NEW THINGS

Justin and I spent last weekend in Brooklyn and we ended up coming home with more than a few new things.

For instance, my NEW HAIRCUT!

This might not seem that dramatic because I had been wearing it up in a bun so much...but it was CRAZY long. Like, down to my butt long. Remember this post? That was last November...and I hadn't cut it since then. It was pretty impressive. But not that cute. And I was definitely ready for a change. Sometimes you need a total look overhaul to keep things interesting. You know?

I felt like my new hairdo was demanding a new hemline. Not maxi. Not mini. But something mid-calf. So I got this cute vintage number from Antoinette...

And these leopard print flats from Mini Mini Market...

And Justin and I couldn't resist this old-school Wurlitzer combo organ from Main Drag...which just so happens to match my new skirt perfectly...

And we obviously NEEDED this adorable futuristic pocket piano...which also kinda matches my new stuff...

And then I found this scripty gold D ring at Artists and Fleas...

And Justin got these sweet boots from In God We Trust...

Quite a haul for a mere two days! And then we had to cart all of this stuff on the train back home. Which was kinda ridiculous...but TOTALLY worth it.

FIELD TRIP: ROUND TOP, NY

At 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon Justin and I decided it would be fun to take an impromptu overnight field trip. By 4 o'clock the car was packed and we were on our way to Round Top, NY, a forgotten oasis just 45 minutes north of Kingston. The whole town is basically a big old-school German Catskills resort area. So...you know...there is a lot of this going on...

And this...

Basically, the whole place is like a portal to some awesome 1960s vacationland.

We ended up staying at the Winter Clove Inn which looks more 1860s than 1960s...but I'm pretty sure it has the nicest accommodations in town.

The rooms have a vaguely Victorian thing going on. Vintage floral wallpaper, dark wood four post-bed, lacy curtains. A little on the granny side...but the original wide board floors are pretty amazing and so is the view out the windows.

And you don't feel like you are on the set of Vacancy. Which is nice.

But don't worry...It also has a rec hall with wood panelling, a ping pong table, a juke box...and this...

Yes, that is indeed a straight-up vintage bowling alley. Paper score cards and all. So the Winter Clove is pretty much bringing 19th and 20th century awesomeness to the table.

And it's perched right at the foot of a state forrest...

So there is a lot of sweet wilderness to explore...including a postcard-worthy swimming hole with a waterfall AND a covered bridge.

So all of this is pretty awesome...right? And I haven't even told you about the best part! The Mountain Brauhaus.

As far as I'm concerned this is Round Top's shining gem. I mean...look at it...

I LOVE it! Deer heads and paint-by-numbers hung without a hint of irony! And as if this place could get any more amazing...just wait until the regulars start showing up. Unfortunately I was too busy drinking delicious hefeweissens and getting dance lessons from little old German men to take pictures of it in full swing. But trust me. It's the beer hall of your dreams.

STAINED GLASS TERRARIUM

My love for terrariums runs deep...but lately I've been a little terrariumed out. Don't get me wrong. Plants under glass always look magical...but once everyone and their mom jumped on the bandwagon it was all terrariums all the time. Plants in jars...plants under domes...plants in hanging orbs. There's only so much a girl can take!

But my love has been reignited. When I spotted this vintage stained glass terrarium at the Saugerties Antique Center I knew it had to come home with me.

I'm super into all things geometric and faceted right now (water prisms, anyone?)...so this cut glass version is really speaking to my interests. And it's a welcome change from all of the blown glass varieties I see all over the place.

I got this sweet little potted succulent arrangement to put in it...

And here's the terrarium in its new home above the desk in my studio...

KING'S INN

If you live in Kingston, you are probably familiar with the eyesore that is the King's Inn. It's that defunct motel on Broadway in midtown. It was probably pretty sweet when it was built in 1964...but the years have not been kind. Now it stands there...abandoned...just giving off bad vibes.

The city owns the property...and everyone and their mom wants to tear it down. But I guess there is some sort of big deal asbestos removal that has to happen first. So we're probably going to be looking at this thing for a while.

Our friend Tom Cingel contacted us about possibly getting in on some guerrilla beautifying and we were happy to lend a hand. His friend Adam Chalom designed and painted a mural for the site, and Justin and I were part of the rag-tag group of locals that helped to hang it.

Note: If you ever plan on putting artwork where you are not authorized to be putting artwork bring scaffolding and reflective vests. NOBODY will question you.

ROPE SWING

Anybody in the New York area can attest to the fact that it was hot as blazes last weekend. And while I wasn't quite prepared for the sweltering temperatures (I mean...what happened to SPRING?)...I was definitely excited to kick off swimming hole season. On Monday our friend Eddie took Justin and I to a spot under the Eddyville Bridge with a big old rope swing. As far as swimming spots go, it isn't as serene as some of our other haunts...and the water definitely isn't quite as clear. (And full disclosure: it may or may not be vaguely contaminated depending on the amount of recent rainfall.) But the rope swing part? SUPER FUN. So c'est la vie.

TONITE!

IN AND OUT OF BLOOM

Last year I was caught off guard by how fleeting the blooming periods were for all the different flowers in our yard. But this year I'm prepared. And I am making every effort to thoroughly enjoy them before they disappear. Like clockwork, the lilac has faded and the rhododendron has opened up in its place. And sadly, it too will be flowerless before I know it. But in the meantime I'm going to soak up all this loveliness streaming through the living room window.