PHOTO: Noah Kalina
01/ build 3D letters out of this font
02/ here’s your chance to be engaged to Prince William
03/ organic kaleidoscopes
04/ a magical stop motion wedding video
05/ ad agency launches first (fictitious) cat video division
06/ Gift Magazine’s 2011 Holiday Guide
07/ I want to walk the roller coaster walkway!
Adonai by Alexander Liberman
This past Sunday CMYBacon and I headed up to Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, NY via a tour bus full of hipsters and outlet mall shoppers. And boy, was it worth it. I can’t begin to imagine a more perfect fall day to galavant around the 500 acre sculpture garden, the skies were bright blue and the leaves were a million colors. It was that in between temperature where you’re not quite sure whether a sweater is enough, or maybe you need a jacket.
Spheres by Grace Knowlton
After conquering the fantastic outdoor cafe (all locally sourced, organic fare), we took off with the idea to catch the tram for an overall look at the place. But then we kept walking. And then just a little bit further. And a little more.
Endless Column by Tal Streeter
Iliad by Alexander Liberman
Storm King Wall by Andy Goldsworthy
After thoroughly investigating the Normandy-style museum building – and deciding we’d be perfectly okay with living there – we finally made our way to the 40 minute tram ride to investigate the far-reaching bits of the property. (Psst… can you spot the couple making out in the photo above?!)
Stream: A Folded Drawing by Stephen Talasnik
Mirror Fence by Alyson Shotz
One of my favorite pieces, I loved the distorted perspective.
Five Swords by Alexander Calder
The light was insane, and all of our photos either turned out dramatic and awesome completely whited out.
Mon Pere, Mon Pere by Mark di Suvero
My favorite shot of the day, the sun perfectly blocked out by the sculpture.
Untitled by Robert Grosvenor
My favorite piece, it took everything I had not to walk over it like a bridge!
The Arch by Alexander Calder
I almost had the equivalent of a second major in art history during college, so seeing all of these pieces I’d only ever spied on pages of books was a dream.
The area got hit pretty hard during last weekend freak October snowstorm, and lots of branches were down. There were even fields that still had flashes of snow. Which when melted leads to mud. Check out my shoes the morning of waiting at Port Authority and post-gallavanting. Luckily Martin was a good sport! I definitely recommend making a day of visiting Storm King if you’re ever in the area, you can thank me later.
Posted In create, sculpture, travel
Today you find me begging for a bit of a reprieve as I settle into my new schedule. Because ya’ll, this new job is fast and furious and about eleven hours a day. That doesn’t leave much time for other activities and I’m sadly behind on both my blog research and fun quota. So instead I thought I’d share a little about what’s been shakin’ since I moved last Saturday.
My street (above) is gorgeous, with slate sidewalks and a park right across the street. Literally. I’m lucky enough to have a drop-off laundry service and dry cleaner right around the corner, along with about a billion delicious restaurants and bodegas. Not to shabby for Kelly! My commute to and from the office is a snappy half hour, and I get to check out the Manhattan skyline as I cross the bridge every day. My office is near beautiful Union Square (and the surrounding stores where I want to shop daily), it’s sunny when I arrive and dark when I leave and there hasn’t been time for much else.
I aim to change all that this weekend. I also aim to catch up on this space here, so for now I thank you for your patience and continued words of congratulations and encouragement. You’re some good eggs.
Posted In my house, travel
PHOTO: Lex Kembery
01/ I like this DIY chevron picnic blanket
02/ How to Dress Like The Royal Tenenbaums
03/ how to make a succulent table from a recycled pallet
04/ these golden gift tags would be perfect for, oh, everything
05/ yeah, I could definitely vacation here
06/ this sandwich
07/ melted crayon art
08/ custom emboss your own stationery
09/ I wish my backyard were large enough for a movie screen!
10/ still photos of dogs in motion
Friday, July 14th, 2011
0700 hours Central Time
Wake up. Feed Piper. Shower. Drink coffee. Get ready. Pack last minute things.
