life of belle

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T21:36:00.004-05:00

Photos taken during a business trip to Chicago in October.

Just stopping in to wish you all a happy new year! I'd love to say that I'll be starting off the new year with renewed energy for this blog, but I don't want to make more promises I can't keep. Work has completely consumed me for the past year, and whenever I see it letting up some, it just knocks me out again. So things will likely continue to be silent around here for a while.

I hope you're all well. Until we meet again...

Instagram

2011-11-06T11:47:00.010-05:00

I know I've been very absent from this space lately, but there is now yet another place you can find me: Instagram! I'm kind of a little bit obsessed with the camera in the new iPhone 4S, so I use it every chance I get. Head on over and keep me company!

Anatomy of a Necklace

2011-11-06T10:58:00.004-05:00

During a particularly busy time, Stephanie and Mav of 3191 Miles Apart announced the release of Interwoven, an inspiring collaboration with Quince and Co. and I ordered the supplies for the Puffin necklace immediately (actually this is how I react to most things Stephanie and Mav do; if you're not already reading 3191, you should!). The project was beautifully simple and exactly what I needed to give my mind a rest from work. And, bonus, the necklace has been a wonderful addition to my fall wardrobe!

Yarns used: Puffin in Clay and Tern in Driftwood

Photos shot with my Mamiya 645 Super and Kodak Portra 400

What I'm Up To...

2011-10-06T21:27:00.002-04:00

Some sock knitting and Lauren Dukoff's Family

Working and knitting and picture-taking...

Still Pinning

2011-09-11T09:17:00.003-04:00

When I'm not in this space, you can still find me over on Pinterest, pinning up a storm. I always seem to have time for pins! :)

Low on Words

2011-09-10T23:16:00.005-04:00

Photo taken with my new Mamiya 645 Super, the latest addition to my vintage camera collection (and the last for a while). Film: Fuji Pro 400 H

The rest of September is going to be a bear at work, so I'll be low on words for the rest of the month. I'll try to stop in here and there, but nothing as heavy as the last post for a while...

The Truth About Money -- Part I

2011-09-02T08:17:00.010-04:00

Please excuse the fact that this photo has little to do with this post. But I didn't want to resort to the standard piggy bank or pile of loose change photo that usually accompanies posts about money. And a post without a photo is just no fun, so here you go, a vase with a pretty but dead and dried out weed. But guess what, that weed was free! I picked it out of the ground and look how lovely! How's that for frugal?! :)

So now on to the big changes that I alluded to a few posts back. As I mentioned here, my relationship with money was something that had to improve, and improve it has. But I think to understand the improvements, you'll need to know more about where I'm coming from, so here's the truth about my money...

For most of my 20s, I lived off credit. The concept of living within my means is not something that dawned on me for a second. I never said to myself, oh I don't have enough cash for x-thing-I-don't-need; I just whipped out my friend Mr. Credit Card. And when you're that young, a certain amount of it feels necessary, you're in what I now like to refer to as the "accumulative phase." You're on your own for the first time in your life and there are things you need, like, you know, a mattress. But why stop there? How about a million design books off Amazon? And that expensive make-up set you've always wanted? And those designer jeans? I'm a grown up, I make money, why can't I have what I want even though I can't pay for it with cash?

Well, here's why. Credit card companies are not your friends. When the economy is good and your credit history is all fresh and new, they love you to pieces, but when things turn, suddenly they're perfectly happy to leave you stranded in the middle of the desert. That sounds a bit hyperbolic, but that's exactly how I felt when the economy took a turn in 2008 and the bank I'd had three clean lines of credit with for years suddenly changed the game.

It all started simple enough. I got two letters from them regarding my two smaller-balance credit cards. They were informing me that they'd be raising my interest rate to 29.9%! And since I didn't wish to pour my hard-earned money down the drain, I promptly opted out, so they closed my accounts and kept my interest rate as it was. Whew! I wondered a little why I hadn't gotten a letter about the third, the granddaddy balance of them all, but I thought well, I've had that card so long, since college, maybe they're trying to honor that relationship and aren't planning to raise my rate. WRONG. A few months later, I looked at my bill, and shock! horror! they had indeed raised my interest rate to 29.9% on a balance that I couldn't afford to pay off anytime soon. Let's pause for a minute to be clear about what that means:

The balance on that card was not in the hundreds. It was in the thousands. 29.9% interest is damn near a third. So, without spending a single additional dime, I'd be paying several hundred dollars of interest every month for the foreseeable future.

Surely there's been a mistake, I thought, so I called them up. Apparently the letter got lost in the mail. But instead of working with me once I'd realized what happened, they simply said "Well, we sent you a letter." When I responded "But I opted out of my other two cards when I got the letters for those. Why would I not do the same in this case? Clearly I didn't get the letter," they repeated their claim "Ma'm, we sent you a letter." And then I felt sick, sad, and panicked all at once, and started to sob and plead. Nothing. Then I went for the kill, the line that works in all unpleasant customer service interactions: "I will never ever apply for a line of credit with your bank again. You have lost a customer for life." Crickets. They. Did. Not. Care. I repeat. They. Did. Not. Care. Not your friends.

So, after that slap in the face, I walked away from credit for good and started paying off my debt. If I can't pay for it in cash, I don't buy it. Simple as that.

Only it's not quite so simple, at least not in the beginning. As I'm sure you know if you've ever tried. So I'll be sharing more over the coming weeks about how I've made it work.

A Change in the Air

2011-09-01T22:44:00.008-04:00

Near the end of every season, there's a distinctive change in the air, a moment when the feel, the quality, the smell of the air becomes something other than what it's been. And I have to tell you that I live for this moment.

When you're older and there are no semesters, midterms, or finals to mark the passage of time and each day passes by in more or less the same way, time can seem to stand still and the word "rut" becomes an understatement for what your daily life has become. But then the season changes and everything looks different and feels different and is different. And the change in the air is the moment this begins, the moment the gears start to shift, and you can feel your life moving to another place.

This morning I felt a change in the air. The way the wind blew across me felt like fall. I breathed it in. Fall again. Up to that moment I'd been hanging on to summer with all my might, but when I felt the change I let it go. And then I felt almost giddy. And now I can think of nothing but sweaters and fallen leaves. Magic.

Contact Me

2011-08-20T13:20:00.004-04:00

As promised ages ago, I finally got around to creating an e-mail account for the blog. See the About Me section to the right for the new address. Look forward to hearing from you!

New Feist

2011-08-20T11:51:00.006-04:00

My love for Feist has been well-documented on this blog. See here and here (and there's a whole best-concert-of-my-life story that I sadly never shared here), so it's no surprise that I'm beyond super-exited that her new album, Metals, which is her first new album in 4 years (!!) comes out on October 4th.

It feels like I've been waiting forever for new Feist music, so the above 4 vignettes from listentofeist.com and the full-length single right below them make me feel blissfully happy and inspired.

Come on October! Hurry up and get here!

I Wasn't Kidding

2011-08-20T11:10:00.007-04:00

Photo from a summer dinner with friends last year. Shot with my Pentax K1000 and Fuji Superia 400 film. The red stripe is from opening the camera back before the film was completely unwound. I put off developing that film for over a year because I was sure it was ruined, but this was the only shot affected and it's my favorite from the roll.

When I said in this post that it was time to make some big changes in my life, I wasn't kidding. I didn't realize at the time that it would result in completely neglecting this blog for months, but when I looked inward it was clear I needed some time away, some time to not worry about what my life looked life from the outside. And I have to say that my retreat and reflect plan has resulted in some big wonderful changes in my life that I'll be sharing soon. But I'll warn you, they might not look that big or wonderful from the outside--I still live in the same tiny apartment in the same small town, I'm still single and childless--but they are big and wonderful to me, and I'm quite proud of what I've accomplished over these months.

