If I Didn't Love Loker Yet... This Just Sealed The Deal

Maddie's Pin Diplomacy

I loved this photo gallery taken from Madeline Albright's new book:

 Read My Pins - Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box I 

found on the

Daily Beast.

For me, Madeline has always been the epitome of strength and success so I loved seeing this softer, more whimsical side of her. It once again proved that feminine and powerful are not contradicting terms. Here are some of my favorite pins and how she describes them:

“Naturally, not every diplomatic encounter demands a sunny attitude. If I wanted to deliver a sharp message, I often wore a bee. Muhammad Ali used to boast that he would ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a bee’; my message was that America would try to resolve every controversy peacefully, but if pushed into a corner, we had both the will and a way to strike back.

High Heeled Shoe, Designer unknown (USA), circa 2002

“On my 65th birthday, Elaine Shocas, my State Department chief of staff, gave me 65 pins, each costing less than $3. One of the gifts was in the shape of a high-heeled shoe. This was in commemoration of a comment I made when I was designated by Bill Clinton as the successor to Secretary of Sta

te Warren Christopher: ‘I only hope my heels can fill his shoes.’”

Lion, Kenneth Jay Lane (USA), 1968

“While in government, I thought first when selecting a pin about the utility it might have in diplomacy. This is because some figures are laden with meaning. The lion, for example, has been linked to power and the sun since the days of ancient Greece.”

Isn't her amazing? Wouldn't this be a great book to have on your coffee table?

Cheese or Font? Fun Fun Game

Whether it's the cheese you're into or the fonts,

 this is really fun. 

Via HowAboutOrange

It's Magically Delicious!

Heeellllluuuu!!! Bon Apetit!!! The next artist I would like to introduce has got me so exited I'm speaking French. So what if the only words I know if from Julie and Julia despite that fact that I took 2 years of it in High School? But I digress -

Presenting:(put on your best Meryl Streep doing Julia Child)Gretchen of ChiChiBoulie! How amazingly wonderful are these paintings? And oh-so-French!

I am so in love with her work that I just had to commission a painting for my brother's new baby! Can't wait to see how it turns out!  

She also makes amazing logos... I wish I had something kid-ish to use her for, but check these out:

Besides being phenomenally talented she is also really quite funny, check out her blog.

Hangin' From The Chandeliers

I just love anything in Chandelier print - it's just so baroquely lovely, put it in a light or bright color gives it a modern twist. How gorgeous are these tags from Orange & Blossom? I want a whole printed set - stationary, cards, notebooks! Do you think you can get away with them on a wedding invitation?

And take a look at this tabletop set from Rosanna, Inc. They make the most amazingly whimsical grandma chic tableware that come in the cutest hatbox style packaging. It would make a great shower gift - and the packaging is so cute, you don't even have to wrap it! (BTW my sister @ The Silver Spoon Store sells a lot their stuff on steep discounts - check out this set on her Amazon storefront, while her site is being built.)

Post No Bills

B'genius. Courtesy of Yossi Belkin - not sure if he took it or just ripped it off.

The Fruits Of My Labor - GYMIES Postcards

How cute are these? Graphics by my enormously talented friend Jennifer.

Oh and you can check out our new site - www.gymiesgym.com
(And so what if I'm shamelessly plugging my clients - it's a great gym!)

Un-Freaking-Believable

Ok, this is seriously serious. Are you listening? Sitting down? Good, here we go:

You must must must, and I mean must, go read "And the Pursuit of Happiness" written and illustrated by Maira Kalman for the New York Times. Funny, brilliant and inspiring.

Here's a little taste:

When People Are Genius And I Wish I Was Them

Meet Sophie Blackall. She makes pretty pictures about missed connections in NYC. Takes an old (but, cute) craiglist idea, and makes it art. I'm in love. (With her art, not with Sophie,ok fine maybe a little bit with Sophie too.)

It says:

"Saturday, July 18, 2009 - m4w - 20 (m train)
you had on a blue dress an brown boots on i was a purple shirt we were waiting at myrtle an wyckoff ave at like 2 or 3 am for the m you were just amazing looking an i wanted to talk to you but i was having a bad day an looked offal so i didnt even try then you got off at central well its a long shot or your probably seeing some one but you seemed like a nice person so maybe."

Oh and here is her other blog.

Jon Stewart Being Jon Stewart

I'm a huge fan of The Daily Show - this is the funniest and smartest episode I've seen so far. No fancy photoshop or anything. Just 2 funny, smart guys. And I can't tell if Brian Williams is joking or is really t'ed off. You tell me:

Just sharing the smiles! Enjoy!

Hello Flawless by Benefit

I'm a big believer in everything by Benefit for everyday makeup - they keep things fresh and pretty, never looking too made up. I use Badgal Lash Mascara, Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in birthday suit, and You Rebel Light tinted moisturizer on a daily basis.

I walked into Sephora yesterday to restock on the tinted moisturizer and find a good pressed powder to keep the summer "shine" at bay. I ended up walking out with this, a "custom powder cover-up". And its amazing. Its a powder but works as a foundation/concealer - to use it as a powder and for overall sheer coverage use the brush, for more coverage use the sponge on those troubled spots.

It covered up my pimples and evened out my skin tone without looking like I'm wearing makeup at all! This little beauty is getting a permanent ocean-view location in my bag.

P.S. And yes, I confess that I am slightly suckered in by their marketing - but their product is so good that it actually lives up to the hype - so I don't feel bad.