Happy New Year!

Today's the last day of 2009. Enjoy it.

The pretty and big ball above is the older version of the NYE Ball, which I happen to love. It's classic and secretly I have always wanted one of my own.

Check out the 2010 New Year's Eve Ball designed by Waterford Crystal.  It's, uhhhh, colorful and reminds me of a snowcone.

(Images)

Music of 2009

I love end of the year lists and reflecting on the moments, the people, the fashion, and the music of the last 365 days. My favorite, by far, is the lists about the music. A song can remind you of a person, a moment or even a smell. A song can take you back in time.

This is my list of music that I will remember from 2009. I'm not claiming this is The Best Music of 2009 and some is even from 2008 (which, really, is the sign of great music, right?). These are the songs or albums that I couldn't get out of my head. The songs that I never got sick of hearing. This is the music that takes me back to those people and those places and those moments that will always be a reminder of 2009.

Halloween, Alaska - The Ends
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Animal Collective - My Girls
Bon Iver - Blood Bank. How could you not love a song that starts with
"Well, I met you at the blood bank."

Hello 2010!

New Year's Eve. It's coming up, kids! Are you ready? More importantly, do you have your outfit ready?

I actually don't think I have plans for New Year's Eve. Sad, I know. I'm going to pretend that I don't care. Honestly, NYE is overrated (really, it is). BUT, if I were doing something fabulous for NYE this, my dears, is what I would wear.

I've always wanted a sequin dress. They are glamorous, mod, and sexy all at once. Just like...me??

Gucci dress - Love how it's modest on the top, cinched at the waist and is then super short.

(Photo from envymag.com) 

Tights - I just can't do all black. And although I would love to go wild and add colored tights I don't want to distract from the dress. So gray tights it is...

 

(Photo from Express.com) 

Yves Saint Laurent ankle boots - Killer. A bit of shine to coordinate with the dress.

(Photo from bluefly.com) 

Words To Live By

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

I'm not a quote girl. In fact, I often find their use to be cheesy and/or pointless. Really, does everyone need to use the "Be the change you wish to see in the world"? No offense, Gandhi, but if everyone is proclaiming this why is our world not changing for the better??

I know so many people who have their saying and it works. Their little blurb that sums up their life, their purpose, their whatever. You read it and think, yeah, that definitely fits him or her. I never had one. Until now!

Well, I wouldn't say this is definite but good ol' Thoreau is pretty much the King of Quotes and I dig this one. And it is how I hope to live my life.

Colorstrology....for Jesus!

I love Colorstrology. It's so fun to send the info to friends on their birthday. So, why not do it for good ol' Jesus, right?

I'm not too technologically savvy so I couldn't figure out how to paste the page in heremperfectly (weird flash stuff on my parent's ancient computer). But here is the basic info that is molto importante.

The big J's birth color is....Hunter Green!

He is determined, unusual (ya think?), and goal oriented. You can find more information at http://www.colorstrology.com/. And while you are there find your own birth month and birth date color.

Baaaaby.

This song makes me very, very happy. Especially on slushy days like today! It makes me think about summer and riding my cute blue bike around the lake.

Enjoy.

MK & A Forever

I'm not one of those people that is totally in love with MK & A Olsen. I have admired them (admired, not been obsessed!), both for their daring style and for their business sense, from afar. But my admiration may be growing.

Style.com recently posted on their blog What Would the '00s Have Been Without the Olsens? Long title, sure. But after reading it I have newfound respect for The Girls and may be a little bit more in love with them. And I wondered...what would the '00s have been without them? They are like a 2-for-1 special in fashion.

It is really interesting to see the evolution their style has taken in the past 10 years. The first pic in the slideshow = WHOA. But who wasn't wearing that look at that time and at that age (14, I think).

It's also apparent that they are always ahead of trends...yet somehow never seem trendy. What they were wearing back in '04 is just as likely to show up on them in '10 in a new and edgy way.

