something in the air...

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and it really seems to be one of those love it or hate it type of days (no pun intended, I swear). But how can you not be charmed by Buy Olympia's selection of "love themed" cards and gifts?

I would be happy to give or receive any one of these playful cards as a Valentine.

Check out this mini-poster with Neil Young's oh so true lyrics printed on it.

Mix cds make awesome and thoughtful gifts!

I am loving this mini zine.

Days of War, Nights of Love is an amazing, out-there, captivating read. Perfect if your Valentine is an adventurous reader.

that kind of day

It's snowing again outside and I can't help but wish I had the day off to sit inside and enjoy watching it fall where it's cozy and warm.

a bit of a one track mind

I've had food on the brain lately. Specifically breakfast.

It's always been my very favorite meal of the day. I consider myself an expert when it comes to pancakes, french toast, omelets and home fries. But recently I've begun to enjoy a completely different type of breakfast. One that is simpler by far but no less exciting or satisfying. These days, I get just as worked up about the idea of rice cakes with nut butter as I do over far more elaborate meals. Having my morning cup of tea never fails to make me feel cheerful.

It's partially the season, I think. January is so moody and grey at times that the bright spots of color I see sometimes only show up on the tabletop. But even more than that, it's the inspiring food photos that keep popping up in my flickr groups or on my favorite blogs. I think it's this sort of inspiration that prompts me to start asking The Boy what we should have for breakfast by mid afternoon the day before. And I realize all this wittering on makes be sound like a giant food dork... but I think that's maybe what I'm turning into. And I think that maybe it doesn't even bother me at all. I mean, really, when there are swoon worthy pictures like these to look at, how could I be anything else?

1. breakfast day one, 2. morning muffin #2, 3. breakfast, 4. Breakfast, 5. ., 6. breakfast, 7. it's been some time..., 8. breakfast by the window, 9. Brunch

P.S. I would be absolutely remiss in writing a breakfast post without mentioning Jennifer Causey's simply breakfast blog, which is currently set as my homepage. See? Dork. Total dork.

monday music: basia bulat

I stumbled across a track from Basia Bulat a very long time ago, before her debut album had even been released in the US. She's one of those artists who immediately captured my attention and my heart with her music. Her second album, Heart of My Own, is being released by Rough Trade today and it promises to be just as lovely as her first. Judging by the two tracks I've heard so far, this album is going to be getting some serious play in my house. With a multitude of instruments at her disposal, and a stunningly clear voice, Bulat has a sound that's all her own. You can listen to tracks from the new album on the Rough Trade website, and check out her site for tour dates and other info.

Go! Listen! Or at the very least watch this video for In the Night, one of my favorite songs off her debut album, Oh, My Darling.

fly me away

I am loving this shirt so much right now.

knit mitts

Over the past few years I have managed to start a quite sizeable collection of fingerless gloves. I wear them all the time when I'm at work, so I can never seem to resist buying a new pair. But I think my favorites are these arm warmers made by texture.

I received them as a gift many years ago and they've held up beautifully. So imagine how pleased I was to discover that texture has a website! They offer all sorts of clothes made from eco-friendly fabric, but I've can't stop looking at the amazingly colorful selection of arm warmers. I think it might be time to add to my collection once again.

monday music: laura veirs

(photo by David Belisle)

I have been very much enamored of Laura Veirs and her music ever since listening to her 2007 album, Saltbreakers. So I was very pleased to discover she has a brand new album out right now! July Flame is the title track off the album and the video for this song is beautiful and bittersweet. Very befitting of its name, I think.

just a thought...

I would love to wake up tomorrow and have my table look like this.

(image from Design*Sponge)

kitchen adventures

I would like to introduce you to my new favorite cookbook.

That's right, I'm talking about Molly Wizenberg's A Homemade Life. I started reading Orangette back in November (I know, I'm totally late to the game on this one) and immediately put her book on my Christmas list. It took some self-control not to sneak out and buy it before then, but I was rewarded on Christmas morning. I love this book. I finished it that day and then went back with post-it notes to bookmark all the recipes I want to try. Since then I've been spending plenty of time in the kitchen. Right now I have a chocolate cake in the freezer, just waiting for the right day, and this afternoon I roasted up some cauliflower to have with this salsa verde.

A picture really doesn't do this justice. If only you could smell it! It was so fresh and summery that I almost forgot we're still stuck in the heart of January. With the holidays over it's hard not to start dreaming of spring, and my thoughts keep drifting towards garden plans and sun that holds a bit of heat. Ah, well. All in good time I suppose.

monday music: the thermals

It's been a little while since I did a Monday Music post, but I think it's about time I started up again. And I have the perfect band and music video for today!

The Thermals latest album Now We Can See came out early last year and I loved it. In fact I picked it as one of my favorite albums of 2009. Check out the music video for the title track (maybe my favorite song on the album) and then go listen to the whole thing.

P.S. I'm so excited for all the great music we have to look forward to in 2010!

fresh and new

Happy New Year!!!

I hope you are all as excited as I am to see the dawn of 2010. Despite being sick I managed to have a very nice 2009 sendoff, complete with yummy food, backyard fireworks, and the best people.

It has been snowing almost nonstop since Friday, which seems very fitting to me. Everything seems new each morning, and I have been thinking about all the things I would like to see come out of this year.

I am not one for making resolutions. They tend to make me freeze up and feel more obligated than resolute. But I am writing down a list of things that I feel excited about doing, and having it all down there on paper makes me even more inspired and happy about the idea of doing them. Right now everything feels like a clean slate waiting to be drawn upon and that makes me very happy indeed.