there's no place like home

follow the yellow brick road Miu Miu brogues

Only 40 More Years

I have two stories to tell you - one involves the grocery store. Karey said not to ever tell stories about grocery stores. But this one is good I promise.

I've been feeling bad about my thighs. I hear you say Yah so? I thought bad about mine 10x this morning already. Many days I don't think about it, that I've let it go... but sometimes when I'm least expecting it I wonder why I don't look like this woman gosh.darn.it.



{then I remember what I ate all day} and I hang my head and ask for another latte.

here is all I have to say. I'll never be this skinny unless I swallow a tape worm like the women in... was it China or Japan are doing? no matter. I'll teeter on chubsville all of my days. I'm mostly ok about it except for about 3 days every month when It's not

the grocery story?
I was in line the other night at our Trader Joes and there was this little old lady in the line next to me and NO LIE her basket was full of red wine and frozen desserts along with her cane she was hanging on the edge. The only food item I saw was yogurt in all the yummy, sugary flavors that I love. I thought it was brilliant. I wish I had taken a photo really, because I thought...

damn. only 40 more years until dessert for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I. CAN'T. WAIT.

photo via JCREW of course

sneak peek

bridal invite we're printing today. Blind impression [no ink] SUPER DUPER Chic I might add, just like the couple.


PSSST...
are you getting married? know of someone who is? take a gander, there are infinite possibilities.

darn smart

chalkboard wall decals - YES DECALS {removable I might add} $54.00
available here

Some Kind of Wonderful

I just bought tickets to see Dr. Angelou speak at UCLA in March. I can hardly contain myself with glee. I cannot explain my love for this woman but to say she is an National Treasure.



If you're a fan of her work the full episode of her and Dave Chapelle is available on itunes. He was so awestruck during the interview that you could see his wheels turning on camera. I'm not sure he knew what to do with the wisdom she was bestowing to him.

Her Masterclass on the new Oprah Network was equally impressive. I have no idea why OWN has not released these videos for sale or for view - A huge shortcoming on their part business-wise. You can see the preview if you click over, and hopefully reruns will play soon. I cried through the whole interview - for me...she's that wonderful.

A Monday treat

this is exactly what I needed this morning. I'm in love with those sunnies - I wonder if I could do a Marcel Wave in my hair every morning by myself? {not}

if you're interested in more about the models etc shown click over to here for details. Fashionista is my daily habit

are we a little Jelly?

yes, I am jealous of a 14 year old, it's true.
Tavi the super fashion blogger. I still can't believe she does all her own writing and pics. So much wisdom crammed into that little body of hers. It's a little dumbfounding.

She's doing a little study on Cindy Sherman right now and might I say? Her photographs are top notch. I'm still looking at them right now.

{sigh}

TELL THE SKY

birds falling from the skies lately I thought this song was appropriate.
How cute is Michael Stipe when he was younger? I hardly have memories of him with hair.

I don't recall ever being in Milano nor this woman stealing my outfit but alas...she's looking chic in something I would TOTALLY WEAR.

via the amazing The Sartorialist of course.

business in the front - party in the back

I'm starting to look at wedding dresses - dreaming more like. I'm thinking cocktail style dresses nothing big and floofy. Though I'll probably end up with a $99 Sale dress with the budget we'll be on, it's always fun to dream. Chris and I are talking about a 50's Mad Men sort of inspired wardrobe. We both look best in classics.



I'm liking this Badgley Mischka dress called Tory. Couldn't you see Betty wearing this frock?

so pretty. I'm sure it's not on the $99 dollar plan though {sigh}

49% Motherf*cker 51% Son of a Bitch

despite my twinset and pearls day to day wardrobe. I have an inner rock and roll girl {I know you're laughing} Seriously, no joke. I've never figured out how to merge both girls inside of me but you'll just have to trust me when I say in another life I was Kat Von D



Lemme is from Motorhead and he as Old School as you can get. I say that because if you're here on this blog, most of you have never heard of him. To be honest I know so little that I won't claim to know anything. He's bad ass I can assure you. I sat next to him one night at the Rainbow room on Sunset but had no idea who he was untill my ex mentioned him. {that's how much I don't know}

but... he has a movie out and I really want to see how Bad Assed he is. If you're in So Cal it's playing at The Art on 4th street Long Beach tonight maybe I'll catch you in my Leave It To Beaver outfit there.

