Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling in W

They're both just so beautiful.

Via: W Magazine

50 and 50

South Carolina

Oklahoma

Louisiana

Connecticut 

Missouri

"Fifty and Fifty is a curated project which attempts to construct a handsome new way of looking at our country. Fifty designers, one per state, will illustrate their state motto, creating something steeped in history but completely modern and unique: a kind of designer's atlas."

There are tons more of these with a new state being posted every week day! Unfortunately, you can't buy any of these as prints directly from the site. Each designer is linked on their project and hopefully some of them offer prints on their individual sites. If anything it will make you aware of some cool artists!

Via: Marta

Find Your Inner French Girl

"If she can’t afford it, she won’t buy it. If it doesn't fit (or make her feel good, or flaunt what she’s got), she won’t wear it. If she can’t find it, she won’t compromise. If she loves it, she won’t toss it. She reuses it, rethinks it, lets it age.

When a French girl shops, it isn't a solitary act of buying something new. It’s part of a lifelong process of editing her environment, making small but meaningful additions to her home, her closet, her life.

When you shop like a French girl, you buy only one of anything – and make sure it’s the best quality you can afford."

Photo from here

Quote from Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl via (wit + delight)

Music Philosophy

 

Music Philosophy is a weekly graphic/typographic interpretation of philosophical song quotes. Unfortunately, you cannot buy these prints online from what I've seen. If you live in London you can go to the School of Life and purchase them there...

The Golden Age of Engraving

The rose window, Notre-Dame de Paris.
From the etching by Hedley Fitton, from The golden age of engraving, by Frederick Keppel, New York, 1910.

Siegfried and the Rhine maidens.

From a lithograph by Henri Fantin-Latour, from The golden age of engraving, by Frederick Keppel, New York, 1910.

Via:OBI Scrapbook Blog

Room Inspiration - Maps

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{4} - St. Louis Cemetery in Louisville, KY

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Jason Schwartzman for The New Yorker

 I love Jason Schwartzman and he is simply delightful in this ad for The New Yorker ipad app. 

FWBA gives us a SXSW mix!

"In anticipation for our SXSW Silver Series, I put together a mix of the artists who are set to perform, so you can get to know them a little better. Hope you find some gems in there and join us. Enjoy!

Click HERE to grab the mix." 

You may or may not know Friends with Both Arms also curates Invisible Children's music blog. This makes an IC/FBWA partner show for SXSW more natural than giving a mouse a cookie and having him ask for a glass of milk. My favorite song on the mix so far is Middle Brother's "Me, Me, Me". It made me dance around my room in a way some would just call wiggling while standing. 

Room Inspiration

Via: The Decorista

Some Black Cab Sessions

First Aid Kit from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

I love the effortless harmonies from the sisters of First Aid Kit and this Fleet Foxes cover.

King Charles from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Big personality, bigger hair.

Marques Toliver from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Communion approved.

See all the Black Cab Sessions here. 

Gnome Life

New York Fashion Week: Fix Up, Look Sharp

I am resolved, 2011 will bring me someone to play with.

How many taxicabs have to drive past my outstretched arm before I rule out bad luck?  I’ll take the bus.

Gnature vs. Gnurture

Just the journey (in tumblr form) of a gnome who recently moved to New York. Follow it here.

Models in Window, New York,  1960

Via: Kate Spade New York

Mumford and Sons - Gentlemen of the Road: Part 4

When I first heard of Mumford and Sons almost a year and a half ago I fell in love. Naturally, I recommended them to many friends. Last weekend they played at the Grammys...soooo I probably deserve some sort of Thank You note or something from them. Anyway for the past year they have slowly been releasing the Gentlemen of the Road series. They frequently say they love touring more than anything else and throughout the four part series you can see the crowds grow. It's a beautiful thing. 

Live the Language

EF - Live The Language - Paris from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

These Live The Language videos by EF have been making the rounds throughout the blogosphere but I just saw them today! Sure makes leaving cold St. Louis for a dreamy international experience seem pretty appealing. 

EF - Live The Language - Barcelona from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

EF - Live The Language - Beijing from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

Ponder.

