unruly things

I’ve been hearing lots of things about the benefits of brown rice not only for your body, but also for your skin. it’s softening, smoothing effect on the skin was a beauty secret held by women rice pickers for hundreds of years. here’s something I’d like to try: Crabtree and Evelyn’s Edamame, Rice, & Bamboo Body Scrub. the blend of edamame (soy), rice, and bamboo combine for a body smoothing treatment to buff your skin and protect from moisture loss. I’ve been looking for a good exfoliant that won’t leave my skin dry and irritated. this sounds gentle enough to not over buff my skin.
{image and information from Crabtree & Evelyn}

I love these prints by illustrator Stella im Hultberg. they are so feminine, yet edgy. I love the splattered paint drops and those leggings! her prints can be found for sale here.

I love finding new things on Etsy. while browsing the greeting cards today, I came across these hand screenprinted cards by HeatherJeany. I love the retro feel and what a great color palette! my favorite is the octopus attacking the smiling people at the beach. I have recently started looking at independant card shops for orignal or handmade cards…not cards that may be found at the local drug store. I think, if I’m going to spend the time to send a card, why not have it be somethng really unique?
but it gets me every time. it’s browsing through the gorgeous colors and designs on Etsy, that make me kick myself in the butt for all my own procrastination.

it really is amazing how much music impacts our lives. I often feel as though I have a personal soundtrack dictating my every move. I tend to listen to my ipod on random while I’m at work, and occasionally a song will come up that I havn’t heard in a long time. it’s such a good feeling to hear a song that I havn’t listened to in awhile. some songs were so over played on my ipod that I just kind of stopped listening to them, simply because I didn’t want to tire them out. Going Against Your Mind by Built to Spill just came on my ipod, and oh, the things it reminds me of…… cool nights driving in the old Jimmy, dancing or rather bouncing to the beat of it, that first feeling of love…. now I’m giddy with my thoughts.
{side note: a gorgeous Bramhs Intermezzo is now playing in the background. just to give a snippet of information about my random music tastes. I heart classical piano music.}

oh, if only I could fill my closet with jersey dresses. I love the wrinkled, yet polished look of these dresses. these are the perfect weekend get away dresses, for times when all you can pack has to fit into one little carry-on bag. whip them out of your bag, throw on a goddess looking pair of flats, and you’re ready to go.
sigh….just dreaming of another vacation.
{left image is Vince Jersey Short Sleeved Dress, middle is James Pearse Empire Pleated Dress, right is LaROK Tunica Dress. all dresses and images from Shop Bop}

J. Crew swoons me yet again. I’m just totally in love with these cutout ballet flats. and patent leather? with all these colors to choose from, who would be able to pick just one?? I think I’d like the green ones and the yellow ones please, ooo wait, maybe the bronze……
{image from J Crew}

Velvet by Graham and Spencer has always been one of my favorite clothing lines. Velvet offers a simple, yet fresh approach to clothing. the first time I saw a Velvet dress was at a little boutique in Tampa a couple years back, and of course it was a little too much for my bank account. the fabric of the dress had the softest and most sesuous feeling that I couldn’t resist. while typically composed of mostly solid colored knits, the Summer 07 collection offers some bright colors and floral patterns. my favorite is the black wrap dress with the little puffy sleeves.
{images from Velvet}

Beard & Bangs is made up of fashion and graphic designers, Doris Do and Mark Kane. the duo has been designing together since 2001. they got their name from Doris’s bangs and Mark’s beard. their inspiration includes all sorts of world culture, nature, old style typography, music, and childhood folklore.
I love the unexpectedness of the “old country” look in their designs. the diamond pattern behind the owl print is wonderful and adds an extra touch.
{image from beard & bangs}