Category Archives: Love a la Carte

Spring Fever

Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

Lipstick stains on coffee cups. Gossip. Having really smart friends. Practicing gratitude. Wine tastings at Light of My Lantern Speakeasy, where I can get a good flush in the safety of great company. Lindt’s A Touch of Sea Salt dark chocolate bar. Getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine to plant green, growing things. Twitter DMs. Writing dates. Cherry blossoms. 3 Paths Toward a More Creative Life. Live music (in particular: Great Big Sea’s XX Anniversary Tour). sweetgreen’s spicy broccoli (delicious!). Principal fires security guards and hires art teachers – and transforms elementary school. Practicing not-so-random acts of kindness. John Cleese’s advice on making your life more creative (from 1991 – and it still holds up)! Discussions with friends that range from writing to reading to history to politics to philosophy to relationships and beyond. Finding a state of flow. Finally getting my tattoo finished. Reading this post on how to Be Open to Inspiration: concentrate on what’s right in front of you – and if you don’t like what’s in front of you, change it. Lifestyle, style, fashion, and design blogs. The beautiful and educational History of Typography (video). Burt’s Bees Honey & Grapeseed Hand Cream. This exercise in creativity from Nicole’s Classes. Finally finishing a DIY project I started a while ago. Seeing some of my favorite flowers in bloom on the way to work. Being Totally Honest. Beautiful green leaves on trees, providing dapples of shade throughout the city.

This quote: “You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.” ―Brené Brown

Friday, I’m in Love

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

The LIzzie Bennet Diaries (a modern take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice told through video blogs on YouTube) ♥ This song, which features samples from both Billie Jean AND Under Pressure. Go listen. NOW. ♥ Daria. ♥ Dove’s new Photoshop action: promoting self-esteem everywhere. ♥ Parents doing amazing things for their kids: Parents and Transgendered 6 Year-Old Battle Her Colorado Elementary School and Awesome Dad Hacks Video Game For Daughter So Pauline Saves Mario! ♥ Some advice on how to combat creative blocks.♥ My Mad Fat Diary, the (6 episode) story of Rae, a music-obsessed 16-year-old in the 1990s who deals with eating disorders and mental illness, as well as everything else that goes on in the life of a teenager. (It’s beautifully done. I can’t say enough good things about it.) ♥ The iced hazelnut latte from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. ♥ A mini-vacation to Arizona for the wedding of one of my oldest friends. ♥ Squeezing in a visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens while in Phoenix. ♥ Spending time with my mum and dad. ♥ Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti, the sequel to Brownies and Broomsticks, by Bailey Cates. ♥

This quote: “You don’t have to get a job that makes others feel comfortable about what they perceive as your success. You don’t have to explain what you plan to do with your life. You don’t have to justify your education by demonstrating its financial rewards. You don’t have to maintain an impeccable credit score. Anyone who expects you to do any of those things has no sense of history or economics or science or the arts. – You have to pay your electric bill. You have to be kind. You have to give it all you got. You have to find people who love you truly and love them back with the same truth. But that’s all.” -Cheryl Strayed

February Fun & Fangirling

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

I haven’t done one of these in far too long and I have so many things to be grateful for, so many wonderful things happening in my life, so much good stuff to share:

Watching the Oscars and making snacks with my roommate, fangirling just about everyone there – especially Jennifer Lawrence, and staying up way too late to watch the cast of Les Mis perform an amazing medley of songs. ♥ Having amazing friends and family who believe in me. ♥ The wonderful, natural snacks from graze.com, a subscription box for healthy stuff delivered to your home or office once a week. ♥ Revisiting the Warblers album from Glee. ♥ Shopping trips, facial massages, and Thai food with a good friend. ♥ Finding gluten-free foods and making some at home, too. ♥ Fandom collisions. ♥ Discovering new blogs to follow. Who are some of your favorites? ♥ The smell of fresh, ripe tomatoes. ♥ Having justalittle expendable cash. ♥ Bath bombs from Lush, in particular the Sakura one, which smells like heavenly cherry blossoms on a warm breeze. ♥ Getting Valentine’s in the mail from some awesome ladies. ♥ Train. ♥ Communities on Facebook. In particular, a make-up and beauty one I now belong to. So much fun. So bad for my wallet. ♥ Making homemade meatballs to have with gluten-free spaghetti. One of my favorite comfort foods. ♥ Horoscopes that are spot-on. ♥ Fresh flowers. ♥ This breathtaking view of the DC area from space. ♥ The beautiful fairy tale-inspired Glamourkins at the Fable Tribe. ♥ The Princess Bride Ipsum generator: asyouwishipsum.com ♥ Getting a little tax return. ♥ Staying up way too late on Friday night to spend time with friends and waking up late on Saturday since I have nowhere to be. ♥ New glasses from Warby Parker. ♥ Getting my dental work all taken care-of. ♥ 5% off coupons for a whole day of shopping at Target. ♥ Chocolate. ♥

Deep in the Heat of Summer

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

Confession: I have Olympic fever. I’m not usually a sports fan, but these London Summer Games have me constantly watching, Tweeting, blogging and reblogging about the amazing athletes and their stories. I think what gets me is that each person from each country has their own unique and interesting story about how they came to be part of the games, what happens while they are there, and what they take with them from the world stage. I’m particularly blown away by some of the youngest and oldest Olympians out there – the youngest show such poise not usually seen in folks their age and the older competitors show such stamina, such drive. It’s incredible to watch. I loved the Opening Ceremonies, particularly the way London brought together all the countries with the Olympic torch. What a perfect metaphor for the games themselves!

