Happy New Year....

Funny, my trainer texted to check up on me...  I  texted back telling him that I would be going to the gym  today before the NYE festivities. Oops.  Honestly, couldn't be bothered. My excuse is that my i-phone wouldn't sync to i-tunes, and my old playlists aren't cutting it.  After all,  a girl needs work out music to stay motivated.  I'm walking to the party I have to go to tonight,  so that counts as exercise, no?

I guess it's time to get back on the treadmill, just like these Corgis.  Here's to keeping resolutions of all sorts and a fantastic 2011!    xoxo

Neststyling...

I've decided to take the plunge and putting a serious bid on a loft apartment for sale.   I've been talking about doing this for at least 5 years and decided 2011 is the year to do it. GULP.   Since I put the bid down, I've been scouring all the shelter blogs  for design inspiration.   I'm leaning towards a mix between rustic and contemporary design. Here are few images that caught my eye:

But maybe these images are a little too one-note?

I really do like the idea of a minimalistic, all white, neutral color palate,  but realistically that style is too  austere and  dull for everyday life.  Perhaps adding pieces or objects that add an element of color here and there will give the spaces above a heartbeat:

Just thinking! 

Looking for Sliding Doors

....not the Gwyneth Paltrow film, but  ACTUAL sliding doors. I like these Modern Farmhouse-y, restored barn doors..

Via: Re-nest

Wishing you a...

Blood From a Stone

Tonight, I caught Blood From a Stone, a new play about a dysfunctional, blue-collar family trying to overcome the personal and economic hardships of  daily life and the attempt to shed the interpersonal baggage that each member has endured over time. I have to say it started it off a bit slow, but  the show hits its stride midway through the first act. What really propels the story along, is not the action or events , but  really just watching the characters on stage together and seeing the history of grievances and familial allegiances revealed.  Watching the dynamics between brother and sister, brother and brother, father and mother, mother and son, etc....play out is pretty intense. The anxiety on stage was palpable!  (The scene between Natasha Leone and Ethan Hawke, as brother and sister,  is notable.)

Written  by  Tommy Nohilly, this play stars Gordon Clapp, Ann Dowd, Thomas Guiry, Natasha Lyonne, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Ethan Hawke, as the lead character. The performances were amazing. Try to catch it, if you can....

Ethan Hawke ---yay! 

My Reco---The King's Speech

If you are in need of some royal inspiration, or experiencing supreme difficulty in articulating what you need to say, check out  the new Weinstein film, The King's Speech.  It's about King George VI, played by Colin Firth,  and his long and ardent attempt to overcome his severe stammering.  Geoffrey Rush plays his charming and unconventional speech therapist, who teases out the psychological  junk and childhood anxieties at the root of the problem.

The performances are bold, the casting is phenomenal,  and the storyline is moving--yet sometimes a wee bit manipulative.  Overall, I recommend it!  




...and for some jolly fun, I've added an original recording of King George VI, addressing the British people  in 1939,  at the outbreak of World War II. Colin Firth masterfully replicates this momentous speech in the film.

Nobody's Fool - Yoshimoto Nara

There's a retrospective exhibition of Yoshimoto Nara's work at the Asia Society running though January 2, 2011. I've always loved the tension of the cuddly and the demonic in his art. (In fact, I had a Nara flip-clock that would feature a new illustration as each minute passed by. I kept it at my desk at work till it started making sad clicking noises and failed to actually properly tell time.) Hoping to check out the show before the onslaught of holiday nonsense....

Jason Schwartzman hawks for the New Yorker

This is a bit old, but just stumbled upon it...

His cousin, Roman Coppola, directed this piece of comedy...

127 Hours

Danny Boyle's new "man versus big-ass rock" film is in limited release (slated to go wide in December) and definitely worth seeing.  Based on Aron Ralston's book, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, this outdoor adventure thriller really stands out, especially next to the body of cinematic sludge  that has hit theaters as of late.  127 Hours is well-paced, riveting and recommendation worthy.  You (and everyone else in the theater) will cringe, squirm and shut your eyes during some painful-to-watch scenes, but that's the fun of it all.  Bonus: JAMES FRANCO, who by the way nails the role.

Double Rainbow in Dumbo

Cacharel Shades

Heritage and camel are all the rage, but there's nothing like wearing bright color to put some cheer in your day. These canary yellow Cacharel statement sunglasses are a bit theatrical, but should do the trick.


Via: Opening Ceremony 

Don Draper - Flawed and Fallible

Loved this ep....

Computational Rephotography

a.k.a  photoshopping old photos and new photos  together.
These "Then and Now" photos taken by Sergey Larenkov are pretty cool.

Vienna. 1945/2010. Soviet soldiers at the Imperial Palace Hoffburg.

Via: VSL

Gucci: 1973 Mini-Shoulder Bag

Channeling Rachel Zoe... I LITERALLY die.....

Via: Saks.com

Missing Missy

A worthy mid-day diversion ... especially for those who have nothing but faint praise for felines....Read the whole thing!

"It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space." 

Via: 27BSlash.com  Thanks D for the link! 

Painted Driftwood

Via: Poppytalk.com

Mista Cookie Jar at the Perch Cafe

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Stars

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Louise Bourgeois

..died.  I remember first seeing "Maman" at the Tate in 2000... Was so imposing, strange and quite a piece of art.


Via: ABCNews.com
Photo: Art 21 Blog

My new mouse pad ....

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Too much hardware??

I shouldn't be thinking about sandals in New York's 48 degree weather, but a girl needs to plan ahead when it comes to summer footwear... Love these Camilla Skovgaard gladiators.


Via: Net-a-porter

Conan on 60 Mins

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Designer Take Away

Part of Chanel's Shanghai collection...

Via: Another

Stripes!

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A Behanding in Spokane

Check out Christopher Walken's  performance in A Behanding in Spokane, playing on Broadway.  Although his speech cadence is frequently caricatured by many,  its effect on stage is always with purpose. The man can deliver a line! Anthony Mackie, Sam Rockwell and Zoe Kazan also star...Their performances are pretty great too.

Green Things

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here is my wishlist of all things green....

Bongenre's "Gold Chains/Emerald" plates: 

This Hallmark Shamrock Pin. I had one EXACTLY like this and now it's being sold on Ebay!

Rick's Picks Bread and Butter pickles:

My Wellies:

 This Rockmade candy art print (my screensaver!) :

Spring Fringe Fever

Joie Rock Steady Suede Booties

Spring fever purchase??  No size 7 at Shopbop, will have to look around. 

Via: Shopbop

Manila Folder USB Cable

Like it, Love it, GOTTA HAVE IT!!!

This is 3 years old, I realize...but sometimes I'm late to the party.

Via: Engadget

Holy Roller Prank

Yes, I know this is juvenile, but the woman's delivery is so sincere...





Via: THe Huffington Post

Alphabet Keyboard Stickers

This is too precious for words....  The shark is my fave... Tres kawaii!
Designed by Christopher Monro De Lorenzo

Via: Dwell

Pink Carrera Sunglasses

...At the House of Fraser
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Toffole House Slippers

My new 100% wool Italian slippers to putter around in...
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