Some Weekend Eye Candy (AKA Audrey's New Room)

Photo by Chris Plavidal for D Moms

Whattya say we head into the weekend with a little sneak peek at the layered goodness that is Audrey's new supercalifragi-awesome big girl room? The lovely and amazing Janet Gridley designed this bad boy for the fall issue of D Moms, and suffice it to say, Audrey is over the moon happy with the whole enterprise. I'll give you guys the full details and share loads more snaps next week (+ I'll share a few exciting changes happening in my work life)...

Until then, have a stellar, hamburger/swimming pool/icy beverage filled holiday weekend friends!

xx

Loving...On A Wednesday

Beauty wisdom from the gorgeous French photog Sonia Sieff via French Vogue... Especially this:

Be careful! Sleep more, don't go out in the sun... I can see the first changes to my face and I try to accept the inevitable by telling myself that I don't earn my living from my face

Oh and this too:

I am always mindful that I am lucky to be earning my living from my passion. Never let stress eat away at you, or let yourself be brought down by negative people.

Designer and writer David Netto  partaking in some sun-strewn breakfast action with his littles + his incredibly sweet description of the whole scene.

"My darlings at breakfast, which sometimes requires an eye patch. I moved to LA to be this person." 

Lovely, yes?

J.Crew's horse embellished sweatshirt... I can't even begin to tell you how far out of my wheelhouse a horse embellished sweatshirt is, and, yet, paired with this killer Italian leopard printed calf hair skirt, it's all I can think about.

And speaking of things I can't stop thinking about, get a load of Tom Dixon's six-piece Form tea set. Obsessed. Full stop.

Rodin Cremea in the hands of the super chic Lucille Demory via Remodelista... It should be noted that I am also loving Lucille's genius blog Post Patternism...

And then there's the matter of her sister, the designer Clarisse Demory and all the insanely beautiful moments in her apartment (also via Remodelista). Clearly I am digging the French ladies this week.

Sara

Photo by the über talented Kristi and Scot Redman of Style Sheet  

My lovely and amazing friend Sara H. proving that there is nothing more chic than slim dark jeans, a killer white button down, a clutch, and a smile.

Nothing.

Some Scenes...From The Weekend

The photos above -- an assortment of shots from a party last week celebrating the fall issue of D Moms + some random around the house "moments" -- don't really illustrate the weekend's goings on. Given that the girlies went back to school this morning (and that we're shameless procrastinators), the past 48 hours were spent in full-blown preparation mode. We procured school supplies, first day outfits, new socks, and lunch box treats. There was carpool to organize, summer reading to (frantically) finish, calendars to sync. 

And then there was the "back to school feast," an idea I shamelessly lifted from the lovely and amazing Stephanie Nielson. (Only ours was not so much a "feast" as just a "dinner," but the idea was there.) I've wanted to mark the new school year with some sort of special ritual since I first read about Stephanie's genius feast on her blog a few years ago. I mean, let's face it, for families with kiddos, the first day of school is as rife with possibility as New Year's Eve. It marks new beginnings, a chance to kick things off with a brisk(er)-air accompanied fresh slate. 

So we marked the occasions with candles, a big pot of homemade tortilla soup, sparkling water in wine glasses, and some brownie and ice cream action. While we noshed, we took turns sharing what we were most excited for in the coming year (and what we were most nervous about). At the end of the meal, we each wrote down a couple of goals for the year that we hung next to our master calendar. The hope is that now when we are processing the week's jumble of homework/gymnastics/science projects/ballet/volleyball/soccer/art classes, we'll catch a glimpse of the little sheet of paper haphazardly stuck to the inside of the pantry door, pause, and be reminded that we started this whole enterprise hoping for (among other goals) more family bike rides (Audrey), more reading together (Bryan), less stuff (me), and more fun (Millie).

We'll see how it goes.

Happy school year friends!

Wonderwall

Photo Elizabeth Lavin for D Moms

I'm not a big coveter. I tend to be satisfied with my lot in life, immensely happy about it even. Gratitude is my gig (or at least I try awfully hard for it to be). Yet, every once in a while the green monster rears his ugly head.

Like, say, earlier this year when I was shooting my lovely and amazing friend Annika for D Moms, and she pulled out the (insanely gorgeous) collection of Hermès scarves that her mother had handed down to her over the years. Holy hell, the beauty... I may have even blacked out for a second.

