Boho Bird!...A Post From A Special Guest

Hey everyone - I'm likely running up and down the stairs having my 14th breakdown about something not fitting through the doorway or up the stairwell.  During the moving mayhem, please welcome Shari from Little Blue Deer.  We've been blog pals since Shari befriended a bird that was just beginning.  I was immediately drawn to her wonderful pictures, aesthetic sense and sassy one liners.  Enjoy the special post she did in honor of my boho apartment dreams then pop on over and give her a high five!

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I am so delighted to be guest posting for Carrie at This Free Bird today!  Carrie is one of my favorite and oldest blog friends, I love her posts, they are so personal, it makes me feel like we're bffs, even though she lives across the country.  And that girl has a wicked sense of humor, too, she's also one of my favorite Facebook friends.  She and I share a great love for boho, ever since I saw her post that amazing cowhide rug from her bf, the infamous Chef, I knew we were decor soulmates.  I hear she is movin' on up to the East Side this week, so I am sharing some inspiration for her brand-new apartment.  Funny how when I find something cool on the side of the road and bring it home, it looks like, well, something I found on the side of the road, but when Anthro does it, it looks all boho chic.  So here's to boho at the Bird!

I mean really.  Big Edie/Little Edie anyone?  I'm about to peel some paint off the wall right now...

Shari went and ready my mind.  Chipped yellow table puh-leeze.

Shari - thanks so much for sharing your Grey Gardens visions with us today.  Girlfriend you need to bust it over to Southern California so we can sip tea out of rusty cans while wrapping our hair in scarves and digging through every flea market within a fifty mile radius to recreate the dream.  That goes for the rest of you, too. In the meantime please do have a wonderful weekend.  Think of me beneath a pile of boxes. I've fallen and I can't get up.

images via http://firsthome.tumblr.com, www.anthropologie.com, www.thebeautifulsoup.com

Dear Crazy People: This Is Not Your Next Home

This week has been filled to the brim with crazy.  Monday went by in a tax prepping blur as I showed the apartment to what seemed like an endless stream of neighbors I really hope I don't get - here's just a few:

• Teen Mom Candidate
• 20 lb dog lady who wants the beast to lounge on my Moroccan deck.   That's.Not.Happening.
• Guy who has never lived in the same state with girlfriend (does the landlord live here?), but is "sure" they'll get along fine (does the landlord live close by?) even though he really doesn't want her to quit her job (did you say the landlord lives upstairs?) and go back to school.  Do I have any advice on how he can talk her out of it?  Huh?  Oh and btw buddy, I AM the landlord.  No I didn't say that, but boy was I tempted.
• And today's person really took the cake.  Sppppokkkke soooooo slowwwwwly IIIII coooouuuulllld baaaarrreeeellly unnnderrrrstannnnnd hiiiiiim, got all up in my personal space, didn't want to see closet space, individual rooms or anything opting instead to corner me in the hallway to ask:  Do you live here alone?  How long have you lived here?  Does anyone live here with you (uh, already asked that ya cuckoo bird)?  By now I'm officially terrified and looking for something to hit him with when the kicker happens:  A huge moth flies out of his hair (I'm also terrified of moths for some strange reason) and flutters to land on the ceiling...followed by a mid-sized one that goes flying off into my office.  Okay Silence of the Lambs it's time for you to get out.  (At the door he turns and points to one of my pictures:  Isssss thaaaat youuuuu?  Me: Yes.  Him:  You look so much different.  Me:  GOOD-BYE as I shut the door in his face, locking it behind him.  HELP!)

Tuesday I was 25 minutes late to the tax appointment due to Southern California road construction in mid-afternoon.  Why me?  Thankfully Blanket came along to ease my nerves...he was a huge hit at the accountant's office.  Five women huddled around him upon arrival, and people kept walking in and out of the office we were in for four hours just to get a look at him.  It was quite heartwarming.

Somewhere in here I managed to throw on a semi-decent outfit and grab a few pictures.  Thankfully disheveled is in right now.

~Joie - Dress worn as tunic, James Perse - Ribbed Tank Dress, Gap - Pintucked Wide leg~

And yes that look on my face says it all:  I've had enough.

