Some Scenes From The Weekend...

So technically all those scenes above are from last week, specifically the girlies encounter with the Trading Tortoise at Oil and Cotton, (an incredibly yummy) dinner at Mesa, and my visit to the stunningly talented Julie Cohn's studio (beautiful jewelry..stay tuned), as when you're trying to carry a small bag you don't really have room for a camera.

Actually the two nutcracker practices followed by the volleyball double header, a mountain of laundry, and some intense pumpkin carving with the girls didn't leave much time for the snapping of photos, but the small bag just sounded cooler.

But despite my inability to record our every move via photograph, "operation small bag" went swimmingly. I felt light, unencumbered, footloose and fancy free. I was still racing around like a mad woman, but 50% isn't bad, yes? Baby steps.

Hope your weekend was splendid!

Walk Slowly and Carry A Small Bag

Back in my "Corporate America" days, I had this boss (actually he was my boss' boss) who was a super important dude...very "Masters of the Universe." He came to work every day in bespoke suits and had a very sort of Locust Valley Lockjaw/Thurston Howell III accent. V. posh. He also walked very, very slowly. He knew that he didn't have to rush, as nothing really happened until he arrived.

I can't help but think (although I have no actual evidence) that Emanuelle Alt is also a "slow walker." She just gives off that vibe, don't you think? She also never carries an actual handbag, just her blackberry and maybe a tiny notebook. (I actually have evidence on this one, as I did a google image search and didn't find a single photo of E.A. carrying anything remotely resembling a purse.) This is especially noteworthy as she also has a kiddo. A mom without a giant, hulking bag? Quelle Horreur.

It is a highly enviable state this traveling light, slow walking existence... so unhurried, and attractive, and, well...totally unattainable. I rush everywhere. I'm never on time anymore, which is sad, as I think promptness is a hugely important quality. And while I'm in the process of this rushing, I carry a ginormous bag bulging with all manner of papers and folders and electronic devices and flotsam and jetsam.

Suffice to say, it's a wholly unglamorous scene.

So I'm going to try and channel my inner Emanuelle a bit and reboot this weekend. I'm going to clean out the handbag, streamline, and slow down. I'm thinking it's going to require waking up a bit earlier, but I'm not afraid. After all, who wants to be crazy, rushing, giant bag lady??

Not me!

Loving...On A Wednesday

Since the whole CV Monogrammed clutch thing went so well for me, I'm going to throw in another wish list item for the hubs in the form of that Crate and Barrel marble fruit bowl above. It's just so much lovelier than the janky stainless steel number that my fruit currently occupies. And, it might be the closest I ever get to my long dreamt of marble countertops.

A pile of exceedingly pretty, totally understated Araks underpinnings (aka my kind of underpinnings) via Michelle...

A dreamy sculpture filled room via Sam.... But especially the mix of all those crazy serious sculptures with those three lighthearted silver globe pendants. Perfection.

Raquel Allegra's lace dress over pants. I will always and forever love the dress over pants. Full stop.

Joanna's latest endeavor, the genius Kneeland Co. Mercado and this fetching Moroccan pom pom strand...

A wall filled with drool-worthy architectural pottery via Ashley. I want it all.

Some Scenes From The Weekend

Despite the fact the city was wall-to-wall people due to the Austin City Limits festival, we still had a pretty darn amazing time on our super quick anniversary getaway. (But Austin is magical like that, it's hard to have a bad time when you're there.)

We somehow managed to score a last minute room at the Hotel San Jose plus dinner reservations at Uchiko (despite those aforementioned ACL crowds), so it's safe to say that the anniversary gods were smiling down on us. In between sipping adult beverages on the San Jose's patio and eating a sublime dinner, we generally just tooled around, luxuriating in the fact that we had no schedule to adhere to and no little people to be responsible for. So we did what any total nerds with no schedule or responsibilities would do and hit Book People for a couple of hours of uninterrupted perusing.

We're wild like that friends.

Other highlights include Guero's for tacos (our favorite) and stops at Spartan, JM Dry Goods, Domy, and Olive Vintage. Oh and there was also a rather stellar anniversary gift from B in the form of that CV monogrammed clutch above...a total surprise. He reads the blog. Good to know.

Hope your weekend was splendid!

Happy Anniversary B

(Image via Tomboy Style.)

I love this line by Ann Mashburn in the Q&A she did on Tomboy Style:

"My celebrity crush is... Are you kidding? I am married to him. He is sometimes celebrated (but not often enough by me)." 

Today is Bryan's and my 12th anniversary, so we're headed down to Austin for a quick getaway... (Austin is our special place, where we met, where we fell in love.) I am beyond lucky to have married my best friend, my soul mate, the love of my life...

I'm going to celebrate you more B.

