Chestnut Orange

Truth

2012-01-29T16:23:00.001-05:00

'Nuff said. Thanks, Dave.

See Jane Work: Home Office Edition

2012-01-29T16:19:00.000-05:00

Remember awhile ago when I posted about the wonderful office supply site See Jane Work? Well, there is a gorgeous See Jane Work collection that launched this month over at Office Depot, and SJW graciously provided some items from the collection to help me make over my drab office. I can't tell you how thrilled I was for the chance to recreate my space with so many great products from the site, as I practically drooled over all of them the first time.

Have a little peek for yourself:

As a photographer and designer you read a LOT of magazines for reference and inspiration (as I'm sure you all do, too. Go print! :) Especially food, home, and lifestyle ones. Before this makeover, all of those magazines were piled up on the floor as neat as possible but still not very organized.

Dotted white and black magazine files and Susy Jack pencil cup holder; Jonathan Adler pen. (My new favorite! I've always wanted a Jonathan Adler something, and this writes beautifully.)

SJW black and white letter tray and Thomas Paul notepad; SJW pencil cup holder

Knock Knock file folders

Here's what some amazing pops of color, stylish binders, folders, and pens can do to a small space. The desk is usually less busy to allow more room to sketch or write.

Thank you so much to the great folks over at See Jane Work! I love that you afforded me the chance to create an inviting space at home where I want to work and be more productive. Now I don't think twice about heading to my desk where sunlight streams in from my window instead of plopping on my couch with my laptop.

Vlisco

2012-01-26T22:25:00.000-05:00

I've been drooling over these photos from the the Dutch fashion company, Vlisco for the past three days. Their latest collection, Delicate Shades, spolights the finest prints and pattern that reflect Western and Central African culture. They're all stunning stunning--stunning!--and I would rock any and all of them all day! Every hue and tint of each color is pitch perfect; the pattern mixing is phenomenal. More photos available when you check out Vlisco's Look Book.

Eccolo Cool

2012-01-25T16:34:00.001-05:00

The other night, while in Barnes and Noble seeking shelter from a rough day, I wandered over to the pretty journals they always seem to have, and came across the Italian brand Eccolo. I hadn't heard of them before, but I was instantly smitten. Beautiful leather bound journals with soft covers and smooth, firm paper. I gravitated towards a red notebook with a great quote by Jane Austen, and should have purchased it then because now it's the only thing I'm thinking about. (I know. I get obsessed about the most random items. Journals? Really, Cole?) They're just so beautiful, and each one is like its own piece of art adding a little more sophistication to the bookshelf or coffee table.

With my birthday coming up in two months, and I've been not-so-subtlety hinting to Dave that I would love nothing more than a new, colorful journal...to stand beside the other twenty I already have ;)

Drew Barrymore For V Magazine

2012-01-24T08:13:00.001-05:00

Photos by Drew Barrymore

Actress-slash-audiophile Drew Barrymore recently linked up with V Magazine to photograph a house party for the magazine's latest "Music Issue". A bunch of rad musicians with distinct styles (coupled with a pool in sunny California) made for a nice vibe. The likes of M83, The Peach Kings, Mayer Hawthorne, The Drums, Warpaint, and more came out. Drew also penned a little love letter to music and why it's so much apart of the fabric of her life. Here are a couple of pics that you can find over on the magazine's site, along with Drew's article. And there's a behind-the-scenes video over on M83's site.

Couldn't agree more with this quote:

"I can’t help but have a swagger when I’ve got my big old headphones on.

I still get sad if a sad song comes over me. I come down to the melancholy of the song until it’s over.

I feel music to the core of my being."

--Drew Barrymore

Dot Love

2012-01-23T22:57:00.000-05:00

Photos from Pinterest, Natural Belle, and Tumblr

Here's to a wonderfully gratuitous post about my obsessive love for polka dots. One of the most versatile patterns ever. What's not to love? Classic in color or simply stated black and white. Here's to more polka dots in the new year. How do you rock yours?

1/23/12

2012-01-23T09:12:00.001-05:00

Today's work outfit. My favorite skirt that I'm so happy I can still work into the winter routine.

Boots by Etienne Aigner. The top is another dress that I've just tucked in.

Happy Monday!

Sunday Playlist

2012-01-22T22:48:00.001-05:00

The day is almost over and I owe you a little playlist. (Don't you love those ;) I wish I could package you a little cassette tape with a handwritten liner note. But here is a quick playlist of some tunes that have been rocking my weekend and will be taking me into this week.

NewFinds by Nicole Crowder on Grooveshark

I just discovered Mausi, and am loving their summer-in-California vibe (though the group is from Newcastle, UK). The group recently signed to blog-turned-independent record label All Things Go, which is D.C-based. How cool is that? A blog that is stepping out as its own record label. Pretty boss move.

And thanks to Liz over at Dance to the Radio blog for turning me on to Milo Greene. Perfect for a road trip or good background music when getting work done on the weekend.

Marques Toliver "The Answer"

Robert Glasper Project "Afro Blue" ft. Erykah Bady

Milo Greene "1957"

And of course we had to add MJB. This single, "Get It Right, is pure hotness. And she features Taraji P. Henson!

Have a great week, guys. And if you have some tunes you're feeling right now, please feel free to share!

Quirky Stylista

2012-01-22T16:06:00.001-05:00

Photos from The Quirky Stylista

Snaps in Z formation for The Quirky Stylista Funeka and her love for classic, vintage shoes. Top to bottom cool.

Srsly? Srsly

2012-01-22T12:05:00.000-05:00

Photo from Srsly

Alright alright alright. I've professed to having a few blog girl crushes over the months, but these two are the latest! Alexandra and Danielle are two girls who met in NYC while attending film school and hit it off so well as besties that they started making short, hilarious videos of their experiences in NY called Srsly the Show. Just came across their video spoof about how two girls react to being stopped on the street by a street style photographer via Bryan Boy. (So appropriate for today's saturated market of street style photographers and style mavens looking for their next close up). Check out more of the videos over on their site.

Sunday Settings

2012-01-22T09:11:00.000-05:00

Photos from Freunde von Freunden

I love the home of Malin Elmlid, a Swedish sales person, designer, and bread maker now living in Berlin. Simple, beautiful wooden floors and furniture, with vintage inspired accents. Read more about Malin and her home over on Freunde von Freunden

Potato Soup for the Soul

2012-01-21T15:07:00.003-05:00

Photos by Nicole Crowder

This morning I woke up feeling a little crappy. Outside the first snow that had fallen on D.C since this very mild winter we've been having, and though I wanted to go out and take photos, my back, stomach and head were aching and I was having sinus troubles. The first couple of hours of the morning I moved around the apartment like sludge, but then I did what everybody does when they're sick: I went around the apartment cleaning and organizing the living room, bedroom, the bathroom from top to bottom, washing dishes, taking out trash. Yes, just like a crazy sick person reared by a momma who used to disinfect the entire house if any one was sick just in case the germs were lingering.

And then I did the only other thing I could do for comfort: I cooked.

I cooked one of the most delicious and comforting soups I've ever had (ok, maybe I'm a little bias): a potato and cheddar soup with bacon and chives. Savory and cheesy but not overly. Warm and smooth from an even puree. The original recipe called for water, but I substituted for chicken stock instead for a more robust flavor. Even before the first spoonful I was feeling better. My sinuses were slightly less congested and my whole mood was lifted. The sweet catharsis of being in your own kitchen and making food that's great for the spirit and for your health is incomparable. So here's to feeling better and also hoping you'll have a chance to share a bowl with me sometime!

Recipe found here

Onward

2012-01-21T09:40:00.000-05:00

Letter press created by mixed media artist Amy Rice. Pretty nice reminder that you can design the life you want for yourself.

Some of Amy's other pieces featured on her Etsy page remind me slightly of the work by the painter Mary Cassatt during the period when she was influenced by Japanese culture. And I love that Amy is a Minnesota girl, too.

'Priti' In Pink...and Blue...and Yellow

2012-01-19T10:57:00.001-05:00

Polish images from PritiNYC

A few weeks ago I read an article in Whole Living about the creator of PritiNYC, a beautiful line of toxic-free nail polish colors, and I absolutely love all them. The founder Kim D'Amato and her team have created custom colors for fashion designers and various organizations, even a private line for Whole Foods (which, after thinking about that one, I can see how the partnership seems kind of perfect). But don't worry, the polishes are available for purchase via the site as well. It's great to see the movement towards organic reaching into the beauty and cosmetics industry as well, seeing how women use those products on a regular basis. Every little bit has a huge impact.

Moonrise Kingdom

2012-01-17T15:21:00.000-05:00

Wes Anderson gets me, man. He gets all up in my childhood and my daydreaming, quirky brain and takes my favorite color schemes and the little forts and paper planes I used to make and adds some Mary Jane shoes, a few crazy neighbors, a great soundtrack and makes movies that are straight up incredible. His cinematic style is classic, so distinct.

I friggin loved "Royal Tenenbaums". Probably watched it on average 52.8 x/yr since 2009 (Narrowly usurping my former obsession for Titanic and A Christmas Story.)

Can't wait to see his latest project "Moonrise Kingdom."

Best.Show.

2012-01-17T08:38:00.000-05:00

Portlandia on Friday nights. The stuff dreams are made of. Seriously.

Designers, can I get a what!

Baby on Board: New Elizabeth Street App

2012-01-17T08:13:00.000-05:00

Adding to my love for the mommy-centric blog The Glow, there is a wonderful new iPad app that launched recently that offers the inside scoop from stylist moms called Elizabeth Street. The app features chic, in-the-know moms (mostly in the arts and fashion) giving a virtual city guide on the best of their respective cities. If you're an American mom living in Paris and want to know the best place to buy baby clothes, it's all right here. Or a mom in New York who wants to know the best baby-friendly cafe downtown, it's right here. I have a few friends who are new moms and would love this!