From the Style.com highlights, these are my favorites. Though they rock the Dumpster Chic look oh-so-effortlessly and I love pics of them when they are on their Starbucks run, I absolutely love these looks.

 

 (All photos from style.com)

There are so many more (I just spent over an hour looking at pics of them. Sad. Did I mention I'm not really that obsessed??) and I can't wait to see what they do this decade.

Dear S. You should wear this. Love, B.

I've been slacking on Gossip Girl this season. Sometimes not having a tv can ruin a girl's life.

For those of you who watch GG, you know Blair Waldorf is rarely seen without her signature headband. She (look at me, talking about her like she is a real person...) is probably singlehandedly responsible for bringing them back full force.

They've been a trend for quite some time and for good reason.Headbands are both pretty and practical!

Now that my hair is getting longer I've finally started wearing my scarves again. But I need to mix it up and I keep trying on headbands but have yet to purchase. This needs to change.

Enter FeatherBrain- whimsical headbands with serious style. You can find her on Etsy. Her handmade feathered headbands are a modern take on 20s-era flapper fashion. Here are a few of my faves:

Two Turntables and a Microphone

I want to be a dj. So I can buy this. Or maybe I should just buy this. And then pretend to be a dj. And collect records.

Call me DJ B. Fiasco.

(Photo from anthropologie.com)

The Death of the Glossy

It is often the simple things in life that make me happy.

The most perfect skim vanilla latte, getting to the bus stop just as my bus arrives, pb + bananas, and people who say "thank you" when you hold the door for them.

One of my simple daily perks during work is to go to the bookstore and spend an hour catching up on the latest design mags. To me, this simple act can improve my entire day.

For 60 minutes I am in heaven. I lose track of time and am transported to a world where my surroundings are no longer scuffed linoleum flooring, fluorescent lighting, generic white walls and people who mistake wrinkled khakis for professional attire.

Instead, I am lounging in the most beautiful mid-century modern abode in Silver Lake surrounded by my equally hip boho friends.

(Photo from apartmenttherapy.com via Beth Zeigler) 

Or I am making dinner in my modern kitchen, furnished with all the latest gadgets, with my Prada-clad hubby (a girl can dream).

(Photo from pointclickhome.com) 

If I meander over to the section of French magazines, I am instead transported to my villa in Champagne.

(Photo from www.aupresdeleglise.com)

I love magazines. Fashion, design, food, whatever. They are eye candy for the design obsessed. They are a simple pleasure, no matter your interest. And they are dying. Today, I.D. Magazine announced that its January/February issue would be the last.

A few months ago Gourmet and Metropolitan Home closed. At the beginning of the year, Domino died.

Yes, I admit that I didn't subscribe to these magazines (yikes, it's my fault!) and I instead spend countless hours reading design blogs. But taking a look at my bank account you will see that plenty of my money has been spent on magazines even if I was not a faithful subscriber.

There is nothing better than feeling the pages of a hot-off-the-press magazine in your hands while sipping a cup of coffee (like a skim vanilla latte!). The sound of changing the page on a never-read magazine; it is a crisp sound that can not be compared. The glossy paper, the colors, and the smell. Oh, the smell of fashion mags are my favorite!

I fear our world may become an uglier place if more magazines go to the magazine graveyard.

I Need A Single Man

Yes, I do. But I'm talking about the new TOM FORD movie A Single Man.

Tom Ford can do no wrong. Combine him with Colin Firth and it is every girl's (and boy's!) dream.

  (Photo from finchsquarterly.com) 

 (Photo from msnbc.com)

Pretty. Practical.

One of my tried and true daily blogs is Apartment Therapy. They've been around forever but I continuously go back because I love the mix of interior pictures, interviews of home owners and designers, and products. I especially love seeing how styles differ between LA, SF, Chicago, etc.

Today they posted this cute idea from Quotes and Notes (great name)!

(Photo from Apartmenttherapy.com)

I love seeing everyday items being used in a creative way. I especially love how worn this clothespin is - it fits perfectly with the linen tag and brown packaging. Wouldn't you want to get a gift like this?

