HappyCozyLife

Velvet Flats from Francesca's Collections

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:18:00 +0000

I have these shoes in the orange/pink and they are so cute I could scream. They also have pointed toe, as a opposed to the usual rounded toe on ballet flats. Definitely makes them seem dressier and I feel like I just read in InStyle or somewhere that pointy-toed flats will be in this spring.

Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:40:00 +0000

A little over a week ago I listened to one of the most riveting stories I've ever heard on This American Life, Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory.

Its the story of how Apple products, and many other goods consumed by Americans, are made by hand in what is the equivalent of a human sweatshop in Shenzhen, China. In the last week I've been reading CNN's Inside Foxconn coverage, and the New York Times published a story last week about the human cost of iPads.

No amount of irony was lost on me that I listened to the story on my iPhone. The whole thing is horrifying, fascinating and rife with opportunity to question my consuming ways.

Snowy Weekend Project

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:12:00 +0000

Our first real snowstorm of the year gave me a free afternoon inside to get working on this project. I'm still thinking about covering the benches with fabric, making them wider and comfier. Sorry for the crappy iPhone pictures.

A few pillows and baskets later.

Found two more pillows.

The only things purchased beyond the benches (on sale for $50 each!) were the small tan pillow on the bottom right ($7 on clearance at Marshalls) and the tin picture that says Black Dog Licorice, my attempt to hide pot and pan jetsam and flotsam.

At least people will have a place to drop their purses or sit and drink wine while I cook.

Bathroom Demolition

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:15:00 +0000

I'm only sharing this image now because I never, ever have to take a bath with this view again.

Its amazing what you can get used to.

This is standing at our kitchen sink looking up towards the bathroom. What light through ceiling breaks? 'Tis our bathroom and a plumber is the sun. This remodel was so overdue.

Batter Tool

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:32:00 +0000

This is my new favorite kitchen gadget.

I don't like to mix cake or quick bread batters with a mixer so I usually use a whisk to make sure the final product is light and airy. This batter tool is perfect because it has a long, sturdy handle and edges scrape up the batter in the bottom of the bowl.

What I've Been Up To

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:22:00 +0000

Currently reading:

Oh yes, its good.

Finished this last week and am waiting to read the next two after book club next week.

As of late I've been spending a lot of time finalizing the plans for our bathroom remodel. I'm even using Pinterest the right way to keep ideas. Check out my remodel board and storage board.

I've also been catching up on TV shows post travel/holidays: Real Housewives [insert city], Tori & Dean (yep, that's a goat eating a mood board), 30 Rock, Up All Night, Parenthood, Glee. Its a wonder I have time for anything else with my aggressive DVR schedule.

Travel, New Job, New Year, Movies and Smoothies

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:47:00 +0000

Much delayed, much delayed, but here I am! After a really lovely New Years featuring an insane amount of sleep, a Euchre tournament, reading and lots of loafing, I started the transition from my old job to my new one by traveling to California for training.

I love how hotels have made the move to offer some in-room creature comforts. A cup of tea in a hotel room goes a long way towards making this homebody feel cozy.

Picked up some of the best cheese in the world. I haven't opened it up to eat since it spent the night at the Des Moines airport while I was stranded in Chicago, so I hope its okay.

Can't we talk about smoothies? I don't really like them, but I do like Naked Juice. Couldn't I just puree all these things in our blender (its powerful) and let is drain through cheesecloth? I don't want to buy any more gadgets, plus I've heard juicers are a nightmare to clean.

That said, I did make this smoothie a few weeks ago. It was really good.

Last but not least, movies. I'm so disappointed by the movies that are out right now and in the running for awards season. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas we saw the Muppet Movie (loved it, Ma Nah Ma Nah), Girl With a Dragon Tattoo (very good) and The Descendants (excellent). It just seems like there should be a crush of movies to see and there's not much of anything.

We did see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy this past weekend. It was pretty good, very old school. I found my new alias, Benedict Cumberbatch. Isn't that the best name ever?

Peek vs. Peak vs. Pique

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:20:00 +0000

It was recently pointed out to me that I like to rant about things until I'm willing to accept them. Like Pinterest, jeans tucked into boots and eReaders. I shall not accept the wily-nily misuse of the words peek, peak and pique.

I can not tell you how many bloggers have shown me a sneak peak of their kitchen remodel or new blog design. Really? You have a mountain in your kitchen? Even better are the people looking to peek my interest. How are you going to manage that?

Please, can people just Google the right word before publishing?

Peek-a-boo! Pic.

Check out the peak of that mountain through the grass. Pic.

After reading about the, the Tieks ballet flats have really piqued my interest.

Chobani.com Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:05:00 +0000

Whilst Googling whether or not you can freeze Chobani Greek yogurt - you can for up to three months - I found a bunch of recipes on their site. And, even better, they are rated.

