Monday, November 22, 2010

a day made of cute.

Listening To: Human by The Killers (the live version from Royal Albert Hall ... I'm obsessed with this version of the song)


We interrupt this busy holiday week to bring you a moment of severe cuteness.

I am completely taken by cute things. I don't even mean traditional cute things - like fuzzy dogs and bunnies and Yoda. Usually, I go bonkers over small versions of big things. Like mini-staplers? Adorbs. Or the aisle in Party City devoted to party favors? In the words of Rachel Zoe: I die. Even as a kid, I was obsessed with toys like Polly Pocket and Charmkins (anybody remember those?). The tiny factor gets to me.

This post contains some serious cute. Lucky for you, however, this post has nothing to do with staplers or pencil toppers. My brother sent me a text on Saturday containing a picture of the small fuzzy dog he happened to be dog-sitting. This is Lola the Dog chillaxing in her crate:


Right?!
Naturally, I ran to my car and zoomed out of the driveway and navigated psycho-mall-traffic because I had to see Lola the Dog before her owners came to take her home. When my brother opened the door, holding Lola the Dog, I squealed very loudly. I'm fairly certain my squeal shattered windows all across his apartment complex.


Have I mentioned how much I love the fact that my manly, outdoorsy, hipster-scruff-brother was totally smitten with this dog? Just when I thought his heart was two sizes too small ...

Lola the Dog weighs like two pounds. She is a fuzzy furball. She mostly wanted to cuddle and prance around and be cute. When she waddled around on the floor, she looked like a furry caterpillar:


This is me with Lola the Dog and Conan O'Brien:


I think I look approximately six years old in this picture. Cute little puffers bring out the little kid in me ... the kid who loved fuzzy animals and bedtime stories and Hello Kitty paraphernalia. And side pony tails. Maybe I should rock a side ponytail for Thanksgiving? Keep the nostalgia rolling? (Just kidding ... I won't be rocking a side pony-tail.) (But if I had this? I would use it daily.)

Of course, I'm of the firm opinion that no dog will ever be cuter than this dog:



I'm boarding Biscuit this weekend. I am quite nervous about this. The place is super swanky. The people there are all sweet dog lovers. Great reviews. Great references. They didn't mind when I went for a tour and asked questions off a mile-long checklist. (Example: "Will Biscuit be adequately cuddled? She likes to be cuddled.") I know dog owners board pets all the time but I'm feeling some serious guilt about this. I feel better about boarding her than taking her along though. Biscuit's personality doesn't mesh well with the other dog on the property of the place I'm headed. Still. She's getting lots of extra treats this week. Le sigh.

I thought you might need some cute to start your week.

I'm also in need of some advice.
Specifically: 1.) what are you reading these days? I'm trying to decide between three books to take with me for Turkeypalooza travel. I'll probably end up taking all three, but right now the contenders are: Little Bee by Chris Cleave, The Underneath by Kathy Appelt or Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. (I know these three books have little in common ... I just never know what I'll be in the mood for until I get to a place. Know what I mean?) I would love some more suggestions though.

And 2.) What are you listening to?
Even more than music, I would love to hear your recommendations for a.) great books on CD or b.) fun podcasts or c.) some kind of downloadable conference you've attended that's worth a listen. Like the conference you attended on successful catapult building and operation? Send me the info for that.

I have a long ride coming up this week. I can't read in the car. I can barely mark my License Plate Bingo board without getting sick. You know how roadtrips, even the ones with your favorite people, always morph into that hours-long stretch of silence and boredom? I need backup entertainment for that.

13 comments:

  1. Do you have Keith Urban's new album yet? It is FABULOUS! :)

    Reading She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell...LOVE it.

    Happy Thanksgiving! And when can we see a post about Harry Potter? :)

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  2. That is SUCH a cute puppy. What kind is it?

    I have had Savannah Blues by my bedside since this summer. Have yet to get to it. Read Little Bee so I can hear how it is.

    Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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  3. Books: novels by Ted Dekker, and a nonfiction book about the Orthodox church
    Music: Jars of Clay -- Shelter album. EXCELLENT!

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  4. Cute puppy!

    I also think mini-staplers are adorable. A girl in one of my classes has a purple one that uses tiny little purple staples. Anytime she asks if anybody needs to borrow it, I do and staple everything in sight. :)

    I have been sick this weekend, so I haven't been able to do anything but read and watch TV Land. This weekend I read "How Do I Love Thee?" by Nancy Moser (novel about Elizabeth Barrett Browning's life), which was a little heavy and long for me. I also read "Fools Rush In," by Janice Thompson, which I loved, mostly for the constant Sinatra references. Anyway, I always take stacks of books with me on vacation (I can read while riding), because I never know what I'll feel like reading.

    You could always download the newest MuggleNet podcast, where they discuss the new movie, which *I haven't seen yet* because I was throwing up Friday night instead of sitting in the theater! What a nightmare. Please don't put up a HP post until after tomorrow! I'm going tomorrow evening to see the movie, and even though I don't want to read about it until after I see it, I wouldn't be able to resist! I already gave in and read Ruth's post about it. I'm so tempted to listen to the MuggleCast! :)

    ~Kristin

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  5. Lola is so cute. She reminds me of my dog Daisie when she was a puppy. And Biscuit looks sort of like Daisie now. :)

    Books: I am reading Captivating, and also navigating my way through the Percy Jackson books. They are short, fun, and mystical. I am currently also trying to read through the Potter series again. Can't.get.enough.

