elspeth jane

The grinch's heart that grew 10 sizes

2011-12-02T15:39:00.005-07:00

Confession: I used to be the grinch who stole Christmas.

It's true, when we got married I told Andrew he could forget about any decorations and I only very grudgingly agreed to let him get a tree.

I guess I've gradually softened up, though. Our second Christmas together I made some ornaments, and little by little by decorations have evolved into handmade everything.

On a side note, Andrew and I have a running disagreement about lights on Christmas trees. I think colored lights on trees are hideous/tacky and detract from the ornaments. Andrew thinks trees with only white lights are completely bland and boring. Fortunately for me, it looks like my aesthetics have won (at least for now).

What do you think?

Also, neither of us are red people so most of our decorations are pink and teal (each of our favorite colors).

ABCs of me (aka worst post title ever)

2011-09-23T14:02:00.006-06:00

Age: 23.5
Bed Size: Queen, and it's also the canopy bed of my childhood dreams.
Chore you hate: Anything involving a bathroom. Also, yard work.
Dogs: I want a Yorkie SO bad.
Essential start of your day: Putting in my contacts so I can see what the world looks like again.
Favorite Color: Coral, aqua, mustard yellow, navy blue, grey...I love colors.
Gold or silver: Both.
Height: Just under 5'7", but I swear I used to be 5'7.5" so I think I might have osteoporosis.
Instruments you play: I took piano lessons for 10 years...but don't ask me to play for you because I might cry.
Job Title: Substitute teacher who's teaching herself graphic design and very slowly/lazily working on stuff for an Etsy shop. And hoping to go to grad school.
Kids: None, much to my mother-in-law's chagrin.
Live: SLC, UT
Mom’s Name: Michelle. As a child of the 1960s she got the Beatles song sung to her all the time.
Nickname: My family calls me "El" and Andrew calls me "bestie."
Overnight Hospitals Stays: None.
Pet Peeve: When strangers (especially girls who are around my age) call me "hun." Um, I don't know you and I'm definitely not your hun.
Quote from a movie: From Le Fabuleaux Destin d'Amelie Poulain. "My little Amélie, you don't have bones of glass. You can take life's knocks. If you let this chance pass, eventually, your heart will become as dry and brittle as my skeleton."
Right or left handed: Right.
Siblings: One sister and two brothers. They're the best.
Time you wake up: As late as possible.
Underwear: Yes.
Vegetables you dislike: Jalapenos.
What makes you run late: Picking out an outfit/changing outfits/despairing at having nothing to wear as I look at a closet out of which clothes are literally spilling.
X-rays you’ve had done: My teeth.
Yummy food you make: Andrew likes my homemade pesto, but I think I'm a little more partial to desserts I make...like chocolate chip cookies stuffed with s'mores.
Zoo animal: I don't like zoos. But I like zebras.

Washington DC

2011-09-09T12:42:00.007-06:00

This past week Andrew I were in Washington DC with his family. While I fell in love with the Virginia countryside, the humidity made me rethink my plans of buying a cottage and a farm and settling in. Here are some pictures compliments of instagr.am.

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

Great Falls Park

Mt. Vernon

Colonial Williamsburg

Richmond, Virginia

On a side note, how did people live before macaroni and cheese was invented (read: we ate some really good Southern comfort food while there)?

Happy Birthday Andrew

2011-08-26T11:54:00.003-06:00

Last year was Andrew's golden birthday (26 on the 26th) but this year he turns 27 and since 27 is one of my favorite numbers, I wrote up a list of little known facts about Andrew/things I love about him.

This will probably embarrass him, but I don't care.

1. He is a smarty-pants. I mean he's the smartest person I've ever known. Ask him a question, any question about anything, and he'll know the answer. Try it.
2. He's a photographer. Here's his Flickr.
3. People love him. I get told all the time by strangers, family members, and friends that he's a genius/super talented/movie star handsome.
4. When we got a new wireless router, he surprised me by naming our new network "Cupcake" because I love cupcakes so much.
5. He understands me perfectly and knows what I'm thinking before I even say it most of the time.
6. He's a really hard worker and very accomplished.
7. He takes an interest in decorating our apartment together, and he also cares about his clothing.
8. He's endlessly patient.
9. I've never had a problem Andrew couldn't figure out or fix for me (specifically computer related problems).
10. He loves food and he's good at cooking.
11. He tells me I'm pretty several times a day.
12. He's interested in almost everything and one of the funnest people to go vacations with.
13. He never says something unless he means it, so I can always trust his opinion.
14. His biggest dream is to be an astronaut.
15. He is always willing to help anyone out when they need it.
16. He has excellent taste in music and collects vinyl LPs.
17. He thinks there is nothing better than watching an episode of COPS while eating a big bowl of ice cream.
18. He loves his family's dog he grew up with and promises me we'll have a menagerie of our own someday.
19. Almost every day he thanks me for marrying him and being with him.
20. He's really good at picking out presents for people and he loves giving gifts.
21. He thinks I'm really funny.
22. He's generous and kind.
23. We agree on almost everything (excepting some food and movies).
24. If Andrew could have one wish, it would be to make tomatoes extinct. He believes eating them will cause his untimely death on the spot.
25. He wants to live in a cottage on the beach or the forest with me.
26. We met in the summertime and whenever I think about summer I'm reminded of him.
27. He's the best person I know.

