On this last day of April, I'm thinking about time. How fast it flies and sometimes (ha!) how slow it drips. April flew and now here we are at May. On the verge of summer. Soon the market will be laden with summer produce, and dinner will be as simple as sun-warmed tomatoes tossed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Food:
I swear, I don't mean to mention Sweet Paul every week, I really don't. But his posts are so good and this recipe Monday is for a mint, cucumber, and lime cocktail so who can resist that? Also see another post of his a little further down.
Gotta give it to Ree at The Pioneer Woman for her use of color in recipes. She never fails to make my mouth water and today's recipe for shrimp tacos was no exception. Also, her avocado slices are so perfect!
Back to my favorite blog of the moment, Roost for some insane looking cinnamon roll almond flour donuts. Donuts are like the final frontier to me, well and meringue (which my mother can whip up infuriatingly in minutes). Caitlin says she's already had three donuts today, I'd be guilty of a whole lot more if I made these. I'll need to find donut pans before I do, though.
Looking for some new creative toppings for your homemade pizzas? How about kale or butternut squash? I know at least one gardening coworker who'd love that idea. Check out Spoon Fork Bacon for a prosciutto, kale, and butternut squash pizza - includes recipe for the crust.
Interior design:
Beautiful coverage by James over at The New Victorian Ruralist today on an incredible hotel in the Austrian alps. I think I could really relax there.
Fashion/Style:
Giveaway on Sweet Paul for the totally cool and cute Cuppow which is a plastic top you attach to a jar that turns it into a travel mug. You have until Friday to enter.
And if you're in the market for some sunglasses to start your summer off on the right foot, then check out this gorgeous collection gathered for you by Mrs Lilien. I know quite a few people who'd go crazy for these sunglasses.
Pretty necklace giveaway on The Daybook from Le Mode.
I'm tempted to leave work a few minutes early today just to get to the train faster so I can read Fifty Shades of Grey - how sad is that? It's not actually that well written, but there is something about the characters that is pulling me in, kind of the same way the romance did in Twilight.
Curator Picks - 4/27
Friday, April 27, 2012
Fashion/Style:
Totally totally in love with this photo on The Sartorialist today. Her heels are crazy though, was she really going to ride her Vespa with those on? Or did she just see Scott coming with his camera and run back upstairs to put on a crazy awesome outfit? (Cause that's what I would have done).
Great round up of camera bags on A Beautiful Mess. These camera bags don't look like the boring black cases you always see as they are not only functional but so so pretty. I kinda love this Jo Totes one, now if only my upcoming photography class wasn't online!
Other stuff:
My husband just sent me the link for this book which is out of stock on Amazon. I can clearly see why. It's a hilarious parody on Goodnight Moon called Goodnight iPad. I think it will be making its way to my bedside table very soon to remind me to shut down my electronic gadgets every night and enjoy some unplugged time.
This article published in the New York Times last sunday is a little obvious but I still found it very interesting. We're relying on our phones or other electronic devices more and more, in fact I'm finding it hard to walk to the subway now without at least holding my phone in my pocket in case I miss a vibration that might signal a new email or text message. And I was just out at lunch with two other people and we all checked our phones several times throughout the hour away from the office. Is it possible to just unplug and absorb your surroundings? I found it funny that you can tweet the article to your followers - isn't that exactly what the author is telling us not to do? I guess I should be encouraging you not to read my blog and instead speak to some people face to face, but I won't :-)
Anyway, enjoy the weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday. I'm ending with a photograph I recently took of my 5 month old. This is a pre photography class shot, I'm hoping to learn to be more creative and post more stuff on here soon.
Totally totally in love with this photo on The Sartorialist today. Her heels are crazy though, was she really going to ride her Vespa with those on? Or did she just see Scott coming with his camera and run back upstairs to put on a crazy awesome outfit? (Cause that's what I would have done).
Great round up of camera bags on A Beautiful Mess. These camera bags don't look like the boring black cases you always see as they are not only functional but so so pretty. I kinda love this Jo Totes one, now if only my upcoming photography class wasn't online!
Other stuff:
My husband just sent me the link for this book which is out of stock on Amazon. I can clearly see why. It's a hilarious parody on Goodnight Moon called Goodnight iPad. I think it will be making its way to my bedside table very soon to remind me to shut down my electronic gadgets every night and enjoy some unplugged time.
