Girl Meets Chair

See in the Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:08:00 +0000

"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting."
-Alan Dean Foster

My plan for today was to write this elaborate ghost story that would scare the living daylights out of Marilyn Manson.

I'm serious!

Hanging Lights

Jake Phipps

inhabitat

But now you'll never know because halfway through my story my house was struck by a thunderous bolt of lighting rendering my hard drive useless......fried......toast.......boiled..........Now I'm hungry.

But seriously, I WAS planning to write a fun ghost story narrated with amazing and dramatic lighting; and there WAS a thunderstorm that made my power flicker on and off before I remembered to save. So maybe it wasn't as dramatic.......................Interesting nonetheless.

And how fitting, planning a post about lighting when my power goes out.

Yatzer

I guess you had to be there.

Big Fish; Bigger Style

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Is it possible to fall in love with a space?

An atmosphere?

An ambiance?

Is it really possible to feel something special when you walk into a room?

Is it possible to get goosebumps from a mixture of textures, patterns, and colors? From ceiling heights so high you feel as though you were an ant?

The answer is yes, because every time an Interior Designer creates, he or she is telling a story. Whether it be the bold colors, the dramatic lighting, or the way you elegantly weave throughout the space. Whether you know it or not, the story is always there, and those are the ones that take your breath away.

That's what I love so much about it.

-Big Fish in Barcelona: Designed by the Mega Talented Laza Rorosa-Violan

The Dreaded Frenemy & Public Displays of Chairfection

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"What others think of us is none of our business."
-Paulo Cuelho

Best Friends

I could see them in the distance. My best friend since eight grade walking towards a nearby restaurant with outdoor seating. It was a sunny day and the wind was just strong enough to push her hair around like she was on a movie set. I looked for the camera crew from The Hills to come running around the corner. She walked up to one of the tables outside and was greeted with a hug. I was shocked when I finally made out who it was.

She was hugging a............................................. “Frenemy.”

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

You know what a frenemy is right? One of those girls that you vocally call a friend but secretly can’t stand. The one you are in silent competition with, hoping that one day they will fall flat on their face and break their nose.

It’s really awful. Why do we do this? And don’t pretend like you don’t, because we all know your lying. “Who me? I would never,” Yea, yea, whatever.

By the time I had gotten over the fact that my best friend was having lunch with my arch frenemy, the conversation had turned to gossip. I had no time to be angry, I had to eavesdrop. "So and so is pregnant, Yada, yada, got divorced."

Come on..... get to the good stuff.

Don’t you ever just wish that you could be the fly on a wall during a private conversation between girlfriends? Then you could find out what they really think of you, and if your butt really DID look fat in those jeans. My advice to that? Trust yourself, if you think it looks fat, then she probably does too. But then again, a lot of guys like that, so go with it.

All of a sudden, there it was, the part in the conversation that I had been waiting for. “So you know Nikki broke up with her boyfriend and had to LEAVE New York.”

“Ha, I called it from a mile away. I could have told her before she even went in the first place, saved her the gas money. She only moved there because he wanted to go, she gave up on her dreams to follow him.”

“I know right," my friend responded wide eyed. I was hoping she would set her straight, change the way this frenemy saw me.

She didn’t.

I was crushed. If only either of them knew how wrong they had it. How, yes, maybe in the beginning I was hesitant to move. But after arriving, I started to remember things about my childhood. Mostly memories of me designing my dream loft in lower Manhattan. One with the clichéd red brick wall and open floor plan. I realized that New York had been my dream all along; I just needed someone to come into my life and push me in the right direction.

Dining Table, Chairs, Umbrella, Outdoor Sconce, Planters

I couldn't.

No matter what we do, we can't change the way someone sees us. Where does wasting our time worrying about it get us?

Here in this room creating stories in our head, preventing ourselves from taking the next step.

Spying, and hiding in the bushes

Like a weirdo………

* The thoughts and feelings of this story are all real, and the scenario seems authentic when I relive it in my head again and again. But, it’s only a story my mind concocted to keep from marching forward.

Forget New York

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I'm moving to Sweden.

See you around.

all images from Stadshem Real Estate via Adventurous Design Quest

P.S. This makes me smile

Birthday Gifts; Etsy is a Girl's Best Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Birthday Gifts

The stuff dreams are made of. I personally try not to put too much pressure on people to buy me anything. Mostly because I don't want to feel any obligation to return the sentiment. Not because I have ice water running through my veins. More like baked beans and ramen noodles, due to the fact that my current budget does not extend past weekly groceries.

