reporting back.

I totally forgot to update on the hair mask endeavor (see here for the post about it)! Turns out it works great, who knew some olive oil and essential oil could be that easy? It will bring you pretty close to feeling like you could be compete to get on to a pantene pro-v commercial. My hair is much smoother and shinier today....I swear it!

Couple quick recommendations:
1. Do a couple rounds of shampoo and conditioner in the shower when you are washing it all out after. My hair was oily the next day (imagine that), and it needed some more washing out.
2. I actually mixed it up, put it in the refrigerator, and then by mistake forgot about it. I finally got around to using it a couple days later and it was completely fine having sat in the refrigerator. So, you could always just mix up a bunch, put it in the fridge and have it at the ready for the next time you need it!

light it up.

Assuming I stay in my apartment for another year, I need some more lamps to light it up. Fortunately, summer means I have some breathing room and I can hopefully hunt down some sweets deals. Below are two recent finds that caught my eye...what do you think?

Maison Luxe - Mercury Glass Milk Bottle Table Lamp

West Elm - Sphere Table Lamp

adidas again.

I need some new running shoes. Thinking of heading back to the land of Adidas. Particularly loving these Response Cushion 20 Shoes.

And then also loving these Julrunner Shoes for casual wear.

pillows again.

I am in no need of new pillows, but look at these beautiful ones from Caitlin Wilson Textiles!

iceland addition.

Ben and I are in an ongoing conversation about where we should go on our next trip. Up until about two weeks ago, the list was see-sawing between two places, one of which is Morocco (see here for the blog post). But there's a new dark horse that I have added to the list. This place has real potential and from the reading I have done so far on it, I am intrigued to say the least.

Say hello to Iceland!

That's right...the island between Greenland and Europe is really quite something. Let me lay out some of my sale's pitch on this one. The landscape and colors are striking. Iceland's south coast is stunning. The eastern fjords would make for an incredible jaunt. There are volacanos and lots of seismic activity to make it interesting. The fisherman towns are picturesque. The highlands in Landmannalauger are apparently a must-stop. Husavik is considered Europe's whale-watching capital. I love whales! Of course, the blue lagoon is awesome. And, from what I understand, highway 1, circles the entire country, so you can basically wrap around through it all.

Just wanted to update you on this latest development. Oh yeah...and it's cheap right now. Super cheap! Thoughts?!

a loving reminder.

Joanna Goddard linked to this wedding story on her blog last week. It is devastatingly beautiful. I cried. A simple reminder of what love is really for and about...

trick of the trade (vol. 3).

Apparently, this trick of the trade is already widely known. I just discovered it last week, and so I am assuming there must be some others out there who don't know yet the easy way to do an image search on google. Do you ever see a picture or photograph online and want to know the original source? It happens to me all the time. Here is your answer!

1. Take this photo below as an example. 

2. Save the image to your desktop. 

3. Go to www.google.com

4. At the top of the website page, click on "images". It should look like below now. 

5. Next, drag your image that is on your desktop on top of the google search bar in your web browser.

6. Wa-la! Google will generate an image search and come up with a list of sources for you. 

There you have it. It's an Ansel Adams photograph and if you scroll farther down the page there are a variety of websites, including the official Ansel Adams site for the photograph. 

hair therapy.

I was walking behind a woman yesterday on the way into the office and her hair was incredibly shiny. Her shiny hair reminded me about this olive oil hair mask idea that I read about earlier this month.

It seems pretty easy and straight forward and I am never against trying something new (remember this apple cider vinegar post?!). Here is the breakdown:

• In a glass jar, combine 5 or 6 drops of your favorite essential oil with 1/2 cup of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Mix well and stick it in the fridge for an hour.
• Rinse your hair with warm water and drape a towel around your shoulders.

• Scoop a tablespoon or so of the mask into your hands and gently massage into your entire scalp with your fingertips. Massage or comb the mask through your hair with wide-tooth comb, adding a little extra to the ends of your hair.

• Wrap your hair in a towel or shower cap and let the mask soak into the hair for 30 minutes to an hour.

• Rinse and shampoo as usual.
• If you prefer a tropical scent, make this hair mask with extra virgin coconut oil instead. 

So, I am going to give it a go at some point this weekend....stay tuned!

tapas time.

Boqueria finally opened this week in DC! I can't wait to go and thank god for something new in Dupont. The peek at the menu looks potentially fantastic and the photos inside might just mean a great spot. Both Washingtonian and Eater ran sneak-peeks (see below) in the last week and it is officially on my short list to hit up soon!

subscribed.

