thank you for the days.

Fridays are for Families: I can't imagine why my husband sent this to me...

2011-11-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

Hilarious.

(Credit unknown)

Music and Movie Mondays: Bone & Bell

2011-11-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

Check out new artist Bone & Bell. I think you'll really enjoy the dreamy vocal stylings. And who can resist a ukelele?

Listen here. My favorites are Flying, Falling, Crawling and O' The Death of the Caspian Sea.

Full disclosure: I went to high school with Heather Smith, the brains (and beauty!) behind this operation. But it's actually really good. Just ask NPR! Or Peter Bjorn & John!

Top photo by Kristy Ralston, bottom photo by C.B. Lindsay.

Fridays are for Families: Bedtime

2011-11-11T11:23:00.000-08:00

Doesn't everyone deserve his/her own pillow?

$30 Thursdays: A few more calendars

2011-11-10T08:41:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. I already did a post on this. But I couldn't resist sharing these!

$25 (maybe my favorite one yet...there's a bear, after all):

$25 (for when you're feeling optimistic...):

$20 (...or pessimistic--but determined nevertheless):

$30:

Wednesday Wishlist: Mrs. Pomeranz

2011-11-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

As a result of several recent ill-fitting purchases, I've sworn off online clothes-shopping. (Please don't remind me of this later when I give in!) But the dresses from Mrs. Pomeranz are so lovely that I may need to make an exception. And she'll even make custom pieces for you, if you have some extra shillings!

Tuesdays are for Traveling: getaway girl

2011-11-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

I'm headed to Fredericksburg, Texas on Friday for a ladies' weekend. On our itinerary: hiking, drinking, lots and lots of sausage and beer (it's a German town!), hair braiding, you name it. How I wish that Caroline over at greedy girl could design the perfect getaway outfit for me. Have you seen her recurring post "getaway girl"? Genius. The best ones? Taos, Memphis, and Marfa.

She did this one for Portland, but maybe it would work for Fredericksburg? Of course, I'm not the expert...

Music and Movie Mondays: The New Classics

2011-11-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

Slate just published a story on "the most enduring books, shows, movies, and ideas since 2000." Some of them are pretty good. The Wire? I'm into that. The iPod? Who could argue.

But..

I will be seriously depressed if I Gotta Feeling is how future generations remember this decade...

Please don't even play that video I posted.

Fridays are for Families: Bookplates

2011-11-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

Doing anything fun this weekend? We're baptizing Violet on Sunday, so we have family in town. Which means lots and lots of eating. Yay!

Now, how about these fantastic bookplates? I love love love them.

$30 Thursdays: J.Crew Sale

2011-11-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

J. Crew has some great stuff on sale right now. Just when I'm getting excited about fall, they make me miss summer! So, for any of you headed off to the southern hemisphere...

$29.99:

$24.99:

$9.99:

$24.99:

$19.99:

$29.99:

Wishlist Wednesdays: Love letters

2011-11-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well, before I get started, I want to acknowledge that I've been a TERRIBLE friend to you all. I've completely abandoned you these last two weeks. Sorry, everybody! Work has been just crazy and I haven't had a moment to spare between 90 hour weeks and trying to see my fam every once in a while.

But I'm back! I hope you haven't been too lonely without me. ;) Now...to my wishlist:

Who wouldn't want to get one of these beautiful love letters? All you have to do is come up with something nice to say and the folks at paperfinger will write it out for you in the most amazing calligraphy. (Ahem, Beau.)

$30 Thursdays: Dishtowels. Yes, dishtowels.

2011-10-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

"Sweet! Dishtowels!" you must be thinking.

Or not.

But, for real, there are some super-awesome dishtowels out there. Looky here:

$18:

$16:

$18:

$10 (I have these. My friends joke that I have scarves hanging on my oven door):

$26:

Almost makes me want to do some dishes. Almost.

Wishlist Wednesdays: It's diamond day!

2011-10-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

How rad is this vintage ring?

Um...I hate to ask...but does anyone have $20,000 I could borrow?

Wishlist Wednesdays: Diamond earrings

2011-10-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

These diamond studs are so simple and lovely. I want them in rose gold.

