b l o g o r e l l i

Forever is Now

Like diamonds or teflon, the US Postal Service's Forever Stamp truly does lock per-letter postage price at 41 cents -- a fact that I mocked upon the stamps' release until I found out at the post office today that stamps are going up to 42 cents on May 12. Get 'em before they fly out of the stamp books like lightning, or risk having to buy scads of the new generation of those lame G rate make-up stamps.

Brotherelli in the House

My brother Brandon came into town this weekend to be the best man at his friend Patrick's wedding in Foxboro, so I took today off from work and went MIA in general to spend time with him. We didn't do much except hang out at home for most of the day, have lunch at Pleasant Cafe, dinner at Sophia's Grotto...and I loved every low-key minute of seeing him (especally after my crazy last week in the office)! And yes, he took a 25+ minute shower this morning, but later admitted that he mostly stayed in there that long to get a rise out of moi. Seeing him revitalized my spirit, and he even left The Prof a little"present," in the form of a repeating screen saver Photobooth image (below.)

The Pain and The Great One...truer now than ever. I'll miss yer face around here tomorrow, Bb.

So Happy The Dairy Queen Is THIRTY

Woo hoo -- Happy "Third Decade" to The Dairy Queen  (or Skydiving in Stilettos) as she celebrates her big 3-0 today!!! We did a little pre-partying last night at a "29.9" Surprise Party. Check out the fun details and her photo album.

Welcome to the club, Mel. Now you can officially hang with all of us 'ode' women! Heh heh.

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Ajumma Pama!

I'm a bit behind on the Buzzfeed with this one, but apparently Asians are crazy for tight perms, a la the 1980s. Holy balls, first I hear cinched leg pants are making a comeback, now this?!?

"Ajummas are everywhere. You can spot them by their squat bodies, aggressive attitude and permed head of hair (the “pama”). Most fashionable 20-30 somethings would not be caught dead in such a hairstyle, but with the 80’s look coming back in style, we are beginning to see the ajumma force spread to the masses...Bada uses the ajumma force in an attempt to revamp her career with horrid 80’s fashions. Shin Eun-kyung also channels the ajumma in her to play the strong, single career woman who seduces a man in order to have a baby in the SBS drama Bad Couple."

Ajumma: (아주마) a married woman characterized by short permed hair and aggressive attitude

When I first moved to The Bean in 2001, I toured Brookline's beauty salons attempting to revive the body wave. Oddly, contemporary salons don't seem to give "perms" anymore. But with the "pama" en vogue in Asia, I predict it can't be long before the trend hits American shores...and my Little Orphan Annie follicular dreams come true.

Half Pint + 1

...year, that is!

H A P P Y   D A Y
to Half  Pint, who celebrates her last pre-Mommy Jeans birthday today. (I'm joking, of course, about the pants.)

The celebration is set for this weekend in Okemo, on a relaxing weekend getaway with her, Mr. Car, Cho and Bobby Crocker...and the BBK...and the BoyBump!

I n n i t ?

Well, boil my pickle. Between Pittsburghese and a new British tag question, I may actually be unintelligible to English speakers.

"For some people, 'innit' is just another tag question, a contraction of 'isn't it'. But kids in urban Britain are using 'innit' to cover a wider and wider range of situations. Here are some examples of non-standard use, gleaned from recent messageboard postings:

'We need to decide what to do about that now innit.' (don't we?)
'Now I can start calling you that, INNIT!' (can't I?)
'I can see where my REAL friends are, elsewhere innit!!' (aren't they?)
'I'll show young Miss Hanna round to all the shops, innit.' (won't I?)"

If the BBC says the above is proper grammer, that's enough reason to early adopt, innit?
(link via kottke)

Bad Chin "Erased" From the Masses

Now, in addition to clients giving me design direction, anyone who can navigate the Inter-net also has the opportunity to retouch photos with Photoshop Express (currently in Beta):

"First hinted at by Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen some six months ago, Photoshop Express isn't meant to duplicate/replace Photoshop CS3 or Photoshop Elements. Rather, it's a new member of the Photoshop family that's meant to make Adobe imaging technology immediately accessible to large numbers of people."
— from Jack Nack on Adobe

On one hand, I can't wait to see some of the grotesque results of "common folk" using the clone tool...on the other hand, I've looked around the PSX site, and can't quite figure out why an amateur digital photographer would choose this option over Flickr or native camera software. I could be missing something since I didn't register as a full user? The Photoshop Express site does offer some basic image editing capabilities, as well as the option to make and share galleries in a variety of configurations.

