Pack Up

When J began traversing the globe, I gave him a spare dopp kit full of his favorite toiletries. He never has to wait until that morning before a flight to throw together his must haves—nor does he risk leaving something behind and resorting to a hotel's generic 3 in 1 shampoo/conditioner/soap combo. Since my travels are starting to be more plentiful as well, I'm considering the need for my own reserve.

When it comes to miniature travel-friendly amenities, what are your go-to favorites and what do you never leave home without?

[photo by Corrie Bond.]

Set in Concrete

Artist Kathy Dalwood has been hard at work with a behind-the-scenes Studio Blog and a collection of individually cast concrete planters. Her modern meets 18th century Baroque designs would spruce up any outdoor space, and they happily remind me of the vintage numbers I gushed over a year ago.

Surf's Up

If I'm not going to get a fall around here, might as well milk the heat for what it's worth, right? In roughly one month I will be doing my best to shred waves, hang on ten and awaken my inner hippy at The Chillhouse, a surf, yoga and spa retreat nestled among rice fields on the southern shores of Bali. To gear up for our trip I'm slathering on sunscreen, basking in the sun and surfing the ultra hip sites of Choka and Ryan Tatar.

[photos by Ryan Tatar.]

Of Two Minds

Two unrelated images that share a similar colorway and lots of playtime on my laptop. I keep opening their files to stare longingly.

[via DVF.]

[via Ruby Republic.]

To the Max

Meet Max. Dressed as Max. So cute I can hardly stand it, but not the least bit surprising considering the little wolverine belongs to my most creative friend. This may very well be my favorite costume of all time!

Lend a Hand

Founded by Nina Peter and Gregor Pirouzi, Nina Peter's edgy collection is inspired by Nina's extensive family history [160+ years!] in glove manufacturing. Their bold use of color and exotic leathers are a welcomed change of pace to the sea of conventional winter staples.

Jewel Tones

I'm constantly amused by photographer Anita Calero's wit and ingenuity. She's a master at shooting jewelry.

Brow-Raising

When a local friend sent me this Cadbury ad, I erupted into a fit of laughter. [It gets funnier the more you watch. Trust me.] I love that the creators tout it as "a feat of ridiculousness and joy," and I secretly hope future Barton Jr's have such comical talent.

Malaysian Disclaimer: I have no idea if videos I post are making the rounds back home ad nauseam, but regardless of whether or not this snippet of fun has whipped through the morning shows' circuit, I love the absurd humor. And that alone is worth re-posting!

Win-Win

If you've been hanging around these parts long enough, you know it would be a cardinal sin for me to pass up mentioning 1) anything by Lizzie Fortunato Jewels and 2) anything remotely channeling India. So when Elizabeth and Kathryn Fortunato returned from a whirlwind trip to India, the designing duo combined inspiring colors, textures, textiles and sensory overload experiences into one knockout Spring '10 collection. This is the epitome of a win-win for me!

[via my friend Kelly; via Refinery29.]

Die Laughing

Though India may be steeped in rich traditional values, I love a culture that doesn't take itself too seriously.

[via Lost and Found in India.]

Bottle Service

I spotted Franz Stauffenberg's boutique Schnapps on John Robshaw's blog. Not only is the decorous packaging alone enough to bottle up and sell, but apparently you can down 5 shots a night for one week and never experience a hangover. I'll drink to that!

Music to My Ears

Malaysian artist Zee Avi's swingy tunes sure make gridlocked traffic much more bearable...and even somewhat enjoyable.

Grass Roots

I've been eating lemongrass like it's going out of style, adding it to everything from soups and seafood to cocktails and beyond. My latest obsession? Lemongrass Mashed Potatoes. For those watching their waistlines, these guilt-free spuds taste like heaven without any butter or cream — and no one would be the wiser! Trust me, that's a hefty statement coming from a Southern girl.


