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Going Into The Closet

Even if you've only been following my blog or twitter a short time, you have likely noticed I've got a preoccupation with chaotic closets...and trying to rebuild order. My house is not normally a place of clutter, but for the past 6 months or more I have found myself in state of disarray with clothing and shoes piled up all over the place. It actually started to hinder my ability to think clearly and I felt a little depressed, so as my birthday approached I made a commitment to myself to pull it together and regain a well-kept space.

Off my dining room is a narrow walk-in closet that beckoned to me in the night, "I will house your clothing in an orderly fashion kind woman. If you build it, I will store." Apparently it must have been whispering to the Chef too because he showed up here a couple weeks ago with a rad closet organizer that saved my life. Last week I said sayonara to a year of my life and a bunch of clutter, too. Yippee!! My clean house is back...and it all started with this closet.

You don't have to be kind. It was a hot mess.

Can you say clutter?

Don't worry I'll say it for you.

But now look!!!

What was that? You want a close up?? Me too!!

To the left is a wardrobe/shelving unit that holds

hanging items, boxes of boots...

and some of my most favorite folded cashmere.

On the right are personalized hooks I found at Anthropologie.

They're perfect for holding bags, belts, and scarves.

I love to see my initials hanging on the wall when I walk in. Cool!

The upper part of the back of the closet was the perfect

place to install a hangbar for coats and jackets.

They were taking up so much space squishing blouses, dresses

and other fine articles of clothing. Now I can shop my closets!

Below them is shelving that is ideal for storing shoes.

It doesn't hold all of my shoes, but at least it holds several

pairs of my favorites and creates more order in the other closets.

Here's the space behind the door.

There's still room for more shelves higher up to hold

additional pairs of shoes. I want to use as much of the space as wisely

as possible - without overcrowding it.

Here's the view out of the closet.

It gives a sense of how deep the space really is.

I picked up a couple of these rugs at Ikea.

Today I actually laid down on them right inside the closet.

It's my new happy place.

For months I've looked at fancy closets far and wide and wished I could figure something out in my own space. One day it dawned on me...uh, Carrie - you're not Olivia Palermo (or anyone else who has a big ol' space for a big ol' closet). Fortunately (at least a little anyway) I don't have her wardrobe to house either. All it took was the willpower to get rid of a bunch of things and re-organize the stuff that was remaining in order to clear this walk-in and regain a sense of order. It also took a boyfriend who shopped Home Depot's aisles like a pro to get the best configuration possible for the limited space I have to work with. Thank-you again Chef. I owe you big time!!

I've never had a nice closet like this - at least it's a big deal to me - and I wanted to share it with all of you to encourage you to reconsider an area you might have that could be waiting for you to use it in a new way. I was so overwhelmed with stuff that I couldn't think straight. A good purge and a reasonably priced closet organizer later, I'm feeling so much better.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Are you ever tempted to just throw it all away and start fresh?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the CSN Giveaway!! Goes til Wednesday at 11:59 PST.

Recently, while strolling along a wooded path (on the grounds of a classic Ohio roadside attraction) with my family, we came upon this sign (above): "Keep Off the Dinosaurs."

Our kids are reasonably well-behaved creatures, so we did not think anything of it. Well, I guess I thought the sign had a pinch of the kill-joy spirit in it, but that's life these days in the United States of Litigation.

We walked onward.

Moments later the unthinkable happened. Liam was attacked by a raging triceratops.

Perhaps there should have been a sign for the dinosaurs saying "Don't Eat the Tourists."

Thank heavens I had my iPhone with me or I wouldn't have gotten this photo of the attack. We'll need it for the lawsuit.

[ok, just kidding. Liam is fine. So is the triceratops, according to its lawyer and agent.]

Recovery Mode

Last week I was talking to my friend Rosamond and we were discussing how we are trying to "grow up" on the subject of our birthdays and, specifically, how we handle them *read: lower expectations so as not to be devastated*. I don't know what is wrong with me but some years I have worked my expectations up so high, even without realizing it, and then been acutely aware of the feeling of being let down when the truth is the day was wonderful. Ugh! Growing pains.

