34hummingbird

want.

2012-02-14T22:15:00.000-08:00

how cool is this?

so much dope shit on etsy

oh + status update:

** my poor lil computer is about to die for realz. it won't let me upload fotos at all!! and if i have more than one application open at the same time my computer will have a total meltdown and restart. i'm scared it's time to reinvest. such bad timing too... i have my first photo show (in a bathroom!) in march and NEED NEED NEED my computer.. good thing i have access to high quality computer + design software at work now... **

blending in, beautifully.

2012-01-22T17:34:00.000-08:00

loving this series by

cecilia paredes

chilean artist

la maison des plumes...

2012-01-18T07:21:00.001-08:00

so.. a while back, lacadia and i started an etsy shop. we haven't really gotten it off the ground with full steam, we are moving slow, but that's because life is wild and crazy right now, and has been for the last year or so. one of my chinese new year resolutions is to get back on top of this... (+ to blog more) so i figured a good place to start would be to share it here...

we plan to sell handmade goods and vintage-y antique finds. selling some left over crafts from the wedding as well...

sundays

2012-01-08T22:14:00.000-08:00

holiday catch up

2011-12-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

our tree

repurposing halloween pumpkins

+ crazy good lemons from our tree

lots of old movies...

white russians all morning

sugar cookie decorating

(not nearly as fun without omar)

twins.

ready set go

rad art book.

dad with zeina's gift from us

mom + dad in high school

old print on canvas

mom with same thing

old photo of her mom...our teta

gift - book on type

i quit.

2011-12-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

last week

i resigned from my job

+ it felt this good...

boom!

queen of contracts...

2011-12-15T13:49:00.000-08:00

here's another goodie

zeina was the queen of contracts

love that dad was a 'wittnes'

putting the ass in xmas

2011-12-15T09:02:00.000-08:00

here's a drawing i found at mom + dad's

that i made many many holidays ago

i vividly remember continuously spelling xmas wrong

1950s..shoes + swim caps

2011-12-09T09:53:00.001-08:00

december eighth

2011-12-08T08:53:00.001-08:00

back to basics

so many of my favorite people are december babies

train to sf last weekend

my favorite way to get to the city

it should be the cheaper option...

brunch at foreign cinema

strong drinks + holiday lights at the mint

perfect find for jesse's birthday

before i met jesse i couldn't keep a cactus alive

now i have all kinds of craziness growing + thriving

it's good to have friends that teach you

yesterday's find

2011-12-01T08:44:00.001-08:00

i had no intention of shopping

i went in to sell clothes and

+ pocket a bit of cash

and then i saw these lil guys

a vintage mens shoe

small enough to fit me perfectly

omg

love

happy day 2011

2011-11-29T08:49:00.001-08:00

eli + i joined the day after thanksgiving all day drinking fest

known as 'happy day'

we got to reno around 11am and met up with the group at chapel tavern

which was a perfect place to start

look at that accidental (+perfect) placement of duncan's head above

on the walk from chapel to shea's tavern we detoured and snuck into

craft, reno's new bottle shop

oh man!

it is so dope

and the owner was so friendly + charming

we sat at the bar and chatted with him

he gave us amazing local honey to try

then we made a big mistake...

we walked into the tiny little puppy adoption shop on our way to shea's

i should know better

blurry at shea's tavern

we skipped the wild orchid this year

and met back up with the group at public house

which is an AMAZING new bar with great beer

and such a good vibe

more photos of happy day here.

puzzles + pomegranate

2011-11-28T09:18:00.001-08:00

distracted by puzzles

putting pomegranate in every meal

thxgiving at mom + dads

weekend.

