{ The Age Old Question: Cheese or Font? }

Cheese or font does just want you think it would... it tests your knowledge of cheese and font names! So far, I'm doing alright... give it a try and let me know how you faired? {via}

{ Ol' Wild Bill Shell }

Probably the oldest (now retired) architecture professor at the University of Tennessee while I was attending, Bill Shell always had some crazy story going around about him. Some were too crazy to believe, like how his wife was a ballerina he left for a student of his, while others I later found out were true, like he was, in fact, building his dream home, by himself... basically with his bare hands. Oh yeah, and it is an entirely glass house. Then of course, I can't forget to mention he was a student of Mies van der Rohe, ya know, the less is more guy... Well yesterday, another interesting nod to ol' bill shell showed up on the interwebz... something I'm sure Shell isn't familiar with. Archdaily, posted Postcards from the Architect, a series done by Jody (a former UT grad - 1992 I think... and writer of Coffee with an Architect) and low and be hold, the first postcard was addressed to Bill Shell. I love the simple and yet snarky commentary on the picture. Enjoy! {via}

{ You're Welcome }

for some reason it's being lame. So click for animation.

{ That Poor T Rex }

No, I'm not talking about Marc Bolan's band, T.Rex, but the oh-so-ferocious prehistoric beast, Tyrannosaurus Rex. But being ferocious isn't all it's cracked up to be if he lives in the modern world. I mean, just look at those arms! too tiny to function effectively. No wonder he gets all pissy and bitey. Either way this tumbler, TRex Trying is rockin' my sox. {via}

{ Wine Review IV: The Unsophisticated Wine Drinker }

It's been a little bit since I posted a wine review, even though I've been drinkin a lot anyways... so last night I made sure to review this one. 


Wine Review: Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon -Vintage 2009
Price: $10.99


Pros: I hadn't been drinking too much red wine lately (been really into champagne). BUT, the Loon had just made a delicious stuffed sirloin with asparagus, and figured that deserved a good decent red wine. and this one did not disappoint. The smell was light and fruity, and the taste was also fruity, I really noticed the hint of berries, and fairly dry. But I'm a pretty unsophisticated wine drinker... Also the 'alcohol' taste/ strength was not noticeable to taste, so very much a win in my book (remember unsophisticated).

Cons: maybe too dry? It boasted being aged in oak barrels for a few years, and neither the Loon nor I really got that flavor. 

 Overall: 85% - Totally would get this again (and pair it with red meat too). soo heart healthy, jk!

{ Cat Scan }

Found this too cute tumbler where visitors submit pic of their cats on a scanner scanned! What you lookin at kitty? Don't you know I don't care to see your butt... ctm.
{via}

{ Infographics: I need to start doing this again }

{ look at this curious post }

Someone has missed a sweet love connection, and right in the ol' A+A (art + architecture building) the einstein bagels moved in the year after I graduated, but I do know the ladies working in that building were sassy to a whole new level! my next bagel is dedicated to you, mr and finding your miss blueburry. {via}

{ mizmargauxxx's mix + king bean }

King Bean calmly rockin' out

It's been a good while since I posted music on here... maybe it's because I haven't had a chance to be out and about, since the arrival of my sweet boy. But man, I sure miss the whole scene. Last Saturday me + the Loon finally got the opportunity to hit the town, and in addition to consuming too much liquid courage, we also got to see a few of my fave local bands at the Pilot Light. Daddy Don't opened and killed it. But the highlight for me really was Yung Life and the headerline, Coolrunnings (it was also their album release show).








Yung Life - Breaker. This fave of mine is like all the best of an eighties teen flicks rolled into the beach burrito to listen to!


Coolrunnings -  Chorus. Not from their new release, but still my fave.

{ American Gothic Realized }

I don't know if it's the whole Santa Claus fiction thing, but I'm totally disillustioned to see the 'stars' of Grant Wood's American Gothic not in their traditional painting's garb. But either way I do love seeing the little Iowan house. American vernacular at it's best! {via}

{ Eye Candy: Plaid Love }

Totally reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright (at least for me)... These Plaid Benches by Raw Edges use interlocking colored wood to create a delightful "woven" pattern with wood ::swoon::  

