I was catching up on one of my favorites, Julia (always tons of amazing inspiration), and came across Jen over at Simply Photo. I was immediately smitten with these photos. Jen, photographer and blogger over at Simply Photo, has a new book, Simply Paris, almost ready to launch. You can preview it here. After cruising through her blog, I must admit, I have a new girl crush (sorry Jen), I can’t help it. You are super talented and my kinda girl. Hope you don’t mind, I’m sure you get this often. Enjoy everyone.

I have a new blog crush. It’s even*cleveland. Don’t you love it when a blog reads your mind? Well even cleveland has been reading mine. Everything posted is pure perfection. Right down to Pentagram’s What Type Are You post.

Apparently I’m emotional, understated, progressive and disciplined. And the type that fits my personality… Archer Hairline.  You can take the test yourself here. The password: character.

Addendum: After posting, I realized the K.I.D header Celeste designed for me is not a far cry from the Archer Hairline. Maybe this was her inspiration? Here’s another blurb about the font that’s my new found favorite.

Archer, the colorful slab serif. Sweet but not saccharine, earnest but not grave, Archer is designed to hit just the right notes of forthrightness, credibility, and charm. Designed by: Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones

The awesome thing about vacation is taking time off and spending it with people you love. The not so awesome thing about vacation is catching up after said vacation. I’m in up to my eyeballs people. I’ll try to get back here in the next few days. Until then, take a look at some images from one of my Christmas gifts from Jevan.

We followed Emily’s tradition of 4 gifts: Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read. It was a fun way to think about gifts for one another. And I’ll tell you, it was even more fun watching Jevan open his gifts and determine the category they fall under.

The gift I’m sharing from Jev falls in the Something to Read Category. It’s called Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers. It’s already getting some use. I’m even taking it to a meeting this afternoon.

And if you need further proof that I don’t sit around and surf the internet all day, not that that’s a bad thing, because there are days I would love to do just that, here’s a little blurb on a project I worked on with my old firm that just finished. If you get the Denver Post, it’s planned to run either January 9 or 16. Talk soon. Promise.

All things obsolete. Funny, sad and scary. There’s an entire tumblr dedicated to the concept here and a book you can buy here.

7:59 AM Remove cats from head and drag myself out of bed.

8:32 AM Juice, yogurt, and about 37 vitamin supplements.  Wonder to myself why they haven’t just created one super-huge capsule already?

8:40 AM Realize that this sad shoe selection is the downfall to nearly every outfit I pull together.  This must be amended, and fast. Currently eying these Isabella boots. I could wear them with anything. Or these caged heels. Love all the cut outs! They would be great with bright blue wool tights this fall.

9:01 AM Arrive at the D&D Building for annual “Market Week” which is actually just a two day event.  A series of talks and presentations on all things new in the world of interior design.  There was a whole thing on blogging and how it can be super-effective for marketing a new career!

9:02 AM Regret that I did not bring my own coffee as there is none available here!

11:01 AM Coffee dilemma is averted, and bonus: I’ve just been inspired by the fabric printing process!  So fascinating.  I wish I could set up a Barbie size fabric printing table in my living room.  Imagine the wee couture items that could be created!

Chocolate Milk Mustache Monkey vs. Skittish Lamp Monkeys

1:45  PM Had my palm read by a psychic hired by a carpet showroom. Go figure. According to Madame Sherrie Lynne, I am a silly person who needs to be more silly all the time, especially while working.  Also, there were lots of cards involving celebrating and drinking from huge cups. Apparently, things are looking pretty good for me!  I’m not even making this up.

3:15  PM Reviewed potential “must-bid” items from Tepper Galleries Auction preview of the late designer David Barrett’s estate. Due to estimate price, I “must-not-bid” on this chaise, but I’m thinking that Mr. Barrett has validated my obsession to hand paint cheap-o Parsons chairs into odd masterpieces!

5:12  PM Meet famed designer, Jan Showers, at a book signing.  After looking at her book, I quickly realize that I would like for Jan Showers to adopt me. She signed mine: “To Erin:  May you always have glamour in your life!  All best, Jan”.  Sadly, this will never come to pass.

6:35 PM Upholster this cast-off footstool using a fabulous black calfskin (similar to calfskin in photo), a gift from my B.F.F. upholsterer, Fausto.  Now to reattach the horns so said stool has the ability to support weight of an actual foot. If you are interested in Fausto’s contact info, let me know.

