I'd Like to Thank Necessity

I promise to post the how-to for <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/06/guest-half-bath-update.html">my Sigh painting</a> next week.  But first I need to graciously accept a blog award!  <br /><br />Getting a blog award like this is so fan-frickin-tastic, especially when it comes from a blogger whose blog I heart.  Leslie, from <a href="http://sofabulouslyflawed.blogspot.com/">Fabulously Flawed</a>, sent me some blog love by passing on a <a href="http://sofabulouslyflawed.blogspot.com/2011/05/totally-undeserved-award-for-me.html">Kreativ Blogger award</a>!  So you lucky ducks get to learn three new things about me (click here for my <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/it-must-be-new-blog-header.html">Stylish Blogger award</a> acceptance post - thanks again, Amy!)  Good golly.  A few more of these and I will have absolutely nothing new to tell you.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-TSVBveLRoEHNvOigy6Kcf-tHtomvDFxEQ9r5IULdXCRiEDT1unOCLO3maytYTanEF8IDB11hEZr0DzF1ndvrl5UBNGlVoKQSuRhBoFe3T0MBLVIgqcZ6QQFIGWmY6UfbB2eSRSZv6ex/s1600/Kreative+Blog+Award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-TSVBveLRoEHNvOigy6Kcf-tHtomvDFxEQ9r5IULdXCRiEDT1unOCLO3maytYTanEF8IDB11hEZr0DzF1ndvrl5UBNGlVoKQSuRhBoFe3T0MBLVIgqcZ6QQFIGWmY6UfbB2eSRSZv6ex/s1600/Kreative+Blog+Award.jpg" /></a></div>  <br /><br />Here are three tales from my creative past.  <br /><br /><strong>Story Number One</strong><br />In high school, I hit my dad's van with my Dodge Colt (that <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2010/11/our-diy-cred.html">Hubby & I painted ourselves</a> - seriously) while backing out of our driveway.  I knocked his taillight out.  Panicked, I picked up all of the pieces and artfully arranged them around his van at his work place the next day which, not coincidentally, was my high school.  Strange, it's like my parents thought I needed supervision.  We had driven together that day, so I witnessed him examine the damage and curse teenage drivers, not guessing that the culprit was yours truly.  When I told him the truth a few years ago he was crushed, but had to admire my creativity.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbrOQxeBR06IWz87YnN515XpLXf9VmT04l2aA9wnO72KVwBX_CK3BjgnUIO-iZwK589I3l2fu1EE14B9Jzc1PBbbmHPoWRKiF5fct9Tx_CQhNLN9ZHF8AMYCAvLL81VnCa8zRn2OvLDU/s1600/P1020564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbrOQxeBR06IWz87YnN515XpLXf9VmT04l2aA9wnO72KVwBX_CK3BjgnUIO-iZwK589I3l2fu1EE14B9Jzc1PBbbmHPoWRKiF5fct9Tx_CQhNLN9ZHF8AMYCAvLL81VnCa8zRn2OvLDU/s400/P1020564.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My partner in crime: Charlie</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><strong>Story Number Two</strong><br />This one is actually representative of the mad props that Hubby deserves.  After a painfully bad haircut (think super, super wispy short hair), I took matters into my own hands.  Hubby & I starting cutting my hair!  At first the plan was to just grow out the horrid hatchet job, but then I started to dig the messy, choppy look and rocked DIY'd hair for years.  Some days when my long hair gets caught in the blow-dryer, in the car door and then inside my purse when I zip it up too quickly, I think about handing Hubby the scissors.  <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUnGiAIIHGB75d4zWhY_8ImC2LrjPD-N4V8W_vSs4FIPuZNqyYog8t1EBcpfjGlB2R1QmWDPJxXCSukspDR7ZSPIVKB6fIeL60gxXFaD58mlZopLFU_iGuSrzOYe-ilNFGO1vV7QyB8ko/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUnGiAIIHGB75d4zWhY_8ImC2LrjPD-N4V8W_vSs4FIPuZNqyYog8t1EBcpfjGlB2R1QmWDPJxXCSukspDR7ZSPIVKB6fIeL60gxXFaD58mlZopLFU_iGuSrzOYe-ilNFGO1vV7QyB8ko/s400/029.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You've been warned, hair.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><strong>Story Number Three</strong><br />When my parents repainted their stucco home years ago my mom was looking at some baby-poo ochre-yellow paint swatches which, in hindsight, were gorgeous and muted.  I convinced her (how, mom, how?) to paint the house school bus yellow instead.  Why she took advice from a teen with a lime green car, I know not.  Boy, was it bright.  But, silver lining, when our house was egged (my dad's a high school teacher remember) the egg just blended right in.  The house is now a striking pale grey with a cinnamon-y front door and crisp white trim.  <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPzWEDltE7Wk77OTzj0bdHk_Igrnj6Xaz4VB8ykdOzCCirm0dA6RKw-YVOJYHa3XFSOQeGc9RsBtaHT9tjh-4iSrw6AOVibhQwmZbppp5wZAQaZle0gJeJWPAMqxzLSykAkVzjuXLUkpp/s1600/yellow+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPzWEDltE7Wk77OTzj0bdHk_Igrnj6Xaz4VB8ykdOzCCirm0dA6RKw-YVOJYHa3XFSOQeGc9RsBtaHT9tjh-4iSrw6AOVibhQwmZbppp5wZAQaZle0gJeJWPAMqxzLSykAkVzjuXLUkpp/s400/yellow+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/styro/140932343/">Photo Source</a><br />Not our house, but close to it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Now to pass on the blog lovin'.  Here are seven blogs (I can only pick seven?!?) that totally inspire me:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://lonadeanna.blogspot.com/">Lona de Anna</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://youngancrafty.blogspot.com/">Young & Crafty</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://homethatlovebuilt.blogspot.com/">My Beautiful Life</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://loveyourpad.blogspot.com/">Love Your Pad</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mittensathome.blogspot.com/">Mittens Vintage Marketplace</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://hodgepodge-babselou.blogspot.com/">Hodge Podge</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://adesignenthusiast.blogspot.com/">The Design Enthusiast</a></div>