I love the idea of adding more recipes with protein to my repertoire, but I haven't made any yet

Picking Bathroom Paint Colors

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:32:00 +0000

Hip, hip, hooray! The bathroom remodel is happening. Its really happening.

Good-bye Granny wallpaper. Hello paint choices.

The Lumineers "Ho, Hey"

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:01:00 +0000

Like the first comment on YouTube, I found this song via Hart of Dixie (okay show, cute people and they film it on the Gilmore Girls set.) Love it, can't find it in iTunes though. Boo!

End of 2012 Instagramming

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:51:00 +0000

In December we spent an awesome weekend in Denver. Skiing, nice weather, lots of laughs and an unfortunate Bears loss to our lord and savior's Broncos (via pedicab.) I love my life and don't wish for anything else, but Denver has a soft spot in my heart, mountains, outdoors, city life, the whole kit and kaboodle.

Wood duck.

Cabela's, where ladies get tired of shopping.

As we often do, we are buzzing through this season of Dexter at warp speed. For whatever reason, that show has always been easier for us to watch in clusters of 2 or 3 episodes rather than week to week. This mass of my necklaces reminded me of the doomsday killer's tableaus.

'Tis the Season for Redecorating

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:46:00 +0000

This time of year always finds me super invigorated when it comes to decorating and organizing our house. Its a good thing I'm full of inspiration now, since the rest of the year is far too busy to think about rugs and cozy kitchen nooks.

I've loved this image (Ikea, via Darling Dexter) for roughly 8 billion years. It is so cozy, happy and light. We have a nook in our kitchen, which I mostly use for storage of cooking items, dog food and juice. My goal this month is to do a non-contruction update using benches, pillows, an existing rug and a table of unknown origin.

My preference would be to find something used since there's enough crappy pre-fab furniture in the world that doesn't need a home in our house, but in the essence of finding just what I need, I like these options from Target.

Farmhouse dining bench and Shaker-style bench. Both are made of wood and would be good seating additions to whatever needs we may have in the future.

I (Kind of) Hate Pinterest

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:03:00 +0000

I waited a good long while before requesting a Pinterest account. I didn't need another time-suckage outlet. Also, I had an excellent system for saving ideas of things I was interested in (BOOOOOOOOOOOO Google and their decision to remove the share/notes function in Reader.)

Since I've been reading all kinds of blogs for quite some time, I wasn't short on inspiration. And when I was, I just buzzed through blogs I read and found new ones to subscribe to.

So anyway, I got a Pinterest account a few weeks ago. And I think it kind of, totally, really sucks. Here's why:

Access-Functionality is spotty between the different access types: web, mobile, app. I don't actually know when something will pin or why I'm suddenly following people's boards just because I clicked on something. Sometimes its just down all together.

Sourcing-The lack of proper sourcing is ridiculous. To share ideas, images, etc. without proper sourcing goes against every journalistic/blogging bone in my body. Credit--->credit due.

Bad Pins-A lot of people have really poor taste. The explore option turns up some real crap. I guess I need to take the time to follow good boards, but hello, I'm already curating the blogs I read in Google.

Why are there so many images of women with hard bodies, weird ways to paint your fingernails and inspiration quotes? Also, the outfit inspirations people like are some of the most boring outfits I've seen. I would never think a person wearing this outfit was stylish. More like completely unimaginative. Oooh, ooh, black and pink. Excuse me, I just fell asleep on my keyboard.

Really, Pinterest isn't so bad and based on usage and reports I've read, its sure to keep growing. I even suggested to my mom that the center she works at create a board since so many teachers use it for ideas. They'll get more money and the useability will increase.

If you never read blogs, I could see how Pinterest fulfills the need for information, ideas and sharing (a bit of a lopsided one, since so many of the images I see are aspirational and further fan the idea that other people's homes, bodies, clothes, family portraits, etc. are better.)

At the end of the day, I just don't have the time and desire to devote to one more home on the internet. I don't need it, though I guess I'll keep my eye on it. That said, this picture is pretty kickass and I was glad I could email it to my parents from Pinterest.

Family photo

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:34:00 +0000

Our brother-in-law Bill took a great family photo this year.

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:09:00 +0000

I really believe this may be the best week of the year. Basking in the glow of post-Christmas cheer, with the promise of a new year just around the corner.

If you take this week off from week, its beyond relaxing. If you go to work (like I am), its quiet and you can tackle piddly projects, clean your office and have some nice long chats with coworkers. Win-win.

This blog got an unexpected hiatus this month when our computer went out of commission. But, I'll be back this week to recap 2011 and more importantly, all the books I read this year.

Speaking of books, I'm thinking real hard about getting a Kindle. I love actual, physical books and don't see myself ever shying away from reading them (or preferring them for that matter), but the practicality of sharing and reading some books on an ereader makes a lot of sense. My book club is kicking off 2012 with the Hunger Games. Seems like a perfect Kindle read, no? The Kindle version is $4.69!

