Ballet Flats with a Mousy Twist

As I was unpacking our earthly possessions during this last move, I discovered that I am drawn to objects that have a function, but are shaped like something else. Particularly animals. I own a teapot shaped like an elephant, a cream and sugar set shaped like cows, a salt and pepper shaker shaped like a pair of mushrooms, a measuring tape shaped like Pinocchio, and of course, a lollipop holder shaped like a peacock. You know, truly practical, every day items. Giggle.

So obviously these Marc Jacobs Ballet Flats that look like a Mouse are right up my alley. I saw an adorable Japanese girl wearing a pair in Vienna this summer and felt a pang of jealousy stab right through my stomach and shoot out my spine. So cute. And yet, so cool.

Hers were a soft looking suede, but this studded version reminds me of a very tough biker rat. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to mouse hunt on ebay.

Etsy Stories: Yours + Mine = Ours

Eric & I are sneaking up on our five year wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's been that long already. I felt moved to create a treasury of pairs for a little advance celebration. It made me smile.
Felt Slippers for Mr. and Mrs.

Coffee for Two
Bedside Prints. One for me, one for you.

A pair of chairs- one for you, one for moi.

Photobooth Signs for you and I.

Hers


His

See the whole collection live on Etsy right over here.

Why Modern Women Still Love Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

I read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in eighth grade and haven't revisited it since, but I've been meaning to watch this this BBC produced mini-series for ages. Ever since reading Bridget Jones' Diary my freshman year of college and thickly realizing that my beloved Bridget is just a modern re-imagining of Elizabeth Bennet and Mark is (hello! She didn't even change his name!) Mr. Darcy. Remember the chapter in Bridget Jones' Diary where Bridget interviews Colin Firth and bumbles all her questions because of her simmering crush on this version of Mr. Darcy.? Me too.

Wanting to be in on the joke, Eric and I finally watched the mini series this week. Every detail was so beautifully done, I can't say enough to recommend it. The acting is superb and manages to feel lively and filled with meaning and emotion, despite the unwieldy language these Edwardian characters are bandying about. The costumes and homes featured are lovingly arranged in beautiful shots. And of course, there is the story itself.

As I watched, I couldn't help but think that there is a reason why Jane Austen's novels have stood the test of time and continue to appeal to modern women hundreds of years later. They contain three often contradictory components women are still looking for in romantic endeavors all these years later.

First, there is the idea of being ardently desired that appeals to women on a very basic level. It is flattering when a usually composed and dignified man loses his cool to become a puddle at your feet. Even if you don't desire him. Especially if you don't desire him. It makes you feel powerful.



Secondly, there is the idea of security, which Ms. Austen handles deftly. During her time, the idea of marrying for love was a new concept. Most people were concerned with marrying someone of good position that could to support them through their old age. If we answer this question honestly, we have to confess that this is still a factor in choosing the person to spend our lives with. And yet, no one wants to be the sort of person who marries only for this reason. It seems so calculated. So unfeeling. Ms. Austen had to tread lightly with her heroines, causing them to hate the wealthiest men at first and spurn their affections only to be convinced after a very long, slow and dramatic series of events prove this terrible rich guy to not be terrible after all. And then perhaps she could entertain the idea of being his wife. And then, we can finally remember that he's rich! (This trope is still being worked into novels and screenplays by the way. See Friends with Money for more evidence of the slightly distasteful "Did We Mention He's Rich?" surprise.)

Thirdly, modern women prize their independence. No one wants to think of themselves, or their heroines as sheep who meekly follow the course set for them by their families or societies. Instead, we like to think of ourselves as headstrong, determined, and busily creating our own destinies. This ties in beautifully to the theme of a passionate love unabated by any societal pressure or impediment. There is something about being with someone against all odds, of fighting for each other, of overcoming obstacles that no one thought you could, that makes you feel your love is invincible. Your love can withstand anything because it has already overcome so much. That is a good vantage point from which to consider marriage. From that heady view, you can convince yourself that despite knowing not one couple truly happily married fifty years in, you and your beloved will triumph. Now that my friends, is romance. And I for one, want much more of it.

Why do you think Jane Austen remains so popular so many years later? Which of her books is your favorite? Also, do you think Colin Firth is as hot as Bridget and I do?

What is Black, White & Red All Over?

All these pretty goodies! See them live on Etsy right over here!

Flamingo Love Birds get some Love from Wedding Paper Divas!

I was so excited to see my Flamingo Love Birds getting some love over on Wedding Paper Diva's blog! Their site is filled with gorgeous, affordable invites and I know many brides-to-be are spending a lot of time there. Thanks to Jessica for ordering a pair of these leggy birds for her wedding cake and telling her readers about my little shop! I hope this little pair are an unforgettably fun detail on your big day!

