Yay! Solution!

First of all, *omg DROOL* over this closet from MothDesign. Sigh, some day! Second, I have been hanging onto the Tiffany bag that my engagement ring came in (Keene smartly kept it, knowing I'd want it!) but I haven't known what to do with it. I didn't want to hide it away in a drawer, but how could I toss it? Then I saw this fab idea to frame your designer bags - brilliant! I mean, I'm not really into labels and don't buy designer like...ever, but it's the perfect way to preserve and enjoy my little Tiffany bag. And I can hang it right by all my jewelry and see it every day. Cute, right?

Ask MM: Blog Edition

Another loyal reader and friend recently sent me several fantastic questions. I thought I'd start by answering the weddin'-related one!

"When are you shopping for a wedding dress? Or have you bought one? Do you have a silhouette in mind?" - Andrea (Drew, as she is to me!)

To answer Andrea's question: I think I'll be shopping for a dress around October. Being that I am all cliche and whatnot, I'm trying to shed just a few extra pounds before the shopping starts. I think I can get to my goal by October! (hope)

As for styles/silhouettes, I am truly going to just go with what looks best. I've barely worn any formal dresses in my life, so I don't know exactly what works well on me yet. But I do know I love "vintage" looking dresses, classic, and lace, lace, lace. Oh, and a little sparkle doesn't hurt either ;)

Let's first start with The Ultimate in Perfection: Kate. I DIED when she stepped out of that car on her wedding day.

And before her, was her inspiration: Grace. Again, the lace, I die for it.

I have always liked 3/4 sleeves as well. Why not on a dress?! They can be gorgeous!

Or vintage...

Or a great excuse for more lace...

I love love love all the detailed, scalloped and lace backs that are out there...

Ok. Let's pretend for a minute. I would never actually go "mini", but these are tempting!

Love it! Maybe for my "getaway" outfit :)

Tea length is also tempting because it shows off FABULOUS shoes so well!

Most likely I'll go for a sweetheart neckline, since those always flatter...

I've seen this dress all over the place lately - isn't it precious?

Dying for this neckline. Sweetheart, lace, and the sparkly vintage-ey belt. Love.

The cascading back could be pretty...

Or I might go more simple with a luscious satin...

But OhEmGee....is this classic silhouette dreamy or WHAT?

I guess you'll just have to stay tuned! I can't wait to go dress shopping. I wonder if it'll be like the movies/tv where the one that makes my mom cry is "the one"....

Not so square, Pioneer Square!

My loyal blog-material-provider and friend Josiane sent me this awesome post - since I haven't been down to Pioneer Square in a while, I didn't even know about these!

She says: "They are these trees in Pioneer Square that look like they are wearing knitted sweaters, or mittens or socks, depending on how you look at them. They usually look like sweaters or socks to me. Anyway, it’s totally cute and I see them every day on my way to work."

I would love to see these every day on my way to work! I mean, if I went to work! BAH. Ok, every day on my way to school...I do still leave the house, on occasion ;) {Knitted by Susan Tidwell, full post on UrbanResearch}

Happy Friday! Matchbox Gardens.

How cute are these teeny tiny gardens the size of a matchbox? I'm in love with them. I bet you could make this yourself. Just a matchbox, a little dirt, and sun and seeds and you are good to go. Adorable! {via Colossal}

Vintage Suitcase Medicine Cabinet

Um....How totally adorbs is this!? If you don't already have a medicine cabinet this is a supercute idea. I bet you could get the same but a more feminine look with a ladies suitcase as well. Oooh! You could have "His" and "Hers". Imagenius.

via {PoppyTalk}.

Hangin' Around the 'Hood

I haven't been the best blogger lately. It's a bummer because I love chatting with You Guys! But for right now blogging is still just a hobby, and I've got to stay the course for my "career transformation" path - this is mostly what I've been doing lately, Stylin' with CSS, and a cocktail (not usually with a cocktail):

That fancy glass is from Keene's uncle Kim - what an awesome gift, right? They were his graduation from law school present. We are making good use out of them! Classin' up the every day :)

I've also been spending a lot of time with this fool:

She needs lots of walks. Thankfully, we don't mind walking around our neighborhood one bit.

This is along the little "promenade" that some Queen Anne residents made sure was built back in the day. So grateful to those folks!

And then this is what The Pearl does intermittently for the whole walk:

She is just very curious. She also likes the view.

That there's your Magnolia off to the right...

And then there's all the mansions to look at. For example: this person's house. What if THAT was your view from your backyard???

Oh, and I can't believe it took six months for us to discover THE MANSION TO END ALL MANSIONS. This thing takes up the entire block!!! We never noticed it before because it's all surrounded in bushes. CRAZY.

This is what I imagine "Pearl's World" to be like:

Do you think she has any idea she pees in one of the nicest viewpoints in the city every day?

Yeah, probably not. Well, at least I can enjoy it's fabulousness!

Ask MansionMogul: 10th Edition

Hello again from my computer cam! Here I go answering some more awesome questions from Paula. I thought I would post some accompanying photos to for these topics below. Enjoy my chat with Y'all, and remember: let me know your comments! I am now entirely fresh out of Ask MM questions, so ask away, Friends!

