enthralling.

I have a huge crush on Efterklang's "Magic Chairs" album.  They are from Copenhagen Denmark, which makes them cooler than you and I.
May 15th would be a perfect day to take me to Brussels, Belgium where they are playing with CocoRosie.  Just sayin'.  Afterwards, we can go look at Flemish art like Hans Memling, Jan van Eyck and Peter Brueghel the Elder.

all dolled up!

I treated myself to a little nesting doll tattoo.  You know, LIFE reward for a job well done! I've been fond of Ashley Love's work for quite some time (I've mentioned this NC southern belle before), and I am thrilled to be all dolled up by her!  She is a total perfectionist, and took the time to work with the available space on my arm.  
This little beauty is so precious. I love the design, which is totally balanced with love arrows, berry branches, and a single rose. Isn't the color pallet just so modern and dashing!? Ashley's work is next level, what I like to call post-traditional.  She is a rising star for sure. And that lavender rose is on my elbow folks!  (Ouchie.)  It makes me feel kind of tough;)

Fun fact: 

Nesting dolls, a.k.a. matryoshka dolls, are a Russian tradition, but actually based on a 1890 Japanese figurine called "fukuruma." 

(fukuruma)

banner fever.

Tender Letters

I love banners!  Every celebration deserves one.  Some of the most lovely banners I have seen as of late can be found in Gina's Etsy store, aptly named, Tender Letters.  I love how rugged her designs are, it gives them tons of personality!  "Love Ahoy" with the mini anchors is my favorite!!! I mean, how stupid cute us that!?

I am eager to start my own banner projects with vintage fabrics and inspired phrases!  Below is a banner I made last fall for my birthday dance-'til-you're-dead party!  Of course the letters were rearranged in honor of one of many pet names I have been given over time.

halfsies rookie!!!

Today I completed my first half marathon!!!  That's 13.1 miles of guts and glory through the heart of New York City.  This was the 5th edition of the NYC half marathon, and the first time it has been held in the Spring, making for absolutely perfect weather!
This race is kind of a big bad monster, but I tried to keep my eye on the prize and keep it breezy:) Mostly I was just sort of run-dancing to sweet jams on my ipod.  I don't particularly "enjoy" running but little victories feel really lovely!

got her toes done up with her fingernails matchin'!

In Tokyo, girls get their nails done up like this!  That's three dimensions of jewel-encrusted hello kitty and gumdrops, pastries and bows, or whichever decorative object you can dream up!  Since there are no Japanese 3D nail art salons in Brooklyn, I guess I'll just have to open up my own, serving bubble tea daily, and hosting black light karaoke all day every day.

This song is really really really ridiculously good.

The Ōsaka Loop Line 大阪環状線 is a railway line in Japan that encircles central Osaka. It's also my new favorite song by Discovery, a super-fun-experimental-bubble-gum-electro-pop band made of the good stuff kids love: Rostam Batmanglij, the keyboardist from Vampire Weekend and Wes Miles, Ra Ra Riot's main vocals.  
Just to give you an idea, their influences include: "subwoofer, pitchshifted handclap, that sixteenth note high hat you're hearing in da night, highlighter yellow/neon orange."  That means that while it's bubbly and makes you feel amazingly happy, you can still turn up the bass and make the trunk rattle!!!  
This is the kind of song you listen to when you first wake up in the morning, when you know it's gonna be a lovely day...which is every day, duh! Listen:

Osaka Loop Line