File Under: Never Knew I Needed

...but I DO! (Yes, this is another shameless "dream purchases" post, since I am basically broke until I receive my economic relief check in May.)

360electrical rotating wall outlets
Now I can use my laptop and dry my hair all in one place

5 in Uno Set of Glasses

When neat storage and eye-catching presentation merge, I'm sold...until I see the $250 price tag. Still, the nesting of hand-blown glasses for spirit, port/prosecco/dessert wine, wine, water and cognac/brandy are a great idea for minimalists or cityfolk.

Old Phones

The Prof's grandpap worked for the Rhode Island Telephone Company, but unfortunately none of the beauties he stockpiled from his years of service work with contemporary hook-ups since most phone lines run through cable these days. Luckily, all tellies from OldPhones are "fully restored, work on modern lines, have a modular line plug, and are fully guaranteed."

Hubwear

Now everyone can know that, besides believing the Hype, I also have many dream travel destinations. My co-worker Jackie's hubby wore one of these tees at brunch this past weekend (BOS-LHR, they lived in London for a year) and it looked very cool in person. As an example (below,) I just picked my most frequently flown path.

Blogorelli from the Block

Although I'd prefer to find the doppelgänger of this perfecto house near Boston and just move in, I'm anticipating more than a struggle to locate even another apartment (if we must). Finding an acceptable house in the right price range? A maybe impossible task. Hurumph.

I've been doing some initial research, and thought I may have found a possible developing neighborhood with lower priced housing nearby to Roslindale: Hyde Park. Like Roslindale, Hyde Park is part of the Main Streets program which revitalizes communities. Residents of the area can access a few commuter rail stops, it used to have a thriving central business district, and the area still maintains some of its notable Victorian architecture. Supposedly, the artists are moving in, and I found at least one promising restaurant.

The excitement dispersed when The Prof came home and told me a co-worker of his who lives in The Ros said moving to many places in Hyde Park would be like living, as Elvis so notably sang, "in the ghetto." Still, I'm interested in the developing artists' lofts.

"The chronicles of Westinghouse Plaza deliver a tale of American industry and technological progress. Originally built in 1908, the many buildings that encompass the property have served a variety of industrial roles ranging from the development of aircraft to the manufacturing of crank shafts for the US Navy in World War II. At one point, over 5,000 people worked three shifts at the site, some in buildings with the windows painted opaque to ensure the black-out conditions.

Over the decades, Westinghouse altered its focus and developed other contemporary technologies. Although Westinghouse long ago sold the property, to this day, the vibrant life of the buildings has continued to provide a place for companies to build, create and provide services. An example of the diversity of members of the Plaza is one of the largest uses at the site: The School of the Pacific Rim, a charter school, one of the best in the country.

Today, the vibrant property is transforming again. One of the largest buildings on site, Building C, a 120,000 square foot three-story building, is about to become a living/working artist community."

I'm always game to learn about the history of nearby places and drive by, check things out...so long as that "drive by" is of the Sunday afternoon variety!

#2981

G O O D  L U C K

to Birdie, a fellow UC alum (and friend,) who is running the Marathon today. He's done the race a few times before and posted excellent times. The men started 15 minutes ago...he's likely speeding along somewhere out west.

Wish I could be at the finish line for the celebratory beers!

I Believe The Hype: iPhone Skins + MyTouch Keys

Not even a four months have passed since I got my iPhone and I've already found products to both add bling  AND aid in my slow, inaccurate typing. As such:

iPhone Skins

"This Apple iPhone iStyles Skin features an ultra-high resolution full-color design that is printed on premium grade adhesive-backed cast vinyl with UV resistant inks and then covered with a clear protective layer for ultimate durability...This Skin set features a three piece kit that includes coverage for the front and back of the Apple iPhone for maximum effect. Each Skin also includes a special download code for a free matching background  wallpaper."

