tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61602565835607085912024-03-06T00:53:24.982-05:00the fruit bowl.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-82476724926455642622011-08-01T08:29:00.003-04:002011-08-01T08:36:46.515-04:00ttfn!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMy_lZkgV4AV69D8oPqi6vhBfhsIIJMyDpFpxkEysNPIq4m0UNCdzT0UB6ep16BEy5wyUl6rSHnZGpk1UfbDy-Xf2lkvo-mCwp8ciM0RbSJcM-ntP-fkpTWK0KbURWUYuZtIh1Y6biAY/s1600/7534_156729586321_539321321_3481829_898982_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMy_lZkgV4AV69D8oPqi6vhBfhsIIJMyDpFpxkEysNPIq4m0UNCdzT0UB6ep16BEy5wyUl6rSHnZGpk1UfbDy-Xf2lkvo-mCwp8ciM0RbSJcM-ntP-fkpTWK0KbURWUYuZtIh1Y6biAY/s400/7534_156729586321_539321321_3481829_898982_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635864077930958210" border="0" /></a><br />I'm seeing this girl today! <span style="font-size:85%;">(The one on the left. Although most likely I'll be looking in a mirror at some point today as well.)</span><br /><br />Also, I'm dying to see this man. <span style="font-size:85%;">(Again, the one on the left. Steve Carell is cool and all, but RYAN GOSLING IS SO HOT.)</span> In <span style="font-style: italic;">Crazy, Stupid, Love</span> or in person. Either way.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg-Wd-vGTyYcSLGwClVihdv9e5NlH6oXATdMJ7jfO26WI4BvHV8PAilDhYSrkvhohnaZEndjxk3CrpPjOPfnYTqxCljlHv_wNLqKj0RVwOQkY5ypqEK8wIzkir7yUWDmX67onfRzy1Nk/s1600/crazy-stupid-love-ryan-gosling-steve-carell.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg-Wd-vGTyYcSLGwClVihdv9e5NlH6oXATdMJ7jfO26WI4BvHV8PAilDhYSrkvhohnaZEndjxk3CrpPjOPfnYTqxCljlHv_wNLqKj0RVwOQkY5ypqEK8wIzkir7yUWDmX67onfRzy1Nk/s400/crazy-stupid-love-ryan-gosling-steve-carell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635865286788363874" border="0" /></a>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-86907336232824822442011-07-28T14:11:00.005-04:002011-07-28T14:27:39.591-04:00linky linkies.An <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-fair-society/201107/is-it-fair-soak-the-rich">article</a> from <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/">Psychology Today</a> about taxing the rich (WARNING: pretty unabashedly one-sided) ((And what is this doing on Psychology Today?))<br /><br />Lovely summer <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8smjOtVOysg">song</a> from Givers, brought to you by my love for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.liveforthefunk.com/2011/04/givers-givers-ep/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aVeMpQpx-GdaoE7Fz9DSWaSWvfXeYlSJsoS2r0-ua3oL3VOaPFchEMTngvruS2Z5_g3LFeS2DL_2sD7n1pq627mEbq0K054cd4m7K614zbVOLiTfPdYsr_-2F5bGdj4-xYSLfgTm8Q8/s400/30719001.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634469097233858658" border="0" /></a><br />A very thoughtful <a href="http://sheol.tumblr.com/">blog</a> (well, Tumblr) written by an articulate fellow Gordonite.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">**Side note: I was looking at some past blog posts, mostly yesterday's, and realized how many grammar errors/ stylistic "winces" I make! (And YES MOM, I KNOW YOU'VE TOLD ME THIS LIKE FIVE TIMES.) Bad, bad English major. Time to start proofing, I guess. Lo siento!</span>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-48823263787947954962011-07-26T14:01:00.003-04:002011-07-26T14:27:42.705-04:00my weekend + jessica and ash bettany's homeI got a bit tired of scanning the internet for pretty pictures the other day--so, sorry for the delay. Probs because I actually had a semblance of a life this weekend.<br /><br />Friday night, Brian, Jaime, Lena, and Matt and I went out to the Wherehouse in Newburgh. Definitely recommended if you're a vegetarian, because there are lots of options for you and it's a very hipster place. (And if you're a vegetarian, you're likely to be a hipster.)<br /><br />Mostly everyone slept over at my house, and we got up bright and early to help out at Habitat for Humanity. Maybe "help" is a relative term. Lena and I strung up temperamental work lights for TWO HOURS before graduating to screwing in some screws. (I always feel like such a <span style="font-style: italic;">girl</span> whenever I volunteer here. The site managers take one look at me and are like, "You go hold a ladder somewhere.")<br /><br />Later that day we hiked up Bear Mountain with my sister.<br /><br />I did this hike a couple of years ago with Brian (who happens to be a cross-country runner) some other friends and almost died of out-of-shapeness. Brian had called back from several dozen yards ahead, "Just think of how proud you'll feel and how worth it it'll be at the top."<br /><br />I huffed to myself and thought hotly, "Yeah, I don't subscribe to that whole go-for-the-gold thing? I'd rather be a quitter and not sweat to death." <span style="font-size:78%;">Did you catch my pun? hehe</span><br /><br />This time, though, it wasn't so bad. I could actually appreciate the view at the top because my head wasn't between my knees!<br /><br />The hike was a great time to laugh and talk and watch Brian get chased by a bee for half a mile. We drove home that night, stopping only at Lena's cousin's house to jump fully clothed into their pool.<br /><br />And now, to make up for all those words you just had to read, enjoy these pictures, via <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2011/07/sneak-peek-jessica-ash-bettenay.html">Design*Sponge.</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJTCaByldHmb6SSz5_CBFBM94XAbNhqskIAvpO6FYuY-qGlY6d3_WXfaptblffQfx06wbuozlYLvT4K-VioR2Il5sfSEQN99UVu7e0SeWXIryKqJPRHI7cNFXG3wNPtmtSldZ3tT5hUc/s1600/1_Jessie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 495px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJTCaByldHmb6SSz5_CBFBM94XAbNhqskIAvpO6FYuY-qGlY6d3_WXfaptblffQfx06wbuozlYLvT4K-VioR2Il5sfSEQN99UVu7e0SeWXIryKqJPRHI7cNFXG3wNPtmtSldZ3tT5hUc/s400/1_Jessie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722996315762498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSnnqQPlaVgJ-lOFsn5jcWe_MOcyKSgRBoT6ac4o5p2UinUo4erccJDisRIR2t4cqDvhITYPKpX6af_HDs8q0l-OPDYnxQQfoGQpOYFfZ1e9-N61hbpU9qlR8mguHrPHphbqM4HtNGlg/s1600/2_jessie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 478px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSnnqQPlaVgJ-lOFsn5jcWe_MOcyKSgRBoT6ac4o5p2UinUo4erccJDisRIR2t4cqDvhITYPKpX6af_HDs8q0l-OPDYnxQQfoGQpOYFfZ1e9-N61hbpU9qlR8mguHrPHphbqM4HtNGlg/s400/2_jessie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722993369847106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH-E7dRkxhPV07Uny4Ij7m_5TqD1TScshYCMaZfBDAv7skYCpmKKK-nUf5mRosOIw0YR4HgP1mROaWOqYZx0FAo1C4dr2tQbYWTxxOg6QqYEiDHbbcGJgFSQwxllfY-qVW-U45ge0nu0/s1600/4_Jessie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 495px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH-E7dRkxhPV07Uny4Ij7m_5TqD1TScshYCMaZfBDAv7skYCpmKKK-nUf5mRosOIw0YR4HgP1mROaWOqYZx0FAo1C4dr2tQbYWTxxOg6QqYEiDHbbcGJgFSQwxllfY-qVW-U45ge0nu0/s400/4_Jessie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722937544449010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtiS6pvkXO3TClvxB7SZi7w7yxikVEs-mHO2jFw_G1GXx53ZNxfG3bqrrOnduxOUQYgiw0wtvqi5XGc_fXsJcrel_DYOZew4bZ9Y203AxdN1uJooPGeBUOxhlI9fUpimtzcjkGysJ7_U/s1600/6_Jessie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 