Things I am Obsessed with Today

This soundtrack is weird. It’s like when your hard drive crashes and you only manage to recover 14 random files. Jay-Z turned those files into a soundtrack. For ‘The Great Gatsby’.

Hollywood Prospectus’ Rembert Browne, “Your Somewhat-Skeptical Preview of the Jay-Z–Produced Great Gatsby Soundtrack,” April 22, 2013.

Vulture, I love you. Graphic speaks for itself: song, number of times phrase is used, phrase below.

[Graphic: New York Magazine]

Time to get nostalgic…we’re leaving German Village on May 30. We finally sold our home! Now it’s time to find a home more appropriate for our growing family— we’re so excited, but we’ll miss the best pieces of the village.

[Photos via German Village visitors site.]

I would just like to see somebody, anybody, actually “take Miami” in some way before this show is over.

Alex Pappademas, author of the ‘Kardashiad’ Kardashian recaps on Grantland’s Hollywood Prospectus, which are hilarious, and when removed from actual viewing of the show(s), provide a protective, arms-length barrier from the cultural phenomema while still informing and entertaining. Basically, the recaps are the best, go read them.

A Cup of Jo has a post today on wearing white sneakers for summer— it’s apparently the thing right now, per Jo. I also noticed something in my e-mail a few weeks ago (maybe a week ago) from Kate Spade, about their Keds collection. This, added to my experience of working at Jeni’s last summer where all the art school girls were rocking Keds, made me come to this realization…Keds: not just for my mother-in-law anymore. They could probably work on a TOMS level, if they were a dark enough color for me. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: white shoes don’t look sexy on size 9.5 feet. They just don’t. Not even white flip-flops (the most minimal strip of white possible), a lesson I learned in 2003 via a very bad graduation outfit. So that’s my only resistance to this trend. I encourage all you tiny- and medium-footed ladies, get at it! Alas, I’ll be sitting this one out.

Photos: Kate Spade, A Cup of Jo

Making it work

Tiny (500 sq. ft.) apartment style. I look at the way they extended the butcher-block table so close behind the sink—and how that likely makes no difference because you don’t need much space behind a sink—and I think, “Brilliant.” I should never say I don’t have room for a kitchen island again.

[A Cup of Jo]

Bon Appetit had this fabulous piece last month featuring various chefs’ breakfast choices. I loved it because they described their morning rituals— some more elaborate than others, all interesting in their own way. The ideas were then detailed for do-it-yourself-ers, because this is Bon Appetit. This is their Scandi Toast— a delicious and simple change to your breakfast repertoire. Yum! The same article featured a recipe for hot oat and quinoa cereal— another curiosity we might have to try over here.

How much do you judge yourself because your life isn’t a Pantone ad? I’d say on an average day, I judge myself maybe 10 percent, and on a bad day, 50-70 percent. What exactly is a percent of judgement? I think it is the number of judge-y thoughts that show up in your head about yourself at any given time, i.e. “Why is there a left-over baby lump in my general belly area?”, “Why does my granite counter-top always feel like there is something very tiny and inscrutable stuck to it, unable to remove?”, “Why do I not have the necklaces that the Pantone ad lady has, those are cute, I really need to buy more stuff.” Yeah, those thoughts show up a lot.

But then I remember how frustrating it would be to essentially Windex every single step I take in life so that it’s perfect, and I think about my baby with his adorable drool and messy hair and I think about our puppy’s muddy feet and I round it all out (if I’m really good) praising God for imperfection, because that is where I want to be.

Reasons to spend Christmas in Australia…#10,002. Beach-y wreaths.

[Table Tonic]

When I need a healing/ I just look up to the ceiling/ I see the sun coming down/ I know it’s all better now…

The ever-profound Flo Rida, “I Cry”

I Blogging Love You

Some snippets from some recent blog loves:

Greige:

Say Yes to Hoboken:

(These are puff pastry with apples, goat cheese, and pepitas.)

French by Design:

For legal reasons we aren’t allowed to make puns about the temperature of the meat.

Waiter at ‘Jurassic Fork’, a dinosaur theme restaurant near Pawnee, Indiana

I’m dreaming…of a large reclaimed oak dining room table…just like the one I used to know…where the tree tops (are reclaimed) and the (table tops are big enough for a large family)…I think this is where I stop making up words and just say, we’re searching for a dining room table and this is what I want. How do I make my own? Ha, ha? But really.