More England and Ireland Pictures

2011-08-04T19:01:00.015-06:00

Wow, I feel like I've gotten so behind on reading blogs/writing my own posts I don't know if I'll ever catch up.

Anyway, here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip. Andrew still has two rolls of undeveloped 35 mm film, so I might be putting some more up in the future.

We went to England with my family because my dad was invited to speak at a conference at Oxford University and my parents decided to rent a house and said Andrew and I could stay with them for free. My dad has a Masters and PhD from Oxford in Anthropology and I was born in England while he was attending school. When I was little we lived in England and Africa (where my dad completed his anthropological fieldwork) before moving to the United States when I was almost 5 years old. Before this trip I hadn't been back to England since I was 15, so needless to say, I was really excited. I think I have Andrew almost convinced to buy a cottage in the Cotswolds and move there permanently. We'll see, haha.

...and We're Back

2011-07-28T08:42:00.007-06:00

Although I miss England already, I have to say it's good to be home. Especially home in a country where there are free drink refills in restaurants and lots of air-conditioning, haha.

These pictures were all taken using the insta.gram app on my iPhone, but Andrew took a lot of cameras with us, so I'll post some much better pictures (including Polaroids!) soon.

We had a lovely time and I can't wait to put more pictures up.

London Underground

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

I don't know what these flowers were called,
but they were everywhere

Old garage by the place we were staying in Oxford

Randolph Hotel in Oxford

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin

A park I don't remember the name of in Dublin

James Joyce Centre in Dublin,
"The Dead" is probably my favorite short story

Door from Leopold Bloom's apartment in Ulysses
that actually existed in real life

Cotton Candy Hair

2011-07-13T16:46:00.003-06:00

Some days (like today) I really wish I had pink hair.

All images via Pinterest.

P.S. I'm leaving for England tomorrow. I'll have my iPad with me, but posting might be a little scarce around here over the next few weeks.

Packing List

2011-07-07T09:54:00.003-06:00

I'm leaving for my trip to England one week from today. Is it just me, or is packing to look cute on vacation really hard? I usually arrive, look at the selection of clothes in my suitcase and think "What was I thinking when I packed?!" Also, by the end of a family vacation (especially one in a foreign country) I feel walked to death and so tired that I don't even care what I look like.

However, I am determined to look cute this time, so I made a packing list like a month in advance (and I've been fine tuning it for the past week or so because I'm OCD like that) and I also looked over Lauren Conrad's Style book that I received for Christmas last year. LC has some pretty good travel wardrobe tips.

Anyway, my main issue of indecision right now is deciding whether or not to bring these babies across the pond with me:

via

How do you pack when you travel? Any tips?

Today, I love Chevron Stripes

2011-07-06T10:49:00.009-06:00

I know some people are getting sick of chevron stripes (because they're everywhere), but I have to say, I'm loving them more, not less, as times goes on.

I especially love this iPhone case.

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Haircut

2011-07-03T21:24:00.005-06:00

Because I force Andrew to get his hair cut at the same salon as I do so his hair can look stylish/adorable, our haircut expenses are $$$. I forgot to take into consideration the fact that boys get their hair cut every few months or so, whereas I get mine cut maybe twice a year if I can get the nerve up (does getting their hair cut give anyone else extreme anxiety?).

For the past little while I've been begging Andrew to buy a clipper set and let me cut his hair. Despite serious misgivings, he finally broke down last week, and after watching exactly one Youtube tutorial (did I mention I've never cut anyone's hair before?), I started snipping away. Up until the first few hairs fell, I was all confidence and Andrew was all nerves.

About 1.5 minutes into the haircut, it proved to be a lot more difficult than I had anticipated and panic welled up inside me. I hesitatingly informed Andrew that I had never felt less confident about anything else I had ever done in my life. Mr. You're probably going to scalp me/accidentally cut my ears off replied (cool as a cucumber) to just keep cutting and everything would be okay.

1 grueling hour later Andrew declared his new haircut a 9.5 on a scale of 1 to 10 and I nervously patted myself on the back like 5 times because our experiment didn't turn out like Even to Save Cash, Don't Try This Stuff at Home.

