“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it is going to be a butterfly.”
Quiet House
Our almost 5-year old twins have left the building…like Elvis. They charged out and didn’t even look back, knowing the devastation they left in their wake. I guess this is how it goes as our kids get older and find more and more independence.
Right now they’re on a Disney cruise in Mexico. They’re eating anything they want, swimming in all three pools every day, sleeping in bunk beds, petting dolphins, snorkeling and generally giving their grandparents a run for their money. I wonder if my parents will come back exhausted and never volunteer to do that again! I’ve been debating about sending the kids twice this coming summer to spend some extended time with my Mom and Dad. This trip will tell us if that’s a good idea or not. I’m sure it’s fine. They’re fine. My parents are probably having so much fun with three kids to dote on and spoil.
I’m not worried about them. I’m worried about US! READ MORE
I don’t surf but I love these retro surfboards. :)
Surfing in the 60’s, Today - Steamship Surfboards
The temp: 75. The sky: blue. The time: now.
Conditions are absolutely perfect for your meeting downstairs with accounting.
Oh, and maybe surfing…
Take a look at Steamship Surfboards, a new Venice-based line of custom retro boards straight out of the ’60s, available now.
Think of that movie Endless Summer. Now think about climbing inside your TV to steal one of Robert August’s boards, but without the Poltergeist-ish creepiness that would entail.
Basically, you’d end up with these. Designed by your new board guy—call him Florian Saylor—who hand-shapes and hand-foils your board not far from the shore. He also uses some futuristic resins and polyurethane blanks to… well, what you need to know is that your board will be about 25% lighter than normal.
He can do them in a bunch of different shapes and sizes, single- or double-fin. But the colors and finishes will give them all a real ’60s vibe that’ll make you look like you’ve been surfing for decades.
With the taut calves of a 19-year-old.
I love t-shirts - even the boy ones like these!!!
J. Crew Tees
We know what you’re thinking. “J. Crew, big deal.” No, it’s not exactly the hidden gem of menswear brands, but this collection of original graphic tees perfects that heavily washed, had-it-forever feel we all crave. Ready to refresh your wardrobe for spring, each design (including a rare, non-obnoxious St. Patty’s Day style) is universally easy to love. $30
Disney Cruise
The twins went with their grandparents on their first solo vacation - without parents! I think Tere is going to lose her mind before they come home on Sunday; the house is VERY quiet.
Lovin’ it!
“Sunday Music Suggestions” Week #4 - FIRST CHOICE : NAIA KETE
I’ve received so many great suggestions yesterday for the #SundayMusicSuggestions, I had to do two posts on my blog, cause those musical discoveries made my day!
My first choice is the incredible artist : NAIA KETE. In her fanpage description it says
“Sounds Like: If Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Adele and John Legend were put in a blender with a few dashes of reggae flavor “ & I really don’t think they are overreacting when they put such big names to describe her music. Naia has such a special voice and I believe big things are coming for her in 2012!Thanks a lot to Treble Clef Live (an amazing radio show based in Los Angeles) for sending me the link!
She released a Free EP, go get a copy here http://naiakete.com/?page_id=14
Naia Kete’s website: http://naiakete.com/
Follow her on twitter: @naiakete
‘Like Her’ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naiakete
Ok everyone, listen up! This girl is going places and you’re going to start seeing me post a lot about her. NAIA KETE was selected to be on THE VOICE this past summer and last night her audition premiered on the NBC show. She crushed it and had to decide between Blake Shelton and CeeLo Green. She went with Blake. :)
We met NAIA back in the summer when she came to perform at our house. We’ve had two amazing Sunday afternoons of Naia’s music and she recently did two sets at Tere’s 50th birthday party, again at our house. She’s amazing and she’s about to be on fire so YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST! :)
The WANDERLUST red-band trailer starring Jennifer Anniston & Paul Rudd.
I adore Erwin McManus and over the holiday he sent me one of his new journals in black. I love it and started using it right away. I’m sure he was hoping I would write my hopes and dreams and thought in those pages. Of course, I ended up taking it to the first meeting of our newly merged company! Ha! Btw, the bags and denim are pretty dope too!
McManus
Maybe you’re planning a secret rendezvous tomorrow. Maybe you’re heading up the PCH for the holiday weekend. Maybe you hit it off with Rihanna last night and you’re joining her on tour.
Bottom line—next time you go on a trip somewhere, these are nice bags.
Introducing McManus, a new line of bags, wallets and phone cases that would look at home in a WWII fighter jet or in your overhead compartment, available now at Fred Segal and online.
Basically, these aren’t the kinds of supplies that draw undue attention to themselves. Just solid, well-made duffels, laptop bags and phone cases that’ll bring a WWII-era vibe to your next out-of-the-house excursion. The green Tribute collection uses US military canvas from the Second World War, and the blue Aviatorcollection is more of a current homage to the 1940s—like if Flyboys were a duffel bag.
But if all you need is a little something to hold your passport, some credit cards and a napkin with a phone number on it, they’ve also got a few oiled saddle leather wallets, with just the right amount of slots to hold everything you need.
Without going full Costanza.
LOVE Timbukt2 and THIS bag!!
Timbuk2 Especial Tres Backpack
Every time we put on a backpack and hop on the bike we’re terrified that water is going to fall from the heavens and ruin everything inside. Seeing as how it’s impossible to disconnect these days, that collection of stuff normally includes at least an iPad or a laptop. Timbuk2 to the rescue with the Especial Tres Backpack. The laptop pocket on this rolltop beauty is so obsessively waterproofed (it’s welded!) that it’s guaranteed. That’s definitely important, but what else does it do? It expands enough to accommodate a six pack or a full case of beer. The back panel is ventilated to eliminate the dreaded lower back shirt stain. There are also pockets for everything from keys to U-locks, chest and waist straps, reflective pieces and the main compartment roll top. The only thing this bag doesn’t do is pack itself. $209
My babies at school today….LOVE!
