tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27430111285932925352024-03-13T02:20:51.248-05:00The Quiet OwlCrafts, Life, VintageThe Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-16611201761682046832013-06-12T06:30:00.000-05:002013-06-12T06:30:01.819-05:00New Necklaces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuietOwlVintage" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://i.imgur.com/3SECsJ3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I discovered the wonder of perler beads around Christmas time last year and I haven't been able to stop crafting with them. My latest project has been making these necklaces, which are all available on my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuietOwlVintage" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>. If you'll notice, I may have snuck a little Twin Peaks inspired one in there too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also vowed to get some of the 10 million pieces of vintage clothing I have sitting around listed on my shop. I have some seriously good stuff to share! I hope to have a lot of new items on there by the end of the week. </span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-24972921206756662672013-06-11T06:30:00.000-05:002013-08-17T00:06:50.649-05:00Amazing Anime: Sword Art Online<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sword Art Online has been described by some as the best new anime in the last 10 years. A claim like that sets a high bar and creates a bit of skepticism. The premise of the show is based around a VRMMORPG called Sword Art Online. Only 1,000 copies of the game are released which causes a huge demand. The game requires a virtual reality headgear system called NerveGear that allows the player to feel as if they are really in the game. That takes a turn for the worst when the game's creator decides to remove the log out button and keeps the players trapped in the game. If the headgear is removed in real life, the player's brain gets fried and they die. On top of that, if the player dies in the game, they die in real life. The only way out is for someone to beat the game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a lover of MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft (I'm a retired frost mage) and Ragnarok 2 (I'll be doing a review of this game soon), this anime was one of the best I've ever watched. If you aren't into these kinds of games you can still appreciate the story and the wonderful animation of this show. And if you are into these kinds of games, I'm going to have to insist that you watch this anime. Seriously, you have to. As usual, all 25 episodes are available on <a href="http://www.crunchyroll.com/sword-art-online/videos" target="_blank">Crunchyroll</a> for free!</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-62011452992177621932013-06-10T11:01:00.001-05:002013-08-17T00:07:12.672-05:00One Tattoo Outline Down, One Outline to Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally got one of my thighs tattoos outlined last week! Shane B at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Non-stop-art/159881227361346" target="_blank">Nonstop Art</a> in Birmingham, Alabama took my idea to a whole new level. I couldn't be more happy with it and it's not even finished yet! I'm getting another piece done on my other thigh next month and I'm looking forward to see if he can outdo himself. He's set his own bar pretty high.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Side note: I debated about whether or not to put my tattoos on here for everyone to see. No, I don't want anyone copying my tattoos, although they say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. However, a good tattoo artist would never copy another artist's work. Plus, tattoos are one of the best forms of self-expression, so why would you copy someone else? That's my 2 cents about it. I appreciate everyone's insight on my post about tattoos last week! It was interesting to hear viewpoints about the subject. </span><br />
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-13779258622731335372013-06-04T06:30:00.000-05:002013-06-04T06:30:01.267-05:00Normal Now?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I've told a few people that I know that I'm getting tattoos done this week and told them I'm getting them on my thighs. The response I got from a few people was, "why are you getting them in a place nobody will see them?" That response kind of surprised me. Maybe I was expecting something more along the lines of, "I can't believe you're getting another tattoo". (I know this will be my mom's response when she finds out. Sorry mom.)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I
know that getting a tattoo in a place
that you can't cover up working a 9-5 job isn't a great idea, but
lately I've noticed people in fairly conservative retail stores with
visible tattoos on their arms. I've also seen a lot more people with
unnatural colored hair working in retail. This has made me wonder, <i>are
tattoos piercings, and colorful hair becoming mainstream and normal</i>?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suppose my mindset about people's reactions to such things comes from the fact I've lived in the conservative South my whole life. I grew up in a small town and when I was in high school, I was the goth girl with black hair and spiked dog collar, so I obviously got a lot of whispers and shocked looks. So when I quit my job last year, got out of my conservative attire, and started dying my hair funky colors, I was really expecting people to give me some really weird looks. Don't get me wrong, I do get those sometimes, but for the most part, I get nothing but complements on my hair. In fact, my husband and I went to a farmers market yesterday and I was approached by a little girl in a tutu, obviously on her way home from ballet practice. She came up to me with a smile on her face and said, "excuse me, but I think your hair is neat!". We couldn't help but giggle about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted to get some more opinions about this topic. If you have tattoos that could be visible at work, how has your employer reacted? Do they care or do they ask you to cover them up? What kind of reactions do you get from people if you have </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">tattoos, piercings, or colorful hair? What's your reaction to others who have these things? </span>Do you think tattoos, piercings, and bold hair colors are becoming the norm and not the exception? