A Ruffled Feather

2012-01-28T18:42:00.000-08:00

Someone flashed me a shy, sexy grin the other day and now all I can think about is La Perla. Go figure.

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2012-01-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

My second New Year's resolution is to learn how to ballroom dance.(Did I tell you my first? "No TV until 6pm"--it's going swimmingly, to my surprise.) Yesterday I had my first private lesson with a Russian teacher drenched in cologne. We learned three rumba steps. It was a lot of fun. But best of all, I think I have potential! My favorite learning moment from yesterday? As my instructor was showing me different frames (spaghetti arms!), he said, "Dance is all about pretty." He's speaking my language.

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2012-01-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

Did you know this about me? I'm a trekker. I've been trekking all over the world, for weeks at a time. My favorite traverse being the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. I walked for three weeks, fell in love with the world's most sexy Israeli (god I hope he never finds his way to this blog), got skinny and sunkissed. Twenty-one days of a dream. Well, I've got a hankering to do another big hike, this time the John Muir Trail in California (seen above). I'm making it one of my New Year's resolutions. If all goes according to plan, I should be trekking during the last half of August/beginning of September. Every time I think about it, I get butterflies. And from what I can recall, butterflies are a good omen.

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2011-12-31T20:44:00.000-08:00

I usually begin every year with hope, and to be honest, I'm usually disappointed when I do the obligatory year-in-review. This year is no different. I'm cautiously optimistic for a joyful, abundant, healthy 2012, but I'm not going to actively hope for much. It's exhausting. I think I'll surrender instead. Whatever happens, happens.

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2011-12-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

We're both broke, but we're headed downtown to check out the Christmas Eve sales anyway. We'll probably build up an appetite (the act of coveting objects is a huge energy sink, after all), so we're also stopping by the Four Seasons for our annual Christmas Eve cheeseburger. Then home to start my matzoh ball soup and smoked-salmon deviled eggs for tomorrow's feast. Season's Eatings!

PS. I just discovered this highly amusing--and highly accurate, in my estimation--Twitter feed. Good for a few ho-ho-ho's, don't you think?

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2011-12-20T23:44:00.000-08:00

I die for these spunky X benches. (Sorry for the lack of holiday-themed blog posts, folks. I'm a lifelong scrooge.)

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2011-12-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

Behold my latest departure from design writing: a feature on three San Francisco YouTube sensations, in the holiday issue of 7x7. Blood, sweat, and tears I shed over this one, folks. It was intense. Lovely chatting with these very talented people, and quite happy with the end result, but beyond glad to have this one in the rear-view mirror.

Image: my pal, shutterbug extraordinaire, Gabriela Hasbun

2011-12-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

When your apartment is an icebox and your fingers have no insulating fat on them whatsoever (unlike other parts of your body) and you have a job that requires you to type on your laptop all the live-long day, you gain a tender appreciation for fingerless gloves. These cashmere Kate Spade mitts are perfect. (And edged in my favorite color, too!)

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2011-12-06T18:10:00.000-08:00

I'm mad for fuchsia these days. And since I missed out on these pants (they went like hotcakes in my size!), I opted for these jeans instead. I think they'll add some sass to my leopard-scarf-with-navy-striped-shirt uniform of late, don't you?

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2011-11-29T11:00:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note before my yoga class. I am crazy about this super-rich salty honey pie recipe from Four + Twenty Blackbirds. It's got intensely complicated flavor. I made it for our intimate Thanksgiving dinner, and have eaten it every night since (Mark didn't care for it, so more for me!). Which brings me to this fair warning: you need a pretty accepting palate to enjoy this custard pie. Notice I didn't say you need a sophisticated palate, since that would imply that I have a sophisticated palate and I would never want to be that pretentious. (Well, I don't want to be that pretentious today.) I said you need an "accepting" palate. This dessert is definitely not for everyone.

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2011-11-26T20:50:00.000-08:00

Confession: I've given into Uggs. I now officially own a pair of the tall, clunky sheepskin boots in black. I swore I wouldn't ever pay a dime for them because I knew it was no coincidence that their name seems to be slang for the word "ugly." But my current lifestyle dictates their necessity: it's winter and my apartment is cold. Downright freezing. I work from home a lot because that's what freelance writers do. I also go to yoga. And it's kind of nice to slip into some cushy boots after a hard workout. Not to mention Uggs are kind of all the rage at my yoga studio. Girls casually tuck their Lululemon yoga pants into their boots and rush off to their lunch appointments radiating this sort of chicly disheveled glow that I sadly aspire to. Believe me, I'm not proud of myself, but I'll be damned if I'm not warm and fuzzy.

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2011-11-25T21:25:00.000-08:00

Do you repurpose your Thanksgiving leftovers into, say, casseroles or sandwiches, or do you eat them in their original incarnation, reheated? I do the latter.

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2011-11-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

Do you ever read your stars? I do. According my horoscope, I should be having, like, the best month of my life. I think its exact words were "You are about to take your rightful place at the head of the parade." Well, my bank account's down to $24, apparently the new guard at a magazine I've been contributing to for the past seven years has edged me out without so much as a courtesy head's up, and my hair is a hot mess. Surprisingly, I'm most bothered by my shaggy coif and the fact that I have no choice but to break-up with my hairstylist of four years. Regarding the other two items, I won't lose, and have not lost, one wink of sleep over them. I trust they'll work themselves out. I don't exactly feel like I'm at the head of the parade, but hey, at least I'm still marching.

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2011-11-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

A little hump-day pick-me-up. George in all his sexy salt-n-pepa finery. Just imagine him giving you that look as you're walking toward him down the aisle of matrimony. That should put a smile on your face.

I've been interested lately in the topic of playboys. And the women who finally get them to settle down. What happens in those situations? Do the guys just get tired of philandering? Or are the women really exceptional? I've been in a few thrilling/heartbreaking romances with players, but have never been that special girl they've wanted to give up their promiscuous ways for. Groan.

I don't know how close George is to tying the knot with the cheesy (albeit long-legged) female wrestler Stacy Kiebler, but lord knows she thinks she hit the jackpot scoring Hollywood's most eligible bachelor. The question is: does he think he hit the jackpot, too? That's the thing about players--they love chasing the next big thing.

