tied up with string.

one of the nicest things about ordering tiny goods made by hand is the love and care with which they're packaged. this week's addition to our wee space was no exception. expertly sent by shanna, her words a bright spot in our very dim apartment.

ps. there's something about wilting flowers, isn't there? still beautiful in their old age.

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< two fifty: life in a tiny apartment.

survival tip #4.

only buy beautiful cleaning supplies.

i'm a pretty deliberating shopper. i'm not exaggerating when i say that almost every purchase i make is one i labor over: where did this come from? how long it travel? who made it? how long will it last? can i afford it? is it sustainable? it can be a little bit overwhelming.

but in a tiny apartment with limited space, the beauty and utility of even everyday cleaning supplies is important. unable to stash ugly plastic brooms or scrub brushes into a pantry or closet, i've become obsessed with slowly finding long-lasting replacements for the plastic-handled accoutrements i've been toting around since college. the sticking point being, of course, that throwing all formerly purchased scrubbers to the landfill only for the sake of beauty is, alas, also not a sustainable solution. the process, therefore, has been slow. and this tip is more of a warning to any readers just starting out: that pink plastic broom might seem like a cheap solution now, but chances are it'll hang around for longer than you want it to.

two of my go-to places to shop for lovely and durable home goods are brook farm general store and the green depot. as it turns out, things that are made to last, are also usually easy on the eyes.*

*if any one has any tip for a beautiful toilet brush: i'm all ears.

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my week in objects (mostly).

just a little late: five things that made my week.

1. these plums.

{for reminding me that summertime might bring extreme heat waves, but it also brings fresh fruit}.

2. these cardoon flowers.

{for being so other-worldly. and adding a little spunk to the old apartment}.

3. this grainy photo.

{because i finally brought my bike to new york. so grainy photo or not, i needed to document my inaugural ride}.

4. this weather report.

{because even if only for a night, it showed a drop in temperatures. welcome relief}.

5. this coffee.

{because james was able to share a cup with me on a 'saturday' morning that to the rest of the world was a monday}.

what little something made your week?

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souvenirs.

the best part about a night away from the city? the treats you get to bring back with you.

in this case, flowers from my mom's garden.

i've more or less abandoned my bouquet project. {may and june just slipped by}. but for the record, i wouldn't mind carrying a bouquet just like this.

You have read this article flowers / wildflowers with the title July 2011. You can bookmark this page URL http://newbieny.blogspot.com/2011/07/souvenirs.html. Thanks!

< two fifty: life in a tiny apartment.

this is not a tip. this is a plea.

the awesome and creative folk over at brooklyn based and theSweeten have paired up to host a contest that offers one lucky winner the opportunity to have their new york or brooklyn apartment spruced up with local wallpaper manufacturer, flavor paper's, beautiful goods.

i've entered in hopes that our loft {in which we cannot stand up}, might get a chance at some glory. truth be told, it's a really difficult space. not only is it extraordinarily warm for sleeping {not to mention moving around in}, but it's proven a bear for decorating. and i feel like the help of expert or two wouldn't be such a bad thing. if you're willing, hop over to theSweeten and let them know you're rooting for me. the prize goes to the entry with the most facebook likes!

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little escape.

yesterday: a quick trip to my parents' house to pick up my bicycle, commune with the flowers, and eat dinner at the beach. and the real upside? working on the weekends means jaunts to the country without fighting the traffic. i'm starting to get used to this.

You have read this article connecticut / places with the title July 2011. You can bookmark this page URL http://newbieny.blogspot.com/2011/07/little-escape.html. Thanks!

my week in objects (mostly).

five little things that made my week.

1. this perfect sandwich.

{pickles, salsa, avocado, fancy mayo, and on and on. a vegetarian sandwich that did not include pesto or grilled veggies. finally}.

2. these farm flowers.

{because when they start peeping through the fence to say hello, i know it's really summer}.

3. this note (and surrounding objets).

{because on my day off i finally got around to writing a few notes. the old-fashioned way}.

4. this other note.

{because i got it in the mail this week from one of my faraway sisters. and because it's awfully cute}.

5. these red sandals.

{because sometimes the sidewalk needs some cheering, and red summer sandals are just the thing to do it}.

what little something made your week?

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parfait.

as you can probably imagine based on the date of this post, its been several weeks now that the rhubarb pictured has been languishing in our crisper. purchased during the height of rhubarb season, it wasn't until yesterday that i finally got around to doing something with it.

too hot to do anything more, i decided on a simple compote: water + sugar + rhubarb + heat.

paired with creamy yogurt and topped with brown sugar, it was just the tangy treat we needed.

better late than never, right?

You have read this article food / parfait / rhubarb with the title July 2011. You can bookmark this page URL http://newbieny.blogspot.com/2011/07/parfait.html. Thanks!

< two fifty: life in a tiny apartment.

survival tip #3.

find creative storage solutions.

do you know what this is?

it's a surfboard. in a bathtub.

we keep our surfboard in our bathtub. all the time.

it's made to withstand water, right? the jury's still out on whether we're geniuses or just plain disgusting. feel free to weigh in.

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my week in objects (mostly).

five little things that made my week (or two).

1. this bridge.

{because i finally got to walk over it. with james. on our anniversary}.

2. this birthday bouquet.

{because it was such a thoughtful gesture from a farm friend. and just right}.

3. these hydrangeas.

{for coordinating themselves so well with the mailbox}.

4. this pizza.

{because even though i mentioned it before, it bears repeating}.

5. these raspberries.

{because, yes folks, they're ripening in new york. and they're delicious}.

what little something made your week?

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iron works.

i've been searching for a quick and easy solution for dressing the one window that we have in our tiny space. a few weeks ago, on an afternoon stroll through the old neighborhood, i stumbled across this little workshop and took a peek inside. though i wouldn't say the guys inside were exactly accustomed to the kind of request i made, within ten minutes i left with exactly what i was looking for. you don't get what you don't ask for, right?

as for the rest of the project, stay tuned.

You have read this article brooklyn / ironworks / places with the title July 2011. You can bookmark this page URL http://newbieny.blogspot.com/2011/07/iron-works.html. Thanks!

celebrating, lately.

on friday, my birthday wish to endure a very long line for some of the most delicious pizza i've ever had. and on monday, a red, white, and blue bicycle ride around governor's island and a walk across brooklyn bridge. more on that, later.

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