After a long three seasons of everything but Summer, it's finally here! To get us all in the mood, here are a few fun things to get these anything but lazy days going.
Create instant works of art with this super Sunprint Kit. All you need are some interesting objects to make designs with, a nice sunny day, and a little water to process your prints. Comes with 12 sheets of Sunprint paper, a piece of plexiglass and instructions.
Now that there are leaves on the trees, don't let your brain turn to mush over the break with this Tree Kit. It includes 24 tree species identification cards, a tree height measure, a skeleton leaf (plus instructions on how to make your own), instructional leaflets and 3 different tree seeds for you to grow.
Kiki's Crochet shop makes these handmade sweet daisy soda coozies.
A Holga camera will reawaken your vision, fill you with joy, make you see beauty when you thought it had disappeared forever. Toy cameras can produce superbly gorgeous photos like no digital camera can. Check out the Holga Camera found here.
Keep warm along the boardwalk at sunset with this beautiful handmade light Summer Scarf. Perfect for when the sun goes down and you need an extra somethin-somethin to make a cool summer night perfect.
Nothing sucks more than a melty popsicle running down your arm. Stay stickyfree with this handy dandy Popsicle Holder.
Take your bunny out for a ride in this Sweet Basket for your bicycle. Inspired by her grandma's Swedish crochet tablecloth, designer Marie-Louise Gustafsson gives a current twist to a timeless function. Available in black or green.
There's something a little cruel about going to the Oregon coast for a Hawai`i native. Everything seems right: the expanse of water called the Pacific, waves crashing, the smell of salt in the air, warm sand between the toes. And just when you think - Alright! I'm going in! - your toe touches the wet, you hear yourself whimper and the similarities end.
Averaging about 50 degrees all year round, the Pacific here is home to gray whales, white sharks and numerous creatures like starfish and anemone. Really, it's great. Just very different from Hawai`i's Pacific. You can view it from afar and appreciate it's dramatic beauty - but good lord! Don't actually touch it.
The Mister and I had the opportunity to spend the weekend at a cottage in Oceanside, Oregon. I'd never been there before, always distracted by the bigger town of Tillamook and their cheese factory. The little town is nestled back into the cove and up the steep hills almost like a little white village in the Mediterranian.
Three rocks float just outside the reach of the beach. The largest is Shag, next is Finley and the outermost is called Storm rock.
I'm doing work for the owner of the place we are staying and needed to do research and so she gave me the key. A perk! Except for free shave ice, I never get perks. SeaHorse Hale Kai is very sweet large windowed duplex, a view of the ocean to die for, fireplace and multiple decks.
Down the cliff, 189 steps to the beach to find the tide ebbing. An otter poked his head out of the channel and watched us wave at him before slipping back into the frigid cold. They all thrive here those creatures. Even the ones who make this little town their home.
Later the next day a wall of fog rolled in. We watched it come across from the north and slowly swallow the tops of the three large rocks. A few more minutes passed and as we finished our breakfast, the ocean had dissappeared into the mist. Then the beach.
Up against Pixar's 150 million dollar entry is this Cannes nominee.
“My dream is for The Great Race to be picked up and turned into a full length feature film. Midge has acting talent. I can see her getting involved in car chases, getting kidnapped – it has the potential to be the greatest children’s film ever.” Mr Humphreys would like to make a sequel in which Midge races Olympic 100m champion and world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt. He is convinced she would win.
Sometimes all you need is a camera and a cat with a heart of gold.
MUSTACHE ON A STICK -$36
I got into a dumb discussion about "what is art?" at a rock poster show once. Oh, this isn't art - said a jewelrymaker. He used to work in the commercial screenprinting business and was so obviously bitter about it that he immeadietly pooh-poohed the entire world of graphic arts. I didn't argue too much about it since it was a pretty stupid thing to say to a graphic designer. He'd probably hate this mustache pictured above and snarl the word "toy" and even worse, the word "craft" into his argument.
