...and to my favorite new mom...

...Happy Mother's Day KJ!!!! I've been wanting to say that to you for some time...and now, well it could not feel more wonderful. Jack is one VERY lucky little boy :)

Ugh...what a Friday. But a happy happy Mother's Day weekend!

So, today has been a little bit on the hectic side to say the least...beginning last night with a flat tire on the way home...and then discovering that my wonderful new iPhone is not working properly. Add to all that a ton of paperwork left over from the Death Valley shoot and my own work and well, this has just been a nutty day. Thank heavens for Chris taking care of my car or this would all be a gigantic pain. But enough of my complaining because it's all about mom's this weekend right? I have to say, if you kids have moms half as amazing as mine, you owe her big time this weekend. I  know I do. Here are a few of my favorite pics of my mom from years past.  The one above...in the Albright-Knox museum in Buffalo.

Mowing that lawn...no one ever did it better :)

Enjoying a delicious bowl of clam chowder in Barnacle Billy's in Ogunquit, Maine.  There is no one really like my mom and like a lot of you out there, I owe everything to her. The quality of my life is a 100% by-product of her love, hard-work, determination and intelligence. What would I do without her...I don't know...I don't want to know :)

J' adore !

'Let them eat cake ring'

I was trying to save these items from Etsy shop Jorgenson Studios for 'Esty Friday'...but you know how it goes. Let's just call this Etsy Thursday because I could not love the jewelry in this shop more. Actually Laura deserves the credit for finding this gem (no pun intended ;-). Since she is part of my Etsy 'circle' I spotted it on my activity page. Aren't these rings the most lovely things you have ever seen?!?! Not only are they gorgeous and totally affordable, the ring with the gem has the single most adorable (and appropriate) name I have ever heard...the 'Let them eat cake ring'! 

What can I say but...Ooh La La!

Guest Blog - Oh, those elephants :)

Could these notecards be any cuter? And they're environmentally friendly as well. In fact, no trees were ever killed in the making of the paper. No trees killed, you're asking? How is that possible? Well, it turns out there are some crafty folks in New Delhi, India who know how to make paper out of elephant poo. And so it's fitting that the notecards have wonderfully adorable illustrations of elephants on them. Love them!


~JP Pullos

May=Orange @ Kate Spade

The new arrivals and new color are in at Kate Spade, and as usual, I want it all...the whole she-bang. I just got my a fabulous Kate Spade iPhone cover (which I love) but it might have been a close call if this adorable, giraffe inspired design had been around at the time I purchased mine. It is definitely in keeping with the wild animal theme that seems to touch all the May arrivals. Love!

And keeping in the adventure theme...any one out there not love this binocular pendant?

And the 'scoop' award goes to...

...Ooh La La Du Jour! 'Cause there is nothing better than seeing a post about something we posted on this blog, weeks later, on a blog we desperately admire and aspire to be like. Check out the latest fantastic post on Garance Dore's blog...then check out our post a month ago on the oh-so awesome le minor dip-dye shirt. Hooray of the day :)

And any time I get to bring my obsession with stripes up...I'm very happy.

Song bird brooch

Three words...cutest...brooch...ever :) From Etsy shop Good Things 88.

Am I a 'Matchbook Girl' ?

The latest issue of Matchbook Magazine is out and as usual, it is wonderful. It will probably take me the better part of the month just to go through it all. As you can see, Rachel Antonoff is on the cover and the accompanying story about this fashion design darling is one of the highlights of the mag. That said, this publication does have a feature each month that has me asking myself this question, 'Am I truly a 'Matchbook girl'? No seriously...I'm starting to wonder because each month, near the very beginning of the issue, they have this ever-so entertaining list of 'criteria' that make a so-called 'Matchbook girl' ... and every month I look at the list, scratch my head and think,'Wow, I guess I'm not'. It's going to come as no surprise then when I say, I am not a fan of this feature (since I love the pub. so so much). And I think I've figured out why. Geez, according to these lists, a 'Matchbook girl' is really, well for lack of a better way of putting it...kind of prissy...and fussy...you know, someone who would rather stay home and read about heroines than go out and try to be one in her own way. Every month there is some reference to  Jane Austen (admittedly, I am not a fan...I much prefer Edith Wharton and Henry James) and drinking tea, or skipping through a field of daisies...and all I'm saying is why can't a 'Matchbook girl' like a good football game or a great spinning class, as much as trip to a museum. Well, anyway, let the debate ensue. I still love this mag. as much any I receive each month...maybe I'll just have to aspire to being a 'Matchbook girl' :)

