In Praise of Folding Towels...

A couple of years ago our home was on a local house tour, necessitating a slew of little (and not so little) house projects…

While overall it was a positive experience (we met lots of amazing people in our community + the tour raised money for our neighborhood high school’s scholarship fund), I’m not going to lie; it was stressful. There were some tears; there was bickering and even an injury. (I’m not sure that I ever wrote about it here, as at that time the blog was my “safe place” from all the household chaos, but in the process of one of the projects -- replacing the corian top on our little kitchen island with a giant butcher block -- Bryan ruptured a disc in his back and nearly severed a nerve, resulting in surgery and a long recovery period just a few weeks before the tour.)

So yes, it was pretty stressful…

There was also the sense, with all those projects and that giant to-do list looming, that we were in a perpetual state of “college”… You know that feeling that no matter how caught up you are on reading or studying there’s always more do to? Week-ends became non-existent, down-time a thing of the past. And truth be told, this state really wasn’t so far from how we had begun operating normally. I’d fallen headlong into that trap of the need for constant improvement.

So once we were past the tour, I decided we had to stop the madness. No more painting, no more decorating and buying and improving. We needed an indefinite pause… We (or more realistically I) needed to be ok with things as they were, and my family (or more realistically Bryan) needed an extended summer vacation (to continue the school analogy.) No projects in the queue, no improvements on the horizon, just “maintenance-mode.”

Since then we’ve enjoyed just “living” in our house…big projects these days involve folding several loads of towels (it's highly rewarding), buying new throw pillows for Millie's bed, watering the tomato plants or running the vacuum over the rugs. It’s nice.

And when we’re (I’m) in this mode (which isn’t often), and not unlike my response to the spending hiatus, I tend to focus on making the small things better… say lining the kitchen drawers with cork or moving a few pieces of art around. When we’re in this mode, I’m also thinking harder about how I want our house to “feel” (I love the way designers Roman and Williams think about home in this video), the vibe I want it to exude (mellow, cozy), how I want it to smell (right now it’s a combination of hippie incense and a Diptyque Baies candle) and the music we play (Avi Buffalo is on heavy rotation.)

When I'm in this mode, I also think a lot harder about the things I might buy for the house. I tend to stock up on basics -- in January it was new white towels (as we hadn’t replaced ours for 10(!) years) and just a few weeks ago I got a bunch of new perfectly, fantastically thin Marta glasses. I also keep a dream list, so that when we do have the opportunity to make an investment in our home, I have ideas at the ready, from the big wishes (an Allison V. Smith photograph of Marfa, Cherner barstools, that lamp from the St. Cecilia) to the more attainable ones (a tee pee for the girlies, more of Jonathan Cross’ pottery.)

I’m not sure how long all of this will last, as I tend to get itchy for a little unruliness (or at least for new paint and the chance to wallpaper another room), but for now I’m rolling with it.

{Featured Sponsor Spotlight -- Hijkids}

I am smitten with every. single thing. at Hijkids...the dresses, the tops, the skirts...the dolls and little accessories... Yep pretty much all of it.

And I am thrilled to have them as a Simple Lovely sponsor, as I've loved their stuff for a long time, and I'm awfully fond of the fantastic lady behind the shop, Kristine Vazquez. But it's even more fun to have them on board, as there's a little back story...here goes, just in case you're wondering ;-)

Once upon a time (or a little over a year ago), I took a sewing class solely based on the goal of turning out all the pretty things on offer at Hijkids... It was a lofty goal, I admit.

I swore for much of the class (much to the chagrin of my fellow classmates) and left with a bag I'd managed to cobble together and the realization that sewing is hard. For me at least, it's really hard.

After a couple more swear inducing attempts at wrestling with my sewing machine, I reasoned that maybe it would be better for me to just buy all those lovely frocks and tops and skirts at Hijkids... Or at least it would certainly help curb my potty mouth.

And seriously friends, (if I could) I would buy all of it. Kristine has fantastic taste (just check out all that goodness above), and the pieces she selects for her shop are interesting and sophisticated and different and lovely while still managing to be totally kid-appropriate, which is not always such an easy feat.

So go take a peek + as an added bonus, for one week, Kristine is offering 25% off all apparel (including sale items!) for Simple Lovely readers. The discount is only available for U.S. orders only and runs through end of day, Thursday, June 3rd. Just enter "simplelovely" at checkout to redeem. Happy shopping ;-)

{Interested in becoming a Simple Lovely sponsor? Contact me for more information...}

Loving...

The sartorial perfection from APiece Apart -- I'm in love with this entire line. Especially cool is the fact that designers Laura Cramer and Starr Hout dreamed up the brand during a road trip across Texas...

Laura Lombardi's insanely fantastic necklaces (and you know what a sucker I am for a good necklace...) They are even more beautiful in real life. (I had the chance to ogle them in person during my visit to Spartan.)

As a side note, I wear my "anniversary necklace" a lot... a lot. And I love it, but it's big. I think Lombardi's copper tube and fringe necklace might be a good "everyday" alternative, no?