Tuesdays are for Traveling: Macchu Picchu

2011-10-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to go here some day.

Canto XII from The Heights of Macchu Picchu

Arise to birth with me, my brother.
Give me your hand out of the depths
sown by your sorrows.
You will not return from these stone fastnesses.
You will not emerge from subterranean time.
Your rasping voice will not come back,
nor your pierced eyes rise from their sockets.
Look at me from the depths of the earth,
tiller of fields, weaver, reticent shepherd,
groom of totemic guanacos,
mason high on your treacherous scaffolding,
iceman of Andean tears,
jeweler with crushed fingers,
farmer anxious among his seedlings,
potter wasted among his clays--
bring to the cup of this new life
your ancient buried sorrows.
Show me your blood and your furrow;
say to me: here I was scourged
because a gem was dull or because the earth
failed to give up in time its tithe of corn or stone.
Point out to me the rock on which you stumbled,
the wood they used to crucify your body.
Strike the old flints
to kindle ancient lamps, light up the whips
glued to your wounds throughout the centuries
and light the axes gleaming with your blood.
I come to speak for your dead mouths.
Throughout the earth
let dead lips congregate,
out of the depths spin this long night to me
as if I rode at anchor here with you.
And tell me everything, tell chain by chain,
and link by link, and step by step;
sharpen the knives you kept hidden away,
thrust them into my breast, into my hands,
like a torrent of sunbursts,
an Amazon of buried jaguars,
and leave me cry: hours, days and years,
blind ages, stellar centuries.

And give me silence, give me water, hope.

Give me the struggle, the iron, the volcanoes.

Let bodies cling like magnets to my body.

Come quickly to my veins and to my mouth.

Speak through my speech, and through my blood.

~ Pablo Neruda

Music and Movie Mondays: Best cover song ever?

2011-10-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

Oh, yes.

This puts me in a great mood every single time I hear it.

What are your favorites?

Fridays are for Families: If I could teach Violet anything...

2011-10-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

...it would be that.

(image via marvelous kiddo)

$30 Thursdays: Color pop!

2011-10-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

How about these babies?

$30 Thursdays: Calendars

2011-10-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

2012 is just around the corner...

$30:

$28:

$30 (A birthday calendar. So handy!):

$32 (OK, it's $2 overbudget, but it's so awesome that I couldn't NOT include it):

Wishlist Wednesdays: allen company inc.

2011-10-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

My favorite online vintage shop.

Here and here.

I just bought this 1970s fair isle sweater from them:

Wishlist Wednesdays: Wishing these cups were still available

2011-10-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

How awesome are these? Totally weird and beautiful at the same time. My favorite combination.

Let's all write Natalia and tell her she must make more of these lovelies!

Tuesdays are for Traveling: Airport outfits

2011-10-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

What do you wear when you travel? I like to look reasonably put together while staying comfortable. So, my go-to outfit is a silk maxi dress with flip flops and a cardigan.

If you want to see how the stars travel, you can check out this website, devoted entirely to celebrity airport stylings.

Miranda Kerr looks just adorable:

I love Cameron Diaz' white luggage:

I'm not sure what exactly John Mayer's trying to do with that hat:

And, finally, just your basic traveling outfit:

Music and Movie Mondays: I'll Kill Her by SoKo

2011-10-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

Judging from the number of youtube views (over a million!), I bet a few of you have seen this before. I thought it was charming and hilarious. But lots of other people described it as "beautiful" or "haunting" or "disturbing." What's your take?

Fridays are for Families: Family reunion t-shirts

2011-10-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

These awesome t-shirts make me want to organize a family reunion. And I REALLY don't want to organize a family reunion.

Fridays are for Families: FaceTime

2011-10-07T05:46:00.000-07:00

This post is probably a little out of date, but here goes.

I have to travel all the time for work--sometimes a week at a time--and it's tough being away from my family. My babe is only eight months old, so it's not like we can chat on the phone while I'm gone. So, we splurged and bought an iPad2 for the Facetime.

Game-changer.

Facetime is like Skype but it's SO EASY. (Some of you might be thinking "Um, Skype is pretty easy, too." But I'm a technology dinosaur. ;)) You just click on the app and dial either a Mac or another iPad2 or an iPhone and voila! It's made my work schedule so much more bearable.

