I have today off of my day job, and will be working instead on me & Britt's secret project for HITCHED. (YES, we are collaborating! It is going to be bananas!) We are so excited, you guys. I think you will really like it. Here is a little inspiration board for our ideas.

Oh, speaking of HITCHED. You thinking about coming? YOU SHOULD! And next Monday? The HITCHED team is kicking of ticket give-aways right-banana-here on ADF, so come on by for your chance to win a pair! (Of tickets, geez.)

Have a great weekend!

I hadn't thought much at all about a new years resolution (still trying to figure out how a new list can fit into my life when, in about 3.5 months my life is going to be so different!) until one just fell into my head.

Remember what is important in life.

Okay, so that is huge and vague, but I can break it down. And truthfully it didn't just pop in there, it has been simmering for a while.

I started thinking about it way earlier in the year after hearing a discussion with one of the authors of The How of Happiness on KPBS. (Sorry, I can't find a link to it.) The ideas discussed really stuck with me: research has proven that once you make enough money to support your basic needs, money won't make you happy. The biggest day to day control you have is how you spend your time, and your outlook on life.

More recently I came back to some of this thinking after Lisa introduced me to Penelope Trunk, who writes about careers and money and sex and aspergers and all sorts of interesting things.

She sums it up well: "In fact, the rule is well established in research: The first 40 thousand makes a big difference in one’s level of happiness. Happiness is dependent on being able to meet basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing. After meeting those needs you need to turn to something other than consumerism. Because additional money has negligible impact on how happy you are. Your level of happiness is largely dependent on your outlook."

I gobbled up her posts on taming materialism, and choosing a simpler (financial) lifestyle. It gave me resolve: don't spend one of the most valuable resources to my happiness (my free time) on things that won't make me happy (shopping for stuff, duh). Don't get into financial obligations (car payments, too high mortgages, credit debt) that will limit us in the future into jobs we don't love, but need to keep to pay the bills.



The real inspiration hit when I read the year in review posts by Bre of Scout & Catalogue, and delved into her archives that documented her decision to leave her secure and responsible job and move with a car full of possessions to Mexico. (Where her amazing product line was born.)



No, I'm not about to pack up our bags and move everyone to Mexico, but I'd like to think that if we really wanted to, we could. So this year I want to take some of these principles on living a more simple life and really exercise them. I think a lot of it will come down to stuff, and not being so obsessed with it. (Which by the way, really makes Scout & Catalogue the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, because I have not resolved with myself the idea of not buying this bag.)

This all has to do, I think, with living a simpler life. Not obsessing over stuff, and realizing we have enough. I will let you know how it goes.



all images via scout & catalogue flickr

There is this little unassuming shop on a non major road that I drive up all the time. Score Footwear (vintage, handmade, limited). I had heard from friends that it was a great place, and Ben was always telling me what a cool guy the owner was, who he had met here and there. But from the big shop front window, it looked like it was exclusively vintage sneakers and athletic shoes. Cool, but not exactly my scene. Little did I know that front part is only like, 1/3 of the shop. There is a whole leather and wool and canvas and flannel and denim and wooden vintage cave tucked in back. It is amazing. My little desert heart was right at home.


Carinna wore home those patchworky looking beauties, and I acquired the little booties. (I needed another pair of vintage camel color boots like I need another baby in my belly, but hey). We also bought an AMAZEBALLS vintage leather belt as a gift.

If you have been living in San Diego in ignorance (like me), like me, go now.

If not, and you already know the pleasures of Score & it's charming owner Dimitri, good on you.

hey look! Lotta Jansdotter has the same rocker as us. (except hers still has the cushions. and I doubt the seat is held together by a total hack job. but hey. we were able to afford it, so.)

The funny part? Last time I was in Progress (an amazing new local shop, who I was so honored to have carry C&Q ornaments...) I saw that green & grey typography cushion and haven't been able to get it out of my head as one I wanted for the chair. Guess I wasn't the only one!

image via

Well the weekend? Lemons. After spending our Christmas with colds, Thursday night Ben and I (at the exact same moment, seemingly) came down with the worst sore throats that either of us have ever experienced. We are still on the mend (at least I think we are getting better...) So all of our holiday time has been spent cooped up lazing around the house. Watching TV, squeezing tons of lemons for hot honey lemon juice, sleeping, reading, taking care of each other. While I wish we both felt better, having days after days of downtime wih my sweetie by my side isn't exactly the worst thing in the world, either. But, hoping to be back to work tomorrow, back to regular posting, back to feeling good!

Lemons by poodly.