[ something about the rain ]

"Unless you love someone, nothing else makes any sense."                                                                                               - E.E. Cummings

I don't know what it is about rainy weather, but it makes me miss my family whom I am oh so fond of. Maybe it's because I have fond memories of being a kid and having quiet rainy days at home - listening to old records on rainy Saturday afternoons with my Mom's soft alto harmonies drifting around the room and sitting around in a half-lit room talking about random nothings. But when it's dark all day and it rains, I miss home and family.Being together with the ones you love is always something to cherish, whether it's raining or not. After all, at the end of the day, they're the ones that are still there, just patiently waiting for you. 

xoxo

H 

.. { a winter storm warning is in effect for the following counties ... }

 Oh, good morning everyone. How were you woken up this lovely morning? By song birds, rays of sunshine and fresh cups of coffee? Perhaps a sweet significant other brought you breakfast in bed and whispered sweet nothings in your ear. 

Yeah, right. 

Today, I woke up in my usual fashion. Alarm - snooze - alarm - snooze (repeat 700 times). After that fun little routine, I grabbed my handy dandy iPhone and went straight for my AccuWeather and Weather Channel apps. Don't judge me. I'm addicted to weather. I was greeted by the weather warning tone, and that annoying NOAA lady saying "a winter storm warning is in effect for the following counties ..." She proceeded to list the county I live in, the county I work in, all of the counties I will be driving through to get to the county that my parents live in. That's a whole lot of counties. By the way, that left image is the storm a brewin' in the Ohio valley. She's coming our way!

That's right, peoples. If you are hearing about the wicked storm comin' our way for the first time from me, you really need to get a life. And watch the news a little more. Or even turn on your radio. Open a newspaper. Read the almanac! Do something forgoodnessake.

So, because I live in Maine, and this weather is unavoidable, I am trying to mentally prepare for the storm. I'm keeping my eye on it (Oh, hi Radarscope - best app ever). I'm thinking about how to drive safely in the snow. I'm planning how to fit two cars and a large boat in one mid-sized garage. This storm will be the first of many storms this year, so fellow Mainers, let's put on the boots and Carharts and face this ungodly precipitation without trepidation or fear! 

OK. That took a lot of energy. I'm going to need another cup of coffee. Good luck and safe travels to everyone driving tomorrow! 

xoxo

H

. { hazy dreamy day }

These lovely look books from Dace have that hazy and humid summer feel to them, don't they? I don't know about you, but when it's this hot and hazy, I feel like everything just moves slower and more quietly. The weather is supposed to be hot, humid, and lovely for the rest of the week here in Maine. Thank goodness I have a salty and fresh Casco Bay breeze that blows up my street every evening!

I don't know about you, but I'd rather be out playing in a Jeep or riding around on a motorcycle today! The sun keeps calling me from my desk saying "just don't come back from lunch break ..." Somehow I don't think that'd fly. 

On that note, I'll go back to work. 

Enjoy the sun!

xoxo

{ photos via Dace }

{ rainy prelude to the wedding weekend }

It's Wednesday, and although it's only a little after 9am, it's been an interesting morning:

- I walked to my car in a giant thunderstorm that would not have been complete without the hail. 

- I forgot to push that magical 'Delay Brew' button on my coffee pot last night.

- My jeans are too long, therefore in the midst of the continual downpour, my hems are very wet.

- I proceeded to dump 3/4 of a carton of cream into my coffee due to lid failure at the coffee shop.

- My boss told me I do not have tomorrow off like the students, we only have Good Friday off.

So, any normal human being that knows how much of a crank-pot I am would think that I am now in a foul mood. However, I'm not. Why you may ask? Well, news flash people, in case you haven't heard, my one and only Sissy-Poo is getting married this weekend! Take that Prince William and Kate. Her wedding will be much more fun and betterer. 

Although I'm insanely busy up until the moment I leave for my drive to New Hampshire Friday, I'm so excited for the wedding, that this crappy rainy weather is not taking effect! Only two days until the wedding fun commences! Woo hoo!

images via

[ sixteen inches ]

Yesterday and last night we received a little over 16"

of fresh powdery snow. Welcome to Maine in January, folks.

ps. I almost took out my mailbox this morning

stuff from my muggy day:

It's hot out today... so hot I might melt into a puddle!

