notice to appear in court

i have committed to buying all of my holiday gifts from small businesses and local stores.

it should be clear that i do not think large chain stores are the devil and to be rallied against (except wal-mart. wal-mart is the devil). actually, my 9 to 5 job supports large stores of this kind. i think many have great products, strong customer service, imaginative product lines and displays! i love me some target, urban outfitters, cb2, west elm, etc. i also know they employ many good, hardworking people. it's just that i believe that my spending at small businesses and local boutiques, holds more weight than the small drop in a huge bucket, that my dollars make at big-box chains. i believe that my spending this holiday season, and actually year-round as well, can make or break a small business, where as larger stores can ride through slower times.

since scott, my husband, opened up his retail store (The Green Life) in 2008, it has completely changed my perception of local, small businesses and their value to my life and my community. to me, an investment in these stores, is an investment in my community.

scott routinely hosts events that benefit local community groups, non-profit charities, and because it relates to the purpose of his store - environmental causes. without the generosity of small businesses like his, these organizations may not otherwise have these opportunities. stores like his also benefit local artists, who want to sell their wares without their own storefront. he has the ability to give them an opportunity at growth and provide feedback to them from his customers.

this commitment of mine is also a bit selfish. i chose to live in a big city for the variety of people and styles. i love going out to brunch then strolling up and down the street, window shopping and popping in to browse cool shops. i don't want to lose that! third street in los angeles, main street in santa monica, abbot kinney in venice... when you go there and every other window is dark or covered with a "going out of business" sign, it's slightly depressing. instead of avoiding those spots and going to the mall, i'm going to rally for them and give them my money in hopes that these awesome shopping enclaves can turn around!

i do know a lot of people support small businesses and independent artists via online shopping. i obviously appreciate that, especially for people who may live in smaller towns without the shopping options i have in los angeles, but i just want to drive home how much more brick-and-mortar stores offer to you as a consumer and to your communities. brick-and-mortar stores lend greatly to the local community as sources of visual inspiration, product knowledge, event spaces, networking opportunities, and beautification of the visual landscape that that solely-online stores may not provide. (sara at girlscantell posted some similar thoughts on this blog post.)

anyone else willing to make a similar commitment? thoughts?

i refuse to swim in heels

my two loves unite! craft world meet high fashion.
all courtesy of the "p.s. i made this..." blog. i'm loving it all, especially the cork necklace:

the effect of making you feel nostalgic for a moment you were still in

last night i went out for after-work drinks with my coworkers. we headed to village idiot on melrose ave.

the spot is filled with so much charm. exposed brick walls, menu on kraft cardstock and a huge, wall mounted chalkboard, handcrafted cocktails (like the "poor man's black velvet" i ordered (guiness and cider (usually made with champagne)) and my friend's dark and stormy (dark rum, ginger beer and lime)).

i'm not much of a "foodie" so atmoshere and an experience, go a long way with me. i've heard they serve up a great sunday brunch, so hopefully i'll be back soon. oh - if you can get seated in susie's section, do it. we highly recommend her as your waitress.

[the village idiot, 7383 melrose ave, los angeles, ca]

your shadow moves faster than you

1. Purple Sunset Bug, 2. The Road Ahead, 3. +, 4. The Colonia we stayed at., 5. Condesa street art, 6. Na escola rural, 7. there's a name for these pots, what is it?!, 8. papaya, 9. Untitled, 10. Restaurant, 11. Untitled, 12. Ghost Ad

for reasons completely unbeknown to me, i have a deep yearning to go to mexico. not a tropical vacation. like dusty, gritty mexico. ensenada and rosarito and the spots less traveled. and i have no idea why this is a constant thought, but it comes to me every day. i feel it in my bones.

it's telling me i need to get myself to mexico and rent out a beach shack. swim in a cold ocean and let my hair dry in clumpy waves. sleep in bathing suit bottoms and an old oversized hoodie. drink coca-cola out of glass bottles and order $0.25 tacos from a tiny stand in an alley. haggle with store owners selling touristy trinkets, buy cheap pottery. spend my mornings walking along deserted beaches and my nights writing in a journal, on the patio, by the light of candles.

last year i had this same internal nagging with san francisco. no clue what deeper meaning is to be found in it all...

