BIG DAY

Hi guys!

     Well, it's a big day here at Anthrolife central control.

     For one thing, Avery and I are bringing the cheese plate to Mommy and Me (wherein the babies just loll around and drool, and the moms gab endlessly with each other because otherwise, we would go crazy without adult interaction).

     Also, my own Mommy is coming in tonight, which means I get to go to Anthro tomorrow.

     Furthermore, tonight we close the Shopbop giveaway, which has been a looong time coming.

     And of course, I am celebrating 1 year of my little blog and am donating to Japan's disaster relief through the American Red Cross.

     Just because Yahoo is now covering the 119 year old woman in Ohio doesn't mean all else is well in the world. Yet.

     So tune in tomorrow for the big results, especially if you entered. Man, I love giveaways (Jojophine is having a $100 Anthro giveaway, btw). Thanks for a great year, girls. You are all so amazing. Really. Thank you for reading.

xoxoxo,
Shelia

Psst. Btw, I also love girl scout cookies, and between Chris and I, we've bought 5 boxes--3 of which are thin mints. Just thought i'd share because they're sitting right in front of me...whoopsie daisy...just ate one.

Also thought I'd randomly share where we were 2 years ago--on our honeymoon in Tuscany/Florence, Italy. Since it's been a year that we've (you and I, not me and Chris) known each other. Aaaand because I love LOVE to relive it.

And encourage badger others to go.

Ok, see my finger pointing? We stayed in that hotel, overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Watched dolphins jump in the distance. DOLPHINS.

 One of the bridges in Florence, at sunset. Chris took this picture and all the pictures, actually. Isn't he amazing? It's his birthday next week...I've been scheming...It's a big one.

 We went on a bike ride through the Tuscan countryside. It was like Napa valley but even more gorgeous. and Italian. And full of castles where you could survey the general Italian gorgeousness.

 One of the beaches in Cinque Terra. Never been? You MUST. Seriously. Five adorable fishing villages built on the rocks, next to the sea. Charming, rustic, with the best food ever.

And speaking of general Italian gorgeousness, the men all bear a striking resemblance to George Clooney. I am NOT even kidding.

Prague Part II and Budapest

Across the street from Prada in Praha, this independent store with the cutest jacket. I was wishing I could try it on, but it had just closed for the evening. So elegant while still casual.

Ok. a few more charming panaramics of the city. Isn't the combination of the the red roofs and the turning leaves amazing?

We went to the Old Jewish cemetary. They were forced to stack 12,000 tombstones up like dominoes because of the lack of space allowed them between the 1400 to1700. We wandered through other parts of the Jewish Quarter, feeling both inspired and saddened.

Old Town Square at night.

One of many cups of hot chocolate at one of many cafes. The chilly weather demanded it.

Views of the city along the Vltava River.

Views from the train to Budapest, along the Danube River.

Hello, Budapest!

The biggest and most charming food court ever, Great Market Hall. Full of delis, restaurants, fruit stands, and adorable little old Hungarian ladies.

The biggest chocolate croissant in Eastern Europe. Literally half the size of my head. Really.

One of many beautiful bridges in Budapest.

Many cafes. Many cups of steaming hot cocoa. Many moments communing and consulting with Rick Steves.

The Parliament Building from across the Danube.

A poignant and lovely Holocaust monument, with every silver leaf is a name of another victim.

Outside the Great Synagogue, the world's 2nd biggest synagogue (biggest is in NYC).

Inside, with the beautiful popcorny chandeliers and soaring ceilings. Per the tour guide, Estee Lauder's (who was a Hungarian Jew) family, donated $5 million to restore after the building was wrecked during WWII, with Nazis using the synagogue as a stable for horses.

And on the other side, St. Istvan's Basilica.

Also with the soaring ceilings, gilded rotunda, and intricate carvings.

Budapests's gorgeous opera house, also with the hugeness and the gildedness and the popcorn chandelier. I know--enough with the beautiful, old stuff already!!