510px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtiS6pvkXO3TClvxB7SZi7w7yxikVEs-mHO2jFw_G1GXx53ZNxfG3bqrrOnduxOUQYgiw0wtvqi5XGc_fXsJcrel_DYOZew4bZ9Y203AxdN1uJooPGeBUOxhlI9fUpimtzcjkGysJ7_U/s400/6_Jessie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722934087985058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL3fFI7cyFqtE7Hs2Cb8vfLwQESzTT34xr1kF5bobcEP5GgbwQ2_GbYR5-SHvzRFvP1Lcbixqs7tmIZ4ZClpe-sZzyrSaa0VmntkTn_w4qOzs25vA6IhyphenhyphenWpa_AT0aBzDY_gMSTF1XEcY/s1600/7_Jessie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 479px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL3fFI7cyFqtE7Hs2Cb8vfLwQESzTT34xr1kF5bobcEP5GgbwQ2_GbYR5-SHvzRFvP1Lcbixqs7tmIZ4ZClpe-sZzyrSaa0VmntkTn_w4qOzs25vA6IhyphenhyphenWpa_AT0aBzDY_gMSTF1XEcY/s400/7_Jessie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722925932593378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnRkPi0drjC2Jdxrk4AYSRLE2C0S4DKY5t_GMUZbwPWOVQmmpmPOkZy90PrpHjIgGvIiX4hLi3km7VmKqTkdzOMg6a3cffWs4jQmIsUtT-qVehbC-beFEWV_Wqmwc6KBq_sC2kfTqers/s1600/11_Jessie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 472px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnRkPi0drjC2Jdxrk4AYSRLE2C0S4DKY5t_GMUZbwPWOVQmmpmPOkZy90PrpHjIgGvIiX4hLi3km7VmKqTkdzOMg6a3cffWs4jQmIsUtT-qVehbC-beFEWV_Wqmwc6KBq_sC2kfTqers/s400/11_Jessie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722927633398146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnucfIMqT-ITgwNTUANjE-9DuBPL19a2GUlzYYtvru1b0E7v1HfYibO34UrC_9SygWYkNBUfCz3QMUaGkv8XuD87AIRnflh3oEljwR7lPC0aKSwbyzlmCHcQSV1b-wD9a60V6YaJ221Ic/s1600/8_Jessie1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 335px; height: 501px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnucfIMqT-ITgwNTUANjE-9DuBPL19a2GUlzYYtvru1b0E7v1HfYibO34UrC_9SygWYkNBUfCz3QMUaGkv8XuD87AIRnflh3oEljwR7lPC0aKSwbyzlmCHcQSV1b-wD9a60V6YaJ221Ic/s400/8_Jessie1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722921932883874" border="0" /></a>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-40441939221612879922011-07-21T15:12:00.005-04:002011-07-21T15:21:50.971-04:00erin loechner.Man, I've just been stumbling over sweet blogs lately.<br /><br />These images are all via <a href="http://www.designformankind.com/">design for mankind</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA0eArhUsHWsCTxCAjp3Hy0jvM3tyWdjJfnUlKVP-37jdgo6mMeZYltqfvy4ek0UxeR-ftXTSD2EKw4soLQfDbs-iWMoMiaw5hiF7Ie3hXkEXNubwsSp2eh6rZDKHClXjG8M-6nK20Rw/s1600/swirl-art-412x395.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA0eArhUsHWsCTxCAjp3Hy0jvM3tyWdjJfnUlKVP-37jdgo6mMeZYltqfvy4ek0UxeR-ftXTSD2EKw4soLQfDbs-iWMoMiaw5hiF7Ie3hXkEXNubwsSp2eh6rZDKHClXjG8M-6nK20Rw/s400/swirl-art-412x395.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631886313012293138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJpIYM_Psdhz0dXJnQBbwfeYzhNK1K3wI78rbhxcfRo7zBBQtDDsOinFwS1Brsx9xen4od8xI8Ar_nFP9myn8Yfon0RUuX0Whf8uAoB4w8S9iscIjmeglAgZVLzKpM4fr9T1rkzg11IE/s1600/oil-painting-412x346.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJpIYM_Psdhz0dXJnQBbwfeYzhNK1K3wI78rbhxcfRo7zBBQtDDsOinFwS1Brsx9xen4od8xI8Ar_nFP9myn8Yfon0RUuX0Whf8uAoB4w8S9iscIjmeglAgZVLzKpM4fr9T1rkzg11IE/s400/oil-painting-412x346.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631886299035474530" border="0" /></a><br />I'd like to steal, seize, or otherwise adopt by force Erin's entire closet. K?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI1faEOyQDPR-eoZvQl2FIqOQIiqdFn13SJUqCjOq-y4S_GdMbUxsptEVfPuNZmavd4_54jgcrnDPULij1jGyvhxaIVOzdfMDkZMZNt5xv9h9tbNa1jy9LbgRfcuaHwwn3ElWx0rIfn8/s1600/blazer-and-blue-pants-412x618.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI1faEOyQDPR-eoZvQl2FIqOQIiqdFn13SJUqCjOq-y4S_GdMbUxsptEVfPuNZmavd4_54jgcrnDPULij1jGyvhxaIVOzdfMDkZMZNt5xv9h9tbNa1jy9LbgRfcuaHwwn3ElWx0rIfn8/s400/blazer-and-blue-pants-412x618.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631886289970063746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQYaZVpQ6pMsbxzumDn8F-cYP6YeFY3qI4JR2VMXCpHtHnLOSWN6yyMrwC537toZ-IUn5bCUS3qcwG_XlVIusOLsFqR0ugofHJ_ywVkxKoulNHuYXmBANVoEFgBxA4ydRkggJvcY0Mes/s1600/cobalt-blue1-412x274.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQYaZVpQ6pMsbxzumDn8F-cYP6YeFY3qI4JR2VMXCpHtHnLOSWN6yyMrwC537toZ-IUn5bCUS3qcwG_XlVIusOLsFqR0ugofHJ_ywVkxKoulNHuYXmBANVoEFgBxA4ydRkggJvcY0Mes/s400/cobalt-blue1-412x274.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631886292351063842" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqUHE9-1d5Lv1kgOhDMALqANSwkfs2qn3imMj2j_nFel6unuG6WouXF2wvSjihgu6JJr1-cic-xju37dK8v_KP_Q444s2hv2NTHKsvWoNfJcHG-PjcCpvrFxkltVDVVZdqHy942lQMzs/s1600/sweatshirt-blazer-and-blue-beaded-necklace-412x274.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqUHE9-1d5Lv1kgOhDMALqANSwkfs2qn3imMj2j_nFel6unuG6WouXF2wvSjihgu6JJr1-cic-xju37dK8v_KP_Q444s2hv2NTHKsvWoNfJcHG-PjcCpvrFxkltVDVVZdqHy942lQMzs/s400/sweatshirt-blazer-and-blue-beaded-necklace-412x274.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631886744589913346" border="0" /></a><br />Plus two good reads sent to me by my awesomely awesome friend Brett.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/1664107/the-future-of-college-forget-lectures-and-let-the-students-lead">The Future of College</a> (education)<br /><a href="http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2010/09/the-crazier-the-better/">The Crazier the Better</a> (writing)Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-33670761859810668492011-07-20T09:34:00.004-04:002011-07-20T09:44:59.901-04:00married bliss.So, after a short whirlwind weekend of wedding stress and beauty <span style="font-size:78%;">(note that lovely alliteration!)</span>, I am back home again, once more.<br /><br />Corrine was stunning. Jesse was adorable. The weather was sweltering.<br /><br />Seriously, I'm talking groomsmen, bridesmaids, the entire audience just streaming. Pouring. Practically RAINING sweat from their very pores.<br /><br />Please enjoy my new favorite <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HHgedNNQco">song</a> from Fleet Foxes' album, <span style="font-style: italic;">Helplessness Blues.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Unfortunately the wedding pictures are not up yet (ARRGGGGGG!!!) but isn't this a pretty store?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwwf47XxVlSZH6rfm_-x3Cyb8zBDe3w1Cb4fMcKJdLptLniGGFkseiFXKCA0OIZwaDrbzf8ZM5asn5IZXTpOu1ozq0GH2QGyt9ORvGjG3tq7xQKr2BV5tJnIrii3ANZlYpz7xW2tXucU/s1600/Pino4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 446px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwwf47XxVlSZH6rfm_-x3Cyb8zBDe3w1Cb4fMcKJdLptLniGGFkseiFXKCA0OIZwaDrbzf8ZM5asn5IZXTpOu1ozq0GH2QGyt9ORvGjG3tq7xQKr2BV5tJnIrii3ANZlYpz7xW2tXucU/s400/Pino4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631429492814998978" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74oywqn2IuvoOEhUonoDunot83cOFblvexM2ooJi-I_KrM2nEwAXQvQ_RfJPtB2f-TZyyWTepNgo2qC8ri5mRVgO054mj62ILAsqDEJ9V9ZEuCi6tkl7p0sv8H1dzOV1sEnYwcguLvPw/s1600/Pino1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 447px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74oywqn2IuvoOEhUonoDunot83cOFblvexM2ooJi-I_KrM2nEwAXQvQ_RfJPtB2f-TZyyWTepNgo2qC8ri5mRVgO054mj62ILAsqDEJ9V9ZEuCi6tkl7p0sv8H1dzOV1sEnYwcguLvPw/s400/Pino1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631429754191151634" border="0" /></a><br />Pino Branding, via <a href="http://blackeiffel.blogspot.com/">Black*Eiffel</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(I don't actually know what branding means, or why there's a whole store dedicated to it. But this is not a democracy, and I say I'm allowed to post things I don't understand! Aha!)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-69636674715105006992011-07-13T22:53:00.002-04:002011-07-13T23:02:38.025-04:00getting hitched!No, not me. Silly.