Ch-ch-changes! 2011

Happy 2011!

It's no secret I LOVE starting a new year with lots of resolve. Things I'm going to do this year include running a 1/2 marathon (eep, any tips for that would be helpful!), take a photography class, put my waffle iron to good use, be productive at work, and go on some awesomely big adventure.

I recently read the Happiness Project (and immediately bought copies for lots of people I love). Right before that I read Nudge, Switch, Mindless Eating, and Predictably Irrational (all of which I highly recommend). Things I've gleaned about making resolutions that work (and add to your happiness) are that:
1- little changes matter, and add up over time
2- write it down and tell people what you're up to
3- if you don't want to do it, you won't
4- you have to be able to measure it

Nothing revolutionary, but trust me, those are the magic bullets that behavioral economists, and lots of other smart people have studied.

So, for me--the first thing is to start simple. I'm working on a theme for this year that will capture what I want out of 2011. One of my favorite themes from a few years ago was "consume less, produce more". I'm going to continue checking these blogs for tips and motivation (and entertainment).

p.s. giving is a proven way to make yourself happier-- donate to two of my favorite causes here and here


*image from Francesca-- I love the idea of a year of living Ghandi's wisdom

The Sounds of the Season

Lots of incredible mixes here. My favorite of the Christmas mixes is "All I want for Christmas is You". It's true, I do. Merry Christmas!
via Hi + Low

Holiday Hack #2

First off, if you can afford to buy anything from amazing etsy crafter spinthread you absolutely should. But say that love love this necklace but need a quick and cheap fix.
Grab a thrifted needlework piece (make sure you can bear to part with it) + some double sided interfacing + some pretty fabric for the back side (I used raw silk) + some gold chain. Fuse the needlepoint to the interfacing and then to your backing fabric. Cut out a pretty shape-- it will be nice and stiff and shouldn't fray too much. Go over it with the iron on both sides just to make sure. You can also stitch through it all on (I used my sewing machine) to make it extra secure/ prevent any of the embroidery from coming out. Attach the chain and voila!
You can't tell, but the back is really pretty and bright. * *apologies for the photos-- was in a rush so they're from my phone. Busy doing holiday projects!

Holiday Hacks

Instead of this pretty (but pricey) bauble

Buy these bubbles (for 1/10th the price)


And make this
*thanks to Liz for modeling the results of our craft nights

My Holiday outfits

May involve each of these things. All are vintage except the tights. I just loved seeing them all in a pile!

Christmas Ships

In December ships deck themselves out with lights, and cruise Lake Washington. The mother ship has a choir and a loud speaker on it. They stop at a different point each night, and serenade people on the shore.

Thankful!

So many things in my life . In no particular order, I'm glad for the world wide web, my incredible family and friends, music, making things, a job, and YOU.

Picture from here

These are a few of my favorite things

baby blue, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, music, lemon drops, fresh flowers, fun with friends, packages in the mail, hot chocolate... I could go on and on. After watching Oprah's final favorite things, I kind of wished I could pull an Oprah-- and give all of my friends a big surprise full of all the things I love.

Alas, and alack, I lack Oprah's means. So for now, I won't do it.. but I did decide to host a "Favorite Things Swap". So.. here's how it works. Send me an email (emilycox at gmail) with the subject line"favorite things". Include your name, email, mailing address and your url if you have one by Dec.1. I'll assign you a swap partner. Send them a package with one of your favorite things in it. Think $20 range, though homemade is even better. So pick out your favorite eye shadow, hot chocolate, lip balm, pulp fiction, pencils, wrap them up pretty, and drop them in the mail by Dec. 10. Fun way to start the holidays. No?
*picture from Rue Magazine. Full of pretty things---check it out.

Snow Day!

Today is my first ever official snow day (School has been canceled!). A few things I think are cute and cozy for inclement weather.

This Hood
Kate Spade Mittens
Boots!
Puffy Coat
Any winter favorites of yours?

Your Wish?!

My friend Liz had the absolutely genius idea of granting permission. To people. For things. The things that you've been wanting to do, but you haven't been able to get yourself to do. Yet. I helped her set up a blog. Go here, make a comment, and presto-magico, you mightst get the green light you've been waiting for.

(to brag about Liz's expertise.. she's a professor of design, mother of 2, and of the the spunkiest and creative people ever-- she knows how to get things done!)

Move(d)!

My amazingly talented friend Karisa helped me create these moving announcements. She's the BEST to work with: crazy talented, very nice, and great at helping you make what you want. She even found these envelopes for me and got a return address stamp made. It took about 10 minutes to sew the line on my machine. So easy. These pictures don't even do them justice. Karisa really, really rocks.