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2011-11-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Over the course of six months, Mark's sister Susie lost about 20 pounds on a gluten-free diet. When she arrived in San Francisco to visit us a few weeks ago, I hardly recognized her svelte form. Now I'm considering watching the wheat in my own diet. I don't know if I have the patience to go balls-to-the-wall on this, but if I go at least 75% gluten-free (easily achieved by stopping bread consumption, stepping up my fruit and veggie intake, and buying food labeled "gluten-free"), I think I can shed a handful of LBs. And maybe this spare tire around my waist. If you have any tips, send 'em my way.

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2011-11-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

We've just bid our house guest of two weeks, Mark's sister Susie, goodbye! Surprisingly, we never ran out of things to show her. I've come to learn that actually living in an international city is much different from visiting an international city. Before Sue's arrival, Mark and I fretted about how we could possibly fill two whole weeks of activities, but realized early on that two weeks probably wouldn't be enough time to show her all the wonders San Francisco has to offer: Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Twin Peaks at sunset, the Golden Gate Bridge, Green Apple Books, Suppenkuche...the list goes on and on! I must say, getting to know the city all over again through Sue's wonderment was an unexpected pleasure.

I'm enjoying the parade of people who have visited our house since Mark and I returned from our summer holidays! I'm hoping for more. I really like the new energy that each visitor brings. And I really, really want to put together one of these homemade house-guest survival kits.

By the way, I am officially (albeit temporarily) Facebook free. I deactivated my account today, the first day of a four-month detox. Wish me luck.

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2011-10-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

Come November 1, I'll be on a self-imposed hiatus from social media. Checking it constantly prevents me from being productive and I just don't like who I become when I post tweets and status updates--a self-deprecating, yet pretentious, little girl. A walking contradiction of immature proportions. It's not too far from the real me, but something about my persona is exacerbated on these websites and I don't like it. You can still find me here, though, so I won't be totally out of touch. Oh, and the social-media moratorium isn't permanent. I don't have that much courage.

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2011-10-20T23:16:00.000-07:00

View my latest photo shoot for 7x7, here.

2011-10-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

Pretty much my life's manifesto encapsulated into one perfect little morsel and then emblazoned on a Kate Spade bag. Holla.

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2011-10-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

Do you believe in signs? I do. My friends would tell you that I tend to force too much meaning onto seemingly mundane occurrences. They may be right. But since signs cannot possibly exist in a vacuum of hope, I must be more optimistic than I ever imagined. What a pleasant surprise.

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2011-10-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

I've never been to Baja, but that will all change come next February! I just booked a yoga retreat at Prana del Mar, led by my teacher, Christie Marshall. Considering the state of my finances, booking this trip was a bit of a leap of faith. Honestly, I don't think I can afford it, but I am also a firm believer that one should pursue the life they want to live. That's all. I'm not saying you should max out your credit cards because who knows if you'll live another day. Everything in moderation. It's OK to stretch your boundaries a bit to find out what you're capable of. At least that's what I'm telling myself because, really, I just want to go to Baja. Granted, in this case, it helps if you've got excellent budget-management skills instilled upon you by your accountant mother (may she rest in peace).

Image: The Sartorialist

2011-09-21T23:51:00.000-07:00

I love this picture of us on our way to Frances for my birthday dinner.

2011-09-17T23:50:00.000-07:00

I forgot to tell you that I saw another great flick, Blue Valentine. It's layered and complicated, but if I had to wrap it up in a nutshell I would say that it was about the doomed relationship between two soul mates (played by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams--check her out in the latest Vogue). You don't often see movies about tragic relationships involving two soul mates, do you? You just assume that if it didn't work out, they weren't soul mates. Hollywood likes to put a pretty bow on soul-mate situations. Maybe that's not reality, though. I'm not saying this movie is real, but it sure felt real. It's a masterful, dark, gorgeous film with one of those open endings. And nary a pretty bow in sight. That is all I have to say. Oh, wait, one more thing: see it now.

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2011-09-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

You guys. I've decided to give The Secret a try. You know, all that jive about the Law of Attraction? How you can bring your dreams to reality just by positive thinking at all costs? Don't shoot me because I'm hokey. I'm on a mission to have a wonderful life full of joy and abundance and friendship and love. And right now, enacting the Law of Attraction is about as active as I can be toward this goal. I'm approaching midlife, you know. I've been sowing my oats for almost 36 years. It's high time to stop messing around. To quote Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, "I want the fairy tale."

If you have any miracles courtesy of The Secret to report, do so immediately. I want to hear them all!

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2011-09-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

Learning some hard lessons in letting go at the moment. Bear with me.

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2011-09-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

My apartment is so small that up until recently I had been using my coffee table as a dining table. Sitting on the floor, wrenching my back, scrunching my stomach--not at all conducive to good digestion, much less being a grown up. I had convinced myself that since I lived in Japan, where eating on the floor is customary, I was adopting the tradition. But you know what? My back f*****g hurts. And I don't live in Japan anymore. And I'm officially on the downhill to 40 this month. Time for changes. So, I bought the Stern counter table from CB2--it's slim enough to fit in my kitchen and it triples as a work island and a desk. I get to sit up straight and eat my food like an adult. And, in the month it's been here, I've had guests visit to help me break it in. What a difference a table makes! As Mark reminded me tonight, if you buy it, they will come.

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2011-08-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

Heading to Tahoe this afternoon for a quick 48 hours of fun in the sun. Our biggest decisions will be: kayak or paddleboard? Lakeside hike or forest trail? Hot tub now or hot tub later? It's back to the grind for me on Monday, but for now, I'm going to relish these few days off deadline since it's been nonstop for me since I got back from Japan (which reminds me--I must re-evaluate my post-vacay recovery plan for next year!). Have a great weekend!

Image: Eat Live Run

2011-08-24T22:27:00.000-07:00

Found lots of words to live by in the Etiquette for a Lady tumblr this evening. These are a few that happen to be ringing true for me these days. However, in going back through the archives, it's painfully obvious that I fail on a number of affirmations, so does that mean I'm not a lady?

