Pint-Sized Finds for 40oz-Sized People

Happy Monday, lovely people!  It was a glorious, glorious fall weekend here in New York.  The weather was perfect for farmers' marketing (check), meeting friends for dinner (check), and family walks in the park (check, check, check). Let's dive right into the gathering, shall we?

This here is Mary Kate Steinmiller, pictured on The Sartorialist. Do you love her outfit? I love her outfit. Here's a secret: that sweater? It's a kids' sweater!
This is why that makes me so excited: I'm a big, big fan of buying kids' clothes for myself. Wearing kids' clothes is a great way to save money, and you'll be wearing something you can be pretty sure that no one else in your social circle will be rocking, unless you're a teacher. And, because I'm short, some pieces fit better than adult versions because they're shorter in the torso and sleeves. 

Here are some pieces I'm considering adding to my closet this fall: 

Kids' Fisherman's sweater, L.L. Bean

 Laundered Shirt, Mini Boden

 

Two-Button Schoolboy Blazer, Crewcuts

525 Knit Sweater, Berkeley Girl

Even kids' accessories are cute sometimes, and can add a fun touch to your outfit if you, unlike me, don't want to go rummaging around in the kids' department for your clothes, or if your body fits better in clothes cut for adults.

Kids' Timex Camper Watch, Crewcuts

Just remember, my darlings, one piece at a time. The key is to mix pieces with other stuff to make them unrecognizable as kids' clothes. A boys' blazer with a rumpled button-up shirt, skinny jeans and oxfords = effortlessly cool. A boys' blazer with khakis and a white polo shirt = grade school uniform. Keeping that in mind, your sartorial hunting grounds have just expanded--go forth and explore!

P.S. We're participating in My Pretty Mommy's recipe exchange. Every day for the next few weeks, Michelle will have folks over to her blog to share their favorite recipes with you, and we'll be telling you lovely folks about what's cooking over there. Be sure to check out Michelle's recipe for Taco Soup here! 

Time after Time

Happy Monday, Friends! 
I'm back from a week in sunny California visiting my parents. While we were there, my mom pulled out a book that used to be my absolute all-time favorite, Katy No-Pocket. I've been thinking about how wonderful kids' authors and illustrators seem to really understand childhood--they are able to capture and recreate what it means to be a kid; the emotions, understandings (and misunderstandings) about how the world works, and things that are universally mysterious or humorous to all kids.The classics are so clearly delineated from other kids' books; while the former seem timeless and have stories or word patterns that appeal to kids (and adults) generation after generation, the latter seem dated and out of touch within a few years (or months) of being published, and generally don't appeal to adults at all. We'll deal with newer classics later, but for those of you searching for new (old) bedtime stories, here are just a few folks who I think will appeal to both you and your child(ren). Not that you need your own kids to enjoy these works. I've included links to online booksellers, but be sure to support your local bookstore or library when you can (online, you can shop here or here)!

H.A. Rey
Rey's wife, Margaret, wrote the stories for Curious George, and Rey illustrated them. I think we can all agree that the old Curious George is so much more appealing than the new one (I'm not even going to post a picture of the new one here). 

 

Left: Katy No-Pocket;Right: Unpublished drawing of Curious George 

Ezra Jack Keats

Oh my gosh, these books. They are gorgeous. Keats used collage and painting to illustrate his books, and sets his stories against an urban backdrop. I have a soft spot in my heart for The Snowy Day, since being from California and not seeing snow fall until I was 21,  it was this book that taught me about snow.

Left:  The Snowy Day; Right: Whistle for Willie

Leo Lionni
Lionni was an ad man, apparently, and only published kids' books later on in life. His books have wonderful lessons, and are good fodder for conversations about values and priorities. 

Left: Fish is Fish; Right: Frederick

Maurice Sendak
I know, I know, you may be Sendak'ed out from the Where the Wild Things Are movie (which I loved, by the way--the blog that went along with the movie is also awesome, as is Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze's documentary about Sendak). But hear me out. Sendak wrote and illustrated other stuff, too. All of which is fantastic and fantastical. How wonderful and rich are these illustrations? I spent hours as a kid pouring over his books; I am betting Emi will do the same.

