Every day I get my email update from Fab.com and every day I’m introduced to new, excellent designers with innovative points of view. The best (read: worst, as it relates to my bank account) part of Fab.com, is I keep being introduced to things I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW I NEEDED!

I’ve spent way too much money on acrylic jewelry by Silvercocoon.com. And I’m waiting for my awesome delivery of these cool glass water bottles, by FaucetFace.

Now you too can be part of the obsession and blow your wad on their cool and stylish wares. If you make a purchase by 3:45 EST tomorrow, Nov. 12, 2011, by using this gateway code, you’ll get $10 off your first purchase.

It’s a giveaway, yo! (sort of) Now go out there and help the economy by spending this week’s paycheck.

I meant to do some advanced Christmas shopping. I really did. I booted up my laptop with so much holiday cheer you’d swear I smelled of pine needles and had snowflakes in my hair.

I truly had the utmost intention of finding lovely, unique trinkets for my family and girl friends. But then something happened. Maybe it’s that I got started on my Christmas shopping a little too early. Maybe it’s that I’m just a horribly selfish person who secretly covets anything that dangles or shimmers all for myself. Or maybe it’s that the gorgeous, gleaming, and glossy acrylic jewelry of Silvercocoon by Tia Salmela Keobounpheng was too much temptation for my tainted holiday spirit.

I shopped for myself and only myself. I’ll look forward to having nothing but coal in my Christmas stocking this year. That’s cool; I’ll console myself with my awesome new Pod earrings, and the glossy Stone Necklace, which should arrive in the next few days (squeeeee)! Bah humbug. Word! I mean, sorry.

If anyone has any jewelry websites that might give me some redemption, I’m listening.

It’s an understatement to say that I’m a fan of Halloween. I’ve dressed up all by myself during a snowstorm, while I nursed a sick roommate, just for the sheer joy of inhabiting a different character for a few hours. A deep dark secret of mine is I’m a little bit of a geeky fan-girl at heart. Luckily, I’m with a guy who is far geekier than me. This year we decided to use our joint geek powers for good rather than evil. Here we are as Vince Clortho and Zuul from Ghostbusters, eagerly awaiting the coming of Gozer: Gozer the Traveler, Gozer the Destructor, Gozer the Gozarian.

He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldronaii, the Traveler came as a large and moving Torb. Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the Meketrex Supplicants, they chose a new form for him — that of a giant sloar! Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the sloar that day I can tell you.

Okay, that concludes our Geekout for the week. Happy Halloween, all.

Party photos by Becky Pagan. Her flash was broken, so cut her some slack. The intent was there!

Sometimes it’s nice just to slow down and enjoy the essence of things. I love seeing these calm, focused interpretations of some of my favorite classics. I found most of these here, but also did a little Googling to find some by BrickHut and BackstotheWall.

If you don’t click on the one with the bullet holes, you’re doing yourself a disservice. It’s amazing, but cut off in the thumbnail.

Last week ended with more majestic longhorn cows, a baby buffalo named Tuffy–who liked to use me as a Kleenex–and a 2,000 pound fully grown buffalo named Miko that wanted desperately to play chicken with me.

I balked at the game of chicken (by accessing my inner super powers and jumping a 5-foot fence), but I let Tuffy use me as a Kleenex. I mean, when again am I going to be able to utter the phrase, “I’m covered in baby buffalo snot!” Not soon, I’d assume. Jealous much?

It was an experience that simultaneously left me appalled and honored. While I was, truthfully, horrified by the sight of cattle bucking under the pain of a hot brand being burned into their backsides, I also had an overwhelming feeling of reverence for being able to witness a dying practice that is so steeped in American and family tradition.

T-25 has been a working family ranch for over six generations, and the Morlands have been have been marking their cattle with the same family brand for just as long. I felt honored to stand on their generations-old family ranch and witness a practice that Morland after Morland has done for over 150 years.

Here are some photos of what I saw.

*Name of ranch and family changed, to protect my job. The rest of the story is true!

I’ll admit it. I sometimes have an inconvenient urge to take a swig of something strong. A hip flask, particularly one as awesome as this one, would make such urges much more stylish.

Yes, I am currently Christmas shopping online. How could you tell?

Ryan and I at the top of Sandstone Peak. We weren't really that sweaty. We had just poured a liter of water on our heads.

Here it is! 365 days of LA. Today the boy and I hiked Sandstone Peak, dove into the ocean in Malibu, and had Korean BBQ to celebrate. Three of my favorite things.

One year ago today, I arrived in Los Angeles with all of my possessions packed in the back of my Ford Focus, and $2,000 in my bank account, and headed directly to the party of a new friend I had only met through Facebook. I have to admit, I was pretty terrified at throwing such caution to the wind, but it’s been a year of adventures, chances, and a whole lot of good fortune. So the next time I have to roll the dice, I’ll do it with a swagger.

It’s been a darn good 365 days, LA. Thank you. Let’s please keep the good coming.

Speaking of being a better person, for the next couple of weeks, StudioKMO will be selling her line drawings of New Orleans for $35, and all proceeds will go to cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico, which is more than the fucktard nation that runs Best Petroleum is doing, let me tell you. And they’re pretty nifty, too: A long series of straight, vertical lines make up this drawing. Look closely, if you don’t believe me.

A beautiful gift. A good cause. Nothing better.