Article and photo found via Vogue Daily

The Surest Way To This Revelation Is Through The Tongue

2012-01-15T21:49:00.004-05:00

Every so often you come across one of those days when you feel....off balance. You know, kind of "magenta" for a minute (Golden Girls reference). You're not sad, but you're pensive and a little lost. You're not outright joyful, but you are able to cope and smile and function without drawing too much attention to yourself. And you're not moody, but you're not exactly energetic either. Today had that weird kind of feeling, and I say weird because the events and the people I had the pleasure of sharing this day with were amazing, but still a switch was able to just turn off. I spent a great brunch with the beautiful and talented Andrea Pippins of the blog Fly. She introduced me to two other incredibly cool and creative ladies and we had great conversation over good food. I also spent the rest of the afternoon with Dave, laughing and unwinding in a rare few hours of respite that we were able to enjoy before one of us was off to gig or a photoshoot or work.

And then a thing I can't fully explain happened. I started to feel...lost, removed. Somewhere deep down in me an anxiety that I had regarding the direction of my career and my goals crept up on me. It was like an uncomfortable and ill fitting sweater that I couldn't quite wriggle out of. A little voice whispering how am I going to grow my portfolio and get more assignments? This rent increase is doable but so inconvenient. Should I actually consider buying a house compared to what I'm shelling out in rent? Does this mean I'm officially staying in D.C longer? Will my job be secure that long? Am I still certain of the direction of my goals? And David, being as sweet as he could be, was trying his best to figure out if I were okay and what he could do. He even felt guilty about having to leave for a gig as I sat in a blank stupor, unable to articulate my thoughts. All I could do to save a little face was to sweetly assure him that I wasn't angry at him and that I would be okay. I just needed rest.Yeah, that was it. Rest.

Well, as we all know, feeling overwhelmed and suffering from a sudden sweet tooth usually don't lead to good things (hello, whole pint of Butter Pecan in one sitting). But this time was different.

Whenever I'm feeling slightly "magenta" I retreat to baking for catharsis. But this time, instead of over a homemade dessert, my relief and breakthrough came from a single scoop of restaurant vanilla ice cream. On my way up to my apartment after Dave dropped me off, I decided my sweet tooth needed to be satiated faster than the time it would take me to bake, so I walked over to the restaurant Busboys & Poets for a take-out order of their White Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding. The menu said it came with a small side of vanilla ice cream. But oh dear revelation did come when I returned to the apartment and was standing over my counter taking that first dip of ice cream and learning that this was in fact more than just your average vanilla scoop. This was sweet, creamy, hard-to-take-the-spoon-out-my-mouth vanilla ice cream was made with roasted coconut. That first taste drew an a long, drawn out "mmmmm". I instantly felt my muscles relax a little. It was decided. This dish would be one of the desserts for this massive picnic affair I'm planning for friends later this year. (Yes, I am a nerd and have been jotting down recipes for a picnic that is at least six months away). With that one coconut-infused bite, I said ok, I'll release. It was amazing that something as simple as ice cream, really good ice cream, could ease the hold the earlier troubles had on me. Further inspired by the amazing aforementioned treat, I decided I would keep the declaration I made to myself about making a Sunday dinner, every Sunday this year. (See this earlier post).

Tonight in the quiet space of my kitchen I decided to make a fresh vegetable soup. And with each diced carrot and shallot and red skin potato I entered deeper into a sweet catharsis brought on by good food. Food that if I were a child would have me kicking my feet in my chair out of excitement. Mincing garlic and chopping chives and green onions and red peppers. Experimenting with adding a dash of Tabasco, because, well, some like it hot :)

But a huge part of this cathartic process was the amazing playlist of songs streaming from the Carly Simon Pandora station that I randomly selected. I had to put this list on the blog for you because how could you not be inspired by these amazing voices: Carole King and Stevie Nicks, and Bread (my goodness have you ever heard such melodies?!), Beach Boys and Joni Mitchell. Their voices ushered in nostalgia and all at once relief, a calm. The previously complicated anxiety was all but present. And instead was replaced by contentment. I have wonderful people to call friends, a loving boyfriend, and great opportunities unfolding all the time. Life truly is taking things one day at a time--one bite at a time--and enjoying the moment while anticipating--not fearing--your future. The future of my dreams rest in my attitude today. There's much to be achieved and with time, prayer and persistence it will be.

CarlySimon by Nicole Crowder on Grooveshark

So please excuse this longer-than-usual post. Funny how Sundays bring those out of you ;)

Have a great week, everyone! And here's wishing that if you've been feeling magenta or have been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, relief is sometimes a loving spoonful away.

xo,

Nicole

Our Paper Shop

2012-01-13T14:35:00.003-05:00

Photos taken by Sara and Rocky Garza

So excited to have come across the lovely shop Our Paper Shop, which was started by two paper-loving enthusiasts and designers Bre and Emma! The two blog friends just launched their online shop this month, selling beautiful cards, rubber stamps designs, calendar, stationary, and postcards. As a fellow paper enthusiast I swoon a little every time I visit their site.

Be sure to stop over their blog, too! As part of their launch they are giving away a great package of some of their stationary.

Footloose

2012-01-10T17:59:00.003-05:00

Photos courtesy Slipoffs

How cool are these! A very talented (and apparent pop culture lover) from Canada named Shauna Mae creates custom designed slip off shoes. I would definitely love a pair of these for the summer :) Some of the designs are hand-painted, others are hand-drawn. They're about $180, but a shoe that's customized to your interests, size, and personality for $180 is pretty sweet. I especially love the drum set and the Beatles crossing Abbey Road.

Check out more designs here!

Robert Glasper Experiement: Black Radio

2012-01-10T17:49:00.000-05:00

Some great news is emerging from the Robert Glasper Experiment camp. On February 28th, the band will release its highly anticipated album Black Radio, and will host a bold and incredible roster of musicians like Musiq Soulchild, Erykah Badu, Shafiq Husayn, Christette Michelle, Mos Def, Me'shell Ndegeocello, Lupe Fiasco, Laylah Hathaway, King, (are you winded yet?!) Needless to say it's going to be a phenomenal gem in the collection of anyone who loves the convergence of jazz and hip hop with rock and soul.

Earlier this month RGE released a beautiful song with a soulful groove called "Afro Blue" that features none other than Erykah Badu being accompanied by a flute that is emerges and fades with perfect fluidity. But this latest video to the latest release, "Ah Yeah", featuring Musiq Soulchild and Chrisette Michelle is the one that's been playing on repeat since this afternoon. One of Musiq's greatest strength has always been his ability to burrow into a lover's psyche and speak it's heart. His voice is so pure and sincere.

And if you love behind-the-scenes footage, RGE treats you to a brief documentary taking you behind the grooves and artists who contributed to the project. It's videos and music like this that make me really wish I could be a fly on the all during the recording process.

Check out a full tracklisting for Black Radio here. And be sure to hit up your local music store or closest computer on February 28th to purchase the album.

Keeping It Simple

2012-01-10T14:03:00.003-05:00

Oh man. I am obsessed with notebooks and journals. Next to food their probably my greatest indulgence. I have so many floating around my apartment, and each has a different voice. There's one for recipes, one for sketching designs and ideas, one for jotting down photo ideas, one just because I liked the cover, one for traveling, and one for jotting down new music. I am obsessed! You can never go wrong with keeping a little journal on you at all times. Just like a book in my purse, I always make sure one is present and justify it by saying I never know when I'm going to need to jot down a quick note, phone number, inspiring thought. Plus, it makes me look smart :) (I kid...sort of).

So imagine my excitement of finally coming across these bits of eye candy. Keel's Simple Diary, created by author Philipp Keel. I'm a little late to the party because I believe these have been on the market long enough for a second volume to be issued and a smartphone app is on the way! What's wonderful about these books (besides their great colors) is that they're sort of "non-journals". If it's too tedious to stare at a blank sheet of paper in the face and make reveal your most private thoughts, this book does so in a way that's more inviting. Each page gives you a philosophical way to view your life and reflect on the events of your day with little prompts and multiple choice options. What a lovely sentiment to help you stay organized and put perspective over your life.

They run about $15, and with my birthday in a couple of months I'm crossing my fingers I'll be able to nab one ;)

Florida!

2012-01-09T19:03:00.001-05:00

A few pics from the vacay last week. I hardly knew anything about Tampa before deciding to go on a whim, but it's such a beautiful and fairly quiet city (during the day, anyway) that I loved exploring her old neighborhoods and beaches without any pre-set agenda. I barely had to tweak any camera settings to achieve the saturation of colors that were available! Woot!

Linen, Slate, Salt

2012-01-09T17:25:00.000-05:00

All Photos by Ditte Isager

If there is one photographer in the world who's eye I would love to imitate right now, it's would be Ditte Isager. His work is infinitely striking and, dare I say, moody. Food and objects are magically transformed into objects with a soul and a quiet spirit. No easy feat for inanimate objects, indeed, but with his carefully lit spaces and well balanced surfaces, Ditte Isager manages to evoke charm from plentiful feasts. Rich feasts that could have been served to kings and soldiers once upon a time, and now adorn the tables of homes and artisanal shops. Feasts made of pheasant and crusted bread, and table napkins unadorned by more than simple stitching. Each object fills the space of the frame it's in, no matter how small or singular. Ditte's table settings are always slightly skewed but never messy, charming but not earnest, moody but not dark. Maybe it comes from the influence of the cold, Nordic chill of Denmark where he grew up. Whatever it is, it permeates each image and gives it a classically rustic, captivating feel.

Linen, slate, salt.

DC Artist: Talia Segal

2012-01-08T16:31:00.000-05:00

Hey guys. So I first and foremost want to apologize for being so remiss in blogging about the wonderful D.C songbird Talia Segal who was so kind as to send me a link to her song "Momento" a few months ago.

Talia has been racking up awards left and right since 2009 for her songwriting, and her song "Twin Size Bed" is a beautiful ballad showcasing her soft vocals cooing over her acoustic guitar. She's a beautiful cross between Sara Siskind and Sarah Jarosz, two more wonderful acoustic guitar songwriters with a penchant for Appalachian folk. I also really love "Yellow Lines". (You can check it out both on her site). Talia, I can totally hear you lending your sweet voice to some films in the future! Thank you so much for sharing your music.

