Lipstick on Your Teeth

Scarf it up

2011-08-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

Now that my hair is short again, it's super easy to get incredibly bored with it.

Sometimes I watch pin curl or braiding tutorials just so I can sit there and feel sorry for my Justin Bieber-tressed self.

But really, I do love having short hair. It's easy, it looks the same every day. It's possible to dye it lots of damaging colors without having to worry about years of hard hair-growing work going down the drain.

Even better is that I've now discovered Scarving! Tutorials!

This means a) I have a new thrift/vintage shopping obsession b) My hair isn't cramping my head's flamboyant style anymore and c) I can wear EVEN MORE of my grandma's stuff.

I'm sporting this look right now with a vintage Hermes key scarf (this is hands-down the fanciest thing I've ever written about myself):

It's super easy and I didn't swear once when trying to do it.

Also, this Hermes scarf tutorial is the business. I mean, a purse? Seriously so great. I'm off to hunt for silk and scarf rings.

Oh, and also also. I'll pay anyone to try that JLo dress-scarf getup and send me a picture. That one is pretty intense, even as a bathing suit cover up.

And the moon rose over an open field

2011-04-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a kid, I've been a little bit obsessed with RVs (and to a degree houseboats). My first love was an intense one-sided affair with the shiny silver Airstream that was permanently parked in a driveway down the block. I was so enthralled that when I was 20, I got a book about the history of Airstreams as a Christmas present and considered it the great gift of the year. (you can get it here)

And before I could even drive, there were many years I would beg--and then drag--my parents to the boat, sport and travel show so I could scamper around all of the campers and double wides and fantasize about living in one someday. There's just something about everything being so small and efficient...and moveable. It's like the ultimate Alley-Sheedy-in-The-Breakfast-Club purse turned into a home. After all, you never know when you may have to jam!

Now that I'm writing about it, I can think of so many things I loved as a child and how they tie back to my love of transportation abodes.

Remember the Gypsy caravan Danny and his father call home in Danny the Champion of the World? (more on that here)

What about the motorhome Juliette Lewis lives in in What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

Or who can forget Dylan McKay's dad's houseboat on 90210 (RIP Jack McKay)?

Oh, and Maude's sweet-ass railcar apartment in Harold and Maude totally counts.

If you're still with me at this ramble down my weird-kid memory lane, you have to read Travels with Charley: In Search of America, one of my all-time favorite books. It's John Steinbeck's account of exploring the country in a camper with his standard poodle Charley.

A quintessential indoor kid (my parents used to punish me for reading too much by making me call friends to come over and do legitimate, real-people activities with me), I was a Steinbeck nut, PLUS we had a standard poodle (RIP Mr. T), so this book really resonated with me. I think it's what made me decide my dream job would be to drive around the country and have a syndicated newspaper column where I interviewed different people for a kind of "slice of life" feature, and it's probably at least partially responsible for my journalism degree.

Ahh, and here I am today: A mobile home non-owner (I don't think we can count the Caravan, as tempting as that is), and the only writing I do is on this-here blog, which is becoming more infrequent. Crap, I don't even have a toy poodle, let alone a Standard.

All of this is a big preface to a few things that have popped up (like a camper--hahahaha...groan) lately to remind me of my all-American (in theory) wanderlust.

- Season 6 of Weeds, in which the characters are on the lam (no spoilers here--motor homes aren't aerodynamic anyway....somebody stop me) and travel from Montana to Michigan in a huge Jesusmobile RV.

- This incredible (and gorgeous!) blog, Double Decker Days, in which author Crystal Thomas details her renovation of a 1970s double decker bus with the intention of turning it into a vacation getaway. I love it, love it, love it!

So in summation, this is all what had been rolling around in my head when I told Marc I thought we should rent a motor home and take a few weeks to explore the country at the end of this summer (I want the cats to come with us because I'm totally insane, not just a little bit crazy).

See, we haven't taken our honeymoon yet, and our original plan was to go to Europe and tourist around, which also sounds lovely. But I can't shake this idea that it would be a lot of fun to, in the words of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, walk off to look for America.

Who knows what will happen. Thoughts? Pros 'n cons?

(image from Double Decker Days)

In the eye of the beholder

2011-04-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

Super interesting post on Chloe Sevigny's apartment, photographed for two different publications.

House and Garden 2007 vs. Apartamento 2009.

Which do you prefer?

Presented without commentary

2010-12-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

(click to enlarge)

How to describe your used furniture on Craigslist.

Thanks so much for sending this, Nate! It made my day.

Some things

2010-12-09T17:08:00.000-08:00

Gizang* (of 81...that's inmazing--that means inconceivably amazing--I will be sending a present to my 100th follower), I've been working on a post that's been chilling in my drafts for about three weeks now and I can't seem to get myself to finish it, Mortal Kombat style.

It's not like it's some epically awesome or even personally wrenching post. It just involves a lot of copying and pasting and is actually about design and interiors and stuff that actually fits into the format of the current incarnation of this blog. But it's just taking me my sweet-ass time for some reason. Maybe I need to stop cruising around the block in my Caravan, trying to start some fringe religion--because hey! I have the church bus all ready, so why not? That will solve my airbrush conundrum.#

* Speaking of copying and pasting...I looked up and had originally written "prize for my 100th follower" and decided I wanted to change it to "present for my 100th follower" since it's not like this blog is a sweepstakes and the "iz" in prize somehow got copied into the opening word of this post, thus altering "Gang" into "Gizang," which I like and am keeping.

ANYWAY

So here's some things in lieu of my real post:

1. Thanks so much everyone for your words of encouragement for Harvey. I read every one of your comments to him**, and he appreciated it so much, he didn't even lick his ass the whole time I was reading it to him. I took him back to the vet on Tuesday, and even though he's feeling much better, he's now on two more meds (For those keeping score at home, that's three pills, two types of eye drops and one type of powder. One of my co-workers said with all these lame drugs lying around, it's like I live with a really shitty band.)

2. If I were a fairy (faerie?) and left magic dust wherever I went, in addition to rainbow glitter, mine would be littered with bobby pins and clear hair ties. They're all over our house....Marc opened a book last night and a couple of each fell out and I swear I found two bobby pins in the dishwasher this morning.

3. After almost choking on a hard-boiled egg earlier this week, I'm pretty sure that's how I'm going to die when I'm home alone and left with my own devices. Remember when that lady died on Six Feet Under when she choked on her dinner? And Miranda on Sex and the City also almost did eating Chinese food? That's going to be me. Also, what was the deal with early-aughts HBO shows being obsessed with single ladies choking? And with shows that started with S-x?

ANYWAY ANYWAY

My situation is only made worse by my nightly ritual of slathering lotion on my raptor-claw dry hands and then deciding that my lips also deserve to be as adequately lubricated. Once my hands are all lotioned up, there's no way I can pry off the top of any sort of lip balm, so I end up violently biting the lid off in frustration and almost swallowing it in the process. Now I'm paralyzed by the vision of Marc snoozing away in the room next door while I stagger around the bathroom clawing at my throat and desperately trying to give myself the Heimlich but our counter is too low and I keel over and conk my head on the toilet.

So yeah, maybe I should occupy my time and hands with writing that legit post instead of fretting about all this. Thanks for bearing with me.

# One of my friends dubbed the van "The Dreamcatcher," which I love. I think that name will inform what's airbrushed on the sides. But thanks from the bottom of my heart for your rad suggestions.

** This is a lie. I'm a crazy cat lady, but I'm not nuts enough to read blog comments to my cat. Yet. But seriously, thanks. It means a ton.

Rollin' in my 94

2010-12-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I left a comment on My Little Apartment (addicted! to that blog, btdubs) about how much I love Craigslist and how it’s been the most consistently positive factor in my life for the past five years, but I don’t think I ever fully spun that yarn here.

I know I’ve mentioned that just about every piece of furniture in my house is from CL (except our bed because…ick), but that’s just the tip of the iceberg, really.

About four years ago, I was working in marketing at a gigantic accounting firm, where I made some wonderful friends. One friend would always complain about how she could never find any dateable guys. So each morning, I’d scour Craigslist for the gnarliest, creepiest m4w ad and send it on over to her (we’re talking “I’m in jail right now, but I’ll be out in four to six. Need someone to take care of my kids while I’m in here” or “420 in my garden apartment?”). One day, I saw an ad featuring a cute guy who was just looking for some people to go to the movies in Grant Park with him. I almost forwarded it along, but then I got to thinking…

A couple months’ prior, I had gotten out of a years’ long relationship. I thought about it a second and decided I should probably start going on dates again and this would be the guy to get things started. It’s not like I was going to marry him or anything.

So yeah, I ended up marrying him. My wedding toast was a sincere and heartfelt salute to Craig Newmark.

Before we got married, I moved in with him (and out of the apartment I shared with my wonderful Craigslist-found roommate) and we furnished our home with many a CL score. And then I moved on from the gigantor accounting firm to my job via a Craigslist ad. (Hey! Here’s an article that quotes my company’s founder in today’s Times. Neat).

The latest development: I’m pregnant and if it’s a boy we’re naming him Craig. Hell, if it’s a girl we probably will too.

Ha, just kidding. No babies just yet. Don’t freak.

The latest development is that over Thanksgiving my husband’s awesome aunt and uncle gave us a super sweet 1994 Dodge Caravan that I’ve already been using to haul around my scavenged treasures. It’s so bad ass. Craigslist will never know what hit it.

And yes, I’m taking suggestions of what to get airbrushed on the side.

Young Sneezy

2010-11-30T18:28:00.000-08:00

This is my cat Harvey.

That is a big ball of dryer lint on his head.

I know I talk about him a from time to time on my weblog. But can everyone think strong thoughts and send healthy vibes his way, please?

He has a rare blood disorder that makes him anemic, and he's on a new medication that makes his immune system weak, so he's getting all kinds of sick these days. Poor little guy has a runny eye and one hell of a sneeze. And to add insult to injury, he ripped out one of his back claws while running around yesterday.

Meds he's now on: Prednisone, Atopica, Amoxicillin, Lysine and Genteal Severe Dry Eye drops. It's a pretty rigorous meds schedule. I may have to get one of those pill holder things.

Get better, little guy!

Here's lookin' at you, kid

2010-11-16T19:22:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when you've had a rough day and have been kinda lame, don't you like to congratulate yourself on something easy? Like having good taste*?

It's like the normal person equivalent of getting a softball question on Meet the Press. So what that I'm not all brushed up on whether or not India should have a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council? At least I'm never going to get accused of hanging this nonsense all up in my crib.

With that, I give you winkers:

Today, I wore some men's Nautica plaid flannel pants and a bright green t-shirt from Old Navy, not to mention some chenille socks with rubber feet (so I can step outside and fetch the mail, natch) and I feel pretty snazzy right about now. It's all relative, gang.

*I kind of balk at the term "good taste." It's so subjective, and I'm sure people think I'm a spaz monster tornado of crap tastes. I like when people get jazzy with their clothes, so I think it's way nicer to say people have different taste than I do. That being said, winkers are off-the-charts wackadoo.

Only in dreams

2010-11-15T07:42:00.001-08:00

Last night I had a nightmare so frightening I was whimpering in my sleep and Marc had to wake me up and calm me down.

I the light of day, it's not at all that scary--I was sleeping in my childhood bed and some intruders were trying to break in from the balcony. And now all I can think about is how much better the balcony doors were in my dream than they are in real life--leaded glass, transom, no ugly cream eyelet curtains.

Screw the intruders, I want that balcony back!

Benchwarmer

2010-11-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

I'm in another city, so that basically means I'm out of the Craigslist game for the rest of the week. But I can't help myself from poking at it like it's a hornet's nest I found lying on the ground.

And oh boy does it sting. I want these doors. Want. Them.

I have no place and no plan for them, but I just know my life would be much more complete if I could only add "pair of carriage doors" to my ever-growing pile of treasures.

I can and I did*

2010-11-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

I bought a package of Oreos* on Sunday and just polished off the last cookie about five minutes ago. I thought it would be a good idea to eat the whole thing before I went out of town. Like they would go bad or something. Who does that? I guess this means no one can ever say I'm not goal oriented. Eh? Ugh...

*But I probably never should do this again.

This weekend

2010-11-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

This weekend, I believe Marc and I singlehandedly--I guess that would be doublehandedly, technically--pulled the U.S. economy out of this nasty recession. What started out low key enough with a BYOB Indian dinner on Friday ended in an ORGY OF RETAIL CONSUMPTION (albeit a very tame one).

It was a good weekend (Except for the fight we got in Sunday night at Target about leggings. What have you done to the fabric of America, Lindsay Lohan?)

I got these adorable clogs on sale at Anthropologie, which means they were still expensive, just not as high as my portion of the mortgage. They're so very comfortable and I think it's true love. If you're a size 7 or 9, they can be yours too. We can be shoe twins.

No pictures yet, but I also stopped by the Jayson Home and Garden warehouse sale and picked up an old schoolhouse light to install above our kitchen sink. Right now, we have one of those Ikea Fado deals up there. It's not bad, but it's super hard to change the lightbulb and it's kind of blah and filthy.

Jayson Home and Garden is kind of like the Anthropologie of home stores. Stratospherically out of my budget, but it was kind of fun and worth it to go to the warehouse sale for this one item. Plus, there were ladies with dogs in their purses there, which makes any shopping experience extra fancy. Was the light as cheap as a Fado? No way man, but it was a steal at $99 vs. its original $550 (say what!) price tag.

It's not unlike something you'd find at Schoolhouse Electric, but it's the prettiest pale jade green.

Not to be outdone, Marc went and bought himself a bike.

