Greetings from Boston!

Hello! I'm still here - working up a storm and finally getting all my home issues dealt with. The water main was fixed, the electrical service entrance was fixed and the oil tank is in. It was not the way I wanted to end the summer, but what are you going to do. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFf3a85zTalqvnHNtW-ABH1BPuYRSdue0-RYO0sRY5IL4WjCjENj82KOHr5ix7NxGP0v_j9NujAdGjQffX6ZtpzMn6EErIU7wux8PI8grtea1aEL85Xe07hL4Pzw96oNruBPLvtZ79uSOC/s1600/trinity+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFf3a85zTalqvnHNtW-ABH1BPuYRSdue0-RYO0sRY5IL4WjCjENj82KOHr5ix7NxGP0v_j9NujAdGjQffX6ZtpzMn6EErIU7wux8PI8grtea1aEL85Xe07hL4Pzw96oNruBPLvtZ79uSOC/s400/trinity+church.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2419761610_2eb4f76e32_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2419761610_2eb4f76e32_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/darwin70/2419761610/sizes/z/in/photostream/">source</a></div><br /><br />Meanwhile, I wanted to share some of my favorite images from the Boston Public Libraries current exhibit called <a href="http://www.bpl.org/news/exhibitions/boston_postcards.htm">Greetings from Boston</a> - a look at postcards dating back to the early 20th century. According to the exhibit information, in 1907, American's mailed over 677 Million postcards.<br /><br />They were all the rage-the tweets of yesteryear! Below are some of my favorites from their <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/sets/72157624739795516/">Flickr site</a>. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4898578853_a76d8d3d93_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4898578853_a76d8d3d93_z.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.xconomy.com/wordpress/wp-content/images/2009/11/Faneuil_Hall_Boston_Massachusetts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.xconomy.com/wordpress/wp-content/images/2009/11/Faneuil_Hall_Boston_Massachusetts.JPG" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/11/12/bostons-faneuil-hall-is-a-finalist-for-google-street-view-visit-vote-now-then-meet-trike-builder-dan-ratner/attachment/faneuil_hall_boston_massachusetts/">source</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4899201120_8366c72828_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4899201120_8366c72828_z.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.essential-architecture.com/ARCHITECT/Massachusetts_State_House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.essential-architecture.com/ARCHITECT/Massachusetts_State_House.jpg" width="400" />s</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.essential-architecture.com/ARCHITECT/ARCH-Bulfinch.htm">source</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4898621757_9b135002f2_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4898621757_9b135002f2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4899230192_13c8b7ecd3_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4899230192_13c8b7ecd3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4899248960_fffc0844dc_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4899248960_fffc0844dc_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4899256996_a0fa506172_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4899256996_a0fa506172_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4898673357_11a26546f0_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4898673357_11a26546f0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/07/11/1215824392_9051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/07/11/1215824392_9051.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/gallery/07_11_08_globe_photos_of_the_week?pg=4">source</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4899270018_fa4c99d1d4_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4899270018_fa4c99d1d4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/2950909635_7580672bea_z.jpg?zz=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/2950909635_7580672bea_z.jpg?zz=1" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardsiemens/2950909635/sizes/z/in/photostream/">source</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4898679491_13bbeedba4_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4898679491_13bbeedba4_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Public_Garden%2C_Boston.jpg/800px-Public_Garden%2C_Boston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Public_Garden%2C_Boston.jpg/800px-Public_Garden%2C_Boston.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Public_Garden,_Boston.jpg">source </a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4899288144_a29bb28378_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4899288144_a29bb28378_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://jacobweb.net/trips/2007/Boston/01-BostonCommon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://jacobweb.net/trips/2007/Boston/01-BostonCommon.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jacobweb.net/trips/2007/Boston/Boston.htm">source</a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4898714893_39932f5b23_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4898714893_39932f5b23_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Greetings from Boston!

Hello! I'm still here - working up a storm and finally getting all my home issues dealt with. The water main was fixed, the electrical s...

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Architectural Digest: A hopeful sign

