Kelly Green Envy

I've been wanting a men's watch for a while now and I just came across this gorgeous vintage Rolex on 1st Dibs. I love the kelly green face and the tailored lines. It's simple, classic and perfect.

Love Lonny

The new issue of Lonny is online - I love it! I wish it were in print so I can curl up in my backyard with a lemonade and read it in the sunshine...

Community Gardening

Last Friday our company closed it's doors so the employees could head out into the community and volunteer. My group went to the Hayes Valley Farm, a community garden built on the former 101 on/off ramp. We learned how to create dirt out of old cardboard boxes and horse manure, grow potatoes in a cylinder made of chicken wire and painted signs to display around the garden. I was inspired to start my own mini-food garden so hopefully we'll start that in the near future!

Love Notes

wall decal by Shanna Murray

I love these wall decals that I came across on Design*Sponge. I'm planning to paint a chalkboard wall in my kitchen one of these days and this would be the perfect message for my hubby to see every day.

Club Monaco

Since I moved to the Bay Area I seem to always forget about Club Monaco. It was my go-to staple when I was in Toronto (it's hometown) and somehow I never make it over there any more. I just saw their Fall 2010 lookbook on refinery29 and I'm reminded why I used to love it so. Simple and classic, yet fashion forward and inspiring. I must go shopping!

Photo by Garance Dore in the Fall 2010 Club Monaco Lookbook

Sunday Jewels

Today the hubby and I took advantage of the gorgeous weather and cruised up to Yountville with the top down in the Mini Cooper. We met up with our friend Kirsten Muenster to enjoy a fabulous trunk show for her new line of jewelry. I had a hard time choosing a favorite as I could have easily gone home with every piece she creates - from the incredible rings to the amazingpendents to the handsome cufflinks - I seriously want it all.

The show was held at Ma(i)sonry in Yountville which is a wonderful space filled with art, antiques and curiosities. We sat in the garden under a canopy of trees at a huge fallen wood table with good wine and old and new friends - it was a splendid way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Coachella

We just got back from an incredible adventure in Palm Springs & Indio, CA at the Coachella Music Festival. I'm not a festival person per se but Coachella was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. So much music! Spectacular scenery! Gorgeous people! Happy people! It was amazing.

We found a ton of new music that we've had on heavy rotation since we got back. Currently playing on repeat? Miike Snow's Sylvia. So good!

a day in the bay

puppy

ferry building

divisidero

golden gate

marin

rodeo beach sunset

Liberty of London

We had a gorgeous day bike riding in Sonoma and on the way home I convinced my hubby to stop at Target so I could check out the Liberty of London launch. I had seen that my local Target was almost sold out so we ventured to one near Sonoma which turned out to be the smart thing to do! I picked up some adorable dresses and a top for our upcoming trip to Mexico. Love!

I got this pink ruffle halter dress and this blue smocked top maxi dress. Both will be perfect for sipping margharita's by the ocean.

Light Me Up

Spotted on Design is Mine

I've been looking for a new light fixture for my front hallway because the one that is currently there is a bit traditional for my taste. I think this one would look really pretty.

"It look like she is wearing someone’s sheet."

I love the Oscars. Thank you Famecrawler for this hilarious post.

Image from Famecrawler.com

Bonjour Coco

My lips are naturally very red and so I find myself rarely wearing lipstick as the color never looks the same in the tube as it does on my lips. I've been obsessing lately however, over the new Chanel Coco Rouge lipstick ad campaign starring Vanessa Paradis.

image from Stylefrizz.com

She is the perfect Chanel woman in my mind and the image of her singing from her perch in a giant birdcage from their 1992 campaign is forever ingrained in my mind.

I think I'm due for a new look and some bright, gorgeous lipstick just might do the trick. A stop at the Chanel counter sounds like a good plan for tomorrow.

Perfect Mornings

Recently I've stopped drinking coffee and eating most pastries (I guess I overdid it in Paris?). I needed a little pick-me-up this morning however and I decided to head to my favorite new hang-out, the Woodlands Cafe. It's heaven. It really is. I tried the blueberry scone which was fresh out of the oven and it didn't disappoint. Happy Friday!

I ♥ Macarons

Today's Wall St. Journal had an article on the rising popularity of macarons and it featured the new Chronicle Book, I ♥ Macarons.


I love when they are a little bit dense and slightly chewy and not too airy or creamy. On a recent trip to Paris, I am proud to say that I visited Laduree daily and it didn't disappoint. The quaint little green jewel of a store was like something out of a highly stylized movie and I loved it. Each box was carefully packed with all the colors of the rainbow and they would bring me an unexplained feeling of joy. Now, if only they'd open in San Francisco...

