Dining Room

Here's where my head is at currently concerning a dining space.  I had a little more space to show some of our current artwork that would definitely occupy a blank wall.  In my previous living room post, there just wasn't enough room on my design board to include all of the art and accessories that we currently have displayed and will definitely remain a part of any of our rooms to come.

Whaddya think?

1.  Stornas dining table, Ikea
2.  Foto pendant lamps, Ikea
3.  Black director's chair, Pier 1 Imports
4.  Side by Side FLOR tiles
5.  Ikea PS Cabinet
6.  (Clockwise from top left) Still Life on a Pedestal Table, Pablo Picasso; Butterflies and Poppies, Vincent Van Gogh; Cumbres Pass #4, Official Art of Music From Angel Fire, 2006, Alyce Frank; Calla Lilly Turned Away, Georgia O'Keefe

Hickory Floors, same as Living Room design post

Sunny Monday!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Mine was filled with work and play, and lots and lots of sun.

Needless to say, I'm feelin' good.

Stay tuned for another room design coming up later.  I'm really hooked on this dreamin'.

XOXO
--MEL

House dreamin'

So, I've had a bit of bloggers-block recently.  I wasn't really finding a lot of the inspiration I usually do.  I was feeling a bit less connected than most days.

Then it hit me.  I knew what I needed to do to get me out of it:

PLAN MY NEXT LIVING ROOM.

1.  Manstad sofa, Ikea
2.  Cooper lamp, Napa Home
3.  Peekaboo clear nesting tables, CB2
4.  Golden Peaks rug, Anthropologie
5.  Queen Ann mirror, Macy's (Mine looks exactly like this one, but is actually a thrift store find.  Score!)
6.  Garrison table, Eric Manigian
7.  Chill media console, CB2
8.  Charles Pollock chair, Garage Online; Otomi textile, ebay
9.  Pale Smoke #1584, Benjamin Moore
10. Hickory Floors, via Design Happens, from 360 Flooring

Out of Bed, Sleepyhead

Well, it's Monday and I've been sick.  All of the end of last week.  All weekend long.  And now I'm recovering from being sick.  Who knew you had to factor in the "feeling-better-from-feeling-crappy" time into your sick time?  Because I'm still factoring.

A real bummer too because it's beautiful outside, it's my day off, and I have tons of stuff I want to do.  Including give you, my dear internet cosmos, a real post on this thing.  But until then I'm gonna take it slow, start (and probably put down after a few minutes do to lack of energy) a few projects around the house, and make this.  In fact, you should make this too.  It's so delicious.  Maybe it will give me that extra bit of energy I need to get out of bed and into the world.

XOXO
--MEL

House of Brinson

Baby Business

It is one week until my sister-in-law is due to deliver a sweet little baby boy and I can definitely feel the itch!  Not to say that I need some super special event like this to send the itch into high gear (it seems to be a constant nowadays); but of course, it does make me super excited and sends me into the internet cosmos for more inspiration.

Yesterday, I finally sat down and watched The Business of Being Born and it was completely incredible.  If you have not seen it, do so as soon as possible.  It is a beautiful documentary about the wonders of birth and of course, the highly controversial techniques used within the medical field to treat pregnant mothers and their actively-being-born babies.

moviepostr.com

I found these awesome dinosaur lamps via Oh Happy Day and is it weird that I kind of want one for my own room?  

Think Geek

Did anyone else read this book when they were little?  I remember reading this all the time when I was young and every time I remember feeling so nervous about what was going to happen to that silly mouse!

Amazon

Back to my sis-in-law, I recently bought her this diaper clutch that holds a couple diapers, a travel case of wipes and a changing pad.  Not only is it nice and compact, perfect for that super short trip with your baby, but it's adorable!  I think I would take out the baby stuff and just use it as a regular clutch!  I'm definitely looking forward to seeing it in use.  Images from Little Pigeon Crafts.

Hurry little baby Rose Bud!  I can't wait to meet you!

