David Gordon Green

David Gordon Green is a director I find intriguing.  He has made some pretty fascinating movies George Washington, All the Pretty Girls and Snow Angels and then Pineapple Express, Your Highness and The Sitter.  There is some disparity there, don't you think?  He's not someone you read or hear too much about so I liked this interview where he discusses how he came to make such vastly different movie choices and also some of his exciting possible future projects. I like reading about creative people and the behind the scenes thought and creative process that goes on, don't you?

David Gordon Green via Huffington Post
Photograph by Martin Goodwin via The Guardian

Wish List

A few things I added to my mental shopping cart...

From Top:

Madewell Afternoon Dress Just looks like one of those easy dresses to wear wherever.  I love the little purse in the photo too but that doesn't seem to be sold on website.

Pizzeria Mozza Squash Blossom Pizza.  Because I cannot go more than 30 days without a Mozza break.

Zara Bird Print Blouse.  Cause I love birdies.  And it just seems so easy and light and springy.

The Sprouted Kitchen Cookbook.  I am a big ol' fan of the website and the cookbook looks just as delightful.

The Gentlewoman.  There is no shortage of love for this magazine around the webpages.  Apparently it's totally amaze craze.

Recipe Round Up

Here's a round up of what's been going down in my kitchen...

Thai Chicken Burgers

These were so easy and a big hit with the whole family.  Tad finished and said please make that again soon. So they've got that going for them.  It's from the Gwyneth Paltrow cook book that I can't seem to stop mentioning.  I served with bun for the husband, avocado and Sriracho Mayo (for the adults) and with Spicy Bok Choy (also in cookbook.)  

Smoky Beet Burgers

This is one that I am getting ready to make this week.  I read this recipe a few weeks ago and haven't stopped thinking about it.  I love me some beets.  I eat a lot of them.  But in a burger? Whoa, that is like next level.  I'm hoping that if I convince Anita that the burgers are pink we might be able to avoid the tears.  Fingers crossed.  By the way, this is from the Sprouted Kitchen website which is lovely.

p.s. I couldn't find a picture or website to link to, but the Almond Butter Cookies with Maldon Salt also from the ridiculously oft mentioned Gwyneth cookbook are pretty damn good (and gluten and sugar free).  I made some on Friday and ate the entire batch (that's 24 cookies if you are counting) all by myself by Sunday.  Maybe in the next Recipe Round Up I can include my very own picture and include the recipe.  Or you can just buy the book and I can shut up about it already.  Seriously, I will shut up about it.

Thai Chicken Burger Photo and Recipe via It's All Good by Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Turshen and link via abc.news.com

Smoky Beet Burgers Photo by Hugh Forte, Recipe via Sprouted Kitchen, Sarah Forte.

Two Years

This little gooner turns 2 years old today.  I cannot tell you how lucky I feel to be a mama to this little man.  He is smiley and silly and also a rough and tumbler.  He is teaching me all sorts of ways to be a better mom and person and I can't wait to see him become more and more his own little person. Watching him and his sister laugh and play and snuggle, thrills me more than anything on the planet. We are  celebrating his bday a little later in the week with french fries, watching Tin-Tin and ice cream sundaes for dessert.  All his favorite things.

Happy Birthday Felix!  

The J in J. Crew

So I'm a wee bit of a J.Crew fan.  Have you figured that out yet?  Just in case you are too, I thought I'd let you know that everything is 25% off right now. Holla.  And if you are a card member (ahem, why yes, I am) everything is 30% off.  Double Holla.  Did I just invent the double holla?  And in case you are as a big a J.Crew fan as I am, here is an interesting interview with Jenna Lyons, President of J.Crew and the brains behind all the beauty.  You are double welcome.

J.Crew Spring Sale Here.

Image and Article via Fast Company: How Jenna Lyons Transformed J.Crew Into a Cult Brand

Wish List

A few things I've been thinking about (while trying to fall back asleep)...

From Top:

Big Tube, Art By Tyler Warren.  I want pretty much everything he's done.  Love it.  And he's from Dana Point.  Holla!

The Game of Things. I need to update the board game collection. Heard good things about this one.

Beautiful Ruins: A Novel.  Stocking up on my summer reading list.  Heard this is the perfect beach read.

West Elm Applique Jute Rug.  Because it's cool and it's cheap and I have a problem with splurging on any house stuff because until we are in a permanent space.  We need to chat about this situation at a later date.

Chance Clothing Cord Beach Short.   I love Chance and these shorts look perfect.

Perfecting the Cat Eye

I have been wearing liquid eyeliner since I was about 14 years old.  I took a few years off after college but otherwise it's been a pretty consistent habit.  After so many years you would think I would have the technique pretty much down but, um, no.  Let's just say I go through a lot of Q-tips each morning before I end up giving up and declaring the lines "even enough".  Liquid eyeliner has made a bit of a comeback lately and there have been quite a few tutorials circulating these web parts teaching us all how to have the perfect cat eye.  Some have involved scotch tape "stencils", using various pencils and liquid liners and liner pots and so on.  Too much effort for me. I'm a lazy make-up kinda girl. But this tippy tip here from The Beauty Department is a keeper. Although I don't think I will ever be able to say goodbye to Q-tips, I have definitely noticed needing fewer of them every morning and "even enough" has become a little more, even.

P.S. The tutorial gives a recommendation for their eyeliner of choice.  Personally, I like the L'Oreal Paris Linuer Instense in Black.   This is the one I've been using since I was 14.  I've tried others, including a few by M.A.C., but to me this the easiest.

How to Draw a Perfect Cat Eye...Everytime via The Beauty Department

Image via glambistro.com

Bill, I love you so...

