Tokens of Ireland

Saint Patrick's Day is this Sunday! March is flying by, and holidays are fleeting too, so here are some items that can remind you of the Emerald Isle all year long...

All the items shown can be found on Etsy.

1. European Travel Destination Poster featuring Dublin from Loose Petals

2. Tiny Celtic Knot Earrings Handcrafted streling silver by Cook on Strike

3. Miniature Irish Cottage from hand painted paper clay by Homespun Ireland

4. Beer Soap Collection including: Murphy's Stout &Vanilla, Irish Stout and Charcoal, and Man Soap, from Dr K Soap Company

5. Antique Ireland Map from The Old Map Shop

6. Ireland Photography from Green Goose Gallery

7. Irish Linen Thread, 100 yards from In a Bind Supplies

8. Large Coptic Journal handsewn, featuring a 1954 Gulliver's Travels book cover from Amy L Burns

Chicken Envy

Photo Credit: Joe Sartore

I have self-diagnosed Chicken Envy. It's nothing serious, yet. It seems as though the whole Suburban Homesteading movement is taking hold, and with it are a bunch of adorable chickens living in peoples backyards. Chickens aren't just for farms anymore! I want to join in the fun so very much, but a few things keep cropping up like,

• Do I really have time to care for these?
• There are a million and one other home projects that should take time/money precedence
• Technically speaking it's not legal to own farm animals on less than 2 acres in my Suburbia

But still, I want chickens! I love the thought of fresh eggs and just having some more animals around besides Dante and my husband (badum pshh). About a year ago we put an offer in for a parcel of land in the Mojave Desert with the intent to eventually move and live sustainability "off the grid". You can view the mini tour here. Maintaining some livestock was obviously in the planning, but even though that California Dream fell through I still would like to have some chickens. And a goat or two. And bees. And a Tilapia pond. But I digress...

Chickens! No loud rooster, just tiny bug-eatin', compost-makin', egg producers. Sigh. So while I lust over others' chickens I will continue to do research and plan. We'd probably build our own coop, but here are few designs I like, from simple to elaborate (for super posh chickens).

Chicken Direct Aston Chicken Coop

Williams-Sonoma Rustic Coop & Run

Williams-Sonoma Alexandria Chicken Coop & Run

Country Living Chez Poulet - Comes with plans to build your own

Here are some of the chicken rearing resources I've been looking at:

The Chicken Chick

Backyard Chickens

My Pet Chicken

Community Chickens

Scratch Cradle

The Garden Rooftop

UPDATE: We got some chickens weeks after writing this post, chicken envious no longer.

The Dandelion: 124 S. 18th St, Philadelphia

Get it? Dandy...Lion? How clever.

I have yet to have a meal at a Stephen Starr restaurant that has left me wanting. And yesterday was no exception. We took Chris' mom to The Dandelion near Rittenhouse Square for a Birthday Brunch. The Dandelion is styled as a British pub, and probably a lot nicer than a regular old British pub too, serving their takes on traditional British pub food, Bangers and Mash, Cottage Pie, Sunday Roasts... As luck would have it, this past weekend was the first taste of spring Philly has seen this winter; a gorgeous time to be out enjoying good food and drink with good company. This wasn't my first experience with The Dandelion, but it was the first sit-down meal I've had.

If the rooms of the restaurant had names, we were in the Dog Room. Stately grey wainscoting with rich emerald walls covered in framed paintings and artwork of dogs. Daschund print curtains, and "Mans Best Friend" lighting. We started off with some drinks, a Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout for me, and my mother in law got a flight of cask drawn ales. The waitress recommended the scones to start off, and how glad we were to take her advice. Best scone I've had since, since well... England! Warm scones arrived with raspberry jam and yes, clotted cream. The scones were so delicious they incited discussion of  Chris's grandmother's Irish recipe for scones, as well as, Googling how to make clotted cream. Perhaps a post for another day...

With each bite I replaced both jam and clotted cream.

After we had savored them to the last bite, we ordered two Full English Breakfasts and an Eggs Benedict. I went with the Full English because it just seemed like the right thing to do. When I lived and studied in London, as a student I had very little funds, so my Full English's at the local cafe were not as expertly prepared as this.  

Gotta get a little of everything in each bite

Heinz Baked Beans, check. Cumberland Sausage, check. Fried Tomato, check. Mushroom, check. Additionally there was a phenomenal piece of blood pudding. It was so fresh and seasoned to perfection that it made me forget what's it made of. My only complaint, if I were pressed to complain, is that the bacon was American "streaky bacon" and not traditional back bacon. What's the difference? And that certainly did not detract from the deliciousness of the meal. As I greedily wiped my plate clean and took my last bit of Stout, I sat back in my squashy cushioned bench and thought about when I could nap. Spot on, Dandelion. Cheers!

