Currently

Since I have let myself go without blogging for so long, I need a prompt. Currently...

Watching
Game of Thrones season 3 has two episodes left. I read ahead and finished the corresponding book. I've been stressing about how they will fit everything into this season, when I found out they are not covering the whole book this season. Who will die?!?!?
Also, Arrested Development season 4 is happening this Sunday. I am so excited! We are also having a couple fun things like frozen bananas and catering by ICE. Are you doing anything for the big day?

Listening to
Not enough. NPR, Kate Nash's newest album, and random stuff on Spotify. Music suggestions? Send them my way!

Planning
Our trip to Turkey and Greece in late summer. We bought the plane tickets a while ago and haven't done much else. Now it's time to start booking a boat, a villa, etc. It's getting kind of expensive, but otherwise I'm excited!

Thinking about
Lots of things. I just started a new job, got some good news from the doctor, and had a fun trip to San Francisco and Napa. But I'm a worrier as well, so I always have something on my mind. I'm so happy that it's finally warm outside and that my allergies are finally letting up!
Oh, and I'm thinking about those in Oklahoma. That's scary stuff.

Looking forward to
My first paycheck from my first "real job."
Also, this weekend! We are celebrating Memorial Day with friends and also watching Arrested Development. If it's warm enough, I think we'll head to the beach as well.

Reading
Well, I finally finished the third Game of Thrones book, and then I whipped right through Lean In, which I highly recommend. Now I'm working on re-reading our book club book (my pick!), The Lords of Discipline, and a couple other books like Change by Design and Quiet.

Making me happy
Watching my cat Stevie sleep right now. He's all sprawled out on his back like this:

Goodnight!

As of Late: Instagram

I haven't posted much at all lately! Besides being busy, which I really have been, can you believe all the flooding we've been having and on top of that it's not even been warm - it snowed three mornings ago! The forecast finally looks like winter might be behind us though, so I'm eager for sun and inspiration. In the meantime, here's what I've been up to.

The sun's been coming up earlier and the birds are singing songs again. Stevie is enthralled by them and often tweets back.

Andrew and I finally tried out Two Beards Deli in downtown Grand Rapids. It was hard to choose what to get because they have several vegan and vegetarian choices! We'll be back again.

I made puppy chow! There have to be unhealthier ways to eat chocolate and peanut butter, I'd imagine.

Just another Stevie shot. He is such a sweetie.

Grand Rapids has a place called Marge's Donut Den. It is totally authentic and wonderful, and I realized I don't even live too far away from it! Marge was nice enough to donate her treats to a press conference I was a part of.

The press conference was for the 2013 Festival of the Arts poster unveiling! I am a volunteer on the PR team. Above is artist Abbey Bradley with her design. I also found out that she is going to TEDx, as am I! Cannot wait for that.

And here is my baby girl Ellie, who is not such a baby anymore. She has been a little cranky this weekend, but last night she looooved playing with her feather. ^.^

Follow me on Instagram!

Johnny Cash and a Kitten

I finally saw Walk the Line this weekend. Andrew kept suggesting it and I kept saying no. Of course I ended up liking it, and now I'm listening to he and June on Spotify. Then I wanted to see what he looked like when he was younger since I'm only familiar with the photo of him flipping his middle finger. Then I found this! Aww.

And that's all I wanted to share! What does your week hold? And what did you think of the Grammys last night?

Happy Thursday!

It's been such a busy week! Just to let you know I'm still alive, here are a few pictures. Don't forget to enter the giveaway I have going on!

Stevie watching his first birdie youtube video.

The view from the 4th floor at work yesterday morning.

Good friends making me dinner. Nothing better!

Have a great Thursday!

Happy Hump Day!

So, is the weather as crazy where you are as it is here? It was t-shirt weather here yesterday! (When you live in a cold place and then it's 55 degrees, you feel like it's appropriate for summer clothes). Anyway, supposedly the big freeze is coming tonight, so I hope I can make it into work tomorrow morning.

I'm super glad the week is more than half over, and I'm enjoying a night to myself while Andrew is at class. First I played with Stevie, then I did some dishes, and now I am updating the blog while drinking a Blue Moon. Exciting, huh?! Since I don't have much to say, here's a couple instas!

It's black coffee, if you were curious. Verona, if you're a Starbucks connoisseur!

Portrait of my main man

While we were listening to the story on the Nightly News regarding cats killing birds. "Who, me?!"

Enjoy your evening! P.S. - if you like the Strokes, visit this link to get a free download of their new song "One Way Trigger"! It's suuuuuper catchy! Let me know what you think: )

Friday Feline // Meet Stevie!

It's pretty crazy I haven't done a proper post about our little bundle of love sooner, but I want to formally introduce you all to our new cat, Stevie. We got him at the beginning of December from a shelter called Crash's Landing in Grand Rapids. He wasn't our original pick, but every time I went to the shelter, Steve Purry would just be lounging around somewhere, calm, cool, and collected. Andrew and I just loved how mellow and handsome he was, so we took him home. He is such a good boy, and suuuuuper soft, and very friendly. Here are some photos!

Don't you just love his little white paws? ^.^

He loves to do the Kate Winslet "paint me, Jack" Titanic pose; )

: ) I just love him so much! And you can look forward to lots more adorable photos in the future!

Happy Hump Day!

