Favorite Things Party

What a grand idea!  I saw this at inchmark and fell in love!  Once this thesis is over, I'll be able to celebrate, have people over, and enjoy life again!  Can't wait!  Anyway, back to the party ----> it's all about your Favorite Things!!!!!  My friends know that I'm a sucker for little treasures.  And I'm always curious at what other people have on their lists of favs.  So excited about this!!!  I wonder what people would bring???

Bizarre Historical Discovery....

Local news has been abuzz with the gruesome discovery of two mummified infants in a steamer trunk in the basement of a 1920s building in Los Angeles.  It has piqued the morbid curiosity of many city residents, myself include.  Clues within the trunk include the name of the owner, Jean M. Barrie, her certificate of membership to the Peter Pan Woodlands Resort in Big Bear and tickets to the 1930s Olympics here in L.A.  The babies were found wrapped in 1930s newspaper in doctor's satchels.  Speculations include that the remains were of aborted babies, that they were being kept as potential research specimens and that the lady in question was related to James M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan.  What a mystery!  Poor babies.  But I am thoroughly intrigued.  This is one of the reasons I studied archaeology, because I love a good mystery.  This sounds like the basis for a great mystery read.  I'm eager to hear the results of the investigation.
 

Buenas Epocas...

Buenas Epocas

One of my very first posts was about my obsession with all things vintage... music especially, Spanish oldies in particular.  The video I linked was of one of my favorite 60's salvy jams by Los Vikings called Y En Cambio Tu.  So naturally, I am totally excited about this new documentary entitled Buenas Epocas: La Nueva Ola de El Salvador (Good Times: The New Wave of El Salvador).  From my understanding, it was pretty revolutionary for Central American music... the first time there was a youth driven wave of music... and it was Rock n' Roll *gasp!*  These songs remind me of Saturday mornings when my family would blast them in the house.  So glad this film was made!  My mom will be sooo excited!  The screening will be this weekend at the gorgeous Million Dollar Theater in downtown.  The theater was the hub for Spanish-language films and entertainment during the 1940s and has continued with that legacy ever since.  It's part of the Historic Broadway Theater District.  The film screenings will be coupled with performances from some of the bands.  Later in the month, there will be a larger concert at Hollywood Park Casino... my mom will love it! 

Music Man Murray

Collector doesn't want these tracks in the trash

Murray Gershenz said he hoped a museum or college would acquire his rare 400,000-album collection. That hasn't worked out, so his next stop could be a dumpster.

His shop has been down the street from me for years... I totally want to buy some of his records... ugh!  it sucks being broke!  Poor man, I hope a school or museum does acquire his collection... how awful would it be to let it go to waste?

Vintage Kiddies!

Yes, procrastinating again.

I stumbled upon a darling post at Modern Kiddo... it was all about vintage children's clothing hangers!  It struck a chord with me because I distinctly remember having a carousel hanger in yellow when i was a kid.  It brought a huge smile to my face.  The second hanger design looks so familiar... I am certain I had one just like it, too!  I remember using them as stencils, haha!  What a darling little detail for a child's closet!  A kid's world should be as whimsical as possible.

Hangers (& image) can be found at Scrapy Jessi's

Image from Tiger Luxe

Lady of the Night

I've got a deadline tomorrow and I have sinned.  I have indulged in a lil procrastination... not the bad, Facebook kind but rather the cultured Turner Classic Movie kind :)

image from brightlightsfilm.com

I'm not a big silent film fan... I have to admit, it's difficult for me to watch silent films because I get creeped out by the heavy makeup... especially the dark eye makeup... and the sometimes super fast running... weird, yes, but it freaks me out!  I always wondered why such heavy make-up was needed... it probably had something to do with ensuring the images were caught on film... yo que se??   But in the wee pre-dawn hours today, I sat through the first silent film that I actually followed and enjoyed!  Lady of the Night stars the glamorous Queen of MGM, Norma Shearer, who was awesome (with moderate makeup).  She was one of the few silent film stars that made a successful transition into talkies.  In the film, Shearer plays two roles and appears in a scene as both characters (see pic below).  This must have been so impressive in 1925! 