0815
Leave house for airport. Eat granola bar in car.
0845
Find parking spot in garage after long search. Attempt to remember location of car without writing it down.
0900
Make way to Self-Check In counter at United. Learn that connecting flight from Denver to Seattle has been cancelled. (Denver had apparently had hailstorms two days prior.)
0910
Rebooked on later flight. Arrival moves from 1:02pm to 7:47pm.
0915
Make way through security line. See ex with his wife and child. Awkward.
0930
Regret not wearing shoes with socks.
0935
Speed-walk to gate. Board immediately.
0952
I’m on a plane!
1015 Mountain Time
Land in Denver.
1025
Find next United flight to Seattle. Get on standby list.
1045
Find nearest restaurant. Wait 15 minutes to order. Order turkey sandwich and a Fat Tire.
1100
Note how awesome it is that pre-noon communal drinking is a preferred and accepted activity in airports.
1145
Am seduced by the candy shop across the concourse. Fall prey to a piece of peanut butter chocolate fudge.
1200
Sit at standby gate. Watch birds hop around and eat crumbs.
1300
Pick up on DIA trends. Clogs. Vinyl backpacks. Water bottles. Lots of iPads. No makeup.
1330
Read. Desperately want to nap.
1500
Accept the fact that I won’t get onto this flight. The plane has been downsized. Call junior high BFF to tell her we won’t have time for coffee after all.
1510
Walk to next gate. At least I’m confirmed on this flight.
1545
This girl shows up and sits across from me. Best suitcase. She’s wearing a Proenza Schouler rope necklace, has neon yellow nails, natural dark red hair that’s long + wavy, a great complexion, and wristful of bracelets. Instant girl crush.
1620
A man with actual Tourette’s sits near me, obviously disgruntled.
1725
Board plane. Sandwiched between hippies in my seat.
1745
I’m on a plane!
1815
See a mountaintop peeking up through the clouds. Unbelievable.
1845
I’m eating a fruit and cheese plate. Feeling the tiniest bit fancy. Still sitting between hippies. One with his socks tucked into the seat pocket.
1940 Pacific Time
Land in Seattle. Breathe.
1950
Picked up by Nissan.
1955
Find out I’ve missed dinner at Canlis. Sad face.
2000
Driven through downtown to make up for it. Immediately fall in love with lush greenery and tree-lined streets.
2005
There’s Pike Place Market! Empty. Realize it’s a street, not a square like I’ve always pictured.
2010
Dropped off at Hotel 1000. Check in and pick up media materials at the front desk. The USB fob looks just like the one I have for my car! Nice idea.
2015
Get to my room. Utter obscenities at the sheer amazingness of it. King bed! Free-standing tub that fills from the ceiling! Fantastic smelling Molton Brown bath products! French press coffee! Chocolate on my bed! I’m smitten.
2025
Compelled to try out this big, beautiful bath tub.
2045
Dress to head down to meet friends at BOKA.
2100
Meet up with Maggie, Bradford, Cassandra, Anne, and Sarah. Reunite with Megan and Erin. Cocktails and appetizers run freely.
Saturday, July 15th, 2011
0030 Hours
Say our goodbyes.
0045
Set up wake up call. Collapse into bed. Finally.
0630
Wake with a start at the alarm clock next to my bed. It’s still set from the room’s last occupant.
0635
Make coffee. Note how great the blackout shades work.
0645
Realize I’ve forgotten my hairbrush. This should be interesting.
0650
Go over the day’s itinerary. Marvel at my life.
0700
Shower. Get ready. Think how cool it is that the TV greets me with my name.
0745
Pack up. Say goodbye to one of my favorite hotel rooms ever.
0750
Make my way to breakfast and the Nissan Versa presentation.
0800
Chat with Jessica, the event organizer whom I’ve been emailing with forever.
0815
Eat the best French toast ever. The French toast of dreams.
