Before and After: Bookshelves

For a while now I've been over the very large 5x5 Ikea Expedit bookcase in the living room. Don't get me wrong, it has been good to me over the years, serving as the first piece of furniture I bought my self for my little studio in Chicago. But recently it's just felt very heavy and it certainly takes up a lot of room. I was intimidated to take on putting up shelves by myself. However, luckily our good friend Bobby was there to help! (and by "help" I mean he did the majority or planning and labor).

Before:

So Bobby and I went to Home Depot for some simple pine (select) boards at a standard cut (thank goodness, no saws involved) and screws. Aaron grabbed site plastic brackets at 50 cents a pop at Ikea, and voila, after lots of carful measuring, we have shelves!!

So there you have it! I sold the Expedit on craigslist for $75, and the materials were only about $120. Not too shabby! Thanks Bobby for making this happen! I'm not very handy, so this was a pretty big step for me.

Oh, and do you see that BRAND NEW Design Within Reach Eames shell rocker? $150 on craigslist. Considering they're in the store for $467.00, this is a steal. The couple I bought it from got is as a baby shower gift and didn't want it. They could not have known the price. Craigslist has been good to me recently.

Knoll Breuer Cesca Chairs

A few years ago I saw this chair and loved it, having no idea what it was. A couple years later I discovered my friends Leah and Bobby had one of them and I learned their name. Knoll Breuer Cesca chair. "Marcel Breuer is credited with the 1925 invention of tubular steel furniture, an idea sparked by the anatomy of a bicycle frame. The Cesca chair, named for Breuer’s daughter Francesca, combines shiny steel, natural caning and hardwood beech in a study of the organic and the industrial." I saw them again in Woody Allen's Manhattan. Had to have them.

In real life I either saw these chairs listed for exorbitant amounts of money, in the trash with a broken seat, or at thrift stores for a reasonable price but just sold. They were not in the cards. Then, last week, Aaron found a set of 6 on craigslist for $100! I emailed asking, "Is that for the set or a chair?" not believing it could be true. But it was. I swung by the next day and picked these little puppies up. The woman was like, "You were looking for these?" She had no idea. I really loved our other chars, but what choice did I have? I mean, look at the price I saw on fab.com today for a SINGLE chair! I should probably sell a few, but I feel like hoarding right now.

lip sync

Why is lip syncing so funny? Here are two of my favorite music videos essentially because of the lip-syncing. They also happen to both be great songs.

Fiona Apple, "Not About Love". I laugh out loud every time I see Zack in the water.


Paul Simon, "You Can Call Me Al".

 

 I recently watched a documentary about the making of the album Graceland, and Paul Simon walked through the development of each song. He talked about the meaning behind "You Can Call Me Al," the superficial yet newly significant concerns of modern man and the importance of having someone looking out for you. He thought the above video was too light for the weight of the song. I'm still glad it exists though (despite my dislike of Chevy Chase).

Enjoy!

back.

I have been on an incredible hiatus over the past year and a half, in which time I lived in Illinois for eight months, and travelled to Idaho, Maryland, Florida, Michigan, California, New York, and Maine. I bought a large TV, an Eames lounger, a couple Eames Herman Miller DCM dining chairs, and a formica kitchen table. I changed jobs and got new glasses. I lost a mother.

I also tried tumblr for a while, joined Google+ (heavens knows why), considered pintrest, and became more active on Facebook. But I miss this blog, and while I suspect no one will even notice if I post any more after all this time, I decided to start it up again.

where to find me

I've officially made my home at tumblr, follow me here.

I suspect I'll return to blogspot one day, but not today.

weekend bits

sorry for me, for you, but I decided to copy. imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

pumpkin pancakes.

This is just what I want right now. As always, thank you kitchen sink.

mmm. fall.

via totokaelo.

boston food challenge? lets do it.

I have been embracing Boston more in the past few months, and Jessica's Chicago food challenge has inspired me to do one of my own. The map above shows the 21 official neighborhoods in Boston. Perhaps by documenting eats in each of these neighborhoods, Aaron and I will see a bit more of our new-ish home. It's difficult though, because I want to also explore the neighborhoods and food of Cambridge, Brookline, and the 30 or so sub-neighborhoods of my very own Dorchester. However, I'm going to assume it's unlikely that I'll complete the task of 21 neighborhoods in the next 12 months, so it's pointless to take on more.

By the way, I'm just loving Dorchester and am still baffled by the fear of Boston toward this area. I was informed by a friend recently of the negative health impact of living in bad neighborhoods. Wha? It's like the suburbs out where with mixed races and sometimes vandalism. Let's suck it up people.

blue.

New York Magazine did a piece on former Blues Clues host Steven Burns Williamsburg home. Very cool. And I love that it's blue.

neglect. new york.

wow. It's been a while. I was getting that feeling that, since I've neglected this blog for so so long, that any return must be a triumphant one. I've done so many things this summer. Traveled to mexico, newport folk festival, wisdom teeth out, brief but wonderful chicago trip, katie came to visit, I went to visit katie, matt came to town, and so on....

I was feeling like I needed to post about each of these things to come back. but the past is the past. Then I was thinking about switching to a tumbler. this may still happen. but in the meantime I'll start posting again. Why not?

sorry for the neglect.

in the meantime, here are a few shots from my recent new york trip. I had a great time with my sister, and caught some awesome New Yorker festival events. It was my first time in NYC when the weather was actually nice. Fun!

dace.

I really need to break from my J.Crew monotony. However, I find myself attracted to clothing way outside of my budget. Take dace for example. I am totally ready to embrace it- ready everywhere except my pocketbook. They do have decent sales I suppose. I might have to give something a try when the price is right. In the meantime, feast on these pretty dace items.

preppy?

someone told me this week that I was "preppy" and could see me being called meg, wearing pink and green. I think he meant it as a compliment, but man, that is not how I see myself. I think the northeast is rubbing off in a bad way. I need to rethink some things....

popcorn shrimp

you know I love muppets, right?

Herb and Dorothy

I watched the best documentary today entitled Herb and Dorothy (available as watch instantly on netflix). Its about a couple who, on their meager salaries, amassed one of the most extensive and important collection of conceptual and minimalist art from the New York scene, simply out of the love of the art. Over the span of 40 years, they somehow stuffed over 40,000 pieces in their one bedroom Manhattan apartment. They are certainly quirky, endearing, and have an eye for art like you've never seen. And they've never sold a single piece.

However, they've given much of their work to the National Gallery and established a program to give 50 pieces of their collection to 5o states each. So look up which institute in your state holds the "Vogel Collection."

Here is a nice trailer of the doc:

Herb and Dorothy Trailer from Herb and Dorothy on Vimeo.