2011-11-21T07:57:00.001-08:00

a sign of a good weekend

kicking it off with orson

lexi birthday. dinner + sedaris

we arrived at the crest just as sedaris was wrapping up signing books. so he was alone at a table.

lexi and i went over and asked him if maybe he wouldn't mind taking a picture with us.

before he could even respond, his agent/gaygent ran over telling us about their firm no picture policy.

meanwhile, a woman walked right up, stuck her phone in david's face, and snapped a picture.

he was super annoyed, turned to us, and thanked us for at least being polite enough to ask and

not just taking a picture as if he were some statue.

we felt really good about it.

like in some weird way we had really impressed him.

we fantasized about asking him out for drinks afterwards.

like our politeness in picture-taking would win us an evening of laughs and drinks with him..

he is really cute. petite. and stylish.

he hates the word 'awesome'

and i'm still full from saturday's 'crock-off'

sunday morning walk

+ one of the many things i love about this weather is the only place

the cats want to be is on our laps.

no mo ho

2011-11-17T08:12:00.001-08:00

a picture of a picture

capturing the moment after the last line of lana's speech

'no mo ho-ing around'

so good

+ fall on foot.

2011-11-14T08:11:00.000-08:00

i got everywhere by foot this weekend, almost...

that's exactly how i like it.

2011-11-14T08:00:00.001-08:00

mad fall

2011-11-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

every fall

i fall

in love

with this town

all over again.

from nature to neon

2011-11-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

dad's birthday weekend !

pomegranate love

2011-11-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

my dad delivered an enormous bag of pomegranate for me + eli to enjoy

already shelled and ready to eat

that is love.

i absolutely love this fruit, but find it discouraging to eat because it takes time and makes a huge mess. usually i split it open, stand over the sink with a dishtowel as a bib, and bite into it, making a huge mess. so having it ready to use feels so luxurious. it's been in every meal we've had this week!

art in revolution

2011-11-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

i designed this poster for my sister and the folks
at Mizna for an upcoming event of theirs

it was a good opportunity

to design on a timeline

and good for my portfolio that

i am finally creating

-------------------------------------------

oh...and what's cuter than these two?

2011-11-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

sharing a meal

shake shake shake senora.

2011-11-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

eli totally got in the spirit this year...

i was the one dragging my feet, but i managed to pull it together at the last second

this is from saturday night

in retrospect i wish i had dressed up as lydia from this scene:

fall.

2011-10-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

change.

it can be intimidating.

but it can also be beautiful...

fall

light

i took the longest walk

early on saturday morning.

brisk

crisp

bright

fall.

t h i r t y

2011-10-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

weekend celebrations began on friday @ ella for happy hour

which is one of the best happy hours in sacramento

on saturday we partied with mom + dad

dinner at bombay

followed by cupcakes

and playing with new phone

on sunday morning eli made a delicious lemon + chocolate

bundt cake

so good!

and friends came by for some serious brunching

+ we all took turns cuddling with baby hudson

and i'm so stoked about my birthday present from

richard.. i haven't hung it yet because i'm still trying to determine

the best spot for this beautiful piece...

what an awesome birthday weekend!

so far - thirty is great

mizna +

2011-10-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

My sister, Lana, is the Executive and Artistic Director of Mizna. She's so ridiculously amazing, and so
is Mizna! Literary journals are so cool, I hope they never go out of style...or more importantly, print!

And Mizna is so much more than just a journal...

Check it out:

Marhaba Mizna friends!

Wondering who's been behind these Mizna e-mails lately? This is Lana Barkawi, Mizna's Executive and Artistic Director. After a whirlwind six months on the job, I'm taking a moment to catch my breath and wanted to, finally, introduce myself to you properly. I was hired as Mizna's new director in March, after having been a Mizna board member and the editor of our award-winning journal, Mizna: Prose, Poetry, and Art Exploring Arab America,for eight years.

Under the leadership of Mizna's co-founder and first executive director Kathryn Haddad, Mizna's cultural programming has grown to include literary, theater, and music events, as well as six Arab American film festivals. The breadth of the programming reflects the diversity of the Arab American community locally and also on a national and global level. Kathy left Mizna in 2010 to focus on her own writing pursuits, and as many of you know, she recently finished the successful debut run of her new play, "Zafira, The Olive Oil Warrior," produced by Pangea World Theater, and staged at Heart of the Beast Theater in Minneapolis. We at Mizna were proud to co-sponsor discussions and workshops associated with the production.

Having worked for many years with Kathy, I know how vital and precious an organization this is, and I'm honored to now be working with the board and the staff to continue to see it flourish. In all forms of mass media, Arabs and Arab Americans are so often written and spoken about by others, but through Mizna, writers and artists have a forum to tell their own stories and reflect on their own experiences, whether they focus on Arab and Arab American themes, or not.