I don't have time to do a proper update before work, so good morning from Stevie and my owl slippers! More on Stevie this Friday, stay tuned! ^.^

Postcards From Croatia

hello! i have been enjoying the last few days in the beautiful country of croatia. i'm literally on a moving boat right now heading toward the island of vis. gotta love wifi. don't have much battery left, so here are just a few shots!

we stayed a night in obrov, slovenia

trogir, croatia

off the balcony at our hotel in trogir, croatia

tory and i in milna, island of brac

milna at night

andrew, sailor man. 

exploring stari grad on the island of hvar

stari grad, hvar

statue of croatian poet

dinner in jelsa, on isle of hvar

we made a friend who i named kava. wishing i could have saved him and taken him home. what a cutie for real.

do vidjenja!

Meet Mr. Kitty and Kelly!

I told you I had one more cat to introduce you to, and his name is Mr. Kitty. Have you ever wanted someone you can't have? Sigh.
So the story goes, that about a year and a half ago Andrew and I went home over Christmas for about four days. When we got back, we heard a miserable kitty crying in the apartment next door to us. I had seen this cutie orange cat one other time, and met the neighbor once as well, so I knew his name. Upon further investigating facebook stalking, whilst feeding this kitty tuna under the door, I found out that my neighbor was back home in Minnesota for three weeks. I was super worried about the kitty, and he did not. stop. crying. So we contacted building management and the neighbor and got permission to watch the little guy while he was gone. He said his girlfriend was checking in on him every two or three days, but Mr. Kitty is such a friendly and playful little guy and wanted some love! So I gave it to him. After that, Andrew and I developed a friendship with our neighbor, (who is well meaning but just needs a lazier cat) and were able to watch Mr. Kitty a lot. Unfortunately, we moved from the apartment building about ten months ago, so I haven't seen my little guy too much lately. Who knows where my old neighbor will move since he's about done with school, but I'm so happy to have met Mr. Kitty in the meantime. He give hugs and kisses, LOVES to play, and is the most rambunctious cat I have ever met. He made his way into our ceiling once. That was terrifying, but he was having a great time! Anyway, do any of you consider yourself a "godparent" to a cat? I wish Mr. Kitty could be mine! (I'm a little obsessed, if you couldn't tell).

Sorry, he photographs so well that it's hard to pick just a couple!




So I also want you to meet my new friend Kelly! I'll be honest here a minute and say that blogging is hard work! It's hard to gain followers and make relevant posts that people actually care about. One way I've reached out to other potential readers is through an Etsy team, and there I met Kelly! Kelly has an Etsy shop with handmade cat toys and accessories. She is here today to tell you her story, and I included my favorite photos from her shop: )


Here is Kelly's story about Bax Cat & Co!

"I grew up always with a love of animals, and always with cats as pets. My life has lead me through a lot of different fun paths, but some things have remained constant: my love of animals (cats!), my love of art, and my appreciation of nature. 

In December of 2011 I put together a knotted no-sew toy for my cat who was bored of her other toys. Around that same time, I was trying to decide what I could do with my creative side that has been shut off since I began working in various corporate offices after graduating from college years ago. The light bulb flashed brightly when I realized that I could make things for cats that they would have fun with, as much as my cat did with her toy! That is where the idea for Bax Cat & Co. began. 

My shop is named after my great cat friend Baxter, who is no longer with us. He would be very proud of how much love goes into each toy (along with catnip!). He was always such a fun-loving cat, and I named this shop after him to keep his memory alive always. 

While designing cat toys, I always have nature and art on my mind - the colors, the feeling each gives, the aesthetic qualities of both. I have an Art History degree, and have always been interested in diverse styles of art. 

The goal of my shop is to make cat toys and cat accessories that will make cats happy when their humans open the package of their purchased items. I love hearing stories from my customers about how excited their cats got when they opened up the envelope and took out their new toy, it makes me happy and proud! 

New items are added as soon as I can make them from the images I see in my head! I hope to continue to gain momentum with Bax Cat & Co., and to spread joy to lots of cats around the world!"

I hope you guys will check out Kelly's etsy shop if you're in the market for some adorable handmade cat toys made with organic catnip! Show her some love on facebook as well! I love the above pineapple toy, and had to include the picture with the kitty because he looks so much like Mr. Kitty!!! Obviously I'm loving the owl as well, and the fact that Kelly took a picture of it in a tree! So awesome.


P.S. I pre-wrote this post and scheduled it for when our plane lands in Venice, Italy! Jealous? ; ) Have a great Saturday!

Friday Feline

i have had a cold on top of allergies all week and now i have a bad headache, so this is about all i can muster today. i already introduced you to my cat, ellie. this is dewey! he is named after dewey the library cat. we got him when he was about 4 months old from a shelter after i found him on petfinder and fell in love. he is such a big boy! ellie doesn't like him that much, but i think they mostly get along fine. he kind of acts like a dog and loves to rub his face on anything and everything. it's so funny learning your cats' personalities.

 huge paws!!!

i think he's posing.

aw, what a big handsome kitty cat.

i will have to introduce you to mr. kitty soon. another orange guy, but with a whole different personality. i'm kind of like his godmother, or so i like to think. i wish i could have him forever. but that story is for another time. anyway, where did you all find your pets from? 

happy june, and i hope the weather is better wherever you are!

In the Morning

it's going to be a beautiful and exciting day! i just know it. i'm getting ready right now and then hopefully the day will go a little like this: farmer's market, gluten free food fair, seeing my friend josh who just moved here, weeding a little bit outside, having some beers on our front porch with our friends brad and kate, and who knows what else! for now i'll leave you with some film photos of one of my cats (who lives with my parents, not me), ellie! she's such a pretty girl.

and now it's coffee time! hope you enjoy your saturday: )