Girl With An Earring Fetish

I had my ears pierced many years ago, but I kept getting infections so I eventually pulled them out and let the holes close up. Over this past summer, I was at the mall with a friend and we walked by this store called Icing - apparently, it's the "grown up's" version of Claire's Boutique. At any rate, I decided to get my ears pierced again. After all, my friend was buying some super fun earrings for next to nothing and all I could do was stand by and watch with envy.

So, here we are six months later and I have a hankering to buy some fun & flashing earrings. That said, I have no room in my budget for such frivolous things. Enter Forever 21. Trendy earrings at unbeatable prices. Above are a couple I've got my eye on - all under $6 a pair. Now I just need to invest in some clear nail polish to coat all the wires/posts - don't want to get more earring infections!

And Thao for Something Completely Different

{photo by Tarina Westlund}

Despite the fact that they've been around since 2005, I only recently discovered Thao with The Get Down Stay Down. The trio, fronted by Thao Nguyen, released its third album, Know Better Learn Faster, on Kill Rock Stars last month. While I've been really enjoying the latest album, it's tracks like "Bag of Hammers" and "Swimming Pools" (off 2008's We Brave Bee Stings and All) and "Chivalry" (off 2005's Like the Linen) that I find myself singing out loud while washing the dishes.

Thao's lyrics are clever and catchy, the music chearful and upbeat - it's good stuff! Check them out. In fact, they play at the Independent in San Francisco this Saturday. Tickets are $17. Anyone want to go with me?

The Inklings :: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I belong to a book club called the Inklings. Like many book clubs, we meet once a month to discuss our most recent read. This month's selection was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. 

Set shortly after World War II, the book is composed of a series of letters between an author named Juliet Ashton, her publisher, best friend and a group of wonderful characters who live on the island of Guernsey, located in the English Channel. Through the letters, a marvelous and often heart-wrenching tale unfolds. Each letter reveals a little about its writer, the other members of the community and what life on Guernsey was like during the Nazi occupation. Some of the stories told are joyous while other will make you forget to breath. 

By the end of the book, I was envisioning myself jotting off to Guernsey and, in my mind, all the personalities that I read about were there waiting for me. Oh, and I found the recipe for Potato Peel Pie. I'm thinking of making it for the Inklings meeting next week!

Kate Spade Has Got Your Covers Covered

The Kate Spade website has a wonderful free downloadable book cover (and a couple of wallpaper options) that features images of vintage book/magazine covers. It's a super cute way to protect your books. The instructions for using the book cover are as basic as trimming away any extra paper to as charming as "find a park bench or shady tree. read at length."

The site also features a suggested summer reading list and, even though it's now autumn, there are several books on the list that I full-heartedly agree everyone should read - especially "No One Belongs Here More Than You," a collection of funny and often odd short stories by Miranda July.

Going Back to Cali

A good friend of mine recently relocated back to California after a year-long stint in Brooklyn, New York. I know those of us living in California are glad she's finally come back to us. At any rate, I stumbled upon this piece by New York-based graphic designer David Rager and it seemed to fit the situation perfectly. Check out more of Rager's work here.

Word.

Brooklyn-based Paper Jam Press (the brainchild of freelance designer Ariann Orland) produces "hand pulled, short runs of words to live by." My personal favorite is "HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW," the title of Lil Wayne song. The poster's description kills me: "This poster makes the perfect reminder of just how awesome you are. Give one to a friend and they'll be reminded (of just how awesome you are)."

Yellow Owl Workshop

Sometimes being a blogger is hard. Especially, around the holiday season when you are scouring the Internet for cool gifts for your even cooler friends. It's very hard to resist the urge to blog about something that you stumble upon and may potentially gift to someone. Enter the adorable items at Yellow Owl Workshop. There are so many pieces that I want - for myself and my friends! My favorites (pictured above) are the Bird and Cage Stamp Set, the Polaroid Camera 3 silkscreen print and the bicycle painted on a wood panel.