If you're interested in hearing more from Talia, be sure to catch her mini tour in Tennessee next month. Details over on her site.

The Great Escape

2012-01-08T16:06:00.000-05:00

Hey there! Hope you were okay with how quiet it was last week on the Chestnut. I flew down to Tampa, Florida for a week of R&R and it was wonderful! Just me and my little Fiesta car rental. (Sweet ride, I know)

The first few days were unseasonably cool in the mid 50s, but as the week went on it became beautiful and warm so of course a day at the beach was in order. Lots more photos to come, but first...a nap lol.I'll be back to posting later this week so stay tuned! But first a big THANK YOU to all the new Twitter and blog followers over the past week! You guys made each day a little sunnier. Stop by and say hi sometime :)

Hope you had a great weekend!

Nicole

Be Back Soon! In Tampa

2012-01-04T18:24:00.000-05:00

On Our Way!

2011-12-30T22:35:00.002-05:00

Whew! In the words of Dr. Dog "Where'd all the time go?!" 2011 has come and gone, and it's been a wonderful journey. Not without its challenges, but it certainly has brought more great news and joy than I could have asked. New friendships, renewed relationship with Dave, new insights, new apartment and freelance opportunities...I could do an entire recap, but I'm sure you'll be reading plenty of those around the blogosphere and they will be much cooler than mine lol. So instead, let's do a look forward, a declaration for things to come.

Each year I write a journal entry on the first of the year and declare things I'd love to happen. I've been doing this since 2007 when I was unemployed and first conceived of this blog. I can't tell you how many times I've looked back on those entries to realize how most--if not all--those declarations came to fruition. It's powerful. So looking ahead to 2012, I'm daring to dream a little bigger and work a lot harder to reach greater heights, and I wish you the same :) I want to be wowed in the new year. And really stretch myself creatively. Don't you?

Though I'm a little ways from turning 30, I wanted to create a list of 30 things I'd like to achieve in the New Year.

1. Continue growing my hair out naturally

2. Go camping overnight someplace beautiful

3. Buy a Canon 5D Mark II (doin' it!)

4. Photograph food/still life for a publication

5. Host and prepare an outdoor picnic for friends in Rock Creek Park

6. Submit photos to an agency for representation

7. Learn to sew

8. Read all the books I started in 2011 and stopped, or bought in 2011 and still have not read

9. Try Grouper...and learn to like beets (Oh goodness)

10. Attend a bloggers conference or host a blogger meet-up

11. Revisit learning French

12. Go on a fancy date with Dave (formal attire!) just for the fun of it

13. Take more spontaneous weekend road trips.

14. Make a Sunday dinner, every Sunday

15. Write more handwritten letters to friends and family

16. Go on a 20-mile bike ride

17. Buy a vintage camera bag

18. Take an Adobe Illustrator class

19. Drink more water (I still love you, Strawberry Kiwi Snapple)

20. Spend a weekend in Boston with Dave (again)

21. Attend a TED event

22. Go on a New York trip with my girlfriends
23. Visit my grandparents in Virginia

24. Join a photography collective

25. Makeover my home office

26. Get some art on the walls of my apartment (going on 1 year. Bare naked. Shame)

27. Visit Copenhagen

28.Write/Photograph for Kinfolk Magazine

29. Stay surrounded by kind, considerate, and positive people

30. Have a girls weekend with my mom and sister

Happy New Year!!

And this list made me think of a cute video by the beautiful singer Giovanca from the Netherlands and her song "On My Way". Here's hoping you are too!

To Build A House

2011-12-29T11:32:00.001-05:00

OhPioneer by Nicole Crowder on Grooveshark
This site brings out the Minnesota girl in me. Photos from Oh Pioneer
And what better song to accompany pictures of open spaces, the land, wood, and cabins...

Chain Chain Chain

2011-12-29T10:32:00.000-05:00

Hello lovelies. I wanted to give a little peek at some of my favorite pieces that I have been rocking a lot lately. I have a tendency of going through adoration phases with jewelry. For a time I didn't wear any at all, then it was an infatuation with hoop earrings (Gold. Lord knows they had to be gold lol), and then chunky rings. But as of late my attention has turned to necklaces. Lots and lots of them!

The first necklace was purchased from Forever 21. I've really taken to a bunch of their pieces. Most of my jewelry (save for the gifts from my mom) are from there. A $2.80 necklace may not last forever, but it's holding up very well thus far :) The second piece, which I absolutely LOVE is a Panama City Necklace from the site La Raffinerie. I won it recently while taking part in an awesome anniversary giveaway from the amazing blog duo Tam+Sam. Thanks guys! And the third is my newest acquisition: a black and gold metal necklace bought back home in MN over the holiday.

So...what are some of your favorite pieces in your jewelry box? :)

Blogger Love:

2011-12-28T16:25:00.004-05:00

Photo by Whitney

I just wanted to give a quick shout out to this girl here, Whitney, of the incredible natural hair/life site Naptural85. Her beyond-beautiful hair and wonderful videos on no-frills tips to maintaining and styling natural hair have been a breath of fresh air. Not to mention a source of inspiration for staying in love with my own.

Going for the BC (Big Chop) a little while ago wasn't as scary as I thought, mostly because once I had already seen that six months of new growth, and was able to see just a peak at what my hair has been trying to show me my entire life, I knew it was already the best decision I could have made. And though after this past weekend at home for Christmas proved my family was not used to the new , shorter curls (lol...yes, fam I noticed you :) growing it out is a little labor of love that I'm so stoked to be doing. I tried this before but was shamefully unprepared to manage the hair, thus it being all kinds of brittle and...just sad lol. But living in D.C, you can reach across the aisle and ask a woman how she treats her hair, and though you'll get a myriad of responses they all end with words of encouragement for the transition.

So thank you Whitney--with the cool hair and the even cooler sense of humor--for your great videos! If you haven't yet been introduced to Whitney, please check out her videos on her YouTube page or her personal site. They really will change the way you look at your hair if you're thinking of growing it out.

Inspired By...

2011-12-25T12:56:00.001-05:00

Photo by Honestly...WTF

I'm typing this as I wait for my brother and his wife to arrive at our home to open up Christmas gifts. My mom and I were oohing and aching over some of the beautiful DIY tutorials over at Hontestly...WTF this earlier. Geez, those ladies seriously present some of the coolest tutorials on jewelry, hats, bags, and accessories to punch up your outfits. I particularly love this woven chain bracelet. Can't wait to try it this week!

Ok, NBA game day opener is (finally) on and ham is browning in the oven! Gotta run! Have a good one!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T14:31:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I'm back home in the Minne (Minneapolis) about to bake some raspberry and lemon cupcakes with my little sister for Christmas tomorrow :) I swear I can feel my muscles relax almost as soon as I enter my parent's house, especially the sun room with the big tree. When we were younger, my sister and brother and I used to slide underneath the tree to look straight up at the lights and bulbs. The little pine needles falling on to our noses sometimes. The past years, however, we've switched to a plastic tree.

I also wanted to take this time to send a huge thank you to everyone who follows me on this blog, on twitter, or Facebook! Your sweet e-mails, comments, and daily visits have brightened my day and made me so thankful that you come back! This blog is a little labor of love that I look forward to sharing each and every day, and the community of blogger friends that I've met over the years has been tremendous! I can't wait for all the wonderful, lovely and bright things that are still to come, and I wish each one of you joy, happiness, peace and love in the New Year!

Have a blessed holiday!

xo,

Nicole

Lover

2011-12-22T12:33:00.000-05:00

Rihannon

Photos by Lover

Earlier this week I happened upon a photo of the sweet Rihannon in a beautiful white dress which she used as her wedding dress. The dress was made by Lover, a clothing line I hadn't heard of before now, but am completely smitten by. Soft, dreamy dresses (gowns, really) made of lace and silk that simultaneously flow and hug.

A Million Little Pieces

2011-12-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

When I saw this video called "Hero" by artist Miguel Endara my mouth couldn't help but drop. Miguel created a portrait of his father made out of 3.2 million meticulously placed ink dots. Million. It's quite mind boggling what talented people can really do, and the unlimited abilities of creativity.

I'd be curious to also know what Miguel did to avoid finger cramps after so many hours :) Well done, sir!

Disco Pony

2011-12-20T13:39:00.000-05:00

Photo from Disco Pony

How many ways can you say "Yes, please and thank you!"? I've been revisiting this photo of a stunning Sequin Dipped Back Jumper in Bronze from Disco Pony, and that means only one thing: wallet, say "ah"...

Snack Pack

2011-12-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

Oh, the wonderful and creative way designers come up with reinventing the bag. Not just any bag, but the signature of them all (and my personal favorite) the clutch!

When I came across these gorgeous leather bags fashioned to look like paper lunch sacks made by Marie Turnor I had to swoon just a little. Soft, beautifully crafted leather in styles like "The Picnic" The Lunch" and "The Dinner". They're the perfect Christmas gift for the lady in your life (or you!). As a reformed bag wearer (I used to stuff everything--gum, dolars, receipts, cards, chapstick, everything!-- into my front and back pockets so I didn't have to wear a purse), these are the latest additions to my wishlist :)

Stairway to Heaven

2011-12-19T19:44:00.000-05:00

Stairway to Heaven ring by Eyes of Common

Fuel For The Fire

2011-12-18T10:13:00.000-05:00

I love Sunday mornings and the quiet they bring. Not just the quiet but the restoration needed to get in the mindset for another week. Whether you're studying the Word, at church, baking sweets, visiting with friends, having a good talk with your mother, reading, cleaning your home, I hope you're able to do whatever it is that brings you catharsis and peace. For me, here's a little playlist and quote to help add fuel to that is charging me up this week.

