Sweet Sixteen

My little family is off to Virginia visiting my sisters' families, as today is my twin niece and nephew's 16th birthday. I was seven when Jordan and Jane were born and remember that I was so excited...I took cupcakes to my first grade class to celebrate the new fact that I am an aunt. The last time I saw the twins and their little sister Maura they were only 11, so I wonder, who are these new 16 year olds? I will expect a full report from mum and dad and Taylor when they return to Iowa. And hopefully I can catch up with J + J before they leave their teen years behind (and are too old to have a doting aunt)! I miss those kids a lot. From afar, Happy Birthday my lovelies.

Hey, Thanks

I am thankful that in this world where many have little or not quite enough, I have plenty. That means great family and friends, their love and support, good health, food on our table, opportunity, education, and on and on! Nathan and I are driving to Portland tomorrow morning to spend Thanksgiving with my former roommate and pal Vinnie. If all works out on Friday I may also briefly see my uncle and an SAIC friend. And in just three weeks, we will be back home in Iowa. Life's pretty good, right?  (Thanks to all of you that make it that way.)

For what are you thankful this year?

....trees, fresh air, picturesque views, living near the water, colour, literacy, literature,  a new president, laughter, compassion, art, puppies, community, hope, saving the whales, heart-breaking/warming film, irony,  design, home, generosity, paying it forward, music,  spirit, passion, warm sun, rain, strength, dancing, medicine, technology, light, sight, hugs, and love love love.....

Two No More

Happy 3rd Birthday sweet little Christopher Billups!

How you've grown!

You are Uncle Nathan's nephew, but I like to think that makes me Auntie by association.

I hope you get all kinds of spoiled today.

xo 

So Fuzzy...

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I know I'm an "adult" now, but I still want puppies for Christmas. 

Pretty please!

Job Front

This week I finally fought my nerves, incessant nit-picking and printing errors, and I applied to three design firms. Only one has advertised an open position, but many offices accept resumes on an ongoing basis. Two of them are among my top choices. I will call them back next week to see if I can get interviews. Here's to hoping.

via flickr

Morning

As a little girl I would sometimes wake up early, slip downstairs to the dining room and lie in the morning's warm sunbeam with my pooch, Essie. 

Though I'm unsure of this room's regard to the sun, I would love to come here in the early morning and find the one warm sunspot on that beautiful steel table. Did anyone need convincing of my ongoing grey obsession?

This antique dealer's entire home is amazing...see the rest here, via white&wander.

Chop Chop

Chopped off my hair. 

I had been growing it out, but it had become quite damaged and badly needed a trim...turned out I needed to cut off a lot. I found an Aveda salon in Redmond looking for hair models for their training program, which was a good [read, cheap] option to the otherwise $40-50 price tag at most places. I really lucked out--the girl offered to always cut my hair for just $15! Um, Jackpot. :)

ps- for a while I really wanted the long hair again. but you know, I think I'm a shorter hair kind of girl. 

The Old Boy's Club

I am intrigued and seduced by what our everyday lives would be like if our homes, or at least our closets, looked a little more like this...like we have very serious lives that require suits and bourbons, like we should have professionally peaked in the 50s and enjoyed boxing matches. Tyler and Vinnie, I think you're with me on this...

via A Continuous Lean

It is this part of me, the side susceptible to the romance of musty accumulation and long histories, that doesn't quite recognize my designer self and sometimes vies for her attention...

Also, women and men dressing in Menswear.

Band of Outsiders

A Pirate Looks at.....

Happy Birthday, dear Pop!

I guess it's a good idea we pretend to get older only one day a year,

yet there aren't enough days for celebrating you.

Lots more years and open waters.

We love you barrels full!

Have a good day, Miss you.

xo

Fantasy Footwear

As the rain has picked up lately and my everyday sneakers have become quite holey I have had footwear on the brain. I would eventually like to get a new everyday shoe that stands up to the rain, a fair amount of walking, and looks keen in several wardrobe combinations. Originally I was thinking about an English rainboot, but then I found this blog's suggestion, and everything changed. 

I think I'm in love with this shoe. 

Patent Oxfords, Dolce Vita

Waxed canvas = A rainy day sneaker!

High Tops, Gram

This classic's been on my list for at least several months...

Saddle Shoe, urban outfitters

*I want to add a disclaimer to this blog to interested parties that this is not a way of dropping-hints or suggesting holiday gifting. Many of the items I post on this blog are simply things I find inspiring or beautiful, intended just to shelve away in the annals of my forming design aesthetic. I keep them here for fantasy window shopping. 

On that note, family, we should discuss sometime (somewhere else) how to handle gifting this year. It is true this year that there are things I somewhat need (and with racked-up hours of internet perusing, would also love to give) but ever more I feel perplexed by consumerism and excess. um, plus I'm kind of broke...maybe we can work something out to make our holiday uniquely giving? :)

November Colour

Perhaps it is safe to say that the last sun of October has given way to the cool rain of November. The leaves have fallen from the trees outside our apartment, but there is still a smattering of fall colors on the ground. I took these photos walking back from the election polling site on Tuesday. (woohoo, Mr. President-Elect!)

I am still crazy about grey and green, so I'm feeling optimistic about the dreary days ahead. Tell me, how's your November going so far? What are you looking forward to this winter?

I Voted

And this just feels so right. Our hope does have a voice.

V O T E

O B A M A