tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87606959200958667272024-03-12T21:25:52.858-04:00Think in Bright ColorsRandom nuggets of inspiration for advertising, design and beyond (acquired by a freelance copywriter).Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-88997478883213622632009-11-07T23:03:00.002-05:002009-11-07T23:06:27.136-05:00Breaking News!<div><br /></div>I'm moving!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Well not actually, just my blog address. Blogspot has gotten really annoying and is not very user-friendly. So yeah. Blogspot, you're fired.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tumblr, you're hired.</div><div><br /></div><div>So please change your bookmarks to:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://thinkinbrightcolors.tumblr.com">http://thinkinbrightcolors.tumblr.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for sticking with me my loyal readers :)</div>Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-15865105117413132052009-11-06T15:54:00.000-05:002009-11-06T15:55:22.874-05:00Amen, Aziz.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68Szfl26SMpQ7XfVrbSq3S3yRkYpquwmfY8K89rKvyj4TLqtvm7r7fGkbCHmOsKlHJPgvNhxFdqrIcR3mNqubfIn2ojcG6Yn201LTlNYU3bHTyyZ3cx7rMShg-WlAxPZbN6fioSwwiMQ/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 65px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68Szfl26SMpQ7XfVrbSq3S3yRkYpquwmfY8K89rKvyj4TLqtvm7r7fGkbCHmOsKlHJPgvNhxFdqrIcR3mNqubfIn2ojcG6Yn201LTlNYU3bHTyyZ3cx7rMShg-WlAxPZbN6fioSwwiMQ/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401097087676181442" border="0" /></a><br />Had to take a screen shot of this.Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-29730499225582132732009-11-05T11:38:00.004-05:002009-11-05T13:17:34.177-05:003 Pop Culture Things I'm Totally, 100% OverHere's a list of some recent pop culture crap, that were at one time awesome and quirky, but are now COMPLETELY PLAYED OUT:<br /><br /><br />- Bacon: Yes, bacon makes everything better (I'm a vegetarian and yet, I still agree to this statement)--however THROWING PICTURES OF BACON ONTO EVERY SINGLE THING YOU CAN THINK OF MAKES EVERYTHING WORSE. You are not creative for putting bacon on a band-aid, on a website, on a BUSINESS CARD. Gross. OVER IT.<br /><br /><br />- Mustaches: Once quirky and distinguished, mustaches have now made me roll my eyes and groan. Oh wow. You have an awkward mustache--HOW ORIGINAL! We get it--mustaches are (generally) creepy and rapey-looking. Hardy har har har. Enough. Any guy with a decent amount of testosterone can grow one. You are NOT special or hilarious (Brad, I'm talking to you here).<br /><br /><br />- Vampires: This has gotten so completely out of hand I don't even know where to start. I always thought vampires were super cool - what an awesome, unique subculture of weirdos! But with friggin Twilight, now EVERYTHING is about vampires. Movies, books, EVERYTHING. Too bad garlic and stakes won't make this whole vampire craze disappear...<br /><br /><br />End rant.Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-68506393208535311052009-11-04T12:55:00.002-05:002009-11-04T12:58:33.501-05:00Quote of the Day, the Day AfterI was on the phone briefly with my friend Danny (who lives in Hawaii) yesterday afternoon and he had this wonderful little gem of a soundbite-<br /><br /><br />Danny: I don't mean to sound like a victim - I'm not Nancy Kerrigan - but it's really hard to meet new people on a F**KING ISLAND!<br /><br /><br />You get no pity points from me, Danny because - oh wait - YOU LIVE IN HAWAII!Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-53206721709791875222009-11-04T11:44:00.002-05:002009-11-04T11:47:30.320-05:00Etiquette 2.0: How to Respond After Receiving a Link You’ve Already Seen…About 2 Years Ago.Someone sends you an email. <br /><br />The subject line: This is SOOOOOOO hilarious! <br /><br />The link they include? “Chocolate Rainnnnnnnnn.”<br /><br />Oh, man. COME ON!<br /><br />This happens to me fairly frequently. Good meaning colleagues, friends and family members discovering pop culture gems that were all sparkly and hilarious the first 12 times you saw them. And just when you think something has officially died (ahem, “Dick in a Box”), someone jumps on the bandwagon a little too late and can’t wait to share their perceived “new discovery” with the world…again…<br /><br />What do you do?<br /><br />My first instinct is always to eye roll and send back a sassy reply. “Yeah, this was pretty funny the first four times I saw it, which was, by the way, about 6 months ago.” <br /><br />But I guess that’s kind of harsh for the corporate world. After all, if this person is a colleague, it’s probably not the best career move to mock their tardiness to the party-ness (Real Housewives of Atlanta reference) just for trying to share something funny or ridiculous.<br /><br />So, here’s a quick rundown of how to handle these small, awkward interactions, if a colleague/parent/business associate sends you something OLD*:<br /><br />1. Share your honest opinion about the link. The person is looking for a reaction from you—whether it’s disgust or laughter (usually they’re looking for praise or a nice, juicy LOL!). If the link/joke has lost its luster for you, remember back to when you originally saw it and share THAT genuine emotion with them.<br /><br />2. Thank the person, sincerely. Don’t be a jerk. I know, I know—you probably want to thank them in an ungracious, sarcastic tone. But try to resist the urge. Thank them for thinking of you and passing on something they thought you would enjoy.<br /><br />3. Depending on the person, jab at them subtly for being behind the curve. This step is a little bit sticky because it really depends on who sent it to you and how old the link is. If your Mom sent you “Charlie Bit Me,” don’t mock her. She’s your Mom for goodness sakes!<br /><br />Hope that helps!<br /><br />*Note: if the person sending you one of these dusty, old jokes/links is your BFF or just an RF (Regular Friend, ha, I made that up!) feel free to belittle and humiliate them. My personal favorite is just to Reply All “OLD!” That’ll make them think twice before spontaneously clicking "Send" again.Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-57810609255195005852009-11-02T12:40:00.001-05:002009-11-02T12:42:05.915-05:00Facebook’s Graveyard. R.I.P. Dignity. <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/emg/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>357</o:Words> <o:characters>2036</o:Characters> <o:company>hzdg</o:Company> <o:lines>16</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2500</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-alt:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-charset:77; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:auto; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">My friend forwarded me <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/27/facebook-user-memorials">this link</a> a few days ago and my jaw pretty much fell on the concrete floor. The first question that came to mind—ARE THEY FOR REAL?</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Apparently, Facebook is planning on launching memorial profiles for deceased users. In my experience, it’s a bit awkward when someone dies and his/her Facebook profile continues existing. There’s something creepy about it. It happened once when I was in college—a student died crossing a busy highway next to my alma mater, The University of Miami. There were protests for the next few days near that highway, begging the county to put in another stoplight and crosswalk combo near campus. But what made it so awkward, was that her Facebook profile was still alive and kicking. People were still writing on her wall and her smiley, outgoing profile pic still blankly stared back at you.