Driving the inspiration today

Working with some purple paisley in between finishing samples for the shop and I just had to share. I am happiest in my little studio space. Fan is whirling away and music is almost always blasting from my wee workhorse iPhone. I go through music binges while I work. Grateful Dead dominated April and May. Last week, I listened to David Sedaris' collected works. I just never tire of bitter sarcasm.

Today, it's all Dire Straits (minus the truly unforgivable "Money for Nothing"). Mark Knopfler makes me want to play guitar. Cause I'm sure that shit would be easy to pick up, right? I do wish I had musical talent of any sort.

Listening to really good music reminds me that I am completely cheating Emerson when I turn up the likes of Gaga for our living room dance parties. And the fact that she repeatedly asks for my "jiggly music" (Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy with It" - if you needed to ask) on the way to school each morning is most assuredly shameful. I can do better.

Peace out, friends. Have a smashing weekend.

Living the luxe life in my mind

Let me just preface - I don't usually do this. Shopping gives me hives and I'm generally terrible at making decisions. I've been looking for bedding for more than five years...if that is any indication of my inability to decide. In my mind, I have it all picked out, but when it comes to execution I'm a curled up in the corner rocking from the very thought of commiting.

But now that we're seriously thinking of moving next year, I've been imagining my new dream living quarters, which today would need to be furnished around this lovely pendant light, watercolor silk pillow and pretty little drinking glasses. I really hope to someday show you pictures of things I've actually purchased. But for now I'm just living the dream in my mind.

All images via Furbish Studio, a place that could become a real problem for me.

Summer slump

Yard sale? Check. Date night at Mountain Winery? Check. Popsicle making and eating? Check and check. So far, the summer list of goals is keeping me motivated and focused on a few simple priorities. But even my most diligent inner task master can't keep me from a bit of a summer slump. I mostly start each morning with an itch to run away for a couple of days. Point the car south without reservations and explore new beaches or old haunts. The scenery around these parts is getting stale.

Until yesterday, I'd done nothing in the way of "getting comfortable in my jeans" i.e. getting into shape, blah, blah, blah. I'm boring myself with this one. But in the interest in keeping myself honest here, you should know that I hit the gym with fury and now it hurts to type. But I registered for a 10k last night that I will attempt with several of my very fit lady friends in a matter of weeks. Here's hoping peer pressure can keep me focused on fitness and health for the foreseeable future.

Also, thank you so much for all the enthusiasm and encouragement over my pending Etsy endeavor. I could not ask for a more supporting group of friends. Kind words of support really mean so much. I hope to have something to share in a week or so.

P.S. Danielle and I added a couple items to our virtual closet. Check it out.

Psst, a bit of news

Happy Friday, friends. This was to be a quick check in. Just a note to tell you that I'm making good on my summer list with big plans of a yard sale tomorrow morning and possibly a train ride through the redwoods on Sunday. But then I started getting a little jumpy and itchy.

See, in all my other waking hours this weekend I'll be working on my new Etsy shop. I'm a little nutty over it and I couldn't keep the secret going for a moment longer. I'll have a few of my favorite images available and tiny dresses with vintage embellishments for anyone with a special little lady in their life. More to come very soon. But here's a little snippet of what's been keeping me properly distracted. Eeck! And now I press publish...

Wishful thinking at Reverie Daydream - a guest post

Do you still make wishes when you spot a shooting star? When blowing out the candles on your birthday cake? While tossing pennies in a fountain? I've been a serious wisher of dreams for as long as I can remember. Won't you join me over at Melissa's lovely blog for a little wishful thinking?

Working down the summer list

How are your summertime goals going? Are you giving your swim suit a workout? Eating your weight in popsicles? I sincerely hope so. I'm working my way through my summer list of goals. Serious business, friends.

On Saturday night, my husband and I went to see Kathy Griffin at the Mountain Winery. Full disclosure: I'm a huge KG fan. She's obscene and inappropriate and you could argue a little obnoxious at times. But anyone who can tell Jesus to suck it on live TV is a friend indeed. I mean no disrespect, but I really appreciate brave, irreverent and bitter humor.

The show was fantastic. But if you know the Mountain Winery than you know that your grandma could read the phone book from the stage and the crowd would be still be all blissed out and giddy. It's one of the most breathtaking spots in Northern California. High atop a mountain, full of history and natural beauty. It's a special and intimate place. I saw Stevie Wonder there four years ago and cried my eyes out. It remains one of my all-time favorite memories in life.

On Saturday night, a giant white owl spent the evening floating over the stage as if part of the entertainment. Back and forth and in and out of a tiny window of the ancient castle-like building that anchors the stage. It was magical.

It was a night of beauty and crazy laughter. A much-needed break from the all-too seriousness of everyday life.

Shop our closets

I've been obsessively purging my closets (and hoarder's den garage) preparing for a yard sale next weekend. Mostly because I need to cross that off my summer list pronto, but it also feels really good to clear space and lighten my load a bit.

