Bramble Patch

Two words: Confetti Bowl. I am making this. I am soooooo making this.

I had planned to write a post on my top ten favorite camera phone tips/tricks/apps. But then I found THIS POST and I’m all, Ughh, this is waaaaay better than what I could have produced!

Does your house get dry in winter? Mine sure does. This is a simple (and delicious) way to perk things up.

A Valentine care package? And it’s super cute? Why, thank you.

Speaking of Valentines…let them eat cake. Awesome cake. Awesome mailable cake.  

Fifty percent of the time I check in on Twitter, it’s to see if Anti Joke Cat has posted anything new.

A mother’s prayer, courtesy of Tina Fey.

My other baby, I Believe in Strangers, is chugging along. Anyone who has ever struggled with job hunting will appreciate this one.

Reading: Fraud by David Rakoff.

Watching: Downton Abbey. But isn’t everyone?

Munching: Homemade chicken soup. I would like to declare that everyone around me is sick but me. BUT ME. This is the healing power of an old fashioned chicken boil!

Listening: Radical Face, Always Gold.

Wearing: This parka. It took me 14 years of living in cold weather to break me down into buying a fugly old snow parka…but now Parka and I are besties. She is always warm, wind proof, waterproof, has 7 enormous pockets so I don’t even need a purse half the time, AND she comes with built-in fingerless gloves (great for driving or phone doodling). Holy crap I love this coat.

Most popular post this month: Sexy Men Who Knit.

Moment in cat history: Lolabelle has taken to keeping warm under the covers of the bed. I am petrified I will accidentally sit on her.

Ten simple things to make you happier at home (hint: none of them have to do with how things look).

An easy way to marbelize. Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?

Beware the dangers of Glitter Lung! For real. (Not really).

Cat ladies! Who is up for group tour of Fukuoa Japan? I’m in! Be sure to view with the soundtrack.

How do you write your name in Llama? This is how. 

50 ways to tie a scarf. 

Unicorn leggings? Oh Hell Yes.

Speaking of leggings…my adolescent dream of being in Seventeen magazine came true this month. Sorta.

What does it take to decorate the White House for Christmas? How does the 400 pound gingerbread White House come about? And more important, what does Bo the dog think about it?

Two words my friends: bow lamp.

Victorian Christmas ornaments made from paper.  The Graphics Fairy is a great source for this stuff.

What your toddler’s teacher will never say to your face. PS: This came to me from a secret pre-school teacher friend who specifically asked me to spread the word here. So, you’re welcome, Karen.

Next time you need to deep clean your house, remember this link. Also, here are 33 meticulous cleaning tricks for the OCD person inside you. Side note: Did you know that 80% of household dust is made of human skin? Yeah. Who is in the mood for cleaning NOW? Thought so.

I love phone photo challenges. This one geared toward gratitude is perfect this time of year.

Last but not least in November, a Hipster Thanksgiving:

Who is up for an adventure? Sixteen cities you are not supposed to visit. 

One of the best tutorials I have seen in a long time: Old box + $10 in plexi glass + masking tape = a whole new way to DIY a shadow box frame. And the prize-winning ribbon is pretty darn nifty!

Katy Perry used to really annoy me. First with the music, then with ruining the Smurfs movie, then with the shacking up with John Mayer…now she’s singing with kids with autism and making me ugly cry on the subway while watching this video on my phone. Smurf you, Katy. 

For everyone who reads this blog but never comments: Listen, it’s OK.

Turn the holes in your jeans into little monsters. Cute!

I’m dreaming of this rainbow dry mop.

Take 90 seconds to identify who you side with. I was shocked at my results.

Benedict Cumberbatch dancing. Benedict Cumberbatch art.  Did I mention I like Benedict Cumberbatch?

In case you need a reminder, remember that exhaustion is not a status symbol.

Brush up your resume, the Queen is hiring an elf. No really.

20 Vintage costumes that will put you to shame (the eyeballs are amazing).

Speaking of costumes, Little Frida cracks me up!

My favorite Non-Halloween book to read at Halloween time. It’s also a great Jim Henson movie.

Do you have a “don’t buy” word? For those of us with “eclectic” style, who can find something fabulous to lust after everywhere we go, this post is a must read. It’s written in reference to home decor but the principal applies to every corner of consumption — from personal style to nutrition, to child rearing and relationships. Everyone needs a don’t buy word. I have several.  

In case you missed it, 13 Halloween Movies (most of which you probably never heard of) that you need to see!

***

…In other news, I am hanging out with Barbra Streisand tonight. In person. Just us. Yes, okay, there might be ten thousand other people there too, but we — Barbra and I — will be together. She had been retired from performing live so this day is nearly twenty years in the making. I fully expect her to pull me up on stage so I can entertain her with my Judy Garland impression. Everyone is going to love it.

You hear me?  Love. It.

Happy Weekend. Happy Days are here again!

 Does anyone out there run a store or restaurant? Can I come over and hang this sign in your window?

They held a cat video film festival and I didn’t get an invite. Color me peeved.

A two-minute scientific look at why people procrastinate and what they can do to stop. And by “they” I mean “me.”

The new modern family: I think we are going to be seeing more and more of this.

Confetti System made the most amazing garland for West Elm. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Susan’s Pinterest board is like a candy store of photography tips. Photo geeks, try not to crap your pants.

Artsy movie about a cult? I am so there.

This gal makes the most precious ornaments sculpted to look like your house. Talk about a great gift.

Man, I miss Designing Women.

Halloween Special***

This is the niftiest and easiest Halloween decoration I have seen in a long time. I’m going to line the front porch steps with these to scare the berjeezers out of Trick-or-Treaters.

I am expecting a new nephew any minute. I wonder if they will let me dress him up as Mr. T?

Speaking of Halloween costumes, I think I found mine.

Q: Who wants to commission their own personal zombie portrait? A: Everyone.

Three words: Monster Glitter Baby. 

What do Swedish people think of the Swedish chef? The answer is fascinating.

A Detroit art movement that is equal parts Mickey Mouse and Mrs. Havisham. I can’t stop looking.

Next time you are at the bookstore, check out I Could Pee on This and Other Poems by Cats, by the hilarious Francesco Marciuliano. I bought two copies thinking one would make a great gift, but apparently Lola had other plans (read: she ate it). 

What the? There is a hotel in Kenya where the giraffes come in and eat croissants off your breakfast plate. REAL CROISSANTS, PEOPLE.

Yarn bombing is over, but zip tie bombing is coming to a street light near you! 

How does one preserve a 25-year-old cheese ball in resin? Now you know.

This might just be the holy grail of portrait painting.

I want my epitaph carved out in this font (and it’s free, woot.) 

They made a movie about butter sculpting with Ty Burrell. It’s like Hollywood crawled up my nose and read my mind.

For Time Lords and those who love them: a virtual fruit salad of Doctor Who themed propaganda prints and original art. Nerdtastic!

Oodles of handy information for my fellow bloggers: 50 Online tools to Better Your Blog
(warning, this link will keep you busy all afternoon).