a little more wonder

a little soundtrack: eric hutchinson

2011-09-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

The motion graphics in this video illustrate the music beautifully and make me want to get up and groove. Enjoy!

sugar paper

2011-08-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

Here's my video fix for the week, and it incorporates all that I love about letterpress! It is an introductory video for Sugar Paper in Los Angeles. I love the sweeping shots of the piles of paper and envelopes, the spinning flywheel of a press, and the bright red spread of ink near the end. Artistry and love is truly in the details.

secrets from a stylist

2011-08-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

I've been totally obsessed with HGTV Emily Henderson's blog as of late, I enjoy her quirky writing style and lovely resource lists for all the rooms she designs for her show Secrets From a Stylist. She is seriously talented and actually gives useful tips for styling our own rooms at home. And her unstuffy delivery is refreshingly un-HGTV!

It has been a great jump starter for me to rethink how I decorate and what choices I can make for our own home. Here's to starting small! So far this is what is on my list:

Choose and purchase art for the dining room wall (I talked about that here)
Find simple and classic lighting for our dining area
~~Find a child-friendly storage ottoman to replace our wrought iron and wood coffee table~~ UPDATE: We just scored ourselves a new cream tufted ottoman today! Yes!
Find new drapery in a lighter color (currently we have wine colored velvet curtains)

So far I've been trolling good ol' Craiglist every single day just waiting for the right listings to come up (I have a few search terms that I always employ), and I do believe that good things come to those who wait ... and by the end of the summer I'm aiming to complete this decor to-do list! I only have a few weeks to go, so here's to getting myself going! Yay!

renegade craft fair sf 2011

2011-07-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

2011 was my third year of attending the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco, and this year was exceptional! Lots of loveliness to look at, and it forced me to be very thoughtful about my purchases. Otherwise known as self-control! All in all, I love being inspired by other people's work. Don't you think to yourself - I wish I had been genius enough to think of THAT? That definitely rings true for the wooden alphabet bunting below by Figs and Ginger. I purchased some bunting for my daughter's room, two delicate gold and leather bracelets for myself, and a bicycle birdie screenprint for our home.

Other vendors featured: Thief and Bandit (jersey necklaces), Diament Designs (delicate bracelets), Strawberry Luna (cute and affordable screenprints)

giving is good

2011-07-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

I am so inspired by this image that I came across on the Passion City Church blog. It's an open shipping container with a mini classroom inside it. This is part of a movement to collect backpacks full of school supplies for kids in need around their community. I love the sign that says backpack + supplies = happiness!

It inspires me to help in big and small ways to make a difference, and I hope it inspires you too. Fun!

letterpress app

2011-07-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

I love how technology is helping to spread the word about letterpress and the process behind it! Sure, most of the folks I encounter still need an explanation about what letterpress is, but we're making strides every day. Here's an awesome example of that with a letterpress app for the iPad! It uses a vintage Vandercook (like my press) and scans of real wooden type to print faux broadsides. Amazing. I can't wait to test it out.

I don't think I ever updated on my blog about what I've been up to with letterpress, but we just finished designing a wedding suite for a rustic western wedding at a ranch. I can't wait to photograph all the pieces and post them up. It was a great experience, and there's more ahead! Until then, enjoy the video.

mr. stache

2011-06-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

I was just browsing Amazon when I happened upon this free short film that won the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival for the Short Film Category. It's called Mr. Stache and it's quite worth the 10 or so minutes it takes to watch it. Funny, cute and clever. I mean, who can resist a 'stache? They're great for storing leftovers to enjoy later. Enjoy!

parenting methods

2011-05-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Although my little one is still very young, I often wonder what it will be like when she learns to express her own opinion and will. What will she say to me? What happens when she doesn't want to obey? What kind of response will I give her?

My hope is that it will be one of love, but also full of wisdom for what will help her to grow. And I'm sure that sometimes, probably most of the time, it will be a hard process. So I like to take methods and advice I've heard and file it away in my own personal parenting memory bank. You know, for future usage.

Recently, a friend told me that her sister purchased a Nintendo DSi for her kids, but let them know that it was her DSi and that they are only allowed to earn play time on it. So it does not belong to either of them, but instead it is something they must work for the privilege of using. They are not allowed to fight for it and do not become glued to it because it belongs to Mom and Dad. Genius! They do chores and help out around the house in exchange for DSi minutes - then once they start playing, they must set an egg timer with the allotted minutes. Once the timer goes off, they must turn off the device themselves. Consistency with this method is key, but I love that the kids are the ones that must have self-control and the parents are there to offer accountability. There are so many lessons to learn in this!

Another similar method that I've read about is Mom Bucks (you could probably make this Mom and Dad Bucks). I remember a teacher in elementary school that used this with our class, and it was great for incentives and offered positive reinforcement. It's very simple - the kids earn bucks by contributing around the house, helping put away groceries, cleaning their rooms, and the like. Parents give them paper money in $1 or $5 increments. As a reward, they can turn their bucks in for fun events like a trip to Jamba Juice or the movies. Or they can turn in their bucks for real cold, hard cash (3 Mom Bucks = whatever cash exchange rate you like!). This seems like an effective tool - much better than the sticker charts or regular allowance - it seems to have more staying power.

Well, we'll see how it all goes, my prayer above all is that as a family we will communicate openly, clearly and lovingly to one another with patience and understanding ... Until then, one step at a time. My child has barely begun to crawl yet! How the time flies.

Extra note: a list of interesting random mom tips I found from Parenting here.
Image from here

blank walls

2011-05-26T00:29:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make - for the last five, almost six years of living in our home ... I've hardly put any artwork on the walls. And honestly for me, it's a travesty! Okay, maybe not that tragic, but you know what I'm saying. Can I even call myself remotely creative when I have nothing on my walls? Okay, save for a photo print of trees that someone gave us for a wedding gift and a photo rope filled with baby announcements and wedding save-the-dates in the kitchen. A friend from college once said "blank walls are the sign of a blank mind," a statement that I don't necessarily agree with, but it sure does make for some boring decor!

So lately I've been pinning artwork on one of my Pinterest boards to try to nail down a style or look that I like, and I realize why my walls have been so blank all these years! I have a fear of commitment - "print commitment" if you will. A hilarious concept, really. I'm afraid that what I put up there is going to be there forever and an inaccurate representation of who we are. And I think I just need to bite the bullet and get hammering! These photo hanging strips will help me with my commitment-phobia so I can change things out more easily if that Magritte/Super Mario print doesn't tickle my fancy anymore (which in fact, it doesn't!).

Here are a few art prints I've been eyeing:

This first one is from the American Cancer Society and is by Andrew Bannecker. It's called "Wish."

It is a great tribute to the fight against cancer, which I'm all for.

I love the rustic wood type print and colors in this next print by normatstudio and I'd love to create something like this with another saying.

This print has a great sentiment and I love the hand drawn words.

My summer project will be to get some art and photography up on the walls, and hopefully in the coming posts you'll see the final layout. Whether or not these works of art will make it, well, that's another story!

easter reflections

2011-04-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

Hope you had a lovely Easter weekend, friends! We had a great time at two weddings (hubby and daughter went to one, I went to the other) on Saturday and then took off for a night and a day at the beach house! Some sweet family friends offered it, so we took them up on the generous gift. Though it was very very windy at the coast, it was still beautiful.

