Quote of the Week - Buddha

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Happy New Year!

Design Lover - Louis Weisdorf Multiposition Pendant Light

images © rewire
designed for Lyfa Denmark, circa 1960s, adjustable shades, brass, last auction price $915 USD
available at rewire

Tip of the Week - The Scented Holiday Room

Pick up some colored vintage glasses from a thrift store, drop some essential oil onto an unlit tea light - for a Christmasy scent use pine, cinnamon, cedarwood and/or mandarin - light it, drop it into a glass and enjoy.

He just asked me what I want for Christmas

1. Leather journal from Erin Templeton or from Czarque for you Australians

2. Lounging attire from James Perse

3. a reasonable facsimile of this lingerie from the 70s

4. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones (he's taken mine over)

5. another white gold bangle

Vintage Pierre Cardin for Men

1980

How to Make Chocolate Cointreau Truffles - Easy Recipe

chocolate cointreau truffles

image Stacy Reynaud

I'm getting pretty good at these smash, melt and refrigerate recipes.

The Cointreau gives the truffles that Terry's Chocolate Orange flavour. 

What you need:

Truffles
• 8 oz well chopped high-quality chocolate (62% cacao or higher)
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1-2 tbsp Cointreau

Truffle coating
• cocoa powder
• A little bit of espresso

What you do:

1. In a small, heavy saucepan, bring the whipping cream to a simmer - be sure to stir and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula every few minutes. 

Stir in Cointreau.

2. Place the chocolate in a separate bowl. Pour the cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for a few minutes, then stir until smooth. 

3. Allow to cool, then place in the refrigerator for two hours. 

4. Remove and, with a teaspoon, roll out balls. Roll in your hands quickly (it'll melt from the heat of your hands) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment. 

5. Refrigerate overnight.

4. Remove from fridge and roll in cocoa powder and espresso blend.

Serve right away or keep in the fridge for a while. 

They taste better at room temperature.

Makes 30-40 chocolate truffles.

Quote of the Week - Ayn Rand

What if I went on strike? What if all the creative minds of the world went on strike?

Currently Listening To - Bert Jansch

Best Mens Winter Coats

Parka

Basic Pea coa-tish coat source

Trench Coat or Balmacaan source

Camel hair or cashmere polo coat

Water repellent coat source

Quilted or down jacket source

Wool or flannel jacket source

Cashmere or wool scarf source

A Few Mens Winter 2011 Coats

Balmain available here or here AllSaints Bale Coat available here Prior Coat available here

Gloverall available here Standard Parka available here

A Week in Belts

Quote of the Week - Walt Whitman

Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.

Go Toward the Light

Does Tilley have SAD too?

Interpretations of the phrase, 'Go toward the light', speak of near death experiences, salvation, or the Poltergeist movie (personally I was thinking more along the lines of Ghost Whisperer). Quite fitting considering what I'm using the 'Happy Light' for.

The 'Happy Light' arrived at our house a month ago - and not a day too late. I wanted to use it for a solid month in order to give you a proper review. I started out using it for 30 minutes first thing in the morning. I simply turned it on and sat in front of it while I drank my morning coffee and checked my emails etc. Although I was feeling a noticeable difference within the first week, our skies got awfully dark awfully quick, I had a sudden mood swing and received some sad news. You know how it goes. I've upped the time to 45 minutes for the past three weeks. This is the 'dose' that works for me right now.

Why do I think this light therapy works for me?
I can sleep!
I caught myself dancing in the living room.
I answered the phone.
I don't obsess (as much).
I can see with minty fresh eyes.
I feel 'lighter'.
In May 2012, when it stops raining around here, I'll be able to give you a more definite answer.

Do I recommend the Happy Light?
Yes.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is common. If you are feeling the winter darkness please go talk to your doctor. Light therapy may be covered by your Canadian medical plan as it can be used to treat SAD (it's not approved as a treatment by the US FDA).


My Happy Light is actually called the NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp and I bought it on Amazon here.

Design Lover: 1980 Omega Dinosaure Watch

Design year: 1980
Quantity: Limited edition of 595. Limited, but not numbered, series of 7 pieces with transparent dial under ref. BA 191.0114
Thickness: 1.35 - 1.48 mm
Material: 18K solid yellow gold
Case: Rectangle, 18K solid yellow gold
Retail Price (1980): $12,000.00 - $15,000.00
The watch came with an 18K gold keyring shaped like the watch, which was used to set the correct time.