I'd Like to Thank Necessity

I promise to post the how-to for my Sigh painting next week.  But first I need to graciously accept a blog award!  Getting a blog award lik...

Read more »

I Joined the eHow.com Team!

I joined the <a href="http://ehow.com/">eHow.com</a> team as a contributing writer!  I made it through the preliminary we-can-still-easily-fire-you-because-your-grammar-is-dismal phase!  They just haven't caught on that my grammar probs are perennial.  They are blinded by my PhD candidacy (which a copy writer seriously needed the change the spelling of when I submitted my bio).  <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYTBFbbnF3PYBlpRcUzrEYCfZ4JD0QMhldw0hOemkHxXiy_fGnCrU5P0ZzgIOxBXldR5KkpxwvgQKYR3KNB_5LqJWoe19VusvZTTe-l5of7FxnF0PXWsnJv9r9nYYGZlfrVuohm5MRny2/s1600/snoopy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYTBFbbnF3PYBlpRcUzrEYCfZ4JD0QMhldw0hOemkHxXiy_fGnCrU5P0ZzgIOxBXldR5KkpxwvgQKYR3KNB_5LqJWoe19VusvZTTe-l5of7FxnF0PXWsnJv9r9nYYGZlfrVuohm5MRny2/s640/snoopy.gif" t8="true" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, hard at work avoiding my thesis.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Because I have been learning lots of nifty things while researching articles, I decided to add a new page to the blog: "<a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/p/things-learned.html">I Learned</a>".  I will be filing away tips and tricks I've learned the hard way, as well as my eHow articles (starting with the most recent).  <br /><br />I've included a comments section on the page, so feel free to add your own two cents!   

I Joined the eHow.com Team!

I joined the eHow.com team as a contributing writer!  I made it through the preliminary we-can-still-easily-fire-you-because-your-grammar-i...

Read more »

It Must Be the New Blog Header . . .

