playlist: R1, throwback jams

I've been running a lot lately and also listening to a lot of throwback jams, so it only seemed like a good idea to compile an 8tracks playlist. I plan to make a couple more themed running playlists in the future, so keep your ears open.

R1 from l.doan on 8tracks Radio.

Track listing:
1. 112 feat. The Notorious B.I.G. & Mase - Only You (Bad Boy remix)
2. Mary J. Blige - Family Affair
3. Blackstreet - No Diggity
4. Ginuwine - Pony
5. Mariah Carey feat. Puff Daddy, Mase, & The Lox - Honey (Bad Boy remix)
6. Mya feat. Wyclef Jean - Ghetto Superstar
7. Destiny's Child feat. Wyclef Jean - No No No Part 2
8. Mase feat. Mya - All I Ever Wanted
9. Montell Jordan feat. LL Cool J - Get It On Tonight (remix)
10. TLC - Creep

style obsession: birkenstocks

Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3

Birkenstocks & Birkenstock inspired shoes are so in style this year. I noticed that designers have been designing Birkenstock inspired shoes (top/middle/bottom). However, I'm an advocate of the original Birkenstock brand because they are one of the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. It also seems like they've partnered with companies like Urban Outfitters and Free People to sell different styles than your usual Gizehs or Arizonas. 

d.i.y. new home decor things

I've been doing some more decorating around my apartment and taking down some old things. I really love this world map project, which you can read about on one of my favourite blogs, Treasures & Travels. 

The entire cost of the project was less than $25. I got the poster printed at the large format printer at my university, so it was $18 for a 3x2 ft poster. Then a few bucks for some embroidery floss and and pushpins. It might have been smart for me to put some cork board behind the poster to make it easier to push in the pins and cause less wall damage. 

The other thing is I did was nail this branch to the wall and hung some paper cranes off it. One day I was walking to work and there was this tree branch right in the middle of the sidewalk, so the most sensical thing to do was to take it home. I was going to spray paint it, but never got around to it. I kinda like it au naturel.

new things: earrings

I picked up some really cool wooden earrings yesterday from Argyle Fine Art.

The designer is local, and you can visit Jane Darling Facebook page for more neat pieces. 

to the garden

Double exposures

roasted beet hummus

This is a recipe from the blog freutcake that I have crept back through my pinterest so many times to look it up that I thought I'd share (link here). Almost too pretty to eat! Beets, cumin, lemon juice and garlic. Yum!

summer reads

I had seen both of these books recommended over the past year and gave each a try. Both bestsellers, but wow, two TOTALLY different vibes:

Where'd You Go Bernadette, by Maria Semple
Read this if you're looking for a silly, light summer read. It's kind of a mystery novel, and written in a unique style, telling a story of an eccentric mother's disappearance from her daughter's perspective, cobblestoned together from emails, newspaper articles and other things. I liked it, and I'm going to send it to my sister to read, but it was a little too light for my liking.

The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt
Read this book if you're looking for something to become completely absorbed in! I will probably finish this one today, and it's the best book I've read in a long time. The writing is rich, the characters are complicated, and the plot twists and turns. This is NOT a light book, and it's quite melancholic throughout, but it's one of those books where I've gotten so attached to the characters that I'm going to be sad when I've finished it.

Also, after leaving my kobo e-reader on the greyhound one day, I decided to give reading The Goldfinch on my iPad a try, and I have been very pleased, to the point where I won't replace my kobo. Pros: you can adjust the screen brightness easily, and you can flip the text so that it's vertical (as in the picture), or horizontal and split into 2 pages, depending on if you want to hold the ipad or prop it against something to read. Still love having a paper copy every once in a while though!!

new things: clothing

Jaime did a post a while ago talking some spring clothing trends, which includes joggers (sweat pants) made of non-conventional sweat pant material. This means you can pair it with a fancy top and you're ready to go. I picked up two pairs and it's possibly the best decision I've ever made for comfort & style. I also picked up some other things along the way that I love.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4