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't wait to hear your opinions! </span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-87004338927949649432013-06-03T06:30:00.000-05:002013-06-03T06:30:02.421-05:00Weekend In Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I re-arranged my office and decided that I needed a succulent to put in my little owl planter to spruce things up. I think it's pretty darn cute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've vowed to get up the day after Christmas to buy lights for our deck for YEARS. Every time I go, they're already sold out. So I broke down and got some this weekend and I'm already in love with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Got this marvelous velvet painting. I put it in our bedroom, and it adds just the touch of tack I was looking for (I think...). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been working on some perler bead necklaces to put in the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuietOwlVintage" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>. </span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope to have them all posted for sale this week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Got this adorable purse at Charlotte Russe for only $15! I love it!</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We bought this baby charcoal grill about a week ago and have been loving it. There's nothing better than a burger from the grill. Tonight I'm making shrimp skewers on it! Let's hope I don't mess them up. I've also decided Indian Pale Ales are my new favorite beers. I've been enjoying a pack of Red Hook Long Hammer IPA for the last week or so. Anyone have any other IPAs that they can recommend?</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week is going to be awesome. My husband and I are working hard on business plans and trying to figure out the fun stuff (web-sites, products, decor, ect...) and the not so fun stuff (how to form an LLC, where to put our business, financing). It's going to be an exciting and nerve-wrecking journey, but I'm happy it's happening. I'm also getting my thighs tattooed on Thursday! I can't wait! I probably won't be so chipper about it when they're swollen like balloons on Friday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead of you. June is finally here, so the weather is heating up. Summer is finally here!</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-11191158522142777622013-05-31T06:30:00.000-05:002013-05-31T06:30:05.768-05:00Food Friday: Sukiyaki<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, I'm almost ashamed to make a Food Friday out of my one Sukiyaki photo, but it's too good not to share. (I swear I thought I took more!) Sukiyaki is a hot pot dish that you can put just about anything in (yaki, meaning "as you wish"). I tried out the Kansai style Sukiyaki which contains very thinly sliced beef, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, shiratake noodles and bok choy. I referenced a great video and recipe <a href="http://www.japanesecooking101.com/sukiyaki-recipe/" target="_blank">here</a>, but you basically simmer soy sauce, sugar and sake, cook the beef in it, add all your other ingredients, and put a lid on it until it's done. Here's basically what it looks like...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, in Japan they would have the hot pot on the dining table and add ingredients as needed while everyone takes pieces of the Sukiyaki out of the pot as it cooks at the table. I don't own a hot plate, so I just took the whole skillet to the table. It's not pretty or refined, but hey, it works. The great thing about this dish is you can mix it up according to what you have on hand or what you can find at your local grocery. I made it the other night with just beef, button mushrooms, and tofu and it turned out wonderful. It's great for those nights when you want something hot and delicious but don't want to put a lot of work into it. Serve it with <a href="http://thequietowl.blogspot.com/2013/02/food-friday-japanese-sticky-rice.html" target="_blank">sticky rice</a> and you've got a hearty meal!</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-80451427058044265392013-05-29T06:30:00.000-05:002013-05-29T06:30:00.136-05:00What I Wore: Spring Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Dress: Estate Sale (vintage)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Belt: Forever 21</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I remember finding this dress at a wonderful estate sale and being amazed that it was so old. It's so funny how something from nearly 50 years ago fits in perfectly with today's fashions. Whenever I get around to repairing my sewing machine, I want to use this dress as a base to make more dresses. The lines are simple <i>and</i> it has pockets, so it's the perfect dress!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As you can see, I've been sticking with the purple hair lately. It's certainly my favorite and I love that the dye that I use (N'Rage- can be purchased at Sally Beauty Supply) is demi-permenant, meaning it doesn't wash out after 2 showers like some brands. In fact, the only reason I've had to re-dye my hair is to cover my roots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Is it just me or does everyone else feel super awkward posing for pictures, especially when you're using a tripod? I feel like Ricky Bobby.</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-19928885872290197372013-05-28T06:30:00.000-05:002013-05-28T06:30:00.663-05:00Amazing Anime: Little Busters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Little Busters is made by the same horrible people at Key that made <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clannad_%28visual_novel%29" target="_blank">Clannad</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_%28visual_novel%29" target="_blank">Air</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanon" target="_blank">Kanon</a>. I say horrible only in the sense that they make you attached to the characters and then something terrible happens to them and you end up sobbing for half the show. The basic premise of Little Busters is a group of friends get together and start a baseball team. However, the show has little to do with baseball. It's more along the subject lines of split personality disorder, child abuse, and narcolepsy. However, Key always finds a way to portray the oddest subject material in the cutest possible way (I mean, just look at that picture above!). Right now there's only one season available to watch. At the end of the season, you'll get a sneak preview at the next season. I can already tell that I'm going to need a bottle of wine and a box of tissues to be able to get through it. Although the show may make you shed a tear now and then, it's fantastic. It's got a great mix of comedy and slice of life, which I love. If you're interested in watching the 26 episode series, it's free to watch on <a href="http://www.crunchyroll.com/little-busters" target="_blank">Crunchyroll</a>.</span></div>
