ocean blues

What a gorgeous, saturated snapshot from this flickr user. Spotted first on Oh Joy.

sunset magazine

If you prefer the West coast, as we do, you might wanna check out this magazine. I find it always has something interesting to read, is full of gorgeous photos and provides great ideas for road trips. In whole, it beautifully displays our reasons for wanting to get back out to California.

gil elvgren

I want it. I need it. Cheapo book on pin-ups by American illustrator, Gil Elvgren:

Marais USA

Adorable sandals and shoes at really good prices from two young designers. Check out Marais USA.

daffodil time

Daffodils are probably coming up in other non-tropical parts of the US as we speak. I love them so much and would be happy the whole day when I would snap up a fistful at Trader Joe's when we lived in California. Image seen on Design*Sponge.

a sweet kids' room

From StudioMama, a sweet little kid's room. Have not posted one of those in awhile!

In the swamps.

There were loads of pictures from a swamp tour we took. I'll post 'em later.

Tallahassee. Part Two.

We wanted to finally make it up to Tallahassee to visit our friends, Marc and Monica. So we headed out their way on Thursday...we took the long route. Followed the coast, got our feet wet in the ocean, tracked down this microbrewery, etc.

Too bad we did not bring the camera into the brewery; they had excellent brew and a nice atmosphere. We had some pints and did a sampler tray of their different beers; I did not drive for the obvious reason after that (not that I ever drive).

I just love it when you find a couple who you can really all 4 click with. That's Marc and Monica. Its really a shame we are not closer, distance-wise. But, you take what you can get.

On a side note: its really funny that Marc & Philipp were friends back in Europe and only recently discovered they'd both married American chicks and immigrated. I guess life happens when you lose touch for a few years!Aren't they always drawn to record shops like moths to a flame?Marc baked bread & pizza for us. Food=love.
The boys got haircuts at an Aveda training institute. I love when a male backs up what I want done! Thanks, Marc. Hehe.
It was great to just schlep around Tallahassee with no agenda. We went here and there, checked out this, checked out that. It was perfect.I spent the whole weekend on the porch (usually with a brew). The weather was lovely and a bit more like NC's this time of year, I imagine.For some reason, I did not get a picture of Monica (she was not with us the whole time, I guess that's why). So I penciled her in. Also, Monica, if you're reading this, I did not deliberately make you that short. I think by scale, that would make you, like, four feet tall. But I did draw you with a camera. Apologies. ; )

Tallahassee nature on the next post.

Wovenhand/16 Horsepower

Wanna see a crappy blurred concert photo? Well, okay:
Last night we saw this dude at The Engine Room in Tallahassee. It was great. We were both surprised at how heavy it was live. Surprised, a little shocked and very happy. Check him out here in 16 Horsepower or here with Wovenhand (the band still going & what we saw last night). Loved it. It was worth the smelly nicotine hair and second hand smoke. Fuck you guys in Florida, by the way, for still allowing that to go on in clubs.Gotta like how possessed I look in this pic from the show. If anyone's possessed, though, that'd be mister David Eugene Edwards himself. That boy done sold him's soul to the devil for pickin' that banjo instead. 'Twas excellent, indeed.

Tallahassee. Part One.

There were beers. There were laughs. There was pizza. There was some more pizza. There was blood. There was a green band-aided toe.

More about our days in Tallahassee as the pictures are sorted.

hel looks

Get 'em, woman. You look hot. From Hel Looks. Love it.

Peyto Lake

Apparently this lake in Canada is really this shade of robin's egg blue, can you believe it? Nature is amazing.

From Flickr users Chris & Lara Pawluk

dish bunny

This would probably motivate kiddies to do the dishes more often. It would definitely motivate me!View more original & unique design ware here.

classy.

Credit: Andrew Collinge

Pretty.

if ever..

If ever I were to go short again (and I am not, I am not!), I really like this photo.

Photo from Bumble & Bumble.

I went to a Bumble & Bumble affiliated salon once in San Luis Obispo. It was the best haircut I'd ever had...and it was not short.

the good list

+ not too hot/not too cold weather right now
+ amazing breezes circling through the house
+ baking a new batch of bread (fingers crossed)
+ tons of interesting novels from the library
+ planning a few little road trips in the back of my mind
+ daydreaming about farmer's markets to come
+ laughing with my sister
+ microbrews back in hand
+ wondering about this local place & if its good

raw wood bathroom

Image from Beach Studios via Far Out Brussel Sprout

I could spend a few days in this raw wood bathroom. Love it.

keeping track

I keep a {paper} journal. And have since I was around 9 years old. I have all of them in a box at my parents' and often flip through them when I am home, although usually with much embarrassment.

A good friend of ours keeps one too, although not in the traditional diary style, but simply by writing a few lines on a calendar of what he did each day; who called, how many miles he ran, what was special, etc.