In the Night Kitchen

Left: Little Bear (also a case in which the re-do doesn't do justice to the original); Right: Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present, by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by Sendak

I've left so many out in the interest of space and brevity, but I would love to hear: what are your favorite classic kids' books?

Fall Faux Bois

Although yesterday's weather felt like summer and the farmer's market still has a bounty of tomatoes and even some late season strawberries, I'm wrapped in an afghan in front of a roaring fire and drinking mulled cider with the smell of pumpkin bread wafting from the oven. Ok, not really. Aside from the fact that our fireplace is of the non-working variety, I can also recognize that we're still in the hints of fall phase and haven't yet reached full immersion into the season. I'm just getting a little giddy at the prospect of cool, crisp air, tall boots, honeycrisp apples, and coziness. I'm ready for a good dose of coziness right about now. 

Since I can't escape to a rustic cabin in the woods (and it's probably a little premature for that anyway), I find myself drawn to wood, or rather things that resemble wood. If you too need some little reminders of fall to tide you over until the real thing hits in full force, see if some of these faux bois goodies will do the trick for you. There's something for everyone.

When you need to give a little gift:

Clockwise from top: Chocolate covered oreos by sweetiesbykim; Guest soap by Gianna Rose Atelier; Wood you be mine by somethingshidinginhere

If you crave something shiny:

Left to right: Woodgrain ring by ballandchain; Tree bark wedding bands by BethCyrWeddings

If your guy (or you) needs to carry something:

Left to right: Gentleman's crafty apron by PollyDanger; Woody bag by Jack Spade

If your child's (or your own) wall looks a little bare:

Left to right: Mobile Print by JennSki; ABC Chart by Studiolyon

If you want to spruce up your living room (That wasn't meant to be a terrible pun, but it kind of made me laugh when I read it to myself.  It would probably be better if I didn't admit that, huh?):

Left to right: Martha Stewart Faux Bois Rug; Michael Aram Bark Collection Vases (We got these as a wedding gift and they make me as happy today as the day we received them)

I Scream, You Scream

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing weekend. Jordy was home on Saturday (which is a rarity, given his surgical intern schedule), so we went for a little family trip to the greenmarket. I scored some unreal peaches, and set about making a crisp. Not content to let the crisp go un-creamy-ed, I also made this brown butter ice cream. Folks, this is the real deal-- our dinner guests on Saturday night said it was the best ice cream they'd ever had, and I would think that they were just trying to flatter me, but I totally agreed. And as you all know, I am not shy about my undying love for ice cream, and my desire to eat it as a meal. This may be an understatement, but to state it correctly would require some profanity that would make most of you blush, so let's just say this: I am absolutely cuckoo over this recipe. I was going to take a picture on Sunday of the left-over ice cream, but it turns out there wasn't even a little bit left. I think I may have even caught Jordy in the freezer licking the container clean.

(image)
The fall weather also usually gets me down, since it signals the end of the official ice cream eating season, but this ice cream dish isn't summery--the flavor profile is perfect for autumn desserts--apple pie, plum cobbler, and even pumpkin pies. With these great ice cream accessories, and that perfect recipe, I will be extending ice-cream-as-a-meal to a year-round sport. There are plenty of spots on my team, if you care to join.

These may be my favorite thing ever. I don't like the taste of cones, but love the process of eating ice cream cones. Dilemna: solved.

Sugar Cones, Virginia Sin

This ice cream scoop blows me away. Everything in the Herriott Grace shop is pure perfection. And I would love tea towel when it's freezing outside as a reminder that summer is on its way back again.

Left:Ice Cream Scoop, Herriott Grace (It's not in the shop yet, but Nikole says it will be in there with the next update. Be prepared to race me for it. By the looks of her Flickr stream, you'll also have to race me for her new spoons and flour scoop, too.); Right: Ice Cream Lollies tea towel, Mr.PS

Ice cream + letterpress = love, and even though it's not a bowl, I could totally eat ice cream sandwiches off of this I is for Ice Cream plate.