So beautiful that I got up to take it all in! If you know me, I'm a woman who loves her sleep ... but even so I found myself wanting to sit by the waves even in the early morning hours. So while everyone else was asleep, I snuck out to the beach and sat on a driftwood log to enjoy the waves and gulls in the foggy gray. It was a perfect way to think on and reflect on the true meaning behind Easter. Not all the eggs and bunnies, but of Christ's love for us. As a new mom, I feel like I have a better understanding of the sacrificial and pure love that God has for us, at least in a small way. Each night before I put Norah to bed, I look down at her in my arms and I am overcome by love. It's nothing like I've ever known. All my life I've chosen to love others -- my husband, my friends, even my family. It is a conscious decision to love them. But when I look at her, something just stirs within me when I see the child that I've carried inside and given birth to. She is someone that I immediately loved and had no choice about loving. The love I have for her just IS. It is full and deep and hits me right at the core of my heart. When they placed her on my chest after she took her first breath, I was moved straight to tears. I could not hold them back, and from that moment on, she was the most precious thing to me.

So I can't even wrap my mind around how much God loves us! Or that He would give His Son! It is overwhelming. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.

cinemagraphs

2011-04-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

I've been a big fan of photographer Jamie Beck since discovering her beautiful tumblr blog, From Me to You over a year ago. Recently she started creating these photo + video combinations that she calls cinemagraphs, which are totally awesome animated gifs. But about 200 times better. Remember those horribly garish ones from the 90's? Yeah, these are not like those at all.

They are still photographs with objects or subjects that subtly move and give way to a moment in time. It is super brilliant and so interesting. I think it's innovative and I wonder if other photographers are going to pick up on it! See the collection of cinemagraphs here, and read an interview with Jamie and her fiance Kevin about the concept here. Beware, it does take a little time to load the gifs, but it is very worth it. And some of them will creep you out, they are so real.

Here are two of my favorites (look at her skirt in the second one!).

a little soundtrack: april chase

2011-04-19T23:18:00.000-07:00

My friend mentors a band called April Chase and they just released their new EP, Still Breathing. Consisting of young students from my alma mater, this alternative pop rock band has some infectious melodies and a great female lead singer. I love her indie style and her voice, which sometimes reminds me of a younger Gwen Stefani with a cleaner edge.

One of my favorite songs is Time Won't Tell, which is especially wonderful as an acoustic number. Check out this fantastic music video shot by some talented buddies over at The Mighty Fifty. I love music Tuesdays. Stream their entire EP here.

April Chase - Time Won't Tell (Live Performance) from The Mighty Fifty on Vimeo.

martha stewart spring ipad videos

2011-04-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

Erin Jang is so talented! For her art director position at Martha Stewart Living she has been coming up with these short and crafty iPad videos that are very inspiring. Whether it's stop motion origami, disappearing chocolates, or swirly and colorful soap suds, it's neat to see a lighter side to Martha. And the music selection is pretty great too.

friday photo: hot hot hot!

2011-04-01T17:42:00.001-07:00

It's been so hot lately ... it was just 80 degrees today! No complaints here, we are breaking out the shorts and flip flops with glee! This photo was taken last summer during a trip to Seattle to visit our cousins (good times!), and the heading is quite appropriate. Note the preggo belly as well.

Well, we're headed off to farmer's market tomorrow, have fun playing wherever you are!

designing away

2011-03-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm totally behind on blogging, but I'm going to do my best to keep it up -- at least weekly! Lots has been going on lately ... mostly by way of design projects that have been cropping up. I've had at least 1-2 a week! Exciting.

A baby shower invitation and decorations for the event, a wedding invitation, a t-shirt design for our church youth group, and the cover of a songbook! Fun fun fun. I can't show all of the designs here yet, but here are two:

a baby shower invitation for my best friend

a t-shirt design commissioned by our church youth group, art directed by me

I am loving the design process for these events - each idea is very organic, and sometimes I find myself getting an idea after a night of sleep. It's quite refreshing to see them come to fruition with some sketching and reworking. My little notebook is filled with ideas, and some of them may not become a reality, but I like that other projects ride on the wake of those little thoughts. Sometimes it's difficult to be consistently creative and challenge yourself to think out of the box, especially when there is so much swirling around the internet. I feel blessed that there is so much creativity spilling forth right now. More to come!

pray for japan

2011-03-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

I have a confession. I've been remiss in watching the news lately, though I've heard of and know the severity of the quake and tsunami, I couldn't bring myself to see the devastation for fear of becoming paranoid about a pending disaster here. But yesterday I really wanted to sit down and watch the videos and see the faces of the people I am praying for, so I pulled up the videos and just took it all in.

Sadness overwhelmed me, and I thought of all those who are looking for their loved ones in anticipation. I would never want that for anyone ... and I pray that in this time of sorrow and loss, that the Japanese people would find hope. Hope in God's great love and grace! May He hold them in His arms and give them strength to keep pressing on.

Praying for Japan like crazy.

image above from elderweiss

a little soundtrack: rolling in the deep

2011-03-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

My daughter's middle name is Adele, and I am so glad that it evokes thoughts of the beautiful singer with the same name. Her voice is old school and classic, and I am really enjoying her new album, 21. Jazzy and funky with strong driving beats, it's an all around good time. Download it here.

poppies for norah

2011-02-13T16:26:00.000-08:00

Before Norah was born, I used some poppies from this post to make a headband for her. It was on one of those sleepless nights that I stayed up preparing our hospital bag. I took some elastic that I had in my sewing kit and carefully attached the bright red poppies to create it. I also sewed one bloom onto a side-snap onesie. My nesting instinct was in full gear with this project! She didn't end up wearing them at the hospital, but wore them one month later.

I love making things for my little girl - it reminds me of when my mom used to make clothing and ornate Halloween costumes for my sister and I. She is great at sewing, and I hope that I can have skills like that one day. Until then, my hand sewing will have to suffice!

inspired to learn: food styling

2011-01-22T00:36:00.000-08:00

Recently I was looking through some loveliness on Donna Hay's website, and ran into some neat Australian videos of her giving food styling tips!

If you've not heard of Donna before, she is likened to Australia's Martha Stewart, but I would say that she is a cross between Martha and Ina. She is known for her simple and elegant style, along with her great entertaining tips. These videos are from the Australian reality series called Masterchef and they certainly showcase why she is one of Australia's best food stylists.

I love all the little tips that she gives in these videos, and her down-to-earth nature is so likable! In these videos she teaches how to style a bowl of pasta, how to create lovely ganache drips on a cake, how to make the perfect layer cake, and how to give the classic caesar salad a twist. Seriously, watch these videos and you'll learn a little something! The things she does are so smart, and I'll be sure to employ these the next time I make a cake or hard boil an egg!

more wonder than I imagined ...

2010-11-09T01:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been missing from the blog for a long while, but for good reason! On October 14, 2010 I gave birth to a little girl ... Norah! She is the most amazing little person and I am in awe that she is ours. Motherhood is truly something, and I am reminded of a post I read from an Australian blogger mom that said this about it, "Six billion people on the planet have been born like this, but it still seems like magic to me." And that is so true!

Even in the middle of the night, when she is crying out - I am in awe of how she came into our lives and how it feels to hold her after waiting for 9 months in anticipation of her arrival. I love how at 7 weeks old now, she fits perfectly into my arms. I kiss her little cheeks and smell that soft, sweet baby scent and feel her warmth against me ... she is beautiful. A little more wonder in my life, perhaps? Or maybe a little more wonderful.

image courtesy of mjt photography

babies, dating and dinner parties

2010-09-23T23:35:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? Only 4 more weeks to go before our baby girl arrives! 4 and a little bit ... it's very exciting and unnerving at the same time. Very soon our lives will be changed forever.