{ Winx to Linx }

Synthesize by Anthony Neil Dart

• Work from Anthony Neil Dart has been my latest graphic inspiration. It's a beautiful collage of information and text and imagery. Reminding me of Corner & MacClean beautiful landscape images, Dart's work uses images of beauty and limited color, but still very bold and capturing. Think Design Blog did a great interview with Dart, which worth filing away for a read of inspiration. {via}
• While researching websites this week, I came across some beautiful examples, including this awesome full screen video website, Uniqlock. It might not seem like much, but the full screen/scaling site option is pretty new (to me) works beautifully in multiple sizes. And the super text graphics for the loading screen doesn't hurt either. 
• Hot wheels on steroids - I was (and still am) a huge lover of slot cars and tracks. Having grown up with no brothers, my father treated me like the son he didn't have, so I had a few of these racing kits growing up (and still do!). But these tracks will blow any enthusiast away!  {via}
• JCPenny's new logo screams America, but to me its more reminiscent of London's Mind the Gap campaign. I definitely see the market they were going after, but I'd have to say my verdicts still out on the revamp. What's your thoughts? {via}
• I love bacon more than the average person, but I'm not so sure about this one. Bacon Flavored Diet Coke. {via}
• Artist, Chad Wys new series, Nocturne and Process of Elimination series is total eye candy. Taking works of master paintings and leaving out gaping 'pieces of information' is great to see what conclusions or assumptions the mind recognizes and fills in. This is a beautiful way to revisit the classics. 

{ Nerdy Architecture Game }

My nerdiness is about to run amuck! NextArchitects have gone and developed and produced an ARCHITECTURE game! Ahhh! my inner architect (which seldomly gets to come out) is so excited!
All my knowledge from school can finally be put to the test... although, I still appreciate being texted for precedent questions. The game features iconic buildings and a set of infamous LeCorbusier for the player who is taking his turn. Originally launched in 1999 but only available to that damn awesome dutch Delft University, this is the second edition is the international version, meaning that it is produced in English, but also that the questions range right across the breadth of modern world history.




I can't wait 'til this is available for online purchase ...if you find it let me know. But when it is, expect a call from me for an uber nerdy board game night. {via}

{ Eye Candy: exploding eames }

::swoon:: that is all.{via}

{ Eye Candy: 1912 Type Edition }

Talk about a Beauty! The Internet Archive is hosting a copy of the American Specimen Book of Type Styles put out by the American Type Founders Company in 1912. It's a 1300-page book listing hundreds of typefaces and their possible use cases. It's Nouveau-esque page borders are enough to swoon over, but the types, oh the beautiful types! {via}

{ Childhood Reading of the Day }

I think Christopher Walken can read Where the Wild Things Are anytime to Donovan. Enjoy!

{ I Knew She Looked Familiar }

LDR on left, Baker on right

Lana del Rey's SNL performace last week has been all the talk on the interwebz. Even Brian Williams had some choice words about her performance. Now I've been a fan of LDR since 2Pz posted Video Games, and have been starring anything new on the hypemachine. So needless to say I was psyched about her performing on SNL, but half way through the song, the boy and I had to change the channel. Not only was Daniel Radcliff less than stella but LDR was a let down.

But I digress... I keep tryin to place her 'look' and Saturday I figured it out! She's totally Ginny Baker (Andy's sister) from Sixteen Candles! Especially in that wedding dress! done and done. I knew I would get it!

{ The Day the Internet Goes Black }

If I could black out this blogger site, and also bring it back tomorrow I would. But apparently I'm too ditzy to figure it out, so I'm posting to encourage everyone to read up about SOPA (stop online piracy act), and contact your congressman. Wikipedia has set up a zip code search for your representative, in addition to blacking out. I do wish the major players had done more, but Google did post a censor bar, and Craigslist is down too.
Be sure to be informed, and realize what this means for you! {via}
and once you do, and this has seriously pissed you off, call your congressman click here

My letter to Congressman, John J. Duncan.
I doubt this will have any effect on you, or that you will actually read this, but I have voted for you since I have been able to vote. Your father worked closely with my father, even though my family is a strong democratic family, we've always liked you. PLEASE do not let SOPA pass. It is wrong and ruins everything that I love. you wouldn't like it if I ruined everything you loved? but I suppose you like money and that's why you are doing this. Please don't be a douche and vote no on SOPA. 
thanks.

It's not much, but it's a start, and really that's all we can do.

{ PhotoBomb }

Now, I didn't see the Golden Globes... I'm not really one for award shows, I have been reading about them all day, and I think this might be the only bit worth sharing.

