etc.: yes i do listen to ben harper

guess i'm still in the father's day mood because i really can't help but reblog this incredible flow chart!  music has been a constant love throughout my life and i owe pretty much all of that to my father.  his love of pretty much every genre of music (but mostly classic rock) was passed on to me, and although i'll never understand ke$ha or justin beiber, i love that i was the middle schooler with music by nirvana, bob marley, and the clash all proudly displayed in my room.  maybe it wasn't "cool" at the time, but i thankfully missed out on some absolutely terrible pop music.  thank you daddy :)

but i digress...back to the flow chart!  now i couldn't get it to show up here large enough for anyone to read it without a microscope, so i encourage you to go over to the sonos blog HERE to check it out, find the result, then come back here & let me know if it was accurate!  a lot of work for a monday, i know - but seriously, you should do it :)

*discovered on habitually chic

oh, and in honor of my results, i'd like to share a two songs by BH ~

 the "kait" song :

 "but if the sun sets you free, sets you free/ you'll be free indeed, indeed"

[full lyrics]

and this one here is probably the most romantic song ever :

side note: i once had a boyfriend who would sing this to me.  even though our "forever" didn't last, i still can close my eyes, hear his voice, and break out in a great big smile.  [read the full lyrics]

side note #2: once out with some friends, my country-lovin' date [different man] let me pick a song on the jukebox, knowing it would likely be something he'd hate.  i chose "steal my kisses" by ben haper.  he laughed because as suspected, he does not like that song, but then he danced with me, right there in a sports bar certainly not known for dancing.  tres romantique.  well, for me -- little things like that are my idea of romance.

side note #3: now that i think of it, i have known some pretty sweet men :)

then again, as ben harper said,  

"it takes a hundred miles of love to heal a mile of pain"

friday faves: 6.3.11

can you believe it's june already?!  i sure can't...  june.  june as in beginning-of-summer, june as in no-more-work-on-weekends, june as in china.  yup, the time has come - i'm off to fly across the world the day after tomorrow.  hong kong, here i come!  it will be quite the experience and i will be sure to fill you in.  until then i will just have to try and calm my nerves and prepare myself for whatever china feels like throwing my way!

and until then, i will share with you a few tidbits found and bookmarked this past week ~

design/decor

~ books, books, books ~

i simply adore this little reading nook - a.d.o.r.e., adore.  love the plush cushion, the symmetry, and of course - the wall of books!  ohhh yes, adore.  my (future) child shall have his/her own little reading nook just like this one day.

from house beautiful, via shelter by julie richard ~ head on over to see more book-filled spaces

fashion

~ summery dresses from anthropologie ~

want.  and more.

etc.

~ a motorcycle ride ~

i like to try new things often but i am also a big fat worrywart so that can create some problems.  and i have always been scared of motorcycles.  let's just chalk it up to the time spent teaching first aid and watching scary videos.  but i'm proud to say that as of monday i can cross riding motorcycles off my bucket list.  and what's better...i loved it!  i guess i'm a bit like a dog - i loved the feeling of the wind against my face as we rode!  the best part was going through the country, just being surrounded by lush green everything.  oh, and it was a huge harley so that's even better!  can't wait to go again :)

[picture above is of the louis vuitton motorcycle.  oh yes, it exists]

giveaways

~ shopbop giveaways ~

{if i won, i would get this watercolor dress by free people}
lucky lucky time for us - there's not one but two $100 shopbop giveaways going on right now!  one is at the zhush [ends this sunday], and another on miles of styles [ends june 9]

link love

~ some seriously beautiful lace dresses [lovely happenings]
~ joffrey ballet in action.  pure beauty. [a spot of whimsy]
~ julianne moore's fabulous nyc apartment [design addict mom]
~ mirrors, mirrors - everywhere mirrors! [miles of style]
~ porch swings & pillows [6th street design school]

one last pretty thought . . . 

wednesday night my friend (actually, he's my high school boyfriend believe it or not!) and i went to the little lake in my neighborhood and just sat and watched the stars over the water.  i've been under massive amounts of stress lately - "lately" as in the past 6 months, and this is one of my all-time favorite activities.  we just sat and talked and laughed.  but the best part of it all was the new bon iver album that we listened to all night.  if you haven't just sat and closed your eyes and listened to bon iver while the rest of the world is silent, then you're really missing out.
and if you haven't heard bon iver at all before, then it's time to fix that!
let's start with calgary, off of the newest album --

have a lovely week!

friday faves: 5.27.11

friday faves... on sunday.   sorry!

it's ben a crazy week and i still have a  crazy week ahead of me - my store officially closes for the season today, then it's off to h'are for a speedy 2.5 day vacay, then back home to do a ton of prep work for the big trip to china.  this past week has been a lot of tying up loose ends and shockingly not very stressful.  i think i'm finally learning to leave my work at work and relax when off the clock.  well, at least a little.  i really hope that i can carry over this less-stressful mind state to the next two weeks, as i am very worried i will get overwhelmed with the pressure.  so for now, i'll just focus on the beautiful and inspiring and calming.  here are just a few ~

design/decor

~ a bright & relaxing bedroom ~

i'm really just drawn to this space -  i love the big window, the built-in shelving, the colors and print-mixing, and mostly the huge huge bed piled up with pillows.  my own bed may have a massive pillow mound, but it is currently broken so i am sleeping on an angle.  but this bed?  this bed is glorious.
moral of the story: i want to live here.

from house beautiful, march 2008 [via housebeautiful.com]

fashion/shoes

~ bright coral shoes ~

i own these.  and they are magical.  i put them on and somehow feel happier, prettier, sassier.  

