Bird's Eye View

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It's been my dream (since forever) to have a treehouse. Unfortunately, even growing up with oak filled lawns in the Midwest, I never had the opportunity to realize this vision. In the sixth grade we were given a project to create and design a dream house (these were my favorite type of assignments) and I created a treehouse. The plans were two dimensional of course, but my sky high fantasy was modern and earthy, sophisticated yet cozy. I am reminded of this because of a recent post by decorology on "Amazing Treehouses I Would Live In."

While I don't see a treehouse in the future of our landscape, I do think the view we have affords a similar sense of freedom and peace. Instead of pining away for the day I might have my own nest, I thought it best to explore options for visiting such marvels of architecture.

Make your reservations today!
Cedar Creek Treehouse at Mount Rainer

Tree House Lodge, Costa Rica

Sanya Nanshan Treehouse Hainan Island, China

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California, USA

A Beautiful Eye

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I discovered Bell'occhio (Italian for "beautiful eye") this week, a charming store in San Francisco which carries some of the most beautiful gifts and goods. Of course, I discovered the online version, which I'm sure is not nearly as magical as the actual shop. Sigh. It doesn't matter because I was wooed by numerous items in their Maison and Papeterie sections.

Finally I found the uber chic black chalkboard oilcloth that I first saw in Domino {RIP}. I can't wait to order this and put in on my dining room table.


What homespun cake wouldn't look wonderful on this "woodsie" faux bois cake stand?


Such a perfect little heart. True love my dear, true love.


I think eggs are one of nature's most perfect foods.
This porcelain carton gives these fragile orbs a proper home.

Just because you have twins...

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does not mean you can trash the place.

Tonight Jarrod & I went out for dinner at our local sushi joint-sans kids. While it's famous for it's 50% off rolls, it's no dive. Next to us were two couples with a baby, then just a table away were two couples with a set of young twins--maybe 2.5 to 3 yrs. old. The tots were in restaurant high chairs and watching a portable DVD. Interesting idea. Anyway, it looked like they were making the kind of mess that many kids do. After dinner they all got up and made a rapid exit. What was left in their wake can only be described as the aftermath of a mixed vegetable earthquake promptly followed by a specialty roll hurricane.

Seriously. It was a SCENE. I wish I'd had the balls to take a picture. It's Saturday night, 730 PM, and the place was PACKED. Every server hustling their orders zipped by, paused slightly, grimaced, and kept walking. The area was not even approachable, and the patrons waiting for tables (it was a 4 and 2 top together) were pointing, staring, and commenting. Now let me say that the parents were completely NORMAL looking...like, they could have been our friends, and maybe even belong to twins club. However, none of my friends would have left a restaurant in that condition. Even with a ginormous tip, it's really unacceptable. That table was on lockdown for at least 30-45 minutes. I was embarrassed for the parents, and felt awful for the staff. I did have the nerve to ask our server if they left a big tip. She said with a smile "no--they have the babies."

I gave her a big tip.

I Heart You: The Art of the Screenprint

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This is a little chronicle of my first attempt at silk screening. Last month I attended a workshop at Visual Asylum to create a two-color fine art print. I submitted my design in advance ("I Heart You" won over "Be Kind" on my Facebook Challenge) and the kind peeps at VA burned my screens in advance. I chose a bright, true red and a soft, dreamy blue. There was only one other student in the workshop--he chose brown and the same dreamy blue. His design went swimmingly with mine-"We all have a song" with a bird and a branch.

My very first print was PERFECT, then the blue ink got a little sticky...and, oh well, I created about 20 prints and they are full of charming little (and big flaws). It was SO great. I really loved it and can't wait to try it again. Near the end, we started to merge some of our designs and created some real gems.

Overheard

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Like Mother, Like Son.

After announcing that I tripped on a dart gun and inadvertently kicked it under an unknown piece of furniture, I walked away and overheard the following...

Max: Beck, this is just a reminder, but don't leave your toys around the house. I know you know this already, but it's just a reminder. Okay Beck? Thanks.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

After discovering the package of dried blueberries was left open in the pantry I promptly told the boys they needed to seal up the bag or they would dry up...

Beck: But Mommy, they're already dried out.

Touché, my love, touché.

Three Potato Four

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Again, I find myself wondering...Where Have I Been? and How Have I Missed This? Three Potato Four is an online shop and blog that features fabulous flea market finds and original art. Noted by Cookie, Oprah, Domino and Daily Candy, Three Potato Four is a mecca of vintage goodness. I'm smitten with the letterpress goodies, the graphic tins and tea towels, and even the old light bulb collection.

Looks for the Nook

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I'm working on my kitchen breakfast nook (okay, my dad is), and am now ready to get quotes on custom bench cushions and hopefully a re-do on two Louis XVI chairs to go with it. I am channeling a little bit of Miami with green, orange and pink guiding my way. My other kitchen post features a lot of bright white. This palette will give it a fresh pop that will carry through, and connect with other accents in my house.While I dream of owning an Eero Saarinen table, my budget only allows for an IKEA Docksta table. Sigh. For now, this is a fabulous alternative.

I can't wait to get the cushions and table ordered and move the project along. I'm envisioning a sunny Sunday morning with a hot cup of strong coffee, my favorite design mags, and Greek yogurt with farm fresh strawberries, honey and walnuts. Mmmmmm...

Office Supply Stationery



I've mentioned before how much I love office supplies. The projects outlined in a Martha Stewart craft section also remind me of some found object/repurposed stationery by Stephanie from Phantom Limb and also ReduxPaper on Etsy. These are great projects for kids and are fun to personalize with souvenirs from trips (maps, menus, etc.). I'm also especially fond of this Measuring Tape Tape from the Museum of Useful Things. So fun on packages, lunch bags, notecards, book marks. I cut a strip for my work surface so that I can measure things in an instant. Finally, manila packaging tags are infinitely useful. Stock up at ULINE.