I've been reading a book called On Becoming Babywise that a few friends recommended, and it has been interesting to hear that though life will be different, life should still maintain a balance. The author emphasizes bringing the baby into the family unit instead of making the child the center of our universe. This includes remembering that though I will be a mother, I am also still a sister, daughter, friend and wife. He also points out that we should continue to date our spouses and show them gestures of love (like my friend lists here), including spending 15 minutes a day on the couch going over the day's events. Sounds like a given, right? I'm sure I'll have to be very intentional about this once she enters the world!

One other point the author made that surprised me was to purposefully invite friends over for food and fellowship! In essence, have a dinner party with baby! Is it possible? I sure hope so! I will be ever so grateful to have friends over if we can manage it. A few friends have had us over in the first 6 months of their children's lives, and I've been so impressed! Both couples have made dinner for us - one new dad was even able to make homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch! We can only hope and pray that our team work and love helps us to care for this child and for one another. Here we go ...

place setting above: crate and barrel place mat, plates, and dansk flatware, appetite home napkins

an attitude of gratitude

2010-09-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

I am really digging this site here where Leah posts thank you notes to various inanimate objects, people and the like. Clever and oh-so-optimistic! Such a great concept. Go check them out!

striped goodness

2010-08-28T23:16:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while - life has been busier than ever, workwise and preparing for the little one too. Also some family health emergencies came up as well, so my focus has been scattered.

In any case, I wanted to post all about stripes, since I've been pinning a lot of them on my Pinterest boards lately. Gotta love a great striped pattern. It's classic, fun, and dynamic! On a bag or on a shirt, it's the graphic nature of it that I like. Check 'em out.

sources: madewell, jack spade, target, old navy

n is for ...

2010-07-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

Love the daily typography put out by illustrator Jessica Hische. I'd love to purchase this as a print from her shop. And what does N stand for? Neat, Nice, New. Maybe you'll see more of this N later!

like duff, but not

2010-07-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

I came across this lovely Etsy shop from watercolor artist DIMDi, and there was an adorable painting of a Wheaten Terrier. Duff is a Wheaten Terrier mix, so it just hit my heart. So sweet and fluffy.

found via simplesong

wonder foodie: smitten with this kitchen

2010-06-28T23:25:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to make this tart ever since I saw this post two summers ago on Smitten Kitchen. The tart looked absolutely scrumptious and I would sometimes revisit the post just to see the mouthwatering photos of it. Silly, I know! But the occasion finally arose where the fruit was in season and I could buckle down and make it. Yes!

And the verdict? Deeeeelicious. This recipe will be one that I repeat! The combination of spicy gingersnaps and sweet nectarines with a creamy custardy filling is delightful and easy to make. I think I'll make it again this week for another potluck! Ooooh. Here's the finished product, hopefully it looks just as good as Deb's. I heart summer.

friday photo: love in the woods

2010-06-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

Okay okay, I know that this is a wedding photo, but I couldn't help it! What a gorgeous shot from the fantastically quirky and way talented Katie Sokoler of Color Me Katie. It's like a dream ...image via color me katie

blogger love: eat drink chic

2010-06-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Amy Moss has a sweet blog called Eat Drink Chic that is so inspiring and bright, and I've been smitten with it ever since coming across her inventive and impromptu wedding. It was so charming, and many of the ideas are perfect for any party, not just for nuptials!

And even though she's from the land down under and they're about to have their winter, she's made a free digital download for summer! Check out these sweet floral tags that you can use to label summer drinks, attach to gifts, or organize your crafty wares. They come in three designs. Love 'em! Have a great weekend!

image via eat drink chic

friday photo: lanterns

2010-06-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

Lovely photo spotted on Design Mom by Etsy seller Honeytree. Summertime in a photo ... sigh. I love summer.

loving me some mint!

2010-06-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

I am on the lookout for mint these days, I just am loving the color, at this point it is definitely going into the nursery. Here are a few things that are full of minty goodness that I've been eyeing.

linky loves: stationery

2010-06-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

Loving me some paper goods today! Just thought I'd post some of my favorite images from stationery and design sites. I just took another letterpress class this past weekend, so this is very appropriate. More updates from that to come. Happy Wednesday, all!

Images from:
MaeMae Paperie
Papered Together
EvaJuliet

a little soundtrack: a fine frenzy

2010-06-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Alison Sudol of A Fine Frenzy has the most amazing red hair - and how cute and vintage is she? Her song "What I Wouldn't Do" is so summery and fun. I just want to whistle along! And Alisons with one L are very unique, if I don't say so myself. Enjoy!

a little soundtrack: to my sweet pea

2010-05-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a sweet cover done by Gabe Bondoc of "Sweet Pea" by Amos Lee - you may have heard it on a popular tv commercial for AT&T. This is for my little one, who the hubba affectionately nicknamed Blueberry because that is the size that our child was at 6 weeks! So maybe this is for Sweet Little Blue, instead of Sweet Pea. Can't wait to meet you LB, can't wait.

a new development

2010-05-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't yet announced it on this blog yet -- but it's now official! The hubba and I are expecting our first child in October. And I'm cooking up lots of plans for the nursery and a few other fun projects, so hopefully I'll be able to keep up the blogging a bit more. I'll try not to make this totally a baby blog, but all this handmade baby stuff is just too cute for words! We'll see if I can resist it all! We're so excited that our first child is coming -- and soon we'll find out if it is a boy or a girl.

adorable bibs via downhomeamy

wonder foodie: chocolate wonder

2010-05-13T23:48:00.000-07:00

Mmm ... we went to a friend's house for dinner today and we made this chocolate cake in little ramekins. It's very much like lava cake or flourless chocolate cake since it only has a 1/2 cup of flour in it. It was rich and delicious, and the perfect end to a simple meal. And in place of raspberry puree, I just used reduced sugar raspberry preserves. Yum. Chocolate is just the thing sometimes.

image via 100% chocolate cafe

live what you love

2010-05-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

My dear sister-in-law gave me a teal letterpress print of the poster above, but here's a new edition in a lovely soft gray with a heart. Very inspirational, and reminds me of what really matters in life. Don't we want to incorporate our loves and passions into our daily lives?

I sure do. I want to live out my faith, my creativity, and so much more.

linky loves for the week

2010-04-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Been reading some fun things this week in the blog world, and just thought I'd share the goodness!

I'm inspired - it's been years since I've had a Pop Tart. Why not try these ones?

A great post about how to find a good printing press - I love letterpress!

Such a beautiful house and what a cute baby and momma! Utterly adorable.

My husband is such a gamer and his influence on me is showing with the hilarity of this little guy. Bwaaaaahhhh!

I love the desert, and I love summer parties. These are oh-so-lovely and simple ideas for a summer soiree! I cannot wait for grillin' and chillin' season.

Mmmm can't wait for more online goodies next week. Share your links if you have any intriguing ones!

a little soundtrack: something to say

2010-04-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

I recently went to a Starfield concert with some friends, and was truly touched by this song called "Something to Say." It was a heartfelt moment, very real and honest. A song about struggling with faith -- and though right now I don't feel this way, it made me think of many people who do, and how some give up on their struggles because they don't want to ask the questions or find the answers. Press on, press on.

Here is a clip of the professional recording.

friday photo: ready for summer

2010-04-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

A girl and her dog ... sweet photo. This makes me long for summer. And I just love the colors of her dress.

image via the sartorialist

letterpress week at oh hello friend

2010-04-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

Danni of Oh Hello Friend is going to be posting all about letterpress next week, along with lots of fun letterpress giveaways! And who doesn't love letterpress? Beautiful! Go check it out, starting April 26th! Can't wait!

letterpress week at oh,hello friend!
image by: slimjim

walk all over me + crisp white

2010-04-16T15:08:00.001-07:00

We've been very busy spending the last 2 weeks getting our condo ready to list on the market and now it's up! I'm a bit sad, but also happy that we did it! To put some finishing touches on the house, I made some quick runs to Marshalls and TJ Maxx Home Goods for some accessories and other fun home decor items. I bought this cherry blossom coir doormat from Cost Plus World Market - even though I don't like coir! It sheds too easily. Does anyone have suggestions for cute alternatives? This one will do for now with it's cute simple blooms, but I am dreading the little pieces that are going to come off of it and litter my front porch!

