The definition of "sister"
Also in here: Q&A about grocery store flowers
Happy Wednesday! Tomorrow is (finally) our last day of school. I’ve been working on two new art projects that I can’t wait to share with you, loving the late sunsets, and listening to this. What are you up to this week? I’m wishing I could apparate to New York City to celebrate my sister Lizzy’s birthday with her!
field trip
After school today we’re visiting the Huntington Library and Gardens. My sister Sarah and her family recently moved from Salt Lake to Southern California (hooray!), so we’re hitting all of our favorite local spots and adding new ones to our list. Last time we visited the Huntington last spring, I was pregnant with Mick but didn’t know it!
It feels like such an abundant time in my life, having released the weight of the prospect of pregnancy (and the possibility of miscarriage) and getting to enjoy my motherhood in a new way. Plus, having another sister living nearby, and big kids who are as excited about museum gift shops as I am, are two wonderful new perks.
"It's hard to remember that this day will never come again. That the time is now and the place is here and that there are no second chances at a single moment."
– Jeanette Winterson
today’s bouquet
Tonight I’m teaching some of the teenage girls from church two of my favorite summer camp activities: French braiding and spoons, the card game. Have you played? When Nate and I were dating, his family introduced me to extreme spoons, where they’d put the spoons at the bottom of the pool! Wonderfully chaotic. Here are some cute playing cards, which we collect in our family: mosaic, vintage, Frank Lloyd Wright, French-inspired, beachy, and rainbow.
I am utterly gobsmacked by what happens just before showtime at The Met Opera. (via Mary)
Learned a new business term I'm loving: radical generosity. It’s from this terrific episode of How I Built This with Tina Roth Eisenberg, who is something of a unicorn imho. My friend Luca first introduced me to Tina’s marvelous blog swiss miss (and Cup of Jo! and The Cherry Blossom Girl!) back in college.
Everything must be paid for twice. Yikes. But also, yes!! (via swiss miss)
Of course I love these embroideries within hollow spaces in trees.
Bookmarking this handy list of great sandwich shops in Los Angeles. Bet none of them serve one of these, though!
Not without my sister. These photos reminded me immediately of my childhood with my older sister Emily, and then of my two daughters. (via Handpicked reader Ellen)
“Sister. She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark.”
— Barbara Alpert
A beautiful little story: how one woman felt when she saw the shape of her own heart.
How to get no mail. And if that makes you sad, there's a bonus tip at the end about how to get *so much mail.*
Daydreaming about daybeds.
Two dumb little videos that make me laugh no matter what: don’t be suspicious and they were roommates.
I’m trying to spiff up my work space, which happens to be in the corner of our family room. Saving all the inspiring studio spaces I find.
"Old paint on a canvas, as it ages, sometimes becomes transparent. When that happens it is possible, in some pictures, to see the original lines. That is called pentimento because the painter ‘repented,’ changed his mind. Perhaps it would be as well to say that the old conception, replaced by a later choice, is a way of seeing and then seeing again."
–Lillian Hellman
Very very into these artsy phone cases: shapely, painterly, flowery, checkery.
Just downloaded this summer drink recipe booklet from my pal Abi, the queen of nonalcoholic cocktails. Cannot wait to make these with my kids.
Yesterday, despite the June gloom, I bravely wore this happy pink $6.00 tee with my favorite jeans. And I'll just keep waiting for our annual October heat wave when I can wear these with this.
In my Madewell cart: a fruity embroidered bandana, a lavender tee from the boys’ section, and just the white dress I've been searching for.
Got my eye on: unique mirrors. This Anthro one’s got a dreamy painted floral frame, there’s fabulous gold detailing in this Etsy find, and this oyster shelled number is awesome.
I have a new type of photo session coming up this week that I'm so nervous and excited for. I'll share more about it soon, but for now, here’s a little hint in the form of two self portraits. I shot each of these on 35mm Kodak film in my Canon EOS 3 film camera with a handy little remote (you can kind of see it in my right hand in both photos!).
Left: with Charlie // Right: with Mick
Q&A
Q: “How do I make a bouquet at home that doesn't look lame? I feel like mine look plain if I only include one flower type, but amateur if I try to mix a few.”
A: In Amy Merrick’s brilliant book On Flowers: Lessons from an Accidental Florist, she offers the tip of singularity: choose one color, or choose one variety. I usually opt for the second suggestion of one variety of flower. I like mixing a few shades of ranunculus together in a vase in early spring, or right now while peonies are available at Trader Joe’s, I buy two bunches with buds at various stages of openness so they’ll evolve on my countertop. If you’re limited to a budget or don’t have access to a variety of luxury blooms, it’s a fun challenge to shop by color. Even if you can only buy one single bunch, you can still make it special by using varied heights. And when you’re first learning to create, it’s 100% okay to steal other artist’s ideas ☺️
5 things from trader joe’s
Belgian butter waffle cookies. Brought these on a picnic and they really wowed us! Extremely buttery, snappy, and ice-cream-cone reminiscent.
Fair trade organic 72% cacao Belgian dark chocolate bar. Longest name, best bar for snacking and baking. Pro tip, use it here.
Organic shells and white cheddar macaroni and cheese. We all agree this is just Annie’s in TJ’s packaging, right?
Whole wheat English muffins. Terrific for smallish sandwiches.
Peonies! Will never stop being thrilled to have these on my counter!
from the archives
06/15/22 - Help me with my ice cream schedule
06/16/21 - The start of summer (and 5 things is back!)
06/17/20 - Smiling and homework
06/12/19 - A lot of jumpsuits and a lot of Harry Potter
last thing
Last week’s most popular link: 10 things worth doing this summer
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“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.”
—Emily Dickinson