I've been ordering all sorts of fabric swatches lately and they usually arrive in a plain ol' envelope from the retailer. Well, leave it to Anthropologie to take things up ten notches with the coolest packaging ever for free swatches:
Included in the little box are: a handwritten note about their fabrics and furniture; cards detailing the various sofas and chairs they offer; the swatches themselves; a small pencil; and a measuring tape. Seriously cute.
Must. Mark. Calendar.
Earlier this week, the de Young announced a 40-year Retrospective of the Work of Yves Saint Laurent. It opens November 1, and the San Francisco museum will be the only venue in the U.S. for the show.
I can't wait!
I read quite a few blogs.* And one of my favorite things to do is check out the comments. But you may have noticed that I don't have the comments feature turned on for my own site. This is something that I've been going back and forth on for a while now. The main reason I don't: If I activate comments, I get an email every time one is written so that I can approve/publish it. This is great because I get instant alerts ... but it also means I get a lot of spam comments/emails.
However, with the new house will come lots of new decorating projects. So I'm hoping the Internet (i.e., YOU out there) will give me lots of feedback and advice. And if I have to delete a few additional pharmaceutical, online gambling and no-interest home loan spams in my inbox every day? It's worth it.
* My newest regular reads are: In(side) the Loop and Urban Grace Interiors.
Excuse Me, Do You Work Here? No, I Just Need to Fold Clothes
Thousands of Neat Freaks Picked Up the Habit as Clerks at the Gap
Ha! Having worked in retail, including at the Gap and sister-store Banana Republic, I found this WSJ article pretty interesting. But I have to admit that I agree with Jezebel's take on the whole thing:
"Don't get me wrong: I can fold with the best of them — and without a folding board, mind you. Outer thirds of a tee rigidly marshaled, sleeves turned in at a 45 degree angle, and then the final letter-style flip. ... And my piles! Ruler-straight, color-coordinated wonders. Jeans? Even thirds, facing left. Anything on a hanger is leftwards, too, in ascending size order, carefully marshaled into sections organized by color and use. I love the novelty of this organization, the imposition of order on chaos — but largely because I don't do it at home."
Oh, and that WSJ article includes a video demo on how to properly fold denim. Awesome!
In my head, I've already started mapping out exactly where everything will go in our new house. And there are two pieces of furniture that I'd really like to buy: a bench for the end of our bed (I've always wanted to have one and finally have the space to make this happen) and a comfy armchair in the guest bedroom. You know what I learned while researching these items? That lots of companies will send you free fabric samples, including Pottery Barn, Crate&Barrel, Williams-Sonoma Home, and Room&Board. Very handy!
Also: Fabric stores — such as Textile Arts — often charge a small fee for samples, and you can later apply that fee as a credit towards your purchase. (I really like Nicole's Lumimarja curtains and am leaning towards that fabric in a different colorway for our bedroom curtains.)
Jill and I were at Anthropologie the other day and we both had to pull out our cameras (well, she has a cool iPhone) and snap some photos of this display:
Close inspection revealed that the installation was made with real feathers as well as some fashioned out of wood veneer. Clever!
Say it ain't so!
Berry Disturbing Makeover for Strawberry Shortcake
P.S. Apricot and Hopsalot were my favorites when I was a kid.
I haven't been feeling 100 percent this week, so I'm happy to be staying close to home this holiday weekend. I will probably be drinking lots of tea — especially since just looking at this Cath Kidston tea cosy makes me smile.
Also: The tea I picked up from the Chocolate Bar is really good.
I am always on the lookout for clever shoe storage solutions. And today, this Apartment Therapy "Small Cool" contest finalist caught my eye:
All of those heels look so cool up there, but I'm afraid mine would get terribly dusty — especially since, despite owning tons of them, I hardly ever wear high heels anymore.
It ain't fiction, just a natural fact.
Case in point: At around 9:30am yesterday, Jon was just about to start his triathlon — which he has spent months training for (you know, eating right, exercising, etc.). At around the same time, a couple hundred miles away — back at home — I was pulling into the McDonald's drive-thru to pick up one of my favorite breakfasts. Two hash browns, a cinnamon melt and an orange juice.
Monday's aren't all bad.
