Archive for category Inspiration

Tiny Round-up No. 3: Playtime NY Edition!

Wow!

Playtime New York was a like a well-curated gallery of local and small-business geniuses (Genii? Well, that SHOULD be a word) and I dug it MAJOR. Playtime is an international trade show that gathers together the universes of children, junior and maternity, and it even included a pop-up store for the general public!

Here are some highlights from this kidswear world of tiny victories:

Beautiful soft sculpture from h-luv, a to-die for gift, don’t you think?

A gorgeous cape and organic cotton tee from Little Lief… (they have the cutest rompers too, and made right here in NYC!)

Sweet newborn swaddle “noonies” from Lala’s Pequenos with RIDIC cute prints…

Best-ever boys’ goods from Goat-Milk NYC (unders, long johns in epic patterns…

Softest-ever striped skirts with nursery-rhyme patches sewn in, and softest-ever sweater-hand puppets from Seven-smooches (and how cute is that brand name? One smooch for each of the total number of the two creators’ children)

General amazingness (duh!) from Atsuyo et Akiko, below is their overall shop plus this bag that I used once in this editorial and have loved ever since… thanks to Katelyn Mooney…(check out her new site HERE!)

All in all… wow!

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Tiny Round-up No. 2

“A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.” -Denis Waitley

Here’s a bunch of delicious details I’ve been loving across the web the last few days… in the kid world, mostly…

Have you voted for the Cribsies awards yet? Do! Support your favorite kid/baby/lifestyle brands, they will do a little dance if you do.

Are you reading Gretchen Rubin‘s The Happiness Project? I am and it has changed my whole worldview… not a person in this world wouldn’t benefit from this book.

A wonderful idea where people send gifts to strangers! Love. What would you hope to receive? I’d want this because I’m dreaming of the beach… found here!

Ever wonder what to do with that giant pile of your kids’ artwork that you can’t bear to toss? How about a tidy yet gorgeous keepsake?

I got my man this delightful, nerdy Valentine’s Day card. What did you get your sig oth?

Every little rockstar needs a guitar. How cute is this one for baby? Found here.

Gorgeous and delicate baby bedding here via this amazing blog, and sick kids’ fashion collections (WOW!)  here and here. (and here!)

And lastly…

If I could go anywhere right at this moment it would be this pool in the sky.

<3

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Tiny Round-up No. 1

“A man who does not think for himself does not think at all. -Oscar Wilde

”Sometimes I THINK I think too much. Do you ever feel that way? So on a day when I can’t seem to put two letters together because my brain is racing itself in a marathon to nowhere, I’ll instead give you a TINY ROUND-UP with links I’m loving across the web today.

A wagon that becomes a sled?! Yes please.

FREE downloadable Valentine’s stickers! Via Design Sponge.

Would your SWEETIE like a non-wedding/engagement ring for V-Day? How about a gorgeous gold rope band?

Need something for your kiddos to WEAR on Valentine’s Day? How cute is Sarah Clary‘s collage of kids’ wear on her HOJ blog?

I die for Atsuyo et Akiko at PLAYTIME PARIS… not that I’m there…via my blog buddy Smudgetikka

Can someone PUH-LEASE get married in this tiny church in Italy and hire me to shoot it? kthnx.

The talented Cynthia Warren on 100 Layer Cake needs NO introduction…

Nursery WALL DECALS from 41 Orchard are an australian delight… via Bloesem Kids, another fave of mine…

My other CRUSH for nursery decals

I just went here, I’d love to go here, and I already live here!

<3

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Chocolate Chip with Orange Blossom Cookies!

Well, nothing inspires me more than food, kids and kids eating food (see previous post of Eli and his cupcake!)

