Reading is Sexy

And the kiwi's know it! This video for the NZ Book Council is beautifully done. I can't imagine how long all that paper cutting and attention to detail must have taken!

Nerd Love

So we all know I'm a huge dork and have a deep crazy love of nerds. So, of course, one of my daily reads is Nerd Boyfriend. And while I am always delighted by the choices, I think November 17th may be my all time favorite.

Image found here.

'Tis the Season of Mint

Living in the northwest, I suppose that peppermint is really a year round flavor. It grows in great abundance everywhere, and I love it. Peppermint in salads, in tea, in pasta, as a breath freshener... My largest pot is devoted to my mint plant, which has gone from a couple wiggly stalks purchased at a local nursery, to the abundance seen below.


That said, the candy flavor variety is still near and dear to my heart, and I'm very pleased it is in season at a grocery store near you.

Mint M&M's are pretty much a divine gift from on high. I stockpile them as soon as they appear in stores, hide them from myself as a surprise out of season, and devour them in really unhealthy quantities. Stir a few into your morning coffee or glass of milk, mix them with ice cream or froyo, add chopped ones to cookies, or just enjoy a handful with another guilty pleasure.

Candy canes are another fave option, but I'm a bit of a snob about them. The cheap kind taste like (I know, I'm deranged for thinking this) old washcloths -- kind of mildewy and moist. Gross, right? I have no clue why I have this association. But a truly delicious candy cane, in either a classic hard style or a softer melt-in-your-mouth-like-dinner-mints style, make me very happy. I like to get a cold glass of milk and use a candy cane to stir it until it dissolves, leaving me with pink minty milk. It is SO good.

And for those of you who have decided that this quantity of sugar consumption is unforgivable for either dental or scale related reasons, I understand. Try some faux-sugar peppermint syrup in your coffee or maybe some good old fashioned peppermint herbal tea. Meanwhile, I'll take your share of M&Ms, thanks.

Ooh! Pretties!

This new-to-me tumblr, found thanks to You Are My Fave, is making me very happy.


You're welcome.

Winter Dressings

This pretty series of images is making me very sad I will soon be dressing very differently for winter. I love cold weather clothes! Promise me that you will wear them for me whenever possible, and I promise I'll post pictures of palm trees and sunny beaches in return.

Image via Happy Cavalier, first spotted on You Are My Fave.

Movin' on Up

So I've mostly abandoned my diy projects for the home at the moment, as it turns out that we will be moving to Los Angeles at the end of the year, and this may involve a purge of all large sized (read: furniture) belongings. Thus, no more need for fancy pants slip covers, no more hunting for the perfect objects to turn into drawer pulls, no more worries about how exactly to decorate three story walls without access to a ladder. Instead, my energies are focused on the how, what, when, and where of moving, after which, they'll be focused on how to make our miniscule new place a cozy home.

That said, I'm starting to say good bye to Eugene, OR, my home for the last two and half years. I haven't always loved it, but there are many things I'll miss. Here are a few.


My daily commute to work (well, post school, anyways). A lovely bicycle path along the river. I'll also miss having autumn. The southwest doesn't really experience autumn, which quickly became my favorite season after my first northwest October.

Speaking of fall, I'll also miss the gray skies of winter, the rain, the fog, and the wonderful clothing options that one simply must have to deal with these things. Boots, scarves, lots of layers, and a warm pretty coat. Oh, and hoods or hats. I love hats.

The really delicious food. Northwest cuisine is fresh, local, and full of yummy things like hazelnuts, cheeses, berries, greens, mushrooms. Also salmon, but I don't eat sea food... The places I recommend most include The Vintage, Papa's Soul Food, The Sweet Life, though there are many more.

The wine! The Willamette Valley is great for vintners and there are tons of local wineries in the area, many of which have free or cheap tastings and food, and all are nestled in gorgeous scenery. Spending a late afternoon with rare March sunshine on the patio of Sweet Cheeks or a summer morning sampling the amazing pinots at King's Estate is pretty much perfect. Plus, they have the Oregon attitude and much of what they do is sustainable, organic, and local. I'm going to miss that.

I will also, of course, miss the lovely and wonderful people I've met while here, but I'll let them keep their antics off the blogosphere...

