a few of my favorite things (back to school edition)

I know it is still August. And I know that, at least in Wheaton, it is still 98 degrees and humid. And I know that (technically) I don't go back to school, perhaps . . . ever. Still, I am wildly excited (and a teeny bit nervous) to put on my back-to-school shoes tomorrow morning and go to my Advanced Sculpture class that I am auditing all fall. An IKEA trip last weekend brought me a giant mosquito net canopy for my bed, an orange-and-white polka dot rug for my feet, and a goodwill trip (Christopher said we could do whatever I wanted. It was IKEA and thrifting) got me a pile of snazzy new-old-things that it needs to be below 75 for me to wear.

A few updates:
1) My garden, grown and then potted and then transported and then re-potted, has born:

•  2 Zinnia blooms
• 2 Green beans
• bushels of Tarragon, Basil, lemon-balm, rosemary and thyme

2) Today is Christopher & my official 6 month anniversary! (Last month he thought it was 6 months, and was so insistent on it I didn't put up much of a fight. We celebrated it and then I let him know, sweetly, a few days later).

3)  I am reading Jumpa Lahiri's The Namesake. It is beautiful.

And now, here are a few of my favorite things:

This gingko print from mytextiledesign.com

This dot-splat blouse from Boden USA

This tattoo. Except I would say, "Be Kind"

This book.

a few of my favorite things: novembre

This Mhairi McGregor painting.

This Classic St. Andrew's Lady watch.

This Norse Projects Kirk Sweater.

This O-Check For Top Hat Medium Pattern Notebook.

Additionally, if you've any interest in the projects of my lovely artistic amis, Jessina did a photography project in which she had to create 5 alter-ego artists, names, aesthetics, and then create a small portfolio of art for each. The artists were also supposed to be unlike Jessina's own style (which is thoughtful, perceptive and lovely photography and projects often inspired by poetry and theology) I got to be the model for one "Cecelia Swarr" who does self portraits. They're a bit creepy but very very fun!