i'm sweet on...

...Papaya. This eclectic venture is the brainchild of Gina & Anahata Katkin, a mother and daughter pair who have seriously got it going on! From notecards to waterbottles, artwork to jewelry, their buying ambition and creative flair for product is so fresh and so inspiring.

random is exactly that...

i don't sew, haven't since 7th grade Home Economics...

i don't stitch, haven't since college...

i don't knit, but I have a crazy desire to learn...does that make me an old maid, trendy or just plain silly?

i heart this...etsy

Oh, my amazing world of all things beautiful!! I just can't get over how crazy these cuffs are. Not only are they chunky and shiny, but they have this "put together in my workshop" feel that takes me back to the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" era.

I found these beauties, like I do most things, on Etsy, my favorite place for all things creative. They are designed by Ricky @ edmdesigns. This is called Steampunk jewelry - and uses the contents of vintage watch parts. Ricky says "most of my designs feature the styles and manufacturers of fine watch pieces from the mid to late 1800's and into the early 1940's. I try most often to preserve the integrity of the focal movement and will only utilize pieces that can no longer serve their original purpose."

What a lovely way to be green and goddess all at the same time!

dazed and confused...

I've been trying my best to REALLY dive into the nuts and bolts of the health care crisis here in the US and to educate myself regarding the changes that Obama's administration is proposing. I'm a pretty quick study, but I have to admit that there is SO MUCH SHIT out there to try and sift through that it's hard somedays to feel like you are really up to speed.

Because I'm vocal about my beliefs, my friends too often want to debate with me on the topic of health care - and while I can debate with the best of them (okay, okay, the mediocre-to-mid-grade of them), I claim to be a little skittish on this topic. I want to be sure of myself and I want to speak concisely and intentionally - but I also want to get the point across to people that "FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, people - we're in a crisis here! And isn't ANYTHING that is remotely planned out a better solution than the mess we find ourselves in???"

Most of my conservative and nervous friends are most concerned because they feel like the specifics are too unknown - that they want their own 3rd grade Health Care Bible before they are willing to take a look at another solution. I can't entirely fault them, but please refer to the previous paragraph to understand what I want to scream to them.

Finally, today, the White House posted a down and dirty, bulleted list of what the reform bill would do. It's in no way a master's thesis, but it's a start. I hope you find as much understanding in it as I did - and I hope it makes you more willing to take on debaters like me.

I heart this...

Anyone who remotely knows me, is familiar with my addiction to big jewelery pieces. As a tall girl, I can pull them off and I love the impact they create. I'm trying desperately to figure out how I can afford this necklace. I know that I can't, which makes it all the more frustrating...but I can at least show you the amazingness of it and let you drool along with me!
Tonic Home is a great place to find one of a kind pieces that take your breath away. The Camillia Bib Necklace is designed by Isharya and is made of Tourmaline glass, red, and clear enamel. Amazing, right?

i could spend all day...

...messing around on Polyvore.com. This fabulous website allows you to build your own storyboards of apparel and accessories that you love - then publish them to your friends or other Polyvore fans. Maybe I'm late to the party, but I haven't seen this before and I can't imagine the time one could waste here.

Here are a few of the boards that caught my eye.

I heart this...

I'm a total sucker for great packaging. As a designer, there's a certain aesthetic that accompanies well-done graphics partnered with functionality. Minneapolis based Duffy & Partners has redesigned a collection of chocolate scented candles for Thymes. So delicate and yet so enticing. Love, love, love!!!

And because I can't let a day go by without thinking of tequila, this beautiful limited edition tequila packaged in hand blown crystal bottles makes me what to sit on a beach and quickly forget my name. This is almost too beautiful to drink from...sorry, never mind. What was I thinking?

your daily bias

What was that?

For those of you just starting to read about me, I've got more going on right now than a one-armed wallpaper hanger. I'm in the process of boxing up my home and moving to North Carolina, a move that pains and excites me all at the same time. During my transition, I am living in an extended stay hotel where Miss Margaret Lucille Esmeralda McGillicuddy (aka Maggie) is with me to keep me company. She rides great in the car and would much prefer to be with me than with than her neurotic father at home in Virginia. But Maggie has her own set of family issues and she doesn't mind giving me a lesson on patience every chance she gets.