The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-86338188355750482422013-05-23T06:30:00.000-05:002013-05-23T06:30:00.535-05:00Life Lately...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm long overdue for a "Life Lately" post, considering I haven't blogged in almost 2 months. We made a pretty big decision to stay here in Alabama for the time being. We'd love to move to Nashville in the future, however now just isn't the time. That being said, we're looking at our options to open our store here. We're planning on getting our business license within the next 2 weeks (or whenever I can finish a business plan!), so it's finally setting in that we're actually doing this. I could share all the glorious details about how excited I am, but that's for another post. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I attended my first <a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/" target="_blank">Alabama Bloggers</a> meetup recently and it was great to meet some like-minded people in the area. I was terrified that they were going to shun me and my purple-haired self, but they were extremely welcoming and I can wait to be a part of the local blogging community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I haven't stopped thrifting (how could I stop?). This chair was one of my recent purchases. It's a velvety material and I couldn't believe how well maintained it was. It didn't even have a hint of mustiness to it. The dogs have taken a liking to it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I sort of fell into a job at the local Amphitheater. It's funny how I started my career in ticketing as a box office assistant, moved up to box office assistant manager, left to become a box office manager, and now I'm back to box office assistant. I've come full circle. I was trying to get away from the business due to issues like super long hours (i.e., working about 12 days straight at the fair), but it seems like ticketing always has a way of luring me back in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That same wonderful week(s) of the fair, I went over to my old venue in Tuscaloosa to work the John Mayer concert. I was reminded how much I love my former co-workers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last but not least, I ran my first 5K during the Color Run Nashville. It was a good first experience for a 5K, but I'm not sure how many I'll be doing in the future (or at least until this fall. It's too darn hot outside now!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So things have been good! I've hung up my grad school plans for the time being after a pretty rough spring semester. I'm not throwing in the towel yet, but I'm focusing on getting our business up and running. And I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging! I spent hours trying to catch up on my Bloglovin feed and I can't believe how much I missed reading everyone's blogs. Hopefully I can set myself a schedule to start blogging again on a regular basis, because I've missed it dearly! As you can tell, I did a little makeover on it already (it's slightly Mario Bros inspired). Thanks to everyone for sticking with me and I'm happy to be back!</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-17309795596941504672013-05-22T10:58:00.003-05:002013-05-22T10:58:35.408-05:00Jes takes on Abercrombie & Fitch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> One of my Facebook friends posted <a href="http://www.today.com/style/blogger-abercrombie-fitch-af-means-attractive-fat-6C10015490" target="_blank">this link</a> to an article and video from the TODAY show. I kept looking at this picture thinking, "she looks familiar...". And low and behold, it's Jes from <a href="http://www.themilitantbaker.com/" target="_blank">The Militant Baker</a>! If you've ever read her blog before, you'll know that she's been an advocate for "beauty equality" for a while. So to see her taking on Abercrombie & Fitch is no surprise. She's such a wonderful person, both inside and out, so to see her get this kind of attention for a cause she's always felt strongly about is just heartwarming. So check out the <a href="http://www.today.com/style/blogger-abercrombie-fitch-af-means-attractive-fat-6C10015490" target="_blank">article and video</a>!</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-91084889441911236162013-04-05T06:30:00.000-05:002013-05-14T21:28:43.164-05:00I'll be back....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you all can tell, I haven't been doing anything blog related in a while (reading or writing). It's certainly not that I don't want to, it's just a matter of time. As if school wasn't overwhelming enough, I've taken on a part-time-ish job too. It wasn't something I was planning on, but it's a good opportunity to make some money. That being said, unfortunately blogging has been bumped down on my list of priorities at the moment. I'm taking an official break until at least May. I'll be done with the spring semester by then and will have a little time to breathe. I'm certainly still thinking about blogging all the time, which means I'll have lots to share with you by the time I get back into it! I'm thinking of doing an overhaul on my site and re-thinking my "brand" in general. I love blogging and it makes me so sad that it's just not possible right now. However, that's life and I plan on coming back bigger and better (ok, I'm physically planning on coming back smaller. My exercising is paying off!). I hope you all understand and I thank everyone who has stuck with me this long! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So long for now...