California, Here I Come

Spring break. At last! I'm boarding a San Francisco-bound plane bright and early in the morning. The weather doesn't exactly look promising but I have a feeling the city might be especially charming in the rain. Or maybe I'm just excited and optimistic. Anyhow, I can't wait for some quality time with this lovely gal and plenty of strolling, eating and photo-taking. (Thanks for all of your recommendations, by the way). I'll see you back here in a week or so.

(That scarf is packed safely in my suitcase. The coffee and flowers are not, but they served as mood uplifters these past few days, so they're worthy).

Sheila Golden

I've been a fan of Shelia Golden's acrylic floral still lives for years now. Overstock sells vibrant Giclee canvases of her work at super affordable price points, and I can't stop thinking about them.

Aren't they wonderful? Flowers + color = two of my truest loves.

Beauty & The Beast

Everything is relative, right?

(Flowers; Butterfly; Lavender; Lion).

Snapshots

A few recent quiet moments in and around my home. There's something personal about seeing them woven together in patchwork-form like this; small fragments of a larger, more meaningful whole.

(spring's arrival; favorite neighborhood dream house; afternoon tea; yummy leftovers; nostalgia; too early in the morning for my liking; looking like a buttercup; kitchen essentials; eloquence).

P.S. How To Be Creative.

Scenes From The Weekend

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time you've probably caught wind of my mug problem. Tiho has gone so far as to instate a ban: If I come home with a new one, I'm required to get rid of another. He's justified in his thinking, as we have an entire (large) kitchen cabinet devoted to their storage. I don't know what it is, but put me in the housewares section of any store and one will surely sneak its way into my basket. In my defense, I'm good about ensuring their regular use: I'm both a coffee and tea addict, so my collection never turns dusty.

We spent most of Saturday scrubbing our house and subsequently kicking off the annual spring purge. Unsurprisingly, not a single mug made its way into the donate/trash pile. I just can't bring myself to do it yet.

We also had some friends over for dinner, walked into town for coffee & bagels on Sunday, and devoured crepes with delicious homemade orange honey syrup thanks to this recipe.

I also began packing for San Francisco! I leave this coming weekend to stay with a dear friend who moved there for graduate school last summer: I've only ever visited southern California, so I'm super psyched to explore. Any must sees while I'm in town?  I have a small list but will gladly welcome any suggestions. Lots to do between now and then though, so with that, I'm off to greet this busy week.

Fancy Ladies

...by talented NYC-based watercolorist, Inslee. If I had it in me, I'd get all dolled up just like these gals this weekend. Instead, I'll fling open the windows and deep clean our little home. I always feel exorbitantly lighter when my living space is sparkling.

Hope it's beautiful where you are. Thanks for being here this week.

A Little Bit of Paris...

...is never a bad thing. These lasted approximately ten seconds beyond completion of the photo shoot. The first four didn't even make it into the house. I am a greedy beast when I need to be.

Things I Like, V. 5

This collection motivates me to bust out my big-girl artist tools and retrain my hand with a portrait or two. Faces and expression endlessly fascinate me.

1). Luli Wallace Art; 2). Honey Jar & Stick from Merchant No. 4; 3). Beautiful Bouquet photographed by Paige Newton; 4). Original Oil Pastel Portrait ("Julia") by Tush Tush; 5). Calligraphic truth by the talented Masha of Ornamelle.

Green

This week's bouquet. The rose and ranunculus present with obvious ease: dare I say it's the green that really does me in?

A Sunday Adventure

We woke up early for a typical Sunday. After filling our bellies with fresh bread, apricot jam and sweet pink grapefruit, we reached for our comfiest sweatshirts and headed out for a long walk.

It's so interesting to discover places in your own neighborhood that you never knew existed before. We happened to walk a different route--just a block or two removed from where we usually turn--and discovered a cozy and entirely picturesque community garden and creek.

Now, I'm curled up on my couch with a cup of tea and a long stretch of afternoon ahead of me: It feels as though I have all the time in the world.