mouse in the house

Yup.

He's small and furry and comes out to say hello most evenings around 9.

so...what to do.

I've had some mouse issues in the past, as most urban dwellers have. In my early 20s, Brooklyn version of the 'Money Pit,' four roommates, a guy on the couch and I had a rotating cast of critters.

The role of the grim reaper was allotted to one of the dudes. We tried all sorts of traps - the glue ones where their little feet get stuck until they starve to death in your kitchen, homemade bucket ones, even the good old fashioned cheese on sling trap. Ultimately the mouse murdering roommate was stuck having to drown the little guys in a bucket of water killing the rodent and a little bit of his soul as well.

So here we are. Many years later, new apartment, one more mouse one less mouse murdering roommate. But R is willing to step in! But I'm having second thoughts. I mean it's fairly harmless, not that I'll walk on the ground when it comes out. And it leaves these lovely little not-so-chocolate-nibs on the counter (that we EAT on).

Ugh and gross. I'd like it to just be the little dude from Ratatouille but even I can see that's not going to happen. I've always wanted a cooking companion...that carried disease and filth.

So I looked into some humane ways to get rid of mice. This very helpful woman on about.com pointed me toward peppermint - apparently the smell is too overwhelming for their little noses.



So I'm supposed to plop those peppermint coated cotten balls in the places that the mouse likes to hang.



Can you spot the pepp?



Night one with the peppermint balls: here's hoping little mouse doesn't find another entrance leading to more intimate places. (shiver)

xoxoL

The round up

This week we're on clever overload. Why is EVERYONE trying to blow my mind?

to procrastinate:

Buried deep within the real estate section of the NYTimes (a girl can dream) is this magical place of want and voyeurism: Great Homes and Destinations.

They have a regular feature called "Properties for $____,____". For anyone who has lived in NY this page will be a true depressing delight. $350,000 can get me a two bedroom / two bath, exposed brick apartment loft in Memphis. That includes walk in closets, this swoon-able kitchen



...and, oh yes, shared access to a roof top pool. But then again it's Memphis. But it was good enough for Elvis. And I DID have the second-best BBQ there...

I also got all gooey-eyed for this London house boat that is anchored at the East end of the Thames. This is a problem. Because it's nifty spaces like this



that make me think, completely unsupported by any engineering or design skills, that I too can not only have but make this. Of COURSE I always wanted to live on a boat. That won't get old. Right?

{sigh}

to continue. Further procrastination can happen here - a clever little site that mocks the fashion blog, The Sartorialist, with cats. Purrfection (I know...I'm sorry)

"On the Street...Vintage Tag, Chelsea, NYC"


And finally sleeveface.com for its clever mashup of album covers and people. Genius.

Thanks to Bryan Jones for this - check out his AWESOME paintings.


to eat: alright so I spent the majority of my week hanging with Lola in CT so there wasn't a lot of experimental cooking going on. But last week I tried out this recipe for parmesan polenta heaven (via The Kitchn) and it totes worked out. Voila:



Also, hello soft-fluffy-goodness of a new way to cook an egg. I haven't gone back.

Oh and I long to make this



even though the chances of me whipping up some concord grape ice cream are slim to none. Never doubt the possibility of getting into the slim...

to check out : This week I'm all about the online vids. So here it is:

It turns out one of my former living-on-the-couch roommates Dmitri Simakis was only pretending to be lazy and was meanwhile busy being ironically clever collecting abandoned VHS tapes in an experiment he and his friends labeled 'Everything is Terrible.' It's home to ridiculous 80s nostalgia, bad acting, worse hair and, well, you can see for yourself. Most of them are really hard to watch - I'm embarrassed for everyone involved but it's worth a look. And the Everything is Terrible branded ending to each video is class. You can read more at NPR.

mini highlights:

- I only wish I had this in high school

- I don't know about you but I definitely want to run this kid over with my big wheel.

Alec Soth is an artist, photographer and, now, blogger (Little Brown Mushroom blog). His photographs were featured in Vitamin Ph (Phaidon Press, 2006) and are fantastic documentaries of people just living life - with some nudity thrown in.

