Treats from Scandinavia & the Faroes

08/26/2010

Because he is a thoughtful sweet husband, Jason brought back some presents from his travels! In Sweden he went to H&M and bought me this lovely dress:

Sidenote: Whose husband buys her dresses? Mine does! Jason has a great eye for fashion and he always picks out really pretty things for me that I’m not brave enough to choose for myself – but I always end up getting lots of compliments on his selections! (Skirts, dresses, shirts, sweaters … even a bikini, once!)

I love hats, especially warm hats in the winter. This one Jason got me is more of an ear-warmer or headband I guess but it’s really wide, almost like a topless stocking cap. It’s hand knit with local wool from the Faroe Islands, where sheep out number people 4 to 1.

And CHOCOLATE! I loooove European chocolate. (I only eat Hersheys chocolate under desperate circumstances. I think it tastes waxy.)

Hazelnut chocolate bars are my favorite and I was informed that this one from Sweden is all for me. 🙂

Jason also got himself a few things. Several shirts from H&M, not pictured, and some new kicks from the Faroes.

Hooray for functional souvenirs!

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Threadless

07/08/2010

The other day I saw on Modern Kiddo that Threadless Kids was having a sale on kid tees, onesies and hoodsies. (Sorry it’s over now.) Are you familiar with Threadless? Graphic designers can submit t-shirt designs and if they get enough fan votes they’re made into t-shirts. That makes for a lot of creative clothing! (They have adult sizes, too.)

Is it too early to start buying things for my future niece or nephew? I do have a couple of friends who are having a babies in the fall. Plus, some cuties I know will be turning 1 in August. And my nephew will be 2 in October. (Yeah, I know … it’s only July.) But it’s still fun to look! Here are all the ones I put in my cart but don’t have in the budget to buy:

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Mismatched

07/07/2010

Lately I’ve been attracted to mismatched things—dishes, articles of clothing, accessories, furniture. Is it trendy to not match anything anymore or is it just me? I’m assuming it’s a trend I’ve unknowingly been replicating.

Sage green sheets under a brown and blue quilt with tan throw pillows

Olive green and teal blue towels living in harmony

Red soap dispenser on a blue and green tiled countertop

Green glass, blue melamine, yellow and orange ceramic dishes at Watanbe

Dark aqua wall with yellow and green accessories and peach chair


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Green, yellow and blue, black and white pillows on light blue, gray and white bedding


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I’m not sure there are any colors repeated in this space:

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And who says your shirt needs to match your skirt and your shoes need to match your purse?

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(Click • for source)

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Birthdays are Fun!

06/24/2010

Actually, I could have called this post Gifts are Fun! But that sounds kind of … materialistic. Maybe gifts is my love language. Regardless, I’m so thankful for each of my thoughtful, wonderful friends and family members and I got some really neat things that I thought I’d share with you. Not literally, you know, just in pictures.

I mentioned yesterday that my first birthday gift was Gee-Wiz.

My sister and brother-in-law sent this beautiful bag from a recent trip to Nicaragua. It seems to match almost everything and is the perfect size!

My brother and his wife sent The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey since I’ve been wanting to read it. I forgot to take a photo but really, it’s not a pretty book anyway.

I got a canister of my all-time favorite tea, Mango Ceylon Republic of Tea, from our friends Nate and Kala. Yummy! I have this everyday and somehow never get sick of it.

My sister-in-law found some great things, just my style. A cute screen printed burlap bag containing a cute little retro journal, gift certificate for a manicure (we’ll go together), and this really fun book by Pop Ink called Fluffy Humpy Poopy Puppy. Tons of wonderful illustrations and funny quips. I need another copy to cut up and frame.

And the mack-daddy of crafting inspiration: Martha Stewert’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. My parents got me this lovely book and a metal water canteen.

My dear husband got me some new tank tops that I LOVE! I can only find a photo online of this one, which is actually more of a beach cover up. (Hooray for beach vacation next month!)

And our friends Leila and Jeremy went over the top giving me a new outfit (skinny jeans and a shirt), candy (that I’ve already eaten), swimming googles (that are already in my pool bag) and a handmade pocket mirror (that I’m too lazy to dig out of my purse to photograph.)

Thanks everyone!! I feel very loved!

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Posted by mahlbrandt

The Yellow Satchel

06/10/2010

I recently got this new satchel from Target. I love it!

I’ve been looking for a bag this color for about a year so I was very happy when I saw this for only $12.99. Perfect for carrying my laptop across my shoulder.

Or using as a purse or book bag. Much cuter than the backpack, don’t you think?

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Rx Sunglasses

04/15/2010

For the past year and a half I’ve been wearing glasses instead of contacts. My biggest and maybe only complaint was not being able to wear sunglasses. Especially while driving home at dusk. Especially on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Especially while floating around in my parent’s shiny swimming pool.

I knew prescriptions sunglasses were an option but I assumed it was an expensive luxury. Enter Zenni Optical. Their Rx eyeglasses frames with lenses start at just $8, plus $5 more to make them tinted. I ended up choosing some of their most expensive frames at $35 but still a $40 well worth it, I think.

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

03/26/2010

The Spring-y weather inspired me to paint my toenails … hot pink!

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

03/05/2010

I ripped my pants. 😦  Can I get new jeans now?

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Back to the Old

02/15/2010

Last week I dug out my old backpack – the one I used from middle school through my second year of college when I discovered tote bags. As a commuter, totes where the best way to not have to carry 8 books around all day. I had my morning tote bag, my lunch bag and my afternoon tote bag (and occasionally some gigantic portfolio and art toolbox). They all resided in the car until called upon.

Back to the present. I carry my laptop to and from work in a neoprene sleeve in a tote back. This is the one I’ve been using recently:

The thing is, I’ve pulled or strained or twisted some muscles in my back or side 3x in the past couple of months. I think it’s from slinging in and lugging out the heavy tote from behind my driver’s seat.

Time for a change. So here I am with my new [old] backpack, ready for work and feeling like it’s the first day of school all over again.

What do you think – cute or nerdy? You can be honest. It won’t affect my decision to wear it (as evidenced by the pom-pom hat).

4 Comments | Art, Art: fashion, Family, Family: Me | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

01/22/2010

I can’t begin to explain how thankful I am for a new, warm, (cute), down puffer this winter. I love that it can completely shield my face from cold mornings walking Lucy and it’s fun-winter-hat-friendly (leaving only my eyes exposed, when necessary!).

4 Comments | Art, Art: fashion, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

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