haunting shipwrecks

 Few things send chills down my spine quite like the site of a large boat sinking or on its side in the water. Remember that Italian cruise ship that capsized last year? I can't even look at those images because they fill me with terror! These images from the Guardian are even creepier; perhaps it's the ominous feel of black and white. Am I alone in this or do these freak you out, too?

{images via the Guardian}

2013, I'm in love with you already. Let's make out.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Hello friends! After another unexpected blog vacation, I'm 

back with yet another surge of motivated energy. 

My goals this year: 

more photos, more travel, and more hard work.

Time to focus (pun intended.) Time to get real.

♥

no title

{meteor shower via all that is interesting}

happy weekend

{basecamp via TPS + sofia via miette}

So happy for the weekend!
Plans include: friends, family + copious amounts of laundry
Do you have anything exciting planned?

currently

Watching...

Louie. The first season.

{image from portroids} 

Daydreaming about...

 Eva Chen's dreamy job as beauty director.

{image from the Coveteur}

Loving...

Beyonce's blog. So adorable, with a slight peppering of cute baby photos.

{image from i am}

the story of lola

Lola. Boss. the Mouse.
Favorite activities include:
napping
eating
car rides
barking at the TV/mailman/canine community
If you've been following Milk for a while, you've inevitably 
seen her fuzzy face several times. I thought it was time to share her story.

Lola was captured running around on a freeway in Lodi, California.

She had mange covering most of her body with hardly any fur left.

Her nails had grown out so long that they actually punctured her paws

and had to be surgically cut. It was evident to the shelter that she had been

neglected, physically abused and needed several months of therapy 

to prepare her for life in a loving home.

I found Lola thought PetFinder.com, a service for

 finding pets at local shelters. I had scoured the site for months, 

never quite finding the perfect little buddy. I found Lola's profile eventually, 

and there was just something about that little messed up face of hers. 

I filled out the application and a week later I was 

contacted by her foster home. I drove down to see her, not sure if she 

would turn out to be a good fit. But when I walked up to their house, 

Lola was so adorable, barking at me from their front yard. 

I thought, "yep. She's mine."

The whole drive home she laid in my lap, although I could

tell she was still terrified. She would flinch and cower every time I moved
and it broke my heart to pieces. I decided then and there 

that my only purpose in her doggy life was to make her as happy 

as possible. We went home, cuddled up in bed and I fed her a few 

french fries while watching Sex and the City. I quickly discovered french fries 
are the ultimate way to win this gal's affection... and yes, she actually

watches Sex and the City.

It took a few months for the antibiotics to clear up her medical issues 

and her fur to grow back completely. It was nearly a year before she stopped flinching 

constantly, and now 8 years later, she's the happiest little pup around. She still has her issues 

and sometimes gets frightened rather easily but overall she's a pretty tough little scamp.

♥

birthday fun

Last week I traveled to Los Angeles for work, and I just

happened to have a birthday while I was in town. My

beautiful cousin Monique (yes, we are très French in this family)

took me out for an awesome beachy adventure. 

 

After the beach, she treated me to

peach margaritas, followed by dancing until the wee hours.

How sweet is that?!

happy friday + oscar plans

{Elle Spain February 2012, via Studded Hearts}

Happy friday, loves!

This Sunday I'm going to an Oscar viewing party hosted by

the local art theater with my aunt and a good friend.

There's even a best dressed contest and my aunt is

dressing up like Holly Golightly just for fun. She keeps

trying to convince me to dress up like Marilyn, but if anything

I would certainly aim for Diane Keaton in Annie Hall.

Either way, I can't wait for dressing up + champagne!

What are your plans this weekend?

Will you be watching the Oscars?

When my husband and I were first dating, I lived in a tiny dive basement studio. 

One day I came home from work to discover he had drawn tons of these 

little hearts in chalk, all over my stoop.

It's all about the little things in life and in love, right?

What small yet significant act of love

does your partner do for you?

Countdown to 2012: Resolution #3

{Gatochy}

Resolution #3: Fix up my Beetle.

Have I ever mentioned that I'm restoring a 1970 VW Beetle?

It's been a project my dad and I have been working on for well over 

a year and it's been on the back burner for far too long. 

2012 is going to be the year my baby finally gets on 

the road. My goal is to not only get it pretty and running, but

to also document the progress on Milk. Fashion, design, photography,

and now automotive preservation. The randomness just doesn't stop on

this blog, folks.

P.S. My Beetle's name is Geronimo Jack.

Yes, I'm one of those people who name their cars.

