happiness currently sounds like this.

Well, the girl side of it anyway.

Also, I am suffering from what can only be described as just reward for forgoing sun protection at my first beach day of the year. Oh, rainy, dreary New York Monday, how you make me wish I was back at Saturday (and this time with some sunscreen).

Well, as that had nothing to do with the music I've found myself listening to, lets get back on course. 

Seriously, just so good.

And this one too...

Plus, I've decided I could listen to Kimbra forever and ever.

And, good song, clever video. Who can say no to a person with a giant ball head?

copywriter, not copyrighter

So did you go to law school then too?

What? Oh, no, no, not that kind of copyrighter. I do advertising. Like, when you see words in an ad, I write those. 

Oh! Like Mad Men!

Yes. Just like Mad Men. 

So you write the words on the boxes of Cheerios and stuff? That's cool... I really love Mad Men.

(Probably the best exchange of words I've had about my job.)

here's what i think

It's a little of this and that and speaking in French...

Last week I finished reading Pour Your Heart Into It, by Howard Schultz & Dori Jones Yang. I think it might be the first non-fiction book I've actually read cover to cover. I was completely intrigued by the convictions Howard Schultz wrote about. From his childhood background to the way he began thinking about coffee, he really seems to look at things from such a great perspective. I was curious throughout the book to go into a Starbucks and see what has stayed the same and what has changed since the early years, especially considering the book was published in 1997.

Today I finished Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley. Apparently I missed out in high school when everyone else was reading it, but I made up for it last week. So many ideas packed into that book. I decided the most intriguing part was when John has the discussion with the world controller and they go back and forth about why or why not God is necessary to life. I couldn't really decide if I was ready for it to end when it did, but I guess there wasn't much more that could have been said.

And last night I watched a French film, Certified Copy. I actually don't remember how I came across this movie, but it was on my list and I decided to cross it off. It was interesting because the film was done in French, Italian and English - so some parts were subtitled and some parts weren't. It was mostly about one couple, and sometimes they would speak in French, her native tongue, and sometimes in English, his native tongue. I decided how awesome it would be to argue with someone in a different language like that, I could yell in one language and they could yell in another but we'd both completely understand what was being said. Besides that, the filming shots were done so well. Between that and figuring out why the characters spoke in specific languages when they did was my favorite part.

I absolutely always enjoy French films, although I haven't put my finger on exactly why yet.

These photographs by Rodney Smith I simply can't stop staring at.

heart day

While I may express a more-than-occasional gagging face at anyone who subjects me to their public kissing or phone picture of flower deliveries to their work, I do, deep down, have a tiny spot for Valentine's Day. So to honor that tiny, sometimes random, spot; here are some of my non-people loves.

There are few movies I would gladly watch multiple times. This is one of them.

This song makes me happy from the first note I hear. Even if I can't understand most of what is being said.

I will admit, it's a pretty strong tie between creme brulee and bread pudding in my book... but last week my sister found a crockpot bread pudding recipe that has apples and craisins, and yep, I'm pretty much in love with it.

I'm not sure there is a worldly thing I love more than feeling sand in my toes, smelling the salty ocean, and being subjected to a bright summer sun.

And to conclude, the funniest Valentine picture I've seen lately.

weekend working

Sometimes while I'm at work I wander into an internet world of blogs, world headlines and Devour videos. I enjoy the paths I'm sometimes led down. Quite frequently I learn about new things I'd never heard about, or I can see something from a fresh perspective.

Then there's those times when I'm at home doing work, searching for that perfect image to relay the ad concept, and I find myself more in Alice's Wonderland than anything else. Image searching can really bring to light all of the weird the internet world has to offer. My most recent endeavor might have to be my favorite thus far. And after sending a few to my work partner via chat, I decided to make a little collection for all to enjoy.

minty

I may have found my favorite new color for the season. Mint green. It all started with this pair of shorts...

from Anthropologie

need me some summer Sperry Top-Sider

add some coral

stretching the mint color palate a bit with ModCloth

And, I already started my collection a few months ago without even knowing it. I found a pair of earrings at this cute vintage store by St. Marks. They sorta look like these:

Makes me feel so happy for spring weather!

travels

A couple weeks ago I found this place in New Jersey that is an indoor water park. I have been considering taking the boys to get a break from the drab weather we see every day. Then I came across these pictures online by Reiner Riedler. An interesting exposure of how people can semi-getaway these days.

My favorite part about the pictures is the first time I saw them was on a website where I had to scroll down for each image. I noticed most of the pictures almost looked like real vacation spots from the top half of the photo. Then, as you scroll to unveil the bottom half, it reveals the truth. 

Almost makes me want to visit these spots to see the fakeness in real life. (indoor skiing? I could handle not freezing while I enjoy the snow.)

behind photographs

Behind Photographs Promo from Tim Mantoani on Vimeo.

Mason has been asking for a polaroid camera lately, and I sort of want to indulge him (so that I can borrow it). Does anyone have suggestions for this?

a list

Of things I dislike:

cramming homework with Mason after work

people who honk in traffic for no purpose

weather anywhere close, or below, freezing temperatures

feeling like I never have enough time

Of things I like:

my new (long) coat and it's big hood

watching Mason sing at school (and still want to give me hugs in public)

children sleeping (and the quiet apartment that comes with it)

the lady at the Mexican resaurant who called me mami

Milovember

Without even knowing it, Milo supported Movember in the best way possible: stick on mustaches his mimi sent him in the mail.

All this fancy, I might need to get him a pair of these for Christmas.