things i love thursday (the blog edition)

sometimes i stumble on blogs that are so beautiful and original, i almost fall over. here are three recent favorites that i thought you might enjoy too.

p.s. it is recommended that you peruse these blogs while sipping a cup of earl grey tea, with a sketch book nearby and with some jazzy tunes in the background.

things i love thursday - the pinterest edition.

pinterest – noun:  an online pin board — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by your friends. 

are you on pinterest? i'd love to follow you! you can follow me here.

(all photo credits here)

things i love thursday.

this plant in the sunlight almost makes me believe that spring is right around the corner. huzzah!

cappuccinos served with animal crackers.

my new favorite snack. (and sometimes i add the juice to my sparkling water.)

the good 'ol days when we owned music that wasn't on our computers.


this song.

what are you loving lately?

things i love thursday.

this new-to-me book, full of handmade ideas and scandinavian style.

mini chocolate birthday cupcakes made by a dear friend.

this old photograph, because it's our neighborhood some eighty years ago.

the way our living room plant is reaching towards the sun, just like me. :)

this old, faded duffel bag, because i can't help it. and it means we're going on a trip.

happy thursday, and happy 30th to me. :)

getting through winter.

today is another snow day in boston. i'm beginning to forget what our sidewalks look like. so, in an attempt to stay positive, here are a few of the things that keep me sane during the cold, dark days of winter.

1. books. it goes without saying, but curling up with a new novel is one of my favorite things in the world. thanks to the suggestion of meredith, i am now hooked on indie bound. i also downloaded the indie bound iphone app that helps me keep track of all the books i want to read. love.

2. thick, wool socks. i wear them inside my boots, around the house, and sometimes even to bed. handmade ones are the best, although these look pretty cozy too.

3. hope in a jar. i'm not usually into expensive cosmetics, but this lotion is divine. it's light, non-greasy, hydrating, and smells really good. goodbye dry skin.

4. knitting. it keeps me busy when i'm cooped up inside, and the gratification of finishing something is nothing short of glorious.

5. tea lights. we have them all over our condo, and they make even the gloomiest of days feel just a little bit cozier. fun fact: did you know that they were originally created to keep tea pots warm? :)

6. crosswords. every night, simon and i climb into bed, turn on our bedside lamps, and try to solve the day's crossword puzzle. i have to confess that every once in a while, i fall asleep before we finish. but it's one of the best parts of my day.

7. messenger bag from moop. it's big enough to haul around all my winter gear: hat, gloves, extra scarf, tissues, book, and even a snack. i don't know what i would do without it.

8. pretty mugs. whether it's for my daily cup of coffee, my afternoon tea break, or a hot chocolate with marshmallows, i firmly believe that mugs should be fun to look at. this particular one is from here.

9. good radio. i feel so lucky to live in boston where we have emerson's station, "music for the independent mind" and another independent station called "the river". what else is there to do on a snow day, but listen to incredible tunes all day long? of course, there is always wait wait, don't tell me, too, which never fails to entertain.

so, tell me, what do you do to stay sane during the winter? 

baby fever.

oh my goodness. between spending time with my friends' little ones and all the adorable baby things i see on the web... my heart is cooing.

here are a few favorites from my some-day-we'll-have-a-baby-and-i-want-all-these-things collection.


from left to right, top to bottom: vintage model airplane from trampoline, giraffe from anthropologie, norwegian village print from rachael anderson, handmade quilt from bonjour celine, felt hedgehog from sara carr, cloud pillow from lena corwin, solar system mobile from cox & cox, hedgehog baby blanket from pata pri, and book collection from lavender and limes.


xo.

pretty things.

etsy will be the death of me. in the last month alone, i bought a fun ball garland, a set of brass swans (aren't they romantic?) and a vintage brass sail boat.

and i still can't help but browse etsy every day. is there a support group for this? :)

p.s. as you can tell, brass is the new black. :)
p.p.s. these photos were taken with my new camera! i'm in love.

etsy treasury.

today i was lucky enough to snag a treasury list on etsy! if you've ever tried to create one, you know how hard it is to get the timing right.

here is a glimpse of the items i chose, and you can click here to see it in its entirety. (it expires in two days.)

silver spoon garden markers.

some days i dream about having a garden, and planting flowers, herbs, and vegetables to my heart's content. wouldn't these silver spoon garden markers be such a sweet way to keep track of everything? (available at daisy chestnut.)

fjäll räven backpacks.

as some of you know, norway and sweden are huge rivals. we both claim to be the best scandinavian country, but it's so silly because obviously norway is better! :)

that being said, it turns out sweden manufactures these amazing fjäll räven backpacks, which i am currently obsessed with. so, maybe sweden isn't so bad afterall.*

i actually saw fjäll räven backpacks for sale at the ace hotel in portland, but resisted buying one because it was so pricey. (nina hides her head in regret.) oh, i want one so badly!

what's so funny is that growing up in scandinavia these backpacks were everywhere! absolutely everywhere. i remember thinking that they were so ubiquitous that they couldn't possibly be "cool". not to mention that at that time in my life, things from the u.s. seemed so much cooler. (nina bangs her head on the wall).

oh how times change. now that i'm here in boston and in love with these backpacks, i have charged my mother with finding one for me in norway. go, mom, go! i know you can do it.

now tell me, do any of you have one? no, wait. i take it back. i don't want to know.