Can't I just tell you how much I love you?!?!?

NYC Jewelry Design

The best birthday gift I ever got was from a man, a guy, el hombre,

an ex............

I use the term "best" loosely and here is why;

It was two nights before my twenty-something-ith (it's a word, I promise). I had just gotten home from work and there was a package at my doorstep. So excited to get my first present, I rushed inside to open it. I barely even had the will to close the door as I began my guessing. You see, I am the BEST gift guesser this side of the Mississippi. Maybe it's because I am very upfront about the gifts that I want. Maybe it's because I was spoiled as an only child and pretty much got everything I asked for. Maybe it's because I have psychic capabilities.

Who knows

I held the package in my hand. I was soft and pliable. A scarf maybe? Or that pillow cover I wanted off ebay? It had to be the pillow cover. So excited, I flipped the package over and began to pull open the envelope.

That's when I saw it. In small print, across the fold, the label read, "Tshirts.com"

My jaw dropped.....I laughed a little, "He's such a jokster! Wrapping my gift in a package from a T-shirt website to try and throw me off! Ha!"

Ha......ha......ha.

I ripped open the package and pulled out a plastic bag. It was white and didn't look anything like the pillow cover. This is when I realized, there was no pillow cover, that was a pipe dream. This!!! This was in fact.... A T-shirt. I unfolded it and held the cotton masterpiece up in front of me. Across the chest it read:

I heart Revit

For those who are not familiar, Revit is a computer program used by Interior Designers, among other professions. "If you want to get anywhere in the next five years, You need to know Revit," As my instructor always said. And yes, I do heart Revit. It's useful, and practical, and you can work in both 2D and 3D simultaneously.

Do I want to wear a banner advertising it across my chest?

No, that is what my resume is for.

...................Am I selfish?!?!?!?!?!

NYC Jewelry Design, Dinosaur Toes

Fine, I am! For my birthday I want thought and effort and impracticality. The times I want a vacuum cleaner or new underwear, I will ask for them!

All other times, fall under the fail safe category of jewelry. Not from Kay, every kiss does not begin with Kay. At least not ones from me anyway.

Not the expensive stuff either. There is no need to spend a fortune, just put some thought into it. Ask a friend, Check out etsy. Guys, it's actually way easier than you think!

In fact, I have started a bookmarks tab labeled Buy me these things, so in the future, gifts like this don't happen.

Tentative Decisions

Designs by Sky, So Pretty Jewelry, Tentative Decisions

My need for full control strikes again.

I'm pretty sure I will be single forever after I publish this. But I like being single. It saves me money on birthdays and Christmas.

-The End

Chair Affair: Venus Natural Crystal Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:20:00 +0000

A man after my own heart.

Tokujun Yoshioka "grows" chairs out of natural crystal.

Where was he during my sixth grade science fair?

I actually won the Invention Convention that year with my disposable water fountain cover. However, I failed to sell my idea at the state level. Refusing to demonstrate how my prototype actually worked did not go over well with the judges. I was afraid that I would look silly sipping water from a "model fountain" made out of a water bottle and a cardboard box. It's a perfectly legitimate reason.......what?

Now that I think about it. This could have been the start of all my problems. Damn you disposable water fountain covers!

Anyway, The crystals form around a polyester elastomer skeleton submerged in a tank.

A tank filled with genius.

Images via tokujin.com

Found via NOTCOT.com

Psychic Energy and Advice on Nickelback

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

How to see the future: without the Delorean.

Prophecy

Do you have a question about what the future holds? Are you looking for answers in all the wrong places? I have the perfect cure for you.

I call it the magic iPod! (Otherwise known as the shuffle setting)

It’s quite simple. You just open your iPhone, iPod, or however you choose to listen to music. Ask a simple question:

How is my day going to be today?

Should I quit my job?

Am I going to get a chance to talk to him?

Fourtune

Then, you navigate to the song tab and simply hit shuffle.

The answer is revealed.

But don’t forget to delete your old Jessica Simpson and/or Nickelback albums before you try it………..

No one should take advice from Nickelback.

Ever

Oracle; Typography Print

Chair Challenge: Popularity and Facebook Friendships

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

“Why are you so upset about me deleting my Facebook page anyway?”

