NOT Gilty! - a trio of wine for a steal

Gilt Group, the high-end fashion for less website, has become the crumpet to my morning tea.  I don't know, there is something about seeing beautiful, well constructed fashion for a fraction of the price that can really get my heart pumping first thing in the AM, even if most of it is still out of my price range.  Recently, the site has been branching out to different avenues of the discount consumer marketplace with deals offered on sites like Gilt City and, like the one I discovered today, on Gilt Taste.

Currently, Gilt Taste is offering three different bottles of wine from the Freeman Vineyard & Winery's limited 2009 vintages here!

So, if you have some extra dough, or should I say cheese, on hand...these may not be a bad option if you enjoy sampling different wines from California vineyards.  And who knows, you may stumble upon your new go to vino...  

Graphic Design: Now in Production - and now I need to get to Michigan.

The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is showcasing an international exhibition discussing the way graphic design has evolved over the last decade and it will be available for onlooker's thirsty eyeballs from  October 22, 2011–January 22, 2012.

Now, this is cool.  This is relevant.  This gets me excited.  Will this get me to Michigan?  We will see.  But if this description of the exhibit from the Walker Art Center's website doesn't bite you right in the design juggular, I don't know what does.

"Featuring work produced since 2000 in the most vital sectors of communication design, Graphic Design: Now in Production explores design-driven magazines, newspapers, books, and posters as well as branding programs for corporations, subcultures, and nations. It also showcases a series of developments over the past decade, such as the entrepreneurial nature of designer-produced goods; the renaissance in digital typeface design; the storytelling potential of titling sequences for film and television; and the transformation of raw data into compelling information narratives."

Sarah Illenberger, information graphics for "The Truth about Sex,” in Neon magazine, 2008

These examples are just a taste  of what you will see at the exhibition, however these images, regardless of their subject matter resonate with me and bring me back to my childhood.  My dad worked as a buyer for an art store for over 15 years and over that time he made some amazing personal and professional relationships.  This effected the types of things that I did in my childhood because play time was often creative time for me.  My dad saw potential for creativity and art in everything, whether that meant building sand "castles" at the beach, school projects turned masterpieces, or the potential for a broken store display to liven up the house.  I think it was this mind set that I have carried with me most through out the years, that things can be molded, rescued, and seen differently.  But back to graphic design and my childhood.  My dad would bring home these giant  design books from work filled with image after image, categorized by style and subject matter and in the white margins which types of mediums and materials were used to create these pieces.  I think they were used to learn what was new and innovative in the art world so they new what to stock on their shelves.  I would spend hours flipping through the brightly colored pages trying to decipher why the chicken was pink, or why the woman would be made entirely out of dots.  Then I'd quietly sneak a pair of "no-no scissors" of the table, or if I had been watching a lot of GI-Joe that day I would go on a re-con mission for an exact-o knife.  Then I would cut them out and glue them together to make an entirely new image that told a brand new story.  I look at these few images from this exhibit as an adult and I realize the importance graphic design is playing today, reaching an entirely new generation of adults that thrive on an abundance of media and innovation to keep us interested.  We want to see things differently and what I also love so much about our generation today is that we are beginning to see how old things can become new again, and that is where I believe my dad was well ahead of the generational curve.

Daniel Eatock - Pantone Pen Print, 2006 

This image is especially relevant for me.  My dad specialized in buying pens, so Monte Blanc graphics and 1/2 used tester pads were something that were brought home for my re-use on the regular.

Christopher Doyle, Christopher Doyle Identity Guidelines 2008

License Plate Bowls via blogger Design Fetish

I found this post from one of my new fav bloggers, Design Fetish. This makes my obsession with old rusty license plates and the pile that has been accumulating in my closet seem not so pointless anymore. There is something about the colors, the age, the different fonts and graphics, and the fact that this piece of metal, worn like jewelry on a traveling hunk of steel, represents an evolution in the personal experience of movement across America.  They were once part of giant memory makers and the nostalgia involved in them is hard to pass up.  I like picking one, or two, up when I am in a new city or if the plate has a significant year or state that represents something special for me or my family; it is also a way to mark the creation of new memories.  On my first trip to New York this last spring, while visiting my older brother I found one in a vintage shop that read, "NY Worlds Fair 64" underneath the plate numbers. It is a simple plate with yellow lettering and a black background but that memory of shopping in Brooklyn with my brother will forever be attached to it.  I have always wanted to find a way to bring my plates back to life and these bowls are a great example of something useful and beautiful.

 Read the full post from Design Fetish here,  Licensed Plate Bowls

Weekend Away: Tahoe & Truckee - good food, great drinks, and much needed vintage inspiration!