And then I bought this adorable striped bath mat from Marshalls for $10 - with all the colors of our bathroom in it! Chocolate brown, seafoam green, bright white, and light turquoise with a pop of bright green. Super cute. I was on a mission for rugs, I think.

And to top it all off I bit the bullet and bought a great king sheet set for $30 in white -- which I was always hesitant to purchase for fear that it would get dirty, but they look crisp and clean. For the future, I will now always invest in some classic white sheets! I think my hesitancy stemmed from the advice my mother gave about not buying clothes, sheets or towels in white ...

We're waiting to see if anyone will bid on our place in this market, but I really do love our cozy home and will be sad to part with it. We'll see what happens!

toting cuteness

2010-04-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

I love these silly little tote bags with Bubi Au Yeung's Treeson character on them, they are simply adorable! And let's not even mention the nerdy glasses tote. It is just too cute for words. I'd love to lug that to the library with me! They're just $13.95 each at Crazylabel.

friday photo: forts!

2010-03-26T14:15:00.001-07:00

Homemade forts and tents are such a great idea! I'm reminded of childhood tents made out of bedsheets and chairs. What a wonderful activity to do as the weather gets warmer. I'm loving this right now. And what a cute concept for an engagement shoot.

image via simply bloom photography

wonder foodie: cooking with grandma

2010-03-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

During the past few weeks I've been making many calls to my grandmother to enlist her help in making some of the dishes of my childhood. It's great to have her instruction on how to properly steam yook beng (meat cake) or how much water is needed make lan fan jook (a thick rice porridge).

It's the feeling of passing on a legacy, and being reminded of all the great dishes you ate and loved while growing up.

My favorite feature on Chow is the Cooking with Grandma segments. Each one highlights a grandmother cooking with her grandchild -- and even though the measurements are not exact, the love and history in the recipes are overflowing. Love it! This most recent feature is one of my favorites - Cooking gnocchi in a tomato-porcini sauce with Grandma Paola! Mmmm, I think I'll try this one soon.

friday photo: horsin' around

2010-03-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

Today's photo was taken by my photography professor from college. When I was her student, she showcased these beautiful photographs of horses and I recently rediscovered them in her online portfolio. I love horses, they are elegant and beautiful creatures with a quiet yet fierce kind of spirit. I think I'd like to be a horse for a day, just to see how it'd be to run in the fields carefree.

Check out the series that she has posted, they are breathtakingly beautiful - in the meadow, of their backs, and in their stalls.

photos by mimi plumb

missing in paradise

2010-03-03T19:18:00.001-08:00

I've been missing here on the blog for the past few weeks since I was preparing to leave work for a while - mostly in part to a fabulously relaxing vacation in Hawaii that we had! It ended with a surprising Tsunami warning, so we were rudely awakened on Saturday at the crack of dawn by an ear-piercing siren that continued for a good minute and a half. Safety first, even in paradise!

Luckily, no one was hurt and the vacation itself was absolutely lovely. Lots of sunning, swimming, and eating delicious tropical delights. A girl really couldn't ask for much more. Shave ice, homemade mochi, banana mac nut pancakes, and some Fighting Eel shopping. Aloha!

image taken at lani kai beach, on the island of oahu

friday photo: happy valentine's day

2010-02-12T23:59:00.000-08:00

We don't usually celebrate Valentine's Day on the day of the 14th, but we always go to the same restaurant on February 13th. It's low-key, but wonderful. We just like to focus on spending time with the person you love, making eye contact and laughing about the things that brought you together. Nothing fancy, no huge gifts or crazy things like that. Simple and lovely.

image source unknown (from some lovely blog)

a little soundtrack: love it live

2010-02-12T23:40:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of chill music, and who defines chill beachy music better than Colbie Caillat? Here's a great song that my sister sent me today, with none other than our man Justin Young singing backup vocals. Listen to them hit those highs!

Live music is wonderful - unplugged and soulful, none of that overproduced electronica. Enjoy!

See a great version of her hit "Bubbly" here.

humanitarian photography

2010-02-11T23:25:00.000-08:00

Recently I received an amazing book from a good buddy that showcased the photography of Jeremy Cowart as he traveled around the world with the Passion World Tour to 17 cities across the globe to celebrate their shared faith. The images are stunning, as they capture the spirit of the nations they visited - the faces, the people, the hearts of many enraptured in true joy as they worshiped the God of the universe.

It brought to mind the good that photography can do. Transporting individuals like us in America, to the hard truth and amazing hope that is alive in other nations. Beyond our entitlement, success, busyness, and materialism - there is something else. I felt it when I was in South Africa almost 5 years ago, and it really crept into my heart and underneath my skin. It really snaps me back into reality when I am too full of myself and this American existence. Since then I've been reminded to be conscious of this often, and it is more apparent when you are faced with photos that speak of it ... loudly and clearly. You may recall that I was drawn to these photos from the TOMS shoe drop - and little did I know that it was the work of humanitarian photographer Esther Havens. While clicking around the web one day, I came upon her site and blog and was touched by the images I saw. Take a look (click to see them larger), and I hope you're encouraged to be more grateful, less busy, and hopeful. Not in a cliched, feel good kind of way -- but with true, heartfelt understanding of others around the world. Go to her site to click on more countries and see more photos.

images via awakening the book and esther havens

simple slip ons

2010-02-10T21:11:00.000-08:00

My search for the perfect slip-on sneaker continues, I must be mourning the old days of Keds. I was reminded of the comfy shoe search when this ad popped into my mailbox. J.Crew is carrying these sweet Bensimons for the under 12 set. Aren't these great? The colors are perfect! Modern, minimalist, and fun.

image via jcrew

more affordable letterpress

2010-01-25T13:55:00.001-08:00

Just read this great post on how to make letterpress more affordable - the tips are geared toward letterpress for wedding invitations, but it's great information nonetheless.

image via studio on fire

before and after: seriously smart interior design

2010-01-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick post that I had to share because it's pretty brilliant. When you have a small space to deal with and you want to make it look bigger and create drama - this is a great idea.

Please note in the before photo, the small window on the left and how tiny the room feels. In the after photo, see how the room appears larger due to hanging the curtains high, and having them span the length of the wall! This gives the illusion that the window is actually larger. And that huge pendant light and black ceiling doesn't hurt either. The after is bright, light and lovely. And so smart! This is one idea to bookmark for later. Enjoy!

found via design*sponge

wonder foodie: thrown together

2010-01-20T20:41:00.001-08:00

You know, that last post was so ... brown! Time to spice it up a bit with some pumpkin soup. I had an Australian Blue (gray, really) pumpkin from my mom and sister's trek to the pumpkin patch that really needed to be cooked - can you believe it lasted so long? I didn't want to waste it, so I roasted it late last week for 8 hours at 200F a la this recipe. It was so easy to take the seeds out and scoop all the pumpkin out - but what to do with it now? I didn't want to make a pie, so soup it was! A hybrid of this recipe and this one, with a lot of spices and improvisation.