Since I signed on with Mizna, we have had a flurry of activity! We published the 24th issue of our literary journal and held a scintillating journal release event. In July, we presented a workshop production of Noor Theatre's "Food and Fadwa" before it premieres off-Broadway in 2012. We also co-presented a number of other wonderful events with our friends at the Loft Literary Center, Pangea World Theater, the APIA Spoken Word and Poetry Summit, and with artist and activist Flo Razowsky. And, we have continued our excellent Arabic language classes with our new instructor, Sondes Douzi Wooldridge.

And next up? Mark your calendars for Mizna's 7th Twin Cities Arab Film Festival November 10 to 13 at the historic Heights Theatre! Ours is the largest Arab film festival in the Upper Midwest, and the majority of the films we screen are Minnesota, and often regional, premieres. Curator Rami Azzazi and festival director Marya Morstad have been preparing a wide-ranging and thought-provoking selection of films. From opening night featuring 18 Days, a collection of short narratives about the Egyptian revolution, to closing night with Elia Suleiman's moving The Time That Remains, this will be a festival not to be missed.

In order to pull off this ambitious festival, we need your help!We are preparing to launch a 10-day online fundraising campaign through IndieGoGo this Wednesday, October 19th. I hope you will consider helping us to close our festival funding gap, and to make this the best one yet! As a thank you to our donors and sponsors, we are planning a Film Festival Fête on the eve of the festival at the fabulous Saffron Restaurant and Lounge. Award-winning Palestinian chef Sameh Wadi will prepare an hors d'ouevres mezze, along with one of his signature cocktails. Please plan on contributing to our fundraiser and on spreading the word. Stay tuned for details about how to donate-we can't do it without you!

As a Palestinian American, I know how powerful it is for our community to have an outlet for creative, challenging expression. To read a short story or see a film that reflects the truth and breadth of Arab America is a rare experience. I am so proud to be serving the mission of this important organization that provides such experiences. Please contact me any time with your thoughts and feedback.

With gratitude,

Lana Barkawi

Executive and Artistic Director

lana@mizna.org

(612) 788-6920

celebration: behind the scenes

2011-10-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

bear to make a difference

2011-10-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend in Denver attending the Bear to Make a Difference gala. It has been amazing to watch the event grow over the years. Here is last year's blog post after the event. This year the attendance was so high they had to add on an extra tent space outside. It was, as usual, a lovely evening filled with love, remembrance, hope, community, and powerful energy. Everyone there wanting to make a difference. And, just like last year, I have come home more INSPIRED than ever, and ready to work on making a difference in my community. Luckily, I am in a better position this year than last, as I have recently accepted to be a board member of the local non-profit Equality Action Now. An amazing group of hard working individuals with so much energy, love, and commitment. This is all very new for me, so I am enjoying learning the ins and outs of a non-profit and the role of 'board member.'

This year's "make a difference award" went to

Jennifer Beals

She was really cute up there - and her speech was great!

zeina + dom + my hot date for the evening... ernie!

On my way home, I flew into the new SMF terminal, which is pretty amazing...

I loved this hanging piece

+ this mosaic

and below... Equality Action Now's board of directors:

♥

so much to share

2011-10-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

i love this shot marlo captured.

there was so much i planned - and did not get to see

so i'm incredibly thankful for all these photos

the wedding was

i n c r e d i b l e

and greece was amazing

santorini > paros > mykonos > athens

i was telling a friend yesterday - i came home with millions of pictures - mostly of cats, chipped paint, and beautiful local faces...

i will get organized and share more albums soon

lazy bloggin

2011-09-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

holy hell

life has been busy

....

lots of crafting

creating. making.

cutting. pasting.

writing.

mom and zeina have been cooking

and in a week from tomorrow, eli and i still stand right here

exchange vows

toast

dance

i.cannot.wait!!

thirty.