<br /><br />Them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_n6rCxhgh8QvOYQfpNyD19mIGPYjdTKXkPtah_laPEa0VVap9B7hhz35e-9iwPzp-sP0Xd0h-4e9v6hg17h1lXz-3CQy4fVL5JYjTSYMmgpHhjgncyJIXXaQhO9BJ-tRj3uiNRmv_5Y/s1600/36166_1541443108494_1607430035_1274772_4008861_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_n6rCxhgh8QvOYQfpNyD19mIGPYjdTKXkPtah_laPEa0VVap9B7hhz35e-9iwPzp-sP0Xd0h-4e9v6hg17h1lXz-3CQy4fVL5JYjTSYMmgpHhjgncyJIXXaQhO9BJ-tRj3uiNRmv_5Y/s400/36166_1541443108494_1607430035_1274772_4008861_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629036557664849090" border="0" /></a><br />The lovely-beyond-belief Corrine and Jesse.<br /><br />As many of my friends know (due to my constant discussion on the subject), their wedding is on Sunday and I fly out tomorrow to the great Midwest to be a part of it :)<br /><br />Corrine is a dear friend I've known since freshman year:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCBcfM3UrpLV9udIgZDeOt0eAcpsLvasG5Udhp208tEejtUezSKDYlFdsznOcP6ecCIfuKz-iHAigFGAzGXx3o0aUf_7BFXMg5QXKDKFUrSVPpIEnSNSn7uJR2ENFRPDVPOL-FoTpY4I/s1600/206636_1038809213544_1324947270_105427_4163_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCBcfM3UrpLV9udIgZDeOt0eAcpsLvasG5Udhp208tEejtUezSKDYlFdsznOcP6ecCIfuKz-iHAigFGAzGXx3o0aUf_7BFXMg5QXKDKFUrSVPpIEnSNSn7uJR2ENFRPDVPOL-FoTpY4I/s400/206636_1038809213544_1324947270_105427_4163_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629036560992203234" border="0" /></a><br />We were so cute (and I was so skinny)!<br /><br />I couldn't be happier for them, or more excited to see Corrine's dress and her wedding decor--she's got mad stylez.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-24229930394194912482011-07-12T11:35:00.002-04:002011-07-12T11:44:33.675-04:00More being returned!Not me this time (obvs)!<br /><br />It's Dani, my bes fran and blogger of <a href="http://fadingmarginsofdani.blogspot.com/">Fading Margins.</a><br /><br />She is officially back in the US, officially back in PA, and officially too big for that rope swing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDLZhrIIroX5x5D0VtSRaka8VKu5TyUo8RyH6a6noD0P_-_dv-9NoJX5FFEXYkfxlMbj_RrwraEXzlR4mPoVOC-_Nb6pG1jAsBi9lgFh3wHT_0bcAVFcdSdO4AYsBy_O245f2ltcf9lY/s1600/Back%252Byard%252Bswing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDLZhrIIroX5x5D0VtSRaka8VKu5TyUo8RyH6a6noD0P_-_dv-9NoJX5FFEXYkfxlMbj_RrwraEXzlR4mPoVOC-_Nb6pG1jAsBi9lgFh3wHT_0bcAVFcdSdO4AYsBy_O245f2ltcf9lY/s400/Back%252Byard%252Bswing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628492158377218370" border="0" /></a><br />:)<br /><br />Welcome home, girl.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-64798173678607628192011-07-11T12:55:00.005-04:002011-07-11T13:27:36.338-04:00Returned!Man, what a vaca. My family and I laid out on beaches (which resulted for me in a very oddly shaped sunburn on my legs), ate out A LOT, kayaked, had delicious ice cream almost every day, went for walks and runs, laid out on the hammock with some Billy Collins poetry (that one was just me), played board games, napped, and best of all, WENT TO BED BEFORE TEN PM EVERY NIGHT!<br /><br />The only problem was that our tire-mounted bike rack kept falling off on the way to the Cape and then shattered our rear window later in the week, resulting in a wonderfully expensive and stressful repair and replacement. But apart from that, smooth sailing!<br /><br />Pics to come, hopefully.<br /><br />Seriously, it was so nice to be detached from my computer, phone, and TV (except for movies with the fam) for the week. I forget how time consuming and energy sapping those can be. Of course, as soon as I got home I went online and discovered that a million people had written to me and it took forever to get back to everyone, and then I had to check all the blogs I follow, and the instructions for reupholstering a chair on <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/">Little Green Notebook</a> were sort of complicated to envision so I just HAD to study those... and I ended up being on my computer for like five hours the night I got back. My mother mocked me, "You kept saying how much you loved being away from technology and you haven't left your screen for an entire day except to complain for food!"<br /><br />So apparently my priorities change by day. WHATEVS MOM!!<br /><br />Also, I found a new favorite blog: <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/">Oh Happy Day.</a> The author, Jordan, is living in Paris for a year with her family and has gorgeous photos of all the pretty Parisian stuff (the technical term) that she encounters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyLtnQv-Mku5Zn52VGWZaS4fmwL_D2k9DxmcEN0osklg38QgKEmGG6x93yoT4R2wu9W5tlux2lQ9aIZBP69QyeO_oz2JKB49OtwaNi-TXKgUigchRvVroDW0UBkUHVp82nnHDYETpmTY/s1600/IMG_5626.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyLtnQv-Mku5Zn52VGWZaS4fmwL_D2k9DxmcEN0osklg38QgKEmGG6x93yoT4R2wu9W5tlux2lQ9aIZBP69QyeO_oz2JKB49OtwaNi-TXKgUigchRvVroDW0UBkUHVp82nnHDYETpmTY/s400/IMG_5626.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628146865113921634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibebu1qrEUAniD-Yse9uwQ4wJ1l-9XId7DH3muWBr5jxD7-EZa-lO_2dMrzN18C-z-c2w92EU222HznkRAWU4f5-EAC7SyQTAOJz7KRC0qO4EL5DIzOEQrGD9Pd6Snz1XFtK_usrAoSPQ/s1600/IMG_5664.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibebu1qrEUAniD-Yse9uwQ4wJ1l-9XId7DH3muWBr5jxD7-EZa-lO_2dMrzN18C-z-c2w92EU222HznkRAWU4f5-EAC7SyQTAOJz7KRC0qO4EL5DIzOEQrGD9Pd6Snz1XFtK_usrAoSPQ/s400/IMG_5664.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628146860878265442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq-h08fKOqOnO4pPiy_DG8jSIzSHzVAp98o48jpjHoMlT4iICShcVH6y_UsaKDVtgk-pAjwe5PRaUKXrduNb2mwPysBuu2XbJxQNGzGzL_LAP1NEIcHjE2sObkNPCtAnXuP9xo8lzSQs/s1600/IMG_5615.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq-h08fKOqOnO4pPiy_DG8jSIzSHzVAp98o48jpjHoMlT4iICShcVH6y_UsaKDVtgk-pAjwe5PRaUKXrduNb2mwPysBuu2XbJxQNGzGzL_LAP1NEIcHjE2sObkNPCtAnXuP9xo8lzSQs/s400/IMG_5615.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628146481801203490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDNYmTWo2717A_rNkEI3KfcAJxOelPs2K_VFP4NuF8Cz42NYK5ugdzOOQ39jmL5LGbIAtRDMao_37b1OXve_jdKc4ax1IQ7ES_g0thZ99HcIgF4rldQQOBZiQRWWky49dozEWFgd5uRo/s1600/Screen%252Bshot%252B2011-05-16%252Bat%252B3.00.32%252BPM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 445px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDNYmTWo2717A_rNkEI3KfcAJxOelPs2K_VFP4NuF8Cz42NYK5ugdzOOQ39jmL5LGbIAtRDMao_37b1OXve_jdKc4ax1IQ7ES_g0thZ99HcIgF4rldQQOBZiQRWWky49dozEWFgd5uRo/s400/Screen%252Bshot%252B2011-05-16%252Bat%252B3.00.32%252BPM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628146473218111954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGJNYa29-AtYjcNtQdp9twl0ILJF0tsZIKl38_84rtoWfS2WU1-cRSgZN9dPzhvCw-uPJK_-_BgmYqv_6UUfRcu_dwe1wuF-nrim_cYE4AEOank6mqoNRLKYOmpRD-U5BMWzq8ZkSyhI/s1600/Screen%252Bshot%252B2011-05-16%252Bat%252B2.58.35%252BPM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 449px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGJNYa29-AtYjcNtQdp9twl0ILJF0tsZIKl38_84rtoWfS2WU1-cRSgZN9dPzhvCw-uPJK_-_BgmYqv_6UUfRcu_dwe1wuF-nrim_cYE4AEOank6mqoNRLKYOmpRD-U5BMWzq8ZkSyhI/s400/Screen%252Bshot%252B2011-05-16%252Bat%252B2.58.35%252BPM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628146462057577474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79qkSBVtg4f2emM1c3KEFPf4cns4GmMG5SaXotI2znr4Wm_rlD9zh3B-3qhFSmpwZlYJAfM2k5pgzolQvH8vdz5crhCVn6EELsu5b1Rc90WIUk1JcD9dgkpy6_pX8ghJcQQHDycxpdYA/s1600/Screen%252Bshot%252B2011-05-16%252Bat%252B2.57.59%252BPM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79qkSBVtg4f2emM1c3KEFPf4cns4GmMG5SaXotI2znr4Wm_rlD9zh3B-3qhFSmpwZlYJAfM2k5pgzolQvH8vdz5crhCVn6EELsu5b1Rc90WIUk1JcD9dgkpy6_pX8ghJcQQHDycxpdYA/s400/Screen%252Bshot%252B2011-05-16%252Bat%252B2.57.59%252BPM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628146456952002754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN5j1Ma49b0fAitolG07KKua4SC3pTF2-yPfrpuetAUQa8TCXtCmC3vILN00WlskRaStrfDzCE7nDCq4hN83lQUTC-yN9tZF1Om_G-gvELXTbRGAr4XfvI8uw1lJ-gOaV_IAoMKMnc80/s1600/IMG_5667.