My Beloved Anthropologie Meets Gwen

My summers north as a kid were never complete without a walk-thru of Gwen Frostic's studio. It typically complemented the perfect afternoon -- hours spent perusing books at the Beulah library, indulging in homemade zucchini muffins at a local Benzonia cafe, and then a visit to Gwen. She signed a notebook for me once -- something I only remembered after she passed in 2001 -- but meeting her as a child was the equivalent of a celebrity in the highest order... And she never disappointed.

This week's news that my beloved Anthropologie had finally been made privvy to this youthful secret of mine brought me such delight. Their clip from Facebook follows below, but all you really need to know is that this further cements my love for this brand. Enjoy.

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In her 95 years of life, Michigan-born artist, writer, and illustrator Gwen Frostic managed to set up her own printing shop, publish 20 books, and produce scads of paper ephemera, all while battling the effects of cerebral palsy. Many see Gwen as a pioneer who dabbled in “DIY” long before the acronym became a topic du jour in today’s blogosphere. Case in point, our merchandising director Jeffrey discovered Gwen long before the dawn of the Internet. He explains:“As a child, I would regularly pass a sign for her studio along a busy country road. It was modern but rustic, big and almost epic, but still very Gwen, complete with her stylized signature and blue heron in flight.”A lifelong fan of her handcrafted, outdoorsy aesthetic, Jeffrey describes what it was like to receive the gift of a Gwen Frostic book.“It was a copy of My Michigan, written and illustrated by Gwen, with her trademark block prints and muted colors. I had all but forgotten about her at that point in my life. It took me a minute, but soon I realized it was a Gwen Frostic, and I was instantly transported back to a place I missed so much.”To experience the enchanting, inspirational art of Gwen Frostic for yourself, check out our new line of books and stationery: http://bit.ly/2uRgCE

Things We Are Loving This Week

• Hunter's latest words: 'Ahn-nee-nah' (ambulance), awesome, JUMP (as in, off the bottom stair in the basement), po-kin (pumpkin), 'Donn-nah-nah DUCK' (Donald Duck), and 'care-co' (scarecrow)
• Hitting the pumpkin patch last week with my boys and watching H's delight in roaming hills and hills in search of the perfect 'po-kin'
  
  
• Still recovering from the other weekend's 1st Annual Bobenmoyer Chili Cook-Off: 6 contestants + incredible flavor = Bo Pennell's first official victory. He looks so proud for cooking up his 'Michigan Chili'.

• Tate Forcier's incredible strength and poise on the football field -- hey, someone needs to offer this kid his due props! Did I mention he's a f.r.e.s.h.m.a.n?
• The resurgence of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks.
• New Fall TV: Modern Family, FlashForward, Glee and Community are gracing our TiVo these days. Did anyone catch Wednesday's Glee rendition of Young MC's Busta Move?
• Digging out some oldie but goodie music: The Singles Soundtrack
• Hunter yelling GO BLUE at the TV whenever he sees football on... and the fact that his Daddy was actually the one who taught him that ;)
• The Jim and Pam wedding episode of The Office: That final takeaway of Jim glancing over at the camera in quiet contentment has stayed with me

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

It is with a heavy heart that we announce tomorrow's departure of our dear Beckham. After much dubious searching, I managed to find a family via Craigslist trying to replace a pooch for their father. He lives on 58 acres of land, takes his pets with him everywhere and feels leashes are for 'animals' but that pets are part of the family. There are 3 other dogs who have the run of the land and would teach Becks the boundaries. The only thing we have asked for in exchange of him is to pick up in love and care where we have left off. We have so many memories (both wonderful and not so wonderful) with Beckham and only hope he will go on to develop thousands more with his new family. It is truly bittersweet.

For our Bubba -- we love you.

"Ha-pee Berfday DADDY"

An incredible man celebrated his 33rd birthday yesterday -- my husband! We celebrated by shutting off our respective phones for the evening, indulging in some steaks snagged from Holiday Market (our favorite), chasing H around the basement and his new playroom, and laying on the couch... together... (it's been a LONG time since we've had such a luxury).

Happy birthday -- or 'berfday' as Hunter says -- to the best husband in the world.

My Wish List, By Jeanine

I witnessed *gasp* Christmas decorations being placed on shelves the other day at Target. Actual holiday decorations. I was all, was it not JUST 62 degrees out last weekend? And if I'm not mistaken, isn't that Christmas endcap printed on the back of a recycled Back-To-School Savings sign? And the marketer in me was saying, yes, but this is the time we start convincing people they're already behind the holiday game and have to start buying NOW. We're tricky, us marketers. Kids have only been in school for a month yet and we're already informing you you'd better getting planning for summer or risk becoming the laughing stock of your neighborhood...

