HAPPINESS IS...

Jing Wei Prints

In junior high, Jing Wei was voted "Most Likely To Become An Artist" but was outraged because she wanted to be a food critic. So funny. I guess her pre-teen schoolmates knew a thing or two about the future.

I was voted "Most Likely To Succeed" and I'm still waiting on that to come true! Were you voted a "Most Likely" growing up? 


{Images via Etymologie by Jing Wei}

Engagement Photos At Home

How sweet are these engagement photos of Yohann & Anne-Sophie, taken inside their cozy French apartment? Reminds me of this wedding. It's such a great way to show off a couple's personality, capturing moments within the comfortable nooks and crannies of their own home.


{Images via Hi-Fi Weddings by Cecile Creiche}

Along The 101

Did you have a nice weekend? I had such a beautiful time in wine country with old friends and new. We drove up and down the scenic Pacific Coast Highway 101 and I love how unknown to me at the time, I somehow captured the early moon and a soaring bird, all from the window of a moving bus.

A Bus Birthday

This is how awesome my bestie Tiffany is. For her 30th birthday party this weekend, we'll be boarding a party bus and riding from LA to Santa Ynez and back for wine tasting and dinner. A little bit of crazy with a little touch of class. It will be the perfect celebration to bid her 20's farewell.

I'm flying down today to join in on the festivites, so I'll leave you with a few enjoyable links. Have a happy weekend, darlings!

My friend Rachel's wonderful guide to Seattle.

The cutest DIY bride kit.

Preview a Polaroid before it prints.

Almost as cool as playgrounds from the 70's.

Furniture shaped waffles.

Funny yoga cats.

Faux fireflies in a jar.

Amazing leaf drawings.

Pictures of people taking pictures.

A pink front door.

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Exciting Felt Pennants
• DIY- Corkboard Map
• Le Portillon

{Image via 500 Photographers by Josef Hoflehner}

An Atomic UFO Nursery

This 50's atomic style nursery is so original. Annie and her husband made their own alien felt pillows and painted the wall mural to resemble the Portland city skyline with a UFO beaming down upon the crib. That Victor Caden is one lucky kid.


{Images via AT by Wise Design}

The Color Run

I'm kicking myself for not signing up for The Color Run soon enough. Seattle is sold out already. If you're unaware, it's a charity sponsored 5k walk/run and at each kilometer, volunteers douse you with a different colored powdered paint.

It looks like a rollicking good time, if you ask me. Who doesn't like getting all messy with your friends? Have any of you participated or are planning to?


{Images via The Color Run and Old Brand New}

Gourmet Tamales

Thank you for the sweet congrats yesterday. We had a lovely little celebration. I gave Hal a pair of keys painted black. He looked confused, but after I asked him what color they were, he figured out they meant tickets the upcoming Black Keys concert.

And his gift to me? Let me back up. When I lived in Santa Monica, religiously on Sunday mornings, I'd stroll down to the Main Street farmer's market for my gourmet Corn Maiden tamales. I was obsessed with their massive vegetarian selection, creative flavoring, and perfectly paired sauces.

It was always a tough choice, but I usually ended up with two of the following:

• goat cheese, sun-dried tomato & basil tamale with green tomatillo sauce;
• wild mushroom, cabernet sauvignon, garlic & thyme tamale with mango habenero sauce;
• feta cheese, kalamata olives & red onion tamale with tomato chipotle sauce ;
• grilled veggies, red bee potatoes & balsamic vinaigrette tamale with roasted corn sauce;
• smoked gouda cheese & green chile tamale with black bean cilantro sauce; 
• belgian chocolate tamale with raspberry coulis sauce.

See why I still crave them to this day? Anyhow, Hal surprised me last night with a box of frozen tamales, shipped from the Corn Maiden headquarters in California. He cooked them for our dinner and they were just as tasty as I remember.


{Images by No Face Plate}

10 Years Ago Today

Here we are. Me and my love. A full decade ago. This is one of my favorite photos of us back in the day. We're at the UCLA Jazz and Reggae Festival, about a month after we met. We look like babies. My hair was so long. His hair was so long.

