This is the second part of the top 10 websites I adore, except that this section is devoted to my favorite blogs.

 

6. [little observations] – My cousin Emily’s blog.  Although she doesn’t blog everyday, she does blog often enough to keep things exciting.  It turns out that we have very similar tastes in many things, so her finds are always inspiring for me.

http://blog-a-little.blogspot.com/

 

7. A Beautiful Mess – Elsie Flannagan’s blog.  She owns Red Velvet Art, which I’ve already written about how much I love.  Her personal blog is funny, but also full of amazing finds and beautiful artwork.

http://www.abeautifulmess.typepad.com/

 

8. Confessions of  Junk Store Junkie – This is my friend Mary Anna’s website.  She’s been an antique-store and thrift store guru-ess for many years now.  She has a Master’s degree in art, so I really trust her taste.  She and her husband recently moved to New Orleans, so it’s fun to see what they’ve done to their new place and the things she’s found around NOLA.

http://www.confessionsofajunkstorejunkie.blogspot.com/

 

9. The Thrifty Chicks – This is a relatively new blog follow for me, but I really enjoy reading about thrift store etiquette, tips on how to be a successful shopper, and browsing finds.

http://thethriftychicks.blogspot.com/

 

10. Tasty Blog Snack – Justine Ezarik’s (ijustine) blog is awesome.  She’s funny, she’s pretty, she’s technologically-savvy.  What’s not to like, right?  Be sure to check out her spoofs of popular songs and videos.  So funny!

http://tastyblogsnack.com/

I said that I was going to do a weekly survey of 10 things I love.  Well, this week’s theme is 10 websites I adore.

 

Part A:

1.  Red Velvet Art – Artist Elsie Flannigan and her crew are amazing!  I wish I had tons of money so that I could buy everything in her shop!  Her stuff is adorable.  I’m particularly enamored with her “I’m Still Learning” prints and this lime green neckwarmer. 

(I know…I live in Mississippi where this accessory is necessary only, like, 2 weeks out of the year…but I still <3 it!)       

https://www.redvelvetart.com/

 

2. In Style magazine – I am a fashion addict.  I admit it.  I love clothes and shoes and jewelry and handbags and accessories.  I just don’t have the money to be able buy the things I would like.  So, I must be content to watch from afar and live vicariously through the photos on the pages of this and other fashion publications.

http://www.instyle.com/instyle/

 

3. Urban Outfitters – I love the fact that Urban Outfitters has a special “apartment” sections of holdings.  I was very excited to see this past week the UO has a collection of glasses that feature original artwork from two of my favorite books from childhood – “The Wizard of Oz” & “Alice in Wonderland”.  

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/index.jsp

 

4. 8-Tracks – I have always loved music, but over the past few years, I have developed a slight obsession for playlists of any kind, any genre.  This website allows users to both browse submitted playlists and to create their own.

http://8tracks.com/

 

5. Etsy – Handmade stuff is the best, in my opinion.  I just recently came to appreciate the wondrousness that is Etsy. 

http://www.etsy.com/

OK…..I just looked at my last post – which wasn’t really a *post*, but a Wordless Wednesday photo.  Gah.  Sorry about the extended hiatus! (Not that I’m sure anyone really noticed, but hey, it’s nice to think you’re wanted! ha)

 

I’m in my last semester of classes in Undergraduate school and will begin Student Teaching in January.  I was reflecting back over my time in college and realized that A LOT of things were missing from the experience – namely, a record of things that happened.  So, this will be my starting over point.  Right now.  I’m going to take the time to jot down my thoughts, ideas, experiences, ramblings, whatever for the coming year.  I think it’s important to be reflective because not only do you recognize things you might like to change, but the thing that you might want to repeat.  Each week I’m going do a reflective survey and list some things that make me happy.  This sort of “thankful laundry list” is something I’ve started doing on notebook paper and will transfer here.  I think it’s important to see the things you love in print.  I guess it makes it a little more real.  I don’t know.

 

So, here’s to the new school year and a new chance to get organized.

                              Photograph by: Amanda Hope Shelburne

I’m a student first-and-foremost. Let me just put that out there to put the following into perspective, OK? My time is divided between studying, writing papers, completing other schoolwork and projects, and trying to stay sane. When I have time, I cook, clean, and take care of those things that make a household run smoothly. On occasion, I get to sleep. haha

Last night, I finished my daily share of schoolwork and decided that my kitchen was a mess and that I needed to spend the next two hours cleaning, washing all of my baking supplies, and getting the area holiday ready and Mom-proof. (You know that no matter how old you get, you do that frantic “OMG, Mom’s coming and I have to have everything perfect!” sweeping attempt at making your house Martha Stewart-like within 48 hours. It’s an impossible brutal task, but we go through it yearly!)

I have an itenerary for now through Thanksgiving – I just hope I make it until then! I planned a menu for the “main event” and am in the process of planning tentative menus for the other days that Mom will be here. My mother is one of the most wonderful women I’ve ever met. She’s not overly-critical of what I do and is really, very supportive. HOWEVER – after fighting the crowds and getting most of my Thanksgiving food shopping done on Saturday (minus the fresh produce I’ll get closer to time) – I’m on the phone with Mom and ask her when she thinks I should set the turkey in the refridgerator to start defrosting. She gives me her response of “Monday” (which coincides with what I was thinking to begin with!) and ask me what brand of turkey I got. I tell her and she responds with: “Is that really a good brand, dear? I wouldn’t have gotten that. I guess I’ll just have to pick one up on my way down there.”

OMG!! Seriously?! I have sacrificed valuable study time to do grocery shopping and get ready for the first Thanksgiving we’ll have on our own and found the perfect sized turkey for our family, only do have tell me that she’ll “just have to pick one up on [her] way down [here]“? I know that I can’t get too upset, but that just irks me!

 

                           (Image courtesy of: www.retro-housewife.com)

You have to check out the Puppycam on Ustream.tv!!!! It’s a continuous feed on a litter of 6 Shiba Inu puppies! Too, too cute!! I mean, come on! Who doesn’t love sweet, furry puppies?!?!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/shiba-inu-puppy-cam

They’re also on Twitter! Follow them -> @pupdate

 

Photograph By: Amanda Hope Shelburne

So, I happened across a “Twitter party” tonight – GNO (Girls Night Out).  It utilizes Twitter to hold a mass conversation every Tuesday night about a weekly topic.  Tonight the topic was “Holiday Foods” and there were quite a few yummy recipes shared!  Thanks ladies for the wonderful conversation and the amazing recipes – I will definitely be back next week!! 

 

P.S. Totally grateful for the global search tool on Tweetdeck!  There were so many posts to keep up with!

Oh wow!  I forgot until tonight (tsk tsk, I know!) that the Twilight movie opens on the 21st of this month!!!!  I can’t wait!  The books were/are *so* very good!  That, coupled with the fact that Robert Pattinson is beautiful, makes this a must-see!!!