Before:

After:

Note: this haircut took place a few hours previous to the demise of my elbow.

Fractured Elbows/Pillow Pets/Turquoise Dressers

2011-07-01T20:45:00.006-06:00

For the past several days I've been lying in bed because I fractured my elbow and my right arm has been essentially useless/extremely painful to move.

How does one fracture their elbow, you might ask?

Doing laundry. And hitting my arm very, very, very, hard on the coin slot on the washing machine while vigorously throwing in a batch of clothes. I never knew I got so excited about doing laundry until I injured myself.

This several day stint in bed has provided me with ample time to watch episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and True Blood. During the scary scenes having the unicorn pillow pet I begged Andrew to buy me has come in really handy for squeezing (with my left arm). Amethyst (my pillow pet's name) has also proved her dual usefulness by being the only thing on which I can rest my elbow without it hurting.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is if you watch scary things or fracture your elbow, you should get a pillow pet.

Now, onto the real point of this post. During all the time I spent in bed, I re-evaluated our bedroom and decided Andrew's dresser needed a makeover.

So it went from this...

To this.

With owl knobs from Anthropolgie.

(One day I'll use Andrew's nice camera to take pictures for this blog, but until then, iPhone + Instagram it is.)

Park City

2011-06-22T22:23:00.004-06:00

I've been in Utah the longest of any place in my life, but it's probably my least favorite place I've ever lived. Since we might be moving in the next year or so, depending on where Andrew gets into grad school, I decided we should explore places in Utah we've never been to before. What Utah lacks in city life it more than makes up for in natural land formations and random little towns in the middle of nowhere. Andrew just quit his job to work from home, and my teaching job doesn't start until the fall, so this summer will be the summer of adventures.

Even though we've been to Park City several times, we decided to head up there today because it's a short drive from Salt Lake City. Park City was a mining town, then a ghost town, and now it's a big ski resort town and home of the Sundance Film Festival. Here are some pictures from our adventure.

I think this is a Banksy original that he secretly did when his film Exit Through the Gift Shop (which is great) premiered at Sundance.

My eyebrows look like Brooke Shields, but this was the only picture I could get Andrew to agree to take with me, haha.

Conversation

2011-06-16T17:34:00.004-06:00

I'll probably stop posting about my new glasses sometime in the near future, but right now I'm obsessed.

Ellie: Andrew, I'm worried. Do my new glasses make me look like Woody Allen?
Andrew: Uhhhh, no. You don't look like a 70 something year-old man who married his daughter.

I sighed in relief.

New glasses!

2011-06-15T21:24:00.010-06:00

From Warby Parker.

Today's Wishlist

2011-06-12T19:36:00.010-06:00

Most of these have to do with my upcoming trip to England that I'm incredibly excited about.

This amazing passport cover. I posted about a wallet from this amazing Etsy shop a little while ago.

I bought my first maxi dress in 2008 at The Gap when I worked there, and I purchased my second one this week. I may or may not have worn it like 3 times already. Since I'm having such a love affair with it, I think I'm ready to branch out to maxi skirts. This one from Anthroplogie is gorgeous.

I've been wearing the same pair of black Ray Ban Wayfarers for over 2.5 years, and while I love them, they've definitely seen better days. I'm loving this two-toned pair from Ray Ban as well.

Even though I have like 5 pairs of Toms (shoes are my weakness) I've wanted a red pair for quite a while. I think they add the perfect pop of color to a summer wardrobe. I love these Red Canvas Classics.

They sold out before I got a chance to purchase one, but I'm completely obsessed with this three-tier ruffle jacket from LOFT.

Picnic Please?

2011-06-09T19:38:00.004-06:00

Mother Nature is officially on my bad side. I am over her. I have planned not one, but five picnics this year that had to be cancelled due to last minute weather changes.

The latest picnic I planned was for lunch today. I picked Andrew up from work during his lunch break and we headed for a nearby park, but it suddenly started raining. We decided to just eat in the car. Andrew opened the lid to his cream soda and it erupted like a volcano. By erupted, I mean cream soda sprayed all over both of us and onto every surface inside our car. We were both both stunned at first, but it was actually pretty hilarious. If the cream soda was Mt Vesuvius, we probably would have died.

I don't know what Mother Nature wants from me, maybe a peace offering? I try to recycle when I can, but I guess I'm going to have to come up with something better if I ever want to go on a picnic again.

Here are some pictures from the last picnic we went on, which I think was in September of last year.

Fashion Inspiration: Carrie Bradshaw

2011-06-07T20:04:00.006-06:00

So, SJP aka Carrie Bradshaw has the most amazing wardrobe ever in the final season of Sex and the City.

I'll have one of each, please.

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Elie Saab

2011-06-04T14:14:00.005-06:00

How amazing are these dresses in Elie Saab's Spring 2011 collection? I know I'm a little late in posting these, but I am DYING over them. I could buy one and wear it in my daily life, right?

