PSA: Wear Sunscreen.

Posted in Personal by Girl Friday

Yesterday, I spent the day with a friend walking around a touristy vacation spot. We got lost and walked for a few hours in the blaring sunlight. I’m now bright red.

When I got home, I thought about this song: how much I loved it at 13-14 years old, and how much wisdom I remembered was packed in this. I just watched it and, well, it didn’t hit me then as much as it does now. As I mentioned in my last post, over the next few months, before I turn 30, I’m planning on addressing some major life problems/goals/dreams that I’d like to change or aspire to. Let’s casually say that this video is a preface to all of those endeavors.

I’ll see you when I’m less lobster-red, folks.

28May2015

Weekly Wants: At Home

Posted in Weekly Wants by Girl Friday

I’m starting a new themed post series called (drumroll…) “Weekly Wants,” which, as you can imagine, shares three things I’m currently lusting after.

While I’m not sure I’ll always have a theme beyond items I want, this week’s collection is centered on being “at home.” As a new homeowner, there are those little everyday comforts that I’m truly relishing: lounging with B on a warm summer night; having our own address; decorating how we’d like, when we’d like. The three pieces I’ve chosen this week reflect those little things.

(Please note that I have not been endorsed at all for these selections! I’m really, truly just picking things I want to buy! All the images link to the specific item shown, too!)

My first choice this week is a stunning, floral robe from silkandmore on Etsy. This shop is run by a “twenty-something woman” names Shikha out of India. With 8,806 reviews, you can tell that she’s a hit! Several comments are from brides or bridal party members extolling her lovely kimonos and kaftans, explaining that they’re perfect for getting ready for the big day.

I’m not getting married in the near future, but I love the elegance of so many of her pieces. They’re richly colored, made from a soft, light cotton, and are easily customizable. Shihka allows for any color, height, or width variation needed. While I can’t find the exact listing that mentioned it, I also love the fact that she mentions that she finds cloth that wasn’t yielded by unfair labor, nor is this a mass-produced commodity. She’s working on these robes by herself or with her family to ship them out worldwide. Fabulous!

Next up is a stamp from Tiny Prints. When we bought our house, I desperately wanted to get our moving announcement cards from this site, but had other, larger purchases (you know, like the house itself) that I needed to worry about first.

I just received an email promo and I’m really tempted to indulge in a stamp for B and myself with our home address. In the email, they included a 50% off promo for their popular “Signature Circle,” a customizable black self-inking stamp: 0528DEAL50; it’s only valid through May 29 at 8:00am (PT), so act fast. If the “Signature Circle” isn’t your thing (it isn’t mine either, so no worries!), Tiny Prints has other great options which, again for today only, you can get 25% off with 0528DEAL25. I like these designs personally, but you should explore everything else they have! Lastly, another Etsy want: tiny prints from Flapperdoodle! I’m always on the hunt for little, fun pieces to either frame and hang in nooks, pin to the fridge or simply gift to people on a whim. That being said, I fell in love with Kate Gabrielle’s artwork a while back and, admittedly, have had at least two or three in my Etsy cart for far too long without buying. The characters in these pieces are evocative of the 1920s flapper: elegant, slim, and sassy — and I adore them all for that reason!

You can get the prints in various sizes, but I’m leaning toward getting two or three 4″x6″ prints (they’re only $5 a piece for that size) and hanging them up on this slim wall leading into the bedroom. My favorite — the one I think I’ve saved for at least three years now! — is “The reading lovers.”

I’m also really keen on “Head over heels” and a quote from Carl Sagan.

Hope you enjoyed the choices, folks! Let me know if you’re interested in this “Weekly Wants” series! And, if so, if there are certain themes you’d like to see in the future! Thanks for reading!

26May2015

Green with Envy

Posted in Home Life by Girl Friday

The rest of Memorial Day was a smashing success! We bought chairs at a yard sale, set up our new hammock, tended our garden, hosted out-of-town friends for a barbecue– all on Sunday! Between running errands, prepping our house, and, most importantly, catching up with friends, B and I were flat out exhausted. So, we decided on the only natural, therapeutic recovery for a busy weekend: painting our bedroom!

When we bought our house in December, painting the office/library and our bedroom were at the top of our list to tackle. They were easy, cost effective, aesthetic changes we could make without much recourse. Plus, most of the rooms were painted dove grey/brown which looked so dingy in certain light that it was a given that we were going to cover it up inevitably.

B and I hash out plans really well, mainly because we often meet in the middle from opposite ends of the idea spectrum. I’m a bit of an Apartment Therapy addict and loved the idea of having dark walls in a small space. B countered that with the fact that he loves green and finds it natural, soothing and relaxing. With both those ideas on the table, we settled on “the color of light filtered through forest leaves on a sunny, summer day,” or Behr’s “Pine Grove” in eggshell.

Here are some photos of the prepping process and early painting stages. Oh, and B — let me introduce the master photographer-turned-subject!

We finally finished painting late last night and moved all of our furniture back to the bedroom. The green proved to be versatile: it was a dark, dreamy, sleepy nook in the evening, perfect for curling up after a long weekend of socializing and working. But this morning, with the bright sunshine coming through the windows, the walls glowed emerald!

Lenka, my friendly fat-cat, was content to sprawl out for some photos. (I mean, as top house cat, it’s actually her bedroom anyway.)

We obviously have some work to do. There are a couple of prints that need framing and hanging above the bed, plus a banner I’m eyeing for that empty wall by the window. As for textiles, I’d love to add long, white curtains over the boring hanging blinds and I’m thinking of a colorful throw pillow (maybe in gold or magenta!) for the bed.

Like any home — new or old — nothing is ever static! More photos to come!