FuelForFire by Nicole Crowder on Grooveshark

Weekend Listening

2011-12-17T17:05:00.000-05:00

Been working on some cool design projects and final touches on photo essays this weekend, and below are some of the tracks that have been keeping me company :) Sidenote: If you're a photographer with a series that you'd love the world to see, the awesome photography collective Mambu Badu has an open call for entries for their second annual issue. Due date for submissions is this Tuesday, December 20th. See rules and information here.

Kings of Convenience - Peacetime Resistance

Click photo for track "Misread"

Click photo for track "Niemand"

Click photo for track "Second Chance"

Click photo for track "Curfew"

Neak - It's Your World

Yes I Do

2011-12-14T19:36:00.000-05:00

Photo found here

Just got wind of this incredible British talent Tawiah via Soulbounce, and this track "I Want You" with Cee-Lo is so infectious. Instant party pleaser. Enjoy!

I Want You feat. Tawiah by TawiahMusic

Have Bag Will Travel

2011-12-14T19:13:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been looking for a great practical yet stylish camera bag for when on location. Jo Jo Totes have been on my radar for a long time, but recently I've taken a look at vintage bags via Etsy and Amazon and found some cool ones shown here. Etsy really is a gold mine for any and everything you want. Handmade goods that are unique and colorful.

What kind of camera bags do you shutterbugs out there have?

Away We Go!

2011-12-13T22:57:00.004-05:00

Photo by The Locals

Hello lovelies! And speaking of lovely, how beautiful does Garance look in this photo? So chic yet classic on her sweet bike. I imagine this very picture will be me in a few weeks as I take a little trip around Tampa, Florida for a week of R&R (and let's be honest, much anticipated thrift store shopping ;) Thanks to some very friendly recommendations I can pack an empty suitcase because I have a feeling that wonderful vintage finds are in my future!

Hope you enjoy the rest of your week, and if you have recommendations for the trip shoot me an e-mail! Always love hearing from you guys.

xo,

Nicole

Design Army For The Holidays

2011-12-10T17:15:00.000-05:00

Last night I had in the incredible opportunity to tour the studio of Design Army, one of D.C's (and arguable the entire design community') most innovative and forward-thinking design firms. I don't think I'm as crazy a fan for photography agencies as I am for this one design agency. They represent some of the finest work in the business, and their work ethic will blow your mind, and founders Jake and Pum Lefebuere are the husband and wife duo that lead their troop of designers.

While touring the studio, we got to check out Design Army's own line of holiday wrapping paper. The collection featured above called "To/From" is available for purchase at the site for paper goods, Felt and Wire. Such a great take on combining the wrapping and the tiny "To" and "From" label you stick on your packages after you've wrapped them.

Check out more Design Army over on their site, and this great behind-the-scenes video of their work with another great paper company, Neenah Paper.

Snap Snap

2011-12-10T09:35:00.000-05:00

Happy Saturday guys. Excited to announce the new updated images in my portfolio which you can check out right over here. It's going to be pleasantly busy the next few months with photo projects, design jobs and promotion work. If you or someone you know is looking for a photographer, feel free to contact me at anytime! Would love to work with you.

xo,

Nicole

The Season of Giving Just Got Better

2011-12-08T11:24:00.000-05:00

I love love love me some Christmas, but it's the holiday shopping that always makes me wonder if I've spent any conceivable amount of time with the people I love in the past year lol. All of sudden I'm trying to rack my brain thinking "Now what was that thing mom said she saw that she liked a couple of months ago?" or "What does Anne need that she doesn't already have? "Ohmygosh, why do I keep going back to wanting to buy dad a toolbox when he already has three sets?Think, woman!" Tell me good friends, do you ever feel that way?

This year our family decided to change things up and do a Secret Santa with a budget of $100. Love that idea since we're all older and out of the house (even married), and buying things for ourselves all year long. This year I drew my dad's name, and I've been hitting up the web hard for ideas on things on cool stuff to buy him. He's a pretty handy man with simple tastes who never asks for anything and never seems to need anything. Thus making him the hardest person in history to shop for on Christmas. So to change things up I'm going for the fun, eclectic angle rather than practical. And thanks to this awesome site called "Wantist" (seriously, when I came across it yesterday I heard bells), I can get the best of all that stuff. Behold! A simple, straightforward yet well designed application that lets you search for gifts by a type of "something" or "someone". Genius! The only trouble is that the specially curated gifts featured are feeding the gourmand in me and causing me to forget that I'm supposed to find gifts for dad...hmmm mmm.

Check out Wantist for yourself. Guaranteed you'll be on this site for hours. Just a heads up :)

Hats Off

2011-12-05T16:25:00.000-05:00

I had no clue clue that one of my girl crushes, Shingai Shinowa, has recently partnered up with London-based hat designer Katherine Elizabeth Millerny to design her own line of vintage hats! Love how Shingai not only works it on stage and in the booth as the lead singer for The Noisettes, but she also cultivates some mean skills when it comes to designing hats. I'm such a sucker for hats (there was a time that a Goorin Bros. hat was all I wanted for my birthday). Collection is soon to be stocked at ASOS so if you're planning on going to a masquerade ball or (or a royal wedding) anytime soon, keep you eyes out!

Heidi Merrick Spring 2012

2011-12-05T15:39:00.000-05:00

All photos from Heidi Merrick's site

How rad does Heidi Merrick's Spring 2012 collection look?! Lace, linen, leather, and every color you can think of. I definitely spot a few pieces I wouldn't mind for my next vacay. *Pointing elbows at you, long yellow dress, black lace shorts and color blocked shirt dress :)

2011-12-05T14:49:00.000-05:00

Before and After: Bedroom Makeover

2011-12-04T15:50:00.003-05:00

This weekend I was definitely in the home makeover mood. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I'm such a goober about it, so my plan was to bring home as much garland and window clings as possible. (Aside: do you know how hard it is to find window clings in Seven Corners, Virginia? Hard.)

So what started out as a Christmas decoration excursion soon morphed into a quest for those nightstands I mentioned a few posts back. All I have to say is thank goodness for Home Goods store. Geezzz!! Who hasn't nearly fainted every time they've stepped into that store? Exactly! After roaming and aimlessly grabbing at everything I could fit in my cart, my eyes spotted the perfect pair of nightstands. Identical, beautiful oak ones that were the perfect height for my bed. And for $69 each I couldn't resist. Instantly I knew that the turquoise bedroom wall color I've been toying with in my mind would make the most awesome compliment to these if they were painted black and white. So like a woman possessed I hit up the local Ace Hardware store for paint and....voila! A little before and after for you.

I love how bright and spacious the room felt before, but it was missing a cozy inviting feel to it, and everything was pretty neutral-toned. I knew I had to inject some color to bring a little more life, I just wasn't sure where or how. Paint the dresser? A smaller wall? Go with wallpaper? I was partially inspired by a friend whose bedroom she painted a soft teal that reminds her of the island where her mother is from. I've kept that color in mind for over a year, and decided on something in the same color family, just a couple of hues darker.

The canvas art on the all was also purchased from the Home Goods store. Love the gold and black leaf! I decided to paint just one nightstands for now, but may consider both soon. And as an aside, that blue masking tape is a godsend! Could have been a lot more, shall we say "artistic brushstrokes", on walls I didn't want painted without it.

If you're curious about the color it's Shady Lane on the A36 card at Ace Hardware.

And it's hard to see in the photo on the nightstand, but that's my momma looking fly in the 70s :)

Any rooms or pieces of furniture you're planning on redecorating soon?

2011-12-04T08:34:00.000-05:00

Guest Blogger Liz Kanter: Winter Music Mix

2011-12-01T15:00:00.014-05:00

So excited to introduce a special first here on the 'ole bloggy blog: the first guest post! Liz Kanter of the awesome site Dance To The Radio and I are having a blogger swap today, and I'm so stoked that she's the first. Liz is so sweet, and her taste in music is beyond incredible as you'll hear. And on top of it all she sells some beautiful jewelry from her Etsy shop. Ok, take it away Liz!

------------***-----------

Hello, readers of Chestnut Orange! I love Nicole's blog and her style, so I am very excited to be posting here. This is also my very first blog swap, so that is very exciting as well. Nicole and I both love fashion and music, so naturally we decided to create playlists based on outfits. You can stop over at my blog to see her post!

Since it is the beginning of December, I've put together some of my favorite wintery songs. The outfit that inspired this mix is not one I own, nor is it me modeling it, but it is an outfit that I am in the process of replicating! I am in search of a massive knit scarf to pair with a simple dress, tights and brown oxfords! This is also a very perfect winter outfit. Cozy, comfy yet stylish. I am also loving the look of high buns and am especially glad they are trendy because it is a very low effort hair style.

So, without further ado, here is my wintery mix inspired by a very warm outfit.

01. Dead And Gone - The Black Keys
02. Winter Winds - Mumford and Sons
03. On A Freezing Chicago Street - Margot & the Nuclear So & So's
04. Winter's Night - Fight From Above
05. In The Cold, Cold, Night - The White Stripes
06. Keep Yourself Warm - Frightened Rabbit
07. Winter Games - Superchunk
08. Calgary - Bon Iver
09. Angel In The Snow - Elliott Smith
10. Keep Me Warm - Ida Maria
11. Winter Bones - Stars
12. A Long December - Counting Crows

To listen and download click here

And if you have suggestions on where Liz can get her hands on that great scarf or something like it, shoot her an e-mail :)

See Jane Work

2011-12-01T10:36:00.002-05:00

Photos from See Jane Work

I am obsessed with this site, I tell you. OBSESSED! Every since finding out about See Jane Work yesterday via a comment thread over at Design Love Fest I've been a persistent stalker/"merry shopper" of their site, clicking on every binder, folder, pencil cup, notepad, and bulletin board they have. I love it, and have shared it with nearly everyone I've run into in the past 24 hours. And the timing could not have been better as I--though not completely OCD--have my tendencies. I've secretly been plotting ways to organize all of Dave's CDs and music books and music notebooks, while simultaneously making a mental map of how I'd like to lay out my mini office. Yep. My hope is to create a small nook in my apartment sometime soon where I can set up a little office space so I'm not always perched on my couch. A space that is more conducive to editing, research, writing, and designing would be awesome. But with so many options it's becoming near impossible to narrow them down.

