looking forward

happy 2011. on this day of double elevens, we are being super charged for elevation. up, up and away, i say! last year whizzed by in the blink of an eye and i can't even recall properly documenting what i accomplished in this here blog. yes, i was preoccupied with falling in love, not a bad excuse, but i by no means want to neglect the part of me which is blossoming into a new being and that means backtracking a bit. as they say, tell me about your past and i will tell you your future...

so last year, i finally finished the coffee table i had set out to create using a trunk from indonesia and my parents ended up buying it for their family room. it could not be more perfect for the room:







and let's not forget about morris, my bonsai tree project, compliments of my friend tyler:



with my spirit totem cat dubbed morrisette:



the echo park cottage:

















the family picture wall was finally brought to life:



this year has so many thrilling and utmost highly anticipated events i can hardly contain myself. travel, moving across country, marriage, the unknown and beyond. with last year's events in my back pocket, i predict more creations and designs of the delicious and edgy sort, discovering gardening and landscaping, more portraits to add to the family wall, and then some.

here are some bits of amazingness that i am bubbling over with excitement about discovering :

austin: hotel saint cecilia



paris: le bellechasse



east hampton: c/o the maidstone



baxter



blackman cruz





cheers to a new year and renewed life!

svenska style

once upon a story hotel... inspirations from wonderwall

hospitality heaven

someone get me to NYC quick! the Crosby Street Hotel is TOTALLY up my alley.


into the forest


pretty in pink


the great outdoors


lobbying


this is a planet...


...of sound

portland inspiration

here's the run down of the highlights:

*Stumptown Coffee (OMG)



*the Southeast Clinton neighborhood:

*Limbo Inc. (wall of herbs)

*Press Club Cafe (lunch - prosciutto, egg and brie croissandwich)

*Broder Cafe (breakfast - aebelskiver!)




*Savoy Tavern & Bistro (dinner) - same owner as Cafe Broder

*Detour Cafe (brunch - cardamom french toast!)




*the Pearl District (Downtown)

*Ace Hotel (lobby hang out)

*Clyde Common (Ace Hotel restaurant - lunch!)


must do on my next trip:

*Selby (antique district)

*Living Room Lounge Cinema (have your cocktail or coffee in the theater tableside)

*Stay at the Ace Hotel


great finds:

*Eat Shop Guides (awesomely presented little books on the most important information one needs to know when traveling: food and shopping!)