Dear 94.7 FM...

Since my ankle injury, I've been driving to work (I was a metro girl before this). I'm only about five miles from the office, but with traffic it takes me about 45 minutes to an hour one way. This means, I have a lot of time with me and the radio during DC traffic. I took a break from NPR to listen to some top 40 station the other day (I think 94.7 FM), and heard them say that they give away $80,000 every Thursday. Well, now. My mind went wild. I haven't stopped daydreaming what I'd do with an extra $80,000 ever since. While money can't buy what matters most to me, money can be really nice and it can be really fun. Here is my short list:

1. Rent a new apartment. As much as I love my 400sq ft. Capitol Hill english basement (NOT), I'd love a first/second floor two bedroom row house apartment. That is numero uno.

2. Buy my new dream couch from Anthropologie.

3. Plan a romantic trip with Hunter to Portugal, my favorite place.

4. Get a personal trainer to whip me into shape.

5. Do something nice for Hunter, like buy all the really expensive LEGO sets or a nice bike or invest in the doughnut shop he dreams of owning.

6. Put the rest into KIVA (my favorite micro-lending charity).

Sadly, the $80,000 would go really fast. Faster than it should. And I know what you're thinking - aren't you guys racking up a ton of debt from Hunter's gig at law school? To this I would say, why be responsible with unexpected money? Also, to this I would say - I'm sick of being poor!!! Get off my back!

What would you do with an extra $80,000 lying around? (and don't say something responsible).

Images: My instagram (@lisamariaanderson) / Anthropologie / My photos from a trip to Porto / Pinterest / Sarah Lemoncelli for Travel and Leisure 

Pumped Up Kicks

So last week, I embarrassingly fell down our front stairs. And I tore a ligament in my ankle. Which is how I ended up like this:

So there are a lot of cons to this condition. Pain, swelling, not being able to carry things while on crutches, everything taking twice as long, going up and down stairs, etc. But... I have found one pro in all of this: high tops.

It turns out that my new boot has about a 1.5-2 inch platform and I'll need some platform sneaks with decent ankle support to level me out. And, well, I'm sick of wearing my running shoes everywhere. I've been finding some pinsperation in these awesome (but $680) Isabel Marant sneaks:

 

 

 

 Okay. So, it's mostly moms that have embraced the high tops trend... but I'm pretty excited to embark on this 6-weeks+ sporty phase. Thus starts the search for a reasonably looking/priced knock-off...

Image 1, 4 & 5: French Vixen; Image 2: Buse Terim; Image 3: Style Lab; Image 6: Pinterest

Birthday Girl

So, today is my 24th birthday. And I am happy. I am content. I have so much to look forward to this year. And have been so blessed with the opportunity to give and receive love from my amazing friends and family. Today, I'm just excited for life in general.

Image: Los Angeles Times Staff Photographer Don Bartletti for photo essay, Enrique's Journey (I saw this photo of two Central American children running away on a horse to find their parents in the US this weekend at the Newseum. It was in the Pulitzer Prize winning photographs exhibit and a lot of the photos there made me want to cry. This one made me want to cheer).

Instagraming it

So I've gotten pretty addicted to Instagram since I got my iPhone earlier this month. Above are some of the pictures I've been taking. I usually am the worst at taking pictures of everyday life, and this is really helping me be better about that. I am the kind of person that looks through old photos, cards and letters when I am sad to make myself feel better - so this taking more photos thing will be good for my nostalgic self! Check out @lisamariaanderson for more photos of Hunter, my food, shopping trips and the weather (with the possibility of expansion)! :)

So this is the New Year...

So I was hoping my New Years Eve would turn out something like this:

But instead it ended up being more like this:

I ended up sleeping through midnight due to the amazing Theraflu. Luckily, I am feeling A LOT better - though a little bummed I missed out on food and fireworks Saturday night.