* Speaking of salted caramel ice-cream: While we were in Paris, my sister could not get enough of this flavor from Berthillon. I love that they have those cones that allow for side-by-side scoops (rather than one on top of another).
How I spent my Wednesday evening: Sorting through two week's worth of mail. Jon went to collect our mail yesterday from the post office and, since there was quite a large stack, they let him take it all home in one of those lovely translucent white bins. (We didn't pick up our mail right away because we figured the post office would be crazy in the days leading up to Tax Day.)
One of the things in our pile o' mail was the latest Home magazine. There were quite a few good spreads, but this was my favorite photo in the issue:
If you're in the Bay Area, you can join the Cardboard Institute of Technology in celebrating the opening of this exhibit tonight at the Cell Space Gallery. Very cool.
These outdoor chairs, available at one of my favorite local shops (Emily Joubert), totally say "spring" to me.
Happy Friday!
And that was my weekend!
Relaxing by the pool in Hawaii for hours and hours is nice and all. But maybe not the best idea when you have a schmancy event to attend a week later. And you now have tan lines that will look ridiculous with the spaghetti-strapped dress you were planning to wear.
(Why didn't I choose a shady spot under an umbrella!?! At least for half of the time.)
So, Internet, I am now racking my brain trying to think of a different dress to wear to this function ... which is in three days.
I wish this book was available when I got married! I totally would have picked up a couple of copies for my nieces.
This picture book is the perfect gift for soon-to-be flower girls. Girls will enjoy reading the story of Fiona, a first-time flower girl who discovers how exciting it is to play a special part in a wedding. The book includes a flower-shaped keepsake necklace the child can wear, as well as a comprehensive guide for parents with tips on how to prepare girls for the big day.
Oh, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the book is illustrated by Lorena Siminovich (of Petit Collage). Sweet.
I am insanely envious of people who can take great photos. Right now, I am really enjoying Alex's pictures from her (ongoing) trip to Europe. You can check them out in her Flickr photostream and follow along on her blog.
Oh, and I didn't realize this until recently, but she also has a site —"How She Sees the World" — that documents her travels in photographs.
You may have noticed the addition of a button over their on the right-hand side of this blog. The "Let Levi Ride" campaign was established in response to the decision to keep Team Astana out of the 2008 Tour de France. I admit: I only recently got into the whole cycling thing, and in large part after I visited with Levi Leipheimer and his wife Odessa Gunn at their Santa Rosa home last year. I was in awe of the amount of work and sacrifice that their lifestyle requires; they are both so committed to cycling.
When Jon forwarded the LLR website to me, I immediately "signed" the petition. Because I can't imagine devoting my entire adult life, and most of my childhood, to a dream and having the opportunity to fulfill it so unfairly stripped away.
We enjoyed a super-mellow three-day weekend ... well, at least I did. Jon had to deal with a fair amount of work around the house, as well as in the office. (But the latter, although a bit of a pain, led to dinner at one of my favorite local restaurants — Hotaru — on Sunday night.) At least he got to check out the Tour of California, which kicked off in Palo Alto/Stanford on Sunday afternoon. (I quickly got bored and walked over to the mall.)
At home, I had a little to-do list for Jon that mostly entailed hanging stuff up. Here's one project that he wasn't responsible for because Elizabeth came over to help out:
P.S. In case you're wondering about the title of this post: During cycling races, it's a tradition to ring cowbells to cheer on the riders.
A few weeks ago, at the Something's Hiding in Here opening at Rare Device, I picked up this stamp:
I don't live with many regrets. I feel like the decisions I've made, even the bad ones, have led me to where I am today. And that's a pretty darn good place, one I never take for granted — especially because there have been some rough patches along the way.
When I was 23, I dropped out of law school to pursue a degree in journalism. After journalism school, I passed up some fantastic career opportunities and ended up working for a failed dot-com. These might seem like mistakes. But you know what? That dot-com is where I met Jon. It's funny to look back and think about how something that seemed so simple completely changed the course of your life. (Oddly, going back a little further in history, I wouldn't have worked at that dot-com if it weren't for my three-month stint at a pet store while I was in grad school.)
Today, even though I'm not big into Valentine's Day, I'm wrapping up that stamp and giving it to my husband.
