The truth is, this blog has been giving me anxiety for the past year. I loved this blog, it was my thing, my happy place, my baby that I would dress up in fun little outfits and sing songs in the car with, but now, it quietly haunts me. A reminder of yet another project that I’ve let slip away. Much of has to do with the job — they pay me to write all day and having money lets me … have money, so yeah, see ya homes. But it’s not just that. I don’t want to post just to post. And it seems that every time I sit down and tell myself, “Okay, write something,” I start to wonder, what’s the point if it’s not going to add anything to anyone’s life? I look at the internet a lot and there’s a lot of the same shiznit. I don’t want to simply add to the chatter. Anyway, I’m not sure where this post is going. I know it’s the new year, and I could take this moment to proclaim, IN 2012, I WILL BE THE BEST BLOGGER IN THE GALAXY! but I’ve done that too many times to be taken seriously. Really though, in 2012, I can’t promise much, but I do strive for more rawness in my writing, more honesty, more me.
Author Archives: michelle
A DIY Headboard
In case you haven’t seen our latest home project, made with love, a staple gun and a few curse words, here she is! An upholstered headboard, created under the guidance of this Design Sponge tutorial. Matt did the wood-cutting, and the fabric came from an old Anthropologie duvet cover. (I’m so glad it turned out okay because I would have been eternally bummed if I ruined it.) The thing is huge, which is awesome because our bedroom had previously been a big sea of nothingness. I feel tiny leaning against it. Anyway … ta da! DIY success. Phew.
Posted in Decor
30
Today, I am 30. So far, there’ve been no tears or meltdowns or tantrums. Birthday success in my book.
I’m happy and sad about the milestone. Sad because I’ve embraced life as a twenty-something for so long (10 years if you’re counting) and it’s hard to simply shed that phase, that identifier. I’ve been able to blame my bad decisions and confusion about the future on my youth, but all of a sudden, it’s like I’ve run out of excuses. Dammit.
But I’m happy, too. Really happy. I can really picture myself loving my thirties. The decade is about finally knowing what’s right for you, and saying, hey, let’s do that. It’s also about dinner parties, possible family-growing and age-appropriate dresses. And more awesomeness, obvs.
(Do 30-year-olds still say “obvs”?)
Cheers to growing up.
Some tidbits that make me happy:
Martha Stewart didn’t become Martha Stewart, queen hostess with the mostess, until 41.
Julia Child didn’t learn to cook until 37.
At 32, J.K. Rowling was an unknown writer.
At 30, Suze Orman was a waitress.
Lucille Ball was 40 when I Love Lucy hit the air.
30, ready or not, here I come.
Posted in General
Oh, Snap
Do you Instagram? If so, follow me at woopics if you’d like. I just got my first iPhone and I’m in love!
Posted in General
Scenes From Chicago and Boston
Matt and I just spent a week in Boston and Chicago. It was a fantastic trip. I wanted to go someplace “fallish” (have you seen the weather here?), and had never been to either city. Both were charming and memorable in their own ways.
Some highlights:
Chicago: Architecture boat tour, BEAN! (seriously, who knew a metal blob could be so captivating?), Al’s Beef (nom), Second City (I was determined to see a show after listening to Bossypants, and it did not disappoint — hilarious!), dinner with bloggy friends Ang, Jamie and Alex, drinks with Mel atop the John Hancock Center (dude, check out the view from the girls’ restroom — mindblowing), Ruxbin (amazing), Potbelly sandwiches, the Art Institute (a must-must-must-see!), Wicker Park.
Boston: Freedom Trail, Boston Public Library, Neptune Oyster (I’m still dreaming about that lobster roll), Mike’s Pastry (great), Modern Pastry (greater — get the sfogliatelle, trust), Giacomo’s, Myers + Chang (the ginger cream dessert zomg), Brazilian seafood stew at Muqueca, dumplings and beef noodle soup in Chinatown, charcuterie at The Salty Pig (can you tell we’re hungry people?), Haaaavard (where Facebook was born!), visiting Matt’s cousin Carter at MIT, not understanding any of the T-shirts, feeling sad, getting ice cream to feel better, driving up to New Hampshire to see red leaves, settling for green and slightly orange and yellow ones at the Flume Gorge (it’s really stunning there), brewery tours (with free beer!) at Harpoon and Sam Adams.
Such a wonderful whirlwind. Chicago and Boston, I miss you already.
Posted in Travel
Read This Now: ‘Chat History’
“Chat History” by Rebecca Armendariz, GOOD
A tragic (and true) love story for the new generation.
In hundreds of chats automatically saved to my account, we express our love for each other readily and naturally in our own private speech. This is a history of our relationship that we didn’t intend to write, one that runs parallel to the one authored by his uncontainable illness.
Posted in Read This Now
The Misfit
Photo by Mary Bell/OC Weekly
A cover story I wrote on pastor Dave Gibbons of Newsong Church. He’s an inspiring guy.
Posted in Work
A Belated Wedding Video
We just got this second wedding video from our videographer, and I thought I would share. (Remember the first one?)
We’ve been married for a year and a month now. Crazy, huh? Marriage is … for lack of anything eloquent or poetic or wise to say … the best. I love our tiny family of two.
Posted in Our wedding
The Coolest Charts Ever
“The Evolution of Video Game Controllers”
“The Very, Very Many Varieties of Beer”
“The Titanic Taxonomy of Wrestler Names”
“Periodic Table of Heavy Metals”
“A Visual Compendium of Notable Haircuts in Popular Music”
These prints from Pop Chart Lab are so thorough, so well done, so rad. You’ve got to go to the website to zoom in on and get lost in all the crazy details. (Try to spot the David Bowie hair — it’s like a Where’s Waldo hunt!)
Posted in Art
