Is it just me?

I'm betting on some good hate mail for this but...I'm feeling a little Decorno today.

I'm SO over the term "Green"

Everything is green now, eco-friendly blah blah blah. Hey look! recycled turds turned into wallpaper, but wait! now you can reuse the turd wallpaper to plant your garden when you get bored of it, or maybe it will power your car someday [actually that would be cool but stinky]. Or if one more person tells me that they've given up such-and --such. Just do it, you don't have to tell me you gave up meat to lessen the dung pollution ratio [yes, I was a veggie too once, I know it all]. It's great, plant your own garden, drive a hybrid, buy those ugly ass light blubs that put out the most gawd-awful color of light I've ever seen and are full of mercury. Do it, do it all. We'll all appreciate it in 10-20 years.

I recycle, I unplug shite when I'm done with it [yes, unplug your cell phone charger people] I'm conserving water [hell, I don't water my plants anyway], I use paper bags and not plastic. I live and work in a 5 mile radius. Now that's an achievement in Los Angeles.

I'm tired of it, the stubborn person in me wants to throw every light on, flush the toilet for no good reason, hose my sidewalk off [stop don't send me hate mail. I won't be doing it] It's enough, we get it. Please find a new buzz word to sell your products and getting us to be more kind to the planet.

And by the way, if I hear a TV person say the word "Staycation" one more time I might just go postal. I've done that for years people, it's called being too poor to go anywhere.

image via flickr Or maybe you could recycle your trash into a fab dress for that party you got going later on.

Why do men hate Sara Jessica Parker?

There is an interesting article that posted today on Style.com about Sara Jessica Parker and why men hate her so. I can vouch for this in my house, as the guy would rather stick hot needles into his eye than watch anything with her in it [mostly Sex and the City].

When I have asked him why he dislikes her so he can never give me one thing. He thinks she's just repulsive, and me being the fan of the show that I am [and her fashion sense] I don't get it at all. She's the style maven! how can you not like her?

Maxim Magazine seconds that though with the title they bestowed her a couple years ago " the unsexiest woman of the world" although when she publicly commented that it really hurt her feelings they toted her the next year as something like 'the most surprising person we like' or something similar.

I guess it will just be one of those things that men and women can't explain...we'll just agree to disagree.

read it here

In the weeds

I'm beyond in the weeds right now. Here's a little shiny something to keep you occupied while I'm away. Wait till you hear about my S&M facial on saturday. Never have I had such a skin treatment!

Mercado, Silverlake CA

Mercado
3517 Sunset Blvd
Silverlake, CA 90026
Mercado-store.com



My longtime friend and one of the most creative people I know, Chelsea Iovino and her partner Michelle Weaver opened their pride and joy earlier this summer. I finally had the opportunity to swing by this weekend to check out their gear. Amazing!



Chelsea has had a mutli-creative career doing everything from art direction with float building which were featured in the Rose Bowl Parade [among others] to having been a buyer for such notables as American Rag, Uncle Jers, MOMA and has also worked as a stylist for print, commercials as well as having worked with notable pop icons. When she sent me an email a year and a half ago saying she was finally going to open her own store I knew it would be spectacular. Her partner Michelle also an amazing creative, has built sets and has worked in editorial styling as well. Between the two of them, they've got more talent and style than probably the whole of my readership put together [sorry guys].

I went to visit them at the shop before they began construction to get a preview of what was in store for them- wowza they had some work to do. But in their stylie ways they gutted the store ripped down the horrible ceiling and carpet and got it spiffied up.


Before


After

They have been shopping the world for the past couple years in prep for their store opening. Some things from South America, as well as Paris and New York. They industry mags are loving them as well. Look out for blubs in Elle decor and Lucky Magazine [Jan 09].



Of course...Don't miss Noodles the Poodle [think that's his name:)



photo credit bottom 2 photos Gregory Han from Apartment Therapy review

Cute.

Jessica Elliot Long necklace $280.00



clover earrings $100.00

Just a little Blurb

I'm working mad, crazy hours at the office right now, so posting will be light for a few days.

I did have a fun thing happen today though. The local hipster paper The District Weekly wrote my stationery work up.

Please

apple green Bamboo Cotton Throw $59


orange or dolphin blue $79 do you know how hard it is to find a proper orange throw? lordie


Loving the color of this chair Humboldt $499



This doesn't suck $2646 [free shipping] too bad the coffee table I bought from them a few years ago is such poor quality though.