About a month ago I caught myself in a similar mode thinking I was 8 years old and needed a big party. The Chef was like, "Uh, are you sure you wanna do that? I mean we can do it, but do you really think that's the way you want to spend that weekend...planning for a big ol' party?" Well of course I hadn't really thought it over too much. I was already at the party in my mind, don't you know? (she says shaking her head). Aneeway. Shortly after this grand idea of mine, the Chef and I had the perfect poolside lunch at a boutique hotel in LA. I told him that rather than being a control freak I'd leave it up to him (to the best of my ability) and back off. All I really wanted was for my BFF of 10 years to come to town for cake.

I can honestly say, without a doubt, that my birthday this past weekend was the best I have ever had in my life. It was filled with great food, tons of laughs, a few crazy mishaps and, most importantly, some of my closest friends. I really do feel like crying as I'm typing these words because it was far more than I ever could have hoped for - or thought of - and I will always remember it.

The Chef made Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with sprinkled sugar and fresh raspberries

for breakfast...thanks for the idea Nikki!

Then the doorbell started ringing and surprises started showing up.

This is one from my brother and his family...so many yummy specialty chocolates!

Milijana sent me this wonderful gift all the way from Australia!

The bird is a beautiful dinner bell. I love it!!

After we picked up my BFF at the airport we checked into our hotel and opened some prezzies!

And later met up with another of our friends for dinner at AOC, a favorite spot.

The next day we lounged poolside over great lunch.

Dipped our feet and relaxed.

With yummy frozen snacks in the warm sun.

The rest of the weekend was filled with more fave food.

Warm beach days.

My favorite World Class Chocolate Ice Cream Cake.

This movie, after which I realized I want to be Evelyn Salt,

run up walls and kick heads off. I guess I really am growing up. Haha!

Mad laughs with the BFF...the first friend I made in the US.

A friend sandwich over even more wonderful food.

And then a sad "see ya next time". Sigh. It all went by so fast.

I didn't even include half of the stuff that went on or my other friend who drove over 2 hours just to bring me a card and give it to me face to face. The things we were able to do made my birthday fun, but it was being in the company of some of my favorite people that made it memorable and heartwarming and a day I'll never forget. I owe a major shout out and x's and o's to infinity to the Chef who made the entire weekend more than I ever could have on my own. So much love to him!!

Thanks to all of you for sticking with me during my time away from the blog. Your birthday wishes added so much to my day and I can't wait to go back and re-read your messages. Normal posts to resume this week...and I'm looking forward to getting caught up on all your blogs.:)

Pages and pages have been written lately about the future of the American Birding Association—some of it fairly pessimistic, some of it quite optimistic. Recent posts have tended toward the latter, which is reason for hope.

I don't have a lot to add to the chorus of voices suggesting how to save the organization, but I do want to make one suggestion to the ABA as a whole, and especially to the incoming president/CEO: Please make it fun.

I've been an ABA member since the mid-1980s. Back then I was trying my level best to fit in with the more experienced birders I encountered. I knew then (and still know) what it's like as a bird watcher to feel not good enough to "hang" with the big dogs. That's a problem that's plagued the ABA almost since its inception: new bird enthusiasts not feeling comfortable joining because they felt inadequate in skill level and experience.

I've heard other things named as THE reason for the ABA's decline.

"It's just a club for listers!"
"Is it a conservation group or a birding group or both?"
"All that super-difficult bird ID stuff in Birding magazine is way over my head."
"The conferences are too expensive."
"It just doesn't matter like it once did."
"It's too serious!"

That last reason may be closer to the mark than any of the other ones.

In the fall of 2008, I participated in a facilitated visioning session for the ABA. The half-dozen of us in the session worked for an entire day discussing what the ABA had done in the past, what it was doing currently, and what it might do in the future to maintain and enhance its standing in the North American birding community. I thought (as did the facilitator, and most of my fellow volunteer participants) that we came up with some really great ideas and recommendations. Sadly nothing ever came of our work—at least not yet.

If all of our recommendations could be summarized in one central theme, it would be to make being a member of the American Birding Association an engagingly fun experience.