If Jon would allow us to, we would be eating out seven nights a week. I'm just not one of those people who finds cooking to be enjoyable, relaxing, cathartic, etc. I have tried and tried, but it just feels like work to me. And I already do enough of that during the daytime.
So any weekend that involves good meals out = a good weekend to me. Some of the highlights from the past 2-3 days:
As if all of the above yumminess wasn't enough, we also snacked on all sorts of Miette treats throughout the weekend.
Yes, it's a good thing we're both seeing a personal trainer these days.
And now I've got a case of the Mondays.
The weekend following a trip of any sort, I like to stay home and nest. And with storms and lots of rain expected over the next few days, it's the perfect time to make some changes around the house. Jon and I are planning to move the furniture around in the office/craft room. And the big, big update there will be installing shelving on one wall. It should open up the room quite a bit because we can then get rid of a couple of tall bookcases.
I may take a trip to Ikea for some curtain rods (for when I eventually turn my wannabe Kelly Wearstler fabric into drapes) and casters (for a Lack unit in our bedroom). Oooh, and I've also got a Target gift card that I'm itching to put to use!
It looks like the folks at Martha Stewart wised up and decided to transfer Blueprint subscribers to Living. That's good news. While I like looking at all of the pretty pictures in Weddings, I don't really have much use for that publication these days.
I am all about the Salvation Army donation website. I swear: It is the easiest way to donate large items that you can't drop off somewhere yourself. You schedule it all online, and they just show up and take whatever-you're-getting-rid-of away. The day of the pick-up, you can check the time window. And once the pick-up is complete, you can even get a confirmation and receipt.
Genius.
Okay, I like the show, but I swear I'm not obsessed with it. (At least I don't think I am?) But in case there are other GG fans reading this site, I thought I'd share Gridskipper's GG Guide — detailing the real-life NYC settings for various scenes.
Wait? What? This week's episode was the season ender for "Gossip Girl"? Boo. I just hope I don't get so desperate for new programs that I become a regular "Cashmere Mafia" viewer. Based on the first episode, that show is truly terrible. Every five minutes, I found myself yelling out (at no one in particular): "Are there people seriously like this! Who talks like that? Who dresses like that? LAME!"
In other 2008 news: My dad has been in and out of the hospital (unplanned). Jon has been in and out of the hospital (planned). Half of my backyard fence collapsed during last week's storms (the whole thing has since been completely rebuilt).
As far as resolutions go, Jon and I made a pact to try to keep our house tidy enough so that we won't be totally embarassed if we have unexpected company drop by. And I have my initial appointment with a personal trainer this weekend.
Yes, you read that right. I know, up until this point in mylife, I've been so anti-exercise! But in 2008, I'm going to be just like Fergie — up in the gym working on my fitness.
So you may have heard that Northern California was hit with a monster of a storm late last week. With a dark house and a muddy backyard, these two things really came in handy:
(BTW, our eight-hour black-out on Friday really wasn't so bad — especially when you consider that there are still people without power this morning.)
You know what's really weird? Not having ANY interior doors in your home. Ours were taken away earlier this week and the lovely new ones will be installed today. Yay! Every time I walked down the hallway this week, I was reminded of the fact that I still haven't organized the linen closet. (That seems like a good New Year's resolution.)
This has been a busier-than-usual week — with the posting here, posting at Apartment Therapy, guest-blogging at Design*Sponge, and an SF Chronicle deadline. So, like lots of other bloggers out there, I'm going to take some time away from the computer for the rest of 2007. I've got presents to wrap, family to hang out with, and books to read. Oh, and of course, lots and lots of good food to consume.
Things have been so crazy the past few days!
I'm so ready for the weekend.
This past weekend was a good mix of work and play. Jon and I were both doing work on Saturday (him more than me), and then yesterday we were all over the Bay Area — Rockridge Cafe, Meg and her studio-mate's holiday sale, Scharffenberger and Tomasso's.
Oh! And there were new eyeglass purchases for everyone! (Two for me, one for Jon.) Not bad.
P.S. I have been wearing glasses for a loooong time. So I have visited more than my fair share of eyeglass shops. My all-time favorite is Next on College Avenue in Oakland. I love the selection and the service there.
P.P.S. Remember the Ige Design 2008 calendar I couldn't track down? Well, Maison d'Etre carries it. Yay!