It's so pretty. I usually don't like new bikes (I had my grandma's 1960s Schwinn until it got stolen a few years ago, and I replaced it with the exact same bike in red), but it's a really simple and lovely thing. No joke, people were nudging each other and pointing at the bike and stopping him to ask about it when he was walking down the street yesterday. It was like he was strolling around with a super hot lady. My clogs and I were a little jealous.

So all of our consumption may mean we're going to be eating lots of canned goods and spending quality time with ye olde Netflix queue, which is more than fine by me. It's getting to be about that time of year in Chicago when everyone hibernates anyway. Ugh. Sick of it.

P.S. Posting may be light this week (not that it hasn't been this whole year...but hey, blogging is something free I can do, right?). I'll be in New York until Sunday for work. Have a great week, everybody!

P.P.S. I almost forgot--I dyed some chunks of my hair pink! It's so fun. Circa 2000, Gwen Stefani, look out! I'm coming for you!

The missing link

2010-11-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

It's nothing but sheer laziness, but I don't think I've updated my sidebar links in about two years, so they're horribly, egregiously out of date. Some links don't work, and there are a lot of sites I read that aren't even on there.

Plus, I'd love to add yours to the mix so I can check up on what's going on (I love running up and down the links instead of using my Google reader like a normal person).

If you're so inclined, (and I don't already link to you), can you let me know in the comments so I can blogstalk you?

The one that got away? Or dodging a bullet?

2010-11-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

Promise that this will be my last Michigan-related post for a while!

Remember last post where I mentioned that I didn't buy anything because I didn't feel like there were any deals to be had. Well I almost did. We were in an antique mall where I spotted a very neat pull down map of the world. Unlike most classroom maps I've seen, it was rubberized in a slate color so you could write on it like a chalkboard.

Kind of like so.

I thought it was pretty cool, and Marc didn't outright hate it, but it was enough money that I didn't want to just buy it without some haggling, and I didn't have any clue as to what a fair price would be. That night, we researched some comps, but there wasn't much to be found, so I put it aside and told myself to forget about it.

That is, until the awesome little part of my brain that loves obsessive research started whining and I found myself searching for more comparables. This time was much more successful (thanks, fine and decorative art appraisal!). It turns out that the price, minus some minor haggling, would have been quite reasonable.

And now the facts get in the way:

1. I don't know if I want to drive back to Michigan, even if it is only 1 1/2 hours away. What if it's not there? When will I find time to go?
2. We need more stuff on our walls like I need another swan figurine (which is to say not at ALL)
3. Um, this

Seriously, Restoration Hardware? I fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it) found this while researching. Maybe I'm being a snob, but this makes the real deal map (and by extension me) feel so much dorkier.

What's in store for me? A roadtrip, or spitballs in my general direction?

I found you!

2010-11-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

While our weekend trip to Southwest Michigan was wonderful, I found the shopping to be a bit lacking. Shit was crayspensive! On the hunting and gathering scale, I definitely lean toward the thrifting end of things, and this scene was most definitely full-on antiquing.

So, after settling comfortably into window-shopping mode, I really did enjoy myself. And if I had to part with any of my sweaty, crumpled wad of cash, it definitely would have been at Marco Polo. The pretty would just not stop.

More than that, the owners have serious vision, plucking things out of obscurity that I would have definitely passed over a million times. It gave me a whole new focus for re-stocking the shop (which will happen soon). They also happen to be incredibly nice and friendly.

It also made me realize we need to repaint our place. Badly. You can't go buying a beat-up old pie safe and position it on your nicked and scuffed old wall and expect it to look chic. Our house needs paint and it needs it NOW.

The bummer is that we're probably going to paint everything close to the exact same colors the walls are now. It's great that the colors work, but it kind of takes the joy out of such a huge process when there's not going to be any big reveal happening. Then again, maybe it's for the best: We all know how very bad I am at choosing paint colors.

So coming up, mini shopping/restocking road trip with my best pal Shan (who, as a wedding gift, got us a household membership to the Chicago Architecture Foundation. How cool is that?) and paint up to my eyeballs.

Anyone have a killer matte/glossy white wall/trim color combo they're dying to share?

From the trembling walls, it's a great idea

2010-10-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

I just got a copy of Detroit Disassembled, Andrew Moore's incredible book of large-format photography that captures both the decay and abandoned stillness of the Detroit area and the persistent way in which nature slowly creeps back to reclaim its turf.

No longer the Motor City of boom-time industry, the city of Detroit has fallen into an incredible state of dilapidation since the decline of the American auto industry after the Second World War. Today, whole sections of the city resemble a war zone, its once-spectacular architectural grandeur reduced to vacant ruins. In Detroit Disassembled, photographer Andrew Moore records a territory in which the ordinary flow of time-or the forward march of the assembly line-appears to have been thrown spectacularly into reverse.

A lifelong Midwesterner (so far), I've always been a little bit fascinated by my neighbor to the north. When I was little, we used to take trips up to the Indiana dunes and long, lazy vacations in Mackinaw. I'm heading up to Michigan a bit more these days for work and have spoken to people who grew up in Detroit.

They tell me unbelievable things, like how it's not uncommon for a city block to have one remaining house standing. And how pheasants and other wild animals roam the streets because there aren't any cars to mow them down.

The decay is shocking and somehow beautiful.

Salvador Dali called. He wants to know what time it is.

I've not yet ventured in to Detroit proper. I think I'd like to sometime soon.

I'm giving you a longer look

2010-10-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ahh! I love these extraordinary posters for everyday events. Mine right now would be on the subject sitting in the sunbeam in my living room drinking tea and wearing some crazy old pajama pants and thinking about how I really should start washing my face before I go to sleep.

EDPED: Every Day Posters Every Day

These are just a few of my faves.

Did you know you can submit one of your own?

What would yours be?

Eastern Union

2010-10-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

Qw'ew odd rhia qwwkwns <----whoa, whoa, WHOA. That's what happens when you try to type and watch TV when the news is squawking about those scandalous Terry Richardson Glee photos and your fingers aren't quite right on the home row.

Let's begin again:
We're off this weekend!

To spend a relaxing weekend doing not much of anything in Union Pier, Michigan. Marc has a good friend who has generously offered her gorgeous cottage as a getaway. She's a designer, and I've seen pictures. Please, please cross your fingers that I don't spill anything major.

As I do whenever I go anywhere new: Do you have any suggestions? I'd love to hit up some thrift and antique shops along the way. But any suggestions are welcome!

The hitchin' post

2010-10-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

(No cakes were harmed during the creation of this post. The Cultural Center has a fake cake so we civil-service-ceremony slobs can get a nice, traditional wedding photo. It actually made me very emotional to cheer as the other brides and grooms emerged from their ceremonies. It was like we were all a part of something bigger than it being "my" big day--it also made me sort of jealous of one bride's fabulous electric-blue heels.)

Hey gang. What's the latest and the greatest? I know I've been all flighty and a giant tease about the wedding, but we didn't do professional pictures (my stepdad is a wonderful photographer) and I'm not-so-patiently waiting for my mom to send me some pictures from the damn thang, so in the meantime all I have are some snapshots.

Ahh, there's one. I guess you can see which dress I ended up going with. And I'm super happy with my choice. It was pretty (IMO), comfortable and felt like a wedding dress without being too, too traditional.

I wouldn't say the wedding went off without a hitch (there were some serious snags with the reception people, but it's boring and I won't get into it here), but we did manage to get hitched (ba-dum-ch!), which is what we were there to do. And it was a fun, fun time. It's just crazy having a husband of my very own. It's like, am I really allowed to just be married to some dude? Hello, don't mind if I do settle here on Grown Up Lane.

I feel like it's not totally different from when you get your first pet and the responsibility and possibilities and love and just all-over weirdness that lashes you to something you're going to care for and tend to for the long stretch of foreseeable future boggles your tiny mind. And in the back of your head you're thinking about how you're still so young and irresponsible you would still eat an entire box of Fruit Roll Ups if your mom wouldn't kill you for ruining your dinner. But you're allowed to partner up and be best pals with this living, breathing thing? For real?

Ideally, I guess the fact that you know it's a big, huge deal makes it makes you ready. (I think we can all be happy that I didn't try to write my wedding vows, right? I think I might be single with a Pomeranian puppy right now.)

Anyway, I'll get into the day and details more when I have some legit snaps to share (MOM).

If you're dying for more of me standing around awkwardly, here's a little interview I did with the great people at Pirates & Pilots. They wanted to know about how I dress--and let me let you in on a big secret--my trick is to choose at least one item of clothing from my bedroom floor/top of dresser so I feel like I've clothed myself and cleaned up a little without having to fold or hang anything up*. Multitasking!

*This half-assery is probably no longer allowed now that I'm a married lady with nice knives and pots n' pans and stuff, huh?

Burying the TMI

2010-09-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

So this is happening next weekend and I'm pretty psyched. Well, it doesn't hurt that it's about two blocks from my house and Angela, the owner of Post 27 (I have a crazy crush on her shop...see her bad ass house here) threw this whole thing together. It's kind of a well-kept secret, but Grand Ave has all of these wonderful interiors and design shops popping up between Ashland and Damen. SG Grand has also opened up shop right across the street from Post 27. You can see all of the stores and vendors on this handy map, actually. Oh yeah, beer and bands can't really hurt either. I'm going to be there. Will you?

So...What else, what else?

Oh yeah, so a bit ago, Marc is a champ and went to the store and bought tampons for me. He said some lady, like, six people in line behind him started hollering at him and being all, "You are BRAVE! You are such a NICE GUY!" Oh, what I would have paid to see the shade of his neck and ears when that went down. Anyway, so nice gesture and all, but he comes home with these Playtex Sports tampons, which I've not only never heard of, but me and sports? Is he trying to say something about my languishing gym membership here?

So these are the strangest lady products ever for several reasons:
1. They're NEON colors. As in those pink and green bicycle shorts people wore in the early 90s.

2. A selling point on the box is that the wrappers are quiet. Is this a thing people are worried about? I've never thought about feminine hygiene products and wondered when in thee world science come through with something that isn't so damn LOUD. Honestly, someone explain this to me in the comments, please.

3. And this is by far the weirdest: The wrappers all have inspirational sayings on them. Such as: "Declare yourself a winner" and "Make your workout count." Oh and seriously: "PMS=Play more sports." Um, are you kidding me? It's like feminine hygiene meets fortune cookies. Except they should really say something like, "You will inexplicably burst into tears while watching an Empire Carpet commercial." or "Of course bloating is the only thing keeping you out of those jeans.Why don't you just try some yoga pants instead?"

Ahh, to be on the marketing team that came up with this. So what say you? Would you look at these wrappers and be all, "Yeah! Spice up Your Life. I'm going to go play volleyball now!" Am I just not that kind of girl? It seems to me, these are the loudest "quiet" tampon wrappers on the planet.

Three Snaps in a Z Formation!

2010-09-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I let August zip past me, didn't I? It's one week until the wedding, and I feel like I should be freaking out more (or at all), but I think everything will fall into place. The only thing I'm really concerned about is the weather, and since I can't really do a damn thing about that, it's time to just chill. At the end of the day, Marc and I will be married and with any luck, everyone will have had at least a teensy-weensy drop of fun. That's all that really matters. I can't wait to see the people I love!

Stuff that's bothering me these days:
1. Cauliflower. Sick sick sick.
2. When people hang guitars on their walls.
3. My cat Harvey digging up all the new plants I'm trying to start in the windowsill. Haven't the squirrels done enough!?!?!
4. Hard water stains on old jars. After trying to clean them, I smell like a disgusting cocktail of Efferdent, Goo Gone and Vinegar. Very sexy.
5. How the library won't even let you reserve a book until you pay your fine. Can't I just pay it when I come in to fetch the book?

Stuff I love these days:
1. Triple Ginger snaps from Trader Joe's (when I eat them, I think of In Living Color)
2. The shake weight Marc was given at his man shower (except for when the time I used it and hit myself in the face)
3. Friends who know you so well it's shocking
4. White marble countertops. Obsessed.
5. My new water carafe (thanks, Leah!)

What's happening with all y'all?

(image via Design*Sponge)

Whys and why not

2010-07-22T06:01:00.000-07:00

So guys, things are a little tired over here. I got back from a show in Atlanta and we are busy setting up for the next show in Chicago. As much work as it is, it feels so luxurious to be able to go home and settle into my own bed this go-round. But yeah, I spent many an hour chalking up and then erasing blackboard painted walls, so my arms are a little bit sore.

Which, honestly, is a little pathetic. I probably need this kind of work to avoid developing some serious bingo wings. Mmmm, wings. <----See? There's my problem.

Anyway, I've been on a sort of doing stuff/buying things for the house moratorium (spending thousands of dollars on car repairs will do that to you). So that means I haven't been shopping or junking or even reading too many blogs in fear that temptation--and even worse--envy, will rear its ugly head.

Things will turn around soon and I'll be able to do some projects around the house (I'm thinking painting and maybe a little tiling, recaulking the bathtub. Mmm sexy.) and the shop will finally be restocked. Slight digression: HOLY CRAP. The next Vintage Bazaar is just a month away at the Congress Theater. Don't fret; the treasures we do have we've been hoarding, so we'll be ready.

Anyway, not much these days makes me start plotting and planning on how Ima get it, but boy I did see this and salivate a little:

Chen Karlsson pendant lamp.

Love it or hate it, you know how much I enjoy putting things into other things (no, not like that, sicko). All I can think now is how enjoyable doing dishes would be with this guy casting away shadows above me.

