seattle tours p.4: lucca boutique

perhaps you, reader, will understand what i mean when i say that there are some places that were made to warm the soul. places that are sweet, and lovely, and tinged with magic. like a coffee shop. or rei. these places, i think, are different for everyone. for instance, a person might walk into a home depot or kay jeweler's and feel this. i do not. but i will tell you where a wonderland of mine lies. found in the cobbled street of old ballard avenue lies a darling little shop called lucca. often on my strolls i find that my feet take me here, really without much prompting from myself. they just know. my feet like traveling to magical places, so.

it is, essentially, a gift shop. but a special gift shop. if you ask me, i think the more appropriate term would be treasure shop. in no other place does my heart fall in love with postcards. i'm serious. or matchboxes. this is what i mean - everything there is special. if you, like me, am a lover of fine classic vintage, of handmade treats, of books, of buttons, of paper and of whimsy, then i highly suggest a visit here. plus, the folks you will find there are so nice. they really are.

happy friday, lovies. i hope you are enjoying fall as much as i am. unless you live across the world, such as australia, where it is not fall. or if you are in florida. or phoenix. to you i say, i hope the sun is treating you well and not burning your skin. be pro-active, friends! remember your sunscreen! and large-brimmed hats! 

how have you been celebrating the fall? and what are your weekend plans? 

p.s. i updated my "about' page! i don't know. maybe you're interested. if you don't know me, that is. if so - hello. it's nice to meet you. 

bunny and the bull

every once in a while i see a movie that just kind of imprints itself on my heart. like, i will see it and then i cannot stop thinking about it for a good long while, and then i feel like every one in the world should know about it and see it, too.

that movie that is currently still reeling in my mind (get it?) is "bunny and the bull." i had never ever heard of it prior to a couple weeks ago, and it makes me a little sad that it took this long for it to be known to my brain. but alas, it is now, and really that is what matters most in the end, i think.

 

 

 

 

 

(click images for source)

this charmingly eccentric comedy is, first of all, british. so that alone should make you really excited; unless, of course, you are not a fan of british comedy, in which case you may be totally ready to stop reading this post. but, even so, you should probably see it anyway. especially if you are an appreciator of fine, beautiful, and fantastical art direction.

it is one of those movies that is magical in a very real way. somehow, impossible and outlandish things happen, and yet you completely understand and empathize with the characters. somehow, it all makes sense. somehow, you want to laugh and cry at the same time; craugh, if you will. it is precious, and hilarious, and grotesque, and bizarre. 

i would tell you what exactly the plot is, but i think there was something kind of special about not knowing when i watched it. there is no way to imagine what may happen that way, and it all just unfold before your eyes and that is pretty wonderful, if you ask me. 

goodnight, january

 

My kind of evening.

accio twix

(via here)

I love when ordinary things are made charming in unexpected ways.  Like these prints of chairs on newspaper; simple, yet genius.  Lately I feel like I've lost any creative ability that's ever been in me.  Not lost as in it's gone forever, but maybe misplaced.  Misplaced the way my car keys are misplaced almost everyday and it's frustrating because you know you just had them and you're running late and you can't go anywhere because you've looked everywhere - twice - and the dang keys still aren't there, and actually they are at the bottom of your purse the whole time, but by that time you're so mad and then-- well, no, I mean, what the point is, I was talking about creativity. Everyday I visit lots of cute blogs made by cute people who make or do cute things, and I wonder, where do they get this stuff from? How are there so many talented people in this world? And what inspires them?


Tell me, friends, what inspires you?


While I wait for those replies, I will sit here on my couch with the cat on my lap.  Because I want some of that halloween candy I bought two bags of last night, but it's all the way over there in the pantry.  And I want to watch a movie, but they are all over there in the cabinet.  And I can't get up because that would disturb Willow, who is just too cute to be disturbed and she is purring so there's no way I'm moving. And I wish once again that I had gone to Hogwarts and could accio everything my way. Including some creative brain waves.   


p.s. BONUS QUESTION.  Just for fun, I would LOVE to know if anyone had seen anything ordinary turned extraordinary lately? Anything found unexpectedly? 

be careful what you wish for

Coraline.  I re-watched this movie earlier this week and was reminded how much I love it.  It is so gloriously Tim Burton, made up with only the best qualitites of his genius. Some may say it's creepy.  Some may say it's weird. I think it is beautiful. It is a work of art. And also, the heroine of the story inspires me a little...

(via)

(i wish)

(best roommate ever)

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"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around?" Kathleen Kelly, You've Got Mail

For someone who loves to write and is entranced by the written word, I am constantly frustrated at how hard I find it to put how I am feeling into words.  That's why I am so thankful for the genius of others and masterpieces such as You've Got Mail where I can garner bits of wisdom and put them on my blog so that others can read them and understand a little bit of the mess that is me.  Oi.  Sometimes I am weary from living vicariously through stories in books and movies and brave friends.  And yet, at the same time, I am terrified of having my own adventures, terrified I will fall short or crumble under the weight of the unknown.  Hmm, just a thought for the day...

