A little hello

Hi guys. It's been a bit on the quiet side over the past week at OliveObserver, but it's mostly because of lots of fun and exciting things going on. I'm enjoying getting my hands dirty with some DIYs this week, and I'm looking forward to sharing them with you soon. Other than that I'm trying to do a bit more reading, cleaning and general healthy housekeeping in my house and life.

Source: kismet-maybe.tumblr.com via Heidi on Pinterest

This is a fun updates tool I've seen other bloggers using lately, so why not give it a whirl. It reminds me of the good ol' days of Friendster and MySpace.

Currently, I'm:

Obsessing over: nail polish, spring colors and Mad Men reruns.

Working on: getting back to crafting, reading and running.

Thinking about: everything. I'm in one of those intensely creative and inspired moods, and it's affecting all areas of my life.

Anticipating: next weekend in the Cities with two of my best friends, IKEA and a hotel sleepover.

Listening to: the hum of my fan and the purring of my TrudleBug

Eating: less sugar than recently. And I feel awesome. Like totally awesome.

Wishing: I didn't need sleep so I could get everything I want to get done done.

Tag, you're it. What are you currently doing? Link up in the comments.

FiveThingsFriday: Color block

I'm super pumped about color blocking with a neutral and pop of color for spring.

Here are five of my favorite samplings:

Source: lulus.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Source: kristabelloves.tumblr.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Heidi on Pinterest

Source: elle.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Source: bodycare.becomegorgeous.com via Heidi on Pinterest

ThursdaySwap: Interest in a crafternoon

After talking with some new and old friends tonight, I'm determined to resurrect Sunday Crafternoons. We will have a "live" crafternoon one Sunday a month in Fargo-Moorhead. For those of you in bloggerville, I will be posting the supplies and instructions for whatever we're making that week. On the Monday following the event, I'll post a Linky hook-up where we can all share how our projects turned out.

Who's interested in Fargo-Moorhead?

Who's interested online?

TopTenTuesday: Pinterest nail ideas

Pinterest is fully of ideas. Nails being one of them.

So recently, I tried to do something fancy with mine: a two-toned gray stripy thing. Well they turned out like this:


They're not horrible, but they're not exactly pin-worthy.



Here's some inspiration to improve upon my polishing skills.

10.

Source: thebeautydepartment.com via Kensie on Pinterest

9.

Source: paintyounails.tumblr.com via Kensie on Pinterest

8.

Source: Uploaded by user via Heidi on Pinterest

7.

Source: tumblr.com via Heidi on Pinterest

6.

Source: ownthosebones.tumblr.com via Heidi on Pinterest

5.

Source: google.com via Heidi on Pinterest

4.

Source: poppytalk.blogspot.com via Heidi on Pinterest

3.

Source: catalinasumakeup.blogspot.com via Heidi on Pinterest

2.

Source: chloesnails.blogspot.com via Heidi on Pinterest

1.

Source: cupcakesandcashmere.com via Heidi on Pinterest

MondayMorningMust: January sales

This time of year, I often express how much I hate January through February. After the holidays are over, there's not much but a whole lot of cold temperatures to look forward to around here (that's a bit of hyperbole, but hang in there).

Enter the after-holiday / January sales.

I'm currently on a shopping strike simply because I did way too much of it in 2011, but these sales have me reaching for my credit card.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Madewell has an extra 30 percent off sale items and free shipping on order over $100.

Feel free to buy me these flats and peacoat while you're shopping.

J.Crew is offering an extra 40 percent off of sale items right now. Use the code OURTREAT.

Modcloth has many of its sale items 50 percent off. Sizes seem limited so shop fast.

 

 

I stopped in at our local Gap and there are so many great sweaters on super sale. The website seems to have even more styles and sizes.

 

Pieces of my weekend

Hey all. I apologize for my lack of personal posts lately. It's been a lot of "check out this cool stuff I love right now" posts, but I promise more photos and DIY by yours truly are on their way.

I had a girls night out yesterday but unfortunately no photos to prove it. It's an exciting time for all of my best lady friends right now. Fargo got its first real snow storm of the year, and I have to admit I actually like it. It doesn't hurt that it's also about 30 degrees warmer than it's been all week.

But moving along, here are some pieces of my weekend:



snow | new bath robe ($7 on Target clearance rack)
more snow | he looks so uncomfortable
fat tire | sun cat
sunday breakfast | weekly to-do
tired trudy | remnants of last night's fort
slick roads | italian dinner

I'm linking up with Jenni from Story of My Life this week. If you want to get in on the instagram action, visit her blog.

Five(timesthree)ThingsFriday: Nutella recipes

I go through more Nutella that I will even admit on a blog. Here's some new recipes for eating it, rather that just sticking your finger in the jar and enjoying its chocolatey hazelnutty goodness. And I couldn't stop at five, so this is technically a FifteenThingsFriday:

Dark chocolate salted caramel Nutella Twix bars:

Source: savorysweetlife.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella bread:

Source: theitaliandishblog.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella Meringues:

Source: creampuffsinvenice.ca via Heidi on Pinterest

Homemade Nutella:

Source: tastespotting.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella Donuts:

Source: tarteletteblog.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Home-made strawberry Nutella poptarts:

Source: thekitchn.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella fudge:

Source: tastykitchen.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Healthy Nutella ice cream:

Source: rumkihn.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella pudding:

Source: chimeraobscura.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Four-ingredient Nutella cookies:

Source: kirbiecravings.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella cookie sandwiches:

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella fruit dip:

Source: blogs.babble.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella puppy chow mix:

Source: healthytastychow.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella hot chocolate:

Source: luuux.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Nutella dreams:

Source: seriouseats.com via Heidi on Pinterest