Nora.

This morning, I was beginning to read Nora Ephron's last book, I Remember Nothing, for the second time (I just finished this book - amazing, and am waiting on this book, of which I'm slightly skeptical but interested nonetheless), and I came upon Nora's lists of "what I won't miss" and "what I will miss."  I've been meaning to post this all summer.  But rereading her lists made me fall in love with her all over again.

I read this book while I was on vacation in Vieques this past July.  One evening, Brian was taking a nap after a rum-runner or two, and I decided it would be nice to go sit by the ocean with a glass of champagne in one hand and my notebook in the other.  Making my own "what I will and what I won't miss" lists was magically cathartic and more eye-opening than I imagined.  It already sticks out as one of those moments I will never forget.  

What I Won't Miss

Dry skin
Bad dinners like the one we went to last night
E-mail
Technology in general
My closet
Washing my hair
Bras
Funerals
Illness everywhere
Polls that show that 32 percent of the American people believe in creationism
Polls
Fox TV
The collapse of the dollar

Joe Lieberman

Clarence Thomas

Bar mitzvahs
Mammograms
Dead flowers
The sound of the vacuum cleaner
Bills
E-mail. I know I already said it, but I want to emphasize it.
Small print
Panels on Women in Film
Taking off makeup every night

What I Will Miss

My kids
Nick
Spring
Fall
Waffles
The concept of waffles
Bacon
A walk in the park
The idea of a walk in the park
The park
Shakespeare in the Park
The bed
Reading in bed
Fireworks
Laughs
The view out the window
Twinkle lights
Butter
Dinner at home just the two of us
Dinner with friends
Dinner with friends in cities where none of us lives
Paris
Next year in Istanbul
Pride and Prejudice
The Christmas tree
Thanksgiving dinner
One for the table
The dogwood
Taking a bath
Coming over the bridge to Manhattan
Pie

. . . 

Wish I could have known you, Nora, even though I feel like I already do (I know I'm not alone here :). If you're feeling inspired, I'd encourage you all to do it, too. xx.

p.s. Lena Dunham remembers her friend in an extremely thoughtful tribute.  

p.p.s. OF COURSE Lena and Nora were close! Lets just talk about how perfect that is!

Photograph by Linda Nylind/Eyevine

following your he(art)

Elle Decor

It wasn't until lately, when after moving into an apartment that I plan to stay in for more than 6 months (oh, NEW YORK!), that I realized how challenging it is to select art for your personal space.  I studied art in college and generally know what I like, even though I like looking at it all.  But when it comes to actually clicking "BUY" on sites like Art.Com (which, by the way, has had a total makeover and is offering 15% off your whole purchase until tomorrow!) and 20X200, websites among those in the affordable art realm, I get so nervous.  Of course I get way into the whole "but what does this say about ME" idea, and what happens in three months when I'm tired of looking at Marilyn Monroe's face or that abstract flower/skyscraper?  I know that with making bold choices, in life and in design, there are mistakes and risks and "what was I thinking"-ings, and that is something I'm okay with.  But with art, it feels much more….definitive (especially when you're dropping lots of $$).  So until I am able to collect Hockneys (every girls dream!), an artist whose aesthetic and timelessness put me at ease, I will always be a little hesitant before biting the bullet.  Yes, even with art prints.  And lets not forget having options paraylsis (a term my co-worker coined – clever, right?): when there is SO many beautiful images out there, how do you decide on just one?  (Or five…that's all my cute little Brooklyn apartment can take.)  Do you guys ever feel intimated buying art/art prints?  Or do you follow your initial instinct about a piece and just go with it? I'm interested to hear!

These are some prints on my radar, and well, naturally, I love them ALL. 

(Clearly, I'm having an "icon" moment.)

All Art.Com

And some originals by Matthew Korbel-Bowers. I love his palette.  

#realproblems

 ♥

(the) PILLOW (that made me) TALK

Hi dolls!

After such an embarrassingly long gap between posts, I felt compelled to share something thoughtful and wanted to provide some sort of explanation for why I haven't been hanging around the blogosphere in a couple of months.  But the truth is that while there has been many a deep and thoughtful (and wonderful!) happenings lately in my life, this ridiculous self-imposed obligation to offer up an explanation for why I haven't been around has only kept me further away.  Silly, I know.

For better and for worse, I'll be the first to admit that an emotionally-driven, intense person who probably needs to chill the eff out every once and a while.  So instead of worrying any longer about my segway back to House of Happy, I've decided to share with you something really simple and completely unintense that brought a huge smile to my face (and yeah, I have been thinking about it for aprox. 6 hours since it first met my eyes this morning).  Black and white and geometric and mustard-yellow and velvet.....ugh.  Its got IT ALL.  And not to mention it will go so well with my new black and white striped rug, soon-to-be-ordered vintagey-yellow velvet x-bench, and my grandmother's afghan throw (more on this later).  It's like a sugar HIGH.

So there ya have it: a pillow.  My apologies it lacks depth or sentiment, but hey, it has brought me back! Game on. 

I've missed you guys and hope that everyone is well ♥

 

to each, our own

Hello everyone.  Happy Happy Happy Spring!  I can only sum up my absence in these few simple words….

So yeah, believe it or not, I've been at a loss for words, at a loss for answers, and to be frank, I feel like I've been losing my direction.  I know that half of it is suppose to be about the ride - so agreed - but how about when seemingly nothing(!!) is in place?  When I don't have the answer for the cloud of lingering question marks, and when my motivation has hit the fan.  I am a huge believer in "going with, not against," and trusting the process.....90% of the time.  The other ten is spent feeling like just another number - and succumbing to the fear that I won't succeed, that I won't find my niche, and that consequently, I won't live the life I've dreamed of, with the passion I know is alive deep inside of me.  I guess what I'm saying is that while I am the solution, it scares me that I'm also the problem.  And I can also only assume that this is a grave concern and fear amongst us all.  

....and so, while this cheeky art installation invariably brings a smile to my face, I cannot tell you how much stumbling upon this quote today has meant to me....

“life is not easy for any of us. but what of that? we must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. we must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” – Marie Curie

Without sounding too dramatic (psssh, right!), it was kinda like a life saver (or at least a Tuesday morning attitude saver).  And I plan to carry these words with me all day long, and keep believing.  

And add some more blogging on my to-do list, too. ♥

(art via, photo via)

room o' the week.

Back to basics.  

(via)

HOMEsweetHOME

My home is….

Where you'd (definitely) find something like this - artfully hung on the wall by my mom….

Where there is lots of love…

 (and lions, duh.) Where my beautiful sister lays her head at night….

Where my heart is…

…and after quite some time, where I'm going tonight.

What's home to you? Have a WONDERFUL weekend guys :)

(all images, pinterest)

day maker, valentine's edition

♥

Happy Valentines Day

(and you're welcome)

Love,

Your new favorite golden doodle, Gracie

*No, she's not mine. But if "technically your uncles' dog but you love her more than any other living and breathing animal" doesn't at least make me like a second mother, then I don't know what does.....

love stories

.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 Focusing on couples from Brooklyn who have spent over five decades together, Brooklyn-based artist Lauren Fleishman started this project after her grandfather's passing— and upon finding a collection of love letters her grandfather had written to her grandmother.  Ms. Fleishman's raw talent and thoughtful observations has warmed my already full heart on this lovely Valentines Day.

You can find the rest of the series here on Lauren's website.