Oh Bow Monde!

Under two months 'til I'm rockin this frock.

Sadly, I can barely breathe in it (gym, here I come. Ian's Pizza, sorry but we need to take a break). Is it not amazing?

(jcrew.com) 

And the Winner Is.....

(Pantone.com) 

Turquoise!

Pantone recently unveiled the Color of the Year for 2010. It's PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise. 

"Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects 

of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters 

and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles 

of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing."

I have always been a fan of turquoise. Many days you will find me wearing one of my favorite pairs of turquoise earrings. Such a great accent to any outfit.

It truly is a color that is timeless and almost anyone can wear. Whether you want to rock an elegant, natural, or quirky look turquoise is a great choice.

Turquoise is great on its own but it's also a great color to mix with others, whether in fashion or interiors. Some of my favorite color combinations are:

• T & Orange     
  
• T & Gray
• T & Silver
• T & Black and/or White
  
• T & Pink
• T & Yellow
• T & Just about anything

It also reminds me of a beautiful ocean...and my trip to Belize and Honduras this summer. Oh, to be back here lying on the beach!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Yeah for snow days. This girl does not have to go into work tomorrow! Who knew this could happen so early in the winter? I'm not complaining.

I'm seriously contemplating some new winter duds to get me through the season. I've put together a lil' outfit that I think would make my daily trek through the snow a wee bit better. That is, if it didn't get below freezing on a regular basis. This is definitely a fashion over function outfit and only for the warmer winter days!

Let's start at the top....

For my (large) noggin and even larger hair, The Jewell Cap by MakeedaYohariCrochet.

To keep body warm I would be rockin' this dark peacock blue woolen ruffle coat by PureHeartDesign.

For the five fingies on each hand I'm going to pretend it doesn't get below zero here and wear a pair of these gorgeous Sermoneta gloves in bordeaux (I like to mix random colors!):

Since gloves are the one thing I lose, I better get another pair. This is my other option but in dark red (though I really like the cream, for practical purposes I stay away from light-colored winter wear!):

And for the feet, you might wonder? Hmmm. There is no hope for finding fashion with winter boots. Ughhhh for Uggs. Yet, I do find the Keen Bern High Boot to be pretty sweet, considering....

If I had this outfit I might want to be walking in a winter wonderland every day.

Twinkle, twinkle

I love this time of year. Well, minus the cold and slush it really is great.

Although the cold can get irritating there is something about walking outside and having the cold air snap you awake. Nothing beats a fresh layer of snow; it covers up the dirt and grime and everything that is wrong about winter and instead makes everything look beautiful and still.

But what I love most about this time of year is the holiday lights. Although many people get excited for the presents or the holiday cookies (I ate too many yesterday!), for me it is the lights. Plain and simple. The twinkle of lights against falling snow can't be beat.

(Photo by SR-Anna) 

Geology Rocks!

Who knew the Geology Museum at the University was such a rockin' place?  Ok, the rock jokes are old, I know.

Yesterday my coworker and I meandered on over (in the freezing cold, might I add) to the Geology Museum for their Holiday Sale. It was quite the crowd of rock and gem fanatics.

I bought two pieces of Pyrite, aka Fool's Gold, and two pieces of Leopard Skin Jasper and then headed off to wander through the museum.

This place is such a hidden gem (oooh, nice joke). Seriously, it is. The first room has so many rocks and minerals in the most amazing colors. It is hard to believe that these stunning colors can be found in nature. Oh, and the shapes of many of the minerals. Unbelievable.

I'll definitely be making another trip when I have more time. And when the weather gets warmer!


(Pyrite photo from pitt.edu. Leopard Skin Jasper photo from nstargems.com)

Denim Therapy

Have you heard of Denim Therapy? If not, the company will save your life. Uh, at least your denim. And your wallet.

I had two pair of my Paige jeans (ave cost for each $190) that had holes in them. The horror! I didn't want to attempt to patch them - no need to look like my dad in his barn jeans! And I was trying to save money so I did not want to buy a new pair.