Images: Etiquette for a Lady

2011-08-19T23:46:00.000-07:00

A bomb went off in my life today. I've got to spend some time picking up the pieces. But I wanted to document this day as the first day of the rest of my wonderful, joyous, amazingly abundant life. I'm feeling quite blessed and grateful for so many things right now.

Image: 4 Blank Walls

2011-08-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

Stepping back into a routine after a long vacation is truly underrated, don't you think? We spend lots of time griping about why we need to step out of our routine, to, you know, shake thing up for a bit, but honeys, nothing sounds sweeter to me right now than a normal regimen. I'm happy to report that I'm on my way there: I'm firmly back in the work grind, doing interviews (five in two days!) and writing stories. My appetite is returning (judging from my appalling display of gorging yesterday). Sleep is regulating (using just a quarter of a sleeping pill, rather than a half or a whole, to make sure I get there). Now all that's left to incorporate is yoga.

What's your daily routine like?

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2011-08-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

All my life I've been plagued with insomnia, and the last two days were particularly brutal (I blame jet lag). All of my emotions and insecurities seem insurmountable when I'm lacking in the shut-eye department. But last night I had a glorious 10-hour slumber. And whaddaya know, when I woke, everything seemed to back in focus, and I while I felt lighter, I was also more grounded than I have been in at least a week--maybe more.

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2011-08-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

Have you seen that movie, HappyThankYouMorePlease? It is spectacular. So spectacular that I watched it twice on my vacation (which ends tomorrow, by the way). Around the one-hour mark Annie tells the story of how a taxi driver taught her how to achieve bliss through gratitude: say "Thank You" often, and for everything, no matter how small. Follow up with the phrase, "More please," not to beg for abundance, but rather to acknowledge the universe's limitless capacity. I don't know about you, but I'm seeking bliss. "Thank You. More Please" seems to be the path of least resistance. I know that's usually not a good thing, but who says you have to pay for your happiness with hardship? Haven't you done enough? It feels like I have. I'm going to try gratitude for a bit. I'll let you know what comes to fruition.

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2011-07-24T16:22:00.000-07:00

I'm on the verge of a vacation, which has got me thinking: rather than saying that I'm "hopping on a plane" or "leaving on a jet plane," what if I said I was "taking flight"? Wouldn't that serve also as a metaphor for personal growth and adventure? Wouldn't it be like a sweet little blessing for exciting times to come? Folks, I'm taking flight in 48 hours. I can't wait to report on all that transpires--apparently, sky's the limit.

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2011-07-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

Wish me luck this week. I'm embarking on a self-imposed yoga intensive to gear up for my upcoming trip. Rather than doing three classes this week (my normal regimen), I'm gonna do two days of back-to-back classes plus one regular class day, for a total of five sessions, or six hours and 45 minutes of yoga. I predict a soulful transformation (and ripped abs). (Oh, and shapely shoulders.) (I'll take some sculpted arms, too.) (And no, that's not me in those pics, so don't strain your eyes too much).

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2011-07-14T18:37:00.000-07:00

Like my new tote? It's by Bookhou in Toronto. I ordered it online today after seeing it in the latest Lucky Magazine. I procrastinated for a few days pondering the purchase. You know the drill: Can I afford it? Do I need it? What inadequacy am I compensating for by buying a bag I clearly don't need?

Image via Bookhou

2011-07-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

Instagram scenes from today's photo shoot in Berkeley. I love my job.

*Sigh*

2011-07-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Officially closing the doors on potential/existing clients who want to lowball me on my rate. In what crazy world is one-penny/word an acceptable fee for an experienced magazine writer? ONE PENNY PER WORD. No thanks. My time and my skill are worth at least a hundred times more. At least.

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2011-07-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

What?! I have a blog? Ya don't say...

To the 12 folks who read my blog regularly: sorry for the radio silence! I slacked over the holiday weekend and now all my assignments are suddenly stamped, "rush." My fault. Other things I'm currently wrestling with--besides my lackadaisical behavior on this blog--are: taking less money for a friend's copywriting project because she's a friend; not seeing Mark for a month (he's off to Australia tomorrow!); receiving ambiguous emails about jobs; making more girlfriends. Trouble is, I don't click with very many people. And the people who do understand me...and love me regardless...are few and far between. I need more of them, or at least more visits with the existing members of this rare breed.

Anyway, I digress. I just thought I'd get in touch to say, HELLO. I'M ALIVE. Do you care? Prolly not.

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2011-06-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

Today would have been my mother's 66th birthday. I wanted it to be good, but it was bad--and for reasons totally unrelated to mother's birthday. Or so I think:

one of my stories was pulled
I either just missed or waited too long for buses
I fought all day with Mark (and he's not even in town)
I'm breaking out on my chin for unknown reasons
my brother postponed his visit next week until mid-August
I made some orzo salad with broccoli pesto and now I have impenetrable garlic breath. No amount of Breath Buddies or Listerine will help.
Furthermore, on Wednesday morning, I have to get a crown on my tooth. So, things can't be looking up since major dentistry is nothing to look forward to, physically or financially.

Happy birthday, Mom, wherever you are. Love you. But good riddance, June 27.

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2011-06-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

My sentiments about my experience with the clairvoyant last Friday: She was inaccurate. She tried to force together disparate parts of my life to invent predictions for the future. Anyone, clairvoyant or not, could have composed her insights from the information I was feeding her. What's more, she delivered the illuminations with false conviction. I fancy myself to be pretty tuned into people, so I could detect that nuance in her behavior easily. I imagine that not everyone can, which is why she has a long list of disciples. I don't doubt her clairvoyance or her training, or that at one point in her life she was quite accurate. But there ain't no chance in heck that I'm going to be one of her groupies.

(That's how I feel now. I'm still angry that I donated 3 hours of driving and $150 just to arrive at this revelation. But I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say that I'm keeping the door open--just a crack--to her predictions, no matter how inconceivable they seem to me at the moment. Because deep down, I'm a believer.)

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2011-06-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the week-long absence! A lot on my mind over the last seven days, not the least of which was weighing the benefits of a full-time job against self-employment. I took this picture today of my first summer dress of the season--a lavender pin-striped BCBG frock with eyelet trim. I wore it to a job interview an hour away in Palo Alto. My ability to endure a daily commute like this is also something I've been contemplating.