This article published in the New York Times last sunday is a little obvious but I still found it very interesting. We're relying on our phones or other electronic devices more and more, in fact I'm finding it hard to walk to the subway now without at least holding my phone in my pocket in case I miss a vibration that might signal a new email or text message. And I was just out at lunch with two other people and we all checked our phones several times throughout the hour away from the office. Is it possible to just unplug and absorb your surroundings? I found it funny that you can tweet the article to your followers - isn't that exactly what the author is telling us not to do? I guess I should be encouraging you not to read my blog and instead speak to some people face to face, but I won't :-)
Anyway, enjoy the weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday. I'm ending with a photograph I recently took of my 5 month old. This is a pre photography class shot, I'm hoping to learn to be more creative and post more stuff on here soon.
Curator Picks - 4/26
Thursday, April 26, 2012
We are in the middle of launching our Spring '13 list here at work, so the editorial staff has been busy making presentations to our sales team. Nevertheless I did see some posts out there today that I loved:
Food:
If you guys aren't reading the food blog Honey & Jam yet, well you should be. Her photographs are luscious and I love her food styling on the crumpled brown paper. She's so talented, and only in her 20s! (sob). Today she posted a recipe for raspberry and white chocolate honey almond meal muffins that had me pinning it in five seconds. Talk about the most amazing group of words in one sentence.
Fashion/Style:
Emily at Cupcakes & Cashmere talked about the three essential items she has in her wardrobe and then gives you day and night options for dressing them down or up. So clever. Her three items are a striped dress, flat leather sandals, and a simple yet delicate necklace.
Food:
If you guys aren't reading the food blog Honey & Jam yet, well you should be. Her photographs are luscious and I love her food styling on the crumpled brown paper. She's so talented, and only in her 20s! (sob). Today she posted a recipe for raspberry and white chocolate honey almond meal muffins that had me pinning it in five seconds. Talk about the most amazing group of words in one sentence.
Fashion/Style:
Emily at Cupcakes & Cashmere talked about the three essential items she has in her wardrobe and then gives you day and night options for dressing them down or up. So clever. Her three items are a striped dress, flat leather sandals, and a simple yet delicate necklace.
Other:
Did you know you can now read a realtime Everest blog? This very real very life and death climb (a Sherpa died on the mountain a few days ago) is being blogged and photographed live by climbers for National Geographic. Follow them live only on your iPad but you can view the live photographs and keep up to date with weather conditions at base camp here.
Did you know you can now read a realtime Everest blog? This very real very life and death climb (a Sherpa died on the mountain a few days ago) is being blogged and photographed live by climbers for National Geographic. Follow them live only on your iPad but you can view the live photographs and keep up to date with weather conditions at base camp here.
I heart Maurice Sendak. First I loved him for his children's books. Second I loved him on this Fresh Air interview on NPR that had me in tears during and after. And today I loved him on this hilarious Steven Colbert clip that I found on Pikaland. He is such a wise and beautiful yet wily old man.
Curator Picks - 4/25
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I woke up feeling excited and inspired this morning. It could have been the fact that the baby gave me a longer stretch of sleep than usual, or it could have been my excitement over signing up for a photography class last night that got me all worked up. I tried some photographs out this morning and can't wait to learn more so I can show you some on the blog.
Interior design:
Have you guys seen the Spring 2012 Trad Home issue yet? Packed full of some lovely articles and features on the up and coming interior designers, this is definitely a great resource and has some really droolworthy interiors.
I attended the launch party for Phoebe Howard's new book, The Joy of Decorating hosted by Bunny Williams and Charlotte Moss at Carolina Herrera's store on the upper east side last night (wow that's a lot of big names in one sentence). I had the pleasure of editing this book and working with the talented Mrs. Howard taught me a lot about my own design sensibilities.
Cooking:
Herriott Grace, a beautiful shop run by a Canadian father/daughter team, Lance and Nikole, is selling charming cloud cookie cutters. Their shop is a one-of-a-kind online store filled with handmade objects mostly for the kitchen. Their blog is also one I travel to often to read Nikole's dreamy writing.
Fashion/style:
That Pantone fad isn't fading. I saw these Pantone toothbrushes on Swiss Miss. And we had Pantone cookies at work today to celebrate the launch of our spring list. There was even one that matched my outfit perfectly:
Interior design:
Have you guys seen the Spring 2012 Trad Home issue yet? Packed full of some lovely articles and features on the up and coming interior designers, this is definitely a great resource and has some really droolworthy interiors.