7:15 PM Brooklyn in a chilled glass! Jesse’s special house-made Amer Picon, rye and a splash of blood orange bitters. Perfection on such a blustery evening. Check out the recipe here.

9:10 PM Catch up on the first season of Mad Men.  Yes, I’ve clearly been living under a rock for the past three years.  I love the aesthetic of this show, but all the smoking makes me physically ill.

11:23 PM Email this list of random things I did today to Casey.  (Hopefully she will continue to speak to me.)

when I found out there’s a new online magazine called Lonny. As I’m slow to posting, I’m sure you have already read through most, if not all of it. I quickly flipped through when I first got the news. I can’t wait to have more time to go through it again. Lonny was co-created by Domino editors, Michelle Adams and partner Patrick Cline, and was named for London and New York. I’ve pulled together a few of my favorite vignettes. Be sure to check it out in the full screen version.

Weekend mornings are relished in my house. Ideally they involve sleeping in, strong coffee, playing with the pup and making breakfast. Usually in that order. If you know me, you know breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I would skip every other meal just to have breakfast. While I don’t always eat a big breakfast, often a piece of toast is just enough, I never miss at least having a little something. I love making breakfast almost as much as I love eating it. I would host brunch for 20 in a heartbeat over dinner for 8. There’s something about the combination of savory and sweet and planning a meal that’s going to last way into the afternoon, and sometimes evening, that gets me a little giddy.

Recently I picked up Molly Wizenberg’s new book, A Homemade Life. I first came across her via Orangette, her weekly blog and musings on food. She’s a bit of a renaissance woman, with a degree in human biology, French and cultural anthropology. She writes for Bon Appetit, NPR, PBS, Seattle weekly among others. And if that isn’t enough, she, alongside her husband (who she met via her blog) have just opened a new restaurant called Delancey in Seattle. Many meals in my home have been inspired by her recipes and antics, you can’t help but love her.

I’m a 1/3 of the way through her book and have made 3 recipes so far, all with a great story. Each thing I made was exactly what I was hoping it would be. One in particular I want to share, hope she doesn’t mind. You’ll have to pick up the book to see the rest.

Burg’s French Toast
makes 6 to 8 slices
3 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
Canola or other flavorless oil for frying
6 to 8 slices of day old bread cut on the diagonal 3/4″ thick
Pure maple syrup

Preparation
Break the eggs into a wide, shallow bowl. Flat bottom works best here but a bowl will do. Whisk the eggs to break up the yolks. Add the milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and nutmeg and whisk to blend.

Place a heavy large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium high heat, and pour enough oil to completely coat the bottom of the skillet. By completely coat, she means, this isn’t the breakfast where you are watching your calorie or fat consumption. This is what makes the french toast the best french toast ever. The only regret you might have with this recipe would be not following the instructions regarding the oil amount. Heat the oil until, when tested with a quick splash of water or egg batter, it sizzles. Then it’s ready.

While the oil is heating put a few slices of bread into the egg mixture allowing them to rest for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side. They should feel heavy and saturated but not to the point where they are falling apart. Once fully saturated, carefully place each piece in the skillet and cook 1 to 2 minutes before flipping. Flip when they have reached a golden brown. If the bread starts to burn before it turns golden, turn the heat down. You don’t want smoking. Once each side is browned remove from skillet and place on a plate lined with paper towels.

I like to serve my toast with fresh blueberries, thick cut smoked bacon, warm maple syrup (the real stuff) and a big iced coffee. I’m sure strawberries, peaches or bananas would be just as great as would chicken apple sausage.

Less than a handful of years ago a small group of friends and I took a weekend trip to Austin. We went for the micheladas, the brisket and the humidity, believe it or not. We also went for the culture indicative only in Austin, keep Austin weird has long been the motto. Most importantly we went for the music. The Austin City Limits music festival to be precise. Jevan, then boyfriend, and I rounded up a group of BBQ loving music goers and made our way South.

When planning a trip of this caliber, one in which people will be meeting for the very first time and there is only one hotel room, it’s obvious everyone should get along. Because, Austin in September with 90,000 other festival goers isn’t the most glamorous of vacations. Add sharing a hotel room with 4 adults and the anti is just upped. Unexplainable things happen after drinking Lone Stars all day, eating brisket and wearing sandals. One Meggan aptly dubbed body mud. Needless to say, it’s close quarters and getting along with hotel-mates is required.

