Fall, with sprinkles on top

Well, fall has officially begun, and although the TN was a bit cooler (and rainy) today, it rarely feels like fall here until almost winter. Of course, it doesn't really happen like a light switch or anything, but the seasons here are not particularly delineated.

I ran across this picture from Real Simple and decide to post it because it looks simple and indulgent. Those are two good qualities. Plus, it reminds me of summer--but the very best parts of summer. Not that sweltering heat/mosquito business.

I hope that your week is going well.

Christmas, Real Simple Style

I may have hinted at this before, but if you're not signed up for one or all of Real Simple's free daily e-mails (or the magazine itself), you're missing out.  Today's message was no exception.  There was a nifty link to several decorating ideas.  To wit:



You know how much I like a shoe form.  :)

Aren't these cool ideas?  See more here.  Their ideas are actually doable and would not cost a fortune.  Oh, and I'm trying to get in the spirit.  Can you tell?

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

Confession: I really had no idea what this book was about, but the cover sucked me right in.

It's a simple but unusual picture, so I had to find out more. 

This is Tiffany Baker's story of Truly Plaice, the title character of the novel, and the events that happen during the first 40 or so years of her life.  For starters, she has a slightly older sister who is beautiful and thin, which is a stark contrast to her bulky lines and plain features.  Of course they rarely get along.  Oh, and then their mother dies while giving birth to Truly.  And then their semi-crappy dad dies.

Easy, peeps.  I'm not giving away anything that the book jacket doesn't already tell.  Truly's life takes some interesting turns as she gets older and larger.  She gets involved with a strict, semi-mysterious doctor whose family has always been involved in medicine--and possibly witchcraft.  But not involved like that.  She's more of a housekeeper.  She also tries to help townspeople with their problems in a special sort of way.   

Now, before you get all enough-is-enough with the magic stuff, I'll say that Baker doesn't harp on it or get too cutesy with it.  Think more Salem witch trials than Diagon Alley.  

Although this book probably won't win many awards or a spot on my must-read-again list, it was a fairly enjoyable story.  There are some nice plots involving friendship, sisterhood, perception, and relationships in general, and the tone is rather interesting.  It never got too schmaltzy or boring, but it wasn't life-changing, either.  If you're looking for a decent way to pass a few hours, then give Truly a try.  

Aren't Hue Ready for a Quiz?

I had to.  This quiz was in my inbox today from Real Simple.  It's called What's Your Color Personality?.

I already knew what I would "score," but it was still fun to take the quiz and read the information at the end.  It only took about five minutes.  Give it a whirl, won't you?

A Fresh Start to the Week

Well, blog buddies, it's Sunday, and anyone who knows me fairly well will tell you that this is typically my cleaning day. Sometimes I'm done in an hour, and sometimes it takes 5 or 6. Usually it starts when I wake up (without an alarm clock, thank you very much) and strip the sheets off the bed. A bit of concentrated detergent and a method dryer sheet do the trick quite nicely.

At some point after waking up and eating a bite, I start the dusting process. It's really pretty simple with these handy microfiber cloths. I found these at Target a few years ago, and you may be able to make out the logo. Vroom. I did some searching online back then and found that--surprise, surprise--this company was a subsidiary of method. I'm not sure that's the case now. At any rate, they work like a charm! Usually I don't even use a liquid cleaner; I just run the cloth over my desk, nightstand, dresser, monitor, etc. The dust is trapped by tiny, tiny fibers until you shake them outside or toss them in the washing machine.

Then I break out my EnviroVac by Eureka! I guess that's not really an exclamatory sentence, but the word eureka just brings it out. This model is bagless and uses 33% less energy than regular vacuums. And it's a really cool blue color. I run it over my carpets and every few weeks use the attatchment to clean my pillows, mattress, baseboards, and windowsills. I like to vacuum after dusting in case any extra dust falls to the floor.

Today I decided to run the hose along the ceiling and in the corners. I even got brave and wheeled the operation into my brother's room. Yikes. It was necessary, though, because he was bringing down the property value.

Then I tried a new home-y trick that I learned from Ideal Bite, which is a great eco resource, by the way. They send eco-tips and tricks by e-mail on Monday-Friday. Sometimes they're a little far-fetched, but I always learn at least one new thing. Check them out! I filled up a cheap spray bottle with vinegar and attacked the little weeds that pop up in cracks in the concrete outside. I am anxious to check back in a day or so and see if it works. Vinegar is great for cleaning, too. It's super cheap and does not hurt the environment...except for those pesky weeds, fingers crossed.

Right before bed I put clean sheets back on, and I always sleep like a charm. It's probably a combination of mild exhaustion and feeling extra clean and cozy. Do you have any cleaning tips to share?

Tip for the Day

Let's just put it in plain terms.  If you can do something for someone else (no matter how small or large), please do it.  This could include donating to a charity, smiling at someone as you walk by, or pulling your car up so that someone else can get around you.  It's just going to make the world a better place.  Trust me. 

Spoons?  Well, sure.  Why not?  This picture is from Real Simple.

