10 Things That Make Me Happy

10 Things That Make Me Happy, New Year Edition! (Only slightly overdue...)

1. Beautiful thank-you cards - I like to keep some pretty notecards on hand, because you never know when you might need to say "thanks." Rifle Paper Co. has the most beautiful cards featuring hand-painted illustrations by artist Anna Bond, and these "Frances" thank-you cards are definitely at the top of my stationery wish list.

2. My new journal - New year, new journal! It took me a long time to find one that I really liked, but as soon as I saw this one Japanese paper-covered journal, I knew it was the one for me.

3. Emma on PBS - When I was getting ready to watch the first episode this past Sunday, I was positively giddy with excitement. The Kate Beckinsale and Gwyneth Paltrow versions just don't quite do it for me (though, of the two, I prefer the latter). It's about time the BBC came out with a four-hour version! I've already put the DVD on the top of my Amazon wish list so I can watch it over and over again.

4. Light chocolate soy milk - The perfect guilt-free, post-workout treat. Chocolate milk is
ridiculously refreshing and delicious, but it's a little high in calories...chocolate soymilk has about 1/3 fewer calories.

5. Potted flowers - Just the thing to brighten up the indoors until spring arrives.

6. My closet - I'm not sure how long it will be mine (because I am temporarily living at my mom's house), but I certainly will enjoy it as long as it is. A double closet with plenty of space for all of my dresses and floor-to-ceiling shelves for everything else...definitely an improvement over the teeny tiny closet in my old studio apartment.

7. This jacket - This just might be the perfect go-with-anything blazer. I love the slim cut, the slightly puffed sleeves, and the single button.

8. Dinner with friends - Is there anything better to lift your spirits?

9. Penguin classics designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith - These have already been around in the U.S. for a few months, but I still drool over them every time I see them. I recently bought Tess of the D'Ubervilles and Sense and Sensibility, and I can't wait to add more to my bookshelf. (Penguin just came out with a second set of these beauties, which will hopefully be available in the U.S. at some point!)

10. A cozy fire - Being stuck indoors is a bit more bearable when there is a cozy, crackling fire to keep you warm. I especially love when cafés and restaurants have working fireplaces...it makes leaving home and braving the cold that much more worth it.

*****

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Sondre Lerche

Some upbeat indie pop by Norwegian-born artist Sondre Lerche to help you make it through the rest of the work week...

(Spotted on Black*Eiffel)

A Wallpapered Nook

I love the idea of livening up a small nook with pretty wallpaper, à la this room by designer Ondine Karady . Here are my top five nook-worthy wallpapers (click on swatches to view information):

*****

Now I just need to make sure that when I buy my first place, it has lots of cozy nooks and corners. I would especially love a wallpapered entryway and a reading nook...

Elephantine

How pretty are these necklaces by Etsy artist Elephantine? I especially love the "Bellissima."

(First spotted on A Cup of Jo)

Leslie Knope is the New Liz Lemon

Yep, that's going to be in my head all day. Happy Tuesday, everybody!

And the Award for Most Improved Goes to...

I didn't actually watch the SAG Awards on Saturday night, but I did breathe a sigh of relief when I saw pictures from the red carpet on Sunday morning. After the Golden Globes, which I thought were one big hot mess, I wasn't sure what to expect. Luckily for me, the stars really turned things out this time around...

Diane Kruger: From "hot pink nightmare" to "golden dream." Some fashion insiders may have thought that Diane's Christian Lacroix was one of the best frocks of the evening at the Golden Globes, but these people must have momentarily forgotten just how stunning Ms. Kruger can be. These two looks are night and day to me. The hot pink number was oddly lumpy and made Diane look like a sad bridesmaid. The gold Jason Wu gown, on the other hand, fits like a dream and makes Diane look like the true glamour goddess that she is. I adore her!

Kate Hudson: From "white fright" to "white done right." While some hailed Ms. Hudson's Golden Globes gown as fashion forward, I thought it was overly complicated and aging to the young starlet (even the white platforms sneaking out from under the hem looked weirdly orthopedic). I prefer the sleek silhouette of her SAG Awards dress...it's youthful and sexy but still very modern. The hair, makeup, and jewelry are also a huge improvement. She looks like her fresh-faced self.

Sandra Bullock: From "purple princess" to "simply majestic." I actually thought Sandra Bullock looked very pretty at the Golden Globes, but what she wore to the SAG Awards was much more age-appropriate (not that she is in any way old...just that the purple dress looked very prom-y to me) and befitting a star of her magnitude. Sandra is in great shape, and this dress fits her beautifully. I'm also loving the blue/black color combination and the bit of sparkle. She just looks gorgeous and happy.