And Simone over at Tiny Ass Apartment did a great post a little while ago on Home office desk and sofa combos!

How do you lovelies stay organized, and what are some of your cool tricks of the trade?

The Shaolin Jazz Video Contest

2011-11-28T15:58:00.000-05:00

Welcome back from the Thanksgiving holiday! Hope you enjoyed it.

This week is going to see some cool new features on the Chestnut, and first up is an incredible video contest brought to you by the music project Shaolin Jazz-The 37th Chamber. If you know your Hip Hop then you're already familiar with the reference, a play on Wu Tang Clan's classic 1993 album Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers). Gerald Watson and DJ 2-Tone Jones have put out a heavy beat and instrument-laden production melding some of Wu-Tang's most iconic lyrics with some of jazz's most iconic records. And the ode to Blue Note-era cover art is a great touch.

After the success of their cover design contest for the album (over 30 submissions), Gerald and DJ 2 -Tone Jones are back with another amazing opportunity for visual artists to contribute their creativity to the ever-growing popularity behind Shaolin Jazz by promoting a month-long video contest. Participants can submit videos they've created to one track from Shaolin Jazz. (I love concepts like that).

The contest has already been in affect since November 14th, but up until December 14th you can submit yours. See rules here:

Videographers can submit up to two (2) videos only
A production company can only participate as one videographer - submitting only two (2) videos
Duration - dependent on song(s) chosen
Videographers upload submission(s) to their youtube, vimeo, or other video sharing platforms
Submit links to art_vs_commerce@yahoo.com
Deadline for submitting work is Wednesday December 14th
A Winner will be announced Wednesday January 4th
General information: link

Entries will be judged on the following criteria: originality and creativity, relativity to the concept of the song chosen, and the connectivity to the theme of SHAOLIN JAZZ.

Eligibility

This competition is open to everyone worldwide.

Don't sleep because the prize is amazing! The winner will receive product from LACOSTE, UNDEFEATED, and, Scifen. Spread the word to any artists you know.

Listen to Shaolin Jazz-The 37th Chamber for your self here
Check the blog for more on Shaolin Jazz here
Read the NPR article at the Shaolin Jazz project here

NightLife

2011-11-23T08:23:00.000-05:00

I have a confession. A blasphemous confession in interior decorating. You ready? Ok. I've been in my apartment for eight months and still do not have a nightstand?! Dun dun dun!

I know, I know. You're asking "What are you doing with you life, woman?!" It's horrible. Having to run over to my dresser across the room every time I'm reading in bed and want a drink. No place to put a book or phone or to place jewelry before bed. Part of the reason for the massive delay in getting even one nightstand is that I've been so indecisive about which one to get, and I have a really really tall bed. But with the New Year coming up I'm super excited for all the decorating ideas I've been collecting and will be putting into action. Lots of DIY projects and, of course, a beautiful nightstand and decor. Here are some ideas I'm considering:

I love the mirrored nightstand look. The reflection could open up the space in the room a bit more, and you can accessorize with great lamp, a small pot of flowers and a jewelry box.

Images found via Lonny Magazine, Design Sponge, CB2, Caitlin Wilson designs

2011-11-22T17:29:00.000-05:00

Chestnut Orange X UrbanDig

2011-11-22T16:22:00.004-05:00

Ladies and gents, I totally forgot to mention a cool new feature that I'm apart of. Recently I had the opportunity to work as a curator for the awesome new iPhone app UrbanDig. UrbanDig is the insider's guide to knowing what's going down in certain cities by having the very people who live and thrive there give recommendations on specialized guides. Whether it's the best burger, best date night spot, best vintage clothing haunt, whatevs you got!

I had a great time coming up with a "Night Owl" guide for late night foodies who want to find (affordable) places with kitchens open past 10pm, and in D.C it can be hard but not impossible. My feature went up a little while ago, and I was pretty excited to get the thumbs up from Dave who is single handedly the reason for many of my late night noshes (anyone else can relate to dating a musician? :)

UrbanDig is constantly expanding into new cities (Austin is next!), so look out to see if they're coming your way and come up with some cool guides that you can contribute. Head over to the UrbanDig blog or install the app on your iPhone to read more. Hope you enjoy! And a huge shout out to Rohan and Danielle, who are a great team to work with! Danielle, best of luck in all your future endeavors!

Homako

2011-11-22T12:24:00.000-05:00

New blogger girl crush alert! I came across Homako designs thanks to the newest issue of Anthology Magazine (love), and the designer behind it, Yoko, is cute as a button. Based in Los Angeles via Japan, Yoko creates beautiful felt collage necklaces out of her studio and home that she shares with her husband. But these photos don't give you the full extent of Yoko's whimsy. You have to go here!

See? Right? Isn't she too cute! I definitely plan to purchase a necklace or two :)

Fawning

2011-11-22T10:21:00.002-05:00

The color turquoise has definitely been on my mind lately. Just yesterday I decided that I'm going to paint one of my bedroom walls turquoise (more on that development soon!), and typing this I'm wearing a turquoise necklace and bracelet set that Dave brought back from Colorado awhile ago. His relatives own a beautiful gallery out there. And this morning while fawning over more stunning jewelry by Mociun, I kept gravitating towards all their turquoise pieces.

How great would it be to touch your neck or ear throughout the day knowing one of these babies was there just for you. I'd love to be able to buy a piece or two for my little sister or my mom as a Christmas gift. Check out more merchandise here!

The Selby X Zara

2011-11-21T21:43:00.002-05:00

While doing some research for an upcoming interior design post I came across this video via the Selby's site about gallery owner Lucy Chadwick. The simple shots illuminate the elegance of her home and her philosophy on life and design. Aside from her charming home in upstate New York, effortless beauty and style (thanks in part to some beautiful Zara sweaters), I love how Lucy's boyfriend (husband?) Duffy interacts with her. His simple interactions and attentiveness in the most delicate manners like pouring her coffee or offering a kiss made me smile. It's in the details and gestures, gentlemen.

Video found here

Between The Lines: Igniting Imagination

2011-11-21T14:34:00.004-05:00

I really miss sharing good books with you all (insert sad face). Especially a year and a half ago when my friend Whitney and I were heavily invested in our digital book club Uptown Literati. Lately I've really been into books by creative professionals who are offering advice to other creatives on how to generate and execute ideas. I went on this spree buying Who's Your City? by Richard Florida and The Tanning of America by Steve Stoute before finally finding Scott Belsky and Todd Henry's Making Ideas Happen and The Accidental Creatives. Scott and Todd are incredible speakers on idea generation, and both have awesome books that I've been slowly digesting for a few weeks.

'Ideas' and 'Accidental Creatives' give you serious mojo and create a great rush of adrenaline to produce as much stellar work as possible. But with the new perspectives they offer I'm also more aware of pacing, burn out, when to wait vs when to act, with respective to idea generation. These books are invaluable for anyone either pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors, thinking about starting one, working within a corporation, assisting on a team, or performing day to day tasks.

Speaking of books I'm really curious about some of your favorite bookstores in the world, and what's on your shelf, in your Kindle or e-reader these days?

-My favorite stores in D.C are the downtown Barnes & Noble on 12th and E or Kramerbooks & Afterwords in Dupont. But when in New York I love love love visiting Strands.

Smashing

2011-11-21T13:57:00.000-05:00

Hope you had a great weekend! Mine was incredibly relaxing and went something like this: sleep in, eat, TV, coffee shop hang, eat, sleep, eat, tv, eat. Bliss.

And speaking of things that make me smile, I found this incredible pumpkin milkshake recipe courtesy of Elsie's blog A Beautiful Mess. Elsie's sister and business partner, Emma, is wonderful at baking and runs her own catering business called the Sweet Shoppe inside Elsie's boutique, Red Velvet in Missouri. Pumpkin and milk and vanilla ice cream? Complete with mini pies inside? Yes, please and thank you! Only down side is that Dave has been laying off the sweets for a little while, and every since my trek to the apple orchard mine has been revved up! But to assuage my love for baking (and so I don't have whole cakes and pies sitting around my kitchen for days) I'm starting to bake for colleagues and friends as "just because" treats. And thanks to Emma I know exactly what I'll be making this evening :)

Recipe found here

And The Winner Is....

2011-11-18T10:08:00.001-05:00

Re: the Shabby Apple Dress giveaway that was announced a few weeks ago, a huge congratulations to Liz Kanter of the blog Dance to the Radio for winning!

Congrats, Liz! Please shoot me an e-mail with your address/info and Shabby Apple will get that sweet prize right to you.

Thank you to all of you who entered. Hope to share some prizes with you for the next giveaway!

Editor's note: I used Random. org to pick the winner

Black Americana

2011-11-16T10:42:00.002-05:00

My eyes nearly bugged out of their little sockets when I came across these photos from an incredible photo series entitled "Black Americana" via my friend Charreah's tumblr. It's a "four-part photo essay commentary on Black American life and patriotism", and the color, energy and presence of these images is almost too wonderful to bear! They're photographed in a style very similar to the classic Coca Cola ads. This is a beautiful projection of the black experience that is often left out of the context of what "Americana" means. It's just gorgeous. And this photo series is looking to get your help in spreading the word and getting the images into galleries/magazines around the world through their IndieGoGo campaign. And click here to see the tumblr.

Let me know what you think!

The Team:

Creative Producer - Brandon Littlejohn

Photographer - Rod Gailes OBC

Wardrobe Design - Jamari Walker

Makeup Design - Dominique Jenelle

Hair Design - Shirlonda Brailsford

Casting - Latrice Davis

Women’s Bathing Suits designed by D’ Angelo Scott

Models - (Tope Alabi, Desmond Amofah, Ngozi Assata, Tradell Hawkins, Stephanie Kyereme, Titilayo Mutushi, Robert Vance)

2011-11-16T08:18:00.003-05:00

Pink Skies

2011-11-16T08:17:00.001-05:00

Beautiful mix of color and prints by the lovely Elisa Nalin.