Friends, I hope you don't mind, but I think I'm going take a little blog breather to celebrate. See you again manana!

And to Hal. My fiance, my best friend, and love of my life. Happy anniversary. I cannot wait to marry you. xo

A Newlywed Front Door Surprise

Upon the return of her newlywed friends' honeymoon, Chiara decorated their front door with streamers and ribbons and flowers. What a sweet and thoughtful surprise to come home to.

Friends and family who know where my front door is... hi.


{Images via Oh Happy Day by Chiara Alberetti Milott}

Camp In My Garden

Have you heard of Camp In My Garden? It's a site where property owners from around the globe list their gardens for people who are looking for a place to camp.

I find this rather amusing. I'm not sure I'd want strangers snoring in my backyard, but then again, I don't have acres to spare. I suppose it's comforting to know that as long as you have a tent and sleeping bag, you'll always have a place to rest your weary head no matter where you are in the world.

Would you camp in someone's garden? Or let someone camp in yours?


{Image via La Douleur Exquise}

Peanut Butter Dynamite

The gals at Peanut Butter Dynamite named their shop Peanut Butter Dynamite because "sometimes, things are so cute, they make you want to explode!" Not sure where the peanut butter comes in, but I assume because it's yummy. Don't their hand-crocheted animal head pillows explode with peanut butter cuteness?


{Images via ModCloth}

Why I Love Him - Reason #13

He puts everything into perspective:

Me: "It's such a gorgeous day. For our wedding, I really really really hope it's a gorgeous day."

Him: "If you're there. And I'm there. It will be a gorgeous day."


{Image via Grey Likes Weddings by Brooke Images}

Acid Modernism

While buiding their Venice, California home, Doug Aitken and Gemma Ponsa came up with a new design aesthetic called Acid Modernism: organic, perceptual and hallucinatory.

What does this mean exactly? Well, for starters:

1. The ground-floor walls and curtains are silkscreened to simulate their outdoor hedges.
2. The sky-lighted staircase is angled with mirrors to create a kaleidoscope effect. 
3. The dining room table is a functioning xylophone.
4. There's a full bathroom hidden behind a panic-room door disguised as a bookcase that opens by pulling a fake volume of Ulysses from the shelf.
5. Microphones are installed underneath the staircase so the steps can be played like a percussive instrument.

It's a house you can play with. My kind of place!


{Images via The New York Times by Jason Schmidt}

The First Picnic of the Year

I'm still basking in the glow of Seattle's weather over the weekend. My friends' beautiful wedding ceremony was held outside facing west overlooking the water, and it really couldn't have been a more perfect day. I'm so happy for them.

On Sunday, it reached the 70's, so Hal and I took a break from making our wedding invitations ventured outside for an impromptu picnic in the park. We hiked through our secret trail and across the Ballard Locks and plopped down on the sloping lawn to nibble and watch the boats go by. Today, I feel completely refreshed and energized. I wish I could picnic every day.


{Image via Polkadot Prints by Jordan Bariesheff}

Spring Weddings

One of my favorite couples is getting married tomorrow! I'm looking forward to attending a local Seattle wedding for once. Outdoor Spring weddings are so refreshing. It's been raining all week, but it looks like they will be blessed with warm sun, blue skies and pink cherry blossoms.

Enjoy your weekend, dear ones. Here are a few links for your amusement...

Make a hanging wine bottle planter.

Hysterical picnic pants.

Rules of thumb for hanging wall art.

3D string sculptures.

5 reasons you shouldn't plan meals in advance.

How to craft a cardboard chandelier.

I wish these could be my wedding shoes.

My next weekend getaway.

A crazy cool book igloo.

LA kids, have you spotted an art piano?

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Spool Invites
• First Looks
• Black, White & Tulle

{Image via Once Wed by Elizabeth Messina}

A Pop-Up Proposal

Chris asked Jackie to design this adorable pop-up proposal book for his girlfriend, Julia. Seriously, how could you not say, yes?  :)


{Images by Jackie Huang}

Color Spotting

My latest obsession... color spotting over black and white photos. These are by Alexandra Valenti and almost look as though they've been painted over. They're like playful vintage dreams.


