Out and About

I've spent the last couple of weekends traveling to New York and Montreal.  It was for fun but it was also exhausting.  All I wanted to do this past weekend was nap and eat fruit and chia seed popsicles {from the Superfood Kitchen cookbook}, so that's what I did.

I have no idea why this picture is so crooked

I hope to share some of my photos of the two trips and this year's ICFF visit next week, just as soon as I whip myself and my computer into shape.

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?  

Now For A Dance Intervention

My right wrist has gone on strike so, although I have a billion window display photos to post {probably enough for two weeks straight}, I am trying to be nice to my wrist until it's back to normal.

I thought I'd leave you something fun to watch though. I actually broke this out as a secret weapon the other night. Work has been on the crazy side lately, so to relieve some stress I held a dance intervention for those staying late.

Dance off anyone?

Where The Blue And The Orange Lines Meet....

....there is a rainbow tunnel of happiness.  Literally.  At least in Boston.

via latka on Flickr

I found this little bit of 70s happiness by accident once and it made my night. {These aren't my pictures.  Sadly I heard the train coming so I had to sprint down the corridor and haven't been to this station since.}

via latka on Flickr

I had a day yesterday that seemed like it was in the running for the longest day ever.  It began when I got stuck underground on the subway after I managed to get on not one, but two, disabled trains.  I was an hour late for work and my brain hurt when I finally got home at night.  I really like where I'm working now but I'm still new enough that I get tense trying to get things done correctly and on time and being late just adds to the stress.

So, I just try to remember when days like this happen that the Red Line is not the cause of all my problems {even if I repeatedly insist otherwise} and that today will be better.

Lately...

I haven't felt much like blogging this week.  Instead I went to a couple new thrift shops I have been meaning to check out for years.

The first one was a 9,000 sf warehouse that I tried to go to a few weeks ago but had no idea actually where it was {I have a dumb phone so I couldn't look it up on the go}.  They had a few mid-century pieces which were kind of cool.

They have a ton of higher quality furniture at low prices considering the quality, they are not a bargain but they were well priced.  It seems like someone cleaned out their mcmansion judging by the size of a lot of the furniture.  This demi-lune chest was probably 42" high. 
 

They also had a couple of pieces I liked and have my eye on, like the footstool below.  The price goes down in a month and if it's still there when I remember to go back in a month or two, it will be meant to be.

I really like these gold sconces I found at a different thrift shop.  The metal finish would need to be changed but I like that they are slightly boaty {this is an actual term, google it!} and slightly art deco.

I also got business cards from pixelimpress on Etsy.  I have covered my last name only because I'm looking for a full time job while also doing small jobs on my own.  My current employer doesn't care but I'm not sure how future employers might feel about me doing my own thing.  It's also why I'm slightly undercover on this blog.

It's hard to tell but the cards are on a fabric memo of the fabric for my sofa.  I ordered the fabric from Kravet 4 years ago and am on the list to get my sofa redone but the wait time is 8-12 months.  What's another year, right?  The price is about $350 for the reupholstery, new cushion {it has 3 but I want to change it to just one}, tons of tufting and nail head trim.  You really can't beat the price, I spent more on the fabric.

This is the same sofa I have {except it's in really faded blue velvet and has saggy cushions}.

I really can't wait.

In the meantime, I've been working on redoing my cane chairs.  I have them stripped of their upholstery and broken cane.  I just have to sand one of them, add the cane, paint and finish the cushions.  With the hurricane possibly coming, Sunday looks to be a good day to get indoor things done.

{images: #1-5 jeanine, #6 - Details}

My Week In Pictures...

Teal and lime colored dragonflies on blackberry bushes...

Cloud reflections on the John Hancock building on a beautiful {low humidity} day...

Ripening tomatoes...

Silly signs...

I'm still getting over my cold/flu/whatever but today I'm having homemade Nutella ice cream and I'm sure that will help speed up the process.

{photos: jeanine}

X Marks the Spot

It's been a crazy couple of weeks but I think I have finally made peace with the "follow me" tool in SketchUp which makes me very happy even if my humidity-fueled, crazy hair does not. 

On my way back from a meeting  last week I passed this house.  It's the kind of house that makes me love New England, the details are amazing.

 I love old New England houses, they are a pain to heat in the winter unless they have been well-insulated {this is hard to find in a rental at least} but totally worth it. 

On the way back from another meeting I saw this building near Faneuil Hall.  It looks like someone took it upon themselves to make a huge condemned sign in red ribbon on the side.

Have a great weekend.

{photos: jeanine}