MyTouch Keys

"My Touch Keys is a plastic shield that attaches to the front of your iPhone. The iPhone's touch screen QWERTY keyboard keys are then outlined with precision cuts - allowing you to feel exactly where your fingers should be."

Both of the above are "I Believe The Hype"s-in-progress, since I haven't reached a point where the novelty of my phone has worn off enough to require ornamentation, and the MyTouch shield just came last week.

Stay tuned...

Rather Difficult Font Game

There's no  other way to introduce this game than to say, bring on the comments...

The Rather Difficult Font Game

I scored 29 out of 34, and the ones I missed were out of sheer stupidity due to speed (although I do agree with someone's comment that similar faces should be compared, not obviously different options like, say, Wingdings vs. Futura.) Read about the making of the game here. For all those constantly connected design nerds out there, an iPhone/iPod Touch version should be out in the next week.

Going Big and Holm

Just to prove that when I set my mind to something I succeed, here are the CatherineHolm pieces I've collected from Ebay since my post of last week:

I know that I'm content and happy in an apartment when I start setting up tableaus. Here, a 1960s sewing table+chair, dress form that I scored for a ridiculously low price last weekend,  a family tree that I made for Nona, Candelas (a birthday gift from Cho+Bobby+BBK)...and two new CH orange enamel saucepots!

I've won a few other auctions, so there are more pots/bowls to come. I'm still on the lookout for red and yellow pieces, since those colors seem to be fairly scarce. The Prof is doing ok with the influx of my new collection...although now that he's gone 100% and shaved all of his facial hair, I'm still adjusting to my "new" roommate.

Here I Go Again (not) on My Own

Just when we're all settled into the Castle and the last torrential downpour signaled the end of our weekly basement flood cleanup routine, our landlady calls and asks if we would go on month-to-month tenancy-at-will starting in July. Why? Of course, because she might need to sell the condo we're living in due to the "recession".

While growing up in western PA, between family moves and divorce-induced moves, I moved 9 times. After leaving my hometown at the tender young age of 18 to start attending college in Cincinnati, I moved 14 more times...which includes apartment-to-apartment moves within Cinti, city-to-city moves for co-op, a move back home for the time period between college graduation and (finally) Boston.

One might think that my nomadic patterns, not entirely self-chosen mind you, would cease once I began my new, "grown up" life in the big city. Alas, I was born a wandering (wo)man. After moving into apartment numero uno (with The Dairy Queen/Skydiving in Stilettos and Jeffé, actually,) I managed to move 5 more times before finally landing in Roslindale with The Prof.

I might be ready to settle into one place for a bit?

Finding out about the "absolutely last resort" proverbial boot we may be getting in the next few months is causing us to ponder all the options. Try to find a new apartment? Ride the month-to-month wave until we hit dry land? Make the commitment and buy something? We're not sure. This article, and this one too, seem to encourage making the venture in real estate. For those brave enough, here are some tips for first-timers.

Oddly, in all of my post-high school moves, I never managed to get back to the one place that I always threatened to go, the place from whence I came: Pittsburgh. Now, though, with my Nona gone and the rest of my family possibly dispersing to different areas of the country in the next few years, plus the economic climate, I hardly feel sure about going back the Mid-Atlantic way.

Am I really prepared, though, to root myself in MA?
Eeek...

We're looking at all the possibilities, so I made a mortgage pre-approval appointment for Saturday morning. In meantime, I found a few places I'd consider -- as soon as we hit the MegaMillions!

Click on to see the (dream) contenders...

Garbagetecture

This morning, I am inspired (and a little giddy) to have discovered Jan Korbes's Garbage Architecture  (via BoingBoing via Cribcandy.)

"...Garbage Architecture is a trove of beautiful things made out of salvage and trash, from a chair made out of radials to a staircase made out of timbers from a castle."

