In case you're wondering

The break went really well.

I didn't dream about you or wonder if you were dreaming about me or secretly stalk you all over the internet.

I didn't even think about you.

Image from here.

Echo Park Is Not Dead

This article has inspired three people so far to send me their condolences. I know it's confusing. Eagle Rock, Echo Park. East Side hipsters. "Whatevs," you're thinking.

Just so we're clear: I don't live in Eagle Rock. I don't hang out in Eagle Rock. I don't even know how to get to Eagle Rock.

Why would I? When I can walk, from my Echo Park bungalow, to:

1. The Friday night farmer's market. That's right, Friday night. Who wants to get up early to buy vegetables?

2. Two Boots Pizza. Okay, I can't eat the pizza, but the fact that this indie chain has branched into my neighborhoods on both coasts makes me weirdly happy. It's time for a gluten-free option, you guys.

3. Chango. The most effing hilarious hipster-watching. I can't actually vouch for the coffee (I drink mine before I leave the house), but the Arnold Palmer rocks.

4. Echo Park Lake. According to this wee adorable map by Laura, the loop around the lake is just under a mile. I should start running around it. Or walking around it. Or just sitting and feeding the ducks. I really like ducks.

5. Little Joy (pictured). I used to love this bar, but the last time I was there the patrons were all 21-going-on-16. Way to make me feel like an old married lady.

Footsie's is my new favorite bar.* A "dive" with great lighting that serves Booker's. Way to make me feel like a grupster. And yes, it's in Cypress Park (wherever that is). Don't bother with the Echo Park bars on the weekend. So. Not. Dead.

*In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that my rad neighbor is part owner. When H-town told him how much we liked Footsie's, he gave us two tokens for free drinks. Maybe one night we'll actually get out of the house and use them. And we srsly plan to ask him where he bought the vintage fixtures.

(Image courtesy of Meltwater)

happy birthday Peonies & Polaroids

I'll never forget the day I (virtually) met Peonies, and the life-or-death conversation we had about flats v. heels. I'm having trouble believing that was almost a year ago. But anyhoo.

To celebrate the first birthday of her blog, Peonies has finally opened an etsy shop. And I believe she's doing a wee giveaway.

Hop to it.

(Image courtesy of Peonies herself. She shoots flowers and landscapes so beautifully, but it's the inanimate objects that get me every time.)

I think we need to take a break.

Just for a few days.

(beat)

It's not you, it's me.

Image via THEY DON'T CALL THEM LOVERS IN HIGH SCHOOL, LEELAND

Powdered Sugar Bride

This white sparkle organza dress by sarahseven is adorable. I love the recycled strip of silver beads at the waist. (Portland, you are so green.)

But is it wearable?

If you don't want to show this much skin at your wedding, see the etsy shop for some more modest dresses.

Via {a glamorous little side project}

Flower child bride?

I thought I wanted this. Or something like this. But my stylist/photographer/wedding therapist would have none of it.

I have no regrets. The porcupine quills were definitely more me.

But I'd love to hear your thoughts on the rise of the wedding nymph/flower child look.

Photo via {a glamorous little side project} from {this is glamorous}

LOMO + Maker's Mark

While I'm on the subject of badass cameras and good whiskey. (Maker's Mark may not be top shelf, but it works for me.)

Well done, Samuel Lippke.

I miss new york today

Even if it is 30 degrees.

I'm picturing Porter and Hollister drinking top shelf bourbon and snapping photos of hot guys and just generally living up the single life.

In W'msburg, of course, not at 40th + Park.

(Yes, it's another one from the porterpolaroidproject. Her photos call to me from my google reader. "Post me! Post me!")

baby ambivalence (part two)

Some posts can be scheduled, and some should go up the instant you write them.

When I first saw this photo (last Thursday? Friday?) it gave me that feeling. I think it was the little t-shirt.

But at the moment I'm so glad not to have a baby crying in my house. I do enough to thwart my own productivity.

(Photo by Ashley Thalman)

Kurt's wedding pajamas

Plus his old converse and cardigan. On Frances Bean.

You've got to love that when Elle UK asked her to pose in clothes from one of her parents this is the outfit she showed up in. No babydoll, thanks mom.

Via Trashionista

(Thanks Naurnie for the heads up. I am sooo behind the curve.)

And slammin pink Russian wedding

That first photo kills me. He's got some of this attitude going on, doesn't he?

By Alexander Zabara of zabara.org

picnic wedding Russian style

Actually, I think they're just on the way to the reception.

Photos by Alexander Zabara of zabara.org

But if he's planning to wear a tux

You must read Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant's thoughts on formal wear. Right now.

You might also enjoy reading what she has to say about the different (male) Mad Men characters and the contemporary menswear designers she favors.

Then please come back to give me your thoughts on guys with pinky rings.

(John Hamm and January Jones courtesy of AMC)

F* the $10,000 wedding. Have a picnic.