This pic is a tribute to my mother, who was an expert garage-sale, flea-market picker. Yesterday Mark and I went to the flea market and I discovered this blanket from the 1940s--it's a classic Pendleton stripe pattern, but this isn't a Pendleton. If it were, it wouldn't have the bubblegum-pink edging. And if it didn't have the bubblegum-pink edging, I wouldn't have bargained so hard for it. It's one of my most favorite finds.

2011-06-13T13:17:00.000-07:00

Confession: I'm considering seeing a clairvoyant. What do you think about that?

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Smarty Pants

2011-06-06T23:09:00.000-07:00

Today I interviewed a very intelligent woman about a book she's just written. As I was preparing for the interview, I flipped through the book, scanning vocabulary larger than my hips and thighs, and thought for sure I couldn't come up with any smarty-pants questions to ask her since I'm not that clever. I scribbled down a few queries hoping they would launch us into an organic conversation in which questions wouldn't be necessary.

We sat down to lunch at Bun Mee. I asked all my questions between bites of my succulent roast-pork sandwich and tangy-sweet green-papaya salad. We had an organic conversation that included, among some very existential analysis of architecture, our mutual love of Star Trek TNG and reality TV. At the end, she said, "You get it, you really get it. Great questions."

The takeaway? I'm smarter than I think. I should have more confidence than I do. I'm working on it.

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Eat Mostly Plants

2011-06-04T01:16:00.000-07:00

Since I'm not a ravenous book reader, I'm a minority in San Francisco. This little defect is the reason I haven't read anything by Michael Pollan, who is, like, the god of healthy and sustainable eating here. Strike two against me living in this place. It occurs to me that as my thighs rub together more and more I'd better bear in mind his mantra, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants," next time I take to the plate. Currently my mantra is "Eat food. Way too much. Mostly cheese and red meat," which is hardly healthy or sustainable. (According to my diet preferences, I should be residing somewhere in Wisconsin.) So, in the must-read list of my heart, his books are up there, and I'll get to them--that is, when television becomes extinct (am I the poster child for pre-obesity or what?). But I'm warning you--no amount of eat-mostly-plants evangelism is going to get my tastebuds to turn favorably toward tomatoes. Or radicchio. Don't much like cucumbers, either. Beans. Not a fan of beans...

Dry Spell

2011-06-02T00:38:00.000-07:00

I have the terriblest time keeping hydrated. Water's just not my swig of choice. I'm an Earth sign, and I grew up in the desert, so this is not surprising to me, necessarily. With warmer months upon us (and by "us," I mean "the rest of the northern hemisphere" not "San Francisco"), I need to do better. I bet this headache would go away and my words would just tumble out of my mouth instead of getting caught in my dry throat. And I bet I wouldn't be so cranky.

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2011-05-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

One truth I will take away from Oprah Winfrey: "God can dream a bigger dream for you than you could have ever dreamed for yourself." As someone whose dreams are slow to manifest, this meditation means everything to me.

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Lip Service

2011-05-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

I've been blessed with some pretty plush puckers, but I like hers more. Of course I do.

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2011-05-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

I realize that since this blog has been quite personal lately, this post about the color citron might seem a little out of context. Or maybe even anticlimactic. But since it's spring/summer, and I've been cooking a lot with lemons, and I just scored some Heath Ceramics limited-edition bowls and cups glazed in this hue, I should say a little something about it. And that something is...(drumroll, please)...I like citron's rebellious nature. The greenish undertone is a little off-putting. And if you don't know me by now, "off-putting" is what I do best.

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"Instructional"

2011-05-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

I've been writing professionally for a decade. I've developed a style that's been called "punchy," "witty," and "entertaining." Yesterday, someone called it "instructional"--as in, dry and lifeless. Emergency text messages seeking reassurance from my editors garnered the following responses: "No way. Overly stylized sometimes, but not instructional" and "I think they meant smart/informative." Certainly these consolations soothe the sting, but still I'm not evolved enough to take this woman's criticism with a grain of salt. So, I can't really blame her for this sudden lapse in my self-worth, now can I? That's all me.

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Wowza.

2011-05-16T22:24:00.000-07:00

Spotted these gorgeous baubles by Andy Lifschutz over at Halcyon Days today. I love their live edges. What's this I hear about Gravel and Gold hawking a few select pieces? Too tempting. A reward is in order, after all: I put the old "ask and you shall receive" adage into play today and boldly made a case for a raise from one of my clients. Let's just say the verdict came in and I have cause to celebrate. The question is, which rock to rock?

Relax, just do it.

2011-05-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Keiko wrote this morning to start making plans for our onsen (hot springs) mini-trip in Japan this summer. There's a gigantic public onsen behind her house in Kyoto, which is as far as we could get last summer since she had a new baby. This time, we're venturing on a road trip! I love staying at ryokans (Japanese inns) with onsens because the food is so good and the rooms are so cozy. The order of the day is to get into your robe, climb in and out of the hot springs, and pig out on as much gourmet Japanese food as you can. No chill pill required.

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Smile!

2011-05-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Done! Wisdom teeth gone. I've put off getting them out for 15 years. I've lost a lot of sleep over them--any inkling of pain in their vicinity, real or imagined, triggered panic. So last week, on a whim, I decided to do myself a favor and take my teeth off the anxiety list. Today I braved the procedure under local anesthesia (read: no sedation--that deserves a rock-star badge), and while there was a lot of loud grinding and tapping and wrenching to endure (a mallet was used at one point), there was no real pain, so I was only mildly traumatized. Since I had my wits about me, I was able to walk home from the doctor's office. I'm glad I did because I saw feathers in my path. A good sign. It's only a matter of days until I get my Lady Gaga smile back.

Image via Polyvore

2011-05-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

I love this. I'm a Grade A procrastinator, and this little diddy exposes/inspires me. I am happy to report that if I can't get it together career-wise, I'm going to get it together health-wise. After a two-year lapse in health insurance, I've finally signed up again (even though I can't afford it). I've made an appointment for a physical to get to the bottom of this shortness-of-breath annoyance once and for all. I am also finally going to get my wisdom teeth out (I'm so sick of phantom tooth pain--you know, where your brain thinks your mouth is aching because it feels guilty that you haven't gotten those teeth out yet). And, I'm on a pre-summer-vacation fitness regime with Mark that has us biking, yoga-ing, and kettlebelling at least three days a week until we depart for foreign lands in July. I'm excited to revisit this post in a few months to see how far I've come.