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 419px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN5j1Ma49b0fAitolG07KKua4SC3pTF2-yPfrpuetAUQa8TCXtCmC3vILN00WlskRaStrfDzCE7nDCq4hN83lQUTC-yN9tZF1Om_G-gvELXTbRGAr4XfvI8uw1lJ-gOaV_IAoMKMnc80/s400/IMG_5667.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628146448555133810" border="0" /></a><br />All via <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/2011/05/le-boulanger-des-invalides-jocteur/">Oh Happy Day</a>.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-67847684372140435922011-07-01T21:16:00.002-04:002011-07-01T21:22:18.637-04:00hasta manana!More like hasta semana, actually (although that's probably-almost-certainly-definitely incorrect Spanish). I guess I'll just stick with hasta luego.<br /><br />Mi familia and I are going to off to MA for a week long vacation by the ocean. And in the interest of some true relaxation, I'm not bringing my computer. You can bet there'll be lots of swimming, biking, reading, card-playing, napping, laughing, fighting, laying-around-and-eating going on.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-1994623606761982732011-06-30T07:53:00.001-04:002011-06-30T07:55:33.394-04:00etsy's "flirty gems"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDDUqxcD76jITQzjOpKcEJxscICOC0rfQL9TN_Wvdk3k2f7GnLuJDkgtizPW7XkZ-cAHbr3VhNd8ZEI19tawyBf2EtW3xBlp02rDQ2ur4mahnGCdmi0jsID_tTBmrJx9jDvt6fo0GhPk/s1600/JEWELRY_FLIRTY-GEMS-ETSY_EARRINGS-NECKLACES_BELLE-MAISON_8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDDUqxcD76jITQzjOpKcEJxscICOC0rfQL9TN_Wvdk3k2f7GnLuJDkgtizPW7XkZ-cAHbr3VhNd8ZEI19tawyBf2EtW3xBlp02rDQ2ur4mahnGCdmi0jsID_tTBmrJx9jDvt6fo0GhPk/s400/JEWELRY_FLIRTY-GEMS-ETSY_EARRINGS-NECKLACES_BELLE-MAISON_8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623979855566764210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQyiiK2TD7PW_LEJWeX-M8QMAmcwnwi6boCrHqtgz9Sw2c2OR5SlU7R0BoHF5GnjEuV9g8SPB8IeB_6WvFFgO8Z8mc7E1KbrBhAfmnlAqzNueY1Eve6u9BmLfYEvnh0AFaZpb1OLNYcM/s1600/JEWELRY_FLIRTY-GEMS-ETSY_EARRINGS-NECKLACES_BELLE-MAISON_6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQyiiK2TD7PW_LEJWeX-M8QMAmcwnwi6boCrHqtgz9Sw2c2OR5SlU7R0BoHF5GnjEuV9g8SPB8IeB_6WvFFgO8Z8mc7E1KbrBhAfmnlAqzNueY1Eve6u9BmLfYEvnh0AFaZpb1OLNYcM/s400/JEWELRY_FLIRTY-GEMS-ETSY_EARRINGS-NECKLACES_BELLE-MAISON_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623979846196460578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnXEfeCQ-KQZq64ESWvXAWl6g9vzGquqxHFncAkzfe2RIbkHzexoH3rbg2QEhmp9My5k_y3AJPcd1Cs4sb0zS6fSzNJFU0Y2dDs-RwXtXq3XhbH2tGt6sLFWN3czjVPXmsvElvPpBQBM/s1600/JEWELRY_FLIRTY-GEMS-ETSY_EARRINGS-NECKLACES_BELLE-MAISON_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnXEfeCQ-KQZq64ESWvXAWl6g9vzGquqxHFncAkzfe2RIbkHzexoH3rbg2QEhmp9My5k_y3AJPcd1Cs4sb0zS6fSzNJFU0Y2dDs-RwXtXq3XhbH2tGt6sLFWN3czjVPXmsvElvPpBQBM/s400/JEWELRY_FLIRTY-GEMS-ETSY_EARRINGS-NECKLACES_BELLE-MAISON_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623979845481604482" border="0" /></a><br />via <a href="http://www.bellemaison23.com/search?updated-max=2011-06-20T00%3A30%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=6">belle maison</a>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-75857008187788827252011-06-29T12:34:00.002-04:002011-06-29T12:45:20.729-04:00the past and future.What I made for dinner a few nights ago:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WRqe88x40xtMlGdyWGiVRHv1eT2HfsUvmrmYSVBGgPNonIeEBl0HFGX3zZ2usNtt9GuZ4HyZ0ag54sa6k5nG9eRBj9Nv8egO8dce__0rT_hIpF3Hk_pUzkJxqSzzdfNlHsE1NwC5qfU/s1600/372906886_6792aaba1d.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WRqe88x40xtMlGdyWGiVRHv1eT2HfsUvmrmYSVBGgPNonIeEBl0HFGX3zZ2usNtt9GuZ4HyZ0ag54sa6k5nG9eRBj9Nv8egO8dce__0rT_hIpF3Hk_pUzkJxqSzzdfNlHsE1NwC5qfU/s400/372906886_6792aaba1d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623681355736880194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Asparagus, artichoke, and shiitake risotto from <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/01/someday-my-spring-will-come/">Smitten Kitchen</a>. </span><br /><br />What I'm going to make for breakfast tomorrow:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuNVgHGBrOboTqtky3VOuarfwp1jfI-wh72izoq57gBoV7c7TJq0RxTrKb9FWQgnDK97PtRHHIbWtSHbSPKS_PopNfJ-xALKbPdiG2o_h9KRLM71NI-tUQkCR6AmzDfuCVmViM6EOnJA/s1600/5876545917_97ab4ef050.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuNVgHGBrOboTqtky3VOuarfwp1jfI-wh72izoq57gBoV7c7TJq0RxTrKb9FWQgnDK97PtRHHIbWtSHbSPKS_PopNfJ-xALKbPdiG2o_h9KRLM71NI-tUQkCR6AmzDfuCVmViM6EOnJA/s400/5876545917_97ab4ef050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623681400046611234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh6yqp9gjfm69s07ir2GOaquz2DXW9WzhPzHmE1ftn4kKeGAO_TwRAXM4jhVKfQLmoqrADD9Q_QKeQqL1Wn1rKNXSAlSVRCAmAOEb13a-grkmc-u2fKEWqk9pavTtitaxz0TSzNbE-ac/s1600/5876542005_bb426edd31.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh6yqp9gjfm69s07ir2GOaquz2DXW9WzhPzHmE1ftn4kKeGAO_TwRAXM4jhVKfQLmoqrADD9Q_QKeQqL1Wn1rKNXSAlSVRCAmAOEb13a-grkmc-u2fKEWqk9pavTtitaxz0TSzNbE-ac/s400/5876542005_bb426edd31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623681374631525378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Blueberry yogurt multigrain pancakes, also from <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/06/blueberry-yogurt-multigrain-pancakes/#more-7636">Smitten Kitchen.</a><br /></span><br />(On a side note, I have about a million cookbooks but somehow I keep end up on this particular cooking blog. Absolutely everything I've made from here has been delicious.)Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-85727569892245643262011-06-28T10:47:00.002-04:002011-06-28T10:59:45.271-04:00missy higgins.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTHMwWY6hNf2k34TTHi2FA0y4KvPPNI_5zG00T7eT6280blf2mXjcw-FSs9Ql0iA6OUWxNo_QgpqH0LL9MYRBR0zWQcGZhWIZVxlpHm5L5adN-aqZyx52MKVKjyKfrdjAAkgZrBkufP4/s1600/Missy-Higgins-Skyline-Widget-Music-Warner-Australia.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTHMwWY6hNf2k34TTHi2FA0y4KvPPNI_5zG00T7eT6280blf2mXjcw-FSs9Ql0iA6OUWxNo_QgpqH0LL9MYRBR0zWQcGZhWIZVxlpHm5L5adN-aqZyx52MKVKjyKfrdjAAkgZrBkufP4/s400/Missy-Higgins-Skyline-Widget-Music-Warner-Australia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623285385317091810" border="0" /></a>via <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/03/missy-higgins-tour-video-widget.php">treehugger</a>.<br /><br />The first time I heard of this Australian lovely was from my roommate at band camp (for some reason I always feel like that should be one word, like<span style="font-style: italic;">, bandcamp</span>. And yes, go ahead and make your jokes. I play the flute, too. Har har.). I liked her then but embarrassingly enough, couldn't really understand the accent.<br /><br />Then she came up on my Pandora station last year and, with my mysteriously vastly improved accent-translating capability, I loved her!<br /><br />Please enjoy this little sampling :) It's a live recording of her song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07_OLTnUnoE&feature=related">"Forgive Me."</a> Just start at 2:50.