I Wish I Had Dinner Parties

I've never been the person who hosted fabulous dinner parties - but I'm going to be. To help facilitate that New Year's Resolution though I need a new dining room table and chairs. I've been looking for a round table that could fit 6 people and I think I've finally found it at Z Gallerie of all places. Introducing the Harper table
and the Lola Side Chair in Pewter. You like?

Happy Birthday Weekend

Last month we celebrated my hubby's 35th birthday with a ski trip to Lake Tahoe and then a secret getaway to Calistoga - we called this combo the Ski n' Soak. One day you're swooshing down the slopes, the next you are floating in a natural hot springs pool. Ahhh... California.

It's Fall! It's Fall!

I get so excited when the leaves start to rustle and fall from the trees, the light turns a golden yellow and the days are warmer (at least in San Francisco!). I just want to run around and play! I think Rufus agrees.

Last Minute Holiday Gift

Happy Holidays everyone! Even though Christmas has now come and gone, I'm sure some of you will still be visiting friends and family in the next few days and need something to bring as a gift. This was my favorite treat to give my co-workers and neighbors this year and it takes less than 10 minutes to make.

ToastnCandy's Easy Holiday Bark

1. Get a bag of 60% cocoa dark chocolate & a prepackaged bag of fruit & nuts from Trader Joe's. I used a mix of almonds, pistachios and dried cherries but you can use whatever you like.


2. Boil a pot of water.

3. Place the chocolate chips inside a mug and set inside the pot of boiling water.


4. Stir the chocolate until it is melted.

5. Pour the chocolate onto a tin foil-lined baking sheet and spread it out so it's even.

6. Sprinkle your nut mixture on top.

7. Let sit overnight to harden.

8. Package in pretty bags, tie it with a bow and voila! Easy (and yummy!) holiday gift.

Pretty Stationery

I'm so pleased with my new personalized stationery (a gift from my hubby for our 5 year wedding anniversary!) that I had to share. It's from the lovely ladies at HelloLucky! here in San Francisco. If you live in the city, definitely stop by their offices on Howard St. & 6th to say "hello", you won't be disappointed.

Tree Jewelry

What a happy thing to find on a Friday! I'm not sure why, but I just love this TREE JEWELRY. Can't you picture it gleaming in your backyard on a hot sunny day?

The view on my morning bike ride

Mmmmm... Poutine.

On the road

Greetings from Philadelphia! We're heading to Ottawa to see my family
for a few days and we're enjoying a relaxing layover in Philly. Here's
my hubby chillin' in a rocker - the airport is full of them.

The 80s in Canada at it's best

Springtime munchies

My kitty doesn't like anything except chicken. Max Cat Roasted Chicken
to be exact. So when I brought home a little pot of kitty grass the
other day, I thought it was the next to find itself snubbed by Miss
Misa. To my surprise, this kitty grass has had magical effects on my
cat. She lazily lounges beside it, gazing at the fresh green pot as if
she were madly in love. Now that's one happy cat!

iPhone test

A friend just taught me how to post from my iPhone!

Ode to Yellow Shoes

This fall when I went to Barcelona I had visions of finding some beautiful yellow heels. I searched high and low and even dragged my hubby clear to the other side of town to a little shop rumored to have designer shoes at bargain prices. Alas, they did have designer shoes and the prices were just north of bargain but they were a little too er... European for me. Zippers. Odd colors and high heeled boots made of plastic and mesh. Sigh...

I just received a mailer from the clever people at Piperlime for 20% off my next purchase. Egad! These are the shoes from my visions! Maybe my hubby will find them a suitable Valentines gift?

Winter Wonderland

I'm a little tardy in posting this photo but it's one of my favorites from the holiday season. My hubby and I decided to take a walk one night up Fillmore and we came across this...
Oh snowy Marc Jacobs goodness! Not only did the window have the largest swan boat I had ever seen but a snow prince and princess were on hand for photo ops. They seemed less than enthused by the time we got there (it was almost closing) so I didn't get a shot but thought this photo was beautiful nonetheless.

Oatmeal Cookies

The chilly weather has made me crave some good old fashioned oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

I was searching for a recipe online and I found out that January is National Oatmeal Month! What a perfect way to start off the new year.

It's not my birthday, but...