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Lady in Waiting

2011-05-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

Oh, don't mind me. I'm just waiting around--as usual. Anticipating so many things...verdicts, opportunities, mail-order packages. I discussed this constant limbo I endure with my therapist today. The prescription for the next couple of weeks is to build my meditation practice. Since it's apparent that amazing things don't just "happen" to me like they do to every other person I know, I need to enact some positive thinking and creative visualization. All this hokey stuff is usually Mark's bag, but I'm going to give it a two-week trial run. It can't hurt, right?

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Career Day

2011-05-01T21:12:00.000-07:00

Recently, a former colleague asked me, on behalf of her young daughter's friend, if I'd be willing to be interviewed about my life as a design writer. Of course, I obliged--I'll take any opportunity I can get to dissuade young'uns from embarking on this arduous, slow-moving path. That was a couple of months ago and the girl still hasn't called. Hmmm. If she ever does call, I can break it down in terms a kindergartner would understand: I write about places I could only dream of living in--my latest, shown above, is running in the latest issue California Home + Design--but can't, for the life of me, figure out how to meld my dream world with my reality. Hrrmph.

#FAIL

2011-04-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

I recently did a short interview with Joy Wilson of the popular Joy the Baker blog. After spending a hefty chunk of time going through her mouthwatering archives, I settled on making this recipe for peanut butter pretzel brownies. I consider myself a pretty good baker, but somehow I failed on this one. My version (hint: not shown above) was decidedly dry and crumbly. Where did I go wrong? I may have inadvertently scrambled the eggs in the warm chocolate mixture. I may have let the pan linger in the oven too long. I may have added the instant coffee too late. I also may have treated myself to a consolation prize to soothe my wounded pride: a latte and marshmallow dream bar from Starbucks.

Image: Joy the Baker

Getting Schooled

2011-04-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

Wow. I put this pic of my new LL Bean Signature oxfords up on Twitter and Facebook yesterday and got the most phenomenal response. I also wore them to the SF Decorator Showcase press preview this morning with a Lacoste argyle cardigan, leopard-print scarf, and jean jacket--the crowd went wild! I was shocked. After all, I'm too old to be dressing like a schoolgirl.

The Culprit

2011-04-20T00:16:00.000-07:00

Let's hear it for the pollen. I'm pretty sure my hypochondriac self has been mistaking allergies for more serious ailments, none of which I'll name here because I'm too embarrassed, but rest assured I have spent many hours over the last few weeks on WebMD trying to make heads or tails of my symptoms: dry throat, shallow breathing, difficulty speaking, to name a few. I don't know what took me so long, but I finally walked the two blocks to my local Walgreens to pick up a box of non-drowsy Claritin. I popped a pill and haven't had any problems today. I'll take another one tomorrow to see if I'm really on the right track. If I am, I can't believe that the solution was so simple, but I stayed miserable because some part of me loved the drama of it. Ugh. I make myself sick--literally and figuratively.

Image: OCC Biology Dept

Breathless

2011-04-13T23:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's stress or allergies or the cold weather (it's probably a combination of all three), but for the last month I have been literally breathless. Wondering when I'll be able to catch some air again. In the meantime, I'm turning to a regimen of yoga + steam (successively, not simultaneously--I'm not a fan of the Bikram method) to help open up my airway and lungs. Got any other home remedies for me?

On another note, isn't this image breathtaking?

It's GOOP alright.

2011-04-10T21:56:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made a culinary faux-pas: In an attempt to be healthy, I used brown-rice pasta (four grams of fiber per serving!) to make Gwyneth Paltrow's fried-zucchini spaghetti recipe. I found out the hard way that this gummy pasta doesn't work well with a dish whose sauce is basically parmesan and pasta water. What transpired was a gluey hot mess. Oh, how I wish I could blame this one on the GOOP--perfect little thing that she is--but alas, this one is all on me. The image above is how the dish was supposed to look, had I used regular pasta, like I've done, without fail, for 25 years--until now, that is.

via Food & Wine

Breaking Even

2011-03-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

Today's downside: the hour I spent in the dentist's chair getting two cavities filled (the Novocaine barely took the edge off).

Today's upside: Discovering that Lisa mentioned me in her new book's gratitude list. What a lovely surprise.

Last Chance Palm Springs

2011-03-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

Final day in Palm Springs: We did some window shopping downtown and took in a few more important architecture sites (the Palm Springs Art Museum, designed by E. Stewart Williams, and the old Tramway Gas Station--now a visitors center--by late Swiss architect Albert Frey). Tonight we're headed to the Parker Palm Springs for dinner at Mister Parker's, which I've been told by this young lady is over-the-top and completely delicious. I'll let you know tomorrow if it lives up to its legendary status.

Desert Oasis

2011-03-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

Given that San Francisco has been pounded with rain for the past week, this post about how I spent Palm Springs, Day 3 (at the Riv's pool) may appear like I'm flaunting this exceptional weather in the faces of my presumably cold, soaked friends up north. But that's not entirely true. I'm drenched, too, you know--in sun rays, that is.

House Arresting

2011-03-25T22:20:00.000-07:00

The highlight of Palm Springs, Day 2: seeing an icon of desert modernism, Richard Neutra's magnificent Kaufmann House, ~~in the flesh~~ in all its steel-douglas fir-and-glass glory. Thanks to Robert Imber of PS Modern Tours, a doyen of midcentury architecture, for his expertise and charming curbside service.

Alrighty, geeky design-writer moment over. Carry on.

Glamour Redux

2011-03-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Our room at the Riv in Palm Springs. After two days of car travel, all I want to do is crawl into that big cozy bed and relax, but I've got to get ready for dinner at the Twin Palms Estate (aka Frank Sinatra's house). I know, woe is me.

