Ab Intra

Be Back Soon!

2011-03-23T23:04:00.000-05:00

Spring is here and I'm about to graduate! I know I've been gone for a while, but planning a wedding, taking three writing intensive classes in my last semester of college has taken up a lot of my time. Don't worry though, I'll be back soon with more of all things fabulous. See you soon!

For Real Christmas List

2010-12-05T02:43:00.000-06:00

So, here's my for real Christmas list. It includes all the things I already have that I am so grateful for:

The best family in the world including:

The Cutest Niece That Ever Lived.

Nora makes the best handmade birthday cards ever. They are so precious. She loves books, princesses, and pink and purple. She reminds us all of the innocence of childhood, she gives hugs, kisses, and jokes unselfishly.

The Best Parents.

I can't even tell you all how amazing my parents are. I am 28 years old and have never seen them fight. they are what I hope my marriage is like; devoted, wonderful, giving, and sharing. They gave everything to my brother and me. They gave us the best childhood and after 35 years we can tell they are still just as in love as the day they met.

My Grandparents

My Grandma Spornitz is 90 years old and still kicking. She and my Grandpa set the bar for the rest of us. My maternal Grandparents were not as fortunate to live such long lives, but they were an inspiration to us, they stayed together through thick and thin, sickness and health, and I was fortunate enough to spend time with Grandma McDole for the last years of her life. My Grandmothers especially were such strong women

They gave us the tools we needed to be the best we can be. I thank the universe for everyday my Grandma Spornitz can still share her wisdom, her generosity, and her compassion. she will always be my inspiration in life.

My cousins.

How could I be the person I am without them? They inspired me to go to college, be the person I am, I will always be a better person because of my cousins!

My wonderful Fiancee

He always makes me laugh, makes me feel good about myself, encourages me when I feel ready to quit, helps me feel happy when I feel broken, is my partner in crime, and loves me even when I'm being an unequivocal crazy person. And I know he'll make a great Dad!

Being Back in Kansas City
I've been back for almost 2 years and I'm so glad! (Even though no one here knows how to drive.)

My wonderful friends

some I've known for 25 years, some for 16, some for 10 or less. All the friends I've made, have been loyal and wonderful and amazing and there for me for everything. I wonder how I've deserved so many wonderful friends and I thank the universe for every one of them..

I also Love my cat. Ollie.

He snuggles on my lap on days that I feel people have failed me, he purrs on my lap when I feel like I've had the longest day ever. And he is the sweetest little snuggler I have in my life.

Thanks to everyone, all my family and friends who make my life so full.

I am so grateful for everyone who is generous enough to share their time with me.

I have the best parents

I have the best brother and sister-in-law

I have the best niece

I have the best fiancee
I have the best mother and father -in -law to be

and I have the best cat

and that's all I need to be happy.

so thank you all for sharing your love with me

I am lucky to have such a wonderful group of people (and animals) to enrich my life.

you all keep me going, and I love you.

Merry Christmas!

Dream Christmas List

2010-12-05T01:29:00.001-06:00

If my friends, family, and I had all the money in the world this would be my Christmas list....luxury items no one can afford. from J.crew and Anthropologie, beautiful jewelry, scarves, gloves, slippers, etc.

Curiosities

2010-11-24T11:21:00.000-06:00

Antique bird cages are so cool! They add that cool bohemian charm to whatever room they're in. I've decided I'd really like to have one, although i'm not sure what exactly I'd do with it. I could leave it empty or maybe put plants in it. Some are so ornate, others are more simple, but I love these two at the bottom, painted teal.

Oh, Hermione.

2010-11-22T12:08:00.000-06:00

I am one of those huge dorks that obsesses over Harry Potter books and movies. Just went to see the latest installment of the films this weekend and it did not fail me. Such great movies and books! Hasn't Emma Watson turned into a beautiful woman right before our eyes? I love her as Hermione Granger, she perfectly plays the super smart and super cute witch that dorks like me idolize.

Too Cool

2010-11-13T10:58:00.000-06:00

Wishing that I could ever look so effortlessly cool. Here is some inspiration from The Satorialist.

Speaking of Mary Poppins

2010-11-06T23:45:00.000-05:00

While I was looking around the web for some info on Mary Poppins, I ran into this great website that forges weathervanes. Here is great one featuring Miss Poppins herself. check it out for lots of unique weathervanes! Black Forge Art.