So I'm going to make an attempt now to start again in this space for real. I'm not going to lie though. Work is crazy and I barely have time to think of much else, so the posts will not be daily. Hopefully weekly, or maybe I'll post a couple of times each weekend. We'll see.

I'll certainly understand if some of you have given up on checking for updates, but I hope I still have some readers left. Give a shout if you're still listening :).

Not Sure Where to Start

2011-08-14T14:22:00.001-04:00

I've been gone so long that I'm not sure where to start, so I'll start with a cute dog. Who doesn't love a cute dog? :)

Spring Cut!

2011-04-30T08:24:00.004-04:00

NOTE: For those of you who care about my 'fro, it's not gone! This is just a blow-out. I'll explain more below the photos.

Before (look how long!!):

After (ahhh, feeling much lighter):

Confession: I am extremely lazy about cutting my hair. I like it big and I don't really care very much about frizz and fuzz, so I just don't spend that much time fretting about keeping my ends clean and my layers neat. I just let it do it's own thing despite pleas from my mom to get it cut (she's not a big fan of wild hair). Before last weekend it had been a year since a pair of scissors touched my head!! But I do know when I've hit my limit. As the weather's gotten warmer, my hair was starting to feel extremely heavy and I was getting downright uncomfortable, so I booked a hair appointment.

Now, about the straightness in the above photos. To save time and money at the salon, I don't even bother walking in with my thick, tangled curls. I just blow it out myself and get a dry cut on straight hair. My stylist is the queen of layers, so I never worry about the shape looking good when the curls are back. Usually, though, when I get my hair cut the blow-out is just a means to an end and I bring back the 'fro as soon after my cut as I can (straight hair on me just doesn't feel right anymore), but my stylist played around with a curling iron this time and gave me big bouncy curls (bottom photo). I loved it! So I decided to take a week-long break from the 'fro. Here's how it went:

Day 2 (Sunday) : Style still looks good, but it's starting to expand outward.
Day 3 (Monday): Eeep! Puff central! Put it back in a slick bun for most of the day, then I got sick of the bun and took it down, then it started to puff even more, so I put it in a low ponytail. 3 styles in one day! Exhausting! After that very long and frustrating day, I decided to try a bantu knot-out using the method from this video (with slightly smaller sections)
Day 4 (Tuesday): The bantu knot-out turned out great! Bouncy, full, shiny curls! I left the front right twist and knot in place as done in the video, and I loved it.
Day 5 (Wednesday): Same style as Day 4. Slept in a satin bonnet the night before and just shook out the curls.
Day 6 (Thursday): Return of the 'fro! Slept in the satin bonnet again, but I worked out in the morning and it was rainy, so the 'fro came back on it's own, but only in the back. The roots and front were still straight, so I just pulled it up into a slick puff. Still cute, but more like my usual styles.
Day 7 (Friday): Same as Day 6

I really wish I had pics to show you of the other styles, but it was a crazy week at work, so no time for that. Today I'll be bringing back the 'fro, but it was fun to play around with different styles for the week. Natural hair is so versatile! You don't have to wear it in a 'fro if that's not your thing. Look how sleek my hair looks above with no relaxer! I'm sure a roller-set, which is much kinder to the hair, could give similar and longer lasting results. As for me, the 'fro is my thing, and I'll be happy to see it again. :)

Valentine's Day Surprise

2011-02-14T22:56:00.002-05:00

When I checked my mail this afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised to find a package from MCMC Fragrances containing a free sample of new fragrance Kept, a blend of red roses, black tea, clove, leather, and amber. The inspiration behind the fragrance is described as follows:

Kept, the latest addition to The Stories Collection, is an ode to oneself. Turning the notion of a “kept woman” on its head, the fragrance encourages women to look to themselves to evoke love.

Receiving this lovely scent (my favorite MCMC fragrance so far) and the message it carried with it was a wonderful way to end this day.

Life After 30

2011-02-06T20:42:00.005-05:00

Photo: A little birthday gift from Anthropologie. The text on the envelope says "What's in the stars for you, Capricorn?"

A little over a month ago I turned 30. I don't usually make much of milestone birthdays, but I must admit I've been feeling a bit out of sorts ever since I hit that big 3-0. When I look at my life and the path that I'm on, it's just not where I thought I'd be at this age. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot that's good in my life and a lot to be thankful for, but I still feel a bit rudderless, constantly waiting for something to knock me back on course. But time is moving quickly, and the years keep ticking by. Time to stop waiting for some external something to swoop in and make everything exactly as it should be. I've got to stop running from the work I know has to be done. I think for me, right now, it boils down to two things:

1. Get my financial house in order. It's really time to stop playing. I'm pretty sure that just about everything in my life would be more enjoyable if I had a better relationship with money. My goal is not a giant house or a lot of extravagant things; quite the opposite actually. I'm just tired of money being an anxiety, a worry, an obstacle to just about everything I want to do. And it's not that I don't have enough of it; I just don't use it wisely. Time to fix that.

2. Enjoy life for what it is right now, not just for what it can be. I think part of the reason this birthday was so hard for me was because when things were at their worst in my late teens and 20s, I looked to the later years for the dream, the fantasy of what my life could be. I basically set myself up to be disappointed when I got here. But honestly, looking back at those dreams, I'm not sure I want that life. I'm a different person now and I like this me. But I don't want to just start projecting into the future, dreaming of what this new me could be in her late 30s, her 40s, etc, without paying any attention to who I am right now. Made that mistake already. And they are only dreams after all, golden nuggets completely devoid of the mundane, the bad times, the disappointments, the stuff of everyday life; how can putting total faith in them not set you up for some sort of letdown?! Not to say that dreams and goals aren't important, but I truly believe that a life spent looking entirely forward, always outward from the present moment, isn't much of a life. You have to find some joy and some purpose in what your life is right now, even if it's not exactly what you want or exactly what you thought it would be.

Whew! That was longer than I expected, but there it is. I know this post is out of the ordinary for this space, but feeling the way I do right now, I think it's important for me to move forward with an intention and this is it.

Instant Christmas

2010-12-24T12:03:00.003-05:00

If, like me, you've been too busy and distracted to get into the holiday spirit this year and/or could use a hit of instant Christmas, I highly recommend you have a listen to Sufjan Stevens' Songs for Christmas, a quirky 42-track collection of new and old carols. You can listen to the whole thing for free here or download all 42 tracks for only $12.

Happy Holidays everyone!

At Last...

2010-11-20T21:34:00.003-05:00

I've been wanting to photograph my dear friend Cole's new house for quite a while now. Finally got around to it this Saturday afternoon. Lovely light, lovely home...and I did I mention there were puppies?!

Now, if I only I could get around to developing the film of dear friend Kate's house (that's her puppy in the middle below)...

2010-11-18T06:46:00.005-05:00

One more thing! I'm much more active right now over at Pinterest. It's much easier for me to pin what's inspiring me than to write a whole post about it. Go have a look-see.

New York, Fall 2010--Part 2

2010-11-18T06:27:00.002-05:00

At long last, part 2. Still no words. Would take another month or so for those.

All of the above were taken with my Canon Rebel XS on a Saturday in Brooklyn.