The less angst-ridden I become (since I am, after all, happily married), the more I like the idea of something simple like this:A 5 year journal with just a few lines to pencil in what was done that day. There's even pages in the back to record books read and places traveled. I like to concept of really remembering your days... after all how you spend your days is eventually how you've spent your life.

baker's racks

I like this simple kitchen (and house tour). Although I would not use the same colors, the kitchen is appealing because of it's simplicity and functionality. It looks like this couple has just enough and I like that. I'm especially envious of that nice big shiny KitchenAid stand mixer too!

The Gargoyle

I just finished this book, The Gargoyle. I absolutely loved it. I could not put it down and zoomed through its 400-something pages in a few days. Go out and read it. Synopsis here.

jamie magazine

I nearly rationalized (and I might yet still) buying the launch issue of the magazine, Jamie, by the enormously popular British chef, Jamie Oliver. I could want it for the wonderful photography alone, but there are so many interesting articles and recipes that I'd like to check out. Too bad its British, as it costs $9.99 here!

what two unemployed adults do on a weekday.

1. Attempt to take numerous (read: unsuccessful) photos wherein:
a) both heads fit in the frame
b) neither mate's head approximates the size of a melon.
2. Throw on some really detestable metal to thrash to while the other half is trying, in vain, to read.3. Discover feelings of intense hunger.4. Satiate feelings of said intense hunger (with lovely vegetarian meals).5. Eat a late dinner with the father (in-law).And lastly, humbly attempt to not:
The End.

wurzelbrot

Holy crap, this is awesome. A Swiss bakery online & finding a recipe for making Wurzelbrot. Kristin is in business.

more white sink love

In my enormous catalog of white kitchens, I hope to have not posted this before. I just love the large sink and open shelving. From Domino magazine.

acme pale ale

Acme pale ale is delicious. Yes it is.

nicolette camille kitchen

This looks like the perfect little cottage kitchen nook. I love all the flowers. Lovely. More photos here.

style Q & A.

I basically 'tagged' myself from this post on the absolutely lovely blog, An Aesthetic Feast.
Describe your personal style?

Quite disparate. I can be found either in a ratty hoodie over one of my husband's many band t-shirts, completely dolled up in some girlie ensemble or in all black urban street wear. I will always blame this on being a Scorpio. The extremes, you know?

What are the staples in your wardrobe?
Well-fitted dresses and anything black.

What's your signature look?
I don't know about 'signature' or 'look', but most definitely the color black and (a rather new obsession in the actual daily execution of) wearing red lipstick.

What inspires you most?
Anything from the 1940's/50's, old pin-ups, European detailing.
Who is your fashion muse?
If by "muse" you mean who's wardrobe I'd love to jack, I'd have to say Dita Von Teese, Marilyn Monroe, or the more modern Kate Winslet.
Favorite purchases of all time?
M.A.C. Russian Red lipstick, J.Crew jeans, Maroon Chuck Taylor's & I am currently loving two well-made vintage-esque dresses I recently bought from J.Crew.

Biggest splurge?
Although I am not a spender by nature, I have extraordinarily expensive tastes. I guess this works out that I am one miserable son-of-a-bitch. On a more serious note, I am trying to get myself to the place where I would rather invest in a classic but pricey piece of fantastically crafted clothing that lasts for years than some toss away that I spent $20 bucks on.

What's your beauty routine?
Weleda almond facial cleansing milk & creme, daily sunscreen (a must), Bare Minerals face powders, red lipstick or Rosebud's salve. I also consider healthy eating, plenty of water & running a beauty routine.

What jewelry do you never take off?
I am lost when it comes to accessories. I just cannot be bothered to put extra things on. However, the obvious (and only) jewelry I always have on are my engagement & wedding rings.

What are you wishing for?
Right now I could buy out the entire American Apparel shop in one swoop, get insanely close to doing so at J.Crew and finish it all off with some new lovely underthings from Victoria's Secret. Oh and more running socks (how glamorous!).

What are your obsessions?

Music, reading, life stories, trying to find the perfect bread recipe, being out in beautiful weather, being near the ocean.

an update of sorts/race day

So we have been here a week now, an update of sorts is definitely in order. Today we joined my sister and her boy toy to watch the Sunday horse races down at the track a town over. This was exciting for three reasons:

a) I got to wear my new amazing black tea-length dress somewhere logical
b) I got to get a general idea what my sister's line of work involves
c) $1 beers on tap (sadly this turned out to be utterly disgusting, as it was all Budweiser)
***
Anyhow. Here are a few pictures of yours truly & the husband before heading out. I could not pick a favorite, so you must suffer them all:

we interrupt your reading to bring you this message.

The Mister likes to read. I like to read. I like that he likes to read. I like The Mister.