This is based off of Carrie's from Sex and City...It's almost there. Cute enough for me $749 "Bradshaw"


Now THIS, this is a sofa you can sink your teeth into $3000


to go with the Sofa to sink my teeth into - I'm mean while I'm at it right? $4600 [that's really insane]

Be the woman you want to be now

Do you have a daughter? If so I beg of you to continue reading.



I've been thinking about this post for some time now after a dear friend [36yrs] of mine called me a couple of weekends ago, very upset after her weekend meet up with the "college boyfriend" didn't go as well as she had hoped. She swore to me up and down that she had no expectations of the meeting, that it would just be good to see him. I knew her well enough to know that there was something else there. This was the boy she considered her fall back, the "just in case", the "if I'm not married at 40 I'll have a baby with you" sort of guy. He wasn't really in that same mode. And she was crushed.

When she and I got off the phone I thought really hard about her and the pain in her voice and I knew what she was feeling in that moment. I have had many a moments like that. The day doesn't turn out the way you want, he doesn't like you in that same way. At nearly 40 and having been in a nearly 4 year relationship with my sweetheart, it seems as if those days were just seconds ago. They are crushing and painful when there is no hope. No one to think about or to obsess about, no dates to plan, no view for the future. Even with my guy there were many [MANY] days of conversations in my head about his return to medical school and how it would effect my life, when will we get married? When will he be ready to have a baby? All of these thoughts of getting my life to this thing I thought I needed to have no matter what was really in front of me. I found myself AGAIN trying to stick a square peg into a round hole. Let's just say that I did that once and it's now a divorce - it was a bad, bad choice.

I'm not going to kid you, there were a lot of tears, a lot of questions of whether I could do it, wait for him to do this thing that he wanted to do. And in the process of having a major life meltdown and questioning everything, I somehow began to have the life that I wanted to have - whether he was with me or not. Whether he married me or not, whether I had a baby or not. And when I did that, switched gears [somehow] it freed up all this energy that I had been wasting on something out of my control. I could appreciate that he made me happy, happier than I have ever been.

So this is what I told my friend, in one of the "amazing" cards that I sent her days later after I had thought about it. You are amazing now, without a man and without a baby and you need to build the life you want right now, so that when they show up it will all be set. Take a class, plan a trip, do something for yourself right now.

Somehow as women we have been taught that our lives don't begin until these things happen, but life happens and sometimes it doesn't go as you thought it would. Maybe one or the both of us won't have children, then what? Are we to sit and mope the rest of our days? Or instead be excited about new things lies ahead, the possibility of travel, buying the home that we always dreamed of, renting a fancy car ----because we CAN.

So today I beg you, if you have a daughter small enough to be playing dress up and all that stuff. You don't have to ditch Cinderella but tell her sometimes Prince Charming shows up when he's 45 after he's had his own life crisis. Please tell her that she is enough without the man and the kid, that she should throw her own damn party with a fancy dress. That she should first be the woman/person she wants to be and the rest of it will show up when she's lived her life to the fullest. Because in the end the thing that is the most beautiful about a woman is her confidence and strength and you can't get that by waiting by the phone for ol' tighty whities to call.

Fashion secrets and virtual shopping sprees.

Here is my fashion secret: live by it and you too can have a "granimals" closet like me.

You can have the shittiest outfit on. Jeans and a tank top with a pair of flats and put on a cute little jacket over it and Voile' you've got yourself a spiffy little outfit.

This is my secret uniform folks. Jeans, jean skirt or something jean or black or gray or boring on the bottom. A tank top [or two if it will be solo at some point in the day] and a sweater or jacket over the top. Right now it's the JCrew Jackie sweater that I now own in 3 colors. My other secret? scarves. I have about 50. Add a little 9$ scarf from Target or H&M to the "uniform" and people think you're the fashionista genius. It's a no brainer to me but hey trick them into thinking you're brilliant.

So, I'm feeling fall-like all of a sudden. I want to wear a fabulous jacket and a smokin' hot pair of boots [which I haven't found yet]. I want to spend a lot of money too while I'm at it [as long as I'm wishing]. So while I'm waiting for the man to get off work I thought I would partake in a bit of a virtual shopping spree. Where else darrrrrrrllllllingsssss? Net-A-Porter. If you're going to dream, dream big.


Christian Louboutin Tortoise flats LOVE em. $545



Rick Owens Wool and leather coat $1920 check out the louboutin boots they have paired with it. Make my back hurt just looking at them but damn! Funny enough I have a yummy black nubby coat with this same collar I got from H&M for 80 bucks or something.



RM by Roland Mouret crepe dress $2710 check out the red zipper and ruffle on the back. Yummy! Sadly, I haven't found this at H&M but then again I'd have to lose 25lbs to consider wearing it anyway.