The completely addictive blog, it looks good to me... spotted via (the equally addictive pretty mommy.) How did I not know about this blog before. Seriously I must be living under a rock.

DwellStudio's gorgeous cubist throw...I'm seriously coveting this blanket in camel, I'm just sayin...


Emily's genius Peter PANcake party, especially her brilliant "photobooth"...

And speaking of photobooths, I had to show you our pic from Renegade...you gotta love mustaches on a stick, no? (p.s. -- check out how uneasy Millie looks in every shot...she's still trying to figure the whole thing out. sweet girl.)

These perfect summer shoes. Perfect. That's all...

Scenes from The Weekend (One Day Late...)

an incredibly sweet gift from the lovely + talented Geeta that arrived on Saturday -- one of the bright spots of the weekend...

Some Audrey/Christine bonding and "behind the scenes" at Little Bean...

Sorry for the radio silence yesterday, but I've been flat on my back for the past couple of days with a nasty stomach virus…which was really a fitting end to a bit of a seesaw weekend.

Let’s just say Saturday got off to a rough start -- bickering girlies, bickering bryan and me (funny how bickering kiddos can lead to bickering parents, no?) But then by late afternoon, like a phoenix rising from the fiery ashes of an altogether bummer of a morning, all was good. (Key to the turnaround was the decision for Audrey and I to go on a little outing...a change of scenery if you will. We landed at Baby Bean, which is really the perfect spot for a little day brightening.)

And by the evening, we were eating dinner* on the patio with our friends Lucia and Pete, their new baby Oliver snoozing in his little carrier next to the table and four girlies happily playing and madly chasing fireflies.

See…good.

{* Dinner = Bryan’s fried shrimp (lots of it…), roasted red potatoes with feta and rosemary, a watermelon, yellow tomato, mint and arugula salad and edamame dip...}

Sunday, we ate a mound of pancakes (because what's a better fried shrimp chaser than a giant stack of carbs + syrup) and then tried to channel our athletic prowess and went on an epic bike ride...let's just say it was comical. Then later that evening we celebrated our friend Molly’s 11th birthday with tex-mex and just like that the weekend seemed redeemed.

And then the stomach flu hit.

So there you have it friends...the seesaw in action, but I'm a firm believer that you only really appreciate the good stuff when you've had a chance to slog through the mire.

Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.

Blogger's Favorites -- Carina of Nonchalant Mom

I am seriously jazzed about this week's blogger's favorites.

Carina Schott is something of a super-mom (who also happens to be completely mellow, groovy, and in the possession of some seriously good taste.) She's the woman behind the brilliant Nonchalant Mom -- a shop, website and blog -- that really is the perfect embodiment of Carina...

And then there's her home...Who can forget the amazing domino spread? (I still dream about those outdoor spaces.) It's by far, one of my all time favorite houses.

So I was of course pretty thrilled when she agreed to share some of her favorite things with us this week...

Without further ado, herewith Carina's favorites. Enjoy and have a splendid weekend!

I think that everyone has them but I have my 'right now' favorites and then my forever favorites! so, here we go....

Right now I love:




This video by the morning benders... it's the best! and makes my day sing!

I am a complete Tea nut! I have the ultimate teapot (Hoganas) that works great in the summertime because it's BIG so I can make a pot for the day - I have hot tea in the morning and then later in the day I combine Organic Apple juice, tea and ice for a refreshing tea in the afternoon - I also have this orange/mint plant so I put a few leaves in there too... yum! at night it's tea again, chamomile or I take leaves from my sage plant and make tea, it's good for digestion.

• Britt Beautiful Skin - I have started to skin-brush! I do it about three times a week. You cannot believe how invigorating this is... it just sets me straight for the day--It's a skin system that my sister developed.



• Layla Afghani tops - this is my summer uniform! With shorts... I suppose!



• I have just discovered Rose Marie Swift's make-up, it's completely organic you could almost eat it, so I have thrown everything else out!



• Hasbeen clogs... I have a few pair now and I just think they are cool! I get them from this Scandinavian store in Santa Monica called Huset.
  
  
  

Since most of my blog is about tips and information on how to raise your kids in a more natural way I thought I would share a few of my FAVORITE tips:

• Dr. Hauschka nose cream - the whole family uses this, it's especially good if you are traveling -- we never get sick when traveling because of this wonderful cream and the kids use it a lot in the winter when the school has cold and flu outbreaks. It works like a charm and all you do is put some on your finger and put it in your nose! Sounds crazy but it's where the virus usually enters!



• Umeboshi Plums - they give you energy and make your bodily fluids more alkaline which is healthier!



• Apple Tea - it's the simplest thing... just apples and water but it is somehow the saving grace when things are going NUTS or at least you are! It's calming and delicious and it can also help with depression.



• gomasio - people use too much salt today... make gomasio and use it instead of salt, kids LOVE it!

And then for my "forever favorites"...

My kids and my husband, I really like my life - it's not always cut and dry, living with an artist husband (feast of famine anyone?) it keeps me on my toes!

