Gasworks Park overlooking Lake Union and Seattle, May 2008.

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I bought a lounge shirt a while back because this was printed on it:

A kiss is a lovely trick, designed by nature, to stop speech when words become superfluous.

And today, found out through a random link on Merriam-Webster that it was spoken by the lovely Ingrid Bergman. This quote is listed as #1 on the site's Top 10 Favorite Quotations About Words. Pretty darn cool.

So, I'm sending all you lovely readers e-kisses to wish you a late-but-better-than-never wonderful new year! Muah!

I haven't been using Pinterest for very long (and sometimes I just get too lost in the images to even remember to pin), but one of the cool things about it is the ability to follow my favorite bloggers and see what they like. Mindy's pins are definitely amongst some of my favorites. She's got such great style and taste, and I love all her color boards. The yellow, aqua, and pink boards make me want to live in them!

Also, have you guys been entering all of the fun giveaways on her blog? There are just a few more days until it's over. I'm up today, so if you want to score a few stationery goodies, go check it out. It ends at midnight tonight!

Found via @espiekermann.

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Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday. I can't believe July is almost over. Where is the time going these days?!

I recently discovered this cool project headed by Ivan Cash called Snail Mail My Email. It's seriously as simple as it says, and probably one of the coolest community projects I've seen lately. If you've been meaning to get in touch with someone, definitely try it out. You can even make one custom request. But act fast, the project ends August 15th.

Scenes from my bedroom, circa early 2009.

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TGIF!

I've been looking forward to this 3-day weekend all week. Especially because I have not had MLK Jr. Day off since school. And the fact that everything I have to do needs to be finished this weekend.

But before I sign off, here are a few links that I found to be informative, entertaining, and OMG seriously?

Did you know that there's such a thing as National Rubber Ducky Day? On January 13th (which was yesterday). So cute and awesome right?

If you are a lover of knitting and crocheting, then Ravelry should be your new home page. (Thanks Devon!)

Should I Work for Free? A flow chart by Jessica Hische that all designers and artists should read.

There really is a niche for everything: Sea Captain Date. (Also from Devon.)

That's it! Have a fabulous weekend guys.

How charming! Upper Metal Class.

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As much as I love finding links to share, I also love receiving links. (See how this whole give-and-take thing works?) So here are a few interesting ones that were passed along to me. Dreary days like this, you really need distractions, especially for my Seattle peeps...(Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.)

Filling her closet with ONLY her own sewn clothes for 2010...how awesome is that? And check out what her adorable daughter dressed up as for Halloween. (via @paperfinds)

Pocket-sized stories, from a kindergarten teacher. (via I Like You Like You)

Need to protect your iPhone or iPod? Ben the Bodyguard can help with that. (via my Director)

How to travel around the world for $418. Uhm..yes please! (via my friend John)

Happy Sunday!

Vintage fabric turned into pillows, from Black Strap.

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This weekend I was in Portland.

I stayed here.

Oohed and aahed at the size of this place.

Ate here, here, here, here, and here.

And met up with this gal to attend this wonderful event where I got to meet Abby, Chelsea, and Joke (all wonderful and amazing ladies, btw).

All in all, it was a fantastic, well-spend weekend with my two bffs.

Okay, cuteness overload or what?! Aussie's fashion line for kids by Seed. There's also a women's line.

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If you're ever planning a trip to Australia, please be prepared for some amazing shopping. I mean, REALLY prepare. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

A few shops and eateries that I passed by, visited, and loved:

Card & Caboodle in Melbourne and Paper Couture and Paper2 (both in Sydney) for beautiful paper goods, accessories, and gifts. (Sadly, Paper Couture was closed on the day I visited, but Jo Neville's work is wonderful so her shop is nothing short of extraordinary.)

Lemon Twist Cafe in Sydney for some delicious breakfast served by a friendly staff with stick-on staches.

Bay Hong in Sydney for great Vietnamese food. All the waiters wear male ao dais.

Chee Soon & Fitzgerald in Sydney for international housewares, fabrics, and accessories.

And a big thanks to Justine of Upon A Fold for recommending some of these places. (Her shop is amazing, too, btw.)