Inspiration & Jewels: 02.27.10

gemstones in every hue & Olivia Bee's winter queen

a sunlit moment from Maren Celest & a golden strand of carnelian and garnet

iridescent glass wrapped with silver & sensing-owl's green reverie

Green Loves: Eco Fashion

"Green Loves" is a new feature I'm introducing here to highlight something I'm digging from the world of eco. I am always looking for yummy organics and healthier alternatives to the things we surround ourselves with, so if you know a fabulous all-natural shampoo or a to-die-for vegetarian recipe or a habit I can incorporate into my daily life that will totally save the planet, please, please share!

Tree hugger by So Graphic

Two books I've recently fallen for in a big way are The Kind Diet and Ecoholic.
I've eaten a fairly healthy diet since I was little; a Japanese mom + a vegetarian dad = a fondness for fish and rice and veggies and absolutely no rainbow-colored cereals whatsoever no matter what (yes, I totally made up for my deprived childhood by overdosing on Lucky Charms in college).
In future posts I hope to share some great Kind Diet-inspired recipes and foods I have tried, but my kitchen is being renovated as we speak, and I am utterly without stove, sink, or even a counter-top.

So, Ecoholic. I picked up my copy at my library, but I think it is too good a resource not to have on hand whenever I need it, so I'll be buying my own soon.
It covers everything from diet to cleaning products to furniture to appliances and everything in between. It's best read in small doses, as the information can become overwhelming -- thankfully the 'grim' parts are dealt with clearly and swiftly in each section, and the book lets you get on to the fun bits with heaps of recommendations for all the neat things you could be buying/doing/eating instead.
I finished the chapter on clothing last night, and all today I have been dreaming about a new spring/summer wardrobe of soft bamboo fabric tops and cool hemp skirts and organic cotton underthings.

After a quick perusal online, this is the first eco-kind ensemble I came up with. I can't wait to delve deeper into this world of beautiful clothing with a conscience.

1. Fair Trade Sapphire, Moissanite, and Recycled 14k Gold Ring by McFarland Designs
2. Organic Cotton T-shirt by maryink
3. Multi Functional Dress by bird apparel
4. Silver Glitters by TOMS (for every pair of shoes sold, TOMS donates a pair to a child in need)

Love List Friday: 02.19.10

1. Untitled, 2. Twinkle, 3. Untitled

The good-lord-enough-with-the-cold-already-this-is-supposed-to-be-the-sunshine-state edition:

I'm feeling the love for

• big fluffy robes that make me feel like a polar bear
• Swiss Miss tapioca pudding
• a package from Hong Kong finally, finally arriving after TWO MONTHS of waiting
• dressing up my Firefox with this persona (thanks to Holly for tweeting about this designer)
• the generosity of new and old friends

Love List Friday Lovestravaganza: 02.12.10

1. Untitled, 2. Pink, 3. Hung To The Sky, 4. rosey vanilla marshmallow & chocolate and earl grey hearts

Love lists are appropriate year-round, but because this weekend is Valentine's, it seemed a good idea to turn this Friday's into a Lovestravaganza! Extra Pink edition.

• Chuck and Blair A favorite fictional couple, mostly because hearing Ed say "I'm Chuck Bass" pretty much never gets old.

• Another thing that never gets old? Jane Austen. Luckily I found out (through Corinna's post) about the newest BBC adaptation of Emma while the episodes are still available online at PBS Masterpiece Classics (until March 9th). All it really takes to make me happy is an empire waist dress and some lush English countryside, but having said that, I thought Johnny Lee Miller's Mr. Knightly was a bit lackluster.

• The delectably quirky jewels of Q-pot -- how crazy is that Alice in Wonderland eye and teardrop ring? And I know if I wore that strawberry whip cream one, I'd catch myself trying to lick it every other minute.

• Demeter Fragrances and their exactly-what-they-say-they-are scents. Because why wouldn't you want to smell like Mildew or Fresh Hay? I am a fan of the combo technique -- a spritz of Fireplace layered with Snow, and it's like winter in my personal corner of Florida.

• Notebook Doodles -- a lovely, lovely blog; a soft and thoughtful aesthetic with dreamy photos and illustrations and handwritten notes in a font that is destined to become iconic.

I think I've reached my sweetness quota for one post, so I bid you bonne weekend and a Happy Valentines Day!

Love and cotton candy,
Lilie

Musical Interlude Tuesday : Southside

Today's Musical Interlude Tuesday: Moby's Southside, featuring my favorite blonde, Gwen Stefani. Because it reminds me of driving along Hollywood Blvd. in the middle of the night one summer years ago, because I'd forgotten how much I liked it until I just rediscovered it yesterday, and because the shot of Gwen licking Moby's scalp = crazy hotness.

Love List Friday: 02.05.10

1. I, 2. cookie love

After a rather lengthy hiatus, it is time to reinstate the weekly Love List.

So today I'd like to give the Universe props for:

• packages from friends abroad filled with inspiration and the lure of foreign destinations waiting to be explored
• a sexy, shiny-new, swift-as-the-wind macbook
• an upcoming mini-trip to New England
• the return of Lost
• friends who instigate grand plans
• new boots (in black) ordered online and making their way to me as we speak
• coconut milk creamer (since I substituted my usual half+half w/this, I've lost 2.5lbs -- delicious and good for you!)
• my intriguing new classmates and all their encouraging comments
• the lovely Lana for featuring my jewelry on her blog
• a very busy friend taking the time to talk me down off the ledge when I was having one of my (thankfully few and far between) Epic Meltdowns

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lilie Green: this is your brain on cake

This winter I enrolled myself in a course on blogging, because I figured that after more or less nine years of posting haphazardly, without rhyme nor reason, a little more structure couldn't hurt. This week's homework: break out the scissors and get collage-ing. An inspiration/mood board that captures the feelings, ideas, colors, and me-ness I want Lilie Green: The Blog to represent.

So this is what the inside of my brain looks like. Japanese-y, tooth-achingly frou frou, PINK, and alarmingly preoccupied with cake.

Some details:

This illustration reminds me of my favorite blogging voice, with her love of books about kissing

I've been carrying around this comic strip for years; it's just perfect, you know?

Random but true: I LOVE the thumbing-your-nose gesture. It is cute and bad-ass and universal in meaning. (Julia Stiles does it with aplomb in the choreography for this dance.)

And for extra credit: a mini, portable board in my daily planner.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : La Vie en Rose

February, a month for heart-shaped boxes, chocolate confections, lace-edged doilies, pink and red roses, but mostly love (in every shape and hue). Pomplamoose channeling Edith Piaf seems about the right mix of sweet with a sprinkle of melancholy and nostalgia.