BOS to the Tundra

I'm headed to Alaska in two days (read: I will be away from the internets/facespace/instagrams all week - what a vacation!). And what does one pack for Alaska? Well, I'm not entirely sure, but this Colorado girl knows one thing: it's all about layers. With hiking, canoeing and camping on the to do list, highs in the sixties and lows in the forties, you can be sure I'm all about the mix of comfort and functionality. 

Check out my illustrated packing list. Lululemon stretchy pants for botttoms, Patagonia and Mountain Hardware for tops, a good pair of shoes, a camera (or two) and a great read is all about I need. 

Friends have pointed out I'm missing harpoons, bear mace and a machette, but really, who is keeping track? Here's hoping I won't need any of those ;)

-xo-

eb

To the Sea!!

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for whatever we lose(like a you or a me) 
it's always ourselves we find in the sea 

e.e. cummings

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I grew up in a landlocked state (Colorado). And then moved to a state where the beach was the Coast and it was cold and rainy nine months out of the year. (Oregon). And then to a city where the beach is only hot hot hot two days a year and the only people stripping down are free spirits down at the Baker Beach in the nudist section (San Francisco). 

So this whole concept of "summer," "swimming," "heat" and "the beach" is a little new to me. Not sure I entirely took advantage of it last summer (ok, let's be real, I went to the beach once), so I've vowed to be in the sea this summer. 

Now comes the fun part. What to wear?! Jury is still out, but I've done a little research. See below for some of my top runners. 

-xo-

eb

1 // jcrew rosebud bikini 

2 // jcrew ratti regatta bikini 

3 // the seea riviera one piece

4 // madewell rosie bikini

5 // free people estella bikini

NYC Adventure Time

I spent this weekend in NYC. One of the best things about Boston and East Coast living is how close together new adventure spots are. It took me a few months to get used to passing through or visiting multiple states in a day. That's a tough concept to understand, having lived in states that can take at least six hours to drive through. Pretty sure you could fit 5.78 Massachusetts in California. 

Regardless, a hop and a jump will get you to a fun-filled NYC weekend. And once you're there, adventure comes by merely choosing which direction to head in. Details of the weekend coming soon!

-xo-

eb

Whoops

Uh. How about this? How about my 2013 resolution is to better about blogging.

Ok, now that that's been said. I'll do it: I'll be better about blogging. But not before I apologize for being absolutely awful at it for the past four months.

Let's start with the fall in New England. I have to admit that this little quaint region of the world is starting to grow on me. Autumn brought new decorating to the apartment and a trip to go leaf peeping. Both of which caused me fall deeper and deeper "in like" with Boston.

The apartment redecorating was a huge step in my making Boston as much of a home as possible. It's now filled with art from SF AND New England, lots of textures and different materials. My sense of style is a hodgepodge and my home now reflects that.

Stripes! Chevron! Wood! Metal! Glass! 

OH MY!

The 48 star flag was a gift from my brother.

He found it at the Alameda Flea Market in the Bay.

Here's a sampling of my bike posters. 

All of these came from ArtCrank - an poster party I showed in for three years in SF.

Don't call me pumpkin, Pumkin'.

So now let's talk about Leaf Peeping (yes - we're gonna make this a proper noun)! My parents came East for a week to explore New England during the fall with me. It was wonderful. We drove north to Vermont, stopping and exploring in little towns along the way. We then looped back via North Adams and the Mass MOCA, staying at The Porches Inn. Between the museum and the absolutely adorable hotel, I'd say Western Mass has a lot to offer. We then scooted down to Stockbridge to visit the Normal Rockwell Museum and soak up a little Americana. 

The leaves were a little disappointing, but the scenery, food, pumpkin beer and company all made up for it. Can't wait to do it all again next fall. 

The Concord Cheese Shop. Yup. Amazing.

Concord.

Cheese was everywhere in Vermont!

See?!