Every morning when I get ready I think to myself how much I love my new sparkly eyeshadow from Benefit. Not only does it come in this gorgeous glass package and have the nicest feel when you twist the top, it lasts all day and doesn't crease one bit. It comes in a glorious array of colors but my favorite one for everyday is called, Birthday Suit.

This n That

I've been busy. Really. I have. I've been travelling, hanging out with friends, reading good books and trashy magazines, hiking, playing and enjoying life. It's a foggy chilly day here in SF and it's perfect weather to curl up with a good book and cup of hot chocolate. Mmmmm.... I'm also dog sitting right now. A little 4 lb Yorkie/Maltese mix named Shayla and boy is she cute. My kitty isn't sure what to make of her but at least she's come out of hiding in the depths of our dust-bunny filled closet. Poor girl.

Food and Fitness

Last night we ventured down to the Mission to try out the new restaurant Spork. Located in an old KFC, the only thing that's reminiscent of the "dirty bird" is the original KFC sign over the kitchen door. It's chic, yet casual. Elegant, yet homey. If you haven't tried it, it's a "must". If you decide to go, let me know and I'll tag along. The hubby had the "inside out burger" and "smashed fries" and I went for a ligher dish of pasta, zucchini and pesto called "Between the Sheets". Yum.

Because all I've been doing for the past 4 weeks or so is stuffing myself with food and wine, I've decided to enroll in another session of Boot Camp. 3 days a week. 5:30am.

Vintage Chanel

My hubby and I spent a relaxing 4th of July going for a hike over in Marin and enjoyed the 95+ degree weather! On the way up there, we passed a horse farm that was having a 4th of July parade and flea market. We slowly moved our way through the tables of junk and finally came across a treasure. A vintage Chanel purse complete with gold chain strap.





The leather inside the gold chain is a bit frayed and needs to be replaced but the nice man gave me a special deal and I got him down from $150 (which was still a steal!) to $45!!!!!

Paris Je T'aime

The first Thursday of every month, the lovely Nancy has organized a fabulous girls night for some of her fabulous friends (including moi!). Sometimes we go to museums, other times we just eat and sometimes we go see films. This past Thursday Nancy had the great idea of going to see Paris Je T'aime at the Clay theater. Unfortunately Nancy got called away at the last minute for work but Camilla, Meghan and I still enjoyed a little piece of France. A collection of 18 short vignettes that take place across various neighborhoods in Paris transport you into the lives of these interesting and unusual people. Some ordinary, some extraordinary, all searching for love. My favorite was the one written by Gus Van Sant and featuring Natalie Portman as a struggling actress and her blind boyfriend.

It was sort of like a music video with urban beats pulsing in the background and images sped up to illustrate passing time. Maybe it's because I love Natalie Portman, but her deranged but sweet story left me wanting more from this particular couple.
If you need to transport yourself to another world for an evening, check out Paris Je T'aime.

Relaxed in Canada

My darling friend Nancy just posted this on her site and so I thought I would give it a whirl. I've been terrible at posting, emailing and generally keeping in touch with people lately so maybe some silly info about me will keep you updated on all things me. Here goes:

48 Things You Could Care Less About
1. FIRST NAME? Nancy

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? There was a teenager in my tiny town that my parents liked and I think I'm named after her.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? On the plane flying up to Canada. I watched that Jennifer Garner movie where her fiance dies and she falls in love with his best friend. Skip it. So depressing!

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes. I often get compliments on it and even won a few penmanship awards in 1st grade!

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? "favorite" and "lunchmeat" don't belong in the same sentence. If I must, turkey isn't half bad. I also like ham when it's baked in a Croque Monsieur. Mmmmm....

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I think so.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? No. I've tried several times but never stick with it.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yup.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Absolutely not. I'm pretty chicken.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Definitely Mini Wheats with the white frosting.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No, I usually fling them off before falling back on my bed after Boot Camp!

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I could definitely be stronger. Both physically and emotionally.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Haagen Daas Cookie Dough and I like plain chocolate too.

14. SHOE SIZE? My favorite number, 9!

5. RED OR PINK? Do you even have to ask? PINK!

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? You can see some veins on my chest and I get tired really easily.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? At the moment, my hubby (I'm in Canada and he's home) but usually my family and my best friends.

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Jeans, a purple t-shirt and a black cardigan.

19. LAST THING YOU ATE? Ketchup chips and a Tim Horton's coffee. Hey, I'm in Canada!

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The clicking of the keys on the keyboard - it's quiet in Iroquois!

