Art of the Day

Upholstered chair by Suzie Stanford. {via the Jealous Curator}

Real life Pac Man by Katie Sokoler. {via CraftZine}

"Smoke Knows" by Pae White. {via Habitually Chic and on display at the Whitney through May 30th}

Poster by Retrofuturs. {via SwissMiss}

Word. "Live with Art" poster by Mikey Burton. {via SwissMiss}

LUXURY PARADISE ISLANDS, PEOPLE

Hot Manse Islands of the Day: check out this little gallery of Luxury Paradise Islands. Lounging, mai tai, manservants fanning me with palm fronds...sigh...

my fave: this one in Taprobane, Sri Lanka.

Phantom Tree: Update

Phantom Tree has come out of hibernation and is looking good! Behaving a bit odd...with the leaves closer-in popping up and not on the ends of the branches. I'll miss you, Phantom Tree!

Weekend Re-cap: checking stuff off

Busy weekend - so much to do! I'm kinda freaking out over here...packing, errands, work, freelance...my goal this week is to pack one box and do one hour of freelance work every night. I swear every time I get home from work I try but I'm just exhausted. What is it about sitting in front of a computer all day that could possibly do that? Anyway, it's my last week of my 9-5! I'll be sad to say goodbye to my coworkers :( Excited to start Underemployed Vacay Part 4 though ;) (and anxious, obvs)

So Friday night we decided to make what was probably our last trip out for Papusas at Tortilla Cafe near Eastern Market. Damn, Keene really loves those things. I mean, they're good! I didn't get any pics of our papusas (why?!! - too hungry) but this is what they look like:

They're these fried cheese/pork-filled things. GOOD. And here's a pic of the Market when it's actually quiet - it's a really nice building. I'm gonna miss the market so much!

Saturday I had my last hair appointment with Steve at AVA Salon on Capitol Hill. I had to get one last style in with him before moving. Steve is responsible for my latest bangs overhaul and more "caramel" color - this time we went more blonde for Summer (natch). I totally recommend him if you need your hair did in DC!

My "work in progress" look. I can never take this part seriously.

And the finished product - here's me and Steve! He's rad and knows his stuff.

When I got home we had Venison Burgers Part 2. Yes, we still have venison! Tonight is venison spaghetti sauce and then I think we will have consumed all the venison left from Pennsylvania, ever.

Then later of course the eating had to continue...and it was glorious. I FINALLY had myself a Chili Half-Smoke from Ben's Chili Bowl. Oh. Mah. Gah. SO GOOD. I know this is going to plague me forever - it's an instant "chasin' the dragon." I'm kinda sad I didn't try this earlier but then again that would probably turn into a Ben's addiction and it was sortof a good end-note to being in DC. Cross Ben's off the DC bucket list!

Behold. The chili half-smoke. Dad - you would be all about this thing. The chili is sooo good! The height of sophisticated cuisine.

I made Keene pose for this.

I am so pumped to be alive right now.

Bye Ben's! Glamorous view from our bus.

By now you're thinking the eating-marathon must be done, but no. Not yet!!! We hit up Eastern Market Crepes on Sunday. We each got our ushe: Keene got the blackberry/blueberry/peach blintz-style, and I got the ham/apple/maple/gouda.

I always regret getting the powdered sugar because it's so messy. But you know what? It's also SO GOOD. It was super windy, it got all over me, Keene thought it was the funniest thing ever.

After fueling up on health food, we made one last trip through the market and picked up some wooden ducks (they're awesome), and a painting we've been lusting after for 2 years. It looks awesome, btw. I can't wait to hang it wherever our new home is. I managed to pack about ten boxes when we got home, too. Damn, packing sucks! But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I mean, ask me again in a week if I still feel that way. So far so good though.

I hope you guys had as fun a weekend as we did - lots of eating and pretending to work!

List & Comment Friday: VIVA LAS DEJAVU

You Guys - how crazy is it that this time last year I was planning a trip to Vegas to visit my good friend and her new baby...and this year I'm doing the same thing!? Weird coincidence? Or does Vegas just make people want to make babies? I dunno - I better not drink the water while I'm there ;)

My list of things I want to do in Vegas this year:
1. Meet my friend's new baby! (obvs)
2. Sip mai tais poolside with my gal pals
3. Laugh at the "volcano" erupting at the Mirage
4. See the Mirage Tigers
5. Hopefully make it out to the Neon Graveyard
6. See old Vegas?
7. Paris Buffet
8. Dare we go to the NYNY again? I still haven't done the roller coaster there.
9. SEE CHER - duh!