Congratulations & Aloha!

Becky

DIY with The Fab Miss B: Gussy Boring Invitations with Glitter

As I've been unpacking my supply stash into our new (smaller!) space, I've tried to be ruthless about narrowing it down. I'm pretty good about getting rid of things I no longer need, want or use, but when it comes to my art supplies, I'm a bit of a hoarder. (Do any of you have this problem?)

I came across a stash of wedding invitations I bought on super clearance at Target- I loved the pattern. I wanted to make them feel a bit more special, lively and a little less formal. I've noticed that pops of neon are a big trend lately (especially over at J-Crew!) and I was inspired to try it with glitter.

I used Martha Stewart Ballpoint Glue Pen, a stash of neon glitter and my brand new glitter pan (it has a built in funnel!) from Ace to add some drama and fun to these rather staid & conservative invitations.


This tool does a great job of giving fine lines of glue, but you have to be quick! I picked out just few scrolls and curlie ques to highlight with glue.

Then I coated the lines with glitter, carefully shaking the excess into my glitter pan.

Afterwards, I tipped the extra glitter back into the bag with the handy dandy spout and sealed it back up again with the rubber plug.


I'm quite pleased with the results. The superfine glitter always reminds me of decorative sanding sugars and I think it gave a lot more pizazz to these invites. I'm planning to use them as stationary, or perhaps as Thank You cards when shipping out Love Birds. I think writing on them in a bold hand with a really thick flat edged sharpie would look fantastic.

Do you use personal stationery? What do you choose for those increasingly rare personal pieces of snail mail?

Morning Ritual: A Monster Mug for Mister and Missus

I snapped up a pair of these monster mugs from Lenny Mud and they make me smile every morning. Because this is exactly how I feel before my first cup of Joe. It's not the caffeine per say, since I often end up having only a few sips and then leave it to get ice cold on a tabletop somewhere. It's the bleary eyed ritual of it. Sending the beans whizzing that sharp, dramatic zip through the grinder. Cleaning out the filter. Pouring the fresh grinds in. Adding the water. Listening to the whole mess begin to gurgle happily. And then that delightful smell that tells you the day is about to begin. I wouldn't do without that.

What's your morning ritual? Does it involve coffee?

Delicious Vegetarian Chile

Eric & I are doing the vegetarian thing again now that we are back in the kitchen. I was very liberal with substitutions, using this vegetarian chile recipe as more of a guideline. I figure if you start with onions, add garlic, cumin & chile powder and you pretty much always end up with chile. I added some cauliflower that I discovered in the bottom of the vegetable bin at the very end and it added a texture similar to that of ground beef. That massive Italian Parsley leaf seemed like just the right flamboyant garnish for such a bold rainbow colored dish.

What's the best dinner you've cooked up this week? Anything meatless in your repertoire?

Book Report: The Namesake

I've just finished reading The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. I'd seen the film ages ago, but wanted to read the novel that inspired it. In this case, the story was quite faithfully adapted from the book, but of course, the book had even more richness of detail and characterization. Why does this story move me so much?

It moves me because Gogol has been given something so rare and precious by his parents- a chance at an incredible life full of wealth, success, power. And yet. This life feels like a burden, not a gift. He resents them. He is ashamed of them. He abandons them. Denies them. Pretends they are not part of him. He cannot feel gratitude towards them. He does not see their sacrifices, only their failings and formality.

But his parents never stop loving him.

There is a beautiful scene after Ashoke dies, when Gogol is remembering a long walk he took on a beach with his father. Ashoke has forgotten the camera and tells the six year old Gogol that he will have to remember it instead.

"Will you remember this day Gogol?" his father had asked, turning back to look at him, his hands pressed like earmuffs to either side of his head. "How long will I have to remember it?" Over the rise and fall of the wind, he could hear his father's laughter. He was standing there, waiting for Gogol to catch up, putting out a hand as Gogol drew near. "Try to remember it always," he said once Gogol had reached him, leading him slowly across the breakwater where his mother and Sonia stood waiting. "Remember that you and I made this journey, that we went together to a place where there was nowhere left to go."

This brought tears to my eyes. It captures the essence of the parent child relationship so succinctly. Your lives are bound together so tightly but the child has to cut those ties to go and find his own way, a path the parent can no longer trod with him. There is love, but also something more complicated. Something painful. It can be so difficult to understand each other with so many expectations on either side.

Have you read any wonderful books recently? I'd love to have your suggestions about what I should read next!

Reinventing a Furnished Apartment: Bathroom Makeover

The bathroom in our new digs is positively palatial. It feels like I'm stepping into a fancy spa, which of course, I adore. Here's the grand tour.