</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-16731415107935070252013-04-04T14:14:00.002-05:002013-04-04T14:14:59.471-05:00Wine Enthusiast Red Wine Glasses Review<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I received a lovely e-mail a few weeks back from the wonderful folks over at <a href="http://www.wineenthusiast.com/" target="_blank">Wine Enthusiast</a> asking me to review some of their red wine glasses. Of course I happily accepted and received my glasses within the week. They came in a huge box that heavily protected the delicate glasses inside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love the shape of these glasses. The bowl of the glass is nice and big to allow the wine to breathe. Now, I'm not exactly a wine expert or anything, but even I could tell that these glasses enhanced the wine drinking experience. The glass is very thin and light, which scared me a bit a first. I thought I might break them just by looking at them. But, I've been using them for a few weeks now and they're a lot more durable than they seem. I even ran them through the dishwasher with no problem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My husband and I have been drinking a lot of new wines lately and are increasingly becoming more interested in wine-drinking in general (I chalk that up to watching White Collar). Wine Enthusiast has literately everything you'd ever need, including wine racks (with free shipping). With our growing collection of bottles I'll need to order something to store them in. They've got a huge selection for every budget. I'm leaning towards <a href="http://www.wineenthusiast.com/enrico-root-wood-wine-holder.asp" target="_blank">this</a> one.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And how could I try out my new wine glasses without some new wine? I picked out a wine from <a href="http://www.morgancreekwinery.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Morgan Creek Vineyards</a>, which happens to be about an hour south of my house. This is the Vulcan Red and it is wonderful! Vulcan is the god of fire and is associated with Birmingham because of the steel industry that used to be in this area. There's a huge Vulcan statue overlooking the city (more info <a href="http://www.visitvulcan.com/about-vulcan-vulcans-story.html" target="_blank">here</a>). Morgan Creek Vineyards carries a lot of other wines, most of them using muscadine grapes. I'm going to have to try all of them. You know, just to support my local vineyard...</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-60733042095810098782013-03-22T00:42:00.003-05:002013-03-22T00:42:51.227-05:00Eilisain Jewelry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was the lucky winner of these amazing owl talon earrings from <a href="http://www.eilisainjewelry.com/" target="_blank">Eilisain Jewelry</a><span style="font-size: small;">. Needless to say, I absolutely love them. I love birds o<span style="font-size: small;">f prey, so to have some talon earrings is like a dream <span style="font-size: small;">come true</span>! An<span style="font-size: small;">d they are <span style="font-size: small;">so beautifully made. <span style="font-size: small;">Lisette is a<span style="font-size: small;">n extremely <span style="font-size: small;">talented</span></span> artist! She<span style="font-size: small;">'s got a wonderful <a href="http://lisettefee.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a><span style="font-size: small;"> an<span style="font-size: small;">d a mind-blowing <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Eilisain" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a><span style="font-size: small;">. I may have to remind <span style="font-size: small;">some people of that when my 30th birthday rolls around in July (hint, <span style="font-size: small;">hint<span style="font-size: small;">!) <span style="font-size: small;">Definitely</span> check her shop out! I LOVE her rings with the gemstones. <span style="font-size: small;">They're <span style="font-size: small;">gorgeous!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They are the perfect-sized earrings too. Not to big or small and not heavy at all. And they almost look like regular hoops until you really look at them. That means they'll go with any outfit, which means I won't be wearing any other earrings anytime soon! Thank you so much Lisette!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(You might also be thinking, "Karen, why is your second piercing so big and ugly? It looks like a big old mole or something!". That's what happens when you stretch your ears people. It's never normal again.)</span></i></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-75370101617480194292013-03-13T06:30:00.000-05:002013-03-13T06:30:00.767-05:00The Bottletree<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Friday my husband and I went on a little date just to get out of the house. I've been wanting to eat at <a href="http://www.thebottletree.com/" target="_blank">Bottletree</a> for ages, and I can't believe I waited so long. The Bottletree is a vegetarian cafe by day and a music venue by night. I have been to a few shows there but have never tried out their food. If only I knew what I was missing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First off, they have awesome vintage decor. Their velvet painting collection makes me drool every time I see it. They also have a vintage/craft flea market once a month that is awesome. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband rolled his eyes a little when I told him it was a vegetarian place, but they also serve meat, so he got a Thai burger. I got a Thai tofu wrap that was really good. The best thing though was a dish called "Viking Funeral" (best name ever). It's sweet potato fries with their homemade pimento cheese covered in vegetarian chili. This, my friends, is one of the best things I've ever eaten. My husband agrees that next time we go there, we're just going to get a huge order of this and nothing else. It's SO GOOD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And since I haven't done an outfit post in ages, here's a glimpse at my new hair! This is by far my favorite color so far. And yes, it matches my lovely vintage dress! I've been waiting for a lovely spring day to wear this and last weekend was beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you all are having a great week! I'm still trying to adjust to the time change, but I'm SO happy to have some extra daylight. It at least lets me believe that my day is longer, even if it's not really!