Positive Vibrations

image by Cannelle & Vanille (does anyone take prettier pictures?)

February is when I start to get a little nutty...my little Texas girl heart says that spring is just a couple of weeks away but the Minnesota reality just sneers and says "Spring? you'll be lucky to see green grass by May!" So I tear at my hair, beat my chest and call a travel agent...(okay, working on those Palm Springs dates...thinking late Feb now)...But when a getaway isn't in the cards here are a few tricks I have up my sleeve for my fellow snowpacalypse survivors...

Of course, you need some tunes to set the right mood...It seems serendipitous that Bob Marley was born in February - just the month that I seem to play him nonstop, Toots and the Maytals are a much needed addition and some funky Meters round out the play list...
 

Next, stow away your soup pot and tea kettle and indulge in a Cuban pork sandwich and a tall glass of lemonade...(if you live in MPLS it's a toss up between Brasa's version and Grand Cafe's...seriously I think I've had at least one a week)...and please Lemonade can you open one in my neck of the woods?

Paint your nails orange fizz, wear some yellow and pretend you are this girl

photo - Hanneli

 

Finally, ditch the grey & black, throw on that scarf you bought the last time you were in Mexico (actually I scored mine at Mohawk General Store) and crack a Bohemia...

photo via flickr

and to keep the party rolling let's start a new recipe exchange - your favorite ways to ditch the cold...smoothies, grapefruits, lemons galore, cocktails, something colorful, lighter, more fun!...you know the drill...sign up here and I'll link up everyday!! Yeah! Can't wait...in the meantime how are keeping cabin fever at bay?

xoxo, M

PS - I think I'm finally getting the hang of Twitter if you just need more of my random thoughts....

Everyday Obsessions {23} - Cheryl Taylor, Still The Sky Is Blue

 I think I'm about to give away one of my biggest style resources but Cheryl of Still the sky is Blue is just too good not to share...California girl, artist, mama and all around cool girl, I swear my credit card starts to get hot every time she posts one of her great finds...so enjoy her Everyday Obsessions and then peruse her excellent blog for more must haves!! Thanks Cheryl!!

In My Closet:
jeans - MiH Jeans
on my feet - Isabel Marant Ankle boots, Repetto ballet flats, and Bensimon tennis shoes.
accessory - My Mayle bags, and my new favorite is my Clare Vivier Mini Sac.
jewelry - My antique gold snake ring with ruby eyes, BRVTVS Porcia bracelet from my best friend, My Grandmother's watch, and a large blue druzy agate ring I bought in Italy.

Beauty Secrets:
Skin -I can not go a day with out using Weleda Iris bar soap, Jurlique Calendula Cream, and Jurlique Sun Lotion SPF 30.
makeup - Jane Iredale mineral powder, Shu Uemura painting gel liner, and lipstick queen lipstick in Rose Sinner.
scent - Saffron James Ume
Hair- My shampoo and conditioner are by Bumble + Bumble (Seaweed), and I use Weleda's Rosemary Hair Oil once a week.

In My Kitchen:
cookbook - La Cuisine by Francoise Bernard, I Know How to Cook by Ginette Mathiot, and Chez Panisse cookbooks.
gadget - Espresso machine...without it i would be lost.
30 min easy recipe - Carrot Ginger Soup
can't live w/o ingredient - Butter!

Home:
walls - I am picky about the Art I end up putting on the walls.  My Husband and I are artists, and we both feel weird about putting our own work up. We mostly put up thrifted paintings and prints, art work from our friends, and my daughter's art work, of course!
bedding - Waiting for the day to buy a John Robshaw set!
flowers - Sweet Peas, Poppies,  and Peonies.
favorite design source - Movie's from the 60's and 70's

Pop Culture Extra Credit:
on my nightstand - The current issue of The Paris Review and The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.
on my tivo - Pretty much every Bravo show (bad habit), Dexter, Fashion Police on E! i do balance those wonderful, but mindless shows with the occasional Masterpiece Theatre and Nova.
in my ipod - Nick Cave, Jens Lekman, Hem, Brigitte Bardot, Francoise Hardy, Broadcast, Nick Drake...

Bubble Gum...POP!

I had this whole deep thinking post in mind about how this was the year I was really embracing being a "grown-up" (because 35 seems to be the time to stop calling yourself a girl?)...how it was sexier, easier, more confident than your giddy twenties and how the women I was really interested in/inspired by were a little more complicated, had a little gravitas, were raising families and being honest about the life they lead while still managing to keep an edge of glamour about them...but then 13 year old Hailee Steinfeld showed up at the SAG awards in this bubblegum dress by Prada and suddenly this looked like a lot more fun, no?  It also ties in nicely with a conversation I had with my sis-n-law this weekend (who has a 13 yr old) about who girls can/should admire these days...if Miss Steinfeld's performance in True Grit and sartorial run this awards season are any indication, she's definitely one to watch!

