unruly-things

I decided, with the major changes come up in my life, it was about time that I get down to business. as recommended by Sarah of favourito, I purchased The Anti 9-5 Guide, which is a really interesting book about living and working outside of the cubicle. I've only begun reading it, but so far, I'm very intrigued. yesterday I went to Pearl and purchased two new sketchbooks. I'm so into yellow these days, so it's not surprising that when I saw this yellow linen sketch book, I knew I had to have it. I also bought a sketch-note pad, which is pretty cool, it's got lines on half of the page, and blank paper on the other half. and of course some new pencils, pens, and eraser.
now, I'm off to create. :)

today we reached double digit status.

I heart dlb.

happy friday! finally!!! I hope that everyone has something wonderful planned for this weekend. I've got movies and white ale on the mind.
I've decided one thing every girl must have is the pefrect "weekend dress". the best thing about a weekend dress is it's ability to go from casual to dressy. I love the bright colors and delicate graphic prints of these three dresses. left: J. Crew, middle: Anthropologie, right: Urban Outfitters.

every morning on my way to work, I see this classic car, an 1950's Ford Deluxe. I wonder about the person who drives it, what they look like, how they act. and it's always gone by the time I get home at the end of the day. there is just something about it that draws my attention. this morning as I drove past it, I noticed two yellow-orange roses placed gently on the windshield. I thought about how sweet it was, and it really got me thinking about the simple things we do for love. it's about doing things out of the blue, it's about selfless actions. it's gently pushing her hair out of her eyes, or fixing his collar. it's finding roses on your car, finding him a first edition print of fight club, or waking up to breakfast in bed. it's the things that make us smile, even if for just a moment. I love the unexpectedness of the roses. it may have been the driver's birthday, a sign for good luck, or a simple gesture to say thank you. whatever it may have been, it showed signs of innocent love.

I love seeing different approaches to typical decorating. lately I've been seeing quite a few advertisements in magazines for tiles. Basazza, a company out of Italy, has some of the most amazing work that I have seen. the irredescent patterns mixed with matte color are gorgeous!
{images from Basazza}
{thanks babe!}

I love having a little secret that no one knows about. it's like a little ray of sunshine. :)

I love letterpress. I would like to take a class, so I could make my own cards or stationary. with it's ever growing popularity in the design communinity, the designs are becoming more detailed and way cuter. I love the work of Egg Press, out of Portland, OR. it just so happened that I liked all of the love related cards. maybe I just love love!

Tastespotting is described as "a visual filteration of great taste". it's like a posterboard of pictures of food for ideas and inspiration. photos are submitted by random people from sites that they love, and are placed on the virtual wall. it's a prety neat concept, and total eye candy! after browsing through a couple of the pages, I was already armed with new cooking and presentation ideas. I love these lasagne noodles rolled up! and I love the delicate ribbon tired around the giant cookie. it makes me want to bake cookies and mash ice cream in between them. it's so artistic looking.

I've been hearing lots of things about the benefits of brown rice not only for your body, but also for your skin. it's softening, smoothing effect on the skin was a beauty secret held by women rice pickers for hundreds of years. here's something I'd like to try: Crabtree and Evelyn's Edamame, Rice, & Bamboo Body Scrub. the blend of edamame (soy), rice, and bamboo combine for a body smoothing treatment to buff your skin and protect from moisture loss. I've been looking for a good exfoliant that won't leave my skin dry and irritated. this sounds gentle enough to not over buff my skin.
{image and information from Crabtree & Evelyn}

I love these prints by illustrator Stella im Hultberg. they are so feminine, yet edgy. I love the splattered paint drops and those leggings! her prints can be found for sale here.

