Hula Cam at Burning Man 2012

A fun video for fellow hoopers:

What I Love About Brazil: Natural Bathrooms

This is certainly an unfamiliar way to maintain a nice smelling bathroom -- keep a fresh supply of naturally odorous leaves on the floor!

Product Find: Casa Tissue Box

The Casa Tissue Box by Umbra

Rustic Window Panes

I spotted this terrace level garden/mud room while walking the neighborhood streets of Mount Pleasant in DC and, as a sucker for French-door style, was immediately in love with its charming rustic panes. French doors (and windows) are such great features in a home because of their ability to make an otherwise empty room still look elegant, but also to blend with their surroundings and not object to stronger decor.

The lovely old European simplicity works perfectly with this old house, and can carry its own in a modern setting as well -- just take a look at these examples from Houzz.com: 

Contemporary Kitchen design by Philadelphia General Contractor Hanson General Contracting, Inc.

Traditional Kitchen design by Los Angeles Architect Studio William Hefner

Beauty Find: Nivea Lotion Express

I never thought lotion (loção hidratante) would be a topic worth writing about until I discovered this holy grail of hydration from Nivea. Its label in Brazil is Lotion Express - Hidratação Prolongada. The best part is I only bought it because of its size in comparison to the other bottles in the aisle, not because I knew what magic was inside.

Throughout college and the few years following my best friend and I frequently (and rather aimlessly) browsed the beauty aisles of drugstores, always in search of a new product that would somehow be life changing. It took several years, a few cities, and a new country, but I think I've finally found it.

What makes this lotion special is exactly what's inferred in its name -- Express. Nivea Lotion Express dries almost immediately after being applied to skin. No more feelings of melting slime dripping down your legs on a hot summer day. This is especially important for anyone living in a hot or humid climate, like São Paulo (or all the cities I've called home in the US). It's not for people who want a thick buttery coating on their skin, but is perfect for all day wear and doesn't transfer to clothes.

The US version, called Nivea Express Hydration, can be ordered on Amazon or Drugstore.com. 

Cats

Thoughtfully painted on an otherwise unassuming building in Santa Cecilia.

James Bond's romper

When Bond first put this on in an early scene of Goldfinger, I thought it was just a zip-up terrycloth pool shirt. What a great idea for a guy! Cut to the next shot and I realize the piece is a straight up onesie, with a look similar to men's one piece swimsuits of an earlier age. Brilliant. When American Apparel starts manufacturing these I'll be the first in line.

For more pictures and explanation visit the Clothes on Film blog.

Festa de Juninha

The annual Festa de Juninha at Esporte Clube de Pinheiros in São Paulo. 

DIY design: floating umbrella lights

Hanging umbrella lights are a unique, whimsical, and slightly cheeky way one pousada thought of to illuminate its uncovered front patio in the middle of rainy São Paulo. A similar DIY version would make a memorable addition outside any eclectic residence, restaurant, or boutique hotel.

If recreating this look, make sure all electrical components are specified as being for the outdoors, and don't underestimate the amount of wire cable needed. The umbrellas should be harnessed together with wire in addition to electric cord to reduce individual movement.

Ingo Maura is regarded as the creator of this type of fixture after his original installation at Milan Design Week in 2007.

 

Here is a similar, though smaller installation inspired by string lights, courtesy of French blog Fabulous Frog:










For more large-scale umbrella art, check out the work gathered by Environmental Graffiti and Crooked Brain.

AGain Decor

Today I found a great fabric and decoration business near me called AGain Decor / AGRE Artigos Para Decoração Ltda. The operation is part interior decor business and part consumer store.

The store offers a sharply curated collection of household objects and a notable array of eye-catching quality fabrics. It's a good time to shop here as through the end of June their fabrics (tecidos) will be on sale starting at R$39,50 a meter (about $19 USD). I can't speak to their interior decoration services. 

Stacked throughout AGain's connected rooms are piles of top Brazilian design magazines such as Casa Vogue and Casa Claudia, all bookmarked on pages where objects or styling from AGain Decor is featured. Impressive.

As far as I can tell AGain is open Monday-Saturday during normal business hours. Their website provides pictures of their fabrics and objects, as well as a list of other places where their products can be found.

www.againdecor.com.br

R. Alagoas, 651 - Higienópolis, São Paulo - 01242-001

 

   

Dia Dos Namorados

For my namorado: a card, bottle of wine, single rose, and an old tin letter "R" make a simple but elegant presentation. Initial letters like this are a great way to personalize your home's decor, whether used as a wall hanging alone or in a cluster, stuck in a bookshelf, or casually plopped upon a small table or other unassuming surface. 

Vintage letters like the one above can be found at antique stores and on ebay, or if you prefer a sleeker look, bought new from stores like Pottery Barn. Check out etsy or craftcuts for more customized and varied options.

Doggie Style

A cute pooch out shopping on Dia Dos Namorados in Higienópolis

Mercado Municipal

Vendors' produce carts lined up behind São Paulo's famous municipal market

Color in Centro

Bursts of color in gray São Paulo's Centro neighborhood

Sweeping brush strokes disguise a public toilet

Balloons

simple polka dots are unexpected and cute

Needlepoint Cosmetic Case

I needlepointed this cosmetic case for a bridal shower gift. Success! This type of project makes a thoughtful, personalized gift and is perfect for people at all levels of creative skill.

Experts can draw their own designs on a blank canvas and choose their preferred project, finishing, and threads. Intermediates may want to go with an existing design, seek a second opinion on the right threads, and return the project to a store or expert for finishing. For beginners, there are excellent kits available which include a fully constructed object that doesn't require finishing, along with the appropriate threads, needle, and instructions. With all of these options, needlepointing can be for everyone!

 This cosmetic case is one such beginner's kit. (Cases for eyeglasses, scissors, and phones are also popular, as well as keychains and bookmarks). I went this route because I didn't have time to return an unfinished project to a finisher. To personalize the pattern, I had an expert at the store add the bride's initials. This was still a time-consuming project that required a lot of patience and focus, especially as I wasn't accustomed to the slippery cotton thread it required. The main thing to beware of with these pre-painted kits is that the pattern is not always drawn correctly, so it's very prudent to look ahead and catch any potential trouble spots before you stitch into them. 

I sewed (slipstitch) on a simple fabric to cover up a messy back and protect the threads  

Moroccan Inspiration

For my birthday, dinner surrounded by one of my favorite architectural/design styles.

California Mission

The Spanish tile steps demonstrate the lovely, yet reserved (and sometimes almost hidden) architectural detailing at the Estancia Hotel & Spa just outside San Diego in La Jolla, California.

  The hotel maintains low-profile luxury and consistency across its large property through use of red tile flooring, heavy dark wood beams, a bounty of assorted flora, and a natural merger of indoors and out. Uniting all the buildings is a yellow exterior paint that manages to look just the right amount of old and new at the same time.