FeatherGold

I didn't Know I Needed

2010-03-11T09:54:00.002-05:00

Seriously, I didn't know I needed these until I saw them. I really really really want them.

via DesignFiles

Sameness

2010-03-09T08:39:00.004-05:00

Spring is in the air with the gorgeous days bestowed on us this week and everyone is already thinking of spring looks, but I couldn't resist this hat and these colors. First, I love hats, all hats, most hats. I would rock them all day, all year if I could. Second, this color combination, can I say LOVE. As a matter of fact, this has been my season transitional colors. My awesome Lara Miller (ecological sensitive designer) asymmetrical ruffle coat from her Fall 09 collection in that exact hat color and my army green pants.

via TheSartorialist

Apple Cake

2010-03-07T19:14:00.003-05:00

Lazy Sunday afternoon, bag of apples, crazy for something cakey. What am I to do? Bake of course. Made this yummy vegan coffee apple cake. I dabble with vegan recipes, sometimes it's successful, sometimes not. This time, it came out so good, my husband and I ate half the cake in one sitting. Gluttony, I love it!

Recipe here

Visionaire Extraodinaire

2010-03-01T09:49:00.002-05:00

I first saw Cecelia Dean in person at the S/S 2000Helmut Lang show and thought to myself, that woman is fierce. She was so polished, I almost felt dumpy.

These pictures are from The Selby of Ms. Dean in her Visionaire office. I am obsessed with purple these days and am totally loving the purple binder boxes against all that white, including the white oufit in the first picture. Talk about sexy floral arrangement, the corset like wrapping of the vase, hot! I can't believe it's been 10 years since I first saw Ms. Dean and she still looks gorgeous and hasn't aged a day.

Urban Jungle

2010-03-01T09:02:00.001-05:00

I am feeling intense and fierce this Monday am.

via cougarchild

Wedding Nostalgia

2010-02-23T09:24:00.005-05:00

Every time we go to a wedding, I think of our wedding and get the warm fuzzies. We were just at Hubby's cousins wedding and I posted some pictures of these beautiful images of the Korean hanbok, plus my bestest buddy, vko, thought it would be nice to share my wedding hanbok pictures on this blog. So I thought I would share some wedding pictures with you fair readers. We had two ceremonies, first was the traditional western wedding ceremony and the second was the traditional Korean wedding ceremony. Also, I just thought I'd throw in the a pictures of the traditional western ceremony for the fun of it!

Weekend

2010-02-22T18:52:00.004-05:00

This weekend, hubby and I went to his cousins wedding in New Hampshire. We were looking forward to cross country skiing, ice skating on the lake, all that fun stuff. Since this weather has been wacky, Vermont and New Hampshire area barely got any snow. Huh? Can you believe that? Sigh, no cross country skiing. But we did get to ice skate on the lake behind the hotel. Um...I haven't skated in a very very very long time. I fell three times, bruise on each knee and a painful whopping bruise on my left butt! Ouch!

The bottom picture is the church where the ceremony took place. That area in New Hampshire looked so much like Sleepy Hollow.

Heritage

2010-02-17T08:43:00.004-05:00

My first love is watercolor, it's the first media that I became proficient at to express the stuff going on in my head in a coherent way. Whenever I see photographs that have a watercolor quality I am mesmerized, I actually start seeing brush strokes and color drips. Okay, I know that sounds crazy.

This Korean fashion spread was photographed by Kim Kyung Soo. It's so beautiful. I also feel a connection to this as a Korean, growing up wearing these traditional Han Bok for Korean holidays. I remember being stared at as a girl in an all caucausian neighborhood. They had never seen anything like it. A few years later, the neighborhood started changing and you started seeing women wearing saris, men in turbans, men practicing tai chi, cheongsam at the market, then I stopped getting stared at.

via automatism via alisabloh

Yes Please

2010-02-16T12:10:00.002-05:00

Champagne Sorbet

How fabulous and luxurious to turn champagne into sorbet, well also, how delicious.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sparkling wine or champagne
1 cup white granulated sugar
1 Tbsp light corn syrup
1 teaspoon of lemon and or grapefruit zest
1 1/2 cups fresh grapefruit juice
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (Meyer if you have access to them)

Method

1 Put champagne, sugar, corn syrup, and zest into a saucepan. Bring to a vigorous boil so that the sugar completely dissolves, remove from heat.

