Summer is hot. Iced Tea is cold. Natural fit.

Also, because I am trying to cut down on espresso and the dreaded Sugar Free Red Bull, I have decided to move on to Iced Teas. Within the last year or so, a David's Tea opened on my street. I had not yet stepped foot in the place, but did so today and was pleasantly surprised!

I purchased several teas, an iced tea pitcher, and some agave syrup. Here is what went down:

As with most people living in SF, space in my apartment is tight. However, this fact does not mean I have any fewer products in my regimen to attempt and glam up from time to time. As a result, I am often faced with a giant mess when it comes to storage of beauty products and accessories.

During a recent attempt to organize said mess, it occurred to me that I had a package of leftover Command Hooks on hand, and that they would work wonders in my battle to make more space in my bathroom cabinet! 

Behold, the inside cabinet hook system for all those things you use to damage your hair, along with chargers (such as the Clarsonic Mia one you see below)...

#dbsobsessed

That dryer is all but dead, and keeps sparking at me... stay tuned for post on the new dryer, which comes highly recommended. 

Recently, while at my friend Jamie's house, I saw that she had some amazing strings of lights on copper wire. Being a hillbilly at heart, I have a real affinity for year-round Christmas lights, but have never been able to successfully pull them off without a trashy look.

Problem solved. These lights are teeny-tiny and come on copper wire. Take a look at what i did with them here!

#dbsobsessed

The ability to tightly wind the lights around a small nail really gives you flexibility in terms of there you place the lights and how tightly you draw them.

Britt Bolton of Britt by Britt jewelry is an incredibly talented artist based in NYC, and just so happens to be someone I grew up in the same small town with. As happens with social media, we have kept in pseudo-contact via FB posts, and as a result I have seen a lot of her designs throughout the years and have always loved everything I have seen. The combinations of hard edge, Native American inspiration, Western art and great craftsmanship really speak to my personal aesthetic, and I have been waiting to purchase something for some time now, and to share it with all of you!

Recently, I purchased a dream catcher from her site and was blown away by the quality of the piece. The fine details are exquisite, without being too precious to actually touch in order to get up on the wall. This is a beautiful item and will not be my only purchase from this one-time fellow school bus rider and burgeoning designer.

Check out Britt by Britt now! #dbsobsessed

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing one of the final performances of Show Boat at the SF Opera House. I saw Show Boat on Broadway with my grandmother and my cousin when I was in 5th grade, and have been in love with the music ever since. When at my parent's house, I often listen to the CD I bought at the show, and even went so far as to sing 'Can't Help Lovin' That Man' in a state-wide solo and ensemble competition in middle school in Idaho. No, I was not a good singer, but my family and friends encouraged me none-the-less. Not sure if I                                     should love or hate them for this...

In any event, when I heard that the show would be here in the City, I jumped at the chance to see it again. Never having been to this specific opera house, I was disappointed, but I can't say surprised, to see that the crowd in SF has forgotten how to dress up for occasions such as the opera. It is so sad to know that this is very possibly something that will never be part of our culture again. However, this is about the show, not the slobs...

In the pre-production talk I was reminded of the fact that while I love the MUSIC of Show Boat, but having seen it when I was so young, I did not remember, or even fully understand the story. The love, the tragedy, the cultural significance, all makes this show such a moving performance that everyone should see. This is truly a show in which you feel just about every emotion there is. 

And then there are the songs. 'Old Man Rive', 'Can't Help Lovin' That Man', 'Make Believe', just to name a few. These are some of the best in musical theatre, and a joy to see live. 'Old Man River' in particular, as the ability to move even the grumpiest of old men.

If you can, go see it in it's final performances this weekend.

#dbsobsessed

Bespoke libraries, joining book love with interior design.
LOVE this work by Thatcher Wine of Juniper Books.

These libraries allow people with very specific aesthetic tastes, to house a number of books, without losing the looks they are going for! As a rampant bibliophile and decorating fiend, this is something I can totally get behind.

#dbsobsessed

Check out a video about his work, here.

It has been a while since I have written about any new additions to the list of those things which qualify as #dbsobsessed! Part of the reason for that is that I have been face first in a book for much of the last few months. Some of the best I have read, which I HIGHLY recommend, are as follows:

• Gone Girl, Sharp Objects & Dark Places - All by Gillian Flynn. Her style of writing and the way she switches to different POVs can take some time to get used to. However, once you do, you are in for a suspenseful and twisted journey that will take you far from where you expected. 
• Bury This by Andrea Portes - In many ways this is the poor man's Flynn book, but still a fun read, in a VERY similar style. So, if you are a Flynn fan, you should enjoy this as well.
• We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson - Each time I describe this book to someone, the only thing I know to say is that I found it to be 'hauntingly beautiful'. The writing is lovely and the story has an eerie quality without trying too hard. I found a very Grey Gardens-esque quality in the characters of the book and felt similarly sympathetic to them.