Saturday, August 29, 2009

happy weekend!


I hope these photographs by Yiorgos Kordakis inspire you to have a great weekend and enjoy the hot weather beachside.






or at the wet and wild pool...

Friday, August 21, 2009

ashlees birthday build

I am posting about Ashlee Margolis's Habitat for Humanity birthday build because I think its such a great idea for a birthday celebration. We had a blast! Ashlee even had the great DJ Tendaji on the ones and twos. If any of you are looking for a creative way to give back and get your friends involved I would highly recommend doing a habitat build.

Happy Birthday Ashlee!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

bastide de marie









Jesse and I are busy planning our trip to France.. Does that sound pretentious?
Anyway check out this gorgeous hotel Bastide de Marie I found it today some while doing some extensive web research. This converted old farm is about an hour south of Avignon right in the heart of Provence, and the wine and the food is all grown on premises. While the website may be a little slow and and might test your patience you should for sure check it out. Jesse and I are going to stay a night here or at least grab lunch on our way to the South from Paris. If anyone has any recommendations for me please comment! I will send pics from the trip. Bon nuit!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

creatures are calling










Check out Andrew Zuckerman: Creature. Andrew shoots each picture on a white background which serves as his canvas creating a "frozen" in time perspective on each animal. The book took him 5 years to shoot I discovered it other day while shopping for a gift at the James Perse store. I love it and think it is such a perfect host/hostess gift for all of you freeloading vacationers. (myself included) You can buy this at select James Perse stores and its also on sale on Amazon for $37.80!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

the art of basil

Rashida is a close friend of mine and the first of many guest bloggers to contribute on Beans and Mango. She has introduced me to the wonders of Mrs. Meyers which has become a staple in my household. I have been begging her to share this discovery with you all. Read on..





I lived in London in 2003 and became obsessed with Fairy Washing Powder; it smells like you air-dried your laundry in your quaint English garden. In the UK, the washing machine cycle is almost three times longer than here and they use little tablets which drop easily into a side drawer. The result is a uniformly clean scent that isn't overpowering or nauseatingly flowery.

After schlepping the cumbersome Fairy packages back in my luggage several times from London, I finally gave up. Ever since, I've been looking for an equivalent stateside. Behold, an even better version! And it's natural, biodegradable and cruelty free! What else could an environmentally responsible, fragrance-obsessed girl want?

Mrs. Meyer's Basil Scented Laundry Detergent and Dryer Sheets was the sheer delight I have been waiting for. With a little note of green and a tangy sweetness that makes you feel like your life is a little cleaner than it may actually be; it is the exact way you want your clothes and towels to smell.

The other Mrs. Meyer's scents are all worthy
of your loyal procurement: the hand soap is great in lavender, the all-purpose cleaner in lemon verbena and the surface wipes in baby blossom.

Rashida Jones


Thank you Rashida for your amazing tips! You can buy Mrs. Meyers at Whole Foods, Target and online from the link above. Koontz Hardware I have found to have the best local selection of products and scents.

...canadian house and home



I just picked up a copy of Canadian House and Home. (which I have never read before) I had an email from one of the editors that one of the photos on my website was going to be featured in the July issue of "Rooms the Work".. This is always very exciting for me but, what I am the most excited about is what a great magazine Canadian House and Home is!  I couldn't find the magazine at my usual newsstands but Barnes and  Noble does carry it and I am now a new subscriber. I encourage you to check out the website  which previews upcoming issues and you are also able to subscribe there. 

Thursday, August 6, 2009

put this in your pipe and smoke it

I just ordered two of these hemp poufs for my office. They are neutral enough that I can spread out fabrics on them.. or sit on them. I will let you know how they hold up.



thats the story of the hurricane

I want these hurricane candles for my next dinner party. I think these would also be gorgeous as vases for flowers although I suppose they might rust. 



Tuesday, August 4, 2009

happy birthday barack!

I feel so much cooler now that I have found out we share the same birthday!