Paul & Joe Swing Coat $490 I also own this shape coat from H&M that I got for $60 or something silly like that.

Here is my last pearl of fashion wisdom for you...Look for classic shapes in rich colors and you can get away with inexpensive clothing. Beware though, you can [sometimes] wear cheap clothes if you can find a good shape item, but you have to have a good bag or a good pair of shoes. Cheap shoes... will give you away every time.

Go forth, shop and be stylish darlings.

The itchy and scratchy show

It's always something.

Especially with me, the high-maintenance medical woman. I was feeling all chipper and good since they figured out what was up with my kidney and then the removal of the "helper" item on Monday didn't go so well. The pain returned and I was allergic to the skin prep solution they used. And like always with the medical company starting with a "k' and ending with an "eiser" they don't know what the f*ck to do with a medical situation outside of a scheduled procedure. If you are a healthy person who needs to see a doctor once a year for a scheduled appt, or a scheduled surgery or a visit to the emergency room followed by a admittance to the hospital they are wonderful. God forbid you need to speak to someone, talk to a doctor or get anyone to call you back. Call me demanding I suppose but I am a person who needs calls back, like within 48 hrs, not 4 days when it involves something like my kidney.

So yesterday I made a decision that turned everyone upside down. I drove to my doctor's and showed up without an appointment and said I wasn't leaving till they saw me, or located my doctor, because I knew he was there. One of the people who did answer the phone, on one of my calls told me he was there till 7pm. I am my own "action figure" as they want me to be. I'm Wonder Woman bitches- get out of my way.

They didn't know what to do. Phones were held, whispers were made and then they let me in, all the while everyone knew I was the one making the fuss in the front.

As my boyfriend said "well, it's not a popularity contest it's your kidney". EXACTLY.

The thing I can say about their system is that their doctors are checked often. I get anonymous rating sheets frequently, and I would guess by the response I got in the office as well as the apologies, that there are bonuses based on these anonymous sheets. I'm not afraid to use them and have been known to file a complaint if need be [The ER doctor that gave me serious attitude when we questioned her approach, the one that said "sometimes our bodies just hurt" as an explanation for my pain after I had been barfing in a bucket and at a level 10 pain...] Yah, she won't be going to Hawaii on me any time soon.

So anyway, I'm a alive, on Benadryl and waiting more tests. Hopefully I'll have something design related and positive to say in the next couple days. Right now I'm still pissed about the whole process, but then again this isn't my first time with them or their way.

a tid bit to tide you over

This is mostly for SGM. In case you ever doubted that there is a "lid for every pot"

Southern Wedding at the Waffle House

don't miss out on the slide show at the bottom as the dangling 'cigs' via the bride and mom of bride are priceless. Wow, who knew that feathered hair was still alive and well? Farrah would be so proud.

Back tomorrow with tales from the urologist

Out for a bit of a follow up procedure. all is well. be back tomorrow

*update**
not so swell after all. Pain returned, will be back in a few days when I get this resolved.

Tricking the tooth fairy

I go visit Karey over at Mackin Ink most every day to read her funny tales of the adventures she has with her little girls. For some reason today I was reminded about a funny story when I was little. It sort of says a lot about me as a creative person and someone who has always tried to make her own money no matter where it came from.



So I began losing my teeth probably around 6 or so? Whenever the age that it happens. And I got 50 WHOLE CENTS FOR A DAMN TOOTH! Can you imagine? 50 cents FREE just for loosing a tooth. I was amazed. I didn't know where he or she came from but I just thought it was brilliant. So daily, I would check my teeth, hoping for another one to fall out and when it didn't seem like I was going to have any fall out any time soon I thought I would devise a plan.

I NEED TO GET MORE TEETH. More teeth equals more money and I'll be rich!

Oh no, I hear you saying. Oh gawd, what is she going to do right now? pull one out from her baby brother? Pull out the pliers on herself? Don't worry it's nothing like that.



So I was standing in the kitchen one day and noticed the jar of popcorn. Remember when popcorn didn't come in a microwave bag? Like individual kernels that you put into the popcorn popper? Those.

It was nearly perfect. Almost the exact shape of a tooth, except the tooth fairy would know it's not a tooth because it was yellow and I needed to make it white. Imagine, there was potentially 1000 kernels of corn to trick the tooth fairy with. It was brilliant, I was brilliant. I was going to be RICH!

So how to get it to white? I remembered the jar of stuff dad uses with the typewriter. Remember those? and carbon paper? good lord I'm old.

