9 Ankle Boots Under $150

We all know how challenging it is to find a good pair of boots, let alone an affordable pair! The ankle boot is one trend that isn't going away any time soon, so I thought I'd offer a roundup of a few options that won't hurt the old pocketbook. A good neutral boot in either leather or suede is just the thing for the crisp autumn weather!

{ one of those days }

I'm just having one of those days.

You know those days when you wake up and make the incredibly wise decision to email your boss and let him know you are *cough* sick and can't make it into work today? Those days when you kiss you husband goodbye from bed and lay in your gloriously sunlit apartment enjoying the cool morning breeze as it blows the gauzy white curtains from the windows? On those days you might even steal another 20 minutes of sleep because being all alone in your bed, which happens to be the most comfortable one you've ever slept in, feels so deliciously serene you can't imagine leaving it just yet.

Those days when the most important decision to make is deciding which articles of clothing are the most comfortable for lounging and strolling, but don't look too much like pajamas. When a leisurely walk with your favorite pup to your favorite cafe for a coffee and pastry are the highest on your list of priorities. When the park is calling to you with a soft blanket and a nice shady spot under a massive Redwood tree. Where a tan bearded man in an unbuttoned shirt and worn leather sandals sits on the other side of that tree and serenades the entire park with the peaceful strum of his guitar. When the book you're re-reading seems to speak to every single part of you in a way that it didn't the first time you read it, making you sometimes stop and wonder if it isn't, in fact, your own words on the pages.

On your walk back to your apartment you might happen upon a woman sitting on her front porch playing a long slow melody on her violin. You might pass every single color of rose you can imagine, and pause to inhale the sweet perfume of each one. You might greet everyone you walk by with a "hello" and a smile, because they're your neighbors, after all. 

You know those days? I seem to be having one of them.

{ one piece love }

I've seriously hated on the one-piece swimsuit in the past, and for that I am very sorry. Now that I'm thirty and feeling like gravity is starting to do what it does best, I think the one-piece and I could be real friends. Bosom buddies, even. Plus, these adorable swimsuits are way cuter than any old bikini any day, am I right?

Click on the image for swimsuit sources.

I'm so ready for beach goings and pool happenings! Summer needs to get here ASAP!

{ etsy loving // theYarnKitchen }

I have to say, I'm actually doing a pretty good job of not killing every single plant in my apartment. Granted most of them are succulents, which are apparently super difficult to kill, but I'm still surprised to see them alive and flourishing! If anyone is capable of killing a near impossible to kill plant its this girl.

So if you like a little green in your home, I wholeheartedly recommend going the succulent route. They barely need any water, and most of mine seem to do just fine with the little sunlight they get when I actually remember to open the blinds for them before leaving for work in the morning. They're basically like the cats of houseplants.

If you like to pot your plants in style, seriously consider these adorable felt planters from theYarnKitchen!

Handmade in Italy by Stella Melgrati and her family of four.

^ I just love the kitty planter! Don't you? ^

This post was a really great reminder for me to water my plants! See ya!

{ busy is a four letter word }

I just finished reading this article about the business of being busy.  Let me tell you, I seriously dislike busy. I dislike the word, I dislike the meaning, I dislike the feeling. Being busy is synonymous with stress and disconnectedness. We all have those friends that when asked unload every detail of their day/week/life that keeps them so busy. And although I do hear things that should qualify as "me time", the fact that those yoga sessions or massages or pedicure appointments are scheduled smack dab in the middle of their fast-paced busy lives, leaves me to believe they aren't fully appreciated.

This article almost had me. I thought I was going to completely identify with it, but then there was one line that made me rethink the author's authority on giving such advice: "My escape valve is hockey. I play hockey four to five times a week. I also ride a stationary bike and do some yoga four times a week. And I'm not sure all this is enough!" All that hockey, yoga, and stationary bike riding would sure make for a busy week in my book. Furthermore, doesn't it seem that by attempting to follow 10 steps to combat your busyness, you're going to, in turn, become even more busy? 

Well, I'd like to give you an example of my day, just so you can fully trust that I am the ultimate authority on the anti-busy movement. Today I made coffee, walked Penelope around the block in the light rain, watched three episodes of Felicity on Hulu, ate a bowl of Grandma Goodie's granola with sliced bananas, talked to my mother-in-law on the phone, browsed around the internet for a while, took a bath, cleaned my apartment, did a few sit-ups, stretched, thought some thoughts, watered my plants. Which leads me to the conclusion that lazy is the new busy. I mean, it is only 2pm, however, all of the above was accomplished in the laziest, strolliest, most relaxed fashion a person can perform, trust me. And later on I fully intend to take a nap, watch five more episodes of Felicity, make a crust-less quiche, pick up my husband from the airport, drink a beer, and snuggle my puppy. How do I find the time?