Here it is with sour cream, cilantro, and homemade croutons. Forgive the laptop camera photo. A mid-week soup for a rainy day, and inspiration to throw more recipes together.

wonder foodie: rolling pins

2010-01-15T14:20:00.001-08:00

On an impromptu date night, the Hubba and I made pizza. One of the menu resolutions I made for our new kitchen was to make a white pizza, or pizza bianco if you will. With sweet Italian sausage, mozzarella, creamy dollops of ricotta, mushrooms, lemon zest, and piles of fresh arugula on top. And we did just that. We picked up some pre-made pizza dough, googled how to toss the perfect pizza, and got crackin'. The Hubba is exceptionally good at tossing pizza as we discovered!

Although we had a great time, I had overlooked one thing. The need for a rolling pin to roll the dough out a bit first!
You would never have guessed that it's actually pretty essential to pizza making. But one glance at us trying to roll it out with a can covered in plastic wrap was pathetic, truly pathetic. We also tried it with a bottle, but that didn't quite work either. So, that brings me to the sometimes helpful rolling pin. I have quite a few kitchen gadgets that were lovely wedding gifts, but none included a rolling pin. Simple wood, and sometimes simply lovely. See these below by Herriot Grace, these are just a few of her lovely products that she creates with her father.

So maybe I'll acquire one of these lovely pins before our next date night!

spuds not duds

2010-01-14T23:33:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been into brainstorming food-themed parties -- cake decorating parties, dumpling parties, noodle parties and etc. So since it had been so cold, I wanted to have a baked potato party. Nothing's better than tons of warm and delicious carbs to keep you toasty on a chilly night, right? So what did I do? I kid you not, I googled "perfect baked potato" and came up with this recipe.

A few nights later, we had a lovely Christmas with our families, and I made homemade corn nuts with my sister. I took some home, and began to plan for an upcoming Spuds night. I set out to have lots of toppings - cheddar and pepperjack cheeses, green onions, olives, homemade chili, sour cream, and butter. No time to make the broccoli, but I will save it for next time. The potatoes were delicious, with crispy perfect skins and silky and snowy on the inside - not dry and chalky like some potatoes can be. And the prep was so easy! Serve it with a salad, and you're set. Here are a few photos, courtesy of my lovely guests. Next party? How about a won ton party? Can't wait.

everything must have its place

2009-12-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing I've learned about organizing a house over the past few years, it's that every single thing must have its place. Now, I'm not perfect at it, but these are a few tips that I've learned and wanted to remember. I was very proud to have cleaned the house for 12 hours the other day --- I don't think I'll do that again, but my bathroom is so much better for it. I should have taken pictures!

1. Consolidate. Don't be afraid to throw things away. We always think we'll look over those dated notes or that we'll wear those old clothes, but in reality we won't. If you haven't used it or thought of it in months, donate it or throw it away. A great way to remember those notes and keep down on paper hoarding is to take a photo of a card or note with a digital camera and then throw it away. Remember to use the macro mode so you can still read it from the digital photo! This has been saving me!

2. Take note of what you really need. One day, I walked around my house with a notepad and made a list of all the things that were out of order or things that needed a place or receptacle. I had stray hair ties and cups on my nightstand, the dog's leash was never in the same place, the napkins had no home, and our collection of plastic grocery bags was overflowing. There were some simple solutions to these problems, a tray with a few bowls on my nightstand as a catch-all, installing a few hooks for the leash and other hangables, purchasing an inexpensive napkin holder, and minimizing the plastic bag intake for our household (take it back to the store for recycling!).

3. Be creative with what you already have. Rearranging furniture, repurposing old items and utilizing what you currently own is a great way to mix up your decor and organize your home. I received a great print as a gift, and the mat for the frame wasn't being used, so I re-purposed it for another print. Wonderful!

4. When you get something new, give away something else. This is the surefire way to make sure you're not just accumulating things and keeping them -- I've learned this is the easiest way to acquire clutter. I'm still in the process of giving away so many things that I don't need. I've got craft supplies galore and old college text books that are begging to be thrown away or given to those who need it.

5. Keep to the useful and beautiful clause. William Morris was a textile designer and is best known for his quote "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful" and it is very true! All other things are just taking up space! What a great guideline to purging and organizing.

merry christmas and to all a good night

2009-12-24T16:32:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone!

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" Luke 2:10-12

holiday card drafting

2009-12-17T15:42:00.000-08:00

Due to a love of paper and letterpress, the Egg Press sale in December prompted me to purchase lots of cards for holiday giving. But since I'd like to see more than 10 designs, my best buddy and I have devised a lovely way to choose from the Egg Press collection. We order 20 cards (two sets of 10) and sit down to a meal (lunch, dinner, something scrumptious) and set out all the cards - then we take turns choosing our favorites! The meal for this card draft consisted of rich and creamy scalloped potatoes, roasted pork tenderloin, and salad with homemade croutons. This was followed by freshly baked cookies, brownies, and hot chocolate. Don't mind our cheesiness - I could not stop laughing during the "twisty arms toast."

Note the sweet "Joy to All" card -- it was by far my favorite. Each of the 20 cards we received from the sample sale was different.

Here's to the the now hopefully ANNUAL card draft! Happy Holidays!

four births

2009-12-14T20:30:00.000-08:00

In honor of my friends having their little girl today, here's a cute trailer for a documentary that follows the first year of life of four babies in different parts of the world. Watch 'til the end, it's super sweet.

cheery iphone wallpapers

2009-12-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

Now first things first - I don't own an iPhone. But when I saw these awesome wallpapers on the photography blog From Me To You, I was immediately smitten. These small images don't do them justice at all. Photographer Jamie Beck captured the essence of New York Christmas in these poignant and striking photo vignettes. Check more of them out here, and download them (for free!) for your iPhone if you have one. I know I'd be rockin' these wallpapers for the entire month to keep the holiday cheer going.

the holiday train

2009-12-07T00:32:00.000-08:00

We missed it this year, but the Holiday Train came rolling into town at 8:05pm, at least we can relive it with this video. How lovely! Christmas sure is fast approaching, I'm going to find more ways to enjoy it before it's over!

a lovely holiday

2009-12-06T22:42:00.000-08:00

Just watched The Holiday again tonight on television, and it reminded me of how much I loved the set interiors when I first saw the movie. The sets of Nancy Meyers movies are comfortable, homey, elegant, and peaceful - I just want to flop onto one of those sofas and veg out. And the huge windows with the light streaming through them, really gorgeous. Take a look at a few of the set screen shots from The Holiday and Something's Gotta Give, I love them for home decor inspiration.

The Holiday

Something's Gotta Give

Also notable is this very sweet clip of the scene between Jude Law's character and Cameron Diaz's character with his two daughters in the movie. These little English girls steal the whole scene! And I love how proper they are. It's completely endearing! So heartwarming - perfect for the holidays. Enjoy!

wonder foodie: eating with your eyes first

2009-12-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

One of my new favorite websites to browse for delicious dishes is Tastespotting. You can type in a search for anything from chocolate chip cookies to roasted chicken and it will come up with delectable snapshots of food photos for you to pick from. Then it will link you to the food blog that the photo came from, and the recipe for that dish.

