lillie in the city » Uncategorized

Moop Bags

lillie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:09:46 +0000

As a rule, birthday money should always be used to buy something special that you very much want, but don’t actually need. So with that in mind, I finally ordered a Moop Market Bag for myself, using some belated birthday dollars. The bag arrived last week, wrapped in brown kraft paper with a little handwritten note, “Thanks for your order, Lillian! I hope you enjoy!”

It’s beautiful. Big and roomy with a long adjustable straps and large inside pockets. Perfect for carrying wallet and laptop and things–or for a trip to the farmer’s market! The fabric is the rosewood red cord, which is just right for autumn.

Moop is a lovely little company that offers an assortment of bags that are each made-to-order in their little Pittsburgh studio. I love all the designs, the details, and the story that they tell.

PS I also still love the handmade leather bag that I bought last year from The Leather Shop!

For Love of…Yoga

lillie — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:44:09 +0000

This post is part of a series about my favorite places and things that have made Los Angeles feel like my home for the past 2+ years.
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Just over two years ago, I tried yoga for the first time, starting at YogaWorks in Larchmont Village. I loved the practice, can’t say enough. Until then, I never really loved any kind of weekly physical exercise. So first thank you, Los Angeles, for that.

Then last year, a coworker introduced me to Brian Kest’s Power Yoga in Santa Monica. From the first class at Power Yoga, I was totally hooked. It is a sweaty, intense, awesome workout that made my body ache in the best way–and cleared my mind in the process. Their classes are scheduled at all hours of the day and night. (Plus, they run by donation, so you can get your yoga on regardless of your budget.)

So thank you Los Angeles–for being home to this studio that stretched my body and mind and for my favorite classes with Anaswara and for George, the friendly, bearded gentleman who maintains the studio on Santa Monica Blvd.

I went to a class there last night and sadly realized it may be one of my last. Luckily, I’ve already been scouting out new yoga studios in San Francisco. First on my list: Yoga to the People. If you have any ideas, please share!

the new lillie in the city – san francisco!

lillie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:53:34 +0000

View from the road. Driving north on Route 5 last weekend for my last “just visiting” trip to San Francisco.
A new website for a new city adventure! In the next three weeks, I will be packing my life into cardboard boxes, saying fond farewells to sunny Los Angeles, driving a huge moving truck up Route 5–and then moving into a bright new studio apartment in the sometimes sunny, often foggy, always charming city of San Francisco! I am pretty much bursting with excitement.

Along with this big change of address, I’m also starting some new projects that I’ve been working towards and dreaming about for a long time now.

First, there’s this creative studio business (check it out! lilliandignan.com), which is going to rock the world of small businesses in the biggest and smallest and sweetest ways.

Next, stay tuned for a little online shop of cards and prints and creations of mine…

There is a world of possibility that’s unfolding.

Listening to: Tell Me Something Good by Chaka Kahn (listen)
Allison and I had a single-song dance party in our kitchen last night while listening to this classic.

visiting new england

lillie — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:22:00 +0000

last week i made my summer pilgrimage back to new england for a handful of days in my hometown and then a long weekend at our family’s cottage in maine. as usual, the trip was relaxing, filling, and full of people that i love.

there was lots of biking, an afternoon of canning garden tomatoes, a double-high-five birthday to celebrate, a couple of beautiful afternoons in Boston, an awesome hike up Mount Washington, campfire and smores, one enormous slip and slide, good thin-crust pizza, and wild blueberry pancakes with local-made maple syrup.

1. birdhouse in our backyard, handpainted by my younger self
2. tomato canning supplies in my family’s kitchen
3. the view from the top of Mount Washington
4. the cousins’ feet at our cottage in Maine

for more photos, check out my new england, august 2009 set on flickr.

it’s okay to take it easy

lillie — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:48:00 +0000

after two weeks of adventures and friends, i’m ready for a vacation. funny how that works! just when my brain is ready to dive into new projects, my body says NO WAY! actually, even my brain was exhausted by the end of the day yesterday.

so even though i am very excited to start working out new projects/plans/life. and even though there was a wild outdoor concert happening afterhours at my work yesterday. and even though there’s still a bunch of cleaning and organizing to be done. and brainstorming that has to happen. and planning that needs to start… last night, i knew my brain and body were on the edge of a mini meltdown. so i gave myself permission to just take it easy.

and it was just what i needed. nothing special, but a few important elements:
+ straight home from work, no errands
+ simple pasta for supper with a glass of wine
+ a bowl of ben & jerry’s, of course
+ lots of eco/design/biz blogs to read
+ early bedtime with a new book

now i’m recharged and ready to take on the world! well, in my own small way at least. hope you enjoy some time taking it easy this weekend! xo

:: image of the boy farm from flickr / lillieinthecity