inspiration today

two things i couldn't keep from you.



artforms of nature by ernst haeckel via design you trust.





these lovely watercolors from jaakko mattila via design you trust.

craigslist finds

i want these two things to sandwich my desk (sometime to be a nice metal desk or white work table from ikea): mid century highboy dresser, $160 & mini credenza, $125.

etsy wednesday - on thursday

i want this sweater from ninu's etsy shop; so cozy & classy! goods include sweaters, jackets & bags. prices are really quite reasonable: $67-$100 for sweaters; $165 for jackets; & $33-$70 for bags.

the new place

there are things i like about moving. in addition to making a home with a wonderful man, i get to start fresh & move into a blank canvas. last week i shared my mood board for the new place & this week i'm giving you the space as we received it. the apartment is wonderful - lots of light, high ceilings, a balcony, awww the pics do the work.

i'm going to do some postings of our progress, although we've vowed to take our time decorating & making any big purchases. our goods are moved in, but boxes are still flooding the floors - more pics later this week or early next.

fashion blitz

portland shop frances may has wonderful stuff in their online shop & i really enjoy the blog. the pieces are really quite simple & feminine, effortless chic?

found textiles

blogging is light this week - i'm focused on the new apartment & work is pretty busy. even though, i can't resist sharing the work of the uk based, husband & wife duo fiona & ben o'brien working under the name wish you were here!. i find their collaboration so inspiring, taking the skills of each person & putting out a fantastic product that reaches the right people (the duo does commercial & editorial work in addition to their goods for the home). their fabrics & prints are lovely & full of life & can be purchased in their shop.

library of congress shop

check out all of the amazing prints for sale through the library of congress! most seem to run around $28 for an 8"x10" or screenprint or lithograph (great deal right?).

music to listen to

i purchased the bat for lashes new album, two suns a week or so ago. now that i've had a second to give it a good listen, i am definitely recommending it & feeling sad that i'll miss her in seattle at the crocodile on june 10.

craigslist finds

i'll have to do some more measurements, but i'm pretty sure that our kitchen can fit an small island, providing me more counter space & provide a spot for guests to sit with me & sip wine while i cook. here are some stool options i likey: set of 4 cream bar stools, $145 & this set of two woven stools, $70.

losing numbers

i know this post is off topic, but i can't help it.

there were a lot of things on my 2009 to do list, but one task was really important to me & i'm happy to say that i can cross it off! this morning i was brave enough to step on the scale & was pleasantly surprised to see that i lost 11 lbs since january. seriously, i'm flipping my shit.

i hadn't gained weight since i was 19, when i decided to take the extra lbs off for good. in november, when i realized that i was 10 lbs heavier than my original goal weight set so many years back, i was really disappointed. i had ignored the fact that so many of my outfits were just too tight or off limits completely. after many failed efforts, i listened to bart & saw a trainer. she gave me simple tasks that i know firmly believe in: cut calories (no matter how hard you work out, you sit at a desk allllll day), keep a food & exercise journal, drink a lot of water, cut or reduce simple carbs after lunch, interval training, strength training & keep intensity in each workout.

i (as many women & men often do) struggle with weight - keeping it off, placing too much value on it, fantasizing about being thin, working at accepting my body, balancing health & vanity, etc - but i have always tried to be as healthy as i can with weight loss. my time at the gym or exercising outdoors is mine to think & reflect about what is important. my efforts with eating are for me to make conscious decisions about what my body needs. for all of you trying to lose weight or get into the stack of jeans that no longer fit & for those of you who are just trying to be healthier or more active - good luck & remember to be good to your body, even if that means eating marshmallows & ice cream.

image from guy aroch on photographers limited editions.

etsy wednesday

these sweet indoor shoes from elephant & chickpea are just what i need. all of her designs are made from reclaimed fabrics & will run you about $45.

fashion blitz

i love this look, for men & women. love love, tailored ankle jeans.

image via the sartorialist.

found tulips

jaime & i went up to the skagit valley tulip festival on saturday to check out the tulips; they were being shy & we're considering another trip up in a week or so. this family was so colorful & happy, i had to snap a shot.

i'm in the middle of packing up my apartment, working & enjoying these days of seattle sun. i'm super excited to get into the new place. i can't stop thinking about sofas & dining tables. right now i want a grey sleeper sectional or sofa with a chaise & a farm table. not too much to ask right?