2 Strain into a stainless steel bowl (will help cool down faster), add the grapefruit juice and lemon juice. Chill completely. To do this, either place bowl in a larger bowl half-filled with ice water, and stir until champagne solution is completely cold, refreshing the ice in the outer bowl if necessary. Or you can cover with plastic wrap and chill in your refrigerator over night. I put the bowl in the ice compartment of our freezer for a couple hours, because it fits, chills quickly, and is far enough away from the other food in the freezer.

3 Process the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the ice cream maker directions. Transfer mixture to a storage container and freezer in your freezer until firm, at least 6 hours.

Makes about 1 quart

found via girliegirl courtesy of simplyrecipes.com

Recovering

2010-02-16T09:03:00.001-05:00

I stayed home from work all last week, recovering from surgery. Cabin fever was setting in and feeling unproductive, so despite doctor's order for bed rest, I sat in front of my sewing machine and got to work. With the fabric I purchased from Mood Fabric, here is project number one finished. With the left over scrap, I turned it into a pillow. I'm patting myself in the back for having absolutely no fabric waste, I literally used every inch of fabric purchased.

As you can see, our bedroom is mostly white, cream, beige, so the shot of purple print from the window treatment creates visual interest and movement. There is also a tangible energy shift in the room now. It used to be calming and soothing, I purposely decided not to hang any art to give our minds and eyes rest for the day. Now I'm thinking that I like this vibrant energy in the bedroom.

Happy V Day

2010-02-12T09:00:00.003-05:00

Wishing everyone a sweet and romantic Valentine's day!

Illustration from Victoria Ball here

Happy Lunar New Year

2010-02-12T07:50:00.007-05:00

2010 is the Year of the White Metal Tiger...hold on to your hats! I'm the Year of the Rat.....this should be an interesting year for me, actually for everyone. What's your sign?

Below is the metal tiger year prediction, it's a little on the long side. If you like this kind of stuff, it's a fun read.

Year of the Tiger
February 14, 2010 to February 3rd, 2011
THE YEARS OF THE TIGER (1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022)

The Metal Tiger year starts on February 14, 2010. For western world types, the date is doubly significant because it falls on Saint Valentine's Day. Music Maestro Please! Drum rolls and festivities for everyone and of course extra loving for lovers everywhere.

Tiger years are notoriously turbulent. Political unrest, coups d'états, and natural catastrophes often strike during these action-packed years. So... if you were born under an active, energetic and even slightly rebellious New Astrology sign, you will be drop-dead-in love with this coming year's rambunctiousness. If, on the other hand, you prefer quietude, security and serenity, 2010 might not star as the most tranquil year of your life.

If you love movement and surprises, you will be in your element. But if you are someone who loves deep, quiet forest silence and solitude, in the Metal Tiger year, you may feel like crawling back under the covers and waiting out the tumult.

During a Tiger year, nobody should leap before he examines any forthcoming venture or adventure. The Tiger, though noble and honorable, endows a year with uncertainty and danger. Tigers never know where they might place their next paw. In Tiger years it is incumbent upon the rest of us to face head-on collisions with our own reversals. When we least expect calamity, it surges out of nowhere. Same goes for extreme pleasure and breath taking thrills. Much willpower and wisdom is required of us during these testy times. Get ready for the roller coaster ride of your life. Luckily, on February 2 of 2011, the ride will be over. Cat/Rabbit will be tiptoeing in to set things to rights in his or her own quiet way - and with dignity.

2010 will be a volatile year, engendering clashes and disputes in every part of the world - and even in families and love matches. This year will start with a bang. In the first half, everything will seem to be expanding, then exploding. But the year slowly winds down toward December and will end more serenely than it began. But hold on to your hats because 2010 is earmarked for sudden skirmishes, disagreements, disasters, ecstasies and gratifications of all stripes. Tigers, after all, are excessive.