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKds9DxM_UQtPKcuam6gK-baD2pBdGWcMInxi49MbXVP3IiPJn0SNWzLjbQ36s6zVayegfnAxPUxjxGuWeM7WCo30RmUaxH13TbcNxpuX5iPBfHlxOHxr_5oKjNUzYEB7uVph5V6OiGYeM/s1600/01_yankee_vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKds9DxM_UQtPKcuam6gK-baD2pBdGWcMInxi49MbXVP3IiPJn0SNWzLjbQ36s6zVayegfnAxPUxjxGuWeM7WCo30RmUaxH13TbcNxpuX5iPBfHlxOHxr_5oKjNUzYEB7uVph5V6OiGYeM/s640/01_yankee_vision.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Maybe it's because I'm a New England girl, but this Rockport, ME waterfront property that's featured in the October issue of <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision_slideshow#slide=1">AD</a> has me feeling hopeful that changes are afoot for this venerable, but dated, magazine. This spread is fresh and appealing, light of touch and long on personality. It looks like a space people actually live in, or would like to visit. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/02_yankee_vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/02_yankee_vision.jpg" /></a></div><br />Nothin' but view... It can be very cold and dark on the Maine waterfront, even in summer. The bright white house will likely always feel light and airy and I'm liking the warming touch of the leather sofa. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/03_yankee_vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/03_yankee_vision.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/04_yankee_vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/04_yankee_vision.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/05_yankee_vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/05_yankee_vision.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is the guest room. Although I personally don't love waking up with the sun, for a view like this, it would be worth it!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/06_yankee_vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/06_yankee_vision.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/07_yankee_vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2010/10/yankee_vision/07_yankee_vision.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Architect: <a href="http://www.hughjacobsen.com/">Hugh Newell Jacobsen, FAIA</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photographer: <a href="http://www.richardmandelkornphoto.com/">Richard Mandelkorn</a></div><br />Our most recent <a href="http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/2010/08/shelter-mags-play-musical-chairs.html">Skirted Roundtable</a> discussion focused on the changes at the top of most of the shelter magazines still on the stands, including Architectural Digest. Margaret Russell (formerly of <a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a>) takes over as e-i-c shortly and I'm personally hoping to see more New England design gracing the pages of all the magazines and I think we're all hoping for some injection of a beating heart in AD. This spread is a good start. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Architectural Digest: A hopeful sign

Maybe it's because I'm a New England girl, but this Rockport, ME waterfront property that's featured in the October issue of AD ...

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A little somethng different: Jason Wu Fashion Show

As I wrote a couple of days ago, I was invited by <a href="http://www.brizo.com/">Brizo</a> to attend a two day series of events in NYC which included attending the Jason Wu 2011 runway show in an old loft building on Mercer St. in Soho. It was my first fashion show in person (although I am a big <i>Project Runway</i> fan) and it was a great time. Jason Wu has been a designer to watch for quite a while, but I expect that it was Michelle Obama's selection of his white floral dress as her gown for the inaugural balls that really put his work in front of mainstream America.<br /><br />Our Brizo goody bag contained this cute Jason Wu necklace that he designed based on their Virage faucet set.  You can see the twisted curved lines and you may notice that together, they also look like the initials JW.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-IQDIhO-k-H8NKn3XU1zpHKxphklM10CymqZx8MVv2bZF7cLEYvWW_nlL67W5cISUf6amFvVFpUglOgLHBX9oZ4OtUqor12sRsSqVXxOibTJkMnI6a-JXOKZ7SQpF9_UNvmW6sKpzbRY/s1600/DSCN3688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-IQDIhO-k-H8NKn3XU1zpHKxphklM10CymqZx8MVv2bZF7cLEYvWW_nlL67W5cISUf6amFvVFpUglOgLHBX9oZ4OtUqor12sRsSqVXxOibTJkMnI6a-JXOKZ7SQpF9_UNvmW6sKpzbRY/s640/DSCN3688.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYia5Ib7ki_ozujPWPLYR6JxSiSEw3E4m1-UvDSsfRlgO57ckv6tC_m-GoadJPAu6TSQ6zEiEW7Y9GTnn99KHJBp55Pe-hYgeWRVcDd2gnsS0_-i08ZuqWybA1Nu3QhZqvlLT8MMfF2nCL/s1600/virage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYia5Ib7ki_ozujPWPLYR6JxSiSEw3E4m1-UvDSsfRlgO57ckv6tC_m-GoadJPAu6TSQ6zEiEW7Y9GTnn99KHJBp55Pe-hYgeWRVcDd2gnsS0_-i08ZuqWybA1Nu3QhZqvlLT8MMfF2nCL/s320/virage.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.brizo.com/bath/collection/virage.html">Virage</a> by Brizo</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I ended up with one of the best seats in the house as I was seating right by the door where the models entered and returned, so I got to see and photograph them coming and going. I will say that the clothes are spectacularly beautiful and, with some tweaking for more average/normal sized women, very wearable. Many of the looks are throwbacks to the forties and seventies, which was interesting to see. According to the designer's notes, he was inspired by the work of contemporary Brazilian artist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatriz_Milhazes">Beatriz Milhazes</a> whose "distinctive style of balancing organized patterns with rhythmic movement inspired the collection's energetic mood."  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/30/Beatriz_Milhazes_-_Popeye_-_2008.jpg/220px-Beatriz_Milhazes_-_Popeye_-_2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/30/Beatriz_Milhazes_-_Popeye_-_2008.jpg/220px-Beatriz_Milhazes_-_Popeye_-_2008.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Jason Wu also debuted his new collection of handbags and shoes as well. The shoes were gorgeous and while still skyhigh were more classic and less dangerous looking than a lot of shoes seen today.<br /><br />The fashion show featured 37 looks and took less than ten minutes to run. It's amazing how all that work feels like it comes down to such a short show. Those girls sure know how to walk - the "runway" was a shiny plastic narrow "half-pipe". I have such a phobia about falling that I worry for others as well - but they all did their jobs well.<br /><br />Here's a selection of some of my absolute favorite looks:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/4982823117_1f16f3069f_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/4982823117_1f16f3069f_z.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4982826871_dfe75aa674_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4982826871_dfe75aa674_z.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4983431058_6031a82e18_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4983431058_6031a82e18_z.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/4982835017_c630999523_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/4982835017_c630999523_z.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_191258957"><br /></a></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chameleon-interiors/sets/72157624815605241/show/with/4982814421">CLICK HERE FOR FULL SLIDE SHOW</a></b><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chameleon-interiors/sets/72157624815605241/show/with/4982814421"></a></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

