Pizza for the locals... Pizzeria 712

Hello UT locals or welcomed visitors... if you are looking for a great place to eat tonight or this weekend and haven't tried Pizzeria 712, you've got to give it a whirl. A friend and I ate here for lunch today (even with the kids who liked their ham + cheese panini) and it was as yummy as always, and we even sat outside. It is one of my favorite UT county spots.

(ps. If you are a local UT reader, let me know!)

Have a most lovely weekend!

Any exciting plans? We have a weekend full of stuff but I am ready to catch up on a little zzzz.... Happy Friday all!

DIY Cardboard Stampede by Anna Wood
Yellow Shoes by Suzy Lee
Vintage Tourist Cabin from Chicago Home Magazine via simplesong
Mallard Tearooms design by Sarah Walsh seen at Design Work Life
Sailboat photo by Peonies and Polaroids > Follow Studio
Braided Photo (via Funambula)

large vintage botanical illustrations

I am a sucker for large, vintage botanical prints used in interior design. It could be my biology background; or my background in illustration, as I actually had to paint some botanical prints myself! And it's trickier than it may seem - you have to portray the right balance of scientific accuracy, with simplicity, with something that is visually pleasing. Not an easy feat! I consider botanical illustrations as art and I love displaying them that way.

Photos from the top:
1. Dwell Studio
2. Better Homes and Gardens magazine
3. Urban Grace Interiors
4. My attempt at a botanical illustration! An illustration of Banksia integrifolia, or the Australian 'bottlebrush' plant

Clever Picnic Suitcase

Did you see this clever Green Space Travel Case by guest blogger Paige Russell over at Design Sponge? They even share how to DIY, How cool.

simple nature-inspired chuppahs: part II

Ever since Melanie Bloomer's Simple Nature-Inspired Chuppahs post a while back, I seem to be finding more and more nature-inspired alter decor! Whether it's a chuppah, a canopy, or just a beautiful structure to dress up the alter, I'm digging the natural twigs, branches and flowers used to construct them! So here is Part II of the series. Happy weekend!

{sadly the source of these photos escape me, but I do know the last photo is from the lovely Art Fool}.

Stationery

Yesterday I wrote a quick note to my sister (she is serving a mission in Texas) and it was fun to see how all of the elements of different things pulled together.

1: Hello note from Orange Beautiful
2: Cath Kidston Labels
3: Lotta Jansdotter Sticky Notes

Do you have a favorite stationery line?

Bonnie Tsang Logo by Anna Bond

I love so many things about this feminine and beautiful logo and identity for Bonnie Tsang Photography by Anna Bond. There are multiple background options, see more here.

Friday offering

This week flew by with no time for flowers (or much of anything else, to be perfectly honest - I still can't believe it's Friday).

Do you ever have those weeks where you have 87 ideas for projects floating around in your head and you only actually have time for, say, 4 of them, and that's only if you knock showering and changing clothes off the list? Well, I've been like that the last two weeks (except I have made time for showering - don't worry).*

Will you accept a little something else instead of the usual flora?

I'm madly in love with licorice allsorts and they are a great comfort in trying times. I'm lucky I don't live in a country where they are readily available, or I would have a serious problem.

*To my sweet, patient, pay it forward people - I have not forgotten about you and I've been playing around with ideas for your gifts. I think the problem is too many ideas rather than too few. Rest assured that something will arrive for you shortly.

Cute Birthday Party

I am often impressed by the creativity of Sally from Shim + Sons. Check out the party she did for her son's 6th birthday, she went all out .... Shim style.

(via Black. White. Yellow.)

Beautiful Maps

From Radical Cartography seen on Share Some Candy. (Two new favorite sites)

Alphabet on newspaper

Really love these acrylic alphabet paintings by Phil Yamada, well done. See the rest of the alphabet on his website. I think the letter 'V' is my favorite.

(via Hello Bauldoff)

the twilight prom

I enjoyed the mess of lights covering the ceiling of this gazebo.

I also enjoyed Edward...

Ok, so let's get this obsession overwith once and for all! I admit it, I am in love with the Twilight books. I've been warned to take a break before reading the last one, to ensure I get a reality dose. These books, they aren't just for teenagers - I swear - and I know all of you out there agree with me. Now, on the other hand, I watched the movie, and was completley unimpressed. I mean, it was rushed, it was silly and they just glossed over the intense emotions that made the books so wonderful! The only part I kind of liked was their prom gazebo. I thought the lights all criss-crossing in a crazy jumbled mess to form the ceiling was kind of pretty. Oh, and Edward too - he might have been my second favourite part. He's pretty too (don't worry Craig, you still are my Edward!). But prom-goers beware: This crazy romantically lit gazebo is not a cheap walk in the park in terms of decor - this took some hard design effort and some serious lighting material. That little high school in Forks must have quite a prom fund!

Garden Inspired >>

1: Louis Vuitton display by Jeremy Deller
2: Burberry Ad from clipping
3: Shoes from crewcuts
4: Garden Gloves from Hable Construction
5: Fruits of California Print by Claire Nereim
6: DIY Seedling Kit Favors by A Field Journal

Indulgences

During the shopping hiatus I went cold turkey on J. Crew. I stonewalled them, deleted their emails without reading them, avoided all stores, threw away the catalogs.

Last week, I allowed myself to peek at the website. There was a sale going on, naturally. But I behaved pretty well.

I did not buy either of those $3000 wedding gowns (no, you didn't miss anything - I'm not getting married - but you really don't have to be throwing a wedding to be tempted by these dresses).

I did buy the sorbet stripe cardigan (okay, I bought two plus a couple of other boring ones), but I feel fine with it, because cardigans are my work uniform and I wear them until they fall apart or end up covered in bleach stains.

Oh, and I know that the Fresh lip gloss did not come from J. Crew and therefore has nothing to do with this post, but I thought I should fess up. I read Sara Christine's post and couldn't resist. It's fabulous and totally worth the cost.

As a side note, men do not understand the importance of lip gloss.

me: I just bought this lip gloss and I'm kind of embarrassed by how much it cost.
d: I'm sure it wasn't that bad.
me: Well, it was $20.
d: (long pause)
d: Is it really huge or something?

Under the Same Moon

How many of you enjoy foreign films? It is tricky to find someone who will sit down and watch one with me, (not everyone loves to read subtitles) but this last weekend a friend and I watched Under the Same Moon. This inspirational flick tells a story about the challenges of immigration with great heart through a young boy's long journey seeking to unite with his mother again. It has a universal appeal, is gripping at times, but of course ends well. The little boy's character was both uplifting and endearing. Watch the trailer here.

What about you ... have you seen any interesting films lately?

Regina Spektor

Regina's new album Far comes out June 23rd, (pre-order here) but did you see her new video that came out a few days ago? Perhaps some inspiration for the video came from this surrealist painting by Dali, and this by Escher? Thoughts?

fashion targets friday!

If you haven't already, make sure to pick up your Fashion Targets Breast Cancer tee at a Joe Fresh location near you. Not only are they only $12...they look pretty freakin' darn cute too!

This Friday, May 29th is Fashion Targets Friday, so make sure you go out, buy yourself a shirt and show your dedication to the fight against breast cancer by wearing it proudly all Friday long! And to top it off, all proceeds from this campaign go directly to Rethink Breast Cancer - an organization dedicated to helping young people who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer through innovative breast cancer education, research and support programs.

Evelin Kasikov

Gasp... this typographic + stitching work by Evelin Kasikov is breathtaking. You may want to have a closer look.

(via modest)

loverly lilacs

Mmmm lilacs. I don't think I've ever sniffed anything so lovely! I was at my dad's this weekend and his lilac trees had just bloomed. I snipped a few branches and now our house is filled with an amazing scent. They don't last long so you have to enjoy them while you can! I may just sneak up there again this week to get more of my fix.

London in a bag

A more colorful take on a city in a bag. This wooden toy London set is very adorable. Find it here.

(via Mighty Goods)

What she got

I love the chance to make things for my sister, because I have a pretty good feel for what she'll like and what will look good on her.

This year...

a ruffly silk headband (or bracelet)

{bright yellow china silk + yellow grosgrain ribbon}


{me, frantically modeling and taking pictures right before wrapping it up}

and a super simple top.

{cotton print from Bolt44, pale yellow cotton knit for a flowy bottom}

P.S. This headbands was dead simple and so satisfying to make. I'll try to get pictures together for a tutorial soon - I just need to get more supplies first.

pizza on the grill

Inspired by this blog, P. and I tried making pizza on the barbeque tonight...and it was INCREDIBLE! I'm not sure what the difference is, but pizza - which is usually pretty yummy - was raised up to a whole new level! Find the instructions here {and homemade tomato sauce definitely sets it over the edge}. Enjoy!

{photo from craft lovely}

All in a Day

All in a Day by award winning author Cythia Rylant not only has a sweet message, but has breathtakingly beautiful art by Nikki McClure. I still can't get over the fact that talented Washingtonian (Go Olympia!) Nikki does all of the above paper-cuts by hand. If you look close at the above photos, all of the hand-cut black space is connected, wow she is incredible. A great overall children's book.

Virtual Garage Sale

I am in a big spring clean mood, realizing that there are many things in my closets that I haven't ever used, or used in a while, so I am having a virtual garage sell... gotta love ebay. I will keep adding to it this week. Here is my store.

dishware decor

What people tend to forget when decorating events is that the glassware and dishware on the dining tables really actually adds to the beauty of the table. And if you think about it, this should be true for our kitchens too. Should our dishware really be hidden away in cupboards? Instead of trinkets, why can't we display all our lovely dishes on our shelves for all to see! As I was combing through one of my favourite blogs, the City Sage, I noticed that many of the kitchens I fell love with actually had their dishware as part of the decor. I'm totally going to display my dish collections proudly in my new house! {all pics from The City Sage}

Mando Diao

Happy Music Monday, I mean Tuesday. I hope you all had an upbeat weekend! I am really digging this disco vibe song by Sweedish rockers Mando Diao, and the video is super cool. Thoughts? Video Directed by Matt Wignall (great website) & Vern Moen.

(via Spinner)

The weekend, briefly

Birthdays should always be dragged out over the weekend, especially when you have a sister to celebrate with (we're only four days apart!). And you can never have too much cake.

{coconut cake from Susie Cakes}


{yes, it was all eaten}

Usually I drive down to see my family, but there's something special about trains, isn't there? I love watching the world fly by.

{one of my favorite bridges}


{approaching my city}

I also picked up those patterns, plus a few more. Hopefully I'll manage to find enough time to make something soon. Why is it so difficult sometimes?