the living room

I wanted to find some good design ideas for the living room. Here's just a few:









More scientific bottles that find a purpose! I don't really want glass scientific bottles all around my house, but I've seen some great uses for them.



If you were living in a loft, I like this idea of having a bookshelf running across one wall like this:



Having frosted glass like this seems old on the wood bookcase/shelf type thing and I like how it hides some of the clutter.
This is the workspace of a collaborative group of artists and in Brooklyn called Common Spaces. It's a great idea! And they are all environmentally responsible businesses which is even better!




Sources (from top to bottom) : whimsey & spice from D*S / auburn & ivory / design is mine / trina daslziel on D*S / Marianne Von ooij's (posted on design sponge) / Jordan Butcher / Common Spaces

uh oh

I hope I can keep my credit cards away from these dresses, or else i'm in trouble. I like so many of Rachel Gilbert's dresses that I can't even decide which one I would settle my debt on. I found these first on Coco + Kelly's page, so I guess I'm not alone in my party dress envy.

Print Big

I just had these 4- 11X14s printed to make a really big (28"X22") print to go in my living room, hopefully over my couch. wooo! Hope it looks good. I'll take a photo of the end result, once mounted. I'm actually not sure yet how I will mount them. I'm thinking the glass frames with clips from IKEA, but they don't have any 11X14 frames. It will look something like this:

kale soup

I found this recipe in my Vegetarian Times magazine and have been really excited to make almost every recipe in it!! Click here for their website and the nutritional information for the soup. This only took about 30min, and it doesn't have a gamillion ingredients, so it's more feasible than you imagine. I get stuck making the same sorts of things everyday so I'm glad this has inspired me to venture out again. I made a stir-fry recipe from another issue later this day because every stir-fry i make has some sort or peanut sauce, but the one i made from the recipe was a lighter sauce and nice change of pace. I should share that one too. But for now look at this soup!



simmer, simmer:

Here's my soup made with the quinoa:



So should I try Red pepper carrot soup or the smokey split pea soup next?

maybe basil is flying. i hope so.

I love this necklace. so sweet. maybe it'll fall from the sky into my lap.

* from dejarnette $68

keep strong.

When i was driving back this morning from Detroit, the rain was bright and this song was playing. I listened to it three times in a row because it seemed to really comfort me.



I am just a poor boy
Though my story's seldom told
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocket full of mumbles such are promises
All lies and jests
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest

When I left my home and my family
I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station running scared
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters
Where the ragged people go
Looking for the places only they would know

Lie la lie ...

Asking only workman's wages
I come looking for a job
But I get no offers,
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there

Lie la lie ...

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
And wishing I was gone
Going home
Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me
Bleeding me, going home

In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of ev'ry glove that layed him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains

Lie la lie ...

sew your cares away.

I want to start learning to sew and create my own clothing and accessory items like Katie Did does. She has so many good ideas, not just for her children's wear but for crafts and decorating as well. Take a look at her blog here.

She has even made a bracelet for me. :)



this headband is adorable!



She makes the most beautiful clothes for her children, who are adorable as well. And the photos are wonderful! I wish she would sell her designs, but I will just have to continue to let her gorgeous work inspire me to do some of my own when the day comes.






I also want to thank you all for your sweet thoughts about Basil. It has been a sad week, and his absence has been really apparent. It makes you realize all the things in life that you take for granted. We buried him yesterday morning, and he will get a beautiful lil' headstone. He changed my life, by sticking with me. We had a very close friendship that I am happy for.

my sweet basil

december 24, 2008:



On July 19th, 1997 my kitty Bailey delivered 4 lil' kittens. Basil became my best friend for the next 12 years. Last weekend he seemed to be getting much too skinny too quickly, so we took him to the vet on Monday. We learned that poor lil' Basil has cancer and may not even live for another two weeks. I spent all Monday and Tuesday night with him. Last night while everyone slept, he crawled behind the couch and went to sleep. He didn't wake up. This all happened way too fast and it's really breaking my heart. I have never had such a loving, sweet and nurturing pet. He took care of me as much as I did for him. He gave the best hugs that lasted for as long as you could hold him. I will miss you and your million meows. You brightened everyone's life by being here. i love you.

I spent tonight with my grandma, going through all my old photos of him. Here's a few I thought I would share...


1997:



1997:




1998:



2000:



2000:



December 2001:


from my dad:

2005 or so:



This was my last cuddle with him, last night. 2010

the cape in you.

yesterday e & i took some photos outside and i had her put on this cape I found in my old vintage pile from high school. Capes keep popping up everywhere these days, and there are so many different styles! Although, they aren't always the most convenient piece of clothing since it's difficult to function proficiently without being able to stretch your arms out.

I like the one that Nicole Ritchie is wearing below, with the big arms.





The second to bottom was found on ebay for $13.50. there are some other cute things on there by this seller that you should check out.

The last one is from blanc de chine for about $1600. I love having a collar with the caplet! pretty.

pixie market

I found some innovative pieces that I really like at pixie market. Perhaps it'll inspire you to get crazy with your needle, thread and scissors! Or it may just be easier to buy them.