Image for SF Chronicle, via Hip Hip Hooray
Hello, Friends! We are looking forward to a not-traveling weekend. We’re going to wash the car, help a friend move, and go to a potluck on Saturday night at the home of our Dutch friends. How about you? What sort of summer weekend is headed your way?
While I make my weekend task list, here are a few things I’ve been wanting to share with you:
- Still super happy about the Kirtsy relaunch. Did you see today’s slideshow?
- Rooms with light.
- I want to try sun-printing.
- Color-blocking.
- Ideas for your next patriotic party.
- Hanging flowers.
- Good-looking things for good-looking men.
I also write for Babble. Here are this week’s posts:
- Graphic prints — plus the coolest map!
- Warning: you’ll want to own every one of these.
- The cutest kit I’ve seen in awhile.
- This is the perfect excuse for a weekend escape.
- The teepee is my favorite.
I’ll meet you back here on Monday for Ask-Design-Mom-Week. Any questions you need me to answer? Send them in, please. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I miss you already!
kisses,
Gabrielle
image by Vert Cerise
I found a cute new blog from a French woman who teaches English here in Normandy called French Home Made. She featured this idea for turning those odd plastic toys and trinkets that find themselves in the pockets of children into jewelry. I would totally wear that bunny necklace. I can just tell it would be good luck.
I just watched the series finale of Friday Night Lights. It’s so good. And I’m so sad it’s over. I even cried! I think it might have the most talented writing staff on TV.
Have you ever watched it? I promise, you don’t have to love football — or Texas — to enjoy the show. But you will probably end up being a big fan of both if you do watch it. (Yay Texas!) I told Ben Blair that I think it portrays the closest thing to a real, working marriage that I’ve ever seen in media. Seriously good TV.
Are you a FNL fan? Is there any series that would leave you super sad if it ended?
For those of you feeling the travel bug today, how about this amazing hotel on the River Nile? From what I understand (via Google translate) there are 10 rooms and it travels from Luxor to Aswan. Doesn’t it sound romantic? Let’s go!
The new Kirtsy launched today! I’m one of the founders and I’m kind of nutso excited about the relaunch. Would you like to see? Go here.
Every day, the new Kirtsy will feature a slideshow curated by some of the most interesting people on the internet. We hope the slideshows will be a new source for you — full of links to interesting articles, images to pin, projects to try, people to meet.
We partnered with Giggle.com for the launch and to celebrate, they’re offering $10 off when you sign up.
P.S. — What’s Kirtsy? You can read a mini-history here.
In England, Ben Blair did all the driving. It happens on the opposite side of the road there and I was too chicken to try! The other fun thing about driving in England was spotting vintage British sports cars. They’re so cute. (I bet my Dad would cringe if he heard me call a sports car cute.) The high bid on this one is only $2650. Cute. Cute. Cute.
Have you ever visited a place where you had to drive on the “wrong” side of the road? Are you brave enough?
While we were in England, we bought a small length of fabric from Liberty of London. Have you been? It’s a gorgeous store and I didn’t want to leave! Mimi is going to use it to sew little sachets — then fill them with lavender from the garden at La Cressonnière.
Won’t that make a sweet souvenir from our time here? What sorts of souvenirs do you collect when you’re traveling?
P.S. — Have you ever harvested lavender? I have no idea how.
Are you familiar with Seasons
by Blexbolex? This is pretty new to our book collection, but it became such a favorite so quickly that I included it on the list of Top 50 Picture Books.
Kat P. recommended it to me and I’m so glad she did. The concept is really simple. It’s a thick book with an image and a word on each page. There’s no plot. Just words to discuss, pretty images to look at, and starting points for homemade stories or imaginative play. And there is a lovely rhythm to it as you read it through.
Plus, it’s really beautiful! Blexbolex is clearly a printmaking genius.
Two little stories and some questions:
1) The other day, I saw a picture of myself and remembered I need braces. I had braces as a teenager — it was actually my freshman year of college — but they have since gone a bit wonky on top. I confess, I was never good about wearing my retainer. : )
2) Our friend Olya came to visit last week. During one conversation she mentioned that eyelid surgery, botox and fillers were really popular where she lives — even for women in their twenties. I was shocked! I’m not sure I know any one in real life who has tried any of these procedures.
Both of these stories have me thinking. Yes, I would definitely be interested in having my teeth fixed and no, botox has never crossed my mind, but they are probably equally invasive. It makes me wonder, what do you consider cosmetic surgery? What’s okay with you and what’s not? Are botox and breast augmentation the same in your book? How about teeth whitening? Or laser treatments for spider veins? Are there any lines you draw when considering cosmetic procedures? Maybe nothing that requires general anesthesia? Are cosmetic procedures common where you live? If yes, are women secretive about it, or is it out in the open. I’m so curious!
Also, back to my teeth for a minute, are braces on a 30-something too tacky to even think about?