An enormous factor in being a bird watcher for most of us is the social connection we enjoy with others who share our interest. When I look at my actual, real-world friends, most of them are birders. When I look at my Facebook "friends," the same is true.

However, being connected hasn't always been so easy.

As a young birder in the 1970s, I had no clue that there were others my age who shared my interest in birds. It wasn't until I joined a local bird club that I connected with fellow bird watchers, albeit much older than I.

In 1978, my family started Bird Watcher's Digest. We reached out through the mail to bird clubs and newspaper columnists writing about birds and nature in order to find content and subscribers. The ABA was newly formed, too, but not yet a well-known entity.

In the fall of 1979, when I went to band hawks as a volunteer in Cape May, New Jersey, I found out that there were people who did bird stuff for a living! Five or so years later, I discovered the American Birding Association and I attended my first ABA convention in 1990 in Fort Collins, CO.

Today it's far easier to find and connect with others who share our special interest. The ABA, if it is to survive and grow, needs to facilitate these connections. And it needs to make sure that EVERYONE is invited, and that EVERYONE is having fun. Like the host of a really awesome party, where everyone is having such a blast that they never want to leave.

Think this is vacuous? Perhaps it is. But it's worked for me here at Bird Watcher's Digest, in the content we create, and in the events that we coordinate.

Certainly the ABA needs to promote responsible birding. It needs to publish important data. It needs to support the development of the birders of tomorrow. It needs to figure out how to run itself like a business with good financial decisions and an elimination of the conflicts among membership, staff, and board. It needs to figure out how accomplish all these things AND how to be relevant in a world where everyone can be connected all of the time.

Make it fun, and all of these challenges will be easier to overcome. People have so many choices for spending their time, attention, and money. We humans are social creatures. We tend to gravitate to things that make us feel good. As bird watchers we might even need a bit more "feel-good" stuff since we've only recently emerged from the socially stigmatized days of Miss Jane Hathaway. A fun ABA will attract more members, which will help the organization become more relevant, which will attract more members...

Here's hoping that the months and years ahead will see a lot of F-U-N put into everything the ABA does. I, for one, believe that the hobby of birding needs the happy sense of belonging that a healthy and engaged ABA can offer. And so I'm going to do what I can to help things move in that direction.

Fly Away

I'm sitting here listening to the neighbor's dog bark its head off while she repeatedly hollers, "NO!" at it. After 3 days of this I'm about to go over there and give her a rip. Or at least holler, "NO!" to her. I wonder if it would work? If the dog's behavior is any indication, the answer would be no. Or is that "NO!"?

Anyway. It's been super warm and is early in the evening on Tuesday - just a couple seconds ago the sweetest cool breeze blew through the front door and straight out the open bedroom window in the back of the house leaving the whole place smelling like the ocean. I have to say I love summer at the beach and am so happy it's here, even if only for just a short time. Today was my last day of work for the week and I am officially in birthday mode (read: cleaning before my bff from Seattle gets here and calls Hoarders for an intervention - no jokes) I wish I was outside. sigh

A couple of days ago the Chef and I were driving through a small beach town by my house and on a street we'd never taken. As I glanced to the right I saw the beach no more than 50 yards away, causing me to holler, "Beach! Stop!". Luckily no one was behind us when he hit the brakes!! hehe We got out and took it in for a bit because who knows how long it will last...hopefully a month or so more, but you can never tell. I was wearing a silk butterfly tank top by my most fave Gaby Basora - the mastermind behind Tucker. Did you catch the preview sale for her Target Collection on Gilt last week? It was a gong show, but I managed to hobble off with a couple of dresses and a tank...one of the dresses is in a similar butterfly print. It won't be silk, but if I love it even half as much as the one I'm wearing here it'll be totally worth it. I hope you are able to treat yourself to some of her collection. It is quintessentially feminine with a touch of Parisian flair. I never tire of any of the pieces I own, or feel bad for a little wallet slip on her stuff here and there.

I can smell the breeze when I look at this picture. Love that!

There's the bracelet my new friend Laeticia gave me.

Remember that story?

Her husband made the belt too...seems I forgot to run it through

the other side of the buckle? Woops! Still looks and is awesome.