Friends, I was jealous. Do not pass go; do not collect $200.

Emilia de Poret via Skona Hem

The home of Japanese interior designer Yasumichi Morita via The Selby

Ever since witnessing Annika's trove of Hermès, I've harbored a secret fantasy of some long-lost relative contacting me out of the blue to tell me that they've been amassing Hermès scarves their entire life and can't go on another day without bequeathing them to me. Once in my possession, I swiftly take the booty to the framer to work up some action similar to what Emilia de Poret and Yasumichi Morita have going above.

A snap of the Hermes design studio by Brigitte Lacombe for the Wall Street Journal. 

And since we're fantasizing... As the whole scene unfolds, I also miraculously adopt the insanely chic but totally effortless stance of the trio of  Hermès silk-studio employees above. (What is it about French girls that they can make a black sweater + jeans look like the most brilliant outfit of. all. time.??)

Given the odds of the fantasy actually occurring (very, very low), I've been madly searching less expensive alternatives to the trove-o- Hermès. So far Liberty is proving the best alternative with their excellent selection of printed scarves. While admittedly still pricey, they're a bit more attainable + they boast a groovier boho vibe that reminds me of what design duo Wary Meyers has going on in their own abode.

Hmm...

Scenes From Marfa -- Part Two

As promised, herewith a few more snaps from our West Texas adventure.... A few items of note:

1. The house we rented was this beauty featured in Domino way back when. It was very cool, very industrial and open and just sort of groovy -- totally different from my normal casa, which only heightened that whole sense of "getting away."
2. During our four days in said house, two strangers walked in asking "if the gallery was open" and a fetching Australian girl popped by wondering if we were the bike rental place. (Not surprising, I suppose, given the third photo from the bottom. Let's just say we were a bike crazy crew.)
3. Yes, in the third photo I am cruising through town with a tumbleweed. I like tumbleweeds. Don't judge.
4. Dosa's (utterly amazing) Christina Kim recently took over the beautiful Marfa shop Tienda M, and it is stunning in every way. Christina Kim is a styling genius friends. (See photos four and seven.) Styling. Genius.
5. There is a beautiful older German woman who sells the most exquisite homemade pastries and chocolates and bread and yogurt at the Marfa farmer's market on Saturdays. She is just beyond lovely in every way. Ever since arriving home, I've been having daydreams involving moving my crew to Marfa and convincing her to teach me how to become a baking rock star. Just sayin'.
6. The Bryan Adams "Exposed" exhibit at the Marfa Contemporary (the photo of Kate Moss in this post and Queen Elizabeth II in the last) was amazing.

Scenes From Marfa -- Part One

So we're back... And I'm happy report that (despite the endless hours in the car) we are feeling pretty rejuvenated, sprightly even. It's a bit obvious, I realize, but the power of a good getaway can not be underestimated. I left Dallas feeling anxious, surly, and a bit, well, bummed out. It's been a tough summer friends. Family stuff, health stuff, work stuff. And amid all the "stuff," the summer also just sort of flew by (a bummer in and of itself). I think I've swam in our little pool exactly five times in the past three months; lazy afternoons were almost nonexistent; the girl's camp schedule was nearly militaristic. Suffice to say, "the summer guilt" was in full swing.

The getaway came just in time, and, due to the lack of cell towers in the high Chihuahuan Desert, it was a real "off the grid" kind of situation. And a not so surprising thing happened when I unplugged and stopped obsessing and kvetching. I relaxed. I made stuff with the girls. I drank gin and tonics (but not too many). I tooled around on my bike. I looked at art. I took photos. I thought, and thought, and thought some more. And unlike the thinking that occurs when I'm anxious, surly, and a bit bummed out (aka the over-thinking), this thinking bore ideas, schemes, plans.

In between their intermittent bickering (after all, they are sisters and we did trap them in the backseat of an overpacked car for 25 total hours of drive time), the girls also got into the getaway groove. They shunned movies in favor of endless podcasts (Audrey is now officially obsessed with How To Do Everything), they marveled at the mountains of Big Bend and fell in love with wild, hippie towns along the river road, they ruled the desert on their bikes, Audrey finally got the crazy genius that is Donald Judd, Millie discovered the joys of onion rings. All was good with the world.

I took a lot of photos -- too many for one post -- so I'll be back with part two tomorrow... Stay tuned. (I know you're waiting with bated breath). ;-)