On Beachcombing

When I travel in the summer months, I often find myself on the shore.  I spend the evenings (after spending the day swimming and sunning of course) walking along the coastline with my head down.  I am not taking the ocean views for granted, but I am searching for treasures in the form of beach glass, fragments of long lost Chinaware, assorted metals, shells, and nicely shaped rocks.  I will fill my pockets until my pants are about at my ankles with my ocean relics, add a few pounds to my luggage, and bring my souvenirs home to create things reminiscent of the sand, sun, and summer days.  

Today I made this:

a whimsical mobile 

On Eating With the Seasons

 Summer produce is just so happy looking.  

On the New 'Do.

My aunt is a wonder coiffeuse.  She gave me the chop of the summer.  One fine day she took my tresses and some run of the mill kitchen scissors, escorted me to the middle of the lawn, and made me the happiest girl of that sunny afternoon.  My hair now brushes my chin. I feel like a kid again. I can frolic and play without ever running a comb through it. I run in a hat and look like a boy, but isn't that what summers are for? To run around looking like a boy?

On Acoustics

I couldn't help but smile from enjoyment when the train pulled into the Normandie-Vermont Station this morning. I love that sound, the sound of a train pulling into a station. I have sensitive ears and sometimes become extremely uncomfortable and irritable when faced with unappealing noise.  My mood can be altered by the audibles around me at any given moment. However, there are a lot of sounds I do like.  


Among them:
the thwack of a tennis ball hitting the sweet spot of a racket
biting into crunchy celery
buttering toast
heels  clacking down a hallway
the bus outside my apartment window as it announces "Vermont 204"
the snap of Tupperware when it closes 
the pouring of wine (this one you have to listen for). 

On How An Urbanite Can Get Closer to a Farm

A great moment of my weekend was when, on Saturday evening, I was running around the Silverlake Reservoir with MK and someone asked us "Do you guys eat organic because you look like you do?"  On our third lap, relieved to catch my breath, we stopped to chat with the flattering person and ended up signing up for the best monthly expense ever.  We signed up for a CSA and now every other week a box of farm fresh organic produce (and some recipes) will show up at my doorstep for a reasonable price.  Just what a country girl in the middle of Los Angeles needs: a box of farm. 

On Arm Candy

It's a bracelet era folks. I declare it! Earrings are so 1990's material.  Necklaces always get in the way and don't work well with a lot of necklines, but bracelets. HELLO, gorgeous. There is so much variety in what you can put on your wrist.

My current tie-ons: 

What I like to call summer camp nostalgia.
                                       

I am always impressed when I see a fashionable woman with 
a simple outfit complemented by a bold silver cuff.

I wouldn't expect anything less than the best when it comes to the combos featured in J. Crew. How do they master chunky yet delicate, the ultimate jewelry paradox?

This ultimate look is pictured here. Total prep. I love it.
I will try and emulate this when I am feeling craftsy 
because according to Dali:

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

I am inspired. 

On My Obsession

I am addicted to . . . . . no, not a beauty product. No, not to a designer drug. No, not to a television series (well yes I am to both Entourage and Gossip Girl), but my point is. . . I am addicted to a Trader Joe's product. I go for groceries and without fail need, must, have-to purchase at least two containers of there just-salty-enough-perfect olive tapenade. 

It is so good, it is bananas. 

Other honorable mentions: 

Edamame: mix in a rice dish w some soy sauce or toss atop a salad. 

Dr. Praeger's: when I cannot go out and get the best Veg burg from R&D, I'll make this at home.  

 Vegan Cookies: I love to bake, but when I don't these are my sweet tooth back up. 

 Grapefruit: On the way out of Trader's, snag a grapefruit. It is an edible miracle worker.








Clearly, grocery shopping is my favorite menial task.  I could spend hours in Trader Joe's, Wholefoods, and I need to venture to Erewhon, but you I wouldn't be caught dead in a Ralph's or Von's.  Those places are sterile factories of processed concoctions. I am just saying. . . .you are what you munch. 

On Returning Anew

I am back from the lush, fir-tree covered Pacific Northwest. The air in Los Angeles feels so dry in comparison, but it is good to be back.  I got everything out of my vacation that I could have asked for. I got a new look (my hair chop).  I brought home some souvenirs (woven bracelets, beach glass, a cute pair of Chinese slippers, several pounds of coffee).  I took some photos (polaroids and stunning ones on the Iphone 4 see above).  I ate a lot (salads, grilled foods, tortilla chips).  I ran a lot (thanks fresh air!). I took walks.  I drank more than usual. I played Scrabble. I sat still for more than 3 minutes at a time. Here I am back in LA feeling refreshed and inspired. More summer excursions ahead!