OK GO'S LATEST MIND BENDING VIDEO

I have written about Ok Go's crazy music videos before. This group is incredibly creative, both musically and visually. There color palette, costuming and choreography are on point. But, seriously, my mind is BLOWN but this latest video for the single 'Upside Down & Inside Out'. It was shot entirely in zero gravity. No special effects. Enough said.

Learn more about Ok Go here.

COLOR CRUSH: PAINTINGS BY ANDREW FARIS

I am totally digging the graphic, chromatic paintings of Wyoming artist Andrew Faris. How cool is his decision to photograph them in contrast with the natural landscape? Major fan, all around.

Check out more of his work on his website here (and his instagram (swoon!) here). I particularly like these glass and spray paint works . . . .

(thanks to swissmiss for the tip!)

SAVINGS AND LOANS: LAY OFF MY BLUE SUEDE SHOES

Several years ago I splurged and bought this adorable pair of stripey and bow-topped heels from JCrew. At the time I thought, hmm, how often can I really wear blue shoes? Turns out quite often! I get compliments on them all the time, which has basically rewarded my splurge time and time again.

So now I have my eyes on a new set of likely impractical but beautiful shoes: the Mira Heel from Madewell (on sale for $135) and the Adelia d'Orsay Pump from Banana Republic ($158). What do you think? Should I treat myself to some blue suede shoes?

COLOR HEAVEN: THE RAINBOW CHAPEL IN SHANGHAI

So, nearly three years ago, I had the honor and joy of marrying my husband in a gorgeous historic church in Massachusetts. And while I loved every minute of my wedding day, I have to say that if I got a chance to have a second one (to my same husband, of course!) I think I might go modern all the way. Though it wouldn't be in Shanghai, China, this Rainbow Chapel designed by Coordination Asia for the G+Park museum park is spectacular. Pretty much my dream venue. Now if we could just ship it to New England . . . 

Learn more about the Chapel here.

(Thanks to Design Milk for the tip.)

RANDOM THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, VOLUME TWO

As I near the home stretch with my dissertation, my brain increasingly feels like swiss cheese—completely full of holes. It is perhaps only fitting that I give you another 'Random Things' post, if only to accurately represent my chaotic state of mind. . . 

ONE > How fabulous are these colorful playing cards? Who knew poker could be so pretty . . . 

TWO > I rotate my desktop background regularly and am always looking for new (and free!) patterns to upload. DesignLoveFest's regular column is the best source for these and I totally fell in love with her recent post featuring this palm print by Kate Worsum.

THREE > Candy on a stick? Yes, please!

FOUR > I can't decide if one piece bathing suits are all purposefully designed to be unflattering or if they don't just work on me, but the raving reviews and pretty colors of this JCrew number have me tempted to try again . . . 

FIVE > These brightly colored beauties in Naples have me dreaming of revisiting my trip to Italy and heading down south instead. 

SIX > I collect typewriters. Have I told you that? Well I do. It's a hard hobby to keep up in my cramped NYC apartment, but oh baby this yellow number is calling my name!

FOLLOW UP: TOMMY PEREZ'S INSTAGRAM

Whoa! Yesterday, after posting about the inspiring series A to Zöe created by adorable dad Tommy Perez, I fell down a Googling black hole and go lost in the magic and colorful wonder of Perez's instagram account. Seriously, this guy is incredible! Turns out Perez not only has major typography skills, but also is a master at logo design, paper cutting and illustration. If I had taken a different fork in the road and had decided to become a graphic designer instead of an art historian, I would want to become this guy's best friend, stat. As is, I kind of want to anyway!Check out Perez's instagram account and personal website here for a look into his beautiful, vivid work.

ONE DAD'S EDIBLE TYPOGRAPHY LESSONS

Oh man, I am pretty sure Tommy Perez just won the cool dad of the year award. Turns out he is teaching his two year old daughter, Zöe, about the alphabet (and design! and food!) by shaping her snacks into letters in various beautiful styles—script, sans serif, capitalized, lowercase and more—and then photographing her adorable little hand as she samples the results.The series is called from A to Zöeand shows off Perez's impressive styling and graphic design skills. He posts his images on Instagram and I highly recommend you follow along. In the meantime, you can learn more about Perez, his daughter, and the whole series at Fast Co. here.

OFFICIALLY WISHLISTED: SEABAGS

Two summers ago my husband and I bought a small sailboat. As a Connecticut kid, I have been sailing all my life and I was delighted to discover my husband shared my enthusiasm. So now we have a small racing boat, something fun to speed along in, and we have slowly been kitting it out with fun gadgets and add ons. So when I saw this post on swissmiss yesterday, detailing the cool water tight 'Seabags' made by the Swiss companies Büro Destruct & Kitchener, I knew they would be the perfect addition to our sailboat wishlist. I mean, really, how can you resist the potent combination of utility and cuteness?

Check out all the latest Seabag designs here.

