Eat Pray Love

Today, over my favorite drink: a tall-soy-latte-with-one-pump-cinnamon-dolce-syrup-and-extra-cinnamon-sprinkles-please (said all with one breath... or also known as "the Usual") at Starbucks and a delicious apple bran muffin, I finished one of the best books I have ever read to this day: Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. If you have not read this book yet- YOU MUST! Okay, not really, but I definately feel this book was written just for me. It had my favorite things: travel, yoga, religion, love, and pasta!
The book is basically about the author's journey to find inner peace and happiness after dealing with a long and messy divorce among other circumstances that brought her safe little world crashing down. Gilbert takes off a year to go to three countries that, for different reasons, she finds a need to visit- Italy, India, and Indonesia.

Read it!


Song of the Day: TOUT DOUCEMENT by Feist

wintertime adventure to the capitol

Today, I awoke with an empty day. No work, no plans. excellent. So my friends and I decided to do a random car trip to Madison to shop for some New Years Eve apparel. I didn't buy anything, and mostly just went to try out my new camera. I love the snow in the pictures. Unfortunately, we were in a bit of a hurry to return home, so I had to walk and shoot, causing the blurriness above. (We also had a yummy dinner right on State Street at Queso)

Song of the Day: KIDS by MGMT

welsh cookies

1)Harmonica Necklace from Urban Outfitters 2) Cozy Danish Home 3)USB-stick from Bo Bedre 4)Welsh Cookies

Welsh Cookies-

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup dried currants
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup granulated sugar for decoration


DIRECTIONS
Mix flour, baking powder, salt and the 1/2 cup sugar in medium bowl until well blended Cut in butter or margarine and shortening with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Toss in currants.
Beat egg and milk with a fork in a 1-cup measure; add to flour mixture; mix gently with fork, just until blended. Dough should be consistency of pastry dough.
Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness with floured rolling pin on lightly floured pastry cloth or board. Cut with 3 inch floured cookie cutter
Heat greased griddle or large heavy skillet over moderate heat until few drops of water jump when dropped on surface. Cook cakes, a few at a time, 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn with pancake turner and cook another 3 minutes, or until golden brown on second side. Remove to wire rack. Sprinkle with sugar. Let cool completely, then wrap in plastic bags to store. Can also be frozen.

Song of the Day: THAT WAS THE WORST CHRISTMAS EVER by Sufjan Stevens

beautiful light.

very beautiful.

frangipani lights chain

Song of the Day: HERE COMES THE SUN by The Beatles

there's something awesome in the state of Denmark

The Danes have a good life-they're tall, blond, and beautiful in a country surrounded by water (and composed of islands) plus they use more candles than any other country. But what most impresses me about them is that, at least in Copenhagen, everyone bikes everywhere! Rain or snow apparently. I have a good friend from said city and I remember when he first told me his family didn't even own a vehicle, I was shocked. Plus, if you don't even own your own bike (or you're just visiting there) you can use any of the free city bikes as long as you want- just pay a deposit and you get it back when you return it. That's smart.

(Copenhagen Cycle Chic via A CUP OF JOE and Frolic)

Song of the Day: THE CHRISTMAS SONG by The Ravonettes

splendid construction

1. Toolset Earings from Gargyle
2. Danish Architecture by Jeorn Utzon (flickr here)

The earings would make a great gift for anyone with a love for construction or Paul Bunyan.

Song of the Day: HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS by Coldplay

Jayson Home and Garden favs

1-vintage Scandinavian books

2-antique mercury votive holders

3-Frida taper holder

4-Burlwood bowls

Great holiday home decor gift ideas from Jayson Home and Garden. I love how everything on the site works together and gives off a homey, vintage charm. With "rare finds" and stylish furniture, this Chicago-based store has everthing you need for a perfect one-of-a-kind gift for picky people. Plus, there's free shipping through Dec 31. Love. it.

Song of the Day: PUT THE LIGHTS ON THE TREE by Sufjan Stevens

a get-real look book

I love looking at and making look books. But often times, they're filled with models looking amazing in the latest cat-walk trends. Well, New York Magazine has a unique look book, filled with the faces of New York. Each post features a different, stylish and unique New Yorker and a brief interview about them. What a great idea.

Song of the Day: THREE WISHES by The Pierces

found on etsy. get mappy.

