I LOVE MY MOM AND DAD

Meet my parents. They are probably the most hard-working people I know. When Nate and I asked for their help with our backyard landscaping I knew I could count on them to work hard and keep us motivated right to the end. And they sure pulled through.
After six hours of digging and picking and shoveling, we planted 11 trees and about 40 bushes. That's over 5o holes dug! I'll post photos of the yard later.

Thanks Mom and Dad! I think we'll dedicate our backyard to you

EASY JOBS

I'm an anxious person. Some of my earliest memories are of little me, processing anxiety and worry with such bravery. So, I actually think it's quite comical that, of all the jobs I could possibly go out and get for myself, I tend to pick stressful employment. I'm not talking about just one job, I'm talking about a career trend. A typical day at work usually includes: aggressive deadlines, last-minute decisions, last-minute changes to decisions, trying to creatively solve horrendous problems, figuring out how to do something for nothing, running the stairs in heels, scrambling to make phone calls, waiting for people to call me back...the list could go on.
Nate and I have been creating a list of easy-going, non-stressful jobs I might consider if the pay was right.

1. dog walker
2. dog pedicurist
3. dog shampooer
4. bra fitter
5. lip gloss tester
6. new born baby namer
7. non-professional sudoku player
8. apple orchard curator {I've always wanted to be the curator of something}
   

I'd love to hear some additional easy-job ideas. So far, my ideas don't sound like big wage earners. But wouldn't it be nice...

FIVE THINGS

Photo from Ebby's photostream

My sister-in-Laws Dayna, Emma, and Tegan all tagged me to answer these questions. I found the first one particularly hard. I mean...ten years is a long time to recall.

Five Things I was doing 10 years ago:

• Living in Chicago (Lincoln Park) and loving it
• Packing up to move to Montana all in the name of love
• Hobbling around in a walking cast with a broken foot
• Working at my first job in advertising
• Getting engaged to someone who I never married

Five things on my To-Do List today:

• Go to the gym
• I’ve got five meetings at work
• Watch new episodes of The Office and 30 Rock
• Laundry
• Go to bed early

Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:

• Quit my job and become a much respected philanthropist
• Furnish my home and pay outstanding bills
• Take six months with Nate and travel the world
• Take my family to Europe on a lavish vacation
• Get weekly facials and do pilates with a personal trainer

Five things I'll never wear again:

• Overalls
• An “A” or “B” cup bra
• Never say never
• Never say never
• Never say never

Five favorite toys:

• Laptop
• iPod
• My brain
• Beauty products and makeup
• Rice cooker and my steamer

Five people to tag:

• I don't know anyone who likes to be tagged. I'm scared of hate mail.

QUICK! BEFORE SHE MELTS

TravelZoo has a marvelous offer for the spontaneous of heart {eh hem}. Do you wanna see the Antarctica before it melts away and floods all the coastal cities on earth {like I needed one more thing to worry about Al Gore}? I want to see it. The glaciers. The aqua waters. The penguins. TravelZoo claims that other trips to antarctica are upwards of $5,000 so at $1799, this 15 night cruise is a steal.
Okay, so I can't go. I've got to worry about landscaping my own little corner of the universe and that happens to cost even more then a trip for two. But go! Someone! Please. I want to know what the air smells like there. And what antarctica seafood tastes like.

I keep thinking about the conversations I'd have after Christmas break.
Them: "Hi Tonia. How was your Christmas?"
Me: "It was great. Great AND cold."
Them: "Yeah, wasn't the average Utah temperature 32 degrees?"
Me: "I think so. But that's balmy in Antarctica, which happens to be where I've been for the last two weeks."
Them: "Antarctica? Huh. Nice tan."
Me: "Thanks."

How fun is that conversation? I want to have it; desperately.

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL

Can't wait for Lars and the Real Girl to come out this weekend. Totally feels Sundance Festival Indie but released in mainstream theaters. You can bet Nate and I will be sitting in some theater somewhere this weekend, drinking our smuggled drinks and eating our smuggled snacks, in cinematic heaven.

SOWA'S PIG

I've mentioned before that I really like the whimsy of Michael Sowa's work. I especially love this rebel pig jumping into a lake. I just cracks me up.

I BELONG IN PARIS

But I'm pretty sure I knew that already.

You Belong in Paris

Stylish and expressive, you were meant for Paris. The art, the fashion, the wine! Whether you're enjoying the cafe life or a beautiful park... You'll love living in the most chic place on earth.

What City Do You Belong In?

OFFICE COLLAR

I fear for the future in ways I'm not even aware of yet. Luckily these office collars were created {in response to the open office environment where no walls or divisions exist between employees}, as more of a social statement and less "for reals". But, the designer is taking onesy-twosy orders if you are interested. Personally, I'd rather have a boring, carpeted cubical wall wrapped around my view of the world then a white leather funnel collar.

HBO VOYEUR

I saw this and became fascinated. Such an interesting concept to put the viewer in an uncomfortable yet impossible-to-ignore situation. To be a voyeur. To be undetected.

