Paper Art

Lisa Nilsson's work is unbelieveable. She intricately quilled various pieces of paper into these anatomical cross-sections. What a way to combine science and art and oh my, what patience and detail!

Perfect Summery Pasta

Do you ever watch the food network while doing cardio? Probably not the best combo for obvious reasons, but this time I was glad to tune in briefly because Giada was making this delicious pasta dish.

We do this silly thing in our home called meal grades especially for new recipes. After we go around the table discussing our highs and lows of the day, I ask for a rank of the meal between 1 and 10. I don't know if I shot myself in the foot by doing this, but it is helpful to see what my family really likes to eat and their individual preferences. For example, V gave me a 5 on first taste of last night's dinner (Pueblo Rice) but it slowly changed upwards to a 8 on her last bite. As for this dish, our kids gobbled it up and really enjoyed it (although V set aside the zucchini and tomatoes). It was ranked 10 by all, and a great recipe especially for the kids. Do you do meal grades at your house?

*Notes : As for this recipe I've made it twice and I think the key is the great mascarpone, I also add a bit more orange juice. Also note to cook your sausage (or protein you want to add) before you assemble the dish.

(photo : Rachel Jones)

Graduation Cards

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela.


Here are a few different fun graduation cards I've seen out there. I wish I personally knew someone graduating this year so I could give them one.

They have some great ideas for parties here from Martha where the photo above is from.

1. Owl Congrats - Rifle Card Co.
2. Adventure Awaits - Sycamore Street Press
3. Change the World - Greer - I love what this one says inside. (quoted above)

Music Monday : Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

The folk-rock band "Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros" definitely has a free loving hippie vibe and I am just crazy about their sound (as you can see from my previous post here). It is soothing music that hails back to another era with a slightly modern twist. This morning I've been listening to their beautiful new album Here that dropped today, and it is stunning. Here's to Music Monday on a Tuesday. Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

// photo from their Facebook page.

7 things

Week number 21 : Seven things to share...

1. This Noah & the Whale album has been on heavy rotation this week.
2. Yesterday we went to the park, twirled and ran free in the fresh cut grass. I highly recommend that, it really does something to you.

3. I'm going to make these Garbanzo Bean Burgers this weekend, wish me luck.

4. The flowers are blooming like mad in our yard, love the sweet smells.

5. This weekend I am humbled to think about the ones who have sacrificed so much.
6. Going through my sketchbooks I came across this clip, it's a good one to see again.

7. Each man is a hero and an oracle to somebody. -Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Have a great extended Memorial Day weekend. Hope you get to do some cartwheels.

Kid Made Modern at Target

I ran into Target quickly for an errand and was surprised to find Kid Made Modern art supplies on one of the end aisle displays. I believe they came into stores a few days ago, and I must have been under a rock because I hadn't heard of this collaboration yet! Already being a office/art supply lover and fan of the book, I was happy to see such minimalistic Muji like supplies with a cheery twist. You can also find some stuff online if it hasn't already sold out, also check out your local Target. I didn't pick any up yet because I was in a hurry, but I am headed back to stock up. Todd Oldham is a genius, eh?

A| B | C | D | E | F 

The Most Astounding Fact

As I have reacquainted myself with yoga and better meditation lately my introspective moments have soared. After seeing this incredible video clip which resonated with me, another zinger occurred.  My highly 'private person' nature resists typing this out, but I find connecting and sharing my personal life rather challenging. I am going to work on this. The universe is in us, and I want to be more alive.

“…there’s a level of connectivity, that’s really what you want in life. You want to feel connected, you want to feel relevant, you want to feel like you’re a participant in the goings on of activities and events around you. And that’s precisely what we are, just by being alive.”


– Astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson

(Clip edited by Max Schlickenmeyer // via Aubrey Road - thank you. )

Bubblegum Installation

This floating bubble installation called Bubblegum by Merijn Hos & Renée Reijnders in the Netherlands is absolutely stunning... gasp.

// photos from Merijn Hos & Renée Reijnders

 (via Plenty of Colour - a rad blog devoted to colour)

Aubin & Wills

Enjoying the fresh preppy pop from the British line Aubin & Wills. Feels like a perfect Memorial Day collection, right? They are such a great lifestyle brand that I am constantly inspired by, their design branding is spot on.

Rolling Bridge in London

When design is smart and replicates elements of nature, I'm always fascinated. This unique rolling/curling bridge in London designed by Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio has to be one of the coolest bridges I've ever seen. I believe every Friday at 12:00 it goes into action in Paddington. Anyone seen it in person? You can see it curl up here.

// photo by Steve Speller

Music Monday : One Little Plane

Did you had a nice weekend? I came across this song by One Little Plane aka Kathryn Bint called, "She Was Out In the Water" and fell for the charming folk tune and the beachy kite flying video. I hope you enjoy it and are having a lovely Monday.

Have a great weekend.

I am currently dreaming of a warm beach vacation. This week has been a bit tricky as the sick bug hit our house again! (Yikes, what the what.) I look forward to recouping and relaxing this weekend and celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary. Hope you will have a wonderful weekend. See you on Monday!

//photo from Toast Catalogue.