My Leaf Peeping souvenir in prep for the Boston winter.  

The claw foot tub at the Porches. Amaaaaazing.

Love the wainscoting walls.

The porch at the Porches. Charming, no?

One of my antiques purchase. The antiques are amazing out here.

The wall drawings of Sol LeWitt. Unreal. On till 2033.

Normal Rockwell's studio.

His bike!

My favorite fall beer.

Well, that's if for my fall. Fast forward to winter! 

Happy New Year! 

- xo -

eb

Brimfield Antique Show

There is this magical thing that happens here in Massachusetts. It happens three times a year. In a small, sleepy town called Brimfield.

The Brimfield Antique Show.

For five days, in May, July and August, from sunup to sundown, 6,000 antique dealers from across the country gather in a gigantic field and displays wonders of time's past for purchase. In a few words, it's amazing and almost unbelievable.

Brimfield draws a lot of merchants and buyers from stores far and wide across the globe. This is where Anthropologie gets its great beat-up store decor, where set designers find the perfect antique for period pieces and where stylish Japanese and New Yorkers interior designers (think the Ace Hotel) invade small town New England in search for the one statement piece that will set their home, bar or hotel apart. All alongside everyday peeps looking for old stuff.

It would take all five days (maybe more) to properly comb through the roughly 84 acres of antiques. There's everything from neon signs to Eames chairs to clothing, jewelry and purses to art to wooden boxes, glass jars and brass candlestick holders. Furs. Tables. Car parts. Eyeglass. Literally, anything and everything you could ever want.

I can't wait to go back in July. I've got my eyes set on an old industrial cart and a great farm table.

LOTS 'o pictures on this post. There's just too much to share.

xo,
eb

The line of cars goes on for miles.

(also - the pros and veterans rent a uhaul to bring home all their goodies)

My friend Millah matching the tents.

Wait? Are we in the lobby of an Ace?

This is the cart I want.

Millah finding hidden treasures.

This was my favorite tent. All outdoorsy stuff. 

Very Colorado. 

My dad would love this one, too.

Who doesn't need this??

Purchase #1: A giant light bulb

Purchase #2: 1940s / WWII Propoganda

Purchase #3: Brass anchor candlestick holder

Purchase #4: An array of glass bottles

Purchase #5: Richard cufflinks + tie clip

Pretty Type

It's been rainy, rainy, cold here for the past few days.

Look at that sun!! - and dang! Look at that typeface!

Pittsburg Ain't the Pitts One Bits

I took a quick trip down to Pittsburgh for a work trip last week. We just landed a new client who's headquartered there. I have to say that I wasn't expecting much - but was incredibly and pleasantly surprised at the city. 

It's a very salt of the earth type of town; it's history is obviously built on old school industry - in 1911 it was producing half the nation's steel. This makes for some pretty beautiful architecture and creates an overall feel of Americana. Lots of interesting bridges dot the city skyline, it almost feels a little like Portland.

I was surprised how hip it is. There is a HUGE bicycle subculture. We stumbled upon a rad little bar that could have been plucked from the Mission. OTB Bicycle Café offers regional brews and burgers with peanut butter. Yay, that's a big thing around here. PB & Burgers. I've decided I'm a fan. Bikes and their parts decorate the entire place. I can't wait to go back. 

We caught a game at PNC Park. What a great ballpark. It faces downtown, the city buildings basically feels like they're spilling into the park. It'd be a great place to catch the 4th of July fireworks. 

The economy took it's toll on Pittsburgh, but it's proved to be a pick yourself up by the bootstrings type of town. It's now peppered with start ups taking advantage of inexpensive rent and a change of scenery. There's even a strongly supported rumor that Pitt is next on the list to receive an Ace Hotel. If that doesn't say hip, I don't know what is. 

All in all, I am now officially a fan. 

xo, 

eb

Beer me.

Arrrrrrrgh Matey - Go Pirates.

Sunny Steel.