</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-68817324438255956792013-03-12T06:30:00.000-05:002013-03-12T06:30:01.967-05:00My New Favorite Thing- Running<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be honest...exercise hasn't been a part of my life since my elementary school days. As a teenager, my metabolism was great and I could eat anything and still be skinny (oh the days!). But ever since college I've slowly decreased my physical activity and increased my caloric intake. When the scale hit an all time high this past Christmas I knew I had to make a change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always thought of running as the ultimate exercise. If you can run any number of miles, you're in pretty darn good shape. So I started running intervals in January. When I say I couldn't run 20 feet without getting winded, I'm not exaggerating. I was that out of shape. Over the last 2 months I've slowly increased my running distance (I do a total of 3 miles, 3 times a week). Now I'm to the point where I can run over half of my 3 mile route. I still can't run a whole 1/2 without stopping, but I've improved significantly since I started (intervals are the best thing ever). I use the Nike + app on my phone to track my progress. I told my husband it was like playing a video game because I get achievements. He called me a dork. =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since Christmas I've lost 10 pounds (5 of that was probably just from not eating holiday food). The weight is slow coming off, but that's ok. I'm doing it because it makes me feel good. It's also something I never really thought I could do. Me...a runner? No way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm also running my first 5K (the Color Run) at the end of March in Nashville. It's just giving me something to work towards and hopefully will keep me motivated to do better. Luckily it's not timed and a lot of people just walk it, so I won't embarrass myself too bad! I've finally got my 5K time down to around 40 minutes, which is pretty crappy compared to most runners, but for me it's an accomplishment!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm glad I've stuck with an exercise routine this time. My attempts at getting healthier in the past have failed due to me trying to do too much at once. This time I'm taking the slow and steady route and it's been much better. By the time I turn 30 in July I will definitely be in the best shape of my life and kicking butt!</span><br />
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-89253782883487821172013-03-08T06:30:00.000-06:002013-03-08T06:30:00.954-06:00Food Friday- Aiya Rainy Day Special Mega Beef Bowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came across a Minecraft cake recipe on Pinterest and thought it was just too cute. I clicked on the link and it took me to <a href="http://www.gourmetgaming.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gourmet Gaming</a>. This has to be one of the best food blogs ever. She takes foods from video games and makes real recipes for them. Although I'm sure I'll be making a lot of things from her site, the first one I tried was the <a href="http://www.gourmetgaming.co.uk/post/17289036615/request-persona-4-aiya-rainy-day-special-mega" target="_blank">Aiya Rainy Day Special Mega Beef Bowl </a>from Persona 4. Now, I haven't played any of the Persona games, but my husband has and loves them. This is a special meal in the game that you can literally only get on days that it rains. You have to have a lot of courage and stamina to eat this in the game (and real life too...it's a lot of food!!!). <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Eu0t2E5R4" target="_blank">Here's</a> a link to a scene from the actual game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to give it a try and it is pretty darn tasty. I kept all the ingredients basically the same, but used shitake mushrooms instead of chestnut mushrooms, enoki mushrooms instead of bean sprouts, and Shaghai Bockey instead of Pak Choi. The great thing about this dish is that you can substitute for whatever you have on hand or can find. The Chinese Five Spice gives it a very strong and unique flavor and I might cut back on it a little next time (it actually made it pretty spicy!). All in all it was a wonderful meal that was welcome change from the norm. And we even ate it on a rainy day! I can see why it's specifically for "rainy days" because it is somewhat a comfort food.</span></div>
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<br />The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-50083096207223278852013-03-05T06:30:00.000-06:002013-03-05T06:30:01.039-06:00My New Favorite Thing- Coconut Oil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I'm starting a new series here on the blog called "My New Favorite Thing". I always seem to find new things and get completely obsessed with them for a while before I move on to something else. I'll probably cover a lot of things that are not necessarily new, but just new to my. And I like to share the things I like!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know coconut oil has been popular for a while now and I'm just now hopping on the bandwagon. But seriously, it's the best thing ever. My obsession with coconut oil started with a recipe for homemade deodorant (recipe <a href="http://www.healthextremist.com/coconut-oil-deodorant-homemade-diy/" target="_blank">here</a>). I used the recipe with baking soda and cornstarch. And you might be asking yourself, like my husband did, why in the world would you make your own deodorant? Well, it's bothered me for a while how many chemicals are in beauty products. If you take a look at your store bought deodorants and lotions, they all contain a ton of crap, the worst being aluminum. So I tried out this recipe using coconut oil and I've been using it for a few weeks now. I've put it to the test by running 3 days a week and I can honestly say that it works way <i>better</i> than anything I've ever bought. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With the great success of my deodorant, I looked for more things to make. I used <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/3765/luxurious-homemade-lotion-recipe/" target="_blank">this</a> recipe to make some lotion. I used olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and some of my Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab oil. It turned out great, but I did an extra step and whipped mine using my hand mixer for just a few minutes. I'll admit that it's a little greasy at first, but it does an amazing job (and no chemicals!