Tryouts

Did you know that a month before school starts at OSU, 400+ crazy hopefuls try out for 225 spots in this band? Candidates spend countless hours practicing music and sweating it out marching on a turf football field that absorbs heat until you feel like you are standing on the sun. This is one of the few times in life when the words "blood, sweat and tears" are perfectly applicable. I've experienced them all, sometimes in one day. Two, three, and four years ago today, in fact... Because it's Day 1 of tryouts for TBDBITL: The Best Damn Band in the Land. 

The band, about to take off down the field to "Buckeye Battle Cry"

Theresa Fife, Me, Megan Beavers and Clarissa Lawlis: R-Row Rookies in 2006

Good luck to everyone today. Especially R-row vets. And even more especially to the people I was fortunate enough to march alongside during my time in the band: Theresa, Pickles, Gina, Taylor, and Melanie! WB, baby! See you on Gameday.

Phoenix Dreams

I am just looking through pictures from my trip to Phoenix, and I had already forgotten how incredibly beautiful it is out there...I love the desert so much, for it's beauty and how different it is from Ohio weather. I am already saving for my trip next year. 

The little girl is my cousin, Alyssa. She is a spirited second-grader, so I'm surprised she was standing still long enough for me to get this photo...

I am in love with the retro (or just not updated...) signage for the National Parks out there. Check out that typography! 

I Need This Outfit

Leighton Meester's wardrobe on Gossip Girl is to die for. I love how she can get away with being matchy-matchy...because that means I can too. Hopefully. It is my sincere vow to recreate this outfit as soon as possible.

{Images from here}

Sweet Corn and Black Raspberries

I know, I know...the entire country is in love with Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams right now. But I feel entitled, as a resident of Columbus, Ohio, to act like my love is even deeper than yours. And when I tasted "Sweet Corn and Black Raspberries" at The North Market last Saturday afternoon...well, the world stopped and Jeni Britton Baur was my Golden God.

{Images from here and here}

But seriously, when the autumn chill blows in and the black raspberries are out of season for good, I might count down the days until this ice cream returns instead of the days until Summer returns...

Free to Be You and Me

I'm sure you've all seen Target's back-to-school 2010 commercial using the music from "Free to Be You and Me" and I just have to say how much I love the story that it tells. If you haven't seen it, it involves 3 triplets who are heading to school in their matching uniforms. 

Slowly but surely, bits of their three individual colors; blue, yellow and pink appear.

It starts out in the form or hair accessories and t-shirts, but moves on to their shoes.

Finally, they each grab a ruler in their corresponding color...
And suddenly, everything is in color!

{Images pulled from here}

More Fun Femme Interiors

I am consumed by the idea of apartment hunting and decorating...unfortunately, I've been too busy working and pounding the pavement for jobs! But that doesn't stop me from picking up interior inspiration online...Thank goodness! Here are some of my favorite rooms today, from the ever-helpful Decor Pad. Enjoy!

{Images from Decor Pad}

American Woman

How exquisite are these antique clothes? They are from The Costume Institute's latest exhibit, American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity, which closed today. I am obsessed with the clothes from the Art Deco era, especially. I can't imagine ever owning something so incredibly beautiful. The dresses are so detailed, and dutifully constructed. Take a look at some additional photos from their flikr site!

Illustrator Feature: Annette Marnat

I fell in love with this French Illustrator, Marnette for short, today when I saw her work featured on Design Work Life today. You can view her blog, which is full of gorgeous, retro-inspired illustrations right here. Enjoy!

{Illustrations by Marnette}

I can't read French, but this last image was featured under the title Joanna Newsom, which is one of Cate's favorites. I love her harp strings here...so pretty.

Bright

This card by Mary Kate DeVitt definitely brightened my day. Hope it does the same for you!

{via See Saw}

Fun, Feminine Interiors

I am twenty-four, a recent graduate, and a designer. This basically means that I have been waiting to get out of dorm or crumby-collegiate-apartment life for as long as I can remember, so I can live alone and have a fantastically decorated pad to come home to! I am looking to do something feminine with my new space, since it's just me. And I can only assume that my mid-twenties are the only time I will be able to get away with a fresh, femme décor...So here are some of the living spaces that have been inspiring me lately. I love how comfortable they feel, in addition to being well designed. I think it all boils down to the fabric and textile choices in the room.

{Images from here, here, here, here and here}

Photographer Feature: Gabrielle Kai

I am in love with the dreamlike, pastels in these photographs. They were taken by a photographer named Gabrielle Kai and you can check out here portfolio here. They are just so feminine and fresh looking. I think my favorite is the one of the amusement park ride...Which is your favorite?

{Photos by Gabrielle Kai}

Hello, Lover

I want you to come and live with me.

{via Becaruns on Etsy}

Getting to Know You!

Calling all readers!

I know it says I have 23 faithful blog followers in that bar at the right (are you one of them?) but I know there are more of you out there...If you could do me a big favor and fill out this quick survey, I'd like to get to know more about you!

It's the anniversary month of this lil' old blog, and I am looking at potentially expanding to include other topics, secondary blogs, etc. I would love to know more about the readers and what they'd most like to hear about!

And as always, thank you so much for stopping by!

Am I dreaming?

I have many fantasies about where I will live and what my life will be like. And in my deepest, and unfortunately most neglected of them, I imagine living in a cottage in the woods.

I really do.

And I think it would be in a cozy little cottage by a creek, where the sunlight only peeks through the thousands of leaves and branches intricately criss-crossed above my roof. In fact, it would look almost exactly like this...all white, filled with books and pretty flourishes, and flower boxes at the windows. So basically, it would be this house featured in the New York Times Home & Garden section.

{Photos from here}

I want to live here. I want to die here. I want to wade the creek in those red galoshes, and drink pink lemonade on the front porch in the evenings. I just wish it had a kitchen and a bathroom...But you know, those things aren't necessary to human existence or anything...