Butter & Sugar

I had a nice relaxing birthday yesterday. It started on Saturday with a massage using a gift card I've had for nearly a year. Then on Sunday I got to go read and drink a chai all by myself for an hour. I met up with Ruth (my birthday twin) to get our nails done and have a milk tea. As per tradition, we had dinner at Yamato (our 6th birthday celebrated there) and cake back at Ruth and Eric's.

I just had to show two of my favorite birthday presents:



I've wanted one of these for years and finally got one! This is a pot de beurre (butter pot) -- it keeps butter spreadably soft and fresh for a month. It's like, the best thing ever. Here's the one I got. And here's how it works. Thanks French people!



And this is a sweet little sugar bowl that Ruth gave me. It is too adorable. And you know, I really need more reasons to use sugar.

Thanks for the bday fun, my friends!

In other news, it's back to being hot again. It's 93 degrees. Blech. I'm pretty disappointed. Hopefully Autumn will come and stick sometime soon.

Bluebird

You may or may not be aware, but I have two of the very best sisters in the world. They are my best friends and I miss them every single day. One of my dreams is to someday be able to call them up whenever to meet for a hot chocolate or a trip to the mall or to watch movies.

One of my sisters, my sweet Beth -- whose praises I could sing all day long -- happens to work at a restaurant in our home town that opened in 1914. (That's almost 100 years ago! I love old things!) They have amazing rolls. Also, they still have the original soda fountain counter and they sell chocolate. It's pretty perfect.




So anyway, while we were up there last month, I visited Beth at work and she gave me free food. And some of that free food was served on what quickly because an obsession.




I had to have one of these plates. My very future happiness rested upon having one in my possession. Let's talk about why:

#1. Birds.

#2. Hello, scalloped edges.

#3. Name of home town.

#4. I think that about covers it.

Much to my dismay, however, I found out that they did not sell the plates. In fact, the servers themselves had to pay for replacements if they accidentally broke one. I was heartbroken. I was convinced that I would never again feel complete without one of these sweet little plates.

That evening, Beth -- being the nicest, coolest, most wonderful sister ever (and not just for this, but for everything she does) -- appeared with not one, but four of these plates just for me! I managed to get them all home in checked luggage without incident and now they are in my cupboard waiting for the perfect little dessert to be served upon them. In the meantime, I get so happy when I see them there on the shelf. It gives me a little reminder of my Bethy, my beautiful home town, and home.

Wow.

Okay, so I am somehow lucky enough to know a lot of really nice, cool people. I knew they were before all of this, but I mean come on, this is a little out of control. The gifts and favors I've been the lucky recipient of in the past week has been over-whelming. Those of you who know me know that I don't generally use the word "blessed", but that's truly how I feel. I am blessed to have so many giving, generous ladies in my life.

On Monday, Jenn was sweet enough to offer to go grocery shopping for me, which was a huge help. Right now grocery shopping seems pretty daunting so I was very grateful. Thank you, Jenn, and for the offer to do it again!

Also on Monday, I recieved two packages in the mail from one of my oldest and dearest friends, Christie. The first had some yummy Burt's Bees foot stuff and the second was a copy of A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner). I finished this book today and it was excellent. Devastatingly sad, of course, but beautifully written and very powerful. Highly recommended. Thank you, Christie, it definitely helped pass the time.


On Wednesday I got yet another package, this time from Lisa and completely unexpected. The package included another copy of A Thousand Splendid Suns, a knitting pattern book with enough yummy yarn for two projects and knitting needles. Thank you so much, Lisa! You were way too generous.


Then, on Wednesday night, Ruth and her family brought dinner over. And wow. It was so good. Chicken curry, brown rice, naan, cucumber and tomato salad and chocolate cake. I wish I had a picture of the spread. It was so good. Thank you thank you thank you Ruth.

And THEN today, another completely unexpected surprise. I don't even know who this is from, so please, if it was you, let me know! It's a little embroidery/hand-sewing project for a needle book...with a BIRD on it, of course. It's so darling and I'm so mystified as to who sent it to me. All I know is that it was bought from Etsy. Please let me know if you sent it to me!

*EDIT* Ruth just came over to play video games with John (original Nintendo something-or-other) and I found out that she sent the bird needle book to me! Thanks Ruth!


I've also received countless calls and e-mails from family and friends asking how I'm doing and if I need anything. It's amazing really, all this attention. I don't really know what to do with it all. Except to tell you that you're amazing and THANK YOU.

Ya'll are TOO nice.

Maxwell Have I Loved

Yo. Alright, so I'm going to show you the new sofa we have on order that *should* be arriving sometime this week. Even though Alicia wrote about HER new sofa today which makes me feel like a spaz and a copycat but...what can you do? I need to show it off!


So there it is in all it's splendor. It's the first couch we've actually bought. I refused to settle for something that would just "do". I wanted my dream couch. And I got it. It's the Maxwell Sofa from Restoration Hardware (which means overpriced, but perfect) and is a queen sleeper. It's in the most deliciously soft cotton upholstery and the seats are so deep. Your legs stick out straight when you sit on it, like a little kid. It's just perfect for us. And I'm so excited about the color. And everything about it, really. Now we have a place for guests to sleep besides the floor. It's a pretty color. It's upholstered in soft fabric instead of the yucky black faux-leather of our current behemoth. And John and I can now both lay down while watching a movie...without me falling off. And look at the pretty color! Did I already mention that?

Now I either need to find pillow covers for it or make them myself. Unfortunately, John and I have very different styles in mind and I'm hoping we can find a suitable compromise. Or that he'll just let me do what I want. Hehe.

Here is a pillow cover that I adore from Pottery Barn. Look!


Look! It has birds on it! I love the colors and the pattern. But, John doesn't like it. So I suppose the search continues. I have a feeling this is going to be a long process. Please send rations.

Random Time

Okay, so Christen tagged me awhile ago to do this 7 Random Things thingy. And to kick it off right, here's a random photo to go along with it. It's me at the top of the Andes mountains, stradling the border between Argentina and Chile. One of the coolest places I've been in my days.


1. I've become a germ-a-phobe. I can not touch public door handles or buttons. I will use my shirt to open doors and use the knuckle of my middle finger to press buttons for the elevator or ATM or whatever. Some days are worse than others. On the bad days I wish I had rubber gloves to wear. Especially if I have to push a grocery cart or carry a basket. Yuck. I wish it wouldn't be weird to wear gloves all the time. You know, like in the old days. Dainty white gloves. Maybe I'm almost to the point where I don't care if it's weird. Hmmm. I think I'll be on the look-out for the perfect pair.

2. I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about/looking at fabric. And if I have spending money, it almost always gets spent buying fabric online.

3. I also spend a lot of time day-dreaming about traveling. I NEED to go to every place possible. I get irrationally pissed off if someone I know goes some place I haven't been before. I take it as a personal offense.

4. I hate raisins. I will go out of my way to pick them out of things. I think I'm pretty not-picky about food and eat pretty much everything. But I just have to draw the line when it comes to raisins. Unless they're chocolate covered. What can I say?

5. I love birds. Not necessarily real-life birds, unless from a distance (as with all animals), but pretty much anything with a bird likeness on it must immediately find it's way into my possession.

6. I am a list-maker. I love lists. Written out with a pen onto lined paper. So good.

7. One of my favorite smells in the world is a dusty garage. I wish I had a garage just so I could sit in it and smell it. And the craving for that smell has intensified with being pregnant. The thought of a garage or hot, wet cement after a summer rainstorm drives me crazy. I want to lick some rocks.

I'll tag Lisa. She's the only other person I know reads this blog who also has a blog. So there you go.