Little did anyone expect this little weekend getaway would spark a relationship. A relationship so perfect, everyone said, why didn’t we think of that, even with 1200 miles separating the two. I was even in denial for a little while. Not because I didn’t want it to happen. I didn’t want it to not happen. Not soon enough, everything became real and Meggan picked up her world in Atlanta and moved to Denver. Finally I could uncross my fingers.
What began as a weekend trip, transformed into Meggan and Beau traveling the world to fulfill their dreams. As the name, The World Effect, implies, they want to see what effect the world will have on their lives. In turn they will do everything possible to make a positive effect on the world we live in. Impressive to say the least. Let them be your inspiration for the week, month or however long you decide. They are out there making something cool happen instead of waiting for it to come to them.

Recently, I Skyped with Meggan and Beau to check in on how their trip is going. They agreed to answer 7 questions for me.

1. Give me some trip stats (last updated June 17, 2009).
We have a trip score card we update regularly on the right side of our blog but here’s the latest
Countries – 21
Travel Days – 125
Boats – 17
Trains – 12
Buses – 52
Airplanes – 29

2. What is the most unusual thing you have attempted to eat?
Guinea Pig in Peru. I (Meggan) picked out a live one at the market and it was promptly cooked for dinner. Probably won’t do that one again. No, it wasn’t like chicken.

3. What is your favorite place so far?
The 4 day hike to Machu Picchu and climbing the last 50 steps to a thick layer of fog. At first, the fog was disappointing because we wanted to see everything. Once it lifted we had the most incredible view. So surreal. The clouds, fog and mist only added to the drama.

4. You take incredible photos. Each time I look at your blog, I’m continually impressed. What kind of camera do you use?
We have 2 camera bodies: Canon 40D and a 50D (because we don’t share well when it comes down to who gets to shoot, we both love photography). We have 4 lenses: an all around 17-85mm, a telephoto 70-300mm, a wide 10-22mm, and a macro 100mm. We also lug around a manfrotto tripod. Our video camera is a sony HD handycam.

5. You packed light, a rolling backpack and a small day pack for an entire year. What are a few things you can’t live without?
For simply living, we would have to say sunscreen, bug spray, and bottled water. For non essentials, we use our laptop and cameras everyday.

6. On a trip like this, you take the minimum. I know you both paired down your bags. Now that you’ve been traveling for over 100 days, are there things you can live without?
Beau would say his solar power charger. I would say maybe I could have done with less clothes, but I have worn everything I brought.

7. What’s next?
We have been in Africa since early June, mostly in a tent. We are heading north and planning to visit Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Egypt through the beginning of August. Then on to a new continent.

photos: the World Effect LLC.

My father in law is a poet, among many other things, and a prolific one at that. He writes at least 3 poems a week and shares them with family and friends. In honor of father’s day and all the dad’s out there I thought I would share some of his work. Happy Father’s Day!

Lake Effect

A single fish leapt from a tired lake
in quiet time’s best moment,

its ruddy sheen a glint in June’s near sun,
scales of silver coins shone and tempted
like a ballerina’s milky pink
bare shoulder,

seconds flashed and poured like rain
or bright revealed light,
drenched the boat of foreign tourists
with joyful scintillated pleasure,

a lone trout alive in dual commingling
worlds of air and fluid,
mystery–dripped and daring,
this gleaming Piscean druid

an exclamation point
marked the day’s
unwritten story
in swift explosion
of sheer so sudden
wonder sparked
in steaming
measure,

as life brought
forth again
its purely
grateful
treasure.

Peter J. Lautz June 16, 2009

Photo: Pastoral Switzerland by Katarina

H(y)R collective
Updates on classic, well made apparel. Most everything they post has that timeless quality. They also put together an online magazine with interviews and columns all with their east coast twist.

A Continuous Lean
Lots of memorabilia and antics on all things American. To not like the blog would almost be un-American.

Josh Spear
While no longer all male writers, Josh Spear and company are local trend spotters.

Pacing the Panic Room
Great photos and weekly updates of a new family in the making. The stories are no holds bar. You get more than a peak in the life of this growing family. And I have to admit, I went back and looked at every single weekly pregnancy post since the beginning. Because, after all, they are that good.