This was a much needed weekend away that bf and I had been looking forward to for a while.  It was nothing crazy, just two days, but it can be so refreshing to have a change of scenery from your normal everyday life and Lake Tahoe has become one of our favorite place to go and just soak up that scenery.  I am not much for winter sports, so summer in Tahoe is really my favorite time, but bf and his family have been renting cabins, and in fact owned one a while back, since he was a baby.  This past weekend me, bf, and bfm (boyfrend's mom) stayed in a quaint cabin with rustic finishes and true cabin qualities; a cast iron fire place, antlers on the wall, and just enough technical modernity (fridge, stove, toilet, and shower) to function for our generation.  We were even able to nab a lil' wireless from the cabin next door; although unreliable, it was enough to feed bf's addiction to twitter and give us up to the minute news on the U.S.'s  freedom fighter's hunt for Gaddafi.  The cabin was tucked away in the woods but within walking distance to the lake and the famous Obexer's, a food and general store celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.  We were able to get our coffee fix and bf's paper while squeezing in some much needed exercise and lake time.  We were actually able to get up early like we planned, thanks to a bed that felt like it was chiseled by hand in the stone age, and drive to what has become known as "our fishing spot" for some over due summertime fishing.  This worked out nicely.  I like fishing but bf LOVES fishing, so we knocked off a few early hours of what he loves out of the way which cleared the rest of the day to do what I love, sans complaints.  The rest of the day consisted of a combination of hitting some favorite shopping spots, discovering new ones, and mixing in delicious food and drinks along the way, which made all of us very happy.  I have put together a list of the places we went and what we found, and if you make it to Tahoe before the summer is over, I highly suggest them all!

1.  Brunch at Fire Sign: This is a popular spot, but with the use of a take away buzzer system, we were able to walk around to the back where there was a cafe to sit and wait, oh but we did none of that.  Right next to the cafe is a little shop that has become a favorite stop whenever we come to Tahoe.  It is run by an older woman who sells her own Tahoe themed paintings, shabby cottage antiques, and summer home decor.  This year, her hand painted watermelons on natural wood slices were a hit and and she even custom made one for bfm.  All before brunch I got an aged boat ore and vintage pudding tin for $10. Back to brunch, Fire Sign has a large menu with options that could satisfy an array of tastes.  I had the tuna sandwich and bf had the french dip which both come with house made chips and salsa, and both were very delicious!  Bfm had one of the best and hardiest looking caprese salads and she was very happy with the half she could finish.  In all honesty the food was a close second to the drinks.  The pitcher of mimosas we shared was phenomenal!  Apparently, fresh squeezed oranges and champagne are a winning duo.


2.  The Alpine Antiquer: This is a true vintage and antique store with reasonably priced items, for Lake Tahoe.  I was able to find some really fun stuff on this trip.  An old metal milk carrier from Walnut Creek, CA., the book "Camp Fire Girls Trip Up the River" copyright 1918 with a cute inscription in the cover dated Christmas 1931, a "don't mess with Texas" fly swatter, and four cork floats, currently used as an escape from vase rocks.  I love the natural earthy look to them and at 4 bucks a pop I am wishing I bought the whole lot.  They would be really nice in a bowl of water with a flower or two in the center or a tea light.



3.  Morning Glory:  The very well decorated and designed shabby chic shop was a new place we decided to check out.  Although it's items were slightly over priced, in my opinion, there were a handful of things I wanted to take home with me.








 4.  We moved onto an art fair which was a nice surprise.  I picked up some earrings, bf got a great hand printed shirt with our favorite Lagunitas beer's image of a dog head on it and we shopped around the mall next door where we spotted some hilarious Ts. 

His and Hers

5.  Dinner and Drinks at Jason's on the Lake: This was a simple yet winning combo.  A full bar with the Giants game on, a stocked salad bar, and a large patio with lake views, all with fair prices and an array of options.  The highlight of the night for me came when I was struggling to choose between the highest priced glass of chardonnay, that was getting rave reviews from bfm, or the cheap glass that I am used to ordering.  Then bf stepped in, the chivalrous man he is and said, "Go for it babe, you deserve it!", Awwww, right?  Then after the waitress walked away he mumbled under his breath to me, "Now, I don't fee so bad for ordering the prime rib".  Oh bf.  You have to laugh.

WINE REC. - Either way, I was glad I order it.  It was delicious and I could taste the difference in smoothness and buttery flavor compared to the cheaper glass of chardonnay offered.  If you are willing to shell out the $10 a glass, I would definitely recommend the La Crema Chardonnay 2009. "The 2009 vintage of Sonoma coast Chardonnay opens with an intriguing interplay of lively citrus and subtle toasted  oak, laced with just a kiss of butterscotch."  Bevmo offers it by the bottle for $15.99.  Hmm, good to know!

recycled wine bottle cups

re-purposed wood table and chairs

  6.  Truckee:  The next day, on the way home, we stopped in Truckee for some lunch and shopping.  I didn't end up buying anything, except some really cool recycled wine bottle cups, but I received some much needed visual inspiration which will definitely come in handy later.