Left: Ice Cream Letterpress Cards, 3pk, SeeSaw Designs;  Right, I for Ice Cream-Alphabet Ceramic Plate, Just Noey

Have a great Monday, everyone, and I hope that you get to eat your favorite thing for at least one meal today. I'm off to have some coffee and rev up the ice cream maker!

Instead of working

We hope you get to lounge in bed,

go on an adventure,

or just lie on the grass and watch the clouds pass by.

Have a lovely Labor Day!

From top to bottom: Sunday Morning by TheDizzyPixie; Bicycles by LolasRoom; Summer by HoneyTree; Summer as Seen Through Grasses by judemcconkey

Happy Birthday, Elisabeth!

Hello, friends! I hope you all had weekends that were equally restful and exciting. Today is Elisabeth's birthday (and I bet she's sitting at home right now cursing me for telling you this). She's not too fond of getting super personal on the blog, so I'll keep the gushing minimal-ish.

When I first met Elisabeth four years ago in grad school, we became fast friends, bonding quickly over our love of all things Northern California, our quirky dogs, and our eerily similar husbands. Since then, our friendship has become one of my most valued relationships. Elisabeth is kind, generous to a fault, and one of the most loyal and solid friends that I've ever had. Plus, she's the best cook ever. 

Elisabeth, I hope you have a hot cup of coffee made for you when you get up,

Left: Central Park Mug, Fishs Eddy; Happy Birthday, Coffeestencil

Plenty of nautical-themed goodness throughout your day,

Left: Happy Birthday Matey, Egg Press ; Right: Carrick No. 2, Fort
 

And something sweet after each meal (and hopefully in-between).

Left: 4 Layer Cake, Paul Ferney; Right: a bundle of cake flags!, Herriott Grace
 

You're an amazing friend and an inspiring person. Happy, happy birthday, and many happy returns.
xo

Gathering Experiences

Hi there, we hope you had a lovely weekend. Elisabeth is recovering from a long journey home from a week of family fun with Dod and Claire (we can't wait to hear about her trip), and I'm revving back up after a restful (but productive) weekend at home with Jordy and Emi. I've been thinking a lot lately about money (haven't we all, right?)--how we spend it, what we choose to spend it on, and what those choices have to do with our overall happiness. Part of it is this article from the Times that I know sparked a few discussions in the blog world, part of it is this post on decor8 about the gorgeous print below by Lizzy Janssen, and part of it is Jordy and I trying to manage on his resident income with me having abandoned my safe trajectory to take a stab at making a living being creative (and to raise a baby, but that's a story for another day).

The other day, Emi and I were in the East Village running some errands, when I remembered that there is a photobooth in the basement of The Smith. I spent $6 on two strips of photos that I easily could have spent on something else, but the satisfaction that I got from this particular purchase couldn't have been topped by anything else, $6 or $600. So for this week's gathering column, here are some ideas for inexpensive experiences that will hopefully leave you feeling like you spent your money well.

Hop into a photobooth (obviously one of my favorites, since that's what sparked this post)!

{taken in the photobooth at The Smith}
Find one near you on this neat-o website, which is seriously one of the best online resources out there. Feel free to bring props, but don't feel compelled to.

Take a(n extended) trip to the greenmarket.

{Image by my dear friend Meg}
I know, I know, you do this anyway. But this time, make a commitment to stay after you've gotten your run-of-the mill stuff. Listen to music, pick up an extra nectarine to eat on a park bench, seek out the most exotic produce you can find, and resolve to cook it exactly the way the person at the booth tells you to. I always think that I won't find something new, but I do almost every time if I'm looking. Or put yourself completely at the whims of the purveyor. My mom always does this and comes home with amazing produce every time. You can come home with super delicious stuff if you ask "What's good this week and how would you make it?"

Attend the opening reception for a show that you'd like to see.

{Image by Stina Persson, whose other work is also amazing, amazing, amazing}
Many of these are free, and you can find them pretty easily if you stay connected with your local galleries. You'll meet new and interesting people, and see artwork that you might not see otherwise. I myself am itching to go to this one. How gorgeous is this work by Stina Persson (you should go look at her work right this very second--it's seriously beautiful)?

Take a class or workshop.