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-56828079875986239622011-06-27T12:21:00.003-04:002011-06-27T12:39:40.263-04:00the summer reading list, final copy.A People's History, Howard Zinn<br />Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster<br />House of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski<br />Everything is Illuminated, Jonathan Safron Foer<br />Custer Died for Your Sins, Vine Deloria<br />On the Road, Jack Kerouac<br />Stranger Things Happen, Kelly Link<br /><br />I'm mostly done with A People's History--only around 200 pages left to go, which out of 800 pages feels like being on the last mile of a marathon, and I'm taking a break for a little while because I'm up to the really recent history and it's very taxing and depressing. Hopefully I can crash through House of Leaves while I'm on vacation with the fam. Celebration of Discipline will be a week's read, I think. Then I'm going to try to read Stranger Things and Custer Died together, because the latter will probably also be a tough read, as soon as I get back. Then, Everything is Illuminated and On the Road have got to be finished before August, leaving just enough time for me to power through Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, which is required reading for Oregon.<br /><br />BEASTINNNNN.<br /><br />Some that I still want to read, that may substitute for whichever books I can't get out of the library:<br />State of Wonder<br />Infinite Jest<br />One Hundred Years of Solitude<br />The Things They Carried<br />Interpreter of MaladiesMelissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-38733787009269479862011-06-24T13:01:00.004-04:002011-06-24T13:04:17.939-04:00jessica helgerson.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxt6oXcin_snQmRfMasX2UfLOOdiTuG0phg_MxUVWJH7EpLwrZDhpQ7DxCpehyphenhyphenu2ixhcvSAJ7iZD0JhI1FgfTFWtgRDYkUaQsHYVwCZIWXEf-ehMlNwY85JeB18tkfX_Lif1fLOKKdg8/s1600/LRB_110608_3081-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxt6oXcin_snQmRfMasX2UfLOOdiTuG0phg_MxUVWJH7EpLwrZDhpQ7DxCpehyphenhyphenu2ixhcvSAJ7iZD0JhI1FgfTFWtgRDYkUaQsHYVwCZIWXEf-ehMlNwY85JeB18tkfX_Lif1fLOKKdg8/s400/LRB_110608_3081-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621832724723660738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X5SCwlODw2DUNJNgQf9t1_hm8mqMqC1UqVc2Nn2TixY2TKL1eS9-BsoeqRGhIcECf6Xhb1qcn4f8yW17g7pv1FeBcjtD-G7su7k7-i5LRVBel7JcorIFgJnKLGLWJgvV3S0iLciDrZA/s1600/LRB_110608_3063-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 446px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X5SCwlODw2DUNJNgQf9t1_hm8mqMqC1UqVc2Nn2TixY2TKL1eS9-BsoeqRGhIcECf6Xhb1qcn4f8yW17g7pv1FeBcjtD-G7su7k7-i5LRVBel7JcorIFgJnKLGLWJgvV3S0iLciDrZA/s400/LRB_110608_3063-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621832720566878642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiJKNWq_mV3fUtBZT_JoC0TAr_fKYG0yJAsybt-pE-MV6YH_EioDn27ctCO0G3DlPuMcPlbndEWNyHnmuFhok3yr40DT2GW-zhfXMS14gRxK_hkWNfHdCOeUaa3fGwjPHtnZHmzI6eT0/s1600/LRB_110608_3038-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 445px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiJKNWq_mV3fUtBZT_JoC0TAr_fKYG0yJAsybt-pE-MV6YH_EioDn27ctCO0G3DlPuMcPlbndEWNyHnmuFhok3yr40DT2GW-zhfXMS14gRxK_hkWNfHdCOeUaa3fGwjPHtnZHmzI6eT0/s400/LRB_110608_3038-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621832713680612306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt37NCDvirbveW58e5dZxE7UKAqIP0yXtYK1OUrj0IDfvC2YuHVtbeP3bW1qLUqowRkKPppXe_dnKCOIQ_C6scq829-4xhVJSlsYL4YlEWAx7Dw6I9LLnWVEoxxKEQVAfizBhN4KFOqyU/s1600/LRB_110608_3028-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 444px; height: 438px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt37NCDvirbveW58e5dZxE7UKAqIP0yXtYK1OUrj0IDfvC2YuHVtbeP3bW1qLUqowRkKPppXe_dnKCOIQ_C6scq829-4xhVJSlsYL4YlEWAx7Dw6I9LLnWVEoxxKEQVAfizBhN4KFOqyU/s400/LRB_110608_3028-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621832709571565794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWlYrNYzUbnu9a1PlzFWVSp-IcXIZcqwgPWb8d_zV4RGc38atp7n1Dh-mKSfSNhyR5pIeOSA9VlrNDv73Wv-MwuiwUwMD5J7Ly4HaP2UVo1Otaj8DQwsJe-h5pKmG-L6BoRsO539k52Q/s1600/LRB_110608_2998-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWlYrNYzUbnu9a1PlzFWVSp-IcXIZcqwgPWb8d_zV4RGc38atp7n1Dh-mKSfSNhyR5pIeOSA9VlrNDv73Wv-MwuiwUwMD5J7Ly4HaP2UVo1Otaj8DQwsJe-h5pKmG-L6BoRsO539k52Q/s400/LRB_110608_2998-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621832705499390274" border="0" /></a><br />images via <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2011/06/weekly-wrap-up-jessica-helgerson-design.html">design*sponge</a>.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-87845707181117259192011-06-22T08:09:00.004-04:002011-06-22T08:24:47.974-04:00a smattering of news.More <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/06/22/137324767/volatile-food-prices-grab-g-20s-full-attention">food troubles</a>...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdp2Vnmufa61hyphenhyphenwqrYz0eTkkbbYI12R3p3lkVzBshWDWx-JaMi1OMcVYmAo_bxpQMEe-tfn10DyWOdXCrXXwz_De6WnyNMy1AFGWn66bNUJm_oa7zQ8d5sHU0xjstM0qEH-p7pnHIAFXA/s1600/112771857.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdp2Vnmufa61hyphenhyphenwqrYz0eTkkbbYI12R3p3lkVzBshWDWx-JaMi1OMcVYmAo_bxpQMEe-tfn10DyWOdXCrXXwz_De6WnyNMy1AFGWn66bNUJm_oa7zQ8d5sHU0xjstM0qEH-p7pnHIAFXA/s400/112771857.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621015638679949330" border="0" /></a><br />More <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/06/19/137243045/fact-is-students-have-never-known-history">education woes</a>...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/06/22/137245049/junk-food-fight-should-ads-stop-targeting-teens">Interesting</a>... but how much is advertising responsible for our crappy eating habits, and how much is actually our own fault?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/06/22/137301881/made-in-america-store-capitalizes-on-patriotism?ps=cprs">"Made in America"</a>...This makes me want to dance (jobs for people who need them!) and cry (less jobs for even poorer people elsewhere! So much patriotism!) and scream (are jobs the ultimate, even best answer to poverty? How much are we responsible for "assisting" our fellow humans abroad? How does outsourcing affect our relations and image not with the governments, but with the everyday people of other countries? More questions ahhhhhy71%H4tbvb@650ubvnkkkkkkkba%*khop[pjjsbnah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) all at the same time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7SH7523__DyY88-rYsYzFL9LSC3DcnP4046p6yH5rzP_qh87Y95HwJXhCZeJez-yfsajtam5MS-L8zxT4hk2Oi06rrIC7N4Id23RH0hyphenhyphenUXZhbUvNdVpVlDeLsiZOHJvkSrP6vcIqDIc/s1600/mia-interior.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7SH7523__DyY88-rYsYzFL9LSC3DcnP4046p6yH5rzP_qh87Y95HwJXhCZeJez-yfsajtam5MS-L8zxT4hk2Oi06rrIC7N4Id23RH0hyphenhyphenUXZhbUvNdVpVlDeLsiZOHJvkSrP6vcIqDIc/s400/mia-interior.