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was weird.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have mixed feelings about creating memorial profiles for deceased Facebook users. The slightly judgmental, uptight part of me thinks this whole thing is not only bizarre—it’s also immensely disrespectful. Saying you care for someone by taking four seconds to create a free Facebook account for a lost loved one is almost offensive. Of all the ways to show reverence for a lost loved one (i.e. creating foundations, raising money, having memorial services), you REALLY chose to create a Facebook profile? It hardly reflects the intensity of losing a loved one.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But then I thought about it a bit longer.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Maybe, just maybe—despite its inherent creepiness—this is a good idea. Facebook is a public forum and perhaps offering ALL loved ones of the deceased a place to share and mourn together is actually healthy. Long distance friends and relatives could offer sympathies and still feel included in the mourning process. Also, the profile would always exist, so even after a bit of time has passed, joint friends could still reminisce about their shared friend. On top of that, Facebook could then remove the deceased’s personal profile, removing personal information that could no longer be deleted or updated, thus letting the departed user rest in cyber-peace too.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So what does everyone think? Is this whole thing ridiculously offensive or reassuringly thoughtful? Would you want someone to post a Memorial Profile of you?</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <!--EndFragment--> Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-37230154530177464492009-10-30T16:24:00.002-04:002009-10-30T16:33:15.352-04:00Werewolf Bar Mitzvah<object id="389152" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" alt="EMBED-Werewolf Bar Mitzvah Full Video free videos" height="376" width="464"><param name="movie" value="http://embed.break.com/Mzg5MTUy"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://embed.break.com/Mzg5MTUy" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" height="376" width="464"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://view.break.com/389152#TellAFriendhttp://stats.break.com/invoke.txt">EMBED-Werewolf Bar Mitzvah Full Video</a> - Watch more <a href="http://www.break.com/">free videos</a></span><br /><br />In honor of Halloween tomorrow, I present you with one of my favorite things ever.<br /><br />Oh 30 Rock, why are you the most hilarious show in all the land?<br /><br /><br /><br />Other cool stuff that caught my eye this week:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2009/10/digital-shop-enjoys-slaughtering-magazines.html">Magazines and newspapers dying...not really funny :(</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/10/28/new.and.emergent.jews/index.html">Really great article about the "New Jews"</a> (P.S. Why have I never heard of the magazine Heeb before??? I need to subscribe to that like NOW!)<br /><br /><br />I'm totally late to this party, but I JUST discovered <a href="http://1000awesomethings.com">this website </a>and it's so so happy!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thejailbreak.com/2009/10/28/and-sadly-this-is-true/">S</a><a href="http://thejailbreak.com/2009/10/28/and-sadly-this-is-true/">ad but true New Yorker cover...</a><br /><br /><br />Shameless plug: Check out the <a href="http://www.dcaddys.com/">DCADDYs website</a>!!! I'm so stoked :)<br /><br />The HZDG blog, which I will be head-writer for, is launching on Monday! I'll post a link to that once it's alive and kicking!Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-32427722999942822742009-10-26T20:49:00.004-04:002009-10-26T20:55:27.175-04:00Too Much Automation?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpx1UOH8ooC94_k8OwXxtBZ2itu0shSGRNV38v8K7RxIN4kdkcXo53O1NZbJh0CKXBvZF5pp2uDrZnrLxCCo_8Zp1duvaRJB5iMVUQwsa6SBLqF4GOOzVtXuaWHEOYKSNqkrrDoZhfy4/s1600-h/talk-shit.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpx1UOH8ooC94_k8OwXxtBZ2itu0shSGRNV38v8K7RxIN4kdkcXo53O1NZbJh0CKXBvZF5pp2uDrZnrLxCCo_8Zp1duvaRJB5iMVUQwsa6SBLqF4GOOzVtXuaWHEOYKSNqkrrDoZhfy4/s400/talk-shit.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397077040857860370" /></a><br /><div>This is a screen grab Brad sent me earlier today off of his computer. </div><div><br /></div><div>His friend was planning on doing some shit talking tomorrow (predicting tonight's Eagles/Redskins game), and Google kindly asked if Brad wanted to "add [it] to calendar" ("it" being shit talking of course).</div><div><br /></div><div>He very kindly circled and pointed to the hilarity. AWESOME.</div>Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-22377130994512406552009-10-23T07:39:00.003-04:002009-10-23T07:48:04.907-04:00Modern Nativity Set<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRYWa9E9gAL9i65b7XPzcNUiqJg5uCEXKDFOxYvsZCanlCD84XSjxWciYuPBMAvoTvZtCUVA7uOlwU2oL3QLQumFG8fBenYdhzNlgW0tJyt9Qy3ArRxHz6fuAvJ9xhwG1ogekTRv8aFg/s1600-h/4012969528_6b9e469267-480x326.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRYWa9E9gAL9i65b7XPzcNUiqJg5uCEXKDFOxYvsZCanlCD84XSjxWciYuPBMAvoTvZtCUVA7uOlwU2oL3QLQumFG8fBenYdhzNlgW0tJyt9Qy3ArRxHz6fuAvJ9xhwG1ogekTRv8aFg/s400/4012969528_6b9e469267-480x326.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395759971442377458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCOabon3sdVuyd0BqYqYFxStm16cS9wqY03MZdtrn0Cb6jn9f13BgHUsANAvWpt7ar3lpDItah2jt563DPfVWfkq0-hEyY9EvSoJZj0LOqYmbQZKcbwFJ1etYMcJkOGmtkqojnBLAP8s/s1600-h/4012168915_78d5f51274-480x267.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCOabon3sdVuyd0BqYqYFxStm16cS9wqY03MZdtrn0Cb6jn9f13BgHUsANAvWpt7ar3lpDItah2jt563DPfVWfkq0-hEyY9EvSoJZj0LOqYmbQZKcbwFJ1etYMcJkOGmtkqojnBLAP8s/s400/4012168915_78d5f51274-480x267.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395759967614885714" /></a><br />Ha! LOVE this Modern Nativity set that I saw on <a href="http://www.swiss-miss.com/2009/10/modern-nativity-set-less-is-more.html">SwissMiss</a>. If only I wasn't Jewish...<div><br /></div><div>My LORD, is it the weekend yet? This week's been crawling, though there were some highlights:</div><div><br /></div><div>- The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/bethatwoman">WAWF</a> spot that <a href="http://luiserazo.com">Luis Erazo</a> and I concepted over the summer for <a href="http://rp3agency.com/">RP3 Agency</a> is finally done!!! I'm really happy with how it turned out, even though we had to stop working on it a few months ago, and think RP3 did a good job seeing the idea through executionally. VERY exciting!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>- Playing Apples to Apples with Brad, Andrew, Chip and Meg for the very first time was a blast and helped add some hilarity to the week.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Winning a new client pitch at work!</div><div><br /></div><div>- LOVING some new jams I got from iTunes including a lot of The Bird and The Bee, The Weepies and songs from GLEE!</div><div><br /></div><div>- Yummy dinner at La Tasca with Brad</div><div><br /></div><div>- Discovering that White Flint Mall in Rockville is the WORST MALL EVER with Meg. But we got yummy lettuce wraps and spring rolls which makes everything better.