The pink blazer instantly transforms the attitude of this outfit into something carefree and whimsical.

How would you rock a pink blazer? Or that stunning dress?

Found via All The Pretty Birds

2011-11-15T07:53:00.001-05:00

Photo by Ben Baker

The Natural Approach

2011-11-14T16:37:00.002-05:00

How wonderful and classic do photographers Tamu McPherson and Hanneli look in mustard, brown, and white? Effortlessly chic.

Love these photos taken by an equally great photographer, Vanessa Jackman

Seaworthy

2011-11-14T12:23:00.001-05:00

Some beautiful geometric gold accessories from Etsy Featured Seller Marisa Howard of Seaworthy

Gold Finger

2011-11-14T08:16:00.001-05:00

Hello, temptress.

The new Hasselblad 500 C/M gold edition commemorating the 30-year anniversary of the Hassie.

Found here.

2011-11-14T07:22:00.001-05:00

I'd love to introduce a new little feature on the Chestnut, a daily quote. Something to brighten your day and encourage you. I have this particular quote taped to my computer screen at work for whenever I'm feeling anxious for my dreams and aspirations to be further along. I'm reminded to slow down and enjoy where I am in my life now. Enjoy the people and the experiences that will be made even sweeter for when those dreams finally come true.

Hope you have a blessed day!

A Day in an Orchard

2011-11-13T20:28:00.002-05:00

So rarely do I get a chance to travel to the gorgeous countryside of Virginia and take in her generous offering of scenic views. This past weekend I ventured out to a beautiful orchard in Charlottesville, Virginia with two of my good friends, David and Nneka, to do something I've wanted to do for awhile: apple picking!

The drive out to Charlottesville alone gets you excited as you pass rows of trees whose leaves are changing red, orange, yellow and brown. We visited Carter Mountain Orchard, and having never been before we knew that as we ascended the winding road to the top of a hill where the orchard is perched we were in for a special treat. Carter Mountain is vast, and offers pumpkin picking, hay rides, farm-made apple cider and apple cider donuts, wine tasting, and your pick of the finest apples in season. On this day, the seasonal apples of choice were the sweet Fuji and the bright red and fragrant Pink Ladies (which Nneka loves!) It was the perfect Fall day with warm weather, sun, great fruit to sample and great friends to enjoy it with.

Here's a sampling of some of the fun we had. Disclaimer: it's picture heavy, but I couldn't resist! And as I type this, a homemade apple upside down cake is baking my oven, and the smell of butter and sugar and cinnamon and fresh apples creates the fall mood in my apartment. Here's hoping you get out there to explore all that nature has to offer you this fall season!

My hair was unruly in the wind, but it was honestly the last thing on my mind.

Pumpkin donuts! So friggin awesome I had to order half a dozen...and yes, I devoured them myself (don't judge me).

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway!

2011-11-07T08:00:00.003-05:00

Last week via Twitter I mentioned that a wonderful giveaway was coming up on the Chestnut, and I'm giddy with excitement to finally announce what it is!

Shabby Apple is offering one awesome Chestnut Orange reader the chance to win this red striped Circo dress from Shabby Apple for free!

If you're not familiar with Shabby Apple, the clothing line features beautiful dresses, skirts, and accessories for women and little girls. I'm in love with pretty much all of their frocks, including the outfits you see here:

Shabby Apple is an advocate that women should be able to have a great dress with a great fit at a great price, and they take it a step further by donating a percentage from all purchases towards charities that benefit women and girls. And that's not all. All Chestnut Orange readers will receive 10% off their purchase on any Shabby Apple item by simply using the code "chestnutorange10off". But don't wait! The promo expires in 30 days.

Now, here's how you can get your hands on that lovely Circo dress above:

1). Simply "Like" Shabby Apple's Facebook page, and then leave a comment on this blog post saying you did so. Please leave an e-mail address so I can contact you at the end of the giveaway.

2). Want to up your chances for winning? "Follow" Chestnut Orange on Twitter or follow right here on the blog. I always love when you say hi!

The giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m EST on November 17th, and the winner will be announced on Friday, November 18th, so enter soon! Sorry, no exchanges for the winning dress.

Best of luck to all of you!

Sweet and Spiced Pecans

2011-11-06T13:55:00.003-05:00

Photos by me

Hope you've been enjoying your Sunday. I've been taking the time to sneak in a few moments of respite since I was traveling for the better part of last week. And nothing is more peaceful than reading and catching up on new music while, of course, baking ;) I have a little recipe book and have been culling several recipes from over the past years. Today I came across a new one, a fantastic quick and homemade snack called Sweet and Spiced Pecans. It's one of the easiest and most delicious snacks you'll ever make for yourself on a lazy day, or when you feel like entertaining guests. All Spice mixes wonderfully with sweet agave nectar, sugar, pepper and salt. I won't hide the fact that I did a little dance in the kitchen after tasting the first batch.

The recipe was found via the Food Network show Five Ingredient Fix

And because it is Sunday I owe you guys a Sunday Playlist :) And come back tomorrow for a special giveaway taking place here on the Chestnut Orange!

La Cuisine

2011-11-01T13:14:00.001-04:00

A much needed inspirational, calming break. How lovely is this video recipe? Perfect for those of us who are used to going off the photo diagrams alone to build things like furniture. Ikea's marketing team should produce some of these ;)

Found via William Hereford
Found via Kinfolk Magazine

Say It Loud: Margot MacDonald

2011-10-31T16:09:00.005-04:00

Photos courtesy Den Hollinden

So excited to introduce another D.C gem, Margot MacDonald, who also happens to be a classically trained soprano vocalist just like previously featured Lena Seikaly. Woot!

I was introduced to the singer via my boyfriend about two years ago, and instantly recognized her as a force to be reckoned with in the vast pool of indie musicians. A Washington-area native, Margot's received just about every prestigious music honor since making her debut at the Washington National Opera at age 10. She's like the cool girl who you really want to be friends with because on top of rocking an awesome mane, she's also really sweet and bubbly.

The soprano star is a little hard to classify in the sense that most music writers would like to. She's not wholly pop, rock, classical, or indie, yet she embodies all the attributes of each. Her work with loop pedals reminds me of none other than Andrew Bird, and her fiery red hair reminds of Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine. A few writers have likened Margot's energy to Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, but I like to give a shout out to the female-fronted bands whose attitude she seems to channel, like Imogen Heap of Frou Frou, Garbage, Hole, and even Feist and Joan Jett. Many of the songs from her early albums (Walls, Torn) remind me of the 90s, when female fronted bands were ubiquitous and daring. Margot's later albums spin into a more experimental, folksy tapestry, mixing loops and synths with softly lilting vocals which are reminiscent of Imogen Heap. Margot's as resourceful and innovative in the studio as she is on stage, incorporating bottles, bells, whistles, and any gadget that will aid in creating a hypnotic musical experience. There is a little searching of self found in each song lyric, which continually becomes more assured as Margot builds her discography and her fan base.

Listen to a few tracks here

Check out her YouTube channel here

Margot is also in the middle of an exciting campaign with Indie GoGo to gain donations to help fund her upcoming album, and you can help make it happen. Her goal is to raise $25,000 and so far she's already raised an incredible $10,800. Your generous contributions ranging from $10 to $5000 could get you everything from autographs, jewelry, a set of Margot's previously released albums, to free tickets and so much more. Just check out the stockpile here. It's a worthy investment in the career of an awesome person and musician who stays excited for her craft. There are still 25 days left to contribute!

Photo by Francesco Sapienza

Everything In Time

2011-10-31T11:38:00.001-04:00

Cover Art: Andrés Jiménez

Thanks to OkayPlayer for the initial post

Just came across this mellow compilation mix that DJ Center released just two weeks ago. All last week and into this week I've been humming song's from Gretchen Parlato's latest album Lost and Found, and even last night it played background music while Dave and I made dinner at home. So it was a really nice surprise to come across her vocals again beautifully illuminating not one but three remixes to Chaka Khan and Rufus' "You've Got The Love". DJ Center has teamed up with several noteworth heavy hitting producers/DJs--DJ Spinna, Waajeed, J.Rawls, DJ OBaH, Sam Champ--to create a collection perfect for getting through the work week or keeping you motivated to keep on keepin' on.

Favorite track:

You've Got The Love (Sam Champ remix)

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://pushthefader.bandcamp.com/album/everything-in-time-remixed"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Everything in Time Remixed by DJ Center&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Lena Seikaly: Lovely Changes

2011-10-25T15:10:00.002-04:00

Today I'm really excited for the opportunity to introduce you to one of the sweetest gems in the D.C jazz world, my good friend Lena Seikaly. Lena is one of those rare birds in the jazz scene who combines a stunning mezzo-soprano voice with a beautiful face and inviting stage presence with great humility. Her powerhouse vocals will pleasantly surprise you, as you would not expect a Billy Holiday voice coming from a Lena Horne frame.

Just last month Lena released her second album "Lovely Changes" to rave reviews in several publications, and enjoyed a sold out album release party at the famous Blues Alley. With an easy cool about her, Lena's velvety voice and playful lyrics grab your ear and invite you to celebrate life, love and change. Lena, along with the host of great musicians accompanying her on this debut (pianist Dan Roberts, drummer Dominic Smith, saxophone player Elijah Balbed, trumpeter Joe Herrera, guitar player Rodney Richardson, and bass player Tom Baldwin.) delivers a classy offering of signature jazz tunes and a few originals. One of my favorite tunes is a jazz arrangement of the awesome Beach Boys track "God Only Knows." Listen to snippets here, be sure to buy the album while you're there!

A Pretty Little Necklace For You

2011-10-20T17:07:00.001-04:00

Found this beautiful locket necklace while browsing the Fall issue of N.E.E.T magazine. Made by Curious Creatures.

