Wine for thought

Earlier this afternoon, I stopped in a local market to pick something up for work when I saw some some of the best wine label design ever. The wine was called Bear Flag, from good ole Modesto, California. And, the illustrator who did labels for them is Eduardo Bertone. I'm more of a minimalist artist, myself, but in this case, I love all that's going on on the label and everything there is to get lost in.

Although I didn't buy a bottle today, I'm seriously considering getting one for "The Bachelorette" night this coming Monday. However, I must admit I'm nervous for two reasons. 1) I'm so intrigued and excited by the label, I'm just hoping the taste of the wine is as good as its appearance and not a let down. 2) It's a twist-off cap. That right there would normally steer me away. I feel like all true, good wine should come packaged with a cork. Though I do appreciate the efforts at making wine easier to open.

Enough with my rambling, though. I'll try the wine next week. Give it a shot. And, will report back. In the meantime, check out Bear Flag's Web site. More coolness to look at there.

First pic found via {Hire an illustrator!}

A new Amy

I've been feeling the urge lately to transform some areas of my life. So far, the list includes, but is not limited to: getting in shape (aren't we all?), cooking most of my own meals, doing something meaningful for others and unearthing the ignored artist in me.

The first thing I've been trying to slowly tackle is the cooking part, and {Smitten Kitchen} has been a major influence and motivator for me. In fact, just last weekend I attempted the delicious-looking baked french toast.

Sadly, my quest was not very successful my first time around. But, I'm determined to try again and get it right next time. I also want to try these homemade pop tarts. How fun (and yummy) would these be?!

Quick thought

Oh, how I wish L.A. had a popbar.

A little somethin, somethin

I'm happy to report my place is aaalmost done being decorated! I've bought everything my heart desires for now. Just need to find the time to (carefully) throw it all on the walls.

On a side note, though, I'm absolutely loving this photograph over at {Color Me Katie}.

I imagine myself and the beau at a party or art show or something, sneaking around in this jungle of lights to steal a kiss away from the crowd.

Decorating dilemmas

It's amazing how different moving was when I was in school compared to now when I'm working. During school, I'd move into a new place and have all day and night to unpack and get settled. Now, I get home from work, exhausted after the long day, and want to do anything besides cleaning and organizing.

Luckily, now, the unpacking part is finally done and I've moved on to the fun side of moving - redecorating. However, for some reason, this time I've found decorating to be more stressful than anything else. I can't decide on what direction to go with for my new place. I want it to be more mature-looking than my apartments have been in the past. I want it to look like the pictures from Living, Etc. magazine (new favorite read from the UK). But, I can't quite focus and get there. Sigh...

This is my ideal. A muted palette with accent colors. A clean, pulled together look.

This isn't my favorite but I do love how there's no real standout direction for the room, yet it still all looks cohesive. This is what I'm struggling with right now.

I really want to do a photo wall, but am a little intimidated if I could pull it off and be 100 percent happy with it...

Looooving this fabric wall. It's an ingenius alternative to wallpaper. I just wish I had more wall space in my studio; I would totally do this if so.

Lastly, the feel of this room is what I'm striving for in my home. It's so cozy and warm. I also adore all the different textures used. I'm trying to do this with pillows, throws and with my bed's duvet cover.

We'll see how it all turns out. Wish me luck!

P.S. All images are from {the gallery over at Living, Etc.}

I wish I were here right now...

Image via {daily dose of imagery}

Posters fit for a palace

Moving weekend has officially come and gone, and yet, the real work has only begun.

Somewhere, buried deep in the mountain of boxes that now fill my new studio apartment, is a box of collected treasures that I'm excited to share with you in the coming months. But, since I couldn't even uncover a bowl for cereal this morning, my pot of blog gold is going to have to wait. In the meantime, however, I want to share an awesome find I came across last week.

I was browsing through some photos from the Silverlake Jubilee over at Drink Eat Travel and happened upon this one of all these rad looking prints.