MIA

Yeah, yeah. It's been awhile. I've no excuses. I'll try to be better now. Anyways, here's a present to make you feel better.

xoxo

Wardrobe Staples

I am still learning to dress myself for summer as a grown up. I can't really just wear spaghetti strap tank tops and short shorts, like I did as a teen in the desert. My junk in the hood -- aka giant heaving bosoms -- is tricky to dress in skimpy breezy pieces without some homegrown tailoring and enough coverage to conceal a decent bra. Alas, the trials of being curvy! But as soon as cooler weather kicks in and I can start layering colors, textures, patterns, and shapes, I feel like a champion stylist. And while this may only be true in my own little world, I thought I'd share the way I put together a more cohesive wardrobe. I have a few rules that I put together before shopping, to keep myself from buying too many of those pretties that look great on the rack and are totally on sale, but I’ll never wear because they don’t go with anything I own…

1. Color: Pick your palette based both on what looks great on you and what you love. I look fab in lavender but really don’t like it, so it never makes it in my bag. Similarly, I love a green-yellow ochre color, but it makes me look like I have malaria, so I limit it to accessories and accents that aren’t next to my skin – like a belt, brooch, shoes, or bag. My palette is based on deep jewel tones, with lighter versions for summer. Indigo, cobalt, leaf, crimson, rust, plum. I mix these with my favorite neutrals: charcoal, dove, coffee, slate. While black can be fabulous, make sure it is a quality fabric so it doesn't fade and look cheap after that first wash.

2. Texture: Texture is my favorite way to make a few otherwise simple pieces into a really fabulous outfit. It brings interest to a more monochromatic outfit, makes cheaper pieces look luxurious, and is just plain old fun. My standbys include tweed, knits, silk, lace, linen, jersey, velvet, corduroy. If you aren’t used to playing with texture, try a monochromatic look with a few different textures or just mix one or two on a simple base – tweed vest, t-shirt, corduroys and funky jewelry. Soon you’ll be blending as many as you can, and throwing patterns in for a bit of zest.

3. Shape: I like pencil, circle, and a-line skirts, and prefer a higher waist. For pants, I like a trouser cut with a straight wider leg, or a skinny cut, and again a slightly higher waist. My tops are structured and tailored or semi-fitted with some drape to them. Some of them I tuck in, some I belt, some I layer to have a few different hemlines. I have sort of an apple version of an hourglass, and pick shapes that minimize the waist but boost the curves. Straighter figures work well in simple straight cuts with drape-y fabric to show off those lean lines, and top heavy or bottom heavy figures can use either a fuller or more a-line skirt to balance the top or a lower waist and more structured shape to tone the lower half down. And skirts are always my answer to a fat-day -- they can shrink the tummy, hide the thighs, and camouflage the rolls... especially when it is cool enough to wear tights -- gotta love those control tops!

Stickin' it to My Ribs

One of the delights of living in the Whiteaker neighborhood of Eugene is the easy peasy walking access to Papa's Soul Food. Authentic southern joint, down home atmosphere, a bitchin' patio and really really really good music. And their menu is one of my favorite pieces of graphic design around -- you can see one page of it in the image. Oh, and the food. This food rivals that of small town joints in rural Georgia -- it is that good. My man and I went tonight for a bit of a rejuvenation.


He had the pork ribs with collard greens and mac and cheese. I had pulled pork with potato salad and mac and cheese... The bbq sauce is that perfect blend of smoky and spicy, with neither overwhelming the other or overwhelming the flavors of the perfect cooked meat. The mac and cheese is pale yellow, thick, with very soft fat elbows. My potato salad was creamy with hints of mustard and crisp pops of celery. I didn't try the greens (I just can't do that texture... ick!) but my mister thought they were really quite tasty. The beer was our favorite local IPA -- Ninkasi -- which is so damn tasty but packs a secret punch. Plus, we could walk the few blocks to and from, to try and ease our swollen bellies after the meal...

I'm already drooling over my leftover pulled pork sammich for lunch the next couple days (yeah, I had that much served to me). Yummmm...

Image originally found here

Bad Ideas...

So, um. Worst bikini design ever?

As my kiwi man said: "It's a minge!"Though on the positive side, Gap is having a rad sale to clear out summer looks... let's go shopping!

Girl Time

My man is away for a few nights leaving me alone in our big house. This means the toilet seats stay down and I can wear my pj's all day without feeling guilty. But it also means that I get very lonely and must keep myself entertained. Thus, I turn to the delights of the BBC. Specifically their 1983 production of Jane Eyre featuring the delicious Timothy Dalton. While he is perhaps far too handsome to be a proper Rochester, he is all the smoldering heart throb a gal needs while her own favorite boy is away...

If you've never enjoyed this pleasure for yourself, Netflix currently has it on instant view... Do it!

Lurve

In the secret land inside my head I am friends with Miss Zooey Deschanel. We play games on the weekend, have fabulous shopping trips, and listen to the best tunes.

It is maybe something like this.

My Latest Crush

Oh my. My heart is pounding, my breath is caught in my throat and I've got the tingly butterflies.

In short, I am in love.


They are everything I want in fashion, design, shoes, life... Now to find a few hundred dollar bills conveniently on the sidewalk outside my house... And a big fat juicy thank you to Darling Dexter who unknowingly introduced us.

Find these lovelies and all my other new dream candy here.

Le sigh...

Periodic Table of Fonts

This is a really rad presentation of various typefaces... is your favorite on the list? First spotted on DK Design Studio Blog where you can also find such rad posts as this:

and this corporation climate score card.

Hello, Autumn!

I may be a bit early here, but I'm really excited for the end of summer. This may be against the wishes of the rest of the blog world, but I am ready for cool weather, pretty layered clothes, gray drizzly days, comfort food, and the absolutely gorgeous displays of fall leaves. Growing up in New Mexico, fall lasted approximately one week and leaves generally skipped the bright colors going straight to brown and falling. But here in Eugene, Oregon, autumn lasts for months and is pretty much perfect. The winter rains are still interspersed with golden sunny days, and the foliage is beyond anything I had ever seen in my life. The colors!

Basically, I'm really excited for October already. But though the days are cooling off and the sun is lower in the sky, summer is still clinging to the Northwest. I am fine with this as it gives me more time for my current project, a wardrobe redesign. I am still in the early stages of this project, but will post much more as I go along, but wanted to establish the ground rules for myself and any who are curious.

I have some experience and training as a costume designer and ever since my first official project when I was about 15 I have applied what I know as a stage designer to my daily life and wardrobe. Currently I am attempting to streamline and beef up my wardrobe using the principles of costuming to create a slew of options that can be easily mixed and matched but always create a look that I define as characteristically me. I'm hoping this will eliminate the whole "I've got nothing to wear" problem, and finally force me to get rid of those items that live in the closet purge after purge because I might just wear it soon.

Anyways, all these ramblings are to say that I am in the first stage -- design and inspiration. Accordingly I am immersing myself in the clothes and people that I hope to emmulate. Step one: Rewatch Pushing Daisies, Penelope, Love Actually (specifically Laura Linney's character), Amelie, and so on with an eye to costumes. During viewing (with some fast-forwarding between costume changes), I'll make notes and sketches (and screen grabs) of those looks I really love, and determine basic shapes, silhouettes, and color palettes. I'll be sure to post more from this process as I have more tangible results...


Images originally found here and here

Replacement Therapy?

Like much of the blogosphere, I am still mourning Domino. It was my favorite magazine and I'm particularly sad that I only found it less than a year before it was cancelled. And while I still don't really understand why it was cancelled, since it had such an enormous following, but such is business.

In any case, there is much discussion about what to replace our addiction with. Many seem to be lauding Living, etc. as the new choice but there seems to be some disagreement on just how affordable their design really is, let alone my willingness to pay the international price to get the magazine from the UK. Thus, I am anticipating the launch of Lonny magazine. Its mission seems to be to replace Domino in cyber form... I hope it is able to fit in to the very large and uber fabulous shoes Domino left behind...

Mad Science

This rad cocktail set would be a perfect fit for my new geeky chic dining room, no?

Living at Stonehill

This house is a gorgeous example of my current fave decor themes... I love the mix of vintage and modern and especially all the academic/museum/scientific items used as art and such. Really really fabulous. Now to see if I can copy it...

