The sun will come out, tomorrow.

We get a lot of rain here in Portland. I don't know what the official days per year count is but it's definitely up there. Sometimes when it's supposed to be Spring and it's just...not, it can be tough not to wonder if the sun will shine on our city ever again. But then, when it does, you remember why all the rain is worth it.

These were taken from my apartment. In the middle of the city. I don't live on some tucked away little street toward the center of Portland, I live right in the thick of it all. And still, I look out my windows and am surrounded by trees and green.

I love that about this place.

A (not so) Secret Admirer

Sometimes people email me asking for some fashion advice and I love it. At one point I thought being a stylist would be awesome but that's easy. Given unlimited resources you're bound to find something worth wearing. The fun for me is when someone asks me to find them say, a dress for an event during the Summer at night. They like pinks and reds, love their legs, aren't a fan of their stomach, won't wear heels, aren't a necklace person, and want to spend $200. That's a challenge and that's where I have fun.

Recently someone asked me to help her find her wedding dress. I couldn't find exactly what she wanted and was a little worried she was going to be disappointed. Instead she was excited and extremely grateful. It was actually really lovely to hear and meant more than I'm sure she realized. And today I came home to a flower delivery from her. I don't think I have to tell anyone how happy it makes a girl to come home to flowers.

And her screaming cat (you'll notice he has both food and water already).





I'm not going to post a picture of the dress because it's hers to debut to the world but I will reveal, she's going to be one gorgeous bride.

Awesome Clothes For Little People (aka children, not midgets)

I love when a line that has so far been restricted to adults branches out into children's clothing. I absolutely don't want kids but you can bet every friend of mine with a future little munchkin is going to have a constant stream of sartorially themed gifts coming their way for any and all occasions. And while I don't have a problem with laying down some cash in the name of fashion (I'm pretty sure that's obvious by now) cute clothes are always made a little sweeter by a price tag that doesn't make the Visa wince.

Enter Forever 21 Girls.

The line is super reasonable, the only thing over $20 that I saw was a pea coat with toggle clasps for $27. The sizes seem to run from 6-14 but labeled as XS-XL.

New Ink!

So, I got two new tattoos this weekend. Both are in white ink as are all the rest of my tattoos. The first one is a tree drawn by Lauren Child, one of my most favorite artists, for a fabric she designed. It's on the side of my left leg on my calf. You can go ahead and ignore how incredibly pale I am.



The other one is a little sleeping cat on the nook of my right arm. I'm thinking of him as my Javier cat except not in a creepy portrait tattoo way. Note the claws. It's all in the details.


I couldn't be happier with them and it makes me smile just to look down at myself. All this adorableness came courtesy of Sean Lanusse at Infinity Tattoo here in Portland, OR.

Talib Kweli, I Love You

It took me a couple listens to even notice this but now I can't stop laughing at it.

Some background:


And, the song Tater Tot off Talib Kweli's Gutter Rainbows album.

This is the Way I Live

Javi and I are laying in bed reading books about treats. I'm pretty sure I like my life. Especially when it's this cozy.

My most favorite cooking thing ever. For real this time.

It's no secret I'm not into recipes and that for this reason, I won't say I hate baking...but I do sort of hate it. I find it incredibly boring to follow a recipe and I guess I like a challenge and the reward of having actually made something delicious all on my own. To me baking is sort of like a paint by numbers Monet.

But I actually like baked food, I mean who doesn't? So I have a predicament right?

Wrong.

I found this book online and immediately ordered it online. I didn't even ship it, I just paid for it to be picked up in store. That's how anxious I was/am to have it. The book is called Ratio by Michael Ruhlman. It takes all kinds of foods that people make frequently and breaks them down into ratios (obviously). So rather than following a recipe for a pie crust you can see that to make a pie dough you need three parts flour, one part liquid, and two parts fat. Do you see what possibilities this opens?! I am beyond excited. Now I can use savory ingredients to make typically sweet things and vice versa. This is seriously awesome and I cannot wait to use this book for everything.

From the tips of my fingers...

Remember four months ago when Lady Gaga made "greige" happen on the September cover of Vanity Fair? Well someone should totally get me a magazine cover because I'm about to make beigrarple happen.

