It's complicated.

Blanchett walking the red carpet on Oscar night.  2.27.11

Dear Cate,

I'm totally torn. Totally totally.  I can't decide if I like your dress.  My feelings are complicated.  The craftsmanship is unreal - afterall - it's Givenchy.  And your bod looks terrific.  And the flutter of the hem, ooof.  So pretty.  But the yellow ish color of the "beads" ?!  And their texture?  Terrible.  I think ... ?  But again, it's complicated.

Always your girl (but torn on this one),

Ash 

Has the snow melted?

I am waiting to see
The flowers of long ago
In my old home
Beneath the plum tree
Has the snow melted?

By Jitsun
Japan ca. 1243

Great Girl in Pink Dress.

This is a vintage pink dress I bought my friend Mayan.  She looks so pretty.
Summer of 2008, Boise Idaho.

Friday Love.

Photo from the thesartorialist.blogspot.com

Snow Day

Favorite window view.

The living room is totally utterly lived in right now - mussed up & rumply & super cozy.  Lots of iced coffees and cups of plum tea.

Weird egg thing I made for D with last night's sweet potato curry.

Friendly computer: good for I Love Lucy episodes, & RNL posting.

View from the bedroom with the shade down.

This is the dresser I should be organizing today but probably won't...

Went back to bed after getting the text that the clinic would be closed due to snow.  HOLLA.

I've put on my coziest red flannel for this snowed-in day. 

Pink Cake Love.

Gosh, I want to make this cake tonight.  

Photo from darlingdexter.com

"La Lupa"

Anna Magnani.  Rome Open City, 1945.

Ruffles and Rust.

This was just amazing.  My photo doesn't capture how unusual this is.  It's a fish tank turned show box filled with shiny shells and twigs and paper shreds.  

Today was wonderful.  I am totally inspired and wiped out and there is not enough chamomile tea in the country to bring me down.  I had the pleasure of attending "ruffles and rust", which is a bazaar of sorts for retro loving ladies (and a couple gents) who like to put old things together in new, fresh ways.  It was a delight for the senses; I can't wait to fiddle around in my home and elsewhere... I took a bunch of snapshots of bits that caught my eye.  (My fiddling started with the design of RNL.  Not sure it's perfect, but I think it's crisper ?) 

This huge bunch of glass vessels really popped against the dingy blue lockers. 

Bingo cards are a random but fun graphic. 

Umm, this was awesome.  It was a vintage earring "bookmark".

Japanese umbrella.  So fresh.

White coral is trendy, but for good reason.  It's just pretty and works in lots of different ways.  I like the look of these books' shredded up bindings 

This was a ridiculously expensive "bib" that I wanted oh so bad. It was totally hand made in a perfect, "this is couture" sort of way.  The roses were an nice shade of dusty pink that set off the classic antique tea colored lace.  The whole affect was very Chanel.  (Speaking of, we need one more person to "need" a sheet of Chanel body art.  $17.)

These were puffy and hanging above our heads.

Friday Love.

Photograph by Sally Mann.

A sorta healthy cupcake.

Because these cupcakes don't call for frosting, and because they use egg substitute & low fat buttermilk, and because dark chocolate is good for us -- I'm declaring this recipe healthy.  I'm going to make them for a breakfast party.  And serve yummy strong coffee alongside ...

birthday luv to my birthday girl. U know who u are ;)

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup egg substitute
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup 1% low-fat buttermilk
1 1/4 ounces dark (70 percent cocoa) chocolate, finely chopped
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Picture from recipes.com

Preparation:   Preheat oven to 350°.  Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir with a whisk.  Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well combined (about 3 minutes). Add egg substitute and vanilla, beating well. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to granulated sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in chocolate. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups lined with muffin cup liners. Bake at 350° for 18 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan; cool completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.

Norwegian Illustrator



"rewind" by Ersa Roise.  (pencil & watercolor)

I like Ersa Roise's work; it's a little off and occasionally pretty and very much her own.  And she's an amazing shader.  Roise says she's inspired by "...seemingly small unimportant everyday situations, snapshot photography with their impulsiveness, bad cropping and weird angles, people around me, the fashion industry, music, awkward moment and imperfections." 

valentine recap

D is for David.



