Sliding Doors

Spring Garden Party

In my almost-entirely-possible, not-quite-alternate reality where I have a huge backyard, gather all my fabulous friends on a picture-perfect afternoon and laugh heartily through the evening...

My garden aplenty would be the decor, like this.

I'd throw on this dress & this straw hat and these bangles. 

No shoes, so I could sqidge my toes in the grass.

while serving this, this and this.

 .

Pin It

Mom's Garden: Rose Pruning

The other day, I went with Mom to a rose pruning workshop at Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach. Apparently, in Southern California, now is the time to start chopping back your roses. In our area, it never gets cold enough for the roses to loose all their leaves naturally. So, we have to help them along. Pruning roses keeps them in top condition, shape and size for the area you have planted. If you let a rose continue to grow, it becomes "leggy". Canes get longer & thinner, and blooms are fewer, weaker & smaller. Pruning roses in the winter prevents plants from spending unnecessary energy on growing and producing blooms when sun & nutrients are at a minimum. It's surprising how agressive you can be when cutting them back.

Despite the fact that Mom has told me a million times how to correctly prune a rose, I have never really been super confident. So, she and I went out on a rainy Saturday and cut back a section of her rose garden. It was fun and a learning experience. I'm definitely getting the hang of it!

.

Pin It

Monthly Obsession: Bone China

I realized that I haven't done a Monthly Obsession post in a while... so, I'm remedying that now.

This post is dedicated to a seriously crazy {borderline hospitalization} obsession I have with bone china. I'm not talking about your plain 'ol boring shiny china dishes that you would get for a wedding present or little girl sculpture you'd see on your grandmother's bookcase. I'm talking about unglazed, matte, translucent, creamy white, rough and completely dreamy porcelian. Good thing I am a slightly more than picky when it comes to whipping out the wallet - otherwise my apartment would be floor-to-rafters with the stuff.

basket, octopus, bracelet 
My first foray into slip-cast-ware was a few years ago via Brooklyn Flea when I found Alyssa Ettinger's ceramics. After seeing them once, they haunted me for months, so I headed back out and snapped up her New York set of slip-cast milk bottles. So cute and teeny, they look great with just one or two tulips or daffodils.
A few months later, sometime just before Christmas, walking through a totally idillic evening snowfall in NoLita, I swung by Haus Interiors and found Jennifer Jones's awesome feather ornaments.
Needless to say, my collection has grown a bit over time, so here's some nice stuff I've seen lately - please let me know if there are other good ones out there!

1. Milk bottles  2. Bird nest votive and Owl figures  3. Porcelain poppy 4. Tripots 5. Bears in Love  6. Charade collection 7. Clam Bowl  
top photo from here
.

Accessorize: Hand piece

Grey is the new black. Pearls are the new diamonds. Etcetera, etcetera. 

Well, I'm calling it: Hand pieces are the new two-finger rings. I've been seeing these things pop up a bunch lately... it happened to me a year ago with the whole feather hair extension thing. A trend that made me say to myself; Huh. that's interesting. Looks cool, but I'm not sure I'd do it myself. {cut to a year later and soccer-mom's are driving their minivans around town, feather extensions billowing out the window, while I'm also sporting feathered earrings from Urban Outfitters... I know, I'm so ashamed}

Anyway. So, hand pieces. Or, is it wrist-to-ring-chain? I don't know what to call them. But, I distinctly remember these being specifically for the hippie or princess-fairy-tale girls. Apparently, not so anymore! The one's I've been seeing {and, honestly? Some, I'm kinda digging} are much more edgy and almost punk rock. Check 'em out, you may be seeing more and more of these around soon... besides, it's only a matter of time now that Urban has one too.

PS. If you're crafty, you can totally make one for yourself. No prob!

PPS. Watch out for another trendy weird-slash-cool thing! Ear cuffs. Eek!

Bliss Lau, Cornelia Webb, Julie Wolfe, LowLuv x Erin Wasson, House of Harlow 1960

top photo: LuvAJ
.

Tweeting...

Just letting you all know, I have started a Twitter account. I still don't really get what the point is {aside from keeping up with Food Truck locations}, I have no idea how to use it nor why I decided to sign up... but there you go. I may figure this thing out eventually and start tweeting like a fiend... I'm thinking not likely. But, in the meantime, you can follow me in preparation for my launch into the social networking ether.

@MyLifeEclectic
.

Project Adventure/Bake: Carmela Ice Cream

This post is kind of a dual Adventure-slash-bake project. I am an uber fan of Carmela Ice Cream here in Pasadena. And, I mean uber. In my dreams I have one of each flavor in my freezer at all times. Especially the Fleur De Sel flavor. Ohhh, man. Not only are they at a few farmer's markets in the LA area, they also have a brick-and-morter shop not too far from me.
One day, I received a notice that they were starting ice cream classes! ...Bestill my beating heart... I called up a friend and relayed the amazing news. Next thing we knew we were sitting in the shop's kitchen learning all about infusions. Too cool.