PS I LOVE YOU

2011-03-21T21:35:00.000-07:00

Remember this heartbreaking post? I'm happy to say that on Wednesday, Mark and I are headed once again--for sure, this time--to Palm Springs to stay at the newly renovated Riviera Hotel. We're on a quest to view all the major examples of midcentury architecture, hunt for treasures at famous vintage shops, hike through Indian Canyons, ride the tram, eat at Mister Parker's and Cheeky's, and indulge in one or two spa treatments--all in four days, and all in the name of, yes, a story. Sometimes, work knows no boundaries.

PS. Don't forget to check out my story on designer Andy Beers' vintage-modern home in Providence, RI. It debuts tomorrow in Rue Magazine's Issue 4.

Image: via Dwell.com

Wall of Fame

2011-03-12T19:22:00.000-08:00

Just saw The King's Speech. Loved it, and not just because I have a special place in my heart for the original Mr. Darcy. I was especially fond of Logue's consultation room, with its mottled, peeling wall of scraped and burned wallpaper. The effect is described by The Guardian as an "exotic damaged fresco." I may love the characterization even more than the wall itself.

Images: top, bottom

Japan on my mind

2011-03-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

I don't have to tell you how much Japan means to me, but if you need a reminder, read here. Please check out this photo feature from The Atlantic; hopefully it'll persuade you to donate to the Japanese Red Cross (just text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the international relief fund).

Image via the Atlantic

Darn that Sweater!

2011-03-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

As part of the research for a story I'm writing on urban homesteading, today I attended a mending workshop to help me darn the holes in my beloved cashmere house sweater. Any normal human being would have donated the sweater long ago, but I can't bear to part with something that has loyally functioned as a blanket, napkin, and snot rag. (Much to Mark's chagrin, as you can imagine.)

(Left) Setting up the weave using an orange as a darning surface; (center) I had to fortify the patch with three colors of yarn because my weaving technique was less than stellar; (right) the finished product.

Cover Girl

2011-03-03T19:39:00.000-08:00

It's not often that a feature I write ends up on the cover of a magazine. But this story about a young family's quest to lighten up an old house made it to the cover of California Home + Design. Of course, if I'm honest, I know that the cover has more to do with the photography than the actual words. Oh well. I'm still a cover girl.

(BTW, I am aware that it's kind of tacky and anticlimactic to talk about my story being on the cover, especially since I don't actually have an image of the cover to show. Sorry! You'll just have to take my word for it.)

Check out the goods here.

Back to Reality

2011-03-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

Arrived back to reality at 4:15 this morning when my plane from Kona landed at SFO. While I get my bearings, here's a photo of me on the far right leading a pack of journalists-slash-paddleboarders into the open ocean. I can't look at this image too long without getting a little teary-eyed and wistful about my vacation. I'll be back in a couple of days when I'm better rested and sharing Hawaii photos won't be so agonizing.

Take What You Need

2011-02-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

Love these clever little spins on those community fliers. Judging from my mood today, I'd tear off "You light up my life" from the compliments list and "patience" and "change" from the "Take What You Need" list. What do you feel like you need to hear (or feel) today?

Images: Free Compliments/Take What You Need

Duty Calls

2011-02-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

via

An unspoken rule I vowed to myself recently: I won't turn down any writing assignments, barring any floods, fires, acts of God, and, of course, provided said stories are within my scope of knowledge (I don't believe I'll be doing any Christiane Amanpour-type of reporting anytime soon. I'm a style writer. So sue me.) I think it's bad mojo for freelancers to turn down work, especially if you're new on the scene. Which is why I'm going to Hawaii on Thursday morning. What can I say? Duty calls.

Who's the Boss?

2011-02-17T22:23:00.000-08:00

via

Today I was bossy. Everyday, I am bossy. And while I can usually disguise this trait through a charming affectation, today I was especially bossy to people who are on the verge of thinking that I'm not charming at all, just pushy and annoying. But in my defense, my "strong recommendations"--which may be interpreted as "orders" by the aforementioned party--have their best interests in mind. I have nothing to gain or lose in their situation. In my mind, if you're asking me for advice about press and publicity, the choice is simple: listen to me and gain, or don't listen to me and lose. If you're asking me about, say, car mechanics, the choice would be equally as simple, but in the reverse. See? I'm not a know-it-all at all!

Bleeding Love

2011-02-17T00:07:00.000-08:00

I've already got a rapturous ikat-covered daybed, why not spring for an ikat tote, too? (Or rather, why not have Mark spring for the ikat tote and call it a Valentine's Day gift? In the wonderful words of a famous local interior designer, "Let's shall!")

I heart my new carryall with its bleeding geometry, don't you?

Images: via Anthropologie

Fashion to the People!

2011-02-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

Peter Samuels for 7x7

Here it is folks, the story I've been working on since mid-December: A fashion spread featuring local personal stylists Kat Yeh and Kelly Sparks of StyleKouncil. They specialize in creating effortless style on a budget--so, that's just what they did for the March 2011 fashion issue of 7x7, using current Spring runway trends as inspiration. (Local tech celeb Veronica Belmont makes a flirty appearance!) Click here to see the whole story!

Good Company

2011-02-11T10:03:00.000-08:00

Martha Stewart Living

My friend Lisa Congdon is keeping some very good company of late--she's featured in the latest Martha Stewart Living with her collection of midcentury enamelware (Cathrinholm; Dansk), right alongside Martha and her striking collection of brass objects and John Derian's assemblage of horizon paintings.

(You may or may not remember that my feature on Lisa and her Collection a Day project made the front page of the paper last Mother's Day. I like to think I was instrumental in spreading the gospel about Lisa; whether or not that thought has any basis in reality is a different story altogether.)

You'll also soon see Lisa's work on this blog permanently--she illustrated a banner for me that should be installed by this time next week, so keep checking in!

Coral Reefer

2011-02-09T22:15:00.000-08:00

via Sweetapolita

I recently wrote a story about a house in San Francisco with a lot of beautiful coral accents. The decor felt really fresh and young; the color palette a perfect counterpoint for such an old, traditional house. I'm wondering what would happen if I could perform a little instantaneous Photo Shop action and swap all the orange in my house for coral (yes, there is a difference). I'm also wondering where I can get a piece of that five-layer chocolate cake....

Squeal!

2011-02-09T16:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I exchange photos of baby animals with my editor at California Home + Design. Back in the day, gawking at cuddly critters was a way to decompress from the stresses of putting out a magazine with the most skeleton of skeleton crews. Today I challenged myself to be gracious to someone I've been fighting with, and I mentally prepared for this miraculous act by poring over photos of--you guessed it--baby critters.

