Normal?

One of the benefits to living by yourself is being able to decorate however you please. In my world, this means Ryan Matthews autographed cleats from his first pro bowl on the mantle. Totally normal, right?

Simple.

Source: haaay-im-dieing-to-live-ova-here.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Ain't that the truth. As a girl, I analyze. As a lawyer, I analyze. I am double hosed. Sometimes, I just need to remind myself to keep it simple.

So I put this picture as the lock screen on my phone. :)

A Punch Of Yellow.

After seeing this post on Apartment Therapy showing great pops of yellow...

... and this moose head on HGTV's Design Star...

I had an idea. I need a yellow moose head in my life. Totally normal need, right?

So I went on a quest to find one, and I found an amazing store called White Faux Taxidermy. This shop has great resin busts of animals in all different colors, some even with glitter. I love how the internet addresses every need you think you have. So here it is... my new need:

It is a need, right? (Just answer yes and help me justify it.) If you have the same need in your life then hopefully White Faux Taxidermy will help you fulfill it as well.

Music Monday - Matthew Mayfield.

This past week I have been listening more to the What's New recommendations on Spotify and let me tell you - they hit it out of the ballpark on Monday. Matthew Mayfield, where have you been all my life?

I am not sure if there is an official name for this type of music but the most common name I have heard is "songwriter." (Think Ray LaMontagne, Ben Howard, etc.) Regardless of the name, it is one of my favorite types of music. I can listen to it while working, while commuting, while cleaning, while running, etc. It just chills me out...

So back to Matthew Mayfield. I listened to his new album, A Banquet For Ghosts, 3-4 times the day I discovered him and probably another 5-8 in the week since. One song really stuck with me, Heart In Wire. It has a kinda "Somebody That You Used To Know" tone, something that anyone can relate to. So without further ado... Matthew Mayfield.



"Heart In Wire" by Matthew Mayfield

This ain’t right.

This ain’t right.
This ain’t right.

This ain’t right.
This ain’t right.
This ain’t right.

Lay your hand in mine
Pull me back inside
Show me how in love
Your heart ceases to fight
Save my skin
Get in
Give everything again
Then I’ll wait.
Then I’ll wait.

I still love you
You still love me
That ain’t my imagination
That ain’t my imagination
I still love you
You still love me
That ain’t my imagination
That ain’t my imagination, dear.

Show your teeth
And feast
You fucked up masterpiece
Take me down again
crawl inside my skin
wrap my heart in wire
Fill it with desire
And then go, then choke
This ain’t right.
This ain’t right.
This ain’t right.

This ain’t right.
This ain’t right.
This ain’t right.

I still love you
You still love me
That ain’t my imagination
That ain’t my imagination

I still love you
You still love me
That ain’t my imagination
That ain’t my imagination, dear.

Mmmmmm.
Oh when age sets in
And wrinkles your skin
And snatches the light from your eyes
When your time has come
And all is said and done
Will the work of your hands be enough?
Be enough

I still love you
You still love me
That ain’t my imagination
That ain’t my imagination
[Chorus x4]

Ohhh, no. No. [x4]

Blue Suede Heels.

I have been looking for blue suede shoes for a while. (Remember this post? Unfortunately, I waited and missed out on them).

On one of my two trips to Target yesterday (no car and having to carry everything you purchase on the eL = two trips), I did my troublesome walk through the shoe section. I say troublesome because it always results in a purchase. It is Target, and it is shoes. Double weakness.

I found these beauties...

And they pretty much cover the foot tattoo, which means they are more acceptable to wear to work!

Score!!!

Target is so on point right now. It took all of my restraint not to purchase 10 maxis... (post later in the week with the finds).

Anyone else have some scores they would like to share?

The Tutu Project.

We are going to get a little personal here. I, like every human being, have been affected by cancer. I lost my aunt to breast cancer and I miss her everyday. Multiple members of my family, including myself, have been lucky enough to catch it early and beat it. The "C" word is something that many people will deal with at some point in their life but we are all afraid of it. The mention of it makes everyone act different around the person with it. No one quite knows what to do.

One man, Bob Carey, reacted in a total unique manner and created The Tutu Project when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. He started taking pictures of himself in random settings in a pink tutu to make her smile. A man willing to wear only a pink tutu in public... Now that is a man, and that is love!

He is hoping to publish a book titled Ballerina of the photos. Profits from the sale of the book will go directly to breast cancer organizations. However, the book is going to be self-published and Bob needs help raising $75,000 to publish. You can support the publication by donating, following The Tutu Project on FB, or by passing on the word. In the words of another cancer organization - F&^% Cancer!

Rugs.

I love the old oak floors in my new apartment but hardwood floors are not the most "homey" feeling when you wake up in the morning. Hence, I have been looking for a rug for the living room and bedroom. After receiving some great advice from my friend Jen who had just moved into an all hardwood floor in San Fran (and whose lease required that she put rugs on at elast 75% of the floors), I saved over $200 on a great 8' x 11' rug. So of course, I am going to pay it forward.

Jen's advice for rug hunting:

1. Find a hand woven, wool rug that you like. She found a few on Target.com, as did I. Here were my Target finds:

For the living room (colors are dark gray, light gray, with teal, white, and black accents) -

Source: target.com via Lauren on Pinterest

This one wasn't hand woven or wool, but who are we joking, I am not stuck up when it comes to home brands. If I like it, I get it.

For the bedroom (colors are Manor Blue, birch wood, and white, gray, green and black accents) -

Source: target.com via Lauren on Pinterest

2. Note the maker of the rug.

3. Go to overstock.com and see if they have the same rug. In my case I found the first rug but not the second on overstock. Price on target.com: $429.99; price on overstock.com: $289.99.

4. Check retailmenot.com for discount codes. This is a trick I have picked over the past few years (aka being on a student budget). Whenever I am shopping online I google the store name + discount code (or promo code). More often than not, the first result is retailmenot.com. Retail Me Not is a forum for shoppers to post discount codes they know of or solo codes they aren't going to use before the code expires. I have saved hundreds using this site. I saved an extra 10% on top of the 15% Memorial Day Sale. That's right 23.5% (10% discount off the 15% discount) off the original overstock price and over $200 less than the target.com price!

5. Order your rug and Enjoy!

Any tips you guys have when shopping for home goods?