bedroom

for the bedroom, we are thinking something more monotone. 

more sophisticated. 

less colorful.

and i'm paralyzed with indecision. 

and we have white walls. 

and we can't paint them. 

and i just can't make up how this place is going to look in my head. 

ugh. 

first world problems people.

leather?

we're having to make real life decisions these days.
and even though i agreed to marriage, it's become quickly evident, i still have commitment issues. COUCHES ARE A BIG DEAL. (and a lot of dollars)

we've heard leather is the way to go with babies. (and we'll have one someday).

would you rather have your today husband and someday baby sit on this couch:

or this one:

or no leather at all?

 

plumpelstiltskin

they say nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.
but they never had new york pizza.
or allene's home-cookin' ...

after we got married i managed to pack on 15 pounds. (yes, 15. and even though i've managed to delete 99% of all the unflattering photos of our first year of marriage, there's proof.) i spent the next two years of our marriage losing 13 of said pounds.

behold plumpelstiltskin.  

december 2009, +15 pounds

but since we've returned to the land of cars and carbs (read: america) my waistline is on the up and up, while my self discipline is on a steady decline. just this week i enjoyed the greasy delights of venezuelan arepas, gorged on a chicken tikka buffet, ordered pizza (twice- UGH!) and stayed up too late watching food network which turned into staying up too late eating pancakes. (damn you "diners, drive-ins and dives.")

and despite the fact there is a free gym at work, at the end of the day i just want to get started on my 45-minute drive home ...

so this is a very public plea for help. if you have any secrets of motivation, now would be the time to share them.

better late than never...

between instagram, pinterest and a full-time employment i'm having a hard time keeping up with dear life. what's new:

• matt landed his dream job.
• we signed on an amazing apartment that's not in manhattan. 
• which means we'll be living part time at the W Hotel at Union Square. (good thing i get a discount) 
• i'm traveling to china, australia and panama ... next month. 
• and i'm back in the decorating saddle, dreaming of tufted upholstery and campaign furniture. 

these colors:

this art:

 

this sofa: 

now and later.

 

noelle circa 2003: "i want what i want, when i want it." 

noelle circa yesterday: "this might not be the best decision for us in two years." 

i think i'm finally getting a handle on adulthood with a little thing called perspective.

so we're saving our pennies. 

hopefully for a rainy day.

in the united kingdom. 

[because i sure do miss this place.]

downton abbey

so maybe i love british period dramas.
and have an addictive personality.
which translated to about 20 hours of downton abbey in 3 days.

don't regret it FOR ONE SECOND.


KC is not going to be thrilled about this, but i just couldn't resist.
she'sa DEAD RINGER for michelle dockery - the star of downton abbey.(and if you haven't been hooked yet, you'd better.)

 here's michelle. 

and her american twin.

right?!?!?!

when i started work at o.c. tanner and didn't know where to find a pen, buy my lunch or whom to speak with in the manufacturing department KC came to my rescue. a good deal of my time in salt lake was spent with her - well spent, i might add - lunches, walks, post-work work-outs, sushi dinners etc.

she's wonderful.

the worst part of my work day...

the worst part of my work day is walking from the car park through the windy corridor of cold into the building. we're right on the water - and even though the views are stunning - the wind chill factor takes my breath away. [which of course necessitates a hot chocolate in the a.m.]

other than that, i'm loving it. 

really. really. really. loving it. 

Copy Cat

There's room in my heart for two favorite colors. 

When I saw Courtney (of Bravo's"Most Elligible Dallas") rock these hot pink jeans on her fashion blog, I added a pair of to my wish list. (And then made all my dreams come true when ideeli.com had a pair for $24.99) Naturally, to continue in copying Courtney, I rocked mine in Texas this weekend. Pink is the new red.

insta-jan

don't know if you've joined the instagram craze just yet, but you don't want to miss out on jan_an.
her outfit ensembles are KILLING me. seriously, find her. follow her.

if only i could buy them...
or have gorgeous long blond hair. 

if people were more like me...

• there would be more car accidents. (my driving skills have been on a steady decline) 
• we'd make more trees into tissues. my eyes leak a lot. 
• we'd look like skittles. i'm really into bright colors lately. 
• no one would ever be wrong. (this is actually a very bad habit)
• we would always have the best of intentions. (execution is a different story.)
• no one would ever pay full price. it's a mantra i stick to. 
• there would be no need for hangers. clothing in large piles will do. 
• parents' homes would be OVERFLOWING with their children, and their children's husband, and their children's children...
• wasabi wouldn't need to exist. seriously, why?
• emotion would always win out over logic. 
• baby blankets would actually be called lifetime blankets.