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Not sure what is on the agenda for this weekend. But I kind of like it that way :)</div>Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-1757043679143694622009-10-20T22:35:00.004-04:002009-10-20T23:00:02.284-04:00Tea for Two, or Five<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQ9yc5yoe2b4pq9L1BaWfHeAlHoRdwtuF19SzB9e9SuUdKoVlj-ZHgc7k7NfymqmobGETi-SljRgAK8m9_dhVC3b2IcY_fk4ZpMaN5SNNCphvuoms57dOg2QgYhrEmcM-j0hckzTVdn8/s1600-h/DSC_2459_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQ9yc5yoe2b4pq9L1BaWfHeAlHoRdwtuF19SzB9e9SuUdKoVlj-ZHgc7k7NfymqmobGETi-SljRgAK8m9_dhVC3b2IcY_fk4ZpMaN5SNNCphvuoms57dOg2QgYhrEmcM-j0hckzTVdn8/s400/DSC_2459_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394882156428304834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUfbTQdqbldl4MH2En16pyEEe4MGNvNz8UDn-HSe3mci_h9Ke0KnVPQhxYPQW61LTHDDY54FmOC7RuOPvxeugggd5Sc0cfXOhFwyBuMQHpX93LfOiteCbSUDLx0PJJ7Iz-pJErvejppk/s1600-h/DSC_2460_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUfbTQdqbldl4MH2En16pyEEe4MGNvNz8UDn-HSe3mci_h9Ke0KnVPQhxYPQW61LTHDDY54FmOC7RuOPvxeugggd5Sc0cfXOhFwyBuMQHpX93LfOiteCbSUDLx0PJJ7Iz-pJErvejppk/s400/DSC_2460_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394882070208522194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxua17dwjV4AJXSSfpj7xn9Kd1h4A8wdPKJowBD8xUQUS61OfBejJ7ZakJh7Un7e7Oc4DTyCBY99y01puGGJxCDD1W62RBS1kLkmPTuhvsLOSVJxqDrdpa0nKuYahRXpRu353SvlO3GY/s1600-h/DSC_2463_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxua17dwjV4AJXSSfpj7xn9Kd1h4A8wdPKJowBD8xUQUS61OfBejJ7ZakJh7Un7e7Oc4DTyCBY99y01puGGJxCDD1W62RBS1kLkmPTuhvsLOSVJxqDrdpa0nKuYahRXpRu353SvlO3GY/s400/DSC_2463_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394882064342282210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2yCecPwz2MGoLEJ_azzH09q9U4GoeYGuMEjbVQYhyphenhyphenV3SZkmRpWrya1nElv-dZa6CVs-1yIqWbQu1slYjwlb3wbmnfxVVIV4JuG9EtggoNIJFsZTeNzpo9U0kfqC_9G5O7K6y5K11Qbg/s1600-h/DSC_2467_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2yCecPwz2MGoLEJ_azzH09q9U4GoeYGuMEjbVQYhyphenhyphenV3SZkmRpWrya1nElv-dZa6CVs-1yIqWbQu1slYjwlb3wbmnfxVVIV4JuG9EtggoNIJFsZTeNzpo9U0kfqC_9G5O7K6y5K11Qbg/s400/DSC_2467_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394882058897498034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnhP-5Y_27131S_XPyYPwniYZYGKqJmTrSJBMLDEA6m5BNWsBhXn3SBymsie5F68fJ2C8r58E3Lcoo79CKnOhwqX3DLP_CY3sDsllCu02YuCdTOHd15_1PhPd6nkoC47L6P5A8PVuhZM/s1600-h/DSC_2470_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnhP-5Y_27131S_XPyYPwniYZYGKqJmTrSJBMLDEA6m5BNWsBhXn3SBymsie5F68fJ2C8r58E3Lcoo79CKnOhwqX3DLP_CY3sDsllCu02YuCdTOHd15_1PhPd6nkoC47L6P5A8PVuhZM/s400/DSC_2470_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394882056002709650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYso3IdYogA5yzZyFgETf__oxZxUu5OIkXIQkZZbUpOtANlsu4kL-nrF1QyhZtONM7e5ehe6D3xdf7LdaPkrUSVgSSfEJM7DreGW82bRzDizsunwITf9Y5mHd1QOr6gk_DGQ6WbwYgMHs/s1600-h/DSC_2484_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYso3IdYogA5yzZyFgETf__oxZxUu5OIkXIQkZZbUpOtANlsu4kL-nrF1QyhZtONM7e5ehe6D3xdf7LdaPkrUSVgSSfEJM7DreGW82bRzDizsunwITf9Y5mHd1QOr6gk_DGQ6WbwYgMHs/s400/DSC_2484_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394882045650883346" /></a><br /><br /><div>What a fantastic weekend! Well, the weather was a cold, rainy mess but I had lovely, beautiful company (cough, my best friend from college, Melanie). She came down to visit from NYC for our No Boys Allowed Weekend--one filled with wine, gossip and so much more.</div><div><br /></div><div>The highlight of the weekend was my Fall Tea Party! I baked (unsupervised) for the first time ever and actually was quite pleased with the result. I made <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/">this amazing cake</a> as cupcakes and <a href="http://www.foodgeeks.com/recipes/55">pumpkin bread</a> as well. Yum! It was such a lovely time to talk with some of my favorite girls about my favorite girly topics. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of ALL of us...</div><div><br /></div><div>It's the little things that make me the most happy...little things like cute place cards and chai tea...I think for a first tea party attempt it went pretty well!! It made me feel sunny on a rainy, yucky day at least :)</div><div><br /></div>Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-15229482582974486422009-10-15T13:36:00.000-04:002009-10-15T13:37:06.169-04:00IM Conversation of the WeekThis is a brief online interaction between me and my oldest friend. She’s not 90 or anything. But we’ve been friends since we were two years old. We were friends before anyone even HAD friends—pretty much two little girls who both drooled on the same block. But yeah, we’ve been friends a long time and our friendship pretty much revolves around us thinking we are way cooler than everyone else and making fun of people behind their backs. It’s quite enjoyable AND super mature.<br /><br /><br />*Some parts of this convo have been taken out or rearranged for maximum hilarity.<br /><br /><br />Laura’s Status: Panera is loud.<br /><br /><br />Elyse: LOL, at first glance i read your status as "Pantera is loud"<br /><br />Laura: Dude. Pantera IS loud.<br /><br />Laura: So both are correct.<br /><br />Laura: Fortunately there was like a baby party that just left, like 3 annoying moms and their babies…and to make it worse the moms were all like 25 and blond and skinnier and better dressed than I am<br /><br />Elyse: Are you trying to study?<br /><br />Laura: In theory<br /><br />Elyse: Well f**k those moms and their stupid babies and highlights<br /><br />Laura: Ha ha ha. I hate hot moms.<br /><br />Laura: If you have time to be hot, you're not being a good enough mom<br /><br />Elyse: Hahahaha. Best theory ever.<br /><br />Elyse: Are you gonna be in town for thanksgiving?<br /><br />Laura: Unclear still. We were just talking about it this week. If not, there's a good chance I'll be moving home for good at the end of the year, so i'll be home soon enough<br /><br />Elyse: Best news I’ve heard all day.<br /><br />Laura: Aw thanks, it's the worst news I've heard all life, but i'm adjusting to it<br /><br />Elyse: Hahahahahahahahaha! ALL LIFE?<br /><br />Laura: Yes<br /><br />Elyse: If you're not excited, then don't do it.<br /><br />Laura: Moving back HOME after grad school, that was never ever ever ever in my life plans. I didn't even HAVE a life plan but that still wasn't part of it<br /><br />Elyse: Let's move to Portland. That is my new fav city. I’ve never even been there.<br /><br />Laura: Ha! That is SO TRENDY<br /><br />Elyse: LOL. I know!<br /><br />Laura: Sorry it's wayyy to trendy for me. We'd have to like wear vegan shoes and buy local veggies and listen to crappy music and other things that irritate me<br /><br />Elyse: And become carpenters and drink soy milk and get fauxhawks…<br /><br />Laura: DEAL! Ha ha we could write a book about stupid portland people<br />Elyse: Called “Two Jappy Bitches in Portland” LOL<br /><br />Laura: I've never even been to the pacific nw, but clearly i know ALL about it<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, stereotypes. How I love you.Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-90319399884253095742009-10-12T21:11:00.001-04:002009-10-12T21:14:28.336-04:00Feeling Poetic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOYONNXsJV3UVNUJP1ewJwX70h_Q4QhyBeaLN3rejhgixZjuI3PqzNtwmSTuDRZiu2QJR6i-Lr2fizx-qdRWkm5mxdM9NQgWT8X4ULC_iqOfJKpgq9mOzBSE2BBeH-WavCal1tW-cPT0/s1600-h/15367_1_big-480x428.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOYONNXsJV3UVNUJP1ewJwX70h_Q4QhyBeaLN3rejhgixZjuI3PqzNtwmSTuDRZiu2QJR6i-Lr2fizx-qdRWkm5mxdM9NQgWT8X4ULC_iqOfJKpgq9mOzBSE2BBeH-WavCal1tW-cPT0/s400/15367_1_big-480x428.