the kernel

watch: Amelie

I've loved Amelie since it first came out and it must be the new Valentine classic: it's playing on the big screen in both of my hometowns!

In Louisville, catch it at Baxter Avenue theatres--my favorite place to catch a movie when I am in town.

In Los Angeles, you're in for an even bigger treat--it's a double feature with Umbrellas of Cherbourg, an absolutely amazing French musical that made Catherine Denueve a star.

Elsewhere you can rent or Netflix it.  if you haven't seen it before, Valentine's Day is really the perfect time to watch Amelie's trials and triumphs in setting up herself and others. In addition to the charming love story, the movie contains a plethora of my favorite things: Polaroid pictures, photobooths, riddles, mopeds, crafts, cooking, Parisian cafes, and even garden gnomes!

If you're already a fan and want a little more Audrey Tatou rent Priceless, where she stars as a gold-digging (and fabulously dressed!) woman who learns love is worth more than money--of course it doesn't hurt she has another cute frechman for inspiration!

celebrate!: forward thinkers (February 12)

It's both Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin's birthday today!  Take inspiration from reading some of their major works or simply put a little faith in your own big ideas.  Just don't sit on them--did you know Darwin came up with his theory in his 20s but didn't publish until he was in his 50s?

If you're in Los Angeles, the Natural History Museum has a series of events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth.  Elsewhere? Check out the species at the zoo. 

And Lincoln? Don't wait for President's Day; make a log cabin...out of gingerbread!  Want to be a little more serious? Get political. Even though he served over 100 years ago, Lincoln's philosophies are still current: his legacy is already influencing Obama's presidency.

make: office Valentines

There's been a major decrease in posts thanks to a major increase in work.  This is good for my paycheck (dare I say shopping is getting to be in sight?) but a bit of a bummer in terms of Valentine's crafts.  I don't have a specific Valentine this year but I always liked the idea of small Valentines to spread a little love to anyone you come in contact with--kind of like the paper cards you gave to every kid in your kindergarden class.  So when DesignSponge posted this DIY for heart shaped paperclips they really...stole my heart.

Even with limited time and a limited budget, these are sure to warm the hearts of any co-worker.  Directions here.

drink: tap water

The water was temporarily turned off at my apartment while pipes were replaced and it made me appreciate one of my favorite freebies: tap water!

Tap water is good for you (it has minerals you need) and good for the planet (think how much plastic is thrown away in those bottles). The mini size are a particular pet peeve of mine--all the cost and plastic for what's basically a good slurp from a water fountain.

Bottled water is more than just plastic though--it means introducing refineries and packaging plants into areas with pristine water, and then transportation costs to get that bottle to you.

Not to mention that the trash vortex/island scares me more than probably anything else in the universe. Of interest: I just learned this week that you can't clearly see the trash island on the newly expanded Google Ocean because much of it floats just below the surface--where the marine life is.

Unfortunately these shirts from Howie's are no longer available (I snatched one up while in London last year) but I think Howie's says it best:

Tap water is cool

It tastes like bottled water

It looks like bottled water

Its as healthy as bottled water

Its as wet as bottled water

Its as thirst quenching as bottled water

But tap water has a smaller carbon footprint

Sometimes 500-600 times smaller

Gulp

Gulp indeed.  Here's to getting your daily requirement--8 glasses or not!

wear: rain gear (part 2)

So your head is dry, what about your feet? In my dream life, a pair of Hunter boots would be at the top of my list but dropping $100+ on galloshes is a sure sign that I have lost my mind. Don't forget though, depending on where you live, frequency of use is not just a rationalization, it's practical thinking.  If you wear your rain boots often enough to wear them out, a really well made pair will save you constant replacement cost.  In sunny southern California though, there's just no rationalizing.  Unless you find a pair on sale...Bluefly has select colors for $70 for girls in wetter climates or if it's a label you must have.

Another reason to splurge? Seeking out a truly unique vintage pair that illustrates to your personal style.  Even on the cheap you can show what speaks to you: wear Obama spirit in political rainboots (on sale now that the elections are over but the winner is always in style).

For just a few rainy days though, cheap and bright is probably the way to go.  As usual, Target is a go-to for stylish but affordable choices.  I like the solids (they look like Hunters) but there are plenty of good patterns.  The gray with pink linings are my favorite.

 

In different countries Wellies are called gumboots or Blucher Boots and dancing in them has even inspired a South African musical style.  For more info, read here.  For style reminiscence, check out Paddington Bear, but grown up girls may be more inclined to mimc Angelina Jolie.

No money for new boots? Protect the footwear you already own.  Pick up a can of Kiwi Rain & Stain Protector for less than $10--it's good on any color of leather or suede.

All set? Time for some puddle jumping!

photo via Anna Klevan's flickr

wear: rain gear

During some parts of the year, living in a cold weather is a toss-up.  Having spent some time in January in 20 degree weather in the Midwest, it's been nice to get back to California.  Except that precipitation in that freezing weather was pretty snow, while here it is...rain. It's just drizzling today but it's supposed to rain all weekend.  Time to gear up:

Even rain clouds have silver linings though, especially with sunny umbrellas. My number one pick-me-up choice is Fred Flare's Rain Parade Mini Umbrella.  Small enough for your bag and too cute!

While you're at their site, check out their Singin'-in-the-Rain earring setto complete your rainy day look....if only they came as clip-ons for us unpierced girls.

For now I have a Totes mini which is great for its lightweight size and affordable price.  For something slightly sparklier though, check out their line by Rihanna.  With one exception they're all $30 and under, but don't think of this as another cheap celebrity line: Totes was the first company to put a folding umbrella on the marketin 1970.  But if Rihanna has you literally singin' in the rain for days, don't blame me.