Hannah, my sister-in-law, got me a subscription to Anthology Magazine! It was such a nice surprise in the mail this week, especially in what turned out to be a pretty rough week. Hannah also has incredible taste and I am always admiring her style and creative eye. I am so excited to get Anthology in the mail. I combed through my first issue eating up every page...wanting to turn to the next but not wanting to finish the magazine. I love it and am already looking forward to the next issue!

listing it out.

I am a list-maker. I live by my weekly to-do list that I keep in my planner and I have a second of complete satisfaction when I cross things off the list. While, I am old school and prefer writing out my lists, the below app, TeuxDeux, should appeal to my fellow list-makers out there! It has a brower app to use on your main computer and an app to use on your iphone and they sync with each other. I like the simple design and if I were of the new school class of thought that uses technology in place of ink, I would go for this!

old kentucky home.

Tickets for the 2012 Outstanding in the Field season went on sale today and Ben I are headed to Louisville in October! Our dinner will be in Goshen on the Woodland Farm and we could not be more excited. They even have a herd of bison on the farm!

On top of the fabulous meal and evening with Outstanding in the Field, I am very excited we chose Kentucky. My Mom is from Kentucky and I spent many spring breaks in Louisville visiting my grandparents. I haven't been back since they moved away when I was in high school and it is sure to be a very different experience not staying at the house on Ransdell Avenue. But we are going to get our fill of blue grass, horses, bourbon, my family nostalgia, and some southern charm!

beautiful decay.

I have been trying to put my finger on why Detroit is so captivating. Last year, Ben and I went by the old train station in downtown. It is haunting and yet so beautiful.

Last week, it hit me. It is such beautiful decay. In Detroit, it is of course sad. But, I have been hunting around for more images to show what I am talking about. See below...isn't the peeling paint, rust, and decay just gorgeous?

 

*note: these photos were taken from pinterest, photographer unknown. 

assigned reading.

Two weeks ago I read this profile in Newsweek on Aung Sung Suu Kyi. I was reading it for some background on another topic I was researching and it has been in my head ever since. You have to read it. Go. Now. Read it.

I already knew a good deal about Aung Sung Suu Kyi, about Burma, and of course Hillary's visit last fall only helped to bring attention to it all. But my god, this story. Again, go read it now. I promise you will finish it and be moved (it isn't long but you have to work yourself into the first couple paragraphs). Her life and story are tragic...and yet not over. We usually read these profiles on the front page of the NYTimes as an obituary, and here we have history and such an incredible story happening in the moment. If I haven't convinced you yet, let me put it this way, this is one of the ultimate love stories. In terms of integrity and honor, I am not sure who else quite comes close to the standard she is setting. I am in awe. Just struck and wowed and inspired by her.

smithsonian contest.

The finalists have been chosen for the Smithsonian's photo contest. Some of the photographs are simply amazing. You can take a look here and I am including just a couple of my favorites below!

brighten up.

Bright colors seem to be leading the way to warm weather right now...I love all of the below for the summer months!

Etsy - Turquoise Four Leaf Necklace

Tortoise Jet Set Watch 

H&M Marni Top

Splendid Tee Maxi Dress

grill time.

It's officially grilling season again. I'm in Ann Arbor for a quick weekend visit and we had a gorgeous day, topped off with a fantastic dinner party last night! We went to the farmer's market early yesterday and stopped in to Sparrow Market where Ben bought 4 huge pieces of bone in ribeye. Also on the menu were grilled peppers, salad, potatoes, sauteed kale, apple pie and chocolate cake. Emmy provided fantastic wine she brought back from Napa and the ribeye might have been the best bite of meat I have had since last summer. Amazing.

Fine food, great company, and a beautiful day...can't get much better!

bracketed.

March Madness has arrived! This is the first time in three years that I have really been able to watch some games and invest in the tournament, and, my bracket this year is going places. I absolutely love the tournament...the tradition, the rivalries, Cinderella stories, bracket competitions...all of it. (It also helps when your boyfriend's bracket got destroyed in the first two days of playing and you win the talking game!). This year, I have Kentucky winning it all and that makes me nostalgic for spring breaks in Louisville growing up and watching games late at night in Grandpa Bill's study....

foto spotlight.

I really like this blog I found, fotojournalismus. Worth checking out....

pie day.

I finally stopped in to Pie Sisters this week, and my god, it was good! I went with a slice of the cherry. It was fantastic. Sweet, crumbly, soft, thick crust. Fantastic filling. A good size piece. I was in heaven!

The shop itself is small and charming. It is on the far west end of M street in Georgetown, just before the exorcist stairs going up to Georgetown. The staff were so friendly and the service was spot on. It met all my expectations and I recommend it!