Moio

Something I love by: scarves are always in season.

Check out the endless amount of scarves at Moio.

Pancake Day

Today is Fat Tuesday: a day of festive attire, music, celebration and indulgence.

In many parts of the world, mainly Europe, pancakes are the food of choice during this last hurrah.

Will you partake in eating these fluffy, buttery treats?

1. If you're in L.A., track down the Buttermilk food truck. Pictured here are the pancake bites- just the beginning of the delicious breakfast menu.

2. If you're tired of circular pancakes, fear no more. Find adorable pancake rings here.

Happy Pancake Day!

Award Show Picks

Overall an underwhelming year in terms of fashion in my opinion, but there were some gems that stood out.

1. Gweneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein

2. Camila Alves in Kaufman Franco

3. Mila Kunis in Elie Saab

4. Annette Bening in Naeem Khan

Also, shout out to January Jones for being fabulous at award shows this year.

She was a 2010 favorite for me as well.

The Golden Globes ravishing red  dress is a bit too revealing for my taste, but she pulls it off incredibly well.

Claude Monet's Studio

I absolutely love this picture. It's so serene, yet so solemn.
Claude Monet and I share the same birthday.

Get Excited

I love this time of year.
I'll admit to not having seen 127 hours or The Fighter, but here are my picks...

Obviously I loved the King's Speech. But, honestly, comparing these films is like comparing apples and oranges.

In the works...

The new Red Topaz site is on the brink of being launched... Visit back frequently for the redirect. I'm excited!!! Meanwhile...

NPR Valentine's

Earlier this month, conservatives made a budget proposal that eliminates funding for NPR, PBS, and many more public service media hubs. Ridiculous. Don't take away my link to the outside world! If you agree, click here, and sign the petition. Enjoy these NPR Valentine's found here.

You're So Sweet

A lesson in old-time typography, wrapped up into sugary morsels.

Black Swan Shop

I loved Black Swan! The grandiose music of Tchaikovsky, the relentless spiral into absurdity, the dancing...
Natalie Portman's intellect and talent is something to be admired.

She is a part of the elite few that has an Erdős–Bacon number, or a number that measures your collaborative distance between the actor Kevin Bacon, and the Hungarian mathematician, Paul Erdős.
A "six degree of separation" meter of sorts...

These posters were designed by La Boca, a UK based design firm.
Check out more Black Swan merch at the Fox store.

MLK

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." - Martin Luther King

Year of the Rabbit

The start of a new year means extended hours and seasonal help for the Japan Post. 

Thousands of postcards, or nengajō, are sent to friends and family with warm New Years greetings, 

much like the American Christmas cards. 

Below are two vintage postcards (circa 1950) depicting the year of the rabbit.

Vid of the Day - Un sospiro

Happy 2011, everyone! 

I hope your holidays were full of friends, family, and fabulous food. Resolutions have been on my mind, as per usual for this time of year. I've concluded that instead of making mundane, false promises to exercise more, eat less, ect., I'm going to learn Liszt's Un sospiro on the piano. It's a lofty ambition for my small, under-practiced hands, but definitely worth the effort. This piece takes my breath away. Enjoy the video! This man makes it look so easy.