I bought this color, Muggins by Butter London, back in August and am just now getting around to wearing it. It's sort of a tan/gray/lavender color, it looks way more purple in the photo with flash than it does in real life. I'm pretty sure it's a new favorite though. I could probably use some cuticle oil too.



Also I think Day 3 of the photo month ("post a photo of the cast of your favorite show") is really stupid so I'm not doing it. My nails are probably more fun to look at anyways. If anyone cares I like Gossip Girl.

More Potato Pillows

Remember that time I took a gnocchi class? Well, I decided it was time to tackle making this dish at home. Lana and I hadn't seen each other for about a week so I broke my 'no making plans on Mondays' rule and we made plans to make some pumpkin gnocchi.

If you want to do this at home the only special equipment you'll definitely need is a potato ricer. I also like the gnocchi board for creating grooves but some people swear by using a fork. I end up just making really ugly sort of squished gnocchi with a fork so if you can figure it out you're a better gnocchi maker than I am. (By the way, the reason there are grooves in pasta and gnocchi is so that they are better at holding sauces. The type of pasta used in a dish correlates to the sauce or dressing used. Just in case you weren't in the know.) I also like using a spider to get the gnocchi out of the water but apparently I am the only one on the planet who calls it this because no one knows what I'm talking about when I mention it. Not even the lady who works at Sur La Table.

We used this recipe except actually not really. Neither of us had any all spice and there was none at the store I went to and I didn't really want to use it anyways. So we decided to go a more savory route. I know when people make pumpkin ravioli there are usually cookie crumbs in it which sweetens it but I always find it far too saccharine for my tastes and I didn't want our gnocchi to be that way. So rather than the suggested spices, and with some help from The Flavor Bible, we decided to use just a dash of cinnamon, some garlic salt, and rosemary. We also put in salt and pepper of course.


Lana volunteered to do this part because she's "good at touching hot things." When I took the gnocchi class we used ricers that were a bit more traditional like this one. That kind is incredibly difficult to use though. I won't claim to understand the physics of it but something about it makes it a pain. I think because the kind I have has holes on all sides it's a bit easier to use.


I started mixing the rest of our ingredients.


I have this spice mill thing that I bought once because I wanted to make fortune cookies but couldn't find ground star anise so I decided I'd just buy it whole and grind it myself. I didn't actually end up making the fortune cookies so this thing has pretty much just sat in my cupboard unused. It did end up working perfectly for grinding dried rosemary. Probably because that's the whole point of the spice mill.


I am newly in love with this brand of spices. Mostly because the packaging is adorable and I am easily marketed to.


This was our dough. Don't worry, we got all that flour mixed in.


Lana was pretty enthused by this whole gnocchi paddle thing so I let her take over that while I started cooking our little potato pillows.


Two of the biggest mistakes people make when making gnocchi are using boiling water and thinking they are done when they float to the top. You should use very hot water that is sort of just about to boil but isn't quite yet. Also after the gnocchi float to the top wait a couple more minutes before taking them out. When cooking the gnocchi one of the most important things is the ones going in the pot at the same time are the same size. Otherwise you end up with some gummy, some right, and some hard. Put in batches of around 15 pieces and use the spider to take them out when done.

Then you can put them on a tray and let them firm up a touch and enjoy. We used browned butter and some amazing parmesan on ours. Followed by ice cream. And I'm going to brag a bit here because gnocchi is notoriously difficult to get right and ours was awesome.

Winter Wish List

Winter is coming! While often times Fall and Winter wardrobes get combined into one group of things to wear that falls under "warm and dark" I think there's a real difference in feel to the two seasons. Winter is celebratory and you see it in the fabrics available and the influx of sparkle. And while Autumn is about feeling crisp and cool Winter is about being cozy.

These are the things I'm craving this season.

This dress is whimsical and sweet without coming off as young. I love the neckline, the detail at the waist, the hem...but most of all, I love that deep, rich, purple.

Goddess Dress by Free People in Aubergine

I'm not a person who takes weekend trips. My weekends are usually spent doing all the things I'm too busy or lazy to do during the week. If I owned this bag though, I may find some places to go.