Check out his Las Vegas birthday trip slideshow. And for your literary adventures check out the book his 11-year-old self made.

Oh and this video by SVA graduate Katie Armstrong is amazing - animated paper cut outs to the eerie self-sung song Blue by Eiffel 65. When you look at her web site you can see all that went into the 3m piece. I want it to be mine. (via for me, for you - also a treat!)

Video hilarity - clever boy featuring Rachel Dracht in Forest Hills State of Mind.

And finally this woman beat me to something I didn't even know I wanted to do - infographics to ever single This American Life. SO CLEVER. I'm going to do one. I swear.

Finally a little bit to cuddle:

muffin koala



and WHAT THE HELL IS THAT. I dunno but I want it to cuddle into a furry mess for evermore.



both via zooborns
xoxoL

Inspired to freeze until I went inside

Perhaps you've seen this article that ran in Thursday's New York Times House & Garden section - Chilled by Choice? Well it caught my eye, mainly because of the awesome large photo on the top of the piece.



Basically it's about people living in very cold climates (at least for part of the year) who CHOOSE to go without heat. Some people just keep the heat at a balmy 55 but the rest who were interviewed just do it - like live in a place that is probably colder inside that the air than is outside for at least four months out of the year. Eek.

And yet, they make it look good. In fact from the 71 degree kitchen in my parents comfy home I had a revelation - I can do this! Yes! I can turn off the heat during the winter months. I can at least give it a try.

I saw some advantages:
1) saving some cash. Being utterly broke I think we can all see the benefit in pocketing that $20/month bruise.
2)saving energy => saving the planet (all from my couch)
3) clarity of mind, which means a bevvy of new writing and creating ideas. Obviously I will be award winning writer/videographer/blogger/audiophile within months of going archtic.

But then I left the comforts of my parents house, drove the 2+ hours back to R's place in Cambridge, pushed open that drafty door of a one-bedroom that hadn't been heated for two days and gasped. No, I beelined it to the heater, the gauge hovering just above 55 degrees, and cranked that puppy back up to 70.

OK so freezing myself for inspiration and moral uplift is out...at least just for now, until it gets a little warmer outside.

xoxoL

A walk in the woods with Lola

I had a day with Lola. So we took a stroll.

The round up

I'm trying something new here.

Because I spend SO much time on the Internet - searching stories, reading news, snooping pretty blogs and web sites - I thought that I would compile my findings into a weekly round up of things that are lookin' good in cyberspace.

The categories will include but not always feature:

To check out - arts & culture stuff, i.e. visual art, music

To long for - clothes

To procrastinate - a ridiculous type of time suck web site

To cuddle - a stray cute animal photo might show up

To watch - movies / TV

To read - pretty obvious, but includes articles and books

To interACT - cool interactive stuff online

To eat - best of our weekly meals (I usually cook from online recipes, here's my chance to pass on those that actually work).

and, finally, Dear Design - favorite design web sites or blog posts because I have REALLY gotten into them (and there are just thousands of goodies to take away your afternoon)

And it's not like this is set in stone. These categories could change, disappear, multiply, get up and dance. It's hard to say.

But let's get going on this weeks, eh?

First off.

To check out - this music web site The Hype Machine (via Flavorwire).

It. is. awesome. It does the work for you - searching thousands of music blogging sites for the most featured music at this very moment. You can click and listen to the songs - like the whole song - find others like it or just let the player play through a whole bunch of tunes you never knew existed.

What I'm particularly liking is this Danish band called Fallulah - it has a good beat and a sweet female vocal. I feel like there might be some girls wearing white gogo boots clapping along in the background. I could listen to it over and over and over again (and maybe I have).

To procrastinate - I came across this site Rad-Dudes (via LA Times) and spent 20 minutes going through back posts. The best of the best are some vintage photes with short shorts or too long mustaches. Though they're not all rad in my book it's a regular look because you just might get gems like this:



To read - Orion Magazine Jan/Feb 2010, particularly the article 'Diggin In' by Hank Lentfer. Unfortunately, you cannot catch this piece online - they make only a few features available to read for free. So you may just have to (gasp) buy the magazine or, do as I did, and read it in a B&N.

