Treat myself?! Well, yes, that does sound like a mighty fine idea...

I don't really need it, but I've been eyeing it for awhile and just decided to say "oh, what the heck" and go and buy this simple and neat and cool "Rhombus" necklace by edor. Pretty little gift I'm giving myself for absolutely no reason, don't you think?

thinking about gardens and poems

"Natalies Garden, Agapanthus and Bee"

My mother is visiting next month and part of the reason I am so excited for her stay (aside from all the mending and re-sewing of buttons that I have planned for her to do) is that she is going to help me set up my first ever garden. Therefore in preparation, I am reveling in these gorgeous watercolors by Jinn 'n Tonic and reading this book by the poet Stanley Kunitz. Yeah, I know, I probably should be reading up on soil and pest control, but all in due time. Right now I'm just loving this...

from "never trying to explain"

by Stanley Kunitz

"Thinking of a new season in the garden feels different from imagining a new poem. The garden has achieved its form; it doesn't have to be new each year. What it has to do is grow. You're not going to uproot the entire garden and start all over. The poem is always a new creation and aspires to a transcendence that is beyond telling at the moment when you're working on it. You know you are moving into an area you've never explored before and there is a great difference."

(published in Kunitz's last work, "The Wild Braid: A Poet Reflects on a Century in the Garden")

"The Garden in July"

back to blogging

via SweetLoveVintage

I have been a very bad blogger as of late. I decided that in order to finish my dissertation this semester I was going to write like a madwoman for a month or so. Of course, this was not the brightest idea since I ended up isolating myself from everything that I actually like about my life including our little blog.

I've recently decided that it's okay to take an extra semester of graduate school in order get back to being a normal person now. And I'm so happy about this decision. I've cleaned my office, played scrabble on facebook, and am sheepishly starting to explain myself to the oh-so-patient friends who's emails and calls I've so rudely backburnered. Will they take me back? Who knows. Keep your fingers crossed. But I do so miss every day stuff like tea with my friend Ruby, going to the movies with my bf, stalking my favorite blogger, taking naps with my cats, and just being a normal person.

Anyway, in order to not get caught up in another marathon of writing/mental breakdown - I've looked into ways to better manage my time and right now I'm all about the Pomodoro Technique. Essentially, you just time yourself in order to get work done in 25 minute increments (broken up with 5 minute breaks). For some reason this system seems to be working well for me probably because I find such pleasure in making lists (manage your own time on the free mytomatoes.com). And yes, indeed, you should expect to be reading posts written in 5 minute breaks between 25 minute blocks of work, but it's 5 minutes (or so... one can cheat a little after all) of time that I am so happy to finally be giving myself again...

Finally saw this movie...

...and cried my face off.

{"Up" images via here and here}

a pretty desk, please

via the goodie life

My desk is presently littered with pages and pages from a dissertation that I don't don't see an end to anytime soon. There are no pretty notebooks or books left open that are being read for pleasure or desk lamps that stand slim and tall like bright flowers, but it is lovely to think that one day (maybe soon?) I'll be swapping out stacks of scribbled notes with bunches of poesies. And these darling desks just make me happy to think that I will be able to some day reclaim my own pretty work place....

(These images first found here, here, and here - all on the lovely tumblr blog, "it's mary ruffle")

via Hooked on Houses

via My Scandinavian Retreat

Hatching Inspiration

WHATEVER YOU ARE, BE A GOOD ONE  ceramic egg with Abraham Lincoln quote courtesy of Paloma's Nest

I am not one for those motivational/inspirational posters or the wall art with the precariously dangling "Hang In There" kitten, but there is something very different about the inspiration Paloma's Nest offers. The simple white ceramics and their messages are just darn cheery and I think they could find a home on any desk or shelf. I am also really fond of her ring bearer bowls- what a lovely touch and lasting sentiment for a wedding day. 

All images courtesy of palomasnest via etsy

Twig Hutchinson

Without even knowing her name, I am already a huge fan of Twig Hutchinson (see this post and what may be the mis-credited image in this post). She's a English stylist who's beautiful work is probably best recognized in the pages of Toast. I just adore her palette of cool colors with those pops of warmth in the yellow or pink or the texture of a wool blanket or bunny ear...

{all images via www.twighutchinson.com}

This Too Shall Pass

Remember that OK Go video on treadmills? Well, this one is pretty cool, too:



My five year old son's comment after watching it: Is he going to pick up all the stuff that fell down?

Dolls for grown-ups

Mad Men and Mattel. Honestly, despite the whole "these dolls are obviously not for children" thing, the match seems almost obvious. Betty Draper IS a Barbie. And the Joan doll? Glamor made plastic.

But I'm a little ashamed to admit that my first thought was about Don and the gelded Ken doll phenomemon. Surely Mattel understands that Don is no sexless Barbie boyfriend. Right? One can dream anyway...

Thursday, hummingbirds, and Etsy

Hummingbird 3- 4X4 Panel Print courtesy of mincingmockingbird

Hummingbirds....I love them. I am not saying I have curio cabinets filled with crystal figurines of the little fellas, but I am a big fan. There is just something cheerful and amazing about them. For this Thursday and Etsy entry I decided to see what was out there- just in case I ever do start a collection.

