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Friday I’m in Love -July 3rd

Friday, July 3, 2009


via the car crash post from e l i s e

Tomorrow is the 4th of July for all us USers. So a happy 4th to the US of A, and a great weekend to everyone else.

Is it Always Illegal to Kill a Woman? Really funny and creepy vintage ads.

I’m super excited for Tim Burton’s new Alice in Wonderland. Here’s the latest production art.

Nazi Zombie movie Dead Snow has a new trailer.

If you need some baking this weekend, try these marshmallow mocha cookies. A-yum.

I love Sarah Hillenberger’s work! Thanks Kris!

Salvador Zombi. Do I need say more?


This video is so cute and makes me wish I could do handstands real bad.

This may only be funny to me and Martha, as former cello players, but I think it’s hilarious.


Just started listening to Old Crow Medicine Show from my sister, but I love their folksy bluegrass style.

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Things I Love Thursday - July 2nd

Thursday, July 2, 2009


via [RUNMIARUN]

Welcome to month seven in 2009! How have the past six treated you?

My new writing gig: I mentioned it before, but I’m the resident yoga writer for Nashville’s edition of Examiner. I’ll do a weekly roundup here, but if you have any questions about yoga or anything you would like me to cover, let me know here or there, and I’ll do my best to hunt it down for you! You can sign up to receive all my posts by email or feed as well.

Reading: Over the past year, my reading level slacked somewhat, but I’m picking up speed again, reading two or three books at a time. Currently I’m reading Kushiel’s Dart, a fantasy epic set in a culture full of courtesans, warlords, clandestine lovers, and enough political intrigue to give Dune a run for its money. For a change of pace, I’m working through the delightful Offbeat Bride, a memoir/how-to about marriage outside the Industrial Wedding Complex.

Being Active: I’ve been working on my fitness (ha!) seriously for almost a month now, and although I look about the same, my energy levels and toughness physically has seen massive improvements. I’m excited for my shape to catch up with my feelings, but I’m enjoying the extra strength and release of sweating my problems out each day.

To Do Lists: Seriously, the only way to keep my jumbled mind in order is to make a lot of lists. A list in my planner, a list on sticky notes for each day, and of course, my obsession with Excel spreadsheet lists. It makes me feel much more in control, even if I add something I’ve already done jsut so I can cross it off :).

What are you loving this week?

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Summer Spectacular

Wednesday, July 1, 2009


all images via Let’s Explode

I always try to make a list for the season we’re entering. I know I’m a tish late to summer (shh) but here’s my wish list:

1. Take a road trip: Pack mini sandwiches and thermoses of sweet ice tea. Stop at all the old Americana signs along the way, picking up vintage finds and cheap goods.

2. Go Camping: Take a weekend and go to the nearest forest preserve. Bring plenty of country bourbon and instruments to make a gypsy band by the firelight.

3. Visit flea Markets: There are a plethora of outdoor antique markets in the summer, and while some of the more exotic goods are overpriced, they are fun to ogle at, and you can find some great deals or at least a good story to go with those monkey bookends.

4. Pool Party: Find a pool in a friend’s neighborhood or a community one, and turn it into a water festival. Bring water balloons, supersoakers, bubbles, serve watermelon, make lemonade and whatever delicious water-goods you have.

5. Go berry picking: Blueberries and strawberries are in season now, and there are probably a few “pick your own” patches near you. Spend the morning picking before it’s too hot in the day, and in the afternoon, make jams, jellies and a berry pie.

6. Make a tree house: If you live rurally, this is easy, but even if you live in a city, pick a tree that’s just yours to go to each day or weekend and make it your secret spot. Extra points if you actually hoist yourself into the tree to read a book or bring a tea set.

7. Host an Outdoor Movie night: I know, I’m a little obsessed with drive-ins. Movies in the park, if your town or city has them, are also excellent. If you don’t have one near you, Make your own with a TV plugged in outside or rent a projector and screen it on the side of your house.