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391886496592207986" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Oh man, saw this adorable cup on <a href="http://www.swiss-miss.com/2009/10/poem-cup.html">SwissMis</a>s today and fell in love!!!!!<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://designhousestockholm.crossroads.se/designhousestockholm/default.asp?currency=usd&country=US">How perfect</a> :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Insert swoon here!</div><div><insert swoon="" here=""></insert></div>Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-26890993850314999162009-10-12T20:58:00.003-04:002009-10-12T21:10:51.750-04:00"Fall Fun Day"<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgdec6_MYAbxn3Vqm8mwcis4yj4OTUFNXZ8u1nJwUPwCP4A-3B5R5YgFJwBu7Lr__LgpmPDKD3AP_iGezDUKSkWV9YzpD2hGCgLFsUdNM7_oPW0Jj_atcsp2Ng0qlBgfJ7ruJDRoIwJQ/s1600-h/DSC_2410_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgdec6_MYAbxn3Vqm8mwcis4yj4OTUFNXZ8u1nJwUPwCP4A-3B5R5YgFJwBu7Lr__LgpmPDKD3AP_iGezDUKSkWV9YzpD2hGCgLFsUdNM7_oPW0Jj_atcsp2Ng0qlBgfJ7ruJDRoIwJQ/s400/DSC_2410_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391885768952471490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HGlpFN43GLEFP4S8gxDbDcxhjZ-3c0owrZTbaoYvCm3vLm4ejyfcsSr6OctbmSn3Oy9_AFdsiQ5Tqvlb7nRvYO7yKdAwA8U6hxtBCJTkhB5ItZTi1feTz-OPTao609h81yCgzBZ9zRg/s1600-h/DSC_2411_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HGlpFN43GLEFP4S8gxDbDcxhjZ-3c0owrZTbaoYvCm3vLm4ejyfcsSr6OctbmSn3Oy9_AFdsiQ5Tqvlb7nRvYO7yKdAwA8U6hxtBCJTkhB5ItZTi1feTz-OPTao609h81yCgzBZ9zRg/s400/DSC_2411_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391885765008586770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QJGpyFUB9rHEJAwn9fmwkMZewk3zyZV45vznuvp5Z0TVzg91VCxQCe6Jd6sUviGYlEu7oEKtMfstOIvnojYuXdcu1y18QEIgqW3uywteRUPxwpedlbNtaqo1_TUkNXXKsbo68AunHXY/s1600-h/DSC_2420_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QJGpyFUB9rHEJAwn9fmwkMZewk3zyZV45vznuvp5Z0TVzg91VCxQCe6Jd6sUviGYlEu7oEKtMfstOIvnojYuXdcu1y18QEIgqW3uywteRUPxwpedlbNtaqo1_TUkNXXKsbo68AunHXY/s400/DSC_2420_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391885756672667458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTckfFuAfVozSVeweyp8NTOcV-4sLDwnL4HkkFAYh57vt0DwrZb4y3NXvupEEGStSzUOWRRvqbEShskC0P6nLlLKoJJxIcYFIgGNKcoi4xlpk-mllbxuv584x4_5v7EK29nX7EwXJySc/s1600-h/DSC_2419_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTckfFuAfVozSVeweyp8NTOcV-4sLDwnL4HkkFAYh57vt0DwrZb4y3NXvupEEGStSzUOWRRvqbEShskC0P6nLlLKoJJxIcYFIgGNKcoi4xlpk-mllbxuv584x4_5v7EK29nX7EwXJySc/s400/DSC_2419_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391885497231119058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFl08geR9U_jM_ZtDenazy5AQsewy6RvtVJmpCFGy7fBDjtUUPbJsXri0JsXLh8QUoAoRNa1xOYl8HhHcBiN2ZTgHEp8Y1yTF9H_LwJQDfKUhAaxZv9cGllRDnpeLczDr4_KPcOmnPbE/s1600-h/DSC_2412_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFl08geR9U_jM_ZtDenazy5AQsewy6RvtVJmpCFGy7fBDjtUUPbJsXri0JsXLh8QUoAoRNa1xOYl8HhHcBiN2ZTgHEp8Y1yTF9H_LwJQDfKUhAaxZv9cGllRDnpeLczDr4_KPcOmnPbE/s400/DSC_2412_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391885490690631826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNKkONNvNo8lTLG4N7JoMBgzjyNcx1-KY6oA1L0vqjZyhyphenhyphen4ywL04giMPRiKwOG7ZJpwNAU7uDqb3B4XpznOc4jQc3iv6208iwm2WWHZsbA_zxYZLdvn_PtMVb8wKv64DqDWIpcmmLh5U/s1600-h/DSC_2434_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNKkONNvNo8lTLG4N7JoMBgzjyNcx1-KY6oA1L0vqjZyhyphenhyphen4ywL04giMPRiKwOG7ZJpwNAU7uDqb3B4XpznOc4jQc3iv6208iwm2WWHZsbA_zxYZLdvn_PtMVb8wKv64DqDWIpcmmLh5U/s400/DSC_2434_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391885483002530114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_uzwiw-qml0NfygFOG0bNBiYH_hKDeK3rczmAXxPNtD3Yv4Dy9__ZFGh-1EPXS3Ibse3OL1brBZVbkLd7GoU6-nqrKt2lHqkGBbDWEPyCpNZcAfG7ZJeaVVMa_RAUfBvystzTJgLJBs/s1600-h/IMG_1332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_uzwiw-qml0NfygFOG0bNBiYH_hKDeK3rczmAXxPNtD3Yv4Dy9__ZFGh-1EPXS3Ibse3OL1brBZVbkLd7GoU6-nqrKt2lHqkGBbDWEPyCpNZcAfG7ZJeaVVMa_RAUfBvystzTJgLJBs/s400/IMG_1332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391885474905328994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tvAl1vdqgJw8blS6hHrFd3eFn9is97lHLFIWlD-Z43Fzy6Oc6CdKh9GQSBg61yc-KURH6EQXU7G1KVOIvJPJjM7CEAhY1F7XFLvPcj7lN7_QsFu2y6W-LW_bUbk6m1C3cFeZEf1t3Uo/s1600-h/IMG_1349_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tvAl1vdqgJw8blS6hHrFd3eFn9is97lHLFIWlD-Z43Fzy6Oc6CdKh9GQSBg61yc-KURH6EQXU7G1KVOIvJPJjM7CEAhY1F7XFLvPcj7lN7_QsFu2y6W-LW_bUbk6m1C3cFeZEf1t3Uo/s400/IMG_1349_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391885465552995842" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Tina and I had a WONDERFUL Sunday, yesterday! We schlepped all the way out to Leesburg, Virginia to go through the Maize Maze. I had gone with Jenny and some other friends a few years ago and remembered it being a blast, so Tina and I decided to go together. <div><br /></div><div>The boys picked football over Fall Fun Day which probably ended up being for the best, since, let's face it, they would have made fun of EVERYTHING. But we met up with them later for dinner and then for pumpkin carving. The weather was PERFECT! It felt so great to be outside--hot in the sun and cool in the shade. Absolutely, gorgeous! </div><div><br /></div><div>It really was a "Fall Fun Day" (I put that in quotes because Tina and I were joke-calling it that, but now I guess that's the best way to describe it)--we did the corn maize, ate caramel apples, drank apple cider, went on a hayride and bought pumpkins which we took home and carved (with the fellas).<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Things I'm Looking Forward to this Week:</div><div><br /></div><div>- Going to see Whip It with Brad tomorrow (I've been DYING to see this for like three weeks now)</div><div><br /></div><div>- MELANIE is spontaneously coming to visit next weekend so that thought is pretty much getting through this week :)</div><div><br /></div><div>- My tea party on Saturday!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>- New Glee on Wednesday night (I am SO loving that show)</div><div><br /></div><div>- Painting my fingernails black (hey, it's the little things)</div><div><br /></div><div>- A few, fun projects at work that I'm not allowed to share on blogs and such!</div></div>Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-41627095833486271132009-10-06T20:14:00.003-04:002009-10-06T20:29:42.089-04:00Playing Catch Up<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojrgOHA5aPRBIcGIpPy8XLttbRTsFWe40cHNbGW3PtU5p9sr3gRWy0eML8oW5jj7Mr0SU4jqLRaaVoV19Rk6cqtgtgyjOA0nwIJE2NC_aKzc1NJU_5nq19kQRYTkwrcBqS-hGDg3PJhg/s1600-h/DSC_2320_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojrgOHA5aPRBIcGIpPy8XLttbRTsFWe40cHNbGW3PtU5p9sr3gRWy0eML8oW5jj7Mr0SU4jqLRaaVoV19Rk6cqtgtgyjOA0nwIJE2NC_aKzc1NJU_5nq19kQRYTkwrcBqS-hGDg3PJhg/s400/DSC_2320_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389648472000644978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhz2Kxnmcimm4PKi2greyOa38SNvuX7wuSf-0pYZvgriyph8H_qJ3hrlv3TFbcUQ4tf9DWz5ZHoxJ912fSBHTEI1gFq7TYjll2UKxkyg1cTpBYlbxoKsXDYQpmXCeaAnh6wTzt2KyteE/s1600-h/DSC_2313_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhz2Kxnmcimm4PKi2greyOa38SNvuX7wuSf-0pYZvgriyph8H_qJ3hrlv3TFbcUQ4tf9DWz5ZHoxJ912fSBHTEI1gFq7TYjll2UKxkyg1cTpBYlbxoKsXDYQpmXCeaAnh6wTzt2KyteE/s400/DSC_2313_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389648263851209730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb8T2Vei7LWnZozy3McfeX0wGFpWLLSXVf4QeqHN8yjjITsu3ea0HJHWbBb8VBWfVh3KkaKZrocSTGjiONGcgg_9mILRATCK6jSc59PWzCSm8N96nyNxgaMmbbpEk2R5aC02unkIZODk/s1600-h/DSC_2353_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb8T2Vei7LWnZozy3McfeX0wGFpWLLSXVf4QeqHN8yjjITsu3ea0HJHWbBb8VBWfVh3KkaKZrocSTGjiONGcgg_9mILRATCK6jSc59PWzCSm8N96nyNxgaMmbbpEk2R5aC02unkIZODk/s400/DSC_2353_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389648256412862322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvx5gusEz_Ea9VtcXE3GkSWz6DS5dU-LOJLEmfYqBy4SVFq3M_v9z6fgTUziPIVOsxU0x8nVksOZ7WnnLDzcaruaFFrxagmpKnY_6-1awCKrp8zgL87CTIGO1XbCUnB7VihWIosOnPRI/s1600-h/DSC_2356_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvx5gusEz_Ea9VtcXE3GkSWz6DS5dU-LOJLEmfYqBy4SVFq3M_v9z6fgTUziPIVOsxU0x8nVksOZ7WnnLDzcaruaFFrxagmpKnY_6-1awCKrp8zgL87CTIGO1XbCUnB7VihWIosOnPRI/s400/DSC_2356_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389648245442550226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoqGTRkvY1-emWgYhu_S8tQqc3gOXO12nAzzOB6ijSVJ577nBcO7m_J59eug5bIEtS59I5PmNysYSqFI1vMMHl3mOLCMyL2eLlnFJmgiO9M4qnV6cyrBvUbSRQ95P-TlokOU3Tj8d0nU/s1600-h/DSC_2388_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoqGTRkvY1-emWgYhu_S8tQqc3gOXO12nAzzOB6ijSVJ577nBcO7m_J59eug5bIEtS59I5PmNysYSqFI1vMMHl3mOLCMyL2eLlnFJmgiO9M4qnV6cyrBvUbSRQ95P-TlokOU3Tj8d0nU/s400/DSC_2388_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389648244044386626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPW_uP3jtdanbx6aaTnKkgnWDa5IGHUlxL7xVIoNMUtkvaObDb6s3aPygXZt2IKG5WGhPbaSoBbwWyf3z_heXYu2LDvgL2GVE2OGH8_4GO2My-EvgVMJRtP5d43vIYjdwDoAjWf-GkYs/s1600-h/DSC_2399_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPW_uP3jtdanbx6aaTnKkgnWDa5IGHUlxL7xVIoNMUtkvaObDb6s3aPygXZt2IKG5WGhPbaSoBbwWyf3z_heXYu2LDvgL2GVE2OGH8_4GO2My-EvgVMJRtP5d43vIYjdwDoAjWf-GkYs/s400/DSC_2399_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389648233662638466" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>These last few days have been ALL about playing catch up. At work. At home. My head's been spinning with so many to-do's! Calls to make, photos to upload, etc. <div><br /></div><div>You know it's been a crazy week when you can't even remember if your dishwasher is clean or dirty...<div><br /></div><div>Had a lovely long weekend at Jess + Chris' wedding in the Adirondaks. I am a little bummed I drank too much at their reception and totally forgot to take pics...but oh well -- took some fun and happy ones with Brad the morning of the wedding around Lake George. It was a special few hours--getting a little alone time in, taking a fall walk and playing games at the arcade. The wedding itself was incredibly quirky and sweet: sunflowers, emo Iron & Wine guitar music, a glowing Jess and Chris, kazoo exit music, polaroids at the reception, a Korean tea ceremony...it was great! I particularly loved staying in a cabin! It was so CAMP :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So here are some fun nuggets of happy things I found this week online:</div><div><br /></div><div>- Printed out and hung up this <a href="http://www.swiss-miss.com/2009/10/monsieur-cabinet.html">AWESOME sign </a>in my little corner at work today; thanks for sharing it SwissMiss, it makes me smile every time I look at it!</div><div><br /></div><div>- LOVE these <a href="http://www.lushlee.com/2009/10/ceramic-cheese-markers/">ceramic cheese makers</a> I saw on "Jars of Cute"</div><div><br /></div><div>- Can you tell the difference between <a href="http://www.ironicsans.com/helvarialquiz/">Arial and Helvetica</a>? See if you can beat me, I got 17/20!</div><div><br /></div><div>- My friend Jess who just got married is also<a href="http://fullbleed.adcmw.org/"> featured in Bleed</a>! She's so fabulous!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- A tweet today that made me cry AND laugh (poor Gourmet magazine)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a href="https://twitter.com/michaelianblack" class="tweet-url screen-name" title="Michael Ian Black" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(157, 88, 46); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">michaelianblack</span></span></a></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span class="entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">How could they close Gourmet Magazine just when we need very expensive, very complicated food that nobody eats the most?</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div></div>Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-76388815505137544902009-09-21T17:45:00.004-04:002009-09-21T17:50:01.974-04:00Paper Rooms.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLWqYZ90D2SHQlPYeARCuxV5QF1D33OaE-DZWY6nCwx1doB3x5ljE2A1-pqOT-Naw4HoTNqq4WT_wTiVGVXCwmgOs0mcMRkMq3CIKsx5xXT5WZKozdLbGLYB1mOhRDcIgSyKPTv4E6WY/s1600-h/cardboard-spraygraphic-014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLWqYZ90D2SHQlPYeARCuxV5QF1D33OaE-DZWY6nCwx1doB3x5ljE2A1-pqOT-Naw4HoTNqq4WT_wTiVGVXCwmgOs0mcMRkMq3CIKsx5xXT5WZKozdLbGLYB1mOhRDcIgSyKPTv4E6WY/s400/cardboard-spraygraphic-014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384041149671964178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA4efyF9OahswzDuD-kIZMBWlNd46LGx1A9ut7kPbPGH282OxU0VzG2fcEIu9Gj61FY9X3iMvyrGObjW8XZCnj5fN0QJJ6mZaYU11urShYwLmrE0G1wo70BaKwdZ9q9LjBsF29yTRNZs/s1600-h/cardboard-spraygraphic-012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA4efyF9OahswzDuD-kIZMBWlNd46LGx1A9ut7kPbPGH282OxU0VzG2fcEIu9Gj61FY9X3iMvyrGObjW8XZCnj5fN0QJJ6mZaYU11urShYwLmrE0G1wo70BaKwdZ9q9LjBsF29yTRNZs/s400/cardboard-spraygraphic-012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384041141462678482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNOLs6js1AIyn6UP71WM8oBTkCOssJ-s8ngfO_a-pkxMu0F-rOws8GUU5JFE4d9E17N4O0G_q_2PbedoVhP95WxGIWEM_fAbzQ68GC1dFbYCt0yfTBswt4FHcD72QW6u047V5iTSeT0g/s1600-h/cardboard-spraygraphic-017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNOLs6js1AIyn6UP71WM8oBTkCOssJ-s8ngfO_a-pkxMu0F-rOws8GUU5JFE4d9E17N4O0G_q_2PbedoVhP95WxGIWEM_fAbzQ68GC1dFbYCt0yfTBswt4FHcD72QW6u047V5iTSeT0g/s400/cardboard-spraygraphic-017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384041138476547330" border="0" /></a><br />Saw <a href="http://www.sprayblog.net/2009/09/chadou-yamas-paper-sculptures/">these paper sculptures</a> today on <a href="http://www.notcot.org/">NOTCOT.org</a> and they completely blew me away! They're so well executed and I am just so jealous I didn't think of this first (not like I have the patience to do anything that intricate anyway, but ah well).<br /><br />Hope everyone had a great weekend :) Mine was jam-packed with happy! Celebrated Rosh Hashanah with my family AND with Brad's family both Fri and Sat. Then on Sunday went to the Redskins home opener against the Rams and had a great time with Brad, Big Matt and Natalia.<br /><br />This week is not going to slow down, either. Tonight Tina is stopping by. Tomorrow I have dinner plans with Maria (hooray!) and Wednesday we have a housewarming party. Man, oh man, just writing all that out makes me tired!Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-1852426551777867342009-09-16T17:40:00.002-04:002009-09-16T17:45:54.498-04:00Always Wishing...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWJS4rjRifWhwe4IiM6dVfQYNfrG32fEqzQBEB9ONN-8TCp4dWtHwxAaa7sYaAcQWlHBilURrmmPAlqCSQY5DhefmKolcCFsfdNd1KAGokFjwolGp9a-9L569I6_W5n44_SDTKnx-6-c/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 33px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWJS4rjRifWhwe4IiM6dVfQYNfrG32fEqzQBEB9ONN-8TCp4dWtHwxAaa7sYaAcQWlHBilURrmmPAlqCSQY5DhefmKolcCFsfdNd1KAGokFjwolGp9a-9L569I6_W5n44_SDTKnx-6-c/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382184733233134114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today, while blog-hopping for inspiration, I found this really great book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568987846/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=073H1JX2VYAV9AD4PD2P&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846">A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart</a>. This book started as <a href="http://3191.visualblogging.com/">a blog</a> between two cross-country photographer friends. They each pledged to take (and post) one photograph a day. So the book is a collection of these photographs shown side-by-side. What a fun concept, right!?