self service

Guinevere van Seenus x Chloe Sevigny



Stopped by Aardvark Books today and discovered this hefty fashion tome, Self Service magazine. Apparently it's been around for a while, but I've been in fashion book/mag hiding since I burn a hole in my wallet quite easily in a bookstore. I avoid temptation at all costs, and have yet to put the library on my weekly route.

I lucked out and found an older issue for only $10.... not bad. It was a choice between the Chloe Sevigny issue (see pic above), or the one I chose which focused on the players behind the scenes in the fashion and design scene. I do love me some Chloe, but really didn't need 20+ pages devoted to her. Although she does share my affinity for grey cardigans. Yes, even my mixed up style needs a basic piece to anchor it in.

The hardbound issue I picked up did not disappoint. Excellent interviews, great fashion editorial photograhed by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, and I loved, loved, looooooved the interspersing of 80's & 90's ads mixed in with candid/personal pics of fashion folks. Ok, must devour this from cover to cover.

Sigua Falls

Pina power...

On Guam, my friends and I would often hike to remote beaches and waterfalls. Sigua Falls took about 3hrs to get to, and you had to trek through hills, sword grass, and repel down a steep, muddy slope holding onto a rope for dear life. It was glorious!

I remember one adventure where I was in a particularly bad mood, trekking through the mud and grass during high noon. I griped part of the way, especially incensed with one of my friends, traipsing through the mud with twigs in his hair. Once we found the falls, though, I immersed myself in the cold, gushing water and my mood completely melted. Sigua claimed me again that day.

lovely lazy summer pets

Cuppa Joe.... Pepe Joe gets a little water spritz on a hot Summer day. Tried to capture his portrait, but here he is, threatening to nibble my fingers.

Mid-Century Modern Fuzzy-ture.... And here is Fuzzy -- breaking up the hard angles of this mod sofa. Like a little orange flokati throw. I pet sat him for a few weeks and caught him offering up the "tote bag" one day.

isa's geta

on thrifting jaunts, i'll sometimes stumble upon a perfect treasure. this child-sized geta was such a find. it is simultaneously beautiful and cute (being miniature, that is).

the red velvet straps feature a checkerboard pattern in silver thread embroidery -- and the shape?! the shape just kills me. part of set i gifted to my niece isa.

natto with basil & penne

This is California fusion by way of Japan, by way of Italy -- the ingredients that is. I have been eating natto (fermented soybeans) for several months now. I usually take it over hot rice, sometimes mixed with green onion or an egg. Since the recent heat wave, I've been hooked on eating this cold penne tossed with torn basil, olive oil and a dash of sea salt. Thought I'd try it with natto this time.

The taste was clean and very simple. You must really like natto to enjoy this dish (it is the most prominent flavor). I liked mixing the natto with sea salt and olive oil -- a nice change of pace from the usual mustard, tsuyu or shoyu seasonings. Served in a Mexican pottery bowl purchased at the San Jose flea market, and a bamboo platter found thrifting.

Made of mostly organic ingredients: Japanese natto, Bio Nature whole wheat penne (tastier than I expected), California extra virgin olive oil (bought from bulk aisle at Rainbow Grocery), Hawaiian sea salt, and basil. This is prepared and served at room temperature.

objects: link texture weave surface

Afternoon oolong. It can be sublime -- especially when taken in a favorite cup. Tampopo/dandelion ceramic crinkled cup and batik-like potholder found thrifting.



A circle in circle, in square, in pattern, texture, and color. I made this little crocheted wool bowl during a fit of restlessness. It's simple, and a perfect vessel for tomatoes or an avocado. Rattan potholder and blue/white woven runner (Japan-made I believe) found thrifting. I used secondhand wool yarn for the bowl.

miso yaki-nasu

I found some beautiful organic Japanese-variety eggplants at Rainbow Grocery Co-op. Inspired by Tea & Cookies, I made yaki-nasu (grilled eggplant) with miso. Quite delicious! I mixed a bit of sugar with the miso, from the original recipe, but found it a tad too sweet. I'll do this again, but nix the sugar and maybe add some chili instead. I can't tell you how good this was with rice.

I usually like my yaki-nasu prepared by charring the eggplant over the fire, peeling off the blackened skin, then serving it with a squeeze of lemon & shoyu. It was nice to try something new. Served on a bamboo tray and Japanese ceramic dish found thrifting.

Ingredients: Local Japanese-variety eggplant, California Cold Mountain yellow miso, pinch of turbinado sugar, roasted sesame oil and scallions. All organic and mostly local (Bay Area) or Californian.

Round Midnight

Andy Bey & The Bey Sisters - Round Midnight

Creeping into 2008 with little sleep on my hands. Some of us girls have this insomnia thing passed down from my mother's side. Sometimes it's debilitating, but usually I just embrace the night.

I've had Miles Davis on rotation for years, but this is the first time I've heard vocals to this tune. Andy Bey's voice is the power that seduces me into the dark.