. . . because I was just given a Stylish Blogger award by the lovely Amy, from <a href="http://brushedsatin.blogspot.com/">Brushed Satin</a>.  <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEJdDbkCsRVp3KOqbGOtzksnib7XvdbHGfCwxHq1Eojaei-Y4D_oef3axzwBg5feyoUh75LXc4pgBB-6msNDSRKUsUB4z44zpaY6_igvBEkc-_QUR14Y_6yHBMaqkTd97jQgOhkLnUSyP/s1600/Stylish-Blogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEJdDbkCsRVp3KOqbGOtzksnib7XvdbHGfCwxHq1Eojaei-Y4D_oef3axzwBg5feyoUh75LXc4pgBB-6msNDSRKUsUB4z44zpaY6_igvBEkc-_QUR14Y_6yHBMaqkTd97jQgOhkLnUSyP/s1600/Stylish-Blogger.jpg" /></a></div><br />The rules: after linking back to the lovely blogger who sent me the award, I reveal 7 things about me & pass the award on to 10 bloggers I deem stylish.  Thanks to Amy for letting my know she pinged me, I tend not to notice my own name & blog in print.<br /><br />So here goes:<br /><ol><li>I am left-handed</li><li>I am a feminist (the make-up wearing, husband marrying kind - we come in infinite variations)</li><li>I am currently doing my PhD in Women's Studies</li><li>My Undergraduate Degree & Master's Degree are both in Philosophy</li><li>I'm struggling to get fit & lose weight</li><li>My favorite colour is turquoise</li><li>I hate gardening with a vengeance</li></ol>This certainly fills out the "<a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/p/about.html">About Moi</a>" page, doesn't it?<br /><br />Here are 10 bloggers I'd like to pass this award on to (because of my devious plan: to learn more about their stylish selves):<br /><br />Noelle from <a href="http://graypaintdecor.blogspot.com/">Gray Paint Decor</a><br />Dana from <a href="http://mid2mod.blogspot.com/">Mid2Mod</a><br />Caroline from <a href="http://davidandcarolineparker.blogspot.com/">The Feminist Housewife</a><br />Pauline from <a href="http://englishorganizer.com/blog/">The English Organizer</a><br />Kate from <a href="http://mauriceandking.blogspot.com/">Maurice & King</a><br />Brismod from <a href="http://funandvjs.blogspot.com/">Fun & VJs</a><br />Michelle from <a href="http://secondstreeteast.blogspot.com/">Second Street East</a><br />Emilie from <a href="http://liveeatsmile.blogspot.com/">Live.Eat.Smile</a><br />Lesley from <a href="http://sofabulouslyflawed.blogspot.com/">Fabulously Flawed</a><br />Kristan from <a href="http://prettymyworld.blogspot.com/">Pretty My World</a><br /><br />And don't forget to check out <a href="http://brushedsatin.blogspot.com/">Brushed Satin!</a><br /><br />Eegads. That's 10.  Of course, I think so many blogs are stylish.  But these are the rules . . . <br /><br />Speaking of stylish, how lovely is this print?<br />  <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Eloise renouf" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d83451cbb069e20147e06c9afc970b" height="400" src="http://modculture.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cbb069e20147e06c9afc970b-800wi" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Eloise renouf" width="277" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Winter Trees <br />Print by Eloise Renouf<br /><a href="http://www.retrotogo.com/2010/12/little-winter-trees-by-eloise-renouf.html">Photo Via Retro to Go</a></td></tr></tbody></table> 

It Must Be the New Blog Header . . .

. . . because I was just given a Stylish Blogger award by the lovely Amy, from Brushed Satin .  The rules: after linking back to the lovely ...

Read more »

Bloggers Day of Silence Tomorrow

Thanks to <a href="http://blueeyedyonder.blogspot.com/">Blue Eyed Yonder</a> for alerting me to Friday's bloglessness.  You won't hear a peep from me.  <a href="http://blueeyedyonder.blogspot.com/2011/03/bloggers-day-of-silence.html">Check out her post</a> to see what else you can do to help those in need of aid, in Japan.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCMLjOa-6zeyfMHJTdId286e4gzjResmZKdwvHR67yaoHHI2vCMetEOg_f3yWHXx1rn51JRH-o_hXEyL2leEOQ4jA3Sia_MvGE5Tag82V7dXb0OSVXsLkbw9Sc1TJnshfwyupQuet_tg/s1600/forjapanwithlove_blog.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCMLjOa-6zeyfMHJTdId286e4gzjResmZKdwvHR67yaoHHI2vCMetEOg_f3yWHXx1rn51JRH-o_hXEyL2leEOQ4jA3Sia_MvGE5Tag82V7dXb0OSVXsLkbw9Sc1TJnshfwyupQuet_tg/s640/forjapanwithlove_blog.gif" width="352" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blueeyedyonder.blogspot.com/2011/03/bloggers-day-of-silence.html">Photo from BEY</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