CB2: LOVE THE WEBSITE

My good friend Curtis is in charge of the art direction for the CB2 catalog and the photography used on the website. I happen to like the campaign they are currently running on their website. Fun headlines like "Make Love, Not Beds" and "Stand for Justice, Sit for Everything Else". So, so cute! The illustrations remind me of those done by Maria Kalman for the illustrated version of Strunk and White's Elements of Style.
Love you Curtis!

HOLY SHARK!

Subtitle: Ruth, I can't stop thinking about the shark behind the scuba divers.

I've been afraid of sharks since I can remember {see here and here}. What I felt watching Jaws for the first time is unexplainable. Even with my mom noting, "it's not real blood, it's ketchup." I absolutely didn't care if it was ketchup or not, it was scary and haunting and inescapable.
So, now, I'm 36. And I'm just as scared of sharks as I was circa 1977 all curled up on the couch, feeling every bite, hearing every scream, watching all the ketchup spill into the ocean. Did it help when the family went to Disney Land and my sister Kathy almost fell in the water {and into the looming open jaws of a mechanical great white shark} during the shark ride? No. It did not. Did it help when I watched Jaws 2 and Jaws 3? Nope. What about when I saw Open Water or the years and years of shark weeks I've watched on the Discovery Channel? Uh uh.
And then came the internet and all the hoax photos that come as a result of photoshop and anonymity.
So, without further adieu, I've decided to share a few of the most horrific shark photos floating around the internet. If you are afraid of shark, this will scar you for life. I promise.

This photo is real, but the surfer "claims" it's a dolphin and not a shark.













This one is totally fake but it may prevent me from EVER putting my scuba license to good use.













This one is totally fake. Thank goodness.















While you might find yourself wishing this one was also a fake, it's not. It's a real photo from a south african magazine.













If you have any unbelievable, super scary shark photos...please share. I'd love/hate to see them.

LAST NIGHT: SCARY. LIKE HALLOWEEN SCARY

Nate missed his flight yesterday. Something about the toll roads being really busy at rush hour. Anyway, I talked to him around 7pm and he told me he had scheduled a flight home early this morning and was retiring at the airport Marriott.
I turned in around 11pm, tired and alone. I have this blanket that smells like dryer sheets and as long as I have that to snuggle with while Nate's gone, I'm okay.



















I pictured him asleep in his hotel bed, with the alarm set extra early so he wouldn't miss his flight again.











Fast forward to 2am. I'm in the middle of a dream, probably about the nightmare I've created by committing to wear flat shoes to work, when I feel someone lift the blankets and climb in bed with me.



















The first few seconds of this precise situation felt normal. I'm used to Nate being there, rolling over, making a noise. And then logic and conscious thought take over and I remember that Nate isn't home and NO ONE should be creeping into bed with me.
Expletives shot through my brain. But all I could mutter was, "wait, who, what the?" Then I heard Nate's familiar giggle and knew it was him. I realize there was a critical moment in the Houston airport where he could have called me to tell me he was coming home...but he decided against it. Instead, his plan was to get home, sneak into the room and freak me out. Plan executed!

LIFE CHANGING DECISION

I just made a big decision. One I'm hoping I can stick to for a while. I know it will change things for me. And I know it might make some things less comfortable...but the decision has been made and I'm not going back. For now.
For the next month I am going to try and avoid wearing anything but flats to work. You heard me right. No heels. I go up and down several flights of marble stairs every day, multiple times. And I'm slowed down, encumbered, by the heels. Yes, they look great. But the safety and speed limitations have made up my mind for me. Please support me in this life changing decision.

image from deenfanbo's photostream

NOTES TO LOVED ONES

IMAGINE MEKONG

Imagine you're in Thailand on vacation. Imagine you decide to do some fresh water fishing on the Mekong River. Everybody does it. Now, imagine pulling this whopper out of the water? Well, don't imagine it cause it would never happen. Rather then pulling, you'd be heaving and hefting for HOURS.
Nate and I fished quite a bit this summer. We caught trout, blue gill, bass, and catfish. After seeing this doozy of a fish, and because of my fear of "what lies beneath", {coupled with my unwise viewing of the movie Open Water}, I may never be able to swim in fresh water {or any other kind of water} without having a major case of anxiety.
Nate and I watched a program on the discovery channel Sunday night all about catching "the whopper" and how thrilling it can be. This remains a thrill I pray I NEVER have.

WHAT'S MY PLAYLIST?

Ali listed her playlist which was generated by clicking "shuffle songs" on her iPod and noting the first ten tracks that play. I thought it was a fun idea so here's mine.