Enter Denim Therapy. "Our repair is a genuine reconstruction of the original denim material. It is not a patch. It is new cotton thread and stitch applied to the broken denim area. "

Freakin' amazing, right?  I got my jeans in the mail and you can't tell there was ever a hole. The dye of the new threads match exactly and are woven in perfectly. I saved myself hundreds of dollars.

So, instead of running out and dropping $200 on a new pair of jeans, send them to the denim therapists at Denim Therapy! And then go buy yourself something nice ;)

In a clutch

My friend is getting married soon and mentioned to me that she wants to make a clutch for each bridesmaid. I had been researching the pages of Etsy and fell in lust with this clutch by yorktown road so I forwarded the pic to her.

If my friend decides to make clutches (errr, have me make them since she doesn't sew!) I think I will use this clutch as inspiration. Can you just imagine this made with silk duppioni? Delicious!

Tuesday's gone.

Almost. And thank goodness! Today was a looooong day at work and had me thinking about my ideal (is there such a thing?) work environment.

When considering my work environment, I know:

• I am most happy working in a collaborative environment while still having the ability to work independently for some projects. 
• I need to feel passionate (at least somewhat) about the organization's mission, topic, subject, etc. And so do my colleagues.
  
• My sense of worth is based on people relying on me for multiple reasons. 
• I enjoy being the person who has answers (not in the know-it-all sense) or can connect people to those who do have the answers. 
• I thrive in chaos. I find sense within chaos.
  
  
  

Weekend Recap. Tired just remembering it all...

With a belly full of fajita-goodness I can now do a recap of the great weekend I had. It was jam-packed!

Wednesday I went to a much-needed Happy Hour at Opus Lounge. My friend and I had willpower and did not have the chocolate fondue. Normally, though, it is a MUST.

Thursday I went to a Thanksgiving dinner at the home of one of my coworkers. Countries represented: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Poland, France, Canada.

Black Friday. Yikes.

The Milwaukee adventure took place on Saturday. The Warhol exhibit was impressive, in my opinion. The color, the variety, the urine. I loved it.

After the MAM we ventured to Art vs. Craft. What a freakin' zoo. It wore us out and we had to venture to the Milwaukee Public Market for sustenance. After eating we wandered around the Third Ward and went to an antique mall where I found some awesome blue chairs for NINETY dollars. Such a score.

The weekend is over?

It has been absolutely fabulous having an extended weekend. I needed it. I got so much done, had so much fun, and spent sooooo much money. Yikes. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Ya know?

I'm too tired from my beer and Bob's Bad Breath Burger at Weary Traveler to write.

In a nutshell: turkey, Argentineans, Frenchies, Milwaukee, Warhol, empty parking lots, crafts, Cubanitas, martini sprinkles, X-mas decorations, paint, spray adhesive, lights.
Time's Up.

   (Photo: WarholStore.com)

Happy (almost) Hump Day!

It's almost Wednesday. Officially Hump Day. But since Thursday is Thanksgiving and I have Thursday and Friday off, Wednesday, really, is Friday. Oh joy!

I won't be making the trek home for Turkey Day. Instead I'm venturing to Milwaukee this weekend for Art vs. Craft and also going to see the Warhol exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. I have been to Milwaukee tons of times and have yet to step foot inside this museum. I am so excited! It is bound to be a great day.

But before venturing out for artsy fun I have work to do. Thanksgiving day I will be finishing my never-ending house projects. New pulls for my dresser, painting an accent wall in my bedroom, and refinishing some lamps. I swear I can't have a weekend where I sit around and do nothing.

I struggle with plain white walls. I love seeing uber-modern interiors that are stark white. But I don't live in an uber-modern apartment. Instead, I've got oak trim and lame Benjamin Moore antique white walls. Ugh. I've already painted a ton and don't have the energy, patience or money to paint two entire rooms. Hence, the accent walls. Are accent walls so 1999? If so, I don't care.

