Jellycat Stuffed Animals

Maybe you aren't in the time of your life where you are buying lots of stuffed animals (like me) but maybe you wish you were (like me, for other people, not for myself, that would be weird).

If I had someone to buy stuffed animals for, you can bet your buttons I'd be buying from Jellycat. They have all sorts of safety certificates from the US and EU (so you KNOW they're safe).

I like these, though as is usually the case, I think they'd amuse me more than any child I could find to give them to.
Enjoy and check out their website to see the baby toys and the other ridiculous animals.

http://jellycat.com/usa/cq3gus/

http://jellycat.com/usa/mou6d/

http://jellycat.com/usa/shb1br/

http://jellycat.com/usa/mat2h/

Dream Backyard

In my happy little fantasy world, where I live during Secured Transactions, and when I'm procrastinating figuring out my bar application, I would have at least two acres of land as a back yard. It would have some woods around the sides, with a little raised garden close to the house and a pool. There would be a patio for grilling and entertaining and sunbathing, and a little bit away from all that there would be animals.

You all know I love goats, I would be tickled if my back yard had 2 goats, I wouldn't want/need more (unless I was going into cheese production, which is only the dream if Knowledge starts a bakery and I can sell my cheese there, of course this is only the dream if I'm independently wealthy which will never happen because I don't play the lottery.) There would also be chickens. I really like chickens. They're easy, you don't have to get them pregnant to get their food products, and they're pretty.

Yes, I think chickens are pretty. And they'd live in one of these, so it would all be very pretty.

http://www.nogg.co/

Can you imagine one of these in the corner of your yard, with fresh eggs! Yum. Also, it rolls. They haven't started producing it yet, but I hear its won some awards. I hope they ship across the pond, if not, I might have a really good reason to visit Britain. A gorgeous chicken coop. (Seriously, if I had a job, I would visit England, buy a coop, send it home and have a chicken... I wonder how it would get along with the cats.)

Pool, patio, garden, chickens and a goat. If I was really lucky there would be a trellis with wisteria and a swing under it. That's the dream.

Bee Lace Dream

The other night I had a dream that I went wedding dress shopping. No, I'm not engaged or any where near it, and I wasn't in the dream either. I explained to the sales clerk that I just wanted to try on some dresses and I was really sorry for the inconvenience and I apologized for wasting her time but I really wanted to see what kind of dress I liked. (I have very vivid and slightly odd dreams.)

I only remember trying on one dress. It didn't fit, it was strapless and it made my boobs look terrible, like an old woman, but it was a gorgeous dress. It was strapless, with a sort of lengthened empire waist and a straightish but flowy skirt (sorry for not being clearer, it was a dream!). What made this dress amazing is the lace it was covered in. I like lace on a wedding dress but this lace was AMAZING. It had bees.

What? Have I lost my mind? A bee lace dress? That sounds hideous. Well it wasn't in my dream. So I've been looking for a bee lace pattern that is similar.

In my dream there was an inch thick line of bees, then a half inch of solid lace then the rest of the bodice was flowers, then there was another line of bees and then the skirt was a flower pattern with bees. Yes, I realize this sounds crazy, but in my dream it looked very pretty. I swear.

Sigh, maybe I'll just stick to bee lace on window curtains, these look nice...

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Bee-Crush-Lace-Curtains-Trim/dp/B00302DALQ

http://www.thecurtainhouseonline.com/p39/BEE-LACE-by-Heritage-Lace.htm

 

Orange Rugs

I do not like the color orange. Its brash and intense and looks terrible on me. But right now I'm craving it, like I'm craving longer days, sunshine and warmth. Visiting TallMan's parents just intenstified the desire for bright cheery and warm, and orange is all these things.
Also, it might've had something to do with their rug.

Their rug was a gorgeous warm orange I had to snap a picture of. It was an area rug so maybe 10x15, and thick. Also, I loved loved loved the pattern. Very Moroccan sort of, not quite, but lovely.











Similar to this one, from Shades of Light, though this one doesn't seem quite as vibrant as the one at the TallMan's parents' house. Of course that might just be the computer or the picture. Either way, I like the pattern, and I might actually like the more muted color, since it would be practical in more homes.