This is a short article about what to do with your body after you die. Dark subject, but it's a reality that the author seems to be endearingly inquisitive about. So he sets out to ask his friends and family what they would like to be done with their bodies after they pass away.

I love the way he opens the story - "The first time I asked my parents..." it hooks you because you already know there is going to be a follow up. You wonder, have they changed their minds? Do they still want to be buried in the family plot, cremated, given to science? It's a simple but effective trick of writing.

Later he talks about his four year old daughter and how, he guesses, she is probably old enough to imagine some probably ridiculous scenario but he can't ask because "I don't have the strength to imagine her death." What starts out innocently enough has its consequences and I like that honesty.

To watch - R and I rented Ordinary People last night before going out to meet up with his school friends. Not exactly a pre-party mood elevator but it was a genuine portrayal of a family going through some hard shit after loosing their oldest child, Buck, in a freak boating accident. The young Timothy Hutton was incredible - sweet, scary, utterly depressing. A real teenager going through unparalleled heartbreak. Rent it. You'll find it in the 'tear jerker' section of your netflix site.

To long for - unruly things is my new favorite web site. It has a contemporary vintage aesthetic and features clothing, shoes, interior design, accessories and other swoon-able items shown in Polaroid-esque images. I want pretty much everything she features.
Suddenly and particularly these crazy Swedish shoes - am I alone on this?



Swedish Hasbeens - check 'em out

And finally To cuddle - I cannot resist a little daily bunny and these two little lazy muffins caught my eye:


That is all for now.

xoxoL

Back on the (reality TV) saddle

I was temporarily on the wagon - the wagon of no reality TV watching - as I was in London sans American broadcasting. Sure the Brits have their own and maybe I caught a glimpse of the X Factor season finale chaos. But that was it. I swear.

Bus since being back in the states I have fallen right off that wagon onto the time suck that is crap reality TV.

Ohhh but it's not crap. It's crack. And there are new shows and old shows that I'm watching as if anew! It's glorious and concentrated on my Sunday nights.

There's Giuliana and Bill at 9 on Style
She's the alien-skinny self-deprecating E! news host.
He's the first (or early at least) Trump Apprentice hire.

Together they are a lovely mix of totally boring, kind of adorable, and definitely ridiculous. Maybe I laughed a few times. It doesn't hurt.

Added plus: Giuliana's little nieces who, under the wing of Uncle Bill, are starting their own woven bracelet business. Older niece had a serious case of ADD during their first night or weaving and decided to blow up balloon-animal balloons instead. After inflating a blue and red one she proceeded to march around the room shouting 'my wieners...my color wieners...'. Oh man, it was classic.

Speaking of E! we have Keeping up with the Kardashians on at 10. There was a time when I just couldn't abide by this vapid family of bodacious barbie dolls. But there's something in me that is just, suddenly, attracted to the whole family. They may each love themselves the most but they all seem to really enjoy the family as a whole. It's kind of endearing.

And Rob, the only boy in this female brood, was, dare I say, identifiable. He just graduated (ah hem, from undergrad) and I just graduated. He was moved back home. I moved back home. He doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. I'm still trying to figure that out.
But then Rob dropped me and went out and got a job. Just like that. Five minutes in TV land magic, I'd guess a week in reality. What the HELL Rob.

But I'll still watch the show.

Then of course there's the Jersey Shore on MTV. I don't think this is on Sunday nights but to be fair it's played in reruns ALL THE TIME on MTV so I can't actually tell which night it airs. I tried to stay away from this fake tanned train wreck but I, like the rest of the country, have been drawn in.

In fact the other night when 'Ronnie' and Sam were walking home from Karma and were nagged into a fight I was fully screaming at the TV. Who the hell WAS that guy who was trying to fight Ronnie? Ronnie didn't want to fight and I really hope that Sam reviews that footage and sees that she really did contribute to the inevitable fist-throwing. I don't understand what it is about this area in Jersey - is it the TV cameras or actually the nature of Jersey - that people just want to fight. It's the one thing you can count on in the show. That and that nothing else happens (except of course, GTL - gym, tanning, laundry). It's terrible, it's boring, it's predictable, but sometimes it's really really good in a really bad sort of way. And for that, I'll stick around.