Countdown to 2012: Resolution #2

{Fuzzy Mug Etsy Shop}

Why is it so difficult to blog on vacation?

I'm already behind on my resolutions, 

so I'll have to double up over the next few days.

Resolution #2: Show my loved ones how much I love them.

This might sound like a simple task, but it's so easy to 

take our family and friends for granted. I tend to shy away from 

showing emotion or conveying affection, 

but in 2012 I want to change that for good.

I want to do nice things for people, I want my actions

to speak louder than my words, and more than anything, 

I want my nearest and dearest to feel appreciated and loved.

What do you think about this resolution?

I'd love to hear some of your goals for 2012,

if you'd like to share.
♥

Countdown to 2012: Resolution #1

{touchpuppet}

Hello blog friends! I'm writing to you from lovely

upstate New York, where the mister and I are celebrating the holidays

with my in-laws. I hope you all had a wonderful 

Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus/Sunday

this weekend!

Every year, ever since I was little I've written out

resolutions for the new year. I don't always follow through

with all of them, but I love the idea of starting fresh, turning over new

leaves, and working on bettering ourselves. So I thought this year I'd

share a few with you throughout the week.

Resolution #1: Eliminate the word 'hate' from my vocabulary.

I throw around this word way too much. I only want to perpetuate love and

acceptance, and saying I hate this and that doesn't accomplish anything.

My hope is that by not putting the word out there, the feeling itself will

soon evaporate in to oblivion. Who's with me?

biking in a winter wonderland

{studded hearts}

Around this time of year, I start missing my bike.

It's pretty cold in the mornings, and my nose freezes off

after ten minutes so I usually stick to driving.

Do you ride your bike during the winter?

What's your secret to staying warm?

sparkle sucker

{1. purse n boots 2. that's chic 3. natalie off duty 4 & 5. amourette}

happy happy weekend!

Unfortunately the last guest blogger had computer issues today and was unable to post.  

It was going to be such a fun post, too! Dang.  Maybe next time.

I'm having so much fun with family, savoring my time with my niece, sweet baby Molly Lou (and her cute little toes), drinking root beer floats spiked with cake flavored vodka (you must try this beverage, it's amazing) and enjoying some much needed time away from work.  Can't vacation just go on forever?

Anyway, have a fantastic weekend, friends. 

I'll be back very soon to bombard you with photos from our trip :)

ttfn

{Don't hate me for regurgitating my Twitter profile picture. I'm lazy and at the airport}

Greetings from the super glamorous Sacramento Airport!

The mister and I are enjoying a cold refreshing Stella while waiting for our flight, and I thought I'd take a moment to say farewell for now. We're en route to upstate New York for a much needed vacation and quality time with family.  Be sure to check back in with Milk this week, because I have a really fun roster of guests to keep you entertained. I'm uber excited to see what they have in store for you. And if you're missing me way too much, follow me on Twitter for sporadic updates.  Bye bye, blog friends!

family time + friday link love

Most mornings I wake up to the sound of Lola prancing/tap dancing around next to our bed.

I peek over the edge, she stands up on her hind legs and does a little dance, 

begging to be picked up.  I hoist her up, hold her against my chest,

and we fall back in to bed.  She makes happy little dog grunts 
as she buries herself under the covers between the mister and me.

It's our weird little morning tradition and I love it.

Anyway, happy friday, friends! 

Here are a few fun links to entertain you:

1.

Kate Moss' wedding photos. *sigh*

2.

Hidden treasure! 

3.

Conde Nast elevator conversations. So hilarious.

4.

Beautiful handkerchief wedding invitations.

5.

Super creative cigarette tree sculpture.

♥

living the dream

{skull swap}

Last night I had a dream that I was grocery shopping and kept seeing various bloggers that I regularly follow.  I woke up marveling at the idea of dreaming about people I've never really met.  I've followed many blogs for years and have witnessed people get married, have babies, move across the country, lose jobs, start new opportunities, etc.  It's amazing to think that as bloggers we're opening our lives up to everyone and in doing that, we all become part of each other's reality.  I'm eternally grateful to be part of this community, to be inspired by and learn from you all.

So, thanks for stopping by and making Milk part of your reality.
♥

{pennylou}

Ugh. I'm severely lacking in motivation this week. 

So today I leave you with another photo of Kate.

Be back soon, friends.

{Carolyn Sewell, found on Design Crush}

Too much patriotic fun last night. 

Plans to rejoin the land of the living commence tomorrow. 

Today it's lots of fluids and quiet time for this gal.