where?

where did this week go?

i am blaming it on the three day weekend.

and the fact that in 30 minutes i will be leaving the office to head home.

a little bit later today,

when i have a few more moments,

there will be something awfully special happening on this page.

stay tuned...

xo

a couple of thoughts

via darjeeling dreams

...taking a photo a day of what you're wearing is more of a commitment than i thought it would be.

...this book is in the forefront of my mind. i know what i am going to write about and i couldn't be happier that my mom is going to write in it too.

...i've been thinking a lot lately about work/life balance. it is hard. my plate has been really full lately and even though i love it, i am starting to pull away from things that i really love because i don't have time. scratch that. because i have not found a good way to make time.

...holly hoffman is a blogger i totally connect with on so many levels. i found her blog today via a non-blogger friend. she says so many things that are just so right.

...cooler days mean more baking and cooking [always a good thing in my book]

...next week i am de-stashing. pretty sure I am going to do a combination of putting it on etsy and then a giveaway here?

...nie nie and christan. i think most of you have heard by now. my thoughts and prayers are with them. the best way to help out here? donate? purchase? thinking about this one a lot because they really seem like an amazing family.

new look

thoughts on this?

do not leave unattended

have any of you heard of this?

jude of randomly run 4ist run is doing an awesome project called "Do Not Leave Unattended - Random Dispatches from the Blogosphere."

i read about it on krissy's blog and immediately knew that it was totally something that i needed to be a part of.

and then, i got an e-mail this morning letting me know that i was next on the list!

i seriously cannot wait.

this project is one that makes my heart all pitter patter. snail mail is a wonderful thing in itself but a notebook sent through snail mail full of wisdom and writings and other wonderfulness from other bloggers...that my dears is priceless.

incognito because it was 6:30am and i had yet to put my face on.

i don’t remember where i got the top, leggings from target, shoes from payless.

Trying some things out over on tumblr.

Not really sure about it yet.

I kind of like the layout?

[i have no idea where these images are from - i saved them on my harddrive before i was good at linking]

Things I like about this [line by line, left to right]

• clean white lines but its still really warm and inviting; shabby chic-ness; arched dorways.
• I think I would like these more in the bathroom; amazing use of space, the wall paper, fantastic inspiration board; ampersands and black and white photos are perfect together.
• guest room loveliness; high beadboard walls and wood floors; vintage modern goodness.

Up for discussion.

Tuesday night

Stopped.
In motion.

We went to the Marshfield Fair last night. It is a yearly tradition.

We didn't ride any rides but this picture makes me just as happy as riding the ferris wheel does.

I'm a lazy blogger

I don't have an excuse for you. I've been busy and lazy.

PEACHES

Picking Peaches, originally uploaded by adwriter.

Is there anything more delicious than a perfectly ripe peach?

ETSY LOVE

Have you visited Suann's lovely little shop Simplesong Designs?

Not only is she one of the most wonderful people you will work with, she is also amazingly talented.

Last week, when I was having a bit of a bad day, I stopped by her shop to order a few little pick-me-ups for my desk.

When I came home to this little package last night, I could not have been happier!


Push pins that will always make me smile.
And these letterpress cards. To. Die. For. I am already planning whos day I can brighten with these babies.
I really do love Etsy. The people are always so fabulously wonderful and knowing that I am purchasing from someone who put so much love and effort into this just makes it that much better.

Our view from the dinner table.

Evening drinks on a seaside patio.

Sometimes the best part of Monday is taking time out to think about a well spent weekend.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Congrats Karen! from the blog Faded Willow.

Please contact me at sfcookson@gmail.com with your address so that I can ship these out to you!

...more to come later on this weekends adventures!

100th POST GIVEAWAY

I think I gave it away in the title no?


In honor of today being my 100th post I am going to send a lucky winner these babies:

5 [very powerful] magnets made with keys from a real vintage typewriter

Aren't they magical?

Etsy seller bubbo-tubbo is sweet as can be and I think I know why. Check out her studio space [scroll down to 'phm studio spaces: natasha mileshina (bubbo)'] .

I am in love love love.

So as a little thank you for always being here when I need you most, I want to give a bit of this love away.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. All comments submitted before 11:59 EDT today will be entered and I will announce the winner tomorrow.

Thanks for being the most wonderful readers and commenters a girl could ask for.

xo

STELLAR SERVICE

I had a bit of a scare today.

It started yesterday with a lovely Etsy conversation asking for the dimensions of a quilt in the shop. A little while later after sending them off, I got an email saying that I had an order...YAY!

I log into paypal and there is no transaction. Strange.

I send a convo thanking the buyer and said:
Nice right?

The buyer wrote back:

I'd also like to note here that in the order 'Kathy' asked that we embroider the baby's name on the quilt [which we lovingly do for no extra charge].

I log onto paypal today and there is still no transaction. The even stranger thing is that now I have an e-mail from paypal with a link asking me to 'click to claim the money.' So I click and I enter my username and password ... and when I look to my history there is still no transaction.

I decide that before I convo the buyer again I am going to call paypal and see if there is a glitch.

And there was.

The woman I spoke with was Lindsey. I hope that everyone that works at paypal is like her. She was super attentive and had me walk her through the scenario. Then she asked me to read the e-mail to her. As soon as I did she said "That e-mail is not from paypal."

Then I picked my jaw up off the floor.

Apparently this is a popular scam. People set up these 'mirror sites' in hopes of getting 3 things:

a.) your username;
b.) your password; and
c.) a free item [thinking you will send without payment].

Lindsey walked me through a few things like changing my password and security questions. Then she gave me a quick rundown of how paypal works [no one can EVER get your bank/credit card info - which is relieving]. Lindsey also told me a few things to look out for.

At the end of the conversation she had me send the email to spoof@paypal.com - they have a whole department that takes care of things like this. I also got a follow-up e-mail with some great paypal information and ways to protect against this in the future.

All is well that ends well. My account was not tampered with and I learned some valuable information.

WIRED

I still don't know what this thing really is but my score was a 52 so that can't be bad right?

UPDATE: Are You Internet Famous? Use the Wired Celebrity Meter to find out how big a deal you really are. Our algorithm will dig through your personal pages to find out how many fans are following your online exploits.

There you have it. 52 fans.

Thank you thank you.

FILM

Honestly. I love Vermont.
It was my first time here and I loved every minute of it. The blue skies. The trees. Oh. The. Trees.
The awesome mountains. The entire ride on the highway was like one gigantic breathtaking view. I really dont think I'd need to go anywhere else besides the beach maybe.
Beach chairs. Fire. Corona. Low tide. Good company. I am not sure that there is a better Friday night out there.

[as i said all the photos here are taken with film - a disposable camera nonetheless - i might need to break out my old 35mm ha!]

CAMERA-RA-RA

A little treat later today/tomorrow morning.

Pictures...taken with film!

I cannot even tell you the last time I used film. The excitement of what they are going to look like is kind of killing me. For years I have been so used to the instant gratification of digital photos and this little break is quite the nice one.

I can't wait.

What's more is that I finally get to share pictures from the past few weeks of deliciousness that include the peacefulness of Vermont, summer nights spent on the beach with a fire and of course time well spent with good friends.

xo

BAD HABITS

I bought this book in a self help effort.

I am fully aware of the worst habit I [or anyone for that matter] could have.

I take on too much.

The word 'yes' is probably the most over used word in my vocabulary.

Don't get me wrong - all that I have been doing...I love it. A lot.

It just makes things like this little spot take the back burner and well...I've missed it.

So I'm back...for good...go ahead and try to get rid of me.

xo