STICKY NOTES ON STERIODS: MAGNETIC

I discovered the amazingness that is Magnetic a month or two and can't believe I forgot to post it until now! Magnetic is a radical new take on an office standby: paper! How can you transform paper into something groundbreaking you ask? You make it possible to stick to anything. Like post it notes on steroids, Magnetic products use static electricity to stick to everything from brick to leather, fabric to plastic and more. Plus you can write on them with ease. Crazy awesome, right?

They offer a ton of colors and types of products (see the mock ups of sticky notes, notepads and bulletin boards above), all available for preorder now on their website here. Now the trouble is deciding which one to pick . . . .


(Want to learn more? The whole idea began as a Kickstarter campaign, so you can check out the pitch details here.)

A FEW THINGS TO MAKE YOU GIGGLE

I am in full force productivity mode these days as the semester draws to a close, but with that focus comes the occasional binge on YouTube (who's with me?!).  Here are a couple of videos I have stumbled across recently that made me giggle, smile or generally forget my massive to do list for a couple minutes. Hope you enjoy!

above | they are doing a ton of facade work on my building right now and the noise is basically like this, with the added bonus of guys in cherry pickers popping by my window every few minutes . . . just a bit distracting, ha!





above | sometimes I feel like every girl in New York is like this; either way, this is a pretty funny parody of a show I regularly watch to make myself feel like my life is reasonably put together (is that too honest?)






above | james corden is hilarious, jennifer hudson is the shiznit and this video just makes me miss having a car . . .





above |  . . . though if I were to be doing my own car karaoke, it would probably sound more like this . . . .



Hope you have a productive day full of laughter and dance/karaoke breaks!

30 FOR 30: A MAD COOKIE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE AGES

Last weekend I threw a 30th birthday party. For myself. It was reasonably epic, thanks in large part to the wonderful turn out (thanks, friends!) and the super fun theme: chocolate chip cookies! And not just any chocolate chip cookies—the party was a 'March Madness' style bracket to determine the best chocolate chip cookies in New York City from among 30 contenders (get it? 30 for 30!). (I was inspired by this lovely lady.)

I ate so many cookies that I had a stomach ache for several hours afterwards. Now if that isn't the sign of a good party, I don't know what is!

In planning the fete I took the opportunity to put together a bunch of fun crafty decorations that I thought you might enjoy. After all, now that I have put the idea in your head you are totally going to go out and throw your own cookie party, right?

Click through the link to see some more photos of the fun!

SAVINGS AND LOANS: ALL SAINTS LEATHER JACKETS

I have been thinking about buying a leather motorcycle jacket for a while but dang they are expensive! The other night I was hanging out with a friend who was wearing the most beautiful leather jacket . . . and she told me it was from All Saints, cautioning that their stuff was expensive but got softer and softer every time you wore it. Then I went down the rabbit hole.And now I am officially adding an All Saints leather jacket to my savings and loans wishlist. They run from about $440 (on sale) through $700+ (gulp!). I think if I could snag one at the lower price point I would pull the trigger but for now I am just daydreaming about them . . . . Do you own a leather jacket? What brands do you recommend?

LILLY PULITZER FOR TARGET

Everyone is buzzing about the new Target capsule collection released to stores this coming weekend featuring the designs of Lilly Pulitzer (see here and here)! Though I am an avowed prepster, I have to say that my closet is not overflowing with Lilly Pulitzer pink and green. Still, the brand does produce some beautiful patterns and I am really impressed with how that translates to all the chic yet playful home goods on offer in the Target collection. Once again, I am sorry to say that there is no convenient Target location near me in NYC. If you are headed to Target this weekend, pick me up something pretty from the Lilly line!Happy Weekend!

30 IS THE NEW 20

Sorry for the radio silence folks—things have gotten busy on my end! I have been doing a bunch of VIP events for Jo Malone's new spring line, working on the next chapter of my dissertation, presenting at a conference last week and . . . drumroll please . . . turning thirty! (Insert collective gasps of shock/surprise here).Yup, the big 3-0! I have to say that I am a tiny bit overwhelmed by it (Am I really that much of an adult?) but also excited. There are lots of really good, big time things happening in my life this year and I am trying to approach this new decade with enthusiasm, pride, handwork, and, of course, a whole lot of celebration. This weekend I am throwing myself a small party and I can't wait to share the theme (it's a good one!) and all the cool DIY projects I have put together to make it feel as momentous as turning thirty seems to be.I promise to get back to regular posting ASAP. In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying this lovely spring weather!p.s. Quote above stolen from the the fabulous '30 Something' by Jay-Z.

SHAKE SHACK'S RETRO CHIC GRAPHIC IDENTITY

A couple months ago the beloved NYC burger spot, Shake Shack, went public on the stock market. Having in recent years expanded to cities across the country, indeed across the world, Shake Shack is looking to be our era's foodie version of McDonalds. In honor of their growing global recognition, Fast Co. Design did a very cool blogpost about the details behind the retro icons, friendly fonts and neon colors used in the business's unique graphic identity. Turns out the impressive Paula Scher of Pentagram originally planned this singular identity to match the restaurant's original location—a modernist metal shed in New York's Madison Square Park—and has been surprised to see how well the look has translated to countless other locations across the globe. Even though Shake Shack opened over a decade ago (in 2004), the identity still looks as fresh as ever—a sure sign of a job well done.Needless to say, the article is worth a read, as it provides some fascinating insights into the 'look' of a brand that seems to have every detail down pat and has always struck me as the perfect combination of sophistication and silliness.Read all about it here, and learn more about Paula Scher here.

THE GREAT HALL EXHIBITIONS: FELIX GONZALEZ-TORRES

This week something exciting happened. For the past nine months my colleague, Susanna Temkin, and I have been hard at work on the latest iteration of the Institute of Fine Art's Great Hall Exhibition series (this past fall we showcased the work of the fabulous Marta Chilindron). I am pleased to tell you that our work has come to fruition in a beautiful show—if I do say so myself—of the work of conceptual installation artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres, which opened this past Monday. 

The exhibition takes place at the IFA's historic Duke Mansion is open to the public every day from 1-4pm until May 1. If you happen to be in Manhattan and like contemporary art—or even if you just want to see the inside of our fancy mansion—I highly recommend you stop by and see the show.

Learn more about the exhibition and the Great Hall Series here; read a press release here.

all installation photos above taken by yours truly

OBSESSED: COLOR CORD COMPANY

Holy cow, I think I just died and went to color nerd heaven! This morning I stumbled across Color Cord Company, an outfit that sells all the materials needed for making some captivatingly colorful pattern-pretty pendant lamps (say that five times fast!). I have been dreaming of adding some hanging lights to a dark corner of our apartment—above our dining table—and I think this discovery just sealed the deal. Not only do they seem to have every style, color and pattern of cord under the sun, they also sell socket covers and shades in all different hues and sizes. All for what seem to be reasonable prices!

They even sell super cool bulbs! What?! Mind blown.If you feel like a bulb just went on in your head (see what I did there?) check out the Color Cord Company website here.

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!

Happy April Fool's Day! My family has never really been the prankster types, but I have always admired people who can come up with funny little tricks that leave the recipient smiling and not chasing after you with a broom. So here's a quick little round up of some funny pranks you can pull on family and friends that will leave everyone in a good mood—no meanies here!
above | oh happy day suggests googly eyes on everything! studio diy makes tiny french toast!
Click through for a couple of hilarious tech-related pranks ideal for adults and work friends . . . .