Oh Tannenbaum

We picked up our Christmas tree last night. In a very strange turn of events from years past, we had to go to Home Depot for the tree. In Philly you could get a tree on practically every street corner, under every underpass, in every parking lot. We literally walked out our door, walked 1 block, picked out a tree and dragged it home. Well, that's definitely not the case up here. We actually drove around for a while looking for a school, supermarket, gas station, anywhere selling trees, when finally, like a beacon in the night, we found one store. But, like many a child on Christmas morning, we were sorely disappointed because the store was closed. It was 8:00 p.m. So that's how we ended up at Home Depot. Because, at Home Depot, you can still buy a Christmas tree after 8:00 p.m.

In all honesty, I'm very happy with our tree. First of all, it's enormous. Second of all, it's really enormous. I've always wanted an enormous tree, and thanks to our wonderfully high ceilings and wonderfully normal sized doorways, we were able to get one this year. Now, when it comes to decorating the tree, I stick firmly to my interiors style motto - just throw it all together, don't take it too seriously and see what happens. I definitely am not one of those to have a monochromatic theme for all the ornaments - everything needing to match and be picture-perfect. It's just not me, I'm not that coordinated, and honestly that looks really fantastic for a photo shoot, but not so for my home. I like things to be just slightly off, eclectic, mixed up and quirky. That's just how I am.

As I'm getting ready to trim the tree THE big question arises: do I put up the color or the white lights?

Up next ... 25 Gifts for the Procrastinator in All of Us.

"Your hardrive is toast"

I'm already veering off my subject matter and this is only my second post. However, this news is just too devastating to not mention and in a sense this little gadget is definitely part of the design community. I'm talking about the iPod, and in the words of the genius bar genius, mine is "toast". I could hardly believe my ears. It's only, maybe 3 years old, and I realize that is ancient in techno years, especially for Apple, but at $400 bucks they should be able to last a little bit longer. I use it all the time: working out, on the train, in the grocery store, in my car. All-the-time. So the genius bar genius mumbled off some possible options I may have in revitalizing my toasted hardrive, but to be honest, I was so flustered at the thought of my precious iPod being dead I hardly listened. I think I may just tinker with it myself. I'm not totally inept at technology. I mean, really, how hard can it be?

New city + new house = new design challenges

What better way to open this blog than with an explanation, or better, the inspiration from which it came. You see, I've moved for the first time in over 12 years and a move like this really gets you thinking. First of all, I am crazy excited for all the possibilities that a new city offers: meeting new people, seeing new places, tasting new food. All of this leaves me so optimistic about where this move will take my career and my life. The unknown is thrilling.

But, it also gets you thinking about more practical things like will my furniture from a narrow, traditional Philly rowhome (freshly renovated over 4 years with my blood, sweat and tears) fit into this new "condo"? And by condo, I mean a 1,000 sf 1st floor apartment in a renovated Queen Ann in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston. The layout, the color, the light, the feel are all completely different. So of course my first reaction is no. No, our furniture just won't do. And, yes, my husband is just thrilled that I've come to that conclusion.

The move has also inspired thoughts about where I want to take my design career. I'm a graphic designer and artist, practicing for 10 years. I love what I do, but I have to admit, owning ones own home definitely opens your eyes to all different kinds of design from furniture, to textiles, to lighting. I'm so inspired by people creating anything. I'm amazed at the energy and the dedication that artists put forth in becoming a success. It's contagious and makes me want to do more. To get out from behind the computer and interact with artists of all kinds. To just create.

And lastly, this is my attempt at reaching an audience I would otherwise never meet. I thought, why not jot down my adventures in this new city - the little gems I come across as I walk the city neighborhoods or as I search and search for a new couch that will fit just so in the new "condo" or as I scour the city looking for a coffee house that either serves La Colombe or something close to it. (Oh, you Philly people know what I'm talking about. There is NO coffee like La Colombe, and don't even get me started on their cappuccino's. My mouth is watering just thinking about it....)

So, in essence this blog is going to be a little bit about me, a little bit about Boston, a little bit about Philly (hey, it's hard to shake your roots), and a lot a bit about design.

Welcome & Enjoy!