Category Archives: rae’s thoughts

26

cake

I turn 26 today. That is my actual birthday cheesecake that my family got to celebrate with me while we were on vacation. This year has been wonderful. I feel like I’ve grown a lot this year and I’m so happy with where it’s taken me. I am comfortable and happy with who I am. And I stay that way as long as I don’t start comparing my life to everyone else’s on Facebook. (As a result, I hardly ever look at my newsfeed, so please tell me things in real life if you want me to know them.)

But that’s not the point. Staying in the moment and enjoying the process of getting where you’re going has been the point for me this year. Some things I’ve learned:

  1. The Wire, Buffy, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Sopranos later, I realized I have spent hundreds of hours watching television shows. And I love it. Battlestar Galactica and Deadwood are next.
  2. Make lists. Make ten thousand. Don’t be afraid to write things down you’ve already done so you can cross them off.
  3. This year has been the happiest year of my life (well, at least in the top 3).
  4. Surround yourself with beautiful things and beautiful people. Remember that the things don’t matter, but the people do.
  5. Get rid of clutter. In your knickknacks, in relationships, in the words you use in emails.
  6. Go to book club. You’ll like it.
  7. If it almost fits, do yourself a favor and don’t buy it. (I’m pretty sure I listed this before. It takes time to sink in.)
  8. I have experienced a lot of niceness on the Internet, even though I know there’s a lot of meanness out there. And I’m grateful for that.
  9. #fatcat is better than your cat. Sorry I’m not sorry.
  10. Drink more water.
  11. Did you guys know on an iPhone you can text gifs? I find this hilarious.
  12. I really don’t care how anyone pronounces “gif.”
  13. Accept that you will never be a morning person.
  14. Invest in a good dry shampoo (right now I’m using Oscar Blandi).
  15. I used to be too cool for high SPF. I have thankfully changed my ways.
  16. Being a maid of honor is super fun. But maybe just because the bride is one of my favorite people on the planet.
  17. Project life has been a really fun way to document the greatness of 2013 so far. I’d like to keep it up.
  18. I have a thing for avocados.
  19. I’ve been trying to keep a good attitude. Sometimes I am still a brat. I need to keep working on this one.
  20. I am so, so thankful for my family. They are fun, supportive, lovely people and we are growing by one this year!
  21. Ask for what you want. I have been consistently surprised at how often this works out.
  22. My friends are the best. Like, the best. I know this because I was nervous about planning a bachelorette weekend and each one of them told me I was a good planner in a subtle but coordinated kindness attack. I appreciate that and I appreciate you guys.
  23. I will never get the number of things I’ve learned to match up with how many years I am turning. See last year’s list here.

 

end of the month review: may

May is over. May was wonderful. I completed one of my goals for the year. I spent an amazing weekend celebrating a bride-to-be. I am so happy and so excited that it’s summer.

The year is just about half way over. I can’t believe how fast it’s going. I also can’t believe how happy I am. Ka is a wheel, and I know there’s ups and downs, but I am grateful for this big up.

The top posts of the month were:

Some snapshots from the month (remember you can follow me on instagram at raenudson):

fatcat

carry

Continue reading “end of the month review: may”

february

February is a short month, but that doesn’t mean it lacked excitement. I started an embroidery project, went back to my office, and got to visit one of my very best friends!

The top five posts with the most views in February were

Some snapshots from the month.rosesnailscoffeechiliscards

Don’t forget there’s one month left to read Middlesex for family book club. Now on to the next one!

january

I irrationally feel like this year is already flying by. I’m planning super fun trips and summer vacations and fall weddings (not mine). I am so excited to get to all these things, but I’m afraid that it will go too fast. January is already over!

The top-viewed posts in January were:

  1. 10 goals for 2013. So far, I’ve made progress on at least a few!
  2. company. Some of my favorite details around my apartment.
  3. new year, new polka dot blouse. An outfit post. I love this shirt.
  4. on writing (and editing). I talk about one of my favorite books on the craft.
  5. twin peaks. I’m still watching this show. It’s still weird and still beautiful.

It’s been pretty wintery around here lately, but #fatcat and I are trying to stay cheerful. Like with a good nap, a cup of tea, or stopping to view a brightly colored dinosaur while on a neighborhood walk. Some snapshots from the month (I’m on instagram as raenudson):

fatcat

airport

teapot

screen

dino

It was a good month! Now onto the next.

10 goals for 2013

New Year’s resolutions are so intimidating. You’re supposed to make a list of things to do the whole year automatically be a better person!? Whoa. Let’s just, whoa.

fatcat

#fatcat is exhausted just thinking about it. So these are not resolutions. These are more like guidelines. Goals to help me focus, but nothing to stress over.