What kind of treasure would you put in it? I think I'd like to somehow replicate our kitchen table set up in miniature with little dolls that look like Marc and me. Nice and creepy like The Dollhouse Murders. Anyone else remember that book?

Say, "Eh, I guess that'll do." to the dress!

2010-07-12T09:28:00.001-07:00

or, Unleashing my inner Bridezilla.

Ever since I announced Marc and I were engaged and planning our wedding, lots of people have jokingly joshed around about how I'm going to be such an insufferable diva, meaning--I hope--that they expect I'll actually be a pretty mellow bride. Even Marc got in on the act, calling me a Bridezilla when I timidly requested that we maybe not have our wedding on Sept. 11. It's been a pretty great compliment--but in a weird way a hard persona to live up to.

Hence the four-dress saga.

I even feel a little diva-ish writing about it, but people asked so here goes. I went shopping with my mom and, ignoring a longer, more formal dress, picked out what I thought I wanted: a short, sophisticated dress that to me said. "I am a grown up. And I am having a tasteful civil ceremony that has nothing to do with fairy princesses or enchanted magic or even Spanx." So that's how I ended up choosing this guy:

(imagine it minus cheesy sunglasses and sandals)

Back in Chicago, I took my friend Shannon to see the dress and get a second opinion before I ordered it. BUT. When we were at the store, she forced me to try on that longer, more formal dress I studiously ignored in the first place (this is a lie). It looked great on. I even thought about buying it and cutting it off into a short dress. I even dragged another bride-to-be friend to the and forced her to try it on for her wedding (this is not a lie). My insane-o logic was, "well, if I can't have it, somebody I know had better wear this to something so I can bask it its glorious presence." She wasn't having it.

Then what did I do? I ordered dress #1. Like a fool. Then, like a fool, I looked at the catalog that came with it and decided this dress (#2)...

...was just the swinging retro look I was going for. Plus that model is at least as pale as I am and she looks pretty alive-ish in it, right? And then I sat on it. For weeks. Of course, this dress was not available in stores, so I'd have to order it online to try it on. By the time I got around to ordering it, the dress was on sale (score!) but was non-returnable (burn!). So I ordered it anyway. Tried it on for my friends, and everyone was underwhelmed. Tried on trusty ole #1 and decided it wasn't as great as I thought. At this point it time, I have owned #1 too long to return it, so now I have two un-returnable dresses on my hands.

While trying it on, I thought of a vintage sundress (#3 but sort of doesn't count) I bought at a garage sale for $6 (and also wore as part of a Halloween costume in 2006). I tried it on for the friends, who decided this was the most "me" and most flattering dress of the lot. Ugh, of course. That works for me, but being a secret Bridezilla, I didn't know how excited I was about wearing a dress that I just happened to have and had already worn as a costume. I mean, maybe if Marc agreed to wear the Batman suit he'd donned that year...

Sorry, I don't have a picture of it, but it's very dance-contest Sandy from Grease:

I thought that if I Brigitte Bardot'd my hair all up and got a super poofy crinoline and just went all the way with the vintage look, I'd get more excited about it, but the whole thing felt sort of costume-y to me. Which got me thinking about that long, elegant dress from way back in the day.

Since I seem to be unable to make a definitive decision regarding anything clothing related, the smart thing seemed to be to go try it on again and see if I really loved it or just wanted what I didn't have. Of course. Of course, no store has the dress now. I know because I went to six places to try it on.

And then I went and found it on ebay and ordered it (Non-returnable. Of. Freaking. Course.)

I give you #4:

Thar she blows. We'll see if I'm still into her when she arrives.

So, not only have I given in to fairy princess, I've taken a couple of dresses hostage in the process. And I'm in full-blown indecisive diva glory. At least we know I won't be naked. Marc, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about. He's been joking that he's going to have to wear one of these babies because I may have just exhausted our wardrobe budget for the wedding.

Oh yeah, scoldings and suggestions (and offers for any of these lovely frocks) are more than welcome!

So, uh?

2010-07-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

Do you guys dust your baseboards regularly? I know it seems kind of gross, but it never seems to occur to me to do it when I'm cleaning and the very idea of scrubbing our entire apartment at ankle level makes me sleepy. I've been trying to do a room here and there, but how often do normal people clean their baseboard moldings?

I must know so I have an idea of just how inadequate I should feel.

Mo-om!

2010-07-07T07:28:00.001-07:00

Nowadays, when I go into work, I walk. So that means I've been talking to my mom on the phone. A lot. I've also become the world's most indecisive person when it comes to finding a dress to wear to my wedding. Seriously, I'm about five mouse-clicks away from acquiring my fourth dress. Of course, I have to call her to agonize over each one, and she's been super patient and just laughs along at my craziness. I guess she's just happy that I'm not waffling over the guy I'm marrying. That's about the only thing that could turn this silly ordeal into serious business.

ANYWAY, all of this is to say she's got the patience of a...I don't know...really mellowed-out animal or some sort of Biblical figure? Is it Job I'm reaching for here? A sloth? That doesn't seem right.

But yeah, she's patient, but only to a point. Recently:

Me: Mom? Hi, what's up? I bet you're getting sick of me calling every day, huh?

Mom: Good-natured laughing.

Me: Mo-om! You're supposed to say, "Oh no! Call as much as you need to. I love hearing from you."

Mom: Well, how long is this going to go on?

Ha, way to keep it real, Mom! I keep asking myself the same thing when it comes to all of the floaty white dresses that seem to be breeding in my already-too-small closet. Ugh. I'm never this wishy washy. And I look terrible in white.

Exposition!

2010-07-06T13:33:00.000-07:00

Maybe you've seen this, but since I love it more than Paul loves chicken tetrazzini and I love you even more still, I give you Catalog Living, a site that calls out catalog shots for their sometimes utterly nonsensical staging.

Here's just a mini taste:

"Gary and I have slept in separate beds for years, but last night he left me a tied-up stack of books on my foot-of-bed-bench. I think he’s in the mood."

"Elaine should have known better than to interrupt Gary during 'apple time.'"

Oh, Gary and Elaine. You may be my favorite couple since Alycia and Paul were split up by Dominique and her seductive chicken tetrazzini.

I may be a little bit obsessed with this site because we live right down the block from the building where Crate and Barrel and CB2 do their catalog shoots. I'm always poring over the latest catalogs to see if they include any window shots.

Like this one! Hey, that's my train stop! It kind of ruins the yuppie illusion when you know that right outside that window, there's a hooker just waiting to proposition Marc while he's out on a run and our street has potholes that could swallow a Honda Civic in one gulp.

But yeah, Catalog Living. It's funny! Funnier than this post, that's for damn sure.

Petticoat junction?

2010-06-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

Dear brilliant readers, do any of you know where I can try on/buy a tulle crinoline skirt in the Chicago area?

Can be new or vintage...I'm not in the mood to be picky.

Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance!

Oh, so it's summer now?

2010-06-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

Here's what I've been up to:

1. Not blogging.

2. Not taking enough pictures with my awesome new (geez, not that new anymore camera).

3. Obsessively playing Words with Friends

4. Freaking out over Erwin Olaf's photography.

5. Planning a mini wedding (in my head, it's a lot like a mini pony--cuter and easier to cram everything into a hatchback, but still capable of making a serious mess).

Actually, the whole wedding thing has been going really well so far (knock on wood). Both Marc and I have been blessed with super mellow families that are pretty much up for whatever and just want everyone to have a nice time. I know, right? So far, I have the dinner booked (hell-o, open bar!), my dress, invites, flowers picked out, a giant pile of vintage tablecloths and a cabinet full of tin cans and glass jars (I can expand on all that if anyone cares). It's--dare I say it--been lots of fun to plan. And my consolation is that if it's a giant mess and nothing goes right, who's going to say anything about that? It's not like your best friends and family are going to come to your wedding and tell you to your face that it was sort of lame and the cheescake was gross. But yeah, I hope everyone has fun...

More posting soon! Cross my heart!

What have y'all been doing?

I wouldn't have it any other way

2010-05-10T22:53:00.000-07:00

Sigh. Is there a better equation than vintage Disney animation + Grizzly Bear? You would probably think, "Hell yes!" But that's before you watch this video.

Levek - Shift(GB A Cappella Cover) from David Levesque on Vimeo.

Take the time to watch it. It'll make your day prettier. Way to be, David Levesque.

P.S. Related: Bougy/Bisous digs up the classic 'Once Upon A Wintertime.'

Sprung

2010-05-06T06:52:00.000-07:00

Just trying to clear my head. Real flowers would be bad for these allergies, but I love the fresh colors.

Also, I'm trying to ignore the fact that I've been having romantic dreams about Capt. Jim Brass from CSI.

I hope everybody had a great Cinco de Mayo! I made a kind of Mexican lasagna with tortillas and salsa instead of noodles and ricotta. It was...not bad at all.

The sartorial Bible of Emma Pillsbury

2010-05-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

'Member back when I was having fits over the wardrobe of Glee's Emma Pillsbury?

Well, now that season 2 is on, a like-minded thinker (aka a genius) has launched What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear?, a site dedicated to Jayma Mays' costumes.

The site is awesome because, along with sourcing a lot of her adorable outfits, it has all sorts of fun reader-contributed Emma-esque looks. And by awesome I mean TROUBLE. And by trouble I mean for my wallet. Sigh.

In heaven everything is fine

2010-04-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gents, I'm way excited to let you know that The Big Heist, the Etsy shop my friend Shannon and I run (and I have been sorely neglecting since the Vintage Bazaar) will have a booth at Heaven Gallery's Vintage Heaven this Sunday (here's a little interview with us) in Wicker Park!

The event goes down on Saturday too, but we'll be there all monster-truck-rally-style on SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! Well, I can't say we'll be there. Sadly, I have to go out of town for work, but Shan is going to hold down the fort.

She's great. So great, in fact, she was patient enough to go wedding dress shopping with me yesterday. Whereupon we discovered that I am not an Ultimate Bride and I should just go with the first dress I tried on that I liked in the first store I visited over the weekend. I hope if I post pictures here after the fact you all aren't thinking, "Uch. She shoulda looked longer. Who does she think she is? Stevie Nicks in that thing? What's going on with those dolman sleeves?" We shall seeee.

Anyway, come say hi if you're around! It looks like a lot of the other vendors will be selling some seriously amazing vintage clothing, so maybe it's for the best (cash flow-wise) that I'm not around all that awesomeness. We have lots of new housewares that aren't up in the shop yet (this is the spot for you if you're looking for bell jars. I'm going through an intense cloche phase these days).

Mom-isms 2: Hans Johansen's revenge

2010-04-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

I spent a fun-packed weekend with my mom (Happy birthday!). We had a great time eating angel food cake, wedding dress shopping, catching a movie and finding some great scores at Midland Arts & Antiques Market. I love you, mom. You're so cool!

But it wouldn't be mom time if there weren't some great mom-isms.

1)While watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (the fact that my parents enjoy a very crass show about the most selfish, horrible people on earth--no judgment, I do too!--is another topic for another day):

Dee, who is played by Caitlin Olson, comes on screen

Stepdad: I can't believe that's one of the Olsen twins.

Me: No, she's not! Where did you hear that?

Stepdad: Well, that's what your mom told me.

Mom, walking into the room: Can you believe that's Mary-Kate Olsen? She doesn't even look the same!

2) Listening to the 90s station on XM Radio, Ice Ice Baby Comes on. You know how in the beginning, Vanilla Ice goes, "Yo, VIP! Let's Kick it!"? My mom busts out with, "Don't. Be. A. Pig. Let's kiss it!"

3) If you have an iphone, it's likely you're obsessed with Words With Friends. I know I am (look me up, girl. M&A Dept!). My mom is up in there too. But she's decided to abbreviate the name of the game, so she'll be all, "Hey honey? Have you played me back on We're Friends yet?" So adorable.

Mom, if you're reading this, you're the best! Thanks for all of the fun we had this weekend and for all of your wedding-related help and advice. You're the only person who could convince me to read (and annotate) a bridal magazine, and your excitement makes all the planning fun. You also make really delicious eggs and know about all the best hair products. Love you lots!

A staunch character

2010-04-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

In my head, this is where I'll be kicking it today. There are two chairs, so you're welcome to join me. You might not want to if you're tall cause it looks like you might bang your head on the pretty pendant.

But really, I'm in pollen-explosion hell.

P.S. I think we found a little reception-dinner-thingy venue! I'm not going to say where and jinx it, but I'm meeting with the lady today.

Top of the muffin to you!

2010-04-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

Last week, I went to the Gap to buy some jeans, which is crazy because I almost never wear jeans and I almost never buy anything from the Gap that's not on Sale. What? Everything seems to eventually go on sale there. But, I read Nicole from Making it Lovely's recommendation about their forever skinny midrise jeans. She's not kidding. They're super cute and totally eliminate any sort of muffin-top issue.

So that's nice and all. Definitely great to go into a store a buy the first two pairs of jeans you try on without sighing or crying or whatever. I was so happy, I ended up buying these adorables:

But in a prettier marigold color. A tip: At stores (at least in Chicago), they're on sale for $24. See what I was saying about the full-price thing? And you know how super-flat sandals are usually really hard and stiff when you first get them and you feel like you're walking around with a roof shingle strapped to your foot for a few weeks? Not these. They're really soft and bendy and super comfortable.

Buying them has got me pairing marigold up with lots of colors--and it's quite striking. I'm really into marigold and purple. Ooh, but a magenta--or turquoise--would be nice too.
Anyway, clearly I've got marigold on the brain, and now I want to buy these and be super a super matchy-matchy dork.

Come on! How pretty are those colors together?

Eur-so crazy!

