July 29, 2010
Yorktown Road is one of those lovely Etsy shops that just makes you want to click on everything! I first spotted the gorgeous bags on the Etsy front page and I instantly had to check out the whole shop! Carol, the genius behind Yorktown Road, does a beautiful job making impeccable clutches and handbags that are so perfect, they could be in an art gallery!
Q. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Carol. I live near San Francisco with my husband, 3 children and far more books, stuffed animals and Legos than any one family should own. I like old things and amaze my husband by how often I will go to the grocery store but return with a carload of mid-century chairs, tables, shelves or some other crazy piece in need of refurbishing which I found for free on a street corner. I’m weak that way. I like to goof around with my kids, exercise a lot and enjoy exploring local parks and trails with my family.
I worked for many years as Director of Stores and Retail Operations for Esprit (U.S.) and the experience was amazing. I left when I had my son and decided to take time to nurture all of my creative interests. It has been an incredible journey of discovery and I have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of accomplishing. Most importantly, I am so happy each day to do this work that I do.
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July 28, 2010
Mornings and evenings have always been my favorite parts of the day. Tonight I’m all snuggled up with a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit. The last of the sunshine looks pretty on the trees and Cors is worn out from his walk. It’s the little things, isn’t it?
It seems like the perfect time of day to share some of my favorite pretty things with you!
First up, Poketo’s new line for Target. It’s so lovely and I just love their cute promo photos!
poketo for target
poketo for target
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July 27, 2010
I love following Erin’s Life List and Kara’s Do Projects and after watching them tick things off their fun to-dos, I decided it was time to jump in and make a list of my own! I’m such a list person; a little project like this was just the thing for me! So I sat down and put pen to paper.
photo by elsie*cake
A few odds and ends about my list: 1) I tried to write down both things I could probably do this year and things that are more life time goal-like. 2) It’s a list of things that want to do and if they sound silly or selfish (no making fun!), and 3) If it sounds like fun jump in and write a list of your own!
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July 27, 2010
I had a little “Ahh! I need to get out of this office!” moment today so during my lunch break I wondered around campus and took a few photos. Most of the campus is doesn’t have much in the way of landscaping, but lots of trees and natural areas and a few wildflowers. It’s pretty in a quiet way, just the thing I needed!
So here are a few photos from my little wonder around…
tree bokeh
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July 26, 2010
I’ve had music on my mind a lot lately, ever since awesome internet friend, Kara (she was just in Elle Girl Korea!) suggested we do a little music swap. I was totally up for it: time to whip up two mixed CDs a piece. Okay, let’s do this!
Well, Friday I got my two fab mixes from Kara complete with lovely packaging…
…and so far I have about four playlists started and none finished. I don’t have any excuses other than being too much of a perfectionist and trying to make the best mix ever. So tonight I decided it was time to sit down with a cup of coffee and whip up two great mixes!
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July 26, 2010
My weekend projects were pretty domestic this time around. I spent most of Sunday making the most delicious dessert ever! It was totally worth the whole day ordeal project!
I love almonds and plums and I kept seeing so many fab looking plums in the stores lately that I decided it was finally time to pull out a recipe from this book that I’d been wanting to try for ages! I gathered up three different types of plums and a bunch of almonds and made a Bakewell plum and almond tart. I think it’s the tastiest thing I’ve ever made!
The first step was to make the crust and freeze it. After the crust had been in the freezer for an hour I rolled it out and lined my tart pan with the dough. After I “crinkled” the sides, the crust went back into the freezer for 30 minutes.
While the crust was chilling made the almond filling by combining the blanched almonds, flour, butter, eggs, and just a bit of vanilla in the food processor. Then it was time to make the plum jam. By the way, I am totally hooked on making jam now! It’s so easy and delicious!
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July 23, 2010
Oh my goodness, today has been one silly day of work! My positivity and patience were getting a little worn out so I went digging for some pretty things and I found lots!
I thought you could use a bit of pretty to get you through that last and slowest part of the work day or maybe you could just use a little more sweetness in your free time!
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July 23, 2010
I can’t remember how I first came across Little Brown Pen, the blog of Nicole Robertson, but I remember spending a few hours reading through her archives over multiple cups of coffee. Not a bad way to spend a morning!
Nicole’s writing is so witty that I pretty much always end up laughing at the stories she shares of her daily life. And I’m constantly tempted to heart her entire flickr photostream, which full of wonderful shots of Paris. (I just hearted this sweet shot today!) I am so excited that she was up for adding a post of her own to the My Hometown guest blogger series!
I grew up in bucolic Lancaster, County, PA, but it took years of living in NYC and other urban environments for me to appreciate its charm.
My parents still live there, and these days we find every excuse to go back. As soon as I see my favorite rolling hill, I feel at home. Much of my time there revolves around regional food and backyard time, so my typical day is pretty high on the gluttony scale.
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July 20, 2010
Hellooo from sunny (read: currently hot, deathly hot) Southern California! This is Ash, one of the bloggers at tea@elevensies, and I’ll be showing you around my recently adopted hometown, the city of angels. LA can be pretty brash and uncultured, especially when you compare it to other, older cities. But something about the sprawling hills it covers, the nearly 365 days of sunshine, the disenchanted glitter of Hollywood, and the insane diversity of its residents — all these things kind of make you love it all the more.
source 1 2 3
If you’re ever visiting, do yourself a favor and rent a convertible (or help a city out and pick a hybrid), throw on your hipster shades, and plan some stops at a few tried and true places, genuine, interesting places that don’t cost a whole lot of moolah to enjoy.
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