A Road Trip.

I've been jonesing to take a road trip for years now. I swear, even just the thought of it immediately sends me into a tailspin of desire-- Driving coast to coast, hiking by day & camping by night, learning to know the sound of silence beneath the great expanse of a starry sky, gaining an even deeper appreciation for the heartland of this beautiful country I've called home all my life-- oh, be still my heart.

And sure, while there are always those minor barriers of time, money & reality to wrestle with when it comes to this dream trip of mine, it certainly only fuels the fire when I stumble across features like the following that make me wish I could just up and fall head over heels right into the pages. I mean, can you blame me? That VW! Those mountains! (And my gosh, that adorably darling baby girl!) Swoon. Also, small side note to self: Add New Zealand to the very top of the list. Immediately.

Take a look--

Open publication - Free publishing - More summer

By the way, for my fellow travel bugs out there for whom this is your first encounter with Wayfare, I can assure you it won't (and most certainly shouldn't) be your last. A quarterly publication celebrating the art of the journey, Wayfare recognizes that "travel is not defined by how many miles you cover... it's about the spirit of discovery-- breaking out of your routine to unwind, connect, and learn." Love that! Simply put, it will quickly become your new favorite travel and inspiration guidebook- that I can promise you. Enjoy!

Studiopatró.

I have a bit of an obsession with tea towels. I'm not going to lie, I truly can't get enough of them. And judging by the number of stacked drawers in my mother's kitchen at home, I'm just going to go ahead and say that this is clearly a fixation that runs in the family. Needless to say, when I stumbled upon the incredible shop Studiopatró a few weeks back, I was instantly smitten.

Based out of the San Francisco Bay area, Studiopatró is a small, but well-oiled, producer of beautiful kitchen linens-- tea towels, aprons, market bags and the like. Hand-printed with an ink-on-cloth approach, the Studiopatró team is rooted in the creation of textiles that are simple, sustainable, and downright special. And boy have they hit the nail on the head. Here are some of my favorites--

So here's my question-- is it ever too early for one to start building out a holiday wish list? Roger that. I didn't think so either :) To see more of the beautiful Studiopatró line, click here: SHOP.

Fig & Fauna.

A 3.5 acre homestead tucked away in quaint southern Florida, Fig & Fauna Farm looks to be one of the most wonderful slices of heaven that ever was. I swear, it's stumbling upon beautiful spots of simple serenity like this farm that make my heart race and my brain whirl. And sometimes, that tugging urge to clamber into the nearest car and go off in search of my own small country farmhouse upstate to tuck away in is just too much. One of these days, I swear it's going to be. I just know it. And by gosh it better be soon.

Sticky honeycombs in the summer. Fresh eggs in the morning. Hearty soups full of rich, rooted vegetables in the winter. Nestling into a rocking chair on the back porch listening to the sound of chickens clucking in their coop and cows lowing out in the meadow as the sun dips below the horizon. Oh, be still my heart.

To read more about Fig & Fauna, check out Megan and Rose Martin's intoxicating blog chock-full of beautiful photos and wholesome recipes, here.

(All photos above via Fig & Fauna)

DIY: Colour Blocked Coasters.

After stumbling across this super simple DIY tutorial for colour blocked coasters over on Penelope and Pip last week, I knew my lazy weekend ahead was shaping up to be the perfect time to go ahead and give this project a whirl. And friends, trust me when I say DIY has never been so easy.

Materials Needed:
- Wooden coasters (Wishing you more luck in finding these than I had, by the way. After trips to three separate craft/art supply stores, I called it a day with these unfurnished pine squares.)
- Masking or packaging tape
- Acrylic paint (of any shade you like!)
- Paint brush (and paint tray, if you feel so inclined)
- Metallic spray paint
- Clear glaze spray (as you'll see above, I used the Triple Thick variety to ensure my paint had a thick protection from glass moisture/spills)

And with that-- off you go! All in all, the longest time spent on this project was waiting for the various coats to dry; so prepare to kick back with a good book and multitask your way through a lazy weekend afternoon. Enjoy!

p.s. my apologies for having to resort to Instagram for these photos-- that finicky Canon of mine has become increasingly more stubborn as of late so bear with me while I make due!

Industry Of One.