Soon enough it got a little chilly.

So we just mucked around in the sand for awhile.

Cashmere in August anyone? oy

I was probably tearing up because of all the cleaning that lies ahead...hehe

Perfect sunset. Can't ask for more. The kid with the frisbee felt the same.

Outfit details: Tucker by Gaby Basora Tank, Gap Layer Cami, Martin+Osa Skinny Denim (RIP), Martin+Osa Cashmere Cardigan, Swedish Hasbeen Super High Peep Toe Shoes, PANYC Belt and Bracelet, Tom Ford Sunnies.

Share The Love: Answered Tags

Recently I was tagged by three lovely ladies and wanted to dedicate today's post to spotlighting their blogs and answering their questions. When I started blogging just a few short months ago I didn't realize the camaraderie that would await me. It is especially nice to be given fun awards and tags by fellow bloggers - learning and sharing more about one another in the process. So without further ado I'll cut to the chase and get answering.

Have you visited Heather at A measure of...? She is a tremendous writer, an insightful person and has become someone I consider a friend. We found each other before the Cuppie Challenge, of which Heather was the winner of my leg. She recently showed Cuppie a tremendous time around Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Chile where she lives with her husband Serkan and their fetus (and yes I realize I am entirely inappropriate, but it's late and I'm beyond the point of stressed out). Recently Heather gave me the Versatile Blogger Award.

I'm supposed to share 7 things about myself and tag 15 other blogs. Okay - you're all tagged because I'm exhausted, my house is a full-on episode of hoarders, my birthday (aka d-day) is Thursday and my bff is coming to stay. I'm to the brim. Let's hug it out and whoever wants to, share it up! Share something about yourself in the comments or 7 things in a post. I think you're all tremendously versatile!

7 Things About Me: I can spare you having to read a book...Not too long ago I answered these questions here. Woop! Click on over and take a look!

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Next up is Stacey. She is the mind behind Design Addict Mom. I love to visit her blog and take in all the tremendous design photos she finds. It truly is amazing. Stacey also has a clear love for her family, and it really shines through in her posts. Her blog is personable and informative - like visiting with a friend. She tagged me on the Super Comments Award.

Here's the Q/A:

1. Why did you start blogging/why do you blog? Different reasons. For years people had been stopping to ask me where I got a certain something or other. Several times people encouraged me to start a blog - so after 3 or 4 years of procrastinating, I did. Here I am! Why do I continue? I'm a creative person with a stressful job and blogging allows me to express myself and be creative. It's a great place to channel all my extra energy.

2. What are your 3 Best Memories? Going to Europe in High School with several of my best friends and my kooky French teacher, the day I first saw the home I rented on the island I lived on in Washington State (it was beyond a dream come true - craftsman style, had undergone complete reno yet retained all original charm, and had water view out of every.single.window.), and the day I realized I had actually started my own business.

3. Name 2 of the Best ~~Fiction~~ Books You've Read (I'll give one fiction and one non):

Fiction: Without a Map by Meredith Hall
Non-Fiction: Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood by Koren Zailckas (arguably one of the best books I have ever read).

*I've read a ton of books and these are two that came immediately to mind.

4. What are the 5 Best Movies Ever Made? Gah! I don't know. I love movies so will list 5 of my faves - some will be totally cliche, but it's complete truth:

The Shawshank Redemption: I've seen it a bazillion times and always walk away with a pearl of wisdom, crying my eyes out at the end. "I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope." ...Pardon me while I go get the tissues.
Up in the Air. Yes it was a relatively recent release, but George Clooney's character is, essentially, me. The movie completely spoke to me.
Singin' In The Rain. Simply amazing movie.
Napoleon Dynamite. Don't judge.
A Mighty Heart: The Daniel Pearl Story. That story/movie really shook me up and I don't even care much for Jolie.
Oh, and I have to mention Goonies and The Breakfast Club because they are classics!!

5. 5 Things I Can't Live Without:

There's nothing I can't live without. Really. I've had some crazy things happen to me in my life and I guess the only thing I could not survive without would be my faith in God. For sure.