2010 will also be a year for temerity about daring to change, for erasing the past and starting over. Nothing small or measly will happen. Think large scale everything. The Tiger also infuses the atmosphere with his courage and pluck. In 2010, we won't always feel safe. But we will often be excited and exhilarated. This will be a year for extremes in both misery and joy. Fortunes can be made and oh so quickly be gone up in smoke. The tendency is for dramatic upheaval. You leave your spouse and immediately get married to a lover with whom you almost know at the start that you can never find long term harmony. You sell your home and decide to move into a condo and right away feel cramped and nostalgic for your big sprawling house. Or you may change jobs midstream, just dash away from a sweetheart, move to a new city or country. Tiger years are about startups, new beginnings and espousing change. That is what make them so dashing and exciting to certain members of the New Astrology roster. And so absolutely shiveringly frightening to others.

In 2010, people get up to astonishing deeds on the spur of the moment. They suddenly take off on an expedition to the South Pole or they decide to move the whole family to Australia from Manitoba or Bedlam, Idaho. In this year, Transition is favored. If you have been dreaming of becoming a ballet dancer after years of digging in a mine, now's the time. Pick up and change your life. Or else you'll have to accept to be cowering in a corner with your teeth chattering as you watch the whirlwinds go by.

Heads of state and heads of household alike may allow their tempers to rage. Diplomacy seems to be a thing of the past. Likewise, secrets will be outed in the wink of an eye, unusual health problems will arise out of nowhere and your friends may go AWOL without so much as a whisper of a why. We will all feel abandoned at one time or another during this Tiger year, because the nature of the tawny beast is to turn tail and decide to change his stripes at a moment's notice. Where? What? Huh? We will all do a lot of head shaking and wondering what the hell just happened. No logic or reasoning can figure it out. So stop trying the very first day of the year and instead (because it's Valentine's Day) take your sweetie out for a super candlelight dinner and gear up for a full year of feisty turbulence - white knuckles and all.

Relationships, contracts and agreements requiring mutual confidence and collaboration may prove unsound and leave us gasping. This is often a difficult time and shakes us up. But the flip side is that it leaves us with a chance to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off and start all over again. This Tiger year will offer us all the courage we need to face adversity and wriggle out of tight spots.

Tigers are vigorous people who know how to carry heavy emotional weight and brave sticky legal situations. They willingly (and sometimes thoughtlessly) pounce on lost causes, sinking ventures and failing businesses. To this year, the Tiger brings derring-do and impulsive fearlessness. You may meet with some major obstacles. Don't panic. The Tiger is not vengeful. He doesn't hold a grudge. But he does expect you to overcome those obstacles and return to the fray wearing a triumphant smile on your formerly disappointed face.

The Tiger's impulsive spirit will no doubt touch everyone's life. If ever you were planning to pull off some chancy caper or make an uncharacteristic flash decision, go for it. The Tiger will be on your side.

If you are a Pisces/Goat, a Libra/Cat/Rabbit or another of the "softer" New Astrology™ signs , you may be shaking in your boots. Relax. The Tiger is an effusive character who, despite his penchant for quarrel and collision, is a veritable warehouse of merriment and a fund of dazzlingly novel ideas to amuse and delight you. If you like inventive, cheerful, intense and edgy people (and who doesn't?), you can look forward to a rollicking 2010.

KARL LAGERFELD, a celebrated Tiger fashion designer, said on French TV today "I love everything that fashion is criticized for. I live for change and tearing down the past to build the future. That's what (Tigers and) fashion is all about."

Source here

Alexander McQueen

2010-02-11T15:37:00.002-05:00

RIP Alexander McQueen at 40
What?!?! So tragic!

Chinese Checkers

2010-02-10T21:41:00.004-05:00

Yay! My Chinese Checkers Louise Ghost chairs finally arrived. Of course Little Girl has to come check them out first as the comfort meter. I'd say she finds them quite comfy.

photo taken by lifestyles of the chic & vegan

I See Stripes

2010-02-10T21:18:00.005-05:00

I've always been a huge fan of striped shirt. My mother who had a thing for polka dots and stripes rubbed off on me. For Spring, I need to update some of my stripe shirt collection, meaning, that I have to toss out or donate the really really really old ones. Here are some that I've found. Now that I have stripe sailor shirts on the brain, I see them everywhere.

credit from top to bottom: Saint James from Lark, Petite Bateau, Saint James from Lark, bottom three are from Urban Outfitters

In the Mood for Decorating

2010-02-09T13:31:00.003-05:00

Inspired by the picture from the last post of this picture, I headed out to Mood Fabrics on Saturday with my friend, Lifestyles of the Chic & Vegan. Here is a not so hot snapshot of Mood's upholstery section. If you like that kind of stuff, seriously, it's like being a kid in a candy store. I could have spend the whole day in there and spent all kinds of money, if my hubby wasn't waiting for me at home for brunch.

