Trees

Reading Sundresses and Smiles today, I saw a new opportunity of linking up and sharing photos. Two of my favorite things! Outside Voice is starting a photo-link each month with a different theme. Currently, the theme is trees, so please enjoy my attempt to find some of my tree photographs while technically at work.

While possibly not the more traditional tree photograph, this is one of my favorites, of a tree and of my time spent in London.

Here is your more traditional tree photograph. Taken on a rainy day on the island of Skye in Scotland.

From a botanical gardens in Northern England, I believe this was a fairy statue's foot gracing the gardens.

Finally, The Defunct Curator, complete with awkwardly-painted paintbrush mask (there is no photoshop here at work!) climbing a tree with the spires of Oxford in the background.

Seven Facts (Other Than The Fact That I Could Not Develop An Original Blog Post Today)

A week or so ago, City Dreamer at City Dreams, Suburban Schemes tagged all her readers in a 7 Facts post. Having just returned from Florida and in no shape whatsoever to be in the least bit creative or interesting today, I've decided to go ahead and provide you with six facts (I know the rules, but I don't like odd numbers, and you can count that fact towards the seventh I've deleted) about myself in lieu of actually being original.

Fact Number One.

I eat popcorn with a spoon. It's true. For whatever reason, either I don't like to touch it or I've found it more effective to eat with a spoon. Either way, even in movie theaters I order my popcorn with a side of plastic cutlery.

Fact Number Two.

I married the love of my life in October, on the same day that Katy Perry married Russell Brand, thus linking us with these celebrities for life (or as long as they're married; side fact: I secretly love them and hope those crazy kids make it.)

Fact Number Three.

I suffered from Nephritis as a child, which in the States is very rare. It's an auto-immune disorder which attacks the kidneys. Because of it I've never been what you may call robust and often am the first person in a group to come down with any type of garden variety illness (ie: flu, cold, ect.)

Fact Number Four.

I clean my nails every night, sometimes twice a night. This is obsessive, but hey, we all have a little OCD. At least mine keeps my nails looking sparkly and clean. I think it stems from my mother. She hated when our nails were dirty and would clean them out in a really, really painful way (to my six year old self anyway) which kept me pretty much on top of cleaning them myself. I even have a nail brush which I use in the shower.

Fact Number Five.

I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee which was given to me as a wedding gift from my in-laws. Sometimes it makes me feel like I owe them big, obligated, ect.

Fact Number Six.

I had to inventory my clothing and accessories for a collection management project while in graduate school and was shamed in front of my fellow students to reveal the numbers of each category. I had something like 17 blazers and 42 pairs of jeans. It's my own version of hedonism and it's horrible. I'm not as bad anymore, but stopping my shopping addiction has not depleted my current collection, just maintained it as it's already above ridiculous levels.

Happy Monday. If you've not been tagged in this little exercise, then I tag you now. Go forth and reveal.

Don’t Leave the House Without…

Today was Tuesday, and being Tuesday I went into the university city of my beloved Professor. I do this every Tuesday, it’s a great, scheduled reason to leave the house. I go to cafes, I drink expensive tea, I read, I walk, I do all the things I can’t do at the cottage (all things legal, anyway). Therefore I don’t usually post on Tuesdays.

However, I was excited to be tagged in this post by City Dreamer. I was excited because it allowed me to answer the question, what don’t you leave home without, which I’ve actually never really pondered before, and also because I’m glad people are actually finding this blog project of mine. Excitement.

So, what five things can’t I leave home without. My purse is HUGE (notice the quarter added for scale). I pulled it out to try to figure out what exactly I haul around with me all the time. Here is what I came up with.

1. Vaseline lip balm in rosy lips. Here is why I can’t leave home without this fantastic little product: I.Love.It.Hard. I discovered it in a Boots while living in England, fell in love at first dab, and have never looked back. It is rose flavored, has a slight pink hue, and reminds me of England. I actually forgot to buy a reserve before moving and had an English friend shamelessly bring me about 10 tins to my wedding. Score.

2. A book. I know it seems cliché, but one reason my bag is so big is that I’m a bibliophile and need the comfort of knowing there is always a good read within reach. Currently I’m reading Georgiana and plan to blog about the connections between today’s female relationships and those back in Georgiana’s late 18th century. (nerd alert)

 

 

 

3. My phone. Doesn’t everyone have their phones strapped on them at all times? Well this was not always the case for me. Before The Professor and I started a long-distance relationship I never carried a phone with me. Now I always have it, but most likely have put it on silent on accident and will never hear your call. I’m also very, very new to smart phones and am still learning how to use mine.

4. Anti-bacterial hand gel. Because the world is dirty. Enough said. I’m currently using this Avon gel I got for Christmas.

5. A hair ribbon and bobby pins. I usually have a few ribbons, always one in black, usually one in brown, and sometimes a fun color like purple or blue. I save them from fancy gifts, or bits from craft projects. I use hair ties when I work out, but all other hair-up moments are usually supported by a ribbon. And bobby pins are a self-explanatory necessity.

Being new to the Blog world, tagging other bloggers to be included in this game may be a challenge, so I’ll pass it along to some blogs I’ve been reading lately. I’m not sure if they check out my ramblings, so we’ll see.

1. Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong @ How I Met Your Father

2. An American Girl in London

3. Allison M. @ Confessions of a Cohabitant

4. Erica @ my 3.1 journey

Thanks City Dreamer!