Lemongrass Potatoes

Place peeled yellow potatoes in salted, boiling water with a bit of extra virgin olive oil. Muddle 2 lemongrass stalks to release flavors and add to water. Cook until taters are tender. Remove potatoes from water and mash immediately to eliminate chunks. Add 1 tablespoon [I like a lot more] finely chopped fresh lemongrass. Using a spatula, work potatoes in a constant folding method until smooth. Add additional extra virgin olive oil and continue folding in until desired consistency. Finish with fresh dill and salt to taste.

[photo via 1001resepi.]

¡Olé!

Happy Menocal's illustrated matadors have such passion and whimsy. It's almost as if you can hear them shouting a bullish, but oh so charismatic, ¡Olé!

From Here to Timbuktu

Well, it didn't take long to build inspiration for my latest acquisition. Prior to our move I purchased a vintage leather Chesterfield with the most incredible yellow-green patina. The sofa's deep quilted tufting is offset with a single down-filled cushion, which I'd love to reupholster in John Robshaw's Lanka Oyster. The tiny blockprint would be the ultimate compliment to oversized pillows made from my Timbuktu fabric. And because this mini-project would then open Pandora's box, it would be a shame to just stop there.


Clockwise: [1] Timbuktu Pillow; [2] Andrew Martin's Timbuktu in Rust; [3] "Leigh" Bottle Cap Portrait; [4] Ink Dhurrie; [5] Casablanca Lantern; [6] Western Kingdom Lantern; [7] Fluted Pendant Lamp; [8] Vintage Chesterfield Sofa; [9] John Derian Geranium Sofa upholstered in John Robshaw Lanka Oyster; [10] Rope Knot Doorstop; [11] Nautical Stripe Dhurrie.

Fit to be Thai-ed

Last week I returned from a girls' shopping trip to Bangkok, and I have yet to come down from my Thai high! The food, the people, the hustle and bustle—it's all so infectious I soaked up every bit. We ransacked the Chatuchak Market, ate our weight in green curry and mango sticky rice, Sawadee Ka-ed our way through the city, and splurged on $10 foot massages every chance we got! I pretty much spent five days with the following expression plastered across my face:


One of my favorite stops was a mad supermarket sweep through 5 floors of Jim Thompson goodness. After a few hours I dragged myself out of the building, but not without first snagging 3 meters of Andrew Martin's ethnic Timbuktu fabric. Along with my vintage coin-covered Afghan hats from Chatuchak, this was my favorite find! The textured silk resembles a luxe burlap and the oversized camel caravan scene makes me jump up and down it's so beautiful. After carting the weighty loot back to Malaysia in my carry-on, this fabric will most definitely be put to great use at Casa Barton.

Pop Art

I discovered Molly B. Right's head-turning bottle cap portraits from Coastal Living's I'On Idea Cottage. Each piece has a scale-like texture, layered mosaic appeal and oversized proportion that would perfectly compliment our soaring ceilings and empty walls.

Ghost Writer

While many people relate life experiences to the always appropriate Friends episodes, my sister and I share our own code of reference: children's books. In fact, there's hardly a circumstance where we don't allude to The Zoopie Zats, The Ice Cream Cone Coot, Miss Suzy, or Owl at Home.

Since it's that time of year when ghosts 'n goblins make their annual debut, Sis and I are giving our old standbys a break and turning to more relevant material, The Monsterologist. Her newfound favorite delves into the scientific study of both well-known monsters [Loch Ness, Count Dracula, Frankenstein anyone?] and evolving species—basically a 101 of beastly psychology to understand the hows and whys of monster behavior. And even better? This bone-chilling collaboration between Bobbi Katz and Adam McCauley is perfectly suited for ghouls of all ages. The rhythmic reading will hypnotize tiny tots and the more mature will stay glued to the interactive pages and enchanting illustrations made from gold foil and devilish die-cuts. It's the ultimate brew for Halloween...and beyond.