Bear Creek Weekender by McFadin in tan, sold by Free People

I don't care how unflattering this may turn out to be in real life. I want to live in this sweater.

Waffle Knit Cardigan by Hinge in Stonehenge

This is pretty. And I want it. It also comes in about ten other colors so you could wear it alone, with other bangles, ooooor even with the same bracelet in other colors as well.

Grete Filigree Bangle by Rachel Leigh in Palm, sold by Free People

This just looks so soft and comfortable and perfect for a snow day spent inside.

Velvet Trim Slouchy Tee by Ella Moss in Mushroom

Nails in Winter are always dark. You've got all those colors with "noir" tacked onto the end, why not mix it up with some gold?

The Full Monty by Butter London

The lovely Miss Lana was on a mission earlier this season to find crushed velvet leggings in a color other than black. While crushed velvet reminds me of the bad Christmas dresses of my childhood spent in the late 80s/early 90s, actual velvet makes me fall in love. There's something about a fabric that begs to be touched that's so fitting for the cold months. And I love black.

Velvet Leggings by Gap in black

I'm all about this dress. It's perfect for a party or you could take a worn brown leather belt, belt it, throw on a denim jacket, and wear some boots with bare legs. I'd probably be wearing it with a cardigan, tights, and flats to work.

Beaded Jersey Trapeze Dress by Suzy Chin Maggy Boutique in Taupe

Melissa Joy Manning is my most favorite jewelry designer. This woman is just incredible. If you're looking for perfection this isn't it. And that's what makes it wonderful.

Champagne Diamond Slice Ring by Melissa Joy Manning

I'm pretty proud of myself for this pick. They're weather practical, cute, easy to pull on, and versatile.

Pull On Duck Boot by Bass in tan, sold by Free People

Also I'll take this haircut. With or without the sparkles.

Holiday Gift Guide 2010

I was looking online for some ideas for a few hard to shop for people when I realized, gift guides suck. I don't know who is writing these things but even as a 25 year old woman I cringe at the thought of someone giving their dad a football themed chips and dip set. The guides that are decent either feature sponsored products, which is basically just reading someone's list of ads, or are fantasy lists filled with $2,500 televisions (I'm looking at you Esquire).

Luckily I'm here to save the day.

As I looked through all these horrible gift guides one thing I noticed is they're split up into really silly categories. Just because you're a mom doesn't mean you wouldn't like the same gifts a friend or co-worker may enjoy. Should all moms be destined to receive scented soap for the rest of their lives? And when it comes to children all the lists are about what toy is "hot." I don't care how popular it is I will never be purchasing a Justin Bieber doll.

So this is how I'm doing this. Simply. I've picked out things that for whatever reason seemed like an awesome gift. I'm splitting them up into these categories: ladies, gentlemen, children, and families. I've tried to keep everything reasonably priced although a few too awesome to leave out things that are on the upper end may have made their way in. I've also rounded up all prices to the nearest dollar amount just to make things easier. A lot of these gifts can obviously be given to people of either gender as well.

Let's start with the ladies.

1. If there's one cosmetic women can spend their entire lives trying to find it's the perfect mascara. This set comes with mini versions of ten of Sephora's most wanted mascaras. If you're feeling extra generous you can also include a gift card for the purchase of a full size version of whichever mascara suits this gift receiver best.

Lashstash by Sephora, $40, available here.

2. I've used these face masks for years and love them. There are tons of different formulas but even without knowing a person's skin type you can pick quite a few. Put them in stockings or give a few as a gift.

Face masks by Apivita, $5 for two pouches, available here.

3. If you're out of college you should own a proper wine opener. It's as simple as that. This lovely gadget keeps you from doing the awkward corkscrew wrestle and ending up with cork in your wine. And as someone who once upon a time received one of these for Christmas, I can tell you it is a fantastic gift.

Rabbit Wine Opener, $45, available here.

4. I love scarves but I hate how once you wrap them or knot them they end up super short. For that reason I love this super long and cozy scarf. Actually, that's not the only reason, the price cannot be beat. It comes in four gorgeous colors as well.

Cozy Wrap Scarf by Free People, $28, available here.

