And Then There Is Personality...

Forrest Gump said that you could tell a lot about a person by their shoes, but I beg to differ.  Okay, he might be right.  But maybe you can tell a lot about a person by their jewelry?  What do you think?  I think you might be able to determine age by the type of jewelry,  and at least take a guess at the social status by the hugeness of the jewels.  And then there is personality... funky, fun, simple, classic, retro, hippie, outlandish, exquisite, modern, relaxed, serious... the list is endless.  But I must say, if I were to be typecast by my jewels, I'd want to be wearing these by Stuart & Wright, and if you agree then we'd be fast friends.

Also, not a bad Valentine to give someone! Check out Stuart & Wright to see more.

Ideas I Love.

Ah, Valentine's day is lighting up the blog world, but I must confess... my husband and I have botched Valentine's day, someway, somehow, since we've begun dating.  We approach this day like clumsy people with two left feet.  The charges against each other are long, and include forgetting the actual day and some very sad looking flowers (neon colored carnations).  

But who cares.  Messing up Valentine's day makes me love him even more.  And right now I thought I'd share some other "loves" of mine.  Here is some of the great stuff I've been poring over this week.  Enjoy.

Fat babies. 

Houses surrounded by mountains.

This portrait, which is on sale here, and which I think is lovely.

Have I mentioned I'm obsessed with treehouses?

And this room, too, is the only room I will ever want in life.  That ceiling!  That tub!  That skylight! That painting! Love.

This one needs no explanation, right? 

{Most photos via pinterest}

Optimistic & Uplifted.

Oh you guys, I am so happy January is over, done, fin and we won't have to greet it again for another year.  I know winter is still here, but we are one month closer to spring and that makes me feel more optimistic & uplifted, because to be honest, January was giving me the killer blues.  Yech.  Apparently, January was also giving our friends the blues too, because they called on Friday and asked if we would like to pack up and head to the beach for an impromptu camping trip, and we heartily agreed.  

It felt so good to have sandy feet, and hike around with the dogs - Mable & Greg - watching them leap and chase birds.  Also, to sleep under the stars and hear Mable growl at lingering raccoons.... fun stuff!  I heartily recommend the beach as the cure for anything, but especially the January blues.  Go, if you can and sleep under the stars.

Weekend Time!

Aaaah, I am so happy today is Friday.  That's really all I have to say.

That, and have a beautiful weekend!

{photo via pinterest}

Confession.

I feel like this all winter long.  The only thing I would add is "...in my grey sweatpants."  As soon as I return home from class, whether it is two o'clock or five, I break out the sweatpants and secretly hope John won't want to go anywhere that evening.  Does anybody else do this throughout the winter or am I just a recluse?

The Truth.

This poster is The Truth, capitol "T" isn't it?  I especially love the detail of the little waving person in the middle, or is that a drowning ship?  Regardless, there I usually am, sinking into the watery oblivion, desperate to finish homework, but helpless to get out of the triangle.  Since I don't Twitter, that vertex on the triangle would simply be "blogs" or maybe some pointless celebrity website.  What about you?  What is your Bermuda Triangle? (My husband's is imdb & wikipedia!)

{photo via pinterest}

Literally.

Um, guys?  Have you ever read Persuasion, by Jane Austen?  It is SO GOOD.  I repeat, with all caps and the added emphasis of italics: It is SO GOOD.  We had it assigned to us in my 19th Century British Novel class, and I am supposed to complete it on next Tuesday - but wait! - I couldn't put it down.  I think this may be the first time I have completed an assignment early.  And the funny part is that I kind of want to read it again, and feel a little bad about finishing it so quickly, because now it is over and I already miss the pleasure of having it in my hands.  At the end of the book (don't worry I won't spoil) I was squealing with glee.  Literally squealing.  I can't remember when I was last so excited about a novel.  Clearly I am now on a Jane Austen kick, and scheming of ways to get my husband to watch Sense & Sensibility with me for the hundredth time, thinking of naming my future daughter Marianne and wanting to Persuade you to read it ASAP. 

(Oh and I love this bedroom.  I think it could fly as a modern day Austen bedroom.  Don't you think so - especially with that romantic looking headboard? I need to collect some portraits.)

The Fashionable Aspect.

For the past few months (or at least since winter hit) I've been skeptical about the fashionable aspect of Dansko shoes. Once I was wearing my black pair in Nordstrom and the shoe salesman told me they looked like nurses shoes.  (Thanks a lot, right?  No offense, nurses.)  I suppose he was kind of right, but I like to think of them as more a comfy clog.  Does that fly?  Anyway, the point is that I was psyched to see someone rocking the Danskos on The Sartorialist, mainly because that is the first time (and probably the last) I've seen an article of clothing I own on The Sart, and also because this woman makes Danskos look cool!  This may be an impossible feat.  However, nurses shoe or not, they are so comfortable.