{Images via City Meets The Shore}

A Table Vase

My favorite IKEA hack yet. Tomokazu drilled a hole in the center of her $40 VIKA FURUSKOG table top, attached a jar underneath, filled it up with water and placed a single flower stem inside. Absolute minimalist perfection.


{Images via Ikea Hackers by Tomokazu Hayakawa}

Poetry & Paper Boats

Day by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream. In big black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live. I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am. I load my little boats with shiuli flower from our garden, and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night. I launch my paper boats and look up into the sky and see the little clouds setting the white bulging sails. I know not what playmate of mine in the sky sends them down the air to race with my boats. When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars. The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading ins their baskets full of dreams. 

- Rabindranath Tagore

{Images by Tszya Wang Ziya}

Wooden Wedding Shoes

How about these for my wedding shoes? I'm kidding, but wish I wasn't. These wild and wonderful wooden heels by Denise Nielson and George Worthington are sculptural works of art and only to be admired.

But I do need help in the wedding shoe department. I've been scouring the Interweb, but can't seem to find a pair with the following criteria:

1. Vintage inspired.
2. Ivory, cream, gold, or green colored.
3. Low thick heel or wedge. Very important! It's a rustic backyard venue and I don't need to be taller than I already am. And comfort whilst boogying is key.

Have you seen anything out there like this? I'd be so grateful for your help!


{Images by Oils Wood Stone}

3 Words of Motivation

I find that the simplest motivational prints are often the most effective. 3 words. That's all you need.


{Images by Kevin Lucius}

A Watercolor Zodiac

Majorly obsessed with Ekaterina's watercolor zodiac. They look like otherworldly nymphs of the earth, air, fire and sea. I want them all, not just my Capricorn sign. How beautiful would they look all grouped together and framed on one wall?


{Images via Behance by Ekaterina Koroleva}

The 5th Best Small Town In America

I'm so proud of my hometown! Smithsonian Magazine just named Gig Harbor #5 out of the 20 best small towns in America. I would have to agree. I loved growing up here. I'm thrilled that my wedding guests will be able to experience it's maritime charm. 


{Images by Jim Nelson}

Musical Jelly

Beyonce is right. I don't think you're ready for this jelly! When you touch these vegan-gelatinous mounds, they make music. Or rather, strange sounds.

I'm not sure I understand the science, but somehow, French designers, Raphaël Pluvinage and Marianne Cauvard, discovered that a mixture of water and agar-agar powder will sing when placed on a board made from wood on top of metal. The audio signals depend upon on jelly shape variations, salt concentrations, and strength of finger contact.

Crazy, right? You can listen to Noisy Jelly here.


{Images via It's Nice That by Pluvinage}

A Wedding Dress Update

Remember how I was getting my wedding dress made? Well, sadly, that plan fell through. The cost kept going up, so we pulled the plug. I gave myself about a day to mourn the loss of my dream dress, then quickly found another, thanks to my trusty internet prowess. Okay, let's be honest. I had some back-ups already bookmarked.

Circumventing the bridal salon, I simply purchased a few returnable dresses online and tried them on in the comfort of my parents' home. It was actually a very relaxing and sweet experience. My mom and I were torn between two gowns. I wasn't planning on showing my dad, but we needed a tie breaker and he happened to be there. Funny enough, his reaction helped me make the final decision. I went with the one where my mom heard him whisper, "wow" under his breath. :)

It's completely different than my original dress, but somehow everything I was imagining. Unique, yet not over-the-top. Sexy, yet still modest. Vintage-inspired, yet still current. It's stunning. And very me.

If you're married or engaged, how was your wedding gown selection experience?


{Images via Style Me Pretty by Judy Pak}

Palm Tree Therapy

When suffering from a mild case of former home sickness, palm tree therapy really works! I had a fun few days in Cali. And now it feels good to be back amongst my beloved pine trees. Ready to tackle the week.

I'm really trying to figure out how I can live in two places at the same time. Any ideas on how to execute this? :)

A Quickie Trip To LA

Hi honey bees. I'm leaving you a tad early for our quickie trip to LA. We've got a wedding to crash! I'll see you again on Tuesday. Until then, have a magnificent weekend and please enjoy the links...