Again, a not so hot snapshot of a print that I loved. I'm not usually drawn to purple, but for some reason, all I look at are purple these days. So, I found this print in purple that will be used for the window treatment and I'm thinking the contrasting yellow for bed skirt.
Here is the loot from Mood....the purple print uphostery fabric-window treatment, brown sheer nylon will be sunblocker in the husbands office, the black perforated faux leather will eventually become a vegan hobo bag, and the yellow with black feathered water color print velvet will become a tunic dress.
Here is a glimpse of the fabric temporarily hung on the window rod so I can get a feel for it. I'm totally loving it!
I thought I'd just throw this in...can you spot the little girl? So this is what it looks like from the street looking up and seeing those pointy little ears.

Home is where the heart is

2010-02-05T11:05:00.002-05:00

I took a deep breath and pressed that send button to purchase a set of four of this chair for our dining table. I hope the asian theme picture isn't too goofy in person. Keeping my fingers crossed. While I love me the Louis Ghost chairs, but the print? Any thoughts?

This picture from Sixx Design is my inspiration for new window treatment in the bedroom. I'll be hitting the fabric stores in the garment center tomorrow am.

One Eye Cat

2010-02-04T10:40:00.002-05:00

We're fostering this gorgeous little girl. My best friend rescued her in December, right before the big snow storm. She also had to have her one eye removed from an infection. Poor thing, it's been rough for her, but it's incredible how well she's adjusting. Isn't she just beautiful!

Good Times

2010-01-27T11:59:00.001-05:00

Midnight Stroll

2010-01-27T11:45:00.002-05:00

From Drop Box

Sunday night in the mist.

Faux What!

2010-01-25T11:10:00.003-05:00

Holy Cow! Yes, cows are holy as are all living creatures on this earth. With that in mind, I try to eat consciously and healthy, not always succeeding. The times when I fail to be a conscious eater, I think about what that piece of flesh came from, a beautiful cow or a gorgeous chicken unfortunate to have been brought into this earth to live a miserable existence and die a harsh death. Okay, writing this makes me want to cry for all the miseries of this world. So I'll stop and talk about this Faux Gras. In my non-enlightened food period, I use to love me some foie gras. Then I started thinking about those precious ducks or geese with tubes shoved down their throats, being forced. I almost swooned with the disgust of how little we care for other precious beings.

Okay, I'll get off the soapbox and talk about this wonderful product called Faux Gras. It's exactly what you think it is, fake foie gras. I haven't tried it yet, but you get your sweet tush, I'm gonna place an order for it today from the Regal Vegan.

via The Girlie Girl

Frozen Shrubbery

2010-01-13T10:59:00.003-05:00

What a cool (pun intended) way to light up a winter outdoor party.

via DesignSponge + instructions

Rawin Loud & Clear

2010-01-13T09:27:00.007-05:00

Last night my best friend V and I checked out this raw place in Williamsburg. I was not prepared for how much I would enjoy and love the food. I will admit that I only went because V is going through a stressful situation and needed some support and distraction, I suggested that she get out of the house and offered my support, so she chose this place for dinner. I am thankful that V chose Rockin Raw, it opened me up to raw food, it is simply amazing. I didn't need to eat too much but felt full and satisfied for a long time. The fullness felt like a light, clean, happiness in the tummy, unlike being full from processed food, which brings down my energy and I can feel the emptiness in my tummy from lack of real nutrients in the food. My consciousness around food shifted last night and I had this epiphany of what food means to me. Not to sounds too corny, but it really felt like a life changing experience.

Our menu last night was...