2011-08-31T10:35:00.000-07:00

happy birthday eli

i love this picture trish took

it's so typical eli

looking handsome + laying it down

in exactly one month

2011-08-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

eli and i will exchange vows in front of our nearest + dearest.

excited + nervous + and would love an extra month to prepare

but... mostly i'm excited!

paris vogue

best boyfriend ever

2011-08-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

eli just surprised me with a one month pass to my old yoga studio. i practically cried when he told me. in an attempt to cut costs over the past few months, i have stopped going to yoga. i can definitely feel the void of not practicing regularly, especially in this particularly busy + stressful time. and so... to the rescue, eli gifts me an entire month of unlimited yoga. what a babe. how lucky am i!? i can't even believe it! so excited. this is just what my mind + body need right now, more than ever...

nataliedee

dusty.love

2011-08-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

mama gateau

2011-08-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

eli scored this for me from a book sale at his work

so rad!

dear omar

2011-08-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

clearly, he's not too sure how he feels about it yet...

popsicles for dinner

2011-08-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

nataliedee

summer in minneapolis

2011-08-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

a completely different kind of heat

but watching this one celebrate turning one...

totally worth it

here's omar in his new bow tie reading his new book about a vegetarian dragon

the best exercise: non stop dancing every morning with omar to 'help me rhonda' on repeat

+ we painted our nails blue

and ate raspberries right off the bush

l a t e l y

2011-07-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

young.kate

2011-07-27T11:58:00.001-07:00

childhood favorite

2011-07-26T09:18:00.001-07:00

still love this movie

+ this scene so much

july babies !

2011-07-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

what a month of birthday babes

flying to minneapolis next week to celebrate jad's 1 year

celebrating orson's 2 year this weekend

and clay + lexi gave birth to baby hudson on tuesday

eli + i walked to the hospital to meet the lil guy

and let me be the first to say - parenthood looks good on those two

and the lil dude is beautiful

+ happy birthday to my brother in law scott !!

july is a good month.

boy.crazy

2011-07-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

"to age is a privilege..."

2011-07-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

absolutely in love with

advanced style

along with these amazing photos the author posts several videos of interviews with some

of the subjects around aging and fashion

love love love it!

oh yes!

2011-07-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

our garden is off the hook right now!

this one above is our mystery plant - it was an unknown little guy that popped up with our seedlings..

any insight?

summer so far

2011-07-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

plenty of summer siestas

a trip to reno to celebrate father's day

which included watching dom surf the river downtown

mom + dad on the river walk

these two joined the celebration

trishajeanne on the river walk

a trip to carson city

salads + cold soups all summer long

these 3 beautiful faces in my kitchen

a sweet surprise from eli - a bracelet from the same jewelry designers making our bands

major crafting

lots of pool hanging

and multiple trips to the mansion as the planning continues

style icon: my mother

2011-07-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

i was recently asked the question:

"where do you turn to for fashion inspiration"

easy answer.. these incredible photographs of my mother

isn't she just the cutest lil thing in the world!!?

♥

guy bourdin. experimental film.

2011-06-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

1974
guy bourdin filming on the set of a vogue shoot
normandy, france

pretty amazing
there are plenty more if you follow the youtube link

weekend away

2011-06-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

eli and i spent the weekend at orr hot springs

in ukiah

we left friday after work - so we got to catch a beautiful sunset on the drive up

they have several lodging options on site

we stayed in one of their yurts

love eli in short shorts

loved all their signage

we hiked around montgomery woods on sunday

stopped at this rad antique shop on the way home

+ stopped at foster's freeze for some waffle cut fries and a chocolate shake

one year ago. six years ago

2011-06-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

one year ago

eli proposed

in magical big sur

six years ago

we went on our first date

here's us in that first year of dating

this is at the raven

where i think we spent the majority of that first year

damn. we were that couple with the big glasses..

six years.

crazy

love

beer + pops + sammies

2011-06-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

finally ate a full fat face meal last night

eli and i split so we could try two different ones

veggie meatball + fig sandwich with goat cheese

holy shit good..

happy birthday, lana !

