My New Friends, Gary and Elaine

When Russell and I started thinking about renovating our house, I began my HGTV, magazine, and catalog obsession. I knew that the visuals would be easier for me to use as examples of what I'd want in a new house than trying to describe it. I turned down corners and ripped out pages of rooms, moldings, gardens, doors, paint colors, light fixtures, you name it.

Since then, we've bought two more houses, and the magazines and catalogs keep coming. Now I have the Internet, too, and it's there I met my new friends, Gary and Elaine.

Gary and Elaine are the two elusive people who live on our catalog pages. Have you ever wondered who is reading that book open on the bed? Or why there is a bicycle hanging over the fireplace?

Catalog Living explains it all. I know it's not for everyone, but it cracks me up almost every day.

Today's post makes fun of a red carpet next to a bed in the bedroom. All I can imagine now is Charlotte rolling out of bed each morning and walking down her own personal catwalk to start the day.

One More

Yah!  It looks like the video I posted works.  So here's one more...

Anson's in the blue coming at you.

Shredding Snow

I'm sure I don't have my snowboarding terminology down, but I'm going to try. I've put off posting this as I am not sure if I'm doing the video portion right, but I'm going to try.

Anson and Russell just returned from a radical trip to Park City, Utah to snowboard. Anson ripped up the slopes, even the black diamonds.

I loved how Anson called or texted me every day, sometimes sending photos or videos of himself. 

One of the resorts had a heated bubble on the ski lifts.

Right after I spoke to Anson one day, Russell made a video of him to show me where they were when I called.

After snowboarding down The Detonator, Anson got a souvenir (the scary metal thing about to steal his drink) and some apres ski cider.

Anson finally realizes he too cool to ride the lifts with Dad, and goes on his own.

Love is in the Air

I've been a bad, bad blogger. Actually, I've been a lazy blogger. It's been nice to take some time off of just about everything.

As today is Valentine's Day, I thought I start back up by providing that Barbie update. Did you know that she and Ken actually broke up, but are now back together, just in time for Valentine's Day? Me either. Brush up by reading this article.

I know most of you could care less about Barbie, and I usually don't either, but Charlotte is such a huge fan that Barbie and her alter-egos have become a second family around here.

Also, I just had to write something after a recent visit to Target. I found Charlotte lollygagging in the Barbie aisle. And this is what I saw:

Apparently Mattel rereleased her at Christmastime, and there was one, lone package left on clearance for about $20. Charlotte has this exact Barbie, but the original, from Emma. Doesn't she look like she could be in a Breck commercial?

But more importantly, I came across these new items:

Really? I know Barbie does not exactly have a reputation for being a feminist, but come on!!! Can't we do better than this?

And poor, poor Ken. In an effort to make him cooler, I guess, I saw several new versions of him. I thought the crocheted pants and top we were forcing him to wear were bad, but that was because we had no other choice.

Twilight meets Johnny Depp:

The anti-Justin Bieber hair:

Any guy who wears a t-shirt that claims he is the ultimate boyfriend, is, not. And the fact that you can make him say whatever you want....something tells me the people on the "plastic boyfriend" ad campaign came up with this guy, too.

On a more positive note, the Barbies and Kens are more diverse than ever, so that's a step.

Hope you have a non-plastic loved one to share this day with, be it a mom, dad, sibling, pet, child, friend, or loved one's voice from across the miles!  Love to you all...