Then. The most organized, realistic, scariest mueum in Budapest. Amazing, The House of Terror--former headquarters for the Communists, also where they held and executed prisoners. Truly terrible. Also, where I lost my red knit hat.

Statue Park, home of Communist Propoganda promotional statues and other paraphernalia. Oversized and a little artless.

Heroes of Hungarian history line up. Chris shows off some features of his fancy non-SLR camera.

We went back to the Opera House that last night for Beethoven's Fidelio. Sung in ?Italian? with Hungarian subtitles. Lets just say that I fell asleep before intermission and Chris wished he could have too. The singing and building were beautiful--just sucks if you never know what's going on.

We were ready to come back by then. Loved the learning, exploration, scenery--traipsing all over creation. But sometimes you just want to go home.

No, really--let's all go to India!

Apparently, no one took me seriously when I suggested this a few days ago. Just browsing through the catalog, it was so clear that India is color, movement, vibrance, life, dance, struggle, beauty all at once.

I was completely floored by this video that was posted by an Anthro facebook fan, Amy. It was a beautiful compilation done by photographer Ami Vitale with a Nikon.

It completely captures so much of the intrigue, the overwhelming wonder and inspiration of India. WOW.

I dare you to watch it and NOT be completely awestruck. Have you ever seen anything or anyone (people) so beautiful in your life?

let's all go to india!

Let's be clear--I do like the clothes in the new may catalog, but even more impressively magnificent is the setting where the new items were shot.

Have you ever seen anything more intricate, mysterious, colorful, vibrant and awesome than India?

I am in AWE. If Anthro ever decides to start selling the door in this below photo, I will be FIRST in line. 'Course, I'm not sure if they can sell actual historical artifacts of India.

If in fact they can, or if this is just the door to some abandoned foreclosed home, I will camp out overnight in a line that wraps around the block and sings old Madonna jams long after 3 am.

btw, end table about 200, coffee table about 400 bucks. 

This sitting hammock completely charms, reminiscent of a beautiful woven spiderweb.

And who doesn't want strings of marygolds strewn across their path like a welcoming citrus path?
I certainly do. Hubby needs to make note of that, ok? great, thanks.

ps. knotted melati hanging chair 500 bux, ocean's offerings rug, 600. 

If ever a ceiling could be tastefully lined in bright but tasteful colors, this would be it.

Also, would love to take some of these pillars home over the weekend and just insert them neatly under our living room ceiling. They are incomparable.  

Umm, so breathtaking. Which to look at first? The chandeliers? The amazing scalloping of the doorways? or the utterly gorgeous curly design (carved?) echoed in the second layer?

Turtle paradise hammock ($98) and Diving sea turtle pillow ($78).

How great is the multi-colored lining of the shelves along and above the bed? It adds so much depth and interest to the room. 

Not to mention you wake up and suddenly you're in a flowery gray/yellow haven.

This Distant Voyage Quilt (200 bucks, plus or minus depending on size) is so vibrant! How many colors are collected on this quilty? and still just stunning. Can't wait to see it up close in the store.

I love this quilt--and quilts in general.



Ok. I also loved the Anthro From-the-Waves shower curtain, $118. The colors, the tree motif, all feel like you've come in from a refreshing dip in the ocean. The tree coral towel, $18 also fabulous. You can almost smell the sea breeze.



Just a little what-if scenario: Anthro offering an international tour of places they have shopped for their wares? And where they've photographed their catalogues? How many people would be interested?
Ummm, WHO WOULDN'T??

milan window-shopping

it'll be 2 years this july that chris and i got married. we were so excited to honeymoon in italy--and since our flights were in and out of milan, we got to wander through this amazing fashion capital, gawking at the storefronts, the clothes, and the gorgeous people.

here are some of the pictures i took, posted on my non-anthro blog, myfaveoutfit.blogspot.com.