I found that I could find my feathered friend in various mediums, all so pretty or cool or both, from wood carving to modern sculpture.

Open-winged Ruby-throated Hummingbird Pair courtesy of jjstudio

Hummingbird at ATTENTION- 5x7 Original Fine Art Photograph courtesy of PamlicoBee

Small sheet music paper hummingbird courtesy of paperleaves

Little Hummingbirds -set of 4 art prints courtesy of arinfish

Space Hummingbird Retro Robot Wood Statue Detailed Bird Figure courtesy of buildersstudio

I love these pieces of jewelry that feature the hummingbird as well.....delicate and beautiful.

Nectar necklace courtesy of UntamedMenagerie

Sterling Silver Hummingbird Vintage Jezlaine Designer Signed Brooch courtesy of ShinyChick

And some ways to keep them around the house that would always ensure a smile.

Slate Hummingbird with Eucalyptus Rectangle Pillow courtesy of joom

Hummingbird Place Cards- Set of 25- courtesy of TimelessPaper

Yoga Mat Bag in Breathable Cotton/ Hummingbird Garden courtesy of AmandaBrewerTextiles

For the little ones....

Print Hummingbirds courtesy of edieart

Hummingbird Felt Brooch courtesy of shopkissingtoads

Finally, if you ever want to see a real hummingbird, the ultimate Etsy find.....the Hummingbird Hat.

Hummingbird Hat courtesy of royroadfishcompany

If you don't believe this hat works- just take a peek-

Now that is pretty cheerful!

does anyone (aside from me) need this list?

{via If I had my own world...}

The Dress

Grace Kelly courtesy of google.com

I have been wedding dress shopping with my sister. As happy as I am that she has found her perfect dress, I will be sad to no longer have an excuse to hang out in bridal shops. You can get lost in the excitement, the glamour, the sea of silk prettiness.....

There are just so many beautiful fashions out there. Every time I look at a gown, I imagine the wedding it will be part of and how happy it will make its owner. These are just some of the great ones-

JCrew's Penelope gown courtesy of maidavaleinvitations.blogspot.com

Vera Wang's Fairy Princess Ball Gown courtesy of Boston Bridal Fashion Examiner

Romona Keveza bridal gown image courtesy of bridalguide.com

Amelia dress courtesy of Lee-Ann Belter Bridal

Priscilla of Boston Gown courtesy of priscillaofboston.com

And this is the one that is making my sister smile from ear to ear!

Lindy dress by Priscilla of Boston courtesy of Chatterberries

Best Thing Ever

Isn't it?

via Minor Details

Thursday, an English professor's office, and Etsy

It's true we've done a home office in our Etsy series, but as a real live English "professor" (without the actual title of professor, since I'm neither tenured nor on my way to being tenured), I thought it would be nice to design my ideal literature scholar's office, a place where students would take me seriously and where I'd inspire them with my erudition. Or somethin'.

First, of course, you need the tweed:

image courtesy of Studio1950

Which, yes, of course, a professor could wear to look sharp and...professor-y. But she could also simply hang it on a lovely coat rack:

image courtesy of halfpintsalvage

And that tweedy professor could also hang a nicely broken-in leather satchel on her lovely coat rack. In fact, I'd argue that one is not really an English professor without a leather satchel:

image courtesy of caseyrhodes

For the walls, some literary art:

"Hamlet"

image courtesy of sophieblackall

"Miss Austen"

image courtesy of kirby


"Bookshelf 36"
image courtesy of janemount

For the door, you'll need a place for students to leave messages like, "Professor Mae, I tried to turn in my paper, but you weren't here and my computer is broken so I can't email it, and I have vacation plans that I can't change (doctor's orders), so I can't turn in my paper until next week." For such messages, you might hang a very cool chalkboard:

image courtesy of halfpintsalvage

A good English professor is organized. Wait. Scratch that. Good English professors are actually very rarely organized, but I'm sure we'd LIKE to be organized. And to help with that effort are the following:

A pretty pencil cup to keep grading pens handy (you'll need many, many pens if you're as strict as I am):

image courtesy of cozycottagecreations

A vintage desk organizer so important things like your gradebook and your tea bags don't go missing on the vast wilderness of your desk:

image courtesy of hannabellamemories

Little notebooks to keep track of important tasks. The key is, you have to remember to open the notebook later and actually READ the reminders. That's the hard part:

image courtesy of theblackapple

A desk clock to keep you on time for classes. You need one that ticks. It's nice to hear a soft, rhythmic ticking while you sit and read/ruminate in your office:

image courtesy of ModishVintage

Having a place to sit is nice, too. Especially if it's a very cool-looking place to sit, like a tufted
blue chair:

image courtesy of fabulousmess

For your (large amounts of) tea and coffee, a literary mug. Poe is good because that will make students a little bit afraid of you:

image courtesy of PoesProse

If they're not too scared of you, students might ask to borrow books, in which case you'll need a bookplate to remind them the books are yours. S0 return them or else:

image courtesy of terbearco

Now all that's missing is the pipe. And perhaps a musty smell.