So thank you, Steve Jobs. You've made my life so much better. Rest in peace.

$30 Thursdays: Orange is the Sun

2011-10-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

I just adore these pieces from Orange is the Sun:

$24:

$28:

$30:

And if you're looking to spend more than $30, check out this one:

Wishlist Wednesdays: No.6 Store

2011-10-05T05:33:00.000-07:00

No. 6 Store makes the best dresses. This is one of my recent faves:

This tank is pretty cool, too:

Tuesdays are for Traveling: Safari!

2011-10-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

When I was a teenager, my family took a trip to Kenya and Tanzania. My aunt lived in Nairobi while she was working for CARE, so we had a fascinating inside look at what it's like to live there. In addition to experiencing the local culture, though, we went to the Maasai Mara for a photographic safari. I'm sure it was incredible but all I can remember is being a mortified 13-year old watching lions mate with my parents. (To be clear, the lions weren't mating with my parents. I was just with my parents watching lions mate with each other. Now that I think about this, it could have been MUCH worse.)

Now that I'm all grown up (and then some), I think I could better appreciate nature in action. How amazing do these uber-luxe places look?

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania

Singita Sabi Sand, Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Singita Kruger National Park, Sweni Lodge, South Africa

ol Donyo Lodge, Mbirikani Group Ranch, Kenya

Mombo and Little Mombo Camps, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Singita Grumeti Reserves, Sasakwa Lodge and Faru Faru Lodge, Tanzania

So many options!

If you don't have a boatload of cash and two weeks of vacation time saved up, you could also check out this place near Glenrose, Texas:

Just like an African safari? Maybe not. But I went with my nieces last year and they LOVED it! Getting to feed the giraffes even made me feel like a kid again.

Music and Movie Mondays: In celebration of vinyl

2011-10-03T04:02:00.000-07:00

Beau and I have become obsessed with our record player lately. Is there anything better than sitting around, listening to records after the baby goes to bed? I don't think so.

Now, does it actually sound better? Or does it just feel better? Who knows. Please don't make me do a taste test--if it doesn't actually sound better, I don't want to know.

Here are a few essentials for your vinyl collection:

Best live album ever recorded. Hands down.

My favorite cover art ever.

Of course.

I love all things Otis. Buy every album you can find. Every single one.

Such a great live EP. I wish I had been at that party!

Wildcard Weekends: Weekend warrior princess

2011-09-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

Go get 'em this weekend.

(pekelsa)

Fridays are for Families: Children's Story Posters

2011-09-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

If I were designing Violet's room today, I'd fill it with these amazing posters:

(via papertastebuds)

$30 Thursdays: bark decor

2011-09-29T04:28:00.000-07:00

Everything from this shop is awesome. Nuff said.

$26:

$18:

$22:

$28 (not that I'm going to wear a midriff shirt anytime soon...):

$26:

$34 (I cheated):

Wishlist Wednesdays: Why do I want these?

2011-09-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

Here and here.

I seem to have a thing for hilarious bear-related items.

Wishlist Wednesdays: A darling dress

2011-09-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

Right?

Tuesdays are for Traveling: If your friend is the one doing the traveling...

2011-09-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

...perhaps you should send her one of these adorable bon voyage postcards as a send off.

Each one is hand-painted!

Music and Movie Mondays: Elvis Perkins

2011-09-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know why Elvis Perkins isn't better known. His music is really lovely.

See?

This little number is called "While You Were Sleeping" and appears on his first album, "Ash Wednesday." I'd also highly recommend Elvis Perkins in Dearland (his second album and, I believe, the name of his band).

Fridays are for Families: Onesies

2011-09-22T22:50:00.000-07:00

As the mom of a seven month old, I can attest to the fact that you can't have too many onesies. I like these:

cactus, gorilla, zebra, construction (via Cup of Jo), willie, and armadillo

And, with fall coming on, I couldn't resist showing you guys this coat and pair of shoes:

What a distinguished little man that would be!

$30 Thursdays: Jewelry

2011-09-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

I'm a jewelry fanatic. While I'd love to wear all Cartier and Harry Winston, I'm afraid that's not in the cards. Here are some great finds for those of us on a budget.

