You may have noticed I haven’t blogged in a while. I could sit here and make (more) excuses about why my poor blog is taking a beating (again), but that’s not very fun, is it?

Here is what I’ve been doing:

1. Painting my bathrooms.

Both are vintage 60s tile: one pink, one yellow. The pink bathroom now has turquoise walls (trust me, it looks rad) and the yellow one has gray walls.

After staring at paint swatches on my bare bathroom walls for over a year, I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.

I might even muster up the energy to take pictures and post them here so we can all “ooh and ahh” over them. Of course, that would take actual work and effort, so we’ll see.

2. Purging.

I’m in this nesting/reorganizing/cleaning/redecorating mode right now. I had been putting it off and once I got back from my epic summer trip the time finally seemed right to reinvent this living space of mine.

Check out the dressers I scored for $40 at a yard sale down the street:

3. Working my arse off.

My boss left the company, so I’m doing her job (and mine) until they find a replacement.

It’s been an extremely rewarding and challenging experience but sometimes, at the end of the day, my brain hurts too much to do anything but watch Trailer Park Boys on Netflix.

Don’t ask.

And not to be a Braggy Braggerson, but MintLife (the blog I edit) just got recommend by Suze Orman in O Magazine. It kinda makes me want to squee. Just a little.

4. Reading.

I know, I’d practically given up reading for good. Kidding. Sort of.

Currently reading: Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling by The Bike Snob NYC.

Even if you aren’t into cycling (I’m not, but I sure seem to be into cyclists), it’s so g-darn witty and well-written you can’t help but pour through the pages.

I’m a bizarre mixture of shamelessly envious, yet totally smitten with the author.

5. Listening to Music

Current obsessions include: The Carpenter by the Avett Brothers (I am convinced that Scott Avett is secretly in love with me), Boys & Girls by Alabama Shakes, The Elle King EP by Elle King, and The Way I See It by Raphael Saadiq.

Dear Scott Avett, I love you. That is all.

6. Trying not to buy these boots. 

7. Waking up at 6am to take my Kindergartener to school.

That’s right — Emma started Kindergarten.

When did she grow up and doesn’t anyone know that I am not old enough to have a 5-year old?

Also? A 7:35am start time is BRUTAL.

8.  Hanging out at mansions (true story).

Ok, it was only one mansion, but still. I should also mention that it was on the beach. ON. THE. BEACH.

If only you could have seen the hot tub and lap pool, too. I’ll stop now.

I know. That actually happened. Moving on….

9. Being immature. 

Some of the older kids at Emma’s school must be learning about the sun and planets and the earth’s rotation and stuff (don’t I sound smart) because they have been tracing their own shadows throughout the day and marking the time of each tracing.

This is what I stumbled upon when perusing the playground the other day:

I…uh….hmmmmm.

I mean, can you blame me? As if I would pass up on an opportunity like that.

10. Driving.

As you read this, I am making my way up the California coast for the Creative Alliance conference retreat in Ojai, CA.

I’m going to spend the next three days with 50 fellow women bloggers talking about all things bloggy, doing a little yurt yoga and other hippie dippie stuff and hopefully getting my write-on.

There might be pictures to follow. Again, that would require actual work and effort, so we’ll see.

What are you guys up to these days?