With yesterday being Feb 14th, and being that my gentle man had the evening off, I celebrated this day-of-love in a cozy & familiar way: eating a sweet, buying a sweater & making dinner. First we drove to Fran's chocolate shop in the pouring rain and I picked out a milk chocolate & smoked sea salt caramel. Heaven. I wore a too tight black mini skirt and my beat up cowboy boots and Dave wore a soft plaid shirt. Just your regular old valentine cowboys looking for a nice piece of candy. Then I suggested I "pop" into Anthropologie. Being that it was Valentine's Day, he agreed, so I entered the shop with thrill & anticipation and mosied around. D gave off the vibe that I should "find" something, (I might of self-created that vibe), but I did find something. (Two things.  Both on super sale.) The big ticket item was a camel colored cardigan with flattering shoulder lines. The tiny ticket item was a single stud earring with the initial "D". It's v cute. We then drove home and I made a flatbread with quince paste & artichokes & a raw milk cheddar, which paired nicely with a beet & tuna & kale & broccoli salad. To drink we had a cocktail of vodka, ginger & blood orange cider. I served the salad in a white heart dish and put straws in our drinks to make it look special. We watched From Paris with Love and I admired John Travolta's facial hair. It was a very nice night and I'm excited about my new Anthro finds.

Valentine salad and vodka cocktails.

The Loved One.

Photo from The Loved One

Hello panties and other racy, lacy bits.  I'm swoony over The Loved One.  The vintage seeming collection is all designed by two English friends named Hannah & Elvia who share one love for old time lingerie. They dreamed up The Loved One, (named after an Evelyn Waugh novel), and sell their pieces online and to select shops.  Tre sexy, so pretty, so totally tushy & yummy & outta control sumptuous.

100th post. 100 butterflies.

Elsa Mora's One Hundred Butterflies
from her solo show at Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles.  2007.

According to the Cuban born, LA based artist, each butterfly represents a famous woman.  Check Mora out, she's rad, to say the least.  Also, it's my 100th post!  Lots more to go, Ash xx

Attractive & Interesting Royal Couple.

Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe

Here is a close up picture of the Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, (who in this picture is pregnant with their twins).  They were visiting the Ozeaneum maritime museum and aquarium last fall in Stralsund, Germany.  I think they are far more visually interesting than the other royal couple, (think England) that is getting way too much press for topics that I usually might want to know about.  Like wedding dresses & handbags and where to honeymoon.  But I just don't think Kate's that cool, (except her sister is named Pippa - that is cool), and though I wish them all happiness & hot love, there is not a lot of visual interest for me.  All to say, I would like to turn our attention to Prince Frederik & Princess Mary.  It just so happens that one of my good friends is named Mary and she is married to a Dutch man that looks a lot like Prince Frederik (especially around the eye & lip area), which I find kinda fascinatingly coincidental.  Also, Princess Mary's red head piece is lovely.  Also, their twins have since been born, but I could not figure out what they decided to call them.

Friday Love.

Photo by Chaz Cruz
San Diego Love Sign.

Bright Chandeliers.

Florescent green Masiero chandelier
Photo from Ital Design Furniture




 

Pink vintage piece from Etsy (no longer available)

 


Chandelier earrings from Drysdale & Co

 




Neon yellow chandelier by Dale Chihuly
Photo from http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/cglass.html

   





Bubble chandelier. 
Photo by Oak Management

 


Turquoise “Empire’’ chandelier.  Marjorie Skouras Design.
Photo from Atlanta Homes.



I heart CHANEL body art.

I'm pretty dazzled, right now.  I really really want to click on CHANEL.com with the intention to purchase.  It's the hottest, most amazing accessory to come along for a long while, and as a passionate accessorizer, I am qualified to say that.  Officially known as Les Trompe L'Oeil de CHANEL Temporary Skin Art, they cost $75 dollars (with shipping it jumps to $85), and there are 5 sheets included, with a total of 55 limited edition designs by CHANEL's creative director, Peter Philips.

Umm.  Hello.  Come to momma.  I need these in my life and on my skin.  And after some careful considering, I realized you do, too.  I know $85 is a lot.  But it's Chanel.  And it's so cool.  And if a group of us go splitsy, it's really not so bad.  If there are 4 readers interested, it would cost $17 a sheet.  I'm curious if the sheet can be "broken up" , (like cut individual tattoos off the sheet and divvy them up even more ...), but I don't think we'll know until I see it in person. For now, I am so in for $17.  Plus, this is RNL's first group activity.  It goes without saying that I will be doing a follow up post on our pretty decked out skin once the CHANEL has entered the buildings and been applied to our bodies.  Logistics: I will send the individual sheets to your home address.  You would send me a personal check for $17, or less, depending if we can break the sheets up.  So let me know.  Leave a comment or call me or email me.  Chanel, chanel, chanel, whoo whoo.

Chicken Soup.