Hope you enjoy your weekend! I'm headed home to MN to spend some much needed R&R with my family and decorate my sister's new apartment.

xo,

Nicole

Sprawling Glory

2011-10-19T14:40:00.000-04:00

The wonderful and prolific instrumentalist Andrew Bird has delivered another stunning and whimsical body of music that conjures up mist over the ocean, quiet dawns, and endless open roads. Back in August of this year Andrew Bird announced that he would be scoring the soundtrack to the latest indie drama, "Norman" (trailer here). The film is set for release on October 21st, but thankfully the soundtrack is here for our listening pleasure already.

I'm in awe each time I listen to how deep, yet expansive Bird manages to deliver the sounds. Violin bows reach slowly and deliberately across the body, and pointer fingers poke steadily at the piano keys. With some of the tracks you could easily envision yourself walking through a English Baroque painting ("Medicine Chest"), or traipsing through a garden in Venice ("3:36").

Other artists like The Blow with Richard Swift and Wolf Parade also feature. But have a listen to the album its in entirety here, and don't forget to purchase your copy of the Norman soundtrack via iTunes.

In other noteworthy Andrew Bird news, he's about to have a grand year by releasing an album in 2012 plus an awesome documentary called Fever Year has been made about him and has already seen it's premiere at this year's Vancouver Film Festival. He'll also be tour, so head over to his Facebook page for more info.

Other albums I've loving right now:

Curated Goods

2011-10-14T14:52:00.002-04:00

$13, 350. That's how much this camera costs. Sigma has just unveiled its new high end model for the SD1 digital SLR, and it's made with Paduak trees from Southeast Asia. My initial reaction was "Wow! That's gorgeous!" Then as I read more and caught the crazy price tag, it's making me wish I hadn't passed on that gorgeous leather, camel-colored camera bag I found in a thrift store in New Orleans for $60. Whomp. This one is a beauty, but I'm sure it makes a better collector's item than something you actually want to use in the field or on shoots.

Found via HUH

Plum Jam & A Feast

2011-10-14T12:53:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday to you all. I came across this whimsical little video courtesy of the blog The Bedlam of Beefy. It's the perfect introduction to a weekend that looks to be bright and sunny. And it sets the tone quite nicely for the plans I have. I'm looking forward to visiting the local farmers market for fresh fruits and veggies for some upcoming dishes, as well as visiting several thrift stores in the area trying to track down great surprise finds. (If you have suggestions in the DMV let me know!) Not to mention a trip to Ace hardware around the corner from my apartment to pick out a couple of paint colors for my living room and bathroom. Yay! Who doesn't get excited for home makeovers, especially when you're doin' it yourself! To Lonny Mag and Anthology Mag for inspiration.

Plum Jam from www.carlpendle.com on Vimeo.

But how sweet does this jam look! And so easy to make. Now only if apricots and plums were in season around here. Thanks to my new love, the cookbook Plenty by Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi, I've been making lists of all the recipes I'd love to try. Just last night I made a delicious pasta with spiced butter sauce, but added my own finishing touch to the dish by adding warm mango chutney. Amazing! You have to try it. The dish was complimented by a sweet corn ceviche that I was anxious to try thanks to Sprouted Kitchen. Both dishes had me doing a happy dance in my kitchen, and so excited to incoroporate them into an Autumn brunch with friends that I'm planning. Enjoy!

Very Pink Panther

2011-10-13T15:34:00.001-04:00

I love the creative way the photo agency Julian Richards showcases its photographer's work. Upon introduction to each photographer's portfolio, their names have been illustrated as if it were a retro 1960s mod-style album cover. Very Pink Panther :)

The best part, of course, is checking out the entire portfolio of each of these shooters. It's clear they are all hard working, witty, entirely left of center badasses with strong opinions about art and even stronger visual senses. Definitely check out the photos of Julian Richards' photographers, and plan to spend a good while falling down the rabbit hole of their personal blogs and tumblrs. One of my favorites from the bunch is Jake Stangel with his cheeky tumblr Tha Blog is Hot.

Star Power

2011-10-13T12:26:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago I posted about Chipotle's latest ad campaign to reinforce how natural their products are and how they advocate for farmers. Well, the organization is back again to spread the word, this time teaming up with Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to bring even further awareness to the plight of farmers by promoting their upcoming fundraiser Boorito (I know.)

In the first video Willie Nelson beautifully covered Coldplay's 'The Scientist" to depict how a farmer's once free-roaming livestock quickly became fenced in, chemically fattened, and essentially abused in order to feed the ever-hungry machine of mass produced meals.

The latest video from Chipotle's campaign is equally captivating and has Karen O lending her vocals, covering a Willie Nelson/Waylon Jennings tune "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys." (If the next video features a cover of a Yeah Yeah Yeahs song I'm going to do a cartwheel). In this video, directed by David Altobelli, kids are shown breaking into an abandoned home and destroying property. But quickly we start to understand that this home was once owned by a farmer and his family, who were forced out due to what we can presume is loss of money due to corporations nickle and diming them and underpaying for the bounty they supply this country. Essentially taking away business. According to Chipotle's site, today only %16 of agricultural production comes from farmer's, and the remaing %84 comes from large-scale operations.

On Halloween this year, Chipotle is holding a Boorito fundraiser to raise $1,000,000 that will go to support The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation and Farm Aid (which is why you've been getting your fill of Willie Nelson). On October 31st, come to any Chipotle from 6pm to closing, wearing your adorable Halloween costume inspired by the family farm (Beverly Hillbillies, anyone?), and you will get a burrito, taco, salad, bowl for $2. Make like Spike Lee, ya'll, and do the right thing. You can also read more here. Check the video, and also help out if you can.

As someone who's grandparents were farmers, and who's aunts and uncles and cousins grew up on the farm, it's really sad and inconcievable to think that an occupation such as a farmer's--an essential supplier of natural nutrition and bounty--could be rendered obsolete. It's an area that, although "Big Business" is thriving in and profiting heavily from, I don't think could ever fully command.

Something Good Can Work

2011-10-13T11:39:00.006-04:00

Outfit for today. It's official. First day of breaking out the tights. Woot! Though I didn't really need to wear them what with this Indian summer we've been having across the country. But the rain shower we're also having is a welcome change.

I'm putting together some posts to share with you all later today. In the meantime, enjoy this song by Two Door Cinema Club that is helping to add a little pop to a rainy day in the city. My Foster The People Pandora station is killin' it right now!

Two door cinema club - Something Good Can Work by jmetcheverry

Changin' Up

2011-10-12T18:01:00.000-04:00

Photo found via Honestly WTF

Ohmydays...I promise I haven't quit The Chestnut. Quite the contrary. I've been accumulating tons of inspiration and cool posts to share, but have also been really busy with a few new awesome projects that have fallen into my lap. Working with two new blogs as a contributor, and shooting a personal series of some friends and amazing jazz musicians in the city. Not to mention a redesign of the blog is underway so check within the next week for more!

xo,

Nicole

Anthropologie Store Opening

2011-10-07T12:45:00.003-04:00

Last night I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the opening reception for the latest Anthropologie store to set up shop in the DMV. My good friend and colleage Dian, who is an incredible fashion maven and designer, invited me for a night of beautiful hand stitched dresses, hats, and as fierce a shoe game in one location as you will ever see. (See some of the highlighted ones above).

And I had the great pleasure of bumping into the always fly Andrea of FlyGirls (4th row down, left image on the right). Let me say if you have not seen Andrea in person she is gorgeous and has such a great spirit about her! So chill and great to talk with.

In true Anthropologie style, everything from the wooden installations and decor and table settings right down to the delicious tomato and mozzarella balls that were served was thought of. It's a really intimate space compared to some of the larger stores in the area. My eyes kept jumping from beautifully decorated candle jars to mannequins wearing elegantly draped mix printed corduroy skirts and silk shirts. What Anthropologie does best is embrace color and pattern in a way that feels fresh and vibrant but also really familiar, as if you've had these items in your attic or back of the closet for a while but are reintroducing them in a way you hadn't worn before.

Despite all the adorable clothes and jewelry making me "oooh!" and "gahhh!" and "eeee!", I, of course was fawning over the new cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi called Plenty. I first came across Yotam via the UK's Guardian.com, when I used to read his delicious blog The New Vegetarian. Ohmydays. What that man does with swiss chard, tamarind, and chickpea is nothing short of amazing.

Be sure to check out the store at its new location in Penn Quarter of DC at 9th and G st!

xo,

Nicole

Touch The Sky

2011-10-06T11:35:00.001-04:00

Easily one of the greatest artists ever to emerge in Hip Hop, Common, is releasing his ninth studio album The Dreamer, The Believer on November 11th. It's an aptly title album for someone who so closely associates himself with the power of dreaming in rhyme, as is evidenced by numerous lyrical references to dreams over his career.

-Daylight beams/Night life scheme/This is my inception/I'm writing my dreams. "Blue Sky"

-So dreams we say out loud like speakerphones just to keep em on. "Real People"

-Some say that I'm a dreamer 'cause I talk about it often . "Love Is"

The Dreamer, The Believe is produced by Kanye and I.D, and shows Common's continued affinity for more open, elevated sounds by incorporating playful piano keys and more violins, but still maintaining an electronic sound that Common has dabbled in both successfully and unsuccessfully (Electric Circus comes to mind).

Fela! & Company

2011-10-04T15:46:00.000-04:00

This is happening this Thursday if you're in the DMV. If you haven't had a chance to catch "Fela!" while it's in town, definitely make arrangements because it's a show you won't soon forget. Everything from the dancing to the story to the set design to the music, of course, is fantastic. And for an extra special treat, before the show makes it final appearance in the District, you can catch a $10 (I repeat $10!) show with the band and cast of Fela! PLUS The Funk Ark, The California Honeydrops, and Swift Technique at Rock n' Roll Hotel this Thursday, Oct 6th. In the words of Rachel Zoe "That's Bananas!"

Florence + the Machine

2011-10-04T15:05:00.000-04:00

2011 has so far been a banner year for great new music releases, and it's looking like things will continue to get better and better. I'm pretty excited for Florence + the Machine's new album Ceremonials for a million different reasons, but one being her incredible instrumentation and powerhouse vocal style. How she's both so delicate and strong is one of the beautiful dichotomies about her. Take a listen to the album's first single, the anthemic "Shake It Out" here.

