Audrey + Anthropologie = INSPIRATION

Hello internet cosmos!  So sorry for the hiatus yesterday.  I found myself mopping the kitchen floor and shopping for Irish Moss in preparation for tomorrow night instead of blogging.  Here are a couple beautiful amazing things that make me uncontrollably happy today!  I hope you find them wonderful too.

First and foremost, it is no secret that I love Audrey Hepburn (along with 78 bajrillion other people on this planet).  Everything she did exuded grace and sophistication and full on glamour.  So when I ran across this collection yesterday, all I could think about all day is how I needed to hold my head up a little higher and lose 1,398,456 lbs, and put on a black long sleeve tee and black leggings and trot around town just like Audrey.  

P.S.  If you haven't seen Funny Face, watch it tonight.  It's a classic.

Wikipedia

Next up, we have the most amazing thing ever.  I can't even use words to do it justice it's so wonderful.  So I'll just put it out there and garner a response.  Get ready.  Are you sitting down?

ANTHROPOLOGIE IS COMING OUT WITH A BRIDAL LINE.

And I'm so jealous Joanna got to go sample the beauties!  Here are some sneak peak photos from her adventure to view the collection.  Get ready.  Drool.

A Cup of Jo

A Cup of Jo

A Cup of Jo

Raw Food and Friends

A while back, I had a brief encounter with the healthier eating lifestyle and attempted to eat myself closer to nature.  Needless to say, most of the techniques and ideas didn't continue in my every day life (I need to work on my self-control and discipline.  Plus I love cheese.).

However, in my search for balance, one of my friends completely encouraged me by buying me the Café Gratitude cookbook.  What is Café Gratitude you ask?

The Philohophie

It is only probably the most famous raw restaurant in the world.  Now, I had never heard of it either until my friend got me their cookbook; but again, I was a new convert into the super-healthy eating revolution as well as the completely separate amazing universe that is San Francisco.

Anyway, my friends and I decided to get together this weekend and try out some recipes from the Café Gratitude cookbook.  We're so excited and it seems like it's going to be quite the adventure.  Irish moss?  Lecithin?  Hijiki seaweed?  Yep.  Here we come.

I'll post pics of our dinner later and let you know how it goes.  Tell me internet cosmos, have any of you gotten into the raw revolution?  Anyone had the pleasure of eating at the famous Café Gratitude?

Wishing you all a happy and healthy day!
--MEL  

Edible Tulip

Volkswagen Rules

Happy Monday everyone!  Hope your weekend was fantastic!

Now, I know everyone and their mom has got a Super Bowl hangover this morning, and most of us are trying to get out of it.  However, I woke up this morning in full fledged Super Bowl excitement simply because of this commercial and I definitely don't want it to go anywhere.

This is my (and 15 million others) vote for best Super Bowl commercial.  By a long shot.  The Mr. said, "Just because the company has great commercials doesn't make it have a great car."  To which my reply was:  "I will always love my Jetta and will always be loyal to VW.  Mainly because of the commercials."

There's no logic or reason to this.  It's just pure goodness.  And it will definitely make you smile on a Monday morning.

XOXO

--MEL   

I Love Fridays

Happy Friday!  Hope you all had a fabulous week and are looking forward to a great weekend.  While the rest of the country looks like this...

Minneapolis Star Tribune blog

where I am, it looks like this...

Weather

That's right.  I officially live on a different planet than the rest of America.

On another note, the Mr. and I have never been the super saps that seem to come out of hiding on Valentine's Day.  We've always used it as a day to do something fun and creative.  The Mr. always draws or paints me an incredible card that ends up being a complete work of art.  I usually write him a ridiculous vulgar poem.  We will definitely participate in the flowers and chocolate rage (because when do chocolate and flowers NOT make a house better?  Never.).  And we'll usually end up cooking a huge meal for just the two of us, stuff our faces and then pass out in a food coma.  Romantic, right?