Spring Ahead!

In honor of Daylight Savings Time here in the Eastern Standard part of the world, I thought I'd post some springy watches. Yay for more daylight!

Anne Klein, $65

Betsey Johnson, $95

Marc Jacobs, $200

Adidas, $93

International Women's Day: How To Be A Woman

Truth be told, I had no idea it was International Women's Day until Google's homepage told me this morning. And usually I don't go for "this sort of stuff", but I am a woman and I thought I'd share a book I've read that really changed my views on "feminism".

“We need to reclaim the word 'feminism'. We need the word 'feminism' back real bad. When statistics come in saying that only 29% of American women would describe themselves as feminist - and only 42% of British women - I used to think, What do you think feminism IS, ladies? What part of 'liberation for women' is not for you? Is it freedom to vote? The right not to be owned by the man you marry? The campaign for equal pay? 'Vogue' by Madonna? Jeans? Did all that good shit GET ON YOUR NERVES? Or were you just DRUNK AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY?” ― Caitlin Moran, How to Be a Woman

Caitlin Moran is a British broadcaster, TV presenter and columnist at The Times, and I'm pretty certain since this book has been published, she's gotten a whole lot more popular (check out this fansite, fuckyeahcaitlinmoran). I think I came across it as suggested reading on Amazon, or the like, and I was put off immediately. "Why on Earth do I need to know how to be a woman, I am a woman?! What is this feminism she's peddling?" And then I began reading an excerpt from a chapter entitled, "Why You Shouldn't Have Children". And although I'd very much like children, I have thought about it as an actual life decision rather than my whole purpose for existence. And it seems that Moran has a similar view... And with a click of the mouse I bought it, full price (that doesn't happen often!).

Moran's writing style is just how I'd imagine her speaking, with lots of CAPS, asides, and exclamations! The entire book is literally laugh out loud humorous. I'd be reading in the other room and my husband would say, "Are you reading that funny feminism book again?" Yes! Moran single-handedly turned me on a 180° course toward proudly being a feminist. Because up until I read it, I was ashamed of bawdy women making demands that frankly seemed outdated. And I'd like to think that it's just a product of me growing up in a time when I didn't have to struggle for equality, or that I never thought I couldn't be the CEO of a company, or that I never had to worry about my right to vote. Why do we need feminism if there is nothing left to fight for in this country? Moran brings up a great point from the get-go.

"a) Do you have a vagina? and
b) Do you want to be in charge of it?

If you said 'yes' to both, then congratulations! You're a feminist.” 

A compelling argument. She breaks down the book into Chapters of her own life, giving history and perspective from her experiences. Chapter titles include, "I Start Bleeding!", "I Become Furry!" and "I Don't Know What to Call My Breasts!" and so on. If anything, I could relate with her on a lot of topics, things that you probably wouldn't have talked to anyone else about as you went through it. And by the end of the book she became a feminist hero, and a person I'd love to share a pint or two with and go dancing.

 A few of my favorite quotes that just may get you to read...

"If I'm going to spunk £500 on a pair of designer shoes, it's going to be a pair that I can (a) dance to "Bad Romance" in and (b) will allow me to run away from a murderer, should one suddenly decide to give chase. That's the minimum I ask from my footwear. To be able to dance in it, and for it not to get me murdered."

"When a woman says, ‘I have nothing to wear!’, what she really means is, ‘There’s nothing here for who I’m supposed to be today."

"Now I believe that there are only four things a grown, modern woman should have: a pair of yellow shoes (they unexpectedly go with everything), a friend who will come and post bail at 4am, a fail safe pie recipe, and a proper muff. A big, hairy minge. A lovely furry moof that looks – when she sits, naked – as if she has a marmoset sitting in her lap. A tame marmoset, that she can send off to pickpocket things, should she so need it – like that trained monkey in Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Moranthology is currently on my reading list.

"A Period of Juvenile Prosperity": Mike Brodie

Talk about adventure. Photographer Mike Brodie, aka the Polaroid Kidd, spent 10 years hopping freight trains and covered the expanse of 50,000 miles and 46 states. His latest exhibition, entitled "A Period of Juvenile Prosperity" opened today at the Yossi Milo Gallery in NYC. Additionally a book will be released, A Period of Juvenile Prosperity, published by Twin Palms.

  

The Philadelphia Flower Shower

This year the theme of Philadelphia Flower Show is a tribute to "all things British". I was extra excited about this particular theme as a person who has lived in London for grad school and as an all-around-anglophile. I went with my mother, grandfather and aunt, all of whom have an extensive knowledge and hands on practice with gardening and the science of horticulture (they know what they're talking about). And we all had the same overall thought about the shows theme: "Eh, a bit disappointing."