Marion Cotillard: From "wrecked" to "ravishing." For the record, I think Marion Cotillard is one of the most gorgeous leading ladies in Hollywood...she would probably look good in a potato sack that still had the potatoes in it. Her Golden Globes dress, however, did not do her justice at all. The criss-crossing on the bodice looked sloppy, and the bit of lace peeking out made me wonder whether she was gearing up to play a pirate wench in her next film. Her SAG Awards ensemble, on the other hand, is fun, flirty, and oh-so-French...just like Marion herself!

Lea Michele: From "much too much" to "just enough." Lea Michele's Golden Globes gown was so poofy that I had to crop half of it out to fit it in the frame. As a fellow petite lady, I feel qualified to say, "Lea, honey...ball gowns are not our friends." The green draped gown that she wore to the SAGs elongates her instead of swallowing her up. The color and loose waves are much more youthful than the dour black and the updo, and the plunging neckline sexes things up without looking vulgar (::cough::Mariah Carey::cough::). Simply divine.

(All images via People.com)

*****

My expectations for the Oscars are high...I hope Kruger, Bullock, and Co. don't let me down!

My Day Would be Just a Little Bit Better...

...if I were wearing these. Of course, that would probably mean that I would have to change out of my sweats. Eh, maybe tomorrow. Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

28 Before 28...A Little Progress

I've been putting off writing this post, because honestly I haven't made as much progress on my "28 before 28" in the past few months as I would have liked. With less than six months to go until my birthday (eek), I have accomplished fewer than half of the items on my list. I'd better get crackin'!

1 - buy an old polaroid camera (check, though I still haven't bought any film)

2 - start a blog (check...duh)

4 - finally read The Sot-Weed Factor by John Barth (check...it was not as overwhelming as I thought it would be)

5 - buy a bike (check)

6 - make an inspiration board (check)

13 - sort through the stuff I have in my mom's attic (check)

20 - fill up my journal and get a new one (check, but I have yet to write anything in the new one...something about a completely blank journal makes me feel pressured to write something brilliant)

22 - back up my computer files (check)

24 - spend a whole day with my niece (French fries for breakfast, ice skating, lunch, and chocolate-y treats...check)

28 - do something creative every day (Ummm...yeah. this was kind of a silly goal, so I am officially replacing it with "join the YMCA so I can exercise," which I did last week)

Pantone Color of the Year

And the 2010 Pantone color of the year is...turquoise! An excerpt from the press release: "Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing." I could definitely go for some of that this year. As for the color itself, I think I prefer last year's mimosa. Mmm...mimosas AND soothing tropical waters? Now that would be a winning combination.

(Image via Pantone)

Music Education

In addition to being a charming little coming-of-age story, An Education has a kick-ass 60s soundtrack, featuring the likes of Ray Charles, Mel Tormé, Brenda Lee, and French chanteuse Juliette Greco. Here are a few of my favorite tracks from the film...enjoy, and happy weekend!

Finally

During a short stay in Rome several years ago, I fell in love with the amazing crispy-crust pizza that could be found on just about every street corner. It's baked in huge rectangles with fresh toppings like eggplant, artichokes, tomatoes, and potatoes (my favorite) and then slices are cut to order and sold by weight. After a blast in a super-hot brick oven, your slice is cut in half, folded, and wrapped in paper for easy portability (just peel back the paper as you eat). I have never come across Roman-style pizza in the States, but thanks to the New York Times, I think I know where to head the next time I'm in the city. Numero 28, here I come.

(Photo by Evan Abramson, via the New York Times)

Vintage Typewriters

As much as I love my laptop (especially now I finally have wireless internet in my mom's house...yippee!), I think it would be fun to clack away on a vintage typewriter once in a while. These beauties, all spotted on Etsy, just might inspire me to write the great American novel...or at least the occasional letter or two.

Royal Safari, $72

Olivetti Underwood Studio 44, $90

IBM Selectric, $99

Smith-Corona, $50

Underwood, $40.50

Olivetti Escort 55, $319.73

Royal, $50

IBM Selectric II, $140

Winter Reading List

I typically gravitate towards classic fiction in the winter months, and this year is no exception...



The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. The description of Wilde's only novel makes it sound like a cross between the myth of Narcissus and Faust. A young man has his portrait painted by a friend, falls in love with the image of his own beauty, and bargains his soul for eternal youth. Sounds dark and moody...in short, a perfect winter read!