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've also been using just plain, whipped coconut oil as a facial moisturizer and eye makeup remover. I was worried that it might make me break out, but my skin has never been softer. I have also been using it on my hair and it's done absolute <i>wonders</i> for my dry, damaged locks. I've used it as a masque by saturating it with oil, putting a plastic bag over it and heating it with a blow dry for about 5 minutes, then leaving it on for about another hour before washing as usual. It makes my hair so soft. I also use just a little to help with fly-aways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My next move is to make some lip balm whenever I get all the ingredients. I've wanted to make lip balm for the longest time, so I'm super excited about trying my hand at it. Hopefully it will be successful enough that I can sell a few tubes in my Etsy shop. We'll see though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BTW, if you're wondering why my posts have been so few and far between, it's because I honestly haven't had a lot to say! Schoolwork, fixing up house, and exercising don't make for good blogging material and goodness knows I haven't been getting dresses up much to take any outfit photos. So when something exciting comes along, I'll be sure to share, but for now I'll just be blogging when I can!</span></div>
The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-65040824504482457762013-02-22T06:30:00.000-06:002013-02-22T06:30:00.954-06:00Food Friday- Japanese Sticky Rice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a blog post today! I know, it's amazing. I've been wanting to do this for a long time but just haven't gotten around to it. Today I'm going to share with you how to make Japanese sticky rice. If you haven't had it before, it's nothing like the minute rice you get out of the box. First, you need to get the right rice. Real Japanese rice is japonica and it's sometimes referred to as sushi rice. Now, you can use that, but when you see the price tag for a small container you may be put off. I like to use Botan rice. I assume you can get it just about anywhere because I get mine at Wal-Mart (around $6 for this large bag). It's extra fancy...it says so right on the package.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now that you've got your rice, you need to wash it. Yes, wash it. You'll want to put 1 1/2 cups of rice into a large pot and put it in the sink. Slowly run some lukewarm water into the pot. While the water is running, swish the rice in your hands like you are polishing rocks or pebbles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let the pot fill up about half way with water. This is what you have left. See how milky the water is? You can drain out the water and repeat the process again, but it's not really necessary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drain the rice in a strainer and let it sit there for 30 minutes. Don't skip this part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After your rice has drained, put it back into your pot and add 2 cups of water. Cover it with a lid and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. You can let it sit for up to 3 hours, but you'll get the same results either way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, here's where you have to follow close instructions! Leave the lid on your pot and don't remove it until I say to. Put your pot on the stove and turn it on high for 1 minute. I know the pot won't get very hot in that 1 minute, but it doesn't need to. After 1 minute, turn the heat down to medium and cook for 4 minutes. Then, turn the heat down to low and cook for 10 minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the 10 minutes are up you now have permission to remove the lid. Take the pot off the heat and cover it with a towel or dish cloth. Let it sit for another 10 minutes. Don't stir the rice until the process is complete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now you have sticky rice! And it's really sticky. I like to serve mine with any kind of curry. This is also the base recipe for making sushi rice, but I like to leave my sushi to the professionals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can also make onigiri or rice balls using the sticky rice. Grab a small bowl and fill with warm water. Add some salt and dip your hands in it. Scoop out a handful of rice and form into a ball. You'll understand why you need to salt water. It really helps to keep your hand from being completely covered in rice. The great thing about onigiri is you can shape it in many ways. You can use cookie cutters to mold it into different shapes or do the traditional triangle shape with a little strip of nori at the bottom. It's a perfect snack or accompaniment for lunch boxes.</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-11053055802753502652013-02-04T06:30:00.000-06:002013-02-04T06:30:02.776-06:00What I Wore- Snow Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outfit:</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cowl: Made by me</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cardigan: Target</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shirt: So old I don't remember</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Skirt: Vintage thrifted</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boots: JCP</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well hey there y'all! I'm still alive! I have a few good excuses for not posting for such a long time. First of all, I've been super sick for about a week. Not fun. Secondly, I feel like I've bit off more than I can chew this semester with school, so that's definitely taking priority in my life. All I can think about is that it will be over soon. I may not be blogging as much as I'd like (or at all some weeks), but I've gotta do what I've gotta do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyways, enough with the excuses. It snowed a few weeks back and I took advantage of the rare opportunity to take pictures in it. My little Blaze was very interested in watching the snow but didn't really want to go out in it. I love it. I'm pretty sure I could move to Alaska and be perfectly happy. I'd rather deal with freezing weather than the 100+ degree humid crap I deal with in Alabama for 75% of the year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well I hope everyone is doing well and I appreciate everyone not completely giving up on me. I haven't had a lot of time to read blogs lately either, but I try to sneak a few in when I can. Have a great week!!!</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-58978750628032860562013-01-17T06:30:00.000-06:002013-01-17T06:30:00.802-06:00Life Lately!