Kid Movies

2010-11-06T23:41:00.000-05:00

Some days you just need some comfort. Just like comfort foods, we all have comfort movies. Those flicks that restore our faith in the world. Most of mine are movies that I watched as a kid, like The Parent Trap. I used to watch this movie with my mom on lazy days around the house when were snowed in or sick. Now and Then came out when I was about twelve and it was so great, it really captured that little known undying friendship that you make when you're young and stays strong all your life. A Little Princess was a magical movie for me. This little girl was so good no matter what life handed her, she was a blessing to every one around her, and never lost her imagination. And of course, Mary Poppins. Practically Perfect in Every Way. I hope to be Mary Poppins one day, complete with a carpet bag full of furniture and a magical umbrella.

Grant Wood

2010-11-06T13:26:00.000-05:00

I love Iowa. So, I love Grant Wood. Grant Wood, along with Thomas Hart Benton and John Stewart Curry, showed the world the beauty of the Midwest. So often when people think of natural beauty its all about enormous snow capped mountains or the span of the Pacific Ocean, but the Midwest has its own enchanting beauty. Grant perfectly captures the overlooked beauty of Iowa's rolling hills with rows of corn, sunsets among groves of trees, and the brilliance of the changing seasons.

From top to bottom: Fall Plowing, Young Corn, Near Sundown, January

Kansas City Knits

2010-11-02T21:19:00.000-05:00

Knitting is one of my most favorite things to do when I have some free time. I find it so relaxing to curl up on the couch with a project, a glass or wine, and movie at the end of a long day. I love being able to make gifts for my friends and family for birthdays and holidays. Most of all I love shopping for new yarns, needles, and notions! I can lose my mind in a yarn shop, looking at all the different textures, soft and chunky, fine and fuzzy, and of course, warm and cozy. These are some of my favorite knitting shops around Kansas City. The Studio is located on West 47th street just off The Plaza. They have a great selection of all different yarns, on Tuesday mornings they have Coffee and Stitch, bring in your project, they provide coffee and muffins, and stitch your heart art with some cool people. Florilegium (it rhymes with foreign legion) is located in downtown Parkville, on the south side of the train tracks. I wish my house looked like the inside of the place. They have beautiful displays, really creative decor, and enough yarn, beads, threads, ribbons, and charms to make your head spin. They also provide any class you want for two or more, just purchase the materials and they'll show you how! Urban Arts and Crafts is not just a yarn store, its a yarn, fabric, jewelry, scrapbook, card, and book store. Its an awesome burst of color as soon as you walk in the door. They have a great selection of of yarns and some really great crafting books, they also have a wonderful calender of classes, I am always inspired as soon as I walk in the door.

Lounge

2010-10-30T00:30:00.000-05:00

Lounging days are so few and far between. This is one reason that I love holidays! Those days that are set aside for us to sleep in, eat, hang out around the house, and just relax. Colder weather means snuggling under blankets, drinking hot chocolate and tea, and putting on layers. I love these pieces from Anthropologie. Lounge pants and robes aplenty! I have what some may call a small collection of robes, I love them. I have four different cozy wraps and I just keep wanting more.

Too Cute

2010-10-28T23:32:00.000-05:00

I am a cat person. I've grown up with cats, they're easy, low maintenance, they sleep on your lap and cuddle up in blankets, you can even leave them alone for a couple days and they're fine. Dogs though, you have to walk them, board them when you're gone, they're kinda like having actual kids. I was randomly looking through Martha Stewart's pet website and found this adorable breed, the Boarder Terrier. Trained to hunt foxes, these guys are active, affectionate, and thrive on being obedient. They have wiry fur and long legs, and only get up to about 15 pounds. Once I have a house with a yard, I will seriously consider bringing one of these sweet little guys home.

Saja Dresses

2010-10-27T18:43:00.000-05:00

It's been about six weeks since Chris and I got engaged and of course between writing papers, studying for midterms, choosing classes for my last semester, and working, I've been looking at wedding dresses. I just stumbled upon this great website, Saja. I love that these dresses are simple, pretty, and a bit casual. I really love this sweet little short dress, but I've always imagined myself in a floor length gown. This short number is super cute though, what do you think?