8 million stories out there

just as i did with my fashion inspiration board for fall, here is one for my home decor:

strong fidings of paranormal activity

aaaaaand the girl crush continues...
rachel roy on "the city", looking elegant and gorgeous. can anyone do my hair like hers please?

scaling the corridors for maidens in the maze

on my fall fashion post below, emily commented that she wasn't cool enough to pull of booties and I completely disagree! not just because she's stylish and could pull off anything, but because they are supremely more wearable than they appear! proof:

what?: some may feel most comfortable stepping into this look with styles like cage heels or strappy, chunky peep toe styles. These are similar to heels you may already own, but amped up a bit - more coverage, straps, higher up on the ankle, etc.
wear?: they work with dresses and skirts (often adding a tough edge to a feminine outfit), skinny jeans (that end at the ankle), and cigarette pants. don't pair them with a full jean, especially boot-cuts, since they'll just add bulk and get hidden. i love all booties with opaque black tights. contrast in material or color lends more visual interest to the whole look - a glossy black patent leather or the gray suede pair (above) pop against black tights.

what?: the next step up in terms of coverage is what i consider a true bootie. these can be peep-toed or completely closed-toed, but cover most of the foot. i find these styles (especially those similar to the top 2 of these 4) to be the most wearable because they give a sleek, clean line just as a traditional pump would. seriously - consider when you would wear a pump, and swap one of these in instead. look for interesting details like those shown above - a seam, zipper on the back heel, ruffle, a contrasting heel, etc.
wear?: wear them with a cuffed baggier boyfriend jean or again with any skirts or dresses. i don't tend to wear mine with a skinnier pant because they tent to feel too bulky for me. again, opaque tights are great under them for fall and winter. i say to buck the rule that you can't wear tights with a peep toe. these shoes are hearty enough that it doesn't look silly.

 what?: these are more of a boot than a shoe. the height goes to the ankle and they are obviously often called ankle boots. i like mine slouchy, to pool up around the ankle a bit (the top right of these 4). once past the ankle, i say it should be up to the midcalf. middle heights are not for the fashion fearful.
wear?: the only pants i recommend you wearing these with are either leggings that go completely into them (not my personal style, but it works) or skinny jeans that end just past the top of the booties. you can tuck / smush the hem of the jeans into them for a casual, slouchy look. pull your socks over the jean hem to hold them in place or else they'll ride up and pop out! they also work with skirts and dresses, but i tend to say only for casual wear, not work.

come on emily- you gonna give them a try??? anyone else?

[all shoes shown are aldo, steve madden, max studio, and report]

several good protections against temptations

curled up with tea and my october vogue, wishing for rain, i read the article "the ex files" by tad friend - a story of how when researching his memoir, he, "looked up old girlfriends - and got a new view of himself." the article was enjoyable, not amazing, but the very last paragraph... well, i just loved it...

"Kerry was a template, in many ways, but she was also a sketch that I inked in more fully later, and she might say the same in reverse. On Kerry's own testimony, I shrunk our story to a single sentence: Sometimes remembered lightning was just a lightning bug."

holding it together by a string and a paper clip

the start of a new season is a perfect time to take stock of your closet and go in with a fresh start. i go with the plan of nix (trash or donate), fix (alterations), mix (re-shop my own closet, looking for new combinations and ways to pair my stuff up, assess what is missing in my wardrobe), then, it's shopping time!

i like to have a clear idea of what i'm going after. i'm a bargain gal, who loves tj maxx, target and forever 21, so unless i edit, edit, edit and am ruthless with what i choose to bring into my home, i really could come home with armfuls of crap.

this is my inspiration for fall shopping. it's a lot of my usual loves: geometric, strong patterns, metallics, chunky shoes and booties, sleek, chic, a little rocker-esque. apparently color is not a high-priority for me. spot anything you like??

i am convinced that you can copy what i am doing

photo from thistimetomorrow blog

her bag is old navy. those shoes are aldo.
even i, the die-hard bargain girl, is saying, "whaaaat?!"
love, love, love.

L.A. doesn't love you

and last, some of the little touches...

seating signs: i wanted every single piece of the wedding to be special. nothing generic. nothing 'typical'. so when it came to making the seating/escort cards, i was out of ideas. couldn't get creative. so i thought, why not nix them and make a sign instead? my mom's friend (my wedding fairy godmother) had the coolest idea: 8.5x11" clear acrylic block frames, with holes drilled in the top, strung on fishing line. they were suspended from an archway near the entrance to the reception. saved paper and cost all of $10!

cameo broach: my grandma lillie (my mom's mom) passed away in 2005. she often wore a cameo ring and i knew i wanted one on my bouquet as a piece of her with me on that day. (this is a scrapbook page about her and you can see the ring in the picture there.) i found a vintage cameo locket at the melrose trading post flea market in l.a. and it was attached to the base of my bouquet. it meant a lot to me and it meant a lot to my mom.

prosecco and mexican coca-cola: i like prosecco. scott likes mexican coca-cola (cane sugar versus high fructose corn syrup + in a glass bottle). we had both on hand for guests at the reception. the cokes were a huge hit.

music: our odd, somewhat offbeat choices for music continued after the ceremony. our cocktail hour of the reception was all modern, indie-rock a la feist, tegan & sara, phoenix, kate nash, MGMT, walter meego, etc. during dinner, the entire album "exile on main street" by the rolling stones played, with a few other stones favorites mixed in.

shoes: i wore flats since scott is shorter than me. i'm a shoe girl. i'll drool over and pine for fabulous heels, but when looking for wedding flats, nothing did it for me. just all sort of 'eh'. so, shoes were left until the last minute. when i stumbled across a pair of pointed toe, bronze (with a touch of burgandy) snake-skin flats for $8.49 at ross, i was sold!

