Hello dear readers! Again, blogging has alluded me, but I have not forgotten. :) I hope you are all well & enjoying this ‘stormy’ weather in San Diego because I am! (However short it may last!) I’m loving how the thick humid air is making the streetlights twinkle like stars. . . .* . . *.* :)

re: a trip to come.
So, I am planning an amazing road trip up the coast (Highway 1) from San Francisco to Portland/Seattle and want to know – where are your favorite places to go & see? Where should I stop? What good eats are there? Tell me!

(To clarify, I am driving up from San Diego, however I’m not going along the coast for that stretch of the trip because I’ve already done it before)

re: music.
I can’t stop listening to this song, it feels exactly as I feel right now.

re: polaroids.
I recently bought 27 packs of polaroid film. I’m crazy, I know. But I’m excited to use them more :)

re: speaking of polaroids.
I so want this ring. (updated link)

re: (500) days of summer.
I am in love with the cinematography, the adorable touches, Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon Levitt, the styling, and soundtrack of this movie. It’s quite refreshing.
And I love this video too. Gah! Gotta love that Zooey & JGL! :)

re: inspiration.
This image & recreation.
This one is clever and makes me smile.
You must watch this video, and in HD in full screen too. So soothing. Love the song, and their entire album as well.

I am absolutely in love with this trailer too, and can’t wait to see the movie. (Can he just read me all poems from now on? I would love that. plzkthx ;)

re: a quote to leave you by.
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. – Howard Thurman

So. What makes you come alive? :)

(aka, I-am-going-to-blog-if-it-kills-me!)

Getting settled in a new place is harder than I remember. Maybe it’s because before my parents home, I never really “settled” into a place like my last one. That, and I haven’t moved to too many places. But, it’s kicking my butt. Don’t get me wrong – I love it, with the new meeting space (pictured above), and office space, but I still feel so disoriented here. I’m trying to find my rhythm. It just takes a bit of time.

I will be posting more pictures of the space soon :)

In the meantime, I’ve been horribly neglecting my blog, especially after I cared for it so well last year. I haven’t even changed my WELCOME header! I mean, really, Susan! And it’s already May. *sigh.

I toyed with the idea of blogging everyday for a month, and I almost decided that I would do it for the month of May. What say you, readers? I almost feel like blogging everyday gave me that familiar routine last year, and really helped. Who knows, I may just pick up and do it for the rest of the year. I’ve been taking a polaroid everyday this year, but it’s not the same cause I don’t blog it immediately. Should it do it – for a month at least?

Aside from my blogging/settling woes, things have been busy, and I have exciting blogs for you!! GORGEOUS weddings coming, and many other things. I love sharing with you all, and I hope to have at least ONE wedding up this week. Mark my words. Seriously!!

Well, I hope you all are having a beautiful week, and I leave you with a few things I’ve been loving. :)

01 . anthropologie’s newest display.
I always love what Anthropologie comes up with (who doesn’t?!) but I’m especially loving the hive design and the reason they’re doing it. I love looking at the way they display things too. So inspiring. :)

02 . a homemade life.
I first stumbled upon Molly’s blog fall of last year, I was originally drawn to her site because not only does she post lovely recipes, she photographs them with POLAROIDS! :D She also published a book recently, and I decided to give it a try. I loved her stories and writing style so much (and recipes that follow it) that I couldn’t read it fast enough. There’s something about books mixed with recipes – something I’ve talked about before. This one was especially lovely to read because each recipe she put in has a very specific story to it, and it really honestly makes you want to try out the recipe that much more. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to read as well as cook :) I made her ratatouille dish the other night, too, which was a hit :)

03 . map bicycles.
Holy goodness are these bikes gorgeous. Their bags are even more gorgeous. :)

