Muppets Make Me Smile

Do you have a favorite Muppet? I've always loved Beaker, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's lab assistant. I love how he "meeps" instead of talking. The poor guy is always getting set on fire or electrocuted, but he still comes back for more! I watched the new Muppet Christmas movie in December and it was hysterical! I love shows that are funny for kids and adults alike. Beaker and Bunsen certainly continue to make quite a pair.

Did you know you can design and build your own Muppet at FAO Schwarz? I've been to the Muppet Whatnot Workshop in NYC but I got serious stage fright and couldn't decide on what to make! Next time I go back I'll definitely be more prepared. You have to admit, that is a pretty overwhelming toy store. What a great idea though!

What would your personalized Muppet look like?

Sister Love

I have definitely been missing my sisters recently. We don't get to see each other nearly as much as I'd like. I miss random shopping trips and fun nights out for dinner & drinks. Most of all I miss our inside jokes and laughing hysterically with them. They are so much fun! I wish they'd come visit me for a change.

Color Wonder

I ventured into Sephora yesterday afternoon with hopes of scooping up the new Tarte lip stain. Unfortunately, they were sold out of the color I wanted, but I still got to try it on and I loved it! I'm definitely going to order it from their website. Sephora is so much fun to go into, even though it can be a little overwhelming. I just love to look at all of the different colors and creative packaging that goes into cosmetics. Half the time I just want to buy something because of how it looks sitting on the shelf, nevermind how it's going to look on me! I'm especially drawn to the Philosophy section (because everything smells so good) and the display of Sephora's own line of eyeshadows and pencils. It's like my very own life-sized Crayola box! Seriously, I'm in a trance again just thinking about it. I have to limit how much time I spend in there, because I could spend 45 minutes just wandering around aimlessly. I also like the enticing little bins of goodies they have strategically placed near the registers. I always "happen" to find something last-minute that I need (mostly because it's miniature and cute). It's so much fun being a girl!

Do you love Sephora as much as I do?
taylor

Indecision

I'm going through a crazy stretch where I can't make up my mind about anything. It's driving me crazy so I know I'm making other people crazy, too. Proof: I've had to text my mom twice this week just for a suggestion about what to make for dinner. Yikes! This isn't like me at all. Knowing that, it should come as no surprise that I cannot settle on a photograph from Stephanie Izzo's collection to add to my wall. I received a gift certificate at Christmas to order one of her photographs and here I am, two months later, still trying to make up my mind. I have decided that I definitely want something from her Rhode Island collection because it's been home to me for the past couple years. She has so many great shots of downtown, Waterfire, and even pretty coastal shots of Newport. I'm so torn! I'd love it if you looked at her website and helped me sort out this dilemma.

What's your favorite photo by Stephanie Izzo?
taylor

Rain, Rain Go Away

It's been a gloomy, rainy week here in New England. All I can seem to think about is warm weather and sunshine. Today I came across these adorable Tory Burch sandals. The only problem is I can't decide which color I like the best! My first thought was the black because they would go with everything, but the more I look at the turquoise and magenta, the more I love the pop of color. The patent leather reminds me of jelly sandals that I grew up wearing all summer! Wouldn't these yellow ones look great with coral toes?

Where are you, Spring?

Nymbler

I don't have a very long attention span, especially when I'm sitting down at the computer, but this website is addicting! It's called Nymbler and it's marketed as "your personal baby name assistant". Not that I'm in the market for naming babies, but it's fun to look. Some girls keep lists of top ten boys and girls names long before babies are even on the brain. Others need some help with creativity and originality. That's where Nymbler comes in. You choose six "inspiration" names that you like (for a boy or a girl) and then Nymbler matches names that are similar to your top picks. They use a genetic algorithm called Hunch Technology to list computer-generated matches that should suit your personality.