Anyway, here are some gift ideas that I think would be super fun for this Valentine's Day.  Or for any time, for that matter.

Enjoy!
--MEL

Do you guys see the amazing print hanging on the wall in this kitchen?  I have looked all over the place to find where I can buy it and I just can't find anything (recommendations appreciated).  But if I could find it, I would snatch it up because it's so cute and hilarious.

Apartment Therapy

What chocolate lover doesn't dream of creating a bar, completely for yourself, with whatever you want and only what you want?  I know I do.  This company lets you do just that.  (via A Cup of Jo)

select favorites from Chocomize

This is not your run of the mill cheesy love print.  This is rad.

PRRINT!

Last but certainly not least, this is the best teddy bear I've ever seen.  They say, "don't buy this for your girlfriend".  But I say, "I'm buying this for my husband and I hope he buys the white one for me so we can have a matching pair on our bed and I love it so much I'm recommending it to the blogosphere". (via Refinery 29)

Love is Lame

Find Inspiration

Gabriela Herman

I recently came across this post on 16 House and was really intrigued.  NY photographer Gabriela Herman has an incredible photo series on bloggers, behind the computer screen.  Here's an excerpt from her artist statement:

While it is heavily debated how modern technology can isolate us, there are undeniably many upsides to this online evolution. I believe bloggers are connecting us, bringing us closer. In some ways, bloggers are helping create a reverse wave in our technological age by forming an authentic exchange between blogger and reader. Bloggers allow for an interactive platform, a dialogue that allows for both online and offline relationships to form.

I have been reading blogs for a while now.  It's addictive.  And there are a lot of things in our lives that are addictive for the wrong reasons but I feel okay about this one.  I started reading one blog and then the wonders of free thought on the internet just continued to unfold everyday for me.  I am still constantly adding new blogs to my list and finding amazing joys and inspirations in a million different places all the time.  Blogs can offer a wonderful array of opinions, colors, tastes, sensations, and thought provoking images and writings that really get your brain working and involved and wanting to connect with others on a meaningful level.  

Gabriela Herman

This is why I started my blog.  I wanted to offer a wide expanse of thoughts about many different things.  I don't want to be labeled.  I don't want to be a specific genre of writing.  I just want to think and share thoughts and inspire others to do the same.

Anyway, check out Herman's photo series here.  She has captured the little worlds behind the scenes of bloggers you love.  It's beautiful to see the thoughtful quiet dark moments in which a blogger creates, led only by the light of inspiration coming from a blank and completely uncensored canvas that is the internet. 

Gabriela Herman

It doesn't have to be the computer screen that gives you this sort of creative light.  It can be a piece of paper, a journal, a garden, an instrument, a skillet.  Whatever it is, just keep creating and being inspired and sharing inspiration.  It's important. 

Gabriela Herman

Happy Humpday

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!  Here are a few wonderful things I've found around the web recently.  Hope you enjoy!

With so many new Mom's in my life (and that annoying little constant itching to become one) I can't stop cooing over the wonderful baby things out there.  Like this one line a day journal for new Mom.  It's genius.  Of course you want to remember all those first moments but who has time to journal when you're a new mom?  One line a day, that's all it takes.  Adorable.  (via oh happy day)

Babble

My Mr. is out of town a lot with work so I find myself cooking only for myself which is difficult!  Until I found this wonderful website via Food News Journal and my heart skipped a beat.  Gourmet Recipes for One is exactly what it sounds like and it does not fail to deliver.  Especially the mac and cheese.  Wow.

Gourmet Recipes for One

These stamps from Karen Horton's extensive collection are beautiful.  I would love to have them all blown up and hung on my walls. (via Miss Moss, images from Karen's flickr)

Animal Print

I'm not usually the animal print type but this pointy leopard pump trend is killing me.

stylelist

Jonotjoe's Weblog

Fabsugar

Please shoe gods, maybe you could bring me these to satisfy my craving:

beso

Please and thank you--
MEL