So much for posting...

My grandmother is about to pass away, so I'm going to be in southern Georgia for about a week. Have a happy new year...tomorrow is her birthday.

Chinchillas and red pandas

On Christmas Day, Dan and I stopped in FAO Schwarz in New York City. Bad idea--totally crowded. But we did come out of it with an inexpensive ($14) yet high quality squirrel stuffed animal made by Hansa:


Let me preface the rest of this story by saying that one of my and Dan's hobbies is looking at pictures of really cute animals together online. Cats, dogs, squirrels, hedgehogs, raccoons, bunnies, dolphins, parrots, ducklings, llamas, more wild animals--we like them all. We tend to do this for hours at a time every few weeks, and buying the squirrel stuffed animal inspired another round of it.

Two animals I'm absolutely obsessed with are chinchillas and red pandas...


I was literally pawing at the screen, whining and squealing about how much I wish I could have a chinchilla except Ollie would eat it. After seeing this picture, I decided to settle for a chinchilla stuffed animal to go with the squirrel. Unfortunately, realistic ones are nearly impossible to find. As are red panda stuffed animals. I am upset. But here are some more cute pictures of chinchillas and red pandas to appease me (and possibly you):






All images from Wikipedia.

Normal Room

I read about Normal Room a long time ago, and meant to go searching through the galleries from the beginning, but didn't until yesterday. There's so much inspiration! Here are a few of my favorite photos:

From Chameleon in Massachusetts:



From Peanutbutter in Finland, who has a renovation blog. I love the Designer's Guild fabrics!




From greenshoot in the UK:




From Barnbaby in the UK:



From Julia in Finland:




From hb92646@earthlink.net in California:

Gobo

Dan made reservations for us to eat Christmas dinner at our favorite vegan restaurant in New York, Gobo. According to their menu, "Rooted in Zen compassion, Gobo is founded on the belief that delicious food & beverages using wholesome, non-meat ingredients will nourish both your body & mind."


Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Spicy Honey Dip


Pine Nut Vegetable Medley with Lettuce Wraps


Iron Skillet Roasted Seasonal Vegetables

The interior design of the restaurant corresponds completely to the vibe and the food--even the bathrooms are gorgeous. It was designed by tonychi & associates, who design restaurants, upscale boutique hotel concepts, entertainment-themed retail stores, business clubs, and health clubs all over the world. Its founder and president Tony Chi "is a modernist with a passionate and instinctual approach to design. Chi succeeds in linking architecture, interior design, graphics, and furnishings in achieving places that are theaters for the performance of light, color, texture, and symbol. Chi delivers sensory appeal and entertainment every time," according to his website. Chi's concept in designing Gobo was a "modern country kitchen."




All images from Gobo.

Though Gobo has another location in the upper east side, I prefer the west village location:
401 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10014
(between Waverly Pl. & 8th St.)
reservations/guest services: 212.255.3902
delivery/take out orders: 212.255.3242

Future Bungalow

Dan and I have been acquiring various items for our future bungalow... by which I mean apartment, since there won't be any bungalows in Philadelphia, central New Jersey (Princeton), or New York City, which is where we'll be living. And even if there were any, we wouldn't be able to afford them. So from now on, when I say "future bungalow," I mean apartment.



Bee House teapots


A red and a white tray for serving tea and breakfast on



Alternative Motivational Posters

And a Rachel Ashwell Simply Shabby Chic table lamp from Target, which is not on the website. Believe it or not, Dan pointed it out--I wanted to, but I didn't because I thought he wouldn't like it!

Freiburg zu Weihnachten

I'm finally ready to return to blogland, but it seems everyone else is taking some time off for the holidays! Here are some great images I found on Flickr of my city in Germany, Freiburg, at Christmastime.


"Freiburg zur Zeit des Weihnachtsmarktes (Christmas Fair)" by pergi28


"Weihnachtsmarkt in Freiburg" by julienp


"Freiburg Weihnachtsmarkt by day" by deejay25

Different stalls in the Weihnachtsmarkt:

"Weihnachtsmarkt 1" by Atsu


"Weihnachtsmarkt 2" by Atsu


"Weihnachtsmarkt 3" by Atsu


"A stall" by deejay25

Non-Weihnachtsmarkt photos:


"Weihnachten 2006" by Marcel XC


"Freiburg, Bertholdsbrunnen" by Buzz.bg


"Freiburger Augustinerplatz" by Fußgänger

Okay, okay...

I'll be done with my writing sample in the next couple of days, I promise. And then I'll try to make up for lost time with posting. In the meantime, here are the two gingerbread houses I made last Christmas...

Exam Week & Grad School

Sorry for the lack of posts! It's exam week, which actually isn't too stressful, but my grad school applications are due soon as well, and that is stressful. So I've been doing what I do every winter (even though it's not even cold yet)... drink a lot of herbal tea with honey.

Charmed and Dangerous

I never knew it until today, but mom-to-be Ariana of Becoming Home makes jewelry that she sells at Charmed and Dangerous. Her necklaces are so beautiful and unique, and it's always better to buy handmade, especially around the holidays!


Force of Nature, $35


Fall Guy, $48


Photo Locket, $40


King's Ransom, $48


Sand Dollar, $25


Queen Bee, $18


Henry Wadsworth Longfeather, $48

2007 Gift Guide: Part Seven

Twig bangle bracelet from Dolce Vita, $90
I'm not starting to get too predictable, am I?


Glass fiber baskets from Uncommon Goods, $90
Somehow these glass baskets resemble fabric--cool. The colors are really attractive.


Pen Pen pencil holder by John Brauer from Unica Home, $21
For the person with a quirky sense of humor who will appreciate the irony that something that exists to keep clutter away looks like clutter itself.


Metrokane Rabbit professional wine tool kit from Sur La Table, $69.96
A very appropriate gift for the lush person you know who will already be drinking wine as s/he opens gifts.