YESSIR!

I think some of these examples show that I am, in fact, not insane for continuing to feed my salvage addiction by picking up random street "trash." Plus, these ideas could come in handy for a possible big future project The Prof and I are contemplating starting sooner rather than later (more on that in another post.)

My Garbagetecture favorites:
Elske dining and working table (perhaps our favorite craftsman might oblige to help us make the modernist farm table of my dreams come true if we find the salvaged wood...hmm?)

Bed for  Marianne (coincidentally, we could use a new bed frame as well)

Freestanding Stairs

Although Bobby Crocker might argue that some of these projects are more "art" than "architecture" (and he'd be correct,) there's still something so interesting about the transformation of waste into a usable, every day objets d'art...or d'life(?) Also, I enjoy observing the aged textures and colors of reused materials and imagining their life pre-me...probably why I love thrifting so much as well. Plus reusing is "so green" and, in my mind, giving salvage of whatever kind a new purpose maybe atones for all my years of not recycling?

For the Massholians (I use the term only in affection) out there, here are a few local salvage centers that come recommended:

ReStore Home Improvement Center (Springfield, MA)
Boston Materials Resource Center (Boston, MA)
New England Demolition and Salvage (New Bedford, MA)
Restoration Resources (Boston, MA)

H3 Make Their Ros Debut

I can't believe that I haven't seen A Classic Girl, her motorcycle-riding hubby Aaron, or baby GRETA(!) since November. Too long, I said, so we planned a brunch for this past Sunday. The Prof cooked up some breakfast burritos, I contributed a loaf of zucchini bread, and the the H3 brought gourmet olives, toast points, cheese, and most importantly...GRETA!

We had a great time catching up over brunch and I very much enjoyed holding possibly the calmest baby I've ever encountered. What a wonderful start to a low-key Sunday...

Two of the H3

The Baby Whisperer defends his title

Greta wants a little caffeine kick

...but so do I!

We worked out a compromise:

Mama and her little gal:

LLB (Lavender, Lilacs and Basil)

This weekend, some purple and white crocuses, red tulips, and yellow daffodils starting blooming in the front yard -- Spring is here! (If you could see me, Inter-net, you'd know that my fingers are tightly crossed in hope.)

I'm busily preparing for the upcoming growing season, with plans to "harvest" a few "crops" on the back porch. One hope is to attempt to beg some lavender into growing. I feel like I'm always seeing photos on the Inter-net of beautiful terra cotta pots bursting with the fragrant purple bunches (always, somehow, taken in France). More growing info here and here as well.

(Foto from Flickr, by Andrew Dunn)

Proposed crop #2 is Basil. We made pesto a few weeks ago, and I'd love to have some homegrown stock for delicious-sounding recipes like Gingered Carrots with Cumin + Basil and Basil Cream-filled Cupcakes with Raspberry Mousse Frosting.

(Addendum, 4 April 2008: I wanted to include a link to instructions for freezing fresh basil from Kalyn's Kitchen.)

(Foto from Flickr, by Princess of Llyr)

(Foto from Flickr, by mvo168)

(Foto from Flickr, by La Tartine Gourmande)

(Foto from Flickr, by Chockylit)

Finally, in the interest of all Spring things that smell delicious, May 11 is Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum. Lilacs are my FAVORITE smelling flower, I could just inhale their intoxicating scent for hours at a time. That Sunday (Mother's Day) is Cian's christening, however, and since The Prof is his Godfather, we'll be in attendance at the service. Missing the "official" day honoring lilacs, though,  doesn't meant that I don't anticipate some quiet, early morning walks in the Arboretum while the purple blossoms are making their yearly showing.

(Foto from Flickr, by CountryDreaming)

The Chin Dimple Rises Again

Last year, I detailed The Prof's progression from grizzly to baby-cheeked...and with the crocuses blooming again, an annual shave was due. He did the deed on Saturday night, and I documented, with camera and bourbon in hand(s).