One of my favorite wedding bloggers is sick to death of the phrase "budget wedding." The words have lost their meaning. (I mean, how could my budget be the same as your budget?) It's just a lazy way for the mainstream media to categorize non-traditional and/or DIY weddings. And then turn around and try to sell you stuff.*

At the same time, some couples are counting every dollar and cent. Jessica (aka Budget Savvy Bride), who is aiming for a $10,000 wedding, is 10 weeks away from the big day, and the venue that told her she could bring her own wine now wants to charge $40/bottle. She hasn't signed a contract and she's afraid she might have to postpone the whole thing.

Meg told Jessica, "It's a wedding, not the event of a lifetime. You want to get married right? That's going to make you happy, right? So look around. Maybe you can have a wee adorable wedding in a friend's home, or a family house. Maybe a park. Maybe a courthouse with a sassy pencil skirt, heels, and a fabulous facinator..."

That's the best advice I've heard all year. Would you also tell these two, who are asking for donations to throw their $10,000 wedding?

*From hippie to Marxist in just five days. My Wesleyan is showing.

(Photo courtesy of The Daily Planet)

F* twitter

I deleted my esb account. All that tweeting about twittering was just too effing exhausting.*

And as soon as I started worrying about whether my tweets were attracting followers or directing traffic to the blog it stopped being any fun.

This is all supposed to be fun.... Right?

*Note to self: Stop blogging about blogging.

wide legs are really here, people

And pleats. I'm not sure how I feel about pleats.*

But this putty pair by Duskin (also available in sand and black) almost has me convinced. They're slammin in a slouchy, I-don't-give-a-f*ck way that I truly appreciate.

It requires a lot of effort to dress like you don't give a fuck.**

Soon to be for sale at Steven Alan.

*They give me nightmarish flashbacks to the first "real job" I had working for an nyc press agent in 1996. I did learn to write a decent press release. And I got to meet the amazing, chain smoking Uta Hagen (and her toy poodle, GB). But I also spent a lot of time walking my boss's mentally imbalanced mutt. And after I quit I found out he was in litigation for throwing a stapler at a former employee.

**Unless you are Patti Smith. She's not faking it.

will I rot in hell for posting this?

He looks so happy.... Doesn't he?

And I f*cking love that he got married in a flannel shirt.

Photo from Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love's February 24, 1992 wedding on Waikiki Beach found here.

happy birthday Kurt

(February 20, 1967 – c. April 5, 1994)

Image from Either The Drapes Go Or I Do

doc martens are so. back.

Okay, #3 is not wearing Docs. But he should be. (He reminds me of the boy I had a deep, deep crush on my junior year in high school.)

These photos were snapped by The Sartorialist in Paris, Florence and Stockholm. Now take a look over here.

If I were proposing to my boyfriend (again)*

I'd do it with this gold id bracelet from laura lobdell (filed under "five easy pieces").

The silver guitar pick is pretty rad too. But promise you won't give it to him unless he knows his way around a guitar.

Wait.... Now I'm confused. Would it be cooler if he's never been anywhere near a guitar? You tell me.

*Not that I would want to go back and change the messy, spontaneous way it happened.

or there's this one

How did she capture a natural smile on everybody?

From May Wedding Photography again.*

*None of these ladies are sponsoring me, I swear. I just think they're cool.

wedding photos don't have to look like wedding photos

See what I'm saying? They can be awesome in their own right.

Like this one by Brooklyn-based Corrine Botz of May Wedding Photography.

Didi already featured Tim and Lisa's wedding on little winter bride, but it bears repeating.

just when I'm sick to death of the bicycle wedding photo

Heather of One Love Photo hits me with this.

I love how simple the image is.

The bikes are just there (it's downtown Olympia, people ride bikes). Dustin and Jamie aren't hamming it up all over the place. They don't even seem aware of the camera.

Boom.

Am I turning into a hippie?

I was standing in the bulk aisle of Whole Foods the other day when I decided I needed to make my own granola.

Let me explain.

I just figured out foods that are very high/extremely high in salicylates give me hives.* Raspberries, strawberries and green peppers seem to be the worst. And I will never touch fresh tarragon again.

But suddenly I'm wary of everything on the list. (Poor H-town is so frustrated. He doesn't know what he's allowed to cook.) Every effing granola in the bins at WF contained almonds or dried raspberries or dried cranberries or almonds.**

So here's what I bought:

1. Raw oats
2. Whole, raw cashews
3. Pumpkin seeds
4. Banana chips

Anyone have a recipe I could modify? Of course honey is also on the extremely high list. Can you even make granola without honey? Would it be sacrilegious to use good old fashioned sugar?

*This I need on top of a wheat sensitivity, right?

**Yes, I was consulting the list on my iPhone in the middle of the Hollywood Whole Foods (which has wifi, b/t/w). I was having a grupster moment.***

***Phew. I'm not a hippie.

(Image courtesy of my whimsy)

the next thing in bridal headgear

LITTER, made by two sisters in San Francisco from reclaimed + recycled materials. (Including watch straps, mink tails, keys, and even car parts, according to Daily Candy.)