~ Motif 56-Wide Cuff and Woven Bracelets, PANYC-Wrap Bracelet, Anthro-Belt, 

Target-Sunnies, Melinda Maria-Ring, Africa-Necklace~ 

Earlier this month I ironed my hair for the first time in weeks before class.

Girl:  You straightened your hair!  Me:  You mean I combed it, right?  Girl:  um, nooooo - but

face complete agrees with my statement.  Me:  No worries.  I like a good rat's nest.  Girl: um, okay?

I think we're best friends now.  She laughs her head off and waves every time she sees me.

Still wearing these Gap Wide Legs in heavy rotation...hope they bring more back.
Worth picking up at least one more pair.

Thankfully the sun's staying up  longer.  Hopefully it brings out the sane renters because I
am not looking for a version of I am Legend brought to life.

How much you wanna bet that guy on the bike is one of the people I show
the apartment to later today?  He was totally making a getaway on that bicyclette.

I spent yesterday morning at the Chef's restaurant and it is looking so much more put together than last week.  I was relieved, if you want the truth.  In the meantime I'm about to go into full speed moving mode seeing as Friday and Saturday are the days to get all the big pieces upstairs as the Chef tries to oversee construction and renovation, while trying to assist in the move.  How fun.  I might not be back to normal visitation of your blogs until next week, so go do crazy things in the next few days so we can share stories.  P.S. Haven't shredded in two days.  Confession!! 

Fitness Giveaway

I'd like to tell you a wonderful story about how all my papers are in a row for today's tax appointment, but guess what?  You probably know where this is going...they're not.  Monday went like this:  work work work, talk to landlord, tax tax tax, show apartment, take 14 calls for work, let 5 more sit in the voicemail to show the apartment, tax tax, show the apartment while trying to mask terror of the possibility of 20lb dog and baby hanging off young girl's hip as potential neighbors, and so the day went on.

In the midst of all this it struck me while talking with a mentor of mine who first encouraged me to blog, but that I hadn't revealed the blog to just yet, that this thing is almost a year old.  I truly appreciate every person who takes the time to read my posts.  They're longer than most, not done with fancy camera techniques, and laced with crazy stories.  It's so nice to still see readers who have been with me since the very beginning and vice versa.  So in honor of the anniversary approaching I'll be doing some giveaways throughout the month as a big yahoo and show of appreciation.

As many of you know there is a group of us - about 20 or more now - working our way through Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred.  It has been a huge help (at least for me anyway) to have the support of this group encouraging me to keep going.  My right leg is throbbing as Level 2 Day 1 passed completion...I see change and am going to put that thing to bed if it takes me 45 days.  In honor of warm weather aka shorts season the first thing I want to give away is:

The more the merrier (or is that misery loves company?)

This thing works...the dvd not her, but she does too.  

I've done it once before after completing the Shred and was really happy 

with the results so want to share the love.

Especially seeing as I plan to do it after the Shred and am looking for commiseration partners.

Also included in this giveaway will be the DVD version of 

Pilates from the Inside Out by Karon Karter.

I started doing Pilates at home watching Karon on the Veria Channel.  At first I was all, "what the hell?  this isn't going to do anything". Famous last words yet again as 20 minutes later my legs and upper arms were on fire.  It is a total body workout that is so calming, yet completely sculpts the body.  It requires you to clear your mind and focus on your body, how it is moving and your position whether on the mat or standing up.  Pilates has taught me how vital it is to have a strong core of back and stomach muscles - and it eases my body tension when I do it alongside Jillian's workouts.  I'm really excited to share her with you...she doesn't call you buddy once.

DETAILS

*This giveaway will include one set of each DVD and is open to all readers. The entry period will run through 11:59pm PST Monday, April 11, 2011 and the winner (selected via random drawing) will be announced on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

HOW TO ENTER
*For one entry:   this giveaway is open to anyone who reads my blog.  It's in honor of everyone who reads and follows along, so if you want to enter and aren't following make sure to sign up on the right and leave a comment including an email address where I can contact you if you win.  Easy as that.

*For additional entries:  you can blog or tweet about the giveaway, and/or follow this free bird on facebook leaving a separate comment for each entry.  

Good luck everyone!  Even if you're not a big workout person - actually especially if you're not - I think these are great to have in your library because they're easy to do at home and yield results.  More to come in the upcoming weeks if this one's not for you.  Have a great Tuesday!