get yourself a virgo

2011-11-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

Hello!! For months I have thought about how to come back to this blog. I discovered a few products I used, liked, and thought about recommending to my readers. There were also a few websites I had found that I could have shared. In September, I booked a last-minute four-day trip to Hawaii! However, each time I visited my blog to publish a new post, it all felt so hokey. I had to remind myself

yummy summery asiany lettuce wraps

2011-07-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

...or 'we finally went grocery shopping!' This month has been go-go-go and I am loving it, but the downside is that we haven't prioritized domestic basics. We've gone camping almost every weekend and have various social engagements throughout the work week, be it sports, gymtime, happy hours, etc. I know, boo hoo. I'm definitely not complaining. However, it felt so refreshing to go nuts at

guy walks in to a...

2011-07-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

's funny how new people enter your life and expose you to new things. While all too often I hear my new coworker friend shriek, "you've never heard of {fill-in-the-blank}?!" he's actually exposed me to some coolness. I could structure this post in such a way where I express my gratitude for his teachings, listing all of said coolness, but that would give him way too much flattery. ;) Instead,

"we could totally do this"

2011-07-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

After dropping off Megan and Tommy at their hotel Friday, I was a bit worried that Ethan would never stop crying for his parents. I tried several approaches, alternating between speaking to him in soft dulcet tones, to completely ignoring him hoping he would self-soothe, but he continued to cry for the entire ten minute drive from the hotel to Gabe's dad's house. My plan was to bring the boys

July 4th weekend!

2011-07-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

What are everyone's plans? Tonight, Gabe and I are having a slumber party with these two monkeys while their parents celebrate their 4-year wedding anniversary. B says, "brother, can I have some of that cookie?"E says, "no way, mine!" B says, "c'mon just a bite" We're so excited!

it's the end of June and pouring rain in the capital city...

2011-06-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

...which is extremely unusual, so I am sitting in my office with the door open allowing the smell of the wet pavement to fill the room. All I hear is the intermittent thunder, the drops of rain hitting the ground, and the occasional truck driving by the warehouse--it's very slow today. The smell of the moist pavement mixed with my cup of steeping honey lemon tea has put me in a leisurely mood,

you can put anything in a quesadilla

2011-06-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

I have been excited to use the beautiful squash blossoms in our garden since they bloomed, and had grand plans of hosting a brunch or luncheon with friends to showcase some gourmet chevre-quinoa-something-stuffed blossoms, but I didn't see that happening in the near future. Quite a few of the blossoms have already shriveled up, so I knew if I wanted to eat them this year {I missed out last year

the BEST anytime lotion

2011-05-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

Not kidding. JĀSÖN Natural 70% aloe vera lotion is, is, well I'll just list its awesomeness: smells lovely soothes skin after shaving {without stinging} doesn't cause breakouts or clog pores quenches skin non-greasy vegan available for under $10 @ Target hubby loves it too can go on before or after self-tanner heals sunburnt skin light fragrance does not compete with perfume gives skin a healthy

as addicting as Etsy?

2011-05-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you {and curse you!} apartment therapy for introducing me to Ruffled! Ruffled is the place where all the junk you 'favorited' {but didn't act quickly enough} in Etsy went--Mason jars, doilies, milk glass--that you can now claim! Although geared toward brides and other wedding participants, Ruffled has a ton of cool stuff that doesn't have to be used for nuptial-ness {?}. Clearly best

i love polyvore to jumpstart the work week!

2011-04-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

During my morning bloghopping, I clicked on an ad featured on desiretoinspire for 2Modern--a shopping site that has everything from home to baby goods, all super stylish. I spotted a link on the sidebar that read Style A Room, and I was intrigued. Oooooooh what fun! Check out what I created: Girly Natural Modern Nursery by CassiMO on Polyvore.comnotNeutral - Ribbon 8 Round Rug $576 -

'world's most comfortable thong,' you say??

2011-04-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

I concur. I know $23 a pair seems a bit steep, but these Hanky Panky thongs really truly are the most comfortable chones I've ever worn! I picked up a few pairs at Nordstrom, after hearing Abby and the sales clerk praise them. The tags read, "World's Most Comfortable Thong," so I was intrigued. They're one size fits all, which is difficult to believe when you see them arranged on the display

honing the wardrobe

2011-04-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

Today's outfit is a perfect example of my true style and how I wish I dressed everyday. Why don't I dress the way I want to everyday, you ask?? The answer is simple: I don't know! I suppose laziness has a lot to do with it, but it could also be that my work environment is not conducive to arriving in my ideal ensembles. I finally found the perfect {read: doesn't make me look butch} denim