  1. Get my apartment ready and enter Apartment Therapy‘s Small Cool Spaces contest. I did this a few years ago with my old studio, and it’s one of my favorite things to look at on the whole internet. I look forward to seeing it every year.
  2. Focus on book-inspired crafts and outfit ideas. I did that a little bit more this year (here and here, for example), but I want to incorporate more of my reading into these posts.
  3. Read more than I did in 2012. I’m obsessed with Goodreads‘ book stats. It tracks how many books–and even how many pages–you read over the year.
  4. Continue exploring my personal style and sharing it here.
  5. Learn to crochet. I’ve been wanting to learn to crochet for a long time, so it’s past time to make it happen.
  6. Host a dinner party. I have the space now, and I’d really like to have friends over more often to share my home and have fun. I’ve just signed up for How To Plan A Better Party at the Brooklyn Brainery, so I’m on my way! Sign up if you want to take it with me!
  7. Host an online book club. I really love the idea of reading a book and opening it up for discussion here. Any books you want to read? Let me know!
  8. Plan to host a real life event. I also love the idea of hosting a real life event somewhere. I’d like to make a concrete plan of action before the end of the year and see what/when something could be possible.
  9. Start a thankful list. I’ve read a lot about how stopping to note what you’re thankful for can help set the tone for your day and improve your mood and happiness. Plus it just sounds like a good idea.
  10. Create some weekly features. For consistency and fun and consistent fun!

Whelp, there we have it. Any suggestions? LET’S DO THIS 2013.

top 12 posts of 2012

I love this time of year so much. I love the decorations and the parties and the holiday cards and seeing my family and friends. I love Christmas trees. One year I left my little Christmas tree up until April and made it into an Easter tree. My wonderful roommates didn’t kick me out of the apartment that year, and for that I am grateful.

It’s also a great time to take a look back on the year and set some goals for the new year that’s coming. Here’s the top 12, most viewed posts from Rae’s Days this year, counting down to the most viewed post.

  • 12.  (plans for) a home sweet home. I listed and schemed and loved doing this post because it helped me realize some goals for making my home my perfect escape.

plans for a home sweet home

  • 11. art. I ended up going with something else for my wall, but I am keeping this wall art in my back pocket to hopefully use somewhere else.
  • 10. polka dot. One of my favorite day-to-night posts. My hair used to be so long!
  • 9. christmas dinner keepsake. A really fun craft for my imaginary dinner party that I’m dying to host.

place setting

  • 8. a very mizzou weekend. A collage of the best weekend ever!
  • 7. yellow. A  work look with one of my favorite skirts.
  • 6. two weeks after. I moved this year! It was traumatic. Just kidding, it ended up being awesome, and this post checked in two weeks after moving day.
  • 5. dress up. Another work look with that yellow skirt. I sure got a lot of mileage out of that.
  • 4. ok, well. Yellow skirt again! See what I mean?
  • 3. on new york. This was my favorite post to do, probably ever. I loved writing it, and the responses were so great. I got to talk to so many people about New York and about creating their lives where they live.
  • 2. let’s share a cup. Coffee cups based on quotes from your favorite books combines three of my favorite things: crafting, coffee, and books!

quotecups

  • 1. my promise to women. The number one most-viewed post of the year is my promise to women. In my promise, I defend fun, simple pleasures and promise to support other women in reaching their goals–whatever they may be.

Thanks for reading this year! It’s been a blast.

november

Can you believe tomorrow is Dec. 1? Me neither. Roughly three weeks until Christmas and I feel way behind on cards and presents and just about everything. But before we leave November, take some time to check out the top posts this month.

And some November snapshots (I’m on instagram at raenudson)

cisco cat

 

christmas treehoundstooth jacketdiy jewelry displayvotingplate setting

I can’t wait to show you guys what did end up going on that wall I talk about in art. And today I’m getting my hair done, so come December I’ll have a whole new look. Other things I’d like to do in December, besides booze with my friends and family:

  • finish up reading more books than I did last year, and talk about them with you
  • share more of my slowly coming together apartment
  • keep dressing up, even though I’m working from home for a while (it is the month for holiday parties, after all)
  • look into some holiday craft/gift ideas

Let’s do this.

thankful

Yesterday was full of travel and family and food, so I’m a day behind on this, but here is what I’m Thankful for this year.

  • #fatcat. Cisco had a home with my brother before he came to stay with me two years ago, and he has brought so much joy and love into my home. Plus, he’s hilarious. And fat.