5. A lot of us at some point need to make food for children, whether they are ours or someone else's. But none of us really want to eat the kinds of food typically considered child appropriate. This cookbook takes the gourmet recipes of The Silver Spoon and makes them something the entire family will enjoy whether they're big or small.

The Silver Spoon for Children, $20, available here.

6. Gingerbread men are nice but Ninjabread men are better.

Ninjabread Men cookie cutters by Fred and Friends, $8, available here.

7. Interesting jewelry, especially one of a kind or handmade pieces, is something most women can appreciate. This Japanese pop art inspired beaded bracelet is one of those things. The artist has other variations as well.

Beaded Bracelet by Julie Rofman, $110, available here.

8. If you know someone with a baby please save them from years of carrying around something hideous by giving them the gift of an aesthetically pleasing as well as super functional diaper bag.

Diaper Bag by Petunia Pickle Bottom, $169, available here.

9. I'm pretty sure it's a universal tradition to give people we date nicknames. This is especially helpful when dissecting dates with friends. This notepad will both keep you from forgetting that guy's real name as well as keep straight the guy who rides a bike (bicycle) from the guy who rides a bike (motorcycle). All your single ladies will appreciate it.

Rate a Date notepad, $7, available here.

10. There's nothing Winter begs for more than being cozy. This throw will achieve that. Just be careful, this thing is a magnet for everyone who sees it.

Faux Fur Throw by West Elm, $95 until Nov. 22nd, $125 afterward, available here.

Onto the tough ones, the guys.

1. I don't know what the deal is with single guys but none if them own salt and pepper shakers. These ones are masculine enough that he'll use them, yet, prettier than pouring salt into his hand from the box.

Branch Salt and Pepper Shakers by Anthropologie, $14, available here.

2. This is one of my favorite gift ideas for anyone really, a Ticketmaster gift card. I know none of us like the fact that Ticketmaster basically has a monopoly on ticket sales and charges ridiculous fees but, it's also the only way to see a lot of awesome stuff. These can be used for any event Ticketmaster sells tickets to including concerts and sporting events. They come in various increments between $25 and $250. you can purchase them here.

3. I recruited a male friend of mine to get his input on what guys would like for Christmas. One of the things he told me is dress clothes. In his words "No one wants to buy them but we all need them." If you're going to go the clothing route with a man get him something with some actual style. Most guys can do the white or blue shirt thing with a tie that doesn't totally clash but something like this shirt is a step above.

Max Trim Fit Dress Shirt by BOSS Black in Lavender, $95, available here.

4. If you want to make a guy super put together you can throw in a tie as well. Something classic yet updated is an excellent choice. This tie and that shirt are pretty amazing together.

Tie by Burberry, $140, available here.

5. Apparently boys never grow up because the consensus is a gaming system would be an awesome gift. Just not a Wii. I'm told that "there are no good games and it's for kids." I love my Wii but I guess if you can't play Call of Duty on it it's not a cool system. Obviously none of the boys I talked to have played DJ Hero.

6. I have one of these and I can't tell you how often I use it or let other people borrow it. Not because I'm an alcoholic but, it's always when you most need a bottle opener that you don't have one. This is a little less obvious than some big rounded thing sporting a logo hanging from your keys. Also you can tell children you have a castle.

Bottle Key Opener by suckUK, $8, available
here.

7. For those without children who would occasionally like an excuse to leave work.

The Office Kid, $20, available here.

8. There's a series of books called the Crown Journeys Series. Each of these books is written by a well known author and explores a darker side of a city they grew up in or are familiar with. They're fantastically written and incredibly interesting but not for the squeamish. You can find them here.

9. Most guys like beer. Most guys also like to believe they know a lot about beer. Whether that's true or not shouldn't really matter when it comes to this gift because I'm pretty sure it will be appreciated regardless.

Beer of the Month Club, $23 to $33/mo., available here.

10. This little gadget may seem frivolous but actually could be extremely useful in an emergency. Using wind this cell phone charger does just that, charges your phone. It also has a solar panel on the side. Great for camping, festivals, when the power goes out, and being stranded!

K3 solar and wind powered cell charger, $100, find more info and purchase here.

And now for the kids.