2012 is the Year to Max it Out

It's a great time of year, of course.  Despite the holiday bloat and that whole confused/back-to-work thing, doesn't it feel like an excellent time for new possibilities?!

I know I've posted about IRAs before, but it's prime time to take another glance.  This is a graphic that I scanned from Real Simple (December 2011) and then altered, color-wise, through Picnik.com.  It started out green (apropos, non?), but the invert feature gave this cool purple and blue combo.  This version is also a bit easier to read.  You can also click the graphic to enlarge it a bit.  Eye strain is never specs-y, peeps.

Anywho, open an IRA.  Contribute to it.  Enjoy it later.  You'll be so glad that you did.  And the earlier you start, the more monies you will earn.  Consider dollar cost averaging, per Suze.

Happy New Year!

Failure to Prepare...

...is preparation to fail.

I'm using this cool, Real Simple graphic of spoons in a drawer again because a) I love it and 2) I've been getting my collective "house" in order. 

 A couple of weekends ago, when I was back home visiting, I was awakened early Sunday morning by screams from my mom.  Needless to say, it was unsettling.  She had fallen in the dark, on her way to the bathroom, and long story short, my brother and I ended up in the ER with her. 

She is totally fine now, although at the time she was beside herself with pain and confusion.  And so were my brother and I.  We did not react very well to this mini-crisis at first, but we picked up the slack and got her the care she needed.

All of this got me to thinking about making arrangements for life's little uncertainties well in advance.  For example, I was faced with this question: Sir, what is your mother allergic to?  And I promptly drew a blank.  My brother knew less than I did.

Now, granted, Barb is completely back to her version of normal now.  And she's way (way) too young to be "falling," but these are the kinds of things one should prepare for before they are needed.  Suze always says that one needs a will and trust.  I'm now working on that, despite my lack of vast wealth or children.

The important thing is to make your wishes known to your immediate family, despite your current health, income, living situation, etc.  If (God forbid) your health were to take a turn for the worse, would you want life support?  Who gets your house?  Your money?  Your creepy doll collection?  Do you want to be buried?  Cremated?  Other?

I'm not trying to be all macabre here, but I've had a bit of a wakeup call, and I want to pass along this life lesson that I'm currently in the midst of learning.

Lust List: CB2 Spring 2011

What is it about the impending spring that makes one want fresh linens and a house?  I'm not sure, but these catalog people certainly know.  Because they milk it.

I posted about CB2 before, but 'tis a new season with some fresh products that inspire lust in this heart.

What can I say?  I love a task lamp.  I wish this one came in other colors--namely, a really dark gray.

Are you sensing a theme?  As with anything, you get the good staples, you will go far.  This shower curtain would be really cool in a bathroom with charcoal gray paint on the walls.  You could go with ice blue towels.  Not bad, huh?

These glasses are so simple.  I could see one holding ice water, a cocktail, a pound of paper clips, or a toothbrush.  Not at the same time, hopefully.

Doesn't this sconce have that mid-century flair that's so nifty? 

I would like this whole tableau, please.  Yes, I just said tableau on my blog.  The light fixture is a major enhancement here, and those chairs make such a cool contrast againt the boxy table.

I couldn't quite get the pictures to cooperate with me this time around, but if you like any of what you see, please click on the links.  You'll be directed to the product page, where you can see enlarged images.  Tah dah.  :) 

Christmas, Apartment Style

Today I thought I'd give a little holiday-peek into what I've done around the apartment, and then I realized I only took two decent pictures. The lighting situation in here is dire--more on that later.

First up is a little makeshift candy dish, courtesy of a small flower pot found at IKEA back from February's trip to Atlanta with delightful Ann Marie. I guess it's not really the most Christmas-y, but I like it just the same.



And here is my Charlie Brown tree, compliments of my awesome friends over at FredFlare! They sent me a little housewarming present, and I think it's just right! It came with a red glass ball, but I accidentally broke it. Yikes!

Here I've substituted with a nice, if somewhat oversized, felt ornament. Please pay no attention to my lumbering loaner telly. I plan on upgrading in the new year.

I also put up a ribbon on which to attach cards and holiday pictures, but I couldn't get the lighting to cooperate. It's simple and unobtrusive. Please take my word for it. :) I hope everyone is having a great week!

My Always List: Classic

I can't really say enough about this next item on my list.  Banana Republic's Classic is something I've worn for many years now, and it's probably my favorite go-to, everyday fragrance.  I say 'fragrance' instead of 'cologne' because this is unisex and not very heavy at all. 

It's sort of a clean citrus smell, and if I were to have designed a bottle, this would probably have been it.  Plus, I like that it lasts all day and is not expensive.  It's simple and, well, classic.  Of course.

Ahh...Food...

In spite of my (hopefully) almost-gone stomach bug, I am reminiscing about a meal I recently had--at home, no less.

It's a cheeseburger! The very idea! Usually I'm not a big burger person, but every once in a while, I'm jonesing for one. I just used honey wheat bread. And those are zesty fries. Yes. Zesty. It's not exactly health food, but it's quite delicious.

Ahhhh....

