Let's Talk Shop

I had always heard about Penney's. It was the elusive store that my grandmother would rave about and older women at work would tell me about their great deals. Obviously it couldn't be anything like Anthropologie or J.Crew and therefore not worth my crush.

WRONG!

It wasn't until a former coworker introduced to the magic that is JCP that I fully grasped what I have been missing all this time. Jumping jehosaphat! <-- I don't really talk like that, but I figured I'd give it a try. I started out like any junkie would. Just a small sampling of the women's department until I chose to up my dose just a little. "I'll just check out junior's and lingerie." I uttered as I nonchalantly made my way to this new territory. I needed more!

A Petite's area? How curious...
Dresses? I should say it wouldn't hurt to try on one or two, you know, just to see.
What is that sound? ::Looks around:: Are those earrings pleading with me to take them home?!

Now I'm like a full-blown addict making my way around the store.

I swear that when I walk in birds suddenly appear, I can see the light, I hear the whisper of sirens singing to lure me closer. to. my. death. My death, of course, being the clearance racks & shoe department. It's the only store where I can wait until things go on sale and they do... in my size!

My best steals?

$2 each for sequin leggings & snakeprint leggings and $10 for a pair of leather boots.

 

Have you ever been? If you haven't, let's make a date. Come with me, I'll teach you the ropes.

Psst! In other news, my half birthday is in one month. Just saying.

Happy List Monday

106//animal gifs. Not just gifs either, also pictures. A golden retriever wearing jammies? Evoke the giggles & get out of the way.

107//Jaime Lannister. I don't care that you're the King Slayer or that you have a creepy relationship with your sister {you can do worse}. All I have left to say is Hubba hubba.

108//Iced coffee. It's like drinking coffee ice cream AND you can transport it without the stigma of being that weirdo carrying around a bowl of ice cream. Not that I'm above doing that. Because I definitely would.

109//The return of Arrested Development on May 26th. You'll find me on my couch laughing maniacally & wiping Smartfood crumbs off my face. Participate if you'd like.

110//Sonic the Hedgehog. I used to be a Sonic master. I will earn back my seat on the throne.

 Want to see the first hundred or so? Clickito Skipito!

It's been a while since my last Happy List Monday post. Why make Happy lists? Well, you can see the original post here. But, allow me to elaborate a bit. Mondays, in general, stink. Why start off the week grumpy? No matter how late you woke up, how many things you have to accomplish on your To-Do list, how many meetings/deadlines you have this week, or if you had to fight your kids to get them out the door this morning the fact is this: there are little things that are going to make you smile throughout the day. If we let little things bother us {amiright, ladies?} why not let little things cheer us up?

Can I let you in on a little secret? I keep a little notebook where I jot down thoughts, ideas, inspiration, things that make me smile. It's like the diary that won't be embarrassing to read in 10 years. Brain yoga! This notebook includes a stash of Happy lists especially for the days when I just wish there had been a few more hours in my Sunday {okay, who doesn't wish for that every weekend?} or I am feeling particularly belligerent, bubbling over with bile and feeling like The Grinch wasn't all that bad {it happens, okay?}. The mean reds and all that.

You know what I'm saying?

It's been a long time...

Has it really been 9 months since you last heard my witty banter?! No wedding, no babies {although I like to think I'd have a pretty stellar maternity wardrobe}, and no life-altering events that would cause me to have abandoned you in such a callous manner. I have only this: work is crazy, I enjoy my down-time watching Revenge & scarfing food eating, and it's been too cold to do anything but curl up in blankets. I apologize. Don't believe me? Okay... fine but, I'll try to be better.

So what was I doing that was so pressing I had to make this blog my sacrificial lamb? Allow me to show you IN COLOR!

July 2012- September 2012
Headed up to Montreal for the Jazz Festival narrowly missing Janelle Monae, an injustice from which I have yet to make a full recovery.

Jemiah on Fire & the Red Machine. These kids are all under 15 & they were so good!

Found a LivingSocial deal for a sunset cruise around Boston Harbor.

 I love this city!

I went camping on the Saco River on what was referred to as, "Party Island."

