October 2010 Archives - not your average ordinary

Entries from 29 October 2010

Oct 29

It probably doesn’t surprise you to hear I have a sweet tooth — after all, baking is my thing. Halloween is particularly dangerous time for very obvious reasons. In the last two years, resisting candy has gotten easier, in part because I just prefer eating my own baked treats to things that come in packages, and in part because when I buy Halloween candy, I purposefully get candy I don’t like.

Kit Kats I still go a bit crazy over though. When my brother and I were young, I’d always trade my Butterfingers for his Kit Kats. So worth it.

What was your favorite Halloween candy? And do you have any plans for the day? Have an exciting weekend and happy witching hour, dear friends!

{images here and here}

33 CommentsHistory, Merriment

Paper + Cup

Oct 28

These bon bon buttons from Paper + Cup would be the perfect treat for the middle of what’s proving to be a long school quarter.

And then I saw the bookworm greeting cards. A few hours of sending some notes would be good for me, right?

{images from Paper + Cup}

19 CommentsDiscoveries

The Imagination Room

Oct 27

Besides a library in my home, I want an imagination room. Something with large windows so the starlight can stream in at night…

Maybe a bit of stained glass too…

Somewhere I could put a tent made of sheets…

A large open space that I could fill with dreams.

There would be an empty bookcase that hid a secret passage to the library, a wall full of inspiring quotes and images, and lots of white lights. I once planned out the perfect space for it all. And I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

What would you have in your imagination room?

{images here, here, here, here, and here}

31 CommentsHome, Luminosity

As Light as a Feather

Oct 26

Did you ever play that game when you were a teenager? I remember waiting until midnight with a group of friends, one of us lying on the ground, the others with just two fingers underneath. We were never successful in lifting the person, but it always was fun. Honestly, I always kind of wandered what would have happened if we had tried it on Halloween.

These necklaces from tinctory remind me a bit of that game: they have that haunting lightness to them. Aren’t they beautiful?

{images from tinctory, discovered via Inspired Shares}

28 CommentsDiscoveries, Style

“mark it with a b”

Oct 25

On Saturday, I had the chance to hang out with Lillian at Artisanal LA (you can read more about it all week on my foodie blog, pizzelles). We had a blast — and ate a lot of delicious food. One of my favorite booths was put together by the ladies at Bakelab. They had that perfect combination of bakery and science lab going on, all the way down to the fantastic lab coats.

Besides their amazing goodies, they also sell cute shirts, aprons, and cards. They even have classes.

I told them I’d be willing to move to Los Angeles for a job at the Bakelab.

Lillian should have more photos of the event up on her blog today, including one of the two of us. Do go over and check them out.

Did you have a lovely weekend?

{all photos by me}

34 CommentsSavored, The West Coast

Extra Reading

Oct 22

Katie posted this photo of Nigella Lawson in her library earlier this week and I was completely blown away. I then decided to make it my life’s mission to have this room, though I’ll be practical and not steal Nigella’s. You can see why I’m in love, yes? High ceiling, books overflowing everywhere (do you think she’s read them all?) — the room has a wonderfully old-fashioned feel to it.

How has your week been, friends? I had my first paper of the quarter to write this week, and I feel bad for disappearing from the blogosphere. Promise I’ve been reading all your posts, even if I’ve had no time to comment on them. You’ve made my week a little brighter, don’t doubt that. I’m taking a break from all the schoolwork tomorrow and am driving up to LA for this foodie event. I can’t wait!

Have a splendid fall weekend! Perhaps there will be some pumpkin carving or Halloween costume hunting in your future? Or perhaps just a nice leisurely bike ride to one of the last farmer’s markets of the year?

{image via the neo-traditionalist, originally from House & Garden}

22 CommentsHome

Bringing Back the Hat

Oct 22

Since I started the week with autumn coats, I thought it might be appropriate to end on hats. I don’t give hats much consideration, perhaps because I think they often look funny on me. But I do like them a lot. M thinks it’s funny that it’s difficult for me to see in the one blue winter hat I wear when it’s snowing; I do like that it makes me feel like a kid, all bundled up in warmth.

It’d be fun to bring the hat back year round though, and I did fall for several in Anthropologie’s collection. I mean, have you seen the cafe video of the girl in the cute hat? Tell me a story and I’m totally sucked in. (And after the bakery video, all I want to do with my life is visit lovely little bakeries in adorable clothing.)

So, tell me, what do you think your first hat would be?

{hats from Anthropologie}

12 CommentsStyle

Studio Choo

Oct 21

What I didn’t know about Jill Pilotte from small stump (a favorite) is that she had teamed up with her best friend Alethea Harampolis to create studio choo, a sweet place to find lovely floral arrangements.

And let me tell you: these ladies know how to set the scene. Out for a walk on the farm? Having a picnic under the shade of some gorgeous tree?

Sitting down with family and friends for a rustic Italian dinner?

Oh, and were you thinking of having a party?

Yeah, these two ladies have you covered. Check out all their beautiful photographs here and then stop by their shop and blog for more goodness.

{photos from small stumps/studio choo}

18 CommentsDiscoveries, Merriment

A Collection of Calendars

Oct 20

Twelve Months of Decrees by Stating the Obvious

2011 Printable Calendar by Bits + Pieces

Tea Towel Wall Calendar by Cicada Studio

A Foods Calendar by The English Muffin Shop

Pantone Calendar by Mutant Media

A Delicate Calendar by Satsuma Press

After years of missing out on the best calendars, I learned it’s useful to start thinking of them quite early.

Do you have any favorites for 2011 out there? I’m keeping my options open right now.

26 CommentsDiscoveries

Kraft Paper

Oct 19

Like many other people, I’ve been fixated on having chalkboard walls for some time. My problem? I’m not a huge fan of chalk. Or chalk dust. Or that squeaky sound chalk sometimes makes that compels you to run screaming through the streets.

Luckily, Sarah has solved this problem with rolls of Kraft paper. Brilliant idea, no?