Bloggers Day of Silence Tomorrow

Thanks to Blue Eyed Yonder for alerting me to Friday's bloglessness.  You won't hear a peep from me.  Check out her post to see wh...

Read more »

Cash for Clutter

I'm a guest blogger on <a href="http://englishorganizer.com/blog/">The English Organizer</a> today!  Click <a href="http://englishorganizer.com/2011/03/de-cluttering-for-profit-part-1/">here</a> to check out the first post in a three part series about how to get cash for your clutter.  While you're there, peruse the many fabulous tips and tricks for getting organized!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGdnK5uVWkJ9EGuDJ3rLADAU8Yo5DngBPfy-gSYwe4HTItHnWEE81bEGq1Zwi2H1xP3UUB4-RttNYYOVNLzsv6PiNuAnLXK5-1hiqjMwY_CkJsSlW5GWvyqQy8yW_ENF5wIBOivIrCSuh/s1600/TheEnglishOrganizer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGdnK5uVWkJ9EGuDJ3rLADAU8Yo5DngBPfy-gSYwe4HTItHnWEE81bEGq1Zwi2H1xP3UUB4-RttNYYOVNLzsv6PiNuAnLXK5-1hiqjMwY_CkJsSlW5GWvyqQy8yW_ENF5wIBOivIrCSuh/s320/TheEnglishOrganizer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Cash for Clutter

I'm a guest blogger on The English Organizer today!  Click here to check out the first post in a three part series about how to get ca...

Read more »

Tag! Now I'm It . . .