Do y'all have any must-do ideas for Vegas? What's your fave thing about Vegas?

Wednesday: Cinco de Bunch of Random Stuff

So true.
--
I know this is old news but I just wanted to talk about how I think I had a different reaction than most people to the whole "banned Lane Bryant Ad" scandal. So ABC and Fox momentarily banned the Lane Bryant lingerie commercial from airing, because it was too sexy, despite the fact that they air similar Victoria's Secret ads. So...double standard, yeah yeah, I get it. But the part I like about all this, is that when you watch the Lane Bryant ad it's obvious why the networks thought it was scandalous - this chick is WAY sexier than those 12-year-old-boy-bodied Victoria's Secret models. Vicky's doesn't get the same kind of reaction because those models have some sorry ass excuses for boobies. Just sayin'. Lane Bryant is going to sell some bras with this ad.
--

Cute NYC Subway masking tape. Buy it from KawaiiiThings. {via NYAO}

--
More quotes I'm stealing from Miss NoPoMo (I love every quote she posts):

"If your dominant intent is to feel joy while you are doing the work, your triad of intentions—freedom, growth and joy—will come quickly and easily into alignment. See your "career" as one of creating a joyful life experience. You are not a creator of things or a regurgitator of what someone else has created or a gatherer of stuff. You are a creator, and the subject of your creation is your joyful life experience. That is your mission. That is your quest. That is why you are here." - Abraham

"The success of love is in the loving - it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done." - Mother Teresa
--

Two different ways to make a bar:

Turn the IKEA "lack" shelf into one...{via CasaSugar}

Take an old trunk and make it into a "rolling" bar...{via AT}

Art of the Day

Print by Jennifer Ramos. {via LovelyUndergrad}

Sculpture by Michael Johansson. {via JennSki}

The cheapest, quickest, easiest mural ever by Kelsey. {via LovelyUndergrad}

Charming oversize paper flowers by Eloise Corr Danch. {via Frolic!}

Mondrian Cake from the Blue Bottle Cafe at SFMOMA. {via Poppytalk via luiredaily}

Weekend Re-Cap

So....this weekend. Lots of hanging around, not a lot of getting anything done. Whoops! I blame it on the summer weather. Although Sunday got so hot and humid that of course I got a heat rash on my neck. Awesome!

Friday my dad was in town, so we got to go to Rays the Steaks - which rules. Keene and I got the "Chateaubriand for two" - sooo good. Gawd and what's not amazing about brandy mushrooms and creamed spinach? (I apologize to my vegetarian readers - avert your eyes beyond this wedge salad!)

Then began the weekend of way too much hanging out on the deck. We they chatted all about cars and airplanes and technology. Good times! Thanks for staying extra long so we could hang out with you, Dad!

Saturday Keene and I went on a mission to get wine from P&C and I decided to take that opportunity to start the "documentation" of everything, something my mom has urged us to do before we move...

I'm gonna miss our little gourmet market :(

The roses in our hood look amazing right now...

A fave house of ours, with the lavender-distressed brick, now has lavender lilies to match...

Gonna miss the park A LOT!

Oh, East Cap...I can't look down you any more without having 4' snow-covered flashbacks...

We got home and grilled (obvs), and had Chill on the Deck Pt. II. It was too freakin' nice out to go back inside. I sipped my rose, Keene poured this awesome wheat beer...

Chillin...

Stargazin'...

We were messing around with the shutter speed on my new camera...it got a little arty farty!

Then Sunday totally rocked for me! My girl Kathryn invited me up to her sweet house in Silver Spring, where we shoe shopped (SCORE), got sushi take-out (double SCORE), and had some really fancy champagne (triple SCORE). I had so much fun chatting it up with one of my favorite ladies!

She has this adorable pooch, "Jack", who took care of the neighborhood watch while we relaxed.

I also came away with some super cute clothes that Kathryn didn't need anymore. SO RAD. Thanks to her I have a brand new work outfit on today!

I hope y'all had a great weekend too. Lots of play and no work, just like mine :)