I long to visit Buenos Aires *sigh*….South America is top on my wish list of travel spots…

Meanwhile, I’ll just admire these fun, funky bags made from the same vintage Naugahyde that can be found on the buses in Buenos Aires. Never has vinyl looked so good! They are from Viva Zapata…and styles sell really quickly…so if you see one you like, snag it before it’s gone!

OOH!! I love Colorfly Studio’s artwork…they make me “new shoes kinda happy” {how great is that print?!}. Artist Jen is super sweet, and has a great blog along with her fun prints and things in her Etsy shop. Check them both out!

The sweet folks at Ila Security sent me the Dusk personal alarm….it’s the little flowery one on the top right. It hooks to my purse, and not only does it look cute, but it “emits a piercing, high decibel female scream designed to shock and disorientate an attacker”. Yikes!

I’m happy to say that I haven’t had to use it yet…and I can’t bring myself to pull the little chain to hear what it sounds like…{maybe I can convince my son to don some earplugs and pull the chain?!}. I do carry it with me any time I am walking by myself in the city at night {it’s not often…but JUST in case…}. They have other personal safety products too…some of which are shown above. Not all of their products are available in the states…visit the Ila Security site to check availability.

I’m completely enamored by Nancy Bauch’s ceramics. Her studio is called White Forest Pottery and has so many absolutely gorgeous pieces! Each of them has such an organic quality…and, of course, I love how the colors match my blog!!

Nancy also takes part in the Water Mala project. I bought one of her little water mala bowls {bottom, right} which sits on my kitchen windowsill.

I’ve been wanting a funky boho bag ever since I saw the Simone Camille bags on Who What Wear…but $650 isn’t exactly my handbag budget. SO, I found some super-cute bags that Dazzling Lanna has on her Etsy site. They are from Chiang Mai…and I just LOVE them! Most of them are made from vintage Hmong baby carrier fabric….fun style at a MUCH better price point.

Such beautiful, rustic-y jewelry from New Hampshire based Lisa’s Lovelies {or, New Hamster as my daughter used to call it}. There seems to always be something new at her shop…and, I know, because I’m there more often than I’d like to admit visiting the “bramble ring” above. Gorgeous pieces…and ooh, how I’d love to sport that ring on my finger!

Maybe even better than the ipad itself, is the coolie case I bought for it. It’s the one above, center…from Temple. It’s made from re-purposed military fabric, as are some of their other bags. I love the look of a high-tech gadget tucked into something that looks so old. I like their other bags too…so rugged and masculine.

Hi everyone! I took a little much-needed {and unintentional} blogging break…and it’s really nice to be back! June has been a little crazy: I’ve been to Oregon to visit my parents, to Thai Massage classes, had a visit from the in-laws, and have been driving my daughter to Chicago for two weeks to art camp at Lill Street Art Center {yikes}…which brings me to today’s post!

One of my daughter’s classes was a week long “metals” class from a fantastic teacher, Rebecca Zemans. Of course, I HAD to check out her site, and was totally impressed with her beautiful jewelry and metal sculpture…what a lucky girl to have such a talented teacher!

I ordered the green capri pants from Kaya Yoga Wear {bottom, right photo}…and they just arrived. I LOVE them! They are made from a really thick fabric, and fit like a dream….no muffin top, and no bagging in the booty or stretching out. I wish I had ordered some more! The tops in her shop are really cute as well.

If only I hadn’t screwed up my shoulder, I would actually be able to wear them while doing yoga!! I’m out for a few weeks doing physical therapy. Problem is, I think I’m still 25, and my body is telling me NO. *Sigh*