My love for Bill Murray has survived the ages and truly knows no bounds.  He is the raddest.  Yeah, my husband is rad too.  But he understands about Bill.  Here's a little Bill to start our week off on a good start.  Sigh and swoon.

Link via Vulture Magazine's Dinner with Bill Murray: A Reporter's Guide.
Image via rad-dudes.com

Wish list

A few things I fancy...

From Top:

Crate and Barrel Bodega Bird Chalet. Simple and much prettier than the red plastic bird houses.

Madewell Station Workshirt in Spruce. 

Drinking the Kool-Aid: Ed Templeton.  I love Ed Templeton.  

Homage to Vincent Van Gogh by Ellsworth Kelly.  I like Ellsworth Kelly and Anita loves Van Gogh. Win Win. 

Deadbeat Club - Nolan Hall's Mental Sandwich.  Sadly, sold out.  

This Week

We are on Spring Break! Well, technically Anita is, but if you know me, you know I'm always down to party!  (Note: Sleeping in till 5:30 and not rushing around the house like a mad woman in order to get the kids out the door is my kind of party. Don't be jealous and I'll try not to rub it in too much.) Today, on this super windy day we took a long walk along the beach, made soup for lunch and are enjoying an art filled afternoon of paper dolls and sidewalk drawing. Also on the agenda this week is a trip to Sea World with the grandparents and a visit to L.A. to see my Grandma.  Also, more art, movies on school nights, some baking and ice cream.  Oh, and Sunday Soccer, homemade mac n' cheese and strawberry cake with our good friends. See?  Do we know how to party or what?!  To balance out some of the treats we will surely be consuming while we are spring breakin it, here are a few things I'll be making for dinner this week.  In case you were wondering.

Martha Stewart's Roasted Salmon with Spicy Cauliflower

Passed to me from my girlfriend who gave it raves.  I love me some Cauliflower and anything with anchovy.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Turkey Meatballs

First photo and recipe via Martha Stewart.  Second photo and recipe via Self Magazine and Gwyneth Paltrow's It's All Good Cookbook.  It's rad.

Book Report

Point of Fact: Dennis Hopper is the shit.  Need proof?  Crack open, Dennis Hopper 1712 North Crescent Heights.  It's one of my favorites.  Opening up this book is like stepping back in time.  It depicts a black and white version of Los Angeles in the 60's filled with candid shots of Hollywood and art world hipsters such as Jane Fonda, Tuesday Weld, Phil Spector, Steve McQueen, Ike and Tina, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. And Hopper and his then wife Brooke Hayward. It's my happy place.  It might be yours too, so check it out.

Although you may be tempted to just skip on through to the photographs make sure to read the introduction and interview at the beginning.  The intro is written by Brooke Hayward (Hopper's ex-wife).  She has some fun tidbits to tell about the pictures and the times they were taken in.  The interview with  Brooke and Dennis with their daughter Marin Hopper. Brooke and Dennis did not part on good terms and it is very interesting to read as the three come together to talk about this time for their family.  Most especially the part where Dennis apologizes for breaking his ex-wife's nose. Whoa.

Morrissey Monday

Why not make this a Morrissey Monday?  Rookie did a great interview with "This Charming Man".

Image via Factmag.com, Interview via the fantastically fun Rookie Magazine.

Wish List

A few things that have caught my eye....

From Top:

Mollusk Shop Big Wave Shirt.  Just pulled the trigger on this summer time tee.

Reflexology socks. Because foot rubs are the best.

Lucky Peach Subscription.  Must read. And then eat. 

Momofuku Milk Bar Compost Cookie Mix. I tried the recipe once and they just did not taste as good.  

The Oxford Trunk Raw Crystal Pyrite Bangle.  Pretty and affordable?  Done and done.

Lessons Learned from 90210

It's been a long time since I've really thought at all about Beverly Hills, 90210 but man did I love that show once upon a time.  I was totally Team Brenda even though everyone loved to hate her.

Huffington Post did a little round up of some very important lessons that we all learned or could still learn from this amazing show. You know, lessons beyond how to handle moving to a new town, backstabbing best friends, race and class discrimination, gun safety, date rape, teen depression and suicide, drug addiction, cults and SAT's and stuff.  See?  Like I said, this show was bananas.



p.s. Do people still say bananas?  Maybe not.

Photo and link via Huffington Post on Beverly Hills 90210

Lena Dunham via Refinery 29

Lena Dunham talks BFF's and boyfriends and her Rebecca Antonoff video on Refinery 29.  My girl crush for her knows no bounds.  Love.

Photo via Huffington Post, video and link via Refinery 29

Book Report

I am on page 100 of The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem.  Have you read it?  So far, I'm digging it.

The time change really threw a wrench into my reading schedule and it's taken me a month to get through 100 pages.  Can you say, pathetic?   I do think I'm finally becoming used to this whole daylight savings thing and might actually get some real reading done.  Maybe.

I'm looking forward to it because this book seems worth a few lost zzz's.

Here's the description: "The Fortress of Solitude is the story of Dylan Ebdus growing up white and motherless in downtown Brooklyn in the 1970s. It’s a neighborhood where the entertainments include muggings along with games of stoopball. In that world, Dylan has one friend, a black teenager, also motherless, named Mingus Rude. As Lethem follows the knitting and unraveling of their friendship, he creates an overwhelmingly rich and emotionally gripping canvas of race and class, superheros, gentrification, funk, hip-hop, graffiti tagging, loyalty, and memory. The Fortress of Solitude is the first great urban coming of age novel to appear in years."

I read Motherless Brooklyn a few years ago, also by Jonathan Lethem, and loved it.  That one is essentially a murder mystery.  Having actually finished that one, I certainly recommend it.  I found it fun and pretty hilarious.  It's a lot more fast paced than The Fortress of Solitude from what I've read so far.

What are you reading?


Book description via Amazon.com