Knit Blanket

I suppose it's just a silly whim, considering it's summer and all, but I'd love to own a colorful hand-knit blanket like this. It just looks so cozy!

photo via Merricat

Here are some adorable lambswool options from Donna Wilson:Come fall, I'm totally on the lookout for one.

My Whereabouts

In the past week, I have celebrated an anniversary:

Visited Monterey, California:

Driven through San Francisco, California:

And bought a bike:
(whose basket I am considering replacing, any thoughts on wicker?)

Along with working lots of hours. I've been very, very busy. This weekend I hope to ride the train up to San Francisco, do laundry, and make guacamole. Lofty ambitions, I know. Any suggestions of what to do while in San Francisco (preferably near the Caltrain stop)?

All photos taken by me.

Eye Candy

This past Saturday I visited San Francisco for the first time ever. The city itself was amazing although the weather was pretty dreadful-- 50-some degrees and foggy. I'd been warned to expect such a climate but was still a little shocked by the chill in the air.

The weather was nothing compared to the fascinating rowhouses in the city. As much as I had anticipated the gorgeous architecture, I was still blown away by the zany use of color, intricate plasterwork, and the sheer individuality of each building.

All by urban city arch

The Creative Process

Check out these writers' creative spaces on Apartment Therapy. Should there have been a shiny old typewriter somewhere in the above photograph, every one of my own romanticized notions of becoming a writer would have been completely indulged.

Dylan Thomas' Writing Shed: Kenny Hemphill under license by Creative Commons

DIY Noodles

Wow. These pasta noodles look delicious and seem like they'd be a snap to make: the only ingredients are flour and egg. Plus, you don't need any fancy Kitchenaid appliance to form the individual noodles.

I'm a huge pasta fan and often make some sort of pasta dish whenever I have friends over for dinner. Next time I'm invited to a potluck dinner party I'm pulling out this recipe. To serve I'd add fresh basil, italian chicken, lots of garlic, and roasted cherry tomatoes. Oh, the possibilities.

Photos via Pioneer Woman

Free Association

Today is a big day. All of the following is running through my mind:

PostSecret

evanpaint

Amy Nieto


What's on your mind today? Happy Memorial Day : )

My Dilemma

I have ridiculously thin hair. Right now, for example, it is just shoulder-length and becomes stringy in a matter of hours after shampooing and blow-drying. The thing is, I want to grow my hair out and have nicer bangs in order to look this fabulous:
I'm at a loss for what I should do-- any tips or products I should try?

I think I'm in love

with this necklace by Homako on etsy. The colors are gorgeous; it'd be such a versatile piece to own. Some of her other pieces that I have fallen for include:

The prints on that last necklace really get me. I bet I'd wear it everyday if I were lucky enough to own it. Long story short, I want one.

Discovered via fieldguided.

Myself Lately

It's been a busy summer for me! Not including my college town, I've been in 3 cities on both coasts in the past 10 days. In Raleigh Evan and I went to the farmer's market and he picked the most delightful bouquet for mother's day:

I visited Washington state but have no pictures to show for it. I mainly just hung out with my parents and relaxed. In California, aside from starting my internship I've been shopping (and taking grainy photos):I bought this lovely dress at a local shop. I also happened upon a street festival in which I got a kick out of these awesome tye-dyed mens' underwear. Aren't they hilarious?

So yes, these are the highlights of what I've been up to lately.It's been fun but I'm about to get quite a bit busier!

My Favorite Meal

Breakfast is absolutely my favorite meal of the day. Maybe because breakfast food can be ridiculously rich, or perhaps just because eating a sit-down breakfast feels so indulgent. Either way, these photos are mouth-wateringly good. Enjoy!Clockwise: 1, 2, 3 , 4

roboppy

via just be splendid

Puppy

I am a dog person through and through. Someday I'll be able to get my own but for now I'll just look..

Love Letters

The one redeeming feature of a long-distance relationship is the wonderful letters I anticipate receiving. I've already bought some neat stationery for this purpose; too bad I couldn't use these amazing Mexican stamps.
You can, however, find 'em on eBay. Since the USPS won't take them, at least they're frame-worthy.

Indian Textile Patterns

I have a thing for these intricate Indian textile patterns. My bedsheets, in fact, are covered in a fabulous paisley design. If I were a little braver I'd get a tattoo of a simplified version of one of these.

Just in Case

I went to the Farmer's Market this past weekend and fell in love with the beautiful flower stall. They arranged the most gorgeous bouquets for only $12 flat! So, just in case anyone wants to get me flowers, here are my absolute favorites. What are yours?

Ranunculus. I love the vibrant colors and the tightly-wound layers.

Peonies. They just make me giddy.

And of course the old standard, tulips.

Wow, I love these pictures so much. Maybe I'll just buy myself some of each!

Onward!

Today I leave for the Seattle area to visit my parents for a little while. I'll head out to California later this week to start my internship!

Photo by William Eggleston.

I rarely ever win anything

So I would really like to win this. It sure would look cute with the black pants/cotton shirt combo I'm planning on wearing to work this summer..!Worst comes to worst, I could find it here.

I could go for this

At $24, couldn't you? I wonder how long it would look on a shorter (5'2'') frame..

Moving Out

Today I take my last final exam!

Afterwards, I will finish packing up my apartment and moving its contents into a tiny storage unit. Wish me luck!

Picture from the Domino Magazine Files

Variations on Espresso

How do you like yours? I like iced cappuccinos (is this heresy?)

I love this handy illustration that explains it all to me. I bet my coffee-loving boyfriend would be tickled to find this.

Word Choice is Everything

No kidding. Listen to some of these metaphors used in high school English papers:

"Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever."

"It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools."


"Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph."

Heard anything funny lately?

Eat Your Words by Gittsy

It's the wrong time of year...

but I think this hat is adorable. It perfectly describes how I've felt up until last week. It's on sale, too. Who's with me?