Gratitude

I am so grateful for all that I have in my life, and for all the little things that make the world so beautiful. The Guest House by Rumi is one of my favorite poems of all time. Enjoy the words, and find the meaning in your own life.

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

| photos from an outing to Overlook Park this morning |

Sunday Style: Self-Portrait

Monday, Monday

Today, I feel oh-so-sleepy. Wishing I were napping with my precious baby girl, T.

A StreetStyle Collection

All photos taken during Fall/Winter 2010 Fashion Week in New York, London, Milan and Paris.

Photos via the Sartorialist, Garance Doré, Jak & Jil Blog, Hanneli and fashiontoast.

My Picks: Best Spring Sandals

Temperatures are heating up, flowers are opening their petals and excited people are venturing outside. Spring is here! And that means one thing to this fashionista: Sandal season begins! Over the past few years, each spring, I have splurged on one nice pair of sandals that lasts me the whole season plus some. I think sandals are one thing every woman should splurge on, especially if you know you will be wearing them everyday. As the summer inches closer, more and more styles will grace the market, but here are my picks for all you early birds like me out there, who want to catch the sandal worm! Happy shopping!

| Anthropologie Berry Trifle Flats |

| Miu Miu Multi-Strap Gladiator Sandals |

| Dolce Vita Irene Sandal |

| Loeffler Randall Patent Leather Sandals |

| Jimmy Choo Summer Perforated Suede Sandals |

| Proenza Schouler Two-tone Sandal |

| Matt Bernson Sherpa Sandal |

| Anthropologie Terra Incognita Booties |

| Sam Edelman Damian Sandal |

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My Secret Obsession…

RUBBER STAMPING!!!!

I love stationary and beautiful paper, especially in cute little stores like this one. But when it comes to getting crafty, I love using my growing collection of rubber stamps to create fun, unique cards for all the best people in my life for momentous occasions or just to say, “Thanks for being a special part of my life.”  I made these little birthday cards (the one on the right I gave to my best friend, Mia, last week) using stamps from Paper Source, where I used to work at the Marina location in San Francisco. I also love these handmade stamps found on Etsy.

Find these stamps and more equally cute ones at SugarSkull7, The Mayberry Sparrow, and CraftPudding.

** On another note, I am featured on Urban Weeds – Portland’s street style blog. Please, check it out here! **

Designer Profile: Purusha by Hayley

I am happy to introduce you to Purusha, a collection of yoga and lounge wear that is practical and stylish. Hayley, the designer, creates one of a kind, hand-dyed and silk-screened pieces that are vintage inspired yet fresh and modern. All of the garments are made in the United States, organic cotton when available, and Hayley dyes the clothing using only natural plant dyes including sandalwood powder, Osage-orange bark, Brazil-wood bark, indigo rocks, and henna and kamala powders. The dying process can take up to two weeks. The designs for the silk screens are inspired by Hayley’s own photographs and paintings. She uses non-toxic, water-based paints on her screens.

Hayley creates each piece with love stemming from her deep connection to yoga and the Earth. Purusha is a Sanskrit word that literally means “man,” but metaphorically, it means “the soul of the universe, or the eternal breath within all beings’ breath.”  Here is the Sanskrit symbol:

पुरुष

Hayley’s beautiful sister, Kate, who is an old friend of mine, and her best friend, Colleen, along with Hayley herself model the Purusha clothes seen in this post. Check out the Purusha site here, and shop for all the fantastic goods here at the Purusha People  Etsy store.  Hayley also does custom orders, so if you see something you like, but it’s not quite right, contact her. Happy Friday, everyone! And remember, “You are the breath of the universe!”

Artist Profile: Dane Eisenbart

My dear friend, Dane, is a young artist bursting with talent and creativity. Over the years, I have been lucky enough to watch him grow both as a person and as an artist. Each of Dane’s paintings tells a distinctly different story. The subjects of his work come alive with emotional expression and their connection with the Earth. Dane lives and works out near Scappoose, OR, with his parents on a magical piece of property where I have spent many wonderful evenings mediating with friends in their hand-built steam house. The place where Dane lives most certainly inspires his paintings, which most often depict the natural beauty that surrounds us all. Dane shows his work throughout the Portland area. Check out more  of his art and other musings here.

More from Paris…

| Casual elegance from Dries Van Noten |

| Tribal embellishment  at Lanvin |

| Polished sophistication from Stella McCartney |

In Honor of Alice

Tonight along with my lovely friend, Mia, I will finally get the see Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. I will attempt to enter the theater with no expectations, but it’s somewhat difficult being that I have been obsessed with Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece forever. In honor of Alice and the magic of Wonderland, I leave you with this picture. My favorite in the series of photos printed in Vogue. Natalia as Alice, and Viktor and Rolf as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

If the film is as enchanting and well-conceptualized as the photo shoot, there is no doubt that I will love it.

Here’s hoping…

I Die.

| Christophe Decarnin has done it again |

| Nicolas Ghesquière = Genius |

More to come from the Fall 2010 runways, but I just had to post these immediately because of my sheer obsession with the two collections. Bravo, men!

Paris Polaroids

| handsome man aka my boyfriend |

| come what may |

| lovers |

| pinwheels in the park |

| le bisous |

Spring Awakening

Ladies and gentlemen, not only is it becoming time to pull out your spring wardrobes, but also, I am happy to report the flowers are blooming in Portland! After two cold, snowy weeks on the east coast, I returned to the City of Roses to find all sorts of beautiful buds abloomin’. Daffodils, crocuses and daphnes opened their petals, and their scents fill the warm spring air. Oh! How I love Oregon! Here are some photos I took today on a neighborhood walk with Kai and her new puppy, Remy.

Wonderful Woman…and Issue

Gracing the Spring Fashion issue of New York magazine is Mad Men actress, Christina Hendricks. As a devoted fan of the AMC drama, I could not have been happier to see Hendricks on the cover. She plays Joan Holloway with perfect poise and sophistication. I think she is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood at the moment. And I don’t even really care about Hollywood.

It is so refreshing to see a woman who owns her sexuality while maintaining a truly feminine figure. Unlike some New York Times columnists, I happen to think Hendricks looks real. Not “big.” Her body is voluptuous and sexy. As a woman whose body is pretty much opposite of Hendricks, I envy her curves and large breasts. While some criticized her look at the Golden Globes, I thought she was the most striking of all.

I applaud New York for choosing a cover girl that doesn’t fit the model bill. I also commend the magazine for the entire issue, which features an insiders look at the lives of Andy and Kate Spade, post Kate Spade, and an enchanting article about Marc Jacobs’ beau, Lorenzo Martone. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the gorgeous and talented children of Carine Roitfeld, Vlad and Julia Restoin Roitfeld. And I cannot tell you enough how delighted I was to see the candid interview with Vogue Nippon fashion director, Anna Dello Russo, of whom I am a personal admirer. Thank you, New York for this fashion-packed issue. It certainly was a treat.

Under the Sea

While in Boston with my parents this week, I took a trip to the New England Aquarium. The 80-year-old sea turtle that weighs over 500 pounds amazed me with her graceful strokes and turqouise eyes. The sand tiger sharks look fierce with three rows of jagged teeth, but the aquarium scientists assured us that they are mostly harmless. But what really captured my intention and sparked my creativity was watching the brainless, boneless jellies float through the vivid blue water. I hope you find these photos as inspiring as I do. Jellies are some of the oldest creatures left on Earth. Simply amazing.