I attended the launch party for Phoebe Howard's new book, The Joy of Decorating hosted by Bunny Williams and Charlotte Moss at Carolina Herrera's store on the upper east side last night (wow that's a lot of big names in one sentence). I had the pleasure of editing this book and working with the talented Mrs. Howard taught me a lot about my own design sensibilities.
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| Window display at Carolina Herrera store |
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| Beautiful dress forms in the basement of the store |
Herriott Grace, a beautiful shop run by a Canadian father/daughter team, Lance and Nikole, is selling charming cloud cookie cutters. Their shop is a one-of-a-kind online store filled with handmade objects mostly for the kitchen. Their blog is also one I travel to often to read Nikole's dreamy writing.
Fashion/style:
That Pantone fad isn't fading. I saw these Pantone toothbrushes on Swiss Miss. And we had Pantone cookies at work today to celebrate the launch of our spring list. There was even one that matched my outfit perfectly:
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| ...and the cookie was delicious too! |
Curator Picks - 4/24
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Isn't it weird how things suddenly resurface in your mind? Old memories rise to the top, traveling through layers of grey matter until, POP, they reappear, and you are left wondering why you thought of Marlon Brando while eating a Chipotle salad for lunch. But anyway, I am eating a Chipotle salad and I DID just think of Marlon Brando. I was thinking that I was just 15 I saw Brando (along with Debra Winger and Johnny Depp) filming a movie in Ballycotton, a tiny village in County Cork. I remember Marlon Brando was wearing a priest's outfit and was dodging pouring rain that was created by a machine on the set. That movie, Divine Rapture, was later cancelled due to lack of funding but when I googled Brando today I saw that it is being revived and reshot in Ballycotton all over again! I wonder if they'll use any of the old footage. 17 years later and that memory popped up out of nowhere, how odd.
Anyway, on to the links of the day:
Giveaways:
Gardening:
I'm not usually interested in other people's weddings, but this stunning costume wedding in a chateau in the Loire Valley that Miss Moss covered on her blog blew me away. The wedding can also been seen in the current issue of Town & Country.
Photographs by Shawn Connell of the Christian Oth Studio
Anyway, on to the links of the day:
Giveaways:
Amazing giveaway today at A Beautiful Mess. You could win tons of things from a $50 gift card to purchase a vintage dress on Ruche to a photography class from Bella Pop! There are over $1000 worth of prizes to win so make sure you leave a comment on their site. Whether I win or not I think I'm going to sign up for a photography class at Bella Pop. They are online classes and you can do the homework on your own time and watch the tutorials over and over.
In the same vein as decor8's post yesterday about reconnecting to family and friends via printed photo albums, Stephmodo and the online stationer Minted have teamed up to offer $100 gift cards to three lucky readers.
In the same vein as decor8's post yesterday about reconnecting to family and friends via printed photo albums, Stephmodo and the online stationer Minted have teamed up to offer $100 gift cards to three lucky readers.
Gardening:
If I had something other than a north-facing apartment that gets one sliver of sunshine reflecting off the East River in the afternoon I'd be sure to take some inspiration from these beautiful shots on Apartment Therapy today.
Fashion/Design:
Bleubird posted a well curated mother's day gift guide today and I hope some of my family members are reading this cause I'm loving that Madewell songbird dress :-)Fashion/Design:
I'm not usually interested in other people's weddings, but this stunning costume wedding in a chateau in the Loire Valley that Miss Moss covered on her blog blew me away. The wedding can also been seen in the current issue of Town & Country.
Photographs by Shawn Connell of the Christian Oth Studio
Curator Picks - 4/23
Monday, April 23, 2012
You figure if The Coveteur features an interior designer then the interiors have got to be amazing, right? Well this one doesn't disappoint. Check out the feature today of Brian Gluckstein, a Canadian interior designer with one amazing closet. Everything is organized by color - something I wish I had the time to do (and maintain).
The very talented Jenny at Little Green Notebook did a Sputnik DIY chandelier last year that I always wished I could duplicate. One of her readers, Kristin, just recently sent in photographs of her beautiful home featuring the chandelier. How glorious does this room tour look?
