Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Is It Wrong to Love a Churchwarden?

Yesterday was full of other projects, hence no post, but I'll give a Tuesday Edition weekend recap. Overall, it was nice and also random. The sun finally came out a little, but unfortunately it was right as my indoor mood kicked in. I did get out and enjoy it some. Also, I fear this may be text-heavy, so I'm going to sprinkle it with some of K's London photos.

Long story short, the weekend consisted of: an art collective house party featuring a gypsy jazz band, local music at my favorite neighborhood bar, a yacht rock anniversary party, an art gallery opening, K's band at another local music venue (although he has someone filling in while he's away), being an extra in a friend's music video and the BEST chilaquiles in town.

My favorite part of the weekend, however, came when a friend and I decided to go to Old Town and hang with the tourists. We wandered into the most amazing tobacco shop that has been there since the mid 1800s. We went into the side room where the cigars are sold. It is dark and brick, with old red velvet and wood chairs, free coffee and some tables. There are arched church windows that look into the main room, and it has a cozy, old fashioned study sort of feel. The kind of place men of the Belle Epoch would go to drink Scotch, smoke cigars and talk women, dirt, and politics. Needless to say, the presence of young women seemed an anomaly, and we got a lot of attention. But it was a relaxed and friendly sort of attention, and we stayed there for most of the afternoon. I decided I simply must get a pipe because during a small pipe tutorial, I fell in love with the Churchwarden:

I have no idea how to smoke a pipe, but for that beauty, I would definitely learn.

Listening to Drew Andrews, the friend with the upcoming music video.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Paris Calling


I just found out I'm going to Paris! Because I have the best boyfriend in the world, he is taking me to my favorite city! As much as I am excited to go to London, this is very sweet frosting on an already lovely cake.





And also, the Paris-induced excitement led me to Irene Suchocki's photography, which I adore. Her Paris set on Flickr makes my head spin with how beautiul each picture is. Her photographs really are Eye Poetry.
She also has an Etsy shop--I think I'll have to buy some things!

A great way to start a very busy weekend! Happy weekend!

Getting all French and listening to Francoise Hardy.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Here's to Real Friends!

"True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island...to find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing."
-- Baltasar Gracian*


I have been contemplating friendship today, thinking over what it means to be a friend and to have friends. It can be difficult to find people whose values fit our own, who are not selfish, who have time to nurture new friendships and who are willing/able to work through hard times and misunderstandings. People who are loyal.


I'm really thankful for the people in my life--those I see all the time and those who live far away--whom I can consider true friends. One good thing about K being away, I also have more time to spend with them!

↑ mine

*some details of his life I found particularly ironic when I found this quote today.

Listening to Michael Jackson. RIP.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

When Life Gives you Grey Skies, Make a Pink Lemonade Party

It is summer, right? Hello...summer, are you out there? If you're here, then someone should tell the weather.

Things have been rather dark around here lately, and I'm staging a revolt. I say it's time to lighten things up. And how better to do that than with a sunny, pink and yellow strawberry lemonade party? Who's with me?




Strawberry Mint Lemonade
Ingredients

4 cups water
1 cup sugar substitute
4 cups fresh mint leaves, lightly packed
1 quart strawberry hulled, halved
1 cup lemon juice, fresh squeezed


Directions

Place 2 cups water, sugar and mint in a small saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain into a blender, discard mint.

Thinly slice 1 cup of strawberries and set aside.

Add 1/2 of the remaining strawberries to a blender and blend until smooth; pour into 2 quarter pitcher.

Stir in sliced strawberries and remaining water.

Add sugar to taste if needed, stirring until dissolved.

Cover and chill until serving.

Strawberry Mojitos
Serves one

3 tablespoons simple syrup (see note)
4 fresh strawberries or a handful of raspberries or blackberries, rinsed and drained, or 4 frozen strawberries or blackberries, thawed but not drained (divided)
5 fresh mint sprigs, plus 1 for garnish
Club soda or sparkling water
1/2 lime
1/4 cup light rum or Bacardi Limon (2 ounces)

In a tall (10- to 12-ounce) chilled glass, muddle the simple syrup, 3 of the strawberries, 5 mint leaves and a splash of club soda or sparkling water together with the back of a wooden spoon until you smell the mint.
Squeeze the juice from the lime half into the glass, add the rum and stir. Fill the glass with ice and top off the drink with club soda or sparkling water. Garnish with the remaining strawberry and mint sprig.


Hm, but what to wear?

Listening to Bjork via Exclusive First Listen.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Hats On


I love hats. I own a few, but rarely wear them, which I would like to change. Hats can take personal fashion to a whole new level, conveying fun, mystery, sex appeal, whimsy, cuteness, oh, endless options really.










Just a few I've found that I like, but really, this list could be infinite. And don't get me started on mens hats--we could really be here all day!


