CB2 Los Angeles is Now Open

Well, I for one have been waiting for this moment for a long time. CB2's LA location is finally open in the old Virgin Megastore building at Sunset and Laurel. Stopped by yesterday for the press preview and it did not disappoint. I got to meet some of the buyers and the brand directors. Did you know that they don't advertise? That they rely solely on word of mouth. Also, did you know that they totally revised products if they get bad feedback from customers? Like, they actually listen?





I've been a fan for a long time but only ever got to visit a store last year in New York during ICFF. Now I plan to stock up on simple glasses, some bright shiny colored lamps, and one day those marble side tables. You can see the rest of my pictures from yesterday right here.

Thank God.

Looks like Don and the gang are going to be back in early August. Here's a teaser. And here is pretty conclusive confirmation.

Up in the air somewhere

Impossibly delicate dishware and ceramics. I love that pop of yellow (it's rubber!) and anything that's paper thin and then gold leafed. See all this and more up in the air somewhere.

Stuff for outside

I posted this on AT today and am just totally loving the color palette. Can't seem to get enough of that certain green, yellow and steel. If I was starting from scratch, I would totally put this together on the balcony here in Pasadena.

What have you had your eye on?

Couple of things

Want to feel happier? Here's a menu of resolutions or just make some of these deep dish cookies (but seriously the menu of resolutions is really worth looking at).

Love this striped linen tablecloth to use for picnics or summer dining al fresco. Check out the great linen bed linens, too! via. Speaking of picnics...



Love these shots of a japanese picnic under cherry blossom trees from the blog, please, sir. Also, check out some of these old school picnic baskets.



And I just can't get enough of these flower arrangements from dandelion ranch. So messy but formal, colorful and sophisticated, and unusually beautiful.

Considering the state of my cupboards, I wish this was my kitchen. Sigh. Anyone remember where this image is from?

This week feels like it's both dragging and flying, how is your going for you? Maybe it was the heat, but I feel beat now and ready for summertime and no deadlines.

Celebrating

With 6 weddings and countless 30th birthday parties, this is going to be a year of celebrating, and I embrace it.

This is my aunt's birthday dinner from last week at my cousin's place. That is a beautiful tarte aux pommes from Whole Foods that was very (very) good. That is a striped tablecloth that I covet. If it ever goes missing they will know where to look.

So here's to celebrating what we've all got.

Russel Wright by Bauer Pottery

OK, adding a couple of these to my christmas wish list (what, too early?). Bauer Pottery here in LA has teamed up with the Russel Wright company to re-issue some of the most iconic modern tableware of the 40's and 50's.

See what's for sale right here.

The garden is growing

I spent a little bit of time freshening up the garden in Venice and finally got a cushion made that I am in love with. I found some discount sunbrella fabric in this basic striped linen look and had an extra long cushion made for lounging. My garden (which started with tiny plants so that it wouldn't cost a lot or be a huge investment--I think I spent $200 on plants, total) is growing in really nicely. Remember what this place used to look like (here and then here)?

Gjelina

One of my favorite places to eat in Venice is the very hip, Gjelina. The food is all farmer's market inspired so the menu changes depending on what's in season. And just generally, it's delicious. This weekend I met up with my family and we all got something different.

Heirloom spinach salad with feta and olives.

Mussels with toasty toasts.

Poached eggs on a bed of lentils and cooked frissé.

Whatever this was called: garbanzo beans, israeli cous cous, harissa and just lots of yummy herbs.

I feel inspired to make it all--simple but with complex enough flavors that it really makes you feel full.

Isn't that the truth

From here. Definitely worth taking a look at the rest of the photos from Colette.

What to do with the entryway

Our entryway is currently a disaster. This is it 'cleaned up'. Normally it is completely overflowing with backpacks, jackets, shoes and...stuff. I'm on a mission to put something together that feels nice when you walk in. This feels not so nice. I bought the MOlger Benches from Ikea thinking I could do something like this image:

Don't know if you can tell, but it isn't working at all like that.

