buffalo check

I have a deep and specific admiration for the buffalo check.  Unlike, say houndstooth or herringbone, two of my other favorite patterns - I don't fancy it in nearly any capacity.  I love it in small and appropriately placed doses, never in trendier forms.  And if done as described, I love it a lot. 

One of my favorite aspects of this particular pattern is it's ability to appear both nostalgic and forward and graphic at the same time.  I am partial to red & black, and white or cream & black. 

To me, nothing says so long summer, like buffalo check.

{images: hello blackbird, J. Crew, Paul Smith, Gap, Remodelista, my home ideas, Remodelista, Ralph Lauren, Remodelista}

Arrested Development

 My husband and I were laughing out loud when we saw this.  Makes us want to watch the whole series all over again.  Spotted on you are my fave.

Rodney Smith

I am so excited to learn that Rodney Smith, beloved photographer by surely, all - has started a blog.  In it he goes behind the scenes and details what goes into his famous shots.  You can find it here.

my favorite things

I am so thrilled to have my favorite things featured on Simple Lovely's fantastic "Blogger's Favorites" series.  Thank you, Joslyn!

Chris Craft Wooden Boats

{They kids & I have headed North for a month. We've left Sean to defend for himself in the swealtering heat and made our way to the more temperate shores of Chicagoland. Summer just feels right in Chicago. Now winter, well, that's an entire story entirely. But after the thaw - there's no place I'd rather be.}

There are beach families and mountain families, and then there are lake families. My family is a lake family. We could happily spend three months "on the lake" with nothing else on the agenda. Swimming, skiing, fishing or boating around checking out the water side of real estate - there is plenty to fill our days. For several years my parents had a lake house on this great little lake. Surrounding the water were georgous homes and filling it was all manner of fast & impressive watercraft.  None of these caught my eye.  Rather it was a small wooden boat, docked across the bay - that proved to be the true object of my affection. Just today my dad and I were talking about that little boat and I came to find out that it is a vintage Chris Craft.  Oh, such a lovely piece of perfection.

In Sean & my brief lineup of fantasy recreational vehicles, the Airstream just might have to scoot over. There's a new beauty on the list.

{images: 1 - Mahogany Model Boats, 2- Stevendepolo, 3- Chris Craft, 4- musicman67, 5- Dimpleicious, 6- musicman67, 7- Joey Harrison, 8- twm1340, 9- Chris Craft, 10- musicman67, 11- Dietel, 12- Chris Craft, 13- hz536n, 14- kelsea, 15- Chris Craft}

Le Creuset

It began with Shauna's mention of Le Creuset. You know when you have long, silently admired something and then a simple mention of it sends you into that altered state of adoration. Yeah, that's what happened to me this week. I have been wanting a cast iron skillet for some time and just haven't done anything about it. I was thinking of the simple Lodge type, and my brother-in-law received just that one, this past Christmas. His whole household now adores it and uses it for just about everything.

I began to look into my cast iron options. Of course, Le Creuset was the one calling my name.  It's beautiful & functional (Oven, freezer & dishwasher safe.  The stoneware is microwave safe as well.)  I like quality & beauty.  I also love buying things that I can use & enjoy and then pass on to my children.  I would rather spend more on something made to last a lifetime (or beyond) then replace something every few years. 

As a sidenote: my mother had the flame colored pieces while I was growing up but she got rid of them because they were too heavy. Hence, I missed out on my birthright and she missed out on a killer set of arms.

My family mocks me mercilessly about my champagne taste and beer budget.  And it's true,  Le Creuset is not really whithin the realm of my possibilities, but... I have found a loophole. In an effort to make gift shopping easier, my mother-in-law is ever trying to talk me into starting a collection. The thing is, I'm just not a collection person. At least unless it has utilitarian purposes. Do you see where I am going with this? I think I have discovered the perfect thing to collect. And my mother-in-law never again has to scratch her head as to what to get me for Christmas. Perfect.

The only problem left now is committing to a color. When you are laying down $100 for a skillet, there's no looking back. And how does one guess what all or any future kitchens may look like? It's a quandry. My husband has voted to go red and go all the way with it. While red certainly seems like the most classic and sophisticated choice, I'm waffleing. In my present state I am leaning more towards choosing a few colors and having a more ecelectic mix. Something that says "don't expect this meal to be flawless just because I have fabulous cookware." I feel like perhaps a mixed set places the expectations a little lower. Oh, and it's just plain difficult for me to commit to one color, they're all so fun.

(I'm liking the mix of carribean, white/dune, kiwi & dijon. My husband thinks I've lost it.)

If you were starting a collection of kitchenware that you hoped to have for a lifetime - what color would you choose and why?

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

I made it clear here & here that I have a thing for luxury tented vacations.  

