Amazing Etsy Candle Finds.

Not to get all hoity-toity on y'all but after working here as an art director for 3+ years. I think I know my way around a candle. With my emergency stash almost all used up and my connections to my employer of yore, all over-seas; I think it's about time I [gasp] buy some candles. As in spend my own money. Now that I'll be paying for the merch as opposed to charming my way through the PR closet, I'm going to need to be selective. Being a bit of a luxury-hound snob, my thoughts immediately went to here. But then I thought, Etsy! What's better then supporting a little home-grown business? And meeting some interesting guys and gals? [I've met the best/most interesting creatives on there] So without further ado, my picks for sexiest candles on Etsy.* Click on the pics to be taken to the shop.

*I have yet to purchase my candles, therefore these picks were based on design, scent combos, and spiffiness of shop.

Things I liked this week...

redonk kitty from Neëst.

nuzzles. via.

ink + wit wrapping paper.

underground railroad in Budapest. via.

most beautiful home. ever.

this blog/cat. and their shop. via.

Ballet be Sexy!

I know you kids are all jazzed about Nathalie Portman and froufy ballerina fashion since Black Swan came out. But the thing that's got me all hot and bothered from all this hullabaloo is this...ahem him.

pic from Best Week Ever.

Nathalie Portman's man/choreographer/baby daddy. Benjamin Millipied is smokin! Check out more saucy pics here. Those of you who know me, might very well be able to figure out why I'm so enamored of Monsieur Millepied. He happens to be a dead ringer for a sexy french fellow, I just happen to be acquainted with. Lucky Lucky Lucky Me.

Voila!

Remember that surprise I hinted about the other day? Well here's the unveiling.

I'm selling my sexy, chunky, cuddly knitwear on etsy. All of the pieces are designed and knitted by yours truly using only the finest most sumptuous of wools. Check out the shop here. And more pics of my fun photoshoot with the BF here. Let me know what you think. Oh and more colors coming soon. Enjoy!

Don't you just love this?

Book cover by Kulick Design. Lots more great work by them here. Thanks to Design Work for Life.

Some of you may be wondering...

where I've been for a bit. Here's a clue:

I'm cooking something up at the ole chateau. You'll be the first to know when it's ready to unveil.

Beauty...

Olek “Traces” photo (c) Zuza Krajewska & Bartek Wieczorek found at Yatzer.

Smile...

I haven't seen anyone look that content in a long time. Makes me smile big and remember to appreciate.

Katie Sokoler of Color Me Katie Fame took this. Awesome.

A little warmer...

So it's frackin' cold. I've been spending the week in Savoie [no kidding] lapping up the snow and general frenchiness. My grasp of the french language has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to my many english-language-challenged extended family members. And on a much much much more surprising note, my snowboarding skills have become...well something more akin to skills. It might have helped that I had the hottest teacher in the whole damn L'ecole du Ski Français. If you're ever in Savoie at the Les Menuires ski station go to the school and ask for a snowboarding lesson with Laurent. When they ask, Laurent who? Say the hot one. I think his last name begins with an F. Thank me later. And tell him Anna says hi.

OK. But I digress. The point of this post was to warm up your day. Voila!

Taken on a brilliant day at Coney Island some years back with some of my best girls. I've finally gotten around to posting my photog exploits on flickr. If you like that, you'll love the rest of the set. Enjoy!

Who doesn't love the Early 60's?

I mean, with the meteoric rise of Mad Men, it's safe to say...nobody. Anywho. Found this tantalizing book, Lifestyle Illustration of the 60s, on Designboom. Published by Fiell publishing. A rather bad ass little publishing group, you will be sure to wanna keep an eye on. As for me, this book is pure gold for inspiration and general nostalgic dreamy sentimentality. And now, I really must go and rock out with my frock out.

How do they do that?

There's this rad illustrator. Miyuki Sakai.

picture from miyuki sakai site.

I would have discovered her through reading Martha Stewart Living, my all-time favorite magazine. But no. She [martha] won't deliver to the NL. So my bestest-ever buddies occasionally bring me or send me an issue, but it's not like having a subscription at one's fingertips. Enter Lou & Tom. Cute ass blog with nice heads up to Miyuki Sakai. I do recognize that I would have seemed way cooler by not admitting that my first source for the arty crafty super highway would have been Martha over Lou & Tom. But let's be real. I ain't cool and I frackin' love Martha. That said. J'aime Lou & Tom aussi. C'est cool. C'est sympa. C'est bien. Oh and wait. I mean to be talking about Miyuki Sakai. Damn cool illustrations. And made on a frackin sewing machine! The mind can't help but to be blown. serious dawg. love it or go home and do something better. yeah that's right, didn't think so.

A Nutcracker that's a real ball buster.

I've spent much of this holiday season trying to track down a Nutcracker production to drag the old BF too. I try to attend a performance during the Holiday season if I can. This year I could not. Seems it's not as popular in the NL and all I found was Swan Lake. Which while enticing, just won't have the same old nostalgic punch. And then today I stumbled upon this:



Woah nelly. This is not your momma's Nutcracker. You must go to Yatzer for a full article and loads of enticing pics. And be sure to check out the choreographer's website here. More saucy pics and video. Feeling quite titillated at the moment. mmmmm.