Gabo and Pevsner

2010-10-23T01:17:00.000-05:00

Every Friday I sit in this cramped room for three straight hours and listen to my art history professor (who is awesome, by the way) talk about all kinds of artists, from all over the world, from all different times periods. Usually I've heard of them, seen some of their work in person or in a book at least. Some things I think are okay, some I really hate, and others I flip out over. Today he introduced me to Antoine Pevsner and Naum Gabo, brothers from Russia who created these amazing sculptures. I am totally fascinated by these works and I would love to see one up close.

From top to bottom: images 1 & 2, Constructed Head No. 2 by Gabo

image 3, Torso by Pevsner

image 4, Head by Pevsner

The materials they used amaze me, celluloid, bronze, plexiglass, these flat pieces that create these amazing, complex 3-dimensional pieces, the geometry, the simplicity that makes something so complex. I can't wait to find out more about these artists!

Mastering the Art of Julia

2010-10-19T23:08:00.000-05:00

I know I'm about a year too late, but did you guys see that wonderful movie, Julie and Julia? I'm re-watching it. I forgot how wonderful this movie is. Its one of those you can pop in at any time and enjoy over and over again. Based on the book by Julie Powell, this movie really brought Julia Child back onto the front burner. She was such a wonderfully exciting woman. I find it so extraordinarily inspiring that she didn't even begin culinary school until she was 36. There is so much pressure for those of us in our 20s to know just what we want to do with our lives as soon as we graduate college, and just look at Julia. She found her calling a little later, and it happened perfectly for her. Mastering the Art of French Cooking is in the top 10 Best Selling cookbooks of all time. Julia brought this art to the women of the United States, and we could never thank her enough. If you haven't seen this great movie, watch it! It will inspire even those whose cooking level is only making toast or a box of Shells and Cheese, to poach an egg or even attempt Beef Bourguignon.

Dear Winona,

2010-10-18T15:15:00.000-05:00

Oh, Winona, where did you go? I love you, even if she did steal some stupid pair of cashmere socks. Winona Ryder was one of those rare actresses who was charming, beautiful, and actually made really good movies. Everyone loves Heathers and Edward Scissorhands, but as she grew her movies got even better. Reality Bites was an excellent representation of that oh-so-wonderful time after you get out of school and you have to actually try and do something with your life when you honestly still have no clue. I love that she played Jo in Little Women, no one could have played that role more perfectly, and Girl, Interrupted was amazing too. Her relationship with Angelina Jolie's character, Lisa, was so weird and dynamic. That movie really makes you question your own sanity. I just miss these amazing movies that were coming out throughout the 90s and now, well we just don't hear much from Ms. Ryder anymore. Winona, if you're out there, give us more please, we miss you!

Understated

2010-10-15T11:19:00.000-05:00

Understated jewelry is so much more elegant than enormous bling. I have been looking for a necklace for every day wear and I found these two great etsy shops. I love the tiny sparkle these necklaces give and, they sit right on the collar bone. The first three come from Christina P Designs. She offers all kinds of jewelry, from hammered metal earrings to engraved rings and shiny cuffs to these sweet CZ sparkle necklaces. If you're more into the real thing, Jewelry by Priyanka Sodhi offers amazing designs created with rough, organic diamonds. Rings, earrings, and these necklaces, Trilliant Diamond Pendants using champagne diamonds in sterling silver or gold. Who doesn't want some tiny sparkles?

Urban Mushroom Forest

2010-10-14T23:25:00.000-05:00

I was walking along on campus last week and spotted this giant clump of mushrooms. For going to school in the middle of the city, I see some things you'd never expect to find there. This is a great example. Just last week I was walking out of one of the buildings and a hawk flew just five feet over my head with a giant squirrel in its talons. amazing!

DIY Costumes

2010-10-13T11:23:00.000-05:00

Halloween is coming up, do you know what you're going to be? I love this Beehive costume that I found on Martha Stewart's website. She actually has some really great DIY projects that are cute, creative, easy, and elegant. Like this Rose Garden. How beautiful, not just for a little girl but any woman as well. I thought this Spider and Web costume was really sweet for mommy and baby. When I saw this little munchkin dressed up like a Turkey Dinner I laughed out loud and sent it to my friend, Nikki, begging her to dress up her new baby like this. Same with this sweet little Cupcake Girl. How funny! the sparkly shoes go perfect with it. If you need some inspiration, Martha's the place to go, check out her website for some awesome ideas! So what are you going to be?

