Weekend in the Woods

Our dear friend's parents have a home and a dog in the woods, and while they were celebrating their daughter's wedding in Napa for the weekend, we took the house and the dog under our care.  What a treat to escape the city and it's chill for a couple days and be warm and relaxed amongst enormous redwoods and our friend Gus.

We hiked in Big Trees National Park, wine-tasted in darling downtown Murphy's, walked the dog in the woods, drank morning coffee and  BBQ'd dinner on the decks, and took Gus swimming in the lake nearby. 

Nothing to do with space after all

Last month we spent the weekend in Seattle to watch and celebrate my littlest brother-in-law graduate from college.  My two brothers-in-laws live together in Queen Anne in this darling little house, and the whole fam shoved in for the weekend. Tons of fun, we went out and shopped downtown, bought a bunch of crabs and cooked a big crab dinner, we went out on the town; we played and celebrated all weekend!  Congratuations Matt, and a big well-done. Next up: putting it to use.

(cutest ever, and taken by Sarah Mannus.)

Hooray for Zoo Zealand!

Remember that little penguin who swam all the way to New Zealand and officials were "allowing nature to take it's course" on?  Well, he was finally removed from the beach and given surgery to help him survive nature's course of mistakenly eating beach sand and driftwood, and is being housed in the zoo for now!

 Lost Penguin Perks Up After Surgery

I'm hoping that this means he'll be rescued for real from here on out, and I'm sure that someone will write a children's book about him and his valient little life story.

P.S. How in the world are the EXPERTS not able to tell if it's male or female?? Did anyone else read that?

NKOTBSB

OH.MY.GOSH.  How in the WORLD did I miss that this was happening??  Hello amazing, it's so nice to see you again, as you rock my freakin' world.

Oh Oh Ooohhh OOHhh, Oooh Oh OOH Oh!!  This could be the best thing you see or hear all day. Go ahead, squeal, sing along, we all are, I sure am.
If only I'd known...  THEY'RE TOURING!!!  Here this weekend, and we'll be out of town.

Upswept hair and a beige lace top seem the perfect re-entry to the week after a lovely weekend away in the woods.  This week will be spent in very un-sensible heels before doing it again in a different set of woods next weekend, but what fun it was to walk in the giant trees, wine taste in the tiny city, and take a dog to swim in the just-right lake, and be in love.

Lost Penguin

My heart breaks for this Emperor penguin who swam all the way to New Zealand from Antarctica!  Researchers won't take him home in worry that he may have caught a disease from swimming in the warmer water, and becuase the logistics of getting him back to Antarctica this time of year are too difficult.   Read the article in the SF Chronicle at sfgate.com here:

Stranded Emperor Penguin Won't Get Trip Back Home

Wildlife officials say the penguin has been eating wet sand, likely mistaking it for snow, and Simpson said its plight has sparked entreaties from around the world asking New Zealand to help the penguin get home since it was spotted Monday.
--Nick Perry, Associated Press

I wish they'd at least take him in at a zoo and take care of him. Don't you just love Emperor penguins??
Photo: Richard Gill / AFP/Getty Images

Kerry's Tequila Lime Chicken:

Rub [free-range, organic, happy in the orchard, bug-eating, of course] boneless, skinless chicken breasts [or Safeway frozen, defrosted in the microwave] with garlic, and drizzle (rather heavily, I'd say) with tequilla and lime juice.  Grind sea salt and pepper on top. Broil in a flaming hot broiler for 6 minutes, then pull 'em out, flip 'em over, and drizzle another bit of tequilla and squeeze the other half of the lime on. Go again with the salt and pepper and put back under the flame for six more minutes on this side.

Who knew chicken could be this quick and delicious??  Brilliant for summer dinner.
I wish I had a picture of how gorgeous they turned out.

Happy Father's Day to all the great dad's out there, especially to these two:

Mark and Mike, you have been incredible sources of encouragement, guidance, support, and love. We are who we are because of you.  

Thanks Dads, and happy Father's Day!!  Beware of banana slugs and barking spiders.  We love you!!

110,000 to 0

In October we will be heading across the seas for two weeks of adventure, starting in Berlin, then Prague before Vienna.   30, you're not what I thought you'd be, but you're starting to look up.

Scent of a Woman

I've been looking for a new fragrence, something to be able to mix it up, daytime vs. nightime, clean vs. sexy you know.  I described what I wanted and what I currently wear to the gal and she immediately brought me this Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne, and I am obsessed.  I don't know if it's sexy or nighttime, but it's delicious and I can't stop smelling it.  Plus, the packaging is all so gorgeous, of course.

promises, promises

I just found my vows to Andy in the handbag I used yesterday!  I almost thought they were gone forever, along with our guest book pages-- all those special words from friends-- and so many other things from our wedding that we never got back. I hand-wrote them and tore the page out from my journal (so was only carrying a single folded paper in the pocket of my wedding dress); I didn't have another copy.  I had resigned to the fact that I had said them, promised them, meant them, and that those words would live on in practice, if not in physical form, but I see Andy's every day hanging on our kitchen message board.  Now my words will join his again, in holy matrimony, in our kitchen. 

I love how this One-For-One thing is taking off

Warby-Parker, Spex club, and now this from Tom's:

These are my choice:

Get them here.

Way to go Team.

Daytime Sparkle

I wish I had these on today. I'm tired of boots and rainy weather, and in need of a little sparkle today. Really, everyday, don't you think?

Jerome C. Rousseau "Aizza" glitter pump from Spring 2011.

Boys > Girls

thumbs up buddy.

Top 5 Right Now Nails

1. OPI Dutch Tulips
2. Essie Geranium
3. Dior Electric Tropics "Aloha"
4. Essie Turquoise and Caicos
5. Essie Ballet Slippers

Hello June, if only you weren't so rainy.

Jewel Box

Mainly obsessing over jewels and lamps these days.
Finally caved and took home this deco-inspired coctail ring last week:


Have been lusting over this necklace from J.Crew, and think I may finally have a reason to add it to the mix:


And then today I fell head over heels for these two:






I die.

Hello Sunshine

Red lipstick and super high heels are the cure to most of life's little problems, including a gorgeously warm and sunshiny day forcibly spent in an office with no windows.

I most prefer this Dior, and these Jimmy Choos, paired with a sundress and pinned back hair.

Jimmy Choo to the Rescue

My only "Black Friday" purchase arrived in the mail. As a public transport comuter, my handbag is like a little sidekick, taking care of me the whole day; this one is like my new best friend. I'll take a quick moment to remember the amazing Marni bag that it's replacing, and look forward to the future with you on my shoulder. I sure love a good hobo.

I think this about sums up my feelings:

HAH! Thanks to the good folks at Wikipedia, you are too much.

shoe closet heaven

Moving makes me wish I owned nothing. I hate it with almost every fiber of my being. It does, however, serve as an excellent period of refocusing my wardrobe into what I love, need, and find myself actually wearing. The looming beginning of sharing a closet that in no way resembles the closet heaven pictured above, in an apartment that is probably similar to the size of the closet above is driving me to re-think every attachment to every single item I own.

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

--William Morris

Thanks Will, don't you just know.