Starters

“Crab Cakes” with Creamy Dill Sauce
-made with sea vegetables, zucchini, mushrooms, seeds, macadamia, and many spices-

Jicama a la Huancaina
-served with olives and peruvian corn kernels (choclo)-
Huancaina is a popular peruvian yellow spicy cheese-like sauce,
it's unique taste comes from the Ají Amarillo (peruvian yellow pepper).

Entrees

Raw Boy Sandwich with Cajun Mayo
-a smooth fluffy filling of sea vegetables, seeds, celery, onions, etc served with Soul Chips and Creole Slaw, in our essene bread-

Rockin' Raw Burger Platter
-rich rich R R burger made with eggplant, seeds, mushrooms, walnuts, spices, etc-
(served with Southern Greens, pickles, N'awlins Rings and ketchup)

Everything was delicious, period. Unfortunately, I didn't have the foresight to take pictures of the plates, but V did. I will link to it when she gets around to blogging about it.

Rockin Raw

178 North 8 Street Brooklyn New York 11211 718 599 9333

Cross Street Driggs

Eye Opener

2010-01-12T09:51:00.004-05:00

This took my breath away with the shock of the red in an unexpected way.

via jakandjill blog

Sustenance

2010-01-11T18:49:00.002-05:00

Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.
Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
How to eat: Just drink it.
Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.
Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.
Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.
Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.
Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Verbatim via NYtimes

Kindness

2010-01-11T10:41:00.004-05:00

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle"
-Plato

I have been contemplating this quote a lot this weekend. Everyone I meet or come across and whatever there reactions and/or reactions is not a personal action towards me. They are simply living their human existence, searching for meaning and strategizing ways to meet their needs, just like me. Sometimes it's hard to think of this in a heated moment or when I get pulled into the same story of dislike of a specific person, an old anger, an injustice done to me or others. However, it doesn't serve anyone,importantly myself when my actions from a reaction cause more suffering. Breathing into the feeling helps to loosen the stranglehold of the old stories that I am working to release from this life and my karma.

image here

Heart

2010-01-08T11:02:00.000-05:00

Do you not see that you and I are as the branches of one tree? With your rejoicing comes my laughter; with your sadness start my tears.
Love, could love be otherwise with you and me?
-TSU YEH, Tsin dynasty, AD 265-316

Shine

2010-01-07T09:38:00.003-05:00

"Our deepest fear is not to be inadequate. Our deepest fear is being powerful beyond measure. It is our light that most frightens us, not our darkness. We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, extremely talented and beautiful? And really: Who are you not to be? "
Nelson Mandela

Holiday

2009-12-24T10:13:00.003-05:00

Warm wishes to all for a joyous holiday!

image here

Sweet Suite

2009-12-23T18:41:00.003-05:00

Martin Margiela designed Suite Ile aux Oiseaux at Les Sources de Caudalie near Bordeaux. For 650 euros a night, you get sleep in this beauty, plus you get a signed "gift" from Mr. Margiela. Sweet!

via NYtimes

Ray of Sunshine

2009-12-23T12:46:00.002-05:00

Coasting down Park Ave So., I got sprayed with this ray of sunshine.

It's poetry in motion
She turned her tender eyes to me
As deep as any ocean
As sweet as any harmony
Mmm - but she blinded me with science
--Thomas Dolby

Felt

2009-12-22T11:25:00.006-05:00

I'm connecting with my body and asking what it's feeling right now and what it needs to be more nourished. Tapping into the felt sense of what my body is saying and not analyzing, not thinking, just asking and waiting for my body to let me know when it's ready. Being and sitting with it.

What is your body telling you today and what does it need to be more nourished?

Come with me

2009-12-18T11:27:00.002-05:00

Come with me / My love / To the sea / The sea of love / I want to tell you / how much / I love you

Happy Friday

Via scout holiday

Roped

2009-12-18T11:18:00.002-05:00

Alexander May found via Duskin

Breathe

2009-12-17T11:21:00.008-05:00

Holiday seasons seems to raise the stress level for most people. Somehow the season of giving has turned into giving and expecting the hottest toy, hottest electronic item, the hottest, latest whatever. Another stress inducing holiday experience is the experience of the physical shopping activity. Just writing these stressful thoughts are raising my stress level, I feel a tightening in my stomach that is telling me, "I don't want that stress!". To honor that, I will...

breathe, when I catch myself holding my breath
meditate
yoga (breathing, moving meditation)
practice mindfulness in my thoughts, movements, gestures and interactions
daily grateful list

How do you/will you deal with the stress or non-stress of this holiday season? I would really love to know.