Images: Top, center, bottom

Point Blank

2011-02-06T22:30:00.000-08:00

"Fill in the Blank" by Filthy Home

I swear this is no justification for having nothing to blog about, but my brain has been filled with empty thought bubbles for the last week! There are a few touchy conversations of late that I have chosen to delete. Now the other meaningful exchanges I've had with my nearest and dearest can slowly reclaim their rightful places in my memory.

PS. I love how this wallpaper by Filthy Home read my mind.

The Rule that Rules

2011-02-03T10:24:00.000-08:00

leslie*thomson flickr

There's one rule I live by unwaveringly: I only drink one coffee per week--a decaf latte. It mostly has to do with the fact that I've been pounding tea for, oh I don't know, 30 years or so, and I just can't bring myself to give up my identity as a tea drinker. (Even though I do love the taste of coffee, and coffee ice cream is my favorite ice cream, and I'd love to walk around with a bag of fresh-roasted coffee beans attached to my nose.) Besides, I only drink decaf joe--I think the 11th Commandment says, "thou shall not be a true coffee lover if thou only consumes decaf."

Boho Mojo

2011-01-31T04:23:00.000-08:00

Asos Spring 2011 via Fashionista

File under: Big-time dress envy.

Are We Having Font Yet?

2011-01-27T23:31:00.000-08:00

via

I'm currently on the hunt for a special font. My new blog banner, which is being hand-drawn by one of my favoritest illustrators ever, requires it. I came across a post on this blog featuring 40 different hand-lettered signs and instantly felt transported back in time. I'm sure it's no huge revelation that handmade signs aren't just a piece of Americana (which I'm a sucker for), they're also dying art form (which I'm also a sucker for). These are a few of my favorites from that nostalgic round-up.

Honey Got Me Hooked (on you....)

2011-01-27T09:07:00.000-08:00

Grant me this one moment of vanity, will you? I'm so deadline-weary and bragging isn't really something I do on this blog (well, except here). BUT. I EFFING LOVE MY STORY IN THE LATEST RUE MAGAZINE. Visually, it's amazing, of course. But those words, those words! Hopefully you can tell that it was a sheer joy to write (how could it not be? Look at those stunning interiors! Tamara Kaye-Honey, you're my favorite today). Love my job. Love it.

Click here and go to page 143.

Images: Teri Lyn Fisher via Rue Magazine

Just Plain Tuckered

2011-01-26T22:06:00.000-08:00

via

I want to push the button that will let me do this for two days.

The Truth About Photo Shoots

2011-01-25T19:28:00.000-08:00

Outtake from my fashion shoot

To most people, the glamorous part of my job probably appears to be producing design and fashion photo shoots for various magazines. It's true, the lights, cameras, and action drive up the adrenaline levels, while the beautiful clothes and gorgeous interiors often make your heart ache from sheer, unadulterated, want and need. Sometimes, the body is not up for such conflicting sensations.

The truth is, photo shoots aren't glamorous at all. They take weeks (often months) to produce: schedules need to be coordinated, fees need to be agreed upon, models need to be hired, props need to be bought. You show up to photo shoots wearing your grungiest because you need to be comfortable and there's a lot of dirty work to be done (dusting, sweeping, stain removal--you name it). Something always goes wrong. Not to mention the fact that in the face of all this beauty, you are constantly challenged to feel adequate about your less-magnificent existence. Or is that just me?

Aiming High

2011-01-24T05:03:00.000-08:00

Mark circa 1974

Happy Monday! A few days ago I caught Mark making a list of all the people he would give money to if (read: when) he wins the lottery. It warmed my heart (and not just because I'm at the top of the list). That's my man--ever shooting for the stars.

Those Surfer Dudes

2011-01-19T09:29:00.000-08:00

via SFGATE

A story I wrote about the Woodshop crew is out in the paper today. Despite some copyediting mistakes in the online version (aargh--my pet peeve), and the fact that it's a little jagged in a few of the transitions (I'm guessing some copy got cut due to being over word count), it's still a pretty good story about some talented surfers makin' stuff out of wood.

The Corner Office

2011-01-18T00:49:00.000-08:00

via Sacramento Street

I recently spied the above image on the WWW and thought it was, intention-wise anyway, similar to my own humble home office, located in our bedroom:

Note the close-quarters bicycle storage--de rigueur for small-space living! Listen, I know my corner office isn't as charming as the one above (for starters, my blackboard is for impending deadlines, not sappy endearments--those are written on the orange chalkboard we painted on our front door), but I love it anyway.

The lowdown on my space: vintage framed blackboard and vintage chair from Design Quarter; Peekaboo console/desk from CB2; industrial-style desk lamp from Ikea; Maple Falls bedding from Anthropologie; velvet tufted headboard in pewter from Urban Outfitters; red dhurrie by John Robshaw, first mentioned here.

Do the Hustle

2011-01-16T22:51:00.000-08:00

Urban Outfitters Print Shop

Every serious freelancer survives by these words. In fact, I have the hustle to thank for the very auspicious start to my new year, so I think I'll say a rejoiceful* and gratitudinous** prayer. It goes a little something like this: Hallelujah for the bumper-to-bumper traffic jam of assignments I've gotten myself into this month! Amen!

*, **: According to Bruce Mau's Incomplete Manifesto, which I mentioned here, inventing new words is part of the growing process (see No. 28). These fresh new additions to my lexicon are copyrighted, so don't go swiping them without my permission, ya hear?

In a Fog

2011-01-13T17:43:00.000-08:00

Here's the thing about photo shoots: No matter how many sun salutations you do, they never fail to transpire on bad-weather days.

It's especially problematic when you're shooting in the Oakland Hills, and half the house you're shooting is made of glass. Here's an outtake from my afternoon, starring photographer extraordinaire, Gabriela Hasbun (seen here taking a portrait of our subject--who must remain anonymous until the magazine hits the stands.)

By the way, if anyone knows where I can find this guy, Murphy (you know, of Murphy's Law fame), let me know. I've got a few choice words for him.

