Vintage Mint

I remember seeing these stunning images of abandoned amusement parks in Japan, on the interwebs a couple years ago and I wish I had remembered them before my trip to J-pan last year; it would have been surreal to visit this in person. There’s something so hauntingly beautiful and sad about these photos.

My mom said a lot of these abandoned parks/buildings were created for mining boomtowns that are now defunct. It’s amazing that some artifacts — beds, computers, shoes, hospital equipment, comic books, posters, backpacks, and even food, etc — still remain, all while slowly being enveloped by the surrounding foliage.

{Be sure to visit this site for more photos + locations — you can google-translate it, but the translation isn’t accurate} :

{While on the shinkansen - Japanese bullet train - to Kyoto, I could have sworn I saw this little amusement park outside my window, minus strapped-down Gulliver; I had no idea it was abandoned. Eerie yet sad.}

Abandoned Hospital Clinic


{Straw from what used to be a mattress}

{pharmacy}

Abandoned Business Building {modeled to resemble a Tea House}


{can you believe these beautiful linens were just left there?}

{apparently the building was a call center}

{pachinko machines from a hotel lobby}

{the plants in Japan grow like mad-crazy if left unattended}

{Photos via here}

Due to my misshapen right foot {thank you auto accident, circa last year}, I think I’m going to take the plunge into hippie territory, via the Birkenstock. Too bad they are such a departure from my edgy, fashion-forward shoe collection of yesteryear.

Kidding.

I hear Birks’ are mad-comfortable, with great arch support — all things my right foot now demands in a sandal. And at least Birkos’ don’t look like medicinal, orthopedic correction shoes.  I’ve narrowed it down to these beauties:

{my black-socks-with-sandals European tourist transformation is almost complete…}

{Images via here}

Endless hours at a soul-crushing office job, wasted! I could have been making these amazing paper-clip + color-tape {MANU by Lauren Manoogian} necklaces  instead. Now that I have some free time {so long Spring semester!}, I need to get my craft on-on…just need me some paper clips…

{ Add a Comment }Arts + Media, Crafts + Ideas, Fashion + Beauty, Finds

This is too cute — what a great idea! I wish I had thought of this {Pixar’s} Up! engagement photo theme. {By the way, I l-o-v-e that movie! I ball every time. It’s such an endearing little story. I highly recommend it}.

{First seen on The Wedding Chicks}
{Lovely photos via Wildflowers Photography}

I’m so excited! The brilliant craftsters at Lifestyle Crafts have made a mini letterpress! that will actually fit in my house! and doesn’t break the bank! It’s the “greatest thing since sliced bread” of the crafting world.

Although, there are some notable downsides {i.e., plates prone to cracking; problematic brayer}, creating satisfactory prints  {with some modifications to the tools and techniques} is still possible! {Phew! Dream of letterpress still intact!}

With this, you can make …

all this!

{Images via L Letterpress}

Happy Birthday, Nate. The big XX to the VI.

{Lovely photo via ?}

I usually don’t like thin/wrought-iron dining tables {like the ones with the  glass top that are obscenely heavy and seat about 2.5 people, and never seem to match the kitchen or dinning room}, but wow, make the top out of marble and call it “French” and je l’adore beaucoup!

{nice touch with the Vienna café chairs and faux le creuset;
$1300 @ Crate and Barrel}

{the kitchen island version; $1000 @ Crate and Barrel}

{ Add a Comment }Home + Garden

Once I become a full-fledged librarian marm, this is what I would do all day.  These images, by cheeky artist, Nina Katchadourian, kind of remind me of those poetry {faux-etry} fridge magnets but more thought-provoking and entertaining.  {Read: I’m slowly exposing my inner nerd-obscura}. I wish I had thought of this…

{Images by Nina Katchadourian, Sorted Books Project}

Wow, is it really time–in the fashion recycle continuum–to bring back The Clog? I’ve seen mention of this in all {3} of my magazines, the NYT {magazine}, blogs, online stores and well, that’s it really. {It’s a small fashion world I live in}. But back to the issue at hand: clogs. Really? Good thing? Horrendous? Rustic chic? This year’s moccasin? The new stiletto? {Ugh, the new Ugg?}

This time around, clogs run the gamit: from traditional to high heel, from strappy sandal to wtw? is this?, from ankle booties to designer renditions.

I think my legs are def’ too chunk for clogs {it’s the cross I bear}, but who’s to say they wouldn’t look somewhat cute on someone else? These girls seem to pull off the look quite well, n’est pas?

Alexa Chung for Madewell

Bodkin

And of course, adorably-chic designer/blogger,  Jenny from wiksten-made:

{ Add a Comment }Fashion + Beauty

Finally {!} more than just the occasional, hil-ar-i-ous Twitter posts, Conan O’Brien is taking his pompadour-self on tour! I so wish I could go! Check out the tour dates here.

Side comment: The origin of my favorite nickname {ever}, Cone Bone, happened on Conan’s last night on Late Night with Will Ferrell as George W. Bush:

WF: I also want to personally thank you for 16 years of humortastical wonderment. And stupendictical wonderocity. Liked it? I loved it Cone Bone. Cone Bone. Cone Bone is a little nickname I got for ya.

Conan: Well did you ever give one to Will Ferrell?

WF: Hell no, that guy’s an a-hole.

{Unfortunately, the ‘Coco’ nickname, dubbed by Sir Tom Hanks on an earlier episode, was the one that stuck. Meh.}