Listening to Comet Gain.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Pemberley Please

 
Posted by Picasa

Okay, call it a hazard of having a boyfriend in another country for a month, but I was watching Pride and Prejudice last night instead of joining the party that was happening in my yard, and I just may watch it again tonight. Ah, Mr. Darcy, what is the magic behind your centuries-long power to make women swoon? Mmm.
Why don't men dress like this anymore? If I had a world of my own, they definitely would.
1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., 8., 9., 10., 11., 12.,
13.

And no more collages for awhile, I promise.

Listening to Hanne Hukkelberg.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Bubbles


Due to a serious lack of cuddle time lately (as well as the unrelentingly grey skies), I have the urge to surround myself in happy comfort. I think this will include, a long bath, some champagne, a good book, and some outdoor naps if the weather gets nice. Relaxed and soothing, with bubbles added for fun.
 
Posted by Picasa


1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Listening to Dirty Projectors.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Sometimes I Follow Through

Things get hectic in my life sometimes, and the whirlwind of thoughts/inspirations/ideas doesn't take a rest too often either. I feel as though I'm always a few steps behind in terms of projects I want to start, things I want to buy, design elements I want to incorporate. That's why today I bring you some things I have managed to acquire that I first considered on this blog. From this post, I decided to buy some bottles and managed to find these two on separate yard saling trips. I'm still on the lookout for more.


And from this one I started thinking about tins, and fell in love with this one right away when I saw it at my favorite antique store.

Also, a friend of mine recently picked this up for me at the swap meet, and I love it:

On a sad note, I would have photos to link to this post, but I fear the package my mother sent of my matryoshka collection was stolen from my doorstep (why does the post office just leave things outside?). Again, the Universe conspires to keep me from being too attached to things. Boo.

Listening to Papercuts.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Unexpected Gift with Purchase


So, I finally got my boots. They actually came Friday, because Persephone Vintage is amazing, but due to an unfortunate broken mailbox lock situation, I didn't get them until today. Tucked inside the box was this wonderful quote that has inspired me and made me a bit contemplative.

"For need can blossom into all the compensation it requires. To crave and to have are as like as a thing and its shadow.
For when does a berry break upon the tongue as sweetly as when one longs to taste it, and when is the taste refracted into so many hues and savors of ripeness and earth, and when do our senses know any thing so utterly as when we lack it?
And here again is a foreshadowing--the world will be made whole. For to wish for a hand on one's hair is all but to feel it. So whatever we may lose, very craving gives it back to us again. Though we dream and hardly know it, longing, like an angel, fosters us, smooths our hair, and brings us wild strawberries."
— Marilynne Robinson (Housekeeping)

Images: 1., 2., 3., 4..

Listening to The Love Language.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Well Rested



So, although I had a nice weekend, I took a mental health day yesterday. I was feeling pretty run down and couldn't really figure out why until a friend pointed out to me that it's been an emotional couple of weeks (not all bad by any means, but ranging on the spectrum, for sure). From our first event for our new project to preparing for and taking K to the airport and sending him off to London, it's been busy and happy/sad. It was really nice to take a day to rest and clear my head (and NOT feel guilty for not cleaning my kitchen...but I do kind of anyway).
All I did, really, was rest, go to the market, make pink lemonade, paint my nails and read. It was glorious.

Oh! and I got to video chat with K, which brightened up my day a lot! I'm not really a phone lover, so it is great to be able to speak "face-to-face". It makes a big difference. He was filling me in on some of the things he's been doing so far, and look at this amazing photo he took in Hyde Park:

Listening to Zee Avi.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Hello, Lover


Yay! My new laptop is here! I'm going to get acquainted with it, and let you know how it goes!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Personal Updates


So, although I still don't have a laptop, I uploaded some photos to K's computer and so am going to post some I've been meaning to.

↑ These are all from a picnic K and I had last Sunday in the park near his house. It was a gorgeous day with big, fluffy white clouds and plenty of sun. I guess I'll be doing these solo for awhile (he's leaving tomorrow; I still can't believe it).

Here's me with Annie Clark (St. Vincent) and her bassist. ↓

Merch table ↓
The St. Vincent show was amazing. The best I've heard at that venue in a long while. She kills at guitar (who knew?) and is also really lovely and friendly in person. Every man at the show was practically reduced to a puddle. One guy actually said (a little breathlessly) after meeting her, "I now have to go home and reconsider my life." I didn't fare much better though and decided right after meeting her that we should be bffs (she told me I look familiar! cool, I guess?). She was just hanging out outside and people were getting pictures with her, so I jumped on the bandwagon, even though I never do stuff like that. But I'm glad I got the photos.

And finally, here's a photo from my event I briefly mentioned on this post. These are the people with whom I have started a lit journal/arts project. I'm happy to say that our even went really, really well and that the project is really starting to take off.

Okay, enough personal stuff for one day.

Listening to Other Lives.