World Map Challenge

A dreary Monday needs some brain exercises. See how far you can get on this world map test. It's WAY harder than I thought it would be. But, it did help me on Jeopardy the other night. Yeah, I watch Jeopardy, and 60 Minutes, and ABC Specials on the British Monarchy.

How far did you get?

Autism: The Musical

Another gift from Daily Candy. You MUST watch this documentary on HBO. You can watch the entire thing online through Sunday, March 30th. The film follows five autistic kids and their parents as they take part in The Miracle Project and put together a musical. I am totally in love with all of these kids (although I have a special affinity for Wyatt - far right). No, seriously. Watch it.

Preview below.

Happy Birthday!

Four years ago today, in a trailer park in Northern Virginia, Atticus Finch Quigliasco and Sir Nigel Duke entered this world, and this world is undoubtedly a better place.

Nigel

Atty

Atty is a voracious reader like his momma.

And even has his own blog!

Last year to commemorate Atty's birth, Jefe wrote a little ditty I would like to share with you.

Atticus Finch

When I first showed up at Katherine's apartment,

I thought I stepped into a pet department.

I learned really fast who was the boss,

And I hoped that Atty wouldn't get cross.

But here we are now, a year and a half later,

And it is to Atticus that I now cater.

For since I met this cat - black and white,

Not a wink of sleep have I slept every night.

For Atticus Finch while I love thee so,

Not once in your life have you ever heard "no".

So on this very special day of your great birth,

Starting your third year on this big, green earth.

I hope you know that with all that you do,

I bought a contraption to scoop up your poo.

Happy birthday Atty, from the bottom of my heart,

And I hope at no point do our paths ever part.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATTY AND NIGEL!

*Photos taken by KT and Nicky Jay

Darfur Action Now

Check out what my cousin Q put together with her classmates...

Darfur Action Now Genocide Awareness Event

... AND Julian Bond, my favorite professor is the moderator!

Betty

This is Betty.

She is my favoritist littlest dog ever.

Betty is 8 years old and was rescued from a puppy mill in Virginia.

She also has really great taste in bedding.

Jefe and I stayed with Betty for a few nights last week and had a blast. I had always heard that Jack Russell Terriers were hyper and yappy and not as great as their cute looks might suggest. NOT TRUE. Betty was a delight, well trained by her Momma and VERY snuggly. She slept under the covers with us and her head on the pillow. A total love bug. I can't wait for our next play date!

Basia Bulat

A co-worker just turned me on to Basia Bulat. Her first album is "Oh, My Darling" and is really fun. I have been listening to it all morning at work. Her website is fun too, Im in love with the bird graphic that lists the menu items.

P.S... Doesn't she look like she could be Michele Williams' sister?

Jewelry Tree

Best gift ever, and finally a solution! I first saw this jewelry tree at Lori Love's house right after Christmas. I had been coveting this lil' tree from the Pottery Barn catalogue and seeing it in person sealed the deal. It just made so much sense. An organized way to display jewelry so I don't have to dig around in drawers or boxes. I was sold. I received the PB version as a birthday gift from my publicists and LOVE it. It has definitely helped me wear more of my jewelry that I had been prone to overlook.

Photos: Above is the PB tree on my dresser. Below is an Urban Outfitters version.

Textured String Bracelets

I saw this while flipping through the latest Martha Stewart magazine... there I said it. Martha Stewart. For the most part I find her "Good Things" to be fantastic ideas if I had a disposable income, a workshop full of supplies and no job. I mean, if I served a lot of hard-boiled eggs and knew how to use my sewing machine, I would whip up some Hen-Shaped Egg Cozies in a minute. However, I think these bracelets are definitely doable. All you have to do is wrap colorful yarn/string/ribbon around a plastic bangle and voila! You can check out the "how to" video here.

Bitten

I saw this Sarah Jessica Parker "Bitten" tee on a recent trip to Steve and Barry's in San Diego. I thought the fonts and layout were so clever. Especially for someone like me who equates getting around NYC to the quadratic equation. I actually wasn't too impressed with the overall collection. But I LOVE the manifesto. Sorry I couldn't find a better picture. You can hardly see the detail at all on the Steve and Barry's site. Check out how the fonts coordinate with the neighborhood. As someone who plans on spending a lot of time in NYC in the next few years (thank you dear publicists), I think I need to get my hands on one.

St Patrick's Day Cupcakes

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Disclaimer: I have never considered myself a baker. I can write on top of a cake with icing like no body's business, but someone else usually makes the cake.

Over the weekend we decided to have some friends over for corned beef and cabbage... and cupcakes. I attempted to make the cupcakes a little festive by coloring them like the Irish flag. It almost worked. I think the colors needed to be deeper, these looked like they tasted of lime and orange. Maybe next time I just need to stick to those fail proof Martha Stewart ideas. Plus, as much as I love the Irish and being Irish, I've decided that orange and green rarely look good together.

Overheard in DC

Favorite O' the week:

On the 42 bus in Dupont, heading north: Three college students talking loudly:

Guy: "He's a weirdo."

Girl: "Is he?"

Guy: "Yeah, he has less than 50 friends on Facebook. Anyone who has less than 50 friends on Facebook has got to be weird!"

Gus

HAPPY FRIDAY!
This is Gus the Vizsla. He was featured on The Daily Puppy and someone sent me the link knowing I grew up with a Vizsla. Look at that face!

Color Chart - MoMA

I read in Daily Candy that MoMA has an online exhibition up called "Color Chart: Reinventing Color 1950 to Today". You KNOW how I feel about color. Ive been perusing the works all day and so far my favorite is Gerhard Richter. I'm loving his "Colour Charts". Above is "180 Colