You're probably a Veeshta

Not that you can spell that. So spot on. Enjoy!

Plotting your escape

I've got a thing for the way the world used to be. This manifests itself in my collection of vintage maps, globes, ephemera and travel books. These ones are great. So great that maybe I now own a few.

Just in case you want to buy me a present today

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE this portfolio of Che posters from Cuba. In honesty anything from the shop would do. Just think about it.....

Getting Old?

Ankle injury + lots of walking in the near future + need for comfortable shoes I can pack for a wedding led me to get these. I think they're cool-- but also a tad frumpy? I wish the soles were gold. Am I deluding myself? Has age and the desire for comfort got the best of my fashion sI got my pair at the European Cobblery by my house. If you're ever in Palo Alto, stop by-- they are amazing. Their website doesn't do them justice, they carry an amazing array of non clog cute stuff.I got my pair at the European Cobblery by my house. If you're ever in Palo Alto, stop by-- they are amazing. Their website doesn't do them justice, they carry an amazing array of non clog cute stuff.

It's what's on top that mattters..

I make cupcakes for the guys at school on their birthday. True, no gender stereotypes are being shattered by me doing this (I'd make them for the ladies too, but there aren't any). These would be adorable on the next batch. Etsy has a gazillion adorable cupcake toppers. I'm partial to the vintage ones.
Is it me or do these little ladies look like they might topple over?

Mundanities

I love cooking. I hate grocery shopping. In an attempt to help make the mundane become exciting I've come up with a new challenge. The challenge is this: do your weekly grocery shopping entirely at an ethnic grocery. If you try it out, let us know the results.

For my first round I chose India Cash and Carry because it was next door to where I got my eyebrows threaded. Also, the mangos out front looked good. I could have spent an hour on the spice aisle alone- everything was lablelled in English, which made it pretty easy. Best buy: a humongous bunch of mint for 25 cents. Also, I bought Mango Lasse in by the 1/2 gallon. There is an entire section for naan. Dreamy. I got one mystery item (so much pretty packaging to choose from) which turned out to be some kind of incense (I think). Grocery shopping was way more fun this way. Next up: Mercado!

Even the Chinese Like Him

Spotted this wandering through China town the other day. Love it. Go Obama!

My Doppleganger?

1983 - my 10th birthday at Skater's World, Irmo SC
Originally uploaded by jelene

I saw this picture some what randomly on Emma's design blog. I honestly think it looks EXACTLY like me. As in, I was convinced it was a picture of me from 1983-- pink braided barrette and all. Super eerie actually. I do love the washed out feel of this photo, and skating rinks-- can you remember wanting to have all your birthdays there?!

Any Band You Fancy?

My editor just emailed saying we have this sponsorship deal which involves choosing a band, and having them play a show for us. Um, yes. Who would you pick? Who should I pick? I'm paralyzed by choice (see previous post). Help!

Sounds of Summer

I just made myself a summer mix. The songs all have the beat or mood of a perfect summer day-- you know, sorta poppy, sorta langorous. My mix has over 50 songs on it. But here's a shorter mix for you. I'm having trouble w/ the file format on muxtape (anyone mastered it?). In the meantime, find some of these and enjoy!

The Year Of Living Languorously	The Lucksmiths
Slipping Under The Radar	Tobias Fröberg
There Is No Ending	Arab Strap
The Opposite Of Hallelujah	Jens Lekman
This Must Be the Place	Talking Heads
1983	The Incredible Moses Leroy
Parentheses	The Blow
Get me away from here I'm dyeing	Belle and Sebastian
Retreat from the Sun	that dog
If We Can Land a Man on the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart	Beulah
Song For Marion Brown	Superchunk
Loro	Pinback
Everything You've Done Wrong	Sloan
It's Wrong To Love	Holiday
Superboy & Supergirl	Tullycraft
Blowin' Bubbles	Call And Response
The Shining	Badly Drawn Boy
Elevator Love Letter	Stars
Now	Mates Of State

Summer Reading List

Reading is my favorite thing to do. During the summertime I like to re-read a few classics, especially ones that feel like summer. Dandelion Wine tops the list of summery feeling books for me-- it's set in the summer time, and the buying of new sneakers at the beginning helps place you in the mindset of a kid who just got out of school. Plus, when you can get a paperback version for under a buck, you know it's meant to be.