2010-04-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

A visit to Eurobad '74 is definitely worth your time. One quick click and you're immersed in a world of Europe's worst interiors, circa 1974.

Some gems:

Are you happy to see me, or is that just a horse in your kitchen?

Ahh! Get out of here! What do you think this is, The Shining?

Well, it's good to see little Billy's Oedipal Complex is blossoming right on time!

As is, apparently, my Smoked-lucite shelving complex. Pretty, pretty. WANT!

All of these images--and more!--are brought to you by Omodern. Stop by for the Ronald McDonaldtastic mustard bidets, stay for the frightening blue dog-fur duvet set! Where can I register for that? Huh?

Engaged in some marrymaking

2010-04-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

It's super weird for me to be as writer's-blocked as I have been for the last few months. I thought at first I'd just go with it and let myself have some time to ramp up to writing new posts and keeping in touch. That doesn't seem to be working at all, since this corner of the web is about as dusty and neglected as the top of my fridge.

So I think I'm going to have to put myself on a schedule and post something up here every day...at least until I get my blogging discipline back.

It's not that there's nothing happening. Tons, actually:

1. I turned--gulp--30. I guess since I put this out there on the Internet, there's no lying about my age option anymore.
2. My reward from Marc for making it to my fourth decade was a sweet-ass Nikon SLR camera. I guess this means I'll have to challenge myself to take nice pictures and post them here. I guess this also means the old Minolta is staying at the suburban Steak N' Shake indefinitely.
3. Oh yeah...Marc and I also got engaged. On my birthday on the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier! It was wonderful and fun and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world these days.

...so I suppose that means I could torture you loyal readers who still check back from time to time and turn this into an OMFGWEDDING! blog. But I promise not to...well, not too much anyway.

Seriously, though. Our plan is to have a lil' civil service ceremony at the Chicago Cultural Center ($10, yo!), followed by a nice cocktail party reception for some family and friends. Not janky, but not break-the-bank expensive, either. If anyone has any tips or suggestions, give them to me. I'm begging! I've called about 10 restaurants and go through my spiel about doing this without picking up a bridal magazine or attending a wedding expo, and just when I think the event coordinator gets it, he or she starts trying to give me vendor information for lighting technicians, aisle decorators and trolley rental services.

It's really starting to freak me out. So much so that, in the face of wrangling so many vendors and writing a big old stack of checks, committing my life to one special person seems like a piece of (tiered, overpriced) cake.

Caravan

2010-04-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

Did you read and love Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl like I did when I was a wee lass?

God, I adored that book. And this caravan is exactly how I pictured Danny and his father's home (minus piles and piles of semi-conscious pheasants, of course). I want to retreat to this cozy little home for a week.

Dudes, it's up!

2010-04-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

If you need a good handyman in Chicago, boy do I have one for you! As soon as this sucker was lit, he exclaimed, "Ay! It's like Christmas!"

For those of you who have ever had dinner at our place, no the cat usually isn't allowed on the table. I was just caught up in the wonderment of my holly jolly lightshow.

Is there a ghost in my house?

2010-04-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm being a baby because I was home alone last night, but this was a little creepy, guys.

So, last night I lit a few tea lights to add some ambiance as I plowed through the bulk of the first season of Dexter (maybe not the best idea). I blew them out around 11:30 and went to bed a little after midnight.

When I woke up this morning (full disclosure: I'm a HUGE baby and slept on the couch), one of the candles was burning. Creeeeepy. I know I blew them out (that's what she said) and there's no way a puny tea light could burn for seven hours, right? And I would have noticed it burning when I fell asleep in the dark. Oh yeah, and I just checked. The candle in question has a good amount of wax left to burn...the same as the other candles that were only lit for about 90 minutes.

So are we thinking ghost? Ice truck killer hiding under my bed and biding his time? Or did the wick somehow smolder for hours and then amazingly re-light itself at some point this morning? Please tell me scenario C is the case and you've all had this happen to you a million times.

Somebody needs to dazzle me with some marvels of science talk to put me at ease.

It's aMAZEing!?!

2010-03-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

So last week, everybody got their new CB2 catalogs with these plant-holding grids on the cover.

Which is causing maje waves in my tiny community of people I talk to on the phone. So it's a pretty big deal that two people called up to discuss it: when they're buying it, where they're going to put it and all that jazz.

They're pretty neat, I have to say. And after three trips to the Smart Home to examine the vertical gardens and then immediately pester Marc about building me one (or six, same diff), this seems like a neat and easy solution. Except, not to be a huge dork or a downer, I don't think all those plants are air plants. A bunch of them look suspiciously like old fashioned succulents that need their dirt.

What do you all think? Is this something that would look good for a week, then start to get all mangy? What if you really did fill it with tillandsias? What then?

Speaking of outdoor-ish things, I'm pretty into these zinc planters from Crate and Barrel. They're big, dramatic and most importantly, pretty darn cheap.

Why yes, I would pay $10 for this guy to hang out on the rail of my deck.

I'm really into all of these charcoal planters. Maybe if I plop a few out back, it will look more Zen garden and less gravel pit (not that there's anything wrong with the Wu Tang Clan, mind you).

Teeny tiny tighty whities

2010-03-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

This is what you get when you are an exceptional mini-bowler in Wisconsin.

Way to go, Marc! (Bowling alias: E. Bola. I was Fawn Knutsen.)

Say cheese!

2010-03-19T05:03:00.000-07:00

Gang, I'm making my maiden voyage to Milwaukee tomorrow. I know the art museum is supposed to be off the chain, but are there any other must-dos?

It's a quick trip, but I'm determined to make the most of it.

La la la. It's time to overshare!

2010-03-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

About 137 years ago, Designer's Brew tagged me in a meme I promised to fill out promptly. And, see, I did. I just never posted it because of the inertia and all that.

So, after little ado and much inaction, I present you with little-known, sorta-interesting facts about moi!

Most appalling nickname you've ever been called:

Canklestache. This stemmed from a (most likely drunken) conversation I had with some friends about how sometimes I get self conscious about not being self conscious enough about certain things. Does that even make sense? Like, maybe all this time I'm worrying about my posture, I should be focusing on the fact I have cankles and never even noticed (I really don't think I do...but do I?). Example: Every time I get my eyebrows waxed, the lady asks if I want my upper lip done too...Uhhh. See, I'm fair haired and fair skinned. I've never bleached or waxed. Do I need to? Is this something I need to add to the worry list, right after "stop looking like Wednesday Addams since your old boss gave you bronzer as a gift?"

I was fretting about it and thus was given the name Canklestache. I love it. It's a mess and so am I.

P.S. Both my mom and boyfriend are on lady-mustache duty henceforth. But you all have to tell me if I have one or, erm, lipstick on my teeth. Just let me stay in the dark about my cankles.

Most appalling nickname for your pet(s):
Nothing too crazy. What's appalling is that I like to make up rap jams about my cats, O&H. To wit:

Kittyfornia Love
(to the tune of "California Love" by 2Pac (featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) (chorus only) (I like parenthetical phrases, as long as we're being honest here))))

Otis and his brother Harvey/
Ooootis and his brother Harvey/
In the city of Chicago/
Keep on scratchin'/
Keep on meowin'.

Yeah.
The next one is an original tune. All I've got so far is:
Otis and Harvey/
Sippin' on Bacardi/
Crinkly toys full of catnip/
They know how to rock a party.

Also, when they fight, which is daily, I like to swat away the victor and console the defeated cat by singing a few bars of "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera, to make him feel better. Words (or claws) can't bring them down!

Holy shit, I'm insane.

Working from home is only making things worse.

Famous people you follow on Twitter because you secretly wish you were friends with them (please, don't pretend you don't):

Danny DeVito (he's often drunk and typically only posts pictures of his foot in different locales. It's awesome.) and Lindsay Lohan. But I'm probably so dorky I'm following a fake one. A LoSham, if you will.

Radio song you suspect you ought to have better taste than to sing along to (but do anyway):
"Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga. I will also always sing along to "Feel Like Makin' Love" by Bad Company any day.

Favorite celebrity gossip source:
What Would Tyler Durden Do. I have no idea why. I think he makes me feel self righteous in my anger at his misogyny in somesuch gender studies senior thesis way. Or, it's the only site I have bookmarked.

Best back-handed compliment you've ever received:
"Wow your hair looks really cute today. It didn't look nearly as nice yesterday."--Bronzer boss

OR

"Your boyfriend is really cute. You need to lock that down." Yes, I am well aware I'm the reacher here.

Secret fantasy career:
Peg Bundy

Free Pass Five:

Joseph Gordon Levitt, Newsies-era Christian Bale, Dave Grohl, James Franco, your mom

Body part you feel you are justifiably vain about:
My non-cankles, dammit!

Unacceptable slang/profanity you cannot stop yourself from using:
I'm a "that's what she said" ultra dork. I even keep track of the best:
A friend when parallel parking: "I think you're in. You just have to move it back and forth a bit."
Boyfriend, when making a toasty beverage: "Looks like this is my last tea bag."

I also say "goddamn it!" sometimes.

Most inappropriate nickname for a former love interest:
Sideshow...as in Sideshow Bob. Nice guy, but all my friends hated him and refused to acknowledge him as just Bob. I still think of him as good ole Sideshow.

Most inappropriate nickname for someone else's love interest:
Hmm…not really sure. Probably just, “ugh, that ass? you're still dating him?”

There you have it. It's confirmed that I'm a horrible spaz. I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you want to do this, I'll add your name right here! Neat.

Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society

2010-03-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Hello, yous!

I have been so absent and so inert when it comes to this blog (and wearing pants that don't have an elastic waist).

It's really interesting what having a job that requires you to make your own schedule does to you. On one hand, it's incredibly awesome. I can grab my computer the second I wake up and basically get going. No need (on some days) for pesky things like breakfast and the brushing of the teeth that comes after that. On the other hand, with so much freedom comes the danger of slacking on everything except work. Such as, ahem, blogging.

Now that I've sort of started to settle into things, I've found new ways to coach myself to live a more "normal" existence. It doesn't matter that my motivators are things like: "I need to get dressed so the UPS guy doesn't see me in these red pajama pants three days in a row." and "I need to go out and run some errands so I have stories to tell Marc when he comes home that aren't an hour-by-hour rundown of the cats' napping schedules." Hence, the blogging again.

Plus, I've started going on appointments and meeting my clients, which is so very fun. I basically get to visit people in their awesome shops or studios, learn what they're all about and find ways to help them.

So anyway, thanks everyone for being patient with me and my inertia. Would you believe I still haven't gone to Steak N' Shake to fetch my camera? But hey, at least I'm all showered up today.

OH, and I almost forgot about the title of this grovel-y post! So, Marc was out of town this weekend, and I'm a total baby about sleeping in an empty apartment. It was bad enough that I'd just finished re-reading World War Z last week. I was up every hour listening for creaks and moan. BUT, I was wise enough to opt not to watch a movie about zombie Nazis. Instead I got my spooks from running through old episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark?. Do you know most of that shit is up on Youtube? Oh, nostalgia!

I'm a hyper hypo

2010-02-25T07:07:00.000-08:00

Until I go back to Steak N' Shake to fetch my camera, we're going to chat a bit more about the bazaar.

Just a quick note that Heliopsis,one of the vendors that will be in effect on Sat., has been on the scene like Veronica Corningstone, interviewing a bunch of the vendors who will be peddling their wares this weekend. Stop on over to get a great idea of who will be there and what to expect.

Such a great service, but It's making me nervous that I'm going to want to do more shopping than selling.

Wet blanket

2010-02-23T08:05:00.001-08:00

Ok, so if you happen to stop by my house these days, it looks like a museum shop and an old lady's basement just exploded and had trinket babies everywhere. Amassing work samples + pulling out all the business for the bazaar + little wadded up paper towels covered in Goo Gone = a whole lot of chaos jammed into 1,000 square feet. And oh! The boxes! Our entire back hallway is waist deep in boxes. I have half a mind to give them to the guy who lives in under the viaduct down the street, but he's had one too many trashcan fire get out of control this winter. On this point I'm serious. The whole right side of the underpass is now sooty black, and I smell like a campfire every time I pass through. I'm afraid someone's bound to get hurt, whether it's Mr. Resident, some tragic Metra riders or some innocent Urban Remains shoppers.

Anywhoodle, in prepping for the bazaar, I attempted to take two boiled-wool blankets to the drycleaner last night, so they would be all clean and fresh for their (potential) new homes. The lovely lady working (shout out to Wicker Park Cleaners) helpfully informed me that I could wash the blankets in my very! own! machine! The trick is to use lukewarm then cold water and let the machine fill up with soap and water before adding the blanket.

Thanks, buddy! Such a great moneymaking tip. BUT. And there always is a pretty big one, isn't there? I have to hang them up to line dry, which means I'll be adding wet animal smell to the lovely melange of crap I have going on right now. Lemons to lemonade: Will it be a dietary aid?

Welp, the first blanket is set to come out of the washer right now. If anyone's interested, I can provide updates on shrinkage and/or stinkage.

* If it has to look like a shop, these pictures are what I really, really wish my house looked like maintenant (via Design*Sponge).

How bazaar

2010-02-22T07:26:00.000-08:00

Lest this blog turn into pictures of dudes holding cats, here's some news you can use:

The Vintage Bazaar

It's THIS Saturday! It's going to be awesome! Beer and jams will be there. I will be there, and so will some seriously awesome vendors. I'm really hoping this doesn't turn into New York Gift Show Part Deux, in which I buy so much stuff I offset any sort of profit or gain or whatever.

