These are THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES!

image via the awesome Love Cat Mag

I have no words.

H&M = Hot & Model

image by photographer Peter Gehrke for H&M lingerie via Love Cat Mag

Whaaaa!!!! Biaca Balti puts the HOT in HOT!!!

Art and Copy.

images by Genis Carreras found here

I really like these Graphic prints, so reminiscent of Josef Albers

Personal Growth.

Madonna image found here, Wallis Simpson and The Duke of Windsor pic found here

Think about it folks, how weird is the world??? Two style icons Madge and Wallis Simpson connected?? Sure it seems somewhat reasonable, I mean although Madge has been pop star she has always loved old Hollywood glamour. So it's not such a stretch that she would end up making a movie based on the life of WALLIS Simpson. Still, looking at the two pics above one would never think it possible. Goes to show you, the person you are today is full of strange and wonderful possibilities.

Hit me with your best FRUIT!

photos found on What Katie Ate blog

I gotta make this! I'm not a huge fruit fan but I love it in a crumble.

The recipe can be found here, and ohhh the photography will leave you drooling. Remember you can't gain weight from looking, at least I don't think so.

Best TV intro's that set the tone.

They don't make television intros like they did back in the day. Remember The Facts of Life, The Love Boat, Charlie's Angels and my all time favourite, Three's company! (can't find this one on You Tube)
However there are a few contemporary standouts, namely Dexter, Six Feet Under and The Walking Dead. I love watching these intro's almost as much as the show's themselves, quite remarkable!

Tops goes to Dexter

2. Second fav gotta be Six Feet Under

3. So good, The Walking Dead

Culinary Christmas Wish List

1. Ottolenghi The Cookbook found on Amazon
2. Diptyque Firewood candle
3. Cuisinart green hand mixer found on Amazon
4. Crate and Barrel mini cast iron skillet
5. Nepresso Pixie coffeemaker
6. Williams Sonoma offset icing spatula
7. Crate and Barrel pastry blender
8. Crate and Barrel Le Creuset green spatula

Since I've started learning how to cook, all thanks to my awesome friends/master chefs, I've become interested in all things kitchen related. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have any intention of becoming a culinary guru who's lives to cook precious things, I'm just looking to take my new found inspiration and the tips/learnings from my friends to build a well equipped kitchen.

Well okay so I don't need the $90 Diptyque candle to get the ball rolling, or the (BEAUTIFUL!!!) Nepresso Pixie coffeemaker but what the heck! inspiration is fuel!!!

So here's my Christmas wish list, one that I hope to fill myself.  I love buying myself presents, I ask you folks is that so wrong???

Cook with me!

    

photos by ©J. Dias

This fall I've been inviting my friends over to teach me how to cook. So far the experience have been great! not only am I learning how to prepare meals and get used to being around a kitchen, but I get to spend quality time catching up with my wonderful friends. I've been in AWE of how generous (and patient) everyone has been with me. Thank you from the bottom of my HEART!, not to mention belly ;)

This weekend my good friend/baker extraordinaire Judy taught me how to make a cake. We created this awesome carrot cake for my Mom's birthday (carrot being her favourite!) It turned out amazing, not only pretty but delicious. 

I 'Can' go for that!

image via here

I'm in a Hall and Oates state of mind tonight, so for your entertainment pleasure....

Walkin' proud!

© J. Dias

My friend Naomi gifted me these Happy Socks last year, I LOVE them! note to self: must buy more!

I picked up these shoes in Florence this year, nice eh? Thrifty me found them for $45 Euro, deal!, so I got a similar pair in brown as well. The toe has the perfect point not like those funny shoes that are soooo pointy that you see them around the corner before you actually the person wearing them.

Love Lonny!

photos via lonnymag

Lonny magazine, along with Sweet Paul magazine's new issue, have gotta be the two best online mags out there. I'm drooling over so many of the interiors featured, just check it already!

Gilt lust.

images on Griffin Trading site

I need a little gilt love this grey Monday. I've loved gold wheat sheaf coffee tables from afar for quite some time. Unfortunately space constraints kept me from getting one but maybe... just maybe.... the end table version could find it's way to a tiny corner of my living room.