So since I talk a lot about kids on this bloggity, why not share some of the food? These are the crisp-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside chocolate chip cookies that came out of my kitchen earlier this week. For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you know that when I say “my” kitchen, I mean my boyfriend’s kitchen, as he is the one with the baking chops in this house! But I digress. Here is *my* recipe for this absolutely DIVINE cookie deliciousness:

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (8 3/4 ounces)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 14 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 3/4 sticks)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (3 1/2 ounces)
  • 3/4 cups packed dark brown sugar (5 1/4 ounces) (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 1/4cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks (see note)
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted (optional)
  • 10 drops orange blossom essence
INSTRUCTIONS
  • 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
  • 2. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.
  • 3. Add both sugars, salt, and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth, and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if using), and orange blossom essence, giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.
  • 4. Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons (or use #24 cookie scoop). Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets, 8 dough balls per sheet.
  • 5. Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

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Bonne Annee!

Here’s a tribute to my man, who is a BIG source of inspiration to me. This is our New Year’s 2011 Paris Extravaganza trip! Tres romantique…

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Inspiration: Sarah Moon

Happy New Year, internet! Big love, big hugs!

How did you ring it in? I was lucky enough to celebrate the dawn of my 2011 by wandering around one of my FAVORITE cities of all time, Paris.

Many parisian things will appear soon here on this bloggity, but for now I would like to share some inspiration from one of my favorite artists of all time, french photographer Sarah Moon.

I first learned about Mademoiselle Moon while in school at Brooks Institute, and was taken with her even then. Her work is so soft and feminine, like a dream acted out on paper, then frozen. I remember that my senior project was heavily influenced my her, a self-portrait, taken with large format film and with my own magical interpretation of Moon’s inner world. I wonder if I could find that project…? I will look…

Seeing this work again now made me realize that while an artist’s inspirations aren’t always immediately viewable in their work, those impressions are always there… just floating around contently in the ether of the brain, influencing gently and delicately, occasionally popping up to say hello.

<3

all images copyright Sarah Moon, video courtesy of the lovely Melanie Rodriguez’ blog.

And look at this lovely video featuring the voice of the lovely MIss Moon as she talks about her process… with a soundtrack that I die for… one of my favorite pieces of music of all time, you’ll recognize it from Amelie… 

<3

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GIRLS’ WEEKEND VIDEO!

I’m inspired by my girl friends daily, so this post DEFINITELY gets filed under “Inspiration”. LOVE YOU GALS! From the $10 Chinatown-to-Chinatown bus, “FEELEE, not DEE CEE!” to the 7-man Target raid, this weekend in Philly was unforgettable. Mostly, because we were miked the WHOLE TIME. Obvs! <3

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Photogress Style: Tretorn

Well, hey! Just because I’m toting around a camera the size of a watermelon doesn’t mean I have to forsake style OR comfort. Here’s the first of my many favorite Photog-friendly “Photogress Style” essentials that are kind on the eyes, and practical for the photographer on the go. Today’s feature: Cute slip-on sneaks from Tretorn!

With a summer as hot as this year’s, these kicks are the best thing I’ve found YET to navigate the sweltering city while still letting my tootsies breathe and stay cushioned during a long photo shoot. Their preppy lobster-motif accents are subtle but quite in keeping with my schedule of swanky New England soirees, and I just throw ‘em in the washer when they scuff up–good as new!

Kicks are Tretorn Women’s Skymra Canvas Sneaks, dress is by Steven Alan

P.S. Thanks to global style guru Karen Robinovitz of PurpleLab NYC for originally coining the “Photogress” name for me! Love you Karen!

<3

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ANAPHOTO on Planet Awesome Kid!

Wow, I’m so excited to share this! In the kiddie world, Julia Samersova’s Planet Awesome Kid blog is, like, THE kiddie blog to read–it has all the industry’s most important eyeballs scanning all the time! It’s been called a kiddie version  of The Sartorialist, but I think it’s a unique concept all it’s own. In any case, it’s been a total inspiration for me. The photo featured is my little friend Lyla, who brought me to her favorite corner store after we took this photo to share with me her Village secret–the best lemon Italian Ice! Check out Lyla’s killer outfit (and her lil yorkie pup, Yoko) in our PAK post, here!

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Quote of the Day

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” -Mary Anne Radmacher

I know what this means to me… what does it mean to you? For me it’s just knowing that through highs and lows, you’ve done the best you can do. That’s a tiny victory right there!

(photo taken at Wilder Ranch, Santa Cruz, CA, April 2010)

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