A little somethng different: Jason Wu Fashion Show

As I wrote a couple of days ago, I was invited by Brizo to attend a two day series of events in NYC which included attending the Jason Wu 2...

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Brizo bathroom design challenge

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma4zvc0x8kygL1ZZItVRYT6Aoh_NvqIPd2qzJ1zoasw4b2VID9zGT-Iy2lWBIY2ztkeuqVNsccmm6CFDOVqGlpNpjzgrrRq5i_kfE9nhxFBHAR2Ly79Y0ndIJ5F9ZzAkeTfawnOiB-Xm2/s1600/DSCN3562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma4zvc0x8kygL1ZZItVRYT6Aoh_NvqIPd2qzJ1zoasw4b2VID9zGT-Iy2lWBIY2ztkeuqVNsccmm6CFDOVqGlpNpjzgrrRq5i_kfE9nhxFBHAR2Ly79Y0ndIJ5F9ZzAkeTfawnOiB-Xm2/s400/DSCN3562.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Am participating in the <a href="http://www.brizo.com/">Brizo</a> bathroom design challenge at the Brizo New York fashion week event. On my team is <a href="http://www.kitchenandbathchatter.com/">Nancy Hugo</a>, <a href="http://www.coreyklassen.ca/">Corey Klassen</a>  and Mike Tadros. Corey's idea for a zen bathroom is being fleshed out by the team and rendered in SketchUp. The winning entry (4 finalists) will be announced tonight at the Showtime Showhouse cocktail party. Wish us luck! (more pics and final design renderings to come).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Brizo bathroom design challenge

Am participating in the Brizo bathroom design challenge at the Brizo New York fashion week event. On my team is Nancy Hugo , Corey Klassen ...