All images via style.com

Summer Playlist

2011-06-01T13:21:00.005-06:00

The rain has finally stopped, so it's beginning to feel like summer might be here at last. Here's my celebratory playlist.

"These Days" - St. Vincent (cover of the Nico song)
"It's A Wonderful Life" - Sparklehorse
"10 Mile Stereo" - Beach House
"Blue Spotted Tail" - Fleet Foxes
"Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" - The Arcade Fire
"Tiny Mirrors" - Will Stratton
"1901" - Phoenix
"Chicago" - Sufjan Stevens
"Hoppípolla" - Sigur Rós
"Black Sand" - Jenny Lewis

via Pinterest

What are you listening to?

Teenage Dream

2011-05-28T19:34:00.006-06:00

I want to listen to this album all day while wearing this skirt.

Beach House - Teenage Dream

Etsy listing here.

Sparkle Motion

2011-05-27T10:42:00.004-06:00

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Pinterest, but most especially because it's increased the amount of sparkles/glitter/shimmer/sequins in my (virtual) life.

All images via Pinterest.

I want new glasses

2011-05-26T11:51:00.005-06:00

I just did a virtual try-on and these glasses + me = meant to be.

Owen Black Matte frames from Warby Parker.

Purple/Amethyst/Lavender/Violet

2011-05-23T14:45:00.006-06:00

Today, I love purple.

1. Macaroons
2. Shoes
3. Amethyst ring
4. Wedding
5. Clutch

Wallflowers

2011-05-21T23:28:00.004-06:00

Check out these brilliant photographs at Dustjacket Attic.

Horchata French Toast

2011-05-19T20:20:00.004-06:00

I'm a breakfast for dinner type of girl, always have been. When I was 3 or 4 years old I saw my mom making scrambled eggs one morning and I asked her why she was making a dinner food for breakfast. Tonight I was feeling too lazy to go to the grocery store, so I experimented with french toast, substituting Horchata for milk. I have to say, it was surprisingly good. Here's the recipe:

2 eggs
1 cup Horchata
6 slices of bread (you can use regular bread, or french bread, which is what I used)
Pinch of cinnamon

Naturally I devoured it all without a thought of taking a picture, but trust me, it was delish.

Toms

2011-05-17T20:22:00.007-06:00

This weekend Andrew and I got some off-white Toms and used fabric markers/fabric to make our own designs on them.

Andrew's had a tree design.

Mine had pink flowers.

I secretly like how his turned out better than mine, but I'm still excited to wear them when it finally stops raining.

Today's Wishlist

2011-05-06T11:25:00.008-06:00

1. This gorgeous wallet.

2. Also, this gorgeous wallet. I saw it at Anthropologie last week and almost cried when I looked the price tag because I wanted it so much.

3. I'm in love with this purse.

4. And lastly, these little moccasins. For my future children.

Post Grad Diaries Part I

2011-05-05T13:49:00.004-06:00

Introducing my new best friend:

From Victoria's Secret

Things I have managed to accomplish since graduating from college:

1. Wearing sweatpants every day.
2. Wearing an ice cream stained shirt 3 days in a row (the result of eating ice cream in bed).
3. Actually using my gym membership.
4. Making a green smoothie every day.
5. Not wearing a lot of make-up.
6. Reading A LOT of young adult fiction.
7. Applying for a job that sounds deathly boring and I probably won't get anyway.

Can someone help me?

Magic v. Space Travel

2011-05-03T19:34:00.005-06:00

Ellie: I know you look down on me for liking Harry Potter, but if you got a letter saying you were accepted to Hogwarts and magic existed in the world, wouldn't it be the best day of your life?

Andrew: Does Harry Potter get to go to space?

Ellie: Um, no.

Andrew: Then it wouldn't be the best day of my life.

Coconut Cupcakes

2011-04-30T12:56:00.004-06:00

It's no secret that I'm a little obsessed with cupcakes. I made these yesterday and took a few pictures.

Graduation, and More Importantly, Rainbow Cake

2011-04-25T11:04:00.005-06:00

On Friday I graduated from college and I already miss it. I keep thinking I need to do homework, but then I remember that if/until I go to graduate school, I'll never have homework again. It feels weird. Andrew brought his camera but didn't take any pictures because he was in most of them, so I need to have my mom send me some of the ones she took.

Speaking of my mom, she made me this cake for my graduation:

Best cake ever, right? I'm sad I didn't get a picture before most of it was eaten. Yay for moms and yay for being done with college.

Cross Country Road Trippin'

2011-04-05T22:57:00.001-06:00

This is my dream.