2011-06-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

the longest day of the year belongs to you, lana!!

i've been riffling through mom + dad's photo collection
and you and dad have the absolute sweetest series of photos together
man, oh man, you were a cute kid
and dad had serious killer 70s style...

i miss you all the time

i think we should make a 5 year goal

let's live in the same city for a period of time within the next 5 years

i realize this could mean i have to find a way to deal with crazy cold weather

OR you have to find a way to deal with amazing california climate

i love + cherish the friendship we have. i have enjoyed what

it has morphed into over the past few years

you inspire me

your birthday package is 80% complete

but will be on the way soon

i hope you eat cake all day long

i love you, lanaloo

palm springs. film.

2011-06-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

get a room, make a show

2011-06-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

happening this weekend in reno !!

i've been meaning to check this out for the past few years...

this year it just so happens i am supposed to be reno bound this weekend. perhaps it's meant to be!

NADADADA WFT?

NadaDada Motel is an art show where artists rent motel/hotel rooms and create their own galleries. No curators, no rules, no juries, no bullshit.

Get a Room! Make a show!

the new york times covered this event in 2009 - art canvases that include shag carpet

here's their facebook fan page

+ schedule of events

bows & arrows grand re-opening

2011-06-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

so incredibly proud of and happy for trisha + olivia and their new space

if you haven't checked them out yet... just wait until you see, taste, feel, drink, eat for yourself

bows & arrows

the grand opening was last saturday

and the turn out was brilliant - all sorts of people, families, midtowners, and beyond

and i'm happy to report i have finally

tried a fat face dish (besides their amazing pops)

the fig sliders! so good!!

and in speaking with the adorable face behind fat face, jaymes,

i learned that an eggplant meatball (veg) sandwich was coming soon

y u m

i sampled their impressive beer selection

hung out with some of my favorite folks

chilled on the patio

and took in all the positive energy + good vibes

patio space before the opening

eli and i spent the evening on opposite ends of bows hanging + chatting + drinking

(this happens frequently - we go to social events together and hardly spend any time with each other)

so it wasn't until the end of the night that we both realized neither one of us could

drive... so papa clay took us home

jesse + sophie patio hanging

it was olivia's birthday the following monday, so the featured artist, hilary pecis,

surprise olivia with two home made cakes. so sweet.

and here's hilary's work hanging on the white wall gallery space @ bows

they are getting some well deserved press:

submerge: sharper arrow, tighter bow

sacpress: bows & arrows moves, addes fat face cafe

congratulations bows collective!

i left my heart in the desert...

2011-06-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

home

from an amazing weekend in palm springs

here's some phone photos... film is being developed right now

+ i'm counting on the others to share their digital photos soon!!

mom

interior at the parker

the viceroy

bathroom @ viceroy

hit up one thrift store on the way out of town

and a beautiful drive back to la

stumbled upon a random dinosaur sculpture park during the drive

i forgot just how much i love being in the desert

i guess it makes sense... i spent the first 16 years of my life living in

serious desert...

it was such a relaxing amazing love filled weekend

i got to spend time with friends + family + my darling nephew, jad

more photos soon

this time tomorrow

2011-05-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

i will be poolside with a cocktail in palm springs...

hanging out with some fine females + one handsome baby

oh, and this.

2011-05-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

TRAILER: MIRANDA JULY’S JON BRION-SCORED THE FUTURE
Our first glimpse of THE FUTURE, artist/writer/director Miranda July’s follow-up to her charming 2005 feature debut, Me and You and Everyone We Know, arrived tonight in the form of the JON BRION-SCORED film’s official trailer above. If you’re a fan of July, Brion, or an occasional indie dramedy, not to mention Beach House songs (“MASTER OF NONE”) in TRAILERS, this promising preview is well worth a spin. The Future hits the big screen this summer.

(via LOUOBEDLAM: TWENTYFOURBIT)

the hunt for the perfect swimsuit

2011-05-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

fact: i've been wearing the same suit since senior year of high school (10 years ago?! jeeez that's a long time ago) i've purchased a few here and there - but never the perfect fit as my gem from back in the day... still hunting for the one.

san diego weekend...

