Live Show: Seawolf at Mad Planet

This should be a good show tonight. The album will probably make my list of Top Ten Albums of 2009. See the article at Decider Milwaukee.

Wedding update: dress? check.

I'll be getting married next year (date TBA d/t scheduling issues). I've been frequenting the wedding blogs and the knot but have not officially started the planning process. Until now. I do want to go to the dress shops and try on a bunch of dresses but I don't want the pressure of deciding right then and there which one I like. My soluiton: do what I always do- mail order and return it in a few days if I don't like it. I saw this dress a month ago and kept going back to it, so I clicked order and should see it on my doorstep in 4-7 business days.

click here for the Jcrew Sascha gown online

Live Show: Sufjan Stevens at the Majestic

Sufjan was in Madison last night for a very cozy show at the Majestic Theater. Since my pictures are sub-par and I am not a music critic, click here for the review from Ryan at Muzzle of Bees. Here's a pitchfork.com link for video of his new music: Live Video of More New Sufjan Songs.

sub-par photo:

Desperate Housewives Season Premiere tonight

It's finally here: the Season 6 premiere! I can't get enough of this show: I play the DVDs when I work out, take bubble baths, while lounging on the weekend, after work. And now Sunday nights will be spoken for.

Lulu the dog's big day

Today Lulu went to the Annual GPA GREYHOUND GALA in Waukesha. She got a pedicure, met her old friends, and was reunited with her sister.

Weekend: Flea market this Sunday

I am very excited about this weekend: The Elkhorn Antique Flea-market is this Sunday at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. September is the best time for antique hunting at flea-markets. And this market is my favorite: with 500 or more dealers with pre-screened quality antiques, PAVED walkways (I usually have to put knee high mud boots on for most flea-mrket gallivanting), food stands, garden and produce stands mixed in with all the antiques. See the ELKHORN FLEAMARKET WEBSITE for more info.



Here are some great TIPS FOR FLEA-MARKET SHOPPING from one of my favorite blogs HIGH STREET MARKET
(I plan to start my day with a big travel mug of Alterra Coffee for the 6 am drive)



Tip #1 *Leave the house wearing comfy clothes and appropriate shoes! You might be walking on loose gravel (or worse, mud!) and you don't want to be wearing fancy sandals!

Tip #2 *Bring some reusable canvas totes. The vendors at the flea market don't always have plastic bags to package your goods. I like to bring extra bags so I know that everything will be safe, and I will be comfortable carrying everything around. If you really want to go the extra mile, bring a section of the newspaper for safe wrapping.

Tip #3 *Make sure you have ample storage space in your vehicle (and maybe a blanket or two)! You might come home with two small bags, and you might come home with two chairs! Leave room in your car for the unexpected!

Tip #4 *Parking! When you get to the flea market, remember where you parked. You might need to make a couple of trips to the car if you buy a large item!

Tip #5 *Bring plenty of cash. I always bring more than I think I will need (just in case you spot that treasured piece you can't go home without! You don't want to be left with an empty wallet!). Then, separate your cash into different pockets, or sections in your wallet. This helps me stay on track with my spending and also serves as a valuable negotiating tactic! Keep most of your money hidden!

Tip #6 *Be polite to vendors. Say hello and smile. You'd be surprised how far common courtesy will get you.

Tip #7 *Don't get too excited. If you spot something that you are interested in, don't act like you've struck gold! Calmly ask for a price. If you seem overly interested or too excited, vendors may think that they can get more money for the piece!

Tip #8 *When negotiating, do NOT insult the vendor on pricing. Learn from me, I have done this before and it's not a good thing. A good rule of thumb is offer about 25% to 30% less than the asking price. You may need to meet somewhere in the middle.

Tip #9 *Pick it up! If you see that one item that you have to have (you might even trade your husband for it!), pick it up! You are touching it, it's yours until you can make a deal (but still remain calm). If you leave it sitting there while inquiring about a price, some other lucky person may snatch it up!

Hello, new swimsuit!

Why? IDK. It's September and it's not like I'm going to the Caribbean anytime soon. I'm just being extra prepared for Summer 2010, I guess.

Riptide One-Piece Swimsuit from Anthropologie. CHECK IT!


It's totally hot.