This year, I managed to plead enough for him to stop at step #3 -- the Trott Nixon. He looks so damn sexy ('sezy')! He might go from the "Trott" to plain old lambchops this week, to which I say: seriously, someone get him into a snug white leisure suit, teach him to do The Hustle...and  throw a cold bucket of water on me cause it's HOT in herre! Tee hee.

Finally...CHIN DiiiiiiIIIMPLE!!!

Grete Prytz Kittelsen: My New Non-Sexual Crush

Since I've mostly maxed out the typewriter collection in space and variety (only two remain that I truly desire: the Smith Corona Ghia [orange] and the IBM Selectra [green],) I've decided to redirect my collecting desires in a new direction:

All of the above fotos are from the Flikr pool Lovers of Catherineholm Designs and show pieces designed by  Grete Prytz Kittelsen for Catherineholm of Norway.

"Lovely items with the ‘Lotus’ pattern created by Grete Prytz, a second wife of infamous Norvegian Designer Arne Korsmo. Grete Prytz Kittelsen was born 1917 in Oslo, Norway. Her designs have won many prestigious awards. She was one of most influential designers in Scandinavia in Mid-Century. In 2003, when she was already 86, Grete visited China, where she saw traditional Chinese enamel factory still in operation and which inspired her to start designing again. Chang & Biörck got exclusive rights to reproduce some of her design, among which a bowl and a plate, that she designed using similar colors as her original 1950s works. Cathrineholm of Norway started enamel production in 1907." (from Nordic Design Blog.)

I already own one GPK4CH piece, an enamel bowl that I unknowingly bought for $2 while thrifting five years ago. Now  I have a new (and domestically inclined) purpose in trolling ebay and random thrift stores -- I can almost feel my blood boiling in excitement!

Peras Argentinas Means I Missed You, Vinny

This week, I am ready, waiting, and all about Spring. Even though New England doesn't technically have a season between Winter and Summer (we just have rain,) slightly warmer temps do mean I can start giving Vinny, or more specifically his big empty trunk, some lovin'.

I got a jumpstart on salvage season by scoring some free wooden fruit crates at the grocery. My plan is to use them to package and transport the numerous vintage plate sets that I have in stock for Wündercabinet. Until I either sell the sets on the local Craigslist, or at The SOWA Open Market, the guess the cute crates will live in Vinny's trunk.

Quarter Pint!

Congrats congrats CONGRATS to Half Pint and Mr. Car, who are expecting a bébé in August -- YEA! Aunt Titi and Uncle Bink can't wait to watch the Bump grow and welcome the lil' mister towards the end of summer.

What to buy as a celebratory present, though: dancing bear, Built NY Urban Baby Set, the oh-so-Scandi Pia Wallen baby slippers, or...drum set?

I think drum set, definitely.

(illustration from an Etsy shoppe, but unfortunately I can't find the link)

Italian? Oh Yes. I. Am. (Fist Pump)

Since I can no longer chat with Nona on Sundays, I try to remember our times together often and do things weekly that keep her in my thoughts. This week, that thing was to make homemade pasta with the manual machine she bought in Italy when her and my grandfather visited (circa 1970s.) The Prof and I had good intentions to make fresh pasta months ago, but didn't because 1) we wanted to locate a Italian flour for the dough and 2) I felt totally intimidated by all the pasta-making tutorials I'd watched online.

Turns out, we had nothing to fear. Saturday, after a raucous skeeball competition with Beth (The Prof threw the lowest score, a bit of a sting since he initiated the outing, and had to buy us a delicious Disco Brunch at Geoffrey's in Rozzie Square -- try the donut muffin!) and a nap (for me,) we decided the time had come for fresh pasta making. I braced myself.

Once we got the machine assembled and the dough mixed, though, things progressed fairly quickly. One great thing about Nona's Imperia Al Dente is that the machine comes with an attachment to cut the pasta -- we made fettucine. The Imperia also holds some historical cred:

"Since 1935, Italy's first pasta machine is still the premier Italian model. The meticulous detail and engineering of the Imperia makes it unquestionably the highest quality home use pasta machine produced today."

