Random Tuesday Thoughts

One night last week, just as I was drifting off to sleep, I was jarred awake by a loud noise follwed by a woman's voice: "BEEEEEP. LOW BATTERY." Say what? I asked Eric if he heard it and if it sounded like it was coming from our apartment. When he said yes, we both knew we weren't dreaming so he went to investigate. It was our smoke detector! I didn't know they could speak. We were able to scrounge up 3 AA batteries and shut her up. I'm sorta glad she spoke up while Eric was home because it was really freaky.

If you're looking for an awkward way to start a conversation, you can use this: I was thinking of you in the shower this morning. I've definitely said that (and then cringed because I realized it just didn't sound right). 

Guys, I found this fun website called Wordle. You can either enter a bunch of text OR use your blog RSS feed and make a fun word cloud. It's cool, really. Try it.

Last week I mentioned that I rearranged our apartment. If you're interested and you missed the insanely short follow-up slide show, you can check it out here.

Check out the Everything Little Miss blog to see my newest custom design! It's an engagement party invitation. All pink and cream and yummy.

I took this photo on my birthday. Lately I've been really interested in structures (like bridges). This deconstructed building is in Downtown Crossing, and it's massive and impressive. I have no idea what the plans are for this site, but I couldn't resist the photo.

Note: I LOVE when you guys comment! So thank you, thank you, thank you for all off the comments the past few weeks! I'm working on being a better commentor - I know I've left comments for some of you - but I do check out your blogs. 

Check out The Un Mom and Baby Boogers for more totally random thoughts.

Boston - New Jersey - Harvard - Boston

Wow. It was a looooooong weekend. I need about 10 more hours of sleep. But it was a good weekend. Better than good. 

Friday afternoon we drove to New Jersey. With traffic, it took us about 5 hours. Our first stop was my grandparent's house (mom's parents) for dinner.  We met my parents and brother there. I've been missing my family a lot, so it was really exciting to see them. Unfortunately, my sister was busy and couldn't come, but my aunt Lisa joined us, and that was a welcome surprise. 

After dinner we headed over to my gramma's house (dad's mom). The next morning I woke up bright and early and had a nice talk with my gramma before we started preparing for the Passover Sedar (we always celebrate the holiday on the weekend). My dad's brother and his wife came around 2:30 and they brought some delicious cheese. The sedar started around 4:30.It was fun and there was lots of laughing. But it was a seriously long day.

Sunday we had fresh bagels for breakfast. Then we hit the road around 10:30 because we were headed to Harvard, MA for Easter dinner with Eric's family. I took the picture from the car. I really like that you can see the city through the gaps in the bridge's railing. The drive took about 4 hours (no traffic!) and we ate at 3:00. Dinner was delicious and the company was even better. After dinner we played the egg game.* I was out first and Eric's mom won. We sort of ate and ran, but we were soo, soo, soooooooo tired. 

The end.

*How to play the egg game: Select a hard boiled egg. Sit in a circle (or around a table) and go clockwise. Tap (or slam - your choice) one end of your egg against your opponent's. If yours breaks, use the other end to try again with the person on your other side (if yours didn't break, use the same side). Then your second opponent turns to her left and tries with the next person. And so on. You continue this way until both ends of the egg are broken, at which point you're out and the chain skips you. The person who is left with at least one undamaged side of their egg at the end is the winner. It's fun - you should try it. 

Mailboxes

Well this is something you don't see everyday. Yesterday afternoon I had my window open and I thought I heard the mail truck, so I turned around to look. I was sorta right. It was a mail truck, just not one delivering mail. It was just driving by with a bunch of new mailboxes! And they were shrink-wrapped. Hahaha. I grabbed my camera as quickly as I could and managed to get this picture. I have no idea where they were going. When I went for a walk I made a point of looking at all the mailboxes and none of them looked new. 

The postal service is a mystery to me. Not just these mailboxes - the whole thing. It seems very complex. I would love to see how they sort the mail. How does international mail work? Are postal workers impressed by nice looking packages? Do they read postcards? If I saw something addressed to Post Secret I'd totally read it. If a customer is rude, do postal workers delay (or "lose") the package? I'm sure that's not allowed. How much mail is there? Do the delivery people feel sorry for customers who only get junk mail and bills?

Okay, that's all for now. Please leave comments if you have answers!  I'm pretty curious today (as usual). 

New Inspiration Board

click image to enlarge

Now that I've rearranged the apartment, I have space for an inspiration board beside my desk. I'm always finding things in catalogs and tearing them out and sticking them in weird places. Now I'll just put them right onto the board! So cool. Plus, I'll add my own sketches and notes. I'm just starting out, but I think it'll be full of gorgeous things one day really soon. 

I find many of the images and words that inspire me online, so they probably won't make it to the board because I don't want to waste paper by printing them (never fear, I have an inspiration folder on my computer). It's cool how many beautiful inspiration boards, lines, and folders can be found online. Do you have one?

