via PoeticHome}

After seeing a picture of this adorable little clock on perfectbound, I had to make a small impulse purchase.

Isn't it adorable? I really love old Westclox pieces and this one was in such good condition, I couldn't pass it up!