P.S. Some of you might have noticed that I removed my e-mail address from the sidebar. This was NOT because I don't want to hear from you guys. I love hearing from my readers. I took it down because I was having security problems with that e-mail address, which was, at the time, my primary e-mail. I might at some point create an e-mail account specifically for this blog and put it back. One day, some day...

Until then, please comment away!

New York, Fall 2010--Part I

2010-11-01T08:05:00.004-04:00

I spend so much time with words on my day job that I don't have much to say these days, but I do have photos....

All images shot with a Polaroid 680 and Impossible Project Px 600 Silver Shade UV+ film

Black Thumb Heaven

2010-10-02T13:45:00.004-04:00

At some point this summer I started to get into house plants. Despite my history of killing just about every plant I ever touched, I was convinced it would be different this time and ordered myself the most beautiful begonias I could find. Massive massive fail. They drooped and died within days of being in my presence. **Sigh** Needing a pick-me-up after that disaster, I subtly suggested to my New Yorker boyfriend (yes, I said boyfriend...we do have some catching up to do, don't we?) that I might like to receive a little something from Sprout in Brooklyn the next time he came to visit. "Nothing too expensive," I said, "The cheaper the plant, the less guilty I feel when I kill it." Well, my boy delivered, and then some. To date, he's given me four air plants and the fabulous succulent/cacti arrangement in the top photo (the cacti arrangement was kind of pricey, but decidedly hard to kill). I've been caring for them all for a while now, and I'm happy to say that they are thriving. The cacti add a rustic grace to my windowsill and the air plants are so fascinating to watch. Two of them have sprouted pups (baby air plants)! I don't think I can say that my black thumb is cured...oh no. I mean, really, how hard is it to take care of hardy plants that are extremely difficult to kill? But I think I'm ready to try my hand at some (slightly) more demanding house plants. We'll see how that goes...

Sunday Stitching

2010-08-08T11:21:00.005-04:00

Few things make me happier than making pretty things, but handmade projects are usually the first to get ditched when life is crazy. So I was super excited to discover this Tandy Leather pouch kit via Refinery29. The kit contains pre-cut and punched leather pieces and needle and thread, so all you have to do is align the pieces and stitch away! I finished mine in about 45 minutes. Quite a satisfying way to spend a Sunday morning!

Disappearing Acts

2010-07-23T07:55:00.003-04:00

Oh dear. It appears I've pulled a bit of a disappearing act. Sorry about that. Life has just been kind of huge lately (yep, that's a good way to describe it), and I try to spend every spare moment cultivating the feeling my kitty friend Bucket (top photo) seems to have down to a science--relaxed, chill, enjoying life. Yep, that's the way to spend a summer. So, I'll pop in when I can, but know that I haven't forgotten or abandoned this space. Just taking a little Summer rest.

Hope you're all well. Talk soon!

Photos taken at my dear friend Cole's

Too Damn Hot

2010-06-20T06:46:00.004-04:00

More food! Ya'll are going to start to think all I do is eat! What can I say? Summer dining inspires me to no end. Last night I had dinner at The Local with one of my best friends and her always charming beau. There were no indoor tables available...at any restaurant in Belmont. Did I mention it was HOT yesterday? 90-something degrees, with no breeze to speak of. As you can see from the top two photos we were among the very few crazies who decided to brave the deck (though it did start to fill up a bit later). Not to keep talking about the heat, but it was kind of too hot to eat anything much, so in addition to the cheese board and mussels we shared, I had a salad. If you know me, you know that I DO NOT EAT SALAD when I go out to eat. My stomach is generally much too demanding for a few paltry lettuce leaves, but last night it was like "whatever...it's too damn hot." Anyhoo, despite the heat, we had a roaring good time. I just wish I'd remembered I had this fan in my purse.

P.S. to my bestie: Maybe the mango ate your what, Cole? : )

New York 2010 -- Day 2

2010-06-19T10:23:00.003-04:00

The photos pick up at dinner time again : ). The first part of the day was spent shopping in SoHo, my favorite shopping area in NY, but we had tickets for a matinee of Memphis, so I didn't have much time and had to shop with laser-like focus...so no pictures. Honestly, though, shopping wasn't that eventful. I ended up carrying home the same bags I always do: Muji and Uniqlo. I'm very happy with what I got from Muji in particular, but I sort of expected that ;).

So, about Memphis, my family and I disagreed on this. They all though it was better than Fela!, but I didn't feel that way at all. First of all, I think comparing the two shows is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. They're just not the same kind of show. But, if you are going to compare them, I think which one you prefer depends very much on who you are and what you like. If you like conventional musicals with conventional storytelling, Memphis is the show for you. But, if, like me, you appreciate unique rhythms, beats, movement and subtle storytelling that doesn't hit you over the head with a sledgehammer, I think you'd like Fela!. It's unlike anything I've ever seen on stage, and I really appreciate its uniqueness. I guess it's not for everybody though...

So, on to dinner. Like Maison, Cafe Espanol is another restaurant we always visit on these annual trips. They always seat us at the same table, and we always eat pretty much the same thing, and it's always wonderful. But I have to say that I love the walk to Cafe Espanol almost as much as I love the restaurant itself! I just love the atmosphere of Greenwich Village so much and look at that greenery! Love it.

So, that's it folks. We spent one more day in New York (in White Plains and the Bronx), but it was a very laid-back family day and I didn't pull my camera out once. Anyhoo, hope you enjoyed the few pictures I took!

New York 2010 -- Day 1

2010-06-16T07:16:00.004-04:00

A big part of day one was spent just wandering around mid-town. I don't multi-task well enough to pull out my camera in the middle of a big crush of people, so the photos above start at dinner time. We went to Maison, our favorite spot for a lovely meal before a Broadway show. We were more than a little bummed that they hadn't set up their outdoor dining area yet, but the inside tables had their charm as well. And the food....oh the food! For the month of May, they were participating in an event called Organically French to benefit City Harvest. So, in addition to their regular menu, they had a special menu with organic, local options. I ordered the organic, local asparagus and wild mushroom puff pastry, and OH MY GOSH, it was so friggin' good!! I still think about it. For dessert, I had profiteroles from the regular menu, and these look better than they actually were. I don't really eat much sugar anymore, so dessert has to be amazing for me to enjoy it. These were just OK. I kind of wish I had ordered dessert off of the City Harvest menu.

After dinner, we went to see Fela! and I loved it! The music played over and over in my head for days after. My mom and I were still singing one of the songs to each other after we were back in Virginia : ).

I'm Back...Sort of

2010-06-11T06:17:00.002-04:00

I've actually been back from NYC for a while now...over a week. But I fell into a big pile of busyness when I returned and it hasn't let up. I'll post more photos of my trip as soon as I have the mental energy : ). For now I'll leave you with this photo of the cute and comfy pair of shoes I bought mere hours after arriving in New York. I am madly in love with them.

Off to NYC!

2010-05-26T16:30:00.002-04:00

Headed to New York tomorrow for my family's annual trip to visit my aunt! I'll be taking my camera, of course, so hopefully I'll have some lovely pics to share when I get back.

The photos above were taken during last year's trip. More photos from that trip here, here, and here.

Pia! Pia! Pia!

2010-05-22T09:08:00.003-04:00

I just received my pre-ordered copy of Amsterdam: Made by Hand, the latest book by stylist, photographer, and blogger Pia Jane Bijkerk, and I must admit I did a little hop of joy when I pulled it out of the mailbox. And then I proceeded to do some mental joy hops as I flipped through its pages. I have no immediate plans to visit Amsterdam, but I can already tell I will be turning to this lovely little book often for jolts of visual inspiration. There's just no one like Pia, and if you've been reading my blog for a while, or have just spent some time browsing though the links and such that I've featured to the right, you might know that I am a HUGE fan of hers (previous Pia-centric posts here and here). I just can't even begin to tell you how much wonder and delight her work brings into my life. And she just has the most charming spirit and personality that comes through in everything she does. If you're not familiar with her yet, please, do yourself a favor and go visit her blog.