Well this little gem tops them all.  You would be hard pressed to find a more pristine setting and the accommodations, cuisine, activity offerings and wild life are top notch all the way.

I think this would make for the most unbelievable destination wedding ever.  But I'd be happy to go any old time.

"Some 30 minutes by boat from Tofino, or 20 miles as the eagle flies, rests a premier eco-safari destination called Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. The resort is open annually from mid May to the end of September only and offers all inclusive adventures of 3, 4 or 7 nights. 

Inspired by late 19th century Great Camps, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort promises the perfect pairing of soft adventure and soft beds - a delicious blend of childhood wishes and grown-up dreams.

Situated at the mouth of the Bedwell River, where it spills into a nine-mile-long fjord, an enclave of 20 great white canvas guest tents, massage and treatment tents, dining tents, lounge tents and a massive timber cookhouse peek out shyly from the dense bush. Clayoquot Wilderness Resort offers a discreet paradox of individual pampering, and remote, untamed wilderness."

 

we heart mini's & airstreams

I had to post on this as Minis & Airstreams are Sean's two very favorite modes of transport.  And yeah, I really like them too.  Now these two iconic brands have teamed up with Republic of Fritz Hansen to design a concept prepared for any of your water adventure needs.  

I'm concerned that this could be enough to push Sean over the edge.

You can read more about it here.  Spotted here.

I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone

I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone

by Richard Brautigan

I was trying to describe you to someone a few days ago. You don't look like any girl I've ever seen before.

I couldn't say "Well she looks just like Jane Fonda, except that she's got red hair, and her mouth is different and of course, she's not a movie star..."

I couldn't say that because you dont look like Jane Fonda at all.

I finally ended up describing you as a movie I saw when I was a child in Tacoma Washington. I guess I saw it in 1941 or 42, somewhere in there. I think I was seven, or eight, or six.

It was a movie about rural electrification, a perfect 1930's New Deal morality kind of movie to show kids. The movie was about farmers living in the country without electricity. They had to use lanterns to see by at night, for sewing and reading, and they didn't have any appliances like toasters or washing machines, and they couldn't listen to the radio. They built a dam with big electric generators and they put poles across the countryside and strung wire over fields and pastures.

There was an incredible heroic dimension that came from the simple putting up of poles for the wires to travel along. They looked ancient and modern at the same time.

Then the movie showed electricity like a young Greek god, coming to the farmer to take away forever the dark ways of his life. Suddenly, religiously, with the throwing of a switch, the farmer had electric lights to see by when he milked his cows in the early black winter mornings. The farmer's family got to listen to the radio and have a toaster and lots of bright lights to sew dresses and read the newspaper by.

It was really a fantastic movie and excited me like listening to the Star Spangled Banner, or seeing photographs of President Roosevelt, or hearing him on the radio "... the President of the United States... "

I wanted electricity to go everywhere in the world. I wanted all the farmers in the world to be able to listen to President Roosevelt on the radio....

And that's how you look to me.

{image by mark.os}

fool for pools

One day I would like a swimming pool.  It needn't be large or fancy.  All that I ask is that the shape be rectangular.  Oh, and that grass grows right up to the edge. I know it may sound particular but there is something about these specifications that cause my little heart to go pitter-pat.  

Should I someday receive this pool that I speak of, I will share.  Share, share, share - I say.   I will not hide away by my lonesome - splish-splashing away in utter self-satisfaction.  No, sir!  You will all be invited over, strait away. We must just sit tight in the meantime. 

{images from Domino deco files, RIP}

kicking it old school.

Katie emailed me yesterday with the lyrics to a Taylor Swift song that I hadn't heard of before:  Fifteen.  You see, Katie & I were best friends at fifteen. And 16. And 17.  We drove identical cars.  We donned the same Gap anorak and those American flag jean shorts that Kelly Taylor wore in the first season of the real 90210.  We ditched our friends late at night and drove around with the top down singing broadway musicals as loud as we could muster.  And that email, that song.  Well, I was back there in a nanosecond.  I like to believe that it wasn't that long ago.  But I am lying to myself.  I'm more then 15 years away from 15. But I can still taste it, smell it.  

Those were the days of Stan Smiths.  Of Tretorns.  The days when our group of friends looked like an advertisement for J.Crew: coated in baby oil, baking in the sun, wearing identical tank swimsuits in a multitude of hues.  Surely there was difficulty and heartache, but I taste none of that when I remember back.

Just white turtlenecks to show off our summer tan.  

White turtlenecks & jean shorts & Tretorns. 

{images by double cappuccino, Myke*, teckdy, fooard, Tretorn, Maryam S.}

blog music party week: Epic Movie Music.

Cause I love movies & I love music & I really love music in movies.  Here are my faves:

Twist & Shout from Ferris Bueller's Day Off

In Your Eyes from Say Anything

Your Song from Moulin Rouge

Kissing You from Romeo & Juliet

Ain't too Proud to Beg from The Big Chill

Here's party central.