Table and "wine glasses" at Tahoe Blu in Truckee, Ca.

paint chipped light blue picket fence

   

I Knew Red Wine Was Good, but I had Noooo Idea it was This Good - couch potatoes have no fear, red wine is here!

So, as I scurried around this morning making preparations for a quick weekend trip to Lake Tahoe with the boyfriend, I wasn't sure if I would have time to make a post.  Between Scooping doggie you-know-what, folding what seemed like a mountain of laundry, and trying to decide which of the 7 pairs of shoes I "really" needed for the two days we were going to be there (I know, too much stress for someone my age), I managed to squeeze in a moment to plop down and read my email and boy, am I glad I did. There was an email forwarded to me from bf (boyfriend) which is something I have come to enjoy receiving on a daily basis; come to think of it, if there isn't one sitting in the inbox I am honestly a little bummed.  Bad call bf, setting the bar too high! On a side note, bf and I have been together for  almost 5 years and we are renting a house together, which has been an amazing learning and growing experience for both of us. Luckily, it has bonded us tighter together in love, but I'll tell ya, It could have gone either way there for a while, however I am thankful everyday we are on this journey together.  Getting back on track now, bf works for a diabetes awareness project and he puts together a monthly newsletter that updates health professionals on the latest news and studies that effect their practice; that way they can best inform and answer their patients questions.  The email I recieved was this months list of articles with the forwarded message, "Check out the article on red wine and mice!"   Oh bf...good lookin' out my man!

Raise a glass to the 'red wine pill' to cure everything from obesity to cancer

The article from mailonline.com describes a miracle pill that could fight some of the world's scariest health isssues: obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.  Based on tests done on mice that were deliberatly fed foods high in fat content and the pill, results show that the pill was able to block the fat so the mice didn't gain any weight and they didn't show any signs of diabetes.  My excitement, oh wait,

 "THE excitement surrounds a family of drugs based on resveratrol, the ‘miracle ingredient’ in red wine credited with inhibiting the development of cancer and heart disease.  The drugs would activate a gene called SIRT1 that is key to longevity and energy, and their potency would give them the equivalent health benefits of 8,000 bottles of wine."

 8,000 bottles of wine! and I get a lil' sheepish about admitting to my glass or two a day, for the projected health  benefits, of course.  From now on, there ain't no shame in my game!

Decorating Trends: ABC's and 123's

I found an article on PrettySouthern.com called "Decorating with Vintage Letters".  This is one of my favorite trends in the vintage re-purposing and decorating world right now.  Using old letters, numbers, and symbols as wall art, to add whimsy, and even to enhance pieces and add utility is a relatively affordable (depending on size and age of items) way to transform a room. They are a wonderfully stylish and personal way to reuse materials and make something your own.  click on the PrettySouthern.com link to view the article, more images, and smart ideas!

house numbers, painters stencils, rustic old wood coffee table, Photo:BWA

I recently bought old house numbers in "1" and "2" and plan on using them on a  hanging cubby organizer design.  They are thick metal in a traditional style with a matte black finish which I think would really pop against a brightly painted rustic style wood.  The over all piece would be great for his and hers organization, order of importance mail organizing, or if you have kids who need help remebering to a)Put things away and b)keep their hands off of each others things.   In the image you see the numbers, an example of what I'm thinking for wood (currently my coffee table) and some old painters stencils I picked up at an antique fair.  Stencils are a cheaper and more rustic alternative to using actual letters or numbers.  I haven't decided if I want to use them as stencils or actually adhere them somewhere.  I love finding things that give you multiple creative options to work with, let those juices flow people!

Check out this similar organizer idea already for sale at the Etsy store,
 Deer Stop Vintage.

vintage re-purposed wall organizer, Photo:Deer Stop Vintage

 It's industrial, it's purposeful, and the numbers give it an extra layer of artistic organization.  Oh mylanta! don't even get me started on the hooks, so many uses so little time!  In a mudroom, next to a front door, this thing could stylishly hang coats and dog leashes, hold purses, and even rock a decorative bowl for keys.  If you haven't picked up on my love for attractive yet useful things yet, oh you will.  You could bet your first born child a hooks and wall hangers post will be coming soon.

Last, I found these vintage highway letters in different shapes and sizes and was able to spell out the word "Garden".  They add a fun, decorative element to our large, square backyard by better defining the space, literally.  The wood was already there so I just tacked the letters to it with nails and they instantly created an artistic fencing that pulled your eye away from the not so attractive parts of the garden.  Yes, it is a less then prize winning garden, but it is my garden and I want everyone to know it.

vintage highway letters "garden", Photo:BWA

Sweet&Sassy - the "Middle Sister" complex

For one of my first posts on wine I really want to give you an idea of the personal relationship I have come to have with it and how it can be fun and easy to enjoy, or not.

