holiday lull

Apologies for my long absence. I have been taking some time away from the laptop to enjoy my family. Hopefully I'll be back on it just as soon as the holiday glitter and dust settles. For now, here are some polaroids of our backyard poinsettias. They are such glorious flowers.

the music of Aron Van Alstine

This is my friend and coworker Aron Van Alstine. I always knew he was a musician, but I only heard his songs for the first time this morning. You simply have to have a listen...

see you at the Hotel Yorba

Still my favorite White Stripes tune. Makes me glad to be in love.

Have a color coordinated weekend everyone. Hope you find yourself sitting on the front porch somewhere, stomping your feet on the wooden boards.

Holiday Bizarre and Ballyhoo

This Sunday the ladies of Ventura fashion and craft will be having a little holiday shindig and sale. In case you're in town, you should stop by.

{click here for the event page on Facebook}

while the Olympus is in the shop...

I had to take my digital SLR in for repairs yesterday. It got busted at school and was unusable. What a helpless feeling to hand it over and be told I might not see it again for maybe 4 weeks! It looks like I'll be relying on my purdy red point-and-shoot and my old analog Pentax for a while.

{The photo is of me with my Old old Pentax... the one my uncle gave me when I was 14 that was stolen while Ian and I were honeymooning in Costa Rica. I love that darned camera more than I love some people.}

this little light of mine

It's the 8th and last night of Hanuka.

Hopefully, no matter what your faith, you've had the chance to party with a yamuka and some latkes.

I lit the candles with my parents on the first night, but haven't had a chance to since...

... so I'm living vicariously through these found photos of other peoples' holidays.

In the window for all to see... this is how it's properly done.

This last one is my all time favorite. It wins first place minorah for it's creativity and ingenuity. Happy holiday friends.

{here we go with the credits... wish me luck... 1) crooked candle 2) seriously silver 3) party is spelled H-A-N-U-K-A 4) HanuKittty 5) rusted rainbow 6) choo choo minorah 7) Champs Elysées 8) full frontal 9) warm glowy close-up 10) with fake flowers 11) so long as it's fried in oil 12) how it's done 13) in a tent near Hebron 14) GI JEW}

in the mood

Mr. C is in the mood. That's what we used to say when some one sported new shoes. And those red bad boys are definitely new. They went for their maiden ride yesterday morn.

Andrew Bird

This is not new... but it's still fantastic.

for lounging & living (rooms)

I'm thinking about furniture that might go with those living room trees...




These sofas from West Elm are perfect.

I Love You Phillip Morris

I just read about this film in Entertainment Weekly (my second favorite guilty pleasure) and it is now at the top of my gotta-see-it list. It stars Jim Carrey and Ewen Mcgregor and it hits theaters December 3rd.

Hanuka, oh Hanuka

Happy first night of Hanuka.

{photos from here}

a tree grows in the living room

I've been seeing vinyl wall art here and there for a while now. I even saw some at Aaron Brothers giant chain art supply store the other day. But I can't stop loving it.

{This piece is by Designed Designer. See more vinyl wall art here.}

Somehwere

Speaking of what's to come in theaters, I can't pass up seeing Sophia Coppola's new film, Somewhere.

camera love

Holga cameras used to be so cheap. I have a hard time justifying the purchase of a Holga camera at an inflated buy-this-hipster-lifestyle-accessory price... but this one is red.

{click here to buy me this camera}

free

For those of you with the day off, enjoy your freedom.

{photo from ellemoss}

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for so many things... I can't even begin to write them all here. What are you most thankful for? Do you have a top 5?

{I'm thankful for finding these fantastic Wild Life Prints. See more of them here.}

Autmn Attire

What I'd love to be wearing to Thanksgiving dinner...

.. semi precious gems in my hair...

... an effortlessly and endlessly feminine frock...

... and a pair of red, vintage platforms to liven up the muted Autumn pallet.

{all items found on Etsy... dress by Xiaolizi; hair clips by Acute Designs; vintage platforms from Hellcat Vintage}

Blue Valentine

I've been sort of disappointed with the crop of movies in theaters as of late, so I've been watching older ones I'd missed. But it's time to start looking ahead for those up and coming (possible) screen gems. Blue Valentine is one that I am particularly excited about. The trailer alone makes my eyes well up and my heart ache.

combs like the queen's

I have been a long time lover of these hair combs and bands by Whichgoose. I own a few myself. They fully remind me of those worn by the queen in the film The Young Victoria (yes, it seems I just can't get that movie off my mind lately).

{see more of the Whichgoose collection here}

Emily Blunt in Vanity Fair

While I was searching for stills from The Young Victoria last week, I came across these wonderful Vanity Fair photos of Emily Blunt. So here she is again, photographed by Michael Roberts...

Yesterday I took my studio art and design classes down to Guy Webster's studio in Venice. It was an amazing trip and I'll share the photos once I've organized them.

gone fishing

I doubt if I'll be shopping for bait and tackle this Saturday. But I will definitely stay outside so long as the sunshine weather stays. Maybe Mr. C and I will go for a downtown stroll or a picnic in the park. Or maybe I'll plant a garden and bake pies. And then again, I might do none of those things and escape to the beach instead. The possibilities seem endless.

Happy Friday friends. Hope this weekend finds you doing something you love.

{photo of boys in the bayou from the Library of Congress}

The Young Victoria

I guess Mr. C and I have been catching up on all those movies we'd missed. Most recently we watched The Young Victoria and I absolutely loved it. Emily Blunt is beautiful and graceful. She made me believe in her royal heartaches and joys.

The costumes were amazing too, and I couldn't take my eyes off all the precious flowers the young queen wore in her hair.