Pause

I wanted to address a little thing I did just in case anyone noticed it and became

confused. I am temporarily closing my etsy shop. A min-vacation of sorts.

I think it may be the overwhelming days of snow, and the month of February

in general, but I'm feeling claustrophobic with all the things I have to do

in my daily life. I make lists endlessly, and they never seem to get done.

Yep, I'm a list maker. 

I felt that I needed to slow some things down to catch my breath. It's noted

that I could have just kept the shop open and move along like it wasn't

really open, but that isn't exactly fair to those purchasing prints from me. I

don't want to half ass pretty packaging just to ship things out. It has to be 

special. 

I'm finding that really good, upbeat music has been the key to stabilizing
my wretched moods. Right now it's Rihanna's Rated R. I listen to music in the morning while
getting ready, as well as in the car. It's therapy, really. I am definitely that person you see
singing in her car like nobody is watching. You can point and laugh, I would too.

I know there are a lot of people out there to get into too much too fast and start

losing their heads. Has any of you felt overwhelmed with things to do do?

How do you get yourself back to center?

P.S. I also finally saw 127 hours last night. Oh my god, it was amazing.

2142011

Mike's handmade Vday card = Win.

*We don't really celebrate this day, but he 

went ahead and made the card because he

knew I'd enjoy it regardless. Especially since

I am drawn so lean and tall.*

Hannah's brownie recipe nearly knocked me over. 

Shit, this recipe is good. I recommend trying it.

Like....now. Go.

Normally, I would post the recipe but since this is not

one of my own, and Hannah deserves the credit,

I'm sending you over to her!

Brownies To Die For

Birthday

My new favorite pancake recipe.

I tried out this recipe for Mike's birthday breakfast. He devoured them.

So that's always a good sign.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 13 1/2-ounce can light unsweetened coconut milk (about 1 2/3 cups)
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Vegetable oil
Additional pure maple syrup


Directions

Preheat oven to 250°F. Whisk first 6 ingredients and 3/4 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Whisk coconut milk, 11/4 cups warm water, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and vanilla in medium bowl. Whisk coconut milk mixture into dry ingredients until batter is pourable.
Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat; brush with vegetable oil. Working in batches, add batter by 1/4 cupfuls. Working quickly and using back of spoon, spread each pancake to about 4-inch round. Cook until small bubbles appear on surface and bottoms of pancakes are golden, reducing heat if browning too quickly, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn over; cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet. Keep warm in oven.
Place 2 to 3 pancakes on each plate. Top with syrup.

Recipe from Bon Appetit

Happy Weekend

I finally have made it into the studio! A whole week is gone, all shoots cancelled.

At least my apartment is super clean.

My gorgeous older sister has returned to her roots for a long stay. She has been a

Cali Girl her whole life, and I've always looked up to her. She can sing, is incredibly

smart, and has a warm heart. This will be our first time spending more than a week

or two together. I haven't seen her since....2003? Damn, that was so long ago now...

 I'm looking forward to getting to know her all over again.

Here's to sisterly love:

All images found searching Pinterest

show your bones

well, trouble at home, travel the way you say :: the road don't like me

:: travel away, travel it all away :: the road's gonna end on me ::

warrior

-

Snow all around me today, and they say it won't stop for hours.

Score!

-

With Darkness, Comes Light created this morning.

Snowed In - Friday

It snowed again last night, and I woke up to a dreamy winter wonderland.

I can't complain, I actally like shoveling and taking my time on the back

roads. I think I may be the only one in the Philadelphia region, though.

Here are a few likes from Pinterest

-

No photographs to share from the weekend. It was kind of an awkward weekend,
to say the least. I finally finished Jane Eyre, and I miss her already.

Do you ever wish some fictional characters were real? Do you miss them after a book
is finished? After I read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle I missed the
dogs in the book so much. They became my little family of misfits and heroes in my head.


-

I've got a lot of printing to do today, so I better get moving.
Have a fantastic weekend!

Creeps

I found this list from the when Tina was a kid box,
 and evidently most things haven't changed. All
these things still creep me out.




5 Things That Give Me The Creeps

__

1. Vacuum Cleaner stores. A whole
store for vacuum cleaners? Really?

2. Small/stashed away motels
advertising COLOR TV.

3. Other people's feet.

4. Carnival Mirror Rooms. Are
you trying to give me a
heart attack at a young age?
5.  Ectoplasm (yet, it's still intriguing)




--
It's a Jersey weekend (no, not the jersey shore)!
We're leaving shortly (and leaving Trill alone for
the night. I hope she behaves herself and stays off
of the shower curtain), and I'm armed with my
camera.


Have a great weekend!

collecting, obsessively

I have an obsession for bottles. 

They've finally found a home in our dining room,
atop the bookcase. 

It's starting to feel like we're making a home here in Berwyn.
I like living with a graphic designer. We have a lot of design
ideas in common. It's fun to bounce ideas off him and see what
we can create together. Boys aren't so bad, I guess.

London Theatre, anyone?

$17 vintage linen from JenniesJunque + mad sewing skills =

            

I am so in love with this pillow! (oh, please excuse the horrible sofa, which we've covered with a blanket. We are getting a brand new sofa in just a couple weeks! I won't be so ashamed of our way too shabby to be chic living room anymore.) I had an old 15x27 pillow with a kind of crappy, brown zebra cover that sat squished between our bed and a side table. Since the dying zebra cover came off easily,
I knew I could find something to to help fix it up and put the new sewing machine to use.

This linen measured 31''x21''. It was a tad short width wise so I added extra linen (with a decorative stitch) to fill it out.

I also have been trying my hand at puckering designs for pillow fronts. Martha Stewart shows a small,

yet not-so-detailed description of how to accomplish this look in Encyclopedia of Sewing & Fabric. 

It always seems that her directions are shady and somehow hit or miss. What's the deal, Martha?

Trillz Approved

Happy Friday

Hello, 2011! Nice to finally meet you.

This week has been especially busy for me. Shooting a catalog before the Chinese New Year

 is stressful. It makes me cranky, and hungry. Coffee helps, and we always have find something humorous to laugh about. There was a lot of loud singing this week at the studio. I think we also did 

our best Fire Marshall Bill impersonations, too. 

I found little time and energy to do much of anything in the evenings, besides watch American Pickers on Netflix and of course escape into Pinterest. It's one of my favorite places to go for inspiration right now. Everything is right at your fingertips!

Here are a few things I've made favorites this week:

I'm also reading Jane Eyre. It's scary! Is it supposed to be? How did I come across this 

book so late in the game? It intrigues me to no end, I hope to finish it tonight.

No real plans for this weekend which is a relief. There's a lot of work to be done at home

and it seems I never get a chance to finish projects once I've started them. I make lists

....and then I lose them. The winter slum has officially hit me. It's too damn cold to

sand furniture outside. Get real. 

Does anybody have a go to winter project that will keep you busy and your mind from going

into a deep freeze? I'd love to know what they are!