Places I've been in the USA

Thought this was cool - I've always wanted to hit all 50. Only 15 more to go!
Go create your own visited states map

Surround yourself with things you love

Yesterday, I was buzzing through the DVR because I had a stockpile of stuff to watch (while feeding the babe of course) and I came across a oprah rerun that showed Nate Berkus's pad in Chi-town. Right after I finished watching the segment, I felt so inspired and wanted to start seriously designing the spaces in my home + figure out what direction to go in for each room. We bought our town home a few months ago, and I have done things here and there, but haven't quite completed a room yet. So... I am going to get cracking on some idea boards of what I want to do - perhaps I will share some next week, stay tuned. (I do have a thing for Pottery Barn + Restoration Hardware but I don't want my home to feel like it is out of their catalog like the Friends episode with Rachel + Phoebe + the Apothecary table.)

I love the way Nate blends modern + eclectic elements in his homes. The way he creates spaces of warmth + uses personal objects + items that have meaning to make a statement.

This is his Chicago home:


I love this photo wall in his bedroom - it looks so unplanned + cool.



This is his home in NY that he renovated:

Stunning floating lights

These beautiful lights are awesome, they float up in the sky for a light show that will oooh and ahhh I think just about anyone. I know that you can find them at wishes in the sky and Oh Happy Day had a great resource in the US. Thought they would be a great wedding idea for my cousin Crystal. Not sure about fire hazards though. Reminds me of the Chinese Lanterns that I loved so much during the Forth of July! found via Oh Happy Day and Domino Blog.

Photos

So, about those vaca photographs- I am having a few little kinks with Aperture - I haven't even viewed them all yet. Hope to post some soon.

Folk art dolls

These little wooden dolls by Alexander Girard are quite folky + modern. They are colorful, bright and playful and remind me of where I have just been in the Carribean. I saw them at Unica home - which I frequent online often, it is a great store for all things with a little modern edge.

8 is great

Vienna is 8 months now. I can't believe it! Here she is rolling around on the carpet, on the flip slide of almost crawling.

Feist on a bus - how cool.

One of my favorite songs of the moment.

I'm back, and currently I am...

*going through my inbox (289)
*listening to Hyacinths & Thistles by the 6ths.
*watching Vienna find and rip up a magazine ( ahh! don't put it in your mouth.... )
*drinking the rest of my breakfast - mango, strawberry smoothie
*contemplating sorting the 3,000 + photos I took during my trip.
*thinking of a new logo idea for a client
*wondering about the long work day tomorrow + my babysitter being out of town
*staring at my laundry pile, wishing I had Samantha's powers

Tah Tah for now...

Out seeing the world - (Puerto Rico + Southern Caribbean) I will be back in a week and a bit. Hope to share some photos + stories later.

Inspires me

Sweet moves I'm working on.


Yeah, so I went to a total dance workout class the other day, it was intense like this clip, but inspiring.

Princess Beds

These remind me of princess and the pea, from House & Garden.

Top 10 things to take on vacation

"To know what to leave out and what to put in, just where & just how, ah, that is to have been educated in the knowledge of simplicity." - Frank Lloyd Wright



1: moleskin book : to scribble, sketch, write thoughts etc.
2: camera : for all those shutterbug quick moments I love my little pocket elph.
3: sunscreen : I'm going to try kiehl's this time.
4: video ipod with tons of podcasts/movies loaded : 24, the office, etc..
5: eye mask + ear plugs: a given.
6: a good book : this trip I am going to read Franny & Zooey
7: hand sanitizer: this has saved me more times then I can count.
8: toothpaste : I love marvin's in the mini tubes. fresh breath has no boundaries.
9: cell/phone pda: oooh, love at first sight. (too bad I'm on a different plan)
10: travel guide: other people's advice and experiences are helpful.

white + white

I am a fan of white on white everything, especially in bathrooms. It is so fresh + clean and makes me feel like I am at the spa. These are from the lovely India Rose.

10 + year commitment

After much thought and consideration, and purchasing three sets of luggage to see which ones I liked best, the classic side of me won out. I decided to go with black luggage again, because well... black and me just get along. Why ruin the great relationship? I got the luggage below in 'all black' and I will snazz it up with cool luggage tags to identify them in a crowd.

Window shopping

Shoes glorious shoes... by Loeffler Randall via shopbop.

Flying high

Great poster design sings to me a sweet song of great joy. Check out the small stakes.

bumble bumble bumble

I got my haircut on Saturday, and thought I would mention my love for bumble and bumble products. I love them because of the good smells, the great packaging design, and they work really well.

luggage mania

I am leaving this Saturday on a vaca and my luggage has had it. Ten years of traveling - time for them to retire, it has been well-used, and I don't think that it would be able to withhold another journey. I love the shop flight 001 - they have great travel gear. If I didn't have to worry about a budget, I think that I would consider these.

this little yellow beauty is from smythson


these are from katespade



My last luggage pieces were black. Don't get me wrong, I love, love black but it seems that as I am waiting for it to come off the carousel, all I see is piece after piece of black luggage. But, is it good to blend in, so people don't get curious and steal your bag?


(image from flickr)

I tend to like classic luggage pieces that match, but lately, I've kind of been in a bold and abstract mood. I've seen these around, and I think they are kind of funky chic.
this has aqua inside, and it is from Diane von Furstenberg.


this one is from Orla Kiely

L'autre Bout Du Monde

= The Other End of the World. A little mysterious + very french by Emily Loizeau.

passion for printmaking

These little hand block printed designs by perla anne are fantastic! The patterns are great too!

Weekend fun

This weekend, we saw lots of nature, went on lots of walks (this is V's sleepy face), and ate sandcastle cake for my sister-in-law's birthday.

Gocco love

Many things inspired me to purchase a Gocco press, including the last post of the beautiful sugarloop prints. So finally, this weekend I received mine! Needless to say, I have been printing up a storm this weekend. Printing some lovely wedding invitations I've been working on for my cousin.

little lovelies

I first saw Sugarloop prints on my swap partner, Kristen's blog, and I think they are quite beautiful. You can buy Sugarloop prints here at etsy and she has a lovely blog here.

Dress up time!

I love these shots by Elisabeth Dunker, the quirky little illustrations over the shots are very lovely. Check out her other great kids photographs here on Lula.

Cuba

I've always had a fascination with Cuba. Perhaps, it is because I can't go there, or its because of the documentary Bueno Vista Social Club, the cool vintage cars they drive, or this book or that book, or these great works by Marion Deuchars.

"Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?"

This last weekend, I planted daisies in a pot outside my front door.
They make me happy.



images from here & here

Studio Luxe

I am working on designing my studio/office, it is lots of fun. Have any great ideas/inspiration? I'd love to see! For starters, I got this white t chair from west elm, it is surprisingly comfortable.



I like the idea of having some type of I don't know what you call it, command center? There has to be a better name... this one is from pb.

a little modernity for your palette

Owen + Vokes creates such amazing modern architectural works. I am always impressed and intrigued by such talented designers and architects from the land down under, because they have a certain style + grace + edgy sensibility that is hard to sum up in words. Although so called 'modern architectural style' has evolved over the years, to me, modern design feels clean, functional, fresh + hip.