Pretty, Pretty dress

I have a friends wedding coming up, so I thought I would start thinking about what I would wear. Most likely I will borrow something or wear something out of my own closet, but it couldn't hurt to look, right?
I love this taffeta dress by Calvin Klein.


If I were to wear red, I would wear this Betsy & Adam dress.

This one is nice from Carmen Marc Valvo.

I love this one but I can't wear white to a wedding!

I like this dress by BCBG Max Azria

Fast Paced Science

I am caught up in this book by Michael Chrichton, so much so that I actually skipped my workout this morning to read more of it. The first Chrichton book I ever read was Jurassic Park. It was an assignment for high school science. I remember wading through all the science mumbo jumbo in complete boredom, and yet the rest of the fast paced story line kept me trudging along, so that when I finally finished the book I felt that I had actually enjoyed it and remarkably had retained some knowledge of DNA that I had not understood before. As an adult I have found that I quite like Mr. Chrichton's books and I thoroughly appreciate the science behind them and the questions he lays out for us to ponder about how much responsibility mankind has in scientific pursuits. Next is a particularly good read about bio-genetics, also Prey which revolves around nanotechnology. State of Fear is about global warming and I can't wait to research this subject more, as there is an extensive appendix in the back of the book as well as a 21 page bibliography. All goes to say, I would heartily recommend any of Mr. Chrichton's books, not only for the thrilling story lines, but also for some good information.

Dream dress

I adore this dress by mono, although it's a bit pricey for my budget.

and It's Reversible!

Many of you know about my love affair with hats, headbands and scarves. I am currently loving this hat by Squasht by Les

Contemporary favorite

I'm a huge fan of So You Think you Can Dance and I am liking this season, but this routine from last season by Mia Michaels is still my favorite.

Friend's Links:

Agnes' Pages
All About Elijah
Amber Beckham Photography

becoming Jane...

Blue Bird Invitations
Camp Cissell
Caroline
Cole's growing

Day by Day by Day
Fellowship Worship and Arts
Howard You Doing?
Julia Martin
K10 Gillespie

LOD5 (Ladies of District 5)

MisCdaisy's Musings
Something Just To Start
Tales of a Modern Housewife
The Finest Kind of Life

The Kelleys
The Velvet Trunk

Us

333 Days of Pictures

Inspiration

I have not previously blogged on jewelry designers that inspire me, so I thought it was about time. Inspiration comes from many places, but other designers are obviously a huge source. These are a few of my favorites among a slew of others. I don't know what it is exactly about designers that draw me to their work,(an organic feel is one) but the first sign is that my stomach turns. Not out of revulsion, although the feeling is similar, but probably out of mixture of awe and the feeling that I am not working enough (but with three children, who could?). But truthfully I couldn't get along in my own work without these repulsively gorgeous pieces of artwork out there to inspire me.
Jes MaHarry (Tree of Life)


Jeanine Payer (top: "Kiku", bottom: "Shauna" with diamond)





Rae Vittorelli's ceramic pieces


The Apple Tree (top: I want to ride my bicycle, bottom: Busy as a Bee)

I Love Sales!

I was just browsing MoMA's sale section and came across these. Some are more reasonable than others but at least they're not full price!

Wishbone Chair

Agate plates

Watermelon clock

Chrome plated bowl

Cast iron trivet

Fitzsu for Childhood

I would love for my children to play with cars like these. Designers in the Fitzsu organization (Yves Behar, Richard Meier, Konstantin Grcic and Michael Graves among others) have made these from Playsam toy cars for charity to benefit the Childhood Foundation.

The Original Playsam Streamliner Car
Ulf Hanses
Bjorn Dahlstrom (below)

Richard Holbrook

Michael Graves

Happy Headbands

Since I have curly hair, I tend to suffer from tufts of wool that stick up from my hairline (ok, it's not really wool, I just wanted you to get a good mental image) especially when my hair is not freshly clean. Many days I rely on hats and scarves to keep my head from looking like it's about to explode in a firework of hair. I think I will get on of these from BCharmer. Very chic for those frizzy days, AND they're reversible! Now there's a good idea!

Me

This is me if I were a Simpson. I also took a personality test last night and found out that I am personality type INFJ. Apparently this is a complex personality type that only 1% of the total population has (what a coincidence that one of my blogging friends has the same one!) I was hoping the letters stood for Intelligent Nice Friendly Joyful, but they actually mean Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging or introverted intuition with extroverted feeling. Interesting.

What's for Dinner?