2011-05-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

spent the weekend in san diego with eli's family...

his lil sister

graduated from sdsu this weekend

road tripped down on friday

stayed in a beach rental on mission beach

it was fun to meet all her friends + her bf

serious banagramming all weekend long

morning beach walks

i like how eli's finger is always creepin when he takes photos with my phone

beach volley ball

so cute..

liz got tons of rad gifts - including this beach cruiser from her other brother and his gf

this poorly taken photo of liz + eli + kenny was the only one i snapped from the whole graduation

sometimes i can be the worst with capturing the important stuff...

harvey milk day @ the crocker

2011-05-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

this sunday equality action now is hosting an event at the crocker auditorium.

they will be showing the original documentary "the times of harvey milk"

++ a performance by jovi radtke

you can buy tickets here

currently reading bossypants

2011-05-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

it's hilarious.

i'm constantly laughing out loud and then insisting i read the funny parts to eli while he is trying to study.

i'm pretty sure he's looking forward to me finishing it... but i'm savoring the last few chapters...

want

2011-05-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

a subscription to...

the gentlewoman

letter love

2011-05-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

ninety three degrees tomorrow

2011-05-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

i want to be

on a beach

in gorgeous swimwear

taking black + white film photographs

60+ years in the past...

all images snatched up from weheartit.com

not sure what to expect

2011-05-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

but i believe those might be scallions ?

and will they keep producing...

lady likes

2011-04-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

freckles + messy hair

via

bright pink lips

via

sofia coppola on the cover of italian vogue 1992

via

fancy on bikes

via

palm springs is where it swings

2011-04-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

1963 movie

palm springs weekend

simple + clean + raw soup

2011-04-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

cold avo-cu soup

so, i'm eating raw again for 1 week. i started on monday. i will make 2 meal exceptions, tonight we got invited to this and on saturday i plan on indulging here. i'm trying to be a bit more creative than i have in the past when eating raw. last night i made this raw avocado + cucumber soup made with homemade almond milk (which is surprisingly SO easy to make) that turned out to be so good!

i n g r e d i e n t s

1/2 cup of almonds soaked in water overnight

1 large cucumber peeled + chopped

3 avocados chopped

5 stems of green onion chopped

handful of cilantro chopped

salt + pepper to taste

throw your soaked almonds in a food processor / blender and slowly add 2 cups filtered water as you are blending. blend until smooth as possible. strain your mixture into a bowl, this process will require you to press down on the almond mash left to really get all the liquid milk out.

you will only be using the milk - so you can do whatever you like with the leftover almond mash, save it for baking?

put your chopped avocados, cucumbers, green onions and cilantro in the food processor or blender and add the almond milk and blend. add salt and pepper as you are blending to taste.

so simple + clean + good

since i am raw i didn't add much else, but i feel like there's plenty of opportunity to add more fun stuff to this, like perhaps a spoon full of labne or greek yogurt? garlic and mint be a nice touch as well.

friday.saturday.sunday

2011-04-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

friday: bill cunningham documentary at the crest was fantastic

saturday: our yard sale happened

thanks to chesen for sending me this bloody mary mix, which i drank all morning long

sunday: easter at mom and dads

which included a mezza breakfast. no better kind...

and some mimosa fueled photos taken in front of

mom and dad's rose bush...

and way too much chocolate + sweets...

yard sale yo !

2011-04-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

so, this is going down with or without me tomorrow, so i've decided it's best i get on board... if you are in the area swing on by. i'll make you a bloody mary ♥

look how cute !

2011-04-21T09:51:00.001-07:00

Michele Josue

"Day 6: Yesterday was a big day for us on Kickstarter. We received 2 HUGE pledges, which pushed us way past our first $10,000 mark! So without further ado, Happy Dance Thank you Video #1"

physical news

2011-04-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

mom upgraded to the kindle which resulted in her generously gifting us her sunday times subscription. i forgot how fun it is to receive the actual newspaper.

matt shepard is a friend of mine

2011-04-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

hi friends. i'm excited to share this film teaser for a documentary that my sister, zeina, has taken part in regarding matt's life, who he was, and his story. the film is being created by michele josue, who also went to school with matt + zeina, and her husband liam mcniff.