I love finding new things on Etsy. while browsing the greeting cards today, I came across these hand screenprinted cards by HeatherJeany. I love the retro feel and what a great color palette! my favorite is the octopus attacking the smiling people at the beach. I have recently started looking at independant card shops for orignal or handmade cards...not cards that may be found at the local drug store. I think, if I'm going to spend the time to send a card, why not have it be somethng really unique?
but it gets me every time. it's browsing through the gorgeous colors and designs on Etsy, that make me kick myself in the butt for all my own procrastination.

it really is amazing how much music impacts our lives. I often feel as though I have a personal soundtrack dictating my every move. I tend to listen to my ipod on random while I'm at work, and occasionally a song will come up that I havn't heard in a long time. it's such a good feeling to hear a song that I havn't listened to in awhile. some songs were so over played on my ipod that I just kind of stopped listening to them, simply because I didn't want to tire them out. Going Against Your Mind by Built to Spill just came on my ipod, and oh, the things it reminds me of...... cool nights driving in the old Jimmy, dancing or rather bouncing to the beat of it, that first feeling of love.... now I'm giddy with my thoughts.
{side note: a gorgeous Bramhs Intermezzo is now playing in the background. just to give a snippet of information about my random music tastes. I heart classical piano music.}

oh, if only I could fill my closet with jersey dresses. I love the wrinkled, yet polished look of these dresses. these are the perfect weekend get away dresses, for times when all you can pack has to fit into one little carry-on bag. whip them out of your bag, throw on a goddess looking pair of flats, and you're ready to go.
sigh....just dreaming of another vacation.
{left image is Vince Jersey Short Sleeved Dress, middle is James Pearse Empire Pleated Dress, right is LaROK Tunica Dress. all dresses and images from Shop Bop}

J. Crew swoons me yet again. I'm just totally in love with these cutout ballet flats. and patent leather? with all these colors to choose from, who would be able to pick just one?? I think I'd like the green ones and the yellow ones please, ooo wait, maybe the bronze......
{image from J Crew}

Velvet by Graham and Spencer has always been one of my favorite clothing lines. Velvet offers a simple, yet fresh approach to clothing. the first time I saw a Velvet dress was at a little boutique in Tampa a couple years back, and of course it was a little too much for my bank account. the fabric of the dress had the softest and most sesuous feeling that I couldn’t resist. while typically composed of mostly solid colored knits, the Summer 07 collection offers some bright colors and floral patterns. my favorite is the black wrap dress with the little puffy sleeves.
{images from Velvet}

Beard & Bangs is made up of fashion and graphic designers, Doris Do and Mark Kane. the duo has been designing together since 2001. they got their name from Doris's bangs and Mark's beard. their inspiration includes all sorts of world culture, nature, old style typography, music, and childhood folklore.
I love the unexpectedness of the “old country” look in their designs. the diamond pattern behind the owl print is wonderful and adds an extra touch.
{image from beard & bangs}

I posted about the new Anthropologie Home Book earlier today, though I hadn't had a chance to really click through it until just now. my heart is actually beating a little bit faster. with every turn of the page, I found something I loved even more. I especially love the bird's eye view photography throughout the catalog.
in this image, I absolutely adore the vintage map cluttered with notes and what I only dream to be travel inspirations. the oversized letter is so perfectly nestled up against the headboard, and that bird print, floral chair....so charming! if only Anthropologie were a little more "man-friendly" {and put a slightly smaller dent in my wallet}, this catalog would simply outfit my home.
{images from Anthropologie}

I'm not sure how I've missed Temperley before, though I stumbled upon the loveliness of the Spring/Summer 2007 line today. filled with a palette of neutrals colors, the collection titled "Nomad" details raw fabrics, intricate details, and casual barefoot elegance. I can't get over the delicately exotic look of this collection! it's gorgeous.
{images from Temperley}

it's always hard coming to work on Monday, especially after a nice weekend. I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing break from the work week!! today I'll conquer the Monday Blues while reminiscing on the highlights from mine.
• new issue of Domino arrives in the mail.
• experimenting with new recipes (greek chicken, artichokes, and fabada).
• sushi/conversation/yummy spicy tuna/sapporo.
• craft organization.
• walks on Bayshore.
• silly forts.
• pancakes with vanilla and pumpkin pie spices.
• knowing we're in it for the same reasons.
• a lot of R.E.L.A.X.A.T.I.O.N.

there's nothing better than new, bright images on the Anthropologie site fresh on Monday morning. I've been trying to post things with lots of color to help make Mondays more cheery, but Anthropologie went ahead and surpassed my efforts!! on my usual clicks to their site, I am always drawn in by the welcome images on each category. Anthropologie has such great imagery, no wonder I'm tempted to blow every penny there. the utterly feminine details are fabulous.
bonus: Anthropologie releases their first ever Home catalog. {eeek!!!} and upholstered furniture is 25% off until April 30th!

