Major hair inspiration. Gotta look at this every time I feel like chopping my hair off again. This is totally my hair texture too, it would be a breeze to style. Rock on.

Happy Monday everyone.

image from Rodarte SS11

Painted my nails over the lunch hour in My Private Jet, for the first time since oh, 7th grade.

Probably just a reaction to working on Walmart's Christmas boxed cards for about the 5th month in a row. Rebel me, huh.

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I can't get over how incredible this fireplace is--that dark wood with the exposed brick and the white, white walls. I think what makes it so striking (and the rest of the house as well) is all the contrast between the white walls and the heavy wood trim. It's lovely and actually quite classic.

I'm a little sad to see the neutral trend dissipate along with the great recession. I really like it. Great style and great design transcend trends though, and I think I'll hold onto the neutrals in my own house.

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And by the way, Kate Spade e-valentines are up again this year. These are the best ever, people.

Will someone pleeeease send one to me?

I've been researching for work today, and have found the motherlode of childrens valentines.

What is it about V-day that brings out the puns? These little kid crafty-valentines remind me of the ones we used to make as kids--I think we got pretty creative, and I'm sure there were many terrible jokes too.... Also quite a few dinosaurs if I remember correctly. Those are my favorite.

Oh great memories. The thought of endless pink and red paper, doilies, glitter, and red foil hearts still inspires my soul and makes me want to create. You too?

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Just a dorky imac photo to show off my new Jayhawk-blue cowl. It's deliciously soft and warm and will substitute nicely for a blue tee at the KU game on Saturday.

Rock Chalk!

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From an oldish but excellent read on Mickey Drexler, JCrew merchandising mastermind:

“Success” is often just a fancy word for “luck,” but a recurrence of it suggests the subsistence of design.

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Just another genius idea from Kate Spade.

"It seems there is nothing so dated as the recently new."

Great article from the WSJ. Long live the greeting card!

I love that Garance just posted about fake fashion.

This is a particular soapbox of my own.

Girl's on my side.

My own confession: I bought a fake Mulberry duffle when I was in China. The leather is gorgeous and the shape just makes you swoon--it's such a bag--but the zipper doesn't work very well and it's embarrassing to admit that I spent money on an illegal design. Never again.

There's such a thing as intellectual property, and just because you can make a rip-off doesn't mean you ought to.

... stepping down now....

Links from my files (which I thought you might enjoy too):

Eleven top decorating trends for twenty-eleven: it's eerie to see how closely my life already mirrors these trends--and I thought I was loving things just because I loved them. Guess I spend a little too much time reading the blogs....

Winter haircare: doesn't this make you want to take better care of yourself for winter? I hate the dry skin problem, and this year have been making the most out of my humidifier and my favorite Aveeno unscented lotion.

Fieldguided: on loving what you love.

A cozy-looking stew: to make in the new dutch oven, only I think I'd go back to the original recipe. I much prefer kale to chard, and not so much beans and tomatoes, but I'm sure either way would be delicious.

First Listen: the Decemberists' new album! It's a different take on their normal sound, and it's good.

I'm not a very meticulous person, especially in the kitchen. More of an estimator, which sometimes results in lackluster results. It would probably be in my best interest to memorize Sprouted Kitchen's method for brewing french press coffee (but I probably won't!)

Today I'm wishing for insanely delicious butter on my fresh bread.

And to go back to New York.

Next trip's priority: dinner at Eataly.

click photo for credit.

I'm definitely experiencing peppernut withdrawl.

When I went home for Christmas, my siblings had just finished filling the gallon-sized Sun Tea jar with our favorite recipe; we didn't quite finish the entire gallon, but we came very close.*

I wish I had stashed some away to take back with me.

Good thing Mom hid the last loaf of stritzel in my bag.

*we all know that Rachel ate most of them.