Current Events

These are just a few news items that caught my attention this week.

Stenson in his Skivvies


'I was only wearing two things when I hit the shot, my jocks and my golf glove," Swedish Golfer Henrik Stenson, at the WGC-CA Championship in Doral, Florida.

The Nobel Prize for Evil


Austan Goolsbee, a member of the White House Council of Economic advisers, on AIG: "It's almost like these guys should have gotten the Nobel Prize for evil." Watching Jon Stewart share this tidbit is unparalleled.

The Money Grab


Drug suspects led police on a high speed chase on the 805. To complicate matters they threw thousands of hundred dollar bills out the window...and yes, people stopped their vehicles ON THE FREEWAY and ran around IN TRAFFIC trying to grab it all up. No injuries, but lots of idiots.

Tweetjacking the Mompreneur


Tweetjacking? I discovered this word on the front page of Alltop.com, which I read about in Entrepreneur (the actual magazine) which led me to a blog about this book called "The Anatomy of Buzz Revisited" but I still don't totally get it. I don't even know how to Tweet, let alone jack someone's Twitter. This is is likely a huge opportunity, but right now, it's a problem for me and (perhaps) for other mompreneurs as well...How do we keep up with social media?

My website is a necessity, but it's certainly not driving sales and because I refuse to invest in a professional web designer, it's not that dynamic. Enough about websites though, the money shot is in social media, like blogs, Facebook and Twitter. These networking vehicles are quite demanding--not just to keep "up to date" but to be ahead of the curve! bursting with information!! comments, links, photos, references, whatever! (notice my sense of urgency with exclamation points). It's also a bit of a popularity contest, what with fans, friends and followers...What's a girl to do?

To start, I'm going to pick up this book. Next, I'm looking for a local network of working mompreneurs (San Diego). Do YOU have any Truly Fine Advice?

The Super Friends are Awesome


We are way into the Super Friends right now, after Max used gift $$$ to buy the All New Super Friends (1977) double disc set. Each of us have been assigned a Super Alter Ego: Beck is Superman, Max is Batman, Papa is Aquaman and I am Wonder Woman. I'm digging the old school graphics and costumes (yes, even though it's animated you can definitely timeline the shorty shorts and knee high tube socks). Each mini-episode is interspersed with magic tricks, safety hints (don't hitch hike (!), don't play with matches), and recycle tips. Finally--the ultimate gem--Ted Knight is the narrator. Seriously?

Threadless Prints

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It's official, I'm obsessed with printmaking. I'm psyched to have learned the process at StudioWorks via Visual Asylum, and now I've discovered that the super rad T-Shirt gig Threadless ventured into printland as well. So cool. Examples, above. I'll post soon on the first design shown here "Magical Powers", by Ray Fenwick. Finally, the kid's shirts are completely unique, Beck and Max have been gifted a lovely collection, and have since grown out of all of them. People, order one up for kids so that you can keep them longer. This one is next on the list...

Mr. Universe

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I've always had a horrible time with historic timelines and events. It's just all sorts of people and places floating around in a spherical world of happenings. Totally non-linear thinking. I can usually cover this pretty well in general cocktail banter, but if it came to Final Jeopardy I'd be screwed. That said, I hope the boys inherit Jarrod's historical and political acumen. Admittedly, they are not there yet...

The world according to Max & Beck begins with Jesus, Santa and George Washington. The current debate (and it has been this for quite some time...) revolves around the physical strength of Jesus. "Jesus is as strong as Superman." "Jesus is stronger than Papa." "Is Opa as strong as Jesus?". Jesus, of course, has strength beyond his bitty biceps. He is magic. Otherwise, I might never have heard this one..."Jesus made me do it. He controls me."

Thank God Jesus is Magic. Really. Because if it came to a throw down with Santa and George Washington, my money's on the guy in the red suit.

Pinball Publishing

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Through the ever talented Kate Bingaman-Burt of Obsessive Consumption I found Pinball Publishing in Portland, Oregon. I have no need for a current print run, and like to do work locally, but they are so flippin' cool it might be worth the long distance to work with them on a future project. They recntly published a series of designer postcards which help promote their own mad printing skills. This one is by artist Lisa DeJohn. I'm obsessed with the rounded corners and it appears that Pinball is more than equipped to execute such details.

From Pinball: Lisa DeJohn is a fine artist, illustrator and surface designer living in the North Shore of Massachusetts. She draws inspiration from plant forms, animals, architectural structures and antique paper goods. Her freelance work includes clients such as Chronicle Books, The Land of Nod, teNeues Publishing, IKEA, Godiva Chocolatier and Urban Outfitters.


True Love

[Scene: A family room in suburban California, 8:09 PM. The Daily Show plays in the background, a married couple sits next to each other on the couch, cruising Facebook on their respective laptops. The FB IM pop-up follows...]
8:10pmJarrod

hey babe, do you want to do it? [ding!]

are you there? [ding!]

hey you? [ding!]

8:11pmSarah

Love you. LOL!

8:11pmJarrod

but i still want to do it

8:11pmSarah

Yeah but I'm triple multi tasing [sic]

Jarheads

Design*Sponge rocks. I just discovered two totally cool concepts that I can actually implement without major $$$ outlay, tools or time.

#1. I'm going to use the myriad jars I've been hoarding to set up a little glass photo ensemble. Many thanks to Design*Sponge for this cool post.


#2. A perfect fit with my need for entryway overhauling and foyer fluff up. This little felt cutie is just right for the last minute miscellanea that always seems to be sitting on the floor in front of the door. Love the wallpaper...