Lately I’ve been day dreaming about lounging with a great book and a yummy cocktail. This summer you’ll find me relaxing in my backyard, but my head will be in the Côte d’Azure.
SOURCES || Rattan Lounge Chair | Paris book | St. Germaine + Hendrick’s Cocktail
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Hey Santa, here are a few Christmas gift ideas for the designerd on your list.
1. Fonts from Myfonts.com because we can never (ever) have enough fonts 2. A big To Do notepad from KnockKnock because our work is never (ever) done 3. Day of the week washi tape so we can accessorize our day planner 4. A stripey Baggu bag for carrying all our art supplies 5. Cute colored pencils for sketching on the go 6. Rainbow of nail polish because just one color is boring 7. Let’s Make Some Great Art book to help bust through creative block 8. YSL lipstick to make us presentable for meetings 9. a FUNctional birdie letter opener for our desk 10. Warby Parker prescription sunglasses for looking cool at all times 11. Fancy sparkly feather bracelet with rope closure, so it doesn’t clack against the keyboard 12. a custom return address rubber stamp from Delphine for the love of snail mail 13. A Pantone Christmas ornament in a favorite color (PMS 377) 14. Mom Inc. book for brushing up on being a fabulous entrepreneur 15. A vintage typewriter in a fun color (preferably green).
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Christmas shopping for the little ones is always the most fun! I love buying stuff for kids — brings out the kiddo in me, I guess. Here are some of my favorite holiday gifts for children:
1. Thumbprint Masterpieces 2. Lion Rucksack 3. Bird-o The Bird Stuffed Animal 4. Tattly Monster Tattoos 5. Play Canopy 6. Chalkboard Top Desk 7. Nerf Gun 8. Owl Slippers 9. Animal Faces Masks 10. Comic Book Kit 11. Bambi doll 12. Fox Puzzle
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I think the hardest people to shop for on my holiday shopping list, hands down, are the guys. So for my first gift guide of the season I started with the toughest: Gifts for the Men in your life. I’ll admit there are a few things on this list I wouldn’t mind for myself ; )
1. iPhone case // 2. Timex watch // 3. Need Supply Duffle bag // 4. Skeletool // 5. bull catchall tray // 6. Wood Sunglasses // 7. Headphones // 8. Stanley thermos
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Chilly weather is the perfect time for casual get togethers with neighbors and friends. My parents are the ultimate hosts, and they taught me to always have some cheese, wine and crackers in the kitchen, so as to be prepared for guests at any time. The tip has served me well, and I’m looking forward to lots of impromptu happy hours at my place with my neighbors this winter.
Right now I use an old wood cutting board for serving, but it’s old in a scary did-you-find-that-in-a-dumpster way, not in a that-must-be-from-a-turn-of-the-century-estate-sale kind of way. I’d love to have a fancy slate board or a pretty wood serving paddle so I can serve in style (holiday elves, are you listening?). Also on my wish list is the darling juice glass caddy from Bixby & Ball — I’d use it for dips, cornichons, and olives.
Entertaining wish list, clockwise from Crate & Barrel Slate Board / Crate & Barrel Cheese Tool Set / Northern Natives Numbered Wood Coasters via Etsy / Yummy Saxelby Cheesmongers Choice / Orange & Pear Rams Head Knife Set / Crate & Barrel Acacia tree slice serving platter / West Elm Raw Wood Board /Bixby & Ball Juice Glass Caddy
I’ve been invited to a wedding industry party with a “wear something white” dress code. Thus, my search for the perfect little WHITE dress. I need something that works for fall, must be comfortable, not too short, preferably with shoulders covered (I get chilly). And it has to be fashionable enough for the Big Apple. So far I’ve rounded up five little white dresses:
1. White dress with black embroidered bodice from Anthropologie 2. White belted tank dress from J. Crew 3. White long sleeve lace dress from Banana Republic 4. White and taupe striped long sleeve shift dress from H&M 5. White cap sleeve lace cocktail dress from H&M.
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It’s too hot to stand over a stove stirring Polenta right now, which is the only reason I didn’t scoop up a package of Moretti when I was at the grocery store the other day. The packaging is delightful that I can pretty much guarantee my kid would eat this if he saw the package first.
While out shopping for supplies for the new house last weekend I saw this cool packaging at the local Lowe’s garden center. I love the retro illustration and typography.
photo//Erika Firm
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While on vacation last Sunday I skipped breakfast and sought out the local Target to snag this Jason Wu for Target striped dress. I just love the unusual color combination of charcoal, mustard and blush. It’s pretty short on me, so I may have to use it as a Fall dress with tights, but I still love it. Right now it’s hanging on the outside door of my closet so I can admire the colors every time I pass by it.
Last weekend I went to the Gem Faire at the Del Mar Fairgrounds with Mom. I picked up a few strands of crystals and beads. Can’t wait to show you what she makes for me. I’m particularly excited about the big natural crystals (the white ones that look like rocks). I’m going to have so many shiny and sparkly new necklaces that I will just have to find reasons to leave the studio so I can wear them.
