November 22, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

It’s The Little Things: Worldbuilders

Worldbuilders is one of my favorite charities.

And. Okay. It’s not so little. But I did not know where else to put this post. Time is a tickin’. I also I realize as I type this that this post is weirdly going to be situated between a consumer post and a recipe post that is going up tomorrow. It couldn’t be helped, because I really want to spread the word…

For the approximate price of two mocha frappuccinos and none of the calories, a donation could be made to an awesome charity with a simultaneous entry into a drawing for some amazing prizes.

What?! That’s crazy talk. But it is true…

I love me a bearded man. My husband has a beard and there are so many pluses to this that I cannot go into here. But I love a beard.

And Patrick Rothfuss has a big ol’ beard.

Wasn’t this post supposed to be about charity?

Let’s reel this in.

I have posted about meeting Patrick Rothfuss, my favorite author, previously here and more recently (and more embarrassingly) here. He even came to a book signing near us two weeks ago, but I did not attend because I cannot bear to face him again. I love the words he puts to paper. His powerful verses of threes. They just make me happy.

Worldbuilders is his charity. But I would support this charity even if Patrick Rothfuss had absolutely nothing to do with it. All of the money collected from their fundraiser goes directly to Heiffer International. Heiffer International is a charity that has always been close to my heart. They are the charity that gives people goats, chickens, honey bees, etc. so that they can actually earn money or get more from what is given to them. The chickens will continue to lay eggs. The goat can produce milk. And the honey bees, well, you get it. It helps make generations of people’s lives better. One year our book club bought a goat through Heiffer International together in leu of exchanging Christmas presents with each other.

If you donate to Worldbuilders, you will not only be helping to make the world a better place, you have a chance to win some fabulous prizes. Seriously I would rather win one of the prizes (the favor ring) than win the state lottery, that is how awesome it is. There are fantasy books and games that are in the lottery for anyone to have a chance to win with a $10 donation. The fundraiser ends on December 8th. I wanted to share about this charity and fundraiser, because I think it is so cool that they have a lottery for people who donate and their mission is so pure. My husband and I donate every year to this charity. We have never won anything, but we never expect to. Just knowing that our donation is going to such a good cause is a good enough feeling for us.

Of course, this year Patrick Rothfuss is putting in three of his favor rings into the charity’s lottery. This makes my greedy little heart yearn for one of them. For every $10 donation you make, you are entered one time into the lottery. So if you make a $50 donation, you are entered five times into the prize drawing. I can hear you thinking, Okay, Jenni, I get that. But what the heck is a favor ring? Why, it is just that. You can trade the ring in for a favor from Patrick Rothfuss at any time (you can read more about it here). Last night the one favor ring he had up for auction on eBay went for $12,850 and all of the money went to charity. And all of my jealousy went towards that winning person. Ahem.

I do not know what I would do with that ring…

But I can imagine.

Time to reel it in again.

It’s the little things: making the world a better place. One chicken. One goat. One beard at a time.

November 1, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Keepin’ It Real: October 2014

I think I say this every month, but… What happened?! How is it the end of the month all ready?! It just does not feel like it should be November yet. October was an easy month for our family. And I very much appreciated that. We now all have our flu shots. No major sicknesses or injuries occurred (except for a minor burn I received from volcanic spaghetti sauce. I have a new scar on my left arm). Who needs tattoos? I’ll just keep splattering molten food on my body (not really. Kids don’t do that at home). Without further ado, some of the highlights and funny moments of the month:

I rented a bounce house for my daughter and a few friends for my daughter’s birthday. I thought she was crazy to want a bounce house at the age of fifteen, but it was a huge source of fun for everyone. My husband, my son and myself got in it when it was dark and watched the stars through the net. We took turns laying down while one person jumped and threw the others into the air with the momentum. There is nothing quite like laying in the belly of a giant inflatable beast and watching the crisp autumn sky. You must try it one day, if you haven’t all ready.

Outfit Outtakes.

Our house last night on Halloween:

It was the first Halloween I have not made goody bags since I moved out on my own. I do not get enough trick or treaters any more to justify making them. But full sized candy bars were had by all last night. And by all, I mean the four trick or treaters we had. I bought ninety candy bars, so that means I have eighty six left, right? My thighs are crying with guilt at the real answer to that.

I have been slowly going through this book. Not allowing myself to read too much at a time. It is like a bag of Lindt Truffles. I only want to savor one page. One paragraph. One line in all of its beauty. I am enjoying it so far. Have you read my favorite author, Patrick Rothfuss yet? If not, do not start with this book. Start with my very favorite book, “The Name of the Wind”. It is beautiful. It is fantasy. He is a brilliant writer.

We went to a Benihana-like restaurant for my daughter’s birthday. I forgot how much fun those types of restaurants are. We need to go again sooner than later.

