Throwback and Go Forward - Gorgeous Motorcycles

Motorcycles are a no no in this household... but I love the look of an old Triumph. These bikes are new --- but they harken back to a time of no obnoxious colors or logos... Simple is better.

J.Crew Finds

Top jacket is amazing. Bottom combo button-down/jewel necklace is a look I'm trying to master.

Lemon Pound Cake

Going to try this tomorrow I think. Sounds good!
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/glazed-lemon-pound-cake?backto=true

Glitter Paintings

This kind of makes me laugh - the glitter painting craft project in the MS November issue centers around MS's cat, Vivaldi. Please shoot me if I do a glitter painting of my cat.... I mean, I suppose a slightly abstract version wouldn't be bad---but not a glamour portrait.  In any case, this goldfish version sparked my imagination. Putting this in for later inspiration.

Prada Waders - Ridiculous

According to Bazaar, I'm supposed to "keep" these fashionable boots. Not buy them or store them, but just keep them. I love magazines. I love fashion. But this is the dumbest thing I've seen in a while. Who in their right mind would consider waders a final polish for an outfit? Waders are good for one thing, wading. Let's leave it at that, ridiculous editors at Bazaar.

More Illustration Inspiration

I've seen styles similar to this - always wanted to try it. Love this one from Renegade Handmade. It's gorgeous.

Ink and Wit

I love these illustrations. I have an idea for a gift and these will inspire me to try and illustrate a bit. love the style.

http://www.inkandwit.com/iw/index.cfm

Looolo Textiles - A Find!

I want a throw and some pillows from this loom. Great colors and textures.

http://www.looolo.ca

The day is ny.... Nie?

I Want This Book

Pics of LA, dating back to the first known photograph. Awesome.

Cool Mirror at Anthropologie

Not cheap - but not ridiculously expensive either.

Gorgeous Scale

I'm running out of room in my kitchen--- but this is a beauty.

Design Genius: Wine Labels Meets Paper Dolls

How fun! I get to drink wine and play dolls--- pin-up style. Fill under inspired thinking and, definitely,  gift ideas. I wonder if the wine is tasty?

http://www.bevlaw.com/bevlog/wine/functional-packages-part-3

Organizing Computer Stuff - An Answer?

This site may hold the key to fixing the mess of wires on, under and around my computer. But, to start, these little beauties will help prevent the cords from dropping behind my desk. Hmmmmm.... stockings?

http://bluelounge.com/cabledrop.php

From Amy - Amazing Ideas for Over the Mantle Mirrors

Especially love the top left. Is the sundial thing played out though? Hmmm. Going to check out more at the Santa Monica Antique Mart. Excited!

Goal: Better Handwriting

I envy those who have gorgeous handwriting. I don't want the perfect penmanship of yore (read: I don't desire perfected cursive or calligraphy). Some mix between modern and almost architectural would be very satisfactory.

What a great goal to work toward as the card-writing season begins!

This seems a good place to start:
http://www.paperpenalia.com/

Paper Clip Chandelier

Wow. This is gorgeous... and they're paperclips!!! Here's what I want: a barn to flip in to my studio and I want to hang these from the wall. Oh please!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26406399

Sue Wong Dress--- Awesome

I don't have reason to buy a new cocktail dress. If anything, I need the LBD staple more than this frock. But it's SUPER beautious.

http://www.bloomingdales.com/

Friends in Frames

Jeff has been wanting to get pics of our friends and fam on the wall. I'm slow to respond, but a sale on cool frames at West Elm might be the jump start I need. Just have to figure out where to put them!

Another Holiday Gift Idea that I Can Make

I think I'm going to get candles from Ikea and try to craft these. I just need a cool box idea for packaging.

Swiss Army Blankets

These are very cool. I want I want!

http://www.sundancecatalog.com/PRODUCT/44321.html

Patricia's childhood Maltese sandwich

Tomato paste, olive oil and olives on bread.

Apple pie #2

Post-meal results: WINNER! This pie uses special apples and I have to go find the name of them b/c they were ridiculously good. The crust was SO flakey. I learned that the best way to roll it out thin is to do so between plastic wrap. The recipe came from Cooks Illustrated.

Gold Leaf on Fruit

Not a wildly new idea--- but SO pretty and (seemingly) so easy. I want to try and draw that too. DOUBLE inspirationals.

Idea for Laundry Area

http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/make-a-foldout-drying-rack

Great description

She was the kind of woman who asked questions with her hands on her
hips.
-let the northern lights erase your name, vendela vida

More Cupcakes

Minis are FUN! So is the frosting of minis. I'm thinking that might be what I do for xmas presents. I need more practice with preserves before I give to others.

Another resource:

http://www.thecupcakecompany.blogspot.com/

Stout Cupcakes with Bailey's Frosting

What a perfect addition to a St. Paddy's day party. (which is what they were created for originally)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/chocolate-stout-cupcakes-recipe/index.html

Should our housewarming be St. Paddy's day? Can I still do the chili cook-off? Chili ain't Irish. Crap.

For Alex!

Cool Sign and Setting

Gooseberries are in Season

Gelsons!

Time to hit the cupcakes

I've now done my bit of  sitting on the couch and flogging myself for not being who I want to be. Time to make cupcakes for a party tonight. Let's hope they're good.

http://bakingbites.com/2008/06/mini-chocolate-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting/

Turns out --- they're good, not great. Best with chocolate frosting, not the cream cheese. They'll do for tonight but I wish they were better!!!!

Great Ideas for Graphic Design

Now I'm just blogging about other blogger's blogs. Ok - it's just Oh Joy. I'm all over her blog today. My Saturday, November 21 hero.