“It just doesn’t make any sense to me! You’re crazy! What’s the point?

Prince Comic Arm Chair; Imagine Living

Why do we sometimes feel so attached to our contacts on a social networking level? Do we feel that having 800 Facebook friends somehow makes us more desireable? Does being tagged in 30 new embarrasing photos per week prove that we are living a meaningful life?

Sometimes, I think Facebook has taken away our ability to have genuine social interaction. The same with email, twitter, and texting. It’s much easier to sit in front of a computer screen than it is to get in front of a crowd of 800 people to give a speech. It’s much easier to watch from the comfort of your home than it is to get dressed up and physically walk into a room and shake someone’s hand.

It’s much easier to feel part of something, when you can do it in your pajamas.

It’s much easier to gain your 15 minutes from the privacy of your own home.

But is it better?
Is it healthier?
Is it right?

“I guess I’m a little jealous” I replied. “Actually, I tried to delete my account last week and couldn’t do it.”

Pillows, Floor lamps, Twiggy Painting unknown, Vases, Pillow, Jewelry Stand, Bed, Nightstand, Pendant

“Deleting your account isn’t crazy……Not being able to is,” he stated.

“I guess I was afraid no one would notice…..”

Areol Leonard: Lobster Chair, and a Hipster Office Space

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I started following this crazy blog on Tumblr the other day. I came across it while posting on geno&nikki.

Aerol

I think that if Gumbie and Kanye West had a baby, it would be this guy.

But I like him, so he gets a chair.

Knowing that he is a Graphic Designer, I picture him clicking away on his Mac Book, listening to Cut Copy while simultaneously tearing deep-v's into his Hanes T-Shirts.

He's Hipster. He wouldn't "shop" for furniture, it would just appear in his house, all scandinavian and chic.

He's inspiring to say the least.

I'm glad I know him.

Chair Affair: Chairloom

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

When I saw this vintage club chair my jaw Literally hit the ground.

I didn't know something so perfect for my apartment could be so accessible.

Chairloom, one of the BEST chair resources I have ever seen.

This could quite literally be the giddiest I've been since middle school.

*I have been watching archived episodes of Parks and Recreation. on Hulu. Please attempt to read the above text in my best Chris Traeger voice.

And yes, when I said MY best Chris Traeger voice, I did not mean to say your Chris Traeger voice. Your voice would not make sense to me.

All images found via Chairloom. visit now!

Copy Cat; Imitation is the Highest form of Flattery

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"I'm not sure what to do in my bedroom. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Look around, the whole store is filled with ideas. The catalog alone could help you decorate a whole house!"

She cringed, "I don't want the room to look like it threw up page 27. I just don't know where to begin."

I crossed my arms and started walking in the other direction.

"Me either."

House and Home

Most decorating rule books say that you should never, by any means, "copy" someone's space in your own. Using it as inspiration is perfectly fine, but the minute you try and imitate the room entirely you have broken the cardinal rule.

Your designs must be your own.

You must not copy.

Every thought in your brain must be that of originality.

So many rules, so little time.

Benjamin Moore Philipsburg Blue

My question is, where do you draw the line between copying and "inspiration?" No two rooms are ever going to be exactly alike, unless you are on Wednesday's set of Gossip Girl, then walk over to Thursday's. Serena's bedroom might be exactly the same depending on which direction they are shooting from.

But that's just rambling on my part.

The fact is, you can attempt to copy as far as your budget or resources will take you, but at some point you start to run out of exact replicas and need to substitute. You are then forced to find what you yourself like. Once that happens, confidence in your ability to choose grows stronger. You might even veer off page 27, finding a piece of art that you prefer, or pillows that are nothing like the originals.

It is at this crucial moment that the photo in the magazine ceases to be a source of plagiarism, and becomes a source of inspiration. The two rooms may seem similar, but each one has an individual touch added by its owner.

Bed, Ottoman, Cowhide Rug, Chair, Scones, Nightstand

Bedding, Kilim Pillows, Indigo Pillow, Throw

I began collecting items from around the store, and bringing them for her to see.

"Ooooh," she cooed, "I like that, and those! This is perfect! You are just so good at this, I wish that I was able to put these things together. But I do like this throw.....Do you think it would go well with what you've picked out?"

I smiled and nodded in agreement. She went on to furnish her whole bedroom that day, starting from the few items that I gathered for her. Little did she know, I picked them all from page 27.