Image from here.

Richness

2009-12-16T11:50:00.005-05:00

These two questions have been on my mind all week, I've been pondering, searching and digging deep, I'm not done yet......

What would you do with your life if you knew that you could not fail?

What would you love to tell your younger self?

Any thoughts, oh fellow humans?

Riddle me this

2009-12-16T06:35:00.004-05:00

Solve These Typographic Riddles to Win a Nook! This is from Fast Company. Solve the eight typographic riddle and win a nook, Barnes & Nobles' version of kindle. More info on this, the what's, where' and how's, here.

Good luck to anyone that's entered. I enjoy looking at typographs, but don't really understand it, so it's way over my head!

Collecting Bukowski

2009-12-14T10:41:00.003-05:00

A petition to commemorate Charles Bukowski's 20th anniversary of his death.

Via here

Smokin'

2009-12-09T15:37:00.002-05:00

Catherine Baba is fierce! Love the outfit, though the fur turns me off (the humane thing), but the rest of it...wow! This woman also zips around town on a bike, in a kimono robe and stilettos...hot!

Credit: Jak and Jill

Sheer Pleats, Ruffles Galore

2009-12-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

Credit: The Sartorialist

Snap

2009-12-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Found My Animal makes these badass dog leash. They also make great leather alternative collars and harnesses. Their products are handcrafted in Brooklyn, the ropes for the leashes are handmade by professional rope makers in New England. These leashes are so chic, they do double duty as an accessory. Can be worn as a belt or necklace. Badass.

Found My Animal makes these badass dog leash. Makes me wish we had a dog. This company alo

Fly Funk

2009-12-07T11:40:00.002-05:00

So smooth, so hot, so fly.

photo: Michael Abramson
from the moment blog/nytimes

Crystal Drops

2009-12-07T10:13:00.003-05:00

This is my inspiration for a new chandelier in the bedroom. The challenge is to make this with materials that I already have at home.

From here

Snow Sunday

2009-12-07T10:00:00.004-05:00

Glimpses of Sunday afternoon. It snowed in New York for the first time of the year, unfortunately unless it snows hard, it's gone the next day. Happy for me, we took a ride out to my parents and snapped some pictures for posterity.

Surprised Kitty Friday

2009-12-02T11:38:00.001-05:00

Too d*mn cute! I'm sure you've already seen this, this has been the toast of internet this week. But just in case you haven't....

Fantastico Senor Zorro

2009-11-29T20:51:00.004-05:00

Charming movie. Highly recommend.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T11:59:00.003-05:00

Wishing all love, peace and joy on this holiday of Thanks Giving.

What are you thankful for?

My list is sky high and keeps growing.

Running to catch up

2009-11-09T10:51:00.002-05:00

Fallen behind, that's what happened after being sick most of last week. Will be back on board as soon as I can breathe.
xoxo

Tulum Dreams

2009-10-30T12:00:00.000-04:00

This is where I will be this weekend in my dreams, returning to Tulum.
Have a lovely and sparkly weekend.

via NYtimes

Last Friday of the month

2009-10-30T10:20:00.003-04:00

The delightful, insightful and joyful blog by Maira Kalman in the NY Times, The Pursuit of Happiness. I look forward to her posts every month and know that it will bring a smile to my face and happiness bubbles in my tummy.

The Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman

Grateful Friday

2009-10-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

Rain for three days and sunny for four
Kisses from the husband
Fantastic Tuesday class
Little Girl learned how to fetch
YumYum, I can't stop showering him with kisses

Rainbow Acid

2009-10-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

Rad batteries from Romania.

via Lovely Package

Tea for 2010

2009-10-29T10:32:00.004-04:00

Loving the tea towel calendar. Love the idea that once you're done with the calendar, it can incarnate into its second life as a tea towel. I'm all for multi use objects.