It all sounds a little complex, but it's simple to use and it works! I really liked some of the names that they generated based on my "inspiration" names. You can also check out the Nymbler blog to see the most popular boys and girls names of the past months. It's fun to see trends in names and how many are unisex these days. There are celebrity baby name trends and fictional characters, too! Do Bella and Esme ring any bells? They've climbed to the top of the list in the past few years.

This could be applied to animals too, maybe?!

Coco-Nutty

I had the pleasure of attending a co-worker's bachelorette party on Saturday afternoon at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Providence. It was a laid-back spa party complete with manicures, massages, and lots of wedding chatter. I also got to sink my teeth into my new favorite candy: coconut Hershey's kisses. They're limited-edition (of course) and they've been out since August so they're probably not going to be around much longer. I must get my hands on a bag before they disappear. Who even knew there were limited edition kisses?! They taste like miniature coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate. Yum! Someone at the party also said there were now coconut m&m's. Is this true? Have I been living under a rock?!

Have you tried these coconut kisses?
taylor

Indoor Graffiti

I love collecting all sorts of art work, from photography to screen prints and even simple sketches. Recently, I've been drawn to the idea of indoor graffiti because of its bright colors and bold designs. I feel like people are usually really divided on this style though: you either love it or hate it. I personally think the artwork produced by the Factory 101 studio in California is amazing. Sam (the Factory's artist) takes iconic figures from the '20s to the '50s and creates portraits using a stencil and spray paint. The outcome is truly unique-a modern take on some retro portraits. I love the above piece of Billie Holiday. Don't you think it would add a nice pop of color to a bare wall? There are also a few more contemporary subjects like Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga (love her!). Check out Sam's online shop too!



What are your thoughts on graffiti art?
taylor

De-Luxe Burger Bar

I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of burgers (I know, I know). I have, however, been dying to try one of Providence's newest hotspots, the Luxe Burger Bar. It's basically a build-your-own burger joint complete with shakes and some updated twists on the classic burger & fries combo. M and I tried it out over the weekend and were not disappointed. It's a casual place with lots of bright colors and burger-related pop art (a la Andy Warhol). I wish I had taken some photos, but it was pretty busy. The menu is fairly simple--you can order one of their pre-fab creations or design your own burger. You can choose from six different patty options (including chicken breast, kobe beef, and Ahi tuna steak) and then customize toppings, sauce, bun, and sides. It's a simple concept that has proven to be a really big hit. They also have a create-your-own mac & cheese dish (with add-ins like truffle oil or sun dried tomatoes), gorgonzola tater tots, and spiked milkshakes (marshmallow with Godiva liqueur).

I went with one of the burgers listed on the menu while M got to work filling out his burger order on the forms provided at each table. My choice: the Umami-a sesame/soy marinated tuna steak (seared rare) with wasabi mayo and ginger slaw. It was perfect. Seriously. I can't remember the last sandwich that even came close to this. M went with the gold label beef burger with sauteed mushrooms, muenster cheese, and chipotle mayo on a grilled bun. It looked pretty tasty and I know he enjoyed it. They even offer 12 different sauces for dipping your fries and onion rings! And, if that's not enough, they have a burger-eating challenge on the menu. It's called the Frankenstein and it's pretty scary: two burgers, a jumbo hot dog, double bacon, double cheese, with chili, cole slaw, & relish on two buttered rolls. If you finish it (solo), you win a t-shirt. It's kinda like Providence's nod to the show Man vs. Food. Luckily, we didn't see anyone attempting the challenge on our visit. Yikes. It was definitely a fun place and I'm looking forward to going back and maybe even building a burger of my very own.

What's on your perfect burger?
taylor

Snap Shot

I've been on a big stationery kick lately and these great screen printed note cards combine two of my favorite things: paper goods and old cameras! This set of five cards each has a different vintage camera on it. I encourage you to check out the Two Guitars Etsy shop for more simple, yet creative screen printed card stock and notebooks. Although the cameras are what initially caught my eye, this anchor card is pretty sweet too. Don't you think it's about time to send someone a hand written note?

What's your favorite Two Guitars design?
taylor