Anyway, that's what's on tap for this weekend. I better get some rest so I can be productive!

Mad for Madison

I moved back to Madison about 6 months ago and it's like I never left. And also like I moved to a brand new city that requires serious exploration.

During my first stint in Madison I was a student. I spent 4 1/2 years trying to enjoy as much of the city as I could. Or at least as much of the Plaza as I could...

Back then I knew there was so much to do but I never got around to doing it all. Damn P-L-A-Z-A.

This time around I am determined to explore every nook and cranny (or kranny?) of the city. Don't worry, dear friends, I will chronicle every adventure so you feel like you were there. I'm big on details. Maybe a little overboard.

Mocha and MMoCA

It was a gorgeous fall day in Madison today. And a busy one! I woke up and finished a home project that has been in the works for a very long time. My house projects will be another (few) post(s). They are never ending.

After that I went with a friend to Burnie's Rock Shop. Burnie's is the mecca of rocks and gems. It's not a huge store but it has every type of metal, rock, stone, bead, etc. that you would need to make jewelry. If you want instant gratification Burnie's also sells jewelry - the selection of amber jewelry is out of this world.

I bought some stuff to make a new ring and then we were on our way to Michelangelos for coffee and a lil treat. Croissants and coffee make for a good day. Before making our way to the Holiday Art Fair we made a pit stop at Anthology and Little Luxuries, two great (probably the best) boutique/gift/craft shops on State St. More about them another time, though!

And then it was off to the Madison Museum of Modern Art aka MMoCA. I have yet to spend quality time in MMoCA. Don't worry, though. It's on my list of things to do.

The Holiday Art Fair was very similar, albeit smaller, than the summer Art Fair on the Square. For the most part it is not art I like. Jewelry and odd wall decor that is too whimsical and looks like it' made for crazy ladies with cats. And do people really wear fun fur scarves? Blech.

Yet, there were a few gems. Nick Wroblewski is a woodcut
printmaker and he had some pretty amazing pieces. I loved the color.

Another artist, Dylan Punke, had some interesting photography that I loved because it reminded me of home. Old farmhouses and lonely paths through the woods. Now, before you start to think "ugh, not more of THAT" hear me out. It was freakin' cool even if his web site does not do his art justice.


There were also a few artists selling some unique jewelry....but I can't seem to find their cards. We'll keep them for another post since this is reaching novel length ;)

All around it was a fun day. But, the real fun has yet to start. Dinner party!

Nervous Nelly

If you grew up in a small town you probably are aware that the end of November means deer hunting. This is a concept that I have never understood. Why on earth would anyone want to spend hours and hours sitting outside in the cold waiting for an animal to be dumb enough to show its face? Did I mention it's cold?

Anyway, you might be wondering where I am going with this. A few years ago the antler chandelier and anything else with antlers was THE trend in home decor. Again, didn't get it. See the connection now???

Well, I've found something that reminds me of the antlers but is much more modern and "scientific" (it's the new "green", if you ask me). I am sure these have been on other blogs for the past few weeks....remember, this is only my second post, yo.

Nervous System, founded by two MIT alumni, designs amazing products. And they recently posted pictures of their lamp and vase prototypes which should surely find a spot in my house.

They would probably be offended if they knew someone was comparing their amazing products to antlers but it was the first thing that I thought of when I saw the picture. When you see the jewelry they create you will be amazed. Everything is stunning. Delicate. Clever. Strong. Serious. Awe-inspiring. It is all of that. And I love it. And want it. All.

(Photo from The Cultivated Home)

Well it's about time.

After thinking about doing this FOREVER I've finally (!) started a blog. Fun times will be had by all. And by all, I mean moi.
What will this blog be about? Hmmmm, that's still to be determined. I'm inspired by so much creativity that exists. And in awe of what goes on in the mind of people. I'm a mile wide and an inch deep when it comes to my interests. So I guess it will be a random chronicling of whatever is striking my fancy. That day/week/month.

And we're off....