{ I'll Take them All }

Found this retro site via A Beautiful Mess, and one clicked led to another, and here I was, on a page with hundreds of vintage black cats (in for an audition). This is so fabulous! I mean, so many of the same kitties! and look at those cute old men and spinsters ladies. {via}

{ Eye Candy: Hey Girl }

Previous student and peer, Ashley not only is rockin' out at Yale this semester, but has made just about the best tumbler out there... I know what you are thinking, how can there be something better than Paula Dean riding things? But for all the architects / architecture students out there, this is gold! Architecture Ryan Gosling is my newest obsession. I mean, just look at those eyes and tell me you didn't wish he was whispering those nerdy references to you. {via}


Update: another nerdy Ryan Gosling craze with fonts, also worth checking out. {via}

{ Winx to Linx }

This has been a crazy few weeks, and like always I'm behind on what I'm doing. But I'm in need of sharing my awesome finds of late.

• Swissted is an ongoing project by graphic designer mike joyce, owner of stereotype design in new york city. Drawing from his love of punk rock and swiss modernism, two movements that have absolutely nothing to do with one another, mike has redesigned vintage punk, hardcore, and indie rock show flyers into international typographic style posters. And these are definitely worth the bookmark. These are real shows, and totally reminds me of some of my fave Frank Stella work, and probably needs me to print a few.  
• I knew I wasn't the only one who was noticing handwritten letters, typically from editors, finding it's way all over the publishing world! and even on some of my fave blogs, A Beautiful Mess uses it all the time! Luckily Noteworthy put together a great list of brushes (free!) to download and try, I can't wait to get home and really try these out on my tablet! {via}
• The Creativity Post put together a really great list of 12 things you were never taught in school. I'm not normally a big fan reader of these sort of posts, but I found this one pretty inspiring for the new year and my new positive outlook. {via}
• Fourth Year Studio - a great letterpress company, and former architecture students with me, out of Knoxville is having a fund raiser for Baby Tyson (who is a heart baby of another fellow archy over at Vandy). You can check his inspiring story here. And as a new mother, I have no idea how I would be able to be half as strong as Tyson's mom, but they are so wonderful, and it's great to see how wonderful he has been doing, I'm somewhat addicting to checking his status, and hoping (since I'm not the praying type) he's continuing to do well {to purchase a calendar}.
• Best Movie Posters of 2011 - some definite eye candy in the mix. I'm in LOVE with the Eames one .. of course! also a brilliant documentary if you haven't seen it, it's a must. And I have a serious crush on Cam Archer's film, Shit Year. {via}
• Shrinking Kat - Kat, whom you might remember from previous post, is dieting like no other, and documenting her journey on the dukan diet, the one Kate Middleton supposedly lost all her pre-wedding weight on. I know it's a fad diet, but it seems like one I could get behind, with all these veggies and meats! If you want to follow and encourage Kat's success please click. {via}

{ FontShop's Top Fonts of 2011 }

As a Typo-philliac (ha! I just thought of that one... hope it doesnt mean anything weird) FontShop has announced their top fonts of 2011... I know, another best of list. But hot fonts are always worth cataloguing. I know, I'll be coming back to a few of the people's choice. {via}

{ Need A Job? }

Well then you are in luck, there are two ridiculous openings announced today.

1. Stephen Hawking needs a graduate assistant. Now at first this seemed really awesome, who wouldn't want to hang with one of the smartest minds in history? But after reading the duties this position entails, I'm less than enthused...
+ Managing Prof. Hawking's national and international travel.
+ Preparation of lecture graphics and public speaking
+Dealing with the media and press
+Development of Prof. Hawking's computer systems
+Maintenance of computer and medical equipment
+Answering inquiries from the public and maintaining the website
... yup. overall a snoozefest, I think I'll pass but you could always apply. {to apply}

2. Kanye West has been tweeting up a storm about a newly formed idea design company, DONDA. This new venture will consist of architects, designers, and directors. Cause we all knew his first fashion line went so well, I'm sure this will be a success interesting too. Either way, if you are interested here's the page to apply, which does only include a gmail address. I will admit that I am curious to see how this goes, and might drop a line. I mean, it doesn't hurt to see? But then again, no one wants to get interrupted at work either. {to apply}

{ Texts From Bennett... wait, who? }

Texts from Last Night eat your heart out, cause Texts from Bennett might be my new fave time waster. TFB is a tumbler site compiled of texts from this dude's 17 year old white cousin, who believes he is a crip, works at amoco, dates a ho named Mercedes, and apparently has no idea this site exists. Enjoy an exert on thanksgiving...