I think the vendors at the show (which is open to the public, by the way … you don’t need to have a wholesale license) picked up on the colors of my outfit—comfy jeans, grey sweater, pale green + taupe purse, neutral accessories—and kept showing me strands of the same color beads. It totally worked: I liked their suggestions and they made sales. It’s a great tip to remember when you’re exhibiting at a trade show: make suggestions to buyers. As a buyer, shows are totally overwhelming. A little nudge in the right direction is welcome in my book.
Le SQUEAL!!!! Russell + Hazel is having an awesome office accessories sale over on One Kings Lane. See you there! I have my eye on that zip up folio.
I’ve always been a sucker for good packaging. I can remember agonizing over Hello Kitty purchases at the mall, then hating to open the package when I got home so as not to ruin my new treasure.
These days I still love pretty packages. I try to only buy stuff I need, but I just couldn’t resist the awesome Kraken Rum bottle when I first spied it in the grocery store last summer. (Sidenote: California is awesome! We can buy alcohol in the grocery store!!) That was a few bottles ago, and it is now classified as a need. I’m slightly embarrassed to say how many we’ve gone through since that first bottle.
I also adore the cute white polar bear Coca Cola cans. Instead of hiding them in the pantry, I have them displayed on a shelf in the studio. Apparently the cans were a bust for Coca Cola, and they quickly revised the art to a red can because people were “confused.” But I think they’re great, don’t you?
RECIPE: Here’s how John makes Krak-n-Coke: fill highball glass with ice; add 2oz. rum; throw in a squeeze of lime (or a whole keylime); fill with Coke.
I’ve been so busy at the studio that I hardly noticed the entire Fall season swoosh by in a flash. We don’t have a television in our bedroom, so I watch a lot of HBOgo. I’m so bummed that the Bored to Death season is over already! Sidenote: I recently met a man who is a dead ringer for Ray’s character. True story … during an important, albeit impromptu, meeting he wandered away from the group to stretch. Someone asked him what he was doing stretching during an important meeting and he said, “I’m not stretching, I’m practicing my gay throw. If I just move your hand like this I can look gay, but I have to practice.” Ummmmm, no words.
Inspired by Jonathan on Bored to Death, here are some goodies my alter-ego would love: No. 1 Versace for H&M leather studded jacket No. 2 Duotone glasses from Warby Parker No. 3 Shiny & bright orange rain boots from Cole Haan No. 4 Nearly neon ring from Pomeletto No. 5 Skinny cords with zippers à la 1985 from Anthropologie No. 6 Shiny green-blue “henley regatta” Butter nail polish No. 7 A faux leopard trapper hat (J. Crew) to keep my ears warm.
I really need (okay, want) a new office chair. I sit at my computer all damn day and my butt is getting sore from sitting on a hard chair (I currently rock No. 7 in pale blue — a piece of plywood from Ikea). I started looking around for a new chair and HELLO, can you say crazypants prices? The new Eames Executive from DWR (No. 5) fits all my criteria except one. It is decidedly not cheap at just over $3k! And it’s not even leather!
I took a look at office supply stores but all I could find are ugly black chairs that look like they belong in a cubicle. Ick. I do like white, but am super concerned about a white chair getting disgustingly dirty in my studio, since it will get a ton of use. I am leaning toward a green, gray or yellow chair.
At the top of my list is No. 1, a replica of the famous Eames chair — gotta love that Pistachio color! But I’m a little nervous to commit. Will I like having arms on my chair? Will it be too soft? Will the light color get destroyed immediately by rogue Sharpie marks? What should I do????
Office chair roundup: /1/AG Management Chair in Pistachio from Advanced Interior Designs $219 /2/ Ripple Leather Chair in Ivory from Crate & Barrel $299 /3/ Freedom Task Chair from DWR $2,465 /4/ Haworth Very White Office Chair from Crate & Barrel $799 /5/ Eames Executive Chair from DWR $3,079 /6/Eames Aluminum Management Chair in Apple Green (LOVE) from DWR $1,889 /7/ Jules office chair from Ikea $39 /8/ White Grant Office Chair from World Market $229
;)
All of a sudden our social calendar seems to have filled up. I always like to show up with a little something for the hostess. Instead of the usual bottle of wine or baked treat, I think one of these cool gifts from One Kings Lane would make awesome hostess gifts. I just stocked up on Olivina gift sets. Don’t forget to bring something fun for the kids at the house, too! My son’s mind would be blown with the cute teepee for the backyard … though he’d be equally happy with a candy bar.
DETAILS: //1// Drexton Backyard Teepee $89 //2//Dransfield & Ross lacquer frame $36 //3//Magpie Ice bucket $169 //4//Olivina gift sets $12 – $45