Gina, from the lovely <a href="http://temporary-nest.blogspot.com/">Temporary Nest</a>, tagged me!  She showed us the contents of her purse on Wednesday and now it is my turn.<br /><br />Hubby found this way too enjoyable.  He wanted to hide my purse so I couldn't edit the contents (I didn't!) and also threatened to put embarassing contents within it.  Then he mocked me for stuffing my purse with kleenex.  Then he weighed it (5lbs!).  Lots of fun was had.  <br /><br />I wanted to make this post somewhat "house-y," so below are a couple of pics of where our shoes and my purses live.  This closet had a horrible closet system from the 70s.  We ripped it out and realized this space was perfect for my shoe shelf (from Winner's).  Then we cut two premade MDF shelves to size and installed.  Someday I'll show the rest of our closet-y goodness . . . <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoy-panLQTuTtbWFyGxqiZ7-FIwIa2iTxsh3JeCFb1RxLSfYC9SaX8i5KFVOAkiZ15WGnAC6YgSM9NDr89kR4_Ur6qM2ABGRAvnyTKjbJ46eA0aoTjKODSs58W_SXWXyD6h0qCchiE60/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoy-panLQTuTtbWFyGxqiZ7-FIwIa2iTxsh3JeCFb1RxLSfYC9SaX8i5KFVOAkiZ15WGnAC6YgSM9NDr89kR4_Ur6qM2ABGRAvnyTKjbJ46eA0aoTjKODSs58W_SXWXyD6h0qCchiE60/s640/016.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiil_COaqsnvWSHMp6ZbOveXLi1M-xNbpqcM29FyI6r35L6Eg6V-HzA0ZTFLpx4n6DoFc1gq_PKsPJ75-rmYOqh3EacQ_2YesMpKSG7a0WgCr9LvrLLIO7VCiySFphiN8OgY2LN6snjM/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiil_COaqsnvWSHMp6ZbOveXLi1M-xNbpqcM29FyI6r35L6Eg6V-HzA0ZTFLpx4n6DoFc1gq_PKsPJ75-rmYOqh3EacQ_2YesMpKSG7a0WgCr9LvrLLIO7VCiySFphiN8OgY2LN6snjM/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />But here is what Gina wanted to see.  I've been using this orange and brown Valentina bag.  It is super soft leather and made in Italy, but was a steal at Winner's.  I've had it for years.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Lu2m002vQC-ixeuQD9Tx8ZgMdol-2nIkPEwGSAMzRyxcumtUsZm9_v1IIDQG7GeVS795SMLC9tvX1BSut__r_SiY6ptO9_miWcu60RExGNcN8UZMf8stLLM3uuBaUroi4SE9uIlp8o/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Lu2m002vQC-ixeuQD9Tx8ZgMdol-2nIkPEwGSAMzRyxcumtUsZm9_v1IIDQG7GeVS795SMLC9tvX1BSut__r_SiY6ptO9_miWcu60RExGNcN8UZMf8stLLM3uuBaUroi4SE9uIlp8o/s640/033.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbt9zWZDrFxVXFbRye9mRqkoRdqjYXJi3J8P19P0IPqbwQr1KkplW6oOI6OMiVkRI_uUgqEBEykgx14ncGqWR6JDuczSu1NPnzkNoI8lRKqTDyy7sWu80z4UHcZjSzzWzT_XDVjSWxNE/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbt9zWZDrFxVXFbRye9mRqkoRdqjYXJi3J8P19P0IPqbwQr1KkplW6oOI6OMiVkRI_uUgqEBEykgx14ncGqWR6JDuczSu1NPnzkNoI8lRKqTDyy7sWu80z4UHcZjSzzWzT_XDVjSWxNE/s400/026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I tend to cram books, my daytimer, snacks etc., into my purse but today this is what my purse contains:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGQCVHoFESStltkO0TfZUNIOcjMxCqdNQ8aTDccW3ks6xNpxiD2pv4ec5iPzxgDZYBRYG90FNLutsy9w-70ahvW5OxjTrEQraeNwYa2IvUYdsPMsVD6DP3kQuZnqVwg5Wr-8RILUrxBc/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGQCVHoFESStltkO0TfZUNIOcjMxCqdNQ8aTDccW3ks6xNpxiD2pv4ec5iPzxgDZYBRYG90FNLutsy9w-70ahvW5OxjTrEQraeNwYa2IvUYdsPMsVD6DP3kQuZnqVwg5Wr-8RILUrxBc/s400/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mittens knit by my grandma</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_mXoIhGvn5WkJV0aSZzsiLwfjGuc-95mNIMDAX79FzaoBg7RBO1eYZ5BgSF10jP6Pl30vAgFAoRAodVkP7l8FwpnZk9hMzl1y0A1dpk4Qs3FHhqtPPBAfnU6rf_swxviyGIOGXEIj2M/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_mXoIhGvn5WkJV0aSZzsiLwfjGuc-95mNIMDAX79FzaoBg7RBO1eYZ5BgSF10jP6Pl30vAgFAoRAodVkP7l8FwpnZk9hMzl1y0A1dpk4Qs3FHhqtPPBAfnU6rf_swxviyGIOGXEIj2M/s400/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My