Hippies Dancing Print

So go ahead, imitate to your hearts content, but don't be afraid to make it your own.

I promise, No-one will even notice.

*Side note, this philosophy does NOT apply to term papers, unfinished novels, or inventions of any kind. I refuse to be held responsible for you attempting to pass Stephen Hawking's, A Brief History of Time, off as your own.

girl.meets.chair; The Instruction Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

My mother keeps telling me that I need to explain how this blog works. How to read it, and how the rooms or pictures correspond with each story that I am trying to tell.

I keep telling her to stop giving me unsolicited advice, however valuable it may be. I mean, why should I have to explain myself? If you get it, you get it, if you don't, than you don't. I'm not a writer by any means, and most of the time, when I personally visit interior design blogs, I just scroll through the type to look at the pictures.

I am a blogger's worst nightmare! I am my own worst nightmare!

I just assume that some people would actually read what I write (aka, my family) and others would just look through he pictures and move onto the next.

But hey, she is my mother, so I will explain it for her. Not to mention this is way cheaper than a birthday present........

Most of the time, I write about life, my experiences, my opinions about situations, and the way I perceive them.

The pictures and/or "story-boards" (as I like to call them) either directly or indirectly parallel the story that I am writing about.

Art imitating Life, In chair form.

Other times I just post things I like, with no story or underlying meaning. I simply find them inspiring.

As my reader, it is your choice to read the content or just scroll though the pictures. Or take them both in as a collective work.

You may agree with the things I have to say, Or like the products/ photos/ etc. that I share. Or you may disagree with me completely. I myself often wonder what business I have to continue on with this adventure. I am fairly young, had quite a sheltered childhood, and currently live like a hermit (squatting in my one bedroom apartment plotting my next move, but never actually executing). Why would anyone be interested in what I have to say?

But that's none of my business, all I can do is share with you my story. How you choose to accept it......

That's for you to decide.

*All Images found via geno&nikki on tumblr

Take Me Back to NYC; and Buy Me a Bicycle

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000

New York City from a bike's perspective.

NYC Ave. from Shawn Brown on Vimeo.

This bike is a badass.

That is all.

Dear Future Husband

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Dear Future Husband,

I really hope you enjoy doing the dishes, because I for one can’t stand them. I vow to do all the other chores in the house if you promise that I never have to touch a dirty dish.

But don't let them pile up too high...Unacceptable. You must also wash them to my standards, as I have a mother and a grandmother with OCD.

I hope you still love me after all this........Wherever you are.

Oh, and I also need you to promise to make sure your toilet aim is on point in the morning.

Kay, Thanks!

All Images Found via Style Me Pretty

Weddings; A Fever you Can't Sweat Out

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:19:00 +0000

"I've never been married, but I tell people I'm divorced so they won't think something's wrong with me"

-Elayne Boosler

Loveseat

Wedding Fever, it's the state of mind that a woman falls victims to every time she is confronted with an engagement or a wedding of any kind. Small, large, church, destination, you name it. Time, place, location, if she is unwed, she's got it.

Much like the Man Flu, Wedding Fever can't be controlled. You can try to fight it, but the minute the usher asks "Are you with the Bride or the Groom?" your mind starts racing.

-Oh, That's Cute!
-My wedding party is going to walk down the aisle to Queen's "Somebody to Love," played by a string quartette. I'm not into traditional wedding music...
-Carnations? Really?

Before you know it you've got your whole wedding planned while your date sits alone at the table eating chocolate covered almonds out of a drawstring bag made of tulle.

Let's just hope for his sake that there is an open bar.

I had my first bout of the Fever when I was just 20 years old. Then, over the course of 6 months, I attended 7 more weddings and was a bridesmaid in another. To say my temperature was rising was an understatement. I had a folder on my computer labeled "Stuff I Like," discretely hidden in case anyone were to go snooping through my desktop.

School/Residential Design/The Lawson Residence/Auto CAD Documents/Stuff I Like

I mean......I didn't want any potential "Mr. Nikki's" to find this folder and think I was some kind of wedding crazed freak! They were better off thinking I liked football and it only took me 15 minutes to get ready (haha! Exactly).

Style me Pretty

Then one day at school, we were told by the instructor to go around the room, and say something interesting about ourselves that no one knows. When my turn came I couldn't think of anything so I blurted out......"I have a dog named Emma, She's the best."