Strawberries

2011-04-04T17:13:00.005-06:00

Normally I'm not much of a tennis shoe wearing girl, but I guess I make an exception for ones with strawberries on them. Plus they were on sale at Urban Outfitters.

Conversation

2011-04-02T17:55:00.007-06:00

Andrew: Okay fine, you can cut your hair off really short. But only if you really want to.

Ellie: Is this like when I say "You can shave your beard off if you really want to" but it actually means "If you shave your beard off, I'll die" ?

Andrew: Yes.

iPhone 4 Case

2011-03-28T11:40:00.003-06:00

From here

I have to say I adore this iPhone 4 case. I don't care that it's over the top. What do you think?

Aurora Borealis

2011-03-26T20:48:00.003-06:00

The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Red Velvet

2011-03-24T18:55:00.005-06:00

Today, Andrew bought me cupcakes. Because sometimes when you're a month away from graduating from college and too scared to think about what you're going to do when you're not a student anymore and too stressed out to write the 5 research papers standing between you and graduation, you need a treat. A cute one. Or maybe that's just me.

Whales and Balloons

2011-03-20T15:01:00.003-06:00

I adore this painting.

Visit his website to see more of Matthew Clark's work. It involves balloons.

Photographing People

2011-03-19T11:29:00.004-06:00

Do you read the Sartorialist?

"You know you never know what it is. What that thing is that draws you to that person. But you just let it happen."

Love this video.

Loves

2011-03-12T22:09:00.010-07:00

If I ever have an extra $258 laying around waiting to be spent on something beautiful, this would be it:

Visit the Etsy listing here.

In more realistic news, I love this heart pin from ban.do. And I love her hair. Why can't mine look like that?

Cleopatra

2011-02-11T20:36:00.003-07:00

image via

I recently finished reading this biography of Cleopatra. It was captivating. Although dense in history and facts, Schiff did her best to make it read like a novel. It is a beautiful and sad story of human triumph and brutality. I would definitely recommend it.

2011

2011-01-17T19:51:00.005-07:00

The future is always a scary thing for me because I'm so bad at making decisions and deciding what I want to do with my life, but I'm really excited for 2011 because a lot of new and good changes will be happening.

1. After changing my major 50 times, I'm finally going to graduate from college in April with a degree in English Literature.

2. I don't know what I'm doing after I graduate which is scary, but I think it's a toss-up between graduate school for creative writing or going to a different school for a second bachelor's degree in studio art or fashion design. I really don't know.

3. Hopefully Andrew and I will be going to England this summer for 2 weeks (!!!!!).

4. This September I will have been a vegetarian for 5 years. I keep meaning to write a post about vegetarianism and my choice to not eat meat, maybe someday it will happen.

5. I really, really, really want to get a Yorkie puppy:

image via

but I also wouldn't mind a dik dik (they're basically a mini-antelope, Wik article):

image via

or a flamingo.

image via

6. I set a goal to read lots of books this year, like books that have been on my list for years. So far I've read 2 and I'm hoping to read 2 more before January is over.

I know I don't have many readers anymore because I blog so seldomly, but what are your goals and hopes for 2011?

Cupcakes!

2010-12-19T14:12:00.006-07:00

Last night my friend Emily and I had a cupcake party. It was really fun except when we started a fire in the fireplace and forgot to open the flue and almost died of smoke inhalation.

Here are a few pictures of the cupcakes I made:

Today's thoughts will be expressed in letter form

2010-09-20T14:08:00.005-06:00

Dear BYU,

Thanks for approving my graduation application. 5 years has certainly been long enough. Also, thanks for hiring a man with giant white teeth and the most charming Southern accent I've ever heard to help me through the process.

Until I part with you forever in April, yours truly,
Ellie

P.S. The thing I'll miss most about you is your amazing pizza bagels. I could live off them. Seriously.

Dear BYU Film Department,

Thank you for accepting me in 2008 and thinking I had the potential to become a filmmaker. Sorry I dropped out. I still feel guilty a lot.

Regretfully not yours,
Ellie

Dear BYU English Department,

Thanks for taking me in as a senior. I've liked all my classes so far. I would also like to make it known that I am greatly in your debt. You offered a Jane Austen/Henry James class this semester that saved me from having to take a Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer class. You have saved my life, I will think of this for years to come.

Lovingly yours,
Ellie

Dear 24 Hour Fitness,

Sorry that it's been like a week since I last saw you. If you were feeling as sick as I was last week, you wouldn't blame me at me at all.

Soon to be yours,
Ellie

Dear Excedrin Migraine,

How people lived without you I cannot comprehend. Thanks for saving my life the last week or so. And basically all summer, now that I think of it.

Devotedly yours,
Ellie

Dear Anthropologie,

Most of the time I hate you because I can't afford to buy the beautiful clothing you taunt me with via catalogues and Facebook posts. But thanks to you, I found a pair of boots I can't live without. Thanks for having my size. They're perfect.