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A month of downs and ups

Unfortunately, posting has been very sporadic the past couple of weeks. If you're friends with me on Facebook (and please be!) you will have seen my posts about the non-stop problems at my condo. First, I had a water main break - one month ago today. During the time I was gathering estimates for excavation, I had an electrical short in the wiring outside the unit. The electric company came and said I needed to call an electrician asap because it was a fire hazard. Oy. In addition to all this, my old and outdated oil tank needed to be removed (and a new one purchased) before the excavators will start digging. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVferelz_HUTIAg0Lijc8ayXdKqSo6gwSIBx3NpZ5bkoOoNU5_9UrXcBl_M45BCYCP4X20sXbVOYKkh3sijxZqAXwxz8v-xSSBS6i-dZj_PunhEwoL417ZSgxNUEB_brq7eRvfrkW5eEdi/s1600/DSCN3544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVferelz_HUTIAg0Lijc8ayXdKqSo6gwSIBx3NpZ5bkoOoNU5_9UrXcBl_M45BCYCP4X20sXbVOYKkh3sijxZqAXwxz8v-xSSBS6i-dZj_PunhEwoL417ZSgxNUEB_brq7eRvfrkW5eEdi/s400/DSCN3544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Yes, this rusting beast <strike>is</strike> was my oil tank, which was finally removed on Tuesday. The electrical work was done yesterday, made much easier because the tank was out of the way. Next week (hopefully) the excavation company will come to dig up my foundation to find and fix the break. Please say a prayer that the break is easy to fix and hasn't caused foundation damage! For a month, I've been living with water coming from a neighbors unit via garden hose (seriously, we connected a hose from his spigot to my spigot, turned off my main water inlet and voila, running water. Hose water, but it works). I've also had to be sparing with the electrical until that could be fixed (which was delayed by Hurricane Earl last week) which means no hair dryer, air conditioning, oven, etc. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwhMALkUxLlCjRby6kVqrQe0fgIA2Vkjl_fNaw6b5g-wOb0Wg3tW5AQFHIBBYQippfMEmGraHNN77uAme7yqN2LFssAb_jupOif0dvjKbyHcdhYSrIwnzFK4Zk5ODEJyrXSaGevqzrWm5/s1600/DSCN3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwhMALkUxLlCjRby6kVqrQe0fgIA2Vkjl_fNaw6b5g-wOb0Wg3tW5AQFHIBBYQippfMEmGraHNN77uAme7yqN2LFssAb_jupOif0dvjKbyHcdhYSrIwnzFK4Zk5ODEJyrXSaGevqzrWm5/s640/DSCN3551.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />So, after a month of dealing with all those problems,  contractors and insurance people coming and going, I am truly thrilled and thankful to be writing this post from my lovely hotel room at the <a href="http://www.70parkave.com/">70 Park Avenue Hotel</a> in NY courtesy of <a href="http://www.brizo.com/home.html">Brizo</a>, the high end faucet company.  I featured two of their products in an article in my <a href="http://issuu.com/surroundings/docs/surroundings_fall_2010a">Fall 2010 issue</a> of my mag::E::zine [although note that the product feature happened before the invitation to this event!].<br /><br />Brizo hosts groups of designers, architects, writers and bloggers at Fashion Week for a series of events, including the <a href="http://www.jasonwustudio.com/">Jason Wu</a> fashion show and a cocktail party at the <a href="http://www.sho.com/site/showtimehouse/home.do">Showtime House</a>.   Shortly, I am off to a meet and greet, an educational seminar on the use of their products and then a dinner at Barbés restaurant, which features Moroccan food.<br /><br />However, given the month I've had, this is looking pretty good...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnjIp2OCxPLkdzRzx60NaB2ot4p19Puh8lvq7p7lSoB4GvtDRG7FK9W7kitLGQhS6mRf-lDJd68WLY5ilH5cZwJ0lHJdSLyrJwBdPs6f64T8T6Ep1QEGpj3up5aOqj9o8aKOEruaVE0HE/s1600/DSCN3552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnjIp2OCxPLkdzRzx60NaB2ot4p19Puh8lvq7p7lSoB4GvtDRG7FK9W7kitLGQhS6mRf-lDJd68WLY5ilH5cZwJ0lHJdSLyrJwBdPs6f64T8T6Ep1QEGpj3up5aOqj9o8aKOEruaVE0HE/s640/DSCN3552.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />More to come. Not sure I can take pics of the fashion show, but we'll see!  For a great post on the 70 Park Avenue Hotel, check out <a href="http://thedecoratingdiva.com/70-park-avenue-hotel-new-york/">The Decorating Diva</a>. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

A month of downs and ups

Unfortunately, posting has been very sporadic the past couple of weeks. If you're friends with me on Facebook (and please be!) you will ...

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Surroundings mag::E::zine Fall Issue has arrived!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxG1lewyKlqYTJ9oyx13S5oktQZTPzjhrMiTtcxPibquNjUwXlxuKm5v9gLTDpvOVv9S96tWX1YVlxFydqVkMULsH9HbnnxmFzUCicHRh2flkEQ4aP_ps-d6hCCncK0h8TsLikYEvx4QR/s1600/Surroundings+Fall+2010+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxG1lewyKlqYTJ9oyx13S5oktQZTPzjhrMiTtcxPibquNjUwXlxuKm5v9gLTDpvOVv9S96tWX1YVlxFydqVkMULsH9HbnnxmFzUCicHRh2flkEQ4aP_ps-d6hCCncK0h8TsLikYEvx4QR/s640/Surroundings+Fall+2010+cover.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://issuu.com/surroundings/docs/surroundings_fall_2010a"><b>CLICK HERE TO VIEW</b></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><embed align="middle" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true&autoFlip=true&autoFlipTime=6000&documentId=100906181213-db2b62b4c05c4290b16dbda9f987a482&docName=surroundings_fall_2010a&username=Surroundings&loadingInfoText=Surroundings%20mag%3A%3AE%3A%3Azine%20Fall%202010&et=1283815896554&er=22" menu="false" name="flashticker" quality="high" salign="l" scale="noscale" src="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf" style="height: 272px; width: 420px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><div style="text-align: left; width: 420px;"><a href="http://issuu.com/Surroundings/docs/surroundings_fall_2010a?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true&autoFlip=true&autoFlipTime=6000" target="_blank">Open publication</a> - Free <a href="http://issuu.com/" target="_blank">publishing</a> - <a href="http://issuu.com/search?q=decorating" target="_blank">More decorating</a></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Surroundings mag::E::zine Fall Issue has arrived!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW Open publication - Free publishing - More decorating   Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

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