Pretend Shopping

As I mentioned, I've been logging some long hours lately. Sometimes when my mind starts to wander, I'll head over to etsy and window shop until I can focus again. These are some of my new etsy favorites:

This purse. Or any of the purses that Hoakon/Helga makes out of vintage leather jackets.

I love love the pattern on this dress.

Getting a note on this gorgeous stationary in my mailbox would make my week.

Love the color and shape of this kettle.

October Almost Over?

Time feels like it's set on warp speed right now.

I'm a week into my Charleston stay, and while I love getting to see family and friends, I'm so ready to get back to my husband.

It's been about a week as well since I last posted.

Here's a smidge of the goings on that I've squeezed in amongst an ungodly amount of work:

Pumpkin decorating whilst drinking pumpkin beer.

This is an annual Halloween tradition that I staunchly enforce.

(How cute is my husband's pumpkin? He's a like a little mustachioed Frenchman.)

Driving to work with the sun rising over the water.

It doesn't get much more magical.

I only wish I could slow down end enjoy it more.

Bloody Mary's at my favorite little French bistro in Charleston.

This was our go-to brunch spot when we lived here.

Sunday I was lucky enough to go for a bike ride with a good friend and pit stop here.

Cold Weather Craving

I'm in Charleston for the next little while and it is freezing outside. (In a very wimpy sort of way.)
The weather in Phoenix was topping the 100's this weekend, so anything below 70 is a shock to my system and I've been craving warm, cozy comfort food.

Photo, Smitten Kitchen

Mushroom bourguignon in particular. We made this recipe a week or so back. It was rich, delicious, and surprisingly healthy. The perfect remedy for a chill.
Happy Monday.

Vegetarian in the South

Picture from here.

Living in the south, I was often asked why I am a vegetarian. In my company's southeastern home office, I'm a bit of a tofu-eating oddity. My sweet southern father and I actually got into an argument on Christmas morning several years ago because I would not eat the turkey bacon my mom had so lovingly prepared for me--him arguing all the while that turkey is, in fact, not meat.

My turn to vegetarianism was gradual. It took years and years for me to finally realize that giving up meat was a viable option. I don't talk about it much, because I consider it to be a personal decision. Everyone needs to come to their own conclusions and do what makes sense for them. I'm very lucky to have a supportive husband who eats my vegetarian meals (even when my homemade seitan cutlets turn out like bouncy balls), never pushes me to taste just-a-little-tiny-bit-of-this-bacon-gosh-its-so-good, and never complains that our spaghetti is sans meatballs.

From now on, I will simply refer to this beautiful article when questioned about my dietary choices. Man, I wish I had Jonathan Safran Foer to better-articulate everything that I believe in. His writing makes me want to read extremely slowly, savoring every word.

As for my father, he has developed a sizeable list of Tofurky-related jokes and still offers up a steak on the grill everytime I come home. But, he is really starting to get the knack of marinating and grilling up a mean portabello mushroom.

Heaven is an International Food Court

Home from San Francisco today.
If I lived there I would have an enormous food filled belly and buns of steel from trekking the hills.
Enjoyed discovering French, Argentine, Afghan and Vietnamese eateries.

Eye Candy

Made it through the weekend, with a little help from Theraflu and a lot of help from my husband, who brought me spicy soups and refilled my water glass every 12 seconds.

Presently in San Francisco, one of my all-time favorite cities. On my way back from dinner I spent a solid five minutes drooling over these in fresh's window:

 Aren't they gorgeous? I'm especially into the Fig Apricot. 

Regina Spektor's Goals (as a human person)

This Regina Spektor interview that Naomi did made me love Regina all the more.
I was especially inspired by her response when Naomi asked about her goals outside of performing and song writing. It's so beautifully worded. I strive to live my life this way as well.

REGINA: Like, as a human person? Goals? Oh, a lot.

I guess just all the things that everybody wants:

To feel like they’re actually doing something and not just reenacting the same thing over and over, and not getting stuck.

Just opening your mind and seeing more of the world and trying to understand how people live and what they think.

All that stuff that will sound really fluffy and disgusting if you write it down. Just be part of the world. Really really live. You know?

One of my big goals is to just not do things out of fear but [to] be really open, which is hard I think. It’s a full time job for people to stay really open. It’s like a second job.

But also - I don’t think it’s good to just do one thing. I don’t think if you’re a musician you should not just be immersed in music. I think it’s really important that if you’re a musician [to] try writing a play or something. Things need to complete other things.

Sick as a dog.

Sweet-faced little pug dog found here.

I'm down for the count.

Luckily my husband is on his way home with soup and Nyquil in tow.

Crossing my fingers for a speedy recovery--headed to SF for work on Sunday.

And I looove SF.

Happy weekend, you.

Warm Fuzzy

Big kudos to Jason's coach for giving him the opportunity to get involved with the team, and letting him live out his dream of playing.

Happy Humpday.

Pretend Shopping

I pretend shop quite a lot. When it gets down to me actually needing something, I drive myself insane with the possibilities of what I should buy; endless comparison of price, quality, ethics... It's much easier to just browse, non-commitally. Here are a few things I've fallen in love with of late.

I love the lattice-work on the back of this shirt.

I love this gocco print. My mom used to sing me this song before bed.

I could see myself in this dress + beat up boots.

Love the color, love the peeptoe, love the wedge.

I'm dying to find the perfect pair of cone-heeled shoes. These come with a delicate ankle strap.

Need a pair of booties for fall. Love the color of this pair.

RIP, Pela.

Oh my. This afternoon I learned Pela broke up a couple of weeks ago. Pela is one of my all time favorite bands. There is so much heart and talent and ROCK in their music.

They've sung me through days when all I could do was sob, and played the soundtrack of my life on sunshine-filled drives with the windows down.

The saddest part of all is that they had a killer, killer live show. And they broke up before I ever got to see them play.

In honor of Pela...(sigh)

Over the Weekend

Watching cotton candy sunsets and Cadillac Records.

Listening to lots of the blues. Loud.

Eating lazy, long brunch.

Riding bikes around in the near-perfect weather.

Starting new projects.

The Adventures in Babysitting Architectural Tour of Chicago

Photo found here.

Chicago was beau-ti-ful. After dinner one night we strolled through Millenium park to check out the Bean. Very, very cool. And look, you can see the Adventures in Babysitting building just to the left of center....this made my night. Obviously.