Longingly yours,
Ellie

P.S. Maybe have a sale sometime soon that is actually affordable?

Dear Andrew,

Thanks for letting me purchase said boots. Also, thanks for being the best person I know.

Always yours,
Ellie
xo

Surprise

2010-08-03T22:47:00.004-06:00

My sister decided it would be a good idea to throw our mom a surprise birthday party for her 50th, and I agreed, so we did.

It involved some near-death experiences:

Several visits to Zurcher's. Yes, I love my mom enough to patronize a place with a giant clown for a logo.
Desperately clutching a table in the back of an open minivan that only half fit inside and threatened to break free from my grasp for the entire drive.
Sharing the driver's seat of the minivan with my sister while she drove because the rest of the car was too filled with chairs and tables for me to sit anywhere else.
Loading all the Martha Stewart inspired pom poms into my car while my super creepy neighbor sat smoking and watching. "You going to be cheerleader," he said in his smoky Eastern European accent.
A stress breakout of 50 zits on my chin.

Here are some pictures of the grand event:

Complete shock

Complete happiness

The spread

The flowers

The pom poms

More Flowers

Cake

In its entirety

Overall:

Near-death experiences = 5
Surprise party = one million

Future Dwelling Possibility

2010-05-06T20:40:00.004-06:00

The more I think about this, the more convinced I am that this is the best idea I've ever had.

I want to build a treehouse and live in it for the rest of my life because it would be the best thing ever.

Summertime

2010-03-27T22:44:00.006-06:00

Okay, so I just made this skirt using a tutorial from this lovely blog. It only took about an hour, and I plan to make 50 more this summer. The top of the skirt is elastic, I'm just wearing a grey flower belt from Anthropologie over it. Also, I think this is probably only the 2nd or 3rd picture of me that has ever made an appearance in the 130-ish posts on this blog. So enjoy.

Summertime fills me with hope. My plans so far:

1. Ride my bicycle everywhere.
2. Go on a lot of picnics.
3. Make tons and tons of homemade ice cream in the Kitchen Aid ice cream making bowl that I keep begging Andrew to let me get.
4. Perhaps take up blogging again...i.e. post more than once or twice a month.

Alice in Wonderland

2010-03-25T20:05:00.005-06:00

Tim Burton is not my favorite director (the only thing I've really loved that he's done is Edward Scissorhands) so when I heard Alice in Wonderland was basically like Narnia, my expectations for it were low. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. I ended up actually really liking the film, but mainly because I loved Alice's character. She was witty, strong, and lovely.

Update

2010-03-16T16:40:00.004-06:00

Andrew's current life goal:
Purchasing a $2,000 Japanese toilet that comes with a bidet and blow dryer.

My current life goal:
Growing a terrarium in a light bulb.

Also, I just realized that all of my favorite foods put me on the same culinary palate level as a 7 year-old:

Pizza
Macaroni and Cheese
Grilled Cheese sandwiches
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches

Currently loving:

2010-02-24T10:50:00.012-07:00

1. Saddle Shoes (from Urban Outfitters)

Andrew bought these for me for my birthday. I want to wear them every day for the rest of my life.

2. Pizza from Settebello

3. Tights (from Urban Outfitters)

4. Stud earrings (from Anthropologie)

5. High-waisted skirts with bows (from tulle.com)

6. Rain

7. Hot Chip's new album One Night Stand

8. Domino: The Book of Decorating

9. Cookies from Dough Girl

10. Color Me Mine

11. Headbands (bracitas)

12. Tulips

13. Netflix's streaming disc for the PS3

I am finally going to start watching this show.

14. My typewriter (pictured here)

15. Crocheting

16. Andrew's photography

Little Drew

2010-02-13T23:39:00.006-07:00

Helping me get flowers ready for our uncle's wedding.
By Andrew. On his Canon A1.

Be my squidheart

2010-01-28T16:55:00.004-07:00

I'm sure most of you don't know what this is, so let me introduce you. It is called a squidlet. It is probably one of the cutest things known to mankind. I want one desperately. With Valentine's Day and my birthday coming up in the next few weeks I hope my wish will come true. Admire and adore other squidlets here.

Dear Everyone,

2010-01-04T22:06:00.005-07:00

When I was younger I had pen pals: a boy who lived in India (I met him when I lived in England), 2 friends from California, and some others whose pen pal relationships were more short-lived than the previous two.

This is my new typewriter. He is from the 1930s and doesn't have a name yet, but I have determined that he is a boy. He is lonely.

Can we be pen pals?

Love,
Ellie

Christmas Photos

2009-12-27T23:40:00.009-07:00

Andrew took these of our tree/the ornaments I made this year. They were taken on his Canon A-1 with $3 Fuji 35 mm film.

