It was touch and go there for a moment, but friends, we made it to the weekend. Did you hear it’s February already? This has been a notoriously cruel month in the past, but with the warmer temps and lack of snow, I’m optimistic this year will be different. After all, there are new projects, trips and experiences on the horizon!

Have a good one.

Image via Remain Simple

Let’s talk about toast. I love the stuff. Toasted, grilled, fried, freshly baked, you name it and I’m all over it. Yet, what I like most about toast is how handy it is. Toast is basically a tasty vehicle delivering a variety of different toppings and flavors to your mouth, all in a nice portion-controlled size. I mean really! The possibilities are endless here!

I’ve been enjoying fancy toasts a lot lately (all my Instagram followers are giving a sarcastic nod/eyeroll to this)- so I thought it was time to share my favorites with y’all.

Enjoy!

1. Avocado, honey, red pepper, sea salt
2. Roasted grapes, ricotta, olive oil, thyme, sea salt
3. Roast salmon, goat cheese, truffle oil, dill
4. Nutella, pears, cracked pepper, honey

One of my favorite design gals just launched a new shop full of beautifully design cards! She combines hand brushed typography, watercolor and bold graphics perfectly. There’s a great selection for V-Day, too.

I’ve been a huge fan of Christine’s work for years now and I can’t wait to see what she does next. Congrats lady!

I had just stopped hunting for a new laptop bag when… DING! There was Nicholas, the designer behind Columbia-based Hasso, sitting in my inbox. The bags are gorgeous- classic and ruggedly appealing. The Hasso line is made from locally sourced waxed vegetable tanned leathers and 455 gram cotton canvases. I’m particularly drawn to the material juxtaposition of the messenger bag and but these backpacks are taunting my credit card as well.

Check out their entire line of products here!

All product images by Hasso.

Additional Sources: Image 1 by Stockholm Street Style / Image 2

Readers- It may be the time of the year, but I’ve been a little down in the dumps lately. I do my best to keep positive, but sometimes when a string of bad luck comes your way you can’t help but whine “Why me!?”. When I was in my (very) early twenties, my roommate and I did a lot of whining about the growing pains associated with becoming real “adults”. The self-pity fest was most often accompanied by a gigantic piece of chocolate cake and multiple glasses of wine. Soon enough we were laughing about the heaviest things on our minds.

Over the years I’ve realized that wallowing in self-pity is just a pitstop on your way to accepting the bad things that happen to you. So why not have a little fun with it? Soon enough you’re looking towards better things.

So party away, my friends.


Provisions:

1. Alcohol. Whatever floats your boat.
2. Lounging gear. Opt for cozy knits and a warm water bottle to hug.
3. Food. Sometimes only ice cream will do the trick.
4. Music, Movies & Journaling. I’ve watched Casablanca since high school and it still does the trick. I also posted my weepiest tunes on 8tracks and Spotify. Totally subjective and personal, but yeah, Radiohead makes me bawl.

Best Practices (for good measure):

1. Lay off the social media. This is an intimate party and odds are you’re not your “best self” in this state of mind. And let’s be honest, it’s probably pretty irritating to everyone else, too.
2. Reach out to someone you can trust if you need support. Talking through things often helps us move on.
3. Remember that everything looks better in the morning light. You’ll feel better tomorrow, I promise.

Links: celebratory banners / I recommend scotch / sweater / hot water bottle cover / wool undies / ice cream spoon / batch ice cream / casablanca / journal /

Ah, Friday is finally here. I need a couple beers and a good sleep after this week! But I’m particularly excited for this weekend because we are celebrating the birth of our friend Emily (HAPPY BDAY EM!) with a night out in the city. There will be dancing, drinks and a little leather dress I’m excited to wear.

Hope you all have a good one!

K
image via +

Today’s inspiration comes from textile designer Nancy Straughan. Her sense of color, form and texture is impeccable. Check out her portfolio here and shop her organic linen prints here. I love seeing what inspires and influences a creative’s work, and her blog is full of graphic goodness.

Thanks for sending along your work, Nancy! Can’t wait to see what’s next.

Beautiful textural spaces by TACKLEBOX architecture…

Design & Concepting by TACKLEBOX architecture, photography by Juliana Sohn for Aesop and Gianluca Fellini for Aesop

Excited about the ultra-prep coats and knits from Carven for Pre-Fall 2012…

via Vogue & Coffee, via Lucky Magazine

Via Style.com

I’ll be working on creating a more seamless way to share the mixtapes I’m posting, but for now, I’ve got Spotify links to past mixes:

Mixtape No.1

In The Kitchen

Get Up and Get Dressed

At The Movies with Woody Allen

Longer Days, Shorter Nights

Feelings

Move It

Jumpstart January


* To clarify- I will posting to 8tracks AND Spotify. Happy listening

image via Middle Child Complex

Currently…

Watching:
Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and The Painter. It is currently streaming on PBS. The couple that never fails to inspire creative living.

Listening:
Turntable Kitchen :: The Best 7″ Vinyl Singles of 2011. Fantastic round up from one of my favorite blogs.

Wear:
Booties with boyfriend jeans. It’s actually been mild and enjoyable this winter. All the more reason to enjoy naked ankles and fussier footwear. via +.

Tasty hues inspired by a recent afternoon ice cream treat:

Bracelets by Natalia Brilla
Only Make Print
Julie Stegner by David Vasiljeic
Anthro Dresser
Coin Purse
Book Review cover by Chris Silas Neal
Necklaces by FORTUNE
Gold Cutlery from Canvas
Peach Planner by Julia

A mini mix to get you over the first hump day in January.

Listen to Mixtape No. 9 Here:

Worship You – Colleen Green
Angelhead – Gabriël Rios
I Might – Wilco
Pas Pour Toi – Ava Carrère
Larmes de Métal – Soupir DJ Kicks (Compiled And Mixed By Chromeo)
Velvet Elvis (RAC Remix) – Alex Winston
Afternoon – Youth Lagoon
a widow’s toast – Neko Case


Image via Note To Self

In 2012, I will:

1. Learn to love my natural texture
2. Primp & curl when time allows
3. Wear a hat when all else fails
4. Break free from the top knot
5. Rock a messy braid
6. Add some hardware to my pony
7. Try out a new flirty style


1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

title source

I saw this clay bowl tutorial a few weeks ago and just had to give it a try over the holiday break. It looked too good to be true and in reality, it was. Check out the tutorial here and have fun with it! FYI- I used my fingers to shape the bowls to get a more organic look. Looks pretty stunning for something so easy (and cheap) to make.

I think I’m going to try this paper mache bowl next…

Totally crushing on this clever interactive caffeine consumption poster created by Column Five. I want my own! You can purchase your own here.

Alyson from Unruly Things invited me to contribute a guest post while she’s away in sunny Flordia. I’m all about sparkle for holiday parties, so head over to Unruly Things to check it out!