happy happy joy joy

Sweet Nothings posted a list of 10 things that make her crazy happy. I think I'll join in — in no particular order:

Having a project turn out better than expected

My new Satya necklace

Laughing out loud

Being the hostess

April days that are as hot as July days

Snuggling with Scarley

Sharing love with family and friends

A really good book

Long weekends

Waking up next to Husband

Read here for more happy lists.

Comment to let us know if you've posted this list on your own blog, too.

it's just me

You may have noticed that I ditched my "newlyb" alias and am now just lindsey. I decided that I couldn't classify myself as newly forever — we've already been married for more than six months and, while I still consider us newlyweds, I'm pretty used to being Mrs. B at this point.

I think we're past formal introductions at this point, but here's a little polyvore to give you some added insight.

Nice to meet you!

tv in the bedroom: a do or a don't?

I'm sure most marriage counsellors would say it's a big faux pas to have a television in the master bedroom. I've had a television in my room for years, and when husband and I got a shared apartment, we decided to keep it. 

For us, the television in the bedroom is merely for convenience. Usually, if we're heading to bed, we don't turn on the TV. But if there's a special show or a late movie on and we'd rather be laying in bed than laying on the couch, we'll flip it on. That said, we use it so little that we're starting to think it's just a waste of space and money — we pay $4 a month for the extra digital cable box.

[If we had a wall-mounted flat screen, I may be singing a different tune.]

And since we're on a money-saving kick — yes, I know it's only $4 a month — I'm thinking we should stash the set in the closet, and maybe re-visit the topic when we have a sprawling master bedroom with it's own special TV nook [a girl can dream, can't she?].

Click here to see what Nesters have to say on the topic.

What do you think? TV in the bedroom — a do or a don't?

reduce reuse recycle

What can you do? Lots! Here are a few ways Husband and I care for our environment:

- We donate gently-used clothing to our local Boys and Girls Club, so rather than adding to the landfill, the items we don't wear anymore go to good use.

- Turn off the water while we're brushing our teeth. Sometimes this is a tough one to remember, especially if you live in an apartment building like ours where we don't have to pay for water consumption. 

- Saving food. We never throw out our leftovers and often have suppers we affectionately refer to as "hodge podge" when we finish up a variety of leftovers and odds and ends in the fridge. 

- Using reusable containers, instead of cling wrap or baggies. Next time you're eating lunch at the office, look around and see how many plastic sandwich bags end up in the garbage ... on a daily basis!

- We try to drink coffee in our travel mugs as often as possible, instead of buying it in disposable paper cups.

Earth Day is the perfect reminder of what we should strive for on the other 364 days of the year. What do you do to protect Mother Earth?

a sum of our experiences

Have you ever been at a point in your life when you're really not sure what comes next? I've been talking to lots of friends about the future lately — about jobs, moving, travelling among other things. 

Then, one of my fave bloggers, Magchunk, posted a fun list of 99 things ... a sort of way to see what you've done and where you've been ... so I thought I'd play along. You simply bold the things you've done:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band — Does my wedding day cameo in BJ Got Married count?
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity — This one was by accident actually .. I thought I was giving a one-time donation and actually got signed up for a monthly payroll deduction! Oops!
7. Been to Disneyworld/Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo — Be glad you missed this one ...
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you were not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business — Working on this one ... more exciting news to come!
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt — This one is also a work in progress 
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been laid off from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book — I'd like to, at some point.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper — Oh so many times
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating — Never ever ever ever
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cellphone
99. Been stung by a bee

I've actually done a lot more of these things than I originally thought. Feel free to paste this into your own blog and participate. Be sure to comment with a link so we can check out your list, too!

i'm a collector

I didn't really realize I was starting this collection until it was already formed, and now I just can't get enough.

And there were two more hiding in the cupboard that didn't make it into this photo shoot. That makes 23 cookbooks that I own and love. That doesn't count the dozens of recipes that are stashed in that cute little red recipe box. There's enough deliciousness in there to make up at least another cookbook or two. Among my faves are the banana bread recipe from my Better Homes and Garden's cookbook, the chocolate chip cookie recipes from the Bake Sale collection, and pretty much anything from Mollie Katzen's Moosewood Cookbook.

Here are some of the lovelies I plan to acquire next:

OK, so maybe I'll spend more time looking at the cover of this one than the recipes inside .. oh that Jamie Oliver.

I don't have any of Rachael Ray's cookbooks yet, but I love to watch her cooking show. She makes it look so easy!

Husband has his eye on this one. He thinks I should have it, and I agree!

Who doesn't love a good low-fat recipe? 

And this pair knows how to make the most delicious food and make sure that a moment on the hips doesn't equal forever on the hips.

Do you have any cookbooks that you couldn't live without?

it's a dirty job ...

I almost forgot to tell you! Incase you missed it, the most wonderful UNC Tar Heels pulled through for Team Wife!

That means, as per the conditions of the bet, Husband is on kitty litter duty for a whole month! 

basking in the sunshine state

Visiting Florida this past week was the longest vacation I've taken in my adult life. Husband and I had a wonderful time. It was our first major trip in the six years we've been together and our first time on a plane together — which wasn't completely uneventful when we were squeezing each other's hands for dear life through some pretty rough turbulence. 