It really didn't take much effort on the part of Adam Patrick Jones & Rachel Brown to quickly make their way towards the top of my ever-expanding list of favorite blog couples. Not only do these two fellow Brooklynites possess enough spunk and spirit to boot-- really though, take a peek at their My Better Half feature over on Amanda Jane Jones' blog -- but they also happen to be the creative geniuses behind one of my newest obsessions, Industry of One. A "periodical on the wears of work" that both explores and celebrates the relationship between "one's line of work + walk of life", Industry of One is a collective documentation of some of the most interesting, creative types (and the unique quirks and stories that make them so) that I've ever had the pleasure of coming across.

From Nathan Linkous, a "thrift store maven and unfulfilled cowboy"... 

 

To Katie Hanson, a "pale wisp of a thing... who sports flaming red hair like a heroine you may have to read about"...

 

And Ryan Greer, who lives in a land of "weathered denim, scruffy beards, and earnest grasps at eternal youth"...

 

Industry of One is a destination you'll want to pull up to, linger around, and explore every nook and cranny of over a long, hot cup of morning coffee.

Enjoy!


(All photos above are credited to Adam Patrick Jones & Rachel Brown via Industry of One.)

Garnett Jewelry: Blues Trio.

It's no secret that I've had an ongoing love affair with Of A Kind for a while now-- and if this initial post of mine didn't do it's job in convincing you to sign up for their weekly email alerts, here's a gentle reminder to do yourself a favor and do so. (Immediately.)

Now, I'd like to start off this post by saying that for the past few months, I have practiced an unusually impressive degree of self restraint when it comes to Of A Kind's incredible features. As someone who will be the first to admit that she's never been so good at adopting the "look, don't touch" (aka: immediately purchase) mentality when it comes to these sorts of things, I can attest to the fact that restraint is not always easy to come by. But when I opened my email on Sunday to find that the wonderful Aimee Munford and her trio cuffs were being featured once again, you better believe any form of hesitation, whatsoever, was swiftly kicked to the curb.

The verdict? I'm in love. Durable enough to hold their own, yet delicate enough to add the perfect amount of feminine flair to just about anything, I think it's safe to say that these cuffs are about to become a standard in my wardrobe. (Now, let's see how long I last before going out and splurging on one in every color I can find. Yikes.)

Unfortunately the Of A Kind Blues Trio has long since sold out (sorry for the teaser, friends!), but have no fear for I've got two easy ways for you to get your fix:

1. For my fellow Anthropologie lovers out there, swing on over to Anthro's online store to take a gander at their custom assortment of Pinta Cuffs (... Dare I even mention how perfect that Navy & Orange combo might be-- I see you UVa football season, I see you.)

2. And of course, there's always Garnett Jewelry's online store  which you should swing by, as is, since Aimee has a host of other tempting pieces as well! (You're welcome, in advance)

 

*A quick caveat: These cuffs run a bit small-- which is one of the main reasons why I personally love them; hooray for bracelets that fit small wrists and don't slip and slide all freaking day long (!!)-- but for those of you who like your bracelets loose, be forewarned! :)

Happy shopping. 

xo

The Forest Feast.

A part of my heart has always been in this city-- feeding off of the constant hum of the streets and the electricity in the air. Ever since I was a little girl, I've been drawn to the buzz, to the culture, to the life here. There's just something about the way this city makes both your head and your heart swell with big ideas & lofty dreams that's intoxicating to me. But as much as my heart will always love New York, there's a part of me that also yearns for a life of simplicity. A life away from the lights and the concrete; a life spent more quietly, more connected to the people and the earth that surround me. I know that this chapter of my life is meant to be spent here-- is meant to be shaped by my experience in this city-- but one day, one day, there's a cabin nestled within a large, open landscape that will call my name and I'll know it's time.

With that said, it's no surprise that my heart skipped a beat when I first came across The Forest Feast a few months ago and that connection to author/photographer Erin Gleeson and her story was a natural one. After establishing a life here in New York as a freelance photographer oftentimes working within the world of the culinary arts, Erin found herself on a plane bound for California this past Fall where she and her husband were relocated. Settling into a little cabin in the woods outside of Palo Alto, Erin realized a large lifestyle change was before her and a door leading into a creative world, unlike anything she had in New York, was opening. Drawing upon her experience as a photographer in the food kitchens of New York and the new found inspiration within her new world of CSA boxes, walks in the woods, Adirondack chairs & back porches, The Forest Feast was born.