Cute t-shirts!!!
Zen Threads
Zen Threads caught our eye because their tees look strikingly similar to the styles you can easily spend $40 on, but they are available in a variety of color options for less than half the price. Born from an artist’s dream to turn art into an affordable object, they manage to create that desirable vintage look, using fresh subject matter and by applying graphics using water-based inks so that they feel like they’re part of the garment. $18
Trailer for SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD starring Steve Carrell and Keira Kinightley!!
Sorry no blog today guys. This merger has me swamped beyond belief. Busy is good though!
Coffee, coffee, coffee!!!
Rival Bros Coffee
We can’t remember the last time we turned on the Food Network or Travel Channel and didn’t see something about a show involving cupcakes or food trucks. (Yes, we’re man enough to admit we occasionally enjoy both of those channels for the culinary contributions to our nightly meals.) They’re everywhere. Combine that whole back-to-the-roots, small batch production mentality to coffee and you’ll end up at Rival Bros. Started in Philly by the famous chef Jonathan Adams and artisanal coffee expert Damien Pileggi, Rival Bros is everything Starbucks should have been from the beginning–small batches of coffee custom selected, combined and roasted with an almost obsessive attention to detail. If you live in Philly you can pick up it made fresh from their “food” truck. If you don’t, order it online and brew it yourself. The coffee is so good you won’t even want to put booze in it. $12+
A must go!!
Tuna Tartare and Bubbly on La Cienega
It’s not that you forgot all about Valentine’s Day. You realize it’s this Tuesday.
It’s just that you were waiting for the perfect little European bistro to open, a new hideaway of crisp white linens, manicured shrubbery, some foie gras… and the faint whiff of New York legend.
And your patience has been rewarded—because the long-awaited debut of Bagatelle is set for Monday.
You’ll find this place stuck to the front of STK, in the former home of Boudoir. Bring a date and start with a glass of French wine at the bar, then move past the other patrons (we’re guessing execs and expats) for a seat by the window. Then, wave over the yellowfin tuna tartare, foie gras terrine and pickled pork belly. Order some champagne. And then some more champagne.
Speaking of which, you might’ve heard some stories about the crazy brunches at the Bagatelle in New York involving endless bottles and sparklers and general insanity. (In fact, the stories may have been about you.) But you should know that, for now, it’s dinner-only around here—the whole DJ-fueled brunch thing won’t start for a few months.
Not a problem. Plenty of sparklers at your place.
Yum!
California Love: Farmshop is now open!
Farmshop is finally open.
Yes, it’s been over a year, but Jeff Cerciello's multifaceted vision has taken time to unfold.
And with the recent addition of a market section, which doubles the size of what had been a deceptively small space, Brentwood and Santa Monica have a new culinary shopping destination.
Rather than being fancy and expensive for the sake of being both, this is a market with a distinct point of view: Very little sold at this store is imported. The cheese case is filled completely with domestic stock, save for the wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano, the majority of which is made from raw milk.
On the shelves that might be brimming with pricey Italian pastas at similar enterprises, you’ll find Community Grains’ various extrusions of California-grown and -milled whole wheat. The linguine ($6) has little of the grittiness associated with whole-grain pasta, but carries that lovely nutty flavor in spades.
There’s a butcher case, too, where various fresh meats and Sonoma's Black Pig Bacon ($13.50 for 12 ounces) reside. Northern California is well represented on the wine rack, with bottles like Bedrock Wine Co.’s 2010 Ode to Lulu rosé ($18), made from Sonoma Mourvèdre harvested from 120-year-old vines.
Farmshop, 225 26th St., Santa Monica; 310-566-2400 or farmshopla.com
Hmmm…I’m not a whisky drinker but I might try this!!
Cabin Fever Maple Whisky
There’s a rule somewhere that states that whisky has to taste like poison. Don’t get us wrong, we still love it. In the grand scheme of things though, it’s only really or step removed from lighter fluid in terms of potency, taste and flammability. It’s pretty potent stuff, so it’s, unfortunately, not really appropriate for the breakfast table. Cabin Fever may finally be the company that makes whisky a brunch drink with their Maple Whisky. Each bottle starts as top quality rye infused with 100% Vermont Maple that is aged in non-charred barrels. Then it’s chill filtered to remove the excess sugar because you don’t want to ruin the flavor profile. Cabin Fever is a harmonious mixture of oak and maple with sweet notes, lovingly crafted by a third generation American family, right here in the good ole’ US of A. Most importantly, it’s delicious. $20
It’s All My Fault Anyway aka Parenting is Hard!
It’s that time of year when everyone starts asking what school your kids are going to in the fall. Here on the west side of Los Angeles, it’s all about the private schools. Crossroads, New Roads, John Thomas Dye, Wildwood, Curtis…the list goes on and on. Picking the right one seems impossible.
Which brings me to the impossible-ness (I know that’s not a real word) of being a parent. This parenting thing is hard. Super hard actually. Every decision we make has an effect, makes a mark and leaves an impression. I was going to say that even before they’re born, we make decisions for our children, which is true. Some parents, like us, make decisions even further back while picking out a sperm donor. Now of course, every mother picks a sperm donor, just most of them marry him instead of selecting him from a catalog, paying for his stuff and taking it to the doctor’s office in a cryo can. READ MORE
Jeff, Who Lives at Home TRAILER