The Steinbeck's

I don't really know how I have been missing this, but John Steinbeck had a son named Thomas Steinbeck, who is also a writer (of course). Writing on similar subjects as his father, his two latest books were, Down to a Silent Sea and In the Shadow of the Cypress. The latter feels like such a perfect metaphor for his relationship with his father. Of course, I have absolutely no idea what his relationship with his father was like, I am totally fantasizing. But you can't deny that it is...also, how beautiful is the cover to that book?

Glowin

I don't know about you, but I think there is some definite inspiration to be had here....this is a still from Ke$ha's upcoming music video for "Your Love Is My Drug" (sadly, not a good song) but it seems that she has taken advantage of glow in the dark paint.This picture makes me feel like I need to get some models, a digital SLR, go out into the desert under a full moon, and play with my aperture and some paint :)

Goose-Geese

Take a look at these beautiful goose eggs--I plan to cook them soon. I can't wait to see if they taste different-and how big the yolks are!

Land of the Creosote

I know it can not look like much, but I love this place. This is TorC, and to be more specific, I love New Mexico in general. Yes the storms in summer terrify me (thunder) but they also make me so so happy afterward, the smell of the desert resins cooling off. Plus there is nothing quite like the pleasure of early summer mornings in the desert, when the temperature is perfect and it makes you want to drink coffee and have somewhere to walk to. Where during the days you are either off exploring with shorts and sunglasses or you are inside a home where it is cool and family is visiting. I was so thankful to make it happen and go to my cousins wedding even though I couldn't afford it. It was so so good to see everyone. Just the fact that there were four new members of my family that I hadn't even met yet shamed me lol. (Two new babies and two new wives married in) Having met them all, everything feels so good and I can't wait to go visit again. The feeling of family is so precious to me, and I am old enough now to be making my own efforts to see them. Heres to future family time!

*The pics were taken from the lawn of the Vets Home that my grandma is in. At least it is beautiful. She is still a funny little woman, and now has a preference for colorful trucker hats. :)

Great Thrifting

So first of all, there is the chair. Just to be clear I am 98% sure that it is not an original Eames shell (although on the back I can see that it is made in the USA, the company logo has been scratched off) BUT, it is a fairly nice imitation. I orginally bought it on a barstool mount of heavy heavy steel. I was going to sell it on Craigslist, and then decided to just take the shell off of the mount and shoot for buying the Case Study Rocker Base to recreate a Eames Rocker! It will be a bit until I can get the base since it runs $150.00 bucks and I am a poor college kid, but it's very exciting!

The other great find that I had is a vintage Cousances-France Cast Iron skillet! Cousances was the precursor to Le Creuset and became one of its biggest rivals. The company was started in 1553 and one of its biggest differences from Le Creuset is that they did not cover the bottom and interior of the pot in enamel. Instead they left the black cast iron exposed, but covered in a coating to protect it from rust. I picked mine up at a thrift store for 5 bucks! Le Creuset has since bought out the design of Cousances and now re creates them under the Le Creuset label. Now all thats left is to acquire a Le Creuset Dutch Oven-in Kiwi preferably!

Fear in Cakeland

Welcome to Cakeland people, so is the name of Scott Hove's continuing series featuring beautiful cakes in every way, shape, and form. From wall hangings, to full on rooms, to shoe decoration, Hove integrates the fantasy of cake into everyday life. He says, "The sculptures have all of the appeal of the best cake that you have ever tasted, but can never be eaten."

Now of course I have not forgotten the teeth lol. Hove says that the reason for the teeth is that all beautiful things need a defense because they are so desired by so many people. The teeth are not only a literal representation of defense but a mechanism through which to make us feel anxious when looking at it. This is indicative of what happens when we desire something- the anxiety that we will not be able to have it.

Hove has many many interesting pieces so far in this series-check out more of them on his site.

Mirror Mirror on the...Man?!

You could try to tell me this isn't cool....but you would fail. Big time. Check this dude out, an LA street performer has come up a head to toe suit covered in hundreds of mirrors and is beginning to appear around Hollywood. You have to love it right? Most recently he was at The Griffith Observatory and lucky for all of us internet nerds, SilverSky was there to catch him on film.

Meow :)

So yes I realize sometimes I am totally behind the curve....I just found these pics from a photo shoot the Gaga had done back in November of last year to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Hello Kitty. Just thought I would pass on some of the creative love...

*photos sourced from LadyGaga.com

Sex and the City 2

Like I said on a facebook status long ago, I still so excited for this to come out even though I wasn't crazy about the first one! Its like watching a walking fashion magazine and reading a good book at the same time. Not to mention the fact that I love that Candance Bushnell is coming out with out with a new book in tandem with the movie. It is called The Carrie Diaries and it is Carrie in high school and right after when she first meets her women. :) Here are new pics from the movie and check out this LINK immediately so that you can see the new FULL trailer!!!! (Aidan is back......crazy!)

*photos sourced from FilmOFilia

Cupcakes Oh My!

I've got a serious thing for cupcakes lately. But I really have resisted buying a cheap cake mix and icing and making cheap ones in honor of the fact that I am going to make nice cupcakes for my birthday this year instead of a cake! But there will be no mixes, no premade icing, these are going be authentic all the way. I have really been loving the comeback that cupcakes have made, there is something about them that just seems like such a party! Plus I love the ratio of icing to cake. :) I also found a recipe for icing on Pioneer Woman's blog (her food is NOT for the everyday cooking but it is DAMN good whenever I have used any of her recipes) that I want to try that is supposed to be out of this world. I am so excited!

A Little Bit of Whimsy

I have rather fallen in love with Shona Heath. She is a 36 year old set designer for shoots in MANY major fashion magazines, British and American Vogue included, and her design is always so amazingly whimsical and colorful and beautiful. Take a peek.....

Seeing these just makes me want to strive for continuous beauty at all times...it makes it very clear to me how important art is, how much happiness it can bring...both in the creating it and enjoying its product....how proud she must be!

Now she had done a spread about a year ago in Harpers Bazaar I think it was using the inspiration of and featuring Tim Burton. I didn't realize that she had done that spread but I have saved those pics ever since I got that magazine to possibly frame one day because I thought they were so beautiful!

Where to Begin?

So it dawned on me the other day that coming up at the end of this month is mine and Jeff's two year anniversary! I can't believe it's already been two years. There have been amazing things, hard things, and in betweens-plus so much LOVE. This is a just a little something because I felt the need to acknowledge this :) Why I am so in love with this man? This is why,

First of all. Just because.
Because when he climbs it is so graceful and thoughtful and strong.
Because he is a silly, wonderful playmate
Because he does this all of the time and it always blows me away
Because he played with the wolves with no reservations
Because he looks so so nice in suspenders, dress shirt, and hat
Because his first choice was to pretend to be Han Solo in Carbonite.
Because I suspect that he wants to be a super hero. Or warrior. Something like that.
Because he makes me heart shaped pancakes.
Because his smile is such a happy thing.
Because he unintentionally imitated a frog when he was trying to catch one.
Because he was so good with our first cat.
And our new one (who we are pretty sure has lemur in his roots).
I was nervous to jump in, so he stood in the freezing water until I was ready to let go.
And lastly, because he's just so beautiful.