If you're planning to attend, come say hi to us at The Big Heist. We have so much stuff that's not posted in the Etsy shop. Seriously, guys. I've been hoarding like I belong on A&E.

Note: I would take pictures to preview some of my loot, but I recently discovered I left my camera at a Steak N' Shake in Rosemont, IL. Party down.

Well, hello sailor!

2010-02-19T05:57:00.001-08:00

Justin Peddycoart:How I paid my rent by thrifting.

Oooh, and he's a pretty cute cat guy too...

No one to blame but laziness

2010-02-18T17:30:00.001-08:00

Isn't it sad that it takes me two weeks to recover from being out of town for a week?

Rest assured, I have so much more to say, but I'm just digging out. Topics include painting my front door, beer, old things and my newly discovered love for swan planters. Sorry this post is the blog equivalent of a sitcom clip show. I know it's super weak sauce.

Talk to you guys soon!

In my orbit

2010-02-03T16:53:00.000-08:00

This

= mine. At half price!

(I still owe Design Crisis props for bringing this light fixture into my world.)

Absentee blogging

2010-02-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

Hey gang! I miss you like the deserts miss the rain.

I so, so promise to put my nose back to the grindstone as soon as I get back from the gift show in New York. It's been a busy, busy, fun, busy time. In the sad meantime, I'm letting someone else do the reporting for me: where I've been and how I'm (mostly) staying out of trouble.

P.S. Thumbs down to Old Navy low-rise tights. I've been attempting to navigate the streets--and booths--of New York in you, but it's tough when I feel like Marky Mark sagging some Calvins (sans amazing abs). Seriously, every step I took I was trying to surreptitiously yank up my tights without somehow giving myself an atomic wedgie (TMI?). I figure a little inadvertent flashing in the big apple is par for the course.

I got 5 on it

2010-01-22T07:46:00.001-08:00

If anyone is just tuning in, here's the second half of the 10 things that make me happy that I began yesterday.

Obviously, there's tons more I could write about (Craigslist, Red Bull, Harold and Maude, Papa John's pizza, "that's what she said" jokes, Intervention, but I think that's all been pretty well documented in my real life or my online life here on my Internet diary friend).

On to the list...

5. Belgian beer. I can't drink it too often because I need my clothes to fit. But it's so delicious. One of my favorite Saturdays is when we go to beer school at the Map Room.

It's getting really popular, so it's sold out the last few times we've tried to attend. But really, what's better than drinking and learning?

4. Terrariums. My love for plants has also been well documented on this site, but I'm adding them again because they're so important to my well-being.

I love having bursts of life around the house--especially in the winter. It makes everything somehow feel more fresh and alive.

3. This is kind of a two-for-one entry: My co-workers and snacks.

They spelled my name out in donuts for my last day at my current job. Everyone wants their name spelled in lights, but pastries suit me just fine! How literally/figuratively sweet is this?

2. While I'll miss a lot about my job, I'm super excited to kick things off here. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity; it's basically a dream job for me. Plus, everyone has been so nice so far, and I can't wait to be working with some crazy gorgeous stuff.

1. And finally, the three amigos, the main guys in my life: Otis, Harvey and Marc.

They're the cutest, most fun roommates ever...even if they have their faults (howling incessantly at 3 am, digging up plants, being a finicky eater, respectively). They're the best trio in the world to come home to every day!

I'm going to tag someone else today too! Jess at The Wife of an Artist, you're up!

Lucky 10

2010-01-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

Erin at the fabulous Design Crisis tagged me to round up ten things that make me happy. Right now, I'm wrapping up things at my current job all while learning the ropes for my new gig,which involves a big gear switch and two trade shows in the next week. So things have been more than a little hectic for the past two weeks or so. Adding this round up as just one more task to my gigantico to-do list almost sent me over the edge...until I started doing it.

Seriously, so much drama is making me focus on all the irritating things such as the fact that if I don't do laundry tonight, my swimwear is going to have to pull double duty as undergarments. Which in turn makes me think about cellulite remedies, which drives me to the kitchen in search of chocolate. Good God, I am such a Cathy cartoon these days.

Anywhoodle, taking stock of what makes me sigh and smile is much more therapeutic than dwelling on everything that makes my shoulders hunch up and my left eye twitch. Thanks, Erin. I needed this!

Ok, here goes. I made a point to not make this all about food. It was tough.

10. Indian food. With lots of Naan in particular. I'm craving it like whoa.

9. Grenada tiles.

Love love love. I would possibly tile my bed and my sofa in some of these patterns. And I think a lot of the appeal of these is their old-worldliness. Mostly, they make me want to take a trip to Greece or Turkey.

8. Design Vagabond. Great design blog from an industrial designer who manages to find awesome stuff that's not reported on other sites ad nauseum.

Here's an example post on wonderful Crudo ceramics.

7. Writers who are so hilarious they make me laugh so hard I forget to be jealous. I'm thinking of Tula from Whorange and April Winchell at Regretsy. Those two are always good for a pick-me-up.

6. Speaking of bloggers, I am madly in love with this Patrick Townsend Orbit Light (in white) and am determined to get with it and hang it somewhere fabulous in my house.

I never knew how badly I wanted it in my life before I saw it on DC, so thanks for that, ladies. And thanks for making me cheer myself up today.

This is so fun I'm going to stretch it into two posts--top 5 to come tomorrow.

Even though I'm only halfway done, I'm tagging Melina at Owl and Peacock. And I'm expecting at lest one cheese-related entry.

Yo la tengo

2010-01-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the general quietness around here...busy times, folks.

That's why I'm going to rewind and talk about stuff that happened almost a month ago! Santa got it all wrong this year and thought I was good enough to deserve some seriously awesome Christmas gifts. Here are some snaps of the shelf I really, really wanted.

I think it's doing an superb job of housing some of the crap I drag home on an almost-daily basis.

You can also see another jazzy gift peeking out of the corner of this picture.

My parents were so thoughtful and got me this wonderful mini tabletop photo studio thing that includes some great lights, a itsy-bitsy tripod, a light tent and an assortment of different colored backdrops. The cats are really enjoying naps in the light tent, but the tabletop lights alone have been worth it for photographing things for the shop. Such a sweet gift!

Mercury rising

2010-01-13T11:55:00.001-08:00

I'm not a regular reader of Martha Stewart Living, but a friend passed along a recent(?) issue...I'm not sure. I ripped the cover off after I spilled a glass of water all over it and I can't remember what month the spine says it's from. Also, I just found the sad, wrinkly, water-damaged magazine wedged between my bed and the wall the other night.

So yeah, clearly, I'm not reading Queen Martha. She'd have my ass whipped into better shape than this. Also of note: the bottom of my purse has been dusted with that sweet n' sour Sour Patch Kids sugar for about a month. Every day, it makes my futile hunt for chapstick a little more grainy and delicious.

ANYWAY. This issue has some neat stuff (I ignored everything about moving my fridge and cleaning behind it and bathing your cats. You so crazy, Martha!) like making moss terrariums in jars. Also this:

Looks fancy and classy. But in reality is easy. (Kind of like your mom--oooh BURN!)

I guess to make your old glass vases look like mercury glass, you can buy this faux-glass spraypaint, apply it to the insides of the vases or jars or whaevs and then spritz with some water to give it an--you know what? Forget it. We're all better off just getting the directions from Martha. She says:

"Clean your vase or votive then cover the exteriors with paper. Spray the interiors lightly with water and then with mirror paint. Turn upside down to dry overnight and then repeat if too sheer. When finished, if you want to use it for flowers, just make sure to put them in a glass and then place glass in vase."

I'm thinking I just might try this. I just have to make sure not to use the water bottle that has fish emulsion mixed in it (let's just say living with an orchid is not easy).

Has anybody tried this? Is it, in fact, a Good Thing?

Cabin fever: A breakdown

2010-01-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

Winter makes me want everything to be about 37% percent more charming and rustic than it really is.

Dirty snow and salt-encrusted shoes all over my hardwood floors make real life about 12% less marvelous. Runny noses and chapped lips further tip the scale 25% in the direction of blah.

Today, I'm taking a photo vacation to even things out.

P.S. I came into the office this weekend to clean out my giant drawer of shoes. Things* just got real.

*I am a lady and therefore am not using a swear word two posts in a row. Watchy me as I curtsy and drink my can of Red Bull with my pinky finger extended!

Lanford represent!

2010-01-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Holy shit!

Everybody needs to gather 'round the computer with their loose meat sandwiches and read Third and Delaware, a blog 100% dedicated to the sartorial choices of Roseanne and the rest of the Conners family.

And, oh yes, the giant chicken t-shirt is addressed.

Dan and Crystal and Jackie and lil DJ and Darlene and Beckies I and II, oh my!

Take it away, Lionel!*

2010-01-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the times that you've given me/ The memories are all in my mind/
And now that we've come to the end of our rainbow/
There's something I must ~~say out loud~~ type on my blog...

You're once,

Twice,

Three times a lady

And I love you. (imagine me whispering this part) I love you.

Ok, that wasn't creepy at all.

I'm just musing here that I'd really like some portraits** to hang up in my house. A friend of mine has these awesome, huge portraits of her mom and her aunt astride horses that she won't hang up because she's afraid she'll scare off any boys that come to her apartment. Ugh so jealous. Those would be up in my kitchen or somewhere awesome in a heartbeat.

Maybe I can pry this Carly Simon-esque 70s-era painting of my mom from my grandma one of these days (yes, that is Mrs. Hans Johansen herself).

* Last night, I watched a documentary that included commentary from a Dr. Lionel Tiger. Holy awesome name! See? He's real!
** To Marc: Not so fast. Paintings of sad clowns don't count.

All my metaphors fell flat

2010-01-06T14:59:00.000-08:00

Lookit! They're blooooooming.

And the one time a cat went up and nosed around, it cause a flower to burst open in bloom right in front of us. Mystical magical.

Anyway, you want to hear a story about about a chat I had with my mom? Ok.

We were in her adorable little mom-car (she was being nice enough to roll with me to Frankfort to buy old stuff) when this happened:

Mom: What are you doing for New Year's Eve?
Me: We're going to see Jens Lekman at the Empty Bottle.
Mom: Oh. I don't think I know him. But that sounds nice.
Me: Yeah, should be fun.
Mom: Hey, do you like that guy Hans Johansen?
Me: Um. Never heard of him.
Mom: Oh yeah? He's on Pandora all the time when I listen to Dave Matthews.
Me: Weird. Yeah, I can't say I've heard of him.

about a minute passes...

Me: WAIT. Are you talking about Jack Johnson?
Mom: Oh yeah, that's him! I like that guy.

Bye guys! Have a great snowy Wednesday night.

The original Just Do It

2010-01-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, a little group of us took a trip to the Art Institute (apparently everyone else had the same idea; the place was packed). I was most excited to check out the new modern wing and Apostles of Beauty.

On the way to all that, however, we stopped by a little set of rooms that houses a retrospective of James Castle, a largely untrained, deaf artist from rural Idaho. Castle never learned sign language or lip reading, so his art was his primary means of communication.

His work is wonderful in its own right. I'm in love with how pieces that are so rustic can depict such futuristic and wildly imaginative scenes. But there's something else extra special about Castle.

The museum has more than 200 pieces of his work on display. Castle worked with all sorts of found materials--food cartons, old letters, envelopes--and a combination of soot and spit and natural dye as mediums. Not only was he resourceful, the materials and sheer number of pieces made it seem as if he couldn't not make art.

Like he was absolutely compelled to create.

I can think of so many times I put off projects because I don't have the right stuff--I need another canvas or I don't like the fabric I have on hand or I should buy fancier paper. But this guy didn't stop. Couldn't stop. It was so wonderful to see all of his work preserved. So I'm using his perseverance to inspire me to stop stalling and hemming and hawing and just get on with it already.

Thanks for the new year push, James!

Whoops

2010-01-04T17:58:00.000-08:00

I forgot to blog. Holidays + houseguests + general life shake-ups have taken up big chunks of time.

But I'm here, keepin' on keepin' on/truckin'/it real.

And I promise to be back with actual interesting-ish content tomorrow.

In the meantime, why don't you tell us all a joke?

Entertain yourselves, my dears

2009-12-23T09:32:00.000-08:00

Gang, I'm off to take a blog-cation, so posting here may be sparse until early January. In my time off, I'm looking forward to hanging out with my family, seeing some old friends, traveling across state lines with two yowling cats, picking up some awesome stuff for the shop in swingin' Frankfort, Indiana, getting thisclose to Jens Lekman on New Year's Eve and I hope having a generally fun, relaxing time. (Megabus rides and all)

I'll miss you all terribly, but we'll be reunited soon. Auld Lang Syne and All That Jazz.

Here are some links to keep you off the streets and out of trouble:

Up until now, I had no idea I needed turquoise and yellow shoes quite so badly.

Is it worth it to throw a party just so I can use these invitations?

Isn't it interesting how we make the same our own?

'Tis the season for home-made NyQuil.

Up goes the Hancock!

I think somehow, someone eavesdrops on my life. (Plus, eavesdrop? What a great word!)

A personal Rorschach Test. I could look at these for, like, a whole 1/2 hour.

See you in 2010!

(images via Magnum)

At home with Benita

2009-12-22T07:24:00.000-08:00

It's a holiday miracle! House tours are back with an absolutely charming turn around Benita Larsson's suburban Stockholm house. Benita is the crafty mastermind behind Chez Larsson, which was quite deservedly named one of The Times Online's top 50 design bloggers.

I mean, seriously. Check out this sugar cube Empire State Building she just constructed.

