Lions!!

I have been feeling very stressed out lately and not like myself but every now and then something happens that makes things better.  Besides spending more time with friends that make me happy, I also stopped to see the Chinese New Year parade yesterday on my way to grabbing lunch.  Parades are one of my favorite things to see.  I have no idea why but, whether it's the Hasty Pudding Parade in Harvard Square or the freezing cold parade at the Carnaval de Quebec, I feel compelled to take a look.

I didn't see a parade in the standard sense, though there might have been one, what I saw was a bunch of little parades, each with pairs of lions. I have to admit ignorance about what they were doing but a little research told me:

"Local businesses leave vegetables and fruit hanging from their doorway to entice the lion. In turn, the lion performs a dance and offers the local business owners good tidings for the New Year."

Other than the vibrant colors and the dances, what was most fun was how happy everyone was.  The little kids were running after the lions, there were firecrackers going off all around, and cabbage flying everywhere.

Happy New Year!!

No matter how good last year was to you all, I hope this year is even better!

Last year was busy for me but I wasn't left with a great feeling of accomplishment at everything I had done, so I hope this year I can achieve that.  My cat is kind enough to allow me to illustrate, with a bow on her paw, not to forget to slow down and have more fun.  She reminds me of this regularly by eating my phone and iPod cords when I don't give her as much attention as she needs - when that happens neither of us have much fun.

As an aside: My pictures rarely illustrate that she has extra thumbs on all four paws leading to her achieving ninja status.  Somehow it makes her even sneakier and more deadly to electronics.

no cat was harmed during the taking of this photo

A while ago I found "The Rainbow Tunnel of Happiness". The entrance to it made me just as happy when I stumbled upon it in a snow storm last month.  I'll be passing it tomorrow so maybe I'll take a walk through the tunnel just for fun.

state street train station

We are gearing up for another snow storm here over the next couple of days and things get slower and more relaxed which is a great way to start the new year.

the freedom trail on a snowy day

I plan to blog more and make more time to visit all the blogs I have only been to sporadically at the last part of this year.  I hope to talk to you all soon!

What about all of you?  Any big plans or thoughts for the new year?  

Red & White

These pictures are from a Christmas article at Real Living Magazine but I thought they were also appropriate for Valentines Day.

via Real Living Magazine. Photography: Tony Amos. Styling: Sarah Ellison.

via Real Living Magazine. Photography: Tony Amos. Styling: Sarah Ellison.

Another one of those LED-word signs {also seen here and here}.  Maybe this is the new neon?

via Real Living Magazine. Photography: Tony Amos. Styling: Sarah Ellison.

{originally found via Poppytalk}

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone, may this year be your best year ever. While I don't have the largest readership, thank you everyone who takes the time to read my blog.

via Flickr {click photo to be taken directly to source}

The picture above from the Loy Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand is technically a fall celebration, but wouldn't it make a fantastic New Years Eve celebration as well with all the lanterns floating around?

Merry Christmas!

via Flickr

Anthropologie Displays - For the Holiday

Not too long after I made a wild guess on how they made the hanging starbursts at Anthropologie I saw this post actually explaining it.  I popped into another shop where they happened to have one on a table and they are really made of these.  In my defense, the ones I first saw were hanging above my head.

via Full House

Outside I noticed this window display.  Does anyone else notice this table has cankles {see the leg on the right}???

via jeanine

I kind of liked this display with the white ornaments grouped against the wall.  I'd totally break them all if they were over my bed but in an out of the way place something similar could look great.

via jeanine

I think my favorite part was the cheer sign.  I'm seeing these pop up in many different places like here {I absolutely love that one} and in a few other places.  I think I have a couple drafts of posts with illuminated artwork.

via a butterscotch sundae

Anthropologie Displays - Christmas DIY Inspiration

I have been in lock-down mode until I get a few things done {none of which I really want to do, hence the lock-down} but the other weekend I was early to meet some people in Boston and wandered into the Anthropologie store in the Back Bay.

They had a ton of displays inside and most of them could be good DIY projects if you are so inclined.  The display above could be done simply by sticking a bunch of straws {with some glue} into styrofoam balls.  If you love the environment or are morally opposed to styrofoam, I bet you could sew all the ends together somehow, but don't quote me on that.

This is a terrible, terrible picture but I only had my cell phone with me and apparently I also had a good case of the shakes.  It's a bronzy, coppery circle garland that is super easy to make if you have a sewing machine and like cutting circles or have one of these.  This tutorial will show you how to sew them together, they do it in felt but paper works just the same.  If you can't sew you can use stickers.  I'm sure there are a million more ways to make them but these make the most sense to me.

I love these tiles on the stairs.  I've seen them somewhere else, I'm sure of it...

Happy Labor Day

I hope everyone in the States is staying away from the office today.

{photo: Lonny}

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone is having a fabulous holiday season!

{photo: jeanine}

Happy Veterans Day!

{photo: jeanine}

Happy Halloween!

From me and my sorry attempt at making a ghost lantern, D-I-whY project.  I just don't think it's scary if the ghost has a five-head, the dandelion is probably scarier.

{photo: jeanine}

Happy Labor Day!

It seemed appropriate to post pictures of my favorite home offices on Labor Day.

via DecorPad

via DecorPad

via DecorPad

via DecorPad

via DecorPad

via Domino

via Domino

via Elle Decor

via House & Home

via House Beautiful

via House Beautiful

via Lonny

via Lonny

S. Russell Groves via DecorPad

via Traditional Home

I hope every one has a happy Labor Day!

Happy 4th of July!

{photo: jeanine}

Happy Canada Day

I was reminded by the Bonhomme that today is Canada Day.  Montreal is probably my favorite place on earth {next to Boston} and if I was ever offered a job there, I'd be there the next day.  Until then, it's only a few hours away.

The houses above are the ones I like to see every time I'm in Montreal.  One day I'd like to have a house on this street {a small apartment would do, too}.

{photo: suntom}

Happy Memorial Day

{photo: jeanine}

Happy Patriot's Day

In case you are wondering what it is, it's to celebrate the beginning of the Revolutionary War and Paul Revere's ride, it's also when the Boston Maraton is run {today was perfect running weather}. It's really only observed in Massachusetts, and only by the government and schools or those who have to cross the marathon route to get to work {luckily this year I didn't}.

The video will explain:



This post is really just an excuse for me to post a Schoolhouse Rock video, sorry....