How cute

is this sushi fabric?

Jenny, one of my sweetest and craftiest friends, made Nathan and me quilts for Christmas. Yes, quilts! She used the best pinks and floral patterns on mine, including this amazing sushi fabric.



I love my quilt, and so does Abby.

Or should I say, Abby-wan Kenobie?

Friday Favorites: welcoming summer

1. Gondolier stripes






2. Lego digital camera (for kids of all ages)


3. American Tourister round luggage & traincases


If it was carried by Eva Marie, you know it's stylish.



4. Walls with ivy





5. Shandies
One of our absolute favorite drinks of summer. Some folks like theirs with half pale beer, half lemonade, but we prefer 2/3 beer and 1/3 lemonade.



We use Stella Artois


and Simply Lemonade.


I totally remember having this drink at beergardens in Germany, but couldn't remember what it was called. Looks like it's called a Radler over there. Honestly-- what did we do before Wikipedia?

Growing up, I was a terrible speller.

I never, never would have won a spelling bee back in middle school, that's for sure.

Over the years, my crap spelling improved. Mainly because I'm a voracious reader (I just spelled voracious right the first time, I swear) and also because of www.dictionary.com which politely suggests the word you might be trying to spell, even if you're waaaay off.

Luckily, though, my poor spelling never put anyone's life in danger.

Cloudy day stroll

This is one of my favorite photos of Jackie O, strolling beside Georgetown Canal.


If I had today off work, I'd take a stroll (along with sleeping in and doing a little reading and/or writing). What would you do?

Kidcasters: Because you know you need some cute Tuesday goodness

This morning I did something unusual. I turned on the news. Why, you ask? Because I knew that some of my favorite locals, the Casserole Queens were going to be on the tellie.



The Casserole Queens are just as fabulous as you might imagine. They make delicious potpies and casseroles and deliver them to your door wearing dresses from the 1950s. Add that to the Reasons We Love Austin list.

While I was waiting for the queens' segment, I got to see a ridiculously cute weather forecast by an eight-year-old boy named Malcolm, and I had to share. I dare you not to smile.



You guys! The Kidcaster segment happens every Tuesday morning. I may become a morning news watcher after all.

Luck v. Smarts (or just hard work?)

As I've gotten older, I've realized that people who are successful (say, authors who write full time and live fairly comfortably) may have been equally lucky as talented.
You hear all the time about people who happened to meet the perfect agent, or the market was looking for their exact kind of story/genre, you know, the classic they were "in the right place at the right time."

Add to all this that many people believe you create your own fate through loads of hard work, (which I admit, I believe at least half the time) and you have a fantastic mix of destiny, karma, ability and chance. Who I'm pretty sure were the original members of Destiny's Child.

What do you think about luck v. talent?

Results are in

If you were to see Miley Cyrus in the mall, you voted that it would be equally appropriate to avoid her as to punch her. The second most appropriate course of action would be to mock her. Coming in at zero votes, the least appropriate thing would be to hug her.

Anyone surprised?

On we proceed to the new poll: Which is the most dangerous?  Choices: raw meat, power tools, hand grenades, hot lava or sharks?

Happy Sunday: my favorite photographer*

*other than my husband


I wish you all things beautiful.

This is the first Henri Cartier-Bresson photo I ever saw and I pinned it on my wall in college-- before I even knew who he was. Bresson does my absolute favorite thing that brilliant photographers do-- he tells a story. He shows you something unique in a moment and makes you feel like you know the person in the frame.

If you'd like to learn more about Mr. Cartier-Bresson, I highly recommend this documentary and this book of portraits.
Happy Sunday!