First spotted on Oh Happy Day thanks to Jordan

Daydreaming

This sexy house featured on Dwell this month is just delicious. A perfect blend of modern and vintage designed to blur the lines between these two disparate aesthetics. Read the article, click through the slideshow, and daydream of your own dream home....

T Rex gone done it again

Holy crap I love Dinosaur Comics

Robots!

I am a total sucker for robots. Roomba, the Terminator, Wall-e... and this rad speedy robot hand:

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

A supplement to the new 500 Days of Summer with my favorite gal crush, Zooey Deschanel, and the utterly adorable Joseph Gordon-Levitt. They are dreamy together, and what better choice of song to dance to???

In the Summertime...

I really love salads, but feel like I never make them at home. But it is also something you feel kinda bad about ordering in a restaurant, like it is a waste of a meal out. But The Minimalist thoughtfully has provided me with 101 salad recipes that are easy and delicious, so my excuses are now silly. Salad time, here I come!

Natural Geometries

After seriously geeking out last night watching Nova (all about fractals -- you should definitely check it out if you can!), my man shared these pictures from Mars with me this morning... Really gorgeous landscapes. I especially love nature photography that illustrates the intricate geometries, fractal patterns, and seems almost more like abstract art than a traditional landscape. Mars photography is often great for such things, as there are no unnatural structures (or are there...? mwhahaha) and because so much of it is satellite survey, removing the horizon from the picture and also playing with scale.

In my younger days, when I was toying with the idea of becoming a scientist, I used to spend hours on the JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) website, scrolling through all the latest Mars imagery... I'd forgotten how striking it is and may have to start doing so again...

Museum Chic

I’ve been musing further on what to do with the new place. My current idea for the living/dining area stemmed from a desire to paint all my furniture with black lacquer. I love the sleek, shiny look of a high gloss black finish. It makes the most cheap pieces look so much nicer, and is an excellent backdrop for a variety of design schemes: i.e., when I get the urge to redesign everything, it is a matter of details, not the entire slate.

So, that leaves me with a long low dresser, a long rectangular and higher square coffee table and a bar/wine rack that could be coated black, and possibly a bookshelf or two. But then what? I started with the dresser. I like the drawer pulls it currently has – aged metal details – but since it doesn’t need constant use, why not something a little less practical and a lot more fun? Like big chunks of rock or gemstone? Or odd pieces of driftwood? They’d pop against the shiny black and really bring some fun to the entire room. Thus sprang the following inspiration board that blends natural history, vintage museums, and sleek modernity.


The rooms would have to work with the ugly apartment base – brown carpet, white walls, ugly fixtures and window treatments – that I’m not allowed to change. Alas. But I think with some statement furniture and great details, this look could be almost as much fun as it would be in some great space with stained concrete floors, oriental rugs, industrial fixtures and all the money in the world…

Colors: blue, green, black, wood, cream with pops of rust, plum and orange
Textures: enamel, wood, linen, bamboo, velvet, stone
Sources for the above board (from left to right):

Terrariums (and a how-to!) Gem Drawer Pulls Black plates The art of Aili Schmeltz Turquoise The art of Jaclyn Mednicov Silver flatware Driftwood shelf Albertus Seba’s Cabinet of Natural Curiousities Claws Table Steamer trunk Steampunk beetles Leather chair

Dress up for Grown Ups

I can thank the lovely and incomperable C from With a Twist of Dynamite for introducing me to Looklet. And now all I want to do is dress up these digital dolls and pretend that their closet is my closet... I just did a quickie before shutting down the computer for the day, but I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more from Looklet in my posts...

Brants!

Wow... I really hope designers don't take this seriously. Rompers are bad enough... The world does not need any more camel toe.

Tabula Rasa

I just moved into a spacious townhome with my man and as we slowly unpack boxes and shove around furniture, I'm trying to decide how to decorate. One thing I love about moving is the blank slate it provides -- sure, I have objects and art from previous design schemes, so I could probably just copy those but I have all these lovely blank walls, so why not try something new?? And with all our lofted three storey ceilings I'm going to have to come up with something on a much larger scale than ever before. Of course, it will take me about a month or so to figure out what exactly to do... but for now, here are some bits of inspiration.