Anyway, I think they look even better with the exposed sock.  Any thoughts on the Dansko?  To love or not to love?

Hello, Hello.

Hello, hello.  How was your extended holiday weekend?  Hopefully it was fantastic. I have to say that the best part of mine was getting off this detox we attempted.  Let me just tell you: it was pure misery.  On day two I had full blown headaches, the kind that make your head feel like it will explode if you stand up too quickly or turn your head around too fast.  By day three I had full on body aches that no warm bath could contend with.  By day four I was begging for Mexican food, and by day five we were stuffing our faces with chips and queso, happy as clams.  If you are wondering if there was any redeeming factor at all, I will tell you that a few friends said I looked "glowy" on Sunday, but that was probably because I'd recently purchased this (which, I might add, is worth every penny).  We went to see Black Swan (freaky!), and then I made quite a tasty little soup, and some yummy lemon-yogurt cake.  And when you are back to eating normally and drinking coffee, it can amount to a wonderful weekend, which it was.

p.s. sorry no picture for you today, I had an awesome one for you picked out, which I will try to share later, but it wouldn't load.  check back later, you'll love it.

Along The Lines.

Along the lines of the rustic look, I'm seeing lots of images lately of ladders in bathrooms or elsewhere in the home.  I think they look good.  In fact, I am going to keep my eye out for one, even though there is nowhere to put it right now, eventually it could serve as something useful.  Perhaps in the bathroom for towels?  Put a bird on?  Hang objects from? Bedside table? They don't have to serve a purpose at all, except to look nice.

Also, I am also on the lookout for one of these vintage espresso makers.  They are so cool!  Where do you find them?  Any suggestions?  (My tip for finding a ladder is at an antique store, but no luck spotting the espresso maker yet.)  I would like to indulge once I am allowed coffee again! 

{images via pinterest}

A Little More Rustic.

Something about lots of snow makes me wish that my living space was a little more rustic - and certainly a lot less drafty!  I don't know about you, but I think wood is just about the most beautiful resource for home decor.  Even simple items like a wooden wine bottle holder or antique cutting boards make a room look more rustic and cozy.  Or, perhaps this wooden bathtub and the wooden outdoor sauna!

Swoon.

{photos via pinterest}

Little Hi.

Well friends, the caffeine headache is officially upon me, so I'm just popping in to complain, and ask you if you like my new header.  (I hope you do!) I love it, and wanted to brag on the designer I hired, Libby Smith of Frontier Paper Company - (you may remember her from this fab giveaway).  She's ridiculously talented, so keep her in mind if you are looking for anything to look awesome on paper (or on the internet).    So, that said, I'll be posting more once I recover from nasty caffeine withdrawals.  

Wish Us Luck.

John and I started our detox today.  It was a goal for the New Year.  This morning I awoke to find the ground covered in snow, which is awesome, but snow seems kind of lonely without hot coffee.

Instead it was a berry blast smoothie, complete with whey protein and milled flax seeds.  Yummy.  I know I do not sound enthused about this detox (which was not my idea), but then again, when I think for a moment over the long list of bad food products I have consumed over the past few weeks alone, I start nodding my head and get re-energized for detox program 2011.  It is only a few days anyway.  Okay, I'm still justifying myself.  I'll stop rambling.


(Wish us luck!)

Travel Fantasy: Iceland.

Aren't these photos of Iceland amazing?  I think I'll have to go there someday...

...more here.  Oh, and happy weekend!

{photos via brookelynphotography}

Still Cool.

One of my favorite movies this past year was An Education, starring Carey Mulligan & Peter Sarsgaard.  Right now you can watch it for free on Netflix (!!), which is what John and I did last night, even though we saw it several months ago.  I love the '60s decor, French music and especially the costumes, so I was pleased to discover Design Sponge's recent post Living In: An Education. 

Doesn't it make you want to go back in time?  Look how cool the tea kettles were! Oh, and that sofa is still cool.  Love.

Genius Inventions.

3 genius inventions:

1. giant scrabble!

2. the submarine tea infuser (my husband would love this)

3. "haters gonna hate" print.  

p.s. oh, and a very useful explanation of the difference between marketing and branding :)

{images via pinterest}

{1.1.11}

Hello everybody! Happy New Year to you!  I hope your holidays were simply the loveliest, and that you are looking forward to a bright 2011, full of promise and possibilities.  My goal is to follow the guide of this little paperweight, which has five rules to happiness:

Although it is not always easy, "give more" and "expect less" are important.  So instead of making an arbitrary list that will soon fall by the wayside, I am challenging myself to be a better person, a more giving person.  Oh, and to also do this:

Oh yeah.  I will.

(Also, I'm so happy to announce that our giveaway winners for the fabulous Frontier Paper Company have been chosen, just in time to write some Thank-You notes!  Cara & Marilyn you are the winners!  Send me your addresses please! )

{photos via pinterest}