Too bad my instructor didn't have a trapdoor, or she would have most certainly pushed the button, dropping me into a fiery pit. "That's lame! Try again," She replied. My face was turning red, the more I thought about it the less I could find something to say. All of a sudden my friend chimed in and said to me "Tell them about your wedding thing!"

"Pffft........What wedding thing?" I asked, trying to play it off.

"Yea, what wedding thing? Tell us!"

Before I could even open my mouth, my "friend" blurted out, "Nikki is registered at the Knot.com, you know the wedding website, but because she isn't engaged, when she logs on it says:

Welcome Nikki and blank space because you are super single but planning your wedding anyway!"

Everyone laughed, I was embarrassed, but forever cured of my wedding fever. That was until I found out that my best friend is getting married in August...........and I'm the Maid or Honor.

Table, Ring Pillow, Place Cards, Chair, Candle Stick Holders, Kilim Runner

I wonder if I still remember my password?

Yep........I sure do.

Chair Affair: Bean Bags, Not Just For Kids Anymore

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

The other day, while perusing a store I really didn’t really even need to be in I made the unfortunate decision of giving into their semi annual sale.

This minimalism thing is really kicking my but.

After spending approximately Twenty-Five dollars I walked out of the store and into my apartment with………

Desire to Inspire ,The Decorista

A giant Bean Bag chair…..

Apartment Therapy

Seriously? What was I thinking? My apartment is a great size for Emma and I. I would even go as far as to say it is TOO big sometimes; but me, Emma, and this massive sack of beans?

Ooooopsie.

Not to mention that there is no cover. I could make one, but I am just not a fan of the whole DIY craft movement. Here’s my train of thought, you DIY your heart out, and then sell it to me on esty.

It works for me if it works for you!

Thanks in advance.

P.S. The photos are to inspire the use of beanbag chairs that don’t belong next to a bouncy house.

I want mine to look like one of these.

All White Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I come from a long line of women that fancy white interiors. My grandmother has never chosen a paint color for her walls other than a crisp clean white. A few drops of black tint give the color some depth.

Curbly

She also gifted a white sofa and two white arm chairs to my mother for my childhood home.

So I wasn't surprised when I grew to do the same. The walls in my apartment, white. My slipcovered sofa, white. My new duvet cover, white.

I can go on if you'd like?

Instead I will entertain you with some of my favorite "All White" rooms that I have filed over the years.

On Wednesdays; Hence the title.

Enjoy!

Both Images: Desire to Inspire

Thonet; The Chair who Stole my Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:44:00 +0000

People keep coming over to my apartment and asking me why I don’t have any chairs at my kitchen table. I try and distract them by all the other amazing things I’ve done with the place but they only seem to want to talk about that lonely table.

“You really should get some chairs to go with your bistro table! How unfortunate that it’s just sitting around your apartment, all sad and alone.”

First, it’s a table…..Second, I did find some chairs, great chairs; the timing was just way off.

There was an old furniture store by my house in New York. I would pass by it “everyday” (2-3 times a week) on my way to the gym. The main floor was lined with expensive antiques, but the basement was filled to the brim with old rusty furniture; it was a diamond in the rough kind of place. You really had to scour through some mess to find the gems. Scour I did, until I landed my eyes on a pair of original Thonet bentwood side chairs.

They were great; Worn in just the right amount, yet still fresh and modern. Not to mention the price, I mean they were a steal. No one finds chairs like that for such a bargain.

I guess that’s where I made my mistake. I decided to think it over for a few days and if I still wanted them by the end of the week, I would buy them. By the time Friday rolled around I knew for sure that I had to go back. After work, I marched down to the store, straight to the basement where I found them. There they were. I couldn’t wait to get them home. I had already started rearranging my apartment in my head.

Just then, I was shoved back into reality (literally) by a man who looked to be the store owner. As I was about to tell him to write me a ticket, he slapped a sold sign on not one, but BOTH of my chairs. How dare he! Didn’t he know that I was on my way!?!?

The nerve.

I stood in disbelief for a good ten minutes before admitting defeat. The chairs weren’t mine. They belonged to someone else. I just hope that they look as good in their apartment as they would have in mine.

Every now and then I look for a suitable alternative, but substitutes just aren’t enough. Until I find something that can compare to those chairs, my bistro table is destined to be alone.

“Is that a good enough reason?”