Small, Cool

2010-05-18T08:17:00.005-04:00

I must say, I'm a sucker for small spaces. It hasn't always been that way. I used to think small = dorm room style, but I credit Apartment Therapy's annual Small, Cool Contest and their book Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions (long title!) with convincing me that small can equal cool...real cool in fact. I can honestly say that I might not have moved into my current apartment if I hadn't been exposed to such awesome small spaces. I mean, really, my family members looked at me like I was crazy when they saw my empty apartment before I moved in. I had already signed the lease, so they tried to keep the negativity to a minimum, but I could tell they thought I was nuts, but I knew I could make it work. And make it work I did. I love my little box! : )

That said, living in a tiny room is not easy (especially if you're lazy like me). You really have to stay on top of what you're bringing into the space and where those things will live. I haven't been doing this lately and it shows. If you're wondering why there haven't been any photos lately that go beyond my window, it's because the rest of my apartment looks like a bomb exploded! I'm not even kidding.

Enter Apartment Therapy's latest offering Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces, which, as the name suggests, focuses on the small and cool. This book is exactly what I needed to remind me why I love tiny living so much. It's all about the coziness and the ingenuity required to make it work. I'm inspired to tackle the disaster area. Now, if only I could peel my bum off the couch...

Happy Mommy's Day!!

2010-05-08T11:27:00.003-04:00

I'm posting this Mommy's Day wish a day early because I'm going to stay at my mom's house tonight. I hope all of my mommy readers have a wonderful day tomorrow!

Photo is of me and my beautiful mommy. Can you believe that bald-headed baby ended up with such a giant head of hair?! : )

Pinned Up

2010-05-03T10:58:00.004-04:00

My twistout this weekend was an epic fail (for various obvious reasons), so I decided to try salvaging it by following this "sassy" updo tutorial by chisellecouture. I didn't use any products for the updo (other than what was already in my hair from the twistout). I just started pinning and shaping. My hair isn't as long as Cali's, so it doesn't look exactly the same, but I love it! This is a new go-to style for sure!

Holy Smokes!

2010-05-01T10:08:00.004-04:00

New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman's gigantic cookbook How to Cook Everything is now available as a $1.99 app for your iPhone/iTouch with all of the recipes from the book!!!! Since I'm always looking for ways to enhance my cooking life, I downloaded it with all possible speed after reading about it on A Cup of Jo. I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but I'll try to report back after I do.

Oh dear...

2010-04-28T21:31:00.002-04:00

...it seems I've gone another week without posting anything. I do apologize. It's just that whenever I try to come up with something new to post, I feel a bit like Miss Morgan is demonstrating above. **Sigh**

I do hope I get some wind back in my sails soon!

I'm Back...

2010-04-22T22:18:00.004-04:00

...sort of. The busy times have passed, but it's always difficult for me to get back to normal life after buzzing about. I've also just started a new workout regimen and it's kicking my butt right now, but I'm trying to stick with it, even if it means I don't have as much energy for blogging. I've actually been meaning to post for the past couple of days, but it took a comment from a reader to nudge me to actually do it (thanks, Lori!).

Anyhoo, about the photos above. This past weekend one of my best friends in the whole world got married to one of the sweetest, funniest guys I know. I've spent the past year hanging on to every detail as she planned for the big day, and it was so special to finally see it all unfold. It was lovely dear friend and so perfectly you.

She's off on her honeymoon now...and it's a long one. A co-worker commented the other day that I seemed to have lost some pep in my step, and that's probably true. It's hard to go from talking to someone practically every day to not seeing them at all for several weeks. I've almost made it through the first week though. Only 1.5 weeks to go!

Busy Days Ahead

2010-04-13T06:50:00.002-04:00

I've got two business trips and a wedding to attend between now and next Tuesday, so I'll be absent for a bit. See you on the other side!

Mociun!

2010-04-12T18:19:00.004-04:00

I've been wanting a Mociun tie-front dress for ages, and I finally got one (for 70% off !!!!!) thanks to a sale heads up from Jenny.

P.S. In case you're curious, that's a berber carpet on the wall behind me. It's supposed to provide sound proofing (not so sure that it does). People are always a bit dubious when I tell them I have carpet on my wall, but I actually quite like it.

Picnicking and Tulip Picking

2010-04-11T18:13:00.005-04:00

Just celebrated a dear friend's birthday with a picnic at a local organic tulip farm. It was such a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The weather was lovely and the food we packed (all from local shop Feast) was super yummy delicious. Oh, and we went home with arm loads of tulips ($1/stem)! You can see my tulip haul in the last photo above (vase made by me in ceramics class).

Under Construction

2010-04-11T10:34:00.005-04:00

Just discovered this lovely song by Solange Knowles in a chisellecouture hair tutorial, and I was happy to find that Solange links to a free download of it on her blog! This particular song won't be on her upcoming album, but if it's any indication of what the songs that do make the cut sound like, it's gonna be a good one. Until then, you can be sure that Under Construction will be in heavy rotation at the House of Belle : ).

Spring Layering

2010-04-10T10:16:00.009-04:00

No matter the season, no one does layering like online boutique Totokaelo. I mean, really, who would think to layer dresses like this? This sort of creative mixing adds so much more mileage to your favorite pieces. Love it.

I have long featured Totokaelo in the Happy Shopping section in the right-hand nav on this here blog. It's one of my favorite online shops, and I recommend having a peek. The clothes can be a bit pricey, but they have great sales and the "how to wear" photos in the blog are always so inspiring!

P.S. Thanks so much to everyone who commented on my last post. You guys are awesome. It is so nice to have readers who react to what I post. I read every single one of your comments and e-mails. Keep 'em coming. I love to hear from you!

Extreme Singlehood

2010-04-07T22:24:00.006-04:00

This post is a bit of departure for me, but something's been weighing on my brain lately. Truth is, I have been single for almost 6 years. And by single I don't just mean boyfriend-less, I mean completely date-less. I don't know if any of you have been single for that long, but for me it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride of highs ("I'm independent and fabulous! Who needs a man?") and lows ("Am I the only single person at this holiday party, wedding, etc? Is everyone in a relationship but me?"). The single and fabulous feeling is just hard to sustain over this length of time. It's been 6 YEARS!

But this is not the first time I've been in this place. I spent most of my high school years and my first couple of years of college quite alone. I was about ready to give up on the prospects at my school, but then I met someone major, literally the next day. And I guess I've spent the past 6 years waiting for the same thing to happen, for someone to come along at exactly the right time. But as the years go by, I get more and more cynical. Don't get me wrong, I have a great life. I have a great job, great friends, hobbies that I'm passionate about. But there's just this nagging thing, this lack that I feel. At what point do you give up on the fairy tale and just accept that maybe you're meant to walk through life alone and that maybe that's OK?

The Remix

2010-03-30T07:43:00.005-04:00

This bouquet was starting to die off, so I decided to divide up the survivors and give them new life.