I did some digging and found they came from The Poster List. Beautiful prints at an affordable price...What more can a girl ask for? I can't wait to get some of these for my new pad. I already know my first purchase will be this beautiful chandelier one. I'm obsessed with chandeliers right now.

An open letter

Dear friends,

I can't tell you how sincerely sorry I am for abandoning my blog the last several months. It was a difficult time in my life as I searched for a job and some sort of purpose for being. I found myself sinking into a hole where I was not the person I wanted to be. I was sad. And helpless. And, it was not this person I wanted to be contributing to "all those nothings." So, I made a decision to put the blog on hold until I found what I was looking for and changed back to the person I knew myself to be.

Which brings us to present day. To days where inspiration once again flows through me like a river. I was fortunate enough to find a job that brings me joy. A job where I finally get to use the education I've collected throughout the last 20 years of my life. And, now, this weekend, I am moving to Los Angeles...or, the Valley rather. This is the first time I will be living on my own with no roommates. And, the first time, I must say, that I truly feel like an adult. A real adult.

So, the moral of the story is that I'm back. I'm taking it slow for now. I can't guarantee that I'll post everyday, especially with the big move coming up. But, I am here. I am better. And, I am inspired.

Thank you for sticking with me through all of this even though you had no idea this was going on. I'm sorry for not being more open earlier. But, I look forward to what this new chapter in my life will bring to "all those nothings." Here's to the unknown!

XOXO,

Amy

P.S. The image above is done by {Julia Rothman} I love love love her work. I have such a weak spot for patterns. Enjoy her portfolio and have a fun holiday weekend, everyone!

Found typography

I have a bad habit of getting overly excited for things far off in the future.  For example, this past June, I started getting pumped for Christmas and have been humming holiday carols in my head ever since.  Now that Christmas is basically just around the corner, new anticipations have taken hold of my mind and heart.  

Most of all, I'm anxious to find myself a real job and move closer to Los Angeles, which is where I always saw myself ending up if I stayed in California.  But, until that day comes, I'm enjoying visiting Santa Monica, Venice Beach and other fun areas of L.A. County.  Here is a beautiful wall I strolled by in Santa Monica last week.  I don't exactly understand the purpose it serves; it just goes to show that not everything has to have a rhyme or reason.  Some things are just purely lovely.  

 

A tradition is born

One of the goals I set for myself after the Blog Out Loud event was that I want to inject more of myself into this blog.  When I started "all those nothings" back in June, I intended for it to be a collection of things that inspire and excite me.  So, it seems only natural that magazines be a part of this site.  

I looooove magazines, and sometimes it feels like I can't even enter a bookstore or supermarket without walking away with a new zine of some sort.  Last night, while I was thumbing through a new addition to my stockpile, I thought of a great idea for my first weekly column.  So...without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to "Mag Mondays."  What better way to start the week than with some beautiful magazine meat?  

Mag Mondays will be a day for me to share anything interesting, exciting or gorgeous that I find in the pages of my magazine obsession.  Being the debut column, this week is dedicated to the publication that inspired it all - The New York Times style magazine, "T Magazine."  

Their covers are always very well-done, but yesterday's issue really jumped out at me because it reminded me of a past blog post I did.  On top of that, I loved the look of the logo - classic and elegant, but with a modern twist thanks to the fun gradient fill-in they added. 

 

Also, this article was tucked away inside.  With a kid that cute, I had to share this with you.  I hope my future, unborn children are that adorable.  I'm going to have so much fun dressing them up!  

Dreaming of Christmas

The weather is finally starting to cool down here in Sunny Southern California.  And, it's finally beginning to feel a teeny bit like the holiday season.  Though, I'd get much more into the Christmas spirit if I paid a little visit to this dreamy snow-covered cottage.  But, alas I'll just have to settle for playing nonstop Christmas jingles and drinking too many gingerbread lattes.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and were able to start feeling some holiday cheer.  I'm excited to share with you all a new Monday tradition that I'll be starting tomorrow.  Until then though, have a good night!

