grin and share it

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season. Many apologies for being so ethnocentric, but they just don't make as many great Hanukkah/ Winter Solstice/ Kwanzaa/ Saturnalia songs as they do Christmas songs. See you in twenty-twelve! And now, my top two favorite Christmas songs...

quiet...ish: Otis Redding // Merry Christmas Baby



LOUD: Stevie Wonder // That's What Christmas Means to Me



BONUS: This may or may not play in my parents house every year...
Lou Monte // Dominic the Italian Christmas Donkey (I'm not even joking)

I promise I will start posting things other than this...after the holidays

quiet: Dirty Gold // California Sunrise. It's so dreamy.



LOUD: Summer Camp // Better Off Without You. In case you are in need of a good "eff you" to your shitty ex. And when doesn't that feel good? Best line: "And if you said you're never coming back I'd be so happy, I'd be so happy, I'd laugh the whole night long"

quiet // Au Revoir Simone- A Violent Yet Flammable World (such a good song title)



Loud // Givers-I Saw You First
It's not quite loud...but its cheerful. If you need something more exciting check out their song Up, Up, Up.

Ya, I'm way behind. But I have been having so much fun, and isn't that better than blogging? Yup.

quiet: Polica-Wandering Star


LOUD: Wavves ft. Best Coast- Nodding Off

I headed to No Coast Craft-O-Rama this weekend and was absolutely inspired by all of the vendors. Minneapolis is chock full of some incredibly talented people. I ended up spending my fair share of cash but was tickled to find tinyhands jewelry- not only is it cute little charms of, what's better-food, but they are scented! Definitely perfect for the baker, foodie, cutesy-lover in your life.

                   

            

I went to visit the lovely Meghan and Rae at their shop, Mighty Swell, last weekend and was absolutely delighted to find a few additions to their collection of stellar vintage-excellently hand-crafted local goods! Check out these adorable pennants from Rank and File--I grabbed up one for me and one for a friend!

So I made some mix CDs recently organized into quiet and loud-I think I am going to start doing that all the time...and in addition, posting quiet/LOUD of the week every Monday (oh man, putting a lot of expectations on myself with that)--let's do this.  Thanks to the delightful Sarah for sending me a mix CD with our first quiet track--

My friend Amy Nieto just made this absolutely stunning 2012 star calendar. She is truly, truly talented....and a hot saucy mama to boot. You better believe these will be going out to a lot of my friends.

As the harsh reminders of the impending winter are upon us, I thought it might be a good time to re-watch this touching love letter to our fair city by Seven and Sixty Productions. I literally weep every time I see it (read: I'm totally crying right now). I hope they make another one- I would love to be in it. I promise not to cry on camera.

"Something about Minneapolis, it calls you back" It's true, so true.

As I mentioned before, I recently learned that I need glasses...computer glasses to be exact. I went on the search and here is what I came across on Zenni Optical. Despite the awesomeness and reasonable prices of these I ended up breaking the bank with another (name brand) pair- I like what I like, what can I say?

Feeling awfully inspired by the new graphic design exhibit at the Walker. Not that I needed any more stuff to spend money on, but I've always loved this song--

By HereMyDear, $18

We all have them. The playlists we absolutely love but hope no one ever notices because it would beyond destroy any hipster cred we might have. Songs with lyrics that, as a social justicey, feminist, retro, elitist snob make my brain want to explode. But for some reason, as Shakira would say, "my hips don't lie"and I can't help from listening to them every time I need to clean or go to the gym  get ready to go out. So here you go, my super embarrassing playlist of Fall 2011:
 

Don't judge too hard.

(PS. I have an extensive rant regarding the lyrics of "I Just Had Sex"- feel free to ask sometime!)

I am going to go paint and listen to Ratatat. Hopefully that restores some of the self-respect I just lost.

OK, kind of. Usually I get half way through a book and give up because I'm bored. Wonder which of these will actually make it to the finish line.

The Compassionate Mind: A New Approach To Life's Challenges// Gilbert
>>Mindfulness:yes, please!<<

I moved into my new apartment a few weeks ago and I have slowly been making it mine. One thing I tend to splurge on every time I move (ie every year) is a new duvet. It isn't too expensive and it can really change the look of a place. This year I went for a simple gray and white striped number from West Elm. I also repainted my bed frame from weird antiquey white to black. Somehow, vintage pillowcases, leopard print sheets, a bunny-post bed and a gray and white striped duvet really fit well together-Hennepin even seems to like it.

I had the opportunity to go to the Design*Sponge book release at Anthropologie here in Minneapolis and it was fantastic. I had a nice (albeit quick) chat with Grace Bonney and caught up with my lovlies from Mighty Swell who made this AWESOME photobooth background out of an incredible amount of thrifted knick knacks.  If you have a few extra bucks I would definitely recommend picking up Design*Sponge at Home-it is chock full of goodies and inspiration.