About the vases: Top, Alyssa Ettinger; Middle, High Street Vintage; Bottom, Cursive Design

Fresh Cut

2010-03-28T13:56:00.004-04:00

The big hair is back. Woot woot! I feel like myself again! But I must say I'm grateful for my 2 weeks of fried, droopy hair. Why? Because it forced me to reexamine my hair routine and eliminate some bad habits. The changes:

1. OLIVE OIL!!! That gets all caps and several exclamation marks for a reason. I've started putting olive oil on my hair before styling, and it is working wonders! It makes my hair feel so soft and moisturized and gives it much needed shine. This is a new staple for sure.

2. Stop using the High setting on my hooded dryer. I really can't believe I've been sitting under a super hot dryer once a week almost the entire time I've been natural. No wonder the top layer of my hair always ends up so crispy! Not good. No no no. Last night I decided to try the Low setting, and what a difference! It helped get my hair dry, but my hair never felt hot or crispy.

3. Use a lighter styling product. I like the shine I get from the Curls Gel-les'c, but I think it was a bit too heavy for my curls. So, I went back to DevaCurl Set-It Free, an old favorite. It controls the frizz, but the volume stays. I forgot how much I love this stuff!

So, lesson learned. I'm going to take much better care of my hair from now on.

A Few Lovely Surprises

2010-03-26T10:48:00.003-04:00

Necklace: Lauren Haupt

A thank-you gift from one of the most generous people I know. I will treasure it always, dear friend : )

Lovely flowers from my boss to celebrate the successful completion of a big project. Yay!

A fun and timely card from another dear friend : )

Embracing the Puff

2010-03-25T22:00:00.003-04:00

Earrings: Mociun

So, my last hair cut has been growing out a little weird, like droopy 'fro central, and I'm really not diggin' it. To salvage the situation, I've been putting it up in a puff, a style I haven't worn since the early days of my natural hair journey. The giant twist-out 'fro is still my favorite, but it's nice to be reminded that I have this option. I have a feeling this will come in handy on super hot summer days. But, for now, I can't wait to get my hair cut on Saturday so I can have my big hair back!

Hair notes:

1. Washed and conditioned hair as usual. Washed most of conditioner out so that it wouldn't be visible.
2. Added Curls Gel-les'c and a bit of Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Butter. (Note: The Curls Gel-les'c is good for twist-outs, but I'm not crazy about it for this style. Top layer of hair turned out a bit crispy.)
3. Put an elastic headband (I think it's a Goody's ouchless, but I'm not sure) doubled up over my head (kind of a tight fit), and, starting from my hair line, I pushed the top and bottom of the band back until my hair was secure at the top of my head.
4. Tied a scarf around my head (just a random one from H&M) while getting ready for work to keep my edges from puffing up.
5. To maintain at night, I just tie the same scarf around my head and sleep on my satin pillowcase.

Really Good Mail Day

2010-03-16T08:27:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I received my copy of Around Fog Linen, a collaboration between one of my favorite textile companies, Fog Linen Work, and some of my favorite creative types. It just doesn't get much better than that.

Coco

2010-03-04T00:58:00.004-05:00

Coco Before Chanel transports me to my happy place. I'm very particular about the movies I buy, but I happily added this one to my permanent collection.

A Lovely Surprise

2010-03-04T00:50:00.005-05:00

The talented Jolianne sent me this sketch she did of one of my self-portraits, and it absolutely made my day. Thanks, Jolianne!

Self-Portrait Palooza

2010-02-26T07:23:00.003-05:00

When I'm super-busy, I pretty much abandon my poor little camera. Now that things have started to settle down, I eased back into this photography thing with a few self-portraits. These are the easiest for me when life is chaotic because I don't have to worry about what the rest of my apartment looks like (it ain't pretty right now). All I have to do is stick my big ol' head in front of the camera and click away : ).

About my hair in these shots: My hair routine doesn't change much, but I like to try new things from time to time, with mixed results. Last week I had a bad experience with a product that left my hair looking like a giant tumbleweed by the end of the week. To compensate for the crazy dryness, I made an extra effort to retain moisture when I washed this week, and I'm really happy with how it turned out. What I did:

1. After washing with DevaCurl No-Poo, I slapped on A LOT of DevaCurl One Condition. After letting it sit for a few minutes, my hair still seemed thirsty, so I left in a lot more conditioner than I normally would.
2. Worked a generous amount of Curls Gel-es'c throughout my whole head.
3. Put a dab of Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Butter through each section before twisting, adding more hair butter to fuzzy bits. (The instructions say this works best on dry hair, but I find it works better on wet hair.)

Rough Waters Ahead

2010-02-12T07:27:00.002-05:00

I'll be super busy for the next week, so I will be absent from this space for a bit. See you on the other side!

Something New

2010-02-06T16:30:00.005-05:00

So, due to massive amounts of snow here in Virginia, I was extremely bored today and I thought I'd play around with the camera in my Mac and I made a little video! I mostly talk about photography since that's what I get the most questions about, but I'm open to talking about other things (hair, makeup, etc) if you guys have any requests. I hope you like it!

In the video, I mention Nicole Gerulat and her book. Here are the links to her blog and the book:

A Little Sussy
Photo 101

P.S. Please excuse the horrible still that YouTube picked for this video. It's like the worst possible frame. I don't look that squinched up in the video...I promise! : )

Dumbo Feather, Issue 22

2010-02-05T08:11:00.004-05:00

I just received a lovely bit of mail all the way from Australia. It's Issue 22 of the magazine/book (or "mook") Dumbo Feather, which I ordered as soon as I heard that Pia Jane Bijkerk, one of my favorite creative types in the world, was featured in it. I have to admit that I usually have a very short attention span when it comes to magazine interviews--I usually zone out about half-way through--but I was riveted by the interviews in Dumbo Feather. They are these long, rambly type interviews, and it just feels like you're having a lovely conversations with a creative friend. So great! I, of course, loved the interview with Pia, but I also really enjoyed reading the interviews with chef and author Holly Davis (next to last photo above) and sunglasses designer Catherine Federice (bottom photo above), two talented ladies I'd never heard of before. To me, that's the test of a good magazine--can you make me care about a topic I know nothing about? This mag passes that test for sure! It's a bit too pricey to subscribe to, but I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for future issues that intrigue me.

"That lady has crazy hair"

2010-01-24T03:01:00.003-05:00

So, I was in Whole Foods last night, waiting for some folks to move so that I could get to the ingredients I was after in the bulk aisle, and I saw this little girl staring right in my face. I knew exactly why she was staring, but I was still sort of gobsmacked. Doesn't anyone teach their children not to stare at strangers anymore? Anyhoo, I just pretended to study my list intently and waited for her and her mother to move one. Fastforward to checkout time, and of course I ended up right behind this little girl and her mother. As I waited, I hoped she wouldn't do what I was expecting her to do. I stared at the magazine covers, hoping that if I ignored her she would ignore me. No such luck. "Mama" I heard her say. Here we go, I thought. Then she did it, she pointed at me and said "Mama, that lady has crazy hair!" Her mother wasn't really paying attention to her, so of course she had to say it again, still pointing. ***Sigh***

I wish I could say this is the first time this has happened to me, but it's not. And they always point like I'm some animal in a cage at the zoo. And they always use the same word: crazy. I just wonder where it starts. Where do children so young get the idea that the hair that grows out of my head is "crazy"? Different, OK, I understand that. But crazy? Where does that word come from?

Has this ever happened to you?

I do not like them, Sam-I-Am...

2010-01-17T12:37:00.008-05:00

I would not like them here or there. I would not like them anywhere...