{image by Michelle, taken during a Lomo workshop}
Obviously, some classes are way more expensive than others. Michelle from It Rained on a Friday gave me the heads-up on this one: Lomography offers workshops that are around $10 and you get a loaner camera and a roll of film. If you're lucky enough to live by one of their stores, you can look for listings here.

Clearly, these are just a few ideas; I hope they are off-the-beaten-path enough to be helpful. Though we post lots of things you can buy on this blog, we are big proponents of the idea that things don't make you as happy as relationships and experiences. What about you--what relationships and/or experiences have made you happy? Have any things managed to make you happy (cough*my ice cream maker*cough...although I would argue that that's because it provides an experience)?

Have a happy Monday, everyone, and don't forget to enter our giveaway with Brookelyn Photography!

xo!

Honey, Have You Seen My Keys?

I try to make "I love you" the phrase that my husband hears from me most. I'm afraid, however, that he likely most often hears "Have you seen my keys?" Maybe if I was using a cute little keychain instead of the flimsy ring that my apartment keys came on, I would be more likely to keep track of them. Here are a few that I am considering:

I would love to stash my keys on this--how much better would this pouch be than the little plastic bone to carry my bright blue conspicuous poo bags for walking the dog?

Pouchette Key Purse by Opelle

I love that this is cheeky; I feel like whimsy is right at home on a key chain.

Super Moustache Vinyl Keyring by Magesty, Inc.

Oh, Jack Spade, you get me every time. I love, love, love this. And it's in keeping with the dipped trend, recently spotted in the August issue of MSL.

Dipped Key Clip by Jack Spade

Have a happy Monday, everyone!

Office Goodies to Make You Grin

Unless you're lucky enough to have an entire room dedicated to work endeavors, you're probably resigned to being productive in a spot that is in at least partial view from the non-work areas in your home. Maybe your home decor style can aptly be described as Staples chic, but if not, you may be seeking office supplies that don't beg for fluorescent lights and tinny renditions of soft rock classics. Here are some to consider:

Clockwise from top left: Miniature Ceramic Rainbow Factory by PearsonMaron; Dream Big by JohnWGoldman; Iphone/Ipod Docking Station by LichenWoods; You Are Here Now by Farouche

Clockwise from top left: Wooden Tape Dispenser and Japanese Masking Tape by UGUiSU; Paper Wrapped Pencils by missisaau; Vintage Erasers at deathmachine; Coccoina Glue Sticks (they're non-toxic and smell like almonds!) at littlepinkstudio

Clockwise from top left: Clipboard and File Folders by Urban Posture; Sticky Notes by MichelleBrusegaard; Recycle Bin Letter Book by erinzam via Poppytalk's Back to School Marketplace; Pencil/Schedule Pocket by presentandcorrect; Manifesto Word Series Notebook by roughdrAftbooks via Poppytalk's Back to School Marketplace

Beyond Reusable Totes

At this point reusable totes have become a way of life for most of us. I keep a couple in each of my purses for unexpected errands and have found them surprisingly useful on vacations when we decide to go on an impromptu picnic or end up needing an extra beach bag. Of course the place we all probably use them most is at the grocery store. The part that always drove me crazy about that was that I used to use paper grocery bags for recycling or art projects, so I never felt like I was wasting them. It was those plastic bags full of produce and bulk bin items that just got tossed every time. Add in ziploc bags used for food storage or snacks and that's a whole lot of wasted plastic bags (sure, you can rinse and reuse a ziploc, but they start to get pretty weak after a couple times).

All of that is why I started to explore the world beyond the reusable tote. And guess what? Most of these bags are actually better suited to their purposes and more convenient (not to mention prettier) than the plastic bags you're used to. Here are a few to consider:

Produce bags by Love for Earth and Baggu. These are ideal produce bags because the checker can easily identify what you have without opening the bag.

Bulk bin bags by Chow Chow, Elly Bags, and Wonder Thunder.

Sandwich bags by Love for Earth. These are easy to shake out or rinse out for cleaning and some are even insulated.

Snack bags by Evelyn Fields. These are great for one day use, but you wouldn't want to store food in them overnight because it will go stale.