Weekend Meditation

Cycle 2, Version 3 by Sopheap Pich

During the summer that I spent as an intern at a human rights NGO in Phnom Penh, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Cambodian-born artist Sopheap Pich and attending an exhibition of his work. My mind drifted back to his sculptures today for some reason...I find the straightforward materials, complex forms, and universal themes very meditative, and I guess I need that after the week I've had. Coincidentally, his first New York solo exhibition opened just yesterday at Tyler Rollins Fine Art. You can watch a short video about Sopheap and learn more about what inspires him here. Have a wonderful weekend.

Tasty Indianapolis

Zach and I took a little day trip to Indianapolis on Sunday, and, as usual, our visit mainly revolved around food. First, we had lunch at Maxine's Chicken & Waffles, which was kind of awesome. I had been wanting to try chicken and waffles ever since I learned that such a thing existed, and Maxine's did not disappoint. The waffle could have been crispier, but other than that, it was a great lunch. After a walk along the central canal (I bet you didn't know Indianapolis had canals...neither did I!) and a drive through Old Northside to gawk at all of the lovely historic homes, we were ready for another snack. Our next stop was The Flying Cupcake in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood. The bakery is cute as a button, and our Here Comes the Bride cupcake (almond cake with almond buttercream and tiny edible pearls) was moist and delectable. We ended the day by strolling through the Broad Ripple area and dining at Brugge Brasserie. Our French bread sandwiches (or mitraillettes as they call them) were nothing to write home about, but the frites were divine and Zach was impressed with the restaurant's home-brewed beer. All in all, Indianapolis is a very tasty city full of surprises.

(P.S. I've decided to scrap Tasty Thursdays after today...one day a week to dedicate to food just isn't enough!)

Etsy Wednesday

I may not have babies on the brain just yet (I promise), but I just couldn't resist these adorable baby things. Whether you have a little one on the way yourself or need a unique shower gift for someone else, this week's Etsy picks have got you covered.

Hang this cotton bunting in Baby's nursery for a cheerful look year-round.

Make these sweet little booties yourself with this
pattern and step-by-step tutorial.

Add a touch of whimsy to any baby's room with this handmade giraffe.

This little hat is just too cute for words!

Record all of your baby's firsts (first smile, first laugh, first step)
in this made-to-order baby journal.

*****

Coming next week: Five Etsy picks for your Thanksgiving table!

Dream Rides

My hometown (where I was hiding out for all of October) is not the most bike-friendly place, so it's been a while since Trudy and I have hit the pavement. But that doesn't mean I can't fantasize about cruising around (a different) town on one of these babies...

1. Sweetpea Bicycles Custom (left) - Sweetpea Bicycles is a two-person custom bike operation in Portland, Oregon. For someone as freakishly short as me, if I'm going to blow a lot of money on a bike, I might as well have one made specifically for me and my wee legs. Plus I think it would be really fun to choose the colors and all of the other little details (I'm digging the wooden handlebars on this one).

2. Gary Fisher Simple City 3 (top right) - This bike looks to me like a modern version of Trudy...big wheels, blue frame, tan seat. It would make a great commuter bike, and the price is not too over-the-top ridiculous. It lacks a bit of Trudy's vintage charm, however. Not sure it would be worth the upgrade.

3. Sögreni Old Shatterhand (bottom right) - I think this one might be my favorite of all. Simple, classic, yet exuding a modern urban cool. The only problem with it is that even if I could somehow come up with the nearly four grand to actually buy this Danish beauty, I would be too worried about it getting stolen to actually relax and enjoy riding it.

(More bike love on one of my favorite blogs, A Cup of Joe.)

The Comeback Kid

I was going to wait until tomorrow to post a link to an article in the most recent issue of Budget Travel about Cambodia's "comeback," but then I learned that today marks the 56th anniversary of the country's independence from France. Happy birthday, Kampuchea. I hope to see you again some day.

(Pictured: Independence Monument in central Phnom Penh; photo by me)

Flight of the Conchords

I won't pretend that I'm hip enough to have discovered Flight of the Conchords before it became popular, or even to really be a fan, but I watched an episode on my flight back from London, and it was pretty hilarious. This is a clip from that episode, which is entitled "New Cup." Enjoy--and have a great Monday!

10 Things That Make Me Happy

This post was inspired by another of my favorite, now-defunct magazines. Back when Domino was still in print, whenever I got a new issue in the mail I would have to restrain myself from immediately flipping to the last page. This is because my favorite feature was "10 Things That Make Me Happy," in which a person (it might be a designer, a boutique owner, or a museum director) would be profiled and asked to name ten things that brought a bit of happiness into his or her life. I miss Domino, and I miss that last page, so I thought I would try to recreate it here on littlebits. These are not meant to be the most important things in my life (friends, family, good health), but just those little things that bring a smile to my face. I will be doing this from time to time, so I hope you enjoy it!

1. Nude heels - This lovely pair is by Stuart Weitzman. I don't own a pair of nude-colored heels yet, but I have high hopes for their legline-lengthening potential...I need all the help I can get!

2. Brunch - I really think it's the perfect meal...you can order pancakes or omelets (and bacon on the side of everything) without having to wake up early! Plus most restaurants serve lunch fare at brunch as well, so you can pretty much have whatever strikes your fancy. Bonus: drinking in the middle of the day is socially acceptable when it's a mimosa you're sipping.

3. Up & Up Cocoa Butter Lotion - Part of Target's new line of store-brand basics. 32 ounces of yummy-smelling lotion for about $3.50 all wrapped up in a pleasingly graphic package--now that's a bargain.