Coming Up In November:

I Hate Pigeons (I originally had this scheduled for October, but the only picture I could get was of a dove. I was worried it would offend someone with the glowing eyes I set in it. What do you think?)
A Small Set Of Anthropologie Fall Reviews
How I Met My Husband
Is Your Mama A Llama?
Meatloaf Muffins
The First Kiss Of Autumn

How was your October? How was your Halloween? I am so sorry I have been behind in comments. I am catching up on all of them today.

If you want a good laugh today, check out this video on The Bloggess’s website. It is my new favorite thing.

September 18, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Winner Of The 18th Blog Giveaway and Cravings

Congratulations to Impracticalinnorth for winning the gift card to Nordstrom Rack! I hope you get something good! : ) Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway! You have me so excited for fall with the things you are looking forward to wearing. It has been in the 100s here in my neck of the woods and it is hard to see ahead to cooler weather. But I am trying…

I am on a clothing shopping ban for September (and since I had unexpected expenses arise, October’s clothing budget is looking bleak as well). This is okay, because quite honestly, I have enough clothes. And it is so much fun pulling out items I have stashed away for this changing weather. This, of course, does not mean that there are not items I am drooling over and waiting patiently for sale on:

H&M’s Short Dress. I love the blank canvas of this dress. The mustard color is rad. The price is great. So many patterned tights would look fantastic with it. I also think the shape would look good on a variety of body types.

I all ready have this Free People’s Shadow Hacci Top in grey. It is one of my favorite tops (a sneak peak of it styled can be found in this post). It layers over slips and fun bras beautifully. Over long maxi skirts, jeans and leggings. I want it in navy, too. It is great. Beware, it snags easily. I typically wear a small in Free People and a medium in most other brands. I tried both the small and the medium in the grey color and kept the medium for a looser fit.

I am in desperate need of some black boots. My other black boots are going on twelve years old. They are a size nine. I wear a seven and a half. Needless to say, they do not get worn. I see a donation in their future. I am really picky about black boots. I want a small heel made of brown wood and a rounded toe. I am leaning towards these Frye boots at an incredible sale price in most sizes (there is also a wide calf version here).

I also love the Dolce Vita Amoux Boots at Anthropologie. Of course they are all sold out, but they are my favorite.

I think the best thing on Anthropologie’s site right now is the Ruffle-back Sweater Dress (besides this dress I own and this vest I drool over in grey). It looks beautiful online. I cannot wait to see it in real life.

For the home, I will be watching these pillows until they hit sale.

Edited on 9/30/2014: I removed a craving due to an experience with customer service. Thank you for your understanding. : )

What are you craving this month? Besides rich chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream oozing over the top, melting faster than you can scoop it and bring it to your mouth. Or is that just me? Ahem.

September 6, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

It’s The Little Things: My New Favorite Sandals

I knnnnnnooooooowwwwwwww. Sandals?! It really is not the time for them. And yet, it is. It is not fall yet. Now is a good time to stock up (or stalk up, whichever creep level you feel is appropriate when pricing out shoes) on sandals for the spring and summer of 2015. Almost all of the sandals I have seen in stores are now on sale. I purchased so many boots on sale last winter that now I only need a black pair to complete my collection. Shopping between the seasons is the best way to accumulate items for a wardrobe on a budget.

I picked up these Julianna Hough Teresa Sandals two weeks ago for $25 (regular price is $60. Link goes to a different site, in case you do not live near a Nordstrom Rack. The link price is a little more).

I loved the eyelet design on the back. They are sweet and comfortable. I like the color, too. I purchased mine in a pretty beige color that reminds me of my favorite tall gladiator sandals. Here is a peek at an outfit post coming up with these shoes. They go with so many items in my closet. I have a very high arch and I was scared that the high back of the sandal would rub on my ankle, but they surprisingly do not. I took my regular 7.5 shoe size. They have a zipper in the back making them easy to get on and off without messing with any buckles.

I also purchased them in this lovely brown color for my daughter. They came in a pretty black color, too. My sister came over to my house and tried my sandals on. She was going to go and get some herself. I hope she did (did you Mandi?). Nordstrom Rack had a lot of them in stock just last week.

Did you know Julianne Hough made shoes? At first I was incredulous, thinking that she could not possibly make comfortable shoes. She is a dancer. A beautiful, beautiful dancer. I wanted her to stay in her perfect little box that society or myself had put her in and perfectly dance away. Barefoot. But I tried them on. Swallowed my inner envy that the girl can do anything. And I am now happily walking around town in them. Maybe even spinning. Just a little.

With only a bit of jealousy to my step.

You can barely see the green envy of my sole.

Just don’t look too closely.

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

Of

Keepin’ It Real: October 2014

Winner Of The 18th Blog Giveaway and Cravings

It’s The Little Things: My New Favorite Sandals