* just kidding. stockholm is one of my favorite cities in the world.

a collection a day.

have you heard of this cool new project called a collection a day? i just discovered it this morning, and i am already smitten.

artist and illustrator lisa congdon is documenting her (many) personal collections by showing a photograph of objects on her blog each day of 2010.

what a sweet and simple reminder of the beauty in everyday things.

here are a few of my favorites so far:

hairstyle pillowcases.

simon and i have decided to skip valentine's day presents this year and just go out for a nice dinner. but if i were on the hunt for a cute valentine's day gift, i would definitely order a set of these hilarious pillowcases. aren't they awesome?

i keep imagining putting them in our guest room and seeing our friends' and family's reactions when they stay over. so fun.

i'm curious: do you usually get your loved one a valentine's day gift?

(pillows available from threeheart)

for all you cupcake lovers out there...

... these cupcake liners from cupcake social are the coolest thing i've seen all week! it makes me want to rush home and make another batch of red velvet cupcakes... just so i can use fancy liners.

speaking of wine...

simon and i feel incredibly lucky to have found and be working with our wedding photographer, meredith of andunlimited photography, so we brought her a little thank you gift on saturday.
i didn't have a wine tote or anything else snazzy to decorate it in, so i just used some things i had around the house (kraft paper, ribbon, baker's twine and other miscellaneous things in my craft closet).

when she got home, she photographed it. i just love her style and the way she captures details, don't you? (click on image to see it larger.)

thanks again, meredith!

p.s. engagement pictures coming to the blog very soon!

happy weekend!

my top ten favorite things, at the moment:

1. dog shows like the dog whisperer and it's me or the dog.

2. washing my face the second i get home from work instead of right before bed.

3. chilly mornings.

4. playing scrabble with simon on our iphones all day long.

5. looking forward to the end of the october when my best friend will visit!

6. being able to say things like: "our kids are going to be wicked cute."

7. smoothies.

8. roasted and salted sunflower kernels.

9. amazing marriage advice from joanna's blog.

10. the rare occasion when my golf swing rocks.

have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

(photo credit: yuli.bow)

au supermarché

i fell madly in love with this bag, and now i get to give it away! being a blogger is the best! this beauty is designed by darcy dizenzo. see more of her work here.

this eco-chic tote is made of 100% natural unbleached cotton canvas and is perfect for carrying groceries. to enter to win, please leave a comment by saturday, september 12th.

good luck!

on being a wife.

i've been through many phases in my life, but i never imagined that i would be as excited as i am about being a wife. i consider myself a feminist, but the more i think about marrying simon, the more i realize how much i am looking forward to everything that is traditionally considered "domestic".

i would love to have a kitchenaid, maybe even a yellow one. i want to sew things. i want to be in charge of our family photo albums, and christmas traditions, and buying pumpkins every halloween.

i want to cook deliciously healthy meals, bake birthday cakes and most importantly, eat them with my husband. and perhaps most surprising of all... i am head over heels excited to take simon's last name.

i guess being a real feminist means being able to do whatever you want to do. and as it turns out... what i want to do is be very married. :)

so, to those of you who are wives, i would love to hear your thoughts... how has being married changed you? and what has surprised you the most?

p.s. joanna is currently featuring a series called secrets to happy marriages. i am loving it; check it out.

(photo credit: oh my deer)

tuesday giveaway

good morning, dolls!

i first fell in love with geninne when i stumbled upon her adorable blog six months ago. she is a talented artist who lives in a forest near mexico city, and has graciously agreed to give away the print above. it is called "three little birds" and the colors are amazing. to see more of her work, visit her etsy store.

today i'm going to be a little selfish, and ask that to enter to win, you leave a comment with a link to images of your favorite wedding. if you're married, it can be your wedding (yes please!) or it can just be one you've seen on a wedding blog or website.

the person who provides the link i love the most will automatically get three extra entries! i will randomly choose a winner on saturday morning, august 29th.

thank you so much, and good luck!

this is a true story.

scene: it's late last night. simon and i are getting ready for bed. my teeth are brushed, my face is washed, and i'm in my pjs. i plop down on top of our bed covers.

nina: it's hot in here.

simon: should we turn down the air conditioning?

nina: probably, but i'm too tired.

simon: i'll do it.

simon gets up and turns down the thermostat. a few minutes go by, and i am finally getting comfortable (and really sleepy).

eventually it's cool enough that i am ready to have a blanket over me. but instead of just crawling under the covers, (because i'm so comfy and half-asleep with my eyes closed) i start trying to flip the edges of the blanket to cover me like a little taco. it doesn't work.

simon: do you want another blanket?

nina: no thanks, i'm fine.

meanwhile, with my eyes still closed, i continue to struggle to get the blanket to stay over me (somehow i never contemplate actually moving my whole body to get under covers because it would mean i would have to... move.)

simon gets up again.

nina (mumbling): where are you going...

simon: to get you another blanket.

he comes back and puts a soft, old college blanket over me and tucks me in.

nina (already in dreamland): thank youuuuu...

my struggle is over and i sleep like a baby the rest of the night. on top of the covers.

***

if this isn't true love, i don't know what is.

(photo credit: littlegirlblue)

a different kind of mug shot.

as you all know, i am a coffee snob.

but the truth is, my snobbery doesn't end there. i am also a mug snob. that's right. i believe that coffee should only be sipped from design-licious receptacles.

so, imagine my excitement when i saw these amazing tea and coffee cups. quick! someone save me from myself before i buy them all!

absolutely genius mug from brookish, inspired by the pride and prejudice scene when jane gets engaged to mr. bingley. a lady's imagination is very rapid, you know!

i love traveling by train, so i did a little dance when i saw this train window mug from esther coombs. and the yellow is sublime, no?

this mug is red and has a bicycle on it. need i say more? by circa ceramics.

it's seafoam green and retro-tastic? oh my! from milk glass vintage.

now i'm curious...do you have a favorite mug that you use every day? what do you love about it?

xo,