I like to place art in the sight lines I use most often as I walk through our home. Remember my DIY seashell specimen boxes? They're on the wall facing the mirror so you see them while washing your hands!

These wicker trunks were scattered throughout the house for extra storage. I rather like them stacked together for dramatic effect.


Perfume collection displayed on an oval china plate along with a tiny finger bowl for jewelery. One bottle was a gift from my Mum, one from my lovely Husband. (And the cologne was a gift from me to him!)

This science beaker collection makes a nice tableau with a sea sponge bowl and a little model ship.

Purely a coincidence that most recent nail color matches new rug perfectly! (It's called Jade Jump if you must know.)

This Wayne Pate Jacques Cousteau Poster is right at home with a collection of glass fishing floats displayed in a trifle bowl.


The new rug was really affordable and also happens to match this vintage inspired swimsuit! Further coincidence or evidence that I spend too much time scouring the sale section of Urban Outfitters? Don't answer that.

DIY Tiered Herb Garden for Urban Green Thumbs

I found this great tiered wire basket on clearance at Wisteria, but there are thousands of pretty vintage options on Etsy too. It's quite large so I felt inspired to turn it into a mini herb garden for my lanai.

I picked up a little packaged green and Spanish moss from Ace Hardware, along with some potting soil and herb starts.

First, I loosely lined the baskets with moss. This is just for show, so I only did the sides I will see.

Then, I lined the bottom of the containers with a thick layer of Spainish moss to hold the soil in.


Then came potting soil. (You substitute floral foam here if you wanted to create an arrangement with fresh cut flowers. )

Then I added my little herb starts. I love watering this little mini herb garden because each level drains into the next one. A word of warning- on the first watering, a bit of muddy water leaked out. I'd advice using a terra cotta dish underneath to catch run-off at first.

I'm hoping to do a better job with my plants now that they are all just a few steps away on the porch. (I'm a bit notorious for killing things off!) I chose to plant chives, thyme, and mint because I've managed to not kill them before and I love to cook with all of the above. I love basil too, but have had a terrible time growing it. I've taken to buying it in big bunches at the farmer's market instead.

Are you an urban gardener? What plants have you been the most successful with?

Missoni for Target: Will it be A Hit or A Miss?

I'm sure it's already all over the blogosphere that Target is doing a collaboration with Missoni. Hooray Design for All! Of course it looks great in the publicity photos (save some rather curious styling for the womens wear!) but I'll reserve my final judgement until I see it in stores.

The highly anticipated Liberty of London roll out ended up looking schlocky. It felt like regular plastic junk covered with those famous Liberty prints. I'd rather save up for one piece of the real thing than have something that's just a sloppy imitation. That said, here are a few of my favorite looks from the slideshow via Cut Blog.

With such a bold seventies inspired print, I love the idea of keeping everything else very restrained. (Also, looks like this make me I wish I could wear tights in Hawaii! Far too hot.)

If those towels look that plush in real life, I want one of each to take poolside.

Fill it with shiny red apples and this bowl would make a glamorous centerpiece on your Thanksgiving table.

A perfect pop of color and pattern for you feet.

Round it all off with a sexy little nightie and robe. These goodies will be in stores on September 13th. Will you make a special trip to check them out?

What do you think of the collaborations between high end designers and box stores? Which have been the most successful? Have you bought any pieces? Are any still favorites? (I still have favorites that Isaac Mizrahi did for Target way back in the beginning!)

Stay Like a Local on The Big Island of Hawaii at Veltris' Ohana!

When Eric & I finally arrived back in Hawaii after our European Summer, we ended up crashing with our dear friends Dan & Lisa. Not knowing how long our house hunt would take, we decided to get a short term vacation rental so we wouldn't cramp their style for more than a few days. Eric scoured Craigslist to find something clean, affordable and centrally located and found Sharon & Frank Veltris' Ohana. It was everything we needed for a home base while we looked, but I think it would be a lovely place for a vacation too.

It was clean, tastefully decorated, and well appointed with a living area, giant closet, partial kitchen (a stove, grill, mini fridge & micro oven)...

A lovely view from the spacious wraparound lanai where we enjoyed watching the sunset each evening...



And a two person jacuzzi tub complete with seascape mural & candles. So nice to soak with a glass of wine after looking at dismal studio apartments all day!

King size bed & cable T.V too- all for $40 a night? I had to tell all of you about it so you can come and see what life in Hawaii is like! You will need a car at this location in the hills above the elementary school, but you'd need one anyway to see all The Big Island has to offer. Sharon & Frank were so friendly and laid back- they made us feel right at home as we hunted for the perfect place. That's real Aloha. Please contact Sharon if you are planning a vacation on The Big Island. Get in touch with her at threespeakATaolDOTcom

Mahalo Veltris!