SF Girl by Bay posted the most gorgeous secret hideout in her back garden this morning. It's a teepee filled with blankets and pillows where she goes to shut out the world. When I have a garden, I'm adding a teepee to my wish list (after my vegetable garden).
Strawberries? Check. Jam? Check. Coconut and rice? Check and check. I'm making this lovely looking Strawberry Jam Coconut Rice Pudding from Joy the Baker very soon. Sounds perfect for an afternoon snack or a more healthy dessert choice (so I don't feel guilty eating ice cream as I watch The Biggest Loser tomorrow night). There is another yummy looking strawberry recipe from Adrianna at A Cozy Kitchen. Travel over there for some Strawberries and Cream Scones. I love that the strawberries are still in large pieces in these scones, which gives me a lovely unfinished, not uniform look.
Molly over at Orangette posted a recipe for Pistachio-Citrus Pound Cake that looks divine. She's expecting her first baby (a girl!) this fall, so you know whatever gets the pregnant lady thumbs up has to be pretty delicious.
Holly Becker at decor8 wrote a really poignant post about the digital age and photography and how we are preserving (or not preserving) our memories. What do we really do with our photographs after we release them into worlds of facebook and instagram? She suggests making photo books and points the reader towards Paislee Press to make interesting and creative photo books that will preserve your memories for future generations. I also like Pinhole Press and used that at Christmas to make calendars for each of my family members.
The very talented Jenny at Little Green Notebook did a Sputnik DIY chandelier last year that I always wished I could duplicate. One of her readers, Kristin, just recently sent in photographs of her beautiful home featuring the chandelier. How glorious does this room tour look?
SF Girl by Bay posted the most gorgeous secret hideout in her back garden this morning. It's a teepee filled with blankets and pillows where she goes to shut out the world. When I have a garden, I'm adding a teepee to my wish list (after my vegetable garden).
Strawberries? Check. Jam? Check. Coconut and rice? Check and check. I'm making this lovely looking Strawberry Jam Coconut Rice Pudding from Joy the Baker very soon. Sounds perfect for an afternoon snack or a more healthy dessert choice (so I don't feel guilty eating ice cream as I watch The Biggest Loser tomorrow night). There is another yummy looking strawberry recipe from Adrianna at A Cozy Kitchen. Travel over there for some Strawberries and Cream Scones. I love that the strawberries are still in large pieces in these scones, which gives me a lovely unfinished, not uniform look.
Molly over at Orangette posted a recipe for Pistachio-Citrus Pound Cake that looks divine. She's expecting her first baby (a girl!) this fall, so you know whatever gets the pregnant lady thumbs up has to be pretty delicious.
Holly Becker at decor8 wrote a really poignant post about the digital age and photography and how we are preserving (or not preserving) our memories. What do we really do with our photographs after we release them into worlds of facebook and instagram? She suggests making photo books and points the reader towards Paislee Press to make interesting and creative photo books that will preserve your memories for future generations. I also like Pinhole Press and used that at Christmas to make calendars for each of my family members.
Curator Picks - 4/20
Friday, April 20, 2012
Instead of writing my blog post during lunch as I normally do, I went to yoga class instead. I needed it badly. I needed the creak of the floor boards under the teacher's bare feet as she walked around the classroom (am I the only one who finds that sound the most soothing in the world?), I needed the sound of the oms filling the air and vibrating in my ears long after the voices ceased, and most of all I needed the repetitive downward dogs, tree poses, and especially pigeon to bring me back to a more equal state. So that's why I'm writing so late today, and I'm only giving you a few posts, but I'm writing from a more calm place so that's worth it, right?
While I hope tights season is over now I couldn't resist this image on The Sartorialist. I love her dark tights with the pink heels. Also, the curve of her back - so beautiful.
There are some recipes for infused vinegars over at Design*Sponge. How delicious would tarragon + orange vinegar or lavender vinegar be on a simple green salad? The best part is they are super easy to make and would be gorgeous gifts.
I think I've documented my love of bed trappings before on this blog, so you'll know what I mean when I say I was dying over these polka dot pillowcases covered at Babble. And while we're on the subject of polka dots, check out these gorgeous skimmers from Madewell.
I'm loving this totally neutral Sissy + Marley nursery featured on decor8. As a parent who is trying to avoid the heavily gendered slant everything has these days, I think it's the perfect nursery. Check out some of the dreamy images (see the rest at decor8):