1. Magnet: Lay Lady Lay {listen here}
2. Justin Timberlake: Until the End of Time {listen here}
3. The Stars: Vanishing {listen here}
4. Radiohead: Kid A {listen here}
5. Foo Fighters: Low {listen here}
6. Cloud Cult: Pretty Voice {listen here}
7. Beatles: Eight Days a Week {listen here}
8. Autolux: Turnstile Blues {listen here}
9. Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah: Details of the War {listen here}
10. Bob Dylan: Wigwam from Royal Tenenbaums Sound Track {listen here}

image from getty

TIME FOR VACATION: GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Remember The Great Turtle Race where endangered GIANT leatherback turtles raced from Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands? Well, now is your turn to race your little heart out to a great Travel Zoo vacation including Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands {one of the most expensive places to visit}. For just $1,497 you can enjoy:

• Roundtrip airfare to Quito, Ecuador; flights between Quito, Baltra and Guayaquil
  (departure cities below)
• 6 nights hotel accommodations (1 in Quito, 2 in Guayaquil, 3 in Galapagos Islands)
• Half-day guided city tour of Guayaquil
• Galapagos yacht tours
  (half-day Bay tour, full-day tours to Seymour Island and Bartolome Island, including lunch)
• Daily breakfast
• All airport/hotel and hotel/port transfers

TWO PRETTY HOUSES

I got these two prints, one from Elloh's etsy shop and one from Little Paper Planes. I think they'll go wonderfully together.

CONGRATULATIONS TO KYM AND MARTIN

They got engaged last night by the light of the setting sun, in the middle of a lake. The ring looks FABULOUS. Can't wait for the big day. Yippeee! Here's a tribute song Kym swore would play on her wedding day.

I LOVE THIS SCENE

And you can get a fun print from Elloh's Etsy shop depicting the mischief.

PRETTY ON TOP

Several years ago, when I lived in Montana, I got a chance to spend a few days on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation and interact with the community. One of the more common sir names was Pretty On Top. I loved the idea of someone named Charlotte Pretty On Top and immediately wished I could make it my name. Unless Conger means "Pretty On Top" and not "he who congs the bell" in some far off land, I'm out of luck.
Even though I can't be called Tonia Pretty On Top, I can certainly wear things that will make me pretty on top, right? Like these.

1. Black Bow Top from Banana Republic



















2. Gold Ruffle Top from Jcrew












3. White Ruffle Top from Jcrew












4. Pink Top from TopShop



















5. Ruffle Top from Vera Wang (at Kohls)

THESE WOULD MAKE ME DANCE!

Aren't these shoes fabulous? Amber had a photo of them on her blog and when I found out they were from Anthropologie I was heartbroken. I knew they'd be a zillion dollars. Only $118 is better. But it's still a lot more then I choose to spend on shoes. Unless I'm doing something special in them. Like getting buried or honored at a gala.

PUBLIC SERVICE WARNING

I'm warning you all now people. If anyone ever says to me again, "do you know who you remind me of?" and the next two words out of their mouth are Kelly Clarkson, we are no longer friends. No second chances with this one.

HUGO IS BIG ON LOOKS!

Subtitled: {Andrew and LaShel, please send photos}


I got these adorable photos of Hugo last week. Yes, he's an exact duplicate of his daddy and yes, yes, he might be the cutest little boy I've ever seen. I can safely say that because...look at him.

LOVE LUGGAGE JOINT

Jana Feifer has been designing handbags and accessories for over a decade. Her latest venture, Love Luggage Joint, is a mix of traditional with a hit of the unexpected. She's been credited as the originator of the initial {as in "T" for Tonia} bag around 2002.
I was shopping TJMaxx this weekend with Emma and Becky when I came across a Love Luggage Joint sachel made just for me. A smart chocolate brown bag with a long shoulder strap, a red and white stripe, and a skull and cross bones {it matches the wallet}. Yes, that's right. My bag has a skull and crossbones. It also cost just $25 with the groovy TJmaxx discounting. Yeah!

I'M BLAH

I'm feeling a bit blah today. Not blech which means something totally different. I think I'm getting a little tired and run down trying to fit in at my new job. Things I'm doing today to fight the blah.
1. Gaze longingly out the window at the yellow trees and blue skies
2. Drink the normally *forbidden* diet soda
3. Listen to archived stories on Diane Rehm
4. Start thinking about Christmas presents
5. Check "Writing an article about Virtual Machine Driver Pack" off my list.

I"ll hopefully be in better spirits for fun blogging tomorrow. I've been boring lately because I feel boring lately.

PERSIAN RUG+MODERN PILLOWS

So Nate and I did it...we bought the Persian rug. We had a lot of random visitors come to our house this week and everyone loved the rug. It makes the room seem more serious then some of the contemporary rugs I had in mind, but I think I can add some fun with pillows and art. What do you think of some of these pillows? I have no idea what I'm doing.

Here's the rug {close up}:



















Here are some pillows I'd like to consider:
1. horse pillow {this would go on our colorful chaise...which we don't have yet}



















2. Zebra pillow



















3. Crewel leaf pillow



















4. Square Pillow















5. zig zag pillow















6. bird of a feather pillow

COATS FOR LADIES

j.crew has the best coats for us ladies. The are tailored to perfection, lined, optional Thinsulate for additional warmth...and sooo attractive.
Here are a couple I'd snatch up if I won the lottery.
The Bella Coat: $350


















The Copenhagen Coat: $325