  • my family. We aren’t all near each other all the time, but a few years ago we started setting a week aside each year to get together for family vacation. I love, love, love this time I get to spend with everyone and that I get to play with my nephews all week. I am so excited we will all be together over Christmas this year. 
  • my friends. I have the most amazing friends in the world, and I couldn’t have made it this far in New York or in my life without them. They support my dreams, read this blog, talk celebrity gossip, see silly movies with me, keep me company on gchat, and travel halfway across the country to hang out with me. I love you guys, seriously. And this year, one of my oldest and best friends moved to the city to start a new chapter in her life. So I can see her all the time!
  • my apartment. I moved recently and unexpectedly. Even just thinking about moving sends me into an anxiety tailspin. But thanks to my friend Laura who kept me company on moving day and kept me sane on all the other days, I am making a home in a new place and having tons of fun doing it.
  • reading. I have a family full of bookworms. As you can see by my childhood books they still have in the basement, they have been encouraging reading all my life. And even now, when I have a new interest or dream, they give me a book about it. They always make time to talk books, and I make a living by reading and editing. I’m very grateful for that. (photo from my parents)

  • my sewing machine. My mom gave me her sewing machine a few years ago, and it’s opened me up to create things by hand. I can pass the time making beautiful (or, well, average) things, it stretches a new part of my brain, and I’m really proud of the things I’ve tried over the past few years.
  • this blog. By sharing some of my life with you, Internet, I’ve gotten more comfortable with myself and more confident in life. It’s been a blast to find people with similar interests and to chat about the things I’m doing. Sometimes I feel like an idiot for putting it all out there, but that feeling gives way to fun 99% of the time. And thank you, for reading.

But most of all, I’m thankful not to be out in Black Friday, right now. Instead I’m sitting in my parents’ kitchen as my dad makes lunch. Life is pretty good, yes?

crafty

things I’d like to be:

  • a morning person
  • a runner
  • a good bug squisher
  • buffy-level badass
  • an excellent detective
  • someone who winters on a tropical island

things I am:

  • definitely not a morning person
  • a yoga do-er when i feel like it
  • super grossed out and scared of bugs
  • not really a night owl either
  • kind of crafty

And I guess the things I am are ok, too. And it’s the being kind of crafty that led to this project that was really fun! Remember this picture frame/jewelry holder I saw before? That was my inspiration. I just made it more me.

I started with a giant hot pink picture frame I’ve been carrying from apartment to apartment because I knew it would be good for something even though it’s pretty heavy and difficult to hang because I rent.

And then I got out the paint that I used on my wall in my old place. Yes, I carried that with me to my new apartment, too. It’s a really good color (it’s Disney’s paint called Star Command Blue in an eggshell)

My favorite part of this whole process was stirring the paint. Look how cool the purple and blue swirls are! And then it magically turned the blue I knew so well.

And I started painting. Now, I’m not the best painter, I’ll admit it. Luckily this paint is pretty thick and it only took two coats. Also, I didn’t sand or prep this frame in any way, and that most likely would have made it work a lot better. But I had limited time and no prep materials, so I made do.

I did one coat. And then another. Some tiny pink still shows few in a few places after I was done, but that gives it character, right? This was after the first coat.

And then I found my ribbons and my hot glue gun and got to gluing. And then I ran out of each color of ribbon, which is why my design is so…unique. But that gives it even more character, right? Then all that’s left to do is add my jewelry to my new jewelry display holder.

One ribbon did come down last night, so I’ll reglue it and add some reinforcements maybe in the form of a nail or tack. But I just love the final product! I’ve been putting off decorating my room because company usually doesn’t see it, but this is a really great start that makes me excited to do more.

(plans for) a home sweet home

I’ve been talking more about my apartment lately, and that’s because I’ve been dressing up less and spending more time at home (blame Hurricane Sandy, I sure do). But I have big plans, you guys. BIG PLANS. Unfortunately, big plans cost big bucks, and I’m just not sure how to work this all into my budget.

Here’s a few shots of my kitchen and living rooms. (My bedroom is still too undone)

Here’s what I’d like to do:

for the living room/kitchen

  • get a cowhide rug for the living room, poking out from under the couch [$199]
  • buy (or make!) some giant, round crocheted round rugs for under the table and desk [$804 for total yarn, hopefully less to buy two rugs]
  • find a cool umbrella stand for next to my front door [?]
  • place a tiny table or shelf on the wall next to my front door, and maybe a home sweet home artwork or something of the sort [?]
  • print this gunslinger-inspired print for above my bookshelf [$30?]
  • buy and paint some crown molding to frame my full length mirrors [$20?]
  • get a chair for my kitchen table [$79.99]
  • and some folding chairs for guests [$67.96]
  • get more magnets to keep putting photo on my fridge/front door [$10]

for the bedroom

  • this handy craft to make a jewelry holder (i already have the frame) [free]
  • I’ve fallen in love with this duvet cover [$129]
  • paint screens to use as a headboard [maybe free, maybe about $30]
  • yet another round rug for next to the bed [?]

So, for my dream apartment so far, the grand total of things I still would like to get would be $1,369.95. Not including tax. Without the $800 rugs I am obviously not getting but including an estimate for real rugs, it is $765.95.

Oof. This will take some time. In the meantime, I’d like to make some purchases and keep shopping around. I’ll keep you posted.