6. If You Could Change Your Name What Would It Be? Felicity (my fave tv show of all time!!). BAHAHA!! Kidding. Seriously though I like my name. No changes here. :)

7. Unique and Interesting Fact About Me: I don't know. Is anything really unique anymore? I grew up on a farm on the prairies in Canada, and rode the school bus to school for 2 hours in the am/pm for 12 years. I think it's why I don't get rattled by traffic.

8. If I had a Freaky Friday Experience Who Would I Change Places With?: Oprah. And I would stir some things UP. I'd be helping people so fast she wouldn't have a nickel left by the time we switched back.

9. What is the Best Thing About Being a Woman? That our roles are constantly changing/evolving and my generation is really the first to pave the way in regards to balancing career and having a family. A lot of us have waited too long or are on the verge of having waited too long as a result of savoring careers we couldn't have had without the women who came before us - and now these brave women are leading the way in IVF and alternative methods - while simultaneously sending the message to start a family just a little bit earlier to avoid stress and heartache. All the way around it is a wonderful thing. I love when women stick together vs. attacking one another. The sisterhood amongst women can be an incredible thing.

Whew!! Is anyone even left with me??
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Finally, Lisa from Respect the Shoes (don't you just love that name?? - Lisa cracks me up daily and I'll bet she's cracking up several of you as well) tagged me on 8 random questions as follows:

1. If you could be any heroine who would you pick and why? Wonder Woman. I love the bracelets that deflect the bullets. So B.A.

2. What is your favorite article of clothing and why? Don't have one single item. Pretty much anything James Perse because I live in the stuff since I work at home. I do have a beautiful Rebecca Taylor silk dress that has a special place in my heart, too.

3. What is one of the proudest moments of your life? Getting my Green Card. Hands down.

4. Name your favorite food. Chocolate. And then bacon wrapped dates. And then habanero salsa. Seriously, this is a brutal question. I'm not even sure chocolate's my favorite. Now I'm thinking about a risotto the Chef makes. And pavlova!! I gotta stop this question!! Wingstop! uh-oh. It's on!

5. Who is your favorite Real Housewife of the entire series? I plead the 5th.

6. What were you doing one hour ago? Eating a drumstick (ice cream) and then a turkey taco. It's dessert first around here.

7. Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream? No. I can't. It depends on the mood. If it's Frozen Yogurt I'm still a Pinkberry fan all the way. Ixnay on the kid hands in the toppings at Yogurtland (gag), but sometimes I just neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed World Class Chocolate from Baskin-Robbins or Banana with Heath Bar from Coldstone.

8. What's your favorite cheesy joke? This is crazy, but I can't even think of one. I've been sitting here for half an hour dreading this question. Help!! I'm not much of a joke person. That was my little bro - I think he drove me too crazy with them. hehe

I'm wiped and have to go to bed. Thanks for bearing with me!! And take a visit to all three ladies who tagged me! They're rad! Rather than selecting a bunch of blogs to pass on to (because there are so many I read and love and I don't want to leave anyone out) - how about if you follow me and are interested in accepting any of these awards and answering the corresponding set of questions - just go ahead! It's great to learn more about you and I love reading through these types of posts.

xoxo,
Carrie

Istilah Cut Ring dalam dunia perkutut

Dalam komunitas penggemar perkutut ada istilah Cut ring, artinya perkutut yang memang sengaja tidak dipasangi cincin atau dilepas cincinnya. Perkutut Cut ring tersebut bisa hasil silangan lokal maupun produk silangan import. mengapa harus di Cut Ring ? Ada beberapa alasan dari peternak terkenal mengapa harus menjual burungnya harus dengan melepas cincin. Hal itu untuk menjaga kredibilitas dari peternak. Perlu diketahui bahwa peternak besar tiap bulan bisa menetaskan ratusan piyik. Piyik-piyik tersebut tidak semuanya baik, pasti ada yang jelek (tersortir). Sebelum melepas piyik atau bakalan ke pembeli biasanya peternak melakukan sortir. Dari ratusan ekor biasanya hanya 10 % yang tergolong bakal istimewa. Sortiran itu harus dilempar ke pasaran. Di situlah campur aduk, ada bakaln yang termasuk kategori bagus, sedang, dan jeblok. agar tidak diketahui nama peternakannya, biasanya peternak yang sudah terkenal sebelum menjual burung sortiran terlebih dahulu melepas cincin dari kaki perkutut. Lagi pula peternak merasa sayang kalau sortirannya dibuang percuma. Lebih baik dijual di pasaran, namun jelas tidak mungkin melempar sortiran lengkap dengan cincin karena bisa menjadi bumerang bagi peternakan tersebut.