Finn Juhl

My latest furniture design crushes are from the mind of Finn Juhl.  

His pieces are - So.  Very.  Beautiful.  

{images from D*S, Finn Juhl}

One Heart Studio

Speaking of good hand-lettering: Remember my friend Katie, with the exquisite taste?  Well, I had the honor of being one of her bridesmaids. And along with the utter loveliness of the entire weekend, she gave me the most beautiful bridesmaid gift I have yet to come across.  It is a simple wooden box, painted black.  Hand written on it with gold paint are a series of quotes that are meaningful to our friendship.  There is a little note from Katie inscribed in the inner top lid.  The bottom of the box is signed & numbered by the artist.  I have had this book for years and still every time I see it I smile.  I love how thoughtful and personal of a gift this is.  Many trinkets are set aside the day after the wedding but this box I will keep and value always.  

Caitlin Dundon, the artist behind One Heart Studio, offers many colors for both the boxes and script allowing you to truly personalize this gift.  I have since given these boxes as gifts and love to come up with meaningful text to accompany it.  I am still wanting to get a letter box for Sean with our vows inscribed on it.  Perhaps for our ten year anniversary.  And I can stick the watch in it. 

myfonts*

Perhaps it is impossible to be a part of this creative blogging community and not be inspired to, well, create. The other thing that we spent the weekend doing was discussing a small business venture that I am considering. Whenever considering this type of thing you need to settle first things first:  What font should I use in my logo?  

Dear Readers - would you be kind enough to offer your two cents here? (Even you lurkers out there - pretty please?) I am looking for a handwritten font.  One that is not commonly seen around in various projects right now. I'd like it neither too feminine nor too masculine.  And not too flourishy. 

Here' are my favorites right now:

Please vote on 1, 2, or 3.  Or let me know about another similar font I might be missing - thanks!

(*all of these fonts and many other lovelies are available at myfont.com)

Max Bill* mechanical men's watch

I have been admiring this watch for years.  I think it is the most beautiful men's watch.  Every major holiday I ask Sean - "Can I get you the watch?"  He has yet to say yes.  (He loves it too, he's just the type that feels loved when I don't spend money.)  One day I'm gonna sneak up and give him this watch, loving him well all the while.  Just not the way he likes it. 

*Max Bill was a Swiss architect, artist, painter, typeface designer, & graphic designer.  Dreamy.

the happiest place on earth.

just a few of my favorite shots from Disney:

how Sean takes his coffee

For Christmas this year, nearly everything that Sean asked for was coffee related. The thing is that far from being a coffee snob, the guy just wants a decent cup of coffee in the morning.  The offerings at work are so rough that he decided to take matters into his own hands.  He's loving his morning cup now, thanks to these-

the Frieling French Press:

Illy coffee:

"We are happy to serve you" ceramic cup:

watergraphs

We spent Tuesday evening with some of our oldest, dearest friends.  We stayed in that night and just sat in the hot tub, talking.  We drank red wine and passed haagen-dazs around.  I paused a couple of times that evening just to take in the scene.  You know those moments in time where you forcibly must pause.  Those moments of palpable perfection.

Today we took out a boat and did some fishing.  The kids got to help steer the vessel and reel in the trout.  The water looked diamond encrusted throughout the afternoon.  The air felt neither cold nor hot.  I couldn't help but lap up those glorious moments like a thirsty dog. 

Again, I could almost taste the day.  It tasted delicious.  Decadent.

Like beloved photographs though none were taken, they live on in the minds' eye.

{image from weexplorenature}

Kingsdown Mattresses

I am a really bad sleeper.  I have a hard time falling asleep, an easy time waking up and I need a lot of sleep to function.  This is a recipe for disaster.  I am amazed at how much a quality mattress effects not only my night, but my life. Cause life is really just a series of nights with days in between.  And if those nights are rough, well... Recently my parents bought a new mattress.  They were so thrilled with it that they started buying them for random family members.  I am so terribly grateful that we fell into this lot.  Cause folks, this ain't no ordinary mattress.

Here's how it went down:  my parents brought us to this furniture showroom that carried Kingsdown Mattresses.  The owner of the store, Britt, had Sean & I lay down, one at a time, on this special mattress.  The mattress was hooked up to a computer that charted our pressure points.  We then both answered a few questions about our sleep preferences and voila!, the mapping device directed us to the mattress that best suited our combined needs.  We have been sleeping on it for over a month now and it is perhaps the best gift we have ever received. The gift of a great night sleep.

(We hardly slept while in Scottsdale because of the mattress and have therefore decided to rely on AdvilPm to make it through our Florida trip.  I'm already looking forward to getting back home to my bed.)