Then I bought a bunch of hooks thinking I could just add a clean row of hooks above the benches, but I'm not so sure anymore. So before I go running around town trying to find anything else, I'm taking a step back and considering what some 'ideal' options would be so that I have more of a vision for the space.

For one thing I think I completely overlooked the importance of hiding half the stuff in some kind of credenza. I haven't moved by Torsby Credenza from my place yet, but it might be the perfect solution: white, simple, clean:


If it was something like that, then there's the possibility of a little display area for a piece of art, a plant, a bowl for keys. Oh and the mail:





I also love the Eames hooks. Don't know if they'd really fit anywhere, but they are great. All these images are from apartment therapy except for the poster which you can buy at Supermarket.

Then maybe if there's enough space left over once the Torsby or some other credenza is in place then I could add this coatrack for the backpacks, etc.



As for the poor Molger benches, I was thinking they could move outside to hold plants on the balcony...

Vintage Lighting

I love these pieces of tupperware turned pendant lights that I saw over on inhabitat. Especially love the blue one.

Spring Dinner

Abby and I were supposed to go check out some cool new restaurant downtown lastnight but halfway through the day I realized I really wanted to make more chili and have her come and hang out chez nous. Luckily she was down for it and it gave me an excuse to use my Orla tablecloth for the first time.

It was also an opportunity to practice inviting people over even though the house isn't really anywhere near what I would want to to be. You can see bits of the clutter here and there. Basically I put the trash outside and focused on making a pretty table and let everything else be what it was (i.e. place isn't vacuumed, there are cat food kibbles spread out on the kitchen floor, there are piles of art supplies and magic rocks' on the counters, etc.).


It turns out that chartreuse and turquoise abound in my cupboards and then with some tangerines, my grandmother's orchids and plain white dishes, the table felt full of springtime and cheer. I added an heirloom tomato salad with a simple vinaigrette to balance the heaviness of the chili at the last minute.

It felt great to follow through on my resolution to entertain more and there's something about setting a pretty table that just lifts my spirits. It's the small thing, right?

butterflies

The girls got caterpillars from the kids space museum a little while ago and they finally hatched out of their cocoons while we were in Joshua Tree. We set them free yesterday. It was stunning to watch the transformation. I don't think I've really thought about it since I was little. The two sailed off and hopefully are enjoying the spring weather. good luck!

Joshua Tree

Went camping over the weekend in Joshua Tree. Oh how I had forgotten how much I love to camp! Scrambling over rocks, eating hot dogs and s'mores, freezing in your sleeping bag and getting as dirty as you want. What a lovely break. Can't wait to do more this summer. You can see a bunch of the photos here.

We camped in Jumbo Rocks campground (don't need a reservation) and it's right dab in the center of the park. We mainly just climbed around and enjoyed the scenery. The park was packed because of Spring Break, but luckily we were able to find a campsite.

Golden Eggs

I think for easter this year I might skip the colors and just go for the gold.

This recipe involves filling emptied egg shells with chocolate which sounds too intense for me, but I can get behind some hard boiled eggs dipped in gold.

Don't ask me why, but I made chili

I've never made it before so it was, frankly, a little surprising that it came out so delicious that I ate it for 3 meals in a row.

I used this recipe as a jumping off point:

Ingredients from Trader Joes:
2 lbs of lean ground beef
1 Onion, chopped
5 Cloves Garlic, minced
Canned Plum Tomatoes
Canned Roasted Tomatoes with Jalapeno
canned pinto beans
Canned kidney beans
Splash of Hot Sauce
Splash of Worcestshire Sauce
Splash of Balsamic Vinegar
Cumin
Bay Leaves
Salt/Pepper

Directions:
Sautée the onions and then add the beef and garlic
Cook it until the meat is browned but it hasn't dried up
Put that into a big pot and add everything else.
Cook it until it seems done.
Don't forget the cheddar cheese!