Any special plans for the weekend – maybe some pre-Valentine’s day treats? It looks like I’ll be having a good kind of working weekend with farmer’s market on Saturday and creative projects on Sunday – and some room for reading and hanging out in between. This month is getting busy, but certainly full of good things…

+ Not that I need more totes, but this purple linen bag by Fabric & Handle is sweet.

+ If you need some inspiration, these wise words are a good place to start.

+ The list of must-eat places in San Francisco is ever-growing – so here’s yet another delicious list to add to the batch.

+ This funky bookshelf reminds me  of some DIY furniture that I attempted with wine crates back in our LA apartment.

+ There’s an exhibition of Sister Corita’s art at the  SF Museum of Craft & Folk Art. Hoping to power up with that out soon! (I posted about Sister C way back in 2008.)

+  The recently launched Makers Project is just as great as I hoped – current favorite is the Lena Corwin set.

+ These colorful recycled cotton socks look nice+cozy for chilly winter mornings – thanks to Gab and d*s for that.

+ Cast iron! There can never be enough – and the cast-iron sandwich press in this photo caught my eye (and it’s second-hand at that!).

+ Postcard projects are buzzing through my brain – hoping to share more of that soon.

What did you discover this week? Wishing you a sunny weekend with a new adventure or two…

listening to: Jesus Etc. covered by Norah Jones (listen)

And there goes the week… I feel like I’ve had my nose stuck in a book all week (or more accurately, in my laptop). But a lot of work was balanced out with some good play and projects. More fun coming up next week. For now, here are a few highlights from around the wide world of web:

+ Watched the live-streaming world premiere of Life in a Day last night. It was fantastic.
+ Brainstorming lots of projects this first month of the year – and excited to see the results of others like The Makers Project.
+ Thinking more about simplifying life – reminded by glimpses of 3191 at home and this Zero Waste Home.
+ Winter cocktail ideas are brewing: Perfect Pear Cocktail + Blood Orange Martini. This weekend? Please!
+ Scanned through lots of great recipes to celebrate the last week of The Minimalist, a favorite New York Times food column.
+ Loving these market baskets for simple storage at home.
+  Always looking for more excuses for supper clubs / potlucks / etc.

What do you have in store for the weekend? I’m thinking of playing catch up, drinking late morning coffee, doing some baking, and sorting through the end of the month biz. Cheers to Friday!

listening to: Feeling the Same Way by Norah Jones (listen)

For the past few years, I’ve been toting around some big bags (this one and this one were favorites), along with a good-sized notebook for daily notes and doodles. But this New Year, it’s time to simplify what I carry with me through the day. My wallet and keys got lost in the depths of those big bags one too many times.

So this Little Letter Bag by Moop came into my life, and things are already easier. It’s just big enough for a small notebook, pen, wallet, lip balm, maybe a small camera. It snaps close, so nothing falls out while biking. And for the notebook? Finally upgraded and downsized to a small blank Moleskin – and that creamy paper is just as lovely to write in as people say. I still have some big bags (and lots of paper) to grab when I need, but it’s great to have just-right-sized tools to get me through the day.

What are you carrying with you through the days?

listening to: Rolling in the Deep by Adele (listen)

Happy New Year! Two weeks of holiday travel ended with a magical New Year’s at camp , complete with fireworks + sparklers, dancing + hiking, lots of delicious meals, and old + new friends. And now it’s on into 2011 with new energy and focus and possibility.

So what’s in store for this new new year?
+ more time for creating+making
+ lots of good work
+ back to yoga + biking
+ a summer adventure somewhere new
+ more sharing in this space
plus lot’s more where that came from…

And what are you up to in the new new year?

listening to: Many Miles by Sarah Bareilles (listen)

Last month Mischa + I moved out of our bright studio in San Francisco, saying goodbye to daily walks in Alamo Square Park and coffee shops on every corner. And we crossed the bridge to Marin (San Rafael, to be exact) to settle into a one-bedroom with a mountain view and lots of biking and hiking out the backdoor. For all my love of The City, I really love this not-so-big city life right now.

So summertime is looking good with this new apartment home to grow into and plenty of big and little adventures in the works. More hours in the day to get creative and get outside. Plus ever-more farmer’s markets, sweet peaches and sliced watermelon, and lots of sunshine and birds chirping out the window. Yes yes, this season will always be a favorite of mine.

listening to: Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show (listen)