a week in tumblrs 4.30.11

After months (and months and months and months) of cold, miserable, grey weather, we had TWO nice days in a row! Not only was the temperature above the puffy coat required digits, but we were graced with the sun's presence as well. On the first sunny days after a long Chicago winter, everyone walks around outside like they have just been freed from prison (partially true). There is a lot of looking up at the sky, stretching of arms and legs and baring of arms and toes. It is blissful.

I took the opportunity to banish all my sweaters and wool socks (and the dastardly puffy coat) to their respective homes (under the bed, out of sight and mind, etc.) and pull out the summer clothes. Short skirts! t-shirts! Shorts! I hope it stays warm because at this point, I don't think I'm mentally ready to reach back under the bed until October.

Here are some tumblr images from the week:

 

 

1. Scarves in Cole Haan 2. Some research for upcoming freelance work 3. The antidote to a blustery grey day 4. A new acquisition.

I hope your weekend is equally sunny and wonderful!

items of interest: the-miscellaneous-objects-container

I feel like this is a common thing to have some sort of catchall on the desk (or at least I'm hoping it is...it would make me feel less like a hoarder pack-rat). Mine is a little bowl that I'm hoping is cute enough to make up for the total mess of objects I have inside. It is filled with things I use and/or enjoy on a regular basis, but that have nowhere else to live. A home for wayward objects if you will. This morning I decided to dissect the contents:

Exhibit A: The receptacle in question.

Exhibit B: Items of grooming

Exhibit C: Total miscellany including a watch part  - one of a number of watches and clocks I totally destroyed last year as part of this project (a story for another day), addresses, other trinkets that I like having around (to be totally honest, I have no idea what that little green thing is...I got it in a $1 grab bag in China Town and now it's too weird and cute to toss).

Exhibit D: Lovely bracelet from my grandma.

on medieval cookery

For the premiere of Game of Thrones (nope, no dorks here, no way) we had a little um, medieval-ish potluck. I decided to make oatcakes because, well - they sound good and seemed to fit the bill. I used this recipe and added an additional two tablespoons of white sugar to make it a little more sweet than savory. I also used oat flower instead of whole wheat flour because, well, it just made more sense to me.

They turned out pretty well. It probably sounds silly to say, given the amount of butter in the recipe, but good lord they were rich!

Of course, that didn't stop us from slathering them with blue cheese and fig preserves...

eastering

 This weekend was spent in South Carolina, far away from the cold and miserable blustery-ness that is currently Chicago. (And on second glance, I realize that this is kind of the most depressing photo intro to a post about Easter ever).

 We practiced the art of doing very little and by Sunday, were all experts.

Implements of defense against the sun.

Pita and lamb is our standard Easter fare - a perfect complement to the pounds of candy we inhaled all weekend.

wyoming

I miss these mountains.

toasty toasty toast toast

Oh, Toast...my new favorite thing to get in the mail.

 let's talk about the stupendous art direction - the catalogue design alone is a wealth of inspiration

to say nothing of the clothes - oh the clothes.

so beautiful and and wistful.

The clothes are pretty pricey - so for now I will just daydream...

items of interest: desk edition

My desk is a collection space for wayward items. These are some of the things I was enjoying looking at over my toast this morning.

Recent realization: why pay $20 for a manicure that will chip in three days when you can watch some instructional youtube videos for free and do it yourself while eating chocolate chips and watching reruns of How I Met Your Mother? Plus two bottles of nail polish are $16 and will last for a long time (and require a fun trip to Ulta). I like keeping them on my desk where I can arrange them in different color combinations.

I have a weakness for cheap graphic bangles . My desk is like my jewelry box (and oftentimes junk drawer...eep) - I like keeping everything out where I can see and enjoy it.

the bewitching color of booze

There has been some cocktail testing going on in the apartment lately (and I have been a very willing test panel...) Apparently this drink is a totally different color if it is stirred instead of shaken (shown). This drink is called the Martine at present and involves much lemon juice as well as bourbon and Campari. It is as delicious as it is beautiful.

visual inspiration

from A Visual History of Typefaces and Graphic Styles Volume 2