Magic Kingdom was everything I expected and more. Our favourite ride was Splash Mountain, and just as they warned, we got totally soaked, but it was worth it! 

The parade was also one of my favourite parts — I sang along with all of the movie songs like a little kid. 

We also spent a day at Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) and it was just as awesome. The new Aerosmith Rockin' Roller Coaster lived up to its reputation. It's the only ride that had me screaming at the top of my lungs. 

This photo below was a pretty hilarious moment. When Lumiere tapped Cogsworth and he toppled over, we thought his kicking and flailing was part of the show, until the stage hands ran out to pick him up again. We were in stitches.

We got to see some real life alligators where we went mini putting in Kissimmee.

And we spent a day in Miami, swimming at South Beach, visiting Miami Ink and taking in an NBA game (Miami Heat vs. NY Knicks  — we were rooting for husbands fave team, but the Knicks lost in the end, even though they were up at half! Pretty exciting!).

One of the best parts of the trip was getting to visit with Husband's grandma for several days. She is sweet, fun and witty, and we miss her so much already!

home sweet home

It's so bittersweet to come home after a wonderful vacation. Pro: We're no longer living out of our suitcases. Con: We left 28 degree weather to come home to 7 degree weather. Pro: We can resume our regular routine. Con: We have to resume the regular routine. The list goes on ...

We had an amazing time in Florida though. We just got back last night and I'm already back to work. 

Unfortunately, I opened my suitcase and it exploded all over our apartment, so once I get the mess cleaned up, I'll post some photos!

when your to-dos need to-dos

You may recall that husband and I made a super fabulous fantastic 2009 to-do list earlier this year, and the truth is, we haven't accomplished a darn thing! Gotta get on that ... here's an update:

1. Make our own sushi. To our credit, we did buy sushi rolling mats and we got a set of cute re-usable chopsticks from brother and sister-in-law, so we're on our way!

2. Read the same book. We actually already picked a book. We're both going to read our own copy of my buddy Jon's book, Black Snow, and compare notes.

3. Golf together at least four times. The season hasn't started yet. Don't worry though, as soon as it does, this will be husband's No. 1 list priority. For now, we'll have to settle to watch some of The Masters this weekend on TV.

4. Go camping at least twice. Again, this will be no prob, once the snow all finally melts.

5. Get a Wii. Hopefully we'll tick this one off sooner than later. I could really go for some Wii Fit yoga!

6. Paint another room. We've got the colour selected, so it's only a matter of time .. stay tuned!

7. Sleep in all day.
8. Pull an all nighter. We really only got to sleep a few hours before our flight to Florida; does that count? No? I didn't think so ... 

9. Go on a hike. We actually sort of did this one already! We participated in Get Up There — an awareness event for colorectal cancer research — when we hiked to the top of Ski Wentworth with snow shoes. It was a lot of fun! We want to try to get out snowshoeing more often next year. Plus, lovely mother-in-law gave me a great book of provincial trails, so I've got all kinds of ideas for long hikes and picnics throughout the coming summer.

10. Try kayaking.
11. Spend a day on the Common. 
12. Go back to Ingonish for our anniversary. Awaiting the actual occasion!

OK, maybe the progress isn't as terrible as I thought, but this has given me renewed inspiration to tackle this list, and maybe even add a few more fun things before 2009 is over! Have you done anything exciting lately that you'd recommend for us?

this will be a first

I'm just realizing that I've never seen a palm tree in real life.

Tomorrow, all that's going to change.

if i make beach bags, the weather will come

OK, so the curtains weren't my only weekend project ... once I start, I just can't stop. My ambition spontaneously turned into this:

The inside of the flap and the lining are hot pink too ...

I usually fly by the seat of my pants with projects like this. I don't really ever use patterns .. I just wing it. My next experiment will be something more like this, with pleats and ... wait for it ... a zipper! I know, I'm a wild woman! 

[found here]

I've never sewn in a zipper before. Any tips?

it's all about the accents

I had a magical date today with my boyfriend, Mr. Singer.

We needed new curtains for our bedroom after we painted our bedroom furniture. Still budget conscious, I didn't really want to go out and buy new panels for our bedroom reno, so I picked up a few metres of rich, brown fabric at a great sale for $7. I really put it all in on this project — I pressed and everything!

Here are the tops of our new bedroom curtains; just a basic pocket, but I like the little ruched top.

And the final product:

Not bad way to waste away a rainy Sunday afternoon!

the moment of truth

And it all comes down to this ...

It's Final Four night in March Madness world, and in our living room, it's the moment of truth. If UNC loses against Villanova, Husband will be victorious in the great 2009 NCAA basketball challenge — which leaves me taking out the trash and recycling for the next month. But, if my dearest Tar Heels pull through, we will remain tied and it will come down to the final game on Monday night — when, if the Tar Heels take home the title, husband will find himself with a month of pooper scooper duty.

Stay tuned ... (UNC! UNC! UNC!)