Living Dead

2011-01-12T05:41:00.000-08:00

Style.com via Ruby Press

Am I missing something here? I know models generally don't carry expressions on their faces, but if I were wearing this dress from J. Mendel's pre-Fall 2011 collection, I wouldn't look like a scorned apparition wandering the earth for all eternity to avenge a broken heart. I'm aware that hell hath no fury like a you-know-what, but save it for the re-enactments on Celebrity Ghost Stories. Frankly, a spectacular gown like this deserves better than a zombie.

UPDATE (1/16/11): Dianna Agron from Glee wore this dress on the Golden Globes red carpet. Mucho gorgeouser*, no?

*Gorgeouser? Yes, gorgeouser. I'm growing my vocabulary by inventing my own words. Please refer to this footnote for an explanation.

Loveliest of Loveseats

2011-01-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

via Design Within Reach

Dear God, it's me Leilani.

If you could just put me in the direct path of a monetary windfall (MegaMillions works), I could buy this sweet little Poet sofa by late Danish designer Finn Juhl and not choke on its $8,000 price tag. I think you'll agree that besides the shocking cost, it's the loveliest of loveseats. In exchange, I will try really hard to be even lovelier to my boyfriend and others out there who have felt my wrath.

Thanks for your consideration. Please have a great day.

Designer Vouyeurism

2011-01-10T05:37:00.000-08:00

Images: Leslie Williamson/Rizzoli

So much of this blog is a self-deprecating showcase of my neuroses and other cranky gripes, but today I think I'll spend a little time patting myself of the back. The San Francisco Chronicle story I wrote on local photographer/author Leslie Williamson and her four-year book project, Handcrafted Modern was on the front page of the Sunday early edition. It's a good story. A really good story. How could it not be, what with all the yummy details of iconic midcentury-modern designers' private domains? You can't make this stuff up, from the wire-rimmed spectacles that Charles Eames used in a Benjamin Franklin costume to the bath towels that Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius self-monogrammed with black marker. It's the perfect teaser for Williamson's book, an insidery, 224-page homage to her favorite designers, lovingly rendered, beautifully detailed, and worth reading. (That is, if you're a design lover and not still buying your furniture at Macy's. OMG, you're not still buying your furniture at Macy's are you?)

The Vamoose

2011-01-07T10:03:00.000-08:00

All images via The Vamoose

So impressed was I by designer Kathryn Blackmore's From the Earth blog post recently that I just had to post a few of her gorgeous juxtapositions here. I think the words I used on Twitter were "achingly beautiful" and "masterpiece."

And now for the token vanity/self-deprecation portion of the program (there's one in every post I do, isn't there?): Clearly, there is room for improvement on my blog. I mean, I'm not exactly making intelligent connections between high fashion and the earth's landscape. I'm throwing on posts about trench coats and vintage enamel cookware and complaining about lost vacations. And don't even get me started on my proud acquisition of Clark's Wallabees. Can you imagine Wallabees fitting into one of Kathryn's juxtapositions? Paired with what? A lump of poo? I'm hardly operating at breathtaking heights, here. Gah. Just one more thing to add to my list of inadequacies.

In the Trenches

2011-01-06T09:15:00.000-08:00

via J.Crew

There are two things every reporter needs: A good notebook (I use Postalco for on-the-run notes and Moleskine to keep my priceless interview questions) and a trench coat. I'm a big believer in dressing the part, but I am also currently trenchless since I gave away my beautiful jacket a few weeks ago.

I now crave the Icon trench from J.Crew, in a light khaki flavor for, you know, authenticity. Problem is, it's pricey. Should I buy it and equalize the guilt and the bank account by enacting another online shopping moratorium for the next six weeks? I could do it. If the circumstances require, I can be steadfast. Unwavering. A veritable brick wall, if you will.

In Praise of Pots and Pans

2011-01-05T04:41:00.000-08:00

via Apartment Therapy

My mother was a fervent collector of vintage French Le Creuset and Belgian Descoware, which I am now so proud to own. (She was never a cook, mind you, she just liked the stuff that cooks accumulate.) I've got saute pans, frying pans, small pots, medium saucepans, large soup pots, and kettles in colors ranging from blue to orange to yellow to white. When visitors walk through my kitchen and food is sizzling and braising and boiling away on the stove in such vibrant, hefty cookware, I imagine they're pretty damned jealous. I would be, too.

I should get smart and display my lovelies on a rack like Jesse & Leia did in their Santa Barbara kitchen above. My stuff is hidden away in cabinets, only emerging from their dark containment when I need something to eat. Bad design writer! Bad.

A Premonition

2011-01-02T23:41:00.000-08:00

via Vintage National Geographic Scans

As you might know, moving to Kyoto in 1998 was a major milestone in my life, if not the majorest. I had a dream last night that took me back to the days before I embarked on that journey, packing and organizing my affairs from my home in New Mexico, unknowing that I would not return stateside for almost four years.

During those four years, I did a lot of traveling around Asia, made a lot of friends, fell in love with four men (in three different countries), and picked up a language. I was confident, carefree, and, in retrospect, happy.(You should know by now that I am incapable of recognizing happiness even when I am in the throes of being happy.)

Since I have a short history of premonitory dreams, I'm inclined to believe that this one is conveying another wonderfully transformative journey in my future. I'm excited because a meaningful adventure is always high on my to-do list. I can't imagine what it might be, or when it will reveal itself, but I hope that it transports me back to that confident, carefree, happy place. Now that would be amazing.

Debbie Harry Read my Mind!

2010-12-31T05:47:00.000-08:00

via FFFFound!

The posture, the scowl: my sentiments exactomundo.

I Want to be Her!

2010-12-28T21:54:00.000-08:00

via I Want to be Her!

Inspired by this cute illustration from my new favorite fashion-blog obsession, I Want to be Her! (the brainchild of Andrea Linnet, a co-founder and former creative director of Lucky Magazine), I am now the proud new owner of a pair of classic Clark's Wallabees. I know Clark's has a crunchy reputation, but I swear, their Originals line is so damn clunky-wonderful, especially when juxtaposed with more feminine pieces. Definitely not for the Louboutin set, though. That's okay, I'll never be a card-carrying member of that circle anyway. And I'm sure my feet are ever grateful.