Loving this gorgeous brooch, which was featured in the mag. from the Met Store.

Vivian Maier - An Update

You may remember, some weeks back I did a post on the amazing story of Vivian Maier...a brilliant street photographer whose work was randomly discovered by an unsuspecting real estate agent by the name of John Maloof. Well, Mr. Maloof's project has taken off and he now has a gorgeous new website featuring many pieces from her massive collection. It is nearly impossible to believe this story as it continues to unfold. It's almost as impossible to pick a few representative pieces from Maloof's site. This mysterious woman continues to mesmerize.

Exquisite.

Guest Blog - The Dress

I'm sure, when I write "The Dress", you probably all know which one I'm talking about. Even Michelle Obama didn't get this much buzz around her inauguration dress. NY Times did an entertaining write up on what a flawless success it was. I'm happy to see Kate join the pantheon of fashionable first ladies of which I will most certainly include Carla Bruni and yes, Michelle Obama. Here's to many more royally stunning outfits.


~JP Pullos

Get me out of here!!!!

Laura just turned me on to the Cool Hunter. Man, like I always say, if you do one thing today...make it checking out this site. I am not even sure how to describe it except to say it is genius and an absolute feast for the eyes. So many amazing things to look it...it's fairly impossible to select just one image to represent the lot. That said, I picked this gorgeousness ... from Santorini. How can a weather-weary Rochestarian like myself pick anything else.

Wow!

Photo of the day...

...via Fashionologie and the Costume Institute Gala. Perennial fave Shalom Harlow in Marchesa. Brilliant. What a way to start a miserable, wet and cold day :)

Those wise-guy lattes :)

If you know me, then you already know why I am in love with this print from Etsy shop I Love Doodle. The coffee reference...the kitschy humor. Good heavens...it's fabulous!

Next up...Mother's Day

Refinery 29 has a such a great list of ideas for Mother's Day gifts. OK, I'm not a mom, but I have an awesome one and I'll bet she would love any of these stylin' items...like this gorgeous scarf from Topshop..

...or these fantastic Marimekko pillows from Crate & Barrel. 
Do NOT forget mom kids!

'Leave it in the octagon' (Hi Monday :)

Hi kids! Welcome back to the work week...did you have a lovely weekend? Mine was a massive mix...gym, lots of cleaning (with Chris away, it was my chance to get him organized without having to hear his two cents), not to mention some long-overdue Target therapy and well, it was really pretty darn enjoyable. Did you catch the 'I Love Lucy' marathon on the Hallmark channel? So awesome. Did you know that Lucille Ball and I share the exact same favorite episode of this classic sitcom...well, we do...of course, it's the episode where she visits the Brown Derby and Bill Holden ends up with a face full of pie. Ridiculously funny 60 years later :)

Saturday night we went to 'fight night' (sans Chris...I promised him I would go and text the results of UFC 129) and thanks to some pretty great friends, who refused to let me sit in Rookies all by myself, we had a great time! One of my personal faves, Ben "Smooth" Henderson won his bout. I love Smooth. Not only is he beautiful, with the best nickname ever, he is a self-proclaimed nerd, whose favorite thing to do when he isn't training or fighting, is reading in  Barnes & Noble, with a chai tea latte. Adorable. This practically makes him an LCM. Take a lesson, all you other hard living athletes.

The shoot continues in Death Valley. Check out this location. Desert with snow-capped mountain ... amazing!