I've been a life-long detester of eggs. I'm told it's a loathing that began in the womb. According to my mom, eggs and heavily perfumed old ladies tied for top nausea-inducer during her pregnancy. So, I really shouldn't be surprised that both of these things continue to make me ill. I don't try to fight the perfume thing because, really, what can you do? But the egg thing has always bothered me. Egg lovers LOVE eggs and even those who just like them seem to like them quite well. I've always considered myself a pretty adventurous, non-picky eater, so it just doesn't seem right to detest such a staple food. But, generally, it just is what it is. Me and eggs...we don't get along.

Enter Molly Wizenberg and Matthew Amster-Burton. The subject of the first episode of their new podcast Spilled Milk (which is great, by the way) was fried eggs, and their enthusiasm for fried eggs on most everything was infectious. (I'm sure you can see where this is going.) Long story short, after much hemming and hawing about it, I decided to try their recipe for Kimchi Fried Rice with Fried Eggs. Well, the Kimchi Fried Rice part was great...but the eggs. The minute I tasted that rich runny yolk...well, let's just say that I did NOT experience a late-in-life conversion to the church of the egg.

I tried, but I think me and eggs just aren't meant to be...

Belated

2010-01-16T08:43:00.003-05:00

So, for the past two Christmases I've asked my mom for a White Forest Pottery Hot Cocoa Mug. But each year she waited too late to order it, and she thought I wouldn't want it if it wasn't here on time for Christmas or my birthday. This year I finally convinced her I didn't care about all that. Better late than never, you know? But it's been a couple of weeks since my birthday and I hadn't heard anything about it, so I thought she forgot or something. Well, when I got home last night, there was a big box from White Forest Pottery containing not one, but FOUR hot cocoa mugs! Wowza! I wasn't expecting that! That mom of mine...she's just great!

Birthday Brunch

2010-01-04T06:57:00.004-05:00

Celebrated my 29th yesterday with a cozy birthday brunch at l'etoile with my gals. It was lovely and charming and super yummy. And, seriously, how cute are those tiny salt and pepper shakers?! They totally interrupted my train of thought more than once. : )

Darling Treasures

2010-01-02T08:21:00.005-05:00

Got together with my two best gals yesterday for a belated Christmas gift exchange, and I came home with the most darling treasures:

-A lovely porcelain piece from the milk series by Alyssa Ettinger (I love its polka dots!)
-Adorable felt coasters from local shop Sustain
-Darling cup and saucer, tea strainer, and demitasse spoon
-Super cozy cashmere socks from O'Suz

If you're reading this girls, thank you so much for my lovely gifties!!

A Cozy End to 2009

2009-12-31T19:08:00.004-05:00

Spent most of my New Year's Eve baking. I started off the day preparing the dough for The Kitchn's No-Knead Bread in a Hurry. Then I made these yummy cookies to take to a very special belated Christmas gathering tomorrow. Finished off the day pulling a lovely crusty loaf of bread from the oven. Quite a lovely end to 2009.

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve: What I'll Be Wearing

2009-12-30T15:34:00.003-05:00

Note: Please excuse the mess! I had a ceiling leak over Christmas and things are shoved and piled in places they wouldn't normally be!

I usually find New Year's Eve pretty underwhelming, so I try not to make too much of it. I am going to a party, but I won't be wearing heels or sequins or ruffles. That stuff just makes me feel fussy and uncomfortable. Instead I'll be wearing an outfit that makes me feel most like myself: lots of comfort and a bit of chic if I do say so. The best way to start a new year, I say.

Jacket: Muji
Top: Anthropologie
Jeans: J Brand Blue Label Skinny in Shadow wash
Boots: Seychelles

Etcetera

2009-12-29T09:15:00.003-05:00

Received Etcetera by Sibella Court of The Society Inc. for Christmas, and I adore it. It's no longer available online in the U.S., but your local Anthropologie might have a copy or two.

Wool and the Gang

2009-12-18T06:26:00.008-05:00

If I lived in New York, I'd be hanging out at Wool and the Gang, a super cool shop that sells knitting kits, yarn, and readymade knitwear. Lucky for me they also have an online shop. My favorite kit? Over My Shoulder (pictured below). Too cute!

Reminded about WATG by Camp Comfort

Just What I Needed

2009-12-12T13:18:00.005-05:00

After a busy day at work that did not end when I left the office, the last thing I wanted to do last night was cook dinner. But I was starving and I had all of the ingredients for this yummy sounding pasta, so I figured I'd steamroll through it with a little help from my mom. Well, steamrolling wasn't necessary and the only thing my mom had to do was boil the water. This was, hands down, the easiest pasta dish I've ever made, and less than 30 minutes after I got home, I was holding a warm, comforting bowl full of yumminess while I worked away at my desk.

P.S. If you're lucky enough to live in Charlottesville, I highly recommend getting the prosciutto for this dish at Feast. It is, without a doubt, the best darn prosciutto I've ever had.

Snuggly Wuggly New Coat

2009-12-08T20:17:00.002-05:00

I just got this coat from Urban Outfitters and I lurrrve it. I wish I could show you a pic of me in it, but I'm a busy bee, so you'll have to settle for this gal for now.

Please Excuse My Absence

2009-12-01T20:21:00.004-05:00

I've been spending most of my time lately curled up on the sofa with my dog and a good book or craft project. It's kind of how things always go around here as winter approaches. I'll pop in every now and then as inspiration strikes. Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving!

Kind of Ridiculous

2009-11-22T14:10:00.004-05:00

Uuumm, so technically I finished this shawl last winter, but I'm just now getting around to weaving in the ends and blocking it. Kind of ridiculous, non? After finishing miles and miles of garter stitch, I think I was just sick of looking at it. As much as I like garter stitch, it can be mind-numbingly boring to knit. Anyhoo, it's all done now and I'm happy to add it to my winter wardrobe!

Pattern: Wool Peddlar's Shawl by Cheryl Oberle with mustaavilla's garter ruffle modification
Yarn: Rowan felted tweed in wheat (main) and caramel (accent)
Needles: Size 6

Out of the Frying Pan...

2009-11-21T18:38:00.004-05:00

After reading Anabela's post about Wendy Mullin's "frying pan" ponchos, I ran right out, grabbed some wool and bias binding, and got stitching. (Kind of a big deal since I've only pulled out my sewing machine one other time this year.) I'm so so happy with how this came out. The top stitching is super wonky, which the perfectionist in me hates, but I love the overall piece so much I can forgive myself for the mistakes. And, bonus, it was the perfect thing to wear for tea in Keswick this afternoon with my two best girls....

Red Lips and New Shoes

2009-11-20T15:14:00.004-05:00

Inspired by Jenny, I went and got some red lipstick today. The shade I got is Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Burnt Red with Sangria liner. I never wear bright colors on my lips, so this is definitely a change!

I also got some new shoesies in the mail yesterday. These boots didn't work out...they just weren't me. So I exchanged them for these oxfords. Much better : )

Oh, and a heads up about ordering direct from Marais, they have an exchange-only return policy and your exchange is final sale, so just be sure about what you want and think hard about the size before you place an order!

Easy Peasy DIY

2009-11-20T11:08:00.003-05:00

The band at the bottom of this American Apparel top has been driving me nuts since I bought it a few months ago. It just seemed to be constricting what could be a cute flowy shape. So this morning I picked up a pair of scissors and snip, snip, snipped it off. I didn't mark or pin. I just cut just above the seam. And, yep, it's uneven, but I like it that way. I am, after all, a child of the 80s : ).

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to make something work for you.

I'm on a roll...

2009-11-17T18:59:00.012-05:00

...and it's really got to stop. Seriously. Sometimes I just get swept up in shopping momentum. I'll buy one really great thing, and then I just keep buying and buying. All of this is to say that I just bought some more great stuff. That great vintage top you see above? Mine. The gorgeous earrings the lovely miss Jena is wearing with the top? Also mine.

