Oh Joy!

happy friday + road trip up the coast... 9 Apr 2010

Happy friday all! It's been almost two years since my last real vacation, so Bob and I are planning a road trip soon to drive up the coast from Southern to Northern California. You guys always have the best suggestions, so I wanted to put a call out for any recommendations of stops we should make up the coast...cool shops, great restaurants, fun hotels to stay in, or anything else! We'll be starting in San Diego, making our way through Los Angeles {oops, not LA - we're moving there in a few months so it won't be part of the trip}, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, and up to Napa. And maybe a couple other stops in between that we haven't figured out yet? Have a great weekend all, and thanks in advance for any of your tips!

{photo from the spring 2006 Kate Spade Bisbee campaign by Tim Walker.}

sweet & safe... 21 Dec 2009

In anticipation of my new bike last month, I was on a wild goose chase for a cute helmet {safety first!}. I came across this one by Ruby which was way out of my price range and for motorcycle {not bicycle} use. But I soon became obsessed with finding a black and white polka-dotted helmet where there were none to be found. So, I decided to make my own. Keep in mind, although I'm a designer, I am not a crafty DIY person. But this little project was so easy and turned out just as I had envisioned.

hooray for chicago 7 Aug 2007

Hi everyone! My trip to Chicago was so much fun. Mostly spent eating and checking out shops I've loved from afar, it was a perfect trip. I visited a bunch of the recommendations given by readers which were so right on and incredibly helpful. Here are some small snippets from the trip...and, I'll be posting later today about one of my new favorite shops in Chicago...

{left to right, top to bottom: sun salad from Crust (amazing), wall from Vosges(gorgeous), Maude the pug at Paper Doll, a home in the Bucktown (I think) area, hotdog from Hot Doug's (super cheap and delicious), flat bread pizza from Crust, and another lovely home in Bucktown.}

chicago recommendations? 21 Jul 2007

You guys are the best when I'm looking for some suggestions. I'll be heading to Chicago in a couple weekends from now to visit a dear friend and wondering if you windy city dwellers out have any tips on some home design shops & clothing shops you love? My main priority is to catch up with an old friend, but good food and good shopping are always a great way to spend a weekend with friends...

{ a HUGE thank you to everyone who posted suggestions...I am overwhelmed and thrilled. I've tried to email most everyone back, but a big thank you regardless if I have not gotten to you yet!}

I'm back... 9 Oct 2006

...super tan from Maui, relaxed, and ready to go after a whirlwind of events...including three wedding ceremonies & a fantastic honeymoon. Thanks so much for all your kind thoughts, wishes and blessings both before and after our wedding. I've read each and every comment (even if I can't reply to all of them) and truly appreciate all the support and kind words! For those of who asked to see more wedding photos...I'll share more soon. All of our photos were shot in medium format film, so it'll be a little longer before I have any of the fancy professional pics to share. In the meantime, I'll be sharing other various tidbits and details from the wedding via digital casual photos in the weeks to come...

{left to right: flowers, Black Pearl dessert with passionfruit & chocolate mousse from Mama's Fish House, the view from our hotel room at the Four Seasons Maui; Old Lahaina Luau; sunset at the Four Seasons, and a bunny from the Maui County Fair.}

Maui-bound... 14 Sep 2006

Have any of you been to Maui recently? I'll be there is less than two weeks for our honeymoon and a much needed vacation...yay! We're planning to wing it and figure out stuff when we get there. But, if any of you have any recommendations for restaurants, things to see, a good guide book I should buy, etc...I'd love to hear.... {thanks!}

Hello 2006! 3 Jan 2006

Well, it's officially 2006 and my first year living back in Philadelphia has come and gone. My days in New York are starting to seem further & further away. As I look forward to this new year, here are a few planned adventures for 2006....

Definite & Guaranteed Adventures:
~ take 5-week letterpress class
~ continue planning wedding
~ get married three times (aka...1 Thai ceremony + 1 Korean cermony + 1 American ceremony)
~ honeymoon on a private island
~ embark on first year of marriage

Possible & Maybe Adventures:
~ trip to Thailand to visit family
~ start long-awaited business

Very Hopeful (but Less Than Likely) Adventures:
~ winning that one million dollars I've been working on

Looking back on my first year in Philly 3 Jan 2006

Before proceeding with plans & thoughts for 2006, here's a recap of Philly living in 2005 and the people (and pets) that shared in my many adventures here....

Good fortune to come? 26 Nov 2005

On Thanksgiving, while sorting through some of my old artwork in my parents' basement, I looked inside a bag of trash they had set aside and saw an envelope with my name on it. I figured they had thrown away an old birthday card, but I wanted to take a look and feel that bit of nostalgia. So, I opened it and saw a Happy Sweet 16 card from a friend in high school. AND what do I find but fifteen dollars inside! This made me really happy. I have never "found" money in my entire life, and the money I do find actually belongs to me from 10 years ago!

This made me think that had I not been curious enough to see what was thrown away in that trash bag, the fifteen dollars would have been thrown away and lost forever. It was only fifteen dollars, but still...hello, symbolism? I wondered how much money really does get thrown away in the this world. The superstitious part of me thought (and hopes) that maybe this means good fortune is coming my way. I've had a slow couple months and I could really use some good fortune right about now. I was thinking I'd use the money to buy lottery tickets or something...and maybe it would launch an upward spiral, some life-changing event.

BUT in a moment of desperation last night, it was used to pay for pizza. There goes my good fortune...

I Heart Cool Mail (part II) 22 Nov 2005

The other day, I received this cool little note from my friend Pomme. She typed this on a vintage typewriter while staying at the W in New York. She was right...even though I can hardly read it, I do love the look of this! Thanks Pomme!