Thank you, Nordstrom, for everything.

Dear Nordstrom,

You take my money. Yet I love you. I love your whole shopping experience. I love your Rack (ahem). I love your perfume and make-up. I love your sales and schmultzy piano music. But most of all, right now, I'm loving your philosophy regarding Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. At least one retail store isn't going completely crazy right now. Bless you, Nordstrom. May your days be merry and bright, but not before you slice the turkey.

Love,

Me

Cartoon Relevance

I love Harold's Planet. Especially when cartoons arrive in my inbox that are just so relevant to my current state of mind. I highly recommend the Daily Cartoon.

"Minted" for the Holidays

My husband and I take it easy when it comes to holiday cards. We are one of those "photo families." I would love to write a long, thought-out message to each person that I send a card to because I love my friends and family dearly, but time demands that I upload a photo, receive those flat cards in the mail, write a short note, and send. I'll look forward to the long, in-person talks I can have catching up instead of purging everything into my annual holiday card. This year, thanks to a tip from Real Simple magazine, I found www.minted.com. These are the absolute hippest, coolest photo cards I've ever seen. They have fabulous stationary as well. I love paper products, so me thinks this will be a dangerous site for my online shopping procrastination. I'll be placing my order now, thank you very much.


Talk Bubbles Personalized Stationary by Jody Wody


Peace Love and Bop Holiday Photo Cards by Alex Elko Design


Mod Berries Holiday Photo Cards by oscar+emma Design

Yes. It's gotten to that point...

Here's a bit of silliness. It's the end of Week 5 in our good ol' university quarter system. It's in times like these that we need some fun (and some procrastination, perhaps?). I give you two sites that tickled me today: "How to Make Chai Tea" by Lucy Knisley and "Screen Stache."


I do love chai tea, especially on blustery Seattle days. This recipe adds a little fun.


I love my Design*Sponge wallpaper. Now I have an extra-cool screensaver to go along with!

And just for extra measure, a baby squirrel for your viewing pleasure, via Sharon Montrose:

I love squirrels. They're my favorite animals. Don't hate.

Blissful Beatles

Love this today. Find more info on the ever-so-creative SwissMiss here. Happy Hump Day.

Oh, Target, how I love thee.

I always hear stories about so-called Big Box stores and corporate America. It's true... I won't shop at Wal-Mart. Ever. Never ever. Target is a different story and I can't really explain why. Target is classier in my book. They have cheap, environmentally-friendlier (-ier because kitties aren't environmentally friendly at all) kitty litter. I can find inexpensive and somewhat fashionable work clothes. The $5 DVD selection sucks me in like quicksand. The new feature (new to me) that I just discovered and adore is their RedHotShop, in collaboration with Daily Candy. They have awesome products from many of my favorite modern designers like BluDot and Kikkerland. They post monthly and you'll bet I'll be back to check on what's new in Target Land.

...and I WILL be purchasing that slightly weird but awesome Beethoven (or Mortimer) Bust Candle. Hear you me.

Mortimer Bust Candle

Kikkerland Futuro Perpetual Calendar

Blu Dot Real Good Chair

So, I'll go ahead and add to that conversation that I won't be purchasing books from Target (sorry). That's one item that I'll leave to the independent and used sellers. There's nothing like the feeling of shopping in a local bookstore. Barnes and Noble, you just don't cut it. There was a great story tonight on Jim Lehrer about the publishing industry. Y'all should definitely check it out before you rush to buy your new Kindle (no thanks).

In other news (and I'm full of it tonight), my desktop wallpaper is going through quick changes these days. From beautiful photos from Ken Burns's "The National Parks," to National Geographic's photo contest, to a new Design*Sponge wallpaper today from Camilla Engman. Camilla's gorgeous wallpaper is the newest one to adorn my beloved desktop. Check 'em all out at Design*Sponge. Happy Monday (I'm sick and am trying to be as positive as possible).