Yuimade.

Saturday was busy, but full of really great things. Trent and I had breakfast at Great Harvest and Starbucks to take advantage of his Christmas gift card, and had a walk around 9th and 9th. On the way back to our car, we passed this tiny old shop that had always been locked up but filled with loads of junk. I remember years ago peering into the dusty windows trying to see what sort of treasure was among the piles. This time as I glanced at the windows, I saw that displays had been set up, and a little old woman sat behind a makeshift counter, watching us as we walked by. I mentioned the shop to Trent, and we decided to turn around and check it out.

There really wasn't much for me, it was like a tiny garage sale inside a shop. A lot of kitschy items that you'd expect to find in a 70-something woman's house.

This was on a shelf among some un-special glassware, and an ancient yellowed sticker read 15 cents. I snatched it up, overjoyed. We didn't find anything else in the little shop, and the little old woman and her middle-aged daughter seemed so glad to have us there, so I felt even better about the purchase. I expected to be told the dish was actually higher, as 15 cents is about the tax of a two dollar purchase. Nope, she honestly wanted 15 cents for the beautiful dish. Trent pulled out a dollar and the sweet old woman reached into her handbag for change. We insisted that she keep the dollar. I told them I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if we robbed her like that. Even a dollar didn't seem enough.

It was a little ham in front of the camera. I had a plethora of images to choose from. I'm going to keep it displayed on our counter.

The camellia flower is one of the famous and unknown symbols for the House of Chanel, apart from the double intersecting C's, which I did not know until I looked them up. I think it's a perfect ambassador for Chanel.

It makes me want to plant flowers in my yard so that I can have these in my kitchen. I've read they're very fragrant, and those colors are to die for.

Brooke threw the most gorgeous birthday party for her daughter Bee. I can't believe all the great work she put into it. I'd have had a nervous breakdown trying to get everything put together like she did. Lucky four year-olds!

From here, via Joanna

Stitched diction. It makes you want to broaden your vocabulary, no? From Dictionary of Earthly Delights.

My darling boyfriend bought me this ring right before Valentines Day, and it was delivered yesterday. We weren't home at the time, so we were left an attempted delivery notice, and Trent got up early to go pick it up from the post office while I slept in. I don't know how one gets so lucky. I absolutely adore it. Thank you baby.

I gasped when I saw this house tour on Design Sponge via TeenAngster. I cannot believe someone actually lives in that beautiful home. It's the same feeling I get when I walk through Anthropologie and I try to imagine how anyone eventually accumulates the things to make a home so creative and enchanting. By the way, can you tell she's a floral designer?

Such a beautiful idea! These paintings by Jeremy Miranda are perfect. I love the colors. Found via Teenangster.

Some great looks from Urban outfitters. I think I've bought one thing from there my whole life because they're expensive and the quality of their clothes isn't phenomenal, but you can't deny that they can throw a look or two together. Truthfully, I like to look through catalogues of great retailers like Anthropologie and J-Crew (my absolute favorite) and then look for knockoffs at Forever 21 and other cheap clothing stores (shh...).

I can't justify $25 on a 8"x9" dollhouse, but I hope you can, because it's fucking adorable.

From here.

Mirroring deer. Even the currency conversion won't stop me. Snatch it up while the conversion is still low. From here, through Nestled In.

Fantastic dish from sfgirlbybay. I'm sure anyone with porcelain paints and a paint brush could do something really similar on a thrifted white dish. It's totally worth experimenting.

One of the best things I've ever found. It was inside of a really shoddy wooden frame at the downtown D.I., and I just pulled out and took it with me. I think it really is true that the best things in life are free.

Door Sixteen has a little FAQ page, and I originally went over there to find out what sort of camera she was using. I've been looking for a new camera so that I can start posting more personal photographs on my blog, which is ultimately my goal.

I ended up running into that question, and I thought it was pretty great advice. So far, my blog is none of the things that makes someone want to follow a blog, but my blog is young, and I'm still nursing it. I consider it a miracle that I even have a blog. Two years ago, it was a dream of mine, but I didn't think anything I had to say or think would interest anyone. It's still a fear of mine, but that's why I'm keeping at it- to conquer that fear.

Here is her advice for having a blog with a following:

The best advice I can give you is to be yourself. Don’t worry about what you think a blog is supposed to be like, just focus on getting out the stuff that you think is interesting. If you like it, chances are there’s someone else who does, too. Aim for quality of content over quantity of posts. Don’t apologize for liking a trend. Don’t lift content from other blogs. Include your own photographs. Let your readers have a little window into your life, not just a bunch of product photos. Make it personal.

I'm not sure where my blog will take me, but I've told Trent that my ultimate goal is to make some really great friends through this blog. If I do that, then I consider my quest a success.

While I definitely wouldn't use the word "steal" as it has very negative connotations, I am clapping my hands in agreement of this. What you love is what makes you who you are. Celebrate it, elaborate it, build upon it, but please, give credit where credit is due. Don't copy and claim it as your own. Copy it and give the artist the credit for inspiring you.

I used to think that if it had already been done, it was off limits. This kept me from creating anything because I believed people would be offended. I didn't want to be a 'copy cat'.