Our class was focused on creating Brown Butter Sage Ice Cream and Cranberry Orange Thyme Sorbet. Needless to say, the class was fun and informative. Carmela founders, Jessica and Zach are obviously very passionate and excited about what they are doing, and it's easy to get caught up in the many ice cream possibilities. 

As a side note: did you know that KitchenAid makes an ice cream maker attachment!?! Oh, that is so going on my wishlist.

Fun times were had by all and I know that I'm going back for more. 

Thanks Carmela for an awesome morning!

Mom's Garden: Winter Red

Snap! The Holidays are upon us. For such a seemingly cheerful time of year,
it sure does cause quite a ruckus, yes? {sigh} Roll with the punches, I suppose.
Southern California is seriously lucky for having such a long bloom season {I mean, it's 70 degrees in November! Sheesh!} - otherwise I wouldn't have this super awesome arrangement to show you. I snapped up this happy little party of flowers in about 5 minutes flat. Chartreuse and bright magenta-ish red is a crazy combo that just works. And, I thought it'd look great in my trophy vase by Yellow Owl Workshop.
Rose: David Austin 'Prospero'

Variagated leaves: Coleus 'Aureole' (Painted Nettle)

.

Project Adventure: Photoshoot

Just a sneak peek into a photo shoot I got to do with Obie recently... don't want to give away too much because some of the photos will probably end up as my Christmas card. {reality check: not really motivated to create my card from scratch this year} 

I got an email from my local Anthropologie about a fun event benefiting the Humane Society. Bring a toy and you get to take portraits of your pup! I said, it's for a good cause, why not!? {besides, the rate that Obie is growing, he might not fit inside the store much longer, ha ha ha} 

Photographers were the fabulous Kristina Michele and Kara Moreen of Mi & Mo Photography. Seeing how they had to deal with a new puppy model about every 15 minutes, they were super patient and gracious with all of the canine shenanigans going on around them. In hindsight, I should have taken Obie for a 10 mile walk before we did this... but, it turned out pretty awesome anyway.

If you want photos of your pet or need a wedding/event photog, look up Mi & Mo, they have a super clean style and are really nice chicas.

Thanks ladies!

.

Project Bake | Dog Biscuits

Yes, homemade dog biscuits! You knew it had to come sometime, right?
So, I'm not uber on top of everything that goes in my dog's mouth, but he does get digestive issues from time to time so I have to be a bit more aware of what he eats than a lot of dog owners. Some people have to be careful because of allergies and whatnot. I found out that a lot of dog treats & chews out there have glycerin in them {it's what makes the treat chewy}. Glycerin is not something a dogs stomach can digest and can often cause digestive problems... especially if the dog eats large chunks at a time.
I'm of the general opinion, since Obie probably gets enough processed and preservative-filled ingredients through various means {kibble, medication, plastic/rubber toys, etc.}, why compound it by giving him treats that are chalk full of the stuff? Especially since dog biscuits are so darn easy to make! If you have a pup and you like to know exactly what they are eating, a super simple way to start is with treats.

I came across a collection of recipes from a post on Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn that looked pretty easy to try. So, after choosing 2 that had similar ingredients {lets face it, it was lazy grocery shopping}, I went out and picked up the ingredients and a dog bone-shaped cookie cutter {which, in hindsight was waaay too big, but is now just an excuse for me to go get another, smaller one} and got to work.
{note that the recipes I used included ingredients to which some dogs may have allergies. There are lots of dog biscuit recipes out there, find the one that is right for your pet}
Have Fun!

Read more after the jump

Accessorize | Jewelry: Organic Forms

If you know me at all, you know I have a slight {well, maybe more than slight} obsession with accessories. One is handbags, the other jewelry... and a few other things in between. I've decided to start yet another section to this blog about my serious obsession with accessories. I also keep a collection of cool stuff on my Pinterest boards - Lovely Jewels, Bag Obsessions, For Fab Feet

Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but I am constantly being asked about my jewelry {pat, pat, hee hee}. I am a big fan of organic shapes or nature inspired jewelry. Give me a leaf, feather or antler and I'm there! And while I haven't discovered the ability to mold metal - yet - here are a few of my faves.

Jill Platner was a discovery when I first moved to New York. While I tend to like her older stuff better, her more grand, gallery pieces are amazing!

 I've seen Twigs & Heather around New York & Brooklyn for a few years now and I always make a beeline for their table. I don't know how I've never walked away with one of the maple seed or twig necklaces!

Made entrely out of reclaimed metals, Alkemie has a line of jewelry that is just purely delicious. They mix modern girlie pretty with tough rockstar heft that is just so much fun. I have a couple pieces from them and they are guaranteed to get attention!

There's also this great trend {that's been running for a little while now} utilizing geodes, minerals and crystals in their natural state. Such amazing colors and also quite the statement!

{l. to r.} Billy Bride, Dolly Bird Design, Andy Lischutz

.