From Cicada Daydreams

Across the universe

2009-10-29T09:32:00.005-04:00

Words are flying out like endless rain into a paper cup They slither while they pass They slip away across the universe Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting thorough my open mind Possessing and caressing me
The Beatles

an enormous star exploding 13 billion years ago.
the oldest object seen in the universe.

the above exploding star was approx. 100x bigger than our sun. below.

Amazing. How much bigger our universe is compared to our lives. Will keep this thought in mind throughout my day.

(viacnn)

Paintings in the sky

2009-10-26T11:50:00.003-04:00

The clouds in the sky put on a fabulous show yesterday from morning til dusk

Dead Basil

2009-10-26T11:42:00.002-04:00

This is what I woke up to Saturday morning, a little hungover and a lot tired. My furry kids must've had a wild night.

Day dream weekend

2009-10-23T10:17:00.003-04:00

In my daydreams this weekend, this is where you will find me.

Have a wonderful and magical weekend.

Photo from style-files

we gotta winnah!

2009-10-21T22:48:00.004-04:00

So, when I first started this blog a whole two weeks ago, I wanted to start with a little giveaway to create some goodwill. Now the time has come to do the random draw......drum roll, please.......... Okay, here's the deal.....out of the three comments, one of them is mine. Since there are two comments and I happen to have made two of them, so I'd like for both to get a pair. Congratulations to my girl Rebecca and to the lovely and gracious Ms. PVE (who also is the first blogger besides friends to read and comment, I will forever remember you as my first).

White Lines

2009-10-21T11:00:00.001-04:00

YumYum and I contemplating the white lamp from West Elm, does it work or not? Errmmm...that's why the wrapper is still on the shade.

Hello? Anyone out there? If there is, your thoughts would be much appreciated.

Stretching Sketching

2009-10-21T10:16:00.000-04:00

Really really really rough sketching practice of me and my outfit worn yesterday. I'm finding that creativity is essential for my soul. Even if it's a simple sketch.

Sheer Valentino S/S 2010

2009-10-21T09:30:00.002-04:00

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli have brought a more youthful appeal to the Valentino house with all that leg baring, sheer, pretty, sexy looks. The colors are swoon-worthy.

Wish upon a star

2009-10-20T10:03:00.002-04:00

I am absolutely fascinated with ceramics and pottery, from the process of creating, to the end result. I have been thinking of taking a pottery class for a long time and every time I come across beautiful ceramic art, my longing gets deeper. There is a zen-like feel to ceramic and pottery making that is very appealing and really, I want to play with mud/clay. I'm sold! Will be signing up for a pottery class today.

This ceramic artist is Diana Fayt, found her via style files, from the ladies of "we like it wild" series from designsponge

Fleur de Seattle

2009-10-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Britches gettin a little big for ya?

2009-10-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

I'm totally digging the look, oversize trousers, the leopard print flats and jacket, plus that big belt. There seems to be a theme going on in here with this oversized trouser look and this leopard print. This combination, love it! She also has an Audrey Tatou-ish look about her.

Bow down and Tie one on

2009-10-19T10:00:00.004-04:00

These are beautiful bow ties that knocked me off my feet. The artist is York Wu, the designer behind this gorgeous collection named WuYork. I found these images from a blog called Duskin and she wrote this about the work of York Wu "it really made me rethink everything i have ever done." I feel the same, this makes me rethink girlie and feminine that's so pervasive in my life. I am totally feeling the clean lines and the modern sculptural element on these guys.
Found via Duskin

Happy Monday and Dreamy Weekend

2009-10-19T09:27:00.005-04:00

My weekend felt like this picture, diving in. Not so much to do with all the rain we had, but along the lines of diving into exploration and self exploration. I spent the weekend with 36 people on a mission to learn and in the process I learned so much about myself and know that the next seven months, as we continue our journey to learning, I will continually learn more about myself. One big breakthrough for me this weekend was finding my voice. I know that sounds funny, because I never physically lost my voice, but I feel like I had about speaking up and communicating my needs and desires in an effective way. Okay, I don't want to go on too much about this, but I'm still savoring this empowering feeling Monday morning.