Cheers!

xo, M

Major, Major Sale - 50- 70% 0ff! (plus a little sneak peek)

Knowing that ridiculously awesome pieces, like this one from Lizzie Fortunato, are on their way to the shop for spring makes my little heart go pitter patter...

and that also means saying goodbye to all the gorgeous F/W lovelies that are left...like this killer bag by Fleabags...but the show must go on so all markdowns are now 50% off or more!! (and when you spend $150 + take an additional 25% off using "wintersale" at checkout...

  head on over!

Happy Weekend friends!!

xoxo, M

Meet You There?

image here
Okay, friends...I've have about 3 more weeks that I can travel before it's lockdown for me and baby to be...my original plan was to make a quick NYC/Boston trip to see my besties but honestly the thought of going from cold weather to cold weather is making me drag my feet a bit...sooooo, why don't we all meet up at the Ace in Palm Springs? Don't you need a quick getaway...somewhere warm, wear caftans, do some thifting, drink some cocktails poolside (I'll just fake it)? C'mon...

Hope to see you there...

xoxo, M

ps - Seriously, I'm not kidding! Feb 5/6thish? Feb 12/13th?? grab your best gal pal or your baby (ahem Jora & Ann)! let's plan it - we can still be spontaneous, right?

Current Crushes

 My entire spring wardrobe in one fell swoop - Oh Steven Alan you get me everytime...

 Kanye bakes? Why not??

 Heath + Commune = yes, please...

via Nadia

Do you ever feel like that kind of parent? Glad to know I'm in good company...

 John Lennon in Rolling Stone

love these snaps of John, Yoko, & Sean in Japan...

my favorite new pants (hey, they have zippers at the bottom - that qualifies as not sweatpants right?)

and if it has to be winter for 3 more months at least I can aspire to this...

photo by Garance

Happy Wednesday! xoxo, M

A Little Substance

image via  Paris Hotel Boutique

I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm a little burnt out on the fashion rags of late...I think it's time to dive into something with a little substance (dare I say it, an actual book - just kidding, I do love to read just can't seem to find the time) So what's on your nightstand these days? I've been wanting to pick up Steve Martin's Object of Beauty and Patti Smith's Just Kids has been getting rave reviews...Chris has Keith Richard's new autobio that I could snag while he's buried in one of his history tomes...speaking of history, I love a good historical fiction novel - the Josephine trilogy is pretty fantastic if that's your thing...I've always wanted a good Frida bio and have picked up Life with Picasso at the library but never started it...any recommendations? Mind you, not too much substance and I like to steer clear of anything too tragic - incest, rape, child kidnapping, etc do not make a good read for moi...

On the store front, I just restocked Dream Collective, so if you've been pining away for one of Kathryn's AHmazing cuffs they are back...(and new goodies for spring soon!)

xoxo, M

ps - thank you, thank you for all your lovely, amazing comments yesterday - you girls are my favorite thing about this little space...

A Splash of this and a Dash of That

Friday night, kid in bed, hubby in Vegas, tivo exhausted, I thought I'd have a little pity party and scan twitter for all the goings on over at Alt...caught a little link "Best in Up and Coming Blogs" and scanned the list for some new reading material - but lo and behold there was my goofy blog (maybe a typo? but I'm assuming the dear, lovely Joslyn was responsible for the mention)...I really wanted to run outside and turn a couple of cartwheels but the -5 temps were a little daunting (and I'm pretty sure that gymnastics and pregnant bellies are a little off limits?)... if you're checking out the list (oh so many of my faves and new ones to discover) here's a little snapshot of what's cooking over here:

Pretty Mommy Cocktail:
Take one slightly frazzled mommy
2 cups unhealthy obsession with fashion
1 heaping helping of 3 year old hijinks and 1 baby on the way
Some good tunes courtesy of the mister (heavy on the cute, indie rock boy variety)
Long Hair, Bangs, Red Nails, and a little leopard print
a bit of good design with a pinch of tacky
a pitcher full of pink
1glass of champagne when no one is looking
2 tsp homesickness for Austin, TX and 3 tsp bitching about Minnesota Winters
A generous TBSP of inspiration from style muses Sofia C, Joslyn, Garance, LA girls HBT & Jeana Sohn, et al
muddle with Lots and lots of love for all my fellow blogettes
throw in a busy little boutique*
shake, stir, stay up too late watching Tivo then wake up at 6 am with a little miss and see what happens...

xoxo, M

images above: a few things I never get tired of: anything by Banquet and esp her new gold heart print, simple & pink plank chair, Willie and Texas nights, a well packed suitcase, an armful of Dream Collective bracelets, a modern icon and an artist's muse...via pinterest

*since this is already a totally self indulgent post I might as well mention my shop, full of things I love, mostly designed by women (with one cute boy - John Robshaw - in the mix), mainly made in the USA, and a healthy dose of sustainable products - whew! - a few highlights - handbags by Clare Vivier, Organic clothing by Stewart + Brown & Lina Rennell, jewelry by Bosquez, Dream Collective by Kathryn Bentley & Laura Lombardi, Virginia Johnson & Matta scarves and lots of other fun goodies...