An example of completely perfect-looking possibly unrealistic picnics:

Caprese Salad - oh yeah:

The Evergreen State Fair: Hollah!

An example of the perfectly easy-breezy beautiful wedding stuff that I'm lusting after - shoes, dress, veil, oh my!

Hair Envy.

I'm at that point again where I need to get to the salon...badly. I keep catching glimpses of my hair and thinking to myself, "eew..it's horsey again". Long hair is impossible. Especially for me or other gals who don't have naturally thick and luxurious hair. I know I'm working against nature here but a few years ago I had the realization that my time for having a long hairstyle was going to run out - probably already has. I'm thinking you can *maybe* push the long hair till about age 35...maybe even 40. But definitely NOT after 40. I never want someone to see my hair from the back and then I turn around and they're all "ACK!" because my hair doesn't match my age. So anyway, this is all a long way of saying that I've been trying to rock the long for a few years now while I can, and I also have this whole weddin' thing happening next year. So I want to keep it until at least next Spring. But OH MY GAWD I want to cut it soooo bad! Tip for the ladies: if you imagine you'll be getting married in the future, don't start growing out your hair YEARS in advance. That's so not necessary. So for now, ima get into the salon, get the cut and color to maintain my sanity until Spring, and then dream of my new "married lady" bob I'm gonna get after.

HAIRPIRATION for 2012:

Katie's got it right....

love those "asymmetrical" bobs

w/bangs

Not so sure about the wacky color but I love the shape of this...

Diana Argon recently went short - so cute!

Asymmetry w/bangs

I'd hope it'd grow out nicely like this.

SIGH - some day - 2012 I'm going short FOR SURE! :)

Ask MansionMogul - Live?

QUESTION, You Guys:

Would you take the time to participate if I tried out one of these "live talk show" formats on Vokle? You can sign in and ask text questions OR live video chat with me!

I really want your HONEST answers (I mean, how sad would it be if I had like - 2 - people tune in?):

Downton Abbey!

Ahhhh, the good ole days! When you had a mansion and keeping it's integrity was #1. Downton Abbey is a miniseries on PBS and it stars none other than a totally hot manse. So I HAD to see it of course.

Our friend Josiane got her hands on this highly sought-after DVD from the library and holeee-crap this show is so good! We decided to make it a viewing event and theme-out our eats:

Those would be English Tea Sandwiches of smoked salmon and dill, and the classic "Cucumber Sandwiches". YUM! Also tea cookies (naturally) and some berries for a non-carb :) I'd like to tell you we drank the tea we had but we had Summer Beers instead (thanks Bethany for introducing me to this - you are brilliant. Also note: using cheap beer is crucial).

Check it:

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

You Guys: Thank Jeeze there is a 2nd Season coming of Downton! I have to know what happens to hot Matthew!

Do you have the Self-Improvement Ballz?

Have you guys heard of this "Nohari Window"? It's crazy.

This is how it works:
"By describing your failings from a fixed list of adjectives, then asking your friends and colleagues to describe you from the same list, a grid of perceived and unrecognised weaknesses can be explored."

Oy. I don't think I have the balls to hear what my friends and colleagues find my failings to be. But - I do think that if I did have the guts, it could be a really helpful way to improve upon yourself.

What do you guys think? Would you ever consider doing something like the Nohari Window?

On to San Francisco...

Oh wait, what's that?

Peeking through the fog just as it should on a typical San Fran day...I'd seen it before but never driven across it!

Pictures from the car! Always come out professional.

Compared to Santa Rosa, this city felt like an entirely different country! And it was fabulous, because we rolled in right after the Pride Parade had ended in that fine city. All colors of stray feathers missing from boas were floating around the place!

After some Manewelry shopping (man jewelry, and yes, we found one he likes!) we hopped on a CABLE CAR. Holler! Apparently this is the only "transit system" listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

See how it rolls on down here to the end of the line, then they rotate it on this wooden rotating spot? Pretty neat.

Historic Landmark although apparently not protected from billboards advertising vacation destinations. Classy!

Keene was the brave one and was a "Standee", riding on the outside of the car Like a Boss!

He said it was pretty fun. Kinda like a gentle roller coaster? I know his law brain was all "liability liability liability....but not my problem haha"...

My best attempt at a self-portrait without putting my camera in danger of falling off the cable car...

Ignore this chick who thought I was taking a picture of her. (sorry, Stranger! You're on my blog now! All 5 readers can see you!). Anyway, see the view back there? It was a pretty great way to get the feel of cool San Fransisco.

I took this video for Y'all so you could get the real experience. Also, why is it I've always got to be the one to start the "Woo"?!

And then we went to the Fisherman's Terminal (not to be confused with the Wharf - this was much cooler than that hot mess). I took a picture of this fountain because I thought it was the most heinous fountain sculpture I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of ugly sculpture.

My last day in San Fran I had big plans. But then I got back to the hotel and had this glass of Rose and ate some Ghirardelli chocolates and watched a movie instead. I'm lazy. Also it won't be my last trip to San Fran!