Boo!

Is it wrong that I've already started conjuring up my Halloween costume? Let's be honest, I don't even have plans yet.The fact that this festive holiday falls on a Friday excited me beyond belief.

Here some fun pictures I've snapped from the past few years...





1. Where's Waldo? & Pikachu
2. Morton Salt Girl & iPod silhouette (look closely--there's two people in this picture!)
3. Bjork and her famous swan dress

Thirty-two days and counting.

Austin Tablescape

I wish I could make this photo larger...



This was my Friday night in Austin. Couldn't have asked for anything more!

- sitting around, eating a delicious meal prepared by boys
-drinking all sorts of wine with friends
-Texas-glam backyard
-amazing weather

Thanks to our hosts for a great weekend!

AND P.S., I didn't have a Jenny Lewis sighting like others, but I did see John Paul Dejoria sans puppy. (I originally thought he was Paul Mitchell...but then after a little research I found at that Paul Mitchell has been dead for nine years). Are you jealous or what?

Austin Plus Fall Equals Yes

It definitely feels that this is the week Fall arrived. I'm waking up to no humidity, cool breezes and bare branches (okay, so the last one got a little help from Hurricane Ike.) It's only fit that we head up to Austin where the weather should crisper. We're going to get some last minute hang time with a friend who's about to start working abroad and catch up with everyone else we left behind. Our friends in Austin don't make it any easierliving in Houston. :)

ACL is also this weekend-- I won't be attending, but it will always have a place in my heart. Once I had class the Friday morning of the festival and my Political Science professor let us out early because he wanted to catch an early show. Loved it. I hope the weather stays nice for anyone headed out to Zilker. Have a GREAT weekend!

The Most Presh

I've been researching some cool stationary and graphic design stuff, for the ever important company Christmas party. I found the CUTEST save the date from Mr. Boddington's Studio. Click on the image for the full effect.

Light Feather-Headed Girl

Not much going on today, just planning the company Christmas party. It feels like "The Office." Christmas parties got me thinking about dressing up and silly accessories, so I had to indulge on a little headband search.

I've seen a lot of 20's inspired, feathery headbands in the magazines, on the runways. Etsy has TONS available.. the first two are VieModerne and the last is GaiaTroveChicago.

VieModerne has a lot more to offer and is definitely worth checking out. The latter is a little more practical for everyday wear and a very easy DIY project.

Happy Birthday Cam!

My baby brother Cameron turns 17-years-old today. Yikes... I cannot believe it. There's nothing I can say that doesn't fall along the lines of extrememly cliche ( they grow up so fast, he makes me feel old...). It's been awesome to see him more often now that I am home. Here's to a fabulous birthday!

Have a Seat

Surprisingly, I did very little shopping while in Paris. One place I did pop into was Printemps, a relatively young department store (1865) where I couldn't afford much, but enjoyed all the amazing interiors. There was nothing about this place that wasn't fresh, gorgeous and unique. I can't even explain how unconventional it is.

Here are a few cool chairs from the store. I should have taken more pictures but I was starting to look like a crazy person. I think the black one is awesome, sweet and kickass while the red and creme kind of ugly but definitely interesting.

Koons Kitsch

One of my biggest surprises was stumbling upon Jeff Koons's work in Paris. I don't stay up-to-date on the latest "it" guy, but this man must have some bitchin PR people because I've come across his name in at least five magazines over the past few months. I couldn't get the shiny, blow-up images out of my head forever and the next thing I know, I arrive to Versailles in Paris and find a gold balloon flower greeting me. There were a few more pieces throughout the palace, some of them covered up..(WHY!?!??!). They couldn't hide the hanging heart though :)

Check out more of his stuff at his website. His "Celebration" collection will have you aching to be back at your best friend's 7th birthday party.

The Menger Hotel

My favorite stop in San Antonio was the Menger Hotel (1859) located downtown, next to the Alamo. In 1898, Teddy Roosevelt used the bar to recruit Rough Riders which fought in Cuba in the Spanish-American War.

The first picture is from the bar, an exact replica of the House of Lords Pub in London. We had a couple of drinks there and chatted with the bartender, who dispelled the rumors we had heard about bullet holes in the wall from Teddy Roosevelt. The hotel also holds the unofficial title of "The Most Haunted Hotel in Texas" and claims to host 32 different spirits including Richard King of the King Ranch.

The second two pictures are of the lobby:

1.My feets and the tile.
2.My pixelated face and the lobby. Kinda creepy, right?

Click on the lobby picture and you might get an idea of how fabulous the wallpaper is. Reminded me of the movie Atonement.

An Nyung, Rob Job!

One of my dear, old friends Robert is headed to Seoul, Korea for a year to teach English. He's a very talented writer and the least bored person you will ever meet. Follow his restless adventures at his blog Across The Pond.

I hope he doesn't mind that I completely jacked this image from his facebook...Thanks!