At the expense of relating to a fictional character once again (although I can't really complain because Kathleen Kelly is awesome and who the heck wouldn't want to be her?!), maybe I will find myself a witty and adorable mystery man who also happens to be rich though I don't care with whom I correspond over email and meanwhile open my own book shop. Now that's a good sounding adventure. BEST PLAN EVER. 

little lady luck

Things are looking up. The other day, I gave a tour around town to my mom and dad, and as I looked out the car window, I noticed a little friend had decided to join us. A little ladybug. She got lost with me on the way to the lake and witnessed my frantic search for the right street. She watched the orange leaves fall around Molly. She kept vigil while we strolled around the lake and sipped our hot chocolate. She stayed there all day long, perched upon the window, until we reached home again where I saw her fly away.

poetry soothes and emboldens the soul

I am happy ecstatic to say that I recently acquired a copy of the most beautiful movie I've ever seen, Bright Star.  This event has inspired me to spend every moment that I am in my car listening to the soundtrack with it's blissful, ethereal notes capable of making your heart melt with contentment and sorrow all at once.

John Keats: "I found your fairy princess on the wall in my bedroom."
Fanny: "You could make her out?"
John Keats: "She wears a butterfly frock."

I want pretty characters on my walls, too.
Please take a look at this Etsy treasure shop; I am in love with it.

p.s. Good news-- this is my 100th post! I made it this far...

all i could say was "hello"

An Affair to Remember - 1957

Such a beautiful movie.

i'll tell you everything about living free

I am farily certain that anyone who has seen 500 Days of Summer has not only fallen in love with it, but was completely inspired by the blackboard wall in Tom's apartment. It made me really want one.

However, when the July 2010 Anthropologie catalog came out, I realized that I need one.

must.

have.

chalkboards.

oh my goodness.

what do you think?

california is a great big nation.

I feel like there is so much I could say right now, I almost don't know where to begin. But seeing as how I promised bunnies, I think that would be a great place to start.


This past weekend was exactly what I needed, it was good for my heart. I was blessed to spend a long weekend with two wonderful friends and traveled to San Diahhhgo. Let me tell you a little something about San Diego-- it is gorgeous and has weather so good that it makes me want to cry when I think about the 107 degrees I am currently residing in. I didn't cry, btw. But I almost want to.


It would be almost impossible to fit our entire trip into one post (or atleast the type people would have time or want to read), BUT I will say that I accomplished life a couple life goals, saw a rock-and-roll legend front and center, and decided that my future will consist of living on a farm and acquiring large quantities of these:

That little girl was so adorable, I just couldn't resist being a little creepy and snapping a picture of her.


As for my life goals, I rode a train, which to some may not be a big hurrah, but to me it was a dream. I have never been on one (unless you count the kind at the railroad park I often take Mr. N to) and have always wanted to. Like the Hogwarts Express. But instead of magical school of witchcraft and wizardry, however, we ended up at a quaint little town where we drank cupfuls of coffee and fell in love with cottages.

Note: we did not actually eat at the Tea House, but  I thought it was sweet.


Second goal, I got my first tattoo. Ope! I don't actually have a great picture of it at the moment, but perhaps once it is all healed I will share.


And that rock-and-roll legend I mentioned earlier? Joan Jett. You may have heard of her.
I may not be her biggest fan (ahemthatwouldbemyfriendemilyahem) but I can't deny how awesome it was to be literally front and center among thousands for her rocking 4th of July show. You can check out Emily's post for all the details of that fabulous day.

Well, I think that's enough for now. Suffice it to say,  I love my little trip and the beautiful girls who accompanied me. I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well!  What did you do for the 4th? (Or, if not from the US, how was your weekend anyway?? I'd love to hear).

Goodnight!

mermaid monday

Today I was nanny for Mr. N and and his brother, Big B. In this plus one hundred degree weather, we were left with one, summery thing to do: swimming!

When you take a four and seven year old boys to a swimming pool with a beach ball and toy sharks, you are in for a fun but exhausting day. Watching them, you are reminded of what it is like to be a kid and have no worries, when you can be anything at any moment. I love their imagination and carefree disposition.

It made me think of my younger days, all those times my dad would take my sister and I to the pool.  I may have always been and will always be a terrible swimmer, but that did not interfere with my dream to be a mermaid (what little girl didn't pretend to be a mermaid in the water, even the bathtub?)  You cannot watch A Little Mermaid and not want to be a beautiful sea-princess-- come on, now.

(source)

(source)

I want those seastars in my hair...they're so pretty.

And gosh, I loved that movie Splash, I watched it over and over, thinking Daryl Hannah's character Madison was the most enchanting thing ever.

What is a favorite childhood memory of yours?

Oh, and p.s...Goal: I'm going to paint my nails a pretty shade...I need something bright and cheery this week, please.

Oh, and don't forget my giveaway is still open until Thursday.