LET'S PARTY! MY FAVORITE PARTY SUPPLY SHOPS

This week one of my favorite bloggers—Jordan from Oh Happy Day—announced some big news. Not only did she release a gorgeous new blog design, but she also debuted her brand new dangerously fabulous party supply shop. I mean, you know me, this stuff is like crack! Pretty candles, balloons, confetti, banners, containers, favors, you name it, Jordan has got it. And now my craft closet is yearning to snatch it up! Seriously, do yourself a favor and check out the goodness here. The styling of every single item is perfectly playful, including the happy striped awning masthead. I love it all and you will too.Seeing Jordan's party planning skills on display in her new shop made me think about all the other online party goods shops I have bookmarked over the years. Just in case you are a fool for festivities like I am, click through the link to find a round up of my favorite sites to seek out for silly, celebratory supplies.

STICKY NOTES ON STERIODS: MAGNETIC

I discovered the amazingness that is Magnetic a month or two and can't believe I forgot to post it until now! Magnetic is a radical new take on an office standby: paper! How can you transform paper into something groundbreaking you ask? You make it possible to stick to anything. Like post it notes on steroids, Magnetic products use static electricity to stick to everything from brick to leather, fabric to plastic and more. Plus you can write on them with ease. Crazy awesome, right?

They offer a ton of colors and types of products (see the mock ups of sticky notes, notepads and bulletin boards above), all available for preorder now on their website here. Now the trouble is deciding which one to pick . . . .


(Want to learn more? The whole idea began as a Kickstarter campaign, so you can check out the pitch details here.)

30 FOR 30: A MAD COOKIE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE AGES

Last weekend I threw a 30th birthday party. For myself. It was reasonably epic, thanks in large part to the wonderful turn out (thanks, friends!) and the super fun theme: chocolate chip cookies! And not just any chocolate chip cookies—the party was a 'March Madness' style bracket to determine the best chocolate chip cookies in New York City from among 30 contenders (get it? 30 for 30!). (I was inspired by this lovely lady.)

I ate so many cookies that I had a stomach ache for several hours afterwards. Now if that isn't the sign of a good party, I don't know what is!

In planning the fete I took the opportunity to put together a bunch of fun crafty decorations that I thought you might enjoy. After all, now that I have put the idea in your head you are totally going to go out and throw your own cookie party, right?

Click through the link to see some more photos of the fun!

LILLY PULITZER FOR TARGET

Everyone is buzzing about the new Target capsule collection released to stores this coming weekend featuring the designs of Lilly Pulitzer (see here and here)! Though I am an avowed prepster, I have to say that my closet is not overflowing with Lilly Pulitzer pink and green. Still, the brand does produce some beautiful patterns and I am really impressed with how that translates to all the chic yet playful home goods on offer in the Target collection. Once again, I am sorry to say that there is no convenient Target location near me in NYC. If you are headed to Target this weekend, pick me up something pretty from the Lilly line!Happy Weekend!

OBSESSED: COLOR CORD COMPANY

Holy cow, I think I just died and went to color nerd heaven! This morning I stumbled across Color Cord Company, an outfit that sells all the materials needed for making some captivatingly colorful pattern-pretty pendant lamps (say that five times fast!). I have been dreaming of adding some hanging lights to a dark corner of our apartment—above our dining table—and I think this discovery just sealed the deal. Not only do they seem to have every style, color and pattern of cord under the sun, they also sell socket covers and shades in all different hues and sizes. All for what seem to be reasonable prices!

They even sell super cool bulbs! What?! Mind blown.If you feel like a bulb just went on in your head (see what I did there?) check out the Color Cord Company website here.

A JOLT OF SUMMER FOR A COLD DAY

I am officially tired of all this hangover winter weather! The calendar says it's spring but the thermometer says it's 40 degrees outside. What gives?!

I'm not waiting anymore for a punch of color and fun in the sun. So here are a couple photos that are helping me pretend shorts and summer sun are right around the corner . . . . hope they help pick you up too! Now bring on the ice cream!

image credits: patterned wall | 'F' poster | wooden letter blocks | note to self poster

DIANA BELTRAN HERRERA: BIRDS OF A (PAPER) FEATHER

How gorgeous are these sculptures by Colombian artist Diana Beltran Herrera?!! I have regularly been accused by my friends of being 'obsessive' (a descriptor I have eponymously embraced!) with a crazy dedication to all things paper. But Beltran Herrera takes this to a whole new level. She uses countless tiny, intricately cut pieces of paper to craft impressively lifelike and expressive sculptures of flora and fauna. She is a particular master of birds, pursuing a series of sculptures on British birds, hummingbirds, birds of paradise and more. And how cool are those 3D stamp scenes? I want to own one sooooo bad . . . . Check out more of her truly breathtaking work on her (beautiful!) website here.Thanks to Miss Moss for the tip. 
p.s. Beltran Herrera's work totally reminds me of this!