first came love

summertime mix

As much as I am focusing on our September due date, I have to be reminded not to let this summer pass me by.  Each summer, I put together a little mix to keep with me for whatever get together arises. Summer is the one season where friends come out in all different combinations for the good of the grill or the waves at the beach.  Here's to my favorite season.

 Have a great weekend.

LISTEN HERE

                                                                                        Come to the City		 The War On Drugs	
                                                                                        Birds Fly Away		 Theresa Andersson	
                                                                                        Sugar On My Tongue 	 Talking Heads	
                                                                                        Sutphin Boulevard	       	 Blood Orange	
                                                                                        The Jean Genie	                    David Bowie		
                                                                                        Blue Mountains	        	 Diamond Rugs	
                                                                                        Little Bird	                                     The White Stripes
                                                                                        Gold On the Ceiling	                    The Black Keys	
                                                                                        Son Of A Gun	                    Brendan Losch	
                                                                                        Cross Bones Style                        Cat Power	
                                                                                        Lippy Kids	         	Elbow Lippy Kids 
                                                                                        Strange Overtones                           Brian Eno & David Byrne	
                                                                                        Nantes	                                     Beirut		

photo of me by Carey

sunday files

This weekend we had an intense heat wave so we looked for some indoor endeavors. We saw To Rome with Love .. so funny.  Otherwise, we stayed close to home (ac) and tended to the garden that is growing in leaps and bounds.  The corn is what I'm most proud of measuring over five feet tall.

This week started trimester three.  With every new milestone things start to feel more real.  Every month, I can't imagine getting bigger…. and then it happens again.  While for the past two months, the little one has been positioned head down, it seems that she is now sideways leading to more visible/intense kicks and punches. It's an incredible feeling.

featured artist // leanne shapton

Upon returning from my internet hiatus, I noticed that there had been an increasing shift in focus on many blogs/sites.  There seems to be an obsession with the perfection of the imperfect.  The perfectly imperfect table setting, the coordinated night out, the "best" time in the perfect light, the seemingly organic yet well thought out. I certainly fall prey to this way of thinking and portraying from time to time.  However, after several hours of catching up on posts, the theme becomes a little overwhelming.  This is why I was so relieved when I stumbled upon the work of Leanne Shapton.  Her illustrations read like a sense of urgency, a need to capture a thought, event, or dream before it slips away.  The authenticity is a welcome relief.  There were so many bodies of her work that I could have chosen from but the series above really stood out for me. Shapton is a former art director for the Times Op-Ed page and did this series for the Times in 2011.  “A Month of...” is a series about life’s minor notes and quotidian details.  The illustrations above are from "A Month of Thursday Nights Out".  Each painting was delivered with a short two sentence description of the night's events.  It leaves so much unknown and ,by default (or on purpose), prohibits the viewer from judgement of how perfect/imperfect the evening might have been.  Creativity and documentation without the added pressure.

 

I was reminded of Leanne's work today here.

Leanne is also co-founder of the smartly curated J&L Books

Other great works by Leanne Shapton

The Native Trees of Canada

Toronto

brooklyn spot // tabare

I stumbled on Tabare online when looking for new spots to explore.  It's uruguayan recipes with an admirable sensitivity towards socially responsible farming.  I've enjoyed several meals there and the ambience is always laid back and quiet (except for late nights).  I recommend the torreja at brunch: a sweet bread similar to french toast served with organic maple syrup.  Should this venue serve as an accurate representation of Uruguay; I am going to need to add it to my travel wishlist.

sunday files

This weekend was full of remodeling our tiny home to create some breathing room.  Some day I will have to post pictures of our abode... always a work in progress.  The sun came and went during a quick drive north today to squeeze some friends.

top photo of the lovely elizabeth

back from the dead

Well, it was a little over two months from this weekend that I last wrote a post. I never thought I would be away for that long but things have recently changed in my life.  News that I'm finally ready to share.  We are expecting our first child this fall!  I have been hoping for this for quite some time.  I think I always knew having children was engrained in my reason for being.  The first trimester was a bit of a challenge (heavy symptoms) but I'm now at 23 weeks and finally feeling more like myself. I'm astounded every day by the changes my body is making and that it's completely in charge of what I can and can't do.  I've always been of the idea "mind over body" but right now body wins every time.

So what does this mean for the blog?  Clearly, it was the first ball to drop when everything went up in the air but I've missed it a lot and the connections/relationships that it lends.  I will be posting more now but maybe not as much as I used to... we'll have to see.  Although some posts are sure to be baby-centric; there's certainly other beautiful things happening that I'd like to contribute to and share. As for tonight, I am going to attempt to get through some of the 1000+ posts waiting in my reader.  xx

photos above are from a "babymoon" of sorts we took last week in Barbados. the water was such a beautiful cerulean blue..

atlas quarterly

Yesterday I received the premier issue of Atlas Quarterly; a magazine focusing on the craft makers and curio collectors of America.  Small publications hold a sweet spot in my heart.  I hold huge admiration for people who do not see what they are seeking and decide to bring the object and/or thought to fruition themselves.  There are some beautiful spreads in this issue; the best ones being above:  one spread showing adulation of the wondrous Mast brothers and their dedication to honest work (I previously showed a short film of them here) and one spread of the refined beauty of heath ceramics.  Two women in Brooklyn (Laura Palmer and Jenna Yankun) tapped into the growing desire of well made goods, the artisanal work ethic, the nostalgia of a simpler time and brought the idea to Kickstarter for a publication.  Many people chipped in to bring this issue to life and I was happy to be one of them.

sunday files

We enjoyed a breezy weekend exploring the neighborhood in areas we typically don't pass through. The first two photos are from a beautiful boutique that's opened two doors down from two jakes on wythe avenue.  Unfortunately, there is no sign or store name that I could find making it hard to plug such a well designed shop.  If anyone recognizes it; please let me know and I will update this post. { Update: the store is Beautiful Dreamers  Thanks Meghan! } Another great find in this same area is Sprout Home where we picked up some new air plants. 

The other photo is of my dear friend Rose who is just days away from her due date. Rose was my college roomate so many years ago.  I can't believe she is closing in on motherhood. I think about all the future plans we used to make late at night and it makes me so happy that we are still close by to watch these plans come to fruition.  Best of luck this week my friend. xo

lately

Someone looks spiffy for Valentine's Day...

I know this space is quiet for the time being.  So many things are happening at the moment. 

I hope to be posting more in the next few weeks.  Here's a little Valentine's message

that my friend worked on over at Etsy.

Hope everyone gets a little love today.

brooklyn spot // le barricou

 

                                                                                                                                                      

I had brunch at one of my "go to" spots in the neighborhood.  Le Barricou is a country style bistro

serving southern traditional dishes of the french countryside.

Seek your way past the front room where the music can be too loud

(I've been told it's an "owner mandated" decibel).  Once you reach the backroom, it's like entering

a cozy cabin with wood burning stove, large skylight and vintage piano.  I recommend the Coq au Vin,

the french toast and the cheese plates.  I go here often both in large parties and spontaneous dates.  The interior design is impeccable; the wall treatments, lighting, and foliage all add to the surreality of being in another time and place.