Maybe In Another Life

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One of the nice things about teaching college writing is that jobs are everywhere. (The downside: the pay is pretty horrible.) So whenever I get a pinch of wanderlust, I start trolling for jobs that are more than 15 miles from where I grew up. (Yes, I'm that close to my hometown.)

I especially like looking through the out-of-country listings, and recently came across an opening in Micronesia. I had to Google where exactly that was, as I had a reference point for Indonesia, but not Micronesia. It turns out that it's kind of, sort of in between Hawaii and Australia. Like, middle-of-the-ocean nowheresville.

The pay was really, really low ($15k / year), but in photos the island nation seems like one of the prettiest places possibly anywhere, so... tempting? Besides, what would you need extra money for when you lived someplace like this? Of course, with a fiance, a mortgage, and three cats, I won't be moving to a tropical paradise anytime soon.

Still, wouldn't it be nice to wake up every day to this?


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Is It Time to Leave Yet?

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One of the nicest perks of working in academia is that every now and then a conference comes along that is in the most perfect location ever. For instance, the next World Congress of Philosophy, in August 2013, is in Greece. Yes, you heard that, Greece.

Greece, of course, is an incredibly expensive place to visit. So for a conference to pop up there, it's really as if the travel gods have smiled directly at you.

We have a year yet to submit papers / proposals for the conference, though this is certainly an opportunity that will be difficult to pass up!

Have any of you been to Greece before, or is it someplace that you'd like to escape to as well?

When . Can . I . Move?

How adorable is Woodstock, Ny? I'm not entirely sure I could manage living in teeny towns in upstate New York, but this photo makes me really want to try.

Pic: Anna Williams Photography

Potter . Park . Zoo

B. starts back to teaching this week, and I start next week, so we've been getting in as much end of the summer stuff as we can manage. Today we rode our bikes over to Potter Park Zoo, and then spent the afternoon wandering about.

I always have mixed feelings about zoos, as some of the animals are so clearly miserable, but our local zoo has a lot of re-integration programs, raises money to save natural habitats, and does a lot of education about animals. It's also kind of nice to give money to businesses in the community.

Neither of us had been to a zoo since we went in Toronto a few years ago, and it was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. They have peacocks that just wander around the park, and I wanted to take one or two home with me - wouldn't having a peacock in your yard be sort of magical?

Four . Rivers . Floating . Lodge

I've always, always, always wanted to go to Cambodia - I dream of being able to wander through Ankor Wat. After coming across Four Rivers Floating Lodge, I want to go even more. You get to stay in these amazing "tents" that are strung along the river. And the best part is that even in peak travel season, it's not more than $139.00 a night.

Of course, you'd have to spend about 20 hours on a plane to get there, but doesn't it look kind of amazing anyway?

Under . the . Sea

Pics: Peter Margone, Allistair Graham, Fashion Canvas

Yes . I . Would . Like . To

My mom has younger twin brothers. I don't see either very often, as they don't live anywhere near Michigan, and haven't since they were growing up. So I get updates from my Mom every now and then about what they're doing. I knew that my uncle R. purchased some property in Mexico awhile ago, I think in the hopes of one day retiring there.

When I was chatting with my mom earlier today, my uncle got mentioned, as he and his wife are moving cross-country. I asked if they still had the house in Mexico and after saying they did, she mentioned that they said we could stay there anytime we wanted.







Um, what? How is it that we just went through a whole three months of winter with NO mention of a courteous offer of a free place to stay in Mexico? Oceanfront. In. Mexico.

Christmas break = shoveling driveway? Or Christmas break = lying on the beach? Not much of a contest there.

My mom said my dad doesn't really want to go, so she probably won't either. LEAVE HIM BEHIND! Because if B. doesn't want to go with me, I'll just take lots of pictures and show them to him when I get home. From Mexico.

Hello . Utopia

So, I'm pretty much tired of winter already. I'm dreaming of pretty floral skirt with tees and sandals...and warm weather...and sunshine. In my dream world I'd have enough money to skip on over to what I image is the loveliest tropical location anywhere: Bora Bora.






Sadly, not only would it take me a very long time to reach Bora Bora, but the overwater villas that I'm in love with start at about $750 US dollars/night. Boo.

Getaway

I'm definitely/absolutely/positively ready for fall. I've got about a zillion layered looks planned, and I'm perfectly happy that the cooler weather is here so that I can start wearing some of them! However... and it's a teeny "however"... wouldn't it be lovely to have a place such as this to sneak away to for long weekends in the winter?



I imagine it all being very chic, and I'd wander around in white linen clothes with no shoes, read books, have wine with friends, and constantly stare at that gorgeous view.

Pic: Coastal Living

Room . with . a . View

Not long ago, I posted about this stunning view from a beautiful bath. And while it seems as though that would be particularly difficult to top, Dreamhouse posted an amazing bathroom that would give the earlier a run for its money:




Which would you prefer? European hills or Tropical waters?

Flower . Child

Yesterday I got to visit my favorite vintage store in Cleveland, Flower Child. If you're anywhere near Cleveland, it's absolutely worth it to stop by Flower Child, as it has two full floors of vintage-y goodness.



There are rooms of racks stuffed full of amazing clothes:



Loads of great furniture:




Lighting that also makes a great statement piece:



Enough goodies to stock a whole kitchen:



And perhaps my favorite part, shelves upon shelves of the cutest.little animal figurines:

Perfection

The shopping gods must have heard my dismay at not being able to have this lovely furniture, as they rewarded me with a trip to the happiest store on the planet, aka, Anthropologie!! Not only did I get to go and wander in the sheer loveliness that is that store, I came across three good things:

(1) This cutest.ever little yellow songbird sugar & creamer set:



I don't technically need a sugar & creamer set, though since I couldn't help but smile as soon as I saw them, I swooped them up!

(2) Olive and teal jewel-toned booties!



I first saw these in Anthropologie's fall 08 catalog and wanted them then, but I was being a responsible shopper (whatever that is) and didn't buy them. So yesterday when they had only one pair left AND they were on sale AND they were my size, well, that didn't take much thinking!

(3) As I was checking out, I spied certainly the most adorable sales girl ever:



...and from almost all of the way across the store I could see these pretty little pieces of lace peeking out from her patent black flats. So of course I had to stop her, because these were the cutest little socks:



This is one of those times where I was very.very glad I had business cards on me, or else I fear asking to take a picture of someone's feet would come off as, well, not good.

Not only was she really friendly, it turns out we share the same name, and she makes her own jewelry using some vintage pieces. See that gorgeous necklace she's wearing (which up close has sparkly.red.detail)? She made it! I asked if she'd email me if she ever starts selling them, because I will absolutely have to have some of her pretty custom pieces!

P.S. - Her lovely lace socks? Payless.