Praktek pelepasan perkutut sortiran dipasaran ini bukan cuma dilakukan oleh peternak lokal saja, melainkan juga peternak-peternak top di Bangkok. Kemana perkutut-perkutut sortiran dilempar ? ternyata peternakan terkenal di Bangkok banyak melempar sortirannya ke Indonesia. Hal itu dikarenakan pasar perkutut paling besar adalah Indonesia. Walaupun perkutut Cut Ring merupakan burung sortiran, bukan berarti bahwa semua burung yang di sortir jelek sebab kemungkinan untuk " meledak " di konkurs masih ada, apalagi kalau sortiran tersebut dari peternakan terkenal. Seperti diketahui, penyortiran perkutut tersebut dilakukan oleh peternak setelah burung tersebut melewati masa ngurak (brodol dulu) yang pertama atau usia burung antara 4 - 5 bulan. Mengapa demikian ? Sebelum ngurak burung sulit diramalkan suaranya. Bisa saja pada saat piyik suaranya menandakan baik, tetapi setelah ngurak malah jeblok. Begitu juga sebaliknya. Tidak sedikit bakalan pada saat piyik suaranya kurang baik ternyata setelah melewati masa ngurak justru lebih baik. Oleh karena itu, selepas masa ngurak baru bisa diketahui apakah suara perkutut baik atau tidak.

Burung yang tidak baik inilah yang kemudian di Cut Ring. namun, bukan berarti yang Cut ring pasti jelek. Tidak jarang para penggemar yang paham pada perkutut justru lebih suka membeli perkutut Cut Ring dari peternakan terkenal. Dengan bekal pengetahuan dan keahlian merawat, penggemar tersebut bisa memilih bakalan yang nantinya bisa meledak di arena konkurs setelah dirawatnya.

Cut Ring sendiri bukan identik dengan burung berkualitas rendah karena banyak pula penggemar perkutut yang mempunyai burung juara justru dilepas ringnya untuk merahasiakan indukkannya maupun asal usul peternakannya. hal ini dilakukan dengan pertimbangan agar pemilik indukannya tidak tahu kalau hasil tangkarannya menjadi juara. Dengan demikian, pemilik burung juara tadi bisa tetap membeli saudara sedarah dari perkutut juara tersebut secara terus menerus dengan harga yang relatip murah. Maksud lain melepas ring pada burung juara adalah agar penggemar lain tidak berbondong-bondong menyerbu peternakan asal perkutut juara tadi untuk memesan saudara yang sedarah dari perkutut juara jadi, kalau sampai banyak penggemar yang mengetahui asal usul dari burung juara tadi, umumnya para penggemar perkutut dari berbagai daerah menyerbu ke peternakan asal burung juara sehingga terjadilah booking maupun inden yang berkepanjangan.

Bagi penangkar, jika hasil tangkarannya menjadi juara dan banyak pemesan yang datang bisa dipastikan akan menaikkan harga burungnya menjadi puluhan kali lipat dari harga sebelumnya. Dengan dasar itulah bisa disimpulkan bahwa belum tentu perkutut yang di Cut Ring adalah perkutut kelas rendah. Apalagi kalau perkutut tersebut di jual di peternakan atau show room bergengsi dengan harga ratusan ribu sampai jutaan rupiah, bisa dipastikan perkutut tersebut berkualitas baik.

Trend burung

Going Into The Closet

Failure to Obey the Signs

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The ABA Needs to Soak Up the Fun

Fly Away

Share The Love: Answered Tags

Istilah Cut Ring dalam dunia perkutut

Istilah Cut Ring dalam dunia perkutut

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