So off to find the white out. I go into the kitchen and find mom. I mean, I can't reach the popcorn, now can I.

Me • Mom, can I have some popcorn?
Mom • What for?
Me• I have this brilliant plan, I'm going to trick the tooth fairy and I'm going to be rich!
Mom • Trying not to laugh. Oh, really?
Me• Yah, I'm going to paint them all white and put them under my pillow.
Mom• Well you know...the tooth fairy will know they're not real.
Me• No, it will be great, it will look perfect!

So, she sits me at the kitchen table with the white-out and the corn and lets me go at it. But, I can't figure out how to hold the kernel and paint all of the sides without it rubbing off. In the end I had the white out all over me but none on the corn by the time I gave up.

Mom never blew the dream she just let me work it out. Can you imagine though if I figured out how to paint them? going to bed with a 1,000 kernels of corn. Now, that would have been interesting.

images from the super cute esty shop called Amy Jo's Handmade Shop

new cute stuff at CB2

Taj Bed Linens



Grey flannel sectional YUMMY!!



Spool Coffee Table

Holy Toledo these are cute

I have one of those odd faces that can get away with wacky glasses and hats. You know someone has to do it, it just happens to be me. I'm not sure how I stumbled onto this woman but her vintage inspired hats are to DIE for. the best part is that each one is a "Transformer" and morphs into other looks along the way. I personally am digging on the sweetheart version with it's 20's super chicness.

Etsy $95 and is shipped in it's own hat box. When was the last time you had a hat box?

New in the studio

Just finished this weekend, a tight deadline project for a client who is graduating this summer with her Doctorate degree. She specializes in work with Autistic children. What an accomplishment! Especially since she has her own three small boys, is married, and has her own practice. Lord, I can barely get myself out of bed in the morning.



I did two custom illustrations of a hibiscus flower, based on the theme of her party which is going to be a luau. I incorporated those into the invite, a hand illustrated map, one of the flowers was then used on the RSVP and the matching labels I created for the outer envelope and RSVP envelope. I chose a contrasting Burgundy liner and matching ink color to enhance the Polynesian theme.

click here to see more detailed shots of the invite!

Excuse me? Where is the closest gym?

Yeah you. Where is the closest gym or a pool or both because I have to get my flabby size 8 ass somewhere.

this is 41 year old Dara Torres. She is getting ready to compete in the swimming trials for the woman's 2008 olympic team. She's 41 by the way, did I mention that? and a mother of a 2 yr old little girl. If she wins a spot she will be she’ll be the first American swimmer to compete in five Olympics (despite sitting out 1996 and 2004). She’ll also be oldest female swimmer in the history of the Olympic games.

What does it take to have a body like this? well a killer instinct for one, her near 6 ft frame doesn't hurt either, not to mention the $100,000 a year from sponsors. And a team of people to help her get there who include: a head coach, a sprint coach, a strength coach, two stretchers, two masseuses, a chiropractor and a nanny.

In the vein of Lance Armstrong, she knows her body is a machine. She knows what it takes to make the machine faster and better. My inner athlete is jealous but I know that even with 100k I wouldn't be this person ever. I would find ways to spend it on more art supplies. That's why she's competing and I'm not. I'm routing for her though because I want a 41 year old to kick some serious 25 year old ass.

Such an inspiration.

Check out the full story which is great at The NY times


Image Robert Maxwell for NY Times.

Robert Mars show -Portland

Guestroom Gallery
4114 N.Vancouver Avenue,
Portland, OR 97217



If you happen to be in the Portland area, artist Robert Mars [who I met recently via email when I did a write up about his Blurb Book] is having a gallery showing at Guestroom Gallery. The show opens Friday July 11th with the opening reception 6-9pm.


I've talked about my love of vintage neon signs oh, I'm sure a million times now. Which is why I gravitated to Robert's work so quickly. I think I fell in love with old neon after I saw a painting in a ad agency [painted by one of it's team] focusing on local neon around Long Beach. I had never looked at it in that way to tell you the truth, and never have since. I have used it over the years in my own work as well, but I'm always a sucker for someone else's interpretation.



From the artist:
“I am determined to capture the independent aesthetic of the not-so-distant past that has been replaced by homogenized corporate culture and standardized cityscapes. Industrial design, graphic design, architecture and vintage neon all render important roles in my work.”



I'm not the only one who thinks he rocks, as he has worked for such notable action sports companies as Element and 5 Boro, adidas, Bonfire Snowboard Clothing and Ride Snowboards in addition to his own clothing company.

If you can't be there don't fret. You can always check out his book on Blurb. Always Beauty in Hindsight.