So I asked Benita a few questions about her home and style, and this is what she had to say:

How long have you lived in your home, and why did you choose it? We've lived here for a little over eleven years. We chose it because there was an opportunity to swap our inner city apartment for it. Plus a lot of money, of course.

How did you become involved/interested in decor and design?
Even as a little girl my favorite pastime was to rearrange and organize the furniture in my room and I knew I wanted to be in a creative field. I applied to be an interior design trainee at the head offices at IKEA when I was twenty and then stayed on for another couple of years to gain more experience.

How would you describe your style and is there anyone/anything that has inspired you?
You would probably describe it as Scandinavian but I like to just call it simple and comfortable. I'm inspired by lots of things like American east coast architecture, shaker style, mid century modern designers, Finnish design (I was born in Finland) and then there's Martha of course. As a person she has inspired me tremendously although style wise I'm more in tune with her younger crew's style.

Has your look evolved over the years? If so, how?
When my husband Martin and I met over twenty years go and set up home together we had a junkier style than we do now :) . We still reuse, repurpose and remake old things but then we had a more vintage and industrial vibe going on with stuff in their original and scuffed state. It took me quite a few years to convince Martin that white was the way to go but now he's really into our bright-white-with-a-bit-of-color-palette.

What's your favorite part of your home? Your least favorite?
I love the light that pours in everywhere when there's daylight to be had (not a lot of that to be had half of the year over here unfortunately). My least favorite part is the bathroom situation. The bathroom is in the center of the house in the basement without any natural light.

What's your next project?
We need to replace part of the siding of the exterior of our house and repaint it. I'm hoping to get to it in the spring. Also there are always windows to be painted, holes to dig, stuff to organize, things to sew. It's never-ending and I love (most of) it.

(ah! this kitchen is straight out of my dreams. containers all over the place! ahem, but neatly organized and all that.)

Where are the best places you find treasures for your homes?
Our basement used to be a great place to find stuff because the previous owners left quite a few things that we remade and used. We rarely buy furniture off-the-rack but instead build our own so I'd say the lumberyard and DIY store are our best sources.

Any good backstories on an object in your home or element of your home?
When I ripped out the under side of the little porch roof to renovate it I found the label of the dynamite that they used to level the ground when they built the house in 1937. I love stuff like that, that dirty little stub with coarse brown string really made me reflect on the people who built our neighborhood back then. Our neighborhood is an area of government enabled self builds which was a very novel thing back then. Workers with often large families who lived in tiny one room apartments in the city where overwhelmed at the large (700 square feet..) houses with central heating and running water they built themselves and were able to move into. Gives you a different perspective on things...

Benita says she finds inspiration reading Door Sixteen and Making it Lovely. Thanks so much, Benita! This was a great early holiday treat!

As always, I'd love to feature your home right here! Let me know if you're interested.

What I got for Christmas Solstice

2009-12-21T07:06:00.000-08:00

Say what?

Yes, not X-marks-the-spot-day yet, but Marc and I did our little gift exchange this weekend since we will be traveling to several exotic Midwest locales this week. What's up, Louisville? Hat tip, Indianapolis.

On Saturday, accompanied by some Sufjan holiday jams and some hot spiced cider, we tore into some presents. All ribbons and bows were promptly placed on sleeping cats. Where they stayed in place for HOURS. We have LAZY cats.

So, you want to see what I got/gave?

We had a kind of wishy-washy budget of $50, but I think both of us went a teensy bit over...ah well. It worked in keeping things relatively low-key I think.

He got her:

A very pretty etched glass ornament I'd been fawning over just last weekend. Unlike the one pictured, mine is clear glass and prettier, but they don't seem to have it online.

Somebody reads the blog. I also received a very awesome 2010 rooster tea towel calendar from P.O.S.H. that is also not on their website. Sad face.

Loop candelabra, which is really a vote of confidence in my book. Marc is always afraid I'm going to burn the house down with candles, so this just gives me another chance to prove him wrong (fingers crossed). Also a great gift because I'd love to have three of this to link together, so he's all set for upcoming gifts.

Le Foret eco-keepsake notecards. Definitely needed and notecards he won't feel weird about using either.

I am a very lucky lady.

She got him:

Heather grey houndstooth cardigan. I was into the elbow patches. Plus, we all know how I'm feeling about h-tooth these days, right?

Plaid tie. Again, exact one isn't on the site, but there are options.

Set of custom M&A (mergers and acquisitions?) napkin rings, thanks to the awesome gift guides from Design Crisis. They're nautical and masculine, right?

The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles. Marc loves his bikes, and this book is full of gorgeous bike ~~porn~~ photography.

Plus one more little mystery present to come...

Happy Solstice, gang!

What's going on with you?

Whatever gets you through the night

2009-12-16T13:46:00.001-08:00

Cat Narnia: The little bulbs are starting to grow!

Here are some daytime shots

So far, so good. But I have been yelling at one cat when he even looks at that table. I think it's confusing him.

Also, here is a picture that just makes me happy:

(Look at his rickety little legs!!!)

So I walked into a hotel in the Peruvian countryside about three years ago (which I admit sounds a little like, "So I'm rappelling down Mount Vesuvius when suddenly I slip, and I start to fall. Just falling, ahh ahh, I'll never forget the terror. When suddenly I realize 'Holy shit, Hansel, haven't you been smoking Peyote for six straight days, and couldn't some of this maybe be in your head?'")...and there is a baby deer scampering around the lobby! Eeee!

The hotel staff explained that the little fellow was an orphan that had wandered in a few weeks prior and had decided to take up residence. He was SUPER adorable and friendly and even sat on my lap and licked my face. The staff also said he was great about just walking himself outside when he needed to TCB.

I wonder whatever became of little guy. I can't imagine they let him stay in the hotel once he got all hormonal and aggro and antler-y.

But awww.

I needed that pick-me-up. I hope it made you grin a little too.

Holly jolly blah blah blah

2009-12-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

So on Sunday, I went a-thrifting and found some low vases and this giant glass ball--I'm serious. GIANT. I had to wash this thing in the bathtub because it doesn't even come close to fitting in the kitchen sink. I can't really even lift it when it's full of water.

I haggled and got it for half price after patiently listening to the guy at the thrift shop serenade me with his most bluesy, sultry rendition of "Baby it's Cold Outside."

One day, I think it will make a rad terrarium or vase, but for now, I'm forcing paper whites in it.

So now I present you with our stupendous table of mystical dazzling holiday fantastical fantasy magical delights. AKA cat Narnia.

Don't think I won't cry and act surprised when one of the a-hole cats tries to stick his head in that big ball and the whole setup comes crashing to the floor.

Note to self:

2009-12-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

I like this for two reasons.

1. Wall color. Our fireplace is painted similarly, and I think I'd like to do another wall and the front door in this color.

2. Framed maps. This is what I was trying to explain here. The highway maps I have are about the same dimensions as those beauts on the left.

(image via Apartment Therapy)

Stuff that happened this weekend

2009-12-14T09:35:00.001-08:00

A co-worker of Marc's sent him home with a six-pack of Spotted Cow, which was delicious.

We spent a fun Friday night at Post 27, where I fell head-over-heels in love with these nesting tables.

Marc wrangled up a pack of cats.

I wrapped up (and wrapped!) all of my Christmas shopping.

I found some new stuff for the Etsy shop (more to come this week).

I also ate almost a whole wheel of brie. I'll polish the rest of that off while watching Season 5 of LOST tonight. Sounds like heaven to me.

What were you up to this weekend? Did you have fun?

Whip it. Into shape.

2009-12-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

I hate messy knots of dangling cords as much as the next person.

So this installation from Maisie Maud Broadhead makes me so happy in my heart.

(Via Avant-Garde)

Guys, I found some wallpaper for the lanai

2009-12-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

Hmm...which colorway? Decisions, decisions.

Eye candy caning

2009-12-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

My grandma was an interior decorator back in the 60s and 70s, so in addition to loving anything Oriental (the lady had some seriously gorgeous silk and mother-of-pearl screens), she had a penchant for the look of natural fibers like bamboo, rattan and caning, not only represented in materials, but in fabrics, ceramics and just about anywhere else you can imagine.

This bowl set that I just listed on Etsy (and that I'm more than half hoping doesn't sell because I kind of love it), reminded me of how much I share her love for those particular patterns.

So, in a variation on yesterday's more modern houndstooth theme, get ready to get caned. On a freezing, snowy day like this, I'd really like to have a dramatic ~~room~~ lanai in which I would swan about in a muumuu and oversized sunglasses, listening to Whipped Cream and Other Delights by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and tending to my bird of paradise plants. Of course, I'd also have my lady friends over to play Mahjongg and gossip while we lunched on a few rounds of Tom Collins (Collinses?).

My fantasy lanai must include at least three of these elements:

The Relic Trail, or...

HausProud

Ginger Scraps

U Know U Need Another

The Vintage Supply Co.

Also The Vintage Supply Co.

Forrestina Vintage

Damn, I may have to start stalking The Vintage Supply Co. more often.

And Found Furnishings

Also And Found Furnishings, or for a more casual vibe...

Fashion Rerun, or this...

Which I want. Badly. A Vintage Revolution

Won't you join me?

Style with bite

2009-12-08T13:52:00.001-08:00

Really feeling the graphic, almost pixelated look of houndstooth these days.

(Via Curbly)

(Via Bisazza)

(Via Coco Male Interiors)

(Via Avant Garde Design)

(All Modern)

(Avril Loreti)

(Via Patrick Baglino Interior Design)

Not technically houndstooth, but still pretty delicious:

Maybe I'll have to do a glen plaid roundup soon.

Hoo boy! And maybe I need to buy this to go with Montecore.

Stocking stalking

2009-12-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

Our stockings are hung. And these pictures are pretty embarrassingly bad.

First off, an aside. The plants seem to be doing ok inside! My orchid is even throwing off a new flower spike, which I tried--and failed--to capture in this picture.

Stockings are so much fun because it's all about how stuffing something small but meaningful into a very limited space (that's what she said!). Last year, I found these Santa stockings that somebody's grandma had clearly lovingly handknit. They don't have our names on them, so just for a day, I'm Frank and Marc is Mary Anne. It keeps things spicy.

Shopping for stockings is maybe my favorite part of holiday prep. I can't really say what's going in Marc's because he reads this. I have, however, been in charge of my mom's stocking since I graduated college. I volunteered for the job, and I have a lot of fun doing it. Despite bookmarking this site on my mom's computer for her convenience, I'm pretty sure she doesn't read it. This means you can expect a lot of racy posts about drugs and sex and all sorts of things that drive her crazy. (Such as me eating food that has fallen on the floor, trying to open packaging with my teeth and improper folding techniques.)

ANYWAY, here's a list of a few things that might make fun stocking stuffers. Some of these are geared specifically toward my mom's stocking, and the others are just inexpensive, jazzy things I've ferreted away in my ~~"Ideas"~~ "I am an inveterate consumer magpie" folder:

1. Earring backs. I actually received these in my stocking one year. I tend to misplace these faster than I used to lose Barbie shoes when I was a kid. Super handy and it means you don't have to cannibalize your other earrings that actually came with backs, which I'm back to doing now that I've lost all my spares.

2. Clear hair ties. Just a personal preference here. Clear, inconspicuous and strong. They're like the vodka of hair accessories.

3. Nutella. Tasty and something I'd never buy for myself but would consume in about a week.

4. Silver polish. Just get the toothpaste size. Even if you don't have much silver, it will come in handy for shining up jewelry and lots of other metal that happens to be around the house. You have to keep your meat cleaver nice and pretty now, you know?

5. Cheese knife or some sort of serving piece. IMO, It's nice to put something a bit fancy you're going to keep and use in a stocking. If you do it one piece at a time, you're not going to break the bank, but you're going to help the giftee build up a nice collection of serving pieces. Vintage is an awesome way to go on this one too.

6. Bicycle bell. More practical than you'd think if you know someone who rides a bike. Imagine driving a car with no horn....

7. Vintage masking tape. Just pretty and frivolous. To make up for the bell, I guess.

8. Tillandsia. Would look nice peeking out of the top of the stocking. My mom is obsessed with these, but her giant scary Maine Coon cats (she has three and they're terrifying) keep eating them.

9. Pistachios. These and cheap red wine are like crack for my mom.

10. Stationary. For writing your thank-you notes, of course!

If all else fails, just stuff a big bottle of wine in the stocking. I don't think you'd hear many complaints about that.

Dear Diary,

2009-12-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

Today my feet, as always, looked fabulous.

I can't believe/absolutely love that Elle magazine has a diary of staffers' shoes.

Look at me being all sensible and wholesome favoring these H&M peep toes.

(via A Cup of Jo)

Bonus round

2009-12-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

Isn't it the best when you buy something at an estate sale/thrift shop/rummage sale, take it home and find an extra treat inside? And I'm not talking about old wadded up Kleenex.

I found this confettidazzly coin purse tucked away in the pocket of a suitcase I picked up a few weeks ago.

Oh, how I wish it were clutch size...

Today was a good day

2009-12-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

You got sure that right, Ice Cube.

P.S. The Isley Brothers are awesome, but do we maybe like the Staple Singers remix better?

P.P.S. I have NO idea and take no responsibility for what's going on in that remix video up there, but I had to post it because the first guy looks disturbingly like Mac from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia...Photoshopped into a Dunkin' Donuts.

Speaking of art...

Today was super because I got to spend a big chunk of it learning how to do research at the stunning Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute. It was incredible. Libraries and I are back together in a big way these days.

And to top it all off...

I'm going to be spending the next few days learning how to appraise this gorgeous hunk of wood.

Worth? We'll just say my hypothetical firstborn child.

