Cafe in Le Marais

 ( via the sartorialist)

         In Le Marais, Paris men have scruff, wear nice coats, and drink coffee that doesn't come in recycled paper cups. It should be like this everywhere....

The Times

(via refinery29)

         My whole life I've had this really weird obsession with candles. I remember as a kid I would collect every candle from around my house so that every surface in my bedroom was cover with them, then I would turn off the lights, and watch them all burn in the dark. I love the way their little lights flickered, they way it smelled, they way the wax would dribble down the sides (my mother hated that). Since then, I've tried to cut down on my candle-ing. (note: Sometimes, I still sit in the dark and watch a few burn.) Right now, I have a Sandalwood scented candle on my nightstand that I use every night because it's earthly and all-but-sugary smell is perfect for relaxing.

          I just stumbled across this amazing Times scented candle that smells "in a word, newsy, with hints of guaiacwood, cedar, musk, spice, with "a powdery note and velvet nuance," meant to mimic the aroma of black ink on newsprint." I've been known to flip through the LA Times (staying loyal to my coast!) every now and then, and I have to say the smell and feel of the newsprint is a vital part of the experience. So... sorry, Sandalwood candle, if I ever get ahold of this baby you're being demoted from bedside to bathside.

Consistency

(via designsponge)

            Sometimes, when everything around us seems so absurdly uncertain, it feels so nice to have something consistent. Even if that thing is as tumultuous and foreboding as the unruly waves of the sea. This is the curse of comfort.

Ice Cube and Eames

          If you live in LA, you should have deffinitly heard about Pacific Standard Time by now. "Pacific Standard Time is an unprecedented collaboration of cultural institutions across Southern California coming together to celebrate the birth of the L.A. art scene. Beginning October 2011, over 60 cultural institutions will make their contributions to this region-wide initiative encompassing every major L.A. art movement from 1945 to 1980. Celebrate the era that continues to inspire the world." So basically, a whole bunch of galleries (including every damn major gallery and museum you can possibly think of) in LA are holding exhibitions that are dedicated to recognising art and artists from 1945 - 1980 (aka the dawn of the LA art scene and what has led to the wonderful world of LA art that we all know and love today). 

        To promote the collaboration, Pacific Standard Time has posted short videos of musicians and actors giving homage to artist showcased in PST. (Brilliant! Artist celebrating artists!) I have a mild (ok, not so mild) obsession with midcentury design, and my all time favorite is the video above of Ice Cube talking about Eames! It's absolutely fantastic! Who knew Ice Cube studied architecture??!? He just jumped a few notches higher on my cool scale. He talks about the hidden beauty in LA, bougie traffic, and compares making music to making the Eames :

 "It's not about the pieces, it's about how the pieces work together. Taking something that already exists and making it something special- kind of like sampling. In a world full of McMansions- where the structure takes up all the land, the Eames made structure and nature one. This is going green 1949 style, bitch. Buhhleedat. Who are these people that have a problem with LA? Maybe they're just mad they don't live here."

And those are words to live by, kids......

Faber Castell

(Faber Castell from eric yeo on Vimeo)

          I'm sitting on my bed listening to Tegan and Sara, and I'm too exhausted to write anything witty or interesting or pretty, so I'm going to post this video. I'm about to bust out some FB's and lay on the floor, draw, and drink tea. Catch you on the other side, kiddies! 

Insatiable

(via Wednesday)

          George Burns said "I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate." But I say that if you find something you love so much you're willing to look like a complete blundering fool for it, you've already succeeded. Passion, in its insatiable state, is everything.

A nice reminder

(via wednesday)

          I just remembered, that a good friend of mine once told me that it's important to remember that everyone feels the same as everyone else, just not at the same time. That's a really nice thing to be reminded of. Sometimes, she's really insightful- thanks Nicole!!

What a beauty!

( via honestly wtf)

          Today, my sister and I decided to kick off the new year with our habitual trip (which almost always turns into a camp out) at our usual Starbucks in Pasadena. For some bizarre reason, it didn't even cross our minds that tomorrow is the annual Tournament of Roses parade on Colorado blvd. We drove up to find a tons of people already camped out in front of our beloved coffee house! Parked on the street right next to our Starbucks was a totally rad Airstream. I've always loved the retro design, and I'm convinced that some day I will own one. For some reason, Airstreams (and teardrop trailers!) seem to remind me of the carefree California lifestyle. I've lived in Los Angeles my whole life and never have I once camped out to see the parade on new years. Every year, for a few days leading up to new years the streets are packed, literally with happy campers. How awesome would it be to wake up in this meticulously restored 1954 Airstream Flying Cloud and step outside to watch the parade live??!?! Can you say bucket list?? 

Happy New Year!

(via lantligt) 

(via tomboystyle) 

          Go ahead, ask me if I made a new year's resolution just like every other totally unoriginal human does on the first day of the year (you know, like when you go on first dates and to break the awkward silence he/she asks you questions like "What's your favorite band?" or "What do you like to do in your spare time?") The thing is, it was about ten seconds till the ball dropped when my sister and I started discussing what our resolutions should be. We were obviously a tad short on time and we didn't want to make the usual vows to increase the number of laps we run a week or decrease the amount of unnecessarily spent dollars, so I decided to decide tomorrow (obviously, I didn't resolve to stop procrastinating).  To be honest, I don't think I have ever made a real New Year's resolution in my life, but there I was the next morning, feeling pretty empty and unsettled because I wasn't starting off my year with a kick ass declaration on how I'm going to improve my life. Then, I remembered that exactly one year ago I had written a letter to the new year of 2011. 

Dear 2011,

    While you're visiting for these next dozen months, we dare you to challenge us, to terrify us. We'll welcome irritation, inspiration, exasperation. We won't let fear paralyze us. We promise to follow our OWN instincts, rather than the instincts of others. We vow to break from what we feel most comfortable with, all for a chance to say to ourselves, "You know, that really wasn't for me after all.." We resolve to always do what we are most afraid of. We will overlook what we cannot love in others. We swear to never tell ourselves our lives are in shambles, when the train has not yet reached the broken track. And most of all we will never overlook a chance to start from scratch, because arrivals and departures aren't the only times to make new resolutions!

          I think that was a pretty damn good resolution! And as it turned out, 2011 was a pretty good year for me- by all means I pray that it's not the best year I'll ever have and I doubt it will be the worst, but it was a pretty decent one. I "found myself" a little more, I learned how to keep my chin up, and I figured out that faking it till you make it actually does kind of work. Remembering where I was exactly a year ago and realizing where I am today is almost inconceivable (totally and embarrassingly cheese balls, I know- but also kinda true). And, it's not because of some quickly forgotten promise I made to myself, it was because I kept making new promises after I forgot the old ones. Usually (I said usually, as in not always), if resolution has left our thoughts it's because it is no longer relevant to our lives. It's time to make a new set of commitments for our new challenges.
         Like I said, I usually don't make real resolutions... but, I guess this year I resolve to constantly resolve. So, yeah, today I made a small resolution- one that I know I won't keep (or probably need to keep) till the end of the year. And, if on February 7th I want to make another change in my life, I'll make a February 7th resolution to do so. The point being, I didn't challenge myself because it's the first of a new year and blah blah blah, but because it's today and any old day is a good enough day to make myself a better me.