0830
Hear from the Nissan Versa product planner and marketing manager. They keep it short and sweet.
High points: Car designs are actually 5-10 years of what’s on the lot now. The new Versa model is a killer value (base is $10,990!!) and incredibly roomy. It gets 38 MPG on the highway and 30 MPG in the city. Package options include bluetooth. USB/iPod direct connections, navigation, XM Radio, and touchscreen technology. If you got everything it would top out around $16,000. Insane.
0900
We get to see the new Versa for the first time. Initial impression: It looks like a car that costs more. Realize my 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe cost more than twice as
much and doesn’t have the same technology. Whoa, things move fast.
0915
Anne and I choose a light silver number and immediately hook up her iPhone to the car. It is determined that Florence and the Machine will be our starting soundtrack.
0916
Anne and I get lost from the pack. Half a block from the hotel. This is not an exaggeration.
0925
After discovering my navigation and map-reading skills need work, we decide to drive around the city testing the car and pretending like we live here.
0945
It’s raining (it is Seattle, after all) and the Versa’s doing really well handling the wet streets. We talk about how comfortable the interior is – narrow without feeling cramped.
1015
Top Pot Doughnuts here we come! This place has been highly recommended to the both of us, so who cares that we ate breakfast two hours ago.
1020
People here honk a lot.
1030
Photo shoot in the parking lot next to Top Pot.
1035
There’s a decent line, but we’re committed the wait. I adore the modern feel and the book-lined walls.
1045
I ask for their best seller, the glazed. It ends up being a massive burger-sized doughnut. Anne picks up a tractor tire and chocolate along with a small Ovaltine latte. (I know!!)
1055
We sit outside and chat and take pictures of our gigantic, delicious pastries.
1115
On the road again. This time I’m behind the wheel. We head towards the Sound and take a few more pictures of the Versa. It’s doing really well on the (unsuspected to me) hills.
1120
I inadvertently pass Wexley School for Girls, a design shop I’ve been stalking for years!
1125
I see my first cruise ship in person! Whoa. We laugh about the Red Robin nestled between all of the seafood restaurants.
1135
We pop in to see Olympic Sculpture Park. Take more photos, including an obligatory self-portrait or ten. (This is my hair on no brushing.)
1140
On our way to the Space Needle to meet the group for lunch.
1150
Made it! The Need (as the locals say) is up there, but not as tall as I’d thought.
1200
We head to the tippy top. Since we’re an event group we get to bypass all the long lines. Feeling sort of rockstar-ish.
1210
That. Elevator. Is. Fast.
1215
It’s still overcast, but wow is the city pretty. Bite of Seattle is going on down below.
1230
Lunch on a lower level. The broiled fish is amazing, of course. There are tiny little desserts that I’m way too full to eat.
1320
I say my goodbyes, it’s my turn to head to Sea-Tac airport.
1325
A souvenir is a must, so I popped into the gift shop (which is the entire lower level) and pick up a gorgeous set of opalescent glass bangles from a local artist.
1340
Van leaves for the airport, but not before I notice once more how lush and green everything is. It starts raining harder. Seattle is obviously just as sad to see me go as I am to leave.
1415
Dropped off curbside. Check myself in (with no problems this time), make it through security, and take a minute to check out the window mosaics by Dick Weiss.
1500
I’m on a plane! Next to two children! Luckily one is an adorable redhead named Charlie. And their dad looks like Eminem.
1530
Mercifully manage to fall asleep for about 30 minutes.
1815 Hours Mountain Time
Land back in Denver. Deplane and see that – SHOCKER! – my flight back to OKC has been delayed until a 9:50pm departure.
1816
Break up with Denver and United.
1820
Stop in a French bistro for hummus, veggies, and grapes for dinner. Oh, and chocolate milk.
1840
Pass my time at the gate with the other agitated passengers.
1930
See a family who’s missed their flight. Twice. Ummm.
2000
Sleep with my eyes open.
