What Would Jane Austen Do?

My in-laws keep chickens. They had eleven eggs set to hatch on July 28. E&B desperately wanted to be there to watch it, but we had to be in Houston that day. So we had a hatch day party with a few friends. We made decorations and drank sparkling cider and ate the cupcakes Letitia decorated. Some people like to post photos of their perfectly coordinated parties with matching suites of letterpress stationery, ribbons, balloons, etc. But I think that parties are the rare case where quantity trumps quality -- don't you agree?

via Mighty Girl . Warning: a spot of naughty language.

bougainvillea on Shepherd Drive , originally uploaded by houston mamacita . taken this afternoon.

Porter and Hollister Hovey are my favorite blogging sisters. I love looking into their world. Porter is dying for a walk-on role in Mad Men . Look at this picture -- how perfect is she? So you need to go vote for her . Thanks.

0728091018.jpg , originally uploaded by houston mamacita . Okay, I take it all back. Carnations can be cute. We usually have leftover altar flowers in the office, and they're almost always carnations and gladiola. So partly out of necessity, I decided I like this arrangement for carnations. I'll let you know if I figure out what to do with the glads.

I know this isn't any kind of revelation, but let me suggest, in case you haven't tried it yet, the following breakfast: a thinly sliced apple, with almond butter sprinkled with cinnamon. Yum.

You heard about this, right? It actually looks pretty scary for a kids' movie, but it's such a great book -- how could we not see it? Where the Wild Things Are opens October 16.* *Just typing the word "October" makes me think about cool weather and how much I love the fall. [Perhaps I've mentioned that.]

Courtney over at Style Court has been running a great series about Artists' Palettes. You should check it out . Not that me posting 4 words plus Hulu clips isn't a great series, but hers is way better.

Now this is hard, because The Invention of Lying also opens on September 25. And come on: Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Louis CK all in one movie? You bet your sweet ass I'm there.

A French! fashion! period piece! starring Audrey Tautou! Any one of those would have worked, but the combination ... it's like chocolate and hazelnuts together. Coco Before Chanel opens in limited release Sept. 25.

One of my favorite books when I was a kid was Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs . I'm sorry to see that the movie didn't keep the detailed drawing style of the book; it also looks like the plot is completely different from what I remember. But I know Emmet will like the mad scientist story. I just hope they don't make it too gross. Opens 9/18.

Julie and Julia A blogger writes ... and somebody cares! Just a little summer escapist fantasy. Opens 8/7.

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale catalog came in the mail a couple of weeks ago, and I immediately spied these. I went down and bought these on the first day of the sale. I plan to wear them on New Year's Eve while lying around on the couch at my mom's house watching The Thin Man and scarfing booze and hors d'oeuvres. But I had to buy them early, you see. Planning ahead -- that's what I'm all about.

Funny People Strike one: Adam Sandler Strike two: Dying Strike three: They won't let me embed the trailer here. However... They have RAAAAANDY Raaaaaaaandy - Part 1 (Funny People) from Aziz Ansari So, yeah, I'll be there. Opens 7/31.

Regional Shift Seen in Education Gap WASHINGTON — Historically, the achievement gap between America’s black and white students was widest in Southern states, where the legacies of slavery and segregation were reflected in extremely low math and reading scores among poor African-American children. But black students have made important gains in several Southern states over two decades, while in some Northern states, black achievement has improved more slowly than white achievement, or has even declined, according to a study of the black-white achievement gap released Tuesday by the Department of Education.

I can't remember the last time I was excited about so many movies coming up. Wanna see some trailers? [You: Yes! Yes!] Great. First up: In the Loop . The description from VSL: Thanks to an ill-advised slip during a television interview, a bumbling British government minister (Tom Hollander) finds himself backing the U.S.’s war in the no-country-specified Middle East, much to the dismay of the prime minister’s communications chief (a ranting-and-raving Peter Capaldi, who steals every scene). As tensions between the allied countries increase, the Brits head to Washington, where they really learn about bureaucracy at its most idiotic. The film is fast-paced and almost unbearably witty, with terrific turns by Steve Coogan, David Rasche, Mimi Kennedy and James Gandolfini, putting Tony Soprano out to pasture with his absurd turn as a U.S. general. Opens 7/24 in limited release. More trailers to come.