[all photos by jason ward of garrett photography]

my favorite song is in a car commercial

post secret has a new book out.
i hope the post secret project never stops.
it's part of my sunday morning ritual, coffee in hand, every single week:

prior to this momentous event

love her. love her designs. looooove her sharp bob. it's not insightful or much new info, but the vogue.tv three-part video series of her is eye candy:

one. two. three.

blinded by rainbows

and now the reception....

food: my parents own restaurants, so it was a no-brainer they would cater, regardless of location, but i ended up having the reception there as well. appetizers (always the best!) included: whiskey peppercorn meatballs, ahi tuna on wonton crisp, stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta and more. dinner: filet mignon with a port wine demi-glaze, grilled halibut with a tequila citrus sauce, bentley's signature au gratin potatoes, petite vegetables. dessert was cupcakes and ice cream cones (2 flavors each). scott and i decided to sit alone, just us two, so i actually got a chance to eat! (another smart decision)

flowers: my flowers were done by lois mathews, an independent florist in san diego. i was very weary of the flowers, because as you may recall, i started off not even wanting them. our table set-up was not traditional rounds, but a mix of small 6-person rounds and 8-person and 10-person rectangles. we wanted a "dinner party" style vibe to the dinner. something pretty and classy, but not over thought or too formal or stiff. well, i think she got it! the tables featured multiple arrangements, all featuring 1 color and 1 kind of flower. relaxed, easy, definitely not stuffy.

and then tons and tons of candlelight. on the table, around the planters, on every ledge you could see, plus strung white x-mas style lights everywhere. the patio glowed.

greetings & toasts: scott and i decided to speak once everyone was seated. we greeted our guests and thanked our parents for making the day possible. i liked that we had that interaction with guests - more of co-hosts than the honored guests. my maid of honor and scott's best man also did touching, hilarious speeches.

my dad did a very, very cool toast. he took a less traditional angle and instead of focusing on scott and i, he instead, fostered a sense of community and connection among all our guests by talking about some of the special people that played a role in my or my parents' lives. i was adamant about not having any 'filler' guests or invited people about of obligation and i think he made everyone feel honored and special to be included in our day. i think people understood who was who and how everyone connected. as a nod to his hometown, Somis, CA (a small farm down in Ventura County, where most of the Fulkerson clan still resides), he imported the vegetables for our dinner and the berries for the salad, from a local farm there. loved those personal touches.

[mixed photos - some by jason ward of garrett photography, others are my own or friends / family]

financial assistance may be available

we got to see our wedding pictures yesterday.
they are amazing.
these, of our first time seeing each other before the wedding, are some of my favorite of the entire day:

by jason ward of garrett photography (my new favorite person in the whole world)

all this glitter is getting dark

another list of a few current loves:

• holiday decor at west elm & michaels (the craft store) - metallic everything, gold mirrored candle sticks, gorgeous trays and fabulous starburst mirrors, including this lil diddy:
• these itty bitty white dishes work for everything, from soy sauce with my sushi, to a perfect spot for my tea bag once my tea has steeped, to a dish for rings and other jewelry.
  
• the twitter page, http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
  
• a very cool, mid-century style 2010 letterpress calendar with walnut base. i think it fits the bill for my desk at work.
• cupcakes and cashmere blog. major girl crush.
• the soup bowl in the calla dinnerware line from cb2. it's super oddly shaped, but severely more practical than i ever expected. (i can hold it in one hand, a spoon in another, and walk around the apartment eating without risk of it toppling over - good for busy, cereal mornings!)
  
• dexter. first episode of season 4 already beat the entire season 3.
  

a scar ain't 13 god-damned stitches

i wasn't obnoxious during the planning, so forgive me just a lil if i post a wee bit too much about the wedding now that it has passed. i'll go bit by bit so you can share in the day and i'll have pleeeeeenty of text for my scrapbook ;)

first, the ceremony...
location: our wedding ceremony took place in my parent's backyard, which is the house i grew up in from the time i was 5 years old. for such a short ceremony, it was simply ridiculous to rent a venue and none in the area 'spoke to me' whatsoever. my parent's backyard has great landscaping (palms!), a spacious patio and the pool made a nice backdrop. with the addition of white, paper lanterns and extra potted plants and flowers, it ended up looking like it was built for a wedding. just perfect. and bonus? free!

officiant: we asked my uncle (my mom's brother) to perform the ceremony. he infused it with more personal touches and love than we could have ever dreamed of. he included an italian wedding saying and an irish wedding blessing, both nods to scott's family's heritage.