being the aspiring cook that I am, I've been experimenting with food and making up new recipes. we ate a rather large lunch, so we were in the mood for something filling, but light for dinner. here's what I cooked tonight. it was so delicious, I thought I would share:
{note: my measurements are a guesstimate.}
{side note: LH, I'm positive you'll LOVE the second one. and it's easy!}

-artichokes with shiitake cream sauce-
the stuff:
1 can artichoke hearts, quartered and drained.
1 tsp olive oil.
1 tbsp butter.
2 shallots, thinly sliced.
1 cup fresh shiitake mushrooms, de-stemmed and diced.
1 clove garlic.
1/2 cup dry white wine.
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper.
1/4 cup heavy cream.
1/4 crumbled Gorgonzola cheese.
juice from half a lemon.

how to:
for artichokes...
- preheat oven to 400. line baking sheet with foil, and lightly brush artichokes hearts with olive oil.
- roast for 10-15 mins.
for sauce...
- melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat.
- add shallots and shiitake mushrooms.
- stir in garlic and cook until tender.
- add white wine and bring to a light boil. sprinkle in black pepper, and boil for 5 minutes. reduce heat to medium-low.
- slowly stir in cream, crumbled Gorgonzola, and lemon juice.
- simmer for up to 10 minutes.
- lightly drizzle sauce over hearts and garnish with a lemon slice.

...................................................

-fabada con chorizo-
the stuff:
1 can white beans, rinsed and drained.
1 cup chicken stock.
1 clove garlic, pressed.
2 cups Spicy Chorizo, sliced 1/4" thick.
1 tsp white pepper.

how to:
- in a large saucepan, cook beans over medium high heat with chicken stock and garlic.
- add sliced Chorizo and stir while bringing liquid to a light boil.
- add white pepper and reduce heat to medium low.
- continue to cook over medium low heat for 15 mins.

ENJOY!!!

I absolutely adore this desk + hutch from west elm. ever since the posts that I made last week regarding office supplies, I've been thinking about buying a desk. the new west elm catalog came in the mail on Saturday, and there it was....this great little desk!! I love the roll-out extension and I especially love the little hutch. my old desk had a huge hutch, that was truly unnecessary and just added more space for clutter. I love the small hutch, it creates great wall space behind the unit.

I simply adore these tacks created by graphic designer and blogger, Jessica Jones. her blog, titled How About Orange, is very inspiring. it makes me wish I had more time to be crafty!! she's got great ideas and wonderful tutorials.
I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!! I'm looking forward to relaxing, exploring, sushi/sake, and friends!

I came across russell+hazel today while browsing other blogs, and I think their office supplies are simply great! russell+hazel is committed to making the things we use each day complement and enhance our lives. they even have eco-friendly binders! I love their shop by color section of the site. with choices like Orchid and Espresso, you can coordinate to any style.
so add a little color into your workspace! I know adding a little into mine might brighten up my days! :)
{images from russel+hazel}

sigh......how cute is this?! a site entirely dedicated to feminine office style and organization, See Jane Work is absolutely wonderful. simple, chic, and afforable, See Jane Work offers everything from rubber bands and note pads, to laptop cases, file folders, and pencils.
tempting....... but first... I'll need an absolutely fabulous desk to buy stuff for!

"live for eachother"
this was the quote on my tea bag this morning. I drink Yogi Green Chai Tea occasionally, and each tea bag has an inspiring quote from Yogi Bhajan, the real yogi behind Yogi Tea. In 1969, Yogi Bhajan came to America to teach the techniques of Kundalini yoga and Ayurvedic living. I find some of his quotes to be very inspiring. like this one. live for eachother. it's a nice thought to know that ultimately you live for yourself, and benefit yourself by working out, eating right, being happy, and staying healthy. but our actions affect everyone we pass in our lives. so if you think about it, by doing one thing for yourself, you may be inspiring another. my boyfriend hasn't always lived as healthy as he lives now, and he was originally inspired by a friend to start working out, eating more healthy, and to stay fit. this isn't to say that if he hadn't met this friend, that he wouldn't have worked out. ultimately, I do things for myself, to make myself look and feel better, but I feel as though, if it weren't for his desire to be healthy, I would not be as healthy as I am today. I look at myself a year ago, and I tried to eat pretty healthy then, but I was partying a lot, staying out late, eating fatty foods, and not going to the gym. now I am taking vitamins and supplements everyday to imporve my health, I use mostly organic and natural products without dangerous chemicals, I work out, I have pretty much elliminated sweets from my diet, and I feel 1000% better about my self than I ever have.

so think about things a little differently today. live while thinking about the benefits of others. smile a little more. pass on your favorite healthy dinner. listen to what someone has to say, with open ears. pay attention to details. live for eachother's happiness.