Currently Listening To

Tickle the Invisible

Skeletelepathic


Mind Mountain

Reminds me of Nothing's Shocking era Jane's Addiction.

Weird Owl - from Brooklyn NY. Two free downloads at RCRDLBL or you can buy their limited edition purple vinyl here, and I think I just might.

From Barn to Home - Stanley Tigerman Converts Frog Hollow

images from Better Homes and Gardens 1974

Stanley Tigerman removed nothing from the old barn but added:
black asphalt shingles
graphic windows
vertical cedar siding
four levels
brightly colored exposed pipes
spiral iron staircase
charcoal carpets
dimmers on all lights


For more on the Chicago architect, see Amazon.

Quote of the Week - Jack Kerouac

Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion. – The Dharma Bums

A Smelly Recommendation

Three years ago I came across Le Labo on a trip to San Francisco and became an instant fan. We bought a bottle of Patchouli 24. Le Labo parfum has a nonsynthetic unconventional scent that lasts a long time.

A few months ago I'd heard about their City Scents but didn't want to drop $116 on something I'd never smelled. Imagine my excitement when I received an email update from Le Labo offering them up for $10 each - with free shipping - even to Canada. I bought five and kept two, Poivre 23 (London) and Musc 25 (LA). Both scents are unisex but I've marked the Musc 25 as my own. I would've kept the Vanille 44 (Paris) but it reminded me of a rather trying period in my life and the Baie Rose 26 (Chicago) and Tubereuse 40 (NY) weren't my style so I gave them to Rachel (who in turn bought me another Musc 25 - thanks R!) They smell fab on her!

The scent lasts a long time so I'm sure the little $10 bottle will last me at least six months.

This morning I received a reminder email that the $10 sale is over November 30th. I'm buying the Gaiac 10 (Tokyo) and Aldehyde 44 (Dallas) today.

Le Labo is not an affiliate of mine so this is a completely unbiased opinion. Give them a try.

How to Make a Sweet Italian Cocktail

2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Campari
1 oz Martini Bianco
1/2 tbsp honey
1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Fresh thyme sprigs
* serves two or one biggie

Add all ingredients (except thyme) to a martini shaker - do not add ice as the honey won't blend
Shake it
Pour over ice into rock glasses
Garnish with fresh thyme sprig

Tip of the Week - The Late Dinner Guest

Fifteen minutes is the established length of time that a host need delay their dinner for a late guest. To wait longer would be showing rudeness to the rest for the sake of one. When the latecomer finally arrives they must go directly to the host and apologize for being late. The host should not tear a strip off the late guest but should say something polite such as, 'I'm sorry to hear the traffic was so bad. I was sure you wouldn't have wanted us to wait much longer for dinner.' The latecomer is served whichever course is being eaten at the time they arrives. If it's dessert, they are served a plate of the main course if there is any left.

Mens Spring Summer 2012 Fashion Color Trends

Grass Green, Hawaiian Ocean
(l) Vivienne Westwood - note opera pumps (c) Dolce & Gabbana - check out the old Vuarnet style sunglasses (r) Givenchy

Vintage Khaki, Dazzling Blue, Tradewinds
(l) John Varvatos (c) Lanvin (r) Gucci

Sodalite Blue, Granita
(l) Gucci (c) Lanvin (r) Balenciaga


Tangarine Tango, Starfish
Hermes, Agnes B

Pantone 2012 Men's and Womens' Spring Summer Fashion Colour Trends are out.


images via style.com

Design Lover - Tropical Modernism

Source: architonic.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Source: architonic.com via Stacy on Pinterest

From the Archives: Fall Winter 2011 Fashion Color Report

Originally published March 3, 2011

Have you picked up any of these colors yet? So far, I've managed to find a vintage Ports deep teal cardigan and dress ensemble and a vintage Chloé nougat skirt. I've decided not to buy anything else until I can find a pair of shoes. I may just have to go to Seattle, perhaps stores carry a size 7.5 in the States. Buying 101 - buy deeper into one line with more of your popular sizes instead of having 101,000 different brands. You'll get more bang for your buck because you'll be able to sell more 7.5s in your popular styles than size 6s in the not so popular styles. Focus please. You don't need to carry all the brands. Here's the link to the Pantone site.












How do you get a job at Pantone naming style colours?
Here's Pantone's Fall Winter 2011 color trend report.
For the men's fall winter fashion click here.