I’ve been obsessed with the rainbow cake like everyone else in blogland. Today Stephanie came over and demonstrated her baking chops and produced these rainbow cupcakes using Wilton food coloring. Next up, the full cake!

Our friends Jim and Becca wrote an awesome book on the craft of cheese making in Wisconsin. This would make an amazing valentine’s gift for the cheese nerd (like me!) in your life ($18 at Amazon). Add a box of cheese from the University of Wisconsin-Madison ($19) and they’ll love you forever.  I have personally sampled the aged cheddar and can give it the AGDS seal of approval.  I love Jim and Becca for many reasons but one of my favorite is that they created Febgiving, the celebration of thanksgiving in February.  This year Febgiving is celebrated Feb. 14 and 20th. I can’t wait.

Things I like about this room:  the grey walls, the white trim, the love seat with topiaries and the warm caramel color leather chairs. WNYC is constantly on in the house: on the days when I don’t have a babysitter it keeps me from getting lonely.  Anyway, I listen to the Brian Lerher Show and he often “crowd sources” things — like the identity of Russian mobsters or problems with lead paint or experiences with the public schools in NYC.  So, today, let’s crowd source: I can’t find the dining room chairs above anywhere online. I know I’ve seen them but I can’t seem to find them in that warm color. These look comfortable and that is hard to find in a dining room chair! This lovely room is from a Corcoran.com listing.

This tote made me laugh this morning. It says “Nobody Panic I know Origami and… Pilates.”   Since I don’t know either, this would be an awesome bag for me to carry.  Sadly, it is sold out.   I’ve been taking the week to reset and reorganize after the marathon of thesis-land.  I looked up from my computer and realized that I haven’t done any real organization since before I was pregnant — some 18 months ago. I’ve been coasting on old systems and, frankly, letting things pile up.  I’ll share some scary photos later in the week of what my closet looks like.  My newest obsession is the blog the Unclutterer.  It has quickly become one of my favorite daily reads with common sense advice about owning your own life.  (Why is it that common sense seems in short supply these days?)

At 12:25pm today I turned in my Master’s thesis! My second baby weighed in at a trim 1 pound 13 ozs and 20,000 words.  My firstborn and a sweet poesy of flowers from the husband kept me going in the final stretch.

The iPad. All about it here.  I didn’t buy an iphone, I didn’t buy a kindle.  But this, I really want. $999 No wait, $499! Photo from here.

This terrarium would make the best Valentine’s day bouquet, wouldn’t it? I’d love one of these on my desk right this second. From Terrain ($98) which sadly does not ship these lovelies.  However, you could make one yourself (or get your beau to make you one!) with this copper tray($38) and these glass cloches ($56) or these ($54).  You can have the terrarium plants shipped directly to you from Glass House Works for $25.  Moss and other terrarium fixings like rocks can be purchased here ($22) or here ($11).   Found over at Design*Sponge (check out Grace’s videos at Terrain!)