I spared you the shots of the other side of the island where the majority of the shenanigans went down. Like my deck furniture sitting on the beach? They were the most comfy chairs around.

Then I went to Lake George. I am OBSESSED with this place. It's like Patti Heaven!

Private lake area, canoe, & fire pit.

Hung out in the trees for 3 hours on an adventure course that was 12+ feet in the air. Kapooyah!

I packed up my stuff into a U-Haul and moved across the river to a new job... in a new grade.

I may have gone to feed a giraffe or two and been scorned. But no worries, friends. I still got in a viewing.

Kyleigh was devastated by the elephant bones that were on display. "He just wanted to have some fun and go to the zoo!"

October 2012- November 2012
I went to Quebec for the Festival des Coleurs & was taught how to ride a horse {en francais!}.

Had a birthday party with beloved college friends & celebrated in NYC.

 

There is no Dana, only Zuul.

 

Sigh... Please allow me to own you. Thank you.

Snapped a photo of this jazz singer singing me Happy Birthday. :)

Hosted Christmas Eve at my house & it was a hit! (Psst... the trick is in the beveraging.)

I love that everyone has a look of surprise or mid-word in this photo.

Wore a sparkly dress to a holiday party & I was overdressed {as a surprise to no one}.

January 2012- April 2012
Celebrated the new year with a scrumptious Italian dinner {Mangia, go & thank me later} & a hockey game with some friends.

Purchased a new & much needed new couch courtesy of my tax return.

Took the beau to the shooting range for Valentine's Day. Yes, I thought the juxtaposition of the shooting range & my dress would be wildly amusing. I was correct.

 

You can't tell because I'm dominating the target, but that's a heart. Yup. My fabulosity {it's a word, trust me} knows no bounds.

Are you thinking, "Did she wear those heels?" The answer is, I changed out of them for the shooting. You silly goose!

Learned that I have a little more work to do before realizing my dreams of becoming a figure skater.

 

Leather leggings & a lace shirt may make you feel like a figure skater, but I bet Kristi Yamaguchi never had to wear hockey skates.

Took an impromptu trip to the beach on the very first day it started to warm up. Cold weather can't stop me- I got you now!

Celebrated St. Patrick's Day wearing some phenomenal spectacles that are currently lost somewhere out in the world.

Joined my family in celebrating my niece's 5th birthday. {5?! Seriously? Where does the time go...}

Also, we were told Liam may have broken his arm in daycare. Poor prince. Luckily- no breaks!

That about brings us up to this point, unless you are curious what my cats are up to, also. In that case, please enjoy the photo of their latest endeavor.

Yes, that's the charger for my computer. I think it's obvious that my boys are terrible people.

What have you been up to for the past 9 months, cherubs?

fine by me

I have nothing to say except that I've spent the day dancing around my house & getting things done. I feel like I might be a superhero right now. A footloose & fancy-free superhero with an ipod & headphones in lieu of a cape. What's on your playlists right now? I discovered this song the other day & I've been listening to it ever since. The video is okay, too I suppose.

things that are loved

I am in an inspired mood these days. I've been trying my hand at art, jewelry-making, baking {of course} and even home repair. Nothing has been quite so annoying as my attempt at photoshop & I've decided to put that on the back burner until I begin to enjoy struggling to create my vision. I'm the type of person who wants instant gratification.

In the meantime, I've been using Kate Spade's gorgeous & feminine beauties to feed my creative needs.  I'm going to create my own book of things I love. It's like my inspiration books, but the 2.0 version. Back in September 2011, Things We Love was posted on the Kate Spade Blog and it's just an aesthetically pleasing & fun book. The hard copy is set to be released in January & you can pre-order it on amazon. I'll probably get my copy. In the meantime, you could stroll on over to the blog & give it a virtual viewing. Here are some of the things that the lovely people at Kate Spade love that I also love:

love the gold font

a touch of shimmer

But most of all:

{all images via Kate Spade}
In other news, do they make fat {a.k.a. Chisel Tip} sharpies in pink or any poster marker comparable to Sharpie? Help a girl out.