$20:

$25:

$29:

$20:

$24 (Texas pride!):

Wishlist Wednesdays: Fall!

2011-09-21T04:52:00.000-07:00

Here in ATX, it's still in the 90s. But, after this summer, that's feeling downright chilly. So I'm going to jump right into some fall fashion. Let's get cozy!

Gold sweater, jeans, shoes, dress, vegan moccasins

Tuesdays are for Traveling: Prefab Houses

2011-09-20T04:38:00.000-07:00

I'm so into the modern prefab craze. I've never actually been in one of these, but the wee houses look awesome:

If they're actually as cool as they look online, I'd love to have one installed on our property. We have six acres here so we could put it down a pathway and use it as a little guest house or Beau's writing den. Cool, right?

I wouldn't want to order one sight unseen, though. So I was excited to stumble upon this rental wee house on the Oregon coast:

Looks like it's time for a road trip!

Music and Movie Mondays: Five documentaries

2011-09-19T03:54:00.000-07:00

The Fog of War
An Errol Morris Oscar-winning stunner, this film is really just an interview of Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War. Riveting.

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
The filmmakers spent two years with Metallica and chronicled, among other thing, the band's therapy sessions and hiring of a new bassist. I'm not a Metallica gal but the voyeuristic joy of the movie is undeniable.

My Kid Could Paint That
An intriguing look at art, media culture, and making a documentary about people you've come to like.

Lake of Fire
I went back and forth on including this one. It's...intense. And certainly not a movie I'd want to watch a second time. In fact, there were parts I couldn't (and didn't) watch in the first viewing. That being said, it's an incredible piece of filmmaking. It's also fascinating to watch something on a controversial topic where, at the end of the it, you don't know where the filmmaker stands.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
A fascinating inside look into one of the biggest corporate scandals in American history. This film did a great job of explaining what happened and why it was such a big deal.

Wildcard Weekends: Best gift ever

2011-09-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't want to receive this sweet gift?

Fridays are for Families: On a personal note...

2011-09-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

This may be my favorite photo of my little fam...

xoxo
Leslie

Fridays are for Families: Gilt Groupe

2011-09-16T02:58:00.000-07:00

Do you guys ever buy kid stuff on Gilt Groupe? If not, you should check it out. Right now, I'm loving these simple dresses:

$30 Thursdays: Literary edition

2011-09-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

$10.85:

Wishlist Wednesdays: EmersonMade

2011-09-14T05:58:00.000-07:00

Hmmm. What do I want from EmersonMade?

Everything?

Tuesdays are for Traveling: Big Sur Edition

2011-09-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

Big Sur may be my favorite place in the world. It's absolutely magical! Perfect for a trip with someone lovely or with some friends (who hopefully are lovely as well). If you haven't seen it, plan your trip now.

Both times we've been, we flew to the Bay Area (once to SFO and the other time to SJC). Then you have to drive south for about three hours. You can also fly into LA and drive north.

We first went to Big Sur for Beau's 30th birthday back in 2008. We stayed at the breathtaking Post Ranch Inn. It consists of a bunch of bungalows sitting on a wooded ridge between the mountains and the ocean. Incredible.

With very cool architecture:

And beautiful Pacific views from the rooms we couldn't afford. :)

But I guess the view from the restaurant is OK, too:

If you're looking for something romantic, this is it.

We just went back last October for our babymoon. (Did you know about those? Such a great idea!) This time, we stayed at the Ventana Inn and Spa, which I'd also highly recommend. It was definitely one of my favorite hotel rooms:

I took tons of photos for inspiration when I finally get around to renovating our house. Plus, how can you argue with your own hot tub outside? It was chilly and rainy, so we ordered hot chocolate and sat by the fire and listened to All Songs Considered podcasts every night.

Music and Movie Mondays: TV on the Radio

2011-09-12T03:49:00.000-07:00

Has anyone seen the weird and awesome Nine Types of Light? It's this little movie (and album) that TV on the Radio made. This part is hilarious and you'll love the song, too. I promise.

In remembrance.

2011-09-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

Today, we remember those lost.