Album is out November 1st stateside.

The Cinematic Orchestra

2011-09-24T16:42:00.000-04:00

Thanks to a recent post by Black Eiffel I discovered two really great things at once. The first is a 2009 documentary called Ingredients that focuses on the all-important individuals behind your weekend farmer's markets: the farmers, of course. Just from watching the trailer I can tell it's going to be a great, eye opening film about a conversation that has gripped America in recent years: where does your food come from, what's in it, and how much of a toll is its mass production having on farmer's and the environment?

The second really cool find was discovering The Cinematic Orchestra. This UK electronic group has been around for years, and I've heard snippets of their song "To Build a Home" before but never knew who produced it.The undulation of the piano was what was most familiar. Take a listen to the song below and you get this very surreal, all encompassing sound. To a great extent the song reminds me of the band Other Lives, who I saw live at Outside Lands in SF two summers ago. Check their song "Black Tables". Lush, baroque instruments that are haunting and heavy, but incredibly beautiful with lyrics rich with imagery.

The Portland Collection

2011-09-12T13:00:00.000-04:00

Like I needed another reason to love Portland. A team of designers collectively known as The Portland Collection have released the Lookbook for their latest Fall collection. Love love everything about this! Gorgeous Native American prints that were crafted by Pendelton Woolen Mills, stunning details. The fit of the dresses, shirts and pants look incredible, too. I would love to get my hands on one of the coats. 100%. Virgin. Wool. 'Nuff said.

Photos by Chris Hornbecker

Take a peek at the collection here, and check the behind-the-scenes video of how the collection came about.

Goo Goo for Gorman

2011-09-12T12:55:00.000-04:00

Just came across the Spring collection for the Aussie clothing label Gorman, and it has my little heart doing flips. Polka dots, geometric shapes, orange and yellow and fuscia color combos, oh my! Now if only they shipped to the States....

New Work

2011-09-12T12:44:00.000-04:00

Wow... 10 days since the previous post. For shame. Lots has gone on, but most of which was just simple enjoyments of everyday: cooking new recipes, more photo shoots, warm summer dinners and brunches with friends and Dave, too much Butter Pecan ice cream (is there such a thing?), bike rides, work, and the like. But speaking of shoots, I have been pleasantly busy shooting various objects and personalities over the past couple of weeks :)

Not sure if I introduced my new portfolio yet, but here she is: Nicole Crowder Photo. Food, still life, portraits, travel. All the little things that I love and make me smile. In the past couple of months I've acquired three new cameras and several new lenses, so I've been putting them all to work, and playing with new possibilities all over again.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the new work I've been shooting at my studio/apt. Enjoy and have a great week! Lots of posts coming at you right about....now!

Chipotle Puts Its Money Where Its Heart Is

2011-09-02T08:10:00.003-04:00

This is probably one of the best videos I've seen in a long time. Say what you will about Chipotle: its long lines, rushed, messy orders of sour cream doused on top of corn on top of mild salsa and pinto beans can seem a little off putting at first. But underneath that layer of beans is purely organic, farm raised meat. No antibiotics are used to fatten the animals they use, or make them "manufacture-ready" to be available in restaurants faster.

In a brilliant new campaign, Chipotle is marketing its belief in the integrity of farm-raised food and the people who work hard and lovingly to nurture it: the farmers. This video, shot by designer John Kelly, is one of the most original depictions of what has happened to the food industry across the American landscape. And it's told very sweetly and honestly. The video opens with a farmer and his family in a pastoral setting. The farmer is happily raising his livestock, when it becomes apparent that the need for more of his livestock will require the animals to be caged, fattened unnaturally with chemicals, processed through cylinders and then cut down into uniform-shaped cubes. But the beautiful ending shows the farming coming to realization that this is not how he believes food should be processed nor how animals should be cared for. So with the lovely choice of a Willie Nelson cover of Coldplay's "The Scientist" (one of my absolute favorites of theirs) as the background music, the farmer goes "back to the start" and reverses all that manufactures have done.

Enjoy the video. Tear up a little bit (I know I almost did), and support natural food! I'd love to see this on TV if it isn't playing already. Catch some behind-the-scene stills of how the video was made here.

Thanks to Fast Company for the original post.

Frank Ocean

2011-08-30T20:57:00.000-04:00

Oh my. Just came across this song thanks to mySpoonful.

Emily King: Seven

2011-08-24T11:38:00.003-04:00

Friends, sleep no more. Not on Emily King that is. This soulful songbird is probably one of the industry's most quietly kept secrets. Back in 2007 she released her album East Side Story that was a colorful blend of hip hop, jazz, and soul, and garnered a much deserved Grammy nomination.

Her latest album which was released in early July simply called Seven is a much dreamier, more melodic approach to all of those genres. The gentle lift of a summer love is definitely on King's lips and revealed in her lyrics. The rhythms are slower and the vocals hushed to a near luscious whisper, with odes to some of Emily's guitar strumming mentors: Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley.

Every track is wonderfully timed, produced and arranged. "Down" opens with choral harmonies that sound as if they are ringing out from baptist churches before it shifts into a sweet, bounce. "Georgia" floats and rises with a whimsical, almost nostaligic rhythm reminiscent of mid-century America. You can almost see King singing and sighing alone in a field of golden wheat strumming her guitar.

Without a doubt my favorite Emily King album to date, and one that should be radiating through internet and car radios, your iPods, and every other means of transmitting sound. Check out a few tracks below, and head over to her Bandcamp page to purchase the album.

Thanks to OKP for the initial mention.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://emilyking.bandcamp.com/track/down"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Down by Emily King&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://emilyking.bandcamp.com/track/no-more-room"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;No More Room by Emily King&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://emilyking.bandcamp.com/track/georgia"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Georgia by Emily King&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Ayah & DJ Jazzy Jeff

2011-08-22T13:44:00.000-04:00

Fresh faced soul R&B singer Ayah teamed up with super DJ/producer DJ Jazzy Jeff earlier this year and dropped a summer album Back for More. Nearly anything DJ Jazzy Jeff touches has a classic vibe, sounding familiar and brand new all at once. Rock out to this as your summer winds down and hold on to the fleeting feeling of warm summer nights. Listen. Enjoy. Get your free download.

&amp;lt;a href="http://backformore.bandcamp.com/track/notorious"&amp;gt;Notorious by DJ Jazzy Jeff &amp;amp;amp; Ayah&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;a href="http://backformore.bandcamp.com/album/back-for-more-2"&amp;gt;Back For More by DJ Jazzy Jeff &amp;amp;amp; Ayah&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

&amp;lt;a href="http://backformore.bandcamp.com/track/one-life-ft-tona"&amp;gt;One Life ft Tona by DJ Jazzy Jeff &amp;amp;amp; Ayah&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

The Hunt for Red October

2011-08-22T11:58:00.001-04:00

Sorry I've been away for a little. You know when you want to blog, but nothing seems pertinent enough to blog about? Well thankfully I came across some goods this past weekend. Turns out two days of respite + an overdue massage was more than enough time to re-energize the imagination. Lots of posts coming your way this afternoon!

To start, Fall has officially made its entrance with kids here in the District going off to their first day of school today. Growing up, fashion savvy or not (I was clearly the latter), you know your outfit had to be on point. But the little nerd in me was more geeked about the new Lisa Frank notebook and pencil set I got :) (Ya'll remember Lisa Frank, right?!) Still remember my 3rd grade outfit: short sleeved black sweater, red pants, and black Keds. Holler. Those pants were bright red the first day of school and waaay faded by the the third month. Gotta love recess.

But speaking of red, I've been thinking lately of upgrading the 3rd grade pants to a red coat for the Fall/Winter season. D.C has a bit of a reputation for having an... uninteresting fashion sense, shall we say; rocking the black and navy and gray when the weather falls off. Which is understandable and cool. But in winter it gets a little depressing sloshing up against a sea of dark colors making their way off the metro, up the escalator, in the long Starbucks line, at the Chipotle. With so little art being prominent on walls, billboards, store fronts, buildings (especially downtown), the District needs something to jump start its creative energy and denote a sense of personality. Can we get a green pocket square? Some purple leggings? So if it's going to be it's up to me! (And the rest of you Washingtonian transplants :). This season I'm looking to step out and punch it up with a red coat, in addition to some other bright gear, hopefully. The hunt for Red October begins now!

Couldn't resist posting the Blue military trench from J. Crew. Fire

Photos courtesy J. Crew, All the Pretty Birds, The Sartorialist

South In Your Mouth

2011-08-13T21:50:00.000-04:00

This afternoon my friend and I had a chance to check out the latest restaurant to join D.C's H st Corridor. Tru Orleans is adding a Creole southern kick to a strip that's already known for Ethiopian, hoagies, and late-night sushi. We were lucky enough to go just as the restaurant was opening for the day so there was plenty of time to openly gawk at the Mardi Gras meets Guggenheim decor.

Pull back the the two white french doors and the restaurant opens up to beautiful copper tiles lining the ceiling, dark wood flooring, and colorful Mardi Gras masks sprinkled along the walls. In true New Orleans style, the menu boasts everything from craw fish and shrimp po' boys, to beignets and red beans and rice. Tru Orleans also hosts a full bar for those infamous and ubiquitous D.C happy hours. And the prices for anything are phenomenal, especially for D.C, and for one of the hippest neighborhoods in the city (Hippest? How old am I again?). Another awesome incentive to visit Tru Orleans is the view of H St from the restaurant's open deck on the second level. Perfect for summer nights, but also in the winter because the roof transforms into an indoor outdoor dining experience. My friend and I kicked it old school and had the friend shrimp and catfish po'boys, which were moist and flavorful, but could stand a bit more N'awlins kick in terms of spices :)

But we had a wonderful time, and I definitely encourage you to check out Tru Orleans the next time you're in the District. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served!

Our lovely waitress who was incredibly friendly.

Catfish Po'boy and cocktail sauce. Holler!