    As far as podcasts go, I always listen to my church messages from iTunes. Lifechurch.tv has an online church which allows people from all over the world to listen to/watch the messages we hear on Sunday, all week long. They also put them all on iTunes. I love it. My favorites are all saved on my iPod. Also, J.K. rowling did a fantastic Oprah intereview that is free on iTunes. It talks about her writing, why she wrote, how the books turned out the way they did, her life, etc. It was awesome.Annnnnnnd, if you haven't ever heard of Judah Smith, check him out. Now.:) His teachings will change your life. He is about 31, from Portland, and wears skinny jeans. He is a seriously wise and hilarious man of God and he is one of my favorite pastors. If you want to listen to one by him, he is on the Lifechurch.tv iTunes Video podcast page, under Week 2 of "Planted".

    Hope you have a fantastic week of turkey!!! :)

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  6. So why is it that mini versions of big things, even when they fail to be as functional, are so cute? It baffles my mind.

    Have you read the Hunger Games? I totally jumped on the bandwagon with this series, and I haven't regretted it yet. They are fabulous. I just finished reading Jellicoe Road. It was amazing. Have you read a review about it somewhere recently? GreenBeanTeenQueen maybe? Cause I could have sworn I'd heard about it somewhere, I just cannot remember where.

    Have a lovely Thanksgiving, Natalie!

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  7. Aww so cute, Natalie! Tiny equal cute factor in my book too!

    As far as books go, I just finished Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (think Twilight-ish without an annoying main female, and a meeting of angels, humans and dark forces..) and really enjoyed it. Currently I'm reading the Jane Austen Book Club and have Eat, Pray, Love waiting on my nightstand. I'd also suggest anything by Erwin McManus. Seriously. He rocks.

    Hmm music wise..if you're in the mood for something international (I happen to love foreign music.) Pink Martini is a lovely French artist and anything by her is quite wonderful.
    Yesterday, Today, Forever by Ryan Stevenson is fantastic.
    Podcasts..anything done by Francis Chan. Oh, and Seth Godin is another interesting one.

    Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

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  8. Lola is soo cute! As is Biscuit!

    I work at a vet's office. More specifically in the kennel. I walk them and feed them and whatnot. It's part of what's kept me sane during high school. There's not much I love more than walking a super cute dog at work.

    As far as stuff to listen to, I'm not really listening to anything. But I recommend making a couple mix CD's of your all time favorite songs to rock out to.

    Have a great Thanksgiving!

    -Sara-

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  9. talking to other followers here first: Katie, that is so true. things that are shrunk down, like they've been in the washer too long are SO cute. Kristin: I feel so bad for you! Throwing up on HP night. tear. Hope you're doing better, enjoy the movie.
    Just wanted to say, I needed this post, not really having a great afternoon and you always make me feel better. Yes, that doggie is cute. Right now I'm reading the second part of HPDH because it doesn't yet exist on the big sreen. I'm also in the middle of the final (I think) volume of The Mysterious Benedict Society. It's a great children's series, that reminds me kind of a A series of Unfortunate Events and something else that I can't lay my finger on. I always recommend The Night Tourist when someone asks me what book to read. Also Percy Jackson and the Olympians and A School of Possibilities. Man, this is a long comment as you can see you asked my favorite question:) Music...have you heard JJ Heller, amazing. So is Brooke Fraser's new sound. Have a very happy thanksgiving!
    LF

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  10. Biscuit is so precious! :) I know what you mean about those staplers! My mom bought some itsy bitsy jars of Nutella at the store and I can't get over their cuteness. It's crazy!

    Hmm, well if you're in to historical fiction you need to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It's so good! Also, if you want a good long read then check out Gone with the Wind. The book is even better than the movie!

    As for music....I haven't listened to all of Keith Urban's album or the new Rascal Flatt album but both, I'm sure, could prove trip worthy! :) Or also, I know this isn't a new band or anything but Tenth Avenue North is pretty amazing. Or also Jack Johnson (totally different genres! :) )...

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  11. Oh and as for podcasts: Francis Chan. Amazing.

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  12. Books: I sheepishly admit to reading the House of Night series. I think I like them better than Twilight. Don't judge me! Also in the middle of South of Broad (Conroy). Bittersweet (Niequist) is one of the best nonfiction books I've read this year.

    I'm not an audiobook person and I'm hopelessly behind on podcasts but my new favorite group is Neulore. You can listen to their album on their website. Pretty sure you'll love them as much as I do! They're having an album release party in Nashville on Dec. 1, FYI.

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  13. When we go on roadtrips, my family (six kids, gotta have something that's entertaining for everyone) we listen to Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre. They have classics and more like Little Women, Chronicles of Narnia, Anne of Green Gables, Screwtape Letters, and lots more. The whole book is acted out by many different voices, it's like a movie in your head.

    http://family.christianbook.com/fotf-radio-theatre?p=1143751&event=ORC

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