OK, that's it. I'm stopping now. Seriously.

Image from Miss Modish shop, found via For me, For you

Not Gonna Happen

2009-11-17T07:12:00.007-05:00

If I was the kind of gal who could spend $300+ on a single item, I would buy this sweater and these ankle boots. But I am not, so I will not. Just thought you should know.

Apartamento Issue 4

2009-11-17T06:19:00.006-05:00

Can't wait for the latest issue of Apartamento magazine to arrive in the mail. Subscriptions are now available at Bruil.

Reminded about this great mag by Bird & Banner

Me and My Shadows

2009-11-15T17:37:00.006-05:00

I figured my recent shopping excursion called for an outfit post:

Sweater: Anthropologie
T-shirt: J. Crew
Jeans: J Brand Shadow Blue Label Skinny
Shoes: Ciao Bella

Notes on a Weekend

2009-11-15T08:27:00.009-05:00

Here's a glimpse at what I've been up to this weekend.

I've been cooking up a storm. I made pumpkin waffles, peanut butter krispy treats, and won tons (not pictured because I was about ready to collapse by the time I'd wrapped the last one).

I also did some much-needed fall shopping. The most exciting item I picked up? My first pair of skinny jeans! The only skinny jeans I've ever been able to get over my Beyonce booty!

Image from Anthropologie

They're from the new J Brand Blue Label, which is for women with curves. I still couldn't get the Ink wash over my bum, but the Shadow wash has the perfect amount of stretch.

I also got some lovely red tights, but my fingernail poked through them while I was trying them on : (. That'll teach me not to buy cheap tights. These sturdy MP tights are on their way to replace them (found via wiksten-made).

I think I'll spend much of the rest of my Sunday reading this. And this evening, I'll be attending this:

Check it out if you're local.

Thursday Night Loveliness

2009-11-13T08:09:00.007-05:00

Went to my dear friend Cole's last night to watch this movie. While she ate her dinner of cheese and pâté, her super-cute kitty, Bucket, struck a few poses for me.

After the movie, we listened to a few songs from this album. This song made my day:

Dreaming of Paris--Cinq

2009-11-12T07:44:00.016-05:00

Speaking of vintage, I just discovered Room Service, a fabulous vintage shop in Paris!! It's going straight to the top of my Paris shopping agenda.

Found via le voyage créatif

Rain, Rain...

2009-11-11T08:41:00.004-05:00

I'm not looking forward to walking to work in this rain, but it sure is pretty from the inside.

**Sigh**

Off to arm myself with my rainy day mood lifters: my rain-proof French Connection boots and my fabulous blue sky Moma umbrella.

Hope it's sunny wherever you are!

CameraBag Desktop App

2009-11-10T08:16:00.007-05:00

Holy smokes! I just discovered the desktop version of CameraBag and it's awesome! If you're not familiar with the CameraBag iphone app, it's an application that allows you to apply vintage film effects to your images. I've just got a trial version right now (hence the egregious CameraBag watermark on my image) and I haven't had nearly enough time to play with it yet (just discovered it like 5 minutes ago), but I was too excited not to share right this second. You can read more about it here.

Discovered via Le Train Bleu

P.S. It's only available for Macs right now, but Windows version is coming soon!

Ramona West Vintage

2009-11-10T06:39:00.006-05:00

This little sequined number from Ramona West Vintage dropped into my Google Reader this morning and it was love at first sight. Needless to say I bought it immediately. Welcome to my closet little goldie!

I've been a fan of Ramona West's Etsy shop for a while, but her new shop has been blowing me away. The good stuff sells out quickly though, so you should sign up for the newsletter and follow the blog if you don't want to miss out!

I don't own a lot of vintage, but the pieces I do own always make me feel unique and fabulous. If you're bored with what's available in stores (as I am at the moment), vintage is a good way to go.

Here are a few more of my favorite vintage clothing shops:
Salvage Life
Ladies of Leisure
Santoki Vintage
Oh Leoluca Vintage

My Cameras

2009-11-07T06:38:00.007-05:00

I've gotten quite a few questions and comments about my photography, so I thought I'd do a post about my cameras.

My main camera (pictured in the top photo) is a Canon Rebel XS. Since June of this year, most of my photos were shot with this camera. I use the kit lens that came with the camera for most of my self-portraits (except for the top photo above) and all of my outfit pics, but for everything else I use the Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II lens. I luuurrrve this lens. It's my BFF.

Occasionally I also post photos shot with a film camera (see second photo above). Most of my film photos were shot with a vintage Pentax K1000 that I got on ebay. I learned most of what I know about photography from this camera. I don't think I would know how to work my digital camera if I hadn't started out on the Pentax!

There are also a few Polaroids scattered around (also see second photo above). My Polaroid camera is a vintage 680 slr that I got on ebay. I love shooting Polaroids, but the film is really expensive these days, so I'm hoarding my last pack of 600. There's good news on that front though. I can't wait to get my hands on some Impossible Project film!

Wowza!

2009-11-06T08:34:00.004-05:00

Hello to everyone coming over from CurlyNikki.com!! (This is me waving at you!) Ya'll have knocked my socks off with all of your lovely comments and e-mails. You've absolutely made my week. I've loved hearing from you all, so keep the comments and e-mails comin'!

For those of you silent peeps out there who have been reading for a while, I've recently made it easier to contact me. Comments are now open to all (no meanies please!), so if you've had problems commenting here in the past, it should work for you now. I've also added my e-mail address to the side bar.

Gotta run. Catcha later!

Hair details: Day 5 of a twist out styled with DevaCare One Condition and Curls Gel-les'c

Naturally Glam Hair Idol on CurlyNikki.com!

2009-11-05T12:18:00.004-05:00

I'm a featured Naturally Glam Hair Idol on CurlyNikki.com today!! Check out the interview here.

Memolio Contest on Bella Rose Photography!

2009-11-05T07:30:00.006-05:00

Image via Bella Rose Photography

My good friend Beryl of Bella Rose Photography has teamed up with memolio for a great contest. 5 winners will each receive a gift certificate to create their own memolio album of 24 of their images FOR FREE! Go here for contest details. Good luck!

Garance on Film!

2009-11-04T08:52:00.007-05:00

Garance Dore has posted a lovely video that her assistant shot during a recent photo shoot. It's so wonderful. It makes me want to revisit my film studies roots. I think I have to have a flippin' Flip camera!!

Lost Thing Found

2009-10-26T06:16:00.003-04:00

Found a flower in a library copy of The Book of Lost Things. Quite a lovely surprise, non?

Strict Joy

2009-10-25T16:17:00.004-04:00

Wowza! I can't believe this is my third post this weekend, but I just have to share this. The new album by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Strict Joy, is now available for listening on NPR. I've had it on repeat all day. Official release date is this Tuesday, October 27!

I also highly recommend the Tiny Desk Concert they did a few months ago. It's amazing.

At Ease, Ladies

2009-10-25T13:52:00.008-04:00

I have never owned anything remotely combat boot-ish, but I am completely in love with these army boots by Marais USA. I love them in white, but I am notoriously rough on shoes, so I bought the black ones. Can't wait 'til they arrive!

Oh, and can I just say that the Marais USA fall collection photos are AMAZING? I keep going back and looking through them. Even if you're not in the market for shoes, you should go check out the photos. They're seriously inspiring.

Bright Star

2009-10-24T09:33:00.022-04:00

I saw Bright Star last night, and it was lovely. One of the loveliest films I've seen in a while.