Also check out the blog, but BEWARE: beautiful people.

I can't wait for the shoe jewelery.

Thanks for keeping me on trend, lady.

speaking of airstreams

Check out this silver baby Sarah and her lady D plan to get dressed in on their wedding day.

I think they're doing it here. I hope?

Because the only thing better than a rustic campground is a rustic campground with an Airstream Trailer.

F* valentine's day

What I really wish is that we were heading off on the next leg of our honeymoon road trip.*

*I cried on the last night of our honeymoon. I didn't want it to be over. H-town told me that the honeymoon will never be over. We just have to make a few long stopovers here and there, y'know, to work and go to school and stuff.

(kparrish via Double Takes via Bliss)

Dear at&t, your service sucks.

Now I remember why I was so reluctant to ditch verizon wireless.

Blogged from my iPhone

the joy of....

Inspired by this book review, I bought an old copy of The Joy of Sex on ebay to give H-town for Valentine's Day.*

Purely as an anthropological artifact you understand.

*I really wanted a first edition, but what I got was "Completely Revised and Updated for the 1980's." She: still shag haircut + gogo boots. He: still bearded neanderthal. Looks pretty seventies to me.

ART: TOM WESSELMANN, “BEDROOM PAINTING NO. 6” (1968)/ESTATE OF TOM WESSELMANN/Courtesy of The New Yorker

I'm still a feminist!

From my new favorite blog, PONY&ZUCKER

Here's how pony pamplemousse and frl.sucker describe themselves:

we like drinking tea and having breakfast together, and feminism and watching gossip girl and zines and listening to cocorosie. this is our online diary, because the private is political.

Um, awesome.

Via Design for Mankind

here's the truth

A few days ago I was stressed out about our finances and feeling self-indulgent for focusing on my own projects without bringing in any (immediate) income.

H-town told me v. calmly that money will always be an issue. No matter how much we have. (See: You Try to Live on 500K in This Town) And he assured me that I'm putting my energy in the right place. Going out and getting a $10/hr job is not the right thing to do.*

It's intense, being married. I was such a rabidly feminist little girl, I never imagined having a husband, let alone being supported by one.

But I'm learning. And in a few years, I'll take a turn being the wage earner so H-town can stay home and be creative. I know he won't have a problem with that.

(Thank you Alice, for the reminder, and Allen Salkin, for putting things in perspective.)

*I could, however, do the dishes more often. Says me, not him.

heart of light = a diy valentine fiend

The garlands. These are made from recycled science journals, people.

The cookies. The valentines she sewed for her family. Again with the recycled journals. I am a sucker for recycled.

The diy notebook/organizer. (This has nothing to do with valentine's day. It's just awesome.)

I think it's very cool that Rachel is a creative scientist.* Is the left brain/right brain thing all a hoax?

*My stepmom was the same way. Brilliant in the lab, and then knocking herself out to do lino-cuts and make everyone marzipan for Christmas presents.

(All images courtesy of Heart of Light)

p.s. what's your dad wearing to your wedding?

Paul Jasmin looks pretty slammin in Band of Outsiders.

Via all plaidout, of course, who points out that several young designers have started using older men for their look books.

p.s. My dad wore a white Mexican blouse thing. But he's a 6'2" sculptor. He pulled it off.

oh yeah

Not only has Max Wastler got style, he's got a blog called all plaidout. I'm gonna be all over that sh*t for groom style.

Do you think Max wears a little something plaid every day, y'know, just in case Porter Hovey happens to be around with her polaroid?

I might need a vintage Datsun

I love my old Volvo* stationwagon, don't get me wrong. I love her.

But Christine just posted this photo of herself and her dad with his Datsun and I'm kind of freaking out.

Now I need to get my hands on a picture of my dad with his Peugeot.**

*I know, I know. Old Volvo + Echo Park = total cliche.

**Or my dad under his Peugeot. I think he spent more time working on the car than he did driving it. Men.

I think you might need this for your wedding portraits

So on trend. But taking it to the bridal level, you know what I'm saying?

Via pretty. little. world.

of course Leanne M. is a blogger

Who posts cute photos of someone else's cat. She and I are gonna be such great blog friends.

But Leanne, I'm not seeing a lot of petals and waves on petalsandwaves.

Maybe you renamed the blog "Leanne M." because you were feeling stifled. I get it. I mean, you don't want to get stuck making the same collection season after season.

But where are the effing wedding dresses?? Just saying.

Amanda, thanks for the heads up. You Portland girls are so insy.

on the other hand....

These amazing pieces by Barbara Munsel are handmade from organic and vintage textiles. And there is nothing hippie about them.

You just have to figure out how to order from the Netherlands.

Via Bliss by way of periwinklebloom