Browsing.....Vintage Mugshots

Fascinating photo stream of vintage mugshots: Least Wanted


(via Sally Jane Vintage)

The photos date from the early 1900s to the 1980s. Some of them include information (age, height, weight, occupation, etc.) and reason for arrest (ranging from vagrancy to public intoxication to being a communist and a myriad of other mugshot inducing offenses). The diverse facial expressions tell so many different stories. Some glower, some look frightened, some are trying to look tough, but you can see the fear in their eyes. And some, inexplicably, are laughing. You can't help but wonder about the backstory to these images: what kind of life experiences drove them to that particular moment captured forever on film? Interesting stuff.

Browsing.....Kenzo Spring/Summer Line

(via Clever Nettle)

Take a peek at these gorgeous summer dresses from Kenzo. Beautiful, breezy fabric and romantic floral prints, this collection is so lovely. These dresses conjure up images of walking through misty botanical gardens, or strolling through an enchanted summer forest at twilight. And look at those shoes on the girl in the middle. Wow! I don't know what you call them, but I just love them. Glittery, open toed, cowgirl boots? Whatever they are, I want a pair!

Listening To.....Sunny Sweeney

This little gal from Texas is one of my most favorite singers right now. She is just so cute, spunky, and downright sunny! I have to wonder if that's her real name, or a very well contrived stage name. Either way, I think it's awesome, so kudos to either her parents or a brilliant PR rep. I'm not sure we have a honky tonk big enough to hold her around here in western North Carolina, but I would love to see her perform live. Her myspace features new songs in progress as well as a several youtube performances (she also has a hilarious youtube channel...you can definitely tell she was in improv comedy before she turned to music!) I love the fact that in most at most of her gigs, she wears blue jeans and tee shirts featuring classic country icons like Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, and others. Not an easy look to pull off unless you are a trucker, but she does it with sass and pizazz. Check her out!

Watching...........Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Somehow, I never watched this film when I was a child. I can't imagine why not; it's absolutely exquisite. So fun, colorful, and imagninative. I adore Dick Van Dyke. Mark and I were trying to decide if there was a modern day equivalent for Dick Van Dyke. You know, like George Clooney is sort of the reincarnation of Cary Grant? I was stumped, but Mark finally got it: Steve Martin. Which seems an apt comparison: the same smart guy, oddball goofiness that is so endearing. I adore this movie. Katie Mae actually watched a good bit of it, but her attention span is not quite ready for such a long film, no matter how many silly songs there might be. In addition to the fun, zanier songs, one of my favorites from the films was this gem, which must be just about the sweetest, most lovely lullaby I have ever heard.

Reading.......Harriet the Spy

I've been taking a jaunt down memory lane lately, rereading some of my favorite books from childhood, and Harriet the Spy definitely tops the list. I remember reading this book as a child and immediately vowing to carry around a notebook and write down every single thing I did and saw. This usually lasted about a week, thus the huge box of half filled journals and notebooks in my attic. But seriously, this is one of my all time favorite books. Harriet is such an incredible character. Not always likeable, but always original and very real. Rereading this book as an adult was a bit of a different experience, because I just don't recall the book being as dark as it seems now. There are some scenes that are perfectly Lord of the Flies-esque. But that is part of the brilliance of Louise Fitzhugh who is credited with introducing more realistic, less cookie cutter characters to young adult literature.

While reading up on Louise Fitzhugh's biography, I discovered that she also contributed the illustrations to a popular 1961 children's book, Suzuki Beane, which sounds absolutely delightful. A parody of Kay Thompson's Eloise books, Suzuki Beane is the child of beatnik parents, a downtown kid who becomes friends with an Upper East Side boy, thus exposing her to an entirely new world. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz bought the rights to the book, planning a sitcom around it, but it never happened. The book is now out of print and hard to find and I'm kicking myself because I found a copy on ebay over the weekend, very reasonably priced and no bidders, but I forgot to bid. Exactly the reason I don't really like ebay. Maybe next time.

Browsing..........Uniform Project

Imagine wearing one dress, everyday, for an entire year. Could you do it? This New York City girl is doing just that in the Uniform Project. Although I'm not so sure I could do it myself (I'm way too fickle), I just love the idea. The real fun in the project is that the rules aren't too strict, because she can jazz up the dress with various accessories and layers, mostly hand-me-downs or items from vintage and thrift stores. In fact, you can even donate accessories for the project if you are so inclined. The dress (actually there are seven identical dresses) is designed to be exceptionally durable and versatile. It can be worn both front and back and as an open tunic. To top it all off, the money raised from the project will be donated to the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots educational movement in India. So far, 43 days into the project, she has raised $2,813. Wow! Fun fashion meets philanthropy! I'm for that.

Browsing.........Treehouses for Grownups

The perfect coffee table book.

How lovely it must be, to live high up in a tree! Especially in a seriously swanky treehouse like this. Wow!

(Photos from Treehugger)