The resulting pasta, once cooked, came out tasting DELICIOUS! We tossed the fresh fettucine with EVOO and Parmesan cheese purchased at the Boston Cheese Cella (where The Prof threw my surprise 30th birthday party.) I added a little sea salt to, um, fuel my sodium addiction.

Click  "continue" to see our process, in fotos...

Brad Pitt, Architect?

Were I an actual architect who spent, like, a gazillion combined years in school, studying for licensing exams, and climbing my way up the ranks, I'd Make It Right for Brad Pitt...by smashing him one in that structurally perfect nose and/or mouth. Of course, he also has millions of dollars and managed to impregnante Angelina Jolie for a second time, so he'd probably turn the sucker punch into an opportunity to launch a crusade about reconstructive dental rights for low-income Appalachian families.

Predictably, I Like It, I Really Really Like IT

Stuff White People Like
"This blog is devoted to stuff that white people like."

You've probably seen SWPL, even so, the site is always worth a check-in, as new features are added weekly, like White Problems ("Should children drink wine?"),  White People in the News, and of course, White Spots ("This is a new feature where we try to find the locations around the world that are beloved and frequented by white people.")

Feeling a little attention deficit-y today? Go straight to the full list of Stuff White People Like and feel your porcelain shame.

Genius...but maybe I only think that because I'm clearly a modern furniture-owning, Arrested Development-loving, Target-shopping, dinner party-having white person?

Heh.

Cali Cool

We all wish we could live in California, and not just because of the fabled 70 degree weather or bitchin' television ads. Now we East Coasters can bask in the afterglow as the Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury exhibit visits Addison Gallery of American Art at Phillips Academy in Andover.

I need no further enticement, but should anyone else, "Birth of the Cool presents over 150 objects that examine the painting, architecture, furniture design, decorative and graphic arts, film, and music that launched mid-century modernism in the United States and established Los Angeles as a major American cultural center."

Even more details in this Boston Globe article, but don't ponder for too long -- the exhibit closes on April 13, 2008. In case you miss the midcentury boat, there's always a consolation prize: Eames stamps being issued this summer by the USPS.

Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury
Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, through April 13
978-749-4015
Andover.edu/Addison

(photo by David Kamerman/Boston Globe)

  

1, 2, 3 Shoes You're Out

Inevitably, the day has arrived: the first "official" televised Red Sox game stateside (they played a series in Tokyo last week.) As such, The Prof gets to  watch the game in HD on our new(ish) flatscreen television...and I get to enjoy pleasurable pursuits as well: sit next to him on our new(ish) couch, drink a G&T, and blog about warmer weather shoes.

Spring is here!

The weather today hit the low 60s, and despite the wind, I decided to take a walk to DSW at lunch and investigate shoe options for the Spring-to-Summer months (now through June in Boston.) Basically, I've decided that flats are the way to go, but really comfy yet fashionable flats. Last year, these podiatric jewels were rare, but with the surge in popularity of no-heels, I hit the jackpot:

Cole Haan (G Series w/Nike) Coby Flats

Royal Elastics Flonica

Both pairs were on sale and are über-comfy. During a weekly phone chat, I mentioned my new kicks and The Polish Princess mentioned that she saw some great shoes at Target this past weekend. She recommended these stylish picks:

Merona Amber Chop-Out Flats

Xhilaration-Shauna-Ballet-Flats

But what to do when those spring showers hit? Personally, I always wear my red Hunter Wellies, a skirt and some cotton knee socks...but I keep an open mind:

Swims, the supposed "it" footwear of Spring, are sleek overshoes designed by a Norwegian. I saw these called "nouveau galoshes" and, hey, I can hang...even if I think they might make feet sweat like John Mayer's palms. They certainly do look like fun for puddle jumping. Thoughts on this one, especially from the gents?

Skydiving in Stilettos

...is probably easier than walking in 'em!

An excited "welcome, come right in, and sit down" to The Dairy Queen as she joins the blogosphere with her own site, Skydiving in Stilettos! It's about "a girl, a blog, a life list of to-do's... and the silliness and sassiness that ensues".

I've been in awe of her LifeList for at least a year, and now everyone can check it out (with mouths agape, no doubt.)