New is the new

A few new things...

I just ordered these rings from day-lab, one gold finish and one silver finish. I've mentioned day-lab before, and although I don't necessarily fawn over everything that Amy carries, I can't help but return for more subtle, vintage-inspired jewelry. Come to think of it, I wore this ring from day-lab today.

Thanks to this great big world we call the internet, I have a new blog in my daily mix: 10engines.

And thanks to James at 10engines for introducing me to rebeldata. There are some amazing images here, a few of which include hand-painted signs, like this gem:

Aside from my epic affordable bag quest (I might cave in to that brown Urban backpack yet), I've also embarked on an epic tea quest. Original Good Earth is perhaps my favorite tea of all time: sweet AND spicy. Alas, Shaws has some aversion to stocking this deliciousness, so I've had to resort to ordering it online. I love this great big world!

Credit: rebeldata

The Holy Trinity: The Soup/Mad Men/Reading Rainbow

Oh my!  The Soup sometimes blows my mind.

That's Joel with a few fine fellows from Mad Men...and LeVar Burton. Mad Men! Reading Rainbow! It doesn't make sense but it is definitely AMAZING. 

Don't worry -- I won't go into detail about the beards that Vincent Kartheiser and Aaron Staton are sporting. Check it out here.

Hope = Reality

I know this is a little late, but I must say HOORAY!

Credits: Smosch

Those lazy days can't come soon enough

Can't wait to go to northern Wisconsin this weekend.

And then I can't wait to get back and enjoy a few lazy vacation days, preferably at the beach.


Image: Egytpe 23 by Julie Chamton

a little spark

I haven't posted in months. I haven't had much to say. I suppose I've been in a rut. That's about all I have by way of explaination at this point.

Recently I've come across a few things on the marvelous interwebs that have sparked my imagination, inspired me, and have made me realize that the rut must end.

It began with hebden and her pasta recipe.

It continued today with material concern. This blog about art, craft, textiles and L.A. remind me of the things that used to excite me. These things STILL excite me! How could I forgret?

Good news

1. I didn't die in the race yesterday.

2. I just spoke with someone at the Copley Place GAP and they are receiving the Design Editions line TODAY. The line should be on display and on sale by tomorrow.

A few things...

Liking this idea for a rustic backyard sink. Via Apartment Therapy a few weeks ago.




Remembering the Hiroshi Sugimoto exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum back in 2006. The movie theater pictures were my favorite. They appeal to my embarrassing sense of melancholy.


Wondering which year this Paris map was produced. Bought it for $1 in Shelburne Falls this weekend.

Also:
Wishing I could take better pictures in which the colors are true-to-life. That map is actually a delightful peachy-orange.
Wishing I was better prepared for the Doyle's 5-mile road race this Sunday.
Happy it's finally spring. Hello crocus! Good to see you forsythia!

Domo arigato

Momo and Jake brought back a few wonderful items from their recent trip to Japan, including a Muji catalog.





I am now the happy owner of this beautiful booklet I cannot read, a green Muji toothbrush and a cute black blouse that I will wear to death this summer...Muji, of course. Thanks, M & J!

Spring is springing up!

I came across these beautiful Puschkinia (Striped Squill) this week. Scilla should be popping up any day now. Hooray! Spring is here!

Very pretty indeed

This weekend I met one of the lovely ladies behind Pretty Bourgeois. The blog is a wonderful mixture of interior design, fashion, food and more. These just happen to be some of my favorite things!

The subhead pretty much covers the blog's aim: "A working girl's guide to living stylishly on a budget." Now that's a guide I could certainly use. What that description lacks, however, is a mention of the Crazy Peeps Easter Cake in this post! I must try this.

Memories of Utah, part 2

More Wasatch Mountain Range.


Fun signs and beautiful skies.


More beautiful skies.


Colorful bike racks in SLC.


Flags for cross walks in SLC.


Meat!

Memories of Utah

August 2007

Sweets at Les Madeleines in Salt Lake City.


Hiking and camping in Lone Peak Wilderness, part of the Wasatch Mountain Range.


Eating delicious rice pudding with my lovely sister at Pudding on the Rice in Provo.


Magical graffiti in SLC.


Unique gravestones at small cemetery outside Provo.

Down with lawns!

The most recent issue of The New York Times Style Magazine is brimming with good stuff! I was most inspired by the article on Fritz Haeg, an architect who founded Edible Estates, which "proposes that homeowners banish grassy vanity lawns and replace them with harvestable gardens." Right on!

As I read about Haeg's projects I could picture a house that I lived in as a pre-teen in Southern California. This house had a massive backyard and frontyard, both of which were covered in neon green grass, definitely not native to the chaparral of Riverside County. If only my parents had done what Haeg does, that is, take a rototiller to those unnatural lawns and plant crops in their place.

I realize as I type this that I may feel so passionate about Haeg's work because I mowed both of those massive lawns at least once a month for 5 years. In any case, Edible Estates seems a brilliant idea!

Wise words from the T

Yesterday morning a slightly frustrated and mostly bemused T instructor encouraged folks to get in the train to clear the doors. She did this about 5 times, but never lost her cool. Once everyone was in and the doors closed she said something so refreshing:

"Let's just try an' have a good day."

Words to remember in the chilly days ahead (20 degrees?! and wind?! really?! oh lord).