Home Sweet Home

I think my life-long lack of a real home has made me into this person who obsesses over home furnishings. I really can't wait to have a home of my own to decorate and be comfortable in. I want to travel and I'm rather nomadic at heart but I also want to have a place to come back to. My life-dream involves traveling all over the world as an anthropologist and I have always been uncomfortable in the houses I've lived in. I suppose it was probably more the living situation in all of those places than the houses themselves, but it's not like the houses were all that comfy anyway. But I want to have a home for the times that I'm not dragging my family all over the globe with me. It's going to be in the Northwest, I can tell you that. I've never lived out of the Northwest mountains and I don't want to. No matter how far I go, it's definitely home for me. So the point of this post is to show y'all how much I love Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and The Trouble With Trolls by Jan Brett.

Wait. What?
Trust me, it has everything to do with my future home decor.

I love Jan Brett's illustrations. Her books are always set in these beautiful wintry Scandinavian places. This book specifically is set in Norway. And the little girl in the book reminds me of my cousin, Lily. Not that Lily's little anymore- she's in highschool now!! How crazy is that!? But she's pretty and blonde and I have every confidence that she could outsmart a bunch of trolls to save her dog.

I love the clothes in this book, too. I want to dress like that in the cold north Idaho winter. People seem to think that Canada has really cold winters. If you want to experience a Canada-like winter without the out-of-country hassle, head on up to North Idaho! But don't move here, we're trying to discourage too much growth. I guess we're all still rather into the old frontier feel of Idaho and we aren't quite willing to give it up. Of course, I'm from Northern California, so... Sandpoint has a winter festival every year, I actually haven't been yet.

There's an Elk ranch up here, too. They're so very pretty in the snow.

But be sure to pack your mittens! Oh... mittens... So toasty. Can you tell I was cold today? Actually, it's not very cold yet this year, but it was windy! And my friend got snow at her house in the mountains Friday night.

To be honest, I only like snow in December. I wish it would stay confined to that month. But lots of it for Yule! Anyhoo, I want some pretty carved wood like the seven dwarves had in their cottage.

Pretty, pretty.

Thankfully, there's a whole buncha lotta folksy stuff at thrift stores and flea markets 'round these parts. When was everyone so into this stuff??
Have a good winter, everybody! Enjoy the snow and sweaters, but be careful not to freeze your buns off!
Love,
Belle

Today I am...

Sick!!!!!
So, so sick...
I had a super weekend though. If you're ever wondering what to do in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, I am your girl! Seriously, just comment below- it's super easy. I went home with Shenanigan after school and we Google Imaged rather pleasant looking young actors for awhile. At 8 we went to Mr. LHS at our high school. Pretty much Junior Miss for funny senior guys. We saw someone put a surprising amount of grapes in his mouth. Then, the next day we walked around downtown CDA like cool people. So... if you want to know a great day in CDA... I'll tell you! Start at Calypso's (quirky little coffee shop on the main drag) and get a panini (actually, wait and get this at lunchtime!) and an americano, then walk to All Things Irish, Lucky Monkey Trading Company, The Frosted Cupcake (seriously cute and not very well-known cupcake bakery), and every art gallery and antique shop you pass. Then drive over to 4th street and park in the Goodwill parking lot. Then go in Goodwill and enjoy thrifty shopping. Next, walk to Pilgrim's Market (just because it's wonderful), Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store, Paris Flea Market, all thrift stores, and just about anything that catches your fancy. Next you absolutely HAVE TO stop in at The Long Ear, a record store with rows and rows of albums (vinyl, CD,...)- trust me, you'll feel cool as heck if you do. For dinner (after a long day of shopping and being cool you will be hungry) you have tons of choices. I'd recommend: Pho Tahn (Vietnamese food; I've never really been there but, gosh, do I want to), Olympia (Greek), Syringa (right next to Goodwill so, hey!, you're already there! It's a sushi place), Mexican food (it's everywhere in that area), Valentino's Pizza (great gluten-free pizza, vegetarian pizza, ice cream, smoothies, subs), and a bunch of other places I can't really speak for. After you've eaten, you should go hang out at CDA lake. Tubbs Hill is the best place ever and the beach is really beautiful at sunset. Go home and snack on grapes as you ponder how many grapes you could fit in your mouth while making up a stupid song with your BFF and go to sleep content. It's a good day.
You have just learned how to indie rock-out your day in CDA. Yay for you!
Love,
Belle
P.S.: I'm really starting a band!
P.P.S.: I have a video on youtube. It's stupid. My mom and I were being weird.