All images found via Pintrest

The Man Flu: A Domestic Epidemic

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:11:00 +0000

em·pa·thy [em-puh-thee]

noun

1: the imaginative projection of a subjective state into an object so that the object appears to be infused with it

2: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings,

thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and
experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also : the capacity for this

I Told You So by Kotama Bouabane

Empathy is something I am lacking. When I see a person that seems to be in pain or some sort of personal turmoil the drill sergeant in me immediately turns on. It usually involves a lot of eye rolling and A LOT of avoidance. I don’t know, maybe it’s the only child in me but I just can’t watch someone act like they are in pain when I don’t believe that said pain needs to be displayed so dramatically. Buck up!

Does this make me a terrible person? Maybe……

Hypocritical at times? Probably……

But in my defense, I didn’t learn this about myself until I encountered;

THE MAN FLU (click to watch and learn more)

A terrible epidemic sweeping the nation: Men, losing all sense of manliness over a sore throat and the sniffles.

Modern Man Cave

Antler Print, 100% Man Print, Dog Print, Typography Print, Petrie Sofa, Smoking Gun, Pillow, Buck,
Plaid Throw, Pipe Candleholder, Pulley Lamp, Bench, Tree Stump Side Table, Chair

Four days of utter chaos and confusion. First, the sofa becomes over run by toilet paper rolls and Vicks cough drop wrappings (You will even find them hidden in the cushions months later). Next the bed becomes a battle ground. Where do I go? Where do I sleep? The dog bed even looks inviting at this point.

Finally, when you think that the worst has come, in starts the coughing, and the groaning….. AND the noise that sounds like crying, but I’m not really sure what that was.

It’s not pretty. If ever you come in contact with this problem I warn you, either run in the other direction or make certain to equip yourself with the proper weapons of defense:

Chicken Soup

Kleenex

Plenty of hand sanitizer

Nyquil (for you, not him)
Cable Television

Last but not least, a sunny disposition.

Oh, I almost forgot; the delusion that if you go near a sick person you will NOT catch their cold.

This is where I went wrong.

Horribly wrong.

Morphine Mug, Vintage Medicine Bottles, Apothecary Cabinet

In the middle of a coughing episode, I made the mistake of producing a look of horror and disgust. A face that had I known what would have transpired afterward, I would have made in my head instead of, well, actually making it. Reflexes don’t always work in your favor you know.

“You are the most unsympathetic person I have ever met,” He scoffed!

Ouch! I direct hit at my emotional capabilities……Or lack thereof. If I had only made the chicken soup or gotten close enough to his forehead to "fake" a kiss, I could have avoided an argument.

Human Skull Halloween Decoration (sold out)

Instead, I learned that I am unapologetically unsympathetic to a sore throat. I do not enjoy getting sick. No one does, I get that. I just don’t understand why I should put myself in the line of fire!!?! I’m sorry, call me frigid, but I am not interested in risking my own well being to ensure that someone else feels, well, loved.

Alright, I am frigid…….Get a puppy.

Yellow: Mixing Metaphors.

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:28:00 +0000

Yellow, the first of three primary colors.

A two faced color. On one hand promoting happiness and joy.

The other, representing cowardliness and deceit.

Mix it with blue; you get green; with red, orange. Two totally different colors, two totally different feelings……Which do you choose?

Today I was jolted awake by a sign that brought me to a realization. I have once again become stagnant. That same lurking feeling that led me to give up on New York City, has resurfaced. Questions about my life, career, feelings, and thoughts are flooding my brain. Waiting around for things to happen instead of making them happen for myself. Standing at a crossroad, I must decide which path to choose.

Mix my life with blue and play it safe. Climb a corporate ladder, find a suitable mate. Live life the way it was planned for most. It works for most, it can work for me. Stay calm cool and collected. Don’t rock the boat, don’t make them stare.

Or I can choose to mix it with red. Take a risk. Live the way I used to be afraid to live. Do things that would cause green people to not only stare, but to look at me like I was crazy. Stir up the pot, and add a little cayenne pepper while no one is looking.

Deciding is not an easy task; cowardly as it may be, I will not take it lightly. So for now I am glad to at least be happy while I figure it all out.

Sources to follow

What Are You Doing New Years?

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

"I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious…."

-Michael Scott

When it comes to superstition, New Years Eve/ Day is my downfall. I happen to be a firm believer of the old saying that how you spend New Years is a precursor to the rest of your year.