I picked up the June 1956 edition of Rogue For Men at an antique store in Milwaukee. It was in a ginormous pile of old (boring) magazines and all I could see was the bottom inch of the front cover-fishnets and high heels. I was absolutely tickled when I pulled it out to find an entire feature on burlesque dancer Lili St Cyr and a host of other goodies. First things first-an article on "How to be a Successful Cad". A "cad" for those of you not versed in mid century slang, is what we might refer to as a "player". Best example I can think of? Don Draper- he's dashing, incorrigible and irresistible...and a total dog. Here you go gents- your very own lesson straight from the 50s. For an up close peek check out my post on Tumblr and if that isn't close enough, feel free to Tweet me and I'll send the jpgs to you.

It is no mystery to anyone that knows me- I love bunnies, a lot. Naturally, when I spotted this iPhone cover from Rabito in New York I snagged it right up. They even come with attachable tails that serve as stands. I will admit, I had to take it off after a few days because the thickness of the material prevents my charger from staying attached--maybe I will have to snag one of these other bunny-inspired covers next.

$7.99 from Overstock.com

Fifi Lapin cases, more on her website.

And if you need a little bling in your life...$39.95

A few months back I was in Milwaukee hanging out with my mom and I came across a set of Pantone folding chairs. I was absolutely delighted and it took every ounce of willpower I had to not splurge on one in each color. So today I give you a few Pantone products that I would be absolutely ecstatic to own. Because I am a nerd.

Toothbrushes. I actually picked these up at West Elm the other day for $10.

Folding chairs. $75 each

Mugs. $90 for a set

Of course, iPhone cases. $36 each.

Guiding Light by Jemma Grundon

My very dear friend Amy pointed me at this most excellent poster by Dipped in Acid. It pretty much sums up my entire being... except there needs to be more bunnies.

I spent four days in NY this weekend and, although I have been there before, I found myself fall in love with it all over again and at a force a million times strong. Yes, the weather was perfect. Yes, I was with my parents and very dear friend. Yes, it turned out to be a much needed break from reality. But STILL. I will definitely be ordering these things from Fishs Eddy when I move next week:

More than once a week, while talking to my mother, she lets out some sort of guttural groan and says "god you're just like your father." It's true, we are a bit of peas in a pod. That being said, I think I'm an awful lot like my mom too and I feel fortunate to have incredible relationships with both of them. I got back to the basics when I went home and focused on the things that make my parents and I so dang great. We are humble, clearly. Creative. Intelligent. Quirky. Charming as heck. We are silly, to say the least. My parents met in photography school, fell in all kinds of love, my dad became a documentary filmmaker, then computer scientist, then genius engineering consultant while mom became a medical photographer (strange for such a squeamish person) and eventually a food photographer and stylist. While looking for my own art portfolio and supplies I found my dad's old art portfolio with some of my mom's work inside...I obviously stole most of it for my new apartment.

I am working on some more lengthy posts about my trip back to Milwaukee this weekend but I just had to share this photo I took in my parent's back yard. After growing up here it is no wonder I have never strayed far from large bodies of water. (side note: sure wish I wouldve gotten a pedicure before this)

Well it's officially September and in Minnesota that means grasping to every last second of summer like you will never get to feel warmth on your skin for the rest of your life....and with a potential of 8 months ahead of us with below freezing temperatures, winter really does feel like an eternity up here. So on September 1st I rushed over to the beach after work and for a few hours reminded myself to "remember this feeling" every 2 minutes. Summer, I sure will miss you.

My extremely lovely friend Amy reminded me that one year ago I said goodbye to Portland, OR to return to Minneapolis. It was an incredible year filled with beauty and fun and I can honestly say I haven't stopped missing it. So in honor of the people that made my life in Portland truly wonderful, a little recap of just some of the things that I won't forget. This one's for you Amy, Summer, Brandie, Will, Sarah, Sharin, Annie,  Ben and Jo...

Do you have have that feeling of longing and searching for something else, somewhere other than where you are, but in a way it is beautiful and perfect? I hope so; it's a feeling I have often. It most often occurs to me while out at a bar or other social setting, surrounded by friends who are enjoying themselves and I have found myself in a more reflective, observant disposition instead. Sure, it sometimes ends with me whisking myself away to walk quietly around the neighborhood to look at the stars instead of socializing- but I so enjoy it. So in honor of this feeling, which I can only think to call ethereal restlessness (and please, let me know if you can think of a better name), I give you three little albums to perfectly accompany this mood.

1. Horse Feathers- House With No Home
This album is perfection from start to finish and the first track is, in my opinion, the best. It captures a sense of beautiful longing better than most songs I've heard. For added effect, listen to this while taking a candlelit soak in the tub.

So here we are again. Another blog. But this time I swear I mean it. It recently occurred to me that since getting my Masters in 09  I have been waiting to start my life. Waiting for what, I have no idea but I have been waiting. Well enough of that. It's time to start actually doing the projects I want to do instead of getting caught up in doing them "right". There are too many wonderful things in this world to let it pass by. If I keep this up past two weeks I expect a high-five from everyone that decide to join on this journey.