My mother (pregnant with me) and my brother at the World Trade Center in 1978.

Wildcard Weekends: Weekend reading

2011-09-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

Here's your assignment:

Check out the awesome website poems about internet dating.

Genius.

Fridays are for Families: Calypso St. Barth for Target

2011-09-09T21:04:00.000-07:00

I just got this in the mail:

It's SO cute in person. I can't wait for Violet to wear it to the park tomorrow.

And 9 bucks, y'all.

Fridays are for Families

2011-09-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

Fascinating.

$30 Thursdays: Mugs and such

2011-09-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

There's a lot under $30 that floats my boat. So let's narrow it down with a theme this week, shall we? How about ceramics? I love this stuff. Sometimes I wish I were one of those people whose things all match. Someone who can have kitchen cabinets without doors and all you see are lovely rows of color-coordinated plates and glasses. But I just can't commit. And I can't ever get rid of anything. I swear I'm not a hoarder (eek!)--I'd like to think of myself as just a little sentimental. Most of my coffee mugs got passed down when I went to college so, when I see them, I can't help but think of my folks listening to the radio on Saturday mornings while cooking up some biscuits and gravy. Now let's make some new memories with these beauties!

Wishlist Wednesdays: Totes!

2011-09-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

I hate diaper bags. I don't get why they can't just make them look like regular bags for grown-ups. But with a bebe in tow, I still need big bags to haul stuff around. These would be fantastic:

This one's retro cool:

Utility cool:

Sophisticated fun cool:

Mailbag cool:

Sailor cool:

What are your favorite totes?

Tuesdays are for Traveling: Hola San Antonio!

2011-09-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

Let's get off to a modest start. The fam and I just returned from an almost-overnight to the fabulous Hotel Havana in San Antonio, Tejas. With a new kiddo at home, our travel schedule has been a bit limited. So far, we've only gone on a trip to Marfa (everyone should go! I'll tell y'all about it in a later post) and this little jaunt to SA. But I would highly recommend the Hotel Havana. It's hip and welcoming at the same time, which isn't always easy to find. Like most things San Antonio, the place is also very down-to-earth: They were bit short-staffed when we were there so the head chef even brought us our room service.

"Almost-overnight," you say?

Well, things began well. The hotel looked great:

The inside was lovely, too:

And check out the very cool King Suite, which is quite the deal at less than $200 a night:

The old school fridge was stocked with awesome snacks:

And how about this menu? Yum. We ordered room service (DELICIOUS!) and were all set for a lovely evening...

(That's Violet, by the way...)

(...and that's Beau)

...when our kiddo decided to have a TOTAL meltdown. After three hours (luckily, there was no one in the room next door!), we decided to call it.

We only live an hour away, so home we went. But, hey, my husband thought it was worth it just for the food. No disagreement there. If you're ever in San Antone, check it out!

Hope you guys had a great holiday weekend in some far off place!

Top photo via Traveling Fashionista. Others from my iPhone using ShakeIt.

Welcome to our Grand Opening!

2011-09-05T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hola!

I'm Leslie, a lady in Austin, Texas, where I live with my husband, baby gal, and two pups. You'll get to know all of us.

I like a little structure, so this is what you'll find in my little corner of the internet:

Music and Movie Mondays

I was going to call this one Mu-vies Mondays but, after a gentle eyebrow cock from my husband, decided against it. So it's just boring old "Music and Movies Mondays." New releases? Old faves? You'll find it all right here.

Tuesdays are for Traveling

My favorite spots. My dream destinations. I could go on and on and on.

Wishlist Wednesdays

Can I please have this stuff?

$30 Thursdays

Now this I can afford.

Fridays are for Families

With a six-month-old kiddo at home, it's a whole new world for me. So let's chat about

motherhood/wifedom/sisterville/daughterton. (Really, this is just a ploy to get free advice.)

Wildcard Weekends

Can you stand the suspense?

Now, seeing as it's Monday, let's start with our first edition of Mu-vies, er, Music and Movie Mondays:

In honor of our inaugural post, everyone should take a listen to the lovely song from which this blog's title is taken--The Kinks' Days. Play this at my funeral, please.

See you tomorrow!