Today is my mom's birthday. Besides being the most loving and supportive mother a person could ask for, she is a lovely, wonderful woman. She is one of those people who truly make the world a better place to be in- always with a smile and a laugh or a shoulder to lean on. Everyone loves my mom... because there is so very much to love. Happy Birthday mom. I love you dearly!!!

xoxoxoxo

Hit the Road

Now that summer is in full swing (it had to have been at least 90 here yesterday), I've been daydreaming of roadtrips and camping...

via wet behind the ears

While I was researching Jean Burkhalter I came across these other pochoir prints. Really lovely stuff...

A while back at the Brooklyn Flea, I came across some gorgeous plates by Jean Burkhalter. They were abstract florals done in the most vivid colors. It was love at first sight. But they were a bit pricey for a spontaneous Flea Market purchase. I decided to do some research... It was difficult to find a lot of information except that Jean Burkhalter was a french  designer, painter and architect in Paris during the 20's - 30's. The plates that I found are from a series called Collection Decors et Couleurs, Album No. 2- which consists of 70 beautiful floral pochoir designs on 18 plates (pochoir designs are like really elaborate stencils). And they're apparently rather rare and difficult to find... A few weeks later (and a week before my birthday- how convenient!), I went back to the Flea hoping but seriously doubting they would still be there. Lucky for me, they were! This is the one I picked out..

We took it to be framed this weekend and put it up in the living room. Such a good find! ♥

What I'm loving around the web this week..


Design Sponge's recap and trends from Brimfield. Can't wait to go in July!!

okay, this post was technically from last week, but oh my... aren't these lovely? the turqoise one makes my knees weak..

i'm a big fan of the fishtail braid, though i find it more difficult to do on myself than the dutch or french.. i'm determined to try out this hairstyle soon..

this room


Have a great weekend!! ♥

Yesterday after work, I took the free Ikea ferry from Pier 11 in Manhattan to Red Hook in Brooklyn to get a few things. It's so rare that I get a chance to be on the water even though I'm surrounded by it. It's quite nice and peaceful. We passed by the Statue of Liberty on our way- a place I have shamefully never visited even though I have lived in Ny for almost 6 years!! Perhaps this will be the year...

p.s. I just had to mention that I was at Ikea for under an hour and spent $26. I'm pretty sure that must be some sort of record ; )

this morning i wish i was someplace someplace like this..

via here

hope you all had a nice weekend! i was lucky to have my dear old friend laura in town for a visit. back in 2000 she and i packed all that we owned into her vw and headed out to san francisco. 10 years later, we're both back on the east coast (though in different states), married, and she's a mommy of 2! i really cannot believe that 10 years have gone by. where does the time go??

this was us about 9 years ago (note the real polaroid - sigh...). please forgive the ridiculous kissy face i'm making. it was about 2:30 in the morning when this shot was taken. love our faux fur trimmed coats.. that apartment had no heat for the first 4 months or so that i lived in it- we we're always freezing!

and here we are now... no longer in our twenties, but that's okay. in fact, it's more than okay. along with the sudden onset of laugh lines comes a sense of comfort and security. we're no longer wondering so much where we are going... we're on the path. and though we still have a long ways to go, at least now we can afford to heat the place..

note: this was meant to be posted yesterday, but due to computer problems, it's going up today- which is fitting because today is laura's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR FRIEND!! xoxo

I guess I've been a bit lazy and neglectful around here lately. I've just had a lot going on- and besides, it was my birthday! Birthdays are funny little things.. they simultaneously fill me with a sense of love and appreciation for all of the amazing friends and family I have, while at the same time they make me question and analyze and reflect and wonder what it means that another whole year has passed?? I'm officially at an age that I can remember my own mother being...and that is weird! But! I am here and I am healthy and I am truly blessed beyond belief and for all of that I am truly grateful. Lest you think I've just been wallowing in my own existential crisis, here are some of my favorites from around the blogosphere this week. Have a great weekend!!
 
loved this colorful sneak peak of Lula Aldunate's place in Buenos Aires (Lula also happens to be one of my very favorite names so perhaps I was swayed from the start).

amazing styling by Musubi via Oh Joy!

Perhaps if I had one of these, I would write more letters... via poppytalk

this dreamy video by Masscob

Masscob Spring Summer 2010 from Masscob on Vimeo.

It was a lovely weekend here, filled with food and drink and a little more food and drink! Saturday morning started off with a celebratory brunch at Miss Favela's in Williamsburg in honor of my friend Hannah's upcoming nuptials..

Then on Sunday, my husband and I were lucky enough to have both of our moms in town to celebrate mother's day. We had a lovely brunch at our house including boozy french toast and blueberry cornmeal cake. I was a bit worried as these were new recipes for me (typical of me to try out new recipes now!), but somehow it all worked out and ended up being pretty yummy in the end. Unfortunately, I didn't get any shots of the food. However, here are few pics of our lovely mamas!

Have a nice weekend and don't forget to give thanks to the woman of the hour...

card by Rifle

Eveline Tarunadjaja

These make me want to draw...

llustrations by Eveline Tarunadjaja
via Daydream Lily

Neon Africa

I love the styling of Irina Graewe. Here are a few shots of her Africa meets neon series...

Make a statement

super fun aztec pieces by Roarke via Refinery 29

Susie Cowie

really stunning embroidery work by Susie Cowie via Simply Seductive