Taza and the Prince

She: loves homemade chocolate chip cookies. shampoo. maps.
tea parties. birthday candles. holga cameras.
(She's also a recent grad of the juilliard school. the fierce dance class of 2008.)



He: likes strawberry pop tarts. homemade ginger cookies. italy. jpmorgan. crew team. music.
(he's a proud columbia university grad. now works 15 hour days in DC.)
he hates mayonnaise + slim jims.



Me: I'm completely in love with their blog, the Rockstar Diaries.



These very cute newlyweds, Naomi and Josh (aka Taza and the Prince), have one of the best couples blogs on the Internet (I think!) They post
gorgeous pictures -- taken with Polaroid, Holga and Diana cameras -- of their various trips to exotic locales.



It's a Lomographic feast!

It also made for a wonderful visual escape at the hospital today, where I spent six hours with my dad, who underwent a blood transfusion to address his severe anemia. (Thank you Huntington Hospital for having free Internet service!) Throughout the day, I showed him my favorite blogs and read him your amazing, beautiful comments. (He thinks you're all lovely!)

I wish I could adequately tell you how much I appreciate/love/need/cherish your kind words of support.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
so much. so much.

xoxo

My Dad

As many of my dear readers of this blog know, my dad has been very ill over the past few months. Recently he was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndrome, a lethal bone marrow disease.

I've decided to take a leave of absence from my job at the newspaper to help with my father's care.

I want you to know that I will continue posting on this blog. The English Muse -- which I started in January as a form of creative expression -- has become my respite. Your kind comments have kept me going...
Thank you.

Roses + Diana Camera

Diana photos, as promised!

A Domino Favorite: Buenos Aires

This story about Maria Noel's Buenos Aires apartment ran in the June 2006 issues of Domino Magazine. I remember immediately falling in love with this upholstered bed...



I love how the blue reading lamp is attached to the headboard.
Very undesignerly.
The black and white chairs in this photo below are wonderful....



This little settee with the grouping of old Japanese prints is lovely. (I love settees, maybe because I've spent so many years living in small spaces in expensive Los Angeles.)



And here's Domino's Buenos Aires shopping guide.



The San Telmo neighborhood looks so charming!



I've been enjoying revisiting my old issues of Domino here on Sundays. Today's post was especially a welcome distraction. I'm facing a major decision this week regarding my father, who was recently diagnosed with a terrible bone marrow disease.

I will keep you posted. I promise.

(Just click the photos above if you want to see them large on my Flickr page! All the credits are there as well.)

The Weekend

I really want to dig out my Diana camera this weekend...



And take pictures of things simple and lovely



Like a table set for Saturday lunch.

---

Thank you again for all your kind comments about my dad. He's home and doing ok at the moment. (Deep sigh of relief!)

What are you doing this weekend?


PS: These wonderful photos, above, are by Stephen Norman.

Calm

This photo is so soothing to look at, I think.
Warmth and cool at once.
--
Thank you for your amazing comments.
Thank you for your kindness.


Photo by Danske

Fog

There's something I haven't told you, not in awhile anyway. My father is still very sick. Everyday, it seems, brings a new setback. I know this is part of life, but it doesn't make the fact that we're losing him any easier. I'm exhausted in a way that no amount of sleep can fix. This blog and the comments from the lovely people who read it keep me going...I just wanted you to know. Thank you.


Photo credit: Ryan McGinley, Kate Moss, W Magazine.

Who Knew...

I was cleaning out a box over the weekend and found an old camera memory card from 2 1/2 years ago, when Obama came to town to sign his book, Audacity of Hope. He stopped in Encino for a private reception. It was all so relaxed. No guards. No fuss.

There was speculation that he was going to run for president, but no one knew for sure. He stood on the steps of the back porch, addressing a crowd of about 50 people. Afterward, he milled around the living room. He signed books with a black Sharpie (left handed). He smiled. Made everyone feel like they were the most important person in the room. (He has this way of grabbing people by the arm, from the elbow...)