Above images and many more lovely bits and bobs collected by Jane Campion during production can be found here.

Via all the mountains

Bad Blogger

2009-10-21T21:09:00.006-04:00

I've been a lousy blogger lately. I'm sorry about that. I've been a bit uninspired. Hope to be back soon. In the meantime, please help yourself to the cookies. They're my favorites.

Charleston, SC

2009-10-07T06:12:00.006-04:00

I'm back from my quick trip to Charleston. Pictured above are a few highlights:

-Turtle cupcake from Cupcake
-Entrance to Worthwhile (such a beautiful shop!)
-Lunch at Fast and French
-Walk along Rainbow Row
-My super-cute, Anthropologie-clad friend Kate at the lovely wedding we attended

It was a good trip.

Dreaming of Paris--Quatre

2009-09-29T08:13:00.005-04:00

As if I needed another reason to dream of Paris, I recently discovered (via Joanna) this lovely book by Ami Sioux. Ami asked 50 Parisians to sketch a map of a place that is important to them, and then she followed the maps and took a photograph. I will definitely try to follow some of these hand drawn maps on my trip.

Speaking of trips, I'll be heading to Charleston, SC, this weekend for a wedding. I'll share some pictures when I return.

New at Frances May

2009-09-10T07:49:00.006-04:00

There's some great new stuff at Frances May. These are a few of my favorites (from top to bottom): Filippa K Print Blouse, Vena Cava Lithium T-Shirt Dress, Church & State Fall Dix Dress, Vena Cava Moonstone Dress

Imprinted Lace

2009-09-09T07:29:00.003-04:00

As promised, here's the vase I made in ceramics class. The texture was made with circular cutouts of lace I happened to have sitting in a box at home.

I can't wait to see what it looks like with a lovely bunch of flowers sprouting out of the top!

I want...

2009-09-08T21:41:00.007-04:00

On my fall wish list: Steven Alan Heddy Shirt and Manimal moccasins (hmmm...I posted about Manimal moccasins around this time last year...maybe I should actually buy a pair one of these days).

These two items epitomize everything I love about Fall.

Still dreaming...

2009-09-02T07:13:00.005-04:00

It's been a while since I've talked about my Paris plans, but this trip is still very much in my thoughts and dreams. Over the past few months, I've been collecting quite a few Paris links, which I'll share with you now. (All of these links will open in a new window, so please do follow along. There's great stuff to see!)

Lena Corwin took a trip to Paris this summer and she shared lots of lovely details when she returned. My favorite posts are here and here. (My computer desktop background, which you can see a bit of above, it one of the photos from her trip.)

Pia, who has already shared enough Paris recommendations to fill several trips, has shared even more from a few recent trips. My favorites are here, here, and here. If you're planning a trip to Paris, you should really buy her book!

Jen Causey also took a trip to Paris this spring, and I love her post on merci.

I've changed my mind about accommodations. Planning to stay here now. Since I'll be traveling alone and on a budget, I'm probably going to want to take some meals in my room, and the rooms in this hotel have kitchenettes (looking forward to stocking my fridge with lots of yummy French cheese!). I also like the location and the cute balconies.

If I wasn't staying in a hotel, I'd be searching for apartments here or here.

The following link is not Paris-specific, but it's great travel advice. Behold Decorno's unbelievable packing prowess!

Pay attention to the books in the background...

2009-09-01T06:40:00.009-04:00

....or not if, like me, you have a compulsive book-buying problem...

If you love books, though, you should get in the habit of peeking around the images of your favorite bloggers to see what books they own. I've found many a great book this way. Allow me to demonstrate...

Example 1:

I spotted a lovely copy of Jane Austen's Persuasion on perfectbound. I've read Persuasion before. In fact, it's my favorite Jane Austen book. But I'd never seen such a beautiful edition of it. So, I peeked at the top corner of the image to see who made this edition...Dover Thrift...typed it into Google, et voila. I knew one day it would be mine, but I couldn't justify shipping a $2 book all by its lonesome, so I added it to my Amazon wish list.

(If you're in the market for a full set of Austen loveliness, Dover Thrift also makes a cute little boxed set.)

Example 2:

This morning I was looking at pictures of Whitney's new studio, and I saw a sliver of an intriguing book in the second image from the top..."Inside Out"..."Tim Gunn"...I'm guessing the missing word in the title is "Fashion." Typed "Fashion Inside Out Tim Gunn" into Google et voila. It turns out Daniel Vosovic has written the fashion book of my dreams and no one told me. I quickly added it to my shopping cart and tossed in the Dover Thrift Persuasion.

See what I would have missed if I hadn't been paying attention?

Sunday Quiche

2009-08-31T07:40:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I made a quiche. It was good. : )

I'd love to have more to say, but I'm reading this very intense book right now, and it has sucked all words from my brain.

Free fun!

2009-08-27T07:07:00.006-04:00

When it comes to hobbies, I'm a dabbler in many things, master of few. But I'm finding that all my dabbling is taking a toll on my bank account (what doesn't take a toll on my bank account these days? geez!), so I was super excited to see this found terrarium project that costs nothing, people! Nada! Not a cent! So, after work, I trucked on over to my favorite place on earth, my friend Cole's house, for a little moss hunting. When I got home with my bounty, I put it all together in an applesauce jar. Free fun. What's better than that?

Journal of Plants and Some Old Peonies

2009-08-25T07:22:00.004-04:00

I've been buying way too many books lately (though I often wonder if one can ever have too many books...), but when I saw that Maria Vettese and Lena Corwin had a new collaboration out, Journal of Plants, I didn't even try to resist. There are no words to say how much these two artists inspire me, and you just can't put a price tag on that. As long as they make books, I will buy them. It's just a given.

The bottom photo here, although appropriate for today's plant theme, is not from the book. It's a months' old photo I took of some peonies that lasted only a day (that's what I get for buying peonies on super sale at Whole Foods), but at least I can still enjoy this photo. And that's one of the things I love about photography. You can capture something fleeting and perishable, like food or flowers, and enjoy them forever.

Gearin' Up the Sweater Factory

2009-08-22T14:13:00.006-04:00

Top Photo: Last fall's Ophicleide cardigan.

Bottom Photo: Last winter's Owls sweater, which I actually never wore because it didn't get cold enough in Virginia last winter. Lesson learned: No more super-thick wooly yarn for as long as I live in the south.

As I am quite capable of making my own sweaters, I have a really hard time spending precious yarn money on mass-produced sweaters. Over the past few years, the only sweaters I've bought have been lightweight cardigans with stitches so tiny that I would either need a knitting machine or lots and lots of focus and patience and free time to make. Those I can justify buying. Anything that could be relatively easily handknit, though, I have to make.

It's way too hot in Charlottesville right now to get too excited about curling up on the sofa with a ball of yarn, but I've got some ideas bubbling around. These three lovelies are currently at the top of my must-knit list:

Vine Yoke Cardigan by Ysolda
Humanoid, Take Two by Ellybeth
Jenny's Birthday Sweater by Ellybeth

P.S. Speaking of making things, I made a vase in ceramics class on Tuesday that I'm quite excited about. If it turns out okay after firing and glazing, I'll definitely share some pics.

Compact Book of Lovely

2009-08-19T07:36:00.005-04:00

It's here, and it's lovely! I wasn't expecting it to be so compact, but I quite love its size. It's so cute and chunky! Love it!

P.S. I do so love when you all leave me comments. So, if you're feeling shy, do know that it makes my day when you stop in and say hello.