This one from West Elm, the Iznik Dhurrie in Sorrel (which I thought was a type of mushroom, hmm) is similar, and has a GREAT pattern. Its a little different, but I think it would work better in a more classic room, something less modern. There is something about this rug that makes me think of Louis Quatorze chairs. No idea why.

Maybe its too early for orange or its not even in this year, but a quick search didn't find many more orange rugs. Does anyone have a rug store recommendation to share? Or colors that make you happy in the pre-spring months?

Job Search Update

I bet you're all wondering how my job search is going. No? You aren't? That sure is surprising (sarcasm!).
Well, I'll tell you its not going great. I got a letter in the mail a couple days ago from a state agency rejecting me from an internship I don't even remember applying to. And considering that it was sent to my old address and I stopped applying to internships a while ago, I'm guessing it was something I applied to back in January. Ouch.

My current job search scenario includes scouring websites for attorney positions and applying for those if they seem like I am marginally qualified and would be marginally interested. (Applying for jobs I'm not qualified for is stupid, because there is absolutely no point, as opposed to just mostly no point, and I get very cranky when I apply to jobs I'm not interested in, so I try not to do that.)
Perhaps you can tell that I'm finding the whole process hopelessly overwhelming?

The past couple of weeks when I've gone to various websites to start looking for jobs I've been so disheartened that I browse to see whats there then give up.  Yes, cast stones, shun me, I am so very ashamed, but I admit it, I have been not applying to the pitiful few jobs I'm marginally qualified/interested in. I have been applying to jobs for months now, and not getting anywhere, and usually not even hearing back. This is enough to make anyone need a break, whether its dating (you go out with men on lots of first dates and neither of you want a second one), or weight loss (you go to the gym and eat right but some how you end up gaining weight). So I took a two week break.

But conversations with people (ohh do you have a job? no.) and shopping excursions (I'm sorry, I'd love to buy you but I can't) keep ending in me saying "I wish I had a job". Well unless there is a magic fairy kingdom I don't know about (is there?) wishing I had a job isn't going to get me one. Thus, I am approaching this week with a renewed mindset. A fresh slate if you will.

My upcoming priorities are this: Pass my classes, Study for and pass the bar, get a job.
In that order (because I can't take the bar if I don't pass my classes and I can't get a job if I don't pass both my classes and the bar.) So instead of spending my time wishing, I am going to focus on my goals in order. I have a month until I take my exams, and in that month 70% of my time will be spent on my classes and getting ready for exams, 20% on prepping for the bar, and 10% on finding a job. After I take my exams I'll spend 80% of my time on prepping for the bar and 20% on finding a job. After I take the bar I'll spend 100% of my sorry ass time looking for a job.

I'll let you know how this goes.

Book Review: Goat Song

I just tore through Goat Song by Brad Kessler. I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. But really, does that surprise anyone? No probably not.
This is a non-fiction book about a man who moves to a farm in Vermont with his wife and buys a couple goats. The first year is covered in detail, the second year less detail, and then a detailed story of his pursuit to make cheese in the third year.

The first year the goats aren't lactating, but the humans get them knocked up, care for them, consider their diets and habits generally, help them give birth, milk them, and bond with these four legged cud chewers.

The second year the story becomes more about cheese, which is fine with me, and then the third year becomes entirely about cheese. Yum.

Some highlights include: a detailed look at goat sex, which involves self masturbation on the part of the male goat, and peeing in your own face, also the male, a mouth watering account of fresh chevre made from raw milk, and a tendency to look at the historical relationship humans have had with goats and that relationship's impact on our religions, languages, and many many aspects of our lives. Oh and lets not forget the goat poetry.

If goat sex, goat cheese, and goat poetry aren't your thing, then don't read this book. But if you want to learn more about goats, goat cheese, or are feeling like some time outdoors out of the city might do you some good, I recommend this book so highly.

Sleepy Kitty of the Week

Sometimes Monday's are hard... so I'm posting multiple Sleepy Kitty pictures for your enjoyment.

Today's pictures tell a story of a nap. First all cuddled, Parsley and Sage enjoy the warmth of a quiet room.

 

Sage doesn't appreciate her picture being taken, so she wedges her head closer to Parsley, under Parsley's chin.

Later, the nap has progressed from a ying yang cuddle to a "i'm using your butt as my pillow" cuddle. Sorry for the blurry-ness.

Happy MONDAY!