car keys & altoids</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2hKXAvDjzPYdCVKcd29QKHm9h5gqT1p9fDCJJNYflsiAFOiSgqoJaym4ChR9bLfLwKeUsmc94ikckUvpSeXYOpPd5B4_i6h3UxzwF2ysw8Rx_TFIgPPkqEFmTCAkq9jiK7O2n2zAFEg/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2hKXAvDjzPYdCVKcd29QKHm9h5gqT1p9fDCJJNYflsiAFOiSgqoJaym4ChR9bLfLwKeUsmc94ikckUvpSeXYOpPd5B4_i6h3UxzwF2ysw8Rx_TFIgPPkqEFmTCAkq9jiK7O2n2zAFEg/s400/020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P.S. I used old nailpolish to mark my keys - a trick I picked<br />up from Real Simple magazine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uDNt7Q2KeWjZOT9LsIAyZ88SbJ7yiJFRmcjG8AUO2ePJPthSa5D49nZBk75ua28yZKIaGfDofIE4UxSp0VQvKsMMtPYJj-6E9ot2kTJf8V7JVPYVO3mYAzbRku4kA5k2tucU52UEMrY/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uDNt7Q2KeWjZOT9LsIAyZ88SbJ7yiJFRmcjG8AUO2ePJPthSa5D49nZBk75ua28yZKIaGfDofIE4UxSp0VQvKsMMtPYJj-6E9ot2kTJf8V7JVPYVO3mYAzbRku4kA5k2tucU52UEMrY/s400/021.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My giant wallet plus my cell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPhxaW-Nb7cQSfT5Xm_sRkgZ0N0QSGE9r8tdwPHUNjCMdd-pNnEtMaZoXNJwZxn6sw23Sq3XTuLoNkeua8DnAPwqVCfuG-_TnuZIuUM90iIX9hw8ly-eTgEj-2YlLtH00k6URG2fdwa0/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPhxaW-Nb7cQSfT5Xm_sRkgZ0N0QSGE9r8tdwPHUNjCMdd-pNnEtMaZoXNJwZxn6sw23Sq3XTuLoNkeua8DnAPwqVCfuG-_TnuZIuUM90iIX9hw8ly-eTgEj-2YlLtH00k6URG2fdwa0/s400/022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My everything bag - a Clinique freebie<br />I keep all the random goodness in here, which makes switching <br />purses a breeze</td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYN_fqp7rsiZaK7Q8pnX-MF2dGQNna_Tz9lJJ_2Z65oJBstSN-cMlsv_2_4hoPcG4GLsNbTr74uZjOkFgsBELZhUsK-fjhD88t7Ub5ZEK-YuLxSdem4pFaEXqxufJ59IRI2sXN8t950c/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYN_fqp7rsiZaK7Q8pnX-MF2dGQNna_Tz9lJJ_2Z65oJBstSN-cMlsv_2_4hoPcG4GLsNbTr74uZjOkFgsBELZhUsK-fjhD88t7Ub5ZEK-YuLxSdem4pFaEXqxufJ59IRI2sXN8t950c/s640/023.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I carry wet naps, hand lotion, bandaids, almonds, a pen, hair elastics, <br />kleenex, dental floss - even after bite . . . </td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimqD9OdwFM7rpsGYZ-HFz6QUGeQ-TlM9eRQYxw0luFaUJFU8Ju7LHQd9FSlLI86zaXJIgbDsTORaUVGckqmRhhH3Aki5JQrAWY0CGQ7P1U8E_uJI9JAhp0SCq9M_Rc4ZApCOaA88slXE/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimqD9OdwFM7rpsGYZ-HFz6QUGeQ-TlM9eRQYxw0luFaUJFU8Ju7LHQd9FSlLI86zaXJIgbDsTORaUVGckqmRhhH3Aki5JQrAWY0CGQ7P1U8E_uJI9JAhp0SCq9M_Rc4ZApCOaA88slXE/s400/025.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random pile of papers, post its & pens - told you I didn't edit</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So, now it is my turn to pass this tag on . . . I invite these five lovely ladies (Gina tagged four other bloggers - is four the magic number?) to show us the goods.  I hope they won't mind sharing a peak inside their purses!<br /><br /><div align="center">Noelle @ <a href="http://graypaintdecor.blogspot.com/">Gray Paint Decor</a></div><div align="center">Pauline @ <a href="http://englishorganizer.com/blog/">The English Organizer</a></div><div align="center">Michelle @ <a href="http://secondstreeteast.blogspot.com/">Second Street East</a></div><div align="center">Starlet @ <a href="http://www.canyoucomehome.com/">Can You Come Home</a></div><div align="center">Caroline @ <a href="http://davidandcarolineparker.blogspot.com/">The Feminist Housewife</a></div>

