Good dog

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via RomanceWriter

I really love dogs and I really love old photographs with dogs in them. They seem especially loving and real to me, maybe because there is often physical contact, movement, smiling . . . three things that are missing from a lot of early portrait photographs. Here are some of my favorites available on Etsy right now, almost all from the 1920s-1940s - just click on the photo to see the listing. The last one is a family photograph with my great-grandpa Duffelmeyer and the family pup.

My BFF

On my first day of Kindergarten I met a girl named Brenna. I thought she was the best thing around and we quickly became best friends. We've made it through twenty-five years of life together so far, including Middle School (which should really count double, don't you think?) Brenna is here for a visit this week and I'm so excited to host her. I don't think we'll go rollerskating, but you never know.

A thankful heart

I'm so happy to be celebrating Valentine's Day with you this year. My heart is happier and fuller than ever and your readership and friendship is a big part of that - thank you! What are your plans today? I am going to buy myself a fancy coffee this afternoon and a bunch of these flowers for my office. There is a little flower shop that I pass every day on my way to the post office that I've been admiring for weeks - today I'm treating myself!

Wednesday chuckle

My friend Laura sent this card to me for my birthday and every time I look at it I laugh. Happy hump day everyone!

Weekend hike

Just a few pictures to share with you from my hike in Tilden Park this weekend. Mr. Jean Jean Vintage and I had a great time. The weather was unbelievable - 73 degrees on February 5th. Now I understand why everyone loves this state.

Natural History

The Natural History Museum on the KU campus in Lawrence, Kansas is one of my favorite places. The basement level is the best. That is where all of the fossils are. The walls are blue and the whole set up makes you feel like you are seven years old on a school trip in the late 1970s. Strangely, I get the same excited feeling looking at fossils as I do looking at antique jewelry . . .

Work it out 2011 | Part 2

Yesterday we discussed what to wear when you start your fitness regiment in 2011, now let's talk about some at-home workout tips:

♦ Workout in your basement or rec room whenever possible. It builds character.
♦ Always wear a side ponytail when you are weight training on the trampoline at home.
♦ Everything is more fun when you wear striped compression tights, especially leg lifts.

♦ Whatever you do, don't let go of the treadmill handle bars.
♦ Let a friend know when you start your workout, just in case repetitions "D" or "K" don't quite work out and you need rescuing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Work it out 2011 | Part 1

It is just about time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions and I thought I would nudge you along with a two-part blog feature on fitness. Today's post is about how to look your best when you are out on the track . . . or just learning against the fence next to the track . . . or even just standing on astro-turf. Whatever you are doing to get fit in 2011, here are some things you should consider for the best results:

♦Try wearing sheer pantyhose under your shorts. It feels really great.
♦Buy two velour tracksuits the color of your grandma's den. One for you, one for a friend.
♦Feather your bangs before you head out for a jog. You will feel like you are going faster.
♦Ditch the socks. You don't need them if you've got pantyhose on silly!
♦If you find yourself leaning against a fence with two guys with amazing hair, please don't stare.

Tomorrow's post (and then back to jewelry, I promise) features some of the equipment you will need to reach your fitness goals in 2011.

The truth

Because it's Christmastime, and at Christmastime you tell the truth, I must share a little secret. I listen to, and enjoy, the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album this time of year. I like it because it was (adorably) my Dad's one and only foray into new age/electronic music and he loved it and played it over and over at the Duffelmeyer Family Christmas gatherings from roughly 1986-2002. It reminds me of him this time of year. Here is a little sample of the first track, Deck the Halls. Please do not judge.

Fantasia

I absolutely love Walt Disney's Fantasia. I watch it once a year, usually right around this time. It was released in 1940 as Disney's third full-length feature movie, after Snow White and Pinocchio. It was an unusual animated film (and a box office disaster) with eight segments all set to different pieces of classical music.

My mom took my brother and I to see it in the theater for its 50th anniversary in 1990. I was nine and I was bewildered. I loved the pretty goldfish swimming to the Arab Dance from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, and the centaurs running around to Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. I was thrilled by the chaos in Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and totally freaked out by the Night on Bald Mountain part. The movie, and the music, are forever burned into my brain.

Watch out Gisele

Sooo I recently got a tripod (for the purpose of outfit posts) and I was experimenting with it yesterday. I know, this is big news. Once I figured out how to get my whole head in the picture, things went pretty smoothly. The only thing is I kept laughing and talking. I think I was just so nervous! I was sort of waiting for some lady to come out of the corner with a comb and fix my hair, like in the old school picture days. And let's face it the scenario was ridiculous. Taking pictures of myself, by myself, in the corner of the bedroom at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I'm sure this self-portrait thing will feel normal at some point, but it was hilarious to me yesterday. Note: I've included a couple of pics from my illustrious modeling days with Dear Golden Vintage. As you can see, I didn't do much better with Lauren on the other side of the camera.

Flowers for winter

I found this set of dried flower wall hangings last weekend and I am really in love with them. They are small, about the size of a coaster, which makes me appreciate the intricate work all the more. I want to find more and cover a whole wall with them!

Hold on to your drumsticks

In less than 24 hours, our families begin arriving for Thanksgiving. Our folks/siblings haven't been to these parts much in the time we've lived here and no one has seen our house yet, so we are really excited. Soren (my husband) and I have been busy getting things ready for the occasion. We painted our front door, tidied up the yard, got furniture for our living room, found a daybed for my office, etc. All in all, I think the house is ready to be full. Here are a few pictures I snapped yesterday - including a few of Jean Jean Vintage headquarters.