UPDATE: Ige Design has launched an online shop! So you can pick up a 2008 calendar of your own right here.
Over the past week, I've had a few significant deadlines looming over me:
I'm happy to report that each item can now be checked off my to-do list! So now I can focus on the Thanksgiving holiday. Wheeee!
I have finally left the house! I'm not feeling 100 percent, but I couldn't stand being cooped up (mostly alone) in the house for another day.
Three Potato Four has some of the coolest photo styling, especially if you're a fan of the vignettes (which I am). In the product photo for this glass penguin that I just purchased today, I love the Mariebelle cocoa tin that has taken on a second life as a little planter:
As if I needed another reason to treat myself to an order of Mariebelle goodies ...
I've been writing for Apartment Therapy for about six months now and my favorite types of posts usually fall into these categories: House Calls and Giveaways. The former because I get to peek at other people's homes (who doesn't enjoy that?). Plus, for this new-ish feature on AT, I usually get to work with artists and designers whose work I admire. And Giveaways — what's not to love about giving readers free stuff? And they offer a great excuse to contact shops and businesses that I adore.
Starting next week, I'm cutting back on my writing with AT — basically, only posting either a House Call or a Giveaway every Thursday. Today, I've got a nice little feature on Diana Fayt's apartment and studio.
Please take a look — because I think you'll like what you see. I am off to prepare for an upcoming trip that I have not given enough thought to yet ...
Wow. Those ladies at Rare Device sure know how to throw a party! It was so fun and so crowded, I did not take a single photo. (Sorry!) I seriously don't know if I could even reach into my purse for my camera. I certainly would have only gotten a shot of the back of someone's head. The room was packed, I tell you. I'm pleased I finally got to meet so many people whose names and writing I've become so familiar with on the Internet. And I'm looking forward to many return trips to RD so I can fully appreciate the great artwork and merchandise that Lisa and Rena have assembled. (There's one Kelly Lynn Jones piece in particular that I can't get out of my mind!)
So how do you follow up a super party like that? Head over to Farina for dinner. Evo, my dining companion, mentioned that the restaurant had undergone a $5 million renovation. Insane, right? It is quite a cool space though (used to be Anna's Danish Cookies). And I love the penny-round tiles in the bathroom. In addition to spending a bit of time checking out all of the details in the space, we did enjoy a wonderful meal. The highlight was dessert. Not that the other two courses weren't tasty. It's just that the desserts were divine: Sweet. Milk. Fritters. They were sooo good. And the panna cotta with strawberry coulis ... mmmm.
P.S. Last night, in addition to picking up some items at Rare Device, I made a quick shopping trip to The Curiosity Shoppe. This weekend, I'll try to photograph some of my new goodies so I can share (not all of it is on the stores' web sites yet).
I got the new issue of Blueprint in the mail yesterday and couldn't believe how holiday-centric it was. But then I realized: November is next week! So indeed, the holiday season is pretty much upon us. I've already started my lists — of what I'd like to receive, as well as what I'd like to give to friends and family.
Another thing: So many artists are unveiling their lovely 2008 calendars right about now. Among my favorites is Green Chair Press' desktop calendar.
We have a small easel on our dining room credenza that currently holds the 2007 Port2Port calendar. I can't wait to see the 2008 version, which comes out on November 15.
P.S. Is it just me? Or has Blueprint improved quite a bit since its first issue? It's now my favorite domestic shelter publication. For some reason, I just haven't been feeling the last few issues of Domino.
I would add these two sites to it:
• Becoming Home (I especially love the before/after gallery page)
• Four Beds, Two Baths
It's so cool to see the transformations that people make in their homes — the hard work and creativity that goes into it all. When Jon and I bought our house about three years ago, we had some work done before we moved in. So we've slowly been fine-tuning things, but I don't know if it'll ever stop feeling like a work in progress.
I am feeling achey today. From playing Wii with the nieces this weekend. From the stupid way the Cal game ended on Saturday. From doing all sorts of cleaning up around the house. From going to the driving range for the first time in about six months yesterday. (Despite Jon's constant reminders, I don't stretch before hitting golf balls.) From bending and twisting wires for a new batch of jewelry.
I could really use an afternoon of camping out on the sofa, watching soap operas (or as Jon likes to call them, "my stories"). There is one good thing about Mondays: "How I Met Your Mother" is on tonight!