I took nearly 40 pictures with a little digital camera that I didn't know how to work. Almost everyone left before Obama did. Afterward I went home, took the memory card out of the camera and dropped it into a box which I immediately misplaced, until now.

I've often looked back on that evening in October 2006. I should have taken a better camera, or maybe I should have brought along a friend who knew how to focus a lens. I should have talked to him longer. I should have remembered to get my book signed.

But who knew...


PS: My newly found photos are over here.

Kings Road

1920s apartments and hair salons with catchy names
define the neighborhood around Kings Road in Los Angeles...


But my favorite spot of all is this place...



The Kings Newsstand, packed with foreign magazines. I love buying copies of French Vogue and the World of Interiors before heading next door to the coffee house, where they make lattes decorated with hearts...



Bliss.

A Domino Favorite: Small Space Color

I just want to say that I'm completely in love with this hot pink kitchen...



Although this green dining room is nice too...



I'm continuing my new Sunday tradition of posting old Domino articles. I hope you like this one. It appeared in the April 2006 issue. Domino says: "Brighter rooms, happier you." Do you think that's true? Maybe I have too many white walls in the house!

(Here's the link to my previous Sunday Domino posts. And click the photos above to view them large on my Flickr page.)

A couple other things:

Congratulations Liss at Daydream Lily for being named a Blogger.com "Blog of Note"! Men from all over the world have been proposing to Liss in the wake of the honor. She has wisely started screening her messages.

And thank you Veronique at Here in Malibu for telling me about TweetDeck. Although I'm now living on Twitter, I have a long way to go before I catch up with Ashton Kutcher! (Please follow me before #moonfruit crashes Twitter.)

Have a great Monday everyone!

Station Wagon Living

I was at one of my favorite thrift stores
and discovered this campy little book from 1957...



It was compiled by Ford Motors at a time when car camping had become
"a major social phenomenon of the post-war era."



They offered helpful illustrations for packing...



And a photos of gadgets and equipment, like the Camp-N-Wagon. (A traveling kitchen with a formica counter, drawers, water tank, faucet and two-burner stove.)



If Ford Motors were still making stations wagons like this, I don't think they would need a federal bailout. These cars are pure vintage genius. Just add bio-fuel....



And you're ready to go...

Beach Polaroids

When we arrived at Paradise Cove north of Malibu this morning, it was still foggy and cool.



By noon the sun had broken through and the 4th of July weekend was officially underway.



We lounged around, watching the sea and the clouds.



I read French Glamour and started a new book, Hot House Flower and
the 9 Plants of Desire.
My friend Veronique, who lives nearby, stopped by to say hello...



We ordered french fries, chicken wings and fish tacos from
the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe. Everything was lovely, until...



Throngs of people descended upon our little beach. So we came home. Sunburned and happy, with Polaroids covered with sand and french fry grease.

Happy Weekend!!

xoxo

PS: These Polaroids were taken with my 180 Land Camera.

Beach Bound!

We're getting ready to head to the beach for the day! I'm looking forward to reading a book under my giant beach umbrella. We're going to have a little picnic in Malibu and hopefully we'll be able to see my friend Veronique!

I'm taking two Polaroid cameras, so (fingers crossed!) I'll have nice pictures to show you later!! xoxo

Different Styles of Inspiration

Check out these two inspiration walls...



One is a fabulous overlapping collage of color. The other is an exhibit of order and creativity. Which one do you like the best?


UPDATE! This comment by Brian Miller made me laugh out loud!!
He said: "wow. mine would be the one that looks like it was put up with a shotgun. a little here there and everywhere. some interesting things too when you magnify these pics."


Souces: Top collage first appeared on the beautiful Decor 8 blog and the bottom collage is from the lovely Oh. Hello Friend.

Some favorite images...

From old magazines.



I love the contrast of light and color...Beads, glass and ribbon...



An inspiration wall of flowers...



And a cobalt blue chandelier...



So lovely to look at. A visual respite.

The photos are from a variety of sources: Vogue Living May/June 08,
British House & Garden June 2001, and Elle (I think!)

Happy Wednesday everyone. One more day until the long holiday weekend!