Sunday's True Confession: I Took Cartooning Classes

Circa 1997, I spent a summer taking weekly classes on how to be comic illustrator / cartoonist. Hey, we all had big dreams!

Life's a Beach

This week's heat wave (nope, window AC is STILL not installed yet) has my mind playing tricks on me, and I'm in a constant state of daydreaming about my fantasy beach house (shingled exterior FUR sure).  Won't you join?

 

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- Meredith

Latest Obsessions: May 6th

Similar to Suzanne, I am constantly thinking up a wish list.  Luckily, Pinterest is a fantastic (free) outlet for ideas to have a home and helps to curb my spending.  However, now that my tax refund is somewhat burning a hole in my bank account, I wanted to share!  Please feel free to weigh in on some items I'm currently coveting and loving:

1. A 13" MacBook Air is bound to be my next big purchase.  I've loved my MacBook Pro for the near seven years I've had it since college, but I've decided that this year it is time for an upgrade. (I'm hoping Apple sticks with their usual release of new models in June... can anyone out there confirm this for me or know the best time to buy?!?)

2. These Agate bookends would bring the sparkle my plain, white bookshelves desperately need!

3. For my ever-growing jewelry collection, I'm always looking to sport something related to my Irish heritage, and this dainty necklace would be perfect to do so.

4. This is one of my most recent beauty purchases.  I love learning about new products, and this lightweight moisturizer made with natural products has solidified its place in my daily regimen.

5. Speaking of lightweight, this tunic would get a lot of use this coming summer... I plan to keep my eye on it like I did for a scarf by the same brand that is nice and airy with a subtle punch of color.

6. Over this past weekend while out for Derby Day with some fellow JUGs, I was introduced to this brew.  I'd highly recommend if you haven't yet tried it.  Its composition of beer + lemonade sounded weird to me at first, but I enjoyed its refreshing flavor.  Sure to be a regular order of mine on roof decks this summer!

7. Fellow blogger, Mackenzie, offers the most precious items in her online boutique, Design Darling.  I recently ordered a recycled leather business card holder (really bought it to impress others at AltSummit next month, but carry it in my purse daily!) and acrylic pen holder for my desk to exhibit my growing monogrammed item collection.

8.  This is simply the perfect throw to jazz up your bed, regardless of the New England season.

9.  And, because a girl can always dream, my ideal pièce de résistance item for my arm party for decades to come!


- Meredith

Wanderlust. Warning: Contagious!

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Given the frigid temperatures the northeast has presented these last few weeks, my mind has been wandering to a warmer climate.  I am one who was born with the "travel bug."  For me, it has been SIX years since I studied abroad.  I miss it all on a daily basis... just deciding on a whim to weekend in another European country, try the local delicacies, see the sights and party with locals.  Lately, more than ever, I have been yearning to hop on a plane and go pretty much anywhere my imagination [read: imaginary unlimited budget] would take me.  Anyone down for a tropical escape?  Anyone?

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At any rate, it sure is fun to daydream!  I tend to start my days in bringing my Tervis cup to Starbucks to be filled with their crack-like coffee.  In addition to getting a whopping $0.10 off each drink for being green and bringing a reusable cup, it always yields a smile when the message on it sinks in for the reader: Quit your job/Buy a ticket/Get a tan/Fall in love/Never return.  I couldn't help but buying something with this slogan on it last summer when on the Vineyard. (FYI, it supports hot & cold drinks and is 24 oz, while the typical "venti" is 20 oz., so you get more bang for your 'buck without questioning by your barista!) 

This post is not sponsored by The Island Company, but Spencer's mantra is one everyone should adopt! I have a cut-out of it on my desk whenever I need a minute to mentally escape.  It may help you get through the New England winters like it does me, looking forward to escapes of any kind, especially with NYC up this weekend!

Daydreaming is the first step toward our plan of following this and retiring to an island by age 30 (err...40?)!  Read up on the story behind the company's mantra here: 

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Wishing wanderlust upon all of you, gals!  Tell us, where does your mind wander?

p.s. Check out our ever-growing Pinterest boards for more visual inspiration!! 

- Meredith