Fabric Panels and a diy guide by the creator!

Twinkly drapes from a music club opening... Could be interesting as a wall hanging, as a divide between our staircase and living room, or as drapes tied back between rooms...

Paper star lamps that I would either suspend from the ceiling or hang against a wall in a cluster. Perhaps also against a fabric backdrop?

I may also just hang long strips of pretty fabric from floor to ceiling for some color and texture... Basically, I want color and texture on these white dull giant walls, but need to do it on a budget and following apartment guidelines. As I make my plans, I'll be sure to post more info!

In the meantime, check out this great
Apartment Therapy piece on budget wall decor -- some are a bit funky, but all could be easily tailored to any style or situation...

Mad About You

In honor of both sassy vintage style and the return of Mad Men, here is a a tour of the Mad Men costume department... Get ready to drool!

Nerd is the new black

I am all about the librarian chic. If I were to scrap my closet and start over, every piece would belong to this aesthetic. I know the hipsters tried to appropriate it and that hornrim glasses seem to be oh so trendy these days, but I don't care. For me, librarian chic isn't just about boxy glasses, cardigans, tweed skirts and loafers. Instead, it is a look that pulls from all kinds of vintage, academic sources. It is the muted jewel tones of leather spines, club chairs and oriental rugs, Cary Grant in Bringing Up Baby. It is argyle, tweed, plaid, cashmere, silk, lace, brass, glass, maple. It brings the Ivory Tower down to a cozy level where comfort, layers, and texture rule. It is Nikola Tesla, dirigibles, and Indiana Jones. It is all of these things draped on Heidi Klum: smart and fusty and comfy, but simultaneously elegant, refined, and sexy.

As I am daydreaming about fall weather and the return of all my favorite layering pieces, I've put together a little inspiration board that I hope conveys what I see as the quintessence of librarian chic...



Glasses Oxford heels Watch Parts Ring Key and Magnifier Necklace Tweed Suit Computer Sexy writer Cloche Tea Service School Newspaper Outfit Book Spines Library

Fantastic!

Is it just me or does Wes Anderson's new project -- based on a Roald Dahl novel -- seem especially rad?

Cyber Candy

Okay, so I'm definitely a Mac girl, through and through. But if Dell really made their computers like this I might just be swayed...

It is one year, ten months, one day and twenty-one hours later...

Oh, Pushing Daisies, my love. I miss you.

Called the love child of Tim Burton and Dr. Suess, with a splash of technicolor bright film noir, Bryan Fuller's third television series is by far my favorite. Certainly, Wonderfalls was brilliant and would have been great had it been allowed to play out for a full season or two, and Dead Like Me was tons-o-fun. Both incorporate a bit of morbid playfulness with magical realism, fast paced dialog and oh so sassy heroines, and the attention to detail in the aesthetics of the series is remarkable. But my true love is Pushing Daisies. Both seasons are now out on DVD -- though sadly, neither is a complete season -- and I urge you to go get both and settle down with some tasty pie for a delicious, delightful adventure! And once you've seen it all (so there are no chances for spoliers), check out this rad interview with Bryan Fuller, the creator: What Would've Happened On Pushing Daisies If It Hadn't Been Cancelled

Statement Necklaces

I am loving the big fabric flower necklaces I keep seeing everywhere. At first, I wasn't terribly keen on the fabric necklaces, but the more I see them on models -- plain tee or tank, jeans, maybe boots or fun pumps and a sassy necklace -- I wants one. It provides that same great pop of color and texture of a scarf, but is much cooler in the summer weather and keeps the sleek lines of an outfit of basics. I haven't decided exactly what style I like best yet, but window shopping on etsy.com is spoiling me for choice!

I'm also thinking of making one or two myself, to customize texture, color and length. I may even make one as a brooch instead of a necklace, which will work better when the relief of cooler weather means bulkier cardigans and jackets..

Enjoy the few below I've currently got my eye on...

BelieveInHappy

florabond

beanandthesprout

missimiss

Just Liv

Laundry Day

Among other things, today is laundry day. Whilst I wash, this is what I'm humming...