Tag! Now I'm It . . .

Gina, from the lovely Temporary Nest , tagged me!  She showed us the contents of her purse on Wednesday and now it is my turn. Hubby found t...

Read more »

Hmmmm. More Ch-ch-changes

For anyone who checked out my blog the last few hours, you might have noticed a different background each time the page refreshed.  And sometimes it looked wonky.  Well, I've been trying to make the blog prettier and easier to read.  I thought I had done well <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/ch-ch-changes.html">here</a>, but then I saw the background on a different monitor and it looked so blech.  So I'm fiddling and probably will for a few days until I get it right.  I've also made the text larger so it is easier to see.  Feel free to weigh in!<br />By now you know I'm not a techie, so these simple tasks seem less simple in my hands.  I'll get there.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdvnX4PsHkw-Y4NnE0FWuZ-BOHR129VXVF-wxbPKn1VQoN0259yi7MvrsquROvJ1XPk3S2Dt7BMWuviZxe27hImFG_lLAyf72GAQlK6ZsDOWJfpDuP4tSu4V7UbN7ansYnwLhKvNn-vk/s1600/blog+fiddling+background.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdvnX4PsHkw-Y4NnE0FWuZ-BOHR129VXVF-wxbPKn1VQoN0259yi7MvrsquROvJ1XPk3S2Dt7BMWuviZxe27hImFG_lLAyf72GAQlK6ZsDOWJfpDuP4tSu4V7UbN7ansYnwLhKvNn-vk/s400/blog+fiddling+background.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My old background, but in a different colour</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z2o9IOtXyuCPdURUZbei0zfRFAoL0NcMNkG9u2vxqXMyQCTqY3a_uZSBlZgapqE6_eMNM6BUdkXP_iMWQ0KHSQwtDvVumX8MkrWr-ZGTNIQWEgza-6qUpriHBWxXU1BIDFCAzzWeaCQ/s1600/wallpaper+i+like+yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z2o9IOtXyuCPdURUZbei0zfRFAoL0NcMNkG9u2vxqXMyQCTqY3a_uZSBlZgapqE6_eMNM6BUdkXP_iMWQ0KHSQwtDvVumX8MkrWr-ZGTNIQWEgza-6qUpriHBWxXU1BIDFCAzzWeaCQ/s400/wallpaper+i+like+yellow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One I liked but it wouldn't fit</td></tr></tbody></table>

Hmmmm. More Ch-ch-changes

For anyone who checked out my blog the last few hours, you might have noticed a different background each time the page refreshed.  And some...

Read more »

Ch-Ch-Changes

I've made a change to my blog!  I heart turquoise so when I started blogging, I picked a cheery turquoise as my background colour.  And because I have the world's largest monitor, reading my blog has been no problem.  Now that I've been temporarily demoted to my laptop (with its teeny tiny screen) because I'm visiting my mom, I see that maybe my blog was hard to read.  Hopefully because this darker, greyer colour makes the white text and links pop, my blog will be easier to read.  Tell your eyes I say "you're welcome".<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnWmrtzh3n2wYFUAl3ii3T8ajjel2U3PuF7GtRWC57pLksQC7tDDl3OSRh8XiOQFcfCJPRJ3uB3Vm4gRMz10Tp0DNR5ofDEbqBT10Hj1S19PNWPq4_wfbR3ICQfWZdH0tGiu3CJ0FGHY/s1600/turquoise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnWmrtzh3n2wYFUAl3ii3T8ajjel2U3PuF7GtRWC57pLksQC7tDDl3OSRh8XiOQFcfCJPRJ3uB3Vm4gRMz10Tp0DNR5ofDEbqBT10Hj1S19PNWPq4_wfbR3ICQfWZdH0tGiu3CJ0FGHY/s400/turquoise.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo <strong><a href="http://trip-to-croatia.lepotlatch.org/day-7-turquoise-water">source</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table><br />UPDATE: Tell your eyes I say "I'm sorry".  What looked like a cool grey teal on my laptop became an awful christmas tree green on my larger monitor.  Who knows what horrendous shades I subjected you all to.  Well, I tried again, see <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/hmmmm-more-ch-ch-changes.html">here</a>, and hopefully my blog will be easier on the eyes.  Thanks to everyone who stuck around, even when things turned ugly. 

Ch-Ch-Changes

I've made a change to my blog!  I heart turquoise so when I started blogging, I picked a cheery turquoise as my background colour.  And ...

Read more »