2009: a year in photographic review

In keeping with tradition, I had to recap the past year by reviewing the memories that were made and the photos that were taken.

The year got off to a rocky start in January when I broke my foot the day before our company moved office locations. I spent the first 4 months of 2009 hobbling around on crutches thru a lot of snow and ice with a huge plastic boot on my right food but I was determined to not let it get me down...

Once the boot came off, I started practicing bikram yoga and found a new love for running- who knew I was a runner?! I spent many Saturday mornings exploring the city....

On a weekend trip to California, I learned the process of making wine - from barreling to bottling...

In the fall, I took a trip to the Tennessee to visit friends and became obcessed with taco trucks and queso dip...

Before the rain set in, I escaped the city and fell in love with road side fruit & vegetable stands and crabbing...

Then there was the wedding...

 

 

and now I have a brother...

Oh, and I also became a sports fan!

So, what's in store for 2010? My godson Everett James will be born, a wedding in pdx will take place and I will be buying a new camera in hopes that 2010 will be well documented!

Cheers! x

weekend getaway

hello, my little tulips!

Here is a present for you all. It's a small glimpse of what I spent my weekend looking at....TULIPS!




I had to "Get Out Of The City and Into The Country" getaway weekend in the Skagit Valley (like, totally!) and on the beach on a little island called Camano. I frolicked through the fields of rainbow colored tulips, stopped along the side of the road for fresh asparagus and Halibut, got my feet stuck in sinking sand along the shore, ran home through a torrential downpour, drank wine and played Scrabble and fell asleep listening to waves crash and rain drops on my window.

It was perfect.

I think I would like to move to the country and open a fruit & veg stand on the side of the road and walk around barefoot all the time. Yes, I'd like that a lot.

xoxo

family photo

Now this is my kind of family photo. These photos were taken in Central Park, but don't they look Parisian? Oui, I know! If my kids turn out as cute as Design Mom's, then I'll be happy!

Oh! And their kids names are Betty, Oscar, Olive, Maude and Ralph! Love it!

Paris in the fall

This is me and my adorable little sister in Paris last summer. She's moving to Paris in the fall to study fashion, which means....

I'm going to Paris in the fall!!!!






I'm so looking forward to running around that beautiful city with her again!

(last four photos by little brown pen)

blog cautioning:

How great is this girl, right? I was just sent the link for her new blog 'we're all mad here' and I just have to say that out of uncontrollable excitement, I pee'd my pants a lil bit.

You're going to want to follow this blog.

And wear Depends.

Trust me.

And thank you Jasa for bringing me out of my blogging coma. It had been one month since my last blog. Forgive me?

growing pains

I chopped my fringe (that's bangs for those non-euros who aren't in "the know")a few weeks ago for that full, straight across look but now they're growing out and I can't decided what to do: chop again or keep growing for the side-swept look? This gal has the perfect "in-between" bangs that I desire and will try to re-create for now.

(image by Le Fashion)

future husband: take note!

this proposal is about the cutest thing I've heard of!!

gosh, i just love hearing about people in love.
i love being in love.
love is great!
Which is why when I came across this blog, Rockstar Diaries (great name, btw!) by a newly married couple who live in NYC and chronicle their love and adventures I, for lack of a better word, fell in love! So I suggest you curl up and spend an hour scrolling through their posts. It radiates love. Then afterward, go ahead and give someone a kiss and tell them you LOVE them.

simple luxuries

It's been a month since I've blogged. Woops! Life's been so busy... I can barely keep up with all the fun things that are happening! I'm not complaining tho - keep it coming!

I really should start becoming more organized though, and I'm thinking an old classic men's clothing valet is what I need. How great would it be to wake up to all your lovely clothes laid out, ready to be put on?

sweet sweater

mmmm....i think i might need this sweater from Impulse, like, asap.
the back of this is amazing. So cozy and chic.

wanna have a dance party?

Friendly Fires. My new favorite band that I can't for the life of me stop listening to. And for some crazy reason, I couldn't post the video I was dying to share with you on this blog, so it's here on my music - related blog that I barely post on anymore. :) Enjoy your dance party that will soon come from their contagiously head bobbing tunes!

fruit & veg

Here's what came today in my organic fruit & veg seasonal bin from New Roots Organics!!

2 Braeburn Apples
1 Rio Star Grapefruit
2 D'Anjou Pears
2 Minneola Tangelos
2 Medium Yellow Onions
1 bunch of Broccoli
1 Gold Pepper
1 head of Green Butter Lettuce
1 lb Klamath Pearl Potatoes (an Heirloom waxy variety)
1 bunch of Tuscan Kale
1 Bunched Carrots
1 Hass Avos

I'm really starting to love getting these every other week. Everything is organically grown and as local as they can get it! I look forward to it every Tuesday and usually spend most of the day scheming and planning recipes to make. And I don't even have to do that because they always include a recipe in my bin to go along with one of items - this week it was Roasted Pear & Butter Lettuce Salad! Yum! They also have a great website with information on what you're about to receive, how to store it all and recipes for just about everything! I had some carrots left over from my last order so I used those in the carrot bread I made tonight!


