Oh, you know...

Guys, I know, I know. This is a travesty. I was supposed to have this cleaned up days ago. But then I got busy with freelance, and all my favorite TV shows started up again, and then the Valentino documentary finally arrived from Netflix. You know, important stuff here.

Also, I've been super busy stuffing my face with pickled okra. Pickled Okra! It has changed my world. Ben made 3 different batches and we've been eating them non-stop. As you can tell from this photo, most of the okra is gone. This batch was my favorite, Pickled Okra with chili and lemongrass. And yes, I do believe Pickled Okra should be capitalized because it's that good.

You still there?

Hope so. Apologies for not writing sooner to let you all know we landed safe and sound in Texas! We had a fun trip across the southwest to get here, and then dove straight into lots of work. I'll have a longer post coming soon, but wanted to share our new view from the Lakehouse.

We're also trying to keep up with these guys, Hawkeye and his new best friend Mac. Two lhasas with completely opposite personalities/looks. Quite a pair.

xoxo from Texas!!

Miss Natalie + Ben's Garage Sale!

If you live in the Bay Area, stop by this Saturday for our mega-awesome garage sale! Ben and I are liquidating our entire house (and a good chunk of my studio) before moving to Austin next week! Yes, you heard that right. We're moving to Texas! We have lots of big plans ahead and I'll be keeping you all posted shortly, just as soon as I can empty our house and get this show on the road. Here are the details:

THIS Saturday!
10AM - 4PM
no early birds, please, we're not that organized
456 Rich St. (off 42nd/Telegraph)
Oakland, CA 94609

Some items of interest: Craftsman furniture, loads of linens, design books, cookbooks, fiction and non-fiction, nautical items, office supplies, design magazines, loads of sweet fabrics, craft notions, kitchen supplies, tons of glassware, stoneware, art prints, vintage paper, records, clothing, and hot purses!

Swing on by, check out our goods, and then grab yourself a fried chicken sandwich and lemon chill from Bakesale Betty's, just down the street. Hope to see you there!

Scenes from a Saturday

Saturday in Point Reyes National Park. Fog, mustard greens, and two nice fellas. A few days away helps clear a crowded mind.

Living for the weekend

This is where I'll be spending my weekends for the next two months. To say I'll be counting down the weekdays would be a serious understatement.

Hello 2009

We're heading out to the Capay Farm for a wonderfully-themed "Greater Depression New Year's Eve Extravaganza". Both Ben and I are dressed liked hobos, and I spent the morning lamenting the fact that I can't grow a 5 o'clock shadow to match his. Oh well. I'm sure we'll have plenty of crazy photos of the costumed revelry next week for you all.

In the meantime, I wish you a very Happy 2009! May it bring you all the love, luck, and joy that you can handle. I see good things in our future.

Photo courtesy of Ajax All Purpose Blog.

August Travels

This has been a month of insane travel. From the start to the finish, I've seen more friends and family in August than I have since our wedding. To recap:

Brooklyn

Martha's Vineyard

Austin

Venice
(I wish! Gondola ride on Lake Merritt in Oakland)

This weekend I'm staying home and recovering (and unpacking). Looking forward to hanging out, getting my bike fixed at Manifesto, browsing the new mags at Issues, and cooking up a storm. It's a dinner party weekend, I think.