04 . hammocks & reading.
’nuff said. :)

oh em gee! It’s been a while since I’ve done one, and I just thought I would, because I do miss doing these. :)
(The polaroid above is my boyfriend’s newest gift from me. He loves it. He types in it everyday. :) )

re: moving!
Big news, we will be moving soon! To a larger place, which will be awesome because I will be able to have a designated meeting space, rather than just doing it in our living space. And my own office! So excited! Of course I’ll post a few images when I get the chance. :)

re: my new polaroid project.
In case you haven’t seen it yet, I’ve been taking a polaroid a day and posting them here. I’m not posting everyday, I usually post them in lumps but I do take one everyday :)

re: orla kiely at target.
Have you heard? Orla Kiely has a line at Target! Of course I had to get the apron, place mats, dishtowel and oven mitts. :)

re: her morning elegance.
I love this video in every single way. & his music is great. :)

re: 500 days of summer.
Zooey Deschanel and Joesph Gordon Levitt? Song and dance? Awesome soundtrack? City scapes that turn into drawings? YES please! I can’t wait for this movie!

re: things i am loving.
this color scheme!!
her hairpieces.
danni’s jewelry.
that pink dress is heavenly.
i am head over heels for these bikes (the colors!) – and those bags! i want to get my hands on them.
this new wedding blog. love the style!
the last five images of this home.
DENNIS QUAID WANTS A COFFEE. (this video cracks me up everytime)

re: a quote to leave you by.
“Everybody has a secret world inside of them. All of the people in the whole world. I mean everybody. No matter how dull and boring they are on the outside. Inside them they’ve all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid worlds. Not just one world, hundreds of them, maybe thousands” – Neil Gaiman

Thanks for being a part of my world, all of you. :)

So, my photo a day adventures have come to a close – I will no longer (at least, not for another year!) be blogging a photo everyday. I’m not sure how I feel about it – in one sense, I’m totally glad that I will no longer have the obligation to post everyday – there were definitely days that I hit myself over the head for having a resolution like this. But at the same time, I know many of you out there made reading this blog a daily ritual. And for that I’m grateful – for having an outlet where my clients and friends can get to know me on a different level. It’s been a true blessing being able to show you bits of my world and my insight in the past year, and I hope you enjoyed seeing the past as well as the present of me. :) I won’t be blogging everyday this upcoming year, but I will be posting as much as I can because I still enjoy posting images, past and present. I feel like it’s given me another way for my clients and friends to bond with me. :)

re: featured in a citybeat magazine article!
What a way to end the year than with an interview in article about polaroids in San Diego’s CityBeat magazine featuring yours truly! :) Go pickup a copy (they’re free!)

re: 26 before 27.
So before I end the year, I must address something I made  a few months ago, a list of 26 things I wanted to do before I turned 27. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to finish everything, I only crossed off 12. But that’s 12 more than I had before!! You can see all the things I crossed off my list if you click on the list. I plan on making another list for when I turn 28, and this time, I’ll have much more time to accomplish everything. :) But I will keep dreaming, and I encourage you all to. :)

re: my horosope today. (so fitting)
“Making an attempt at something new, even if you fail at it miserably, is very important for you right now. Trying is what teaches you the most — far more than success would teach, actually. So don’t get caught up in looking good. The sooner you get comfortable making a fool of yourself, the more you will learn throughout your life. So if your daily routine is all about winning recognition, then you need to make some adjustments. You won’t grow if you never let yourself take a risk.” (Scorpio)

re: the end of 2008 video.

re: inspiration.