Just as I was making piles of clothing and toys and let's face it, garbage - Danielle came up with a genius idea of hosting a bit of an online sale. She invited a few of us to post our new and very gently used items on a "shop our closets" mini store. It will be up for the next six months and we will frequently add items so please stop in from time to time and see if anything catches your eye. We promise to keep it to higher end, good quality stuff. Not the sort I'll be selling for a quarter next weekend on my front lawn. So there's that. In the meantime, how cute is the dress/tunic? It's for sale...

And here are the other lovely ladies who will be participating.

Danielle of Elleinad spir

AK and DER of Tipsy Society
Melissa of Reverie Daydream and Reverie Daydream Boutique

The things we covet

Tiffany's signet ring, which up until recently I had not seen her remove since high school (and that was, um, a few years ago, but I'm not gonna say exactly how many) and her mom's brilliant necklace. I want them both. Actually, Tiff and I may have suggested that maybe her mama was getting to that special stage in life when she could start gifting some of her more treasured items. You know, to avoid detailing such affairs in some sort of official document. Yeah, that went over about as well as you could imagine. Still, you can bet I let it be known that I'd happily help purge her jewelry collection and closet. (She's a bit of a kindred soul when it comes to the shapeless clothing.) For now, I will simply admire from afar - two very stylish ladies.

P.S. Had I known the F bomb was going to go over so swimmingly, I would have been dropping it ages ago. Good to know, friends. Feel free to join me in the gutter with your potty mouths any old time. Also, I found the forsaken cord. And yes, it was hiding in plain fucking site.

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Just like a Monday

I had big plans for a blog post this morning. You probably would have liked it. You would have learned all about my home town and how special the light is in the morning and at dusk and how there is certainly no way I could ever live there again but it remains the only home I've ever known. I'd tell you all about my nutjob girlfriends - sisters really - and their synchronized swimming antics. You guys would love those girls. I wish they had blogs.

But I can't find the camera cord.

You bet I'd wax on about Thomas Keller's majestic gardens. The ones that Melissa strolls through each morning. If you imagined she lives the beautiful (inside and out) and exquisite life she portrays on her blog and her shop you'd be spot on. Except it's all so much better in person. I already miss her world.

But I can't find the camera cord.

I've torn my house to bits this morning.

And still no cord.

Here's a photo I took with my phone (a bit like the lanyard your kid made you at camp). Ikea curtains I'll be selling for a steal on a little pop up blog yard sale. More on that very soon, I promise. And maybe more iphone photos if my fucking cord doesn't show up. Oops, I never swear here. Did it hurt your ears?

Also, I had nightmares last night and now I feel sort of angry and sad. Can you tell? I miss my grandparents. My back hurts and I have to go to Target today because we're out of most of the things that make basic hygiene happen. And another thing. I'm going to the dentist in a couple of hours to learn about my next oral surgery. Can you tell that this post is going no where good?

Sorry. Isn't it just like a Monday to throw all sorts of lame stuff into the mix before the coffee is even ready?

I'll come back tomorrow with something pretty. In the meantime, tell me one happy thing, o.k.?

I'll start: I have dental insurance which will make my oral surgery possible. I am honestly grateful for that. And Billy Collins. I'm always thankful for his words.

Summertime in a glass

I'm not much of a cocktail drinker. I used to love a dirty martini or a gin and tonic. But post baby I've found that much more than a thimble full of hard liquor quite literally knocks me down and reliably ends in a migraine. Now, offer me a glass of champagne or a chilled rose and I'm all smiles.

Over the weekend we uncovered the juicer attachment to the food processor and turned two watermelons into juice. My husband surprised me by adding a salted glass, a splash of good vodka and a lime to the mix. It was tasty and refreshing and really turned up the sophistication on our plastic pool lounging.

I just can't recommend this enough. But I'm also quite curious - what are you drinking on these hot summer nights?

Stuff we covet

A happy holiday weekend recap

This was, hands-down, the most lounge-y weekend I've had in ages. It was full of popsicle eating, parade watching, plastic pool swimming, pavlova making and eating, dress making, nap taking and last, put certainly not lest, watermelon-tini drinking. I cannot say enough about the refreshing qualities of fresh watermelon juice (I'm not a huge fan of the fruit, but its juice wins me over every time.

Before you get too envious, keep in mind the bliss was regularly interrupted by boundary pushing and tantrum throwing on the part of a certain someone who pretty much stayed in disguise throughout the holiday. You know, giant hats, sunglasses...your typical diva-wear.

Underneath my sun hat, Emerson is methodically eating the rainbow sprinkles off of a doughnut. My, how I do love that girl to pieces.

Off topic a bit - have you ever heard your child swear? How old were they and did they know you were listening? I overheard "dammit" and "poopy guy" this weekend and had to hide my face and laughter. It just may have been so wrong it was right.

All measures of small pleasures

So very thankful for the long holiday weekend here in the States. We're prepping for triple digit weather which will translate to lots of homemade popsicles and ice cream and some sprinkler fun in the backyard. I'm also planning to make veggie burgers from scratch (wish me luck - my first attempt was truly awful) and pavlova. So very excited for the pavlova. It's my summer time favorite and I usually wait for Megan to make her annual visit to California because she is the pavlova-making master, but I can't wait for August this year. I'll attempt her recipe instead. Wishing you all the best weekend, ever.