Nothing Like Technicolor Cake...

image source

I had a bit of a bumpy morning yesterday and stormed into the office like a dark cloud.  Insignificant annoyances were inspiring rage, which I had to keep checked for professional conduct reasons, and though every fiber of me wanted to take each dish in the kitchen and smash it on the floor, I decided it would feel even worse to get fired from a place I actually love for my own childish behavior.  Everything was needling me in the worst way with no relief in sight.  So at 9am, I decided to take a little breather and check in on one of my favorite blogs, Confections of a (Closet) Master Baker.

I love this blog. Gesine, the author, is one talented woman.  In addition to creating some of the most amazing cakes I've ever seen, she has a book out and runs marathons, which is something I aspire to do but so far have been too scared... on both counts.  My fiance has had the hots for her sister for years, but I'm more of a fan of this lady.  She's someone I can relate to and look up to at the same time.  In fact, if my best friends and I took each of our best features and combined forces into one awesome woman, she just might be our "Captain Planet."  Ok, enough gushing.  Back to my bad day.

In order to take my mind off everything that was getting to me, I went to take a look at CCMB to see what kind of lovelies she had that day.  Right there smiling back at me was the most glorious rainbow layer cake I've ever seen.  I nearly fell off my chair with joy.  It was a trifecta of happiness: my own longtime love of rainbow cakes, beautiful and innovative execution, and wonderful pictures.  My heart went like this:

And just like that, I lightened up a little bit.  I took a deep breath, found my inner-rainbow, and shook off that bad attitude I'd worked up over the last coupe hours.  It's amazing what a little beauty and creative inspiration can do.

Crazy Quilting

On Saturday I went to an all day quilting class taught by Patricia Belyea of Okan Arts titled "Counterintuitive Quilting."  In this class we were encouraged to abandon all habits of quilting efficiency and instead scissor-cut each piece, creating one original block at a time.  We went through three stages of blocks, letting each one evolve differently.  Often I found myself sewing together a block, slicing through it with my scissors, and then changing it completely.  I felt a little out of my element at first, but once I got going I really enjoyed the process.  I pushed my limits and, with a little gentle guidance from Patricia, created something I wouldn't have done otherwise.  It was really great fun and it felt good to get back behind my sewing machine for the first time in what feels like months.

A Little Inspiration

I haven't had much time for my creative outlets lately.  I've been doing a lot of other great stuff, but I know I can't do it all, so my sewing machine has gone untouched for a while and that's ok.

However, I am still collecting inspiration wherever I can.  I work for an architecture / interior design firm and in my research today I decided to explore a little further into the world of Kyle Bunting.  Hide rugs, folks.  So much texture!  His stuff is really great and truly inspiring.

I took a few screenshots from his website to give you a flavor of what's got me in a tizzy.

Pretty fantastic stuff, huh?  I think I'd be more inclined to hang it on the wall than use it as a rug, just because I wouldn't want anyone stepping on it.

Think Pink

sources: shirt, pants, blazer, shoes, jewelry

Today I woke up not feeling so hot - sore throat, queasy, tired as all getout.  I knew this was coming.  My normal rise time is 6 or 6:16am, but it was impossible to get up before 6:45 every day this week.  Yesterday my throat was feeling scratchy, and I did nearly everything I could to to keep it at bay.

To be honest, I probably could have had less wine last night, but there was a virtual merlot tasting going on so a friend and I spent some quality drinking time at a local wine warehouse yesterday to do our part.  We got through 11 of the 20 merlots offered, and I found one I couldn't live without.  Twenty-two ounces of wine later, I was probably not in the best position to fight off a bug.  My mistake.

I was woken in the middle of the night by my sore throat, and all that other stuff that goes along with having that extra glass or two of wine.  Bad Monica.

When I finally was able to pull it together to make myself coffee, I still wasn't up for breakfast.  Or a shower.  Or dressing up.  I decided to skip breakfast in hopes that my stomach will eventually settle enough for me to enjoy it, and begrudgingly shuffled to she shower.  

My first choice for attire today was sweats and slippers, but I had to get to the office regardless of my condition.  Jeans and a sweater would have been an ideal consolation prize, but because I interface with clients every day, that's not an option either.  The solution?  A comfortable bright shirt and my most casual pair of slacks.  The blazer and the heels make me look like an adult rather than a high school student.  Overall, I think it's a winner.  I'm still very comfortable, but not sloppy-looking.

Today's playlist pulls songs from the following artists:

Toad the Wet Sproket

Collective Soul

Hootie and the Blowfish

Gray Doesn't Have to be Boring

sources: top, skirt, pearls, pin, shoes

It's back to the solemn grays and pearls for me today, not because I am feeling particularly sobered by the rain, but because I've been wanting to take this top out for a stroll for a while now and today's my chance.  Sure it's gray, but the flirty little gauzy rose pin takes it up a notch from basic to fabulous.  And, I'm office appropriate.  Score.

I arrived at my office this morning to find a bottle of pinot noir on my desk with a thank-you note for the extensive help I provided as consultant and food stylist for a design event we hosted Tuesday night.  Looks like my years of hostessing many wine events have begun to come back around to benefit me!

Hostessing is one of my favorite ways to socialize.  I love feeding my friends.  I love laughing together until way too late in the night, and drinking far too much wine in the process.  I also love that it forces me to clean my apartment all at once.

If I can manage to prepare everything I need to before my guests arrive, I love dressing up for the event.  However, in typical Monica fashion, I usually opt for jeans last minute because I'm still cooking or moving something.  Seattle's a casual city, right?

The Urban Cowgirl

sources: shirt, "skirt", jewelry, boots

Are you sick of these yet?  Good.  Me neither.  I'm really excited about today's fashion update because I actually own the exact boots pictured in my board!  That's right, folks; they're mine, all mine!  You may have noticed I wear the same jewelry from day to day.  It's because I'm lazy as hell about changing it and I like to wear classic things I never have to take off.  I do have some very cool pieces I'll showcase down the road, but for now it's all about a "wash and go" jewelry selection.

Today I felt a little bit country, a little bit sassy, and extremely late for work.  Bright turquoise always goes great with tan leather and I had these boots sitting out and the skirt that had been vetoed from my outfit yesterday still flung over the chair in the bedroom.  A crisp white button-up keeps it all office-appropriate.  And we're out the door!

Quilt Inspiration

So my inspiration for the quilt I've been scheming is in the Kona Cotton solid color line.  I definitely want to include (clockwise from top left) Pacific, Medium Grey, Cyan, and Coal.  I'm trying to decide if I want to include Natural or White, or either.  What do you think?

Peacock and Neutrals

sources: shirt, skirt, jewelry, shoes

I know I've been gangbusters with the fashion boards these days, but it's really fun.  It's also giving me some really great ideas for future quits.  I've been wanting to do something quilty with my current favorite color: peacock.  It's so beautiful that I really wouldn't want to put another color in competition with it, so I'm thinking neutrals... maybe some warm grays.  Problem is, I have so many half-completed quilts that I'm going to let this one swim around in my noggin for a while.

Today's soundtrack:

Just Say Yes - Snow Patrol

Brand New Colony - Postal Service

Hello - Poe

Heartbreak Warfare - John Mayer

First Train Home - Imogen Heap

Io - Hellen Stellar

Loro - Pinback