1. Anyone who has spent any amount of time with children has likely heard of Melissa and Doug. This company makes absolutely fantastic toys that are durable, practical, creative, and whimsical. While I would recommend nearly anything they make this is one of my favorites. All the toppings are held to the pizza with velcro, which is also how the pieces stay connected in whole pizza form. When it comes to play food these guys know how to do it right.

Pizza Party by Melissa and Doug, $20, available here.

2. This game involves queens, kings, dragons, potions, and knights. It also teaches math skills and is super fun. Even adults will enjoy playing this.

Sleeping Queens game by Gamewright, $11, available here.

3. I'm pretty sure I want one of these for myself. If you want to use the table as a regular table just flip over the top. There's also a storage compartment for things like chalk and erasers.

Chalk Table, $90, available here.

4. Art for children's rooms can be difficult to find. It's easy to swing into too cutesy territory quickly. I love the sweetness of these elephants as well as the lack of overwhelming cheer.

Elephant paintings by Shari Beaubien, $50, this and others available here.

5. Really, what's so wrong with playing with your food?

Mr. and Ms. Foodface plate by Fred and Friends, $18, available here.

6. For a lot of kids a book may not seem like an awesome gift but with these ones they soon will. Two of my most favorite books are Urban Babies Wear Black by Michelle Sinclair and The Princess and the Pea by Lauren Child. Urban Babies is all about babies who live in the city (duh) and is the perfect gift for anyone young enough to still be "reading" board books. And who preferably lives in a city. There are other titles in the series though for those babies who aren't urban dwellers. Lauren Child's The Princess and the Pea is unlike any version of the story you've heard before. In this version being a princess has nothing to do with being delicate and girly. It has to do with being kind and gracious. The story is truly amazing but the artwork alone makes this a worthy purchase. Lauren Child, who also created Charlie and Lola, works with mixed media and creates unbelievable images. I once gave this as a gift but ended up having to go back and purchase a copy for myself.

7. Give this on it's own or throw in some cupcake cups and a sparkly spatula and you've got yourself a gift.

Sewing Basket Apron by Anthropologie, $24, available
here.

8. This gift will only be useful for those of you near an IKEA but it is a great one. IKEA makes a wooden standing easel that they sell for $20.

I'm not joking.

If you can go pick one, or ten, of these up they are a great "looks like you spent way more than you did" gift for the children in your life. One side is white and can have paper either clipped to it or wound through from a roll of butcher paper (also available at IKEA) and the other side has a chalkboard.

9. I'm a huge fan of clothing for kid gifts although I know not everyone is. When I nannied I saw how much stuff the kids got every holiday and I didn't want to be spending money on things that just ended up forgotten about in a month. Some really great companies with awesome children's lines are Anthropologie, Crewcuts, Mini Boden, and Wee People.

10. What kid doesn't need a sled?

Wham-o-Woody Sled, $50, available here.

One way to keep down holiday costs is by giving families you know a shared gift. It can be easy to do homemade treats but this time of the year there's an overload of sweets and most people don't want to eat them themselves or give their children a sugar high while the weather keeps them trapped inside. Here are some less bound for the garbage ideas.

1. A Netflix subscription is a great gift. If the family you're buying for already has a subscription tickets to a movie in an actual theater are equally awesome. Most theaters sell gift cards.

2. When I was younger and babysat I always wanted to give the kids I watched each their very own gift. Unfortunately I was a broke babysitting college kid. An upscale tin of cocoa from Godiva or Crate and Barrel runs about $10. Tie enough peppermint sticks to the top for the family and they've got themselves a Christmas morning treat.

3. Most families with kids can't afford to go out to eat often. The tab rises quickly when you've got five mouths to feed. Yet, a gift certificate to a restaurant for everyone will still cost you less, and be more appreciated, than that same amount spent divided among the members of that family.

4. Crate and Barrel has gorgeous ornaments for amazing prices. Pick however many you feel is appropriate and have them boxed there. It will be extra special if you keep in mind things the family enjoys or their tree color scheme when choosing the ornaments to give.

5. A family membership to the zoo, aquarium, children's museum, or wherever else is a wonderful gift for a family that has younger children.