Inspired by Mandy's awesome card, posted over at Dash It All, I've decided 2012 will be the year of firsts, fun, frugality, fitness, faithfulness, festivities, friendship and fabulousness! Notice there is no mention of the flu - let's keep it that way, 2012 :).

Images: Because I'm Addicted / Talia Sara

Happy Thankgiving, y'all!

Saw this sign at a BBQ place we went to today. Having a much-needed Thanksgiving break in Texas. See y'all on Monday!

DIY Photobooth?

I just discovered this website, photoboother, that converts your photos into photobooth strips. I'm gonna have a lot of fun with this one...

Image: Hunter and I in one of our finer moments

Magic is something you make

I keep thinking about this today.

Via Pinterest

And The Award Goes To....

Last week I received an award from my dear blogging friend, Starlet! I've been reading her blog, Can you come home, for some time now and love reading about her adventures in gardening and looking at all the beautiful photos she posts of the things her garden produces. Makes me wish I had a backyard! I also love her posts on fashion and always leave feeling inspired. Here are the rules of the award:

1. Thank the presenter(s) with a linking post

2. Dish 7 things (or more) about yourself

3. Share the award with 10-15 other bloggers

Okay. My Seven Things:

1. I am obsessed with dogs. So is my neighborhood. Therefore, my dog fever is at an all-time high (There's even a dog halloween costume parade at the park down the street!).

2. I believe nothing cures a bad day better than Pride and Prejudice (the five hour version) and Ben & Jerrys.

3. If there is salmon on the menu, I am 90% likely to order it.

4. I am obsessed with Harry Potter. I even started a club called "Harry Potter Nation" with my BFF Andie in high school!

5. When we were dating, Hunter and I saw Kanye West and Rihanna in concert. It was totally out of character for us, but so much fun.

6. I have an alarmingly high WPM - my personal best is 130, though I usually land in the early 100s. I also rarely lose at thumb war. Are these connected? You be the judge.

7. The ocean truly takes my breathe away.

Now that I've shared my seven, I'd love to hear from some of my favorite bloggers. Passing on the award to...:

1. Sam from Scarlett, Called Scout

2. Kelli and Lisa from Bud and Leo

3. Mandy from Dash it All

4. Pilar from Wander.Lust

5. Kimia from Alkeemi

6. C from Buscut

7. Maggie from Sheep are Forever

8. Shin from Fashion Cappuccino

9. Amber from the great ambino

10. Julie from Gnomie in the Capitol City

I expect lots of hilarious/inspiring posts from that group - though please feel no pressure! I know you've all got a lot on your plates.

Image: Herd, Ink on paper, 9"x11", 2011 by Kimia Kline

Happy Halloween!!!

For Halloween we dressed up as angry #occupy Wall Street protesters, ate way too much candy/sweets, and carved a pumpkin (well... I watched Hunter carve a pumpkin). Favorite costumes this year included an 80s power couple (complete with baby dressed as a cell phone), lobster baby and all the zombies on my Facebook newsfeed. Hope you all had a good holiday!

Working Girl

Sorry for the silence on the blogosphere of late! I started a new job yesterday and it has been very busy. But in a good way. Expect work inspired fashion/home decor posts soon!

Image: ReForm School

Two years and counting...

So today is our two-year anniversary. I thought long and hard about putting up attractive, somewhat pleasing, pretty pictures of us (they exist here and here, if you'd like to see), but instead opted for these - photos we took on the always uninhibited photobooth app. I feel like they say more what we're all about than anything posed or planned. During our second year of marriage, I learned what a true friend really is and really means. It's more than getting someone to do Pores strips with you (guess who was the one wanting to do them...) - but I'm sure you all understand what I'm getting at. Hunter really is my best friend and I learn this more and more everyday we are together. He not only allows me to be my weird, goofy, real self - but encourages it. And I like to think I do the same for him. I saw this quote the other day and feel like it applies to us right now:

‎"When we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness - and call it love - true love." — Robert Fulghum

Here's to many more years of friendship - I love you, Hunter!