Photo Credit: LIna Scheymius

Yum Yum

2009-10-16T00:22:00.001-04:00

Irving Penn

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Mr. Penn 1917 - 2009.

Irving Penn's “Woman With Roses,” with Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn in Lafaurie Dress, Paris, 1950.

Photos: nytimes.com

S/S 10 Fendi

2009-10-15T11:13:00.000-04:00

This reminds me that I need to brush up on my lingerie sewing skills.

Credit: style.com

Cheap & Chic...outta the mouth of The Sartorialist

2009-10-15T10:12:00.001-04:00

Love this look, love that it's casual and she looks so relaxed in this look. What's interesting is that if someone had described this look to me, I would've thought that it sounds awful and silly. Imagine, an eighties style shoulder padded, double breasted stone color jacket, what appears to be a warm gray vest with white t-shirt underneath. Black baggy pants with the crotch hanging down practically to her knees with black Converse to finish the look. Yeah, it sounds awful and so dated, but on this girl, it looks fresh and chic.

Credit: The Sartorialist

Fire Walk With Me

2009-10-13T23:45:00.000-04:00

Fans of Twin Peaks will remember that this is the exterior shot of the Great Northern Hotel. The husband, who is a huge fan of Twin Peaks was pretty excited to be seeing the hotel and waterfall in person.

I am not an outdoorsy kinda girl, so this hike up Rattlesnake Mountain, up to the ledges was grueling, in my Chuck Taylors, no less. Converse sneakers are NOT made for hiking, if anyone ever thought of hiking in them. Another thing, I am scared of heights, like I get vertigo kinda scared, which J does not understand, because on the ledges, he was running around, jumping around like a g*ddamn mountain goat. Scaring the crap outta me, because I kept thinking, oh my god, what if he loses his footing. Though, I will admit that once we got up there, the view was gorgeous. Made me feel small in the scope of the breath of nature's amazing awesomeness.

This is Rattlesnake Lake that you have to walk around to get to hike trail. That area had a pretty dry summer, so most of the lake has receded and we were able to walk across the lake. All that brown area is where we walked across.

Oh My Dahlia

2009-10-13T23:34:00.000-04:00

We hit up the farmers market to pick up some goodies for dinner while in Seattle this past weekend.

Look at the floral eye candy all around. This visual explosion of colors made me a little a dizzy!

Aaaaand we're off......

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to Seattle for some family and fun.

Have a great weekend!

With Love,
Julie

The Kids

2009-10-07T10:16:00.000-04:00

This is our yum yum and little girl. We can't get enough of them.

Meet Yum Yum, he's a little skittish around new people, but he's pleased to make your acquaintance.

This is Little girl, she's feisty and will play attack your hand when you pet her. That's her way of saying hello, stranger!

Casual Fierce

2009-10-07T09:53:00.000-04:00

There is something fierce about this look and at the same time casual. Though those heels are by no means casual, they kick up the heat factor in this look. I love that she makes this looks so easy breezy, like she woke up and threw this look together in no time. I have been a fan of leopard print forever and ever, as long as it's not actual animal skin. Though I have been a huge fan of animal prints, I, myself have never worn it. In fact, I don't think I have single piece of animal print in my closet. Might have to change that after having seen this look.

Credit: The Sartorialist

Kick Start with a Give Away (with a catch)

2009-10-05T11:04:00.000-04:00

I would like to start this blog with a give away. The details: the stones are garnet and the wire is gold fill. All the details of this pair is handmade with love and infused with good energy by me. Though the picture doesn't capture the scale of this earring well, it's tiny and very delicate.

There is a catch though, the one thing that I ask in return for winning this earring is that you pay it forward or do a random act of kindness. Then please email me a picture or story and will post it on the blog with a link back to you. Obviously, if you don't do anything at all, everyone has free will, that's fine too

I think this might be a fun way to start creating more kindness and good energy in our every day lives or at least in my every life.

Leave a comment and since this is a brand spanking new blog among many thousands of blogs out there, I will do a random drawing when there are three comments. So to anyone that's commented early, please sit tight, this may take a while.

With Love,
Julie

WELCOME

2009-10-04T22:43:00.000-04:00