Love is Blind... as a Bat.

Most gals love receiving flowers, candies, cards, or sparkly things from their guys. I definitely enjoy all of the above, but my husband really knows the way to my nerdy heart. During our most recent date night, Chris surprised me with something really special that I’ve been ogling for quite a while.

A freeze-dried bat! How neat is that?! This is a male Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis). I cannot stop looking at it. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I have an insatiable infatuation with taxidermy. While I can certainly appreciate artistic rogue taxidermy, I simply can’t get enough of collecting scientifically preserved specimens. Call me a crazy person, but I am obsessed.

The bat is from one of my absolute favorite shops - The Evolution Store. This place is so incredibly cool. Not only is it brimming with natural curiosities,  it also has a quirky, beautifully curated aesthetic that I adore. The shop is right down the street from my office, and I am constantly swinging by to peruse new offerings. Here are some photos I snapped during a recent visit.

It is like a mini natural history museum, and everything is meticulously labeled. I mean, who wouldn’t want a fossilized cave bear skull? We’ll be bringing the bat (I named him Echo) back to The Evolution Store for custom framing as soon as I figure out which style will best showcase this fine specimen in our home.

BTW - Despite their teeny tiny eyes and nocturnal lifestyles, bats aren’t really blind. Although they rely primarily on echolocation to hunt, avoid predators and navigate dark surroundings, bats can see and are capable of distinguishing colors, shapes, and light levels.

Puppy Love

Wonka Jeng, Wonder Pup

Wonka is our little Miniature Poodle/Yorkie-mix pup. He was a wedding gift from Chris, and today is his 2nd birthday!

When I first saw this little mug, I instantly fell head over heels in love. It is no secret that I am absolutely obsessed with him. In fact, I might even love the furball a little bit too much. He looks like a little stuffed animal, and is the sweetest and silliest dog I have ever met. He's all about showing off his toys, stealing socks, and earning treats and belly rubs. He's a big-time snuggler, and if he likes you, he will lick you to death.

Taking good care of a dog requires a lot of time and responsibility, but it has been rewarding beyond comparison. Despite his diminutive size, this four-pounder gives us the biggest welcome home fanfares every night, barks and spins heartily when we're excited, and has provided an enormous source of warmth and comfort on bad days. He is such a loving companion, and I couldn't ask for a better sidekick.

Diary of a Wannabe Gardener

Spring is here in full effect! I've been hearing lots of buzz about people planting carrots, strawberries, radishes, corn (?!?), and herbs this year, and have been itching to start an urban garden of my own.

Since I'm not known for my botany skills, I figured a terrarium garden would be a good place to start. Terrariums are a fun and practical way to create a miniature landscape inside your home. They don't require a lot of sunlight, and are ideal for people who are too busy to spend a lot of time caring for plants -- perfect for serial plant killers with black thumbs. Ahem.

I made this tiny terrarium at Anthopologie's Earth Day workshop. We used Ball canning jars and topped them off with tealight holders to allow optimum sunlight through. I had so much fun arranging the plants, and even carved a C+J inside a heart on the "tree". Once the plants become fully established within the enclosed environment, the terrarium will begin to function as a self-sustaining ecosystem. The plants transpire moisture, which then condensates on the glass and flows back down into the soil. Often, a closed terrarium can survive a month or more between waterings.

My jar terrarium has been sitting on our kitchen windowsill for two weeks. I've already witnessed tremendous plant growth as well as several water cycles. Now that I know how to create a viable terrarium, I'm looking forward to experimenting with different containers, plants, and designs. More later!