{fyi: last night I bought some vanilla soymilk creamer and made a chai latte this morning. it is so delicious!}

Mighty Leaf Tea was born for the sole purpose of infusing life into an ancient indulgence by creating tea products that reach new heights of quality and innovation. with unique flavors like chocolate orange truffle, aloe serenity, spirulina stamina, and blue peacock, Mighty Leaf Tea offers both flavor and experience!

I tend to forget about certain stores until reminded of them by someone or something. Fossil has always had casual, yet stylish clothes. one of my co-workers had on the cutest shirt from Fossil that she just got yesterday. I decided to check out the website. I'm in love with their use of laying, as I'm a huge fan of laying texture and patterns.

well, my ipod finally bit the dust this past weekend. I even got the sad ipod face. after all that ipod had been through, it was time for a new one. I am the proud owner of a brand new red nano! it's so little and cute!
the hardest thing about getting a new ipod was downgrading to a 4GB rather than having 20GB. I really had to pick and choose which music to put on my new nano. at least my laptop has bundles of more music on it that I can switch out. :)
{image from Apple}

Jane's Closet is a small online store selling fashion from small fresh designers like Alisha Levine, Harkham, Fighting Eel and others. I love the illustration on the opening page, and the feel of the site is very girly. while browsing through the pages of oh so cute clothes, I found these three pieces, all which have gorgeous attention to the straps. I especially love the delicate silk cris-crossed straps on the middle tank.
{all images from Jane's Closet}

my kitten likes sauerkraut and popcorn.

I know. what a weirdo.

with bright colors taking over the runways this spring, sometimes we forget that neutrals are everywhere too. especially when it comes to activewear. I've been hunting for new sneakers, gym clothes, and loungewear, so I though I'd share my favorite neutrals. the shoes are both from Zappos , the top pair are Puma, and the bottom pair are Tsubo. the gray tank is from Nordstrom, gray lounge bermudas are from American Eagle, Nike tank, and Urban Outfitters hoodie.

the perfect picture to start off Monday morning. I receive an email update from kate spade, and this is the image that was in my email this morning. I've been sort of on vacation this past week, took off from work Wednesday - Friday. so now, getting up this morning was a drag. maybe I'll change my desktop photo to a beach scene.
I hope this day goes fast!!!

my newest love is yellow flats. lately, I've been focusing on yellow like never before. I think having a pair of these cheery shoes on my feet would make any day a brighter one.
{all images from Zappos}

ah.....green beer, reuban sandwiches, potato salad, pickles, and good friends. I hope everyone had a nice st. patty's day!

here, caught in the act, Moose pretends to be simply sniffing the flowers, then he swiftly attacks. {yea, so, I'm a little obsessed with the fact that my kitten loves flowers.}

I'm what some might call a "collector". I tend to "collect" lots of magazines in which I dog-ear the pages of things that I want to remember and go back to later, but usually I never go back to it later. today I finally went through a huge stack of magazines, went to the dog-eared pages and ripped them out. now, I have less of a stack of magazines cluttering up the apartment. {and I'm taking them out to the recycling, even better!} instead, I have a stack of magazine rip outs, fluttering all over the coffee table. :) at least I'm making progress!
if you haven't yet picked up Living Etc., it's a fabulous magazine anyone who enjoys home decor and modern home advice.

Magnolia is a modern home decor shop in Tampa. I found this place randomly one day, while trying to make a u-turn after missing something else. set in a restored 1920's general store, in Tampa's Historic Hyde Park, Magnolia features a charming and eclectic mix of home furnishings, modern art, and unique accessories. although a bit on the pricey side, {ie I saw a shell covered plate for $200 something dollars, that easily could be made with a handful of pretty shells}, Magnolia offers some amazing pieces.

