Archive for August, 2008

31 August

About the Place


I cut a corkboard in the shape of stacked books; think it turned out cute.

I love my Nine Wests and the natural light this place gets.

Jack and I pulled a locker off the street, out front the school up the street, and he’s painting it Apple Green.

30 August

Impressive. Most Impressive.

Impressive Business Card
The above business card made me smile so much. I think it’s such a smart idea for a painting company and a great re-use of materials!

Hope everyone is enjoying their loooong weekend!
Via FFFFOUND!

28 August

Getting Used to NYC

Getting Used to NYC
I have a love/hate relationship with tourist pits in this city. I hate dealing with slow-moving, in-the-way, picture-taking tourists. But, at the same time I love the feeling of knowing that I live in a place most people only get to sample. I count myself as such a lucky person to live here. I wake up a city so alive our floor shakes from time to time (or that could be the construction down the street… but I digress).

I didn’t always feel this way. My transition period was not a smooth one. Many nights there were tears and questions of what I was doing here. I was amazed by how a city so full of people could be so lonely. I was told when I moved here it would take about a year to get in the groove of things, and boy were they right. Nearly a year after I moved here it was as if I was pulled out of a cave and was dancing my way around the streets. And, once you get into the groove of New York, it’s the most amazing thing! Falling in love doesn’t hurt much, either. ;)

I loved reading (in the below article) how similar my experience were to others who decide to take a chance on living here!

Sometime over the course of a person’s first year in New York, there usually comes that moment. It can happen in the first days or weeks, or after 10 months. It can happen repeatedly, or without people noticing, at least not at first.

Newcomers suddenly realize either that the city is not working for them or that they are inexorably becoming part of it, or both. They find themselves walking and talking faster.

The subway begins to make sense. Patience is whittled away; sarcasm often ensues. New friends are made, routines established, and city life begins to feel like second nature. In other words, newcomers find themselves becoming New Yorkers.

Newcomers Adjust, Eventually, to New York | Via Swiss Miss

27 August

Little Gordon

Little Gordon Ramsay
Though I’ve yet to catch any of that “Hell’s Kitchen” show, Jack and I love Gordon Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmare.” So, needless-to-say, these hilarious and ingenious shorts for Caterer.com really tickled us. This kid they got is just brilliant!

Youth Novels by Lykke Li
I’ve been so into the apartment recently, I’ve been slacking off on keeping up with my music. I was going to put this “Weekly Album” series on a little hiatus, or until I found some really good music. I still think I’m planning on doing this; so it’ll be more “Great Albums” and less “Weekly.”

Well, just this morning, my great friend, Morgan, pointed me in the direction of Lykke Li and I have fallen head over heals for her in the past few hours I’ve been listening and researching. Beautiful words, beautiful voice and a beautiful face. …If nothing else her dancing, much like MIA, makes me happy through and through!

With so many surprises in the arrangements, you might overlook what a strength Li herself is, how well she unifies Youth Novels’ scattershot imagination. It’s easy to dismiss her style as overly cutesy– the babytalk chorus on first single “Little Bit”, for instance– and her fragility can seem annoyingly affected. But don’t be fooled– she’s in total command of the songs, and her breathy fuzziness fits the wireframe aesthetic better than a fuller voice would. There are also hints that Li would be as happy with a richer sound– on the beautiful “My” she’s rolled and washed by cymbal, string, and echo and lets them envelop her without erasing her.

Quoted from Pitchfork

And this is my new favorite song, “Little Bit”:

26 August

Re-appropriating

Re-appropriating IKEA
A few weeks ago Jack bought a few power tools, etc. and we have been putting them to excellent use in our apartment! We are declaring the theme of our place “Re-appropriated IKEA.” We started with drawers and slats of my old bed and made cute mini bookcases. But, last week, in an effort to open up or space a bit more, the impulse struck to take apart my big bookcase, use the remainders of the slats to make wall-mounted shelves. We are having so much fun taking things apart and making them our own and I could not be happier with the results!
Re-appropriating IKEA
Re-appropriating IKEA
Re-appropriating IKEA

23 August

Button Bouquet

Button Bouquet
One of my best friends, Nia, got “unofficially” engaged a little over a month ago (YAY!), and while on The Scoop, I was reminded of these adorable button bouquets I saw at a card shop recently. Nia is a fashion designer and I think would be perfect for her wedding day! (I will say, the one’s found on The Scoop, made by Princess Lasertron, are much more well-crafted and creative than the one I took a picture of.) So cute!!
Button Bouquet
Button Bouquet

21 August

QUIKEA!

Quikea
Man, looks like I have IKEA on the brain these days, huh? Love IKEA’s prices, but loath the crowds and amount of time it takes? Well, this site gives great tips and tricks on how to make your next trip much quicker and more bearable (and get a cinnamon roll on the way out!).
Via Apartment Therapy

20 August

IKEA Wants

Oh, the things I want from IKEA! These are the things we spotted on our last trip and didn’t pick up that I still really want. We shall see, though, since I imposed the savings spree again. *Le sigh*
IKEA Wants
IVAR, REXBO, FÖRHÖJA, TRONES
IKEA Wants
HEDDA LÖV, GÖREL
IKEA Wants
FRANKLIN
IKEA Wants
JORUN VÄXT

20 August

For Jack

They WERE the droids...
… and I need a pick-me-up from this crappy day. Love you, sweetheart!
By contentwritingadvice | Via FFFFOUND!