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Magenta.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? My hubby, lilacs and jasmine.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Ryan

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? They like to act silly and not take themselves too seriously and have lots of hobbies (probably 'cause I don't have many and I'm always interested to hear what other people are up to).

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? She's one of my faves!

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Coffee. Anything fruity.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? I love horseback riding.

29. EYE COLOR? Hazel-y brown.

30. HAT SIZE? 7? Is that a size? Medium.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No. I once bought cheap colored contacts in both blue and green and I could hardly see through them. I looked terrible. What was I thinking? Must have been all the Sun-In....

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Dr. Praegers Veggie Burgers from Trader Joe's, the ravioli at Chez Maman, the filet mignon at Joe DiMaggios (seriously!) and toast with peanut butter, of course!

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Definitely happy.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer. But winter at Lake Tahoe is pretty magical too.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate Souffle.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Ummmmm....

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Ummmmm....

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Little Children by Tom Perrotta. Just finished The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells which was amazing!

41. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE? My hand?

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Nothing. Just read.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The ocean.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME? Paris. I'm going to Spain and Greece this fall, that'll be pretty far.

46. WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? If I rub my hands together quickly they make a "farting" noise. I wouldn't really call it "special" or a "talent" but it's unique nonetheless.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Winchester, Ontario. Very small little town.

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? No one. I stole it from Nancy!

I'm heading to NYC tomorrow so hopefully I'll have things to share.

Save the World

Funny. When I was in highschool all the hippie chicks had their lockers in one hallway and they would sit there in their long flowing floral skirts french braiding eachothers hair. They all looked the same and they all wore Birkenstock's, or "Save the World" shoes as my BF and I liked to call them. So, it surprises me to no end that I just spent the past half hour scouring the internet for a pair of Birkenstock Gizeh sandals in black patent leather. I guess I always was one to get caught up in trends and all things environmental are indeed "trendy" right now so I guess I'll just have to strap these on and start to "Save the World" one step at a time.



I first spotted this style when I was in Vancouver last week (natch) and I was tempted but decided to wait until I got back home. My google search brought up the black patent ones and I was hooked. I had to have them. It made it worse when every website seemed to be sold out of this color and then I really had to have them. Were they suddenly going to appear on the pages of every fashion magazine? Was I going to be left in the dust while everyone was walking past me with these cute and stylish Birks? I'm really not digging this patent leather craze (too 80's) but there is something about the combination of hippie & chic that is so unexpected, it works. Hooray for Birkenstocks!

5;30am

I really don't know what possessed me but I just signed myself up for Boot Camp. At 5:30am. 3 days a week. For a month. I sure as heck hope I look like GI Jane when I'm done or I'm not going to be a happy camper.

Pink Me Up at Nine

I've been fighting a nasty cold for the past week so I haven't felt much like blogging - or chatting to anyone really. I've been busy at work but not that busy at home which is kind of nice for a change (the not busy at home part, I'm always busy at work!). I'm still getting used to my new commute which varies each day but is taking up to an hour at times. I kind of like my new route where I get to take the Muni along the Embarcadero. It's not a bad way to start the day, looking out over the bay and watching the boats drift by.

This weekend was fairly uneventful. We met some friends for breakfast and a small hike on Saturday and then my hubby and I explored some lofts in my new work neighborhood. I'm absolutely in LOVE with the old Oriental Trading Co. loft building and I'll be watching it like a hawk for the next available unit.



We took a VERY luxurious nap Saturday afternoon which is a treat for me - for some reason I get really excited on the weekends and I can't lay down for fear that I'll miss out on something. Odd. I know.

Anway, I topped off my weekend with a delightful mani-pedi at my local fave, Hand Touch Nail Salon on Chestnut. It's only $20 for both a mani AND a pedi and the adorable shop owners daughter (she's 4) helps to pick out your colors if you can't decide. This one is her favorite. Hot Pink.

Beads

Last night I headed over to Oakland with my friend to check out the Bead Expo. She was invited as a member of the press and I tagged along for the ride and to pick up some beads at wholesale prices. I've been wanting to learn to create beautfiful baubles for quite some time but after taking a bracelet making class and spending over $80 on the supplies alone, I figured that buying would be better than making. Alas, I am itching to be crafty (given that I'm surrounded by crafting divas) and am determined to find something I can really get into. I've attempted a pillow (which I think turned out quite nicely), crochet (with a little help, I made a flower and now am stuck on my clutch) and now I'm turning to beads. Here are some shots of the pretty beads I picked up nestled in the darling little Nigella Lawson measuring cups given to me by my friend last month.