In case you're wondering, yes, it is very way unethical to lowball it and buy it for myself. But it's tempting...

Get behind me Santa

2009-12-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

In terms of being greedy, I am most definitely on the naughty list. Whenever I seem to ask anyone I know what he or she wants for Christmas, I get a bunch of hemming and hawing nonsense: "Oh, I don't know...there's not really anything I need. I haven't even really thought about it at all. Can I get back to you when I come up with something?"

Oh boy. That's so not me.

Ask me that question any time of year and I'll whip out a pretty hefty list or direct you to my Amazon wishlist.

So, instead of concocting a gift guide, here's a list of stuff I might add to my own list. (Not that I think I'll get anywhere close to all of this loot--I love surprises more than presents, so keeping a big old list ensures I'll have no idea what's in the box I'm shaking in a few weeks. Plus, we have strict budgets and I feel like it's cheating if the giver goes over. Control freak much?)

It's my hope that you find something that a friend or loved one might like (most likely a girl friend or loved one) or maybe even something to pipe up about when someone asks for your list!

1. Alcove wall shelf from CB2. I'm into the simple industrial look of this and would love to hang it in the living room and show off some of my vintage planters.

2. Charley Harper appetizer plate set. We have four of these and a mish-mash (not in a good way) of other salad/dessert plates. Eight would be conducive for a proper dinner party.

3. Um felt tote. I've wanted one of these for years, but I keep on forgetting ask. Read my mind, people! They're so chic--the opposite of trendy. I could see an artsy 75-year-old-lady rocking one of these. Plus, I love the way they fold flat.

4. Lilla Peep-toe wedges. Is it weird to ask for shoes as a gift? I don't really care. Plus, how hot would these be with some textured tights?

5. Fear of Flying. Everyone in my book club is cooler than I am and therefore has already read this. I'm thinking my mom should give this to me since she already gave me The Diary of Anias Nin and How to Save Your Own Life last year.

She should probably also replace me in the book club.

6. Metallic dot necklace. Yeah, at $40, this organic paper necklace is pretty flashy.

7. Everyday I'm hustlin' poster. Usually improper usage of "everyday" in place of "every day" AND posters that are just a phrase (keep calm and kill me now) bug the crap out of me. But I could see this poster (and a little Girl Talk) inspiring me to stay on my grind and hang in there like a champ kitten.

8. Geometry art necklace. This is just pretty and reminds me of the Sol LeWitt wall at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

9. Tartella tea towel. This was one of the few things I saw at Renegade that I found to be sweet in a retro kind of way. But not too cloying or annoying.

10. Keisuke Serizawa calendar. I like the fun, folky vibe of these.

Happy listmaking and shopping, you merry band of elves!

Miss Grant if you're nasty

2009-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

My name ain't baby...

My great aunt was a schoolteacher and this belonged to her.

You better believe its new home is right in the center of my desk.

Little boxes

2009-12-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

Just saw these and had to share: Albert Exergian gives iconic television shows the minimalist treatment.

These are just a few of my favorites (aka shows I've actually seen and can decipher the imagery). You can see the entire series here.

As an avid CSI watcher, this one is is tops in my book:

I love that they bust out the ol' blood testing swab on every. last. episode.

(Via Flavorpill)

They don't love you like I love you

2009-12-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

(Via I Suwannee)

(Via Elle Decor)

(Via Remodelista)

(Via Pure Green Design)

(Via Living Etc.)

(Via Kelly McGuill)

(Via Fashion is Spinach)

(Via Domino)

A few years back, my parents moved their office into the building of an old architecture firm. In the basement, I found packets of a series of 12 circa-1960s maps that showed a proposed highway through the east side of Indianapolis. I saved them and am stuck on what I should do with them. Decoupage the fridge? Hang them up? Framing is going to be cray-spensive; are binder clips too dorm-y?

Ugh, sorry I'm always asking you guys questions here. But y'all are GOOD.

This: Also acceptable

2009-11-30T09:17:00.000-08:00

Sad news, kids. I didn't get the lockers. I may have shed a few tears when I got the e-mail from the lady saying she'd sold them out from under me (hussy!). What can I say? It was a frustrating week.

But it's a new week (and almost a new month!). Craigslist will provide new, better lockers. I'm sure of it. In the meantime, can someone please send this to the market?

I'm in love. I don't know exactly what it is about this storage rack that tugs at me, but I love the practicality of the wire mixed up with the whimsy of the color or some such nonsense. Whatever it is, I want it.

In other news, our halls (well, to be honest, we only have one hallway) are decked in a pretty half-assed manner, but it only took the duration one Nat King Cole holiday record to toss up some fairy lights and fake garland. Why no, I'm not planning to have any guests over in the next month. Why do you ask?

Also, I have class this week/weekend and just now realized I have to find, buy and read the following books by Thursday morning:
"The Appraisal of Personal Property: Principles, Theory & Practice Methods"
"Auctions: The Social Construction of Value"
"A Short Guide to Writing about Art"

Crap. Crap. Crap.

Hey, punkins

2009-11-25T06:07:00.000-08:00

What am I thankful for?

In short, YOU!

It's that time of year to say thanks, so heeeere we go. Thank you to everyone who stops by and reads what I ramble on about here and thank you to everyone who comments to let me know you're out there and hats off to everyone who takes time out to keep up his or her own blog. You're all a source of laughter, enjoyment and inspiration to me and I appreciate it all.

We have a month to go, but 2009 has been one of my happiest years so far (2002 comes in close second), so I want to send a big thank-you out to the universe. This year I:

- Moved into a home I love with the guy I love and it's been a dream. Every day has been better than the last, and I can't imagine doing this without him.

- For the most part, my friends and loved ones have spent their days healthy and happy.

- Managed so lose some baggage that I never realized had been dragging me down quite so much.

- Traveled to some magical places and experienced new things I'll never forget (until I get Alzheimer's).

- Finally feel like I'm on the track to finding what I want to do with my life, big picture style. Not to be confused with Big Willie Style.

- For the first time in forever, I'm really looking forward to a holiday season full of good times with family and friends and pretty much devoid of stress and expectations. And I CAN'T WAIT.

- Through this tiny corner of the Internet, I've been lucky enough to correspond with--and meet!--some incredibly creative, kind and super cool people. I love making new friends!

Lucky. I have a lot to be thankful for, and one of those big things is you right there reading this. Thank you and have a fabulous long weekend!

What do you have to be smiling about these days? I'd love to hear.

(Image via Recovering Lazyholic)

At home with Kay

2009-11-24T07:34:00.001-08:00

We're back after last week's hiatus! This week, let's have a look around Dutch blogger Kay's fun and colorful vintage digs.

There's a lot to love about her style, but I am particularly taken with her incredible lamp and chair collections, two things I'm particularly am drawn to.

How long have you lived in your home, and why did you choose it? About 14 years, I wanted to live in an old house (it’s 104 years old) with a large garden.

How would you describe your style and is there anyone/anything that has inspired you? I guess you could call my style now vintage love. Books, art and Flickr are the best way to find your own style.

What's your favorite part of your home? Your least favorite? I love my living room, and I not so sure about my kitchen, I’m dreaming of an empty kitchen (but then again I love vintage kitchen ceramics, so that is not easy).

What's your next project? A new kitchen would be cool.

What are the best places you find treasures for your home? Spring is the best time of the year...lots of
yard sales and flea markets.

As far as her favorite places online, Kay loves Scandanavian blogs like Nestled In(see Katja from Nestled In's house tour here!), Liiviantalossa.blogspot.com, Lumetta and Flickr (the midcentury modern groups are her faves).

Thanks for sharing your home with us, Kay! If anyone's ready to start holiday shopping, she has an aweseome Etsy shop as well.

If you're out there wondering why your house isn't getting the spotlight it deserves, get in touch at alisondgrant@gmail.com!

Ditching the hanging cabinets: Off the wall idea?

2009-11-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

Kind of old news, but sort of relevant as the unit below this one is on the market for $1.6 million. (I'm thinking I'll probably buy it. No big whoop.)

This Ukrainian Village man cave was created with entertaining (bagging chicks?) in mind, and while I would maim for the awesome rooftop deck and gorgeous staircase (gallery here), I'm not sure how I feel about the kitchen that, in attempt to disguise it's function as an, um, kitchen, has been stripped of its hanging cabinets. It's kind of cool, but also kind of odd looking. Plus, all the BENDING.

Your thoughts?

Some things I do take issue with:
- The outdoor shower on that fancy rooftop deck. Why? Especially in 7 months of icy tundra Chicago. It just seems like a headache to keep from getting destroyed by the elements.

- That an interior designer gets praised as "bold" for putting a lamp on a kitchen countertop. Zzzzz. Wake me when it gets replaced with thee-foot-tall taxidermied mongoose fighting a cobra flanked by A Clockwork Orange poster and an Eraserhead life-size cutout. (This is just me thinking back to one of my childhood friend's brother's bedroom. Which was what I'd call bold. And scary as hell to an eight-year-old.)

- Random people dancing on your counters? Ew.

Blocked

2009-11-19T12:51:00.000-08:00

Blergh. Every day this week has been the same. If you could only see how many drafts and half-baked ideas I have saved in my folder...

Nothing's really gelling like Magellan for me, post-wise.

Kind of like that almost-there room up there. If I were to walk into it, the first thing I'd do is heave those ugly chairs out the window. Then I'd smile.

Help! What do you champions do when you hit a brick wall creatively?

I just like how he's always leaning. Against stuff. He leans great.

2009-11-18T09:58:00.001-08:00

DWTF, ROTFLMAO, sparkly vampires, Party in the USA, Delia's catalog, GoGurt (or whatever teens these days eat. It's probably not Activia.), Fallout Boy*!

I am honest-to-god crossing state lines to pick up this bank of lockers for my adult-lady house. $40. I know I'm a grownup because my teen self would have spent that money on ugly chokers from Express, some baby barrettes and a thrift-store flannel shirt to go with my waffle-weave babydoll dress. Hurl.

Like, what is my damage? Things I've purchased/acquired in an unconscious effort to turn my house into a high school:
- Four globes of varying sizes
- Two large chalkboards made from old windows
- Vintage schoolbooks (1 math, 1 biology, 1 English grammar)
- A button maker (for creating spirit buttons for all of the jock loves in my life)
- Multiple locker bins
- One pull-down map of Kentucky
- One metal detector (just seeing if you're paying attention)

Regardless, I'm still pretty excited about this find (as always, thanks Craigslist!). We're in desperate need for a place to store our winter coats/boots/ panda ski masks. But I don't know if I'm so jazzed about the "bright, sporty blue" it's painted.

Anyone have any suggestions on new colors for my lockers? Of course the inside of my locker will be plastered with pictures of Zac Efron. (He's still "dreamy," right kids?)

In an ideal world, these would be all rusty and Army green. But then again, in an ideal world, I'd come home to find Jordan Catalano** leaning up against them...

So are we thinking hot pink and houndstooth? Canary yellow? Industrial gray? Or do I have to figure out what the house mascot is first?

* This is humiliating, but I just Googled "What bands do teens like?" to get this one.
** I will also accept Daniel Desario in this scenario

It was a capital offense

2009-11-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

Why yes, I am feeling extra dorky today. Funny you should ask.

(image via Tom Gabor)

Rushing the season

2009-11-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

Pardon the interruption, but I have to get a quick note out to my cat.

Dear Harvey,

You know I love you. But dude, you need to slow your roll. It's not even Thanksgiving yet.

It was sweet of you to leave three jawbreakers (Two red and one green, natch. You always have had fabulous color sense.) and one rock from the fireplace in my shoe. But St. Nicholas Day is, like, two weeks away.

Let's live in the now and enjoy the present like the gift it is, little guy. If you're really good and chill out a whole lot, maybe Santa Claws* will bring you a pillow with that very saying needlepointed on it.

And you can scratch it all to hell.

Love,
Me

* Why is my love of puns developing much faster than my overall maturity level?

Bits and bobs

2009-11-16T11:55:00.000-08:00

I used to have a sheet of paper that listed out everything that popped into my head and could potentially be made into a post. I've lost it (both literally and figuratively), so here are the three thoughts that I'm managing to put down before they go bye-bye just like my to-post list and so many socks in the dryer...

1. I am desperate to get to Ikea (I guess because normal seething holiday shopping crowds in Chicago aren't enough for me. X-TREME SHOPPING, GUYS! We need our own deodorant and Mountain Dew flavor). Here's what I want to eyeball/buy:

Maskros for the bedroom? Maybe?

Dinera plate. Yeah boring. But this is a just a list for me because I can't seem to keep track of paper scraps. We have four of these. 10 would be nicer.

Just a thought: this Kotte wreath. I don't think we'll be doing a tree this year since the living room has already been overtaken by plants. Plus, the cats from hell will take it down within 24 hours of its purchase and loving, painstaking (ok, OCD addled) decoration.

This simple wreath in the wheat color could be nice and low key.

Maybe pick up some fairly cute, non-denominational gift wrap while I'm there.

So ok, four things in all. This should only take about five hours, two helpings of Sweedish meatballs, one drawn-out trip through the rug section and may result in a bickering match in the as-is section and me spending about $2,433.99, plus tax. Let's go! On a weekend! (Which, incidentally, is not going to happen until at least Dec. 12. So maybe scrap the wreath.)

2. Every day on the train to work, I listen to the automated speaker man tell me, "Next stop is Library and Van Buren. Doors open on the right at Library and Van Buren."

