an abandoned city

A little while ago I found some amazing photographs along with the story of an abandoned Japanese island known as "Gunkanjima". Now, I've recently stumbled upon these very cool space-age homes in the outskirts of Taiwan. Once again, this housing project is totally empty and falling apart and possibly haunted! I love the photographs and I'd totally live in one. And if you can't get enough of these homes, there are more photos in this flickr set.

you grow girl!

The truth is, I'm not very good with plants. I've got a couple lovely green things growing in our apartment and a couple other things growing on our fire escape. The less tending they require, the better it is for them. I have a hard enough time remembering to water my plants when I'm home, but if I go on vacation, I can only hope that my plants aren't completely dead when I return. That's why I am so happy to find out about these two plant waterers.


The first one is a diy drip irrigation project from You Grow Girl! that seems simple enough for even the most project-fearful types. It also used recycled materials as another bonus! But if you're too busy, Lee Valley comes to the rescue with their Automatic Plant Waterer based on a very similar principle. I think my plants might actually have a future ahead of them!

cocorosie _ hairnet paradise

Popsheep just blogged about this video and I'm being a copy cat because I just like this song. It's great to see all the toys that go into all the bleeps and bloops. Plus, it's got a kazoo and a harp. Nothing wrong with that.

the last bag post....i swear!

I do love etsy! Not only have I sold a few cards, but I'm also buying up some nice little purchases. It's a win-win situation, really. My latest purchase was this lovely gothic Victorian tote bag from mamadelic.etsy.com. I can't wait for it to arrive! I've given Cornelius quite a list of books to put on hold for me (ah, the benefits of dating a library worker!) and I'm sure this bag will become quite handy as I lug my reading material around town.

bag smitten

I'm totally smitten with bags as of late.

Besides a lovely teal golf shoe bag and a hot pink travel bag both thrifted, I own a lovely kyoto truckette bag from queen bee creations, 2 bunny bags (1 custom made) from Vancouver designer astrosatchel, and my current utilitarian favorite, my reload civilian messenger bag with an umbrella embroidered on the flap.

But now I'm willing to venture into bags more purse-like and more grown-up. I love these three bags pictured above. The very fancy and very pricey retro print bag from anthropologie, the canvas button tote from Urban Outfitters and bright blue messenger, also from UO.

Now, don't get me talking about shoes!

is good hair too much to ask?

I've been pretty happy with my hair lately. A decent cut that doesn't require much work...just a little blowdrying, a quick spritz with a volumizer and that's it. No brushing either....just a little mussing up with my hands and I'm ready to leave the house. 3 minutes top! I've also been so happy with Trader Joe's Revive Spa shampoo & conditioner* that I picked up in Portland, OR when I was there in April. Not only does it smell like it's pricier Aveda counterpart, it was cheap-ola and made my hair awesome. And now I'm so sad to report that the conditioner is all gone and I probably only have 1 more use out of the shampoo. So sad!! So unless we head to the States sometime soon (not going to happen), I'm going to need some new shampoo. I've got fine hair and crave volume. Any recommendations would be lovely.

*I should also point out that Cornelius bought the "Refresh" shampoo and loves it. He still has some left.

the beautiful project

I used to have a little etsy shop, but I sold a few things and then forgot about it. I've decided to revive the love and share the rest of my sweet lil' one-inch buttons. Cakes, puddings, blanc-mange, powerlines and pineapples....what's not to love?


Don't know quite what to say? Let this straightforward card do the talking. I've got a few cards that I'm unloading on my etsy shop as well. The other cards do the sweet-talking. Really.

I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona

Can there be anything more lovely than this song & video? I think not. I love all the na-na-na's and all those sweet Swedish faces. Nice.

marcel dzama

I just returned from a 5 day camping roadtrip in the Kooteneys. It was hot and we canoed and swam and ate like kings. Pure joy. There was also some thrifting to be had and I scored some wonderful pink '70s floral pillow covers that may make it's way into an a-line skirt. We'll see about that! I should be purging my closets and cleaning the apartment, but instead I'm online wasting time. And what did I spot on 16sparrows? The cutest little salt and pepper shakers by the wonderful Marcel Dzama. Oh, I really want these!! Anyone want to buy me a $50 present?

Play with your food!

When I first got cable a few years ago, I was all over the Food Network. I fell head over heals with Nigella and Jamie and all the tasty things they could create in just a half hour show. But then my interest waned. Every time I turned on the tv, I'd be faced with that ungodly smile beast (aka Rachel Ray) and would literally shudder and click away as fast as I could. Sure, I did manage to discover the lovely nature goddess Ina who for the first while totally puzzled me with her name. Ina Garten? Was it just some fancy Germanic/Dutch way of saying "In a Garden"? After all, she always seemed to be picking fresh herbs or carrying handfulls of fresh flowers.

But lately, there is a new show that is calling me back to the realm of the Food Network and that show is Food Jammers. It's basically 3 thirty something artist dudes who take a crazy idea to build something out of trash and bike parts (or whatever) and then cook. I've seen them make and cook up a 10 foot sausage for a backyard barbeque and make a deep fryer out of car parts. Great music, great animations, and great ideas make a most perfect tv show. It's about time!

Check them out on the web:
Their website (it's awesome!)
The Food Network Food Jammers site