Books: How to Have a Prettier Room! 04/04/2011
    ANTIQUE WEEK ENTRY 2 "A smart girl plans her room according to her personality," how can you resist a book with a beginning like that?! I found this simple guide to room decor at a garage sale the other day. It appears to be an advertising pamphlet for Johnson's Wax from the 1950s. I couldn't help but become enamored with the retro graphics, salmon colored cover art and copy that reads like a feminist's nightmare. Ironically, there are a ton of great decorating tips! It describes how to make heart shaped bulletin boards and sit-on-the-floor pillows. And there's organization tips in the back. Like, make a belt rack out of a wooden hanger by screwing 5-6 hook screws into the bottom. But, the best part is how they classify each type of girl: Artistic, Romantic, Outdoorsy or... Prom (!?). What personality are you? Artistic type? You are, if... - your first love is music or writing or designing or such... and you're dreaming of a career in your field - you like full skirts and interesting thong sandals - you've a love of color and know it can work miracles - you can easily imagine yourself someday studying in Paris or Rome - you've lots of ideas but most of them aren't practical Romantic type? You are, if... - you love flowers and dreamy music and pretty, lacy handkerchiefs - you weep over stories or movies with sad endings - you've already planned your wedding down to the last detail - you ribbons in your hair and love pinks and pale blues - you keep a diary and save all kinds of mementos like Valentines, menus and theater programs Outdoor type? You are, if... - you spend every spare moment riding or playing tennis or sailing or hiking - you'd rather have a date with Rock Hudson than Cary Grant - you prefer a co-ed weenie roast to an all-girl tea - you like to feel the wind ruffling your hair - you love the autumny smell of wood smoke and burning leaves Prom personality? You are, if... - you like high heels better than flats - laughter comes easily - you're popular with both sexes - you study with the radio on - you'd rather dance than do anything else, almost Add Comment    A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of A Misspent Life, can I get an Amen?! I just added Mary Carter's new book to my shopping cart on Amazon. Why live a Pottery Barn catalog? Bo-rang! Organization and cleanliness are great, but they don't give personality to a home. I love places that look lived-in... an open book and some magazines on the coffee table, family photos everywhere, personal collections on display and a pile of junk mail on the counter... ahhh, home. However, let's not confuse lived-in with dirty. I recently watched an episode of Hoarders, on TLC, where a woman sleeps in a bead with her pet gerbil. Grody. 409 and Windex are our friends, but as Carter writes, "Don’t scrub the soul out of your home." Inspiration: Underground Library 09/29/2010
    It's overdue. Almost two months ago I received the mysterious book (above) in the mail. When I opened the package it had Lauren Dillon all over it. She's an old friend of mine from college and is an avid indie music fan, amazing graphic designer, and phenomenal photographer. As I delved further into the book, I discovered this handmade treasure was not of her making, but a traveling artifact she was passing on to me. The Underground Library supports independent artists/musicians/authors/filmmakers etc who are trying to make a name for themselves. The library is the anti-Facebook. Creating hardcover books, by hand, the Brooklyn based venture is making marketing something personal, limited, special and tactile. And each book is different. The book Lauren mailed to me features a band called "Kissed Her Little Sister" (one of their songs is the soundtrack to video above). The pages of the book include the words to their lyrics, fun little illustrations, and two CD's (titled: High & Low). I was skeptical that music wouldn't live up to my expectations... you know, compared to the beautiful book... but to my surprise, I've downloaded the songs and rock out to them in the Saturn regularly. Since I'm not the model passer-on-er (I'm 6 weeks past due!), and Charlotte has closed all its libraries... sign-up to get your own heirloom mystery book at the Underground Library. Book: The Pioneer Woman Cooks 05/10/2010
I lied. When I said, on Friday, that I was going to make Black Bean and Corn Salsa... well, I didn't. Not because I didn't want to, but because I waited five and a half hours to meet a woman known as "The Pioneer Woman." Five and a half hours! You might ask, "Is she the second coming? Are you her number one fan? Were you paid? There was free beer, right? She must be your idol?" Sadly, no, no, no, no, and no. The Pioneer Woman is my good friend Melissa's favorite blogger. And when Melissa caught wind that the internet sensation was on a book tour and traveling through Charlotte, well, I was guilted into tagging along. I mean, I couldn't let poor Melis wait in line all alone... for what I thought couldn't be more than 30mins. I should have known better.... Pioneer Woman's posts regularly receive thousands of comments a day, Hollywood is in the process of casting a movie based on her life, and she's made several cameos on national TV. Still, to be one of over 500 people, waiting to have a COOKBOOK signed by some lady who calls herself "THE PIONEER WOMAN" (!?) - it blew my damn mind.  So we waited, and waited, and, you guessed it: waited. Thankfully the event was held at a mall bookstore, and we were given waiting line numbers. First we played checkers in the "Kids' Korner," then read every current magazine on the shelf, and finally decided (after 4 hours) that it would be safe to leave our coveted chairs, venture out into the mall and reapply our make-up at Sephora... because we were looking pretty haggard at this point, and I insisted that a photograph be taken of this preposterous pilgrimage.  So here we are with THE Pioneer Woman incarnate. I'm one hell of a good friend. Really?: Regretsy 04/28/2010
 Etsy.com has become THE place to buy and sell handmade goods. In fact, I'm hoping to open my own Etsy shop in the near future. The crafter's marketplace has something for everyone... and I mean everyone. And although, for the most part, the site delivers beautiful one-of-a-kind handcrafted treasures, there are a few Etsy rejects. Capitalizing on this pheomenom is a new book and website called, "Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF."  I just went through the site and picked out some of my favorites, but the images alone don't always do it justice. The author/creator writes some hilarious commentary, and sorts them in ridiculous categories like: "Whimsicle Fuckery," "Annoying Descriptions," and "Not Remotely Handmade."  More Etsy Fails after the jump!
I Want: Shopping in Marrakech (Book) 04/12/2010
  I've always been attracted to Moroccan design... the rich bold colors, geometric patterns, gorgeous fabrics, and traditional old world feel... mmmmm I'm drooling on my keyboard. Since I can't afford a trip to Morocco, this book will have to suffice. It's less than $13 on Amazon; "Add to cart!"
(more drool-worthy pages after the jump) Book: The Design Entrepreneur 04/05/2010
 The Design Entrepreneur is a must have for any designer looking become a producer of goods, rather than a slave to clients. I picked this one up last week with a Borders coupon, but Amazon's got a decent deal on it too. I usually stick to magazines and fiction on flights, but my Houston-San Diego leg was much more bearable with this clever guide. The book is chalk full of case studies, resources and great advice. I want: this book (available May 11, 2010) 03/15/2010
 Via Amazon.com: This is the comprehensive guide to the rich and diverse Markets of New York City: antique and flea markets, artisan markets, farmers’ markets, seasonal markets, and more.
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