[from white house black market, of course]

etc.

~ california dreaming ~

huntington beach, CA ~ summer of 2008

ohhh california, how i love thee... whenever i get stressed i find myself looking through old pictures of mine from california summers and i instantly calm.  i think it's about time i return...

[photo taken by me while suntanning]

~ this song ~

listen & love.

{i was made for sunny days}

a personal post: photo challenge - 13

Day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist

 florence welch, a.k.a. florence + the machine

maybe not "of all time," but certainly as of late.  especially as of tonight.  see, i've been at work all day and into the evening.  the only thing that kept me going (until nearly 11PM!!) was the soulful voice of florence welch.  every-single-song on lungs is a masterpiece.  i first fell in love with "kiss with a fist" but ever since i - almost immediately! - went out and got the full album, i have been unable to pick a favorite.

tonight, "the drumming song" was played most often.  it just boosted me through the fatigue and pain (if you've ever merchandised a store of over 5,000 square feet, you understand the physical pain it produces) unlike anything else could have.

  

{not to mention florence welch has about THE BEST fashion taste of any other artist!  i desperately want to see her live - when you watch videos of her singing she moves around and her voice in combo with the movement in combo with the couture makes for a simply unforgettable performance.  if she could be that good in a youtube video, imagine the experience of seeing her LIVE!}

*all images from red carpet fashion awards*

link love: 12.4.10

note: i've decided to include pictures of [the majority of] the links i post.
just thought it would be nice :)

decor/design

this slipcover = the epitome of winter-cozy. [from the etsy shop BiscuitScout; first found here]

ridiculously cool sparkly holiday decor inside urban outfitters stores

 even though it's a bit overwhelming to have [my idol] audrey's face this large in your home,
i kinda love it.

the home of michele and patrick of Elephant Props [via]

 i think i need this mirror [from here, via]

fashion

even though i'm more in the dianna agron camp, 
i actually really really like this look on lea michele [esp. the nude pumps]

an ode to mila kunis as of late 

loved the classy-sexy louis vuitton fall 2010 on the runway [& especially in the ad campaign],
love rebecca hall [via]

 WOW do i want these shoes by kate spade.  of course.... [via] 


photography

my obsession with marilyn continues. [from weheartit, found here]

random

love this beer diagram.  although it can be a bit overwhelming.

i totally could have written this same thank you note!

one of my fave scenes from one of my fave movies with one of my fave actresses.  l

ove this pic! 

kristyna at the owl diary explores the meaning of starbucks.
head over for some drool-worthy images.

so true. so, sooo true. [via]

okay i'm off.

reblog: music monday: almost lover

i just had to share this post over at the runaway romantique - it is one of my favorite songs & the sweet blogger posted not only the music video, but also some beautiful pictures of its singer, alison sudol [aka A Fine Frenzy].  my fave image:

this song has soo much meaning to me - i can't even put it into words.  it is more than just reminiscent of my past almost lovers, but also a shared song with my ginger best friend/soulmate whom i miss dearly.  & as much as i love alison sudol, i can still close my eyes & hear my bestie singing this song & playing the soft notes on her piano & then we sit in silence & hold hands & cry.  [ohh i miss her so]

& my fave line:

So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do...

as the dear runaway romantique puts it, "this song is the nostalgia of wounds that eventually heal and leave a bittersweet scar in its place."

sooo true. 

visit & listen & enjoy.

i want: renegade art fair - spike press

store #2 from the renegade art fair back in september is another design co. with super cool concert posters -- spike press.  they have some of the neatest typography i've seen in a long time.  mixed with beautiful colors.  & for awesome bands.  yup, i was a big fan of spike press.  here are some personal faves:

here's the awesomely bright & fun la roux poster i bought, which is now prominently displayed in my room:

see tons more killer posters here

i want: renegade art fair - vahalla studios

so maybe i'm months behind, but it's better late than never, right?!  back in september, when i spent two full days in complete ecstasy at the renegade craft fair in chicago [which actually took place a 10 min walk away from my apt -- score!], i wanted to highlight some of my fave vendors.  but then life took over & i didn't have the time.  & then i forgot.  anyways, i was cleaning up my room today and came across my map from the event & decided it's not too late to share some of my faves.

the first i'd like to highlight is vahalla studios - a design company that makes killer concert posters, all of which would look beautiful framed in a fun & funky home.  here's my selection of wants, based on both fave designs & fave bands ~

and my #1 fave, the one i desperately wanted to buy when at the fair:

not only do i love feist, but the colors in this poster would fit perfectly in my room.  sooo cool.

you can buy all of these posters & more here.  they also have a pretty cool blog.

pretty pictures: aldo's fun ad campaign

jessica stam for aldo

fall/winter 2010

and the one i get to see posted all over chicago:

soo jessica stam is pretty awesome... & so are these fun aldo ads!

more prettiness:

jessica stam & matt gordon rocking out

jessica stam's incredible circus photoshoot

photos via diary of a young designer