laughs in Napa w/ hubby

2011-04-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

Gabe and I saw Lisa Lampanelli perform live in Napa on Friday night, and we had a blast! We did not stop laughing during her entire set. She is one ridiculously hilarious broad. Here are some photos from that night + the next day. This sweet message was posted on the outside wall of a business, randomly, on First Street in Napa. We saw it while walking to eat the yummiest Mexican food at

i've been thinking a lot about leisure

2011-03-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

Leisure, by definition, is time free from work or duties, or time available for ease and relaxation. ... allow me to ramble on for a while before getting back to this ... Perhaps it is the lack of sunlight combined with this annoying funk I have been in for too long, but I find myself looking at others' pastimes and glamorizing them to the max. Just as easily as photos and stories that friends

homemade cake + soup make this bleak weather bearable

2011-03-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

Make your own soup from scratch! Please. :) No canned or tubbed store-bought soup can match the taste and enjoyment of preparing your own. And if you're in the mood to whip up your own soup this weekend, I recommend smitten kitchen's mushroom and farro soup! I made it at the beginning of this week, with a few substitutions depending on the goods I had on hand, and it lasted us all week, up

spring is here. officially.

2011-03-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

Gabe and I spent all day Saturday 'Spring cleaning,' and oh man what a difference it made! We're not completely finished, but already our home feels lighter, happier, refreshed, and it begged to be redecorated. Seeking inspiration yesterday, I grabbed my bible and started absorbing. I can always count on domino to pull through for me. Always! One piece in particular I was hoping to learn how

happy st. patrick's day!

2011-03-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common three-leaved clover. According to tradition, the four-leaf clover is said to bring good luck to whomever finds it, especially if s/he finds it accidentally. Each leaf represents something: ∙hope∙ ∙faith∙ ∙love∙ ∙luck∙ Have any one of you ever found a four-leaf clover? I'd love to hear the story! ...and lucky me, I've already found a

thankful for StumbleUpon on monday morning

2011-03-14T09:55:00.000-07:00

Peace out, friends. I'm headed here: I wish.

"everyone wanted to be judged"

2011-03-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

Abby just e-mailed me this fantastic article on The Bumbys and I had to share it with all of you! Have you heard of them? I hadn't before reading this article, but I absolutely love what they are doing. I'll direct you here to the full article, so you can go read it now...then come back. ;) I'm the type that loves to read and collect fortunes from my cookies--keeping only the really good

Cassi, step away from the keyboard--and go do!

2011-03-07T16:49:00.000-08:00

Blogland hasn't seen much of me this past month; I've been out exploring the beautiful places that are within only a couple hours drive from my home...all part of 'me' time that I have very much been in need of as of late. Here are some photos I am happy to share with you: ...last-minute trip to Mendocino for Presidents' Day weekend...filled with family, sunshine, the friggin' sweetest bruise

V-day surprise: hubby reads my blog!

2011-02-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

I came home from work Monday to find this giant fort in my great room, made out of every sheet and blanket we own it seems, and about fifty clothespins and binder clips. Hubby definitely surprised me!! There were string lights, a roaring fire in the fireplace, fresh flowers in a vase, a nice bottle of wine, board games, and take-out for dinner and dessert from Hot Italian! Wow. It was so

inspiration for creative minds

2011-02-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

My fellow creators and lovers of all things creative {really?! that's the best I've got??}, I hope you take the time to watch this video. It's only twenty minutes, and Elizabeth Gilbert has just done wonders for my personal psyche. Let me know what you think, and pass it on! :)

yummy healthy quick veg lunch

2011-02-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

I am fortunate enough to live only a couple miles from work, so I usually go home for lunch during the week. Lately, I have been making some pretty unhealthy choices {cheese, fat, more fat} and it was all catching up with me. My body was getting mad, so I treated it to a refreshingly healthy lunch yesterday. I made a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up the fresh ingredients and arrived

nostalgia: hair wraps

2011-02-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

After spending the last couple hours perusing the archives of Miss Moss, I came across a photo she shared that took me back to my childhood summer vacations. This photo. My Dad moved up to Oregon when I was eight years old, so from that time until I was twenty, I spent every summer there. When I was a tween, I thought going to Saturday Market in Portland was so freaking cool. I remember being

true to style

2011-02-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

As much as I would like to think I would be satisfied with an all black-and-white-and-denim wardrobe, wearing simply jeans and a tee everyday, I am all too often reminded of how impractical that is. Then I come across some gorgeous piece like this maxi dress, and I am grateful I didn't chuck all the pretty pieces I own! Like any chick, I get in these crazy moods, but in my {oh-so-mature, ha!}