resolutions

After a crazy year of music making, studying and lots of new friends and adventures, I am resolving to not be a delinquent blogger in 2011. Thanks for sticking around. xo

Image via We Heart It

artisanal la round-up

I'm a little tardy in posting this, but just couldn't let it pass by unacknowledged. After picking up all sorts of gifts and goodies at Unique, my fellow foodie friend Sherri and I made our way down the block to Artisanal LA's Holiday Pop Up Shop. Focused on boutique edibles, we happily sampled our way through the vendors.

Crust by Stephanie Jayne was a definite standout with killer apples pies and a divine Fleur de Sel Caramel Tart (pictured). As Stephanie and I said to each other in unison: pie is the new cupcake.

I also picked up some habanero and champagne garlic mustards by SoNo Trading Co and yummy preserved figs from Cottage Industry.

But my absolute favorite had to be the savory deliciousness being sampled by Cast Iron Gourmet. Two words for you: Bacon Chutney. Served up with pimento cheese, it was heaven on a cracker. I was devastated that they had run out before I had the chance to snap some up. But if you're in LA on Saturday, ease yourself into 2011 by popping by the Eagle Rock Brewery and picking up some bacon goodness.

Photo via The Huffington Post

black swan

Darren Aronosky's Black Swan was amazing as much as it terrified and unnerved me. I had a tough time looking in mirrors the night after I watched it. The British Design Studio LaBoca created four alternate key art looks inspired by Polish and Czech posters from the 60's and 70's. Aren't they striking? The first one is very A Clockwork Orange to me. See them all here.

Images by LaBoca via Jezebel

i learned the hard way

I have just been introduced to the warm soul style that is Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings. Their new album was a Christmas gift from my cousin Steve who's been helping cultivate my musical taste since introducing me to REM's Out of Time in 4th grade. I love it for a swinging New Year's Eve party.

marooned

Along with many many others I am at the mercy of the snow and airport and therefore will be in Connecticut four days longer than planned. Safe travels to all those out there.

Image via Kaleidoscope Eyes

signed sealed delivered

Kate Spade is the master of creating beautiful and stylish designs with just the right touch of whimsy. So I couldn't help snapping these up to use as my holiday cards this year. The perfect sentiment for the season.

PS Find loads of cute things in her Things We Love section of her site

sweetness follows

Willard: People think she's a hellraiser.

Ren: Is she?
Willard: I think she's been kissed a lot.

Footloose

I'm loving this sweet blog about love and men and women.

Images and quote by Kissssing found via A Cup of Jo

snowed in

I made my way east to spend Christmas in Connecticut with my family. And now we're bracing ourselves for the first big snowstorm of the season. I plan on passing the time with a good book, cookies and board games.

Image via We Heart It

pearl jam morning

"He who forgets will be destined to remember."

Need some advice?

I'm so excited to report that my dear friend Jaime's book Prudent Advice is finally here! I've mentioned it before, but it is such a sweet, thoughtful and smart collection of lessons for moms and daughters everywhere. If you're in LA, come on down to the launch party at The Little Seed on Friday. You can RSVP to jaime@prudentbaby.com. So proud of you J!

falling slowly

Missing New England this time of year.

Image via We Heart It

turn it up

A friend posted Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons on Facebook and now I can't stop listening to it. I recommend you crank this one up real loud. You won't be disappointed.

back to school

I'm going back to school this fall to get my MBA. I have to say, I am loving being back in the classroom. First test today, wish me luck!

thanks for that

I was just reunited with this site that I love called thxthxthx. It's a thank you note a day. Some big, some small. This one seemed appropriate to me as I ponder having people over for dinner this weekend.

Image by Leah Dieterich

god willin' & the creek don't rise

Off to see Ray LaMontagne at the Greek Theater tonight. One of my favorite artists in one of my favorite venues. If you haven't heard the new album yet, get started with the tune below.

mad men

God I love this show. And this week's episode made me cry, closed out by the perfectly melancholy Simon and Garfunkel.

Image via AMC

repeat

As my dear friend Jaime says, "Sometimes you need to listen to the same song over and over." For me right now it's this. I just can't get enough of it.

eastbound and up

After a crazy and tiring (yet exhilarating) week, I escaped to my family's home in Clinton, CT for the long weekend. Earl's bark was bigger than his bite and the weather was absolutely beautiful. I got to spend my needed time with family and friends and meet my cousin's new munchkin. I also managed to eat my way across all of the Connecticut shoreline. Lobster rolls at Lobster Landing (above) were definitely the standout.

philosophically speaking

Plato, Nietzche...Dylan. A friend sent me this site and I can't decide which is my favorite. You can find them all and buy posters here.

Images by Music Philosophy

taking a breather

Sorry for the radio silence. I had been taking a bit of a break after some traveling, but I'm back in action!

Image via ffffound

musical mentors

After seeing this amazing show at the Bowl, I went on the hunt for The Swell Season's cover of Into The Mystic and discovered Before The Goldrush. It's an incredible album of covers by current and emerging artists paying homage to some of the best songwriters of the sixties and seventies. Celebrating the powers of mentors, all proceeds from the album benefit Teach For America. What a lovely idea.

vacation: all i ever wanted

Leaving on a jet plane tonight for 9 fantastic days in London and Marrakech. Tales and photos from the journey to come.

Image via We Heart It

had to have it

I simply could not leave yesterday's Renegade Craft Fair without buying this sweet cross stitch piece made just that morning by Kimberly Scola. I love it so much.

overnight

I have such a hankering to go camping. This urge overcomes me every summer and I'm sad to say I haven't been in years. Not since I packed up and moved across the country to LA, sleeping in tents in Oklahoma, Arizona and who knows where else. I want to get out there under the stars with good friends and that incredible campfire smell. Oh and the s'mores! Oh the s'mores.