My husband came down with the flu tonight so I'm making a simple soup.  This is a loose list of ingredients & prep directions I turn to when I'm worn through & in the kitchen only because I "have" to be. I like the texture of barley & how quickly it all seems to come together. If I have lemons, like I do tonight, I throw big hunks in; it sounds weird, but it's refreshing when you or one of your babes don't feel good.
Ingredients for Ash's simple chicken, (sometimes lemon y) barley soup:

• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2  cans chicken broth
• 1 3/4 cups water
• salt
• dried thyme
• pepper
• 1 cup chopped cooked chicken (I like to poach the chicken)
• 1/2 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley

Preparation

1. Saute first 4 ingredients in hot oil in a large pot over medium-high heat about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, 1 3/4 cups water, and rest of stuff. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, 23 to 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Add optional lemon & mint at end, if you have it on hand.

A Home Birth Plan.

My beautiful friend Laura is 39 weeks along.  Incredibly, she agreed to share parts of her home birthing plan with RNL readers.  I am thrilled for their family and thrilled that she is allowing us "in" to her labor goals.  This will be Laura and husband Jonathan's second experience of labor (their adorable son Tyler is almost two).  Tomorrow, Laura will be revving her system up with the help of a breakfast smoothie made with castor oil, ice cream and fruit nectar; she wants the labor to begin in the near future because her sacrum is terribly locked up (not to mention they're ready to meet their boy).  So here is Laura, in her words, to share what she has planned for the long awaited birth day...
(All photographs by Julia Fregoso) 

"Learning to trust my body and understanding the natural birthing process has been transformative for me.  With the help of Ina May , I have learned about my birthing options and felt encouraged by so many others' insights and personal stories. I'm looking forward to my birth and wish todeliver my son peacefully. Naturally. Gently. Drug free. Intervention free.  Minimal monitoring. At home, in water.   This is our first birth at home and we're looking forward to having a natural birth. We have completed childbirth classes in the Bradley method and have read as much as possible to prepare ourselves. We have decided to have two midwives present to assist us in staying relaxed, comfortable and medically supported. The main areas we feel strongly about are the environment at the birth and some of the procedures. Home Birth Goals: Feel empowered, safe, free, focused, able to ride my labor waves. Give birth in the peace and security of my home. Trust Birth, let my body naturally give birth. Not be overly checked. No chemical pain relief offered. The birth environment is very important to us: privacy, dim lights, candles. I plan on wearing my own clothes, or no clothes, during the birth. I plan to eat in early labor and sip during 2nd stage contractions... Pain Management Goals: We plan to handle pain with relaxation, massage with oils, and warm water in the labor tub. Delivery Goals: I will push at my own pace (Mother-Directed Pushing). No episiotomy. Jonathan would like to be included in the "catching" of our son as he chooses.  After birth, I will nurse my son immediately and any evaluations will be done while I’m holding him. Umbilical Cord: We wish for the cord not be cut until it stops pulsing. (Jonathan does not want to cut the cord.) Can't wait to spend the night in our own bed with our new little one ... hopefully tomorrow night!"                            -LAURA    

Cool girl.

This girl is a cool girl.  I haven't gathered her name, but she has a cool blog called Sea of Shoes where she talks about her outfits.  I don't think she talks about anything else, and it seems like people send her clothes to try on and then someone takes pretty pictures of her wearing different outfits.  I didn't have to click very far to get that girl crush feeling about her look and her attitude and her commitment to fashion.  Here are two pics (of her) that caught my eye, as well as her descriptions of what she has on.

"These Louboutins are some of my favorite shoes, even though they don't get out much in real life because they are both extremely delicate and painful. These ballet pink tights sent to me by Hue inspired me to get these shoes out. Worn with a Jelly Garcia skirt and thrifted men's shirt, and tons of vintage gold jewelry..."

 "80's Moschino leather jacket with lion chain details"

Victory Candlelight.

Yessz. Our stolen car found it's way to a proper parking spot tonight and seems as un mussed as can be expected. I have lit a victory candle so that the house can smell like pink grapefruit & tarragon while I do a victory belly dance.

Friday Love.



. 



Big Bows.

I love these dupioni silk clutches found on Etsy.  They would be a lovely gift for bridesmaid girlies and a perfect way to incorporate something uniform into the group's ensemble, especially if you're "maiding" for a v cool bride who is allowing you to pick out your own dress and or shoes. So this little bit of matchy ness can be quite cute.  And who doesn't love a big red or yellow bow?  It's so 1986 perf.

Silver Pie Trowel

This is a pie trowel for your dreams and mine.  It's stering silver and costs $395.  If you're in the mood to browse silver, poke around on As You Like It, a silver shop located in New Orleans.  Beautiful stuff.  They also do repair work and help find missing bits to finish your collection.