<br /><br />So I do what I usually do when I find an awesome book I want but am too poor to buy right now, and I put it on my Amazon Wish List. I then caught myself thinking “Mmmm…this would be a great thing to put on my Hanukkah Wish List.” Then I caught myself wondering, is it weird that I’m 26 years old and still write a Hanukkah Wish List!?!?!?!<br /><br />As a child, I ALWAYS had a Hanukkah List. They usually started around October and would grow and grow exponentially, until I had filled up both sides of the lined, loose leaf paper with scribbles and misspellings. Literally, I would add EVERY fun toy I saw on TV or in the aisles of Toys R Us, from October through December. Of all the toys, I’d usually get around 7 (one for each of the eight nights, minus one; the last night we always gave a gift to charity and play games together as a family). Anyway, this has pretty much been the Hanukkah List pattern since I could write. And now, at the age of 26, I can’t break the habit. These days I don’t write out my desires in magic marker on the running list hanging my then eye-level (adult knee-level) on the refrigerator. These days I email my Mom a list of 5-6 items or so; usually books, magazine subscriptions, or cool tech toys.<br /><br />I guess that as adults we have more control over acquiring the things we want. If I want the first season of Freaks and Geeks, I don’t have to wait six months for a birthday or holiday. I can pretty much just type in my credit card numbers to Amazon and it will come to my door five days later. (This is of course, assuming I have any disposable income left over after rent, gas, student loans, cell phone, and my cupcake/fresh flowers/new music budget).<br /><br />And now I can’t stop wondering what ages normal people stopped writing Wish Lists for their birthdays/Christmas/Hanukkah/whatever. After college? After high school? Do some people NEVER write Wish Lists?<br /><br />So please, readers, indulge me. Do you still write wish lists? Who do you give them to now? Husbands? Boyfriends? Parents, still? Do you write them out or email them? Post it on a blog? Tweet them? Keep it to yourself and hope you get what you wanted (“Oh stop, you don’t have to get me anything!!”)?<br /><br />Come to think of it, this whole Wish List thing is starting to sound an awful lot like a Wedding Registry…hmmm…….Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-19914361564076422352009-09-15T17:45:00.002-04:002009-09-16T17:46:20.114-04:00Hot!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicIKBzf3tGbRbZkO-xO4GBl_T8YnQuC0JZUtV_Hz0FGsqpxueujkJ2YxSFBKPj9OfK_nTaSSYJ5z5QiretMgeq-cs5gQNKZq2tifn166tOZH7bkQR6Aa0qnYekGi8x52ZxQjqFeiZvrw/s1600-h/mc13299-412x549.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicIKBzf3tGbRbZkO-xO4GBl_T8YnQuC0JZUtV_Hz0FGsqpxueujkJ2YxSFBKPj9OfK_nTaSSYJ5z5QiretMgeq-cs5gQNKZq2tifn166tOZH7bkQR6Aa0qnYekGi8x52ZxQjqFeiZvrw/s400/mc13299-412x549.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381813838491845858" border="0" /></a>Great...now I've gotta have a THIRD cup of coffee...Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-84474259693613780192009-09-10T17:45:00.002-04:002009-09-10T17:58:28.433-04:00Ding, Dong.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYtdbmCIkm9SZLuK0YFRb0kpj6IsnlrvvmFI5ENzu9VVYkTc_VSHvtlBhaM7F7__f3ijX-VVUZxoqbgTxSd9emvOokgoUBE_hb1LNOWoEgjlmHcnkAKzBCU2zI5G8s_U1EVphcUKFNg8/s1600-h/dominos-doors2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYtdbmCIkm9SZLuK0YFRb0kpj6IsnlrvvmFI5ENzu9VVYkTc_VSHvtlBhaM7F7__f3ijX-VVUZxoqbgTxSd9emvOokgoUBE_hb1LNOWoEgjlmHcnkAKzBCU2zI5G8s_U1EVphcUKFNg8/s400/dominos-doors2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379961417323911650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />"Why didn't I think of that!?" I muttered to myself when I found this bomb-diggity (yes, I just wrote bomb-diggity) outdoor campaign for Domino's pizza, running in the Netherlands. The pizza company installed white doors, doorbells and delivery phone numbers in parks and other outdoor areas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://adverlab.blogspot.com/2009/09/white-doors-for-dominos-as-pizza.html">This article makes a good point</a> saying, "...it's a great idea not only because of the conversation value the campaign creates, but also because of how it unbinds the delivery address from a typical pizza destination -- a home or an office; something taxi cab companies could use as well."<br /><br />Anyone know which Euro agency did this???Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-32323319413693270002009-09-09T18:05:00.002-04:002009-09-09T18:08:26.305-04:00Back from Minneapolis, Don'tcha Know<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3gkwpaoOUj_i1WcGsNwO3aqrv7ifyclJ0UGWoP2CAKEP7w0bv_jsFc-JycKJ2r8j6rRmdYDTDCHvswmNr8kTOx30JYC0oBdnBTyyev61_al9pmSft6RYkKpUD8YROz4NXOKyMZAGCa0/s1600-h/3898444880_e5f6438d43_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3gkwpaoOUj_i1WcGsNwO3aqrv7ifyclJ0UGWoP2CAKEP7w0bv_jsFc-JycKJ2r8j6rRmdYDTDCHvswmNr8kTOx30JYC0oBdnBTyyev61_al9pmSft6RYkKpUD8YROz4NXOKyMZAGCa0/s400/3898444880_e5f6438d43_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379592753925589762" border="0" /></a><br />Oy vey. Getting back to work this week has been a struggle. With five full days spent celebrating up in Minneapolis, sitting still in a chair for 9 hours is proving to be somewhat of a challenge.<br /><br />Cliff’s Notes Version of this Past Week:<br /><br />- Jackie + Todd’s wedding was gorgeous. Elegant. Stunning. Jackie really does have amazing taste; between her dress, the bridesmaid dresses, the flowers, the food; everything was pretty much perfect. Sidenote: Brad and I made some great new friends with Jackie’s BFF Gina and her BF John. They rock! I am pretty sure I drunkenly invited myself to their wedding AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN ENGAGED. That's polite and non-awkward, right?<br /><br />- Loved, loved meeting Kendall’s new beau (or “The Boy” as she so lovingly refers to him); he’s very charming and the two of them are quite smitten with one another. Adorable.<br /><br />- Staying with my family in Minneapolis was a real treat! As was: drinking plenty of Tea Garden, chowing down at Psycho Suzi’s, shopping at Patina, and walking around Lake of the Isles. Divine.<br /><br />- Brad and my 2 year anniversary was on Monday and we had a lovely day. Put both of our phones on “Airplane Mode” and celebrated with dinner at Sequoia in Georgetown + some beautiful silver jewelry from Patina (Brad is so sneaky!) + dessert at Thomas Sweet’s. It was a romantic, fun, and very “us” anni! I could not feel any more blessed or happy.<br /><br />- Yesterday morning was infuriating – went to go leave for work but, oh wait…THE CAR was missing! It had gotten towed since the building hadn’t given me a sticker yet and my short-term parking pass expired 9/1. Oy! But, Super Brad took care of the whole situation. He loved telling all his colleagues and friends, “I really don’t get Elyse. She is such a smart woman; REALLY intelligent, but when she gets mad or emotional, all reason goes right out the door.” Ha. He SO gets me.