Our home is always evolving and I love that! I think a small home is important, have you ever visited someone who lives in a big house and you can't even FIND each other!? We love living on top of each other... My husband and I travel quite a bit (on our own) so that gives us the time for our heart to grow fonder!

louvre pic via jen gotch

Paris! I just love Paris and I think I always will!

Camping! - camping is unpredictable and I like that about it… and if you don't like where you are you can just take your tent elsewhere! It just feels so good to sleep on the ground (okay I'm getting old and I need a little pad in there) with your kids next to you, cook on a fire and just do simple things!

here is a desired camper... although we use a tent! ha! just thought it was nice to dream a bit there...

wooly pocket image via nonchalant mom

Gardening - this is new for me but I love eating out of our garden, hhhmmm what should we have for dinner? let me just go outside and see what we've got!?


Magazines! - Lonny, Small Magazine, Dwell, Vanity Fair, World of Interiors - these are my monthly reads.

Just A Few Random Bits...

I'm awfully smitten with Elisa Sednaoui's hair (via moodboard) -- specifically those dark roots and lighter ends. It might even be my dream hair... (Is it strange to have "dream hair"?)

I'm realizing I was obsessed with that same look on this girl too...maybe it's time to head to the salon with a photo in hand, no? (And don't even get me started on that dress in the second photo...stunning.)

I've been meaning to show you the ring that Bryan and the girlies got me for Mother's Day...

It was wholly unexpected gift, as I'd just asked Bryan for string lights for our patio and a big pot of yellow lantana for Mother's Day, but they surprised me with this too after they saw me ogling it at the museum shop during our visit to the DMA.

Love that guy...

I also thought it only fair to give you a peek of the things I bought during our Austin trip... From top: the sweet dress from Miss Natalie, my owl bottle opener from Spartan and the lovely Krank Press Texas produce calendar.

Ok that's all ;-)

Loving...

This supremely adorable (and über creative -- she's a print designer for Anthropologie as well as a textile-printer and fashion designer; he's an amazing painter) couple. (via the strange attractor)

Quite possibly the most genius execution of a Blurb book ever. (It's Emily's handiwork -- of course ;-)

Georgia Gray's colorful, happy, intensely lovely work...

This beautiful, artful Brooklyn shop...total perfection, no?


This completely covet-worth YSL "hippie" bag...love. (via garance)

These notebooks -- Yet more goodness from Studio Fludd...

The sweet handmade dolls from hijkids + Simpli Jessi Dolls -- especially love the vintage Liberty print fabric they used for all the little dresses...

(p.s. -- hijkids is one of my newest Simple Lovely sponsors, but I've long loved her things. See here and here too...)

image via emilie inc.

The genius + super cute (and totally eco) Sea Bags (+ there's a little Sea Bags giveaway going on over at the Willows Home and Garden...)

Scenes from The Weekend Part II...

Another photo-laden post (sorry friends, there were just so many "snap-worthy" things to document...) First up, Spartan, which was even more fantastic in-person. This truly is a dream shop -- a wee, shotgun space filled with the absolute most beautiful/interesting things. I would have happily walked out with one of everything, but settled on a little wooden owl bottle opener, as I knew I still had Renegade ahead of me and was trying to shop mindfully.

But it was awfully tempting...

Bonus -- the genius behind Spartan, the completely lovely Currie, was so sweet to the girlies... Before entering the shop, I had a full-on "touch with your eyes" pep-talk with Audrey and Millie, as I knew we were about to be faced with a slew of breakables and was prepping for their inevitable desire to touch every. single. thing. (I do that too, so I completely get the inclination, but still...)

Sweet Millie was channeling her best Lennie in Of Mice and Men impersonation as she entered the store chanting, "I will not break the pretty stuff, I will not break the pretty stuff"... It was awesome. And Currie, immediately tuning in to what was going on, procured a basket of toys from behind the counter so the girls could plop down in the middle of the store and play. (Rather genius, no?) Crisis totally averted.

the cute boys at Public School not bothered at all by A+M checking out every.single.detail. in their booth...

Sunday we logged in a couple of hours at Renegade Craft Fair, and in the words of my friend Jodi, it was "awesome overload."

Highlights included (but not limited to):

• The cute crew of boys at Public School who turn out some of the very best design work around (I snagged the "tie your shoes..." poster in the pic above...) They were also really sweet to the girlies despite the fact that they insisted on touching every single poster in the booth.
  
• The completely, fantastically adorable Miss Natalie... her stuff is even more awesome in person. (I got audrey one of her handmade dresses, which might be the only thing I didn't take a picture of all weekend.)
  
• Tobie Alexander Wahl's awesome A. Wahl designs booth. (Tobie is the creator of that genius Obama silhouette pillow.)
  
• Friends (and simple lovely sponsors) Shannah and Casey of f. is for frank -- I am in love with their jewelry.
  
• Christine's perfect Baby Bean booth (of course)
  
• The Krank Press booth -- loved every single card, notebook + print and left with a fantastic "seasonal produce of Texas" perpetual calendar...
  
• Lisa Chow's whimsical art work
  
• Leah Duncan's super lovely work...

Whew -- I know I'm missing someone... See "awesome overload" indeed, no?