Isn't that amazing? Talk about eating with your eyes first ... what better way to figure out what you'd like to try cooking next? The image above is a simple berry souffle recipe that you can find here. I think I'll be trying my hand at these soon, since I just bought some brown organic eggs at Target on sale. Side note, the Target near us just reopened and it is 180,000 square feet of Targety goodness. Fresh produce and meat? Frozen food section that lights up when it senses someone is near? Get out of here!

egg press holiday sample sale

2009-11-21T17:13:00.001-08:00

It's that time again - my favorite letterpress company is having their 10 cards for $10 sample sale, and this time it is for their holiday cards! Get a bunch of holiday cards for your Christmas card giving - either letterpress or offset printed. I'm never disappointed by the selection they send - now you can give each person on your list a special card just for them! Go check it out!

friday photo: love on a string

2009-11-20T18:49:00.000-08:00

photo by whisper graphics and purchase their apple green baker's twine here

in the woods

2009-11-19T23:05:00.000-08:00

Fall is SO here! And I'm seriously feeling natural and beautiful woods and textures. Wood necklaces, leaves suspended in mid-air, cozy scarves, cable knit blankets, soft light, chilly nights. Here are a few lovely pieces that have been inspiring me, click on the photos for more info.

from ruche, dores, pioneer woman, and claire richardson

sweet drawn style

2009-11-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

I love these terribly chic fashion illustrations by Miss Capricho. The simple drawings paired with the gorgeous watercolor patterns are inspiring and beautiful. Watercolor is one of my favorite mediums and these sketches make it so modern. Love!

If you subscribe to DailyCandy, you've probably seen Miss Capricho's work before.

my day of birth

2009-11-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

I had a simple and lovely birthday, I can't believe that another year has passed. This year consisted of many little moments, with lots of sweets in between.

It started off with dinner the night before with the hubba at a Japanese tapas place - we had an assortment of dishes, including a delicious ochazuke finished off with green tea creme brulee for dessert. On my actual birthday, my co-workers took me to my favorite local creperie and I had a strawberry and nutella crepe with fresh whipped cream. Then my dear mom and sister surprised me and came to work with chocolate filled cupcakes and a singular balloon. And after youth group, we celebrated with two of our good buddies over homemade strawberry shortcake. And to finish off the weekend, one of my youth kids surprised me with some freshly baked white chocolate macadamia cookies while others made handmade cards. Not to mention several amazing friends who left messages and calls for me. How sweet it is to be loved! Twenty-eight, you're off to a great start.

birthday card by simplesong

the happiest day: four years later

2009-10-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

Here's to the past four years of fun, laughter, and growth. When I look back on my wedding, there are so many things that I would have done differently, but they all have to do with decor or implementation. The heart and soul of it, the marriage itself, is something I would never change. It's crazy to think that the love you had on the day you were married could grow deeper and stronger over time.

When I said my vows, I don't think I realized what I was really saying or how much I would have to commit. I was saying "I Do" to much more than romance, silliness, or emotion. It was an "I Do" to endure. To love unconditionally even in times when I feel as if I can't muster it. It has become so apparent to me that love is a choice, a need, and a gift.

And I really owe learning this lesson to God and my hubba. Thank you for four years, here's to the next ten.

good good friends

2009-10-21T18:04:00.000-07:00

Me and two of my favorite traveling buddies are taking a trip very very soon ... and I can't wait! Fun adventures await us - sure to be full of food, laughter, and sweet sights.

a little soundtrack: trippin'

2009-10-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

When on a plane ride or trip somewhere, I find that it's always good to load up my iPod with a sweet soundtrack to keep me relaxed and even introspective while I'm waiting to get to my destination. I just grab my journal, listen to a few tunes, and let life slow down. Here are a few mellow albums I like to put on repeat while I'm in mid-air:

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Passion Pit - Manners
Brooke Fraser - Albertine
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
John Mayer - Where the Light Is
Tristan Prettyman - Hello

inspired outfits

2009-10-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

I don't generally think about fashion much, but I do enjoy and appreciate it. I think I would consider it more if I had more time - especially to go thrifting. Finding fun treasures and clothing you can re-purpose is so appealing. For fall clothing in general, I'm feeling ruffles, vests, graphic tees, blazers, striped cardis and Minnetonka trampers.

Here are a few fun outfits that I have been saving in my inspiration folder:

From The Sartorialist
Love the graphic tee, olive green leather jacket and boyfriend jeans! This girl looks effortless, and I love that.

From Weardrobe User Tania
The trampers are great mixed with a jean vest (80's!) and a folk-inspired floral dress. I like the color palette here.

From Weardrobe User Greta Eagan
The trench coat is classic fall, and I love the plaid shirt paired with a unexpected orange belt. The pop of color is great. I've always wanted a yellow belt, but orange? Great idea.

So everyone knows The Sartorialist's blog, but my sister introduced me to Weardrobe, and I love that it's like a whole bunch of fashion photo blogs for real people. You can click through and get tons of up to date fashion inspiration for the season. I don't shop much since I'm so busy, but I do like being inspired by different patterns and textures together. Especially when it's Chic for Cheap! I mean, fashion is art, and I like myself some art! Also check out my fashionista and all-around thrifty gal pal Davina's blog, Douceur Vivre. She's always throwing sweet outfits together on a whim and it's such fun.

midweek crafting: diy fabric poppies

2009-10-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

After a hard day at work, sometimes I want to unwind, and the television just doesn't help. Yesterday was one of those days, so I did a bit of crafting. I made these fabric poppies out of this old pillow fabric from our couch. It felt so good to just make something with my own two hands after being on the computer for the entire day. And they are so simple to create! I think I'll turn them into a necklace or attach them to bobby pins. I made them with things I already had, like a bracelet from H&M made of wooden beads that I took apart. Here are the materials you need:
- polyester fabric
- candle
- beads
- thread and needle
- scissors

And that's it! Gotta love a little midweek craft time. Does anyone want a poppy hair pin? Leave a comment and I'll send you one!

remodel: home and life

2009-10-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

I have been up to my ears in remodeling - picking paint samples, numerous trips to the hardware stores for this and that, learning how to properly spackle, how to do demolition without ripping holes in walls, and how to seal granite (three times already!).

We're upgrading our kitchen and bathrooms and it's our first foray into home improvement. So far, so good. It's coming together slowly, and there are lots of little things to accomplish. I realize how much it is causing me to rethink how much I truly need materially, and what luxuries I'm able to enjoy. You don't think about how nice it is to have hot running water until you don't have it. And that makes me more grateful.

It's remodeling my perspective too, you could say.

All in all, I'm glad for this experience and hopeful that the next people to enjoy our place will like the details we've picked out. I mean, it took me a week to make sure I picked the right kitchen color! Can't wait for it to be done, then I'll post a real before and after shot.

wonder foodie: making mallows

2009-10-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

Ohhh yes, we did it! Last weekend, my sister and I took a day to tackle the delicious task of making the drool-worthy Neapolitan marshmallows that I blogged about earlier. And the result? Amazing bites of soft, fluffy and light-as-air marshmallows with three different layers of flavor.

This wasn't my first encounter with the homemade confection, but definitely results in a huge batch of sweets. I made marshmallows two Christmases ago from this Design*Sponge article, and those marshmallows were very small, much like mini marshmallows that you'd find at the grocery store. This recipe from Brownie Points blog made such a generous serving, I'll probably halve the recipe next time around. I highly recommend this recipe, and suggest investing in a candy thermometer and a Kitchenaid mixer.