Don't ask. Just trust in the TV.

Now, getting back to getting a job.

xoL

January Jones's boobs

What?

Yes.

This is the topic for today.

Why?

Because I can't seem to avoid them. More specifically, I can't seem to avoid them when I pee. The November 2009 issue of GQ magazine, which R 'borrowed' from the gym and thus sits on his very cold bathroom floor, features the petite and pretty Jones and, well, her rack that is cleverly covered by a partially zipped leather jacket.



It's confrontational and confusing and yet I can't take my eyes away. How DO they stay up? That must be a wonder-coat.

Speaking of leather jackets, why would Ms. Jones be wearing said jacket with nothing on underneath? If I'm going to have the illusion of female nudity on my magazine covers I'd at least like some attempt at believability.

Take the December 2005 cover shot of a recently post-Pitt Jennifer Aniston.



Alright, so she's shirtless and I definitely see some boob but at least the setting is right-ish. Is that a duvet she is sitting on? Right, a photographer has just stumbled upon a 'just-getting-changed-into-something-casual-Aniston'. Totally make sense.

Of course take the same actress three years later and it's a bit of a different story. Jennifer Aniston and...well...a neck tie.



Well at at least this is blatantly sexual.

But getting back to Ms. Jones and the leather jacket. No self-respecting woman in fear of a good lashing of nipple chafe would darn a leather coat without at least a cammy underneath. Right?

Well, I wouldn't at least. Gives me and my nips the heebie jeebies.

That is all.

xoxoL

It's GO time

OK people. Enough playing around. Today is the official start of Project Lauren Gets a Job.

It's been too long since I held a pay check in my anti-bacterial lotioned hand and I am in need. It's not just about the money. It's about putting this (gasp) career-changing (pricey) education to use before it gets dusty.

So, here goes.

But first I need a planner. Yes, a paper planner. While strolling through the Harvard Book Co-op I find the ideal weekly planner by Moleskin that is (ta da) on sale. Perfect. The weekly planner will help organize my soon-to-be very busy days and the 'Pooped Puppies' monthly calendar, well, that's in place of the 'Hang in there' kitten poster for the not-so-busy days.

OK. Now I'm really ready.

Though first I should check in on some industry news.

Romenesko (oh weird, Google really does the twitter searches as well. Do I follow Romenesko? I must).

Media Bistro - check

maybe a little Writer's Digest

oh and I should obviously be up on my daily news. Yes, that will help to spark the newsroom journalist in me.

Let's see I'll start with the NY Times

and I've got to get some global with the BBC

Sure, the Wash Post

why not, LA Times (what's that about the Biggest Loser?)

of course Chicago Tribune

and while I'm at it let's see what's happening on NY mag (ooo is Sandra Bullock really an Oscar contender?)

um...Jezebel (what will the 2010 fashion be? Oooo NYTimes takes on the Jersey Shore, how did I miss that...)

Oh but Gawker has a much better reaction to NYTime's critique of Jersey Shore (Sorry, but trying to find any good in this show is missing the point entirely) and is that Michael Cera eating a pizza?

I'm hungry

I should probably find a recipe to make tonight.

Food network (mmm lasagna. Oh lighter meatballs - bookmark)

wonder what Martha's up to - My god that salmon looks fantastic. Is that a spicy cauliflower? Swoon. Oooo or salmon with orange and fennel. I have, at least, the orange.

Ugh that all seems like way too much work and way too much spent at whole foods. What's this about cupcakes. Fancy cupcakes...

No, I need writing inspiration not caloric intake. Luckily Martha has both. Though her desk set ups are a little over the top also I don't have a quaint little nook to squeeze a desk into.

Oh but that design sponge girl...now that's inspiration. Pricey design inspiration.

If I lived like these people I'd probably have my dream writerly job. That kitchen! That spice rack! At least we have the same pepper grinder. So close. Is that a claw foot tube?

No THIS is the office space I need. Vintage quirk. True writerly inspiration.

So first, get claw foot tub, rustic blue table, (also own apartment) and dream job will follow.

First day at job hunt: clear success.