they have started a kickstarter account to try to generate more funds for their efforts. i know money is tight these days, and there are SO many things out there to give to, but perhaps you might find yourself in a position to donate a little something to this documentary so we can get this story out. it's an important story to tell, and one that is near and dear to my heart.

please take a moment to watch this video, which includes the film teaser, and then visit this kickstarter page to learn more.

thank you,

♥ sb

happy weekend

2011-04-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

thank goodness it's only hours away...

this was a long week

via yoyomanda

may your weekend be filled with sunshine + relaxation!

we are planning on catching up with friends, eating good, attending our very first red egg + ginger party

for our friends' babe, riding bikes, park lounging, and some gardening!

bill cunningham new york

2011-04-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

i am so incredibly excited about this premiere in sacramento

friday april 22nd 630

crest theatre

and here's an article my mom sent me with a sweet video which includes beautiful photographs
and mister cunningham talking about some of his hat designs on the Times' blog.

mom - let's go !

p.s. - it benefits the verge center for the arts here in town !!

women's bathroom

2011-04-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

luna's cafe

april 7.2011

a sacramento weekend...

2011-04-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

stitch alley project is hosting curious and notions

trisha has a piece at the tangent gallery

nathan cordero showing at cuffs

and a bomb sale at beers books

yes.

totally ready for the weekend to begin.. now!

frolic

2011-04-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

image via mister harris tweed

oh, what joy!

le weekend...

2011-04-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

everyone was so eager to celebrate this weather

so we spent the entire saturday in the park

clay and orson

walked home from the park to find a handwritten note + polaroid in my mailbox from corine

love.

it's hard to get out of bed on weekend mornings when

olive is in mega snuggle mode

so i lounged in bed and read a bunch...

this book is making me miss watching madmen - which is apparently not airing season 5 until 2012

bummer!

chronic bitchface syndrome

2011-04-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

found here

currently collecting wine crates...

2011-04-01T12:06:00.001-07:00

the weekend...

2011-03-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

finally tried the pasty shack

happened upon this rad tree with icicle-like formations off the branches

went to charlie's 1 year birthday party

something about being at a 1 year old's birthday party and not having a one year old

inspired us to day drink the rest of the day away.. because - we could...

veggie pho

2011-03-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

it's nearly impossible to find truly vegetarian pho

so i decided it's time to learn how to make my own...

i used a combination of these three recipes below - taking what i want from each

running with tweezers

the kitchn

vegetarian times

it turned out pretty good...

although the broth was darker than i like

i think i overloaded on the mushrooms when i was making the broth...

on the brink of summer days...

2011-03-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

all photos snatched up from pinterest, my newest online addiction...

paris fashion week - behind the scenes - chloé

2011-03-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

image via Matthew Kristall - T Magazine Blog

a scarf worn well

2011-03-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

gorgeous

an unexpected dinner date

2011-03-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

Last night Eli and I went to our wedding caterers' house for a tasting of the food for our reception. We had no idea what to expect - I have never been to a tasting of this sort before. Well, we were blown away. We arrived at their lovely home and were immediately invited to sit at their dining room table, where place settings awaited us. We were seated across from each other, with beautiful fresh flowers in between us. We were on a date.

It's important to note - Eli and I have been so incredibly swamped these days- with crazy schedules that have not allowed for much in the dating (or hanging out much at all) department, so this was a much welcomed surprise. Going to something that might feel like another wedding planning task - and ending up on a date.

And then ... the food. Amazing. They served each dish as a separate course and spent the time explaining the ingredients and walking us through the flavor profiles. They wanted genuine feedback from us - but all we could offer were a series of 'ooohhs' and 'ahhhhhhs' as we loved everything we tried. I won't disclose much and I won't share pictures, because I want it to be a surprise. But I was nearly moved to tears ... it was THAT good. We feel so lucky to have found this wife + husband team. Aside from the amazing food, their professionalism, their local and seasonal approach to food, they are genuine, kind, funny, down to earth, rad people. So pumped!

So we owe them a huge thank you - for providing a platform for us to share a meal that we will eventually be sharing with our nearest and dearest.

and... they sent us home with the beautiful centerpiece ♥

i like.