I love classic film because it provides me with a very clear window into the past... and most of the times, the people and issues of the past aren't so different from those of today (for instance, this film dealt with love, longing, the desire to move up the social ladder, being from the wrong side of the tracks, etc).  I may become a silent film fanatic after all :)

Kitty Postcards!

This year, my partner and I rescued an orphaned kitten.  He was found with his umbilical cord still attached and he needed a lot of TLC.  We didn't like cats at all but the baby needed a home.  We named him Yeya for the way his cries sounded as a baby and because we thought he was a girl - lol.  Many people offered their love and support... some wondered if he would even survive.  But he did and is now a healthy four-month-old kitty!  My friends came over for a meet and greet after not having seen him since he was a newborn... they were delighted!   I created these postcards to thank them for their visit and all of their love.  I thought it would be really sweet to have them written from Yeya's perspective.

One of the cards was addressed to a very close friend who took care of Yeya during his first week while we prepared for his arrival.  

These were the simplest cards to make.  All I needed were 4x6 blank cards... you can make postcards out of just about anything as long as they meet USPS specifications.  And they're cheaper to send - 28 cents!  I also picked up a stamp pad with non-toxic, child safe, washable ink... I shop at Joann's because they're close to my house and send out great coupons if you're on their mailing list. The designs can be more ornate if you wish but I wanted it to keep mine simple. 

Yeya doesn't mind making the art; it's the clean up that he sometimes isn't cool with.  So I've made that  easy on the both of us by having wet napkins ready to quickly wipe off the ink from his paw.  His fur causes the fuzzy lines but I think it looks adorable and realistic.  I had him stamp a few postcards and greeting cards in one sitting so I don't have to bother him later.

Create & enjoy!!!

 

Free films :)

Browsing through the blog one of my favorite stationery presses, 16 Sparrows, I stumbled upon a really neat entry:

Free moving pictures

features a short list of classic films (from 1916-1949) available online

The entry cites Open Culture, which maintains a longer list of classic and contemporary films. 

This will prove to be a great resource on those nights when TCM and Netflix don't have what I'm in the mood for.

(image from The Los Angeles Conservancy: "Broadway and Ninth Street, with United Artists Theatre on left, circa 1930s. Photo from Conservancy archives.")

The loveliest cake...

Magpie's Cake

So excited!

I've picked up my copy of the new Martha Stewart Weddings... and it's dedicated to DIY style!!!

I'm diggin' the "In Love with Etsy" feature... and I was totally delighted to find out that some of the crafters featured are already stored in my Etsy favorites... I've got a bit of the Martha-touch!

Yikes! Don't let the bedbugs bite...

I have been following a crazy, icky news story.  One that prompted me to wash all of my bedclothes this evening.  The Return of the Bedbug.  Yeah, bedbugs... yikes!  I love, love, LOVE my bed... I would hate to discover myself sharing it with disgusting critters... I feel an onset of paranoia coming on. 

Gotta shake it off by dreaming of lovely, fresh linens...

Sunbird Sheet Set

@ Anthropologie

 Waterfall Ruffle Duvet Cover

@ Urban Outfitters

Something extra...

This isn't the type of post I would normally place here... but it was so hilarious and ridiculous, I could not resist!  It may not be so "darling" but it certainly is quite a "detail" for a hilarious affair!  Courtesy of the very funny The Man Repeller. 

I totally want these!  Imagine your partner's face when he/she sees them!  These and other outrageously hairy items can be found at Nutty Tarts... lol can't stop laughing!

Oh my! So delicious!

mmmm..... I have stumbled upon a delicous treat of a site..... Ming Makes Cupcakes

So much tasty creativity!  I wanna try them all!!!!  This will prove to be an excellent resource... a friend has requested that I provide the cupcakes for her daughter's 6th birthday!  I'm so excited!  Can't wait to start baking sweet treats for eager, hyper little hands!

Thanks to The Finer Things for highlighting this sweet resource!

A few of the ones I can't wait to try: