Little Pieces of Heaven

I haven't mentioned how much I miss Paris right now. It's something about spring in Seattle that immediately makes me long for spring in Paris. It undoubtably has something to do with the beauty that its there, as opposed to here (rainy and windy right now, what gives?).

Last week, I was so desperate for macarons that I almost made them myself. I had all the ingredients, save for eggs and somehow was too lazy to go to the store. I recognize that this is crazy on a number of levels - crazy that I had almond flour on hand, but no eggs; Crazy that I had the gumption to make a complicated little cookie, but nada for a 3 block trip to the store.

So imagine my happiness when Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle had a lovely little row of flavors available for purchase when I was there on Saturday. I was so happy I could have just cried. But unfortunately, it was short-lived. They just didn't do it for me like the ones I would by at Laduree. Something about the flavors -- just too much. I like the purity of just pistacio, or just strawberry. These were crazy combinations, and all just sooo sweet.

So from sad to happy to sad, and now, perhaps happy again when this tidbit came from DailyCandy yesterday: Macarons on your doorstep for $20 dollars.

I love this because I spent 18.50 on a meazly nine and because these seem pretty straigtforeward. Unadulterated macarons just the way I like them.

And I also think they make the perfect gift. That is, if you can't just send them to Paris.

What I've been reading...

Last time I really sat down to write, I was heading off to Mexico, and then I quickly came back to AutoCAD and the most boring class ever, "Building Systems and Codes." Snooze.

But in the midst, I've kept up the guilty pleasures.


I literally stayed up all night to finish this book. It's no surprise since everyone is talking about it, but what's one more good review.


It takes a certain kind of nerd, but thankfully I am one of them. I'm an NPR girl through and through and this little nugget was like This American Life in my suitcase. If you never thought the assassinations of McKinley, Garfield and Lincoln could be entertaining, think again.

Not like she isn't a blog sensation, but Erin Gates has a blog I read almost everyday, happily. She mixes it up, her style is approachable and she is down to earth in a way that not many are. Plus, she is straight up dependable, not a weekday goes by without a post, she a force to be reckoned with with.


Tuned in about a week ago and I'm loving it. Sure, there is a gaping hole with no Decorno, but having some content out there that feels even the slightest bit different is ah-mazing. And she's got lots of wonderful pictures with a nice eye for editing -- content makes sense and you're not left on sensory overload.

Alright Already.

As much as I've tried to ignore the fact that I haven't written, a few people haven't let me forget.

Last week, I received this email from my mother:

It's time you wrote a new post......the last one was in March before your trip. Surely you have an opinion on at least one subject. You can tell I miss reading your posts. I just logged on to Decorno, now even she is no longer posting.

Love you,

Mom

Sweet, but ignorable.

Then I got this less-than-subtle callout on my facebook wall from my less-than-subtle former boss, Lisa:

Would you take your blog down? I am tired of checking every day to see if it's been updated, only to have the Famke Janssen surly face girl in the green dress staring back at me. Blogs are for updating. And for entertaining me at lunch. Not for taking up valuable space with posts from March 22. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Love, me.

So, Lisa (and Mom), I will try to find a new lease on life and figure out something to say. Unfortunately, all my gusto comes at inconvenient times and I'm left with that pathetic feeling everytime I even come close to some interesting thought (interesting might be a stretch).

So here it goes, ramp up number I stopped counting.

Spring: It's Finally Here

Just in the nick of time, Spring is here, and more importantly -- Spring Break (capital "S," capital "B" because you don't realize how wonderful it is until you have it back again).

I mentioned that somehow, through a miracle, I managed to swing a week in Playa Del Carmen, and this time next week, I'll be boarding one of the most heinous plane rides (huge layover in the the Armpit (aka LAX)) and on my way to a week of books on the beach. If I had my way, I'd be doing a little pre-vacation shopping, but alas, it's the real world, so I've turned to the virtual and found the things that I would take in another life.