One of my favorite things is to put condiments in a simple ramekin. It really churches it up, and I like the way it looks. Plus, it's so much easier to dip without the sauce getting all over the other foods.

I've had these for a long time and seem to remember getting them at Pier One for about $1 each. I hope you're digging our old-school countertops, too.

Sidenote: Ramekin is a difficult word. It's one that I see quite a bit but couldn't remember how to spell. It's not even in my Merriam Webster! I'm blaming the bug.

You Stole My Heart...

Confession: I don't have an Amazon Kindle, but my pal Dawn does. And she loves it. Like seriously swoons over it. (Ok. Maybe I'm overdoing it a bit.)

What I can say is that their new commercials (also linked from the picture) are right up my alley. They're very Mac-ish, but that's definitely ok. It's this 30-second stop-motion journey of adventure. This second one is the best. It has tons of simple clothes and colors and lots of stripes. Plus, that song is catchy as all get-out. Enjoy!

Nitty Gritty

After several of my recent cardio sessions, I have treated myself to this scrub from St. Ives.  Well, it's actually called Purify Exfoliating Body Wash.  Excuse me. 

I saw it in Real Simple and figured that a few dollars was totally worth it.  And it was.  This product is formulated with 100% natural exfoliants (sea salt), and it's made without parabens and phthalates.  Bonus!

It's not too fine or coarse, so the texture is just right.  The fragrance gets a B-, but I like it more for what it lacks than what it has thrown in.  Give it a whirl if you're looking for an inexpensive skin treat.  You should be able to find it at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Amazon, and so on.

Have a great weekend!

Definitely Late 20s Now. And Austin?

Well, my 20s are almost officially over.  My birthday happened over the weekend, and I'm now 29.

My twin bro and I met up at our older sister's house, and along with her family and our mom, we had a big lunch.  If it wasn't a simple carb, we weren't eating it.  For dessert we had cupcakes.  They were most delicious.

The picture above shows my placecard for the meal, handmade by my younger niece.  She did one for everybody and then thought it would be hilarious to turn them around so that we all had to guess where we were sitting.  Isn't little kids' handwriting the best?!

I'm going on a weekend trip to Austin to visit some friends, so I'm extra excited about that, too.  Does anyone have any must-sees?!

Lust List: Week Four

Ahh. Room & Board, how I love thee. Almost everyting they carry is completely simple without being boring or old-looking (in the bad way). The prices are fairly high, but I get the sense that these are investment pieces and that the quality is top-notch. They also offer things that are truly iconic, and I don't just throw that word around willy-nilly.

I've gotten (and drooled over) the catalogs for years, but I have not yet made a purchase. If I did, these might be some of the items en route to my address.

Time is Pilin' Up...

...we struggle and we scrape--all boxed in, nowhere to escape. :)

So go the lyrics of one of my all-time favorite songs, 'Mississippi'. It was written and originally performed by Bob Dylan (whose notoriety still makes me scratch my head), but Sheryl Crow's version is my favorite.

At any rate, please bear with me (and Real Simple's image of "bad Scrabble letters") as some major changes are taking place in my life. There are tons of good things in the pipeline, and I'll give you faithful readers the scoop when I can.

The World Is Too Much With Us

For some reason, this title to a William Wordsworth poem came to mind today. It goes along rather nicely with this image from Real Simple and with me these days. Whew.




Allow me to indulge just a bit and share some poetry love here on the Specs Appeal.

The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;

Little we see in Nature that is ours;

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon,

The winds that will be howling at all hours,

And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers,

For this, for everything, we are out of tune;

It moves us not.--Great God! I'd rather be

A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;

So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,

Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;

Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;

Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.

Merci Me

Things for which I am thankful today:

health

freedom

family

friends

new job/apartment

TV w/DVR

Kitchenaid stand mixers

Real Simple images

...and my blog readers!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gift Guide 2012: House and Home Edition

For house and home, I like simple, useful items that don't cost a ton of funds.  This year I'm going fairly practical yet stylish, which may not come as a surprise to my regular readers.  :)

A Lotta Jansdotter square bowl by way of Fishs Eddy.  Oh, yes.  At first glance, this may seem to be a mere bowl for snacks, but think of the possibilities as a jewelry holder, coin collector, or paper clip cozy.  $16.95

A cheese tool set from Crate and Barrel.  Right now this acacia-wood-handled trio ships free.  Isn't it handsome?  For a cheese tool set.  $19.95

A nylon watch strap from The Knottery.  Did you think that this came from another retailer?  Like one that induces mass-hysteria in bloggers around the globe?  Well, this piece is half of what they charge.  $10

A set of six white restaurantware plates from tribute212.  You really can't go wrong with a classic.  These are the oxford shirts of tabletop dressing.  They go with anything and last forever.  $26

A bento box set from West Elm.  Let's brown bag it in 2013, shall we?  This makes the job much more stylish and green, with a watertight seal, reusable fork, and a sauce container.  Free shipping right now.  $22

A package opener from The Container Store.  I bought one of these about a year ago, and it has paid for itself many times over in saved frustrations.  Perfect for slicing into packages of all ilk.  $4.99