Travel log : Seattle Pike Place Market

Every time we go back to Seattle we try to pop by Pike Place Market for a visit and it is always a treat. This time it was just me and the girls and V was intent on following the little pig print path and sitting on the pig. We didn't have any planned stops and just meandered and took it all in. It was better that way. We watched the fishmongers, smelled the pretty flowers, listened to street music, and tasted a few things. Amidst our wandering there were a few dramatic meltdowns, stroller malfunctions and other things that come with traveling with little ones solo, but I will take it -- it is worth sharing with the girls a place full of some of my childhood memories.

They call the Pike Place Market the 'soul of Seattle', it has been around for over 100 years, and has this edgy Northwest charm that I have yet to see replicated anywhere else. It doesn't seem like a trip back home unless we hit the market, and of course take a ferry ride.

Music Monday : Beach House

Beach House is turning out another album tomorrow called Bloom. As a fan of their album Teen Dream, I am thrilled about this release. Enjoy this song... or this one too. Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Week no. 19 : 7 things

This week I'm experimenting and sharing more insight of things that happened in my life offline...

1. I'm getting back into the habit of Yoga, I've gone 3 times so far this week.

2. We ate lots of yummy fresh berries.

3. I brought home a Fiddle Fig Leaf Tree, now I'm on the hunt for a great pot.

4. Bought the book on my wish list 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the USA & Canada - it's perfect.

5. Jet Pens kindly sent me a few pens to try out and I am such a fan. 

6. Say Media did a little interview on me over here. (I guess this one is online.)
7. Vienna got to visit a pony named Kirby on a farm, she was in heaven.

I hope you will all have a fantastic Mother's Day weekend! Happy Mother's Day Mom.

// photos by me (except #1 - which is a clip from a Lululemon ad.)

Jar of Cake - Löffle Mich

Bright, bold and well packaged, wouldn't this Löffle Mich jar of cake be a perfect gift for someone, or a delicious surprise at a picnic? I love the fun nature of it, well I love anything mini in a jar for that matter. If you are near Austria from what I can tell from my loose rusty German 'Löffle Mich' means something along the lines of 'Spoon me', right? You can find them here.

// via Blog Milk + Dieline

Music Monday : Porcelain Raft

I came across Porcelain Raft this morning and am currently listening to their album Strange Weekend, so far so good. Mauro Remiddi is the composer/writer/musician behind the sound who is from Rome but is currently living in New York City. I heard an interview where he mentioned this album is about layers of humming noises and power station sounds that he heard outside his window while growing up in Rome. That conceptual reference offers great insight into the brilliant sound. Here is a video of the song called "Unless You Speak From Your Heart" and the track Drifting in and Out is also nice. I hope you had a nice weekend and are enjoying your Monday.

Eating our way through Seattle...

Looking back over my trip photos from Seattle a common delicious food thread was interlaced throughout. Many thanks to my good food-loving friend Stephanie who took me around and showed me her favorite places. Crazy to me is that growing up near Seattle, I had never been to any of these, my foodie side has obviously emerged since back in the day. We were able to see some of the best of Seattle in just a few short days -- I feel as if we delightfully ate our way through this rainy town!

Here is the top ten (not in any particular order):

Read more »

Rainbow Panorama

The Rainbow Panorama by Olafur Eliasson on the rooftop of the Aros museum in Aarhus, Denmark looks absolutely mind blowing. I want to be there during a sunrise or sunset to walk around and see how the light and colors come alive (yes, I will probably be adding this to my bucket list to visit after I finish typing this). The collection of work that Olafur Eliasson and his team has done is extraordinary. I spent some time going through the projects and wow, brilliant stuff my friends. Brilliant.

Photos // 1- Aros 2-4 from Olafur Eliasson

Books

A few books on my mind.

1. Currently listening to The Power of Habit I'm not that far in but it is very interesting so far. Listening to audiobooks has been a great way for me to fit them in timewise. I listen in the car, running errands, or doing household chores.

2. I am a recovering perfectionist so this book The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown hit home for me in many ways. I would highly recommend this title to anyone, but it is especially great for those who rarely feel 'good enough' on whatever level. It is engaging and very well written. To see Brene's wit and fun personality check out this Ted Talks which (along with the conference I heard her speak at) turned me towards the title. (Crazy thing, this is the first book I have read in entirety on my phone!)

3. Black Beauty - a classic, Mac or I have been reading a chapter to the girls every night.

4. East of Eden - I am taking on this long one. It has been on my list for ages.

Your turn! What are you reading/listening to these days?

Ps. Oh and for the kitchen, I also bought this cookbook and pre-ordered this one. Can't wait to get them in the mail.

Kinfolk comes to San Francisco

Kinfolk Magazine is a breath of fresh air in every way. Their overall philosophy for their website and publication celebrates the joy of living through intimate small gatherings.

Over the weekend I attended the Kinfolk Dinner Series -- which happened to be a brunch at Heirloom Cafe in San Francisco and I was delighted to be in a room full of such creative and genuine people. The whole event focus was to sit down to share a delicious meal with people that you have never met before and I did just that (the 2nd photo above is actually a polaroid shot of our table by Heidi from 101 Cookbooks). Between a recent move, my line of work, and being a mother of young children, I often find myself having more virtual conversations than the face to face kind. This event reminded me of the radiant energy you can draw from strangers who after a beautiful meal and nice conversation become more familiar. Everything from the food, to the gorgeous florals and delightful farmer's market like experience were top notch. All of the event partners knocked my socks of and it was meaningful to see such support for experiences like this. I look forward to seeing more from Kinfolk and their dinners across the country.

(photos // by me except - the top polaorid by Heidi )