There are a ton of other things I’m grateful for and am loving lately. Here’s a list of just some of them:

♥ Perrier. ♥ Marc Jacob’s Lola perfume (on me, notes of peony, clove and cinnamon spice with just a hint of pepper, creamy musk, and fresh pear). ♥ Brownies and Broomsticks (murder, mystery, magic, baking, running, insomnia, sexy men, and smart women – what more can one ask for?) . ♥ Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. ♥ Drop Dead Diva. ♥ The woman someone should write a book about. Is it me? You? What does she look like? How does she act? She’s one special lady. ♥ Emotional Brilliance by LUSH (I know, I know, I’m gaga over this company. But, handmade vegetarian and vegan products, natural organic ingredients, no testing on animals, and they don’t use palm oil, what’s not to love?!). ♥ The 2012 London Summer Olympians (especially Louis Smith (GB), Jordyn Wieber (USA), Missy Franklin and the entire swim team doing a video of Call Me, Maybe (USA), Zoe Smith (GB), Guor Marial (Independent), Lee-Marvin Bonevacia (Independent), Reginald de Windt (Independent), and Philipine van Aanholt (Independent). ♥ Great and practical post on how to buy and take are of high heels. ♥ Working with Creative Services on design projects. ♥ Project Unicorn. ♥ These guys became human film developers when they ate 35mm film. What?! You have to see it to believe it. ♥ Some advice we could ALL stand to remember: Don’t Lose Your Creativity. ♥

Summer Lovin’

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

♥ The above illustration from wishcandy.net. ♥ This makes my heart jump up and down with happiness: the Business 9 Women Kept Secret for Three Decades. ♥ Affordable Care Cat (the Supreme Court upholding the Affordable Care Act was HUGE good news for this country, a huge win for the underprivileged and for women in particular). ♥ How neat is this documentary on the Cave of Forgotten Dreams?! ♥ This article on mental health really made me think: Why Americans Are Anxious, Stressed, Depressed, and Fat. What do you think? Are we addicted to novelty? Is technology too much for our brains? Do you find yourself overwhelmed? I know I do. Sometimes I just have to step away from the computer and the phone and take a breath of fresh air. ♥ Some fantastic combination of art and science: Berndnaut Smilde Makes Real Clouds Appear Inside Gallery (and photographs them). ♥ Making plans for a vacation and getting out of the city for a week for time with my family, relaxation, and lots of time by the water, both beach and pool. ♥ Taking a well-deserved coffee break. ♥ Getting stains on my fingers from fresh summer fruit, especially berries. ♥ Thunderstorms. ♥ LUSH’s Ocean Salt scrub, which is great for tired feet – I use this for at-home pedicures. ♥ Having a really rotten argument turn into a learning experience. ♥ Second chances. Or third. Or fourth. Or… ♥ Candy-colored Post-It Notes. ♥ The Princess Bride (forever a favorite). ♥ Trips to Barnes & Noble because new books are so exciting! (And walking around among books is good for the soul.) ♥ Discovering new music via friends online. ♥ Dressing up for no reason at all. ♥ Looking at photos from past vacations and trips and loving how utterly happy everyone looks. ♥

My Summer Beach Vacation Spotify Playlist:

This wonderful chat between friends about beauty, gratitude, and self-love:

Spring Fever

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Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

♥ popping bubbly to celebrate the completion of a huge project ♥ walking outside in the sunshine ♥ these 5 Manifestos for Life ♥ watching tv shows without commercials (thanks, Netflix!) ♥ getting a thank-you package in the mail for helping out a friend overseas ♥ buying gifts for someone… just because ♥ orange juice ♥ the intersection of art and science that brought about the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts to creating rainbows in the sky ♥ The Adventures of Merlin (or Merlin), the British tv show (obsessed! – I LOVE the Aurthurian legends, The Mists of Avalon is one of my favorite books… anyone else?) ♥ this Impressionism exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art, recapturing the radical nature of the artistic movement ♥ my new favorite drink, which still needs a name: St. Germain, pomegranate juice, soda water ♥ getting my first BirchBox in the mail ♥ 15 Clever Ideas for Instagram Photos ♥ drinking tea from Cherie Anne Designs ♥ Harry Potter Weekend on ABC (I love that they include deleted scenes!) ♥ sending little notes via e-mail or Twitter DM to congratulate friends on their successes ♥ the 90s alternative station on Spotify ♥ having friends who are embarking on the Camp NaNoWriMo adventure with me ♥ this awesome, inspirational article from Gala Darling on 10 Ways to Make Your Instagram Photos Pop (with application recommendations!) ♥ reliving my adventures in Indonesia by blogging about it and reading my mom’s take on the trip, as well ♥ buying books from a brick and mortar bookstore ♥ bright, multi-colored Post-its ♥ tips on How to Start Your Blog with a Bang (good tips for new and old bloggers alike) ♥