Marshmallows are a deceptively simple sweet to make, and I think it's waiting for the sugar to get to the right temperature that's the hard part! We really enjoyed this process and enjoyed giving them out to people afterward since the three full batches made so much. Great for a party favor or little Christmas treats with packets of hot cocoa. Note to self: next time add a bit of pink food coloring to the strawberry to give it that true Neapolitan look. I love that we really did this ourselves and I didn't have to purchase them on Etsy. Yay!

hambly screenprints

2009-09-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

Last year after visiting the Maker Faire, I discovered a great scrapbook and sticker company, Hambly Screen Prints, that just happens to be local. I was fortunate enough to take a tour of the studio when I went to pick up some papers and rub-on transfers that I ordered - from Mr. Harry Hambly himself! His excitement and stories about the history of Hambly Screen Prints was a great reminder of how we need to take little steps toward creativity sometimes. And how we need inspiration from other sources and other people to grow. Most of Hambly's original screen print designs now come from Allison Kreft, who brings a fresh perspective to the established company. Here is one of my favorite new designs for the season - elephants! And yes, that paper is metallic orange with a fuchsia print!
In addition to fabulous scrapbook papers, Hambly also has rub-on transfers like the ones above, in sweet doily lace patterns and modern colors. Just beautiful! Allison posted a tutorial on the Hambly blog on how to use the transfers to make canvas art. Fast, easy and hardly any clean up! Awesomeness.

a little soundtrack: sweet song

2009-09-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

This cute songstress from Norway has a unique name and uniquely cute music video. I love all the bright pops of color amidst the black and white, and the fun signs throughout. Catchy and fun, gotta love those random hits on Youtube sometimes. :)

shoe love

2009-09-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

A little while ago I got these fun gladiator sandals from Piperlime - a friend calls them my "Jesus sandals" which is fine by me. They're fun and comfy! And since it's still pretty warm around here, so these babies are going to stick around for the anticipated heat wave next week. Stay cool!

look up to the sky

2009-09-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Many times on my way home from work, or while on a walk with the dog, I'll look up at the sky, take a photo, and just marvel at it. I've seen some pretty beautiful skies/sunsets in the past few months, and it is a great reminder that sometimes we need to stop and take a minute to appreciate the creation all around us, and the Creator that made it. The setting sun, the colors, the expanse, and the cloud formations! Wow, just wow. Check it out.

One side note though, I need to be really careful, because sometimes I snap these photos while I'm driving. Oops.

a little soundtrack: well, sorta

2009-09-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was fun, we went to a Labor Day BBQ and spent time with friends. I totally forgot to document it, so it's one of those times when all you have is your memory to prove that the fun happened. Then this week was busy upon busy, and now it's practically over again. Odd.

I woke up feeling not so good today, not sure what it is, but I saw this video and it really lifted me up. It's been around the blogosphere for a bit, but even if you've seen it, it wouldn't hurt to see it again. Click on it to see it large, and then go for the HD and full screen. Then sit back and just marvel. My favorites are the rays - like angels flying through the water. It's brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. It stopped me in my tracks for the whole 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Yes, good soundtrack too - by Seattle band, Barcelona. Gives the song a whole new meaning.

friday photo: happy wonderful friday

2009-09-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend is a long one, that's always nice. This photo is just what I want to be doing. :) Have a great one!
photo taken by zoom photography

japanese inspiration

2009-09-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

Fun fun fun - the last two days the hubs and I have been on a mission - to find journals for his Sunday School class for church. We wanted something affordable, portable (about Bible-sized) and cool. So where did we go? Daiso, of course! The store where you can find anything and everything under the sun. Lots of little things, tons of cutesy things, but loads of treasures to be had! Lucky for us there are two that are nearby, so we hit both to find what we needed. I purchased one beautiful pink textured rice bowl as a catch-all for my nightstand, some gray felt (for a future project), and then exercised restraint! But I was still inspired by quite a few goodies, see some ideas below.

Take a look at those wavy white bowls they'd be great to hold jewelry, serve a lovely dessert (a custard perhaps?), or even as a candle holder. And the two graphic notebooks with screen printed stripes on kraft paper? Awww yeah, talk about happy note taking! Almost couldn't hold myself together on those guys, but I reminded myself that I have more than enough (free real estate) notepads at home. A few other great ideas struck me as I was browsing, so I jotted them down in my notebook:

Lace paper doilies (10 pack) - would be neat at a table setting on individual plates, or used on a canvas with decoupage and paint for a one-of-a-kind art piece

Pearlized wrapping paper in pastel shades - wrapping glam gifts for a wedding or shower or lining clothing drawers

Tiny glass jars with cork stoppers - curio jars filled with collections of buttons, beads, sand, or used to store q-tips or cotton balls for the bathroom, mini terrariums

White gingham patterned cellophane muffin cups (a mouthful!) (4 pack) - serve muffins for a sweet brunch in individual servings, fill with cherries and place in a cello bag for favors (tie with jute string)

Thin canvas board and paints - express yourself and go wild, make yourself an art piece for home on the cheap

And the best part about all this goodness? Most everything mentioned is a mere $1.50! Sweet! You gotta love the Japanese. And yes, we did find some cool journals for the hubba.

g shower photos

2009-08-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

Remember the invites I did earlier? The shower turned out beautifully and it was such a good time! The baby is coming any day now, so it's very exciting.

My friend Jasmin took some awesome photos to capture the day - it's wonderful to have someone taking photos when you aren't able to. She did a great job! The highlights of the party were the fun games we played and the sweet garland made of paper circles that were sewn together. And the oh-so-large balloons that are so popular now were perfect to fill our large wooded party area. Check out more photos here.

been a while

2009-08-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit of time since I last posted, and for good reason. In the last two weeks our family had to pull together to support my mom at the hospital while she's been receiving chemo treatments and a bone marrow transplant. It has been a taxing journey and I haven't really been in the blogging state of mind, but I am thankful that we got through it.

The whole time we were at the hospital, we had lots of art projects to do, all thanks to the great Art for Health program there. We were able to create fun signs to encourage my mom and ourselves. She's at home now recovering, so that's something to be thankful for.

desktop wallpaper love: part deux

2009-08-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm using my own photo for my desktop wallpaper again, based on a few shots I took but didn't use for our collaborative photoblog assignment. I'm really enjoying it, especially with the lovely fabric background. So here it is, just click to see it a little bit larger.

The fabric is a hand screen printed remnant from Ink & Spindle, a studio in Melbourne, Australia. The lovely Lara Cameron who designed it gave it to me while we were visiting the studio back in March because I wanted to know if there was any more of this print. I love that it's so free form and simple. Just so sweet, really. Seeing their work space and meeting the designers/screen printers in person was a real treat as well, I love seeing the process. And they were so friendly too, which sometimes you don't find with other artists.

Melbourne was a great city and one of my favorite stops on our trip. I enjoyed the Royal Botanic Gardens, the craft and art scene, and the Queen Victoria Market. Here are a few photos from our trip there:

I miss it! Hope to go again!

weekend delights

2009-08-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

This weekend was fun. We attended a friend's wedding, visited my parents and fiddled with my dad's vintage camera collection (film! love!), spent Sunday afternoon with friends, and then made a simple dinner of cold soba noodles to enjoy. I love the simple moments in a busy weekend. Here are a few photos:

The soba noodles were on sale at the Korean market and they were organic (asian organic, get out of here) - and the packaging was just so appealing to me. You can't see it in the small version (click to see it larger), but they were the most beautiful colors and had this metallic star pattern printed on the package. It's the little things that keep me inspired. What little things inspire you?

sweet plaid

2009-08-04T16:16:00.000-07:00

Loving this sweet and simple plaid shirt from Wiksten. Too bad her stock sells out like *snap* that!image from wikstenmade

wonder foodie: drooling over mallows

2009-08-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

I was browsing Etsy when I came upon this lovely shop that was quite unlike the ones I usually browse, and soon found myself drooling over these delicious confections. The shop is called Vintage Confections and while I love a lot of the products, the ones that got my attention were the Neapolitan Marshmallows. Oh. Yummy. I love the combination of strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate, it all looks so good. And the colors are so pretty too (I feel like I've been into these colors lately). And while you're drooling with me, check out these Dulce de Leche Vanilla ones with caramel swirled in them, or the Honey Peanut Butter ones. Delightful.

all images from vintage confections

wonder foodie: food patterns

2009-07-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

I saved this photo in my inspiration folder a while ago and just had to share it. I love the shapes and the graphic pattern of the lotus root. It's amazing that food can be so striking and pretty. Nice!

from jugalbandi blog

a little soundtrack: strawberry swing

2009-07-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

This song has been in my head for a while, and now they have a fabulously clever music video for it. Love. Go watch it. This is the song for my summer.

toys with imagination round up

2009-07-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

Here's the post that I've been waiting to do forever! So as I was looking at those fun felt letters on Etsy, I was reminded of how much I enjoyed my fabric and wooden toys as a child. I'd love that for my children as well - natural fibers and natural elements to spur on the imagination, no need for bells, whistles, and crazy toys that play songs and make noise.

