Hair Tutorial Illustrations by Samantha Hahn

Love these hair tutorial illustrations by Samantha Hahn for 'She Lets Her Hair Down.'

via Because I'm Addicted

Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life

I just finished reading the book Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life.  It's an interesting collection of studies and thoughts about how learning to focus can improve your quality of life.

The final thought might be worth exploring:

The best strategy for savoring is learning to pay rapt attention to carefully chosen top-down targets.  To practice this skill, Bryant suggests taking a "daily vacation": spending twenty to thirty minutes focusing on something you enjoy or suspect you might but have never done.  Then, at the end of the day, you revisit and relish that pleasurable interlude and plan the next sojourn.  After seven days, he says, "most people say, 'What a great week!  I wish I could do that all of the time!'  Well, why not?"

(Marilyn's Private Lair)

Interior of the Week

I love the ease of this vignette with the flat screen television mixed into the gallery wall and the amazing green console below.  Very chic.

It's Friday!

It's been a long two weeks of the Australian Open, the 18-hour time difference is a killer.  But the final is this weekend and it's going to be a little anticlimactic, unless Federer can keep it up after his five-setter with Tsonga.  I also might take a quick trip out to IKEA on Sunday, Rast hack anyone?
Here are a few links from the week:

'Beautiful' playlist on 8tracks

I'm also planning to make this DIY Sugar Lip Scrub

These Irish Coffee Ice Pops are gorgeous

Love this video with children's book author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers

20% off sale at Good Night, Day

A mini-guide to quickly pickled veggies

(love this wedding)

Amy Neunsinger Photography

The lighting captured in Amy Neunsinger's photography is lovely; I love the warmth her photographs create in each space.

Bedtime Calculator

I love this bedtime calculator from sleepyti.me based on sleep cycles.  The calculator gives you the best times to go to bed to wake up in between 90 minute sleep cycles, ideally feeling refreshed and alert, instead of tired and groggy.

(via)

Interior of the Week

I love this ombre pink wall treatment mixed with the royal blue velvet and grounded by the black.  Very glam eclectic.

(image)

Have a Lovely Weekend!

It's going to be a quiet weekend.  The only plan I have so far is to make this broccoli soup.  How about you?  Here are a few links from the week. . . 

Ryan Gosling not only likes knitting, but also says 'I’m feeling top of the pops.'  swoon ;)

Love this very easy to learn Finger Knitting Tutorial

The 46 Places to Go in 2013

Did you see this very detailed article about Lindsay Lohan's latest film?

This Coconut Hot Chocolate recipe sounds amazing

Smitten Kitchen talks Gnocchi

(Photo Credit: Hannah Davis via Miss Moss)

She Lets Her Hair Down

She Lets Her Hair Down features absolutely lovely hair tutorials from Paris based hairstylist Rubi Jones through film company Lumineux.  I love a pile of plaits.

via Miss Moss

Positive Procrastination

Yesterday's New York Times article, "This Was Supposed to Be My Column for New Year’s Day" is a  fascinating look at how we procrastinate and how to positively manipulate procrastination.

In 1995, Dr. Perry noticed that “Procrastinators, seldom do absolutely nothing.”  He began to develop "structured procrastination" to prioritize tasks.

At the top of your to-do list, put a couple of daunting, if not impossible, tasks that are vaguely important-sounding (but really aren’t) and seem to have deadlines (but really don’t). Then, farther down the list, include some doable tasks that really matter.
“Doing these tasks becomes a way of not doing the things higher up on the list,” Dr. Perry writes. “With this sort of appropriate task structure, the procrastinator becomes a useful citizen. Indeed, the procrastinator can even acquire, as I have, a reputation for getting a lot done.”

It's an interesting concept, just today I have already found implementing the method helpful.  I got a lot done before finally writing this post. . .

Gemma Correll

Interior of the Week

The ultimate feminine library.

(Janet and Gilbert de Botton's Provence Estate)

Have a Cozy Weekend!

The Australian Open main draw is out and it looks like there could be a few good upsets, I can't wait for coverage to start next week.  It's going to be a snowy weekend, with a new episode of 'Girls' to cap it off on Sunday.  Here are a few fun links from the week. . .

52 Lists for the year, are you game?

Ethereally smooth hummus recipe (with a secret step)

Nomadic Matt lists his favorite 'Cheap Places to Travel on the US Dollar'

Searching for a blanket cardigan like this, this, or this

The Lonny January/February 2013 issue is live!

LC discusses 'The Magic of Thank You Notes'


(image source)

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Have you seen Jerry Seinfeld's Internet series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee?  It's surprisingly entertaining, for a show about nothing, and the inside stories are fascinating.  The episodes with Alec Baldwin, Brian Regan, and Michael Richards were highlights of the first season.

I can't wait to see who Jerry will pick up to go get coffee with next, now that the show has been 'renewed' for a second season.

(New York Times)

Kinder Surprise Egg Proposal

How amazing is this Kinder Suprise Chocolate egg proposal?


"April 9th marks the 9th anniversary of our awesomely creative (and geeky) engagement. Matthew had been up late “working” for many nights, which is the norm, but this time his real reason for burning the midnight oil was this incredible creation.

We used to buy Kinder Surprise Egg candies for each other all the time. If you aren’t familiar, it is a chocolate egg that contains a tiny, whimsical toy with assembly instructions inside. They are so much fun — maybe too much fun — sadly, the US banned them from import a few years ago.

Matthew painstakingly took apart the chocolate egg and replaced the toy inside with a small robot figure and illustrated instructions on how to assemble him into a tiny MatthewBot on bended knee. Also inside was my amazing ring! He then reassembled and rewrapped the egg to look virtually untouched.

Obviously, I said yes." -Lori

via Swiss Miss

Jessica Decker + Kollabora Giant Cross-Stitch

How great are these giant cross-stitch kits from Jessica Decker + Kollabora?  They would add a quick and easy graphic art piece to any wall.  The giant anchor is fantastic.

Anchors Away

Deer in Headlights

via Swiss Miss

Interior of the Week

Loving all the vintage inspired bathrooms on Pinterest.  The checkered tile, pedestal sinks, and cast iron tubs are timeless when paired with crisp and simple accents.

1, 2, 3, 4

It's the weekend!

It's so cold with the inversion in the Salt Lake Valley, but nevertheless tennis lessons start again tomorrow in the bubble at Liberty Park.  Have a lovely weekend, and here are a few interesting things from the week...

The Clothes Make the 'Girls' - Season 2 starts Jan. 13th

Meet your new favorite dress

Patagonia is definitely on my Mighty Life List

Borg and McEnroe, swoon ;)

Loving the out-of-print book A Handful of Summers

Honestly WTF in Siem Reap, Cambodia

(Photos by Rachel Ball of Elephantine)

January Resolutions

I love the fresh start of a new year, all the ideas of grandeur and the hopes to be a happier and brighter person.  Last year was full of big changes: graduating from school again, getting my first real job, and moving to my own apartment in the city.

But I find that it's the little things that really change your day to day perspective and make for a happier life.  Last year I kept track of a little 'Happiness Project' with a few small goals each month, such as, making salsa verde or starting tennis lessons again.  I thought I would do the same this year.

Here's to 2013!