More Information HERE

Chowards candy always sucks me in with cool vintage packaging. I'm hoping the guava is better than their Violet Candies.

Love the idea of the Violet Candies but they taste like the smell of perfume though.

via>coolhunting

mad for plaid

plaid storage containers $32

via rue magazine

on a roll

yes, we're kind of on a roll around here with new stuff. it's feast or famine



right now I have a 16 year old nephew that I'm sending it to. Plus? a girlfriend who's making a horrible mess of things with some dopey guy {I think she'll probably stop talking to me if I do send it} SIGH

but really, if we all knew the shark was coming don't you think we'd swim out of the way?

available here

Carve a little love out

Save a carved tree and buy one of these cuties instead.



A linoleum block I carved a few years ago for another project. I decided it would make a perfect Valentines.
available here

Kiss

who do you want to kiss this valentine's day?



available on etsy {now!}

You're the one that I want

really. I mean it.



New Valentines are up on Etsy...I know it's a wee bit early but thought I'd give you first dibs. More coming later this week

new in the studio: James Beard House

I'm just now getting caught up with photographing the projects I did at the end of last year. One of the most fun was a project I did for Vision Design Studio. Their client Art Institute International Culinary Schools hosted a private dinner at The James Beard House the day before Thanksgiving.


Vision designed a menu series that had a card for each course. The front of the card explained the course itself and the backside explained the history significance to Thanksgiving.



Each card was letterpress printed on double thick Crane's Lettra paper. Each set was wrapped with a ribbon and placed at each table setting. Apparently, the menus were a big hit as each person took them home with them at the end of the meal as a souvenir.

click to enlarge photos

favorite song Broken Bells

I'm loving this song by the Broken Bells right now - The High Road

I don't want to ruin the whole surprise, but if I were you I'd go over and check out all the photos that Twig & Thistle has posted about Ladurée. I'm convinced that the marshmallow green is the most awesome color EVAH!

always and forever

A few of you have asked me to post the story of how Chris proposed. I've been trying to find just the romantic words to tell you about it. I'm sure you've imagined how romantic and glowy it all was. I love the glowy. I'm a sparkle girl if you haven't figured it all out. I'm afraid I might disappoint you today. It's nothing like you might think.


The story begins in the bathroom. Yes, the bathroom. Me getting ready for my day like always. Towel on my head, my giant {mostly} white bathrobe, my 10 skincare products and 5 cosmetics. All of us crammed into my 3x3 ft bathroom [this I do not kid]



Chris came in with my morning coffee {have I told you he goes out every morning to buy us fancy coffee? he does} he came into the 3x3 ft bathroom - wedged himself in and the conversation started into something not related to anything of a ring. Big life conversations which he and I do so well. Mostly these happen in bed at night but this day, they happened in the 3x3. And I reminded him of a private joke we have together to lighten the mood. "SQUIRREL!" like the movie UP if you've seen it.



He got this very serious look on his face and everything got kinda weird for a second and then he asked me to be his always and forever. Me with my towel on my head and half-way white bathrobe in the 3x3 crammed in with the toilet and all. I thought he was joking - he reassured me he was not. I half-giggled nervously and said yes. I said yes because he's been my always and forever almost since our first date 6.5 years ago. He apologized for it not being the proposal he had planned. He had something else lined up {proper and sparkly] but he couldn't resist after our talk. It was perfectly imperfect I might say. Which is just like us. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.


glam photos by the amazing Gyslain Yarhi

in awe

Studio on Fire is a letterpress company in Minneapolis that does work that blows my mind on a regular basis. When I grow up I want to be like them. This project was no exception...



I know to a non printer it doesn't look like much but the multiple factors against this print job are noteworthy - trust me. Interested in more? read all about the project here.

oh how I can relate to this

just switch out the word writing with design and you'll be in my chair today.

ps originally seen over on kerismith.com

2011 Glam

I'm getting unburied from the holiday. I thought you might enjoy a little glamour to keep the festivities rolling this grey monday morning.