Favorite song of 2009

2009-12-14T15:29:00.004-07:00

I've been an on and off closet fan of Regina Spektor for years. Eleven Eleven definitely places in my top ten albums of all time, but with the exception of a few songs, I've never really felt any of her other albums. However, I just gave Far a listen a few months ago, and I think it might even dethrone Eleven Eleven as her best album. It is so brilliant. My favorite track is "Laughing With" and I'm pretty sure it is my favorite song from this year.

Music videos aren't my favorite (I'm using that word a lot in this post) because I've never really seen one that captured my exact feelings of a song, and this video is no exception, but I'm posting it anyway:

Happy one year, Andrew

2009-11-08T19:09:00.009-07:00

While I never intended to turn my blog into a couple blog I will say that I write about Andrew a lot more than I ever thought I would. I've been intensely private about our relationship because I don't think it's something the whole world needs to see, but I've finally decided to share our story for those who are curious.

The first time I saw Andrew, it wasn't love at first sight. I knew from a) the fact that he was wearing a Threadless t-shirt (I Listen to Bands that don't even Exist Yet) and b) that he was discussing a Death Cab/Tegan and Sara concert with someone, he thought he was a hipster. I wasn't impressed.

The first time we actually met was at a gathering in a friend's backyard. Our conversation started with Sufjan Stevens, moved on to his love of Neil Young, and concluded with discussion about our mutual love for documentary film. I realized he didn't think he was a hipster and was much more impressed.

On our second meeting, he remembered my name but I had forgotten his. We talked politics, of our hatred for Glenn Beck, and I promised to let him borrow a David Sedaris book that took place mainly in Japan, where Andrew had lived for a short while.

After a few walks to free, outdoor, weekly concerts, movies at the Broadway, and various musical exchanges, we were inseparable. Summer came. It was filled with bicycle rides, concerts, good food, good film, and occasional road trips. Summer left. It was time for me to move to a different city. I told him I loved him and he announced he wanted to marry me. 2.5 months later we made it official.

Polaroid Paradise

2009-11-02T14:25:00.007-07:00

Okay, so thanks to the wonders of the internet I just found this website. You can take digital photos and turn them into Polaroids. Needless to say, I am in love and addicted.

Also, my headbands are now being sold in a boutique in Jackson, MS. I'm excited.

I WANT THIS

2009-10-01T21:31:00.005-06:00

Also, via text message, my cousin informed me that today is Vegetarian Appreciation Day. Not knowing about this excellent holiday previously, I mentioned it to Andrew, and he told me every day for him is Vegetarian Appreciation Day because he lives with me. I made him take me out to dinner and buy me cake.

Embarrassing confession of the week:

2009-09-02T23:17:00.004-06:00

I've always wanted a mustache.

No, not the kind that I might be able grow from eating carrots and rubbing Vicks Vapor Rub on my chest. Assuming it is even possible for a female to grow a mustache without hormones/genetic predisposition.

I want to purchase a silky black handlebar mustache to wear at my will and leisure. Mainly just for photos, or even in public when I'm feeling daring enough.

Wanderlust

2009-08-26T21:47:00.017-06:00

These are some pictures Andrew took on his Holga. I mostly cut people's heads off in pictures, so the only picture I posted that I took is the one of him on the bench wearing his much maligned corduroy pants (because they ripped shortly afterward).

Things I love about summertime

2009-08-19T23:34:00.003-06:00

As my summer is somewhat rapidly drawing to a close, I thought I'd make a list of things I love and miss when it is below freezing outside.

Andrew (even though he's a year-round fixture)
Shaved ice
Watermelon
Wearing dresses/skirts almost every day
Bike rides
BBQs
No snow or ice
Popsicles
It stays light late and gets light early
Going on walks
S’mores
Outdoor concerts
Sandals
Taking school off
Swimming
Summer rainstorms

Yes, I do realize that about half the things on my list have to do with food. And no, I'm not that embarrassed about it.

500 Days of Summer

2009-08-07T22:02:00.003-06:00

I saw this film last weekend and approve for the following reasons:

1. The Smiths are their first encounter. Sufjan Stevens was Andrew's and my first encounter.

2. The art direction is excellent.

3. It's the least cheesy romantic movie I've ever seen besides Amelie.

4. I've crushed on Joseph Gordon-Levitt ever since I saw 10 Things I Hate About You.

5. In real life Zooey Deschanel is marrying Ben Gibbard. Please make darling and talented babies soon.

A Tale of Two Incidents

2009-07-20T23:29:00.005-06:00

After arriving home from the extremely overcrowded Bon Iver/Jenny Lewis concert for the Twilight Concert Series, Andrew said to me that the more he goes out in the public, the more he realizes he really dislikes most people. Although most concert goers (especially free concert goers) are hardly a sampling of upstanding humanity, I did, slightly, agree with him. “I’m glad you like me,” I said. “Who wouldn’t like you?” he asked.