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know, I haven't blogged in a week. Wasn't I just going on about how I was going to manage my time better? Well, I guess I have been, but I've been doing other things. Of course school started last week and this semester is going to be so much fun (note the sarcasm...). I've also been doing a lot of things to get our house ready to put on the market. I've been painting doors and furniture, doing a bit of redecorating, and packing some things up. I've also started running (ok, so I can really only jog about 1/4 of a mile, but I have to start somewhere). I signed up for my first 5K that's at the end of March, so I actually have a goal that I'm working towards. Anyways, my blog and Etsy shop have been put on the back burner the last few weeks, but I'm hoping to start fresh next week. We'll see if I can actually follow through with that...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've had this Fiona Apple song stuck in my head for about a week now. Tidal is up there in my top 5 favorite albums of all time, but her work since then has just not been quite the same. This song reminds me of her original work and I love it! Not to mention that I feel like I have a fight with my brain every night too.</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-17045991666794175362013-01-10T21:42:00.001-06:002013-01-10T21:42:14.570-06:00Thrifty Thursday- #13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Half finished quilt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Bird measuring cups</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. 1970s sewing machine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Curtains</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Office chair</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Story of my life</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Awesome unicorn mug</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's Thrifty Thursday is a little different. I didn't actually thrift any of these items, but rather obtained them from my husband's grandmother's house. She passed away about 2 years ago and they are trying to sell the house. It's a long story, but we were entitled to receive some of the items from the house. Of course, she had some pretty awesome stuff. What I've shown isn't even the half of it. She had all kinds of antique furniture, scraps of vintage fabric, dishes, books, record players, ect... Needless to say I was more than willing to help them clean out the house. We've made two trips up there and we still need to make another! Unfortunately we've had about 4 estates to go through in the last 2 years, which means we are beginning to look like hoarders (ok, it's mostly my fault!), but I'm not passing up anything vintage! Especially when it belonged to either of our families. I'll have to show you the rest of the items I get when we make our next trip!</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-44224142807553786182013-01-09T18:14:00.001-06:002013-01-09T18:14:12.362-06:00No More Buying Textbooks!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you all know I'm in the middle of grad school. Last semester was my first one so I bit the bullet and ordered my books from Amazon. Even at the used price I ended up paying well over $500 for just 4 books. And when I tried to sell them back I got a whooping $60!!! This semester I said no way to paying those prices. Luckily my friend Baylee posted about <a href="http://www.campusbookrentals.com/" target="_blank">Campus Book Rentals</a>. I looked up the books I needed for the Spring semester and I'll be saving well over $100 <i>per book</i>. And renting textbooks is so much better than buying because let's face it, you're not ever going to use that economics book again. You can also highlight in the books and choose how long you want to rent it. They also pay for the shipping each way. If you're like me and are just finding out about this and already have a bunch of textbooks, you can also rent them out yourself through <a href="http://rentback.com/">RentBack.com</a>. You get paid every time they rent the book out! As if that wasn't enough, they also donate a portion of every book rented to <a href="http://www.rentback.com/difference.html" target="_blank">Operation Smile</a>, which performs life-changing cleft-lip surgeries on children whose families could not otherwise afford it. So not only are you saving yourself a ton of money by renting, you're also helping others. Everyone wins! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's a video on how their rentals work. I can't imagine the money I would have saved when I got my undergrad if I had used a program like this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(Although I was compensated for this post, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">th<span style="font-size: xx-small;">e opinions expressed are my own. Campus Book Re<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ntals <span style="font-size: xx-small;">is a fantastic <span style="font-size: xx-small;">company all around)</span></span></span></span></span></i></span> </div>
The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-76736598263233026022013-01-07T06:30:00.000-06:002013-01-07T06:30:02.241-06:00Mori Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (<a href="http://favim.com/image/53993/" target="_blank">sour</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://favim.com/image/53993/" target="_blank">ce</a>)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've said it many times, but I'm a huge fan of just about everything Japanese. The fashion is no exclusion. To them, fashion is much more about expressing yourself rather than just trying to look good. You've probably all heard of Lolita fashion, but I love what's called Mori. Mori actually means forest in Japanese, so "Mori-girl" literally translates to forest girl. It doesn't mean you look like you've been lost in a forest for a year (no flannel or hiking boots here). It's more like romantic fairy tale fashion. Lots of airy fabric, layers, and lace. It also has a vintage feel to it and I think that's what initially drew me to it. It's all about being natural and lovely. One of the best sources for all things Mori is <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?blog=1480770&link=aHR0cDovL29oeWVhaG1vcmlnaXJsLnR1bWJsci5jb20vcGFnZS8y" target="_blank">OhYeahMoriGirl</a>. They have ideas on everything from Mori fashion to home decor to just plain beautiful pictures of nature. It's such a lovely fashion that anyone can pull off.