Elizabeth just started posting her "Encyclopedia of My House" and I totally adore this idea. It actually comes from "The Encyclopedia of Me" and Elizabeth — being the interior-designer-in-training that she is — modified it to focus on her cute apartment in Oakland.
Hmmm ... I may have to borrow this idea, too ...
Even though we agreed not to buy each other anniversary gifts anymore, Jon still gave me a little something this year (because he's nice and thoughtful like that). While what was inside the box was shiny and pretty, what first impressed me was the creativity on the outside. Jon had the shop wrap up the box, and the associate there did this cool pleating thing with simple white paper. Double-sided tape was used so that the folds stood out — rather than ugly strips of tape.
P.S. Is anyone else watching the playoffs? I'm rooting for C.C. Sabathia — and, therefore, the Cleveland Indians — and was sweatin' it there in the fifth. (Sabathia is a Bay Area native, who allowed me to profile his home a few months ago.) Jon is from NY, so I don't know how happy he is to have me rooting against the Yankees.
Of food blogs with lovely photography: Athena has started documenting her meals! Check out Athena Eats for pretty pictures like these:
Oh, and she also includes recipes. Nice.
I know I've mentioned the SBB before, but I just need to say: I am so envious of people who can style and snap such wonderful photos. I am a horrible photographer. Seriously bad.
The only problem with clicking over to SBB every morning is that it makes me wish I was at home cooking up a yummy breakfast like this:
Image: Tuesday's post on the Simply Breakfast Blog
My sister and I just spent a girls' weekend in San Francisco. Although part of the reason we planned the mini-getaway was to check out the new Barneys, it actually was not one of the highlights of our time in the city.
But this was: We were in a Union Square shoe store when my sister, who insists she has extra-wide feet, starts measuring her feet with one of those metal contraptions (which I have not stepped foot in/on since I was in grade school). She asks some guy walking by — who was coming out of a back room — if he knew how to use the measuring tool. He did, so he graciously helped her. But then it turned out he wasn't a sales associate, but a real live shoe designer! Fast forward an hour or so and he's showing us his fall and spring collection online. He offers to drive down to his warehouse in the Peninsula and gather up all of the shoes he has in our sizes and bring them back that evening. He tells us his story and about his factory in Italy. And the best part: He said he could specially make shoes for me in my size.
Hello.
Oh, back to Barneys. The verdict: A bit of a disappointment, especially if you've shopped at the NYC store. I did, however, really like the mosaic tiling in the SF store's entry:
And at Cielo on Fillmore Street, I love the paper-chain curtains:
(Pssst ... I'll be blogging in more detail about both at AT:SF later this week.)
It's only Tuesday? Bah.
We had a lovely and relaxing weekend — which included staying in San Francisco. We consumed delicious meals at The Slanted Door (lunch), Chez Spencer (dinner) and Town's End (brunch). And enjoyed wonderful company, courtesy of local and visiting friends.
All of the above makes it harder to jump right back into a crazy work week. Other stuff we've got going on: Jon is on this fitness kick that has seen him join a fancy new gym (I believe it's called a sports resort) and sign up with a trainer (who he pays to batter him twice a week). I'm in Week Two of the AT:SF Fall Cure (it's an eight-week program to make our home healthier). Photos of some home improvements to come ...
In case you care: This will probably be my only post this week. With the unofficial end to summer, and so many people cramming in final vacations, it seems like a good time to stay away from the blog a bit.
But you won't find me relaxing in the hammock this week. Nope. I'll be spending most of my time working the regular job; starting a fun freelance article; setting up all sorts of cool things for Apartment Therapy in September (like giveaways!); making new jewelry for Adorna Bella; and consuming root beer floats until I'm ill (it is so very hot in the house).
Happy last-week-of-August and enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!
Nothing. Zero. Zip.
And I am thrilled about this. For the next 48 hours, I can be found here ...
... reading the latest issue of Blueprint, among other things.
P.S. I think that corner needs something — a lamp maybe? — but I haven't quite figured it out yet.
Yesterday, I was reminded of:
And today I discovered:
Since I don't keep a blogroll on this site, from time to time, I like to give a little shout-out to other blogs that I read on a regularly basis. Some I frequent because of the excellent writing. Some are sites maintained by personal friends of mine who I like to check up on. And some provide great design/decor inspiration.