music to listen to

this week's music to listen to goes out the jams & all of my canadian loves; toronto-based, crystal castles is keeping me energized this week. their self-titled album released march of this year. i love the heavy use of warped vocals & the album's general danciness (actual term).

apartment inspiration

i'm getting geared up, up & away. here is the first round of inspiration gathering for the new apartment (click here for the full size collage & zooming).

craigslist finds

this is all i got today, but i love this little art deco rocker, $165.

tracking magic

this made me laugh. shock value (aka lain burke) is a student in ny - i'm picking up what he's laying down.

etsy wednesday

i have conflicted opinions about living in seattle & hanging seattle photography in my apt. is it cliche? what if it shows how you feel toward your city or the city how you see it? these photographs have me thinking i'd like some seattle pics for the new place. misha ashton's holga series carousel print, $20; basement made's f.y.e. print (i walk by this almost every day), $25; & ambient still's pike place lights print, $20.

fashion blitz

last week i posted the two dresses i bought for a late may wedding in chicago. i decided to keep both, thanks to all of your advice & a little side project that financed it. i think that i'll wear my strappy steve madden pumps (that i've had for years & years - such a great purchase) with the green silk dress, but the red & navy strapless leaves me wondering. should i go bohemian with some chunky wedges & wooden jewelry? what about gold sandals & costume jewelry? any ideas?

here are some shoes options thus far: tira wedges from target, miz mooz gizmo platforms from endless, daniblack cruise sandal from endless, miz mooz lovely wedge from endless, gold poloma sandals from target, & finally the rockport ranya from endless.

found goodness

this weekend was filled with goodness. here it is, in list form.

sunburst carrot salad from 101 cookbooks, my first experience with carrot ribbons.

a simple spring salad from 101 cookbooks, my first experience roasting beets & peeling blood oranges. it was such a colorful time prepping this one.

sweet & savory quiche, stina is magic. she modified the recipe slighty & it was killer. "i made more bread cubes for the crust, blended that cubes into bread crumbs with some spent grains from beer to make it a little more dense and chose to use sweet ham. oh, and i used 1 cup of 1% milk and 1/2 cup of half and half to cut some of the fat." you have to be registered member to get the full recipe, but i have it in email format, feel free to email me for it.

vicky cristina barcelona, more than just eye candy. i thought it was beautiful, funny, sexy & paced perfectly.

made by girl

made by girl is the latest addition to the blogroll. jennifer has been on my radar for a while now; she makes the sweetest cards & screenprints all for sale in her shop & on etsy. i can't forget to mention that her personal blog showcases everything from artists, daily adventures, fashion & interiors. go check her out - you'll be awful glad you did!

logo lust

a wonderful collection of creative logo designs from smashing magazine.

music to listen to

i first heard swedish husband & wife duo, wildbirds & peacedrums, when they opened for lykke li earlier this year. there is a bit of a different energy on stage & the upcoming album vs their 2008 release, heartcore. she's fascinating to watch & again, i'm drawn to feminine (airy, strong, haunting) vocals over heavy, consistent beats. the latest single, there is no light, is available from the leaf label shop now, but you'll have to wait for snake to be released april 13. you can pick up their previous albums here.

somewhere in middle america

check out my interview at pj's lovely blog, somewhere in middle america! stop by to check out her daily adventures & lovely finds.

craigslist finds

we found an apt! which means many things to me, but one i'm most excited about is finding goods on craigslist that i love love love & actually having a use for them. here is the beginning (i promise not to buy them all). teak wardrobe, $150; mid-century desk, $60; walnut dining table, $120; mid-century modern desk, credenza dressers & nightstands (not pictured), $265, $500 pair & $200 respectively.

etsy wednesday

orignauxmoose have a few super cute prints ranging from $7 - $35.

fashion blitz

i love these spring/summer dresses from anthropologie, after trying them both on i couldn't choose between them. i brought them home & now i'm not sure i can part with either. they seem perfect for the wedding & european vacation; they both fit well & are versatile (day, night, dress, casual). if you find two dresses that are lovely - do you invest? in other words, can i keep them both?

fleet street scandal

bart has a print in his apartment that i admire every time i'm there - one where a chicken is being abducted by aliens in an oh so vintage way. on sunday, i was lucky enough to meet the artists; kevin dart & chris turnham of fleet street scandal. we picked up a copy of their self published collection of work & i would have spent another $100 on prints if i had cash.

on another fun note, chris is currently working in portland with laika, the studio that make coraline & has a blog about the production art.