Get French girl hair.

How to handle difficult dinner guests.

Removable cat eye liner tape.

Votive baked mini cakes.

Would you wear an ear cuff?

It's National Grilled Cheese Month!

My latest Etsy favorite.

Turn a glove into a squirrel.

Orzo pasta in a jar.

A wedding with a bowling after party.

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Reorganized Cities
• Wigwam Village Inn
• Tape Magic

{Images via Copy Strands by One Charming Party}

Chocolate Mushrooms

Yeah, you heard me. Chocolate fungi. Jason and Andie handcraft each 'shroom out of organic fair trade chocolate and vanilla candy stems. I want to secretly place a few on the ground, forage them, and pop 'em in my mouth, to the horror of my friends. Don't they look incredibly realistic?


{Images via UA by Andie's Specialty Sweets}

Map Print Skirts & Tops

First landscapes, now maps. These are by French fashion house, Carven. They really do make great fabric prints, don't they? Would you wear a map?


{Images via Matches}

Matchbook Sketches

Remember when businesses gave out matchbooks as a form of advertising? Krista finds vintage ones and sketches on the inside flap. She looks up where the business used to be on Google Maps and draws whatever's there now. Some businesses are still going strong decades later, some show a change of name or ownership, while others show torn down buildings, parking lots or empty fields. Fascinating!


{Images via XACharles by Krista Charles}

Clear Balloons

Just when you thought balloons were passé, along comes a clear balloon filled with stuff. Good stuff like confetti. Just think of all the unexpected things you could fill inside a magical clear balloon.


{Images via Peonies & Polaroids by Lillian & Leonard Photography}

#FromWhereIStandBlended

Kyle's Instagram collaboration, #FromWhereIStandBlended, is so brilliant. He takes two photos from other people's feeds and blends them together to create an entirely new image. Aren't they surreal?


{Images via La Vie J'aime by Kkuiper}

Cherry Blossom Popcorn

Popcorn has never looked so pretty. Nikole transformed kernels into bowl full of cherry blossoms. After popping, she simply poured over a mixture of sugar, butter, salt, sakura extract, and pink food coloring. I can't wait to try out her recipe.


{Images via Oh Joy by Nikole Herriott}

Owls With Glasses

Sure, owls are cute. But they want you to look beyond their feathers. They have a brain too, you know.


{Images by Ashley Percival}

A Confetti Storm

Whoever said town hall weddings aren't fun, obviously haven't seen this one. Alice and Andrea spiced theirs up with a confetti storm as they exited the building and greeted their guests. Don't you love the bird's eye point of view?


{Images via Snippet & Ink by Giuli & Giordi}

Edible Flower Bubbly

One of the hosts of Akiko's baby shower made edible flower bubbly. They were so beautiful, I felt compelled to snap a few photos to share with you. Since we were celebrating pregnancy, she made them non-alcoholic, using sparkling lemonade.

Thumbprint Portraits

 

Don't you love Cheryl's custom thumbprint portraits? She uses song lyrics, poetry, quotes, recipes, horoscopes, book passgages, or any other bits of text and imagery that capture the individual's passions and personality. 


{Image via Uppercase by Cheryl Sorg}

The Flintstones House

Pretty wild, huh? It's Dick Clark's Malibu ocean view home, architecturally inspired by The Flintstones. He just put his Bedrock abode on the market for $3.5 million.

I hope whoever buys it turns it into a vacation home. As you may have noticed, I like homes made of stone  :)


{Images via Laughing Squid by Everett Fenton Gidley}

An April Baby Shower

How was your Easter weekend? The weather here was surprisingly beautiful and warm, perfect timing for my sister-in-law, Akiko's baby shower. For decorations, I hung large white poms to resemble clouds and attached vertical raindrop garlands in various shades of blue and green. A true April "shower". I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Especially with the sunlight streaming through the window.

A Barnum & Bailey Bunny

Circa 1946. She's a showgirl from the Barnum & Bailey Circus. And she's awesome. Don't you wish you could see the rest of her outfit?

