Day Tripping

[Anza Borrego Desert]

Today we took a short road trip to the Anza Borrego Desert to go hiking.  We've never been before.  It was fun, especially after the hike when we were leaving town, we came upon dozens of these sculptures of animals and dinosaurs in the middle of a vast desert landscape.   It was pretty neat. 

Wednesday Wishlist

Only one thing is on my wish list today.  (Well, four, or more if I'm really being honest.)

I really like animals dressed up like people.  I'm not sure what that's about!  Maybe it's a subconscious thing because I believe you should treat an animal as you would treat a person, kindly and compassionately.  But alas, some animals are more equal than others.  And now I'm getting all deep ;)  Anyway, I think these prints by Ryan Berkley are super awesome and I think my home needs them!

Inspired

Today I read an article in the Winter edition of Modernism magazine and I can't help but feel a little inspired.  The article was Fabulous 50s Fabrics, and it featured three British women textile designers, one of them being Lucienne Day.  Ms. Day was a textile designer who worked to lift the spirits of a nation, post-WWII, through her designs.

Day conveyed her innovative and modern design aesthetic with abstract shapes, a graphic style, and bold use of color.  She was interested in modern painting, but instead became a designer so that her work would be seen and used by the general public; she liked that many consumers who may not be able to afford a modern painting could alternatively use her textiles in their homes for curtains and upholstery. 

I'm always amazed at what my generation's grandparents have lived through; to see the world at its worst and then to be reborn.  It is inspiring to read about a woman who was nothing less than groundbreaking at a time when the world needed regenerating. 

[Lucienne and her husband, furniture designer Robin Day.]

Thrifted

I'm not really sure what this is.  Some sort of panel, obviously, but it also has lighting attached to it.  I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but I saw it and knew I had to have it.  I'm a sucker for some mid century panels.

 

Mr. Man is going for an industrial look in his office.  He found this chair at the thrift store last week and the printer stand this week.  He also got that Fisher-Price record player.

 

I love looking through old books at the swap meet.  They are so cheap and you can find some really good stuff!  I picked up a French Dictionary and some French visible vocabulary readers - one is from 1936 and the other is from 1893!  I also got some more vintage cookbooks to add to my collection.  I'm going to start experimenting with these soon!

 

I never shared the wonderful presents Aaron gave me for Christmas.  He gave me this pretty mid century magazine rack and sewing stool.  I'd been wanting a magazine rack, but I never even knew a sewing stool like this existed.  I love them both so much!

 

I love the holidays, but I'm glad they are over so I can get back into my normal routine of treasure hunting every weekend! 

My Wednesday Wishlist

If you have a desk job, like me, you know it's usually best to have lots of work and be a busy bee so your day goes by quickly.  That being said, sometimes it's nice to have slow days where you can do some leisurely internet-window shopping.  I was hoping to find stock up on some basic knit sweaters, but instead I just found a bunch of other stuff I want.

This bag and this bag from Anthropologie.  I love a cross-body bag and I love the pretty pretty blue!

 This dress from ModCloth.  It reminds me that Spring is just around the corner :)

Is it weird I want a book cart?  But, like, not for books...  really the possibilities are endless!

Boring days are good every once in a while ;) 

Goodbye 2010

You were a good year. 

Here are some of my accomplishments of 2010:

We paid off all our credit cards
I paid off my car
I got Invisalisn (I'm so happy!)
I visited two new states (Colorado and Utah)

Some other highlights of the year were:  I got a pretty new bike, went on some mini trips (Palm Springs and Sequoia - road trips are the best!), went on vacation (Seattle) with my mom for the first time ever, did a lot of thrifting, and made three dresses (!)

This year I want to visit more new states on road trips!  (and take more ice cream pictures!)  I'm thinking Arizona (I've been, but only twice for 1 night each time), and Oregon.  Oregon is the only bordering state we haven't visited yet.  I also want to go camping (thinking Grand Canyon), finish school and get my AA (only two classes holding me back - ugh), learn more French (as we have been for, like, three years), and read books like I used to (like, other than Twilight).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

White Christmas

First of all let me start by saying I've never, ever, had a fake Christmas tree before.  I've always turned my nose up at them, having been raised in a home allowing only the real deal.  However for the past three years or so, I have been longing for a fake pink Christmas tree.  I saw one in a magazine once and fell in love.  Someday it will be mine, but it's not in the budget this year.  And also, I think it might clash with my pink walls.  So I got settled on this pretty white number here. 

One of my major Christmas tree dilemmas was always to pick out ornaments that didn't blend in with the green tree.  Now I don't have to worry about that -- everything looks good on white!  I love the way the colors pop.  (p.s., like how bright and sunny it is?  Gotta love San Diego.)

Notice those owls nestled in there?  Well today I came home to a bunch of turned down branches and a missing owl.  I have sneaking suspicion as to who took it.  It's not this one below, but her sister.  She is a little mischief maker.

So, I'm not turning my nose up at fake Christmas trees anymore, but I do miss that wonderful fresh pine Christmas tree smell.  Life's tough... you can't have it all ;)