I freelance as a t-shirt artist for a company called Daville Clothing. my printed shirts finally came in the mail today. I'm very pleased with how they turned out. I especially love the Unruly shirt! {B - your's is coming soon. they ran out of inventory and will send asap! and this picture doesn't even do the shirt justice. the real thing looks AWESOME.} Melodic, the guitar shirt, is not yet available on the website, though it will be shorty.
check out the shirts and support Daville Clothing!!!
{hehe, don't we look cute in our new Daville threads??}

Martha Stewart Living has a new website! I had never really browsed Martha Stewart's previous online site, though I hear that the new one is more organized, more colorful, and much much cooler. a blog post on decor8 yesterday, prompted me to check it out. there are a lot of good ideas, and I'm sure when I have more time to browse, I'll find even more. and thanks to Holly from decor8 for the link to the pinwheels!! I heart them.
{images from Martha Stewart Living}

{update: just a little fyi, I just found out that the site has a section of natural health remedies for colds, allergies, etc. I've been trying not to medicate myself too much, and I always knew there were natural remedies, though never tried anything. the site lays out the typical medication compared with the natural remedy and it's benefits. very helpful!}

yea it's an old picture, by a couple months, but isn't Moose the cutest? and thanks again for those pretty pink flowers T!

• it was so hard getting out of bed this morning without the sun pouring into my windows.
• the last movie I watched was Everything is Illuminated.
• my favorite TV show is Jeopardy.
• I eat oatmeal with apricots and cinnamon for breakfast every morning.
• I've eating quail eggs and I'm starting to really enjoy eel.
• there aren't many foods I dislike, but I can't stand cauliflower, canned peas, or cilantro.
• I make the best black bean guacamole.
• lately, these cd's have been playing non-stop on my ipod: frou frou - details, andrew bird - armchair apocrypha, modest mouse - we were dead before the ship even sank, the shins - wincing the night away, the most serene republic - underwater cinematographer.
• I could eat the heck out of a Monte Cristo from Wrights any day.
• I can't stand superficial people.
• my favorite jeans have a big hole in the thigh that started as a tiny hole.
• my dream vacation includes hardwood floors, linen curtains, tranquil blue waters, sandy beaches, quiet breezes, and him.
• Caracas looks absolutely incredible.
• I could easliy spend alot of my hard earned money at Anthropologie.
• my favorite time of day is right before the sun hits the horizon, and the sky is filled with a million colors.
• I'm more of a day owl.
• I always wanted to be an artist.
• I heart tulips.
• lately, I have been enjoying yellow more.

element is typically a skateboard clothing company, though with their newest line, element eden, I'm seeing more feminine touches to the usually boy-ish clothes. I love the concept of the line. they developed a program called the element advocate where they select a girl to work with them to help nourish element eden. the girl is featured in the advertising, profiled on their website, and in their catalogs. this girl may be a poet, an artist, a musician, or anything else that they have a passion for in life. I love the idea that they are inspiring as well as continually developing a realistic definition of what it means to be a girl.

the new catalog for CB2 arrived in the mail today. CB2 is the new destination for modern Crate and Barrel furniture and home accessories. I love the direction that they are going. it's like a little bit of West Elm mixed with Pier One. I love how the elements are combined with subtle textures and color. the Gaucho floral chair is gorgeous.

happy friday! I hope everyone has a wonderful and fabulous weekend! I know I deserve a great one after this tough week at work. I'll be spending my weekend with great friends, laughter, and smiles. here's to a good one!

ciao!!

I love love love polka dots. ever since I first saw this bag by Orla Kiely, I fell in love. while browsing Zappos today, I came across these adorable peep toes from kate spade. I'm thinking these would look so cute together with a white cotton dress. or is it simply too much polka dot?

I need things to make me smile today. it's going to be a really tough one.

{oh yea, these are my new shoes.}

has anyone noticed how incredibly GORGEOUS it is outside today?? it's one of those days that I can't stand being at work. I just want to go outside and play. things that are fun to do on a beautiful day like today: jump into the warm gulf waters. sit on a blanket in the park. lay poolside with a fruity drink. swing. drive with the windows down. wear flirty skirts. drink white wine at lunch. sit on the porch. watch the sunset.

two days off next week = total bliss.