On her morning walk she normally leaves for me a honking pile of love that is as normal as normal gets. But this morning, as she found a place to cop her squat, she removed from her body something so foul that imagining it might be grounds for prosecution. Because I have to pick it up and dispose of it, I was leaning over this miracle when I realized exactly what I was looking at. The first half of her gift was a mix of used, compacted and slightly discolored sundries that she had eaten out of the bathroom trash can. There were several tissues, a facial cleansing pad AND a few q-tips. Once I got over the shock of the contents in her belly, I looked at her and said "You've got to be kidding me?!? Do I need to hide the tampons and soap today as well?" At which point, she saw a squirrel and darted off -- and the vision of her backside with butt in the air was no different than if she had given me the finger with her tail.

i heart this...etsy

Of all the most recent beauties that I've spotted on Etsy, this one takes the cake. This gorgeous Tree of Love bracelet has a soft spot in my heart. Designed by Soltice Jewelry, this little gem is a combination of turquoise hearts, jasper roses, soft chocolate suede with leaves. How can you NOT like this?

your daily bias

I heart this...

Look at these amazing laser-cut maps of London and Paris. I wish they came in other colors, but I'm seriously coveting these guys...

Health Care Hell

I have an obsession - her name is Heather Armstrong and she writes a blog called Dooce. Heather is one of the funniest, most honest, and most self-aware women I've ever come across. I have been reading her blog for several years - happening upon her after the birth of her first daughter. She was blogging about her serious postpartum, which was near and dear to my heart. No, I've never had a child and suffered from this, BUT I lost my best friend to depression that was brought on by postpartum depression and I have read a lot in attempting to understand her disease.

Heather talks a lot about her family - consisting of her loving husband and her (now) 2 daughters. It was through Heather's talk of her spouse, Jon, that I came to read his blog Blurbomat. Jon is just as funny as Heather, but uses his blog to talk about (1) a band he had in college and (2) critical political concepts that aren't voiced enough.

John has been doing a series on the health care system in America - it's pros and cons and the need for a system that helps those who can't help themselves. Because I don't quite understand all the nuances of what Jon talks about (still learning and digesting) - I have posted links to his pages in the order in which you should read. He's SUCH a bright guy and I'm glad that he and Heather have each other to share their crazy lives with.

Read, enjoy and ponder. If you are so inclined - DO SOMETHING!!!

First Post:
Talking Points and Numbers

Second Post:
Additional Links

Third Post:
Anti-Competitive Monopolies

Yes, It's Been a While

I never wanted to be one of those women who started a blog and then left it to wither...but, alas. Excuses are like @ssholes - I have only one...I've been really freakin' busy. Between my travel schedule, which is only compounded by my work schedule, and trying to make time to see my husband since he's been home, I haven't had time to focus on the things I love. And I LOVE writing about random things that mean NOTHING to ANYONE except ME.

My new, and more reasonable, goal is to write 3 times per week. I hope that this will be a much more manageable task and something that I will look forward to instead of away from.

I just found out that I have one loyal reader...my nutso Auntie M still finds time to read about the random things that I ponder while she's busy trying to keep up with my equally nutso Uncle R and her painting habit. She's become quite the artist and I'm so proud of the hidden talent that she pulled from deep down inside those high-top Converse sneakers. She'll be irked that I wrote about her - but at least she can now admit that I've finally written SOMETHING.

This amazes me...

I'm having a hard time handling the fact that our economy is teetering on the edge of a rock-infested cliff and one raindrop from the sky, on either side of center, would be enough to save it or send it to it's death below. I feel like I have to trust our POTUS...at least until he screws the pooch to the point of never deserving my trust again.

But I have to admit that I'm a little stunned by the recent firing of the GM CEO. Not that I'm not all for a clean house at the top - but because our POTUS did the firing. It was a clear message that the government is in charge - not big business. He has the people behind him, screaming for more changes to come.

