Photobomb Book Featuring Yours Truly

Looks like my husband Alex and I will soon be featured in a book on photobombing! Our wedding photographer Tara Lindsey contacted us yesterday asking for permission to have one of our wedding photos featured in a book.

Our close friends Clarissa and TJ just happened to be behind us when we were taking the photo above. The photobomber, Clarissa, is none other than the woman who married us! She was the officiant at our wedding!

Definitely one of my favorite photos.

No details on the book itself yet. Stay tuned...

(This, however, might be the perfect wedding photobomb. Where's Waldo?)

Parade-Worthy Halloween Costumes

I'm a major fan of Halloween. In fact, one of my first dates with my husband was to the NYC Village Halloween Parade. We were actually in the parade (anyone can be), and I've been dying to do it again ever since. It's amazing how creative, elaborate and skillfully executed the costumes are.

Gizmodo just featured what I think is a Village Parade-worthy costume. A guy with a "gaping hole" in his gut. The guy is a NASA Engineer, and he cleverly uses the cameras on two iPads to create the effect. I like Gizmodo's idea of using iPhones to similarly create a hole in the head.

Pay close attention at the end when he plays a quick game of Angry Birds...

Since Angry Birds is such a hot costume this year, how great would it be to dress up as an Angry Bird (homemade from felt) and attach a playable version of the game to yourself!?! You'd have to carry a slingshot around too!

Star Parties and Star Projection

This inexpensive star projector from Infmetry would be an excellent way for Alex and I to relive a trip we took out to Marfa and the McDonald Observatory in West Texas this past Spring.

The observatory is so far out in the middle of nowhere that the night sky is a true wonder. It's a long drive up the mountains to the observatory at night — with who knows what out there in the dark. We did see some wild boars in our headlights on the drive. And bears earlier in the day.

The observatory believes in reducing light pollution, so there are no lights on the winding road up to the top of the mountain. Even the facility itself has no lights in the parking lot and only very soft red lights marking the outside paths. Needless to say, finding our way in the dark was a challenge.

We were there for one of the star parties they host. A guest speaker shows the audience the constellations with an amazingly powerful laser pointer, and then the general public is able to view stars through these immense telescopes.

For those of you with kids, this star projector would certainly be fun. Perhaps for a kids' camping slumber party? Turn on the star projector, pitch an indoor tent and give the kids s'mores made completely from scratch?

Link via Cup of Jo.

Artist Andrew Spence

I'm loving the architectural nature of artist Andrew Spence's oil paintings. This type of modern art makes you feel like you could create the same thing so easily, but I think people underestimate the vision it takes to come up with these simple, elegant, graphic works of art.

Visit his website to view more from Andrew Spence.

Drawing with Light

One of my fondest childhood memories is sitting out by the campfire with my best friend and her family at a little cabin that they had. We would light the tips of branches on fire and make drawings in the air with the burning embers.

I was reminded of this after seeing Life Magazine's amazing feature on Pablo Picasso's "Drawing with Light" feature from 1949. He used a flashlight but to stunning effect! See the image below.

View Life's slideshow here.

Get Organized in Style!

Adding a stylish retro organizer is sure motivation to organize. The idea of these vintage metal cafeteria trays is so unique and perfect for my desktop.

There are several available on Etsy. I'll be snatching one up for myself tonight!

Images via Sunset and French by Design.

Purple Podded Peas

Just discovered Celia Hart and her blog Purple Podded Peas. For those of you who have followed my blogs for a while, you know that I'm a big fan of lino block prints. I even did one for our save the dates when we got married.

I've decided to do a red and white graphic leaf print and was looking around for inspiration. The detail the artist incorporates in this piece below is impressive. And this post here talks about printing with layers of multiple color. This image below is just so complex yet simple in its rendering -- especially the sun with the birds.

Have Some Hats

I'm so enamored with this artist, Kyle Parker, that I stumbled upon on deviantart. He juxtaposes a seeming innocence with a darker moodiness and pessimism that draws me in.

Prints of his work are available here. His art is listed under Have Some Hats.

Fun Summer Projects

These citrus coasters are another fun little something for the summer -- especially with their vibrant pops of color.

Find the how-to on craftzine.

Have You Seen My Keys?

How's this for a not-so-subtle reminder?

Via Urban Outfitters.

Big Machine

I have to admit, when browsing in a book store, I'm often influenced by the cover design. This is definitely the case with this gorgeous watercolor cover art on the front of Big Machine. That plus a number of great reviews and this intriguing article and excerpt on NPR have me sold.

