I have been reminiscing lots about my life lately after being reunited with some old friends on facebook… it has been interesting and fun, and has made me realize how much stuff i’ve actually FORGOTTEN! I feel stumped and worried, wondering if there’s a way to sort out a time line of my life and try to piece together some of my stories and memories and help bring some back. I wish I could “google” my life and find out what happened and when. There’s just no way to do it! It would be up to me to write it all, somehow in a database or calendar format. I did a little research on software to find something simple to use to organize all of the junk and bits and pieces of memory.

I figured I could try to remember things by googling the facts I know about the timeframe — for example, I knew I went to camp and we did some dance performances to Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. I just couldn’t remember what year it was. Well that should be easy right? Google the music and piece together the year, what summer it was, at least… I thought, OK i can do that, but where to put this info? How to “jot it down?” fearing i’ll forget it again… I also felt compelled to write some notes about that summer at camp — I’d dislocated my knee, and we’d had a food fight in the cafeteria… hmmm what other memories might come up as I write? I am thinking this might be fun to do!

As i researched i came across a bunch of software packages that were detailed, and looked very comprehensive, but I have a problem with things not looking “clean” and if it is too cluttered it won’t make me feel like I’m getting organized. It’s all about user-interface. I don’t want to get stressed out as I clean up and organize my life memories…

I found a site that I am going to try out and see if it will work. I have probably 1000s of fragments of memories, and am not sure how the “timeline” they create out of these bits will work. But I’m going to try it and see if it will help me get it going. I think it is still in beta though, but it looks clean and simple and easy to use: xtimeline.com

Dash and Albert has always been famous for their huge variety of cotton rugs. I came across them a while back in an Apartment Therapy article. I would love to use their rugs in my home, maybe one of these days… Meanwhile I am in love with these totes. Colorful, sturdy, simple design.  30 different stripes/colors to choose from. Makes me want to stuff it with sunscreen, magazines and a blanket and head to the beach.

this ad caught my eye.  When I first saw it, i thought these rings are gorgeous, and it stuck in my mind, maybe it was the citrine one, with it’s amber gold color, and the thought of it being a simple, classic, pretty sterling silver ring, and even thought, maybe it is affordable? WRONG. I looked at Tiffany’s and they are going for $800. It is a 9 carat emerald cut stone, but really? Maybe it is because it says Tiffany & Co on the side of the setting? Well I thought I’d shop around a bit and I was surprised at what I found. There are some deals out there. Especially if you want to go faux. You can definitely get a real emerald cut birthstone (citrine, topaz, amethyst, etc.) with a sterling silver setting for a lot less.

I grew up loving anything Marimekko. Fabric, colors, the graphic quality of their products… I especially loved my Marimekko messenger bag. It was huge, and had the foldover flap with a zipper pocket. An adjustable strap too. I had a brown one and I dragged that thing all around school! It finally wore out and I ended up trying to sew my own version out of red canvas. It wasn’t the same, close but not quite…  I think at the time, I couldn’t afford a new one, or maybe couldn’t find one, so I took to my sewing machine. Looking at the same bag on the Marimekko site brings back memories. It is 15.75″ wide with plenty of room for school books.

I love the bold shapes and colors of their timeless poppy design… it seems everything they do is well thought out. I am really thinking about getting one for my Mom for Christmas! But which bag? There are many to choose from… When googling Marimekko bags, one site had a column off to the side with “related items” and lo and behold they had the black and white “Sophia” bag from etsy shown (I’ve mentioned it below)..

Another bag crush… I found this one on etsy today. I am crazy for anything with a black and white pattern on it. I really want to design bags, and when I see something like this I think oh wow I could make that… but yeah i’m sure I’d mess it up if I tried. Click on the photo for more info at etsy!

It’s the penelope laptop bag from FranklinCovey’s site. It’s got an uptown kinda thing going on. Not bad! Wouldn’t mind seeing it in a chocolate brown though.

I am a complete bag addict. I love bags. But I am super particular. Someday I would love to be a bag designer. I can’t help it. I just love this stuff! I like simple clean lines and traditional styles… nothing puckered or crinkled or too many buckles. Or too shiny. Maybe I am just a little bit boring but hey, I’d rather accessorize with a chunky bracelet or scarf than with a lumpy slouchy logo-y snakey bag. A bright solid color bag or cute zebra thing once in a while would be great. I wouldn’t turn down a big Louis Vuitton tote either. 

Anyways… I’ve got a powerbook and it is too big for most briefcases, so I started looking for the perfect leather tote. Googling “leather tote” gave me some crazy options but I found a few that are just… just plain adorable :).

This one is the “Rachel Laptop Bag” from FranklinCovey. I remember the days of having a dayplanner, bringing it to every meeting, taking notes, writing all kinds of lists and being super organized. Well that is a good feeling right? I have a date book but it isn’t as serious as my old franklin dayplanner. This tote bag looks like it would make me happy and more organized though! It has a shoulder strap too (or so it says)… Hold me back! I am afraid I will order it. I will have to put this on my wish list for Christmas…

I’ve been kinda wanting a red leather bag too. Maybe on the flashy side. I always wear black, grey or brown. Some white and blue but I am always neutral. I need more scarves and stuff to spice things up. And a classy bag.

Googling further I came across this a.dor.a.ble Michael Kors bag. Is it really as big as it says? Does it come in black or brown? Ohhhh it is cute and kind of not-work-ish. 

 It is listed as being 19″ wide. Definitely big enough for my computer. But it would probably look all wrong with something rectangular in it. 

Looking around a bit more… I am seeing more potentially cool bags, some are more for traveling but would be great for work. This red one is a stunner, with it’s shoulder strap it would be convenient. It’s big, at 21″ wide. Hmmm! not bad :)

I’ve been thinking i should be wearing some cute shoes. I spent the whole summer in flip flops (talk about being a boring mom… sheesh) which was fun and all but come on now! Mom’s gotta get cute right? I am the type that likes to basically wear the same shoe all the time. I am into comfort… I want to just slip the shoes on and go. I have some old Dansko clogs i keep wearing but they are just so clunky! They are really old but i love them. I was just looking around and found these other Danskos called “Tara” and I think I am in LOVE! Maybe could wear with jeans and skirts… versatile. These are black suede, they come in brown and in nappa leather as well. I want something comfy with the cute pump/maryjane look. I am so tired of being frumpy or boring or predictable …  I think i’ll have to go for it.

These maryjanes have a peep-toe and are called Tillie. The heel doesn’t seem too high, and they also look comfy. These are officially on my wish list. ?