Just a few words of wisdom to start your week off right. Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!
(image from The Beauty in Everything)
Melty Goodness
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May 19, 2012Food is one of my biggest passions. On this blog, it’s mostly about the clothes and fashion, but food is right up there. I literally look forward to The Vendy Awards all year long – and, now, there is a second food heaven day I can have been looking forward to – GoogaMooga.
In honor of a day celebrating food and drinks, I want to give a shout out to my favorite New York food truck – Morris Grilled Cheese. I work in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, and its a great neighborhood, but the lunch options aren’t ideal. Morris comes to the neighborhood every Wednesday. This past Wednesday was the first nice day after many days of rain so what a nice treat it was to go outside and wait in line for this weekly indulgence (don’t get me wrong, I wait in the rain too!). It was the first (and not last) time I got the Chèvre sandwich – filled with pickled fennel and habanero hot sauce. It was just the pick-me-up my Wednesday needed. Absolute perfection! They get the ratios all right the bread is buttered toasted and finished with a sprinkle of course salt.
So what I’m saying is if you live in the New York area you have got to try Morris Grilled Cheese. Follow them on Twitter for updates and location.
(image from Edible Brooklyn)
Toga Chic
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May 17, 2012I was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art the other night for a panel of speakers on the new costume exhibit, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations (more on that later) and ended up wondering around the Ancient Greek and Roman art area for a while. One of the concepts the exhibit explores is the concept of different kinds of “chic.”
The togas of ancient Rome were worn by free citizens to distinguish themselves from slaves, who wore tunics. In a way, this means togas were “chic” in an older, conventional sense of the word. Today, however, I take “chic” to mean simply someone with something to say through their style. I also think people that exude a “chic” vibe present themselves and their look with a confidence that can’t be matched.
(images from Google, Metropolitan Museum of Art)
The Giving Keys
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May 11, 2012Pay it forward – that’s the whole concept of these one-of-a-kind necklaces. When you buy or are given a Giving Key necklace, you must give it away at some point, to a person you feel needs the message that’s on your key. Then go to The Giving Key website or Facebook page to share your story of why you gave it away.
Click here to order your custom-made necklace, which start at just $30. The necklaces are made and engraved by the homeless who The Giving Keys gets off the streets and gives them work and a chance at a better life.
If you’ve followed this blog very long, you know how much I love fashion you can feel good about, and this is some jewelry I can seriously get behind. Have you received one of these? What’s your story?
(images from The Giving Keys)
No Woman, No Cry
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May 7, 2012Summer cannot be here soon enough. This still-too-chilly Spring weather has me thinking of warmer destinations like the amazing GoldenEye resort in Jamaica.
The resort is the former home of Ian Fleming (creator of James Bond). Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, bought the GoldenEye resort in 1976. The resort was recently renovated and now has 22 units, including nine beach houses, eight lagoon houses, Fleming’s original villa, and four houses built by Blackwell.
Vacation anyone?
(images via GoldenEye)
¡Tequila!
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May 4, 2012Jalapeño infused tequila is my favorite thing to make in the summer. Have it on the rocks, with some OJ, with margarita mix, just add a splash of lime juice, get all fancy and make a watermelon jalapeño margarita. There’s really no wrong way to enjoy this adult beverage.
Now, run, do not walk, to your nearest liquor store and make and batch of this delicious tequila in time for your Cinco de Mayo festivities on Saturday!
Supplies: 1 bottle 100% agave tequila, 3-4 jalapeño peppers, mason jar, cheesecloth if desired for straining)
1. WEAR GLOVES! Seriously, just do it. You’ll thank me later.
2. Cut off the stems of the peppers and slice. For spicier tequila, leave the seeds in, for less spicy, take them out first.
3. Open your tequila and drop in the jalapeños. You may need to pour a little of the tequila out if the peppers displace more room than the bottle allows. If so, take a giant swig pour some into a mason jar and make 2 batches – one in your mason jar and one in the tequila bottle.
4. The waiting game. I know, I know, it’s not a very fun game. But patience is a virtue. Taste the tequila every 12-24 hours until you have reached your desired amount of spiciness. This shouldn’t take more than a couple days.
5. When it’s to your liking, strain the tequila into a pitcher and funnel it back into the bottle, tossing out the peppers. (Sidenote: if you find something delicious to do with the tequila-soaked peppers, PLEASE leave it in the comments.)
6. Put on sombrero and enjoy!
PS: Don’t forget the guacamole. I promise it will enhance your tequila drinking experience, tenfold!
Venus in Paradise
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April 30, 2012Amsterdam artist Ruud Van Empel has a complex method to create these stunning images (Venus, left). He originally got his start as a graphic designer, but had his international breakthrough with this series of works entitled World, Moon, Venus (2005-2008).
As seen in “Beyond Innocence,” a documentary on Van Empel’s process, the artist starts by photographing 4 or 5 professional models in his studio and takes many detailed photographs of leaves, flowers, plants and animals. The models pictures are mixed with these images using Photoshop and with clothes photographed separately on a tailor’s dummy. In this way he creates new images of mainly children, in black and white, set in a a paradisiacal environment.
I love how it mirrors the beautiful Alex Wec walking in the Diane von Furstenburg Spring 2008 show. The abundant foliage also reminds me of the Stella McCartney Spring 2011 show and her fruity graphic prints.
(images from Ruud Van Empel and style.com)
Candy Kisses
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February 14, 2012Wishing you all the sweetest of days filled with kisses – candy or otherwise. Happy Valentines Day.
Portrait of Wildfire
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December 16, 2011Unwanted Visitor: Portrait of Wildfire is an outdoor art installation at the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas (October 2011 – February 2012). The installation aims to educate the public on the causes of wildfire both environmental and human; its effect on the surrounding environment including plants and animals; fire prevention and the purpose of prescribed burning.
This past summer there was a series of destructive wildfires in Texas. Here are the numbers: 27,976 fires burned 3,959,040 acres (about double the previous record), 2,862 homes (1,939 of which were destroyed over the Labor Day weekend), and over 2,700 other structures. 47.3% of all acreage burned in the United States in 2011 was burned in Texas. I grew up in Austin and it breaks my heart to hear about places just outside the city in Bastrop (now regarded as the most catastrophic wildfire in Texas history) that we used to go to that burned down, or the countless pets left behind causing overcrowding in area shelters, and of course the families that lost everything and are in need of extra assistance this holiday season.
Internationally known sculptor Herb Williams of Nashville, TN, designed, created and installed 5 freestanding, three-dimensional sculptures of wildfire using the media of Crayola crayons. Because each sculpture is made of wax, they are melting and changing shape in the unpredictable outdoor conditions. Moreover, each piece of art will continue to be altered by blowing wind and dry conditions such as those that affect the intensity and duration of real wildfire. The colorful crayons provide a striking contrast to the dry, brown landscape and are reminiscent of an actual wildfire and its destructive aftermath.
(images from Unwanted Visitor, Portrait of Wildfire Facebook Page)
About Me
This blog is an outlet to share my discoveries and inspirations in fashion, food, design, music, photography and more. When I'm not blogging or working my day job as a graphic and web designer, I am out exploring the streets of Brooklyn always looking for the beauty in everything.