Just finishing up Bossypants which is definitely good for a few laughs! (Though that one was definitely *not* purchased for its cover!)

Fringed Seersucker Napkins

The perfect touch for summer: seersucker napkins. Check out that great fringed edge too. I like the mixed and matched colors.

Find out how-to, here.

Nicole Krauss' Great House

I just finished reading Great House by Nicole Krauss. I certainly had high expectations after reading History of Love, one of my all-time favorite books. While this book didn't wow me as much as History of Love did, it's an eloquent, thoughtful book that will likely stay with me for a while. Much of the book focuses on emptiness and loss, so (as the NYTimes review of the book points out), it doesn't have the same humor as her previous novel.

Actually, calling it a novel is somewhat controversial. I actually wondered if that was more of a marketing concept to increase sales. It does say it's a novel on the cover; however, structurally, it's a collection of stories with consistent themes tied together by an old desk among other things. They do come together in the end, but is it enough to call it a novel?

Whatever you consider it, Krauss has certainly produced a very smart book with Great House. It's one of those pieces worthy of dissection, that will likely be enriched by further discussion.

I enjoyed the plot and the puzzle pieces we're left with, and at the end of the day, I'm eager to read Nicole Krauss' next book just to experience more of her beautiful, elegant writing.

If you're interested in more of my book reviews, friend me on Goodreads.com.

What are your favorite books? Have you read anything good lately?

Pixel Pattern

pattern, originally uploaded by army.arch.

Lovely pattern from the inside of a stairwell. Great reminder to always be on the look for inspiration!

Texture + Color

There's nothing like natural elements for creative inspiration. These images from Miss Stella are closeups of everyday things in the garden. I'm particularly taken with these first two.

Photo credits: Miss Stella on Flickr.

Knit Night

I'm going to try my hand at knitting one more time. I met a group of ladies who've offered to take me under their wing and give me a beginner lesson. Turns out Wednesday is knit night.

Color in Your Home Office

I'm working from home these days, ever since moving to Austin. That makes my home office that much more important.

Love the color and eclectic design of these small home office spaces from Apartment Therapy. My little desk space at home is very streamlined and modern, but there's really NO personality to that part of the room. In fact, I usually end up working in the living room on the dining room table since the light is just so much better out there.

I have just the right blue and white lamp that I got in Hong Kong, and I'm really inspired by these chairs. However, it's all about back support where chairs are concerned, so I kind of don't want to give up my chair! Fun pillow maybe?

This last photo is from Black*Eiffel. The wood adds such a great balance to the black and white.

Hors d'oeuvres & Cocktail Pairings

I'm co-hosting a little get together soon where everyone will be bringing hors d'oeuvres and cocktail pairings. Definitely fun to think about.

I also want to step up my game in terms of presentation and was inspired by this grilled cheese / tomato soup combo. Of course, if I do grilled cheese it will have to be special, some sort of gruyere or truffle grilled cheese. And since it's supposed to be a cocktail pairing, I'm thinking bloody marys rather than tomato soup. YUM!

Or if I really want to mix things up, there's Thomas Keller's Grits Cakes recipe, as an alternative to the grilled cheese, but presented the same way. Alex just got me Keller's Ad Hoc at Home cookbook for Christmas (thanks, Honey!)

Grilled Cheese via Cup of Jo.

Handmade Gift Wrap

One of my favorite things is packaging, paper and presentation. Find me one of those fancy stationary stores, and I'm in heaven.

This year, I was inspired by a few of the blogs I follow to make my own gift wrap. And my ribbon of the year was this turquoise!

This first gift above was for my niece. I fell in love with that big lollipop when i saw it, and I hand carved the stamp used on that paper and added a little frosted greenery.

The second gift below was for my mom. A little winter wonderland of a present with a hand-glittered polka-dot design.

I created a few other hand-stamped gift wrap options but didn't get to photograph them. And I never did get to attempt this more elaborate hand-carved stamp. There are many more holidays to come however. Who says my creations have to be limited to Christmas!?

Looking for a creative Christmas craft?

I've already got lots of projects in queue, but some sort of block print gift wrap really appeals to me.

Image and idea via Creature Comforts.

Out the Car Window

The last few months have held many flights, train rides, car trips and hotels for me -- all for work.

But with the right perspective, there's a certain beauty to be found out the window of a car.

Belated New Mexico

Early this Fall, I had the pleasure of a trip to New Mexico.

What an amazing place to dabble in a little photography.