happiest new year.

Remember when I posted the above fire hydrant photo? Those were the days....

And then a white Christmas came to town:) The interstate was closed between here and Grand Forks until Sunday Morning! So we did not make it for Christmas:( I did a lot of pouting and muttering "what's so merry about it?" Then Jesse made this for Christmas Day breakfast:

Green eggs and red(pink) pancakes with sprinkles! Jesse has found the key that unlocks my heart: food coloring! An we were able to go to Jesse's Mom's across town both days of the holiday, so we were not alone. And in between visits with her, we played the new wii super mario, which is downright awesome. In the end, I think our snow total was 18", while they got 25" in Grand Forks.

All that blizzarding turned out 94 sable into an 05 impala....am I right? That's what it looks like to me, anyway.
So, Sunday: the interstate opened! Huzzah! Presents were opened by all, and after a crazy Christmas, these socks say it all:


And now we're dog-sitting!

This is Jake, or as Joj so aptly refers to him "Mega Dog." He is gigantic and sweet, and scaring the pee out my cats (literally, unfortunately). He's Jesse's Dad's Dog, and we've got him for a week. Did I mention I've never had a dog? And that I pet dogs like cats? I am trying to teach Jake to come to me for snuggling, and go to Jesse for "active play." We'll see if that works.
Meanwhile, in an exciting turn of events, the aforementioned Joj is coming tomorrow for a belated friendmas celebration! We will be indulging in presents, shopping, food and retro video gaming.
I think Jesse and I will be playing cribbage, eating leftovers and consuming hearty winter beer this evening as we bring in the new year. I hope you have an excellent one!

givin' and gettin'

The Christmas Card Wall is in effect! I was sticking them to the fridge, until Jesse waxed sentimental about having them around the fireplace when he was a kid...It sort of put precious-greeting-next-to-expired-oil-change-coupon into perspective. Anyway, it's no fireplace, but it's quite festive!
In other news I have been playing with my new camera:


But obviously not nearly enough since all I have to show for it are photos of my cats.
Thank goodness the next few days will provide lots of photo oppurtunites! That is, if we don't get 20 inches of snow and have to stay home. Then you can expect more cat photos, maybe with some props.
So, I got myself some Christmas presents. Joj, if you are reading this, don't be mad. I know I am not supposed to buy myself anything else before Christmas, but I had never seen these before the day I purchased them and therefore how could you know that I wanted them?

Red Charlie Oxfords by Lucky. I will be replacing the leather shoelaces with something else. And....

Blue suede with purple shoelaces? Someone get a crash cart up in here.
Whelp, I'm off to iron my last set of dishtowels for a few days...and I am pretty excited about it!

Christmas Cards! I finally made them....and it's December 17th. It's been a successful season and so I am totally pooped! But that's not a complaint.
I got my new camera yesterday, which was what I waiting for in order to complete the above cards...and it's awesome. Beyond awesome. So awesome it's like that really cool person you wish you were friends with, and you know if you could just talk, they'd see that you were meant to be buds and co-muses. Basically this camera is Bob Dylan. And I don't know how to work it. But I will figure it out....

omg!

That's my niece a few years ago at Christmas...look how happy she is! You can be that happy, too, because I'm offering free priority mail shipping! The details:

Free Priority Mail UpGRADE

On all orders over $20

ORDER BY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18TH TO RECEIVE BY CHRISTMAS!

No need to enter a code, just spend $20 or more at shopmbmb.com or
michellebrusegaard.etsy.com, complete your payment paying the regular
shipping price, and your order will automatically be upgraded to priority
mail shipping, which takes 2-3 business days. Offer good only for US
orders. Priority Mail offer is good through December 21st, but you will
only receive your package by xmas if you order by the 18th of December.

trunk show

And I'll be there! And I keep wanting to make an inappropriate joke about the junk in my trunk.

the most wonderful time of year

Ah, December, I welcome ye with open, down-encapsulated arms.
All sorts of exciting things are happening/already happened this month. First things first, I got these new glasses that I love:

Right?! Not everybody makes such a big deal out of it when they get new glasses. But I've been wearing corrective lenses since I was about 10....and I have disliked every pair for one reason or another. I kind of wish I had this photo on my computer of chubby 10 year old michelle in the blue-and-white-with-sand-inlay-giant-plastic-middle-aged lady-glasses. And in the photo (which is safely stowed in my parents' photo cupboard), I am working a kool-aid stand at the old folks home. And yes, the picture was featured in the weekly nursing home newsletter.
So I always wear contacts. But no longer!

Also happening this month is me being featured in Minnesota Monthly's gift guide.

THose towels are for sale at i like you, where I'll be having a trunk show with some other lovely artists this saturday, dec. 12 from 2-5. It's at 501 1st Ave NE in mpls if you're around. But of course, you can also purchase these towels in my shop:)
Also happening this month is me getting a new digital camera!

(image from amazon)
I haven't purchased it yet, so if anyone has any opinions about canon models specifically, I'd love to hear! I have an 35mm rebel Ti with two lenses, so I'm definitely going with canon since they're interchangeable. My budget isn't crazy huge, so I'm trying to choose between the xsi and the t1i.
And lastly, the tree is up!

This was the only halfway decent picture I could get before the battery died on my old-timer!
Anyhoo, I am off to work in the basement and more than likely watch a lifetime movie as I do so.

holy ronzoni.

I'm not trying to brag or anything, but that whole free shipping thing went pretty well! These are some of the packages I sent out today. Thank goodness I got rid of them, normally my large orange cat, animal, claims that futon all afternoon. And he gently snores as I work.
Thanks to everyone who shopped:)
I have been getting lots of christmas shopping done myself. And I am pretty much dying to put up my tree and buy the sufjan stevens christmas album, which I have not heard, but am positive will be awesome. Not like the Bob Dylan one.

Which I am choosing to believe is just a big joke that's he's playing, because he's sneaky like that. But one of the guys on musicheads explained it best when he compared dylan on the album to the creepy uncle that comes over on christmas and gets too drunk and picks on the kids....and won't stop singing:/ I don't care, I still love him. And I would wear this necklace:

By daniellemaveal.etsy.com.

And since I am not that good at unifying my posts, I present you with this:

It's a cozy scarf with pockets on the side seams. So you can leave your purse behind and stick you ID and some trident inside your fashionable accessory!

So cool. It's called the Julian Scarf, and you can get it at Wintercheck Factory for $30!
mmmm k, back to work for me.