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (<a href="http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/mori%20fashion" target="_blank">sour</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/mori%20fashion" target="_blank">ce</a>)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (<a href="http://misslaurabell.tumblr.com/post/19725742011" target="_blank">source</a>)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://monmonmori.tumblr.com/post/31399059773" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://i.imgur.com/MKg5p.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://monmonmori.tumblr.com/post/31399059773" target="_blank">source</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://nighttattoo.tumblr.com/post/17556407455" target="_blank">source</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://tsunderrorist.tumblr.com/post/21553369849" target="_blank">s</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://tsunderrorist.tumblr.com/post/21553369849" target="_blank">ource</a>)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://sylvandoll.tumblr.com/post/19619305791" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?blog=1480770&link=aHR0cDovL29oeWVhaG1vcmlnaXJsLnR1bWJsci5jb20vcGFnZS8y" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/RMO1z.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?blog=1480770&link=aHR0cDovL29oeWVhaG1vcmlnaXJsLnR1bWJsci5jb20vcGFnZS8y" target="_blank">source</a>)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://nekolady.tumblr.com/post/21554586176" target="_blank">sou</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://nekolady.tumblr.com/post/21554586176" target="_blank">rce</a>)</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://streetsnapfashion.tumblr.com/post/18484727224" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/KUvMf.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://streetsnapfashion.tumblr.com/post/18484727224" target="_blank">source</a>)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://fuckyeahrunwayhair.tumblr.com/post/21234248713" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/9ZUQA.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://fuckyeahrunwayhair.tumblr.com/post/21234248713" target="_blank">source</a>)</span></span></div>
The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-23090920220507223662013-01-04T06:30:00.000-06:002013-01-04T06:30:04.044-06:00Chibi Maker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well I managed to waste over an hour playing around with this, but it's just too cute! The <a href="http://gen8.deviantart.com/art/Chibi-Maker-346025144" target="_blank">Chibi Maker</a> was just about too entertaining. Here's a few that I came up with, but I suggest that you check it out yourself. (Thanks to my friend Robin for sharing!)</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743011128593292535.post-87085695209366045382013-01-03T06:30:00.000-06:002013-01-03T06:30:02.035-06:00Taking Time Out For Beauty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/vintage%20beauty%20ad" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/82a9B.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I always thought that your 20s is that period of time where you become a lady and relish in your youthfulness. That may be the case for some, but not me. The only thing I've done for my appearance in the last 10 years has been to change my hair color about 20 times and gain about 30 pounds. Not exactly ideal. And not having a job to get up and get dressed for everyday has been nice, but it hasn't exactly motivated me to care about how I look. I've decided this is something I need to work on. Here's what I've been doing and what I'm going to do to make myself feel more like a woman and less like the sweatpants-wearing college student that I'm regressing back to...</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I got about 3 inches cut off my hair and it's fantastic. I enjoyed having brightly colored hair for a while, but it caused some major damage. Cutting most of it off has made a huge difference. And no more bleaching for me. Luckily I discovered that <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.sallybeauty.com/red-hilights/LOREAL36,default,pd.html?cgid=Hair05" target="_blank">L'Oreal Excellence HiColor</a> </span></span>will lighten my dark roots just as well as a bleaching without the damage.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've finally mastered straightening my hair with a brush and a blow dryer. You all have no idea how happy I am about this. I've had naturally curly hair for years and hated it, but I came to enjoy it by the time I got in my mid-twenties. Well, when you bleach your hair it stretches the hair making it a frizzy mess. Which means my days of curly hair were gone. But thanks to a great stylist and a bristled-brush, I'm now on my way to a lovely head of hair. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been doing the P90X stretching video everyday. You're probably asking yourself- why I don't just do the whole routine? Have you tried to do those things? Even the yoga one is way out of my league right now. The stretching video is so awesome. It works every muscle and I feel great at the end. I'll work my way up to those other ones.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've got to get some contacts. Don't get me wrong, I love my glasses. But they make me feel like a full time dork and I want to have the option of not wearing them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm going to put on my big girl panties and start wearing lipstick once in a while. I've always felt like it makes me look like a kid who just ate a popsicle, but I'm trying to get past that.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Honestly, I know all of this sounds a little vain, but I think I've been stuck in the opposite direction for so long that I could use a little vanity. No more going out in sweatpants and no makeup (yes...I do that. A lot.). I'm not going to start wearing heals to the grocery store or anything, but it won't kill me to put a little more effort into my appearance. I have a feeling that making just small changes in my daily routine will give me a much needed confidence boost. What do you all do to make yourself feel that extra bit of pretty?</span></div>
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The Quiet Owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702953412083622090noreply@blogger.com5