Have a lovely weekend.

My dad is visiting this weekend, and we're going sailing! Have a great weekend, dear readers. (Photo by Elijah Gowen)

A New Light

Remember the French light I had ordered a while back? Well, it arrived, but was very confusing. First of all, it came flat as a board, and secondly, it didn't fit with a non-European light fixture. I probably would have given up, but my brother Nick stepped in and rewired my whole light! He was amazing and gallant and weirdly not that scared of being electrocuted. The light is so pretty; I really love it. Thank you so much, Nick!!!
P.S. Sarah Wilson, pictured, was his muse.

Fabric Animals

Hello and good morning, says this very cheery giraffe. Wouldn't you love to have him standing guard on a bookshelf? See more on Cookie.

San Fran Paintings

Photography is blowing up so much right now that painting seems to have been forgotten along the way. So it's exciting to see Kim Cogan getting noticed for his amazing, quiet, evocative paintings of San Francisco. They make me want to visit my gorgeous and talented sister Lucy. (But, these days, what doesn't?)
(via Lena Corwin)

This American Life

Now and again, I get temporarily obsessed with one thing or another. I was really into graphic novels a couple years ago, then I was really into France, then I became totally fixated on my bike (which is pretty awesome, I have to admit).

Right now, my slow burning obsession is This American Life, the unbelievably awesome radio show.


Ira Glass—the effeminate but straight, smart yet humble, earnest but engaging, worldly yet relatable host—interviews regular people as they tell hilarious, poignant stories about stuff that happened to them. Each episode has a topic (e.g., neighbors or fiascos or pen pals) and features 3-4 stories on that topic.


This American Life is so brilliant that there have been a few times recently where I’ve been walking down the street by myself and can't help cracking up like a crazy person. At one point, I even hoped (just for a split second) that the elevator would get stuck so that I could keep listening to an episode before having to go into the office.

The ten best episodes that will change your life:
Superpowers
Telephone
Notes on Camp
My Experimental Phase
Time to Save the World
Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Detectives
Americans in Paris
Act V


Download them immediately. You will love them. Trust me.

At least it's not brain surgery. Oh, wait, it is.

My brother-in-law Paul is doing his neurosurgery residency at Stanford. And last night, he operated on someone's brain!!! Crazy amazing! He is so fabulous -- Congrats, Paul!

One Sentence

Sometimes you need a website you can surf to when you need a break. Postsecret is still great, but a new favorite is One Sentence. True stories, told in one sentence. Some examples...

* I conduct job interviews for a living and nothing gives me a better sense of wielding karma than giving the job to the nervous kid instead of the better qualified arrogant prick.
* She’s ruined half of my music library for me.
* It’s been so long that I don’t even look down your street anymore.

What would you say in one sentence, dear readers?
(Illustrations by Hope Gangloff)

Copper Lamps

Remember the post from a while ago about that pretty copper lamp? This is a pretty group picture. Thought you might like to see it!

I'd Rather Be Napping

Ahh, I'm so sleepy at work today. Curling up in a comfy bed sounds nice right about now.
(Illustration by Ana Laura Perez)

Andre Joyau

Brooklyn designer Andre Joyau makes wooden furniture. Adorably, each piece comes in both adult and children's sizes. Isn't the mini credenza the cutest thing you've ever seen? (See the Cookie post here.)

Sneak Peeks

Design Sponge has a great section on her site called Sneak Peeks. She features photos of young designers' and artists' homes. Very cool and inspiring! Since my secret fantasy is to freeze New York and spend a day walking through people's apartments, this is a thrill for me....Enjoy!

Good, Yes, Very.

A pretty Danish vase from Boston home store Good. Also this set of four stacking school chairs, so nice. (via Jeannie)

Hamish Buys a Key Ring

My uncle Hamish (here, with his wife Hal) lives in a little town in England. Here's his hilarious report of a recent ebay transaction....

Wrote Hamish:
"I bought a horribly garish key ring for my bike a week ago, paid for it immediately and received nothing, so I sent a note saying that if it didn’t arrive pretty soon, negative feedback would be on the way. Check out the guy’s response...'Dont worry about the bad feed back its on its way and i emailed you saying postman eva robbed it or your trying it on. My wife has resent you one and it will be the last one as this time i have proof off postage get what i mean. so eva you carnt robb me again or the postman carnt'"

Heehee, love those Brits....

John Derian Sale

John Derian, the awesome shop in the East Village, is having a sale from today until Saturday. The whole store is 10% off, and many pieces are as much as 50% off. Derian sells home furnishings from designers he discovers in France and beyond. But his own decoupage paperweights and plates are especially beautiful. Look at those amazing sea plates!

Which love type are you?

Oprah Magazine is like the dorky kid in school. People make fun of it for being cheesy and lame. But it's secretly awesome. I've hung out with it, and it's funny, smart, down-to-earth, and it knows all about relationships, books, bodies and periods!

Last week, Oprah gave us a really cool quiz, which Lina and I are now obsessed with. The quiz tells you which kind of boyfriend/girlfriend you are: an Explorer, Builder, Negotiator or Director. It's funny to figure out the love style of yourself, your friends and your significant other. Which are you?

(Photo from Bed Jump)

Journal

Two winters ago, when I was feeling unexpectedly sad, I went to therapy for a couple months. My psychologist told me to keep a journal, and it was AMAZING how it can help you have surprising, helpful realizations. I'd highly recommend it for soul-searchers out there, especially if you're going through a weird time.

Or you could just make pretty drawings, either way!

(via Hoping for Happy Accidents)

Letterpress Coasters

A little treat for today: I recently discovered the fabulous Minneapolis-based Papered Together letterpress studio, so I ordered some coasters. They arrived at my office today, and they are so cute! Now I will have to plan a dinner party...

I left my heart in San Francisco...

Or my twin sister, more like. I miss her.

Poster Love

Don't you love this Wilco print by Nate Duval? That tripped-out, 1970's-flower-child collage is so cheery. Nice job, Nate!

You know you're blogging too much when....

you literally dream about Bertoia's diamond chair. (It happened last night.)

Bene is blogging.

Everyone (and their mom) has a blog these days, and our baby bene is no exception. Check it out!

(Photo by Brooks Dierdorff)

San Fran, Baby!

I'm heading to San Francisco for a few days to see Lucy and Brooke. I am out of my mind excited to see them! Have a lovely weekend!!!!

(Photo by SF Girl by Bay)

Hear Ye, Hear Ye: The Yuppie List

Now that I've been dating Alex, we've been spending Friday nights in Park Slope eating stinky cheeses and drinking acidic white wines and just generally acting like yuppies.

Remember last year's yuppie list? With great embarrassment, I think it is time to bring it back.

For example: Last Friday, we were chatting about foods we hated as kids. Alex mused, "When I was growing up, I never liked green beans. But I like them now...you know, haricot verts...."

Yes. Stay tuned for more...

Wallpaper Animals

How awesome are these wallpaper animals? They're made from vintage wallpapers in (you guessed it) the Netherlands.

New Jeans Shape

For those of you who freaked out about the return of mom jeans last week, here is a new jeans shape worn in Berlin. How do you feel about them? Although the woman is ridiculously gorgeous, I think it's odd that the jeans hang so low...

Light: What do you think?

I've long been in dire need of a new light for my bedroom. Right now, I have to stare for hours at an old, square, flowered ceiling light whenever I can't sleep. So, when I stumbled upon this cool French lamp, I excitedly ordered it. The only thing I'm wondering about is that it's "shipped flat" -- so I guess I bend it myself? I am curious and will report back when it arrives!