Via

Warby Parker

While perusing butter + brass I saw her raving about Warby Parker. I went to their site expecting to see prices in the three maybe four hundreds but instead found that every pair of vintage inspired frames was $95 including prescription lenses!!!

 Let me tell you some other fun things about Warby Parker...

- Name inspired by Jack Kerouac's aliases.

- Buy a pair, give a pair.

- They sell a monocle!

- There is a virtual try on so you can see what looks best on you. 

- Free shipping, free returns and 5 frames sent to your home to try on and then send back...for free!  

Right now I'm leaning towards getting The Thatcher.

Adele - Someone Like You (Brit Awards)

Adele performed on the Brit Awards last night BLEW EVERYONE AWAY. Her sheer talent is refreshing amongst all the famous voices, pop and otherwise, that can't stand up during a live performance. 

She also stopped by NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts and this is what they had to say... "There's no one way to define a great voice: Genius might lie in the phrasing, the range, the power, the control, the words themselves, or some sort of indescribable something else. But one way to diagnose genius for sure is to have a singer walk into a crowded room with little to no accompaniment, open his or her mouth, and command breathless attention in a matter of seconds."

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Via: The Simpsons

Burberry Acoustic

While traipsing around Facebook one afternoon I stumbled into Burberry Acoustic. Created by Burberry, obviously, the idea to collaborate with emerging British artists was inspired by their Art of the Trench project. It was kicked off during London's fashion week last year and their still adding new bands to the list. I also really like the layout/format/whatever of the Burberry Acoustic website!

I saw Bobby Long play tonight at the Old Rock House in St. Louis. While he doesn't seem like much of an extrovert (aka he looked at the audience a handful of times the entire show) he does have a great voice.

My favorite is the guitar player to the right. He seems to be playing a bit begrudgingly but then he starts to smirk and you know he loves it.

  I've heard a lot of Johnny Flynn but not much with his sister Lillie as well. Their voices are so lovely together.

Alex presents: Commando

Today I received an email from my friend Dionne with a link to a video. She sent it to me because she knew I used to live in Tanzania and this little boy is Tanzanian. Little did she know............ HE WAS ONE OF MY FORMER STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL BEHIND HIM IS WHERE I TAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So needless to say, I LOVE this video. My reasons are threefold.
    1. This says his name is Alex but it is really Alhadji. When I was there he was 6 years old and so sweet. He loved to watch wrestling and be tough but was still so cuddly. I called him kidege yangu, my little bird, in Kiswahili. The little boy next to him is Shadrack and was always quieter but sweet.
    2. I miss that accent and the way Tanzanians spoke English. *sigh*
    3.Alhadji is smart, hilarious, bi-lingual, not an orphan, not a child soldier, not starving, doesn't have AIDS, and thus breaking most of the stereotypes we have about Africans. This video is from Mama Hope and is part of the Stop The Pity, Unlock The Potential campaign.

This is the first video in the Stop The Pity, Unlock The Potential campaign and I can't wait for more!!!! If you go to the Mama Hope youtube page there are tons of other videos featuring children I taught and Mr. James my boss at St. Timothy's in Pasua. Thusly, I....am....freaking....out. In a good way of course.

Here is a picture of Alhadji, on the right, and his older brother, only by one year from 2008.

How I Spent My Winter

Via: Urban Dictionary

The Wheatfield

I love all the colors in this print. If I had a copy hanging in my house I would hope it would encourage me to get off my butt and go outside! All the prints in The Wheatfield's Etsy store are gorgeous and full of color. They have lots of flowers, swirls and nature inspired art without being cheesy or frumpy.

Via: Etsy

La Blogotheque - Local Natives

Local Natives | Who Knows Who Cares | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

For their second take away show with La Blogothque, Local Natives played Who Knows, Who Cares in Paris.  The song starts with only Taylor slowly winding through a passageway, then as he passes the others the song builds. It concludes in an atrium of sorts with a high dome ceiling which made for some great acoustics.One day I shall live in a place with wonderful musicians just traveling around singing in public..*sigh*

Stack 'Em Up

Wow, I sure hope they never have to move.

Via: The Selby

Speaking of Diplo...

In the post below I mentioned super-producer and DJ, Diplo. You may recognize his face from his recent Blackberry commercial and your ears would recognize him at least from M.I.A.'s Paper Planes if not from the numerous mix tapes and remixes he's put out. Here's a helpful list. Anyway, I've heard his name a lot for a few years but just recently realized he's fantastic and genius. Diplo founded and manages record company Mad Decent, does a lot of world all over the globe mixing different styles and made a documentary called Favela On Blast about Brazilian Rio baile funk music. He and DJ Switch also created the dancehall project Major Lazer. Alexander Wang snagged him for his Spring 2011 campaign and from what I've seen around the internets everybody think it was a great and attractive decision.

Alex Clare - Up All Night

I came upon Alex Clare through some general browsing on Stereogum. His newest video Relax My Beloved made their 9 best videos of the week but alas is a bit scandalous for me to post here. His first two songs have been produced by DJ extraordinaire Diplo and Switch so you know the beat is reallllll good. You can get a free download of Relax My Beloved here. Give it a listen, I think you might like it. 

Movie Script Ending - Death Cab For Cutie

I'm sitting in a coffee shop trying to be productive but instead it's a little cold, I feel a bit introverted and there are so many interesting blogs to look at that I keep getting distracted. While listening to Slow Club in my headphones I could hear the music being played over the speakers and it reminded me of Death Cab For Cutie. I decided to switch to their 2002 record The Photo Album and it was the best decision I've made all afternoon. The feeling of rediscovering an album you loved long ago and remember how fantastic it was is one not easily beat on lazy Saturdays. Here is one of the many great songs off that album. The video is dreamy, sweet and a little heart wrenching.

Born This Way

This sweet blog is full of funny and interesting childhood stories. Read on....

"Over at the blog Born This Way a proud gay Angeleno, identified only as Paul V., publishes childhood photos and stories from gay and lesbian adults. Many of the photos feature young kids innocently flouting heteronormative gender expectations with total abandon (see above).
But interspersed among them are pictures of children that give no hint about their eventual sexual identity. As Paul explains:

some of the pix here feature gay boys with feminine traits, and some gay girls with masculine traits. And even more gay kids with NONE of those traits. Just like real life, these gay kids come in all shades and layers of masculine and feminine.

The point of the project, for Paul, is reflecting the truth of growing up with a different orientation and, hopefully, showing today's gay youth that others have had the same experience."

Via: GOOD Magazine

Room Inspiration

I would love to have a wall like this in my house.Along with the purple couch, books filling the fireplace, cute expanding side table....the main problem is if I copied it and anyone gave me a compliment I would feel like a fraud! 

Via: Home Sweet Home via: katespadeny

Freckles

I had freckles like this as a child. Hopefully, soon the sun will come out again and heat will return to our fair city so I can start my quest to become freckly once again! 

Photo Via: Vanessa Jackman

An Island - Efterklang

Whether you have heard of Efterklang or not you should check out the trailer for their upcoming documentary shot by Vincent Moon of La Blogotheque fame. I was watching the trailer and realized I was perfectly still and quiet. They clearly have some sort of power. Go here to see the film's other two trailers and search for screenings.

AN ISLAND - 3rd TEASER - Vincent Moon & Efterklang from Rumraket on Vimeo.

Everything Is Going To Be Amazing.

This picture is everywhere! I wouldn't mind a little print of this to put next to my mirror or by the front door to see as I go out to start my day. 

Via: Black *Eiffel 

Volkswagen Commercial: The Force

I really hope I have a child like this some day. It would just be fantastic.

Breaking Free

Breaking Free [FULL] from Matador Network on Vimeo.

Careful...after viewing this video you may consider leaving the life you know and running towards adventure. Breaking Free is a new web series that will be on the Matador Network which is an online travel magazine that will steal your attention and hold it for ransom until you realize you NEED to travel and soon. The show features Americans who have moved abroad to despite logic and money. Some had an idea of what they were doing before they left and some didn't. This trailer all takes place in central America but the series will go all over the world. Enjoy! 

Miss Moss gives us a Valentine's mix!

This is from a Valentine's Mix created by Miss Moss. It features the likes of Yeasayer, Fleet Foxes, Bloc Party, The Middle East, Flight of the Conchords and many more. You want to download it don't you... Here it is!!