Polaroids will live on

I have a new obsession, folks.  It all started yesterday when I stumbled upon this program called Poladroid.  The events that followed looked something like this:  I downloaded the application, loaded it and a little Polaroid camera popped up on my desktop.  I then proceeded to click and drag some pictures from my summer in New York.  Wait for it, wait for it...they  pop out of the camera just like real Polaroids and I can actually watch as they develop before my eyes.  The pictures went from looking like regular photos taken by my Canon Powershot to looking like actual Polaroids.  Take a look at some of my experiments and see for yourself:  

Seriously, I love it; I was giddy.  I now know what Im going to be doing all weekend!

Sweet to-do list

I've been on a big baking kick lately.  I don't know what I enjoy most about my adventures - eating the delicious end results or just the joy of experimenting with fun, new recipes.  Here are three yummy-looking treats that are going on my to-do list. 

First up: Nutella Croissants.  You can't go wrong with Nutella!

And, whoopie pies.  I was sold on the marshmallow creme filling.

Lastly, s'mores bars.  The perfect combination: marshmallow, chocolate and graham crackers.  Mm mm!

I don't even want to think about the weight I'll gain from these plates of tastiness.  It's all in the name of sweet, sweet love though.  Until then, I'm off to the L.A. Fair for some fried food and cheese on a stick.  Have a great weekend, everyone!

Pure beauty

If I had to imagine the ideal happy place right now, this would surely be it.  The weather would be a perfect Fall day - light sweater, jeans and nothing more.  The only thing I'd possibly add would be a couch or hammock instead of the park benches.  Then, I would lay down and read for hours on end in my little pink paradise.  How peaceful that would be.  

Outdoor wallpaper?

This store is amazing.  Too bad it's in London.  Seriously, though, if I happened to pass by any store that looked like this, I would have to go in just out of respect for the awesome exterior.  

Cupcakes make me smile

I'm not very happy today.  But, luckily I have great friends all around me including one who lives right in my room, and she's promised to bake some funfetti cupcakes to cheer me up.  If that's not a true friend, I don't know what is!  While we're on the subject of one of my obsessions, I saw this idea for a cupcake party and, now, really want to throw one of my own.  How fun would that be?!  

I also found one of the most amazing blogs, entirely devoted to cupcakes.  Check it out!  Cupcakes make me happy.  What cheers you up when you're feeling down?


Image one via {Angela Coombes} and two via {Star Bakery}

Toddler photographers

My first nephew turns 2 this weekend.  I can't believe how time flies!  I love watching him grow up, seeing how his interests and behaviors change with age.  Right now, he is loving all things cars, playing with cell phones and taking pictures.  

Photography taken by little kids is so interesting to look at.  I enjoy seeing things from a different angle and eye level.  And, it baffles me when some children actually understand, to some degree, what makes a good picture.  Take for instance, a little girl named Adie.  Adie is five years old and owns a Polaroid camera.  Her mom created a blog to keep record of Adie's photography.  The girl has some real talent.  I'm excited to see how she grows in her art.

P.S. (Here's her pictures from 2008 too!)  

Also, here's a couple of my nephew's photos just for fun.  

Adventures in baking

I hope everyone is enjoying the last remaining bits of the weekend.  My Friday thru Sunday have been quite busy as a few friends were visiting from out of town.  On Friday, in celebration of my moving into a new apartment, I made these hamburgers and french fries and, as promised, wanted to share the grand outcome.

They didn't look as perfect as the ones from the blog that inspired me, but they were still delicious!  I think people got a kick out of them too.  So, all in all, it was a hit!  I definitely want to try making them again and work out a few kinks the next time around.  

Teach me something

You learn something new everyday.  It can be as small as discovering a yummy new eatery in your neighborhood or as great as realizing something so defining about yourself.  The most interesting, though, are the random little facts that will stick out in your mind for years to come.  Who knows - it may even be those tidbits that help you win lots of money on some game show like "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

So, to up your chances of winning the big bucks someday, check out the fun site, Learn Something New Everyday, created by UK design studio Young.  

How does your garden grow

Great design can be found practically anywhere.  I especially love the look of these seed packets.  Although that may just be because I'm partial to pattern work.  There's something about these plant prints that make me want to go out right now and start a garden full of colorful flowers and fresh herbs.  If only I had an actual yard to do so.    

       

Twinkle, twinkle

Southern California is a gorgeous place to live, but there's one thing about this area that I've never liked - you can never just look up to the sky at night and see a blanket of stars.  That's one thing about Northern California that I miss.  So, to make up for this loss in my life, I've decided that I really want this star gazer globe.  It looks so beautiful.  If I were to actually buy it, I'd put it on my bedside table, turn it on at night before I close my eyes and I'd fall asleep looking up at the star-covered walls.  That sounds so very peaceful to me.  



Images via {The Unicorn Diaries}

In bed

I am exhausted right now.  All I want to do is go curl up back in bed, under my blanket and drift back off to dreamland for a few more hours.  Although, really just laying in bed would be enough.    

Beds are very personal things.  And, sleeping is a very intimate, vulnerable activity, which is partly why I love that photographer Jacob Pritchard chose that very act as the subject for this photography series.  Looking at his pictures makes me want to go to bed even more.    

9/11 a few days late

I know the anniversary for 9/11 was a few days ago, but I found these pictures from that tragic day and wanted to share them with you. There are a lot of chilling images from September 11th out there, but I haven't seen anything like these before. The aerial view is really unique and shows what happened that day from an interesting angle.  

Images from {Internet Pop Culture} via {The Best Article Every day}

Time for a laugh

The time that immediately follows college graduation is an interesting time.  If you aren't lucky enough to land a job right after commencement, you find yourself in this odd limbo.  You don't have school, but you don't have a job either, so what do you do with your days?  What purpose do you have? 

When I've found myself plagued by these questions and others like them, I turn to the Internet to cheer me up.  And, luckily I haven't been let down yet.  Here are some things that brought a smile to my face last week.  I encourage everyone to peruse Buzzfeed and FAIL Blog on a daily basis.  It's good to laugh regularly, especially in times like this.