Reading I was loitering in the parish hall after Easter breakfast when I found these huge boxes full of Penguin paperbacks. I took them all home, though I ended up getting rid of most of them. The only ones I kept were the P.G. Wodehouse books. Who doesn't love Wodehouse? Listening to I heard the Cubbies are about to declare bankruptcy . I hope the new owners are good for the team; they're my third favorite team [after the Tigers and the Astros].

Microsoft Office is now free . I'm a Google fangirl, as it happens, but I'm not in love with Google Docs. Brian Sack wrote a review for Yelp . All the fun of Brian Sack, without sitting through any Glenn Beck. You live in a world where you can get Jenny Holzer , Alex Balk , Big Daddy Drew , Cake Wrecks and flowers from Saipua delivered straight to your inbox, every single day. Proof that God loves you, and wants you to be happy.

You know you look like a tremendous douche, right? The jeans and flip flops say, "I plan on catching an infectious disease at Glastonbury," but the jacket says, "What time is the Pet Shop Boys concert?" and the hat says, "I like to steal hats from tiny old men." So really, Mr. Oliver, I'd choose just one statement and go with it. via Paul Smith's blog P.S. to Mr. Smith -- maybe you should stop playing with matches.

So I was reading Mighty Girl and I realized that one of the things I really like about her blog are the random tips she gives, like here and here . And I thought, "Hey, I know stuff! I should blog about that! Then I'll be rich and famous like Maggie Mason!" So did I tell you how you can order a Tropical Smoothie at Jack in the Box and put some Malibu rum in it and it's very tasty and drunky? Excellent.

I just ran across an article that reminded me about pumpkin spice lattes. Oh, pumpkin spice lattes, cool weather, opaque tights, the smell of leaves ... you will be mine . I'm counting the days.

I really liked your suggestions, but this is what I got: They made me smile, at least. Smurf glasses via etsy seller crabville in autumn .

Watching Listening to

the new Sharpie pen . So smooth, so fine, mmmm... yeah baby... that's how I like it.

from Deadspin. Click to enlarge.

One of my neighbors is trying to unload her grandmother's collection of Blue Bird by Spode. Can't you just imagine a bride opening boxes of these once upon a time? The pattern is just so cheerful and optimistic. I'm having to restrain myself here, as I need another piece of china like I need a hole in the head. But do give a holler if you're interested.

All Decked Out , originally uploaded by houston mamacita . He was the bagger at Randall's. He was wearing a blue suit and red crocodile shoes. Happy Independence Day!

So I was invited to a 'Round-the-Clock wedding shower, and I am so excited. I mean, how cute are these invitations? For those of you unfamiliar with the concept: for a 'Round-the-Clock shower, every guest is asked to bring a gift that the couple would use at a particular hour of the day. For 8 am you might give a coffeemaker, for midnight you might give a set of sheets, for 10 pm you might give...I dunno, a universal remote? As you can see, I've been assigned to bring a gift for 10:00 am. Since I have only a passing familiarity with 10:00 am, I'm looking for suggestions. I mean, sure, your first thought is "vodka ," but what if the 9:00 am person brings that? So what else do you use at 10:00 am?

Yes, I am a mom, and no, I don't read Dooce every day. Sue me. But I just saw this post and the picture of the wallpaper in the new baby's nursery. That is some gorgeous paper. Click to enlarge -- you have to see the detail on those clouds.

I love the way the paillettes reflect light on to her face. I think I need a blouse like that. Do you suppose Land's End makes one? photo via Hair Thursday