back to school

i try not to be shocked when stores jump the gun on back-to-school the same way they do for the holidays and everything else that generates revenue, but i always am shocked. this year, though, i'm welcoming it. i'm looking forward to dark nail polish colors, cooler climes and cozy, neat fall fashion. this gap campaign makes me feel warm and fuzzy for some reason (or maybe that's the 105 degree subway platform). it reminds me of that age-old feeling of back to school shopping...dogearing the pages of looks that i hoped i could pull off...velvet, corduroy and wool that i would undoubtedly wear when the temps were still a little (or a lot) too warm, but i just couldn't wait. 

so enticing was this gap ad, that i clicked through and discovered backpacks surely meant for children that i surely want to own. is it me, or are these sparkly backpacks fabulously adult-ready?

which color are you getting?

free as a bird...or a fish

and i could not be happier...one of the main things i want to try and do this weekend is sit outside, quietly on my balcony and birdwatch. i haven't done enough of that this summer, and i'm missing it. my birds aren't lucky enough to have this bird cafe, but i think they're okay with the very basic pedestal style one...at least until they get a load of this cafe. i understand why dictators keep their subjects uneducated.

and how about this fish hotel? i don't know, the animal kingdom is seeming pretty good right now...cafes, hotels...the second i see a squirrel on a yacht, i'm done.

have a good weekend.

take me away

this bag is so much fun. and i love this wallet:

both of these items make me feel like i'm on vacation...what's on your shopping radar right now?

a quick coat

so you know how i sometimes do a single coat of light nail polish in between manis? well now it's perfected - i've found the perfect polish for it...it's revlon top speed in sheer cotton or sheer pearl and it dries in one minute. literally.

done and done. they also have tons of other colors to choose from, but for me, the sheer light color is the one to go with since i'm utterly untalented at polishing my own nails.

frittata anyone?

i made a frittata yesterday and thought i'd share it with you...it was really easy and made so much that half of it is breakfast for the week...umm, anyone want some frittata?

here's what i did:

in a little butter and on low heat, i sauteed 4 diced baby leeks, half of a medium zuchini and half of a medium yellow squash, each sliced the long way. i was careful not to brown them, but just to get them softened up. i added some kosher salt and garlic powder while they were cooking.

at the same time, i whisked together one small carton of liquid egg whites and four whole eggs with a little skim milk. i poured that mixture into a 10" nonstick pan coated with canola cooking spray and let it cook until the egg was completely set - not runny or wet at all.

then, i spread the squash and leek mix over the top of the cooked egg mixture and sprinkled with one of my favorite trader joe's shredded cheese - quattro formaggio which is a mix of asiago, parmesan, provolone and fontina. i also added a few slices of steamed potatoes for that breakfasty texture.

then i stuck the whole thing in a 375 degree oven to melt and brown. *my nonstick pans are only ovensafe to 400 degrees, so watch that if you're using one too.

it came out nice and bubbly and after a few minutes on the countertop, it pulled away from the pan beautifully and sliced up perfectly. this is a great make-ahead idea for breakfast but would also be really nice and easy for a crowd...you could serve it at a brunch with some bacon and fruit, or with a light salad for lunch or even dinner if you're in a breakfast-for-dinner mode. it's kind of like if a quiche and an omelet had a lovechild.

of course it depends on how much you add and the exact stats of your choices, but here's the nutritional info for the one i made.

case in (needle)point

 

loving these retro, homey needlepoint accents. 

 

 

 

the pillows are from jonathan adler and the printed wall art in true needlepoint style are from urban outfitters.

 

saying yes to holes

for some reason, i find things that are perforated so particularly nice. one of my favorite little home objects is a perforated metal votive holder, which creates a spotted effect as it splays light on the walls. for that reason, creating tin can luminaries seems a fine idea (maybe this could be a use for the coffee cans mitchell insists on saving...don't ask).

along similar but less amish lines, i love this awesome pendant light from crate and barrel:

it's now discontinued which makes me very sad since i've had it bookmarked for my new apartment, whenever that happens.

and my heart bursts for this pierced wood train station bench. i think if i could choose one item to possess today, this would be it. how lovely would it be in an entryway, a mudroom, a shaded front porch...it would even transform a lonely hallway.

in the accessory space, i love the recent-ish rash of perforated leather bags all over. i wasn't sure at first, but now i'm very, very sure indeed.

there's the gorgeous pink one above and this one...

this one...

and this one...

oh, and a big YES on the perforated leather shoes too.

i love when a certain concept like "perforation" can come into your life in so many ways in the form of light, furniture, personal style and more. such a yes.

crazy eyes

hear me when i tell you that these sunglasses (impossibly hard to find) have been following me around the city...on other womens' faces. they first caught my eye a few weeks ago on a fellow train rider, and since then i've seen them pop up on other lucky lasses. each time, they stop me dead in my tracks. something about the high gloss black combined with the sweetly heart shaped frames and wavy arms...i just love them.

out of curiosity, and maybe a little torture, i sought them out online and discovered some other ridonc prada pairs as well. my goodness gracious ladies, check them out. i just love the extreme-ness of the shapes.

and then look at this pair from charles in both fab colors...

and these from karen walker, also very extreme in shape.

and then in fuschia!

 

and if you're into brights, just look at these...

and then these from house of harlow. you go nicole.

i'll allow you to switch mental modes for a second now....

there are also these and these which are a little closer to my budget. as in, they're $10.

i've really become of the opinion that, like fragrances and bags, sunglasses are an accessory meant to be changed up and switched around, so inexpensive ones in different colors are a definite YES in my world right now.

a few thoughts for a monday

 

how cute is the image of a dog licking an ice pop?!? i die.

this method of bracelet storage might need to happen in my life.

thanks to apartment therapy's sneak peek at the ikea fall catalog (and to kelly for sending that link to me), we are introduced to the fab idea of hanging pendants together to create a one-of-a-kind chandelier. LOVE.THIS.IDEA. i might not have chosen those exact three to hang in that exact way, but there's no denying it's a killer idea.

it kind of reminds me of this idea, but less expected.

workshop cage lights...bestill my heart.

this handkerchief is cute.

half artist's palette, half egg plate...all gorgeous.

what are you thinking about this monday morn?