He quite clearly pronounces "library" as a three-syllable word: li-bra-ry. BUT, as the train rounds the corner from Adams and Wabash he starts up again: "Transfer to Blue and Red lines at Li-ber-ra-ry and Van Buren." Four syllables. I've been counting them on my fingers for a week now.

Why is this? And who is the man in the speaker? This means he's real and not a robot, right?

3. I finally moved some favorite blogs from my bookmarks to the sidebar over there ------->.
They are:
Designers' Brew
Get to Fixin'
Homebug
I Suwanee
Little Green Notebook
Pony Boy Press
Saffron and Genevieve
The Design Files
and, of course, my friend Leah at Thx thx thx.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

5. Phew, getting all of that off my mind freed up some space, I think! I hope to have some painting projects to share with you soon...

P.S. Pat on the back to me for just spellchecking and not getting anything wrong (except for those damn Ikea names) this time.

UPDATE: Erm, maybe not on the brain clearing. It took me hours to notice that I skipped right from three to five in that little list up there. Crap.

Modern* art makes me want to rock out

2009-11-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

Ready Art Brut?

* or, you know, contemporary art or just some large abstract painting. whatever.

Can't stand it

2009-11-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

As someone who loves hats (in a non-Blossom kind of way), it KILLS me that I can't buy all of these:

No joke, Hats by Behida is knocking it out of the park.

Which has kind of been the theme this week....Becke's house tour....Mariano's shop...Pressure is on, guys. I'll try to keep up.

In other news, we have plans this weekend to meet some friends for lunch, and this is what Marc had to say about that: "I'm going to eat the shit out of some Indian food on Saturday. And you can blog that."

Check. Please.

And. And and! We have a Nutty the Squirrel winner! With an official roll of the dice from my old Monopoly game, Macy of Me Oh My Oh became the proud new owner of the brightest-eyed, bushiest-tailed candy dish on the scene.

I know where I'll be trick or treating next Halloween.

At home with Becke

2009-11-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

I'm assuming that you're sitting down because that seems like the most conducive position for web surfing and blog viewing, but just in case you're reading this on one of those newfangled iphones or somesuch, don't say I didn't warn you:

This week's house tour is the jam.

I am 100% enamored with Becke's style. As proprietress of The Vintage Cabin, she has a fantastic eye for a clean, almost minimal style peppered with bold vintage statement pieces and a big dose of humor. I'm more than a little jealous of the thrift-store and rummage sale bounty she's hauling in up there in Ontario.

How long have you lived in your home, and why did you choose it?
My husband & I made the move out of the city & into this house a year ago so we could have more space to garden, be creative and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle. Since we've been here though, it's been nothing but work! It's all very rewarding work, mind you, but the house was in need of an overhaul which is just finally winding down now. When we first saw the house we knew we had to have it. It had a great layout, a large and fully fenced yard for our piglet son, Pierre, tons of historic charm and a 150 year old barn that we can use for our workshop. It's also located a stone's throw away from the shores of Lake Ontario, so we were drawn to the nautical & beachy feel of the house and area.

How would you describe your style and is there anyone/anything that has inspired you? My style is a mishmash of mid century & vintage with Americana and primitive elements - I know, kinda weird. I have always been in love with mid century decor and it's been my predominant style since I was a teenager. Since we moved into this house however, I have gained a new appreciation for the way many clapboard style modest houses would have looked back in their early days. I like to call it modest minimalism - plank floors, neutrals, only essentials on display - no over-the-top glamour whatsoever. I am trying to work in elements of that while bringing in some mid century style at the same time.

I have to thank my mom for showing me the ins and outs of vintage shopping from a very early age. She was born with an eye for great finds and mentored me along the way. We used to go picking at the dump, in people's garbage, at the Salvation Army (with a coat over my head so no one would recognize me) and various other places. Sometimes I curse her for this 'sickness' but most of the time I'm very thankful.

Has your look evolved over the years? If so, how?
My style has definitely evolved - I'd say it's become more streamlined. My old apartments used to be full from floor to ceiling with oddities - spray painted hanging tires on chains, bed springs as room dividers, a wide assortment of garbage-picked vintage furnishings - but over the years I have filtered out a lot of the junk. I am trying to focus more on classic pieces that I can pair with fly by night kitschy finds I tend to get caught up on. If you invest in the classics, everything else will fit in around them.

What's your favorite part of your home? Your least favorite?
My favorite space in the house has to be the dining room. It's bright, airy and simple and we have some nice views out to our garden from there. The living room is currently my least favorite. It's a very large room, which is great to have, but I haven't quite figured out how to make such a big room work. We have a great fireplace in the middle of the room, but because it's the focal point it dictates the space a little more than I'd like.

What's your next project?
We have a few major projects lined up for the spring. We plan to build a garden shed/greenhouse from scratch, we have to landscape our front yard/drive with salvaged wrought iron fencing and stone and the barn is a constant work in progress. Someday we hope to finish a room inside of it to use as a studio. I may need a hand and back transplant to complete the work, however...

Where are the best places you find treasures for your homes?
I used to garbage pick a lot of my stuff but the garbage rules have changed and you just don't find what you used to. You can't beat thrift stores - small town thrift stores especially. Rummage sales are always fun and usually put on by old ladies, and we all know the old ladies have the BEST stuff. I shop on eBay and Etsy all the time - oh and you can't forget yard sales...and, um, dare I say...Ikea.

Any good backstories on an object in your home or element of your home?
I have always had a fondness for all things strange - especially if it has a strange face. The ugliest and most disturbing thing I own has to be the Wicker Head Lady. I may, or may not, have seen her one night while walking with friends - drunk - on Queen Street in Toronto. I stopped dead in my tracks and yelled out "I WANT HER! I HAVE TO HAVE HER". Then I forgot about her. A month later, my birthday rolled around and guess what I got? Wicker Head Lady! I've had her for about 10 years now and I really do have a deep appreciation for her strangeness.

Some sites where Becke finds inspiration:
These two places looked really interesting to me: Just Jenny and Kimhascats. I also love House of Turquoise - a great selection of all things turquoise.

Thanks so much for sharing your awesome home with us, Becke! We'll see you in whatever shelter magazines are still open soon, I'm sure!

As always, get in touch if you'd like to have your home featured.

Let's talk shop

2009-11-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

When we first started dating, Marc and I used to take lots of walks on sunny Sunday afternoons, usually down Western. Why, I have no idea. It's not a very pretty street, but the walks usually ended with me picking up some "treasure" from Stop! Look!

This Sunday, we switched things up with a hop-skip-jump trip from Ashland to Western (Margie's Candies, what up?) to Damen. I thought the day was pretty great after I was filled to the gills with ice cream and caramel, but that was only until we ducked into newly opened Agent Gallery Chicago just south of Augusta.

Holy awesome stuff!

Also? Pretty attainable prices.

And? Owner Mariano Chavez is very friendly. I had a great time briefly talking to him and hearing about his experiences so far with the shop (he's had an online store for quite some time and is now making the leap to brick and mortar).

The shop is small, so his collection of wonderful oddities is constantly revolving. Seems like a great reason to move our weekly walks a few blocks east.

Now if this lovely weather can just hold out...

(all photos from Agent Gallery Chicago)

P.S. Don't forget! Today is the last day to enter to win Nutty the Squirrel.

Kitchen-sink quinks

2009-11-06T14:07:00.000-08:00

Not too much time to think, so on to the links!

Daring rescue: An owl in a box!

Ubiquitous Etsy shop: Cast Couture.

In Chicago: An Orange Moon is having a big closeout sale. Oh yes. I will be there. Remember the chairs I got?

Oh my: Darling Clementine stationary. (Did you ever know that song was about a girl who drowned?)

Might as well face it: We're addicted to cute. Ahem.

Tie one on: Rope-knot necklaces.

The Mission: Art + Charity.

Just in Time for Thanksgiving: Enter the giveaway and Nutty the Squirrel can be yours. And you can use him however you'd like: To pet and adore and fill with maple-syrup candy or to let your bratty nieces and nephews stuff full of M-80s on your driveway and light on fire. God bless the U.S.A.

Have a great weekend, folks!

It's a giveaway

2009-11-05T09:37:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned last week, my good friend Shannon I have just opened an Etsy shop to sell vintage goods: The Big Heist. (for those who are wondering, we got the name from a jazzy Henry Mancini song)

In honor of the launch, I'm giving one of my estate sale treasures away:

NUTTY THE SQUIRREL.

He's an adorable ceramic squirrel. Sitting on a giant walnut. That HOLDS STUFF. You're thinking that you need him in your life pronto, aren't you?

We're both super new at this (the selling, not the buying. oh god, not the buying), so any suggestions on what you'd like to see in the shop are gold to us (or walnuts to Nutty).

Leave a comment telling me how you'd use Nutty or what kind of vintage wares you look for when shopping, and I'll randomly pick a winner next Monday at 6 p.m. Central. Don't forget to leave me a way to get in touch.

Go nuts!

Not even phoning it in today

2009-11-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

I'm still down with the sickness* and having a very tough time coming up with a post for today. Does that ever happen to you?

I have a few on the back burners, but they're far too complex (i.e. they involve more than three hyperlinks and one picture) for my stuffed-up mind to wrangle into anything approaching coherence.

Instead, I'll leave you with a picture of the kickass lamp I'm picking up tomorrow night (provided I'm not dead). Thanks, Craigslist!

Netflix was nice enough to send me Children of Men and Away We Go. Which one should I watch tonight as I chug NyQuil from the bottle and bury myself in wadded-up Kleenex? (Sadly, this post is not sponsored by either of those brands.)

* This is about 90% due to a nasty cold and 10% sadness that we're back from San Francisco, where I had a fab time hanging out with Jess and her husband Chris. More to come on that when I can muster the exclamation points that shrimp tacos and Peter Cetera songs deserve.

At home with Sherrie Graham

2009-11-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

Oh boy, gang. I'm stuffed up and sick as a dog. I've been feeling cloudy, so please excuse any spelling or other errors. Let's also chalk my lack of cleverness up to this illness as well, shall we?

Today we're off to Nova Scotia to pay a visit to Sherrie Graham, owner of Birch Bark Handmade Soap and taker of some incredibly beautiful atmospheric photos that convey such peacefulness. This week's house tour is so incredibly perfect for the time of year. It's really getting me into mulled cider and pumpkin pie mode. (Need proof? Take a look at her food Flickr set.)It says a ton about Sherrie's aesthetic sense that she's nearly singlehandedly pulling me out of the impending winter blues.

Sherrie, take it away:

We have lived in this house for four and a half years. I saw that it was for sale when my husband and I were out for a walk one evening (we were then living in a rented house), and immediately suggested that we find a real estate agent and have a look at it. The first time we walked in, I was in love, despite the many layers of wallpaper, old flooring, curtains, and dust. So we bought it and have been working away at it ever since. It was built in 1901, and I love the sense of history it has. I also love that much of the woodwork has never been painted, and that everything is very square.

I would describe my style as rustic; I love natural elements like wood and textiles and try to avoid plastics and synthetic materials as much as I can. I'm constantly inspired by other bloggers and the ways they choose to make their homes their own.

My look has definitely evolved; I used to try to fit into my ideas of what other people have and/or would like; now I know what I like and am comfortable with, and that always works out better in the end.

My favourite part of our home is my son's bedroom. It was the first room we completely finished, and it's where we've had many hours of cuddling and reading together. It's also the smallest room and doesn't have a closet, so it required some strategic planning for storage. My least favourite part of our home right now are the rooms we still have left to redo - the upstairs bathroom would have to be at the top of the list. Ugh.

Our next project is the one remaining bedroom which needs wallpaper stripped, to be repaired, sanded, and painted, and to have the floors done. I know that this one will be done in a few months, since it will have to be ready for when our new baby arrives in March!

The very best place to find treasures is yard sales; you just need to know exactly what you're looking for. Second best is a local thrift chain called Frenchy's - sometimes you can find amazing things for next to nothing.

One of my favourite finds in our house is the antique trunk we use as a woodbox in our dining room. I found it for $5 at a yard sale, and everyone who visits loves it. There are a few pictures here.

I get inspiration from Pia Jane Bijkerk's lovely photos on her blog. I also love browsing TOAST's catalogue and gorgeous images on their website.

Thanks for letting us take a peek, Sherrie! I, for one, am getting some great Thanksgiving ideas for my home. Now it's off for some tea with honey and lemon and another dose of DayQuil.

As always, please let me know if you'd like to feature your home on the site!

Trick or quinks!

2009-10-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hey punkins! In honor of Halloween, I'm organizing this week's links based on a strict, candy-based rating system. Best loot to worst:

Toblerone: I'm in San Francisco for a super fun wedding, and I'm going to get to meet up with Jess, The Wife of an Artist herself!

Full-sized Snickers bar: My pal Shan and I started an Etsy shop to sell vintage goods!

Blow Pops: It's decorative gourd season, motherf*%@ers! (via What Possessed Me)

Twizzlers: The Twilight Zone turns 50 this week!

Nerds: Someone is making calendar tea towels. Remember when I asked for this!?!

Junior Mints: Revisiting Brad and Angie's remarkable W magazine shoot.

Laffy Taffy: GOOD Magazine's infographics are now available in poster form.

Smarties: Cute, eco-friendly clothes. (ding for being too expensive for me!)

Mr. Goodbar: These adorable shoes are on super sale! (ding for not having my size)

Bit-O-Honey: Cute wreath how-to. (self-imposed ding for posting something related to Christmas in October!)

Raisins: New York Magazine kinda steals George Louis' Esquire cover designs.

Can't get you out of my head

2009-10-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of having one of those days where crawling inside a giant skull sofa that's lined with a sheepskin rug doesn't seem like such a crazy idea.