goodness know we know what goodness is

(please don't mind my blurry Polaroids - I love them)

My Holgaroid has arrived! It looks awesome and is big and I'm so excited to use it. I will admit it is a little trickier than i thought but I am determined to get the hang of it. I'll have to start stocking up on more film while I have fun practicing.

Yes, I have a disease - it's called Polaritis. There is no cure and the treatment is pricey. But I love it.


This is the first picture... if you know what I'm doing wrong please tell me. K, thanks.

i love my dad

"Yet in my lineaments they trace
Some features of my father's face."
Lord Byron

I love my dad. So much. I cry at the end of Mulan
when her dad says,
"The greatest gift and honor is having you as a daughter."
It's an honor to have my dad be my dad.
But life has not been particularly kind to him over the last little while,
so maybe you could say a little prayer for him, or maybe send some good thoughts or vibes his way.

Dads are the best aren't they?


photo credit

Once Upon a Time

Little Capucine has a breathtaking story to tell you. It involves a hippo who is allergic to magic. I love the way she says crocodile.



PS - this is just another reason I'm determined to become fluent in French.

happiness is

1. A little girl in my Primary class drawing me a picture and writing me that have "a pretty smile and a great ha ha" ... and then explained that she didn't know how to spell the word laugh.

2. Making progress.

3. Going to Utah next month. Can you say Cafe Rio? Oh, and friends. ♥

4. Talking to Tara on her 8th birthday.

5. Getting frozen yogurt with friends.

6. Finishing reading Les Miserables... so satisfying.

7. Finally being able to send picture messages from my iPhone.

8. Finding this bedding at Anthropologie for 83% off.

9. Finding a dry dog food that Harlow will eat. I'm so proud of her.

10. Going on a cleaning spree and having everything shiny and sweet-smelling.

11. Ordering more chocolate film in hopeful anticipation of my Holgaroid arriving.

in case you thought I wasn't still completely obsessed with Harlow...

... here she is in all her adorable Polaroid glory. I love my pup!

finally fall?

Well even though the temperature has been holding at over 100 since the official first day of fall I'm still ready to shop for cooler weather. I am really trying to stick to my shopping budget so it's mostly just looking. Here is what I love right now:



1. Linger With Me Wedge
2. Softest Cable-Knit Sweater
3. Sabina Leather Satchel
4. Hailey Cut Out Heal
5. Ruffled jersey top
6. Voluminous Pullover Top
7. Felix fleece hoodie
8. Engineer 12R boots
9. Ruched Pocket Dolman Cardigan
10 I cannot for the life of me remember where I found these and so now I'm obsessed with them. Natch..
11. Pleated-trim top
12. Cashmere Squiggle Scarf
13. Coiled Ribbon Necklace
14. Interlock High-waist Skirt
15. Banded Scoop-neck top

I may be a little too fond of brown and grey. Whoops. If I had to pick just one item I'd go for the boots - I have had my eye on them for 2 years.

Now all I need is for the weather to cooperate.

Come on Fall! You can do it!

Paul Smith for Evian

Isn't this the prettiest water bottle? Paul Smith designed which will be on sale in limited amounts until Christmas. I'm not sure if it will be available in the US though. Either way it's cute!

via La Vie... J'aime

photo credit

crushing on Japan

It's a good thing I can't read Japanese because if I could figure out how to order online from Billet I'm pretty sure I'd spend a small fortune. I literally want to buy one of everything. I may have to fly to Paris by way of Japan.

via: Twig & Thistle and Minna Designs

all photos property of Billet

vintage cameras

I realize that there is a slight possibility that I have one (or two) too many cameras. So I'm selling a couple of them in my Etsy shop.

oh hello there friday

Here's some more great stuff I've found that I want to share with you.

Erin wrote a great article, How To: Love Life and Not Stuff for ShelterPop (which if you aren't reading you should be.)

I love all of these pretty porcelain things made by Samantha Robinson.

The other day Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere made Cheddar-Dill Scones and I knew I had to make them.

This cute couple got married at the SB Zoo and a cheeky giraffe got in on the action too. If Sweet Gemina was still alive she'd totally be in my wedding.

Holly did a great post on some great resources for buying fabrics and stationary from Japan.

Joanna posted this darling book of hand-drawn maps of Paris by Ami Sioux

My baby should be here soon. I hope, I hope.

And if fall weather ever comes to Cali I am sort of obsessed with this scarf.

Lastly I got some very exciting news but I can't tell you. I hate it when people do that but I'm happy.