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621018611200176146" border="0" /></a>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-31052194193895686122011-06-21T19:32:00.004-04:002011-06-21T19:41:17.232-04:00emma.One blog I follow, Design*Sponge, has this feature where the writer suggests home decor and fashion that look like they could be from a particular movie. Today's edition used one of my favorite movies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJDcHOEUkF69Bo2I3PGk9Euv8VMY70fDISGQXHQHN7JcssE5YFSiQ6Syh5SDda8tfkGaeLLOvS3RW8svzAZxY4eob6jSI1xuDbFg21aOZFQheikvWBZb5wMGhJ7rq6b-4kXU1emI1cX0/s1600/emma3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 546px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJDcHOEUkF69Bo2I3PGk9Euv8VMY70fDISGQXHQHN7JcssE5YFSiQ6Syh5SDda8tfkGaeLLOvS3RW8svzAZxY4eob6jSI1xuDbFg21aOZFQheikvWBZb5wMGhJ7rq6b-4kXU1emI1cX0/s400/emma3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620821016206389010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2nEYoQcHxxG5ZWRAqXU6O855X-IjAiq-3wNbmYm1MFr6L4KYEoB2nXgSOO5tDZHKQha6hHackcV-QcM2UVifA6WhADyL4PpwLLwkGlJKCnmiZV1jArJtHNZZS9xL7TnHQA0afnXsreM/s1600/emma5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 444px; height: 444px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2nEYoQcHxxG5ZWRAqXU6O855X-IjAiq-3wNbmYm1MFr6L4KYEoB2nXgSOO5tDZHKQha6hHackcV-QcM2UVifA6WhADyL4PpwLLwkGlJKCnmiZV1jArJtHNZZS9xL7TnHQA0afnXsreM/s400/emma5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620821023064532706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJDcHOEUkF69Bo2I3PGk9Euv8VMY70fDISGQXHQHN7JcssE5YFSiQ6Syh5SDda8tfkGaeLLOvS3RW8svzAZxY4eob6jSI1xuDbFg21aOZFQheikvWBZb5wMGhJ7rq6b-4kXU1emI1cX0/s1600/emma3.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfvar9rLXA7gIMNWFS5nGN3zuDbDzlYBe87bhtJszpsxHmz9dcXxfiYSP_cm91TXCU-aS6huhICupEvz79TjTCpfP92U452Qg65Kcs9uoLGAtZkGcHqqhzAzguXKuxN7Q8IxNBtoKCNo/s1600/emma2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 459px; height: 459px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfvar9rLXA7gIMNWFS5nGN3zuDbDzlYBe87bhtJszpsxHmz9dcXxfiYSP_cm91TXCU-aS6huhICupEvz79TjTCpfP92U452Qg65Kcs9uoLGAtZkGcHqqhzAzguXKuxN7Q8IxNBtoKCNo/s400/emma2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620821019888438082" border="0" /></a><br />Since we're so cool, sometimes my friends and I discuss which Jane Austen man we'd most like to marry. And at least two of them have claimed that Mr. Knightley is, without question, the perfect man. Emma's got some pretty serious 'tude, and he can totally handle it.<br /><br />Myself, I prefer Mr. Darcy. I know, I know. Cliche. But I <span style="font-style: italic;">am</span> Elizabeth Bennett. (I KNOW. Every girl thinks she's Elizabeth. But I am. Seriously.)<br /><br />I sense new posting potential...Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-59927396175756611852011-06-16T15:36:00.004-04:002011-06-16T15:49:55.644-04:00rock on!Most likely my wedding will be more traditional than this (although hopefully still unconventional! There's got to be SOME way to be a nonconformist in this world), but it's still awesome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjMZ5a3oqBZXrkuldsIsNthp4m1tmW9PZ2otaOszjrGMGp6j4W5kvWGPmJRlnKyi5ExtH1oni3qkxkAillxlQG4A3aDe9Y7z23WikqYR7Thy3mnMefGguQlgcMSeuwFESG1dEOH12Yiw/s1600/A-Beautiful-Mess-Wedding-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 365px; height: 545px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjMZ5a3oqBZXrkuldsIsNthp4m1tmW9PZ2otaOszjrGMGp6j4W5kvWGPmJRlnKyi5ExtH1oni3qkxkAillxlQG4A3aDe9Y7z23WikqYR7Thy3mnMefGguQlgcMSeuwFESG1dEOH12Yiw/s400/A-Beautiful-Mess-Wedding-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618906638123899698" border="0" /></a><br />See that one bridesmaid's hair?!<br /><br />The other photos keep coming out too small, for some reason, so you'll have to check out the other pictures (especially the bridesmaids' tights!) over at the originating site, <a href="http://www.stylemepretty.com/2011/06/16/a-beautiful-mess-wedding-by-arrow-apple/">stylemepretty.</a>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-25575535996067704022011-06-16T15:26:00.003-04:002011-06-16T15:50:52.853-04:00how i heart you, npr.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGvXMkL_GK3MhfDPvIMY5OIVI96aKyZG-hz6gafEln6I3Vbg1Q8QX2kbABJXsgpEUTM7dxstQb7uFvpazsorUUrrc-5zLV2MCBwMu60gC5VLdWxsQFpxX0Swv2rbg2QJaHE5pMUSDJb0/s1600/lhasa_wide.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 447px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGvXMkL_GK3MhfDPvIMY5OIVI96aKyZG-hz6gafEln6I3Vbg1Q8QX2kbABJXsgpEUTM7dxstQb7uFvpazsorUUrrc-5zLV2MCBwMu60gC5VLdWxsQFpxX0Swv2rbg2QJaHE5pMUSDJb0/s400/lhasa_wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618901365803786354" border="0" /></a><br />Talk of the Nation's<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/06/15/137202335/near-or-far-make-your-travel-meaningful"> "Five Tips for Making Travel More Meaningful."</a><br /><br />Of course, there's a lot that could be argued about travel-- the pros and cons of tourism, the motivations, the issues that arise from intercultural dialogue. But in my limited experience, getting out of the US has been incredibly eye-opening, and I pray hope dream want to MUST do it again.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-73962008043723347412011-06-14T11:30:00.003-04:002011-06-14T11:32:11.344-04:00book party!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTotYahckEN_J4y9fMSLuYeVp8KCBAkxZEibfMFhWRU7HVIU3ug27Coa1WuDu0Fp-5-YX_psLjaiom_9SXGu8yfmuakHOYtMIhOk5m_DfIcq9_t3qit4Y96a30BOujraHaT_fgAxrwJs/s1600/9_davidparty.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 427px; height: 444px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTotYahckEN_J4y9fMSLuYeVp8KCBAkxZEibfMFhWRU7HVIU3ug27Coa1WuDu0Fp-5-YX_psLjaiom_9SXGu8yfmuakHOYtMIhOk5m_DfIcq9_t3qit4Y96a30BOujraHaT_fgAxrwJs/s400/9_davidparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618098314306456402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOfOsUERXqnFCbcHU0n9mcgaLfflaINvdkU4x32893g9GBVuV3aHzY-LTNjxvD_Ov_QaKPGExFXFec6GduVVzlRM6JgvDZgb1QQloOb2wUOTxVhR4d2QiTjgg_SF9s7q9lJ9H86K8Bvg/s1600/5_davidparty.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 451px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOfOsUERXqnFCbcHU0n9mcgaLfflaINvdkU4x32893g9GBVuV3aHzY-LTNjxvD_Ov_QaKPGExFXFec6GduVVzlRM6JgvDZgb1QQloOb2wUOTxVhR4d2QiTjgg_SF9s7q9lJ9H86K8Bvg/s400/5_davidparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618098308017440514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHBr1RuHex4B6MLDNfIs7Oa5kvGjZmCSxmUyd0qVCxjSW4k2PowquZ9Zp9SZAy4cAkyCpzbSzNgoN96yXNUCQLmu3dOoa52nuYf7kDnBPgEjUgiqTDYoCFC15rcZhy1RPZlKt-Id41Xc/s1600/3_davidparty.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 487px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHBr1RuHex4B6MLDNfIs7Oa5kvGjZmCSxmUyd0qVCxjSW4k2PowquZ9Zp9SZAy4cAkyCpzbSzNgoN96yXNUCQLmu3dOoa52nuYf7kDnBPgEjUgiqTDYoCFC15rcZhy1RPZlKt-Id41Xc/s400/3_davidparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618098304826594770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XY-KNF3rd5Tmr9RYQZp3Cjs0UCj_LxjsdOnF6-O0Js3BC6LuTw4S33bL2LMdI0XjFYcGYpc_2-k9jT4Bv9cGookx6t2KV26fSS0r9DIG4GPmSoDpf7ocHISrxmr3wIm4jRK7TQZbdic/s1600/2_davidparty.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 364px; height: 547px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XY-KNF3rd5Tmr9RYQZp3Cjs0UCj_LxjsdOnF6-O0Js3BC6LuTw4S33bL2LMdI0XjFYcGYpc_2-k9jT4Bv9cGookx6t2KV26fSS0r9DIG4GPmSoDpf7ocHISrxmr3wIm4jRK7TQZbdic/s400/2_davidparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618098296632569954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7sJH_PdwzAgM92w2M0L0mrQ7DrOJepVe28aiBiri8EOTs0hbEdNgZj_jY3XH0woV4vja9Ob3GuIiq9zahoqil8fm8i0k3YOiYToAySAC3j9xLYp0Pv7q8Y56pOPCGvpCfzUlXJe9MEY/s1600/1_davidparty.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 562px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7sJH_PdwzAgM92w2M0L0mrQ7DrOJepVe28aiBiri8EOTs0hbEdNgZj_jY3XH0woV4vja9Ob3GuIiq9zahoqil8fm8i0k3YOiYToAySAC3j9xLYp0Pv7q8Y56pOPCGvpCfzUlXJe9MEY/s400/1_davidparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618098296090851378" border="0" /></a><br />via <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/">little green notebook</a>.