Image found {here}

Blog Out Loud

Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of attending the fourth Blog Out Loud event.  We talked about all things blogging - where to get inspired, how to advertise yourself, typical dos and donts and so much more.

It was hosted at DWR | Tools for Living, which is an amazing modern design store in Santa Monica.  

The event was put on by Rebecca Orlov of loving. living. small. and Megan Arquette of beach bungalow 8.  And, there were five very inspiring panelists from all up and down California.  

It was so awesome to be in a room filled with people sharing the same interest in blogging as me.  I felt instantly connected with everyone there.

The entire evening was a blast.  I loved getting to explore the store after the Q&A was over.  I was immediately grabbed by this patterned panel that hung behind the registers.  The pop of orange really completes it.

And, isn't this such a unique carpet hanging on the wall!  I adore the look of the messy, handwritten cursive.

There were so many beautiful things to look at during the event and so many things to think about as I walked back to my car.  I'm excited to share with you all the changes that will eventually take place around here as well as in my own life.      

Pre-bed tease

I am completely exhausted after this week and, sadly, it's only Wednesday...well, technically Thursday.  I have the problem of going, going, going until I'm burnt out.  Then, I end up spending an entire day on the couch, watching shows like "Mall Cops" and "Parking Wars."  Though I'm looking forward to a night free of plans tomorrow, I have to say I had quite a blast with tonight's itinerary, which was this Blog Out Loud event.  Pictures and details to come tomorrow!  

For now, though, it's off to sleep I go!  I would love to walk into this bedroom right now and drift off to dreamland.  I love everything about it, especially the skyline photography lining the window.

All it needs now is this furry blanket.

And some twinkle lights!

All bedroom photos found via {indierocket's photostream}

Happy Halloween!

Sadly, I didn't really decorate for Halloween. Although, I don't normally go all out for this holiday - I save up for Christmas instead. My only form of decor this year besides my masterfully crafted pumpkin is my pumpkin plant that I got at the local Farmer's Market. I seriously love it! I've never seen anything like this before.

If I did dress up my apartment more and if I actually had stairs, I would want to do this. How awesome is this staircase?! There's no way it wouldn't feel like Halloween walking up these.

P.S. Here's my pumpkin in case you wanted to check it out. Mine is the one on your right. Beautiful, right? I did a sort of self portrait.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Staircase picture found via {Apartment Therapy}

Swoon

I am in love.  But, then again, who wouldn't become completely enamored with some beautiful letterpress.  These lovely invitations not only have nice letterpress work, but, also, playful typography.  Looking at them makes me want to throw a party purely so I could order some awesome letterpress invites.  

Be sure to check out Louella Court for some extra photographs.  

Too pretty to dry with

My mom loves dish towels.  In fact, she often asks for them as birthday and Christmas presents.  I suppose I can't really talk though since last Christmas, I wrote down bath towels on my Christmas wish list.  It's funny how the things we desire changes as we get older.  Now, at 24 years old, I get excited by beautiful dishes and fun kitchen gadgets.  

I haven't yet gotten into dish towels, but I think I would if they all looked like the ones on "To Dry For."  Don't these look like art instead of towels?  I kind of just want to frame them and hang them on the kitchen walls.  

Book love

I haven't been able to get books off the mind.  I love this site called "book lovers never go to bed alone."  It has beautiful, fun, inspiring pictures of peoples' book collections.  Plus, how fun is the title itself?

Someday, I want an entire wall bookshelf like this one.  It would take a lot of time to fill it and a lot of energy to get it looking right, but I love the appearance of it!

This one may not be a complete wall, but I adore the photo.  The objects the person mixes in with the books paired with the purple wall are awesome.  There's so much to look at.  I want this in my bedroom right now.