Update

I have been M.I.A. from S&I for a while. Sorry for the lack of new posts. I haven't had a lot of time to pleasure cruise on the net because of work. In the meantime, enjoy the archives!

Loft Living

Loving everything about this loft. Photos via LoftLife.

Penélope Cruz

I am on a film kick right now. I've watched a lot of films in the past couple of weeks. One of them was Vicky Christina Barcelona. Any film set in Europe that has people traveling and connecting (e.g. Before Sunset) has my vote. I know there are probably a lot of mixed reviews about this film, but I thought it was very watchable and at times a little spicy. But I now have a new girl crush on Penelope Cruz who plays a Spanish ex-wife with suicidal tendencies. I've included photographs of her from her various Vanity Fair shoots, including her most recent, November 2009 -- on newsstands now. Have you seen it? What did you think?

Photos via Vanity Fair

Street Chic 10: Milan

Pefection. Via The Sartorialist

Stamp Pillows

I just adore these linen pillows by Zusss with pictures of Dutch stamps on them. I especially love the the ones on the lower left. Too cute!

Via the style-files

Question: Are You Happy?

Just love this! It's so simple, yet so prolific.
Via automatism.

Paolo Nutini

I guess insomnia has its benefits sometimes. Last night I was up really late and discovered that Carson Daly has a music show on NBC called Last Call with Carson Daly. I haven't seen him since his MTV days (how long ago was that?). I caught a live performance by Paolo Nutini who has a new album called Sunny Side Up. Loving him and this video.

Chic Halloween Treats

Now this is the kind of candy I would like to get when I go trick or treating this Halloween -- Armani/Dolci chocolates! How deliciously chic. xoxo

Via Chic Report

Simply Chic: Zoe Saldana

This is such a soft and feminine look on actress Zoe Saldana. I LOVE her hair and earrings, don't you?

Via Chic Report

Etsy Favorites

simplyhue

DarriellesClayArt

hollystalder

farouche

Here's a few of my favorites spotted on Etsy this week. Enjoy!

Zadie

Going through my inspiration book yesterday made me think about British author, Zadie Smith, who is an amazingly gifted writer. I am still astonished that at 24-years-old she wrote White Teeth -- a book full of worldly wisdom, highly developed characters, and a way of looking at and analyzing culture and people that was so wise beyond her years. Did you read White Teeth? What did you think?

photos via here, here, here & here

Cute Little House

I adore cute, little houses like this one. While most people are trying to get bigger and bigger houses, I dream of cozying up in one just like this.

xo


via Black Eiffel

My Inspiration File

Inspired by the English Muse, here's a peek inside my personal inspiration file. I just started the inspiration board a few weeks ago, but the binder has been in the works for several years. I swear I lost my old binder full of magazine clippings from even more years ago. I cringe every time I think about it. But packing, moving, and unpacking several times often means that things disappear along the way -- so I just started a new one. I never really consciously thought I was keeping an inspiration book -- it just kept growing and growing. It's full of magazine pictures, articles that I like, people who inspire me professionally, comic strips (Garfield and Cathy), and recipes, etc. Here's what I pulled out to share with you, dear readers:

The inspiration board has magazine pictures that I love.

The second picture has a profile from Glamour (year unknown) of the director of the New York City Studio Museum in Harlem, Thelma Golden. She inspired me to pursue my former job at an arts agency; Ally McBeal's tv apartment (adore the green sofa and chair); a profile of the brilliant British author, Zadie Smith; and, a Lucky Magazine story about editor Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff (profiled here and here by me).

The other shots include two travel articles I clipped. One from the Los Angeles Times about the trials and jubilations of traveling (great article about keeping your expectations in perspective while traveling) and the other about the joys of people watching; Eva Longoria's house (from InStyle); and Katie Holmes's style (from Harper's Bazaar, I think).

Have a lovely evening!

xoxo

That Girl

I want to be that girl today.

Via What Possessed Me

Remembering Gourmet {May. 2004}

Confession: I wasn't a loyal reader of Gourmet. I'd thumb through it in the bookstore and if something caught my eye, I'd buy it. Back in May 2004, one story captured my attention and has served as inspiration over the years (enough so that it has survived several magazine recycling clean-ups!). It was a story by American writer Andrea Lee, who is a fantastic writer of short stories and novels (mostly set in chic European cities). Her story in the May 2004 Gourmet, My Turin, walks readers through her journey of moving to Turin, Italy, marrying her Italian husband, and how food has played an integral part of her life in Italy. The story begins: A love affair with a city begins over a pastry, ripens with a tiny cup of coffee in a grand café, and deepens with family and the taste of truffles. Ah, sigh.