2011-03-18T23:08:00.000-07:00

hair-spiration

2011-03-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

sarah barkawi

mega babe

such good hair

can't pull myself away from the news

2011-03-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

image via ...

my heart goes out to all the people + animals in japan and all the people around the world with friends + loved ones in japan.

and to my friends, my former teachers and classmates, and all the the people in bahrain - i hope you remain safe and that peace comes quickly.

xoxo

lil babies

2011-03-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

check out our lil seedlings

pak choi

beets

okra

chard

♥

went to reno for the weekend, and came home to these lil guys doing so well!!

reno was a nice getaway. celebrated mom's birthday, part deux.

ate black quinoa for the first time at the 4th street bistro,

the coop sells red quinoa - but i've never seen black quinoa.

i will have to do some research.

d.i.y. - it feels good.

2011-03-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

designing . touching . making . creating

all the various bits and pieces for our celebration

is not only incredibly economical but

OH SO GRATIFYING !

sometimes i feel just like this ...

2011-03-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

natalie dee

i am the ludicrous gardener

2011-03-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

jesse + sophia came over on saturday

we planted some seeds they had scored at a seed swap

jesse gave me the run down of how to care for them

when expressing how excited i was to see those little darlings sprout up he said, and i quote:

"impatience is beyond ludicrous in a gardener"

cream + gold

2011-03-07T09:55:00.000-08:00

ooooh so lovely.

via this is glamorous

happy birthday mom

2011-03-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

today is my mama's birthday

she is the most amazing of all the amazing women

if you know her... well, then, you know

she has always encouraged me to be exactly who i am

i am proud to be her daughter

when i was in the 11th grade, she and i moved back to the united states a year earlier than my dad

we lived alone that year - just the two of us in a cute little house in roseville
it was a challenging year of changes and adjustments for both of us

we've always been close, but something about that year made us oh so much closer

and as you can see, i cannot get enough of these amazing photos of her from back in the day

these old photos of her are my style inspiration
she's a rad lady, beautiful inside and out, an amazing grandmother, an activist for peace and equality, a therapist by day, ridiculously adorable and arguably the best mama ever
i could gush about her all day long...

and...she puts up a good fight,

she'd say the same about me...

♥

we are taking her to a fancy dinner tonight - because she deserves that and so much more!

love you mama!

can I have one part of my life that isn’t TMZ’d up the butt?

2011-03-03T12:14:00.000-08:00

so... there's no denying the major hilarity behind charlie sheen's recent antics and his absurd verbal garbage that really makes no sense at all. i, personally, found his 20/20 interview hard to watch as i thought he was jerk to the interviewer, was totally uncomfortable, and made no sense... don't get me wrong, i laughed out loud several times, but it was still extremely awkward... it felt like a never-ending SNL skit.

of course, someone captured some of his ridiculous quotes here.

but what i am struggling with the most is the fact that he has a long history of violence against women that seems to have gone unnoticed amongst all his other bs. i can't wrap my mind around the fact that he even maintained a career in the public eye after all of those charges in the first place.

tracie egan morrissey from jezebel does a good job detailing this issue out here.

things i miss...

2011-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

my Q street apartment - where the whole place was all mine

and my kitchen was also my closet.

my dhahran days

this was the 7th grade valentine's day dance

i went with chris norseth

i still have that dress

and still besties with some of those friends...

(look at all those mary-jane docs!!)

clay's random drawings on my old kitchen table

having my whole family under 1 roof

using my electric typewriter...which is currently broken

beach bumming

drinking champassions on the patio of hotel san jose

the natural high you get from an equal rights rally

my kate moss collage from my boarding school dorm room

oh, and that lime green + yellow pop corn comforter

and lime green jansport... dang!

playing mafia for hours in austin

and especially missing these 3 faces...

the weekend

2011-02-28T10:48:00.000-08:00

got to tour the loomis basin brewing company

eat at the high hand conservatory in loomis

discovered the crescent club in old sac

got my bangs cut

was lacadia's +1 to sacramento fashion week's finale show

watched the oscars with some lady friends

________

oh, and most importantly - omar turned 3 years old yesterday!!

coolest kid i know !

i wish i could have been in minneapolis to celebrate...

happy birthday lil man