This is a great site for ideas though:

http://www.sheaff-ephemera.com/

I have this grand vision, but it's blurry

Much of the reason for this blog is to capture ideas. It's not for anyone but me. I would be lying if I said I never think about how someone else would react if they read it. I would LOVE to have one of those blogs that get read... yet, I'm not trying to set this up as a destination for others. Oy. I'm all over the place.

I will say that I want this blog to help me do something great: get me to my next "thing". I steadily work as a web designer. It's fun sometimes... and not fun sometimes. But I'll tell you this- I don't think I want to be doing it forever. But what DO I want to be busy with? Who knows. I just need to be more creative. More creative in a way that fulfills ME.

Here's a secret... I would LOVE to be featured in a magazine. Great photo- me, dressed sharply, in my studio... article is about my something-or-other business and my perspective on _____??? Maybe I'm a textile designer? An illustrator? I have this grand vision but it's blurry.

I'll get there. I'll get there. I'll get there...

double inspiration - home and business ideas

Site shows off collection of duvets and rugs. Got link from Oh Joy. Love photos showing duvets--- maybe inspiration for something later? Want some of the rugs on this site. 

http://www.gan-rugs.com/

On a Financial Freeze

Work is slow. Bills are big from all our reno's. Time to tighten the purse strings. Makes me feel uninspired. So gross- why would I need to be able to shop in order to be creative? Perhaps I need to take it up a notch - really buckle down and set a goal of no shopping till... xxx. Not including xmas, of course. Then again, not shopping a whole lot these days anyhoo. Odd.

Reminds me, need to find recipes for jam or preserves. Oh how I wish mom was still around - she made GREAT holiday preserves. I need to raid my dad's house for more of her recipes.

argh.

So much effort- So little progress

So, these (kind of) LOOK good. But they are not good. The apples are mush. The crust is chewy. DAMN. I did so well with the pecan pies and, since then, I've sucked it up. Going to try the Cook's Illustrated pie crust method. In the meantime, I had pie innards for a very unsatisfactory breakfast. And, sigh, I think I'm just going to toss the rest. Good news is, I'm not sick of trying. I will figure this out by T-Day!!!

You vex me, apple pie.

Sigh. Disaster!

Plastic Bag Organizer-- from MS

This is lovely. I just don't know that I'm in to the idea of actually crafting it up. Sometimes I think they should just sell all of their goodies. As if MS needs more money.

http://www.marthastewart.com/goodthings/pretty-plastic-bag-organizer

Vers Audio

Gift ideas? It's rad.... and all about sustainability and eco-friendliness.

http://www.versaudio.com/

Someday for our Roof

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ariel-schwartz/sustainability/dows-solar-shingles-integrate-solar-power-rooftops

Solar roof --- but shingles so it's not ugly.

Now, if the price would come down.

Idea for Application

Friend of mine on FB wrote about a random act of kindness. Some guy went out of his way to return money she'd dropped. Others (including me) piped in with more RAOK's. There's a cool flash application/site idea in there somewhere.

Damn You Hairy Man

This dude smelled up my work out. He's the one working out in safari shorts. When someone enters the gym to work out and they're wearing non-gym clothes (I've seen jeans, slacks and a woman adorned in loads upon loads of jewelry--- even pearls in her hair) --- you KNOW it's trouble. This guy smelled like stale dust.

Someday our backyard will be fancy. But we still make good use of it!

Sometimes I feel like I don't have time to think.

Practicing for turkey day...

11/16 - Adding comments:

So far the Bourban Pecan is the winner. Tho the chocolate pecan is a close second.

Spice Grinder for Xmas? Probably not necessary.

This week's meal ideas

molasses glazed pork tenderloin
couscous
tomato arugula salad
potato dish
fish with leftover red pepper sauce

what to make for friday???
red velvet cupcakes or chocolate souffles
nice cheese
scallops?
lemon rice pilaf
salad
"adult" mac and cheese?
hmmmmm

corporate gifts

trying to figure out what to get clients this year. can i make something that is polished and pro?

this might help

http://www.happytape.bigcartel.com/

http://www.papermart.com/Home.aspx

https://www.nohmsoycandles.com/Candles/Breathe/prod_2.html

http://www.treepeople.org/

Re-doing the Fireplace

I think this needs more whimsical and brighter colors to get away from the heavy feel.

My Dream

So, my mom shows up in lots of my dreams. Often she seems unhappy - which is always unsettling to me. Last night - she appeared and she clowned around. When she was still alive, this was a rare and wonderful site. Not that she was super somber. She was always a joy to be around. But once in a great while, she got downright silly and it was always shocking and fun.

So, in my dream I was at a table with my brother and my mom. I was eating tamales made by my buddy Alex's mom. (I had some, for real, last night--- they were ridiculously good.) I asked if she wanted a bite and she shmooshed it all over my plate with that devilish grin.

Also in the dream, she asked what I wanted for Christmas. I mentioned three things. Today, I had trouble remembering, but then they all came to me throughout the morning. Here they are:

Camera: In my dream, we discussed a really nice one costing $200. Ha, right? I think this comes from me really actually wanting a nice camera. We've got some digital, pocket cams - but friends of ours have the real deal ... and our handy little cameras don't hold a candle. So, I guess I really do want a nice camera. And I really need to take better photos.

Fancy Dress: In my dream, I was thinking of it costing $500. Not fancy for fancy people, but fancy for me. In reality, it's a nice idea... but what do I need a dressy dress for? Then again, today, I realized I don't have the staple that all fashion sites/books/mags say a woman should have: the LBD. So ... hmmmmmmmm.

Cooking Classes: I took a really great class from a school in Culver City. It was all about knife skills. It was so fun.... I want to take more. So this dream idea is a great idea.

So glad my mom was being silly.

Mirror for over the fireplace

This is awesome.

http://www.jaysonhomeandgarden.com/product.php?productid=4982

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