Loving...On A Wednesday

Before we get down to the loving action, I have to practice a little gratitude in the aftermath of yesterday's moan-fest of a blog post. I am grateful for a decidedly better day brought about by support from you guys (really the most amazing readers), a breathtakingly kind gesture from a co-worker/friend, and the fact that I came home last night to, wait for it...two homemade pies baked by my mom and Audrey who (and this is the totally blow me away part) hadn't even read my blog post.

How's that for the universe taking care of you? I am grateful. Immensely.

Ok, now for those fluorescent pink lips and groovy glasses at the spring Missoni show via The Moment... The Moment is perhaps my favorite read on all of the interwebs of late. It's just good in every way, well every way except the departure of my beloved Sally Singer as editor.

Sally...Sigh.

Camille Henrot's lovely Ikebana via Jamie...

Caitlin Mociun's interview and home on Refinery 29, especially this part:

"I have definitely learned to refine my taste. I am more thoughtful in what I buy. I buy less, but what I bring into my home and wear is more thoughtfully purchased and picked. I have learned to let pieces have more breathing room. I don't like to have a clutter of things anymore..."

Correll Correll's Square Dress via Stand Up Comedy. Perfection...

Scenes from a trunk show featuring Fay Andrada, Odette NY, and MCMC Fragrances at Austin’s incomparable Spartan. Bryan and I are headed to Austin this weekend to celebrate our anniversary, and I am literally counting the hours until we arrive. Outside of California, Austin is my soul place.

Field's soapstone bookends in all their artful, sculptural glory...

Some Scenes From The Weekend (A Day Late)

New cards from my friends at We Are 1976

We got our first officially chilly fall weather this weekend resulting in some major cozy zone goodness.

The sweaters and jackets and scarves came out of hiding, there was much frolicking at our neighborhood Oktoberfest, a big pot of (amazing) boeuf bourguignon at Janet and David's house, oh and pie, lots of pie...starting with Janet's apple and ending with the two pieces that Millie and I tucked into for lunch (!) on Sunday (we were throwing caution to the wind).

I just wish some of that cozy goodness from the weekend would've carried over into this week. The past two days have been less than stellar, with all sorts of bummer happenings and mishaps (including, but not limited to, retreating to the bathroom at work for a cry only to accidentally dip the hem of my skirt in the toilet mid-sniff).

But tomorrow's a new day, and things can only go up, right? And if not, I suppose there's always more pie.

Loving...On A Thursday

Allison V. Smith's gorgeous photos of Paris Fashion Week via V.O.D. But then again, Allison can do no wrong in my book... It should be noted that I'm also rather smitten with Phoebe and Annette Stephens (the sisters and jewelry designers behind Anndra Neen that Allison captured in the image above). Stunning.

Jesse Kamm's trip to NYC and that awesome book and art-filled office...

The incredible Hula pullover... Just wow.

Emma's gooey chocolate stack. I want to try my hand at this bad boy stat...And Emma, your photography is stunning. Well done my friend!

The dreamy, magical, wholly addictive Rose and Crown. I want to go to that world.

The 'X' brass cuff from Young Frankk. And yet another brass cuff lands on my wish list...

Clare Vivier's monogrammed flat clutch as utilized by Emily Weiss for her fashion week essentials. (Speaking of wish lists, I want that clutch too. Monogrammed. Ok that's all.)

Some Scenes From The Weekend

One of Julie's famous pies...

Pre-dinner snacks at Julie and Tim's house

Every once in a while you're lucky enough to be in the midst of a wholly magical moment, and (this is the lucky part)...you realize it. You're fully and completely aware of how special said moment is, how fortunate you are to be a part of it. You acknowledge it and then frantically try to burn it on your brain. You send up a little prayer of gratitude.

I had three of those moments this weekend. Three. Holy gratitude.

The first occurred Saturday afternoon when I sat in the darkness at Dallas Children's Theater with four totally delighted girlies, their faces pure joy. We were watching "Pinkalicious the Musical (for the record), but really we could have been watching paint dry... no matter. Those girlies were delirious with happiness. It was a beautiful thing.

Magic moment #2 happened a few hours after the show, around our table, with Pete and Lucia. The doors were flung open to pounding rain. The conversation (as it always is with Pete and Lucia) was nourishing, essential. And in the midst of the deluge and the wine and pasta and music and conversation, I did a little mental freeze frame. I knew I was in the midst of something you don't get very often.

Cut to Sunday evening for #3 (I'm telling you, it was a lucky weekend friends). Sweater weather, sitting around the table (what is it that these moments always tend to happen around a table) with seven of our dearest, oldest friends to celebrate Julie and Tim's 10th anniversary. In, perhaps the loveliest idea ever, they hosted the dinner party for us (complete with amazing food and thoughtful gifts) to celebrate their milestone with friends who had come along for the ride. The moment...looking down the length of the table, the candles flickering, nine friends' laughter and conversation joyously jumbled into a long, low buzz of happy.

I'm riding that buzz into Monday.

Hope your weekend was splendid!