Back from California

We’re back from our trip to Palm Springs, and catching up on emails, pulling sweaters out of storage, and getting ready for autumn.  We had an amazing trip – we spent a week in Palm Springs, exploring the desert, and floating around the swimming pool.  After a week, we headed to La Jolla (northern San Diego) to see the sea lions, seals, and gorgeous beaches around Torrey Pines.  We also had a memorable meal at an ocean-view table on the terrace at George’s.  Then we drove up the coast, taking the scenic route back to LA for our flight home.  We stopped briefly in Laguna Beach – I wish we had more time to hang out there.  The beaches are unbelievable, and the town seemed really cool.  After a quick jaunt into Santa Monica (and a burger at The Counter), it was off to LAX for our flight home (sidenote – Virgin America is a great airline).

There are some of my favourite photos up there… at the top is a photo from Joshua Tree National Park, featuring a bunch of different types of cactus, including a few joshua trees.  Below that is a photo of Ian and I, taken from a lookout above the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs is behind us).  The photo of the seals on the beach is from La Jolla, and the spectacular coastal photo at the bottom is from Laguna Beach.

Adios Muchachos!

It’s finally holiday time!  This afternoon Ian and I are headed up to Huntsville to the Pow-Wow Point Lodge for the wedding of Darrin and Amy.  We’re back briefly on Sunday, and then we head to the airport on Monday for our Virgin America flight to Palm Springs (well, actually, a flight to LA, and then car ride to Palm Springs).  I won’t be blogging while I’m away, so if you’re really bored, you can read the archives.

I’ll be back on Monday October 4, with lots of pictures and stories from our trip!  Have a great two weeks.

Kitchens to Drool Over

Ian and I are in the first stages of planning a massive kitchen reno in our house (many more details about that to come).  So I’ve had kitchens on the brain, and when I saw this roundup of Michael Robinson’s photography on Desire To Inspire, my jaw dropped.  He photographs lots of different interiors, but his kitchen photographs are amazing.  Give yourself a 10 minute break and check out Robinson’s portfolio of images on his website.  You’ll be house-jealous and inspired, I guarantee.

New Magazine: Anthology

Ooooooh something new to drool over.  Since Blueprint and Domino folded, I’ve missed getting a quirky design/interiors print magazine.  The online blogs are great, but I do love having something I can actually hold in my hands.  Enter Anthology, a new quarterly print mag that “takes a narrative approach to its coverage of home décor, travel, design, entertaining, and culture.”  Meg Mateo Illasco (of Craft Inc and Creative Inc book fame) is the creative director, so you know it’s gonna look gorgeous.  You can order the first issue for $14, or get all 4 for $45.  Wanna see more?  You can preview the issue online here.

[via Design*Sponge]

Day Trip: Bluffers Park

On Saturday, Ian and I took Isabel to Bluffers Park in Scarborough.  It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but the water is crystal clear.  Isabel enjoyed romping in the lake, while Ian threw sticks for her to fetch.  There’s a marina and a few restaurants there too, and over on the other side of the park is a huge sandy beach.  It’s only a 20-minute drive from our place, and a nice spot to spend an afternoon.

iPhone Update

My iPhone is updating itself to iOS 4.0.2 as I type this.  It’s not a big update, and I probably won’t even notice the differences, but I’m updating anyway.  While I’m poking around in iTunes, I’m going to download the Cartolina iPhone app, which takes text and email messaging to the next level.  Instead of those boring text message bubbles, send a text to a friend with a beautiful background. Gorgeous.

Update: The Cartolina app isn’t available until September 17.  Oh well, I’ll just have to wait.

[via Design*Sponge]

Internet Time-Waster: Gigapan

I first visited Gigapan last year, after President Obama’s Inauguration Speech.  The website featured an extremely high resolution photo, where you can zoom in with amazing clarity on small sections of the image.  It’s a massive shot of the whole crowd, but you can zoom in on individual faces.  So cool.

I was reminded of Gigapan after reading this roundup of Amazing High Resolution Photography on the Inspiredology blog.   Eager to procrastinate from doing real work, I checked out the Gigapan site again, and was amazed to see so many different panoramic shots.  I like the one of Machu Picchu, the view from a rooftop in Bath, England,  and the Austrian ski resort.  So many things to zoom in on!

School Supplies

Even though I’ve been out of school for years and years, the day after Labour Day always means “back to school”.  I think I’ll celebrate the fall season by picking up a few new notebooks and maybe some pens.  I love Moleskine notebooks, but I’m intrigued by Field Notes, a side project from graphic designer Aaron Draplin.  And I can’t get enough of my favourite pens – the bright orange Stabilo Bionic Worker, in black ink, of course.  I can get both (and so much more) at my favourite stationery shop, Laywines in Yorkville.  Seriously, hide the credit cards.