XOXO

--Aunt MEL

Japan

I've been waiting to give some response on Japan.  It's not that I don't acknowledge this unimaginable disaster and the outrageously horrific effect it has had on thousands of Japanese people and their families and their lives.  Not to mention the effects this massive event has had on the earth and it's axis, it's air, it's water, it's placement of land masses (!!!).

I think it's just that I don't really have much of the ability to grasp such things.  I can't even begin to imagine this type of catastrophe and it's effects on civilization and creation together.  It's not that I am a completely non-empathetic asshole (or I hope I'm not), I just think there is only so far true empathy can go.  I've experienced hardships, yes, but nothing compares to the gravity of this situation.  I cannot begin to imagine what it feels like to have your home swept away before your eyes, or your family killed by the earth, or your country in such a state of unrest, where it affects everyone, no matter the distance from the event.

I suppose the closest I've come to that was 9/11, and yes, no one will forget where they were and what they were doing the moment that happened.  We were scared, we were vulnerable, we were panicked and running for our lives to the nearest gas station or grocery store, pulling our kids from schools, declaring war on the first people that said anything remotely derogatory toward us.  We were shocked and we all felt personally affected by the tragedy.  And we all of the sudden loved our neighbors and felt compelled to stand up for everyone and stand in solidarity as Americans.

NY Times

I'm obviously rambling here.  My point is that I personally feel nothing but grief and unquantifiable amounts of sorrow for the people of Japan.  And I also realize that I have no idea what they are going through.  And I also realize that I am so very lucky and so very blessed.  And I also realize the great brevity of life and it's immaculate frailty.  And I realize that my response is limited except to say that I am overcome with humility.  How precious is life.

The Epileptic Imperial Wizard vs. End of Days

Which brings me to this unwaveringly flattering image of a strapping young man I know who is living in Japan.  He is teaching in the Nagano province (notice it's placement on the above map) and recently sent us an e-mail update of his well-being.

His e-mail contained an essay, essentially a short story, about his earthquake/tsunami/nuclear emergency experiences in Japan.  It also is a breathtaking account of an American's viewpoint of the tragedy and the sheer grace of Japan and how they are handling it.  It is moving and hilarious and tragic and honest.

I am linking to the document here and hope you will take the time to read it.  It will take about 10-15 minutes if you sit and read it all the way through and I highly recommend it.  He prefaced his account in the e-mail with the following directions to us and I will pass them on to you:

"1) This is a whole new level of long. Like don't bother bringing it to the toilet because no one poops for that long level of long. 

2) I think I use the word "Jap" on an occasion or two. It is, obviously, completely non-derogatory. It just fits/sounds better and I think its stupid that it necessarily has negative connotations anyway. The phrase "japanese person" is just cumbersome. I am well on my way to reclaiming "jap" for all japanese people, whether they like it or not." 

All of this being said, I think it's important to iterate the fact that as small as we all may feel in times of global crisis like this, there are small ways that we can make a difference.  Donate to a number of different global organizations initiating efforts in Japan or purchase goods where the proceeds go directly to aid Japan.  Or pray, or sit and ponder, or go out and help your neighbor, or think, or just send some light and love and good energy into the atmosphere.  

By reading this piece by my friend, I felt a little more connected and little more able to open myself up to continuing to imagine the seriousness of this situation and continuing to try and be as empathetic and compassionate as possible.  I hope you'll read this, I hope it will do the same for you.

XOXO

--MEL  

Outstanding

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.

So, I know everyone and their mom has blogged about this but I just can't stop dreaming about it.

Outstanding in the Field is a traveling dinner that sets up at farms or gardens all around the country and artfully prepares exquisite meals straight from the ground to the table.  Their mission is, "to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it."


The dinners look so delicious and the people look like so much fun.  Seeing as how not all of us have the big bucks to shell out for such an inspiring event, I bet we could recreate something like it with close friends and farm-fresh local food. 


Who's with me?? 


(Images and mission statement from Outstanding in the Field)