Card Party

I have been getting the CUTEST birthday cards today, which is a treat because I love stationery. Seeing my obvious excitement about all things enveloped, Morgan said, "Why don't you post your cards and throw a little party on your blog?!"

This, my friends, is that party.

This card arrived today from Colby's dad Douglas, who is an artist. (He is also a trivia genius and knows the birthday of every president and pretty much every person he's ever met.) This card was so sweet and unexpected! I love it.

This card was from my mom. The inside says, "I'll never forget."

(Card at top from Morgan)

Thank you, everyone!

It's Our Birthday!

Lucy and I are turn 28 today! I'm really excited for this birthday (despite being only two years from thirty, as my dad helpfully pointed out the other day:). I think it will be a great year. Here are Lucy and me at our very first birthday, in Paris -- can you guess who's who?

New Roomies

Introducing Sophie and Leo, the two newest members of our little household...
Aren't they so adorable??? Lauren brought them home this evening. They were scared at first -- and a little salty when she gave them a bath -- but they're settling in nicely. They're brother and sister, and they run and jump and wrestle around our apartment. The cutest thing is how, when they lose sight of each other, even for a second, they start meowing really loudly until they come together again. We're hoping they will keep the mice at bay, although right now they're fast asleep, curled up on the sofa. Welcome, Sophie and Leo!

Squirmy is here!

This weekend, my cousin Jeremy is visiting my brother Nick and me in New York. It is so nice to have him here! We went to 'ino for dinner tonight. At the end of the meal, Nick told us that he never used to know what to order at coffeeshops. Desperate, he asked a friend, "What's manly and tastes terrible?" His friend said, "Americanos. They're hot water and espresso." Nick ordered nothing but that for the next three years. Here he is, suffering valiantly.

Lucy and Paul Remain Excited

A few hours after the announcement, despite their sleepy facades, Lucy and Paul remain very excited about their imminent cross-country move and ensuing cannonshot to greatness.

In a recent exclamation-point-filled email, Lucy says...

Reasons to Love California:
1. Home of volcanoes, earthquakes, and Madame Speaker!
2. Highest peak in the lower 48 states, and surpassing Wisconsin as
America's top producer of cheese!
3. State animal: Ursus californicus! and state motto: Eureka!
4. Larger in size than Germany, and a fan of the Kyoto Protocol!
5. Paul and Lucy's home for the next seven years!
6. Gold!!!!!!!!

San Fran, Baby!!!

My sister Lucy and her husband Paul are moving to San Francisco for the next seven years!!! Paul will do his neurosurgery residency at Stanford, and Lucy wants to do her internal medicine residency at UCSF. They got the acceptance call at 8:30 this morning.

Get psyched for visits! This also takes us one step closer to living the life of So I Married an Axe Murderer.

Let's Ride

My first bike in the city was a brown Schwinn, and I loved it. It changed the way I saw the city. The neighborhoods seemed smaller and closer together, and the whole city felt accessible. I also finally learned all the twisty streets downtown.

Some of my favorite times on my bike were spent riding down the west side at night, next to the sparkling water, after a ballet or a summer concert in Central Park; or riding over the Brooklyn Bridge with Nick; or lazing around on the grass next to my bike, reading magazines and chasing the dream of getting a tan. And of course there were lots of wobbly rides home after dinners.

But that fall it was stolen and the affair ended. I have a new bike now, but I'll always have a special place in my heart for my trusty brown Schwinn. I hope he is ok, wherever he is. (Most likely delivering pizzas with his new owner.)

Anyway, if you thinking of getting a bike (and it really will change your life), the one above is an especially lovely specimen: the Amsterdam from Electra. Happy riding, dear readers!

(via Love Forever)

Hump Day

Take it easy.
(by Andrea Stern)

All the world's a stage

Can you believe this is a photograph?!

It feels so calm and quiet. It's part of the beautiful Humans series by Mohammadreza Mirzaei, from Tehran. He sets up his camera in the distance and takes photos of the world going by against the huge, clear sky.

(via Josh and Conscientious)

Concert Posters

You may feel a little weird having concert posters around the house in your late twenties, but here are some gorgeous ones by talented designers that are begging to be put up. Plus, we all act like college students anyway, so, really, what's the difference?

Most of these editioned silkscreened posters cost between $20 and $40. That's affordable art, baby!

The Small Stakes:
























The Bird Machine:




















Patent Pending Industries:


The Heads of State:




















Diana Sudyka:

Jack Pierson

I think this dish by artist Jack Pierson is beautiful.

A love note

I just want to say how much I love my friends and family. When I am sad, they make me feel so much better.

For example, Nick. He is lovely.
And other banner friends. Look how sweet they all are.

Jason and Maggie


The Guys


Lucy and Ryan


Paul


Jay, Maggie, Andrea and Kenan


Gemma and me


Ellen and Chris


Scott


Mom


Ryan and me


Lucy and Dad


Colby, Lina and me

Magazines

These are the magazines I read. I love them all to a ridiculous degree.

New York Magazine, The New Yorker, Esquire, GQ, Elle, O: The Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Blueprint, Domino, House & Garden, Travel & Leisure, Food & Wine, Intersection, Fader, Topic, Bene

I wish I could keep them here.

Bond. Jeremy Bond.

My friends think my dad is a spy. And, to be honest, the signs are all there. He drives fancy cars, has a gorgeous girlfriend, and speaks with a British accent. He jets around the world, he speaks several languages and no one really understands his job. He skis, sails, hikes; he knows survival techniques.

And now with this photo, there’s really no denying it.

Say Cheese

My friend Laurel Ptak recently started the blog I Heart Photograph, and it's really good. She is smart and thoughtful, and she posts about a wide range of creative photography.

I especially like these reversed portraits by Finnish artist Marjanna Kella that Laurel saw in Helsinki* a few years ago. They're so startling, even though the subects look so normal and conservative. I like that tension; you can almost see their bored faces. Check out Laurel's blog for more great stuff.























* Everything good happens in Helsinki.

Hump Day

(Toothpaste for Dinner)