{ 30 of the randomist things about me }

1. I own three bottles of nail polish. That includes one bottle of top coat. So really, like, two bottles of nail polish if you want to get technical.

2. My dream job at fourteen was to work in a lost and found. I thought they just existed out there in the real world, just like libraries or any other kind of business. I was obviously an over achiever.

3. I think "litterbug" is just about the cutest word in the English language. It really bums me out that it means what it means.

4. I dig lattes. Remember when Kramer was crazy about lattes? Except he put the emphasis on the latter half of the word - "lah-TAY." Annoying.

5. I hate when people put emphasis on parts of words not commonly emphasized. I had a friend growing up that would say "MayoNNAISE" instead of just plain old "Mayonnaise." Drove me nuts. We no longer speak.

6. I don't like marshmallows unless they're melted.

7. My dog's feet smell like cheesy popcorn.

8. I lived 29 years in the same general area. In fact, before moving to the bay I was living in Troy, Michigan - the same city I was born in.

9. I feel pretty anxious most of the time. I have a hard time relaxing, but I'm also incredibly lazy. Riddle me that.

10. One of the first Russian phrases I learned from my mother-in-law was "get out of my sight." It sure does come in handy.

11. There is only one piece of furniture in my apartment that I bought new: this bed from Ikea.

12. I'm a Capricorn. Earth sign, in case you were wondering.

13. I find Joseph Gordon-Levitt to be a giant turn off.

14. My mom listened to so much Melanie Safka when I was little, and kinda looks like her too, that I sometimes forget they aren't actually the same person.

15. I don't like the idea of traveling to the same place twice. Unless you've literally been everywhere. Then by all means.

16. I just recently learned that you're only supposed to follow a period with one space, not two. This blew my mind.

17. I sometimes get a mini panic attack when I think about getting old. I'm 30 now, and I feel like I got here in a blink of an eye. In 30 years I'll be 60. Gahhhhhhh.

18. I guess I have very long tooth roots. My endodontist says your roots should be relative to your height but that mine are Michael Jordan sized roots.

19. One day I'd like to grow the majority of my own food. I want two goats to milk and a huge garden to weed.

20. I didn't know two words used in a work meeting yesterday. I would look them up now but I forgot what they were.

21. One of my catch phrases from childhood was, "Strangers are ignorant people." I don't know why I said it, but isn't it sort of true maybe?

22. Once I was feeding a goat ice cream and it ate my napkin. I'll never forget how funny I thought that was.

23. I've only ever been stung by a bee once. All the other times I was lying.

24. Discovering In-n-Out Burger at age 29 was a life changing experience for me. And then I cut out 80% of my meat intake, which was just really bad timing.

25. I think I'd have a pretty lucrative career of being an idea person. If someone with loads of cash could pay me to give them ideas then I could be the one with loads of cash.

26. I think there should exist locations where one could rent a bed by the hour that is not a sleazy motel room. Aren't you ever out exploring a city, miles away from your hotel or home, and you think, "Man, if only I could just rent a bed for an hour and take a nap before dinner." And no funny stuff would be allowed. The beds would be like out in the open or something. Just nap stations, really. I think it's genius.

27. I have ridiculously small feet. This picture here shows me wearing a pair of kids shoes from Zara. Size 2. Seriously.

28. I have zero tattoos. And I find it weird that having no tattoos is probably less common than having them.

29. I've never really liked cartoons. Not even as a kid. I just couldn't relate to them.

30. My stomach digests very loudly.

{ fleas on my dog }

Well, I've finally found a negative to living in California - this place is crawling with fleas!

Back in Michigan I rarely worried about fleas. Yeah, sometimes in the middle of Summer I'd find a flea or two on Penelope, but all I had to do was scrub her down in the tub and those babies would be toast. I've tried that method here and they just multiply! Ugh.

Poor little itchy Penelli. She now has poison in the form of Frontline Plus coursing through her puppy veins. Hopefully it does the trick.

Welp, I've been scratching my head trying to think of anything else I have to report. Just scratchin' away...itch itch itch.

Uh oh.

(Just kidding!)

(I hope!)