Aside from that though, these decorations are also a clue that my favorite time of year is officially underway -- the months that begin with football, transition into fall leaves and cider mill visits, to walks on cooler autumn nights, moving into all-Christmas music on the radio, all the time, twinkling holiday lights and decorations and eventually ending with lots of family, food and fun -- there's nothing like this time of year.

It's also the time of year when I unabashedly keep many, many wish lists. And here's a sneak peek at what's currently at the top of mine:

1. I'd love to show off this delicate Green and White Lattice Clutch on a night out with my hubby. Etsy seller Briana Edelman Designs has a number of fun fabric options, but all are lined with a beautiful contrast of pink lining.

2. I've unexpectedly fallen for this set of Daschund Bookends, designed by one of my favorites, Jonathan Adler.

3. This handmade 'rescued paper' Alphabet Guide Notebook by Etsy seller ohsogood would make the perfect place to keep my running Wish List. And her other journal and notepad designs are equally as adorable.



4. Finally, I've never been one for a bread box, but this option has drastically swayed my opinion. The Typhoon Buick Retro Bread Bin is so modernly designed and would add such a fun pop of color on our kitchen counter.




All right, now it's time for you to confess -- what's on your wish list?

Bragging... Just A Little

I've scored some adorable finds lately and just had to brag, er, SHARE. The mod file folders and binder clips above have helped up the ante in my work supplies to the tune of only $1 apiece. I love the Dollar Bins at Michaels!

And how about the alphabet-inspired placemats below, found in the Clearance section at Pier 1? Can't wait to dress up my next dinner party with these little gems.

The Mighty Have Fallen

It was a dark day in our house on Saturday. Fortunately my pain was slightly distilled with a quick date at Inyo for sushi and a late-night showing of It Might Get Loud, but more on that later. In any event, as any acquaintance worth their salt knows, a Michigan football loss is the equivalent in my world as Conde Nast announcing the decision to shutter Gourmet Magazine... (sound effects of throat-clearing while slip of paper is handed over for my review). And apparently that too, was made public today.

It's headlines like those that force me to ask: Am I the only remaining human to find paper publications (Read: newspaper, magazines, direct mail) an art worth saving? I realize the convenience and perhaps immediacy computers have provided our world -- and believe me, I couldn't live without my iPhone in my work or play life -- but will my grandchildren find themselves cozying up to their Kindles in lieu of a good paperback? Are we whittling our published titles down to one a month titled "FOR YOU OLD FARTS ONLY WHO JUST CAN'T BEAR TO LET IT GO?!"

Yes, I shed a tear for my mighty maize and blue on Saturday but this? This is worth turning on the faucet for. Au revoir Gourmet. I'll now file my famed Wild Mushroom Penne under the label of"Dead, But Not Forgotten."

THIS. JUST. IN.

I honestly don't think I could be MORE excited as I type this. Well, maybe if you took a glance into your magic ball and declared tomorrow The Day UofM Will Absolutely Annihilate MSU, or The Day A Large Armored Truck Dumps Thousands Of Dollars On Jeanine's Car With Little Signs Reading "No Seriously. Take This".

Now, my mom (Love you Mom!) sends me lots of links, so I typically savor them over my hot cup of morning chai when I'm not quite in work-til-you-drop-don't-you-dare-spend-10-minutes-online-I-need-that-conference-report-NOW mode. So imagine if you will, me checking my Hotmail account this morning and finding a little link from my loving mother that hints at one of the best things in my world since Anthropologie started mailing out surprise 15% off birthday coupons:

Eve Aronoff -- of evetherestaurant -- is opening a new restaurant.

Now, this little tidbit found on Facebook is just enough to literally whet my palette AND make me start cashing in all favors just to be one of the first to experience Frita Batido. Read on:


Eve has been brainstorming for years about opening a small Cuban and Latino inspired restaurant – inspired by the spirit and ingredients of cultures she has fallen in love with. As this project nears fruition, join us for a festive night unveiling the whimsical menu she has created for Frita Batido at a lively cocktail party – standing buffet with drinks – featuring DJ Raj Mahal and a one night art show of internationally celebrated graffiti artist, Antonio ‘Shades’ Agee.