Wearing: French Braid

"The sun did not shine, it was too wet to play,

So we sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day."

Cat in the Hat

--Dr. Seuss

(Gap dress, J.Crew Wool Cardi, Crown Vintage oxfords, HUE tights, Anthro Modern Master Watch, Trench from Korea)

So you know how they say, "Do something to occupy your time and the snow will go away"?

It's not working. We've

1) played sudoku

2) baked cookies

3) made shadow puppets with a flashlight on the wall

4) drawn (very poor) pictures for relatives

5) gone to the library

6) made paper airplanes

7) made monkey puppets out of brown lunch bags

8) had the cousins over

9) played Chutes and Ladders 574,489 times

The kids have even tried to teach Mom how to play video games and that took some time, lemme tell ya

(and I still can't complete a level without some sudden demise into the lake of lava).

The foul weather just isn't going anywhere.

Apparently, Dr. Seuss had never visited Indiana in February when he wrote,

"From there to here, from here to there,

funny things are everywhere",

'cuz honestly, four inches of ice under six inches of snow just isn't funny anymore.

Oh, yeah...and this is what it STILL looks like where I live...

so those of you frolicking on the beach (ahem, TIEN),

feel free to send some warmth this way...=)

Photos courtesy of Kristina Cipolla Photography

Wearing: Ballet Bun

You know that feeling?

The one you get during the last few hours of vacation when you

have just a few hours before boarding a plane back to the real world?

You stand there, toes in the sand...taking in the last light of the day, fighting with every ounce of conscious thought to stay there--to remember the peace of that moment.

I'm in that moment. True, I'm not on vacation.

The bills make a steady stream through my door.

Professional deadlines close in.

Husbie and I haven't had alone time in weeks and

I can't remember the last time I saw sunshine...and yet...in my mind,

I'm standing on that beach, thinking,

"I can't imagine a moment in life more satisfying."

I'm in the middle of something so much bigger than me

that I can't even take it all in...

and while I'm doing this thing that may not impact the world,

just the act of emptying my heart has changed me forever.

I'm not who I used to be...

and that is a very good thing.

See how my nose curves to the right a little bit in this picture?

I broke my nose against a guy's forehead in college playing a pick-up game of basketball.

Yup, that's coordinated me...snapped the tip right off.

(Anthropologie Peppered and Striped skirt and Shine Through button up, J.Crew Merino cardi, UO oxford pumps, Husbie's Unlisted watch, Hue tights)

Wearing: Hortulan Pencil Skirt

I know, I know...a flowered skirt in January.

But honestly, it was a balmy 50 degrees (in the sun) for about two hours and I just couldn't help myself.

Besides, I just loved the colors...probably because I've been working with nothing but black, white and cream fabrics recently, which is fun, but ya know...a little bland to look at all the time. I cannot wait to blog the dresses I'm working on right now though.

Much freshness. I'm just sayin'...

(Trench Coat, Korea, Anthropologie Hortulan Pencil Skirt, J.Crew Tuxedo shirt & belt, Hue tights, Target MaryJanes)