As I contemplated my answer, I thought back to the girl whose nose I bit in nursery school in England. I also thought of the more recent incident of a lady giving me the evil eye during the Sundance screening of It Might Get Loud. Her evil eye was definitely the most dastardly I had ever witnessed, and I shrank back in my seat wondering what I could have possibly done to merit such a look. I was enlightened when she loudly confronted me afterward vehemently claiming I had talked during the whole movie. It absolutely wasn’t true (I hadn’t whispered more than two words), and Andrew defended me (I am non-confrontational to a fault) by telling the lady there was something wrong with her hearing and she was out of her mind. I eventually began to feel more sorry for her husband than for myself, who sunk as low as possible in his seat while his wife publicly denounced me. I only had to sit through a movie with her; he has to spend the rest of his life being humiliated by her.

Reflecting on both incidents, I decided that the former had probably forgotten about it (her mom and my mom still exchange Christmas cards every year), but I was sure the latter definitely remembered me with contempt, and Madame Defarge-style, went home and knit my name (and probably Andrew’s too) into a blanket hit-list of some sort.

Hello, darkness, my old friend

2009-04-29T11:18:00.005-06:00

I'd just like to give a shout out to Harold, who was my iPod until sometime late last night/early this morning. He is now in the hands of strangers and/or enemies in the drug trade business of Salt Lake City. Someone smashed and shattered the passenger side of Andrew's and my Fit and stole him while it was parked in our assigned parking space in the parking lot of our apartment building. I miss Harold a lot to say the least, we had lived together for more than three years, and the last remaining vestige of our friendship is this:

And although I'm glad I still have the isock to remember Harold by, I'm a little disheartened that the thieves didn't take it to give Harold the protection he needs from being scratched by the outside world. In addition to being negligent in collecting everything that goes along with Harold, the thieves also managed to overlook Andrew's and my Ray Ban sunglasses which were worth a lot more than a three year old ipod. Harold, where ever you are, I hope you are safe and being treated well.

So I definitely like the Helio Sequence

2009-04-19T00:12:00.007-06:00

but this picture makes me like them even more.

polyvore.com

2009-04-14T17:55:00.003-06:00

elspeth jane by elspethjane featuring Oscar de la Renta cardigans

I just discovered this amazing website. Click here to make your own collection.

With my lightning bolts of longing

2009-01-21T12:05:00.005-07:00

Stalker
noun
1. someone who walks with long stiff strides
2. someone who stalks game
3. someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions

This is the back of MICHAEL CERA's head and a little bit of his face. It was captured on my phone because I was sitting a mere row behind him for the premiere of Paper Heart at Sundance. I have harboured a massive crush on him since his days of Arrested Development. I've stalked him through Juno and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (both of which I hated, not because of him, but because of everything else) and now, I've stalked him at Sundance. However, when my moment of truth arrived, and I had the chance to have my picture taken with him, (which Andrew generously offered to take since I'd been hyperventilating during the whole film) I made a hideous decision. Instead of stepping up next to him and planting a big wet one on his precious face, I got really shy because I was worried he would think I was creepy. So I missed my big chance, and in retrospect, I realise I've made the biggest mistake of my life. A) I'll probably never see Michael Cera again, and B) since I'm never seeing him again, who cares if he thinks I'm creepy?

Today, this is me

2008-12-08T16:45:00.002-07:00

November 14th 2008

2008-12-05T09:09:00.006-07:00

10 things I hate about you

2008-05-28T13:26:00.003-06:00

Watched it for the first time today since like 8th grade. So good. Can't believe I forgot how good it is.

Lars and The Real Girl

2008-04-21T09:36:00.001-06:00

Best contemporary film I've seen in a while.

Go see it.

Current top 5's [these are subject to change]

2007-12-01T17:34:00.001-07:00

Songs:
1. "Oh Sister" - Andrew Bird cover of Bob Dylan
2. "Debbie" - Architecture in Helsinki
3. "Wake Up" - The Arcade Fire
4. "Icky Thump" - The White Stripes
5. "Elephant Gun" - Beirut

Recently viewed films:

1. The Darjeeling Limited
2. Danny Deckchair
3. Paradise Now
4. The Devil and Daniel Johnston
5. The Puffy Chair

The older I get

2007-09-04T21:24:00.001-06:00

The more I enjoy good salad and classical music.

I've confessed.

i was never young. even as a child.

2007-07-17T11:38:00.001-06:00

that is a lie. my mother and i probably in 1989 or 1990.

I need my daily dosage and you probably do too

2007-05-07T23:01:00.001-06:00