I want to go to there: Brooklyn roof deck

I approve: Mare fragrance by Beth Terry

I have been meaning to blog about this perfume for a while. I was in Boston in May for a conference and wandered into the South End one day. First, I found the most amazing cafe: SOUTH END BUTTERY. Then after I finished my latte, my chicken curry wrap, and admired the beautiful cupcakes behind the case, I walked outside around the cafe's sidewalk tables with Ralph Lauren (very "Boston") dressed gay men with little dogs, and wandered next door to HUDSON. I died and went to heaven. This home design store was the stylish, hip, eclectic home I always wanted.
Since I couldn't buy everything, I decided that I have to get something. The one thing I had to have was the Beth Terry Mare fragrance that lingered throughout the store. It has oceany notes of sea salt, avocado, and ginger lily. Check out the other SCENTS: I might start a mini collection because they are so intoxicating.

The Weekend: Global Union

This Chicago band's performance was best thing I experienced all week. The were a cross between gypsies, a pep band, punk-rockers, circus performers, and the Disney magic lights parade. I loved watching the cheerleader rock his thing--What energy!

While there, I checked out:

- Rishi Tea from Milwaukee to have some CITRUS ICED TEA. Great orange/lemon/peach flavor

- WEST BANK CAFE for some lemongrass teriyaki chicken kabob. Delicious! (FYI: unfortunately, this restaurant is in a crap-hole of a neighborhood)

- IMMY'S for some East African grub. I know my African food, and these bites were goooood.

Definitely some of the best ethnic festival food (second to maybe the Folk Fair?). It sure beat corn dogs!

TV night!

It's gonna be a TV night! The Office season premiere, Project Runway, and Parks and Recreation is all on tonight.

I plan on making this salad for the tv watching party tonight: Pear and gorgonzola salad with spinach and bibb lettuce

I found it on the website INNCUISINE.COM

I also found this on Etsy from elloh. I love this seller--lots of tv/movie/book character drawings. Very cute.

On the Road: Renegade Craft Fair Chicago

Last weekend, I took the Amtrak train to Chicago for the RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR. I went alone but I had sooo much fun. It was a beautiful day and I got some great stuff. Here are some pictures from my day:

On the Road: Nashville/Memphis pictures....finally

Sooooo sorry this post took forever. I had to get enlist some serious help with photoshop from MATT on this post. Thanks, Matt!

Let's start out by saying my hopes were not high for the "Country music capitol of the world". I figured we'd go and see some stuff but mostly hang out in the nice resort for the long weekend, then trip it over to Memphis to see Graceland and eat BBQ (what I really wanted to do). Turns out I loved Nashville and would definitely recommend a visit. Country music was piped out onto the downtown streets and line dancing flourished, but it was kind of endearing. Nashville was a lot bigger than I expected (bigger than Milwaukee). The Ryman Theater was probably my favorite stop along the way. It was Home to the Grand Ole Opry. No longer, though. The current one was out by our hotel and totally commercialized.

We did eventually find Neely's BBQ in Memphis. I was the most excited person in the hole place; I love the cooking show "Down Home with the Neely's on Food Network. We split a full rack of ribs, had some BBQ Spaghetti, and fries on the deck overlooking the Cumberland river. Oddly, there were dozens of swimming turtles just below the deck in the river. River turtles, no idea that existed. In Memphis, we went to BB King's Roadhouse.

These are horses from the backyard of Matt's aunt. Some pictures of our hotel and balcony. Andrew Jackson's home, the Hermitage. And the Nashville zoo, a red panda....and the travelocity gnome?

Memphis was simply dying. Very run-down and poor. Beale St. was only a few blocks long and not very happening on a Monday afternoon. Graceland was sort of creepy: the outside wall was covered with writing, candles, and flowers. Keep in mind, he died 30 yrs ago.

Shopping List: Shoes at Anthropologie

On the Road: Nashville/Memphis pictures....coming soon

This past weekend, we took a somewhat last minute trip to Nashville. It certainly wasn't at the top of my list of places to visit in the U.S. (San Francisco is currently at #1). But the stars aligned and Nashville it was. Be that as it may, I was quite taken with Nashvegas in all it's glitz and country glory. We stayed at the GAYLORD OPRYLAND HOTEL (Picture above). It was like the Milwaukee Domes x 10 with 2,881 hotel rooms attached. I'll be posting a bunch of pictures in the very near future (once I figure out how to upload them).