Image via ffffound.

the scoop

Yesterday was national ice cream day and though I'm sad to say I didn't have any (I plan to remedy that here next weekend), this seemed like the perfect time to reflect on my most favorite treat. Some of the best:

Molly Moon's in Seattle has the best salted caramel I've had and J.P. Licks in Boston kept me happy in college with a killer mint chocolate chip.

Back here in LA, Scoops does a brown bread ice cream that may sound weird, but I promise you is worth taking a chance on and Milk on Beverly is the sundae mecca.

Now go and get thee to a creamery!

PS does gelato count? It should, because the goat's milk gelato from Bulgarini is ridiculously delicious.

the parting glass

I went to the Hollywood Bowl tonight to see The Swell Season and was blown away. I was first introduced to them when I was given the DVD of "Once" by someone who told me it made them think of me. After an an intense passionate set, including a beautiful cover of "Into The Mystic", they ended their show by singing this lovely old Irish song. Good night and joy be with you all.

The Parting Glass

Of all the money e'er I had,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm I've ever done,
Alas! it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit
To mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,
They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had,
They'd wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all.

If I had money enough to spend,
And leisure time to sit awhile,
There is a fair maid in this town,
That sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,
I own she has my heart in thrall,
Then fill to me the parting glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.

better late than never

Finally it's getting hot and feeling like summer here in LA. This year our June gloom lasted well in July. I'm already dreaming of the weekend and some hot fun in the summertime.

Image via We Heart It

sailing away

Or rather speedboating away. Off to spend a day on the open water. Happy day off!

Image via ffffound

happy 4th of july

Image via Image Spark

long weekend

Image via sfgirlbybay

catalog living

This blog chronicling the lives of the people that live in our catalogs made me laugh out loud more than once. Is it wrong that I completely recognize most of these rooms?

Everything in its place…

Hi Nancy, it’s Elaine. I’m going to be a little late for lunch. I can’t find my hat or my back-up hat.

This gem and so many more at Catalog Living

beach reading

This summer I'm attempting to trade trashy beach reading for some classics that I've never had the time to get to. I say attempting because I am sure the chick lit will sneak it's way in at some point. But until then, two of my favorites pictured here: Tom Wolfe and Kurt Vonnegut.

Image via Nerd Boyfriend

double down

Off to Las Vegas for the weekend. Soundtrack of the moment

easy breezy

It's officially sleeping with the windows open weather here in LA. And the air smells like summer.

Image via We Heart It

rhonda got a raw deal

Now let it be known that I could not be a bigger fan of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. The complexity of their harmonies is unmatched and don't even get me started on Good Vibrations. But, I was taking a good hard listen to Help Me Rhonda the other day and I couldn't help but feel bad for the poor girl. No one wants to be the rebound.

Image by Guy Webster

jenny and johnny

I've been dancing around my living room to the first single from the Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice collaboration simply titled Jenny and Johnny. Check them out and get a free download of Scissor Runner here.

bye bye blackbird

Such a sweet, sad song. This is the last of the three I recorded earlier this year (other tracks here and here). Hope you like!

Bye Bye Blackbird

Vocals: Erin Weir

Guitar: Margaret Marston

Produced by Alan Abrahams and Margaret Marston

Music by Ray Henderson Lyrics by Mort Dixon

Image by Brian Jeffers via The Guardian

no love lost

I'm still dreaming about the delicious biscuits from The Loveless Cafe in Nashville. The bottomless plate comes warm with butter and three types of jam. If you find yourself down south, I could not recommend this institution more. Yum.

first day of summer

Image via ffffound

splendor on the grass

Now that it's summertime here in LA, every Friday night down at LACMA they have incredible live jazz. It's completely free and you can bring wine and snacks and just sit out on the grass and enjoy. Perfect way to start the weekend.

Image via The Sweetest Occasion

nashville

I am off to Nashville for work this week. In all the preparations, I've been so struck by the constant warmth, hospitality and hope of everyone there despite the terrible floods the city has faced. In the wake of other recent disasters, Nashville really hasn't gotten the aid and attention it needs. If you want to help, you can do so here.

Image by Mattson Creative

lazy sunday

So far just puttering around the house, drinking coffee and listening to a little Jenny Lewis. Couldn't be happier.

Image via Bliss

broken bells

I'm loving all these great collaborations lately: She & Him, Them Crooked Vultures, even Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson. My newest favorite is Broken Bells, the unexpectedly mellow and lovely marriage of Danger Mouse and James Mercer from The Shins. (Oh The Shins, I have loved you before, during, and after Garden State.) See what you think.

backyard jam band

Carefree summertime music. Happy long weekend!

Local Natives found via Lost

isn't that sweet

It's that time of year where many of us get a little sniffly and sneezy with allergies. I've heard that if you have a teaspoon of honey that is local to your area everyday, your friendly neighborhood bees will help you acclimate to the pollen. Figured it's worth a try. To the farmers market I go!

Image via Keep The Sugar

happy sunday

Image via Lovely Little Things

magnolia

"Now that I've met you, would you object to never seeing each other again?" Paul Thomas Anderson heard that lyric in Aimee Mann's song Deathly and turned it into a line of dialogue. That line in turn inspired the whole script of this wonderfully complex movie. I just rewatched last night. Amazing.

mix tape: blow off edition

The super talented Sara writes The Blow Off, a funny irreverent collection of relationship endings both big and small. Inspired by the site, I put together a mix tape. In case of blow off, press play.

blow off mix tape

PS I'm trying this great new site called Grooveshark to make my mixes now so that you can actually listen. Hope you like!

may gray

This sweet photo cheers me up on this dreary day in LA.

Image via Bliss

happy weekend

Image by Julia Gunther