4. Lala - Lala is a music website that I discovered a few days ago where you can listen to just about any song, or entire albums, for free (just once though...after that you can only hear a 30-second preview). If you like the song enough, you can download the MP3 for 89 cents or buy the "web song" which will only play in your lala player but will only cost you a dime. Pretty cool, huh?

5. Jeni's Ice Cream - I think Zach and I are going to have to make another pilgrimage to Columbus to try Jeni's new seasonal flavors: blackstrap praline, heirloom pumpkin five-spice, goat cheese with cognac figs...mmm.

6. Pet Silhouettes by Jenny lee Fowler - I almost featured these on my (P)etsy Wednesday post. I love their charming simplicity as well as the subtle humor.

7. Monogrammed Cocktail Napkins by Sferra - I saw these featured in Elle Décor, and I thought they would make a great gift. Simple yet refined.

8. Crimson Bubbles Skirt by Lauren Moffatt - Remember that red Lauren Moffatt dress I featured a couple of weeks ago? It also comes in an adorable skirt!

9. Color Sensational Lip Gloss by Maybelline - I am pretty much always on the lookout for the perfect lip gloss, and this might just be it. It goes on very smooth, not at all sticky, and has enough pigment that I don't have to apply too much of it. To top it off, it has a lovely light scent that reminds me of strawberries.

10. MiniCards by Moo - Super cute mini business cards that you can customize with your own images. Even though I don't have my own business (or a job, for that matter), I love the idea of handing these out as calling cards.

*****

(Apparently I wasn't the only blogger who had this idea. See also: 1) Wide Open Spaces, 2) Sacramento Street, and 3) Design Happens)

Hot Off the (Panini) Press

Over the past couple of years, I have become obsessed with buying cookbooks. I love books of all kinds, but cookbooks have a special place in my heart because...well, you know. They're about FOOD! And they usually have photographs depicting delicious foodstuffs that I can salivate over when I'm hungry or bored or eating lunch (yes, I like to look at pictures of food while I'm eating...it's an illness). As I do with my non-cookbook books, I keep a Word document list of my cookbooks as well as those I would like to purchase (again...illness), so even though all of my cookbooks are currently in boxes in my mom's attic, I can tell you that I own 18 cookbooks and have 28 more titles on my wish list. Every month or so, I troll Amazon for new cookbook releases, and my wish list grows and grows. These are the books that have most recently made it onto my must-have list:

1. My Bread by Jim Lahey - Jim Lahey became a household name (well, not really) when the New York Times published his recipe for no-knead bread in 2006. Three years later, he has published 224 pages of no-knead bread wizardry...I can't wait to try it!

2. Simple Fresh Southern by Matt and Ted Lee - Simple Fresh Southern is the much-anticipated follow-up to the Lee brothers' highly successful debut cookbook, The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook. Their second effort promises updated takes on classic Southern flavors and techniques and is sure to be just as big of a hit as their first.

3. Rose's Heavenly Cakes by Rose Levy Beranbaum - Rose Levy Beranbaum is the undisputed queen of cakes. According to Amazon.com, her Cake Bible is one of the best-selling cookbooks of all time. Her latest contribution to the world of baking offers her most decadent and jaw-dropping recipes yet, sure to make your dinner guests swoon (and rush out to buy their own copies of Heavenly Cakes).

4. Nigella Christmas by Nigella Lawson - I own two of Nigella's other cookbooks (How to Eat and How to be a Domestic Goddess), and it seems to me that where Nigella really shines is in creating festive yet simple holiday menus. This book would surely be useful for anyone who enjoys entertaining.

Man, I really need to have my own kitchen again!

(P)etsy Wednesday

After a two-month separation, I have recently reunited with my beloved Bartok. We have had some quality snuggle time over the past few days, and I find myself just as smitten with him now as I was when Zach and I first brought him home five years ago. I just love this cat! This week's Etsy finds are for those of you who adore your four-legged pals as much as I do mine...

A repurposed vintage suitcase makes a cozy bed for your kitty.

Let artist Lisa Marie Norton capture your pet's personality
with a custom doodle (first spotted on Dooce).

Adorable homemade treats for your favorite canine.

Keep Rover warm in the coming months with this stylish doggie hoodie.

Help your furry friend find his way back home with this custom ID tag.

*****

I'm not sure what Etsy Wednesday will bring next week, so you will just have to be surprised!

Anthropologie Love

Anthropologie has been putting out some gorgeous catalogs lately....so dreamy and fairy tale-like.

(September 2009, page 4)

(September 2009, page 16)

(September 2009, page 20)

(October 2009, page 34)

(October 2009, page 39)

(October 2009, page 41)

(November 2009, page 3)

(November 2009, page 15)

(November 2009, page 16)

I'm Going to Become Wonderful

She's not suave, she's not sexy, her personal life is perpetually in shambles and the highlight of her year is a free sandwich...how can you not love Liz Lemon? She is the Everywoman. (Except for the time she dated Jon Hamm. That was just unfair). I'm catching up on 30 Rock, and I know it's just TV, but it's making me feel better about my life. It makes me hope that, perhaps, one day, my misery will also make for great comedy (kidding). It does, however, remind me not to take myself too seriously. Also, it has given me some great ideas for what to do with my free time: "Donuts and then bed? What are you depressed about--or celebrating?"

Etsy Wednesday

I'm still feeling a little low on motivation, so I decided to dig around in my Etsy Favorites folder for some items to share with you. I hope you love them as much as I do...

These vintage brass owl bookends are cute without being kitschy.

How can you not smile when you look at this pinwheel photograph?

I am gaga over these gorgeous handmade earrings.

I would love to add this vintage map of Asia to my collection.

I have been on the lookout for a vintage leather purse like this one.

*****

Next week: Etsy finds (Petsy finds?) for our four-legged pals!