<br /><br />- Tonight: Going to The Pub. I’m excited to see The Boys and Meg (maybe Natasha too???); it will be nice to just relax, have a few light beers and catch up. I am not excited to leave smelling like smoke but whatever. It’s a sacrifice I am more than willing to make!<br /><br />Oh, and for a little ad fun, check out <a href="http://www.brandfreak.com/2009/09/getting-it-in-the-can-is-the-best-thing-bud-lights-done-in-a-while.html">this sweet new Bud Light spot</a>. Call me immature, but I think it’s great!Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-88097060893672915052009-09-01T07:28:00.003-04:002009-09-01T07:29:14.484-04:00It's never too early for an Onion...<object width="480" height="430"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/common/assets/onn_embed/embedded_player.swf?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theonion.com%2Fcontent%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FE-Mom_article.jpg&videoid=97699&title=Facebook%2C%20Twitter%20Revolutionizing%20How%20Parents%20Stalk%20Their%20College-Aged%20Kids"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/common/assets/onn_embed/embedded_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="480" height="430" flashvars="image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theonion.com%2Fcontent%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FE-Mom_article.jpg&videoid=97699&title=Facebook%2C%20Twitter%20Revolutionizing%20How%20Parents%20Stalk%20Their%20College-Aged%20Kids"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/video/facebook_twitter_revolutionizing?utm_source=videoembed">Facebook, Twitter Revolutionizing How Parents Stalk Their College-Aged Kids</a><div><br /></div><div>For an Onion ARTICLE, that is! Bahahahahaha, this article cracks me up...</div>Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-49980265634043401572009-08-31T15:18:00.002-04:002009-08-31T15:25:08.919-04:00ZonkedThis weekend was (overall) a total blast.<br /><br />Cliff’s Notes version:<br /><br />Tina and I got delicious Indian takeout (mmmm….Naan….) and started laying out her and Ben’s wedding photo album. We’re using Blurb/BookSmart since her photographer wanted to charge her (I’m not kidding) $2,000 to make them one. To which, when Tina told me, I replied “I can do it for $200 tops.” She was sold.<br /><br />Saturday night was a blast. Brad and I met up with Tina and Dan at the Spy Museum downtown. I have been dying to go all summer. Don’t ask me why…there’s something about code names and shaken-not-stirred martinis that get me all nervous and excited. So we met up to do this <a href="http://spymuseum.org/spyatnight/">Spy at Night interactive adventure/tour thing</a>. It was a total trip! Tons of fun; I highly recommend it! After that, we met up with some other friends at <a href="http://www.tonychengrestaurant.com/">Tony Cheng’s</a> in Chinatown for dinner. Brad and I shared a Volcano, a MASSIVE fishbowl-like drink set on fire and filled with fruit and sugar. If it sounds intense, you’re getting the picture. And after tons of rice and MSG, a few of us headed over to <a href="http://www.rocketbardc.com/">Rocket Bar</a> and:<br />- Reminisced about high school<br />- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-PslGS6IlE">Learned a new song from Dan</a><br />- Played Connect Four (I totally dominated, in case anyone was wondering)<br /><br />Sunday was low-key. Hit up a wings/beer/pool party at our building in the afternoon and then bought some reading material for this week. (Sidenote: I am so excited to <a href="http://dannyevansbooks.com/">read my new book!!!</a>)<br /><br />So our weekend was going along just swimmingly until 5 o’clock this morning. Brad woke me up frantically, saying he had moved awkwardly in his sleep and REALLY hurt his back (like, could barely bend at the waist). So, we took a little morning trip to the hospital to make sure he was OK. Turns out, he is OK. Well, his back still hurts but he only pulled a muscle. The good news is that he didn’t have a broken disc or anything like that. The bad news is that it still hurts a lot and the only cure is to rest and take some muscle relaxants.<br /><br />The best part of the whole hospital/ER experience though was in the back room before the doctor came in. Since it was Brad’s first time at Arlington Hospital this administrative woman came in to gather all of his info (birthday/social security number/medical history/etc.) So the lady asks Brad if he wants to write anyone down as an Emergency Contact person and he points to me. She asks what our relationship to one another is: “What should I mark her as Girlfriend? Partner?” Meanwhile I am sitting RIGHT THERE so she is looking back and forth between us. There’s an awkward moment of silence. Brad asks “What’s the difference?” so she launches into this little schpeil(sp???) about the difference and I’m like, “Lady, we live together – just write whatever that is.” Ok, fine, I didn’t say that but it was so funny to me. Like, what if we had just been dating a few weeks or something and we hadn’t had “The Talk” yet? How AWKARD would that be? Well, I guess he wouldn’t have written me as his Emergency Contact person, so the point is null, but whatever.<br /><br />So Brad’s back still hurts. He’s on muscle relaxants and Vicodin. I’m just hoping he feels better by Wednesday (when we head out to Minneapolis for five days). Otherwise, that is going to put a major cramp in our trip. Pun intended.<br /><br />And as of now, I am totally zonked. Fresh out of steam. Dead from the neck up. All I can think about is going to sleep tonight. I can’t wait…Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-86290692844394922412009-08-28T14:41:00.003-04:002009-08-28T14:54:17.415-04:00Apparently you can just steal photos off of Flickr...<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-cgq-wBxh6E&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-cgq-wBxh6E&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />I saw this on <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/what_the/shamevertising_cheating_husband_brought_to_awesome_justice_129693.asp">AgencySpy</a> today and it made me laugh (especially since it takes place in Tyson's Corner, VA).<br /><br />In other news -- <a href="http://matadortrips.com/beyond-the-mall-of-america-8-other-ways-to-spend-your-time-in-the-twin-cities/">Brad and I are famous now...</a><br /><br />LOL. Cracks me up.<br /><br />By the by, how much did you guys LOVE Shirin's winning look on Project Runway last night? It's still kind of weird watching it on Lifetime but oh well...I'm trying to move on with my life. By September, I will have WAY too many shows to keep up with...here is a running list:<br /><br />- Entourage<br />- Weeds (only 1 episode left in the season though, thank GOD)<br />- Top Chef<br />- Project Runway<br />- The Office<br />- 30 Rock<br />- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia<br />- LOST<br />- GLEE<br />- Lie to Me<br /><br />I think I need to get a life. Stoked for the weekend :)Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-33571002278150041932009-08-26T11:53:00.001-04:002009-08-26T11:57:42.153-04:00Weddings vs. MarriageI’ve officially dubbed this year “Wedding Year” and I’m not even engaged. At the end of October, I will have gone to six weddings this year alone (not counting the three additional ones I was invited to but could not attend). Seriously, on the Chinese Calendar, 2009 would be the Year of the Bride (I can see it on the paper placemat in the Chinese restaurant, “Excited, nervous and blushing the Bride is a sign of hope, faith and the future…”). Now I love open bars and dancing to Michael Jackson just as much as anyone, but I’ve just about hit my limit with wedding fever.