We're So Into It

{Credit}

Just a few of our favorite things these days. 1.) Sprinkles on everything! 2.) We have to read these Highlights Puzzle Buzz magazines over and over. 3.) We're going on 10 FULL DAYS OF BIG GIRL UNDERWEAR (the number one favorite)! 4.) And Audrey's mandatory dance songs before going to bed. She prefers to dance naked after a bath. Who doesn't?

The Last Picture Show

What's your favorite movie? My answer is always the same. The Last Picture Show. The writing and cinematography are beautiful. The cast is amazing. The movie haunts me. I highly recommend you watch it, if you haven't.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Wrapping The Week

{Etsy: thewheatfield}

This weekend we are headed to the country for a little celebrating with relatives. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous and I'm eager to take it all in. And I'm counting down the weeks (slightly less than 4!) to our anniversary trip. This week, Audrey handed her stick unicorn/horse to Lindsey and said, "Here, hold him. He's my assistant." Meanwhile, I'm losing my assistant at work. Sigh. While lamenting this fact throughout the week, I found lots of goodies on the interwebs.

Quite possibly the best. shoes. ever.

For those occasions when you need to swear like a librarian.

Not a pet person, but dang, this bunny pod is cute.

These mugs are so foxy. 

I wish Enrich's buildings were real.

Great little video about my friend Tim, Photo Booth Junkie.

Totally cute handbag.

Love this cartoon on unsolicited parenting advice.

Awesome! Girls won all categories at Google Science Fair.

I think these straw sculptures by Anna Boyden Varnot are very cool.

Let's Go!

Wish Jar

In direct opposition to yesterday's post...here is something full of happy. Created by a 13 year old. Kids. I love kids. Nothing makes me more optimistic.

Happiness vs. Wholeness

More on Hugh Mackay here.

I don't mean for this post to be heavy or depressing or cynical. But I truly believe we would be more content by learning to accept our entire range of feelings (enjoy the now) instead of always struggling so hard for the elusive happiness.

I appreciated so much what acquaintance/poet Aaron Belz had to say in an interview on my friend Thomas Crone's site, The Same Five Questions. It seems somehow related to this idea. When asked, "For personal creativity (or productivity), are you better served by contentment or restlessness?" He answered, "Are those the only two options? I think just being alive, content or restless, is so problematic that sometimes it’s best viewed through the keyhole of drunkenness. And I would add, with the humility of a person who has largely failed in his life, that if you just feel generally elated or even “content” you’re missing something. There should always be a missing piece. You’re missing a piece. Despair is natural, therefore, and art (and I don’t mean “design”) means something." See full interview here.

How do you feel?

Fall Shoes 2011

Here are some of my favorite shoes for fall. I don't event know if these are 2011 season, but if I had money to blow, these would be my picks. Those red oxford wedges are just ridic.

1. Gravity Pope Une Harness Boot 2. Melissa Herchcovitch Red Oxford Wedge 3. Rag & Bone Open Oxford 4. Audley Round Toe Green Suede Pumps 5. Church’s Brogue Black Boot 6. Chie Mihara Stacked Heel Green Boot

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Barbeque, peach pie, backyard blow-up pool. Lazy. Perfect.

Wrapping The Week

I had a lot of great quality time with my girl this week. She's a real ray, that one. Keeps all of us in good spirits no matter what else seems to be going on. Play dates, a few walks, all day with her grandparents on Thursday. Not sure what the weekend will bring. We had plans. Then we didn't. I curiously seem to have a combination of wanderlust and inertia. I'm ready for a surprise. How about you?

I know these invitations have made the blog rounds, but how freakin' cute.

Homemade Gumdrops. Heck Yeah!

#127 on the "Cute Projects I'll Probably Never Get Around To" list.

Loving the public art of Rowena Martinich, especially Viachroma at Dandenong Station (2009-2011).

The Avett Brothers make me swoon.

This looks so delish.

My friend Amy has this vintage stove. I love it. 

This is a great kid's art project I will save for a rainy day.

Just breathe.

Late Summer Tunes

Family Ties

The Cousin Club, circa 1984(?)