Another for my wishlist? This personalized one available at Horchow.  Though there are a few letter exceptions (poor Q! always left out), they DO have a W and a choice of colors too.  Not only is this perfect for preppy style, it's way harder for your friends to 'borrow.'  And the best part? It's on sale for less than $20...that's barely more than you would pay to add a monogram to something you already own!

One more umbrella for my wishlist? The one in my drink!  These tiny favorswill make you want to stay inside with a daiquiri anyway.

read: Mankind Mag

It's no secret that I love what see what Erin Loechner is up to: her link is permanently posted to the right.  I aspire to have her internet skills and design sense, not to mention her enthusiasm and wardrobe--she's the sweetest person to have coffee with if you ever find yourself in Fort Wayne.

Erin runs a fantastic design blog called Design For Mankind and she self-publishes a companion magazine called Mankind Mag.  It's no small undertaking either: the magazine is 90 pages of design articles, ideas and inspirations.  The best part is that it's an internet download...this means it's eco-friendly (no wasted paper), cheaper than a print magazine (only $1.99) and you can keep it on your laptop forever (no apartment clutter).

The magazine is put out monthly (the new one is out today!) and themed.  February is the "Let's Just be Friends" issue--perfect for the Valentine free month I'll be having.  Get a sneak peek here and then download it here.

 

PS. This amazing dress on the cover? It's a Built by Wendy and it's from their summer collection which is already gone.  They do have some other great things on sale though (warning, still in the splurge category even on sale).  Yes, I'm a little fashion obsessed.

listen: Billie the Vision & the Dancers

I love free music as much as anyone, but I always get a little squeamish about downloading illegally.  I know the odds of the feds coming after me is not the most likely of scenarios, but I try to stick to what I'm allowed.  It's not everyday that Radiohead puts out a free album, but there are other bands posting their songs just for the love of getting their music heard.

Enter Billie the Vision & the Dancers, a Swedish band that post a full length album almost annually for their fans to download...for free!  Don't think techo-pop though, the band is closer in sound to Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura.  Learn more about them on their website, which is thankfully in both Swedish and English.  There are four albums posted and you can download as much as you like.  If you love the music, support their record label..after all, it's called "Love Will Pay the Bills." Awww!

The lyrics are in English and they've posted them for every song, so you'll be singing along in a minute. And dancing! How can you not love a band with song titles like I Want to Cannot Help But Dance?

I first learned about Billie the Vision & the Dancers through 75 or less which is a great music review resource for girls on the go: they cover a wide range of music with a new album everyday and do it in 75 words or less.  Check out their review of Billie's latest album I Used to Wander These Streets.

make: jewelry organizer

In my dream life--the one where I have oodles more time that I do right now--I head over to Architectural Salvage and pick out a medicine cabinet to refurbish and end up with a jewelry cabinet that looks like this:

Yes, that's coral velvet in there, and the towel rack for your scarves.  Sigh, so perfect.  Full directions over at Martha Stewart.

In the meantime, my favorite solution is both easy and cheap!  What's the secret? The same pegboard your dad uses for tools.

While you could rip a piece out of the garage, you probably want to head to Home Depot for a clean piece.  A 2x4 foot sheet is less than $5...and that's a lot of hanging space.  If it's more than you need or if you just want to fit a limited space (say, the wall inside your closet) just ask them to cut it to size.  This is a service they do for free and will save you a lot of time and energy.

You can buy pegboard in white instead of the industrial looking brown, but also consider painting before hanging.  Spray paint makes quick work of the job, but if you have leftover paint from your bedroom, you might want to use that too.  The only other supplies you will need are the hanging hardware, a screwdriver and hooks.

Hooks come in a huge variety, so you can buy exactly what you need and space in a way that makes sense for what you own.  I have a lot of long necklaces, so I can let them all hang without tangling.  My cousin Ashley had a lot of earrings (I don't have pierced ears) and came up with an ingenious solution: an ice cube tray!  Her beautiful (and tidy) new organizer looks great:

 

drink: Lambics

Even though I am not a pro-football girl, I guess all the weekend beer talk seeped into me somehow.  I happen to be a beer drinker, but I know plenty of girls who are not.  So what to do when you want to order something with the boys, but don't want to spit out an awful tasting drink? Consider lambics.

What is a lambic? A lambic is a Belgian beer, differentiated by the way it's fermented.  Learn more here, but in layman's terms, think of it like champagne: there are many sparkling wines, but champagne is strictly from one region in France.  There are likewise many types of lambics, but my favorite are the fruit varieties.  Lambics can be combined with either fruit or syrup in a whole host of flavors including kriek (sour cherry), cassis (blackcurrant), framboise (raspberry), and peche (peach).

There are likewise many breweries in Belguim that make lambics, but the easiest to find in the US is probably Lindeman's.  I've even found it in southern Indiana so I don't feel bad about making a blog recommendation for it.  Plus, I'm telling you that their Peche tastes the closest to peach champagne that a beer could ever conceivably taste--which is something I would hunt down just about anywhere.

Lambics are a specialty upscale beer which means it is more expensive than a Coors Light (con) but also means it pairs well equally classy food like brie, crepes and pear tarts (pro).  Check out the recommendations here: Belgian waffles!  Now that's a beer a girl can get behind.

In Los Angeles, you can find Peche on draft at Father's Office (amazingwith their sweet potato fries) and Framboise at 1739 Public House (only $6 a glass! pricey in much of the country but a miracle in LA).

For a girl's night in, you can purchase at 'find everything' superstores like BevMo (also a great example of a store with email coupons), but also at well stocked local places like Cap'N'Cork.

UPDATE: I found the Peche and Framboise at Trader Joe's too!