10 things: a few months ago, my uncle asked us to write 10 reasons why we wanted to marry the other person and not share the list with each other. i thought he was going to use it to learn about us, but he ended up (with our permission) reading the lists word for word during the ceremony. it was awesome because scott's were super straight-forward while mine were much more flowery and they just were so, so "us". a few i love of scott's: "3) She makes my home a more comfortable and happier place, 4) I like seeing her beautiful face everyday, 7) She is the most helpful person I have ever met, 8) I have no doubts about wanting to spend the rest of my life with her," and the crowd-pleaser, big laugh-getter, "9) Every once in a while she cooks something awesome." just every now and then people. that's all! ha! a few of mine: "1) He is committed to putting in the effort needed to create a life together that we both love, 4) I want to see all the things he becomes in his lifetime, 5) Us together is far greater than the sum of our individual parts, 6) I believe I can make his life better and am honored to have that opportunity daily," and then my crowd-pleaser, big laugh getter, "9) He tolerates and understands my love for and need for shoes since he has the same passion for guitars."

vows: we chose to write our own vows. best decision ever. i promised i'd be, "patient with our differences and to remember that they infuse our relationship with resilience, strength and humor," and said, "wherever you go, i will go. whatever you face, i will face." scott said he'd, "care for you better than i would care for myself," and promised he'd, "always be a faithful and loving friend and companion." he also joked about keeping his voice down when watching the Browns' games.

music: music plays such a huge role in our life that we had very specific requests and ideas. while guests were arriving and being seated, string quartet covers of rock songs (by guns n roses, red hot chili peppers, ACDC, etc.) by vitamin string quartet played. some people realized what songs they were, while others just thought it was pretty classical music.... family and wedding party walked down the aisle to "O" from O by cirque du soleil.... my dad walked me down to "the flower duet" from lakme.... and our fun surprise to everyone was that after being pronounced husband and wife, we headed back down the aisle to "she's the one" by the ramones.

stomping the glass: in a nod to my jewish heritage, we performed the ritual of stomping on a glass. well scott did, and i yelled "mazel tov!" along with all our guests.

a disco ball is hanging by a thread

there have been some changes to the office arrangement:

• the yeah yeah yeah's yellow poster got a buddy. not a band i like, just a cool poster that went with the room.
  
• one of my bertoia-style wire chairs transitioned into the office as we rearranged the bedroom.
• the vintage-style wood clock was a wedding gift and was promptly hung up.

when the clock strikes twelve

picture of the day (9.23.09) - conversation with bf and former maid of honor re: my recent wedding...

the latest news.

i'm married.
:)

in 1986. at the age of 45.

i got back in the habit, then my camera broke.
pictures of the day:

8.20.09 - my work gave me dodger tickets. great seats. it was very cool timing on a personal note as it was our first dodger game since 5 years ago on the night we first kissed - october 10, 2004.

8.21.09 - my new rug! searched high and low for a red persian-style rug. scored on ebay, with shipping, for under $100. love it.

8.25.09 - working girl.

8.31.09 - street art on beverly.

9.2.09

9.7.09 - labor day gave scott a very, very, very rare two days off in a row, so we headed to san diego to see my family, wrap up final wedding plans and spend a lot of time at the pool!

illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

one of my favorite things to photograph is graffiti and i'm always checking out street art shots on flickr.

i'm especially obsessed with lord jim's photostream right now because he is l.a. based so i can see a picture and know i drove by that wall yesterday on beverly or realize there is new stuff cropping up on la brea that i should swing by and check out. we also have shot a lot of the same stuff, albeit he has done it better ;)

love, love, love this one and his "Street Rothko" set.

silver dollar eucalyptus

the wedding is getting so close! i'm getting more nervous and more excited by the day. like i said before, this was never a wedding-related blog, plus i have been adamant about wedding planning not becoming my life so instead of taking you through every tedious details, here are some snippets of our plans or my inspiration. (photo credits are sorely missing as i have been collecting these images with intentions only of personal use)

what i'm thinking of for my hair (and as we all know, the dress i would have worn if i could have):


a close match to my color scheme. though my Maid of Honor (and only bridal party member) will be in champagne (her choice), it set the tone for my flowers:

what i wished my reception was going to look like. all candlelight. not a flower in site. my mom was not having it: "you can't not have flowers at a wedding!" it was one battle i didn't fight and kinda still wish i did:

small town pride is all i know

how timely! right after sharing my love for tugboat printshop in this post and then about their battlecrabs piece i purchased for myself and caitlin in this one, design*sponge posts a house tour of their home!

credit: www.designspongeonline.com

see it all: here!