I love this dress from Parker - it's exactly what I would want for the hot weather and the ruffles shout vacation. Even better though is the racerback, because when you get down to it, I'm not really sweet enough for ruffles, so who am I kidding. It tones it down and adds some reality.

I've been wanting a strapless bikini because I've had way too many summers left sporting that bad tanline that comes with the halter top. There is nothing like going to a wedding and trying to some how cover the lines with self-tanner and make-up. Finally I just have to give up and wear the mark like a scarlet letter.

This suit from J.Crew wins me over with the strips and the light coral. I'm a sucker for the nautical influence and I love the color.

Shorts: so hard. So hard to find a pair that flatters the legs and so hard to find a pair that doesn't make you feel rediculous. I love this pair for some reason and with all these distressed denim trends going on, it's a nice way to pay homage to the trend, without feeling rediculous. These are from Current/Elliott.

I'm also bracing myself for the terrible flight on the way down (what I'll do for a deal...) so comfort is more of a factor than normal. Usually, I try not to dress down for flights, mostly because I like to contribute to the "This is not a bus!" movement, but also because I hate arriving to a new city looking like I just got off a plane, or rather, rolled out of bed. How did those two things become one and the same?

So in this case, I would try to combine two tasks and wear something like this, from my favorite, lululemon.

It's got a sidezip and awesome almost-motocross detail across the shoulder and back. I have the cocoon wrap already, which is similar, but how can you resist this? It's such a good combination of all that is good.

I would also try to pair it with lululemon Go Lightly pants.

I always end up feeling super self-conscious in things that fall in to the category of 4-way stretch or lycra, but sometimes, you've just got to have it. In this case, I love that the pants don't cling to the ankle, almost disguising themselves as ankle length black pants. Paired with a flat, could they look chicer than most? Especially with a jacket like the one above?

So there it is. What I would buy in a perfect world. Regardless, it's Mexico, so I'm a lucky girl.

What's wrong with this picture?

I first flipped by this photo when browsing HouseBeautiful.com and then went back to it. For me, all I saw the first time through were the modified Windsor barstools, and it was SO distracting, that I overlooked what is really a beautiful kitchen.

Am I alone in this? Am I overlooking the statement that was trying to be made, but is really just lost on me? Something way better and much less distracting could have been chosen, and then maybe I would have seen the room for what it really is -- beautiful subway tiles, marble, amazing millwork.

Too bad about those barstools.

Ahoy Stripes

I'm loving this dress from Maje. Perfect for late spring and summer. And I'm loving the price of $170 (refreshingly inexpensive compared to it's Net-a-Porter neighbors). It's also shown with Sigerson Morrison sandals that are to die for.

I've come around to (some) plaid shirts

I can hear the grunge jokes already, but there is something about it that I like. I especially like the Shopbop/Madewell price of $68 bucks.

Although, as I write this I'm watching the snowboarding half-pipe and am noticing some similarities...

Tea or Coffee?

I don't have too many vices, just the regulars - Bravo, Diet Coke, bulk candy, sales at Barney's, sales on cashmere, Salon shoes at sale prices, you get my drift...

And what's been getting my attention lately? Tea. Like a true addict, it's always within arms' reach and if I don't have it with me, I feel slightly unnerved. In late summer, I virtually abandoned coffee in favor of black tea, full-time. In the fall, the conditioned worsened and by what it now late winter, I'm a full-blown user.

What I have grown to also appreciate is the complex universe that accompanies tea. The varieties, the different cups and mugs, the different brewing techniques... Here are a few of the things that I'm either using, or have caught my addict eye.

Intelligentsia's 333: Introduced to me by some very special people in the know, this is amazingness. Herbal teas usually fall flat for me, but the flavors in this are amazing. The mix of tart rosehips and fresh peppermint is a really nice compliment to the chamomille.