I hope you're happy too!

xo

photo credit

Etsy Love: Siesta by Mairuru

If you love pretty handmade goods and Japanese fabrics you will love Mairuru's shop. I literally want to buy one of everything.

my hometown

If you Google my hometown of Los Olivos, CA, you will get results like lists of wineries, the movie Sideways, Neverland Ranch, horse ranches, Michael Jackson, various art galleries and alpacas... and yes, we have all of those things. But the other night, after leaving my mom's I decided to walk Harlow around town. Everything was closed up except the one restaurant and the little market (it was 5:30 after all). Perfect and peaceful. As I looked around I was struck by how beautiful and sweet Los Olivos is and how lucky I was to have been raised there.

I'll take you on a little tour...

The first photo above is of the Los Olivos Garage. Ten or so years ago it was actually a garage. Now it is part shop, part sandwich place and part wine tasting room. If you've ever seen the movie Return to Mayberry it was the G&G Garage. (PS - If you have seen the movie you'll see my friends and I in the classroom scenes.)

Our little Post Office. Complete with a little bocce ball court that was just put in next door.

This building is newly the Saarloos wine tasting room and even though I don't drink, I do think it is pretty charming. But the reason I included this photo is that before it was a wine tasting room it was a day spa. And before it was a spa or tasting room though it was my Dr's office. Obviously it was originally a house. Even as a Dr's office it still felt like one. It had big, white comfy chairs in the waiting/living room and bookshelves full to the brim of books for the young and old, and a tiny little rose garden in the back. When Dr. Lou Netzer left to start The Rio Beni Health Care Project in Bolivia the building was sold. Sadly Dr. Netzer passed away in 2003.

This building has been around for as long as I can remember. I think it's always been a wine tasting room. It was also where Santa came each year for us to sit on his lap.

Tucked behind these crazy shrubs is the public library - one of my favorite places as a child. You can fit maybe 3 people inside.

This little store is now the Judith Hale Gallery. It was originally a grocery store and then an ice cream parlor and for a little while it was a book store. When I was growing up is was Mrs Lacey's. Okay, so I can't exactly remember what Mrs. Lacey's store was but I do remember Mrs. Lacey. She was my friend's grandmother and the nicest lady with the warmest smile.

There is no lack of flowers in Los Olivos.

Another wine tasting room but it used to be my friend's house. Minus the giant fish.

J. Woeste's is an amazing garden shop. I love, love, love the giant wind chimes. They sound amazing. The nicest thing about J. Woeste's is that they are very pet friendly. Harlow goes there for play dates I go there for great planters.

My favorite cupcake camper. It has yet to show up at my house with cupcakes.

It was such a beautiful day.

I hope you enjoyed a look at my town. Thanks for indulging me in a little stroll down memory lane.

“We live only to discover beauty. All else is a form of waiting.”
Kahlil Gibran




photo credit

bliss

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them.
Mark Twain



photo found via dream everyday

happy

found on We Heart It.

Chloé for kids

I am by no means a fashionista BUT my all time favorite designer is Chloé and the kid's collection is especially adorable. I love every look from the fall/winter collection.

photos from Chloé

Danes are great

This weekend was Danish Days in Solvang. I"ll admit this was something I usually avoided when I worked in town but mainly just because of the crowds and lack of parking spaces when I had to go to work. It's actually pretty fun. Lots of Danish sausages and aebleskivers, and dancing and music and people dressed up in traditional Danish wear. I only remembered it was Danish Days weekend when I went to church this morning and I saw half the congregation dressed up. It's fun.


Arne at The Solvang Restaurant is famous for his aebleskivers. They are deeelicious.



Danish Days requires no info

This is Harlow's "can-we-go-now?" face.
But in her defense it was really hot and she was very good.

25 colors x 20 months

500 pencils never looked so good!

i heart weekends

This weekend is the West Beach Music Festival. YAY!
(hopefully my ear gets un-plugged/clogged/whatever before tomorrow night or I won't be able to hear anything!)

Bonbon Oiseau is having a great sale/giveaway.

If I were in NYC I'd go the see Erin's Exhibit at Don't Become the Things You Hate.

How much would you love to design your own Shabby Apple dress?

Baking-wise I am going to make this Ethiopian Honeyspice bread this weekend.

Instant Gratification: The Polaroid Legacy is a great blog on the history of the Polaroid.

I'm trying to learn french one word at a time.

That may be because I visit Haven in Paris daily. I can't help it... I need to go.





photo credit

Haven in Paris

So this morning I was taking a little break from spreadsheet hell and was look at Joanna's gorgeous honeymoon photos when I noticed one of her sponsors was Haven in Paris. They have some gorgeous properties in Paris, Provence, and Tuscany at variety of price points.

I'd happily spend a week or two in this little studio:








And there's always this amazing place in Provence:








Seriously though, I'm very excited about the studio. I got all heart-fluttery excited this morning. Want to come with me?

If anyone has any other suggestions for apartment rentals I'd love to hear them!



all photos property of Haven in Paris