Crush of the Day: Socks & Tights

What's not to love?

{ Photo from Top Shop. }

Gus & Tank

I don't remember how I stumbled upon Ljody's flickr photo stream. I think that one of my Flickr contacts had commented on one of her photos and this activity showed up on my Flickr home page -- I really don't know. However it happened, I'm happy it did, because I've fallen madly in love with her two French Bulldogs, Gus and Tank. They look like fun, adorable little gremlins, don't they?

Gus (1 yr, 7 mo) and Tank (1 yr 5 mo)

Gus and Tank at play.

Gus

{ All photos courtesy of Ljody via Flickr. }

Fudge Magazine

I recently discovered a fabulous magazine. It's Japanese and it's called Fudge, presumably because fudge is just so damn good. This magazine is fantastically GOOD, like Lula good (plenty of eye candy). It's a Lucky/Lula hybrid of sorts. Does this make sense?

Anyhow, my favorite photo spread features Black Comme de Garcons. I would love to dress this way everyday:



Here's more good stuff:

{ These pictures are from Fudge, Volume 73, the July issue. }

Keep Calm and Carry On

Keep Calm and Carry On poster, from SFGirlbyBay. She sells them in many colors in her Etsy shop and now, she has it available in black. Very cool. Don't you just love it?

Happy Weekend!

Hello loves. We're leaving tomorrow for our little vacation cabin in the mountains. I can't wait! I'm packing up the vintage blankets and flannel sheets now....

I'm still debating on whether or not to take my macbook and go searching for WIFI. I'm not sure I can live without the Internet for a week. I'm also taking 20 magazines and several books, including Julia Child's memoir of her life in France. (Have you seen Julie and Julia yet?) I'm resisting the urge to bring art, lamps and rugs to decorate the place. Although I think it's essential to bring the vintage enamel orange teapot. As you can see, I'm quite a camper and I travel light.



See you in a week! While I'm gone, Ms. Pugly Feet is in charge!

xoxo

Tina

Reverie Daydream Giveaway!

The English Muse is happy to host yet another fabulous giveaway, this time sponsored by Reverie Daydream. Reverie Daydream is an online boutique specializing in unique quality products with an emphasis on creative offerings from artisans from around the world. The winner of the Reverie Daydream giveaway will choose ONE of the following luxury handcrafted soaps by Jabonería Marianella.


To enter, visit Reverie Daydream and have a look around and share with us what you love the most. Please copy the link of the item and paste it into your comment. This giveaway ends on Thursday, August 27, at 11PM PST, one entry per person. A winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on Friday, August 28. Sorry, US residents only.

FYI: Reverie Daydream is also accompanied by an exquisite lifestyle blog which will make your heart sing.

Like a child

Hello there! This is Ms. Jenn from {Bits of Beauty}, pleasure to meet you. I've been thinking quite a bit lately about how children behave, especially how they play. Most of us have nostalgia for our childhood, mostly because we were carefree, uninhibited, and playful. We had FUN! When was the last time you played like that? As grown-ups, we try too hard and make things more difficult for ourselves. Why? It doesn't have to be that way. I want you to practice playing. I've given you 8 suggestions below. {Feel free to add your own in the comments section.} It'll make you feel better, I promise.

{Blow bubbles} Is there anyone who doesn't enjoy blowing bubbles? It's easy and cheap. You can do it anywhere, so pick up a bottle the next time you're at the store. I'm going to do this with my son this weekend. I wonder who can blow a bigger bubble.

{Run} I don't mean running for exercise. I'm talking about that break-neck run you did when you were a kid; the one where you just took off until you couldn't breathe.

{Jump} I don't know if it's because we're afraid of looking silly or that someone might see all the jiggly bits in movement, but we all really need to get over it. Jump, leap, skip, bounce.

{Get dirty} I'm not sure where along the line we get so squeamish, but it gets in the way of our having fun.

{Swing} I'm not quite sure this one needs any explanation. There's a reason they sell swinging seats and gliders at patio stores. The movement is soothing. When you're on a real swing it can be soothing or exhilarating. Find a playground. Find a tree and some rope. Just get moving.

{Take bubble baths} Grab some Mr. Bubble and go for it. I know you've missed sculpting bubble beards and towers on your head. No bathtub? If you've got a backyard, might I suggest a wading pool filled with bubbles?

{Art} Do you remember what it was like to open a brand new box of crayola crayons? How often did you just get lost for hours finishing a picture? We're all so busy and obsessed with managing our time. Enough already! Get crayons, glue, scissors, construction paper, fingerpaint, watercolor, a camera, and make something. Don't pay attention to how long it will take. Who cares? So what if it's a mess. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be fun.

{Climb} I never really climbed trees as a child, but I did climb just about everything else. I did climb up a tree a few months ago while apple picking in NY. It gets harder as you get older, but it's still just as fun. So if you can, climb something and sit up there for a bit!

I hope you enjoy your weekend! Come visit me sometime.

Photos {via} 1. amalia chimera 2. Julia Davis 3. hairspiration 4. serenity 5. paperlilies 6. champagne kisses 7. black cigarette 8. plastic nico 9. end of march

Yellow House, Blue Sea

Hello — Lori from automatism here, with the perfect summer getaway for you today. The design of this charming Swedish summer home — by the architects Thomas Sandell and Anders Landstrom — was based on the classic wooden house of Scandinavian architecture. Built according to traditional methods of construction, its roughly squared logs were slotted together by tenon and mortise joints -- not a nail or screw was used in the entire house. Because this was the prototype house of a firm of architects, Nils Tunebjer, the proud owner of this house, actually bought it at auction! He then had to dismantle and store it (a feature of these traditional wood houses is that they can be dismantled and lifted easily) while he searched for an appropriate piece of land to install his new home. Now settled happily into its permanent locale overlooking the sea, this lovely home is a relaxed place to while away the long Swedish summers. Via Marie Claire Maison.

Natty Michelle Card Giveaway Winner

Kris is the winner of 8 Natty Michelle cards of her choice. Congratulations, Kris, and many thanks to everyone who entered!

Stay tuned later today for yet another giveaway, sponsored by Reverie Daydream Boutique!

Black Cat, Observed

I always look forward to Olga Prudnikova's flickr updates. She belongs to the flickr Moleskine group and her posts, occasionally, include simple ink drawings of her beloved black cat. (She also has a blog you can visit here.)

I think she captures the feline essence so marvelously. She paints other animals, like elephants. But none as elegantly as these. Of course, I'm partial. We have two black cats. The small one, Kali, likes to squeeze her little cat body under the Ikea couch, where she falls asleep and snores. It's very calming, really. Which reminds me, I should go to bed. It's after midnight again...goodnight!

Previous black cat observed posts HERE and HERE.