8. Attend a summer carnival: Play the strong arm games. Ride the drop tower. Eat cotton candy. Revel in the weirdness and crowds all there for the sparkly lights and promise of winning a giant stuffed pony.

9. Plant a mini garden: If you love colors, find some cheap flowers to pot. If food is more your thing, plant your favorite herbs that you can pick fresh for summer cooking.

10. Go on a walking ghost tour: Chances are, your city or town has some supernatural enthusiasts. Go on a tour and learn all the history with the added spookiness.

Whatever you do, take a million polaroids, wear sunglasses and get outside.

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Creative Challenge - Redux

Tuesday, June 30, 2009


via suttonhoo

If you’ve been with us for a while (thank you!) then you probably remember our Creative Challenges. Each week I presented a challenge, and posted the responses the next week on the front page here.

I love the weekly challenge and really want to keep it going, but I would like for them to be meaningful and helpful, instead of just one more thing. If you have ideas or a timeframe, please let me know what works for you. This is a communal undertaking, not just my own writings, so any input is more than welcome. I’m considering at the moment doing a challenge every two weeks, or once a month with reminders and little encouragements along the way.

So tell me my loves, is this something you would be excited about and interested in? Or is life too busy for one more challenge?

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Easy Morning Yoga

Thursday, June 25, 2009


via Ally Jade

I recently got a new writing gig at Examiner, where I’m writing about all things Nashville and Yoga. My latest article is on morning stretches with a rundown that you can pin to your wall, put on your nightstand or your mirror to help you remember to wake up and start every day as energized and refreshed as possible. Here are a few of the stretches:

  • Grab a pillow and tuck it under your hips. Slowly raise one leg in the air, and then the other. This gentle inversion will really help get your blood moving. Try for 3 to 5 breaths for each leg.

  • Come to a cross-legged sitting position. Place the palms of your hands on your knees and as you exhale, round your back and drop your head to your chest for sitting cat stretch. Inhale and arch your back and lift your head into cow. This series is excellent for warming up your back and neck. Repeat about 10 times, always moving with your inhalations and exhalations.
  • Sitting at the edge of your bed, place your feet on the floor and fold your arms. Slowly begin to fold over, letting your head drop. If you want more of a stretch, drop your arms to the floor and slowly straighten your legs. If the sensation is too intense, put a pillow in your lap to help cushion the stretch. Breathe. 3 to 5 deep breaths here.”

    • You can read the full article and leave any comments with stretches you love here.

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    Creative Challenge - Paper Clothesline

    Tuesday, June 23, 2009


    all photos courtesy of Kris D’Amico Photography

    I’ve had my own creative challenge this week. I spent all day yesterday printing, cutting and staining the invitations for the wedding.

    I’ll have some better photos of the actual design up once we’ve assembled them, but they were masterfully crafted by my sister-in-law, designer Lynn D’Amico. She’s currently accepting freelance assignments and is amazingly flexible as far as ideas and designs go.

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    Things I Love Thursday - June 18th

    Thursday, June 18, 2009

    invitation tea staining

    I cannot believe that we are this far into June! Wicked crazy. This one’s a shortie:

    Tea Staining: I will be doing a lot of it this weekend, as we’re “aging” our wedding invitations for our library and tea themed wedding, but it’s something crafty that I get to do without feeling as if it’s crafting for crafting’s sake, which I unfortunately can’t make the time for right now.

    Movies: I’ve seen some awesome movies lately. Last week, the mister and I saw Drag me to Hell. If you love classic 80’s horror, especially Evil Dead 2, this is definitely your movie. I was terrified and laughing and I loved it like I rarely love newer horror. Also, we saw Up this week, and it was terrific. Not exactly a kids movie, there were some heavy issues in it, but on par with Pixar’s other excellent films.

    My Mother: As some of you know, I’ve lived away from home since I was 18, and mostly out of the country or state. I got to see my family for vacations and holidays, but never spent a lot of one on one time with them due to time constraints. I feel like now is the first real time I’m getting to know my mother as an adult, and it’s been wonderful. She got her doctorate last year and is re-vamping up her career after being a stay-at-home mom. We don’t always agree, but being able to have an open dialogue with her in person about everything from gardening to philosophy, is fantastic.

    P90X: MY little brother has been doing the classic P90X system, which is a series of DVD workouts that include yoga, core synergistics, plyometrics, and cardio and strength training. It’s nice because it’s something new everyday, but it kicks your ass and you only get one day off. I’m one week two just now and really enjoying it, except I do miss the interaction of a real, live class.

    Runners up: wake up kisses, a swim after a hard work out, smoke trees, True Blood (don’t judge!), thrift store shopping, the smell of old books, the feel of expensive paper

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    How to Deliver the Perfect Toast

    Wednesday, June 17, 2009


    via Victor Nuno

    It’s June, which means party celebrations, weddings, summer holidays, babies and family gatherings. Even if you’re not a particularly “Holiday” person, you’ll be expected to attend parties, family functions and maybe even speak at some. So it helps to have some idea of what you’re going to say and do when the time comes.

    Obviously, every toast should be as individual as the celebration you’re toasting, but there are some basic guidelines that will help your speech stand out from the rest.

    Engagement or Wedding Rehearsal: Keep it brief and sweet. Simple well wishes for the couple are good. Having a quote about love written down to read (or better yet memorize it!) will elicit the “aw”s and make you look sophisticated and refined.

    Wedding Reception: If you’re at a traditional wedding, the order of the toasts matter. Best man, groom, bride, fathers of the couple and lastly, mothers. If it’s non-traditional, just wait until the most important and involved parties speak, and then raise your glass. This is a good time for a short story about the couple, groom or bride, something humorous, but sweet. The time the bride got drunk and went home with three guys from your ultimate frisbee team is probably not the right one, funny though it may be.

    Birthdays: For formal, important divisible by five birthdays, be sensitive to someone’s age. Or more to the point, know your intended audience. If the person is careful not to say how old they’re turning, or just had a chemical peel, just make a good-natured statement about wine getting better with age or a memory of the birthday-ee. If the party is titled “I’m getting old” or a similar jab, you’re probably safe to make a botox joke.

    Baby or Bridal Shower: For showers, brevity is your friend. Today is all about good things to come. Make a wistful quote about the future and taking time to enjoy the little things, not to take life too fast. If you’re married/have children, a short joke may be appropriate, but remember to keep it loving and a story where a lesson can be learned.

    A toast should be like the perfect greeting card. It’s short, sweet and maybe humorous, but it gets to the point quickly and leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

    What’s your go to quote for toasts?

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    Animated Edith Piaf

    Monday, June 15, 2009

    I love this song and this video makes me wonderfully giddy. Happy Monday.

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    Friday I’m in Love -June 12th

    Friday, June 12, 2009

    zombies

    Yesterday kind of got away from me, so here’s my love list mixed in with some weekend reading:

    Zombie portraits: Last weekend the mister and I attended Hypericon, a speculative fiction convention in Nashville. Met some amazing people, including the Contrek producers and cast, and Jonathan Maberry a prolific beast of a man and his sweet wife. If you’re a little nerdy but too intimidated to go to a giant convention, check out local places. I hope to be back next year!

    I’d like to add to my list of dream careers a gypsy caravan shop owner, like Punky Style’s 1950s trailer turned indie shop called Haberdash.

    More eye candy from Morbid Anatomy on the National Museum of Health and Medicine’s flickr page.

    I love Marie’s blog, especially when she interviews hilariously entertaining mens like Jason Savvy.

    Love + Sushi + Pleats = Pleats Please.

    Loved Gala’s Not a dinner and a movie date guide. Because who doesn’t need more sexy dates?

    Mlle Robot wrote a very helpful guide to decluttering your wardrobe.

    Can someone please buy me this Return of the Living Red Wine for my October wedding? I’ll love you until I’m undead.



    This is adorable.


    Love in every way.


    In case you haven’t seen the new Chanel N°5 ad with Audrey Tatou.

    I’m looking forward to weekend full of drive-ins, meeting with old friends, some new, and kisses at sunset.

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