I actually started this blog so that I could start documenting things that inspired me and caused me to become more creative. This quote gives me a little more push to be open about what it is I want to create, even if it may be clichéd and overdone.

By Jim Jarmusch via Oh, Hello There.

Alexander Wang

More long hair inspiration to keep me motivated in my quest to grow out my hair. I love that big, loose braid. It's like you don't care, but you're still effortlessly stunning. That paired with invisible makeup completes my I-want-to-look-like-I-didn't-just-spend-an-hour-getting-ready look.

Via Joanna at Cup of Jo and here.

Red Swirl- Lines by Davis

Geometric- Lines by Davis
Elk Pillow- Lines by Davis
Red Embroidered- Branch sustainable living

It's my personal belief that great pillows can make the plainest couch look chic. Before we even had a couch, Trent and I had bought some cheap orange pillows from Pier One and I love them to death. The material is velvety soft and they're perfect for back support and taking naps. Despite their comfort, they fall short on the stylish. That's where these guys come in. The best part about them is that their affordable. Most pillows I like are beyond consideration once I see the price tag. I'm tempted to get all four.

I cannot believe how hard I fell for these coasters.

Yes... I know I already have drink coasters!

Yes... I know I need a new toothbrush and new shoes and

a living room rug and a car wash, but God, they're gorgeous.

Buy them (for me) here.

Nicole from Little Brown Pen gave some really great relationship advice over on Cup of Jo, and I thought it was too great to pass up.

Embrace imperfection.
Accept that you're both going to make mistakes, and if the mistake was not intentionally hurtful, let it go. Adjust your expectations and align them with reality (dirty towels on the floor, pre-menstrual hormone insanity), not fantasy (a pristine house, a perpetually perky disposition).

As simple as they sound, I forget those things constantly. I'm a total blog porn addict, which means I obsess over house tours and crafts and happy families and begin to wonder why my bathroom NEVER stays clean or how I don't cook as often as I'd like. I've always been a perfectionist, and poor Trent is constantly being reprimanded for doing things in a way I don't deem perfect. I constantly think that there's no way I could ever leave, because no one else could handle me. ;)

I've noticed that Trent and I almost never fight about things that are super important. We may both get stressed out, but that's when we're there for each other the most. Our fights always start over stupid misunderstandings and get really out of control. I'm trying to remember to keep a good perspective in the moment so that I can recognize when I should just shrug my shoulders or whether I should hold my ground.

Perpetual Paris Calender from Little Brown Pen's Etsy Shop.

Yesterday we ate pancakes and french toast at Ruth's Diner in the canyon where it snowed wet flakes all over us and made me wish I had worn my coat. Afterward I got a long overdue haircut at Ulysses, a salon I have never been to located in an alleyway next to Decades Vintage and up some rickety stairs into a converted loft and decorated with restored vintage pieces and Ikea. After that, a Valentines Day present for Trent, and a blue sweater for me. Dinner at Squatters where we drank a crazily potent beer with his steak and my pizza.

Today we are lazily lounging around the couch, eating leftovers and being lovers.

Happy Valentines Day, baby.

In the spirit of Valentines Day, I found a heart shaped object that I love. Trent and I need a doormat, and I think this could pass off every other day of the year as well.

Via Shiny Squirrel and found here.

I can't get over how fantastic these bathroom tiles are. I love the simplicity of the pattern and those spring-like colors. It looks like floor jewelry.

A wall color or paper pattern would have overwhelmed that small space, but a great subtle tile? It fits right in.

Nellie's Apartment Therapy House Tour via Fee Amore.

Went bowling tonight with friends at a hidden alley just blocks from where we live. I was so unsure when our friend Shawn gave us the address, because everywhere you looked were warehouses and industrial equipment, but then tucked away was a seedy bowling alley with a parking lot filled to the brim. There was a 45 minute wait, which baffled my mind, but it was all worth it when we got to bowl 3 games each for $9 plus shoes. I bowled terribly, but it was a blast.

That and Mexican food made it the best night ever.

I know it's crazy to want $40 wooden toys, especially because I do not have children and will likely not have any for a good long while... But still.

Couldn't I just pretend it's a small, expensive toy savings account for the potential children I may have some day and then in the meantime, I'll display them on a shelf.

I can do that, right?

Found via Elephantine.

Cinder block necklace here, via loveitalot.

I realize this makes me a bit of a freak, but I could not look away when I saw these glass eye prosthetics at blogblogblog's Etsy shop. I immediately googled it and searched for them in eBay. Surprisingly, there are A LOT of bids going, and they aren't cheap either. There's something so eerie and mysterious about eyes that are not attached to a face.

I told Trent about it and he told me that his Grandfather lost his eye in a bar fight when he was younger, and had a whole box of them before he died. With any luck, Trent's grandmother still has that box of eyeballs.

Flickr Favorites

1. _MG_5926, 2. January Challenge, 3. pine with ice, 4. Untitled

James Jean

A friend of mine linked me James Jean's work today, and I was blown away. It took me a few minutes to realize that his work looked familiar. He did the cover illustrations for the comic book series Fables. I seriously can't get over the talent involved. Plus, how cool is his name?