Time for Fun: Mr. Paintbrush

Lately, we been spending a lot of time picking out paint colors for our kitchen. But I also just end up spending too much time picking out colors just for the fun it. Thinking of some new color inspirations~!

Also I've been doing a lot of painting and been drawn to this handsome Mr. Paintbrush...especially with his sparkling eyes, sharp haircut, and warm presence....

think I'm in love with Mr. Paintbrush....

It's a Small Big World

Nothing gets me more than seeing tiny miniature things....like this video filmed in real life but they made it like a living diorama!

By Bold Creative Studio

This totally reminds me of the time when Dylan & I went to the Victoria Island's Miniature World museum after Chika totally raved about it. We were probably the only people there but it was probably one of the the most unexpectedly enchanting place I've been. I think I spent more time in there than in the Louvre! Hard to believe... but true...

Here's a little clip to see what the Miniature museum is all about!

Just the music tickles my heart! :)

Sailing Away

I lived in Seattle for 11 years and Dylan has been here for 20 years... and for the first time in both our lives, we got to go sailing on lake union!

We got to go with Charlie and Andrew on their classy Wino Country Safari sailboat.

What a way to start the summer!

Love the classy interior of Wino Country Safari.

Gearing up for a little patriotism before the Fourth.

Looking at Gasworks park from the water.

Moments like this reminds me why Seattle is so amazing....

Then summer in Seattle ended after the clouds came back... :P

It was fun while it lasted!! 



Japan blips

We're filling up our camera and memory banks of incredible experiences here in Japan! So much to blog, such limited internet access!

Just to assuage any readers' fears...we're safe and sound after experiencing the biggest earthquake in modern Japanese history. We were so lucky to be in Ichikawa at the Minatos' shop Depot/Lovelife. Just before the quake, we had just finished eating the most amazing Ramen ever and were in a ceramic workshop at Depot (more pics on that later). We felt the quake and our first instincts were to save all the poor beautiful shaking ceramics on the shelves, so we were frantically bracing everything. Maybe not the smartest tactical decision for our personal safety, but we can proudly say we're still alive along with all but one of the ceramic pieces in their shop! We've been saddened and shocked by all the devastation that took place just north of us and continue to hope for a quick, nuclear-meltdown-free recovery. We feel so lucky to be in a safe spot.

So, here are some visual "teasers" of some Japan posts to come! We are continuing our trip and will be heading south to Kyoto and Okayama tomorrow for the week. Hope to fill you all in soon.

Beautiful mossy wall in Tokyo

Stacked chairs at Aika and Yume Minato's school. We got to visit and had a wonderful Q&A sesh with 2nd and 4th graders.

A basket of wooden lids at a used restaurant supply store (SO COOL!)

Every wonder why you can't find Red Wings or other cool vintage brands in US thrift stores? They send them all here to this giant vintage reseller...aisles and aisles of classic American and Japanese brands for lower than new, but still high prices.

Sakura Mochi and tea...the first thing we had right after we landed...

"Stations are city gateways. Never an ashtray." and other subway warnings.

In case you were wondering where to stand at the intersection...it's right here.

Fantastic Knits

've been MORE than obsessed with Annie Larson's knit brand, All Knitwear, for a long time now...and it's seriously amazing how she knits everything with a knitting machine. I totally get lost in time between looking at her blog with great photos of her space & process & her shop with all the fantastic wearables. Her sense of color & pattern and the way she puts it all together is simply beyond fantastic!
....and with Seattle's weather being so stupid cold & wet...I'm seriously considering getting these knitted sweater leggings! Just look how happy Annie is wearing that! I just love that photo. And of course THESE!: One of these adorable colorful hats wouldn't be too bad either....
It's all too good...


Oh! You Silly (stupid) Bird you...

Found this amazing but pretty hilarious photo taken by the cool peeps of Pacific Standard.  They saw this crazy bird's impression left on their window pane which they assume that the bird (hawk?) was trying to attack their cat not realizing there was a window in front of it...and then ended up flying straight into the window dead on...

If only someone had actually witnessed the bird flying into the window and caught the facial impression on the birds face when it realized what they just did...as the bird peels itself off from it. That would have been priceless...
Apparently the bird was fine (besides losing it's dignity) since they didn't find the bird dead outside their window...so it's ok to laugh out loud. :)

Via Pacific Standard

Getting Dizzy...

With all that needs to happen for the NYIGF, I'm doing a lot of this...

 and it's making me feel like this....

But mostly I just like to get lost watching ALL of these great gif animations, here!

Via Boooooom

Trailer Trash Revival

With Seattle's moody PMS weather these days, it's making me wanna take off on a road trip and go somewhere where you see bright blue skies and the sun...even if I have to go Texas for it....
Now that we're on the topic of Texas (which never happens)..... I'd just have to share this great-looking trailer camp site in Marfa, TX, called El Cosmico. The owners refurbished all these vintage trailers to its original condition with few updated details.
Staying in a mobile home has never looked this good.
Great mid-century style interiors where it still seems authentic to what it used to be.
I'd love to stay in these adorable tepee as well!That bed is calling for me....
I'd love to stay in every one of them if I could...

But apparently there IS something similar in Washington!
Our friend told us about a similar place called Sou'Wester Lodge in Seaview, WA (I've never heard of this place!) ..although not nearly as polished or glamorous as El Cosmico, this place seems to have more of a charming-quirky-bohemian-hippy-vibe to it.
The owners started collecting vintage mobile homes and decided to turn it into a lodge (read their story)....or as they like to call it a B&(MYOD)B as in ‘Bed and Make Your Own Damn Breakfast!!’
Ho ho ho..you gotta love them hippies and their tirades! 
What a great mash of all the awesomeness from all the different eras...you got the 50s wood paneled walls, 60's floral curtains, 70's landscape curtain, 80's pastel couch & chair, and 90's paisley patterned carpet....all harmoniously integrated into one room...just incredible.
Besides collecting mobile homes, they also collects these creepy Cabbage Patch Dolls.....Luckily this collection isn't in any of the trailers or rooms...but you might want to check under the bed...

Photos by Lyndsay Taryn

A Little Dice of Fun...

This is as cool as Michel Gondry's legos video for The White Stripes.
Lovely song by Fujiya & Miyagi.

via MILK