On New Years Eve 2010 I spent the night at home, with my ex, watching The Breakup. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I would say that was foreshadowing at its finest hour. On New Years Day, instead of dining on black-eyed peas and cauliflower, I opted for a grilled cheese sandwich. Needless to say, money and I are not on speaking terms either.

It’s not that I feel as though I need to have this amazingly elaborate party on New Years Eve. I don’t believe that getting too drunk to remember your night is a good idea either. That is why this year, as the clock strikes midnight, I will be hitting Post. I will go to bed at a decent hour and wake up early to get my year started off right. I will spend New Years Day doing normal everyday things that I would otherwise take for granted. I will clean, grocery shop, cook black-eyed peas, and eat them until I vomit.

The rest of my day will be spent strategically planning my “re-invasion” of New York City. After all, I only have 10 months left until my deadline.

My hope is that 2012 will be the finest 365 days I have ever seen.

Chairs to a New Year.

Phone Calls, Gossip Benches, and Some Terrible Advice

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:31:00 +0000

“If you want to get back in the saddle, all you have to do is read this book. It will teach you everything you need to know about how to get a guy interested in you.”

Google Images

“Thanks, but I was just saying was that I was wondering why he didn’t call. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“That’s a no brainer; He’s just not that into you.”

I was slightly confused considering I hadn’t given her any information about the situation except for the fact that I hadn’t talked to someone for a few days.

“I was just surprised that it was bothering me because it hasn’t ever really bothered me before. “

She walked over to her nightstand and grabbed two books. Two self-help books on the subject of men and dating.

Great, First she spends seventy-five dollars on the ugliest sweater ever made, to wear to a party for one night, and now she is advising me on how to get men to like me. Thanks but no thanks.

She flipped to a page and began to quote the author, “If he is not calling you, it’s because you are not on his mind.”

“Wait, I don’t get it…..So I wanted to call him, but I didn’t. Does that mean he is not on my mind either? Because that’s not true.”

She rolled her eyes, I obviously didn't understand. “No Nikki, your job is to make yourself completely unavailable to keep him interested. You don’t call so that he keeps thinking about you. If he stops calling, that means he stopped thinking about you.”

“Here, read this, ” she handed me the other book. How to Think Like a Guy; How to get a guy by thinking like one. I flipped to the table of contents. Immediately, I was confronted with a long list of tips for baiting and hooking a man.

“What?!?! I have to do ALL these things to find a guy?!?!?!"

#4 Block your number (freak!)
#9 Don't model yourself after Paris Hilton (Ok, this one makes sense)

#13 Don’t admit you were a bad student (lie)

#23 Never admit you’ve slept with more than 5 guys…......
#28 Love good music (aka; pretend to like what he likes, aka; more lies).
#64 Don't surprise him with short hair (Do what's best for him, not you)
#66 Don't break up unless you have a rebound (!?!?!?!)

66 tips on how to make the perfect, “six pack, six figure man” fall in love with you.

“Is there a pop quiz at the end of this lecture, I need to go buy some flash-cards?”

Design Sponge

Ghost Furniture; June and Bear

Why can’t I just be myself?

I look at it this way, if you change yourself in order to get someone to fall in love with you it will never work. Sooner or later, the short haired, puppy loving, terrible driver is going to come out. Then there will be a lot of confusion, and a lot of, “What happened to that awesome girl I fell in love with?”

I think somewhere along the line women forgot that men are human beings too, not just pawns in a game of relationship chess. They have feelings and insecurities just like us; they just don’t feel the need to have them validated every minute of every day.

All I know is that when I actually AM ready to get back in the saddle, I will not be making it into a game. If I meet someone worth getting to know he will like me for me, not a fake me I used to manipulate him.

Ephermera and more

Like This:

I was a dork in High school, in fact, I still am.

Sometimes (all the time) I think to myself in Facebook status.

I walk around IKEA……for FUN.

My favorite song of all time is She’s like the Wind by Patrick Swayze.

I enjoy rapping poorly to complicated Busta Rhymes songs.

I often take more time to plan out how to efficiently execute a task than it would actually take to do the task inefficiently.

I loved Football in college, but have hardly watched a game since….And I am OK with that.

I can’t lie to people I really care about, It’s just not possible.

So instead, I keep quiet about things instead of being honest, to avoid a messy situation.