Joni.

2010-10-12T23:29:00.000-05:00

I don't know what happened today but I woke up and had to listen to Joni Mitchell's amazing album, Blue. I listened to Carey about four times on my way to school and I've been obsessing over her all day. I actually don't know that much about her other than she's one of the greatest songwriters of the late 20th century, she's an amazing painter, and my mom loves her. This obsession might last a while.

Comforts

2010-10-11T11:07:00.000-05:00

Everyone has their own rituals for comfort. Things they go to when having a bad day, or if its just one of those lovely rainy/snowy days that we are fortunate to have once a while. You know the ones, you can hole up in your home, watch movies, eat, work on projects. Here are some things I go to when I'm in search of comfort. A perfect day of comfort for me would include Macaroni and Cheese, watching Anne of Green Gables, sipping a warm cup of tea during the day, maybe having a delicious glass of wine at night. I'd slip into my most comfortable clothes, hoodies, yoga pants, my Minnetonka Moccasins, I'd knit, enjoy some I Love Lucy episodes, listen to John Lennon's solo albums.

Cowls, Scarves, and Coziness

2010-10-10T16:49:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize how much I love scarves until I was organizing my closet the other day. I have a ridiculous amount. No matter, there's always room for more! I found some patterns and have been knitting my little hands off for the past few weeks. I am yet to make this cashmere cowl that I found on Purl Bee, but it is on my list for sure. I am dying for this sweater from athleta, I LOVE that you can wear it as a hood, hanging down loose, or you can even stretch it across your shoulders and looks like a little caplet. This last pattern for a wonderfully comfy infinity scarf is what I'm working right now. I found it on ravelry and it was designed by Madelinetosh. Making one for my lovely mother and one for myself. How I love fall!

You May Say I'm a Dreamer

2010-10-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

Today John Wintson Ono Lennon would have 70 years old. He may be my greatest hero of all time. I could go on and on but nothing I can say would do him justice. We miss you John, happy 70th.
So his birthday is on the 8th and I thought I'd get the post with the last 2 minutes of the day. So Happy Birthday John, October 8th

Okay, Okay

2010-10-08T23:57:00.000-05:00

So, I've been a big slacker about updating this blog, pretty much since classes started again. I'm feeling like school is just sucking all the creativity out of me. Sorry guys, I just haven't been inspired by much. I've been knitting though, and watching Project Runway, and hey! I got engaged! So I guess I've just been busy. But here are some things I've been learning in school! First I'm taking a Political Science class about Campaigns and Elections, which I thought would be interesting, but it's just making me a disillusioned citizen and I'm deciding that I hate all politicians regardless of what party they belong to or what they say into a microphone. I'm also taking Women in Rhetoric, which is a great class! So many women doing so many things to change the world in different and exciting ways. Each one is fascinating in her own right. We're all doing a rhetorical biography on a woman who has made a difference and I chose Wendy Shalit. I'm also taking advanced fiction writing where I have been challenged to write two short stories. I also get to read some from my classmates, which has been awesome! Workshop is full of great intimate conversation with people who are passionate about the same things. I'm also taking Symbolic Logic which is tough but like brain teasers, I actually kind of like it. I'm also taking a great Art History class with a teacher who doesn't care whether we know the dates, just if we recognize and respect the artists, which I think is what art is all about. He showed me this sculptor, Constantin Brancusi, who I think is my new favorite! Google him. amazing!

Flannel Forever!

2010-08-21T10:13:00.000-05:00

For some reason I got stuck in the '90's. I love everything about this decade. Wayne's World, Nirvana & Pearl Jam, and Bill Clinton. But what I really loved were those cozy flannel shirts that everyone used to wrap around themselves with their favorite band t-shirt underneath (My old Alice in Chains t-shirt still sits in the closet, unworn for years.) Everyone used to wear them with ripped up jeans, Birkenstocks or Doc Martins, and totally undone hair. Well, these wonderful plaid pieces have made a come back, although this time they're a little more chic. Check out Kirsten Dunst in her sweet flannel with some ultra short shorts and cute flats. You can wear them belted over leggings, or with a pretty cardigan, skinny jeans, and great leather boots.