Hair New Era

For those of us not getting real "rocks" for Valentine's Day, I thought these giant crystals might give us something to ooh and aah over instead. (I keed, I keed.) ;)

These photos are from crystal caves in Naica, Mexico called Cueva de los Cristales (or "Cave of Crystals" - brilliant name, by the way, right?).


Doesn't this guy look like Luigi (of Mario & Luigi) in his little navy plumber's outfit and green hat?

Photos from National Geographic

Discovered in 2000, the caves contain some of the world's largest known natural crystals, which are as long as 36 feet and weigh up to 55 tons; the largest crystal in the caves is 500,000 years old.

These aren't the kind of caves you can check out yourself, though: the main cavern can kill humans after just 15 minutes of exposure due to its 100% humidity and temperatures hovering around 136°F. Only select scientists have ever been down there, and they are required to wear protective suiting (basically filled with ice cubes and a dry air system).

Regardless of the danger, these caves yield huge amounts of silver, lead and water, which is handled by a Mexican mining company. The water has been used to create a lake in the desert, as well as water a nearby golf course. (Okay...An amazing natural treasure and that's how we use its resources...)

Either way, these caves are cool. Well, actually, they're hot, but you know what I mean...

Thank you, Alyson, for sharing these amazing crystal caves!

No need for knick-knacks cluttering up your mantle when you have a fireplace this beautiful. Those gorgeous pink hydrangeas and clean white details are all you need for this fireplace to feel pitch-perfect. It helps that the inset mantel is so lovely, too. Isn't this home heater somehow just right, for either a snowy winter or a breezy beachhouse?

Photo from Metropolitan Home, as originally seen on this is glamorous.

I might go clear some stuff off our mantel now...

Good morning! Did you have a good weekend? What's that? You got some snow? A blizzard you say?

Oh riiiight, it snowed in DC and Maryland this weekend.

A ton. Truckloads. As high as the rear bumper of my car. More than we've had since 2003. And really, really fun.

Saturday we bundled up in about 219 layers of gear and headed over to our friends' place where we all played in the snow like seven-year-olds. There may have been some "bumper skiing" going on too:

(This involves either holding on to the bumper of a Jeep or the rope that is tied to the back and then coasting over the snow on your shoes, no actual skis required. It results in slipping, sliding and generally debauchery. And fun. This photo was taken from inside the back of the Jeep.)

Today B and I spent all day by the fireplace, reading, watching football and warming up again. I've since come down with a lame cold ("skiing" in the snow anyone?) that I'm trying to banish as quickly as possible and before Christmas, but otherwise it was a fun weekend and made me even more excited for the upcoming holiday week. Only three days to go (if you even have work at all due to the snow).

Top photo from The Rockstar Diaries. See more of Naomi's beautiful snow day pictures here.
Bottom photo from a bunch of idiots I went to college with (whom we call good friends). :)