Talking to me is good for your health

Google Images

Chances are, if you know me now, you know the real me. Interested or not; I’m happy about that.

Ms. Magdeline Marie

Holiday Chairs, A Gift Giving Guide.

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:36:00 +0000

I exchanged Christmas gifts with one of my oldest friends today. He said that he wanted a white fur robe with his initials on the front. The back would read, "The Truth"

So I gave him;

The Bible

In turn, he gave me the chair of my dreams;

The History Blog

Isn't it amazing how some people just know you so well? Best Holiday EVER!

Chair Challenge to follow.

Rules about Life: A Blue Jean Conundrum

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

“Well, as long as you know what you’re doing is wrong and you stop doing it….I think you’ll be fine.”

“Thanks for the advice, and I know that you don’t agree, but I’m not going to stop.”

Half Full by Mike Monteiro

She looked at me as though I had just told her that I killed someone and drug their body into the woods.

“No, seriously, stop.”

“No……Seriously, thank you, but no.”

I mean I don’t get it. Who made up these rules that we are supposed to follow in order to be accepted or get into heaven? I fall for it every time too. I’m walking along; going about my business happy as a clam, not a care in the world….Then somebody stops me, “Don’t step on a crack! You’ll break your mother’s back!”

I freeze, eyes wide, and look behind me…..”Oh no! How many cracks did I step on before this kind person came along to warn me of the harm I could cause by doing so?!?!?” Forget the blissful state I was in just moments ago, now all I feel is guilt and disappointment. Instead of skipping into the next day, I walk home in a slump avoiding any possible danger; Slip into my bed and sleep well into the next week. Then hopefully the guilt will dissipate and I can go on living my life.

Hulk by Amy Stein; Brooklyn Morning by Youngna Park; Untitled (Mott Street) by Alison Grippo

Why is it that we as human beings are afraid to be happy, afraid to be grateful, afraid to live; out of fear of disappointing someone?

And most of those someone’s are just the status quo.

Why is it that because of our fear of looking idiotic or being judged that we continue to live a less than meaningful life? Then we become angry, insecure, and judgmental. It’s because we are angry with ourselves for letting fear dictate how we live. We are insecure that we don’t just do what makes us happy. We are judgmental so that we don’t feel alone for giving in.

Recently, I realized that I listen way too much to what people have to say. I also think too much about how something is going to make me look before I do it. The only time that I am truly happy is when I just stop and let go. The minute I let another’s opinion get into my head, I lose the ability to think for myself.

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” ― Wayne W. Dyer

Recycled Denim Chair, Scrap Lab

“Nikki, I just think that you are being very selfish and naïve about this whole thing. I mean…..Shouldn't you be trying to save money?!?!? You just can’t spend that much on a pair of jeans. Imagine what your father would think if he knew your balance!”

As I handed the cashier my credit card I replied, “Thank you for your concern, but I am an adult, and these jeans make me happy. They also make me feel amazing. So I am doing what I want.”

At the end of the day, the only person that I need to answer to is staring back at me in the mirror.

And today, she is smiling.

white elephant: how the hipster killed the tacky christmas party

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

"does this sweater make me look fat?" she asked as she examined her one hundred and five pound frame in the mirror. an inflatable sumo suit couldn't make this girl look fat.

"no, it doesn't." i responded. "and what does it matter anyway? you are wearing a giant ugly christmas sweater."

humor articles.com

"i know, but i want to look cute." she walked over to her desk chair and slipped into her black suede booties.

"doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of a tacky christmas party?" i asked, "i mean, it's simple, you go to the thrift store, buy the ugliest christmas sweater possible. then go to target, buy a shake weight or pair of pajama jeans for a white elephant gift and you are set."

"oh no," she replied shaking her head...."i didn't buy this sweater at a thrift store, i got it at urban outfitters."

..............................................

and there you have it. another way in which the hipster culture has managed to take something perfectly normal (and dorky) and capitalize on it. I am amazed.

ironic holiday ornaments and zooey deschanel

meh felt ornament, yellow bug boutique: wtf scrabble ornament, pop culture rehab: Mustache, fred flare:

felt mistltoe, orange and pear: she and him christmas album, urban outfitters: social networking ornaments, live & kern

if you would like to learn more about becoming a hipster, visit wikihow for a full tutorial on the lifestyle.

also, this entire post was written in lowercase in my attempt to "stick it to the man." screw you capital letters.

it's quite liberating, actually.