Classy and Trashy

photo by ©J. Dias

Came across this cool Playboy cover in a vintage store this morning. The vintage playboy covers are generally way cooler and interesting than the current publication. Just a girl licking a stamp, and it's sexy! It was displayed tableau style in a change room, nice! The store also had a bunch of these vintage girlie mags displayed in wire baskets but placed high up and out of arms reach, a really cleaver reference to adult mags in stores.
The second pic I took at the annual Christie Antique Fair this past September. I LOVE this pic! Barbie get's trashy! I also love the woman, the man in the baseball cap and the van in the background, THE BEST!

Let me eat CAKE!

photo by ©J. Dias

Stopped into the beautiful Cake Opera Co.  on my way home this afternoon. If you live in Toronto and appreciate fine patisserie shops you should know about this little gem. The ladies are very sweet and I really appreciate the special care and attention they show everyone that walks through their doors. Fyi, these are the two ladies that created Nicole Ritchie's Wedding cake. Okay so I ain't a celeb... but I still got to leave with a little piece of heaven and it only cost me $4 and change! Goes to show you, the finer things in life can be experienced by just about anyone, how's that for democratic!

Let your dim light shine.

Bacchanal by Titian

Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian

On this day I look to Titian to remind me that "creating" is a human ability, and that's a GREAT THING. So take advantage of your GREATNESS!!!

Young Paul.

via Habitually Chic

Paul Newman makes it difficult to believe that all men are created equal.

Portable Art.

So many beautiful things, so little wall space. Although I do rotate my art collection around my home I find there are still quite a few pieces that haven't been displayed yet. This sad fact is partially due to a lack of wall space but mostly because the pieces aren't framed yet. As you might know, finding the right frame can be tricky stuff, not to mention expensive business.

This week I began photographing and recording the measurements of each piece. It's on my IPhone, this way I can easily reference my inventory when I come across a great frame or display idea. Plus, having these pics on hand is another way of accessing these works that were hidden away in boxes and drawers whenever I choose. It's like my own little portable curated gallery. The pieces below are from my adventures in Italy, they are mostly works on paper which made it easier to pack away when I was travelling.

Hearts from the pages of medical illustration books from the University of Bologna 1840's

Apollo and Daphne print - Rome

a. Assorted vintage italian letters and postcards - Rome

b. Two vintage italian operas booklets - Florence

photos by ©J.Dias

I'll post more pics in future posts, Happy Weekend!

Just COS.

COS clothing photos found here

Love when minimalism is done like this! I want, no wait I NEED to dress like these guys. 

COS does simple and conceptual so well.

Complicated matters.

image from here

It's called "The Deposition" but it isn't quite a Deposition, or a Pietà, or a Lamentation, or even an Entombment scene for that matter. That's what makes this a great painting!

Jacopo Pontormo was a definitely a departure from artist's like Raphael (who's stunning Entombment is shown below). Like many Mannerist painters he made difficult paintings that challenged what the viewer knew of common religious and mythological themes. This piece resides in the Capella Capponi in (blink and you will miss it) Santa Felicità church in Florence. It's definitely worth seeing in person! a human BEING made this somewhere between 1526-1528 folks... although like many masters I'm pretty sure he was from the FUTURE ;)

image found here

Colour and Narrative.

images from Krisjanis Kaktins-gorsline blog

Yeah sure it's a little creepy but what a painter! I like Krisjanis Kaktins-gorsline paintings, just look at the way the paint is handled, and those colours, geez not everyone has this kinda sensibility. Reminds me of painters like Marlene Dumas, George Baselitz, and even a little Philip Guston.

Lovin' me some Leslieville.

photos by ©J. Dias

 Bobbette & Belle in Leslieville, Toronto is a great addition to the fine pastry shops that have been popping up all over the city. Beautiful and edible is one burgeoning trend that I'm all in favour of! I didn't get a chance to sample the goods this time around but there's a slice of carrot cake with my name on it! so stay tuned folks....

Down the road from the pastry shop I really liked the vintage industrial look of Love The Design