May 4, 2012

Shazam + Abracadabra

Blindsided, gutted, and numb. All of it. The Beastie Boys have been a part of my life for just about as long as I can remember. Adrock, MCA, and Mike D were common names amongst all of my friends and their music always a safe bet when no one could agree on a station. As a trio they seemed unstoppable, always progressing their style of rhyme instead of growing stagnant and fading away. And now after today, and the much too early death of Adam Yauch (aka MCA) at age 47 from cancer, they’ll be no more. This isn’t one of those cases where someone can just jump in and fill his empty spot in the group. They were too much like brothers for that. Too connected, too in sync.

I have so many great memories associated with the Beasties. The long summer afternoons spent in my friend Rachael’s tiny bedroom with our friends Holly and Beth, dividing up the lyrics and singing over and over again. (I was Mike D, Rachael Adrock, Holly MCA, and Beth the DJs.) The concert I went to in Cleveland the night before I left for my freshman year of college. And another I went to four years later with friends from a new chapter of life. I think there was a solid decade where you could walk into my bedroom and find one of their posters on the wall. They were a major part of my life as I was figuring out who I was, not only musically but fundamentally.

So I guess what I came to say is thanks, Adam. You, your beliefs, and your causes won’t be soon forgotten. Rest in peace.

Posted In music, my life
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May 4, 2012

Happy Weekend

01/ Paper + thread garland that’s perfect for every party!
02/ Loving these vintage knitting needle bracelets.
03/ How to DIY a hanging daybed, the easy way.
04/ Radiators that double as art.
05/ Genius photographic specimens.
06/ Reconfigured sheets of music.
07/ This homemade marshmallow crème has me drooling.
08/ I’d love to make a lap or ten around this rainbow panorama!
09/ Love this gentleman’s journal! (Thanks, Erin!)
10/ Cheeky urban plant tags.

Posted In blog love, create, entertaining, graphics, happy weekend, house and home, jewelry, make it, outdoors, photography, recipes, street, walls, wear it
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May 3, 2012

Little Corners: Style + Pepper

Say hello to Jessie Artigue of Style & Pepper, then have a peek at her eclectic space!

Nestled in the midst of what are pretty much our only windows (besides a sliver in our bedroom), this corner is definitely my favorite in the house. The lounger is where I sit to work on writing projects when I need to step away from my desk, and I especially love it in the mornings when the ripples on the Hudson River turn the sunlight into glitter. My little assistant loves to rest her little nose on the sill while she watches her friends play at the dog park until we go in the afternoon. The framed pieces are by our dear friend Jeremy Collins and were our first original artwork purchases, the pillows were both handmade by me, and everything else is either thrifted or found on Craigslist. The little tree is a Dwarf Meyer Lemon, and was a present from Gerard two Christmases ago.

Our bookshelves hold a random collection of things that are precious to us; trinkets and gifts from the different cities we’ve lived in and friends we love. The large blue painted silk piece was a thrift store gem from Kansas City, the print is by Leigh Viner, and the photograph is one of our engagement photos and shows us chasing after a trolley in downtown San Diego. Gerard bought me the teak “infinity” sculpture while we were dating, the Jonathan Adler pottery holds the ashes of our kitty (Zoe) that we lost two years ago, and the turquoise jar holds pennies that my Grandpa sends me from Heaven.

My little “office nook”, as I like to call it, is the hub of my workdays. I love this old metal desk that was salvaged from the barracks of a Naval ship, and the vintage metal bookshelf we placed on top makes for the perfect storage hutch. DIY supplies, magazines, and photos fill most of the shelves, and the extras are an always rotating mix of inspiring images, quotes and ideas. A thrifted ceramic hand holds my iPhone while it charges, my tray full of favorite nail polish shades stands-by for when I’m in need of a quick break, and I always keep pads of paper and little sticky notes nearby for writing reminders and the occasional love-note.

Posted In little corners
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May 2, 2012

Stackable Totem Planters

My thumbs aren’t exactly black, but they ain’t green either. Which really does make me sad because I love plants. My outdoor butterfly garden has managed to hang in there for the most part (only a few casualties that were quietly replaced), but when it comes to indoor plants I might as well bring them home and toss them directly into the trash. It’s that bad. Lucky for me these stackable totem planters from West Elm look like I could create some amazing desk organization out of them when all else fails. *sigh*

Posted In outdoors
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May 1, 2012

Salt + Pepper Cellars

I’ve seen plenty of salt cellars and even a pepper cellar or two, but never a set of two. I love these salt + pepper cellars from Terrain to pieces. The sculpted porcelain, the handmade look, and that stitched detail on the back just seals the deal. I always use shakers, but would love to change over. How about you – cellars or shakers at the dining table?

Posted In create, house and home, kitchen, sculpture
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May 1, 2012

Peanut Butter + Pumpkin Dog Treats

I’ve never baked for a pet before. But then I stopped and thought about how I’m trying to eat healthier, why not the dog too? I had so much fun making these treats and Piper is absolutely gaga over them. (I even tried one myself, but it only tasted like a cracker.) I don’t like using my rolling pin, but the dough was sturdy and really easy to work with.

 

Peanut Butter + Pumpkin Dog Treats

• 2 1/2 C whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 C pumpkin puree
• 3 Tbsp all-natural peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place all ingredients in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, use your paddle attachment. Mix on low for about a minute or until the dough starts to come together. It won’t be one big ball yet, but a bunch of smaller ones. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Work it together into a large ball, then roll it out to about 1/4″ thickness. You can use a cookie cutter for shapes or a knife to cut strips. (I used a 1″ 2-sided biscuit cutter.) Roll out the scraps again and again until there’s not enough dough left to work with. Place the treats on a baking sheet lightly coated with cooking spray. They don’t expand, so 1/2″ between treats is enough. Bake 30 minutes. Let cool completely. Makes 75+ 1″ treats.

Posted In pets, recipes
42
April 30, 2012

Chemicus Service Set

For the scientist/host who has everything, Art Lebedev has created a serving set combining fine china and a chemistry set – Chemicus. Now you can take your experiments out of the lab and into the kitchen! And if you look close enough you might even spot a few biohazard signs. Needless to say, I’m in love.

Posted In create, sculpture
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April 30, 2012

Adios April

Dyed Easter eggs with my mom. (See the Mickey Mouse??)
Bought more melamine!
Filled the house with flowers.
Cuddled with The Peanut.

Visited Chirps & Cheers for the first time!
Spent lots of time outdoors with Piper.
Reminisced a little – that’s me and my dad!
Marveled at only having killed two perennials in my butterfly garden.

Posted In create, my life, photography
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