Teavana's Thousand Mountain Jasmine: My Christmas present from my boyfriend (it's a long story), I underestimated how good it would be. With just a little agave, it quickly becomes a sweet treat, otherwise it's a solid black tea.

Hario's 15-oz. teapot, perfect for brewing loose tea for two or one. I love it's design and the glass makes judging strength so much easier. This is on the wishlist.

Breville's Variable-Temperature Kettle: While it's still a little bulky for my taste, I love that it has temperature settings for different varieties of tea. I have loved electric kettles since I used to spend weeks at a time with my cousins in Denmark. Europeans know how to do it with tea, always present and always quickly brewed in an electric kettle. It makes so much sense and it's so quick. While this one is the Rolls-Royce, any electric kettle makes me happy.

And to enjoy, two options for the home:


Crate and Barrel's Latte Mug makes for the most perfect "big cup." I had been on the hunt for the best big white mug for some time, and again, the best, most hip friends in NY opened my eyes to the bargain that was right in front of my eyes.

And for the more urbane, Bodum's tumbler. It looks so amazing when it's filled, and the technology lives up to it's reputation, you really can't feel the heat.

And for on the go:

From Summit Tea Company, a glass and stainless steel tumbler that lets you brew loose tea while not being limited to the pot. Ah, the convenience.

Just what the doctor ordered

I know my last post was depressing, but what can I say, sometimes it just has to come out. Thankfully, sometimes the stars align and a window of opportunity opens. And this time, it's in the form of a cheaper than dirt vacation. And trust me, I really do mean cheap, nearly free, because otherwise it would NOT be happening.

But thankfully it is and I now have something to look forward to, helllooo Playa del Carmen.




Have you ever been there? I went to neighboring Akumal in college and it was heaven. We ventured in to Playa for one day and while it was more crowded and developed, I certainly won't turn it way since, to abuse the saying, it quite literally came knocking at my door.

Here's to sunny vacations and streetcart tacos.

"Present" (I think)

Blogger roll call: I'm here, just barely hanging on.

While I'd like to get back to more interesting things like celebrity weight and prettiness, I'm in the midst of what has been the hardest week in what continues to be a really difficult time. When I left advertising in search of a more creative career, I knew it would be a long, hard road towards realizing my potential. I re-enrolled in school (something I never expected when I left undergrad) and now I find myself in a world that feels, well... uncomfortable.

I say uncomfortable because while I continually have to test my ability and talent (which in the end feels good) I also have wound up in a place where the next buck is a question mark and the next break is unknown. My emotion stems from a week of no sleep and constant homework (in a string of many), so yes, I'm exhausted and irrational, but in these moments it's possible to take a good hard look. I went from a "career" with direct deposit, a comfy desk, tech support and co-workers who made me laugh even when the job made me cry. Now I'm using my tax return to pay for school, buying art supplies on credit and turning down social functions because the money is just not there. On Sunday, my Superbowl contribution was Craisins (odd, I know), because I could spare them.

Get a job? I wish I even knew how to fit it in. The statistic for my program (if you believe it) is that 10% who start manage to finish within three years. I want to be one of the 10%. I want co-workers again, I want a life again, I want all these things. I know people do much more with much less time, but I'm struggling. And it's made me bitter. Hearing about a family friend of my boyfriend who will be arriving to the Olympic games on their jet this weekend makes me sick. While I've always thought private planes were extravagant, they never actually angered me. Now, the extravagance of it only serves as a real life example of how disproportionate wealth is - how clear the line is between the haves and the have nots. And while I have no right to say it's unfair, the fact that wealth like that is not put towards programs like scholarships and assistance -- it just seems misplaced. It's the fruit of their labor and one day, I should only hope to be so lucky. In the meantime, it serves as the tipping point for my frustration.

So tomorrow I wake up to more drawings and more assignments. And hopefully, having given my mind an outlet, I'll be able to sleep and the tightness in my throat that preludes tears will subside. Thanks for listening.