Have a special Easter weekend, honey buns. Here are a few amusing links for your enjoyment...

What to wear this Sunday.

Gold chocolate eggs and gold dipped eggs.

6 more crafty Easter projects.

How to make cream cheese pie crust.

A hole to another universe.

Plastic break apart heart-shaped forks.

15 repurposed planters.

Animals made from shattered CDs.

A baked potato bean bag chair. With butter.

Welcome back, Fiona!

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Bunny Folds
• Homemade Cadbury Creme Eggs
• Following The White Rabbit

{Images via Vintage Everyday by The Circus Book: 1870-1950}

A Beautiful Birth Announcement

It must be nice to have a designer for a daddy. Don, a Seattle metal band member turned artist, made this frame-worthy birth announcement for his new little girl. I imagine the piece looks lovely hung above her crib.

And speaking of babes, my niece will be born in less than 2 months! Weeee. The shower is tomorrow and I can't wait to see what sorts of goodies she'll get.


{Images by Don Clark of Invisible Creature}

This Girl's Hair Too

I'm still dreaming of this girl's hair. But now I want this girl's hair too. Big, bouncy and wild.

I wonder if one day in the future, technology will allow us to swap hair. And then return it when you're bored with it. Yeah, I like this idea. Inventors of the world, get to it!


{Images by Sean Flanigan}

Literature Heavyweights

I adore these salvaged bricks made to look like antique classics. Literal literature heavyweights. They may come in handy if physical books ever become of thing of the past. Melbourne artist, Daryl Fitzgerald, started making them to invoke nostalgia for when libraries were "cavernous worlds full of yellowing paper, silence and time."


{Images via Smith Journal by Light Reading}

Sir Hopsalot

Introducing... Sir Hopsalot. Who's got big ears and he cannot lie. No other bunnies can deny.

He's a poseable fiber art doll from Amsterdam, handmade with love by Katarzyna. Wouldn't he make the cutest Easter gift for the little ones?


{Images via Splendid Wilow by Forestblue}

A Live Action Logo

With the help of design installation specialists at Jason Bruges Studio and motion graphics experts at ManvsMachine, UK's television channel, More4, has a stunning new ad campaign. It's a series of live action logos consisting of colorful mechanical triangles undulating in the breeze, representing the vibrant and creative nature of their TV programming.

I think the re-branding has worked. If I still lived in the UK, I'd most definitely be tuning in.


{Images via We Heart by ManvsMachine}

Hello Weather

My new source for the local forecast: Hello Weather. It only gives you today's observations and tomorrow's prediction, but Steffi and Kurt creatively present the weather with cardboard and light. Try it. It's fun!


{Images by Steffi Gloor and Kurt Riedi}

A Floating Cinema

This incredible floating cinema is located off Kudu Island in Thailand, originally built for the Film On The Rocks Festival earlier this year. At nightfall, guests are whisked away by a speedboat to arrive on a glowing raft in the middle of Nai Pi Lae Lagoon.

I have friends who will be honeymooning in Thailand and I sure hope they come here for a movie date!


{Images via Inhabitat by Buro Ole Scheeren}

Spring Blooms Around My Neighborhood

The light was so beautiful while walking home from the bus stop yesterday. It started to sprinkle, but the sun was still peeking through the clouds. I began searching the sky for a rainbow and instead noticed all these Spring flowers in bloom. How had I missed them before? It's like they blossomed over night. I thought I'd share their beauty with you today.

Across From Planet Blue

This dreamy sun-drenched Planet Blue lookbook takes me back to when I lived right across the street from their beautiful store in Venice. Which would normally prove dangerous, but since I was broke and couldn't spend money there if I tried, it was harmless to window shop and play pretend on lazy Sunday afternoons after the farmers market. I'd peruse the racks, smile at a celeb on the way out, and leisurely stroll down the beach. Then walk home to my 300 square foot apartment. To my reality. Across from Planet Blue.


{Images via Daydream Lily by Zoey Grossman}

The Alicia Font

Well hello Alicia. The pleasure is all mine.


{Images via Grain Edit by HypeForType}