5 things I'm learning while my Internet is down

1. Doormen begin to look very haggard and very frightened when they work in a apartment building containing 320 units filled with very haggard, very scary people who've had no Internet access for three days (and counting).

2. I shouldn't have gotten rid of my radio. My morning routine is not my morning routine without the smooth voice of Soterios Johnson reciting the day's news to me on NPR's Morning Edition on wnyc.org. Oh! Soterios!

3. You have to have a passcode when you have to call your bank instead of dealing with them online. Like a fancy alphanumer-whatever one. What? Whatever happened to just using my mother's maiden name? And are they secretly dissing my mom?

4. My pens still work. So do my stamps. And the envelopes! They're like magic!

5. The Internet works just fine here at the office. And sometimes, even though you feel kind of guilty about it, you may still have to post to your blog from work. Especially when it's to share some cool news: Herman Miller interviewed me for their blog post today! Check me out here.

(And please don't fire me, ya'll.)

Secret Fetish: Colanders

Colanders are a bit ambivalent, aren't they?

I mean, they'll eagerly contain a lot of the things we crave: Steaming-hot pasta ready for a sweaty straining. Summery, about-to-pop berries needing to be held. Fat, juicy grapes asking for a good, wet rinsing.

But, oh, it's not for long. Nooo. Soon, they'll let things dry up. Get stale. Get mushy. Or get old.

And just when you think you've figured them out, they're back again--all cleaned up and ready to go, eager to be everything you need them to be.

Conflicted colander!

If you weren't so pretty, I'd have rethought this relationship years ago.

Large Fruit Bowl/Colander, $58, zwyner at etsy

Koziol Ole Small White Colander, £2.50, exitinteriors.co.uk

Ole Colander, $150, tivolihome.com

Oyster Colander, $75, DodgeStationPottery at etsy

Berry Colander and Dish Set (Snowball White), $42, baileybowls at etsy

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The One-Bouquet-a-Week Challenge

Inspired by the lovely flowers from stylist Leslie Shewring over at A Creative Mint, I've decided to issue a challenge to myself: learn how to create better arrangements by whipping up a new bouquet for myself each week.

Above is my first attempt (P.S. The hyacinth smell AMAZING amazing). I'm especially interested in learning to place flowers in unique containers...but after plowing through my cabinets, I am realizing that I have only one kind around here: old mason jars I probably got from a relative or two over the past few years.

It's a good start, but I am now going to be on the hunt for some fun vase-like supplies. But that's fine with me, because not only do I like to shop for home stuff, I also like to win a challenge. Even if it's only against myself.

(Bring it, self!)

Pining for a Canine: 6 Pet Portraits You'll Love

Lately, I've been contemplating getting a dog. Which is a very silly thing, because I do not have the space, or the time, or a close-enough-to-home commute, or even basic dog-owning skills to have one right now.

Also, I am finding that I may be wanting a dog for a reason that could be considered unhealthy: I totally want a portrait made of my not-yet-acquired canine. And as we all know, the possibility of acquiring a new piece of original art is no reason to purchase a pet. Blah blah blah.

So I am restraining. For now. Because, come on, what if I got THIS guy? Can't you just SEE the amazing addition that little bundle of cute would be to my art collection I mean my life?

Noisy Dog Studio portraits by Leigh Jackson

Commissioned portrait by Kate T. Williamson

Screenprinted Custom Pet Silhouette, $45, spottedflats at etsy.com

Custom portraits by Jane Oriel

Original hand-carved rubber stamp of your pet, $24, Kozue at etsy.com

Custom Pet Portrait in Watercolor, $150, abgraham at etsy.com

P.S. Thanks to BKLYN Contessa for introducing that puppy link to me. Gushing.

All images / websites / content © their respective owners.