And backing up to talk about this old blog, I've been thinking about it even though I haven't been posting. I'm starting a new job in a few weeks (same company, different area.) While its very similiar to what I do now, its more strategic with some of my current job functions farmed out to contractors and people in other positions. Part of that switch means no more writing. At least, no more writing marketing materials, emails and bylines.

So, I'm contemplating how to channel that desire (NEED) to communicate through words. More here, more elsewhere.

Food Sharing With Friends

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:17:00 +0000

Blerg! I'm having a terrible time uploading images in Picasa. So this, will have to be a pictureless one.

This past Sunday I did something I've been wanting to try for awhile: food sharing (I'm sure there's a better word, no?) I made a double batch of lasagna sauce, a pot of this rosemary white bean soup and some tomato white bean soup to eat that night. Laura made chicken tortilla soup and Jennifer brought black bean soup with bacon in it.

While I was making the tomato white bean soup, Jennifer and Laura assembled 5 dishes of lasagna for each of us to freeze for later. Then we dished up the different soups in lunch size containers and freezer bags for later. I made one lasagna this week for dinner, but know I have three bags of soup and two frozen lasagnas in the freezer for later in making me super happy.

And there was beaujolais nouveau.

Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:52:00 +0000

There's been baking.

Including help with the Parker House Rolls from my nephew and niece.

Farm fresh veggies, plants closing shop for the year and the most delicious holiday brew.

And one pathetic D-O-G

Winter Warm Clothes

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:26:00 +0000

Proof #847 you are a grown up: remembering to fill in gaps in your winter wardrobe before finding yourself shoveling the deck in five inches of white stuff.

For the first time in roughly 14 years I bought new ski pants. They are Columbia and are not exciting, but these two finds are:

Teva Montecito boots in Gunsmoke. I have rain boots and pack boots, but my bumming around town and walking to work in the snow boots are hand-me-downs that don't quite work. I haven't gotten these yet, but I'm excited.

I picked this lightweight coat up last night at Target for our bike ride. Its an unbelievable top layer/wind protection jacket for $40. Paired with my Marmot half-zip, I was toasty warm against some serious headwinds and cooling temperatures.

Bye, Bye Fall!

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Sunrise, sunset. We saw both Saturday on our way to and from the last Iowa home football game.

Sunday we checked the High Trestle Bridge off the list of things to do in 2011. Here it is at dusk. It is 13 stories high in the middle of the bridge. Hard to show perspective of the distance from bridge to water.

At night.

Recent Reads

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:47:00 +0000

I recently went through our bookcase and was overwhelmed by all of the books I have purchased over the last few years. Usually its a better mix or buying and borrowing, but I've found myself purchasing more book club books than I'd like to. So, I'm looking into reading some book club picks on the iPad and donating a whole bunch to Planned Parenthood for their books sale fundraiser.

Two books I am keeping are my most recent reads.

Decoded by Jay-Z. Anthony bought this for me for my birthday and I just dug into it recently. I challenge you to come up with another artists who has thought, and recorded in a book, so thoughtfully about their art, the circumstances it comes from and what it means. You don't have to like rap music to appreciate this book.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. I adored Bel Canto but hated the Magician's Assistant, so I was wary about reading another book by this author. I thought it was thoroughly engrossing and required some contemplation when I was done. My only critique is how abruptly the book came to an end.

Life on the Farm is Kinda Laidback

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Recent Eats

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:52:00 +0000

A few recent recipes I've made.

Lemon, olive and parsley quinoa cakes, which we had with broiled mahi mahi. It was exotic sounding food night at our house. Recipe and picture from Joy the Baker. Really delicious, though it really makes a lot of cakes. More than two people can consume.

Smothered pork chops with creamy white bean and vegetable mash (my new obsession).

Gabe and Micky

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:48:00 +0000

When I feel blue or miss Micky when on vacation, I just look at this picture. What a pair of goofballs.

They sure are sweet. Laying and playing together.

Grief 2.0

noreply@blogger.com (MsAmanda) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:44:00 +0000

I visited my grandma this weekend for the first time since my grandfather passed away in May. The weather was yucky, but she and I had a great time. Some things remain the same, like the den filled with his books.

Art and pictures I've always known.

But he wasn't there. It felt like the hole left behind was even bigger than the space he commanded while living. My muscle memory told me he'd be about, sitting in the den reading or at the kitchen table doing a crossword puzzle. My mental memory knew he wouldn't and bridging the gap between those two places was like crossing the Grand Canyon in a blinding snowstorm, with nothing but a pair of sandals and a thin t-shirt.

I guess that's Grief 2.0 for you. First you deal with the death, then you deal with the reality. My grandma is strong and doing well. She's learning to live by herself and be alone after 57 years of marriage. She's tough.