Wake Up

You guys. This is so true. I read this blurb every morning on my walk to the subway and can't help but think that perhaps we all need to have a little more face to face human contact, no? I don't know about you, but it has become a reality that I learn about my friends' latest happenings via FB status updates or text message exchange. I'm reminded of the book Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart. Before long we'll all be using "the Apparatus" to transmit instant credit ratings and evaluate one another's hotness factor from across the room.  Anyway, I highly recommend this novel and suggest you read it. On your Kindle. 

 

 (where is the love? PDA alert near the Williamsburg Bridge)

To Market, To Market

No, 'tis not a fat pig I'm going to buy. Though that would be awesome. I don't think the Dane County Farmers' Market (DCFM) sells whole animals...except rabbits!

The Farmers Market started this morning in Madison! It is one of the most beautiful farmers markets in the country. The DCFM takes place on the Capitol Square and it is the perfect setting for a farmers' market.

This picture, although the best one I could find that had the Capitol building in it, does not do the market justice. Maybe I'll have to amp up my photog skills so I can post some of my own!

With all the veggies and other goodness that I'll be buying, I think it's high time I expanded my culinary skills. There are a few cookbooks out there that would be perfect for all of my farmers' market fare.

(Image via Chronicle Books)

(Image via Varnes & Noble) 

Definitely this cookbook from the Madison Area CSA Coalition 

 (Image via amazon.com)

 This Eat Seasonably calendar is pretty sweet, too.

 (Image via Eat Seasonably)

Please Read Your Viction:ary

Today I finally made it to the Art Institute of Chicago. Yes, finally! Considering I've been to Chicago a bazillion times (ok, that might be a slight exaggeration) I have never been to the Art Institute.  By the way, admission is FREE in February!

I didn't have too much time but I raced through each gallery trying to soak in as much as I could. And, of course, I had to make a stop  in the museum shops. How great is it that they have multiple shops?? The collection of art books is amazing. I made a list of all that I wanted to buy. I think the list is nearing 100. Yikes!

One book near the top of my list is Musikgraphics.

 

(Image via amazon.com) 

Viction Workshop LTD is the brains behind this book as well as many other books related to graphic and visual communications. You can find more of the viction:ary books on their site. Here are just a few more I've added to my book list!

 

  

  

  

  

   

(All images images via victionary.com) 

1 Down, 364 To Go!

What better way to start the new year than by having a fun-filled day of shopping and eating with a friend?

My friend and I went out for a few hours to buy a bachelorette gift for our friend who is getting married very soon (we'll both be wearing this sweet bridesmaid dress). We got the cutest skivvies at Macy's and then the most gorgeous robe at Anthropologie (of course!). Is it not the perfect sweet & sexy robe for our lil' hippie bride??

(Image from http://adiaphane.blogspot.com) 

I sometimes just can't stand how perfect everything is in Anthropologie, including the actual store and it's design. Not everything is my style but I still absolutely love the colors and the details. But alas, the price tags are not perfect and my money should be spent in better ways.

After a pitstop in the suburbs (yes, you read that right) to fill our bellies we headed to Barnes & Noble and I finally broke down and bought this book that I always read whenever I go to a bookstore.  I want to go to (and live in!) Silver Lake and this is the closest I may get.

 

(Image from mocoloco.com)

Now, time to perfect my MixTape to send to friends.