Blooming Magnolia And A White Sky

A blooming magnolia tree is one of the most beautiful signs of spring. But when I saw this tree today, its buds practically bursting, I was struck by the whiteness of the sky (when I think white sky, I think snow). I was walking to Brookline (a 15 - 20 minute walk) to pick up some supplies for an engagement announcement I'm making for a friend, and it was downright nippy out there when the sun wasn't shining. 

This kind of weather, combined with excitement about spring, makes people dress like maniacs. I saw a woman wearing a full-length winter parka and two people wearing shorts. This guy (below) had a really weird tattoo on the back of his calf, and all I could think about was how much that must have hurt.

P.S. Are you there Spring? It's me, April. I'm ready for you to take off your shoes and stay awhile.  

P.P.S. If you'd like to see photos of our newly rearranged apartment, click here for a super short slideshow. 

Random Tuesday Thoughts

For those of you coming over from The Un Mom, I thought I'd quickly tell you a bit about myself. I was laid off in January, and I've spent the past few months starting Everything Little Miss, a small design company. I have cards and card sets for sale in my etsy shop. I also do custom work; examples include wedding invitations, business cards, and my dad's website. When I'm not working I spend my time with Eric (roommate, boyfriend, co-author) and looking for a job.

Infomercials might just be the most entertaining programming on TV. Not the super long ones, but the 30 -60 second ones. Why are they always based on the most outrageous premises? I can't imagine a situation where I'd accidentally drop my wallet in a blender, but hey, these folks made one that can take that sort of abuse. 

People always say "Sounds like a plan, Stan." What's that called? Does a phrase like that have a name? Anyway, I'm starting a new one of those phrase-thingies. Mine goes a little something like this: "What's the deal, Neil?" Feel free to use it frequently. Maybe we can get a trend going here. 

My mom sent me a package for my birthday, and it still hasn't arrived (it should have gotten here by March 26th!). I think a postal monster ate it. Boo hoo. 

I rearranged the whole apartment yesterday. I'm still getting used to it, but I think this is gonna be good. I created a new office space that's much more usable. I'm doing a lot of work from home and Eric will have homework starting in September, so usable office space is a necessity. 

Sara gave me this awesome orange sqeezer (I think the technical term might be juicer) for my birthday. I don't have any oranges, so I squeezed a grapefruit instead. YUM. For those of you who don't know me, I love orange: the fruit, the scent, and especially the color. 

Check out The Un Mom and Baby Boogers for more totally random thoughts.

April Showers

I've been so busy today that I didn't even realize it was raining until I looked out the kitchen window this afternoon (pictured). I don't mind the rain, especially in the early spring. You know what they say: April showers bring May flowers. 

I started an e-course today, and I'm very excited. It's being taught by Holly Becker of decor8. Holly is a professional blogger, and she'll be sharing some of her tips over the next 4 weeks. Perhaps you'll notice a difference in upcoming posts! I'm hoping to increase our readership here and on my professional blog (Everything Little Miss). 

Stay dry!

Brighton, England

In 2003, Eric and I were studying abroad in London, England. At one point, we spent a day in Brighton. It was cold the day we went, but the pier was beautiful and we spent quite a bit of time on the rocky beach. I remember being relieved to be out of the city. We could look out over the ocean and our view wasn't interrupted by anything. I was craving time away from buildings, and that day in Brighton was just what I needed.

Today I'm wishing we were at the beach.

Eric's Going To HBS!

Today Eric found out that he's been accepted to Harvard Business School! I'm so, so proud. The next two years will be very interesting. :)

If you're wondering, I spent the last 45 minutes figuring out how to spell out "congratulations" with things I could find in the apartment. Success! 

From left to right: cookie, chocolate candy (thanks Kim), cigars, twisty tie, advil, broken rubber band, batteries, ribbon, corkscrew, letter cut from one of Eric's magazines (sorry), band aids, crystal + necklace pendant, top of a drink umbrella, q-tips, holes from a hole punch (aka confetti).

[click image to enlarge]

Friends & Pizza

Sara and Marcel are coming over for dinner in just a little bit, and I'm so excited. We're ordering pizza, and I made oatmeal raisin cookies for dessert. I'm looking forward to catching up. Sara and I used to work together and see each other every single day. Now I get my daily dose of Sara by reading her blog, emailing, and following her on Twitter. Oh my goodness! I just remembered she's bringing my birthday present! Whoo hooo! I love presents. Who doesn't? :) 

The picture above is the only picture I took at their wedding (nearly 2 years ago now!). That's my bridesmaid bouquet in the foreground. Don't worry, Eric took a number of really gorgeous photos.

Sara's doing an awesome GIVEAWAY on her blog, and she's picking up the loot tonight. She's selected the Oxalis folded card set (pictured below) from my Everything Little Miss Etsy Shop. Head over to Sara's blog to enter the contest!