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-33095024259045244442011-06-14T10:06:00.004-04:002011-06-14T15:03:17.404-04:00hello, i'm melissa, and i'm from....no wait, don't shut the door...Yesterday was my observation day at the non-profit where I've been hoping to get a job.<br /><br />Note: it wasn't until after I had filled out an application that I realized the job would entail me going door to door begging for contributions to their anti-hydrofracking campaign.<br /><br />But, I figured some non-profit work would be helpful on a resume. And it would be a good learning experience. Surely some doors slammed in my face would help me get over my fear of rejection.<br /><br />And you know what? The day wasn't so bad. I mean, for some people it would have absolutely sucked. But I often like things that other people think suck.<br /><br />The best part was the characters.<br /><br />For example, there were two other campaigners who were quintessential hipsters. I'm talking ninja-turtle t-shirts, beards, bacon band-aids, and coke bottle glasses. (While we we driving to our canvassing site, one of them pulled over the side of the road and peed right next to someone's house. His words: "Their effing cat kept staring at me.")<br /><br />Then there was the other guy who was observing, like me. Poor kid was terrified and couldn't stay on topic. He wound up in an hour-long conversation with someone he was supposed to talk to for ninety seconds, couldn't finish his route, and then only got five bucks out of it.<br /><br />And of course, there were the people I was asking for money. These interesting and varied individuals included:<br /><br />--an old man with scary tight eyes and American flag hanging in his doorway who looked like he wanted to throttle me when I said the words "environmental and consumer advocacy"<br />--a woman who practices transcendental meditation who invited my trainer and I in for a steak dinner, then offered to adopt us (I declined. My trainer said, "if it involves steak.")<br />--a woman with a friendly, naked five year old and a baby named Spot.<br /><br />After I had observed my trainer for a little while, he dropped me off in a neighborhood so I could practice on my own. And if I say so myself, I didn't do so badly: $65 in two hours.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this job isn't going to work out, because it's so far away and I don't have my own car.<br /><br />But it was definitely worth that one day.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-49145609967153315932011-06-10T11:02:00.003-04:002011-06-10T11:19:03.310-04:00baby names.When I was 10 or 11, I just knew that I was going to name my future daughter Chelsea Joy. Something about the name Chelsea just felt delicious to say (you're welcome, college-friend Chels.) Obviously, my tastes have changed since elementary school. But although kids are still a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way off, I still spend my off-hours day dreaming about baby names.<br /><br />Is that weird? Do you find yourself fantasizing about the future? I've got my wedding, home decor, daily menus, wardrobe, and child-rearing practices all figured out... for now.<br /><br />Girls:<br /><ul><li>Violet</li><li>Sophia</li><li>Fiona</li><li>Gemma</li><li>Gray</li><li>Audrey</li><li>Clementine</li><li>Aurelia</li><li>Posy</li><li>Lucia (pronounced loo-sha)</li><li>Penelope</li><li>Morgan</li><li>Helen </li><li>Roe</li></ul>Boys:<br /><ul><li>Noah</li><li>Gray<br /></li><li>Emerson</li><li>Toby</li><li>Edmund</li><li>Lucas</li><li>Milo</li><li>Jacob</li><li>Atticus </li><li>Connor</li><li>Levi</li><li>Colby</li><li>Jude</li><li>Patrick </li></ul>On an unrelated note, just because:<br />This is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYwtIn427uc">Dorm Life</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8zOQjyqMHBFoIsCZDqFD0CRO00GH1IS0_TN98t0CnK-8uplUVm9zzUfvR_uAsxDRY8Evr2NdAzrf9XLvuTafh93_vyVPCSuUaxYLpzO1Ha3CM8dxiDqrFxwuK9TzudwyQ6WVoyrmOeQ/s1600/dormal_25.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8zOQjyqMHBFoIsCZDqFD0CRO00GH1IS0_TN98t0CnK-8uplUVm9zzUfvR_uAsxDRY8Evr2NdAzrf9XLvuTafh93_vyVPCSuUaxYLpzO1Ha3CM8dxiDqrFxwuK9TzudwyQ6WVoyrmOeQ/s400/dormal_25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616610866834244306" border="0" /></a>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-80988411173202673952011-06-09T11:32:00.003-04:002011-06-09T11:39:03.571-04:00oreos, olallieberries, and dark chocolate.Once again, I learned something new.<br /><br />An olallieberry (who came up with that piece of work name?!?) is a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry.<br /><br />And when combined with Oreos, makes possibly THE most gorgeous cake I've ever seen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmbexU_ufRXSWO_-V6eV2tFF3ycxbddP0QbnMe4VWpvymGvc7FYKtmqC6Hpo4bBHmQBhAoRmIGEXHLhf_uen0qUobcgCB3StWkuMgBvdKvGcW3lore8zmZwSiZPgi8CFp7nZdfwSVXng/s1600/oocake-7.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 508px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmbexU_ufRXSWO_-V6eV2tFF3ycxbddP0QbnMe4VWpvymGvc7FYKtmqC6Hpo4bBHmQBhAoRmIGEXHLhf_uen0qUobcgCB3StWkuMgBvdKvGcW3lore8zmZwSiZPgi8CFp7nZdfwSVXng/s400/oocake-7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616244124266068338" border="0" /></a><br />Yeah. Those are gold flecks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEsSQkI2vDcGbPIZuuhUA4pUKoZnQbl-mHsunAnquxsvB0Q-ucSUgK4xXD2ENvMcbQnFSbXAmlUkKOFI8flXjp0JsZ38bxh_mrN7WVbO7m9iJCYRaPuyWDzrFe4KEVOYY-wEETyLkl0c/s1600/oocake-1-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 512px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEsSQkI2vDcGbPIZuuhUA4pUKoZnQbl-mHsunAnquxsvB0Q-ucSUgK4xXD2ENvMcbQnFSbXAmlUkKOFI8flXjp0JsZ38bxh_mrN7WVbO7m9iJCYRaPuyWDzrFe4KEVOYY-wEETyLkl0c/s400/oocake-1-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616244116608142578" border="0" /></a><br />Recipe available<a href="http://www.dessertsforbreakfast.com/2011/04/oreo-olallieberry-chocolate-layer-cake.html"> here. </a><br /><br />I must, I must, I MUST make this this summer!! And also Joy the Baker's <a href="http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/07/vegan-chocolate-avocado-cake/">Vegan Chocolate Avocado cake</a> (the avocado makes it super moist.)Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-51663376606051545572011-06-07T21:30:00.001-04:002011-06-07T21:33:40.120-04:00what the frack is fracking?I didn't know this until six hours ago, but apparently it's a process of mining natural gas that's been causing all kinds of hullabaloo in New York.<br /><br />I figure it might be a good idea to find out more details before I go in to interview for a job campaigning for its demise.<br /><br /><a href="http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/new-york-and-fracking">Earth Justice</a><br /><a href="http://www.nypirg.org/enviro/water/">NYPIRG </a><br /><a href="http://www.earthtimes.org/energy/hydrofracking-impacts-water-quantity/856/">Earth Times </a>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-55614818704035326402011-06-06T08:26:00.003-04:002011-06-06T08:36:53.318-04:00warehouse conversion.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhV7YAUaDEa96Nc1ZcCNt_ThsM_dYfkb2I6Mj9p8zWohLg5gZMUSJ1uGTZG334aqSe-gbn2UEC_VApuMqwsYoxJl448UH1EjjOTKly8Bd5g2s8NXeJ4aBlcnBdVaAOSxO4XpAIXE5n_A/s1600/Leicester-House-08-750x562.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 468px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhV7YAUaDEa96Nc1ZcCNt_ThsM_dYfkb2I6Mj9p8zWohLg5gZMUSJ1uGTZG334aqSe-gbn2UEC_VApuMqwsYoxJl448UH1EjjOTKly8Bd5g2s8NXeJ4aBlcnBdVaAOSxO4XpAIXE5n_A/s400/Leicester-House-08-750x562.