I'm in the middle (pink sweater, acid wash jeans), flanked by both my brothers. Twenty five plus years ago we didn't have many cares or worries. But today, I'm feeling particularly tender towards everyone in this photo. I know everyone, EVERYONE, has sorrow in their lives. I know, life is not fair. I know it could be a lot worse. But it still breaks my heart when totally hardcore crappy shit happens to the people I love - cousins, brothers, aunts, uncles. Some good news would be nice for a change. Just a little. I'm just putting that notion out there, for whoever is in charge of that kind of thing. Give us all a break. Please?

While I'm sad for about half a dozen reasons, good things still happen that give me hope. Today Audrey and I had a play date with Mollie (precariously held baby shown above) and her daughter, Ava. It was a beautiful day. I know that although there are going to be some really rough times ahead, we will always have each other. The Cousin Club. Family. Some people don't even have that.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Extreme Tree House exhibit at Missouri Botanical Gardens was so incredible. Bits and pieces from the weekend below. 

Wrapping The Week

 {Mountains Northern New Mexico: Flickr, The Commons}

Well, I booked our anniversary trip. We are going to Albuquerque, New Mexico with a day trip to Santa Fe on the agenda. Again, we wanted to go somewhere neither of us have been. We are staying at the Los Poblanos Inn and Organic Farm, which looks incredible. I'm very excited.

This week has been full of gorgeous weather and killer play dates with Audrey's latest BFF, Tommy. On Sunday, I'm taking my folks to see Brick By Chance or Fortune, a documentary about St. Louis' rich heritage of brick architecture. My dad recently retired from the bricklayer's union after 40+ years, so it should be fascinating for him. 

Awesome to see Pokey's St. Louis guide on Design*Sponge this week. The site has been lovin' on St. Louis this year, with my St. Louis guide published in May. I hope more and more people discover how great this town is.

Mashup. Two of my favorite people.

Cripes, this house is incredible.  And then I saw this one.

I love this burro photo and have been riveting by the Jellyfishheart blog all week. 

Rainbow jello has me excited.

I love this poem, I Am, by Ava Schicke, who is all of 8 years old. More here.

I can't believe anyone would consider tearing this beauty down. Depressing.

Peggy Guggenheim party in Venice in the 1960s.

Summer is almost over...squeeze it in.

Anniversary Travel

{Photo EllenM}

 {Photo Carrie Sloan}

We are trying to make decisions about an anniversary trip. We celebrate five years of marriage in September. We are honestly thinking of throwing a dart at a U.S. map or booking a super cheap special fares flight a week before. The goal is to go somewhere neither of us has been and just explore.

Louisville made the cheap flights list. And the 21c Hotel in Louisville looks amazing. I love the integration with a contemporary art museum. But the space is booked the entire weekend of our anniversary. Here's a great post with a lot more pictures.

Where would you go for a long weekend in September?

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Wrapping The Week

Nothing as rigorous as this planned for the weekend. Pizza with friends tonight. A welcome to St. Louis party for a friend of a friend tomorrow. Maybe another Michael Jackson dance party with Audrey. I have a lot brewing in my work life. More to come.

Famous authors and their typewriters. Take a look-see.

I do love the merging of painting into these fashion looks.

Honestly, this summer grain salad is so awesome.

This DIY Transparent Clutch is darling.

I've blogged a lot about Milton. Always nice to find someone else in love. 

On the same site--bathing suits, 1902-1991.

Check out  my little cousin's new Etsy shop. Go, Jessica!

And if you need to laugh too, this video is the most adorable thing ever.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

In-laws arrived last Friday and stayed through Monday, so blogging has been neglected. It was a wonderful visit. We went to the art museum (isn't this picture awesome?!) and even drove around looking at real estate. We've sort of been looking at houses, even though we have so much to do before we put ours on the market. There are a few mid-century modern homes that we love, but they don't have basements, and we have to have a basement (studio).

This house and these houses have  me all jazzed up about moving. And they are all so different. Clean and uncluttered vs. boho comfort/clutter. I'm all over the place.

This house has me all jazzed up about an exotic vacation. Wow!

Can't believe it is August. The air is thick in the Lou, let me tell you.