01 :: a year of mornings.
I absolutely love this book, and the blog that goes with it. Two talented artists collaborated and took a photo every morning for a year – and created a diptych from the images, without knowing what the other one photographed. The images are stunning together, and helps you noticed the little ordinary everyday things.
02 :: les parapluies de cherbourg.
I know I already mentioned this movie before, but I LOVE this movie. The colors, the music, the styling, ALL OF IT. Yes. :)
03 :: french milk.
A lovely graphic novel by a very talented young cartoonist about her six week trip to Paris with her mother. I LOVE it. It gets me geared up for one of my next goals: plan a trip to France.
04 :: feist – let it die.
I first heard this album a few years ago, and I think it’s still one of my faves to date. Love her voice.

re: a quote to end the year.
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” – Neil Gaiman

It’s been quite a while since I’ve done one, so why not? :)

re: i love the holidays.
There’s always something oh so cozy about the holidays that I love. The lights, the cheer – going home and seeing friends and family :) I love fireplaces, chilly weather, scarves + coats, tube socks, curling up with a book, hazy days, fog, clouds, rain, christmas trees, christmas lights, christmas caroling, wrapping presents, holiday decorating… basically I love the holidays :)

re: crafting.
I get pretty crafty during the holiday, mostly because that’s the only time that I can really exercise my craftiness well and have a reason to do it! I’ll be posting some crafts I’ve made the past holidays, but here are some crafts that I would love to try sometime, or I thought you’d like to try :)

- snowstorm garland
- chandelier ornament
- soft trees!
- felted stuffed animals

re: the color yellow.
According to Pantone (and they’re usually quite accurate), the color of 2009 will be mimosa, which is a marigold type yellow. I LOVE it, I’ve been on a yellow kick for the past few months. Although, now it’s considered the color of the year, it’ll be EVERYWHERE and now I need to figure out what my next favorite color will be :)

re: everyone’s free (to wear sunscreen)
Does anyone else remember this song from 1999? That was the year I graduated, and this was our “class song.” I remember back then, I thought the song was totally silly – I mean, it was only a guy talking with some background track! I wanted something catchy. Now, 10 years later, I stumbled upon the lyrics of the song and just.. wow. The words mean so much more now than they did then, only because of maturity. If only at that age, we all realized how important this advice is, I think growing into an adult would be a bit easier. But at the same time, we need the growing pains to make us who we are, no? :)

re: an awesome book.
This video made me laugh. :)

An Awesome Book from dallas clayton on Vimeo.

re: inspiration.
I love this jacket.
This image.
These two polaroids.
Those blue shoes!
I want to visit here.
Free wallpaper for your desktop by lovely artists. :)
Her outfit. I want it.
This image of Marilyn Monroe, it says so much – I want to take more images like that.

re: new york city.
I have New York on the mind. Everything I have been looking at, watching, reading, listening to, have all been pointing to New York. I have never been, and it would be lovely just to visit a big city that seems full of moving life.

re: the 60′s.
At the same time, I’ve been very into everything to do with the 60′s right now. I’m not talking about the hippie side, but more so the classic glam, the feel, and the look of the 60′s.

re: les parapluies de cherbourg.
I am practically obsessed with this movie. The styling, the singing, the gorgeousness of it.. the umbrellas!! This movie solidified my love for all things French, musicals, umbrellas, vibrantly styled movies/tv shows, the 60′s and dark haired guys (especially with blue eyes ;). I downloaded the soundtrack, and just listen to them sing in beautiful French :)

I love the opening credits – one of my favorite parts.

re: nick & norah’s infinite playlist.
Love, LOVE the soundtrack. The movie is pretty darn cute too. :)

re: jenna lyons home in domino magazine.
Love, love love love it. (She’s the creative director for JCrew)

re: emily haines from metric.
This is a beautifuly honest video.

re: poladroid.
It’s quite possible that the world knows of your polaroid obsession when several people email you telling you about this program. It basically converts your digital images to look like a polaroid, and I think it’s a great idea, but I simply can’t get into it, because it’s not a real polaroid! :( Part of the beauty of a polaroid is actually feeling it in my hands (I’m such a texture person). I don’t think anything can really duplicate that at the moment, unless polaroid decides to come back :)

re: dancing walrus.
Yes, you heard me.

re: inspiration.
These clothes.
These two images make me want France.
These colors.
It is quite possible I am in love with all the wood in this kitchen.
I love the feel of this.
I want these shoes.