a few things to refresh the palace.

After moving in a year and a half ago - I have been trying to do some slow room by room upgrades. It has been a long process but things are really coming together and it seems like the littlest things make a big impact. Here is a short list of recent additions --

1. new bathmat & hand towels in silver sage (middle)

1. new bathmat and hand towels in the bathroom from Restoration Hardware - in silver sage. Good lord - Restoration Hardware can be absurdly overpriced for super everyday stuff but they really do have some great colors...

We also purchased a print of a silly old-timey boxer to hang in the bathroom. The new towels and the print - along with a recent paint refresh from bright white to light gray (aka bog) were just enough to give the room the chill but quirky spa look I was hoping for.

2. velvet pillows from Anna Maria Horner

2. Blue velvet pillows for the living room couch to go with the "new to us" yellow mosaic rug. The pillows were from Anna Maria Horner whose work (fabric design, fab blog, awesome sewing books, etc. etc. ) I adore. The blue and green in the pillows are a great off set to the yellow in the rug. Did I mention they are velvet?? So soft and a fun addition of texture to our standard mocha micro suede couch.

3. San Francisco is for carnivores print

3. This absolutely ridiculous but amazing print (ours is framed) that I purchased at the annual San Francisco craft fair Bazaar Bizarre. It break down the neighborhoods of San Francisco into different parts of a pig. We currently live between the ear and back fat. Our kitchen really was not complete until this gem was in place.

I also framed a pair of photos of Adam and me as children. In mine - I'm about 3 or 4 years old and have on a pair of fake glasses with a giant nose and mustache attached. In Adam's (taken the same year) he is wearing a cowboy outfit over a superhero t-shirt. The silliness and off-beat sense of humor started early for both of us.

Cheers.
B.L.E. 

The newest - cutest - member of the Elasticsandwich household. Meet Biscuit.

One of the 10,000 reasons why we moved (eventually I will write a post about the new house - be patient) is because we were desperate to expand our family. Unfortunately for my mom and my in-laws by "expand our family" I mean purchase a dog not produce a grandchild.

After months and years of waiting and weeks of researching breeders we took a looooong drive out to Manteca to bring home our new love. We spent 2 hours playing with all the puppies but Biscuit was a shoo-in the minute he got all kissy with Adam. Little puppy knew how to turn on the charm.

In the car ride home Biscuit went right to sleep in my arms with his little snoot cuddled up in my elbow. It was heart melting. Then he let out the kind of silent farts you expect from a 21 year old frat boy - this 5 pound beast had paint peeling GAS. It was with those little toots that we knew he would fit right into our lives perfectly.

In case you couldn't tell Biscuit is a french bulldog. All ears - no tail. We knew we wanted a dog that fit our lives and once we were honest about our true lifestyle it was french bulldog or bust. Let's call a spade a spade - the husband and I are not wild adventurers - we don't need a feisty black lab that wants to go camping and hiking and take endless walks on the beach. We wanted a dog that was cool with a casual trot around the neighborhood, a furry child to take to work and someone to talk with while making dinner.

Frenchies don't really need to be exercised. If it's raining - that's cool - he'll get his business done quick - he doesn't want to be outside either. This is the dog that wants to be with you - whatever you are doing - he's game. Close all the time. Honestly - watch your feet when you back up because most likely he is sitting right there. And Biscuit is way more up for a movie marathon on Saturday than a hike through the Marin Headlands. Thank goodness!

Biscuit is great for cuddling (not on the bed - he is crate trained) and good for blaming things on. Rip a fart? It was the dog. Forget to take out the trash or put away the laundry? Oh oh Biscuit really needed to go out. Don't really feel like staying late? Gotta go home and feed the dog. Snore a little too loud? Yup - it was Biscuit all along.

One more plus - he is also super cool with being dressed up in clothes. In fact - he needs them to stay warm. There is nothing I love more than an animal dressed up in people clothes.

He was 8 weeks old and weighed 5 pounds when we got him and is currently 4 months old and 8 pounds. When he is full grown he will be 20-25 pounds. Oh and yes - Martha Stewart does have two french bulldogs - and they have a blog. That tens of thousands of people read. Biscuit is not at all jealous. He does not need a life of fame and wealth to be happy.


B.L.E.

ps - All these photos were taken with my iphone - not bad eh? They were also taken in or around our new house - just to give you a little glimpse of where we are living now.