The Zoo, a Book Cover and OMG BABY DUCKS!

I gave myself a four-day weekend. I was finished work Wednesday night at 4:00, went to power yoga that evening (hot power yoga, mind you) and woke up Thursday ready. I met up with a friend who moved to Delaware at the Philadelphia Zoo. Try to have a bad day at the zoo, I dare you. I borrowed my work camera in the hopes of getting some shots I could be proud of. I think I succeeded. Here are a few of my favorites:

I LOVE peacocks.

He was in the rare animal conservatory. I love his face and coloring.

My sister is writing a book about our mom and what it was like trying to find her. She asked me to do the cover for her. It'll be an e-book, available soon. She currently has a book of her poetry available for kindle called The Color of Dawn. She's an excellent writer, and I can't wait to read the novel.

Coconuts just bought a house, so I went to see it (it's super cute, btw) and we ventured over to Zern's-a big farmer's/flea/food market. A local pet store has a shop in there where they bring some of their animals. Friday it happened to be BABY DUCKS! And baby chicks. I totally could have had a Friends moment--but I didn't.

This is Alphonse. I should have bought him.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Shoes, Free Stuff, Shopping, and Pedals

I had a pretty good weekend. 

Scratch that.  Saturday was awesome, Sunday kind of blew.

Anyway.

I get a few magazines....The usual suspects: Cosmo, Marie Claire, Elle...I also get e-mails from said magazines.  Elle sent me an email about an event at Nordstrom.  It basically said "Shoes, free food, free stuff". And I was all "You had me at shoes, Elle."  So college biffle Katie and I headed over to our mall and grabbed some lunch (mmm sushi) and then went to Nordstrom to check out the event.  These two charming gentlemen were hosting the shoefashionfreestuffshow.  Eric Daman and Fred Allard.

Via life.com

Eric is the stylist for Gossip Girl, which has amazing clothings and I love it.  And Fred is Creative Director at Nine West. New best friend?  Yes, please.  Plus he's French, which I love.  Nothing screams fashion like France.  Both were so gracious and walked around chatting with everyone.  At the end of the fashion trends show Fred said if anyone had any questions to ask.  I didn't think "Want to hire me?  I'd be happy to get you lattes and your dry cleaning." was appropriate.

So sitting in the shoe department (and having looked shoes up online prior to going) I bought some.

  Via Nordstrom.com

I love them.  And as an added bonus I got a signed copy of Eric's book!  For free!  Yay free stuff!  Ok, that's enough with the exclamation points...

 Via Google

Then Katie and I roamed around the mall for another 4ish hours.  Fantastical day if I do say so myself.

 

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In regards to my office tour: I didn't know that my pedals were that interesting lol.  But for anyone who's wondering, I got them at wal-mart for like $25.  They're great if you're on a long phone call or something. 

Jane Austen

I've started reading Pride and Prejudice again.  It's a great book but I've never actually read the entire thing.  I always start it, feel really confident, but then before I finish it I decide I want to watch the movie.  The BBC version that's like 5 hours long, not that crap that has Keira Knightly in it.  I mean, I like her and all, but I'd just much rather stare at Colin Firth.  I also like staring at him better than words on a page. 

My desire to watch this is heightened whenever I watch or read Bridget Jones' Diary.  I love that Colin Firth is in that movie as well and his name is Darcy.  Brilliant casting in my humble opinion.  I also want to read all of Jane Austen's books after I watch "The Jane Austen Book Club".  It's a fantastic movie, and it will make you want to read everything she's ever written. I've also got a copy of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", which I'll get to after I've finished "Pride and Prejudice.

Books and Knitting and Impatience (Just a Little)

I just finished reading "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs. It was one of the best books I've read in a while, even though it made me bawl like a baby.  Seriously, don't read it unless you wanna cry.  I want to belong to a knitting club.  I know how to do basic stuff...like scarves and dish clothes, but I want to do something more challenging. 

The problem is that I want it to be done right now.  I have two blankets started, but I've only been working on those for 2 years (...ish).  I should probably move on to a hat or some mittens or something first.  We'll see.  Once I get my stuff together and get some more finished items, I may create an Etsy page.