Coming soon...

Coming soon: TOMS ballet flats!

Two things of which I am a big fan: TOMS shoes and ballet flats.  Soon these two loves will become one!  That's right folks, the shoe company with the famous "One-for-One" mission is introducing the new silhouette for Spring '12.  Yes, TOMS are a bit funny looking, but they are awesomely comfy and the ballet flats (shown above) look super cute and more fashion-y.  You can sign up on the TOMS website to be notified when the shoes are available.  I can't wait!

xo.

365!

Happy New Year, folks!  I've never been one to make and keep New Year's resolutions, but this year I've promised myself I'll be a better blogger.  Between work, and social engagements and wedding planning, I have let my blogging really slack off.  Let's be real, my last post was in September!  That is less than stellar.  Well, I want to remedy that.  How you ask?  I am going to do my own 365 Project.  What's that you ask?  Simply put, it's taking a photo a day and posting it on a website.  You can follow the link to start your very own 365 Project or to look at what others have done.  Every week I will post seven photos from the days before.  My goal is that posting every week will inspire me to write and share more fabulous things with you.  I'm certainly not short on ideas! 

 

Clock wise from top left:  Polka dot tree in the Ancient Plants section of the SF Botanical Garden; Sunset on the 1st day of 2012; Otto likes to take time to smell the flowers; Neat fabric and leather toggles on a sweater; The wall of the entry at the Press Club down town; the Peacock and his purple bucket at the Folsom Zoo.

Yes, I realize there are only six photos and I promised you seven.  Well I lied.  This week you only get six, but next week I will make up for it by giving you eight.  Happy? 

xo, aba

Home Ec: Jewelry Cubby Re-Do

As many know, I live in a very small space with Dr D and Otto.  Among some, our home is fondly referred to as The Horseshoe for its resemblance to said object.  We're talking less than 400 square feet.  Yeah.  It's cozy.  That being said, everything in The Horseshoe has to have a designated spot...well most everything.  Enter my jewelry cubby.  In our closet area there are some great built in shelves, drawers and a cubby where I store my jewels, perfumes and other odds and ends.  As you can see, it's a bit of a mess. 

Eee!  What a mess!

Maybe it was the lovely weather we had this past Saturday, but I was overcome suddenly to re-org.  There was a lot of stuff in that tiny space!  Here's the shortlist:

• An evil eye from Turkey, a gift from my mom
• Buddhist prayer beads my dad brought back from Korea
• An old family photo
• 12 bottles of lotion, of varying sizes and fullness...Seriously?!
• Flowers from Dr D that I pressed and framed when I was living in the UK
• 7 different perfumes, not including a Jo Malone sampler set of 6 different fragrances
• Random key to one of my vintage suitcases, don't know which tho
• A "Sex Bomb" badge, a "Rock the Vote" pin circa '00 and an "XX" pin off a pair of Genetic Denims
• A Mister Potato Brush from my lovely friend Linds
• 2 flattened pennies- 1 from Ellis Island and 1 from the Disney World Boardwalk

The list could go on and on and doesn't even include my jewelry, a myriad of necklaces, rings and bracelets.  I honestly never realized.  Undaunted by volume, I set to work and after about an hour, small garbage bag, several clear push pins and a bit of string, I have a lovely and well organized jewelry cubby. The best part, I didn't have to buy anything to organize the cubby AND I can actually find things now.

So clean and pretty.

5 Things I Love This Week

 Madewell's Rail Straight Jeans

These are the best jeans I have found in a while.  The lower rise and slim straight cut leg are super flattering and with a hint of stretch they are super comfy.  My personal fave is the Madewell wash (shown above) but they also come in Black, a medium wash, white and a light wash.  Check them out here.

 Sula Beauty's Natural Makeup

The Canadian smarties behind Paint & Peel nail polish are at it again, this time with a new line of paraben, phthalate, and petroleum byproduct free cosmetics.  The line features cream shadows, cheek and lip tints, blushes, glosses and lipsticks in a variety of pretty shades.  My fave is the lipstick in Quick Escape.  All products are $8 each and available exclusively at Ulta.

The Naked and Famous

I only recently discovered this awesome indie rock back from New Zealand.  Their debut album Passive Me, Aggressive You is chock full of fantastic music.  This is the kind of album that will get me through my super slow and quiet week ahead.

Yellow Owl Workshop

San Francisco based Yellow Owl Workshop creates lovely, hand-crafted paper goods and home stuffs.  Wife and husband team Christine and Evan have created a range of items that are fun, kitschy and eco-friendly: all paper is 100% PCW recycled and all inks are water-based and non-toxic.  From stamp kits, to correspondence sets to pendants, I've purchased things for myself and given an equal number as gifts.  Check them out here.

A Piece of Toast

This lovely lifestyle blog is co-authored by two sisters, Sally Ann and Molly Bernadette.  They post about loads of things...food, fashion, art, home stuffs, music...there is something for everyone.  They are witty and clever girls with a passion for the things that make life fun.  I would bet they'll become part of your daily reads once you check them out here.