Something's Hiding There

Re-united... and it feel SO good. Facebook. I am currently loving it (as opposed to the times when I hate it). Just yesterday it reunited me with my friend from Italy study abroad, Lynne. Lynne has this great blog, where I saw this amazing project, which was featured today on Design Sponge. So yes, I knew her way back when. I love the little details on this. I can't wait to have stairs because I'm so doing this.

Domo?

Yes! Thanks BlackEiffel for pointing these out. Though my birthday is months away, tis not to soon to start dreaming, right? I mean cupcakes + robots = (my cup of tea)^2

The Cure

Making sure that if you manage to lift your head at all you see this:
You maybe rally and go here: Then Mexican Chocolate + tender young coconut (Macapuno).Never won the free cone, but tradition always prevails. Plus, for a quarter, it's worth the thrill:

Gocco for Stress Relief

Whipped up a little birthday package for my sister Jane who loves owls and books. From a library supplier I got supplies so she can keep track of all of her favorites. Since I was in the zone, I made some stationary too. I also masked her name, and ended up with some nice spares.

Saying YES to:

Rumors of a sample sale at the new Built By Wendy shop in SF (which opens on the15th). I'd like one of almost everything. New store is 3520 20th St (at Mission).
UPDATE: Hit the sale last night-- they've still got tons of stuff from the 2007 lines-- and it's cheap! Sale goes through the weekend.

(re) peat

Something about simple repetition and grouping make objects art. The folks at Lost Found Art do an amazing job grouping things and installing them. Everything from toy laser guns and lunch boxes to antique objects become art with their arrangements.
The master organizer of objects is Benita Larsson. I pretty much drool over every room in her house. Her fourteen year old son has the greatest room, fully of all kinds of amazing collections. Somehow she manages to make all the cool objects look extremely organized, and not at all clutter-like.

World Greetings

I'm obsessed with maps-- I buy them whenever I travel, and spend a lot of time plotting how I will use them to decorate when I have my own place. This map is such a genius idea, and practical too. I love how it incorporates good design and typography. Plus, anyone who owns it will be on their way to making friends around the world, since each region is represented by the way you say 'hello' there. Genius. Sadly, it's sold out right now, but I'm biding my time. Zsuzanna Ilijin has a lot of other very clever maps as well.


Found via Happy Cavalier.

Eye of the Donut

I had to pick up 4 dozen donuts for class today. I've always been facinated with Happy Donuts, and getting to pick out so many was great fun. When I got home I decided the perfect way to test out some settings on my camera, and take advantage of great lighting was to be happy WITH the donuts. The full donut-eating process is documented here. Some highlights are below.

Hair Now

I've been nostalgic for these barrettes for a while. And then, Ms. Spinach posted about a sighting here. When I was little my mom would put my hair in a rainbow twist (two-stranded French braid) and held it with some of these pretty much every day. I'm going to the craft store after school today to try to get the necessary supplies to make a few pairs. I dug up these instructions, and I think it'll be easy enough. Little kid style is a good kick off for summer, no?You can buy the ones in the picture here.

One for me, one for you

Chronicle Books is having a Father's Day Sale. But it turns out that you can get a lil sump'n sump'n for yourself too. 25% off and free shipping when you type DADSDAY in at the checkout. They have so many things I want.

Style Idol

After a no good day I turned on the TV and found a new place to crib style tips: The Mary Tyler Moore show. She totally had the hot secretary thing going on. The high waited jeans, crisp dresses, sweater vests and so many other details seem so current. I haven't been able to find a source of images of her outfits, but watch the show.