I know, I know, it’s been a loooooooooooooong time!

Sorry about that. I’ve been thinking, breathing and doing photography while putting together a new website. It’s still not ready but really I’m working on it! In the meantime, here’s some delicious crushing.

Photo by Trufflegirls

I just got this print from photojojo and I’m in love with it. Plus, it reminds me everyday to pick up my freaking camera!

I’m a sucker for anything that reminds me of Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn so when I saw this photo shoot (by Mario Testino) in Vogue, it left me drooling.

My first crush comes to you from Cambodia. Throughout our travels my husband and I stayed in many guesthouses but none could match the gnome sheets we found in this one. I think my guest bed would look very fine with these (and a fun surprise for our guests).

Maybe it’s the coming of Valentine’s Day but love is in the air…

This second crush is a card by Paper Wheel. If any of you have a partner with an iphone you will understand the depth of sentiment.

I happen to be drawn to just about everything that is white, these “you+ me” hearts by Quotes and Notes are particularly lovely don’t you think?

How could I not end with a wedding dress, this one by ouma has a bit of a rosy pink twist. It makes me sigh…

Baby it’s cold outside -

Well not exactly, here in Cambodia it’s in the 90s everyday but my lovely sister-in-law just emailed me from home letting me know that snow is “pouring” down. I’m quite excited.

In honour of the snow, I thought I would post this adorable hat (and mittens set) by dadaya.

My sister-in-law has also been sending me emails about her cozy Christmasy home. I’m so happy to be in Cambodia at present but getting those emails fills my longing for a Christmas in Connecticut. This lovely hair clip by LittleBirdsBoutique reminded me of something she would put in her daughter’s hair.

Do you think my love of birds would move in to obsession realm with this? Hmmm, at least it would be a fashionable obsession.

ring by dillondesigns

I have to admit, I have this intense and odd love for anything that is I term “creepy scientific.” I was a vegetarian for sixteen years and yet still love ancient and apocryphal looking insects pinned to boards, animal skulls under glass cloches and antique diagrams of birds and reptiles and anything to do with natural science really. Also under “creepy scientific” are old medicine vials, surgical tools and diagrams of say the human brain or something. I think if it wouldn’t do permanent damage to my future children and totally freak our guests out I would have a room dedicated to “creepy scientific” but for now I will tone down the weirdness and stick with having a crush on aminitray’s etsy store. She sells things like this Victorian microscope pendant

and wood fungus reliquary

My second crush this week is on an apron. Yep, I go from skulls to feminine aprons in about 2 seconds. This one is from one of my favourite stores Anthropologie (insert sigh). Don’t you think with all of the holiday cooking coming up one could justify such a purchase?

When I was younger, I used to think the perfect man for me would have the character of Jean Valjean (you know after the prison thing), the wit and intellect of Oscar Wilde and the dark mystery of Mr. Darcy. Throw in the looks of Cary Grant, the golden heart of Jimmy Stewart and the liquid honey of Bing Crosby’s voice. Obviously that wasn’t too much to ask because I eventually got all of that and so much more in my Jon. One of the thing that ties all of these men together is being a gentleman (ok, yes, some of them are fictional characters and some of them in “real life” weren’t quite all gentleman but just go with me on this). I love gentlemanly manners, gentlemanly ways and gentlemanly tools so when Jon and I stumbled in to a shop in London called Geo.F. Trumpers I was practically giddy. This shop has been around since 1875 (in the same location) and specializes in gentleman’s grooming tools (think badger brushes and straight razors). Everything was a warm wooden glow. They even had a back room where men where getting a shave. I’m sure Cary Grant comes by to visit occasionally. Melt, melt goes my romantic heart.

This week’s crushes come from all over the globe.

1. These shoes! I think I might believe in love at first site. Jon and I passed by this shop window and I actually gasped when I saw this pair of green Italian pumps. I don’t know who makes them but the next time I have $300 US dollars to spend on a pair of shoes I’ll be sure to find out:)

2. Wouldn’t this cape by the wonderful French designer zig zig zig zig be adorable for a flower girl (or any girl really)?

3. Speaking of flowers I think these perfectly lovely burlap cones by New York designer Painted White would make a beautiful wedding aisle decoration.

Even though I couldn’t blog about them, crushes are inevitable.

1. France and Germany (we haven’t made it to Germany, I was just remembering our last trip there). Any countries that actively promote eating chocolate for breakfast (Germany – chocolate slivers in muesli. France – Nutella on a baguette and chocolate croissants) I’m definitely a fan of.

2. Before we left for our trip I began to read a book called A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. The subtitle is: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table. Ms. Wizenberg weaves her story (which includes her change of career, loss of her father and move to Paris etc.) with recipes from her home. I read through half this book by the second night. Being in France, I thoroughly wish that I could have her descriptions of this amazing country, its unique people and delicious food. It will be a delicious treat to finish it when I return. Oh, she also writes a lovely blog: orangette!

3. Byrd and Belle’s Laptop sleeve. I love change, I mean it is vitally important for me to function well. I have many friends that hate change but I thrive on it. It wakes me up to the wonders of the world. So, we’ve only been traveling for about a month and a half but I’ve been looking at the same luggage everyday (and it’s not a pretty site) so you’ll have to forgive me if I put in another bag as a crush. Maybe this laptop case is too nice for traveling to 6 countries in 3 months but it would be great for client meetings and just to make a girl feel like a million bucks.

isn't she cute

To the guys who read my blog, I have to warn you, all of my crushes tend toward the feminine, whimsical and romantic which could be a great way to get gift ideas for any girl that might be in your life but might not be particularly interesting to you. This week however I have a huge crush on a car! That’s right a car. I’ve never been a “car” person until I saw this one. Ok guys, it is a car but it is also feminine, whimsical and romantic (I can’t seem to help myself).

So wrap your head in a scarf (it’s a convertible!), get out those oversized sunglasses and hop in.

The Figaro

Lugging my VERY heavy camera equipment around the world has not been fun, it’s definitely worth it, but not fun. Not to mention that 99.9% of all camera bags are either 1. ugly (but practical) or 2. uninteresting (but practical) so when I saw this I started dreaming. Red is not one of my favourite colours but it’s still so very cute.

The Bad-Ass Bowler Camera Bag

I realize we haven’t reached Thanksgiving yet but I’m going to be far away from home on Christmas so I’ve already decided that when Jon and I return home I am decking the house with Christmas for the month of January. The only problem – finding a Christmas tree in January. When I discovered Mae came out with a Christmas tree I got so excited. I still don’t know what I’m going to do but I do know that if I could, I would probably purchase everything on her site!

Fabric re-usable Christmas tree

She has so many cute things for children’s rooms (or those who are children at heart).

I had to show you the birds of course!

Wednesdays are good days for crushes.

Here are a few of mine:

Twigs & Honey creates whimsical, feminine hairpieces. I can’t get enough of them.

Need a flirty dress to go with your headpiece? Try Elizabeth Dye (and if you’re lucky enough to live in or near Portland, OR visit her store – The English Dept.

I’m in major crush with her wedding dresses but I thought I would add a photo more befitting this Halloween season.

and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better – a Twigs and Honey headpiece with a Elizabeth Dye dress. Yum.

Of course my major crush today is my husband who drove a rental car (remember, we’re in Scotland so steering wheel is on the opposite side plus we must drive on the opposite side of the road) 15 curvy miles while having a major migraine. Definitely crush worthy.