I really love maps. I love looking at them and figuring out all the places I want to go. Discovering the best route and where I'll pass along the way. But they're also just so beautiful- especially the vintage ones with their fancy fonts and aged colour. Vintage Map Earings

Original Map painting

Map pocket mirror

Recycled map stationery

All found on etsy. Have a mappy day.

Song of the Day: HELLODRAMA by What Made Milwaukee Famous

the selby

Tom Selby, of The Selby has a talent for capturing people's personality in his portraits of them and their homes. His photos are whimsical, quirky, and true. Definately a favorite.

Song of Day: FROZEN by Leatherdays

Russell Brand for NYLON

Russell Brand will be on the cover of the cover of NYLON for guys that comes out on December 12. I think I may have to pick up a copy of that one.

Song of the Day: KNOCKED UP by Kings of Leon

(sorry about the repeated KOL song of the days, but it seems they're the only band on my mind since the concert. Hopefully new bands in a few days)

La Vie en France

Just feeling a bit nostalgic about my trip to France last summer. These are some photos I took/sketched. The sketched ones were all from this little fairytale city called Loubressac. Our hotel had the best view out our window over a valley lush with castles and little farm houses. Ah la vie.

Song of the Day: ON CALL by Kings of Leon

silly scatterplot

I'm currently in statistics class, so all we do (when I'm not doodling in my notes..) is draw scatterplots. This one is much more amusing than the ones we're subjected to.

Song of the Day: NEW YORK I LOVE YOU BUT YOU'RE BRINGING ME DOWN by LCD Soundsystem.

50 Posts

Le Ballon Rouge made it to 50 posts!

Thank you to those of you who read my blog, and though it may be young and formerly-neglected, I hope to keep posting regularily so keep reading!

love, me.

Song of the Day: 99 RED BALLOONS by Nena

Lovely Tuesday!

Lovely Tuesday everyone!

Here are some things going on with my life this week that I'm really excited for:

-Leaving for San Francisco tomorrow- flying first class and staying at the Hilton :)
-I bought my tickets for the Kings of Leon concert in Milwaukee next Wednesday last night
-It snowed yesterday!
-Christmas is on its way
-....and crew-neck Monday was a sucess (I'll explain later)

Have a wonderful exciting day! and smile every once and a while...

On another note, I found this really cool site that lets you map your itinerary for a vacation, etc. Its absolutely perfect for helping to visualize my backpacking tour through Europe next summer! You can also post pics from your trip and keep a blog of your travels on the site.
Check it out.

Song of the Day: HALFWAY HOME by T.V. on the Radio

vintage study

I have really been searching for a vintage typewriter. I think this one is so adorable, and the seller has a bunch of things on their etsy site that would compliment it perfectly in a study.

For one of my Interior Design and Architecture class assignments, we had to think about what, if we had infinate money, we would like to have in our homes on day, and my biggest desire was an old-fashioned library/study with walls covered with bookshelves, fancy stationary, a typewriter and some leather couches. I picture all of the above things would fit in wonderfully

Song of the Day: MOLLY'S CHAMBERS by Kings of Leon

i know what you wore

Love the vintage, inspiring photos on this blog. Lots of magazine reviews and scans from photoshoots. Check it out

Song of the Day: LAST NIGHT by The Strokes

Poppytalk

I stumbled upon the poppytalk blog this morning. I loved the decorating ideas. Especially the style of the first picture- art studio meets classic bedroom. Check them out!

The blog also has links to many etsy-style handmade papercraft artists.

Song of the day: SHE LOVES EVERYBODY by Chester French

Write Your Own Story

I found these adorable hardcover "upcycled" jounals on Etsy today. The seller found the books vintage, then re-bound them with blank, drawing paper instead of the damaged book. I thought they were adorable, given my obsession with vintage books and paper goods. Plus, they would fit perfectly among other books on a bookshelf...

$50/ Book

Song of the day: LET'S DANCE TO JOY DIVISION by The Wombats

"We're on 2 Wheels Babayy"

Here's yet another reason to ride your bike more often- A Danish bike helmet design company, Yakkay, has created possibly THE first bike helmet that doesn't look rediculous and dorky.

I love!

Song of the Day: AFTER HOURS by We Are Scientists