A Room With a View by E.M. Forster. I just finished this one, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. I don't know why I'm surprised, though...I wasn't particularly enamored of Howard's End, either. Forster's prose too often reads as though it was translated from another language. I do, however, like the message that something does not have to be delicate to be beautiful.







Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. Though it is long and by many accounts depressing, I am determined to give this book a go. I read Return of the Native in high school, which I hated (but then again I also hated Pride and Prejudice when I was forced to read it in high school). I freely admit that I primarily bought this book because it was recently re-published as part of a lovely series of clothbound Penguin classics...I feel no shame for judging books by their covers.




...and I still haven't read The Custom of the Country, which was on my fall reading list. So many books, so little time!

Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis

Do you ever suspect, as I sometimes do, that life would be better if it were a musical? Musicals always end happily. If life were like Meet Me in St. Louis, we would all be dancing the Hoochee Koochee, going to World's Fairs, and falling in love with the boy or girl next door. On the other hand, we might have to sport crazy-ass bangs and giant bow ties. Now that I think about it...I'm not sure the trade-off is worth it. (P.S. Doesn't Hilary Swank look just like Judy Garland?)

Retro Swim

Anthropologie has a bunch of fun retro-inspired bathing suits right now...perfect for that fantasy Indonesian getaway. Just throw this cover-up on top and you're ready for an afternoon of canoeing around the lake or reading on your private balcony.

Dreaming of...Indonesia

Even though I love the snow, I can't help but daydream every year about taking a winter vacation to some exotic locale. My dream destination of the moment: Kampung Sampireun, a resort in West Java, Indonesia. Tucked among hills and (seven!) volcanoes, the resort looks so peaceful--the perfect getaway from the stresses of winter. Guests get private bamboo bungalows overlooking a small lake and their own personal canoe for exploring the water. There is a spa and a restaurant on site, but if you don't feel like leaving your bungalow, vendors will canoe right up to your balcony selling traditional Indonesian cakes. Doesn't that sound just lovely?

Day Dressing

A new year deserves new dresses, don't you think? These remind me of what a spunky 1940s or '50s career gal would wear to work...

Milly Deco Print Silk Dress, $330

Kate Spade "Miriam", $375

Rebecca Taylor "Desk to Date", $325

Nanette Lepore "Pretty Plaid", $348

Trina Turk "Sarafina 2", $268

*****

Maybe I've been watching too many old movies of late, but I find myself wishing that people still dressed as elegantly as they used to...I would trade my stacks of jeans and tees for a closet-full of pretty dresses and hats any day!

Lucky Peach

I received my Momofuku (which is Japanese for "lucky peach") cookbook in the mail today, and I am pretty excited about it. I admit that there are many complicated dishes in the book that I am unlikely to ever attempt, but I could not resist the packaging (I love the feel of a jacket-less cookbook) and the originality of the recipes. I have already bookmarked some of the easier-sounding recipes that I hope to try my hand at soon, including the ginger-scallion noodles (p. 57), the fried chicken (p. 89), and the shrimp and grits (p. 110). And if I'm really lucky, maybe I'll have a chance to eat at one of the Momofuku restaurants sometime in the near future...

Off to a Good Start

Behold: The Arista sandwich from Paesano's in Philadelphia. Juicy, tender roasted pork, sharp and salty provolone, crunchy broccoli rabe, and Italian long hot peppers stuffed inside of a fresh, crusty sesame seed roll. Have mercy. Zach declared it to be most likely the best sandwich he has ever eaten, and I tend to agree. It certainly beats the pants off of the traditional Philly cheesesteak, à la Pat's and Geno's. If you live near Philly or will be passing through anytime soon (or are the type of person that makes long-distance food pilgrimages), get thee to 152 W. Girard Ave. between 11 AM and 7 PM on any day but Sunday or Monday. You will not regret it.

(This sandwich + live jazz at Chris' = a very good start to my new year. Hurray for 2010!)

...In With the New

This year I will:

continue working my way through Bette Davis's filmography * actually cook some of the recipes in my many cookbooks * finally eat the roast suckling pig sandwich at Paesano's * hopefully find a job that I don't mind waking up for * come up with some sort of creative side project * visit friends who live in TN, CA, MD, DC, and NY * see a performance at the Met Opera in NYC * buy some practical (but still cute) clothing * hopefully move into my own place again * maybe go somewhere fun in Latin America * organize absolutely everything I own * watch my best friend get married * read lots and lots of good novels * eat more fruits and vegetables * attend more cultural events * start paying my dad back * hike the Grand Canyon? * be more spontaneous * blog more regularly * try to be happy

What are YOUR goals for 2010?