Looks good, huh?

casual monday

I spent my Monday being just a girl relaxing at Ladro, sipping latte's, listening to new tunes and catching up on my blogs. Here's a roundup of what I came across today...

It would be nice to work in a flower shop.

I'd love to have a bookshelf full of these.

I'm not the only one who seems to be digging up their deco files.

tweed is like denim to Americans - you can't go wrong.

don't you wish you blogged from here??

we're on the same page - you can never have enough Chocolate

fashion bloggers look good, obviously.

These would definitely get me to drink more (than usual). hehe.

vintage modern

I just took this quiz (via Decorology) on Sproost to define my decorating style and they pretty much nailed me on the head - Vintage Modern. And here's what it has to say about my style:

Flea Market, anyone? You know you are drawn to modern furniture and interiors, and yet you don't like a space that feels cold and sterile. And who could blame you? That's why Vintage Modern is so appealing to you. Though the backdrop of the room, the walls and windows, are many times white or monochromatic, the furniture and accessories have the color, shape and texture to bring the warmth into the space.

The great thing about Vintage Modern is ease of mixing different styles in the one space. You can have a new modular sofa mixed with a great pair of chairs that your grandmother purchased in the late 1950's. The new and old work appear as though they were destined for each other. Even if you don't have time for swap meets and garage sales, so many of the mid-century pieces were so great that they have been remade and mimicked year after year.





After your style has been defined, they give you some pictures and furniture pieces to go along with your style. And I love them all!

childhood memories turned into decoration

As I was going through my Deco file on Domino and saving all the inspirational photos I can find, I came across these cute vases that are actually individually sized Martinelli apple juice bottles and it got me thinking... when I was younger, my mom would pick us up from school and sometimes we'd stop by this bakery in McKenry Village (right, Whit?) and we'd sit and sip Martinelli's out of bottles just like these. If I could find those again, I'd die!

goodbye

I thought everyone had heard the news by now but when I informed my friend Anne last night of the demise of Domino Magazine she was shocked. She had not heard the news yet - obviously, because she just sent them her $20 dollar subscription check (i doubt she'll be getting that back!). It occurred to me that it's only old news to me because it's been circling the blogs that I obsessively read daily for a week now. And since I saw the news all over, and everyone was posting about it, I decided not to. But now after reading the Editors Note, I feel like I must. So here are just a few, but significant inspirational moments from my Domino reading days....


may 2005...love at first sight: the very first Domino cover

i remember seeing this cover and obsessing over Ione Skye's bedroom. I still think about that house and come back to it's pictures regularly for inspiration

Jessie Randal (of Loeffler Randall) on the September '06 cover - her clean, chic and girly style was an obvious translation from her home into her clothing and shoe designing

this was the cover from just a few months ago where they featured the indie fashion and hip boutiques of Seattle and J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons home - which has lead me to become obsessed with painting my living room that same shade!

Thankfully, Nick Olsen, the deals and decorating blogger from Domino is still blogging...just in a different spot. Phew! I wonder how many other Domino bloggers will continue their inspiration elsewhere?

Now, excuse me while I voraciously save all my Deco files and images from Dominomag.com!

update on the war:

I've narrowed it down to 3: the willow, potomac and lounge chaise. I've ordered multiple colored samples in all styles and I'll let you know my thoughts as soon as I receive the samples in the mail.

Also, I'm looking for a handsome gentleman to escort me to Crate & Barrel on Saturday to "test out" the chairs. Sufficient cuddling on couches will be involved, but don't worry....it's all in the name of research. Any takers??

spotted:

just saw these on anthropologie and i'm seriously crushing. They're ahhhmazing!

i've lost that bloggin' feeling...

I don't know why it is, maybe it's because work's been crazy lately and after work I haven't had a lot of time to unwind. I'm constantly wound. blah.

I'm waiting for something inspirational...and when it hits....watch out.


images via Overflowing

the anthropologie of britain

I love that by the time i wake up in the morning, my inbox is full of messages. Some from friends who are awake a lot earlier than me and some are great deals from the many companies daily emails I prescribe to. Toast is one of those companies and I couldn't believe the amazing sale they're having right now. Although, it's still in British pounds (that means times two and a little more for us Americans) there are incredibly deals on there! Not to mention, their catalog is beautiful to look at...

a bit dishevelled.

I love rumpled sheets and un-done beds...it looks so inviting.


image via knight cat