I ordered new shoes yesterday and they are on their way to my apartment right now! I can't wait! I can't wait.

I love the campagin for the clothing line, Mac and Jac. it's all about moments of glamour and love. it's about the modern woman, in love with life. the line is filled with soft, feminine details.

isn't it funny when it seems like people read eachother's minds? I was reading a friend's blog today and she posted about the Eleanor Grosch pillows at Urban Outfitters. that was on my list of things to post for yesterday, because I think they are so freaking cute. I just don't know where I would put one because they don't really match my decor. I like the sandpiper one lots.
thanks for the shout out on your blog twist!
{image from pushmepullyou}

don't you hate it when you can't decide what to eat for lunch? wednesday is the day that I usually bring my lunch to work or go out to get lunch. today, I have been going back and forth between a salad and sushi all morning, and now when it's getting down to the time where I have to place my order, I'm still undecided. hm...maybe I'll get both. :)
ya know, if that's my only problem for today, then today is a good day. yesterday was one of those days that I wished so badly to go home and crawl back into bed. falling down the stairs is not my idea of a good way to start off my morning.

update: so I went with the salad, which probably had a million calories in it. for one, I didn't realize that the dressing was going to be on the salad, or I would've asked for it not to be. and I got the crispy chicken. {a nicer way of saying fried} looks like I'll be working extra hard at the gym tonight. but it was sooooooo good!

the newest J. Crew catalog came in the mail last week, and since I've been paying off my credit card, I wouldn't let myself look through the pages. until last night. I had to slam the catalog shut due to the overwhelming desire to purchase, like everything. I've always loved J. Crew, and lately the stuff just keeps getting better and better.
I've been thinking about cutting a pair of my jeans off, and cropping them like this... cheaper than buying new ones.

so, I found myself drooling over this pair of wellies pictured in the new issue of Blueprint. I love these. I've been eyeing a couple different pairs out there for sometime now, wondering if they are really necessary. there are those rainy days when I am wearing jeans that I constantly roll them up because I don't want them to get wet along the bottom. wellies to the rescue? hm....

when you’re in love, does it ever just hit you sometimes how much you actually are in love? I find myself day dreaming about him a billion times a day. this weekend, my boyfriend and I were talking, and I told him that he was my best friend, and he said “you’re my best friend too babe”. and it’s hit me before, but that really makes me feel it. I’ve never felt love and friendship the way that I do with him. it’s like, I know I’m his favorite thing, and I can absolutely argue that. I’d bet on it even.
*sigh* I heart dlb.

I looooove these tiles available at Art Department. Art Department is the creation of Felix Kniazev and Olga Julinska to transform clay into wonderful objects: lively, coloful, and whimsical.
{images from Art Department}

I love the colors present in fashion this spring. and I love Orla Kiely. her new spring line is so bright and cheerful. I especially love the yellow dandelion dress.
{images from Orla Kiely}

after many weeks of effort on getting this site up and running, I finally have it finished and uploaded onto the site. sunali.design is a collection of art and design by me! check it out to see my latest work. I'm so excited, I can barely stand it! :)

yep. here it is!! I'm proud, and I like it alot. look for it around town, especially in Ybor. be sure to check out aestheticized presents >>> for great local shows in the Tampa/Ybor area. the gig is Cure for Caska, No Recess, Air Ministry, and None Hit Wonder, March 16 at New World Brewery. Cure for Caska have a pretty good sound, and remind me a little bit of Guster or Iron and Wine. check 'em out!!!
{the side image is a detail shot of the peacock feathers}

ah....it's Friday. it's been a hellofa week and there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. I've been so tired waking up every morning this week, so I'm glad to sleep in tomorrow morning... I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend!!! if you're drinking this weekend, my mission for you is to go out and order a good beer rather than a Bud Light. if you're not drinking, eat a meal where you try something new. eating sushi? try the quail eggs...
things that made me happy this week: my doodles at work which now adorn my desk. snuggling with my man last night. falling asleep without intentions of falling asleep. dinner with a great friend. gig poster madness. a better week at work. spaghetti.

I love these simply adorable illustrations by etsy designer, Milly Molly Mandy. I love the detailing on the dresses!! Mandy Sutcliffe is a British Illustrator living in London.