2035
Notice woman sitting two rows away from me. Reading out loud to herself.
2100
Mentally calculate what time I should be able to be asleep by.
2130
Finally board plane. This time there is thankfully a seat between me and the gentleman next to me.
2145
I’m on a plane….
Sunday, July 16, 2011
0015 Hours Central Time
Back in OKC, much to my delight. I’m so happy to only have a carry-on.
0030
Somehow manage to remember where I parked. It was only yesterday morning, but feels like days ago.
0100
The cats are meh about my arrival home. I wash my face and fall into bed. Silently thank the universe for all the opportunities I have and Nissan for a crazy eventful trip!
Disclaimer: Nissan provided travel, meals and the opportunity to drive the 2012 Versa vehicle before it was on sale. The facts are theirs, the opinions are 100% mine.
Posted In technology, travel
PHOTOS: mrs. french
01. how to make your own seed bombs
02. but of course French Paper Co. has lovely business cards!
03. hope you had a lovely Pi Day
04. I’d love to stay at the Whitepod Resort
05. now you can make your own Pop Rocks!
06. create a secret doorstop stash for your valuables
07. if March Madness isn’t for you, maybe Beard Madness is
08. print your own fabric
09. I forgot to do a pie roundup for Pi Day, Amy’s got my back
10. genius idea: visual note taking at SXSWi
Hammocks & High Tea’s spring collection is beyond stunning, but what I’m loving most are Karen’s Dopp kits. The patterns range from subtle and clean to bold and ballsy, all hitting me square in the design gut.
Posted In beauty bag, travel+ I’ll be geeking out come Sunday night, tweeting and playing Oscar bingo.
+ It’s Feltron Annual Report time!!!
+ Looking forward to making my own tempura veggies.
+ Obsessed with this Chanel Orange Fizz nail polish.
+ A kick-you-in-the-face-funny V-Day roundup based on your relationship status!
+ Loving the setup and layout of the aptly named Cassette Tape Magazine.
+ Learn to cut a rug with Mr. + Mrs. Cha-Cha!
+ The perfect messy side ponytail.
+ I don’t want to rent this place, I want to move in.
Alt Summit completely blew my mind, my sleep schedule, and my waistband for the second consecutive year. There were picturesque views from the Grand America Hotel.
Goodie pails for one and all, filled to the brim with treats from the Spoon Sisters, Just Shorn, and Method (among others).
Lots of interesting panels with lovely ladies. (Ahem.)
Not to mention design camp sessions with focuses such as calligraphy, photography, and screenprinting.
Three course keynote lunches with pretty letterpressed menus by Smock.
HP Lounge
Honda Lounge
Lovely lounges were full of conference goers, beverages, and treats between sessions.
Then there were the unexpected freebies, like these from Just Shorn and Etsy.
And the hosted dinners and parties.
I can’t forget to mention DJ Spooky, who spoke (incredibly eloquently) at Friday’s keynote lunch and had to turn down scads of marriage proposals from my table alone.
Everyone became quite adept at striking a pose for the camera.
The highlight of Alt, for me, was listening to Swiss-Miss’s closing keynote. More specifically when I introduced myself to her afterward and she knew of both me and my blog. My only honest to goodness starstruck moment.
And I would be remiss not to mention the libations. Because there were lots at the ready.
I mean I look like I had fun, right? Cause I’m totally counting down the days until the next Alt Summit already. You should be, too, so you can be there.
Because I suck at remembering to take photos “in the moment” these are all from the Alt Summit flickr stream. With the exception of the first, which is from the HP flickr stream and the last, which is from the Kate Spade photobooth.
I’ll be heading off to Salt Lake City at the crack of dawn tomorrow for Alt Summit. But don’t fret my pets, I have plenty of posts lined up for you while I’m out of town. I’ll also be tweeting away, so make sure you’re following me on Twitter if you want to hear all of the awesomeness that’s happening. Bonjour!
Posted In travel