Obsessed

I just stumbled on a new website, pinterest, which allows you to make boards out of cool stuff you find on the world wide web-- and it keeps track of the webpages they come from. Very handy, and really fun to see everyone else's collections. I've started out by tracking all the cool globe stuff out there. Check it out!

p.s. let me know if you want an invite! Update-- just email them on the site-- they should take care of you quickly

Green Thumb

After being inspired by the cabbage incorporated into the bouquet below, I feel like I've finally become officially a Pacific North Westerner. Why? I've planted cabbages and kale on my front porch (they're ornamental varieties, sadly not for eating). Even the temple here has them in the landscaping.*special thanks to Shalann for helping me out with this project

Weekly Flowers

Love the creativity of the ladies at the market!

AllSaint's

AllSaints Spitalfields just opened in down town Seattle. I've been watching the store go up for a while. I was attracted by the hundreds of vintage sewing machines they used to decorate it. Very cool. The clothes are pretty great, but pricey. I especially liked the men's lines-- very classic with great modern details. The women's lines are VERY drapey. They'll look great on thin figures, but might take some trickery to look good on any kind of curves. One friend described the overall look as high-end Mad Max. I think it fits. I did manage to snap some pix before an aggressive sales person banished me.

Craft Lately

Been busy realizing an entire world made out of only my favorite color. I spray painted this $2 broken plate. Much better now, right?
I realized my dream terrarium. Ingredients = darling boyfriend who bought me this giant vase, air plants from this AWESOME etsy seller, paint from Lowe's mixed to my favorite color, river rocks, 10 lbs of aquarium sand, fluorescent pink thread, and a small touch of OCD (required for fishing dropped stuff out of terrarium with chopsticks).

Stopped by the farmer's market to get ingredients for a soup from the Ad Hoc cookbook.

Note: I did not dye the soup blue.

Magical Realism

You gotta love a town where your checker is a unicorn.

What to Wear!

The fantastic other emily suggested the following combo for my new profession. My mission: More Tweed!

Happy Place

Car washes always have the best signs

List-o-mania

It's a compulsion. Each of these had something to do with today. Despite my love of gadgets, I can't seem to get away from the paper. le sigh.

$5 flowers of the week

Bright, but with a nice fall touch. love.

$5 Flowers of the Year

I love the idea of having fresh flowers in my office-- but it's not all that practical. So, I dried out some billy buttons and put this in my heath ceramic bud vase. Voila-- permanent office flowers that are cheery and remind me of SF.

$5 flowers of the week.

Love them. Always

Foxy!

Oh my! I can't get over how cute this coat for a kid is. The details and craftsmanship look amazing. Is it bad to have a baby just so you can dress them up?

Happiness Project

I've always thought that I'm a really happy person. But a week or so it finally hit me that I've moved far away from all my friends and loved ones. I have to admit to a bout of feeling sad and wallowing in the loneliness. I started thinking of ways to attack the loneliness, or maybe just pre-empt it. This last weekend, I had a very good talk about this with someone I really respect who pointed out I haven't been acting all that happy for the last few months. I resolved that I HAD to be happier-- mainly return to the old me (pre- rough year of big changes and too much stress, back to when I was surrounded by all the people I love in CA). So, here is my plan of attack. I'd love to hear your ideas, suggestions, what you do etc. Oh, and yes, be prepared toanswer those phone calls and emails from me!

• always have a good book to read
• work out every day
  
• Do 1 project a week
• start a seattle activity club
• call 1 friend a day
• always have fresh flowers in the house
• cook more
• read scriptures/ conference talks.. work on spirituality
  
• be less critical of people
• reach out to other people MORE
• work on making new friends in Seattle
• Be productive at work
• Get enough sleep (Thanks for reminding me of that, Erika)
  

**True, that title isn't mine-- this book (which is on me to-read list, and which gets great reviews, along with its blog) came up with it.

This week's flowers

$5-- I hope I never stop thinking they're the best deal ever.

Full Stop

My love for the postal service is undying. Especially when old school goodies like a telegram come through it.


Thanks, Alice!

No funny business

Olivia has the best business card I have ever been fortunate enough to receive. All thick paper and two color letterpress to boot!
Makes me kind of wonder what I'd like my title for life to be.

Obsessive

Over the last few years I obsessively collected this line of vintage Samsonite suitcases (blue tweed with several sparkle) from thrift stores, ebay, and flea markets. I'm using them to store art supplies. This is an ingenious use-- I may have to convert a few.

DIY?

I'm *kinda* obsessed with hot chocolate. I love this concept from Jamie Oliver-- you just stir this spoon into hot milk, and voila. I'd love to figure out how to make my own version of this. Wouldn't it be cool using vintage silver spoons for fancy gifts or a hot chocolate party. Any ideas on how to make this a go?

*p.s. Please act surprised and delighted if I do figure out how to do this and you get one as a gift.

Glam?

Today is my first day of real Seattle rain. Trying to decide what coats/boots/umbrellas I'm going to need. I probably won't go the glam route but...

umbrella, coat, boots

Perfect

I love how all these supplies look together.