<br /><br />Don’t get me wrong. I am all about marriage. I love the idealism that goes with the joining of two people. The legal and symbolic statement of commitment and commitment. The leap of faith. Two people officially becomming a family. I may not have always believed in marriage, but now at the ripe old age of 26, I think I’m grasping this concept a little more. Anyway, marriages = awesome; weddings = oftentimes annoying. The weddings themselves are always beautiful and fun; but it’s the leading up to these events that make me crazy. People get swept up in the wrong things. In the dresses, the flowers, the caterers, the bling. Yes, all the little things can be fun, but they should not eclipse the importance of the fiancé, the commitment, the days AFTER the wedding.<br /><br />I hate the aftershock of a proposal. All the friggin shrieking “OHMYGAWWWWD! CONGRATULATIONS!!! LET ME SEE YOUR RING, OMGGGGGGG.” Really, people (and by ‘people’ I mean ladies)? Take a tranquilizer. Yes, major life changes can be OMG-worthy exciting but let’s not get swept away. You don’t get “OMGGGG CONGRATULATIONS!” when you break up with the wrong guy. When you don’t date someone who, although you’re dying of loneliness, you still know isn’t the one for you. When you make good, healthy decisions. I just wish we could all get OMG-excited for things other than veils and diamonds. Let’s “OMG” marriage. The idea of spending your life with someone who makes you laugh, loves you whole-heartedly and really gets you. The covenant and bond between two people. The birth of a brand new family!<br /><br />So, please, can we all get a little bit of perspective? Let’s celebrate the marriage. The union. The joy and love bonding two people. And let’s stop perpetuating the wedding propaganda. The fantasy. The “happily ever after.” Because after all, the wedding isn’t the end at all; it’s just the beginning.<br /><br />And please, please, please STOP with the shrieking already. Use your words. "Congratulations!" will do just fine, thanks.Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-83306260332494159982009-08-25T18:13:00.003-04:002009-08-25T18:17:50.334-04:00Linkedin Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b_xU91L3PlWPCBIiNKUeHLiucXyxfjFOf3K8zgki6dwQIDhKKgO4QlGRVZecpUs9wbNHNC0lUzlULWxl0OzJFVogXq4JTm4hV3s5ilA-cTAnMvYwWegnWeNLt71THVd-V0v0hXAWoMc/s1600-h/Picture+3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b_xU91L3PlWPCBIiNKUeHLiucXyxfjFOf3K8zgki6dwQIDhKKgO4QlGRVZecpUs9wbNHNC0lUzlULWxl0OzJFVogXq4JTm4hV3s5ilA-cTAnMvYwWegnWeNLt71THVd-V0v0hXAWoMc/s400/Picture+3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374028968207924930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmhAaESd_KIXPS5_00KGtNAahlV5UCGpqNmfJz4iJuEBI8d11sSzqtW0KSaOne5QUt-_VgAOCdkeMEdmwwDb8L9vi2OqIP0hGp8QSa1kzE774rHPuGKNZmFDn3sdfjHLLOziDvGq1JXs/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmhAaESd_KIXPS5_00KGtNAahlV5UCGpqNmfJz4iJuEBI8d11sSzqtW0KSaOne5QUt-_VgAOCdkeMEdmwwDb8L9vi2OqIP0hGp8QSa1kzE774rHPuGKNZmFDn3sdfjHLLOziDvGq1JXs/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374028961384902354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So this morning I got an automated email from LinkedIn saying that my friend Sitha Ngy had written me a recommendation.<br /><br />For those of you not familiar with LinkedIn, it's a professional networking site where you can list past jobs/schools you attended/links to your work. It's kind of like a really large, really descriptive resume where you can connect with your professional contacts, colleagues,classmates, etc. Anyway, so I thought Sitha's recommendation was so funny, that I was inspired to write him one as well.<br /><br />I think it's quite apparent that we're both a little, well, off. Good thing LinkedIn isn't like a professional networking website or anything...oh wait...good thing I deleted the part about him being a "Cambodian Jesus" - that might have offended some people...Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760695920095866727.post-56626945324284623722009-08-17T20:59:00.002-04:002009-08-17T21:10:00.913-04:00Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful Blogs!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8BufNrd_VCPkfq3KdRlvDHzhw2W5G-EQtdyrVJhZBpsQr2ShrAsPdMtpNRj2isJ3I5Npg2dI51peBnGP4rgg-WB33HN1mZ1xq13tUNijVw87FOnCV8UoQybG56uAGUMPKyHHeL5OPhs/s1600-h/hugsformonsters.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8BufNrd_VCPkfq3KdRlvDHzhw2W5G-EQtdyrVJhZBpsQr2ShrAsPdMtpNRj2isJ3I5Npg2dI51peBnGP4rgg-WB33HN1mZ1xq13tUNijVw87FOnCV8UoQybG56uAGUMPKyHHeL5OPhs/s400/hugsformonsters.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371104794811808530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbEoCRRgOT0Qrosfnmpl1-tYGATiLZ1-y-I2a_TnVSI1J1YdOPDOZvIP8tjkiv4g_WtwZzo36E1RcjGDV6GGgZNW_fy_HfRqvK6kkZ3xynbC-G10D04aQ3jAoRFgauSC2zUiMFplilh4/s1600-h/belvoir.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbEoCRRgOT0Qrosfnmpl1-tYGATiLZ1-y-I2a_TnVSI1J1YdOPDOZvIP8tjkiv4g_WtwZzo36E1RcjGDV6GGgZNW_fy_HfRqvK6kkZ3xynbC-G10D04aQ3jAoRFgauSC2zUiMFplilh4/s400/belvoir.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371104786917637874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNyU_obV70Rv23Ld_VwJJP9jEsMm7UU4u_bZ152NWU-4jgyTrHXkWRJSl4flZHfk5OwSZWxoZgXUBIgeHty-s3v-sU-QEGoFoo_8oPTt3PWZz8qehXT5FQw_Vyom298NE20MT4v6nOwM/s1600-h/alifelski.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNyU_obV70Rv23Ld_VwJJP9jEsMm7UU4u_bZ152NWU-4jgyTrHXkWRJSl4flZHfk5OwSZWxoZgXUBIgeHty-s3v-sU-QEGoFoo_8oPTt3PWZz8qehXT5FQw_Vyom298NE20MT4v6nOwM/s400/alifelski.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371104782069957458" /></a><br /><br />My Creative Director sent out a link to this WONDERFUL article today!!! It's a list of <a href="http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/60-latest-beautiful-and-enticing-blog-designs/">60 Beautiful & Enticing Blog Designs</a> - let me just say I am completely green with envy! They are all gorgeous. How I WISH I could program and design like this...but alas...I was born without the tech gene...These are my favorites:<div><ul><li><a href="http://www.alifelski.com/blog">http://www.alifelski.com/blog</a></li><li><a href="http://www.bearskinrug.co.uk/">http://www.bearskinrug.co.uk</a></li><li><a href="http://blog.belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk/">http://blog.belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk</a></li><li><a href="http://blog.hugsformonsters.com/">http://blog.hugsformonsters.com</a></li><li><a href="http://bradfrostweb.com/blog">http://bradfrostweb.com/blog</a></li></ul></div><div><br />In other news, this past weekend was pretty much perfect. Melanie came down from NYC to visit and was Brad and my very first overnight guest at our new place!! We had such a great time; Saturday we worked out, met up with Tina for Girl's Day (brunch/shopping/drinking margaritas pool side). It was a pretty much perfect day! And on Sunday we took a walk with Brad, Mel went back home and Evin came over for wine/dinner/dessert/catching up on our lil balcony. It's so refreshing and inspiring to SEE people who you are so close to, and yet, live so FAR away...Brad was great and cooked a wonderful low-point (Weight Watchers) dinner/dessert. He is such a great host!!!! I'm always just so impressed. He is going out of town on Thursday for the whole weekend so I will probably get a lot of scrapbooking done and will watch a LOT of BRAVO...hehehehehe...<br /><br /></div>Elyse Ashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423986617826120602noreply@blogger.com0