Perfect for Father's Day

I absolutely love this hanky... so perfect for Father's Day. Not sure how many men still use hankies, but it's such a lovely, unique and thoughtful little piece. Found via Etsy's front page "inspired by a handmade wedding"... created by Etsy seller EmbroiderybyLinda.

photo: EmbroiderybyLinda

Kindred ... "Wallpapered Together"

Have you heard of this lovely collaboration between Holly of Decor8 and Heather (Ez) of Creature Comforts? They've created Kindred. It's their way of promoting and supporting independent artists ... with free downloadable note cards, postcards and desktop wallpapers. Their most recent update is the "Wallpapered Together" series, "Summertime theme: the five senses", with all of the featured artists using the current Pantone color forecast for Spring 2009. (They also have an archive of the previous season's Wallpapers!)

(image via Kindred)
(found via YellowGoat)

Outcasts United ... A Refugee Team, An American Town

This book looks like a wonderful, inspiring story. I saw the author, Warren St.John, on MSNBC's Morning Joe last week. (According to Mike Barnacle and Joe Scarborough, this needs to be made into a movie!)

From the book's website: Outcasts United is the story of a refugee soccer team, a remarkable woman coach and a small southern town turned upside down by the process of refugee resettlement.

In the 1990s, that town, Clarkston, Georgia, became a resettlement center for refugees and a modern-day Ellis Island for scores of families from war zones in Liberia, Congo, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan. The town also became home to Luma Mufleh, an American-educated Jordanian woman who founded a youth soccer team to help keep Clarkston’s boys off the streets.

Theirs is a story about resilience in the face of extraordinary hardship, the power of one person to make a difference and the daunting challenge of creating community in a place where people seem to have so little in common.

Royals for the Rainforest...

I think I first saw a clip of this over on MSNBC (surprise, surprise... I know...). It's a lovely, compelling video - and definitely worth a look.

There is an official website as well: The Prince's Rainforests Project.

On a lighter note...

Loving Kim Kardashian's lighter locks. (found via TMZ.com - one of my guilty pleasures. Image credit: Getty.) I went darker the last time I had my hair done ... against my better judgement. I've read that the darker your hair is, that any flaws in your skin will be more noticeable. (translation: next time I will be framing my face with highlights...)

Have you seen Fergie's darker look? I'm not sure if I like this or not... The "before" is on the right. (It's a much softer look, don't you think?) (found via Glamour's Beauty Blog. Images: WireImage.) There's a survey being taken over on BellaSugar ... currently over 70% do not like the new look.


What do you think?

(By the way, this reminds me of a post by one of my favorite bloggers ... who is absolutely adorable with her dark locks - even first thing in the morn.)

Bravo, Senator Specter!

So thrilled to hear Senator Arlen Specter has come back to the Democratic Party. I'm sure it was not an easy decision.

Where is the love...?

There is an unscientific poll going on over at MSNBC.com - asking people to "Give President Obama a Grade". Apparently, a bunch of conservative bloggers have been encouraging their readers to vote and give a failing grade. For the record, I gave him an A.

On a side note, I recently found this variation of Rosie the Riveter on Etsy.

...via Metaphorchid.

I've also been coveting this simple necklace that says it all, also found on Etsy.

...via onelifejewelry.

Pole Dancing ... Grizzly Style

Apparently this has been around for awhile, but I just saw it today and think it's a riot!! (I may have to get some old-school Kool & the Gang downloaded to my iTunes.)

Video via nativemustang on YouTube.

Etsy finds ... oh, the vintage love!

Here's a little bit of Etsy love ~ vintage style... and almost all of them are under $25.

1) Adorable little family of brass penguins: $24, WeThinkWeCan . 2) retro modern Royal Blue Enamel Cuff: $8, ColorField Vintage . 3) I'm in love with this sun dress, the color - the print - the cumberbund band: $64, ColorField Vintage . 4) chic, embossed Croc Handbag: $24, Dewberry Vintage . 5) colorful, mod print apron: $14, OliveVintage.

All images via their respective shops.

Eco Barons ... looks like a good read.

I saw an inteview on Morning Joe with the Eco Baron author, Edward Humes, earlier this week. I'm completely intrigued - not only with the subject matter, but with the beautiful cover image. The mended leaf. So tragic, but inspirational. It's never too late, right? If anyone has read the book, please let me know what you think of it. (Although, I think I'll be hitting the bookstore soon to pick up my own copy.)

By the way, Mr. Humes has received the Pulitzer Prize for his journalism and he's a writer-at-large for Los Angeles magazine. And he does have a blog as well...

Prime Minister Gordon Brown ... Wow!

I'm currently watching MSNBC's coverage of Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown - he is a fantastic speaker. I liked Tony Blair immensely - now it appears I am also a fan of the honorable P.M. Brown. (I'd give you a link to his rousing, inspirational speech, but he's still delivering it...)

The Swear Jar... this is how it would work in my home...

Swear Jar--Funniest Commercial Ever! - watch more funny videos

One of my "Facebook" friends posted this link ~ what a hoot!! (And as I posted earlier, you know there is a special place in my heart for bad language...)