Lemony Zucchini, Chickpea and Lima Bean Salad


We had this salad from MSL this week and it was a total hit! It's a perfect side to pretty much any meat, or it would make a great lunch all by itself! Yum!
Ingredients
Serves 6
1/2 cup fresh or frozen lima beans, blanched
1/2 cup drained canned chickpeas, rinsed
1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/2 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 to 3 romaine leaves, cut into thin strips
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, broken into small chunks (1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, plus small sprigs for garnish
4 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions
Combine lima beans, chickpeas, zucchini, onion, romaine, Parmesan, and chopped basil. Add lemon juice, oil, red-pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, and toss to combine. Garnish with basil sprigs.

More Handbags

I have been purse hunting because my everyday purse had a sippy cup leak all over it and now it is two different colors and not pretty. I really need a purse large enough to carry diapers and all the accouterments of motherhood, but I really love these (above) from Marion Marie and those (below) from Daphne at Etsy.

Give Your Old Backpacks

Donate your old (usable) backpacks to Osprey and they will be used in several charitable programs, such as: Empowering Woman of Nepal, Climb High Foundation for women in Uganda, Alpine Fund for orphanages, urban youth wilderness programs and Boy Scouts in rural areas. If you donate before Labor Day, you will receive a 10% rebate on your purchase of a new Osprey backpack!

Storage Sale

We are trying to redo our old downstairs bedroom (that is currently a storeroom) into our studio/guestroom. Every time I go in there, I am utterly overwhelmed. So, with the thought that I might be a bit productive, I have been researching storage materials hoping that I might be inspired to actually work. Low and behold I found these boxes on sale at DWR!

Are you Addicted?

65%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

This is completely ridiculous but I got the urge to do this quiz from a little sussy, and I guess it's true. I AM 65% addicted. Should we start a group?

What's for Dinner?

I have been in a cooking rut. I just don't have an appetite and I have been out of good dinner ideas. Thanks to Martha, this actually looks good to me. I think we'll have it this week.
Ingredients
Serves 4
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, 1 thinly sliced and 1 minced
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 pound ahi tuna steak (1 1/2 inches thick)
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
3 to 4 kale leaves, thinly sliced (1 cup)
3/4 cup homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock
2 cups canned cannellini beans, rinsed
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 1/2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar
Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon oil and sliced garlic in a skillet over medium heat. When garlic begins to sizzle, remove and discard. Add rosemary to oil, and immediately pour into a heatproof bowl. Let cool.
Season tuna with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Rub half the rosemary oil over tuna. Let stand 15 minutes.
Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add tuna, and sear until dark golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a plate, and cover loosely with parchment. Let rest.
Heat remaining teaspoon oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add thyme, red-pepper flakes, and minced garlic, and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add kale, and cook 2 minutes. Add stock, and simmer 5 minutes. Add beans and tomatoes, and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in vinegar and remaining salt and pepper.
Thinly slice tuna. Drizzle rosemary oil over tuna and beans on serving plates.

Design Danes

I have always been interested in Danish Design (above: Poul Henningsen lamp and below: Arne Jacobsen EGG chairs) But I have just recently come across a design team that has made a bench/ table that I absolutely LOVE! I can't download the picture of it, so you'll have to go to Furn ID to see it. It's the first piece of furniture that comes up on their page. Then you can stay and browse around and get to know Morten Stovegaard, Bo Strange, Sara Martinsen and their award winning designs. To see more Danish Design go here.

Handbag Help

I love the idea of creating my own accessories because when I go shopping for something I tend to measure everything against an image in my head that I just CAN'T FIND already made! I may have a good idea in my head, but my execution of it is sometimes quite shoddy. These are some purses that I have made that I actually like but since these I have run out of ideas. UNTIL I found this lovely handbag tutorial blog. I think I might try to make this "rather cheeky" clutch! My wheels are turning and I'm ready to CREATE!

We're Back

We had a wonderful stay at the Opryland Hotel Friday night. Our room opened onto the Garden Atrium which was just what I had hoped for! Saturday night we came home to a still and quiet house and ate a beautiful variety of fruits and cheeses and watched movies.

Today we reunited with all the kids and we are glad to settle down again and get back into our regular routine. I'm ready to watch a family movie with my kids all piled around me and then go to bed!

I'm Soooo Excited

This week is is Seth's and my eight year wedding anniversary. Tonight we have room reservations at Opryland Hotel! I can not tell you how EXCITED I am! I have always wanted to stay there, but more than that, to actually have my parents keeping the kids and to get away with my husband puts butterflies in my stomach! YEAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (That was a virtual scream of utter giddiness!)

Pretty Paintings

New paintings by Seth. You can also see work here.

Who is it?

I saw this video on Black Eiffel and I LOVE LOVE this song!

What's for Dinner?

I really want to try this Herb Nage which I found on a beautiful food blog, Nordljus recommended by Oh Joy. It looks so yummy, I only hope I can interpret the metric amounts!

Why I Love Kids

I have posted these pictures (sent to me by Grandma) for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy and happy weekend!