Colors of San Antonio

Just when I thought I jinxed myself to a weekend without air conditioning and power , I had the opportunity to head toward San Antonio for the weekend with my Dad (+Jon). We shamelessly hit all the major touristy spots:








1. puppets in El Mercado
2. pastries at Mi Tierra-- the most awesome 24-hour Mexican Restaurant EVER!
3. lasers on the Riverwalk
4. umbrellas in El Mercado
5. pinatas at Mi Tierra
6. little girl and her fuzzy friend on a mechanic bull

Let's Blaze

Ashleigh
Wendy
Sartorialist

The weekend is here, finally. As much as I want to get away from this hurricane mess, it's just not in the cards. We're heading to Austin next weekend for sure and I cannot wait!

I'm hoping that the thrift stores in Montrose didn't suffer too much damage, as I am planning on hitting some up tomorrow in search of some blazers. I love the mixed blazer/tank look. It seems to work for anyone over the age of 20 (and that I am!). I got a navy blazer on my last thrifting adventure but it's a tad too small for me. It looks like a very fitted 3/4 sleeved jacket, but it really is a little boy's sportcoat. When I wear it it reminds me of Chris Farley:


Here's to a better weekend than last.

I woke up with the power out, not really somethin to shout about.

Still no power-- walked out of the apartment this morning with my shirt inside out. It's not easy getting dressed by candlelight. I don't mind the non-electricity JUST yet. The only thing I'm missing is TV and cooking(ahem....or someone cooking for me). But really, I'm surviving just fine without TV.

The picture, is my room with the candles. I think once winter starts rollin' in I'll be turning off the AC/Heater and lights--given that I have power--and start using candles at night. It's kind of nice. I don't have any babies or pets so it's relatively safe. I started thinking about how everyone used to live by candles and how necessary it was for a town or village to have a few candle makers.

There's a small town near the ol' alma mater, Texas State University, called Wimberly and there's tons of candle makers. My statistics teacher lives there and said "You can't swing a dead cat in Wimberly without hitting a candle maker or massage therapist." Well said, Dr. Caldwell, well said.

YIKES! Hurricane Ike.

Wow.. sorry it's been so long since an update. We've got a little situation down here in Houston called Hurricane Ike. Fortunately, there's been no structural damage to myself or my family, just power outages.

For many others, they've lost their homes. The past few days have been stressful and chaotic, but things are starting to come back together. It doesn't hurt that the weather has been cooling down, allowing those without power to open their windows and let their houses breathe. (For anyone who doesn't know Houston weather, there's rare opportunity to open your windows before the end of October).

It's been awesome to see the humanity that comes out of people in situations like this. Some are just itching to run around and help. I've spent some of my time in Jon's parents' neighborhood where one man was going house to house repairing strangers' fences. Others are going around to the houses without electricity, gathering the perishable food and dirty laundry so they can give back a hot meal and clean towels.

Galveston County has seen the worst of it and still needs lots of help. Please donate to the Red Cross- Houston Chapter!

Paris Interiors

Sigh.. back in Texas for less than a week and we're being "evacuated" due to hurricane Ike. We still haven't completely unpacked from Paris and we're already getting a change of venue. These pictures are from our "homes" in France.

The first four pictures are from the house in Paris. Arthur's mom lives in a suburb in Paris. It's a former orphanage from built in 1880. Arthur's Mom reupholsters furniture and collects art so there was fabulousness everywhere.

The last four pictures are some interiors of the castle-like country home in Champagne. This place was amazingly huge, old and enchanting. Arthur's Dad bought it a few years ago in poor condition and began renovating with the efforts of their entire family. Parts of the house date back to the 12th century. I loved all the little collections all over the house. His step-mother had dozens of espresso and tea sets stacked up in the kitchen (sorry the picture is dark). My favorite was the Christian Lacroix pastel ones we had the morning we left.

We are so grateful to have stayed in both of these homes. Much thanks to Arthur for both of these accommodations.

Okay.. I'm avoiding packing for Ike. Adios.er--- Aur revoir!

Black Swan

This gown from Rodarte, shown at New York Fashion Week reminds me of a black swan, they way the orange opens up across the chest like a beak. I heart it of course. Give me a party to wear this to... Tonight is the night IKE comes. We're hunkering down, as everyone says. Hunker. Black swans don't hunker, they sail!

Handwriting

How the typographers write....

I've always wondered about this-- whether or not typographers had good handwriting. Cameron Adams of themaninblue.com was wondering the same thing, took it a step further and actually got some handwriting of some prominent typographers. Some are normal, sloppy (yay) and others are too perfect, I call sham! Check it out for yourself.

Le Sigh.

Back in Houston. Paris was absolutely fabulous in every way. I have so many pictures and I will post a couple relevant ones on my blog. The full enchilada will be on Facebook.

Our gracious host, Arthur spent the entire week showing us Paris starting with it's earliest foundations (300 bc?). We were fortunate enough to stay in both Paris and Champagne in amazingly old buildings. We had many traditional home-cooked meals, loads of cheese, loads of desserts balanced out with miles of walking. I couldn't have pictured a better trip. Much more to come...stay with me.

Pictures of above are taken from our landing in Houston. The plane's scalloped wings reminded me of a feathered bird wing.

Adios, Tejas.

I should be on the plane headed towrd Paris right now...
Here's some pictures from my recent stint in San Antonio. If this doesn't say Texas, I don't know what does.







1. baby armadillo
2. vulture
3. opossum
4. hotel view at La Cantera