on Coltrane.

Wordpress 2.7 Coltrane, that is.

(click image for bigger picture)

It’s so pretty and clean looking. Plus you can customize your dashboard to what you want and don’t want on it. Push things out of the way, use collapsible boxes to minimize boxes your not using, faster and sleeker. Moderating and replying to comments from your dashboard, automatic upgrades and plugin browser too? Plus it has an accent (post about all the features and intro video).

Blogger bloggers, you are missing out.

WP users, what do you think of the latest upgrade?

(this is probably the geekiest post I’ve ever written but dude, it’s so pretty!)

I took an unitentional blog break there for a few days. Four days is a lot of time for not blogging for me. Normally I have some sort of nonsense, link or ridiculous celeb gossip story up here posing as Writing. No worries though, I was still twittering my little heart out.

Instead of writing something enthralling, here are some things I’ve noticed or realized in the past couple of weeks:

• Signature Hot Chocolate from Starbucks is amazing
• You might be addicted to twittering when you want to add an @ or a # before everything
• You also may be twittering too much when you meet someone then ask their twitter handle to see if you are following them
• Too bad you can’t “unfollow” people in life
• Sometimes the unexpected happens
• Pea coats suck when you have a corgi puppy
• Always shave your legs, just in case
• Blue ink takes long to come out of white puppy fur
• I need a hair cut but don’t want to go do it
• This Blackberry Pearl might be on it’s way out. Yay!

Now I’m going to direct you to Oh How Lovely Shops. I’m having a huge giveaway. Items from 15 different etsy shops and one fabulous person will win it all. Exciting, no?

What’s going on with you guys?

Debbie Deb, anyone?

No?

Boo!

So yes, it is Friday! I’m particlarly looking foward to this weekend because I have some pretty awesome stuff going on.

Tonight I’m double booked. I’ll be at Gals’ Guide’s event at Banana Republic getting all kinds of sweet deals and discounts. Then I’ll be heading over to the Windy Citizen meet up.

Remember a couple weeks ago when I went to the DIY Trunk Show? Well this weekend is Renegade Craft Fair! I’m hopefully meeting up with a few lovely ladies and getting my shop on.

If you’re in Chicago and heading to any of these things, drop me a line.

If you’re not, what are you weekend plans?

Tuesday night I got home from work to find my dog covered in blue ink*. Turns out she chewed a pen and it busted. Luckily, it didn’t seem to be in her mouth, just all over her white fur patches. She never chews things up either! Figures the one day she decides to chew on something it’s a pen.

Well the next morning, I took Edie out before I left for work and there was some snow on the ground. My puppy has decided she loves snow. She runs around in circles and races all around the backyard skidding and sliding in the snow. It’s the funniest thing ever!

There isn’t a ton of snow on the ground in this video and you can’t really tell but I was kicking the snow up at her and she was biting and chasing it.

Take a peek at my blue corgi playing in the snow! Sorry in advance for my shoddy camera skills and my giggling like a 12 year old.

Blue Edie pup in the snow. from jamie lovely on Vimeo.

Is it sad that I’m looking forward to when the snow piles up even more so I can take more** video of her? And I HATE*** snow.

* Some of you may have seen my frantic twittering asking for someone to tell me my dog wasn’t going to die.
** Hopefully not blue while doing so or I might have a heart attack thinking my dog is going to die again.
*** HAAAAAAAAAAAAATE

Yes, this post is all about Britney Spears. Get off my shit, bitch is fierce.

As some of you know, today her new record, Circus dropped. I think it’s good and there are a couple of really great songs (in my opinion) like Circus and Phonography but as a whole, I think Blackout was better. Blackout had hit after hit.

On another note, while watching the documentary, Britney: For the Record, I think you can really see how sad she is. It’s like she loves doing what she does but she just doesn’t have the spark anymore. Maybe it’s poor choreography but she isn’t really hitting the dancing like she use to. Or maybe it’s just taking her awhile to get back into the swing of performing. The preview for the Circus video looks insane though. I can’t wait to see it.

(Britney’s performance this morning on Good Morning America)

Whatever it is, I love her and want to go see her when she comes to Chicago in April. I wish I would have know that tickets would go on pre-sale today so I could have budgeted it in but I don’t think I can afford to drop like $250 for a pair of tickets

A few notes today, lovelies.

First off, I started a review blog because I couldn’t figure out how to get my review pages to allow comments on here. Whatever. What is it called you ask?

Oh How Lovely reviews

I know, I know. I’m so creative!

Anyway, I have a review up right now for The Slanket. Remember how I wrote about wanting one a couple weeks ago (here)? You guys should go comment on it and stumble it so I can convince the people at Slanket to give me one to give away to you guys. Seriously, you know you want to look as cozy as me because this thing is really awesome!

Secondly, at the Oh How Lovely Shops blog, I’ve been posting a holiday gift guide. So far there is holiday cards, stockings, a doggie guide, men’s guide and then on Friday the baby guide will be posted. Next week I will be posting more.  Also if nothing in the guide hits the spot, check the archives. There are tons of great items.

Still no luck? If there is anyone on your gift list that is hard to find a gift for and you can use some help, drop me a line and I’ll see what I can come up with!

Also on the Shops blog is this week’s etsy giveaway from Shop Red Leaf and I have three tubs of bubble bath dough for three lucky people! Go check that out and leave a comment to enter.

I’m feeling pretty crappy with a sore throat and head cold so that’s all for now.

Happy Tuesday!

Those of you who have been reading since this time last year more than likely remember the tale of the ugly boots.

It all started when I first started this little blog here and wrote about fashion* that should be illegal**. Later in December, I was whining about stepping in slush or something in my Converse and while shopping at Target broke one of my fashion rules by buying a pair of knock off Uggs for $20. I confessed my crime but but refused to like them (still don’t!). They only exist in my closet for the sole reason of keeping my tootsies warm from the frigid, slushy mess that Chicago becomes this time of year until March.

Anyway, I was running later for work the other day, slipped my ugly boots on and ran out the door. At work the kids (I’m a nanny), love the play with my shoes. They put them on and try to walk around with them and I hate it because I’m afraid they will trip and hurt themselves. Usually as soon as I walk in, I put my shoes behind one of the baby gates so they can’t reach them.

Well, I guess this day I forgot to put them out of reach so when it was time to leave, my boots could not be found. I’m looking all over the place and finally spot them.

In a puddle.

Sometimes when you potty training a three year old, you get accidents. Then when they have accidents, an adorable one year old will take the shoes she so loves to play with it and drop it in the accident.

I really don’t think that was an accident.

Baby girl obviously does not approve of ugly boots*** either and doesn’t think I should forsake fashion for warmth.

Lesson learned.

* No, I’m sorry. Leggings are still not pants.
** Expect another fashion gripes post coming soon because there is just too much ugly shit out there that people think is cute!
*** I still love you, Ugg lovers. I’m just not a fan of the boots. No hard feelings!