I always forget how all-over-the-place Maine's weather can be.
One day I feel like an ice cube and the next I'm dreaming of swimming in Sebago!

This looks nice and cool... and I want to go now.
~
Here are some things I've been browsing this
muggy-humid-sweltering day:

Camilla Akrans has awesome photography.
I really like the rosy processing too!

I also love Bersa photography.
What would it be like to be a glam photographer who travels all over to take pictures of pretty girls in pretty places? If you didn't have a travel companion you loved, it might get awful lonely. However, if you did... it sounds like it'd be fabulous. (Akrans and Bersa via LundLund)

I found these pictures of Twiggy today, aren't they fun? I love photos like this, they're super fun. I'd hang these in simple black frames somewhere in my pretend studio-office. The place where all of my ideas float around and where I crank out awesome photos and prints and stationary and fabrics. Someday... I bet it'll happen. Oh, and my favorite quote by Twiggy? When asked why she was retiring: "You can't be a clothes hanger your entire life!" (hehe)


I've also been working today on some graphics. Since the office has been slow (knock on wood) I've been puttering with an idea that I cooked up while laying in bed last night. I really need to learn to resist the urge to drink delicious coffee past 8pm. At least my java-induced states of midnight delirium helped me come up with these goodies...

I like patterns a lot. This one was pretty simple. I just made a grid in Illustrator and got to work. I have at least six color variations that I have saved on my trusty external hard drive, but this one is a favorite.

This one is truly my favorite product from my morning spent in Illustrator. I want to print it on everything! I want to make a reversible duvet cover that's soft and smooth and cool and crisp feeling. I want to make a cotton skirt out of it to make my older sister model for me. I want to make a purse out of it (in several colors and fabrics). I want to change the colors, blow it up, shrink it down... etc.
You catch my drift.

~

A couple of sites that were cool:

The Minimalist from the NYTimes has 101 Simple Salads.
Pioneer Woman gave me a refresher course in photography.

hump day.

* * * * * * * it's snowing in Maine today! * * * * * *



More of Sessun's great clothes... love how comfy and classy they look.
Plus, great bags.

Today's weather in Portland, ME. Finally some snow!
Found on WMTW's skycam.

Light and airy rooms for kids and adults at Serena and Lilly.
The pretty fabrics, and comfy looking bedrooms are my favorites!

Great Christmas cards from Cotton. They have such great stationary!
The entire site is awesome... really crazy graphic design work.

My favorite Christmas album of the year... and possibly life?

Diana Krall's Christmas Songs.

Great (but different) Christmas decorations on Nestled In.

* * * *

Check out how bad the flooding in Venice is today here.
*
HK Living - Dronten, The Netherlands has pretty and simple Norwegian furnishings.
Some of it's gorgeous with a pseudo-antique look.
Some of it looks like it needs a little paint... (too rustic for me!).
* * * *

tuesday's treats?

Madewell has such nice clothes...

I love this "look," especially the top half.

Found this designer (Jo No Fui) kickin' around today... very pretty children's clothing. I love the earth tones!

(what a beautiful child)

Elegant dresses found in the women's Autumn/Winter 08 collections (also on Jo No Fui).

Took this (hanging out the side of my friend's car) going through Otisfield, ME. Everything has been covered in ice since Friday's ice storm. Who doesn't love Maine?

Italy is getting tons of rain... Check out the NY Times slide show all about the flooding.
St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy (above).

Tourists... they're the best, aren't they? (St. Mark's Square, Venice, Italy).

Steven Alan has great clothes... I'd call it retro-classy-homey.
I love this striped Laurel dress.

Check out this very Ralph Lauren meets Jacki-O jacket here.
It's on sale (for $349.00)! Maybe 20 years down the road I'll be able to afford his clothes.
~
Also found these today:

1- Max Wanger Photography: LOVE the layout of the site... it's what I'm modeling my coming-soon photography site after!

2- Oh Leoluca: fun Etsy clothing site... funky-hipster.
Love the faux fur clothes.

3- Twig: (stole this from A Cup of Jo). Fun things for clothes, toys, home.