This is my questions, however. How can you fire the CEO of a domestic automaker who came to the federal government asking for a loan, not a bailout, but not evoke circumstances on the Wall Street executives who have squandered more capital than we could even imagine. Let's spread the pink-slip wealth, Mr. Obama. You need to prove to the American people that you have the balls to step on all kinds, shapes and colors of toes.

As a side conversation to the GM situation, I was having a conversation with my in-laws last weekend about the ratio between worker and CEO salary in this country. Here's the list, for those of you who like to walk around with useless numerical lists in your head.

Ratio of CEO pay to average worker pay, by country:
Japan 11:1
Germany 12:1
France 15:1
Italy 20:1
Canada 20:1
South Africa 21:1
Britain 22:1
Hong Kong 41:1
Mexico 47:1
Venezuela 50:1
United States 475:1

Makes you wonder how we let things get so out of control, doesn't it. My story goes like this: "Once upon a time, there was an actor from California who was elected to the Presidency of the United States..."

i'm sweet on...

...this new Antwerp Chair from Anthropologie. The patchwork is hand-embroidered and it just has such a nice vintage appeal to it. At a mere $1998, it's well worth the second mortgage.

pet peeves

There are few things in life that really get under my skin. I'm usually pretty easy to deal with, pretty even tempered. HOWEVER, these few things can set me off like a fat man on a whoopee cushion. Note to my friends: don't test me...

1. Tossing butts - the absolute last thing that I want when I'm driving down the road is a still-burning butt flying towards me at 70 mph. The simple fact that you are littering is obviously lost on you, but then you have to be a total douche and throw your flammable litter at someone else. I didn't ask to be littered on. I also didn't ask to take my life in your hands by hoping that your lit butt doesn't spark something under my hood. Do us all a favor - use your ashtray or keep an empty aluminum can in your car. Keep your butt to yourself. I have enough asses in my life.

2. Cow cud - I don't want to hear you chewing your food just like I don't want you doing it with your mouth open. It's one thing if you are eating chips or crunching on ice, but the sloppy smacking of your jaw gets my blood boiling. Really, learn some restraint...and some courtesy. And finally ...

3. 3rd grade lesson - Please learn how to punctuate. It's simple, elementary school knowledge - and if you got out of 3rd grade not knowing where a period, comma or capital letter goes, then I wonder who your mom paid off. If you are updating your FB status or sending an email, please, please do your part and grammar check. It's annoying and infantile. If you are wondering if this points at you, ask. I'm happy to call you out.

your daily bias

facebook schmacebook

I used to be so bad at keeping up with my friends that they eventually dropped off the end of the earth - usually pissed off that I turned them off. It wasn't intentional, I just don't have the time or the inclination to be a letter writer or email sender. My thank-you note skills are equally bad, and my aunt continues to remind me how disappointed she is in me when I don't live up to the 1950's expectation of gracious living.

I have recently turned into someone that I don't recognize. Facebook has revolutionized the way that I communicate with people and, at times, I'm more connected then I would really like to be. I look at these people who use their blogs as a canvas on which to verbal vomit their life story and I'm amazed that they don't get cyber-stalked. Maybe they do and they just don't care - who knows.

But this world of Facebook has made me better at keeping in touch AND equally pissed at my inability to keep people at arms length. I hate the fact that I update my status, therefore letting my "friends" know where I am in the world - but I just can't seem to stop feeding the information like baby food on a spoon. I don't quite know where this addiction came from and I know for sure that I don't like it - but I haven't found a Facebook Anonymous meeting online yet. If I do, I'll be sure to invite my friends to the meeting by asking them to give me 25 reasons why they should come. Then they need to tag 25 of their FB friends that need the same group counseling and we'll set up a chat room to have the meeting. Everyone can be responsible for their own coffee.

support the search for a cure

I dig these organic and handmade bags from Sea Bags for a Cure. These custom tote bags are made out of recycled sails (which just makes me want to hitch a ride on a island-bound vessel).

The limited edition pink ribbon sea bags were created to benefit the Maine Cancer Foundation.

These bags can be found at Tonic Home - one of the coolest housewares sites on the web right now.