I was expecting to see things like this...

Little cottages with clusters of flowers. Photo Source: Peter Barritt

Impressive amounts of rose bushes. Photo Source: WindyCornerUSA

Walled gardens and giant Hydrangeas. Photo Source: Everton Downs

Some inspiration from designs of Cath Kidston (shown) or Liberty of London

But it felt more like neatly planted flowers with something "British" plunked in the middle, like a phonebooth, or Big Ben, or The Beatles. So I wasn't necessarily overwhelmed with a sense of Britishness in the flowers. But hey, that's just me. There were lots of displays that I did enjoy...

 The Gates of Buckingham Palace were flowerfied at the entrance.

Living walls were very popular in the displays.

And my favorite of the day were the aspects of English literary whimsy with a nod to The Lord of the Rings and Alice in Wonderland.

Even though the show didn't quite meet my expectations, it's still wonderful to be surrounded by the sights and smells of the flora, and to know that Spring is right around the corner! 

Free Social Media Icons

I've posted a free file of social media icons for use; you can download here from DropBox. If you have an icon request let me know and I'll make it!

Embroidery is Back

One of the many arts and crafts techniques that has recently made a comeback is embroidery. When I was a little girl I would rifle through my grandmother's enormous collection of embroidery floss to make friendship bracelets, completely unaware of the fact that bracelet-making was not their first and only purpose. Until recently, I would associate embroidered items with super kitschy tea towels or the lords prayer on a tiny pillow. But now, although the technique has remained the same the designs have not. Perfect for personalized gifting or adding some threaded decor to you wall. Behold! Modern embroidery...

Etsy Shop: JerseyMaid

Etsy Shop: NisseWorks

Etsy Shop: SamPGibson

Etsy Shop: oktak

Etsy, of course, has an array of handcrafted items, but if you'd like to try it out for yourself, it's extraordinarily easy to do. I find it a relaxing activity that you can just pick up and work on for minutes if that's all you've got. But more on that later...

Recommended Listening: Wild Belle

Wild Belle is a brother/sister duo hailing from Chicago. They have a very chill funky reggae sound, and when I first heard them I actually thought it was new Santogold. Below is the video for Keep You, I love the the crazy sax throughout this track. I am very much looking forward to their album Isles, which will release next Wednesday. But until then you can find some singles, Keep You and It's Too Late, to listen to on Spotify. You can also find them rocking out at SXSW coming up this week and Coachella in April.

Warby Parker, where have you been all my life?!

For anyone who wears glasses, you understand that they generally cost a good chunk of change. Once you get over the expensive designer price tag for a pair of frames, you get a little sticker shock when they add your actual prescription to them, so you can, you know, see out of them. I was turned onto this website, Warby Parker, so named after some Jack Kerouac references. And I, for one, will never bother looking at another store for glasses for as long as these guys are in business. Here's why...

1. They have a huge selection of frames AND sunglasses, each with various colors and finishes.
2. You can select up to 5 pairs to try on at home, for free.
3. Glasses and lenses start at $95, total. 
4. They're philanthropic; they do a buy a pair give a pair scheme, like TOMs. 

No, I'm not lying, it's for real. Here's the 5 I tried on at home.

Marshall, Striped Sassafras

Bensen, Whiskey Tortoise 

Beckett, Revolver Black Matte

Pierce, Greystone

Preston, Sandalwood Matte

All of these are $95 total. You can easily add your prescription online during checkout. The at home try-on could not be more simple. You pick out your frames online and ship them to your address. Days later you get a nice box of frames with clear plastic lens inside. You get 5 days to wear them around the house and test them out on your friends and family. Then on the 5th day place the shipping label provided on the box and drop them off at a UPS location. Easy. I think I'll be opting for the Preston style. And now my only problem is I'll want more than one pair, and I've got to try on some sunglasses ASAP!

Greetings!

So, I jumped into the whole blogging game sometime last year, and made a Tumblr account. After a few months of posts I quickly realized that Tumblr was not the outlet I was looking for. And instead of picking up and leaving for greener pastures, my posting trailed off... But I'm back at it with renewed vigor thanks to my awesome sister-in-law and gal pal, Emily. She's got her own blogging going on at Growing Wild Ginger, and has inspired me to get posting again. My biggest challenge is that I'm terrible at remembering to take photos as I do things, and then it's sort of boring to just see a finished project. My goal is to be better at documenting, and sharing too. And in the meantime, while I continually tweak and learn how to grow this blog, I'm bringing over older posts from www.adventurenauts.tumblr.com