I thought of that today when I came across Something's Hiding in Here site. Their work is pretty cute. Crafty - sure and also art. Art because its the kind of thing that if you like it, completely draws you in - especially if you have a sense of humor which I don't think the jewelrymaker has anymore. I also love that it's accesible. And isn't that what art is supposed to do - make you have a reaction? Sure, sure - Monet, Frihda Kahlo, Ansel Adams - yes. But who doesn't think Martha Stewart is just as manical and brilliantly insane in what she does than Van Gogh?
I AM NOTHING WITHOUT YOU necklace -$40
After viewing the video interview of what inspires them, their workspaces in this kickin' awesome loft, I admire them for their dedication to what they love. It's a tasty place. Fruit flavored if I should lick the wall. They remind me that art doesn't always have to come from misery. How could you not be friends with people who have a Margaret Kilgallen inspired wall, a collection of disabled deer, and random vintage photos of people with their dogs in a faux bois bathroom?
BEST WISHES BAG AND WISHBONES -$12
Much to my ethnic father's chagrin, I was a big burger lover from the get go. An almost perfect food when you're in the mood for a comfort like no other. And unlike mine, every once and a while a blog does something beneficial for society. Today, I wandered onto a blog that discusses nothing but hamburgers - and what a godsend it is. Now, this may SEEM like a waste of time, but really - for a burger lover - it's quite scientific.
There's the way the bun soaks up the juices - or breaks apart if it is cheap. Does the meat even taste like meat, or is it of the hockey puck type consistency? Too thick, too thin, etc. Now, fries are definetly a part of the equation. Are they homefries, crinkle cut, shoestring, rings or tots? You see, one could spend hours charting, grafting, eating and clogging one's arteries. Thank goodness for blogs such as THIS.
My favorites for the record are: Hopworks on Powell for yummy combo burger/beer type comfort, Jake's Grill for their $1.95 happy hour menu burger, and Hollywood Burger Bar for basic Flo's diner fair. Email me at amy@amyantonio.com if you have a tried and true recommendation. Slow Bar has an amaizing one with mega onion ring action too.
There is a brilliant lady named Leigh who lives in California and who I adore for her passion and ability to identify good design and young entrepreneurs. In a genius move she writes a blog and gives us all the low down on where to find all things modern & fresh from the islands of Hawai'i.
Like her, living on the mainland makes it difficult to bring a modern island style to the home away from home. So while she has showcased both me and my sister a few times and of course - YEAH - I like her; her site really speaks for itself and is kick-A.
On Thursdays Hapa|Hale showcases an different Hawaiian style artist from Etsy. Leigh also has a subscription which means everyday something awesome from her shows up in your inbox. She also lets you know when there are sales of your favorite designers, AND on top of it all, she offers contests (of which I won an Obama sticker). Check it out kiddos!! HAPA|HALE
At around 3pm everyday, I always get a hankerin' for somethin' sweet. Just a little bit of sugar to get you through the afternoon and able to decide what then for dinner. Tonight seemed to be the perfect baking night. It had been a strange day with sun and puffy gray-white clouds in the morning. When that magical hour of 3pm came, we became inundated with rain, hail and wind. It seemed baking might be the best way to spend the evening. Not being motivated enough for a pie, I heard this cookie recipe call my name and I had to share.
I love this particular recipe because ingredients are simple and in an hour, you can have fresh baked cookies without a lot to clean up. Best served with ice cold milk.
Shorty's Ice Box Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar plus additional for topping
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 small bag of MnMs (optional)
1. Sift Flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl and mix well.
2. Whisk eggs in a large bowl until blended. Add sugar, oil, vanilla extract and lemon zest and mix well. Stir the dry ingredients into the egg mixture until blended. Chill, covered, for at least 30 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
4. Drop the cookie dough by rounded tablespoon 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Mist the bottom of a 3 inch flat bottom glass with water and dip it into additional sugar. Press the glass bottom into each cookie lightly to flatten. Mist glass with water and dip in sugar before pressing each cookie. Add MnMs to top if you choose to.
5. Bake cookies until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Cool on baking sheet a minute. Remove to wire rack to cool completely. Store in airtight container. Makes about 2 dozen.