In this last category, there are a few that I have recently become addicted to:
Don't like to clean? Join the club. But if you must clean up after yourself, at least you can do so with eco-friendly AND cool-looking products from Method. And right now, you can win a whole (waste)basket full of their fantastic products over at AT:SF.
If you win, I'll let you come over and clean my house.
So I don't know how you hybrid drivers do it. I have been driving a loaner hybrid-SUV for the past week and, the first few days, it took all sorts of will power for me not to stare at that energy/consumption screen:
I finally had to turn off the display because it was just too mesmerizing. (Don't worry — I didn't take this photo while driving; it's from the car manufacturer's Web site.)
Okay, I'm a little behind on a few things these days. One of which is my "8 Random Facts About Me" post. Leah tagged me a couple of weeks ago, but I spaced out on this until I read Lisa's post yesterday about "8 Facts/Habits." So here goes:
I don't know what else to say really about all of the drama going down with the Tour de France. I wasn't all that shocked about the Vino situation (his time trial on Saturday was seriously unbelievable). And I had a feeling Rasmussen would be the next to fall. But still. This is crazy, people.
I'm rooting for Discovery Channel, but even though these latest developments work in the team's favor, it's all pretty sad. It doesn't seem like any sport is immune to scandal and controversy these days.
(This is the window display of a bicycle shop in London, where this year's Tour started. A clever use of baguettes!)
Things I'm just now becoming aware of:
A few years ago, I came to the realization that birthdays are the perfect time to ask Jon to tackle pain-in-the-ass projects. For example: The year we moved into our house, I wanted the garage walls painted. That was the only gift I requested, so of course he had to oblige.
This year, two things are on my wishlist:
I'm sure between now and next Wednesday, I will invoke my annual battle cry — "BUT IT'S FOR MY BIRTHDAY!" — a few dozen more times.
Paula Cole? Singing at the All-Star Game? Really? The Bay Area couldn't do any better? I mean, I think she hasn't had a hit in about a decade. You know, since the "Dawson's Creek" song.
Hmmm. I would have preferred to see/hear Huey Lewis. At least he's local.
I am definitely NOT complaining ... But between this blog, Apartment Therapy, Girls Guide to City Life and the SF Chronicle, I've been doing a lot of writing the past few months ... While also maintaining my full-time day job. (Freelance writing alone does not support my shoe habit.)
So with Jon graduating this past weekend — and not going back to work for a few weeks — it's a good time for us to just hang out. Together.
I'll be back here in July. And in the meantime, you can still catch me over at AT. And I've got a couple of Chron "At Home"-style articles coming up that I'm pretty excited about — including one on a cyclist who will be competing in the Tour de France and another on a baseball pitcher who just might be starting the All-Star game for the American League. (Like I said, no complaints!)
In case you're trying to avoid doing some work, here are a handful of my regular non-design reads — sites that I check in on because the writing is just so good/funny:
P.S. For Father's Day, we went to The Slanted Door for dinner with Jon's folks. It had been years since I'd been there, and I had forgotten just how good that restaurant is! And I love that they use Heath Ceramics dishware.
Earlier this year, I contacted Alyson Fox to inquire about commissioning a piece for Jon's birthday. Unfortunately, it took a little while to find an affordable hardcover version of the book that would serve as her canvas. (This Boy's Life is one of his favorites.) So instead of giving him an Alyson Fox original for his birthday back in February, he got an Alyson Fox original for graduation this week.
It was so hard to keep this under wraps. Because I love Alyson's work and wanted to display rather than hide it in the guest room for months. And months.
Here's what Alyson came up with for Jon:
Not that we'll be needing these any time soon ... But someone commented on an Apartment Therapy post with a link to Rattle-n-Roll, so I felt compelled to share.
I am sitting at the kitchen counter, working on spreadsheets.
SPREADSHEETS.
There's a reason why I studied sociology, law and journalism. NO SPREADSHEETS. Ever. You do not even know how much I dislike Excel — about as much as Jon loves the program. So these are not fun times for me at the day job, which has spilled into the evenings. At least I've got a pint of Bi-Rite's salted car
