My dogs have learned a new word...

"Garden!"

This is in addition to sit, carrot, and dinner. Impressive, I know. Now whenever I decide to go romp in the garden, I just say the word, and they come running. Speaking of which, the edible part of the garden got a bit of a late start due to uncooperative weather, but lately it has been erupting in a vegetable frenzy! Besides the tomato plants that have been yielding many varieties by the hundreds all summer (this is feeling like a run-on...), nothing else was doing much.

But alas! we now go into the garden with a basket in order to carry everything, and munch on cherry tomatoes straight from the vine... mmm. Zucchinis, summer squash, spaghetti squash, eggplant, tomatoes (too!), melons, carrots, onions, potatoes, peppers, and herbs, oh my! Not to mention that the sunflowers are in a height competition with my house, and the zinnias are taking over the bed adjacent to the vegetables. 

P.s. Lydia's very fond of "burrowing" in the couch...

Pamper Me, Pretty Please!

I think that there are few things better than a little pampering every now and then. Here are some snapshots from a fun weekend with the girls.

Instagrammed lights in AllSaints

Plus some shoes from AllSaints...

Room service anyone?

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SnaPeas and Jane Austen!

[via the New Yorker]

Zinnias from the garden to brighten my desk!

[Also, my sister recently discovered the musician Zee Avi. Her music is very Norah-Jones-meets-Ingrid Michaelson-when-she-has-her-ukulele-esque. It's really great relaxing/feel-good music.]

Chicago Series

Earlier this summer, my uncle visited from Portland! He's a professional photographer, and I was lucky enough to spend the day shooting with him in Chicago! I think I got some fun shots, but regardless, I learned so much about how to set up all different types of shots and how all of the previously unknown/unused buttons on my camera work! I, alone, took more than 500 pictures and have been slowly (but steadily!) sorting through and editing them. The sheer number is a bit intimidating, but I'm powering through -- it's just so hard to be brutal and delete some!

So here are a few that I have 'shopped!

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The new (and sparkly) addition to my wardrobe...

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Also, here's a really informative article on the benefits of Chlorella!