Nothing is wrong with those toys of course, but I just remember those times when my sister and I would make up games with the simplest toys. We stayed at my grandparents house after school for 4 days out of the week, and all we had to play with were old Berkeley Farms milk crates and a few stuffed animals. It remains one of the outstanding memories of my childhood. Here are some natural and wooden toys that I really like:

From top: Wooden Car from Stillpoint Woodworks, Safari Set and Hippo Teether from Little Alouette, Muji New York City in a Bag from the MoMA Store, Carrie Kitchenette from ImagineThat Wood Shop.

friends and family sale at chronicle books

2009-07-27T21:59:00.001-07:00

Things have been so busy as of late, sorry for the lack of posts. I like posting because I feel like I'm expressing myself in some way and it's a good release. In any case, I have a fun gift for you!

Yay! I love summer sales - especially when it's for one of my favorite local publishers - Chronicle Books! They are having a huge sale with 35% off all titles and free shipping. Stock up on some great books like my favorites: Little Pea (about a pea whose pea parents tell him he has to eat candy before he can have his vegetables for dessert), Craft Inc. (about how to make your hobby a business), and Apartment Therapy: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Real Design Solutions (about how to make your house a home no matter how big or small). Lovely right? It's 35% off the prices listed on the site. Cheaper than Amazon in some cases.

Shop the sale here until August 5th.

via black*eiffel

bike love by urban outfitters

2009-07-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

In the last few years, it seems like everything old is new again -- fashion trends are coming back around (leggings, harem pants?!), crafts are returning to the old techniques (letterpress, screen printing by hand!) and old pastimes are being revisited. Urban Outfitters is jumping back in time by bringing a new spin to a favorite pastime, biking! They are partnering with Republic Bike to customize and build bikes. The colors are brilliant and the combinations are modern and vintage all at the same time. You pick the colors of the handlebars, seat, wheels, rims, chain, and frame - and you can make it look just like you want it for $399.

I have such fond memories of biking through my neighborhood with the wind blowing and my heart racing. We always had hand-me-downs but they were wonderful. So two years ago, I bought my first new bike. A pearl white Raleigh. Fun fun fun. Go check these fun bikes out in their gallery.

brought to you by the letter g

2009-07-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

One of my old roomies from college (Lori) is pregnant with her first child, so Es and I got together to plan her a shower. It's coming up quickly, so we had to get invitations done in a hurry. Something economical and not typical "pastel baby shower" was in order.

I had lots of white cardstock at home, so it gave me a good starting point. I definitely felt inspired because we could come up with a very modern baby theme. Before designing anything, I like to come up with a color scheme first, so I visited one of my favorite websites, Adobe Kuler. This is a site that allows you to try out, browse, or create your own color palettes. It's so much fun! You can even upload a photo and it will give you a color scheme that draws upon the colors in the photo. This is a great tool for deciding on party colors, your house colors, or even fashion choices. Lori had wanted all ocean colors, so I came up with a few palettes for her to choose from by typing in the keywords "ocean" and "sea" in Kuler. This is the one we finally settled on:

To break it up a bit, I thought we should add some yellow accents for a pop of fun. So here is the simple design that plays on all these colors:Here is the logo close-up - I really loved all the colors overlapping one another with a kaleidoscope kind of effect, and the striped type made it fun and lighthearted. It came from Dafont.com and it's called Lane. A beautifully simple typeface with clean lines. The other font I used was Champagne and Limousines (what a name!).

Then I found some vellum envelopes on sale at Paper Source, and thought that they'd be neat if I printed on them, but the only problem would be privacy! I didn't want people to be able to read the address, so I came up with a paper cover of sorts so the logo could still peek through. Here are some other photos of the invitation:

Overall, I really hope that Lori and Chris like it and that it conveys their style. And there are lots of other fun goodies in store for the shower! Can't wait!

wonder foodie: a delicious summer

2009-07-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

So far it has been a summer of delicious food and lovely company - I love that we get to grill, and I think it is by far my favorite season for this reason. Followed closely by the holidays, of course. We had a little picnic in the park with grilled ahi tuna sandwiches (marinated simply in lemon juice, salt and pepper) and orzo with asparagus, sweet corn, and tomatoes. Then a meal of dry-rubbed pork, grilled corn, a mozzarella basil and tomato with orzo salad, broccoli slaw, and carmelized pineapple (not pictured).

And then I had a simple (free) lunch, that I jazzed up with spring greens, dijon mustard and a side of edamame! Mmm yum. And since the hubba loves having cheese and crackers as an appetizer to our meals, I found this wonderful sharp cheddar from New Zealand at Trader Joe's. Cut that up with some crackers and you've got yourself a scrumptious starter. Awwww yes.

And I can't forget my favorite summer food - strawberries! I had some leftover from a farmer's market trip and they were getting a bit overripe. So I added some sugar, let them sit in the fridge overnight, and pureed them. Then I mixed the puree with some freshly whipped cream and topped some almond & vanilla cupcakes a la this recipe. Very light and so easy to make. I think I ate two in one sitting. Hope you're having a tasty summer!

letterpress cards sale

2009-07-09T16:10:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite letterpress shops is having an online sample sale that ends this Sunday! Just $10 for 10 different cards - a mix of their letterpress and offset printed loveliness. Isn't that awesome? Just $1 per card! The greatest part that it's always a surprise what you end up getting. I got 20 cards last time and had a variety of cards and envelopes I could use for every occasion.

Father's Day, new baby, new home, love, birthday, thinking of you, missing you, thank you and a whole bunch of whimsical ones that had blank insides so I could make my own message. So awesome - and it's a great compared to buying a $3 Hallmark card every time someone has a birthday. And unique too! Shop the sale here.

Watch their fun video and get a glimpse of the letterpress process.

a happy one

2009-07-06T14:54:00.001-07:00

Our 4th of July was pretty eventful, I'm exhausted just thinking about it! Duff went on his first boat ride and I got a bit burned/tanned on my neck from being out in the sun. The hubba had his 10 year high school reunion picnic at the lake, and we had great food and welcome company.
More posts to come - my wooden toy post and the design for an invitation that I've been working on!

bunting

2009-07-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

I am loving fabric bunting for parties and decor - you can find some really cute ones on Etsy. But I just saw this over on Greenlaundry and it was too cute for words. And if I was really being punny, I'd just come out and say it - it's baby bunting! Melly cut out these tiny little bunting flags. Super sweet and a cute addition to your desk or hung over the bed like she did.

photos via greenlaundry

remember the time

2009-06-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

Two great tributes to Michael Jackson - remembering a music legend. I still remember listening to his Dangerous album with my sister, we'd lip synch to it and take turns playing the part of the boy in "Black and White." Good times.

no man is an island

2009-06-22T02:20:00.001-07:00

You've got to watch this video. Taken entirely with a cell phone on the streets of Sydney and New York- such a poignant message. Lots to think about on a Monday. Thanks to my friend Matt for the link.