mosaic monday

this one is pure self-indulgence, with a huge measure of magical thinking.
my birthday/christmas wish list:

1. collecting a rainbow of le creuset; need the perfect blue
2. intrigued by the juxtaposition of modern cube and romantic pearls
3. curious girl ♥s lulu
4. for my little bohemian living room: this mirror
5. and this pair of funky chairs
6. very robin hood and his merry men
7. chocolate truffle, please
8. charley harper memory cards
9. perfect paisley
10. I like looking at other peoples' homes
11. this tiny treasure
12. for the art studio
13. too many electronics in my bag; must consolidate
14. oh my. pure rainbow stripey goodness
15. L, please
16. that’s right, all four of them

oh, the lushness

a good chunk of our roadtrip to philadelphia involved spending time at terrain in concordville, pa (we stopped by on the way to the city and on the way home). I first heard about anthropologie's exploration into the garden business on oh joy's blog and am forever grateful. the shop is pure bliss for garden-color-party-design-funkiness junkies like myself. this is how good it is: it's a five hour drive from my home and I plan to return at least twice before winter sets in. see for yourself...





in true anthropologie spirit, this shopping destination is the perfect mix of beauty+function+uniqueness. there is a cafe in the greenhouse with a menu that reflects the fresh surroundings, or you can stroll through the grounds sipping mint iced tea and just taking it all in. fingers are crossed for new locations to open soon.

fresh ground

fresh ground, free trade, organic coffee enjoyed sunday morning at starlight cafe (plus fresh-out-of-bed conky hair!). see more freshness in may's self portrait challenge.

green summer

new grass accoutrement in fresh summer green:

1. chesapeake bar, pottery barn
2. enameled tray, crate & barrel
3. holy guacamole
4. smokey joe, crate & barrel
5. baja barware, pottery barn
6. bbq tools, crate & barrel
7. bali double chaise, pottery barn (this year, it's mine!)
8. mucho dos equis
9. chiana fountain, ballard designs

some thoughts on love

best line in a love song:
"when I see you, a blanket of stars covers me in my bed."
from counting crows/mrs. potter's lullaby. it made it's way round the ipod shuffle this morning during my run.

lucky to love:
mia. thanks for choosing me out of all moms to be your mom. it has been and always will be a pleasure. you are the best teacher. the sound of your laugh makes me high and grounded at the same time.

mother's day love:
tickets to the june r.e.m. show in raleigh (!) and lunch at my favorite peruvian cafe. I had the causa de pollo and chicha morada and we shared some plantains.

lunch love

need more love? visit this blog and watch luke & alisha's slideshow (just scroll straight down to the slideshow and play). I don't know luke & alisha, but they sure do look happy.

how did you experience love today?

oh, for pete's sake!

I can't stop thinking about this amazing silk paisley tunic from tracy porter. this one goes beyond the usual "have to have it" obsession...I've been dreaming of this one since sometime back in december when it made it's stunning debut in the catalog. and when I say dreaming, I mean dreaming. there I am floating through a variety of scenes, all smiles and calm efficiency: solving problems, saving the day, making a small child giggle with delight, delivering a persuasive speech to an audience of dolphins, dancing a jig in a small irish pub in the 1930's...all while looking flawless in my fabulous silk paisley tunic! only to wake up to the harsh reality that it's STILL NOT MINE (not to mention looking nowhere near flawless). usually my clothing crushes subside and I'm able to spare myself another self-indulgent jacked-up purchase ($280!), but this one won't let up. thought I would blog about it; sometimes that subdues the electric charge.

a little bird told me the stimulus checks are arriving sometime next week. I really, really think I deserve a larger check because I have done way more than my fair share of stimulating the economy over the past 20 years. maybe I should testify at a congressional hearing in support of the stimulus checks being a regular reward system for those of us who in their twenties happily consumed 3-for-$1 frozen burritos and ramen noodles so that they could purchase a pair of apple green pointy-toed stiletto-heeled mock-croc boots (oh how I miss those boots!). do you think the congressional dress code allows for silk paisley tunics?

mixed messages

mixed prints are so quirky and fun. currently coveting:

1. burning torch recycled silk top at blue bee
2. donald pliner newsprint clutch at zappos
3. phillip lim floral tank and plaid shorts at nordstrom
4. christian lacroix collage pumps at zappos
5. elizabeth & james dress (peacock and stripes!) at revolve clothing
6. naughty monkey floral embroidery and textured leather d'orsays at zappos

color crush

have I told you how much I love etsy? I'm somewhat obsessed with browsing and always amazed at the talent there. my new favorite store is circa ceramics. I really, really want a set of these funky little bowls.

rainbow world

I wish I had paid more attention in sewing class so I could quickly whip up something, anything, with these fabrics from free spirit. perhaps some pillows? an apron? maybe I will get adventurous and try to piece them together into some sort of patchwork loveliness.

so true (and more blue)

this necklace is fantastic and so me! there are lots more like this over at matsudabunch's etsy store. very clever! I'm wondering if wearing the label will somehow exonerate me, you know, like it's fair warning.

revelation

I adore cb i hate perfume and was addicted to burning leaves last year. I'm always eyes akimbo for the perfect woodsy scent. revelation is a perfect blend of woods, honey and fig. It smells like a wood sprite would.

Self Portrait Challenge: Politics

This is my first month doing the Self Portrait Challenge. I'm not sure if I followed the rules (I think you may need to have some part of your actual body in the shot). This month's theme is politics.

There is a soft, quiet place in my heart where the lovely idea of democracy resides. This is the place that holds the reverence that gently wells up when I enter a court of law or a voting booth. This is the place where every One counts, every One has a voice, every One matters. Through my twenties and thirties, I wore the "I Voted" sticker proudly on my heart throughout the day after an early-morning vote. This last primary, I noticed that my voting experience was somewhat devoid of feeling, in spite of this being a historic election. I don't feel the Hope. I don't feel the Change. I feel like I'm being lied to and sold something I don't need. I completed my duty and declined the sticker, then found myself returning to claim one. It didn't go on my heart. It went on my Starbucks cup. I'm trying to access that place in my soul that believes in democracy. I'm scared of apathy.