A food blog filled with beautifully executed "photographic recipe illustrations", The Forest Feast is a fresh breath of simple, organic air that you can't help but love. Thanks to Erin who graciously allowed me to share a few of my favorites below--

 

To read more about Erin and the inspiration behind The Forest Feast, be sure to check out her interview over on Weldon Owen. 


Recipes, Photos and Illustrations by Erin Gleeson from The Forest Feast, www.theforestfeast.com

Kinfolk Dinner: Austin.

Well, if there was ever a way for Texas to truly catch my Northern eye, I should have known it was bound to be through a Kinfolk lens. Take a look at these gorgeous photos from Kinfolk's most recent dinner in Austin this past March--

Oh, I just can't get enough. I swear, if I'm ever in town for longer than 3 days at a time and the weather simultaneously decides to be kind (which has proven to be a taller order than one might think), I'm just going to have to pull out a giant blanket and gather some friends for a picnic. What better way to enjoy a warm weekend evening than with good food, chilled wine, and a host of candlelit mason jars? Oh my, please & thank you.

For more photos from the Austin series, click here. And if you haven't yet seen the photos from the Brooklyn or Portland dinners, you're in for a treat.

Happy Weekend. Happy Brunching.

One of my favorite things about the weekend is that tiny excess of time I finally find myself with to wander into a cozy cafe or favorite local joint for a bite to eat with good friends. After a week of hustle and bustle, there's just something so refreshing about leisurely-paced meals spent fueling your mind & body with wholesome food and long conversation. And as every New Yorker knows, there truly is no better place or way to do so than over brunch.

Needless to say, when I stumbled across this incredible brunch round up by Alice over on her beautiful blog Lingered Upon, I just had to share. Don't these meals almost make you want to skip on ahead to Sunday just so you can start indulging? Oh sweet deliciousness.

So, my fellow New Yorkers, what's the verdict? What's your favorite go-to spot?

Wishing you & yours a wonderful weekend and Happy Brunching ahead.
xo

Fancy Pops.

I stumbled upon these beautiful yogurt pops over on A Subtle Revelry the other day and am totally obsessed. Not only is this a totally genius way to add some sophisticated flair to an already delectable summer treat, but (wait for it) the directions are totally goof-proof! This little DIY project has most certainly found itself at the top of my list for those weekend summer soirees!

 

P.S. For those of you who have yet to jump aboard A Subtle Revelry's bandwagon, do yourself a favor and hop on over to take a peek. Not only is Victoria's blog totally wonderful down to its very core, but her DIY guides for every season are unlike anything you'll have the good fortune of coming across. Enjoy!

Bon Iver. (Live Session.)

Alright Bon Iver fans, if you haven't yet been fortunate enough to stumble upon the following, prepare to fall head over heels. Recorded at AIR Studio's Lyndurst Hall-- a church designed in 1880 by Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse, famous for New York's Natural History Museum-- the following session strays away from Bon Iver's usual large-scale, instrumental performances and instead provides an intimate showcase of founder Justin Vernon, bandmate Sean Carey, two pianos & a pair of incredible vocals.

A truly mesmerizing set of interpreted Bon Iver classics like Babys and Wash alongside an absolutely beautiful cover of Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me not only make this clip worth a listen, but will assuredly leave you begging for many a subsequent repeat.

Hoping you enjoy this as much as I have these past two days. xo

Of A Kind.

Alright, friends, here's the scoop. If you haven't yet checked out or signed up for email alerts from Of a Kind, trust me in saying that it's time to do so. With the aim of supporting new up and coming designers, Of a Kind presents one new feature each week sharing glimpses into the designer's personal stories, inspiration, training & taste while also offering special access to a limited-edition piece designed exclusively for the site. Awesome, right? From bow ties to bangles and cuffs to carry on's, Of a Kind represents a wide variety of designs and products to appeal to just about any level of taste.

One of my favorites from these past few months? This incredible briefcase from designer Ernest Alexander. Holy moly-- please & thank you.

 

 

  

And dare I even begin discussion around how great it would have been to have these grab bags on hand over the holidays for those last minute gifts that always left you stumped and scrambling? Genius!