I don’t know how y’all choose wine…that’s right, a “y’all” just popped out.  Two things just occurred here, and if you plan on frequenting this space, which I hope you do, you might want to be aware of them.  An occasional y’all could pop out at any moment.  I’m not from Texas, but my family is and lives there, so watch out it could get real country in here, fast.  The second thing to watch out for, tangents.  If you know me, in the physical form, you know I fly off on them on occasion.  I have a lot to say, but I promise I will get it out one way or another. SO…

I don’t know how y’all choose wine but I start with the general area of the wine section that I am leaning towards, breaking it down into either red or white, then I hone in on which cute labels catch my eye! Not what you were expecting, huh? Hang in there!  Wine makers are smart and they are getting smarter and they know that people who buy wines, especially in a mid to low level price range, are most likely not concerned with tannins or legs.  So even though they most likely have a quality product they utilize interesting and, yes cute, labels and descriptions to entice consumers to try them; honestly at some of their price points why not.  I have learned that by just being your self and going by what you know, for me its being a visual learner, you may come across some really good, affordable wines that you can recommend to friends while building a knowledge base of your own likes and dislikes.

 I am currently obsessed with the entire Middle Sister line of wines; yes I am calling it a line because this wine is adorable enough to have its own fashion label.  I discovered this wine on a routine shopping trip to Target.  I was not expecting to buy wine from Target, of all the places, but after spotting these labels, the wine names, and the descriptions, I had to buy one of each.  Each Middle Sister wine has a different appropriately named personality and a cartoon caricature of stylish girl that matches that personality.  I was on the way to a get-together with all of my best girlfriends from college and was able to pick a wine for each one of my friends as a gift that was perfectly paired with their personalities.  The real struggle came when I had to pick one for my self.  Was I the Goodie Two-Shoes Pinot Noir, the Mischief Maker Cabernet Sauvignon, the Smarty Pants Chardonnay, or even the Sweet &Sassy Moscato?  I seriously struggled with this dilemma.  Do I choose for taste? I generally prefer reds.  Do I choose the girl that looks most like me, or the one that sounds most like me? I was convinced I had multiple personalities because of this wine experiment.  This fun wine-buying trip turned into a self exploration asking “who am I”?  I chose Sweet &Sassy, the Moscato, a white. Her description, “After a long hard day of being fabulous, I like to relax with a glass of wine. But I don't want it to bite me back. Isn't there enough drama in this world? That's why this wine is my new best wine friend. With a touch of natural sweetness, it's smooth and refreshing and so easy to love. Moscato, always stay as sweet as you are. I'll handle the sassy part.” She’s freakin’ cool, right? Well, turns out I picked the wine I thought I should be, and I didn’t like it.  It was too sweet, and straight up, the biatch gave me a headache after like two sips.  

This could sound crazy but I was forced to judge my self and honestly take a look who I thought I was.  I was drawn to this wine’s adorable labels and names, I connected with it’s middle sister marketing because that is what I am, and then I discovered that trying to be something I’m not sucks.  So, I kept all the bottles I had bought for my friends, tried them all and found out I am a little bit of a Goodie Two-shoes, a whole lot of a Mischief Maker, occasionally a Drama Queen, and always a Smarty Pants, and I am just fine with that. 

Just because one, or two, worked or didn’t work for me doesn’t mean they will or wont work for you!  To see all of the awesome wines and their descriptions check out the Middle Sister Wines website www.middlesisterwines.com

Design&Wine, Period. Not Quite...

I know what you are thinking. Vintage design and wine, how do those mix?  For me, it is an experiment in aging, which translates into a discovery of the self.  Why do we like the things we like? why do we choose the things we choose?  Why are we considered modern or contemporary while another is old-world or traditional?  Why do I hate Moscatos but you love them; better yet, why do I generally love Cabs but hate the one I drank last night?  I thrive on creativity, have a deeply seeded love for figuring out how to fix things, I see potential in things that are old, dirty, and weathered beyond use, and I am addicted to finding the next best thing.  Hmmmm, why does this sound more like a laundry list of issues to discuss with a therapist than reasons why I like vintage re-purposing?   I mean, who wouldn't need a glass of wine, right? Sheesh. Do I detect a hint of childhood divorce, a peppering of inability to let things go, and a slight aroma of control freak? and this is what it's all about!  For the past five years I have struggled with the whos, whats, whens, wheres, whys, and hows of life, and as I round out the last few unemployed months of what my older brother aptly deemed "the quarter-life crisis", I am attempting to learn more about me now, and worry less about me-future.  I am not and will never claim to be an expert at anything but being me.  This is about enjoying life, experimenting, sharing,  and like a fine wine (that is probably too pricey for me to try), getting better with age.