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615082573918941106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNLLqOJ3dSob8mHLQO0APgSL0l6aUQigZRulOldOK3qzVHBmfnQgzBOYK3N8OogTls3Zy18GCvbSK8c7xmszRlhru_zK_6ys8Jp8lnWigHXyxLvZRNMh4edPIGdyaQ3_3evswVatll4k/s1600/Leicester-House-05-750x562.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 468px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNLLqOJ3dSob8mHLQO0APgSL0l6aUQigZRulOldOK3qzVHBmfnQgzBOYK3N8OogTls3Zy18GCvbSK8c7xmszRlhru_zK_6ys8Jp8lnWigHXyxLvZRNMh4edPIGdyaQ3_3evswVatll4k/s400/Leicester-House-05-750x562.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615082567972023490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD9ULD0LxZPfe8vJTp46Ak3u64V0y9u1HO6h9SZmOJnjeFqYJpTPCDuqKqnrGp17-sezz0P7VUEB7dJc_wiBwMH5kg-Rw9awqvAyXIMk3m71DxnIqRl94kVZ44xDc7EpuPCogp3aSg4Y/s1600/Leicester-House-04-750x562.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 465px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD9ULD0LxZPfe8vJTp46Ak3u64V0y9u1HO6h9SZmOJnjeFqYJpTPCDuqKqnrGp17-sezz0P7VUEB7dJc_wiBwMH5kg-Rw9awqvAyXIMk3m71DxnIqRl94kVZ44xDc7EpuPCogp3aSg4Y/s400/Leicester-House-04-750x562.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615082562929275362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbxfnTSNzSrZWXwctZbcyMZzuDFMB9SIvhuhRimuIPIUmpjQ1WMC2Jh1BUshn-QQvP9Q1_jbvwk4D44QaJ3cXqu5FB1RSBoD3DDXSBYOZl1CKV6haSTKqIE3d10i4v56c1fto3rJD5S0/s1600/Leicester-House-02-750x562.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 469px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbxfnTSNzSrZWXwctZbcyMZzuDFMB9SIvhuhRimuIPIUmpjQ1WMC2Jh1BUshn-QQvP9Q1_jbvwk4D44QaJ3cXqu5FB1RSBoD3DDXSBYOZl1CKV6haSTKqIE3d10i4v56c1fto3rJD5S0/s400/Leicester-House-02-750x562.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615082556507580802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbxfnTSNzSrZWXwctZbcyMZzuDFMB9SIvhuhRimuIPIUmpjQ1WMC2Jh1BUshn-QQvP9Q1_jbvwk4D44QaJ3cXqu5FB1RSBoD3DDXSBYOZl1CKV6haSTKqIE3d10i4v56c1fto3rJD5S0/s1600/Leicester-House-02-750x562.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 479px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbxfnTSNzSrZWXwctZbcyMZzuDFMB9SIvhuhRimuIPIUmpjQ1WMC2Jh1BUshn-QQvP9Q1_jbvwk4D44QaJ3cXqu5FB1RSBoD3DDXSBYOZl1CKV6haSTKqIE3d10i4v56c1fto3rJD5S0/s400/Leicester-House-02-750x562.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615082556507580802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ2SkeYIZ9GbH3E0iDVuqn01Z-Q_aVzp5HK8eVHQfTP547r6WsMx2fUZbWnZEbWpDu2L9m8IWZP3CMiRgjg20m0vXuaD_c9lvhWZHniRCAfAlGuZL0Bk5d8vgqgrlAehZ7_xwgme9JnY/s1600/Leicester-House-01-750x562.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQ2SkeYIZ9GbH3E0iDVuqn01Z-Q_aVzp5HK8eVHQfTP547r6WsMx2fUZbWnZEbWpDu2L9m8IWZP3CMiRgjg20m0vXuaD_c9lvhWZHniRCAfAlGuZL0Bk5d8vgqgrlAehZ7_xwgme9JnY/s400/Leicester-House-01-750x562.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615082549365333746" border="0" /></a><br />via <a href="www.homedsgn.com/2011/02/14/beautiful-warehouse-conversion-in-melbourne">homedesign</a>.Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160256583560708591.post-36286063200057469472011-06-01T19:09:00.004-04:002011-06-02T08:34:20.839-04:00never have i ever......felt more silly, poser-ish, and otherwise unfashionable then when I stepped off a Megabus in front of FIT.<br /><br />I was wearing black yoga pants and a big maroon cable-knit grandpa pullover, and my hair was wisping (more like straggling) out of my so-tight-I-look-bald french braid. I think I was also wearing running shoes.<br /><br />I shouldered my bright purple backpack, pretending I was totally too cool for the other Megabus passengers, and squinted up to figure out where the heck I was. That's when I saw them.<br /><br />Gorgeous fashion students. Amazon-tall. Stabbing the sidewalk in four inch heels, garbed in luxurious dark fabrics, with perfect skin and stylishly un-styled hair, carrying bolts of other expensive looking fabric. I shrank down as I dialed my dad's number and wiped some sandwich crumbs off my sweater, whisper-begging, "Which way to the 1 train?" while they strode past me, laughing. But not at me. I hope.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong: I like fashion, and usually I put a lot of effort into my outfits. (My old roommate used to make fun of me because I would spend an hour trying on different combinations just to go to class.) But you can just tell when clothes are expensive. The fabrics are smoother, the colors look more purposeful and less accidentally washed-out, the cuts are more precise, the drapes more dignified. Or maybe it's just the wearers' confidence. In any case, my clothes do not look like that. Probably never will.<br /><br />Alas, Sartorialist. Your beautiful women are less personally threatening, but their style will always be just as unattainable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxgcvQQwFgvLnH_7MQdpJIUWnE6WhFkiMhojHMPUqOLkOsCxATkgUegsdy7DywoN78o-XsQ8A_YGB9i_JDgIHuez1m9iDICr5D86Xkqi8aQPSl9vbow4BqxZmVP-nKJAyqtHelIQemLE/s1600/51211MariaH_0502Web1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxgcvQQwFgvLnH_7MQdpJIUWnE6WhFkiMhojHMPUqOLkOsCxATkgUegsdy7DywoN78o-XsQ8A_YGB9i_JDgIHuez1m9iDICr5D86Xkqi8aQPSl9vbow4BqxZmVP-nKJAyqtHelIQemLE/s400/51211MariaH_0502Web1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613397794853436082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36dKk9-0WXANjHIrdVXolSBMX2e7AUHvLwCRfd2NLxB9VxIsZ4fOeBjYKVHGhYocAyooXtB8uzNRUev3Qq8BehqC0ZOZRaoZ6ltoHVudTSYq-lYXD-WDnw5D0-I7W5cf31BF6kRyQRCo/s1600/42611Sav_9466Web.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36dKk9-0WXANjHIrdVXolSBMX2e7AUHvLwCRfd2NLxB9VxIsZ4fOeBjYKVHGhYocAyooXtB8uzNRUev3Qq8BehqC0ZOZRaoZ6ltoHVudTSYq-lYXD-WDnw5D0-I7W5cf31BF6kRyQRCo/s400/42611Sav_9466Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613397790177892594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NpHfiF_9EbkQK5J-th7A5Sk0MLkmwHM1_mt93weXZVErylmDexWEd3KywQawNtgBnRdCCmoj_C0y89fIKcAk1U26iY_qWRRhfp4aj9N1Yjre7SjNNzk9Zkc6RMNSyoB4yHXAY306w7c/s1600/22611ElisaArmani_1139Web.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NpHfiF_9EbkQK5J-th7A5Sk0MLkmwHM1_mt93weXZVErylmDexWEd3KywQawNtgBnRdCCmoj_C0y89fIKcAk1U26iY_qWRRhfp4aj9N1Yjre7SjNNzk9Zkc6RMNSyoB4yHXAY306w7c/s400/22611ElisaArmani_1139Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613397788016428274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cuovrRt8cv6Kad5-iyZZZjWQsgkNsmCQAVNNMkfPbz-ykwCoNV_MbvIGCAl6WJmkziQUHOQSZmJu4uq7suPh0sGQOCqDevb6Nm2jzTdZOlDg6CcRkGr9TG4U969YCyUWbkwnT9a43WU/s1600/22311KnitPortrait_9876Web.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cuovrRt8cv6Kad5-iyZZZjWQsgkNsmCQAVNNMkfPbz-ykwCoNV_MbvIGCAl6WJmkziQUHOQSZmJu4uq7suPh0sGQOCqDevb6Nm2jzTdZOlDg6CcRkGr9TG4U969YCyUWbkwnT9a43WU/s400/22311KnitPortrait_9876Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613397783168395410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyJPlyPiOKddoYaD2Fy5yojJZGiwv5_g4XacjBroOmqAykL5NnzmqqBYsE_wKTtqDfbV-IELM7b6NmujwjoRanuKBFjqb2JtnNqT1GMcVZosePmxP9vu4ailLp4iBHZc_8a0obfav7gw/s1600/11911Manu_1980Web.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyJPlyPiOKddoYaD2Fy5yojJZGiwv5_g4XacjBroOmqAykL5NnzmqqBYsE_wKTtqDfbV-IELM7b6NmujwjoRanuKBFjqb2JtnNqT1GMcVZosePmxP9vu4ailLp4iBHZc_8a0obfav7gw/s400/11911Manu_1980Web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613397775216707570" border="0" /></a>Melissa Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190329530671796719noreply@blogger.com0