T Spoon of Sunshine

London-based illustrator Tom Gauld's print of Characters for an Epic Tale made me laugh today. Everything in the print is just so whimsical and hilarious! I especially love "The Apparition"!






PRINT COURTESY OF: TOM GAULD

Oof. This little guy is sure to melt everyone's hearts today.






PHOTOS COURTESY OF: CUTE OVERLOAD via ONE PEARL BUTTON

Good morning, my friends! I woke up this morning to the sound of airplanes passing overhead. And while, yes, it was an annoying way to start the day, it got me thinking of travel and all the places I'd still like to visit in my lifetime. I've done some pretty extensive traveling since I was a kid mostly visiting relatives in the Philippines and Japan, with a few sprinkles of family vacations to random places like Las Vegas (Hello, Circus Circus!) and educational excursions (Washington, D.C., anyone?). Because of this, I feel like I am filled with wanderlust and cannot stand the idea of being in one place for too long (unless, of course it's Portland and I settle there!) without feeling stir-crazy. It's been over two years since I've gotten on an airplane and I'm getting to the point where my bones are itching and I can't stop thinking of taking a mini-break somewhere fun. Any suggestions? I am currently in Florida and the weather's absolutely perfect right now. But. (And there's always a "but"...) I'd like a change of scenery. Somewhere I can walk or ride my bike a lot, enjoy some awesome mom-n-pop places to eat, and take in something cultural like a museum visit or a show or two. Where would you go? When was the last time you traveled somewhere far and wide or nearby and small? I'd love to know!






PHOTO COURTESY OF: POLANOID

Why doesn't this shop carry this ring anymore? It's a men's ring (which I think makes it even more awesome) but I think girls could also wear it around their necks on a simple gold chain, no? So good!






PHOTO COURTESY OF: THE WORLD'S BEST EVER

Woah. I feel like I just unearthed something extraordinary. This is the dress version of Faye Dunaway's top in Bonnie and Clyde. Seriously. Woah.






PHOTOS COURTESY OF: LARK and LANCE MANNION, RESPECTIVELY

Oh, my goodness. I have been waiting for this weekend to come for a looooooong time now. Ryan and I are going up to Gainesville to meet up with our friends Danny and Lulu. And then...we're all taking a road trip up to the panhandle and capital of Florida, Tallahassee. Now, I know that Tallahassee is not exactly a hotbed of fun and exciting adventures (or is it?), but the only reason I am returning there (after nearly six years since I graduated from my alma mater) is because Beach House will be there for their only Florida stop! {Huzzah!!!} For those of you who have not heard them (yet), click here, here, here, and here for some of my favorites. I am so excited to see them, I can't even contain myself (can't you tell?). I LOVE them! And you, my dears? What will you be doing this weekend?






PHOTO COURTESY OF: M.EIGHTY TWO

I recently stumbled upon Metalista and fell in love. Everything is just so feminine, delicate, and classic. I especially love this necklace.






PHOTO COURTESY OF: METALISTA

Calling all domestic goddesses, wannabe chefs, and foodies alike! I think I want to start teaching a cooking class! Since food happens to always be on my mind and because quite a few of my friends have enjoyed my cooking and well, quite frankly, I love cooking, I think I want to start hosting a cooking class in my own kitchen once a week. The idea is simple, really. The class is open to up to five individuals who will each pay around $10 to cover the cost of food / groceries. I want there to be a theme as far as the type of food is concerned. And I want there to be three courses: an appetizer, a main dish, and a simple dessert. I can just imagine how much fun it would be to have people over sharing the same passion for food and enjoying a meal together. What do you guys think? Also, can you help me come up with a name for my cooking class? I'd love to hear your ideas!






PHOTO COURTESY OF: MUSIC2MYEARS

I am struggling this morning to keep my eyes open. I don't know why, either. I had a full-night's rest. I had breakfast (with coffee!). I am feeling pretty good. But for some reason, I am just feeling so sleepy. So, due to lack of inspiration and feelings of lethargy, here are some pretty flowers for you. Why? Oh, just because.






PHOTO COURTESY OF: WE HEART IT

There is something so effortless, so chic about just throwing on a chambray shirt and owning it. (Celia seems to think so, too!) This particular one from Urban Outfitters is calling my name.






PHOTO COURTESY OF: URBAN OUTFITTERS

While this does not typically fit into my "Random Dose of Loveliness" posts, these two are most definitely lovely. Look at them! Listening to one of my favorite albums of all time on my morning walk to work, I just thought to myself, Lou Reed and Nico, you make my heart melt not only with your beautiful words and songs and voices but also with how f***ing cool you are. {Sigh.}

...to my new mixte! The husband did it again. It didn't matter that it was his birthday yesterday. No no, he decided to surprise me with this bicycle: a mid-to-late 1970's Schwinn Le Tour. It's in pristine condition and rides like a dream. I've been looking for either a Dutch bike or a mixte--basically, something I can ride while wearing dresses and skirts. We're planning on switching out the handlebars to albatross bars and I think I want to add a wire basket to the front so that I can tote my belongings around town. This was such a wonderful and perfect surprise to come home to. I am over the moon!

Happy Monday! This morning, while perusing the interweb, I stumbled upon something pretty awesome. This step-by-step "tutorial" on how to turn a closet into an office is simply amazing. While the color scheme / wallpaper in the closet does not exactly match my own, I do appreciate the compactness of this home office. One day, when Ryan and I have multiple rooms in a house (rather than our studio apartment!), I will set out to turn one of the closets into a secret hideaway office. I love this!






PHOTO COURTESY OF: COUNTRY LIVING

This weekend, before summer shows her mean hot streak, I plan on taking advantage of this lovely weather. Relaxing in the park with a book and soaking up the sun sounds like a plan to me. How about you?






PHOTO COURTESY OF: MOON FACE

A friend of ours has two Samoyeds--an adult and a puppy. And let me tell you: these things look like miniature polar bears! According to the usually-trustworthy Wikipedia, Samoyeds are native to Northwest Russia and Siberia. They're known to be reindeer herders (!!) and would sleep on top of their owners to keep them warm. Isn't that adorable?






PHOTO COURTESY OF: SAMOYED PUPPIES

It's Thursday and I could not be happier. You see, this is now the start of my weekend. I haven't told you all officially, but last week, I was laid off from a job that I believed had so much promise. I gave it my best shot, but in the end, it just did not work out the way that I had wanted it to or hoped it would. Unbeknownst to me, there was a lot of darkness in what seemed to be so pretty and shiny on the surface. And yes, while I was deeply saddened by this loss, I am slowly coming to realize that there is so much to gain from my experiences there and so much more to do with the time I have. And at least I had my old gig at the law firm to fall back on, this time being part-time (three days a week from Tuesday through Thursday). I was talking to a friend recently and she reminded me that there has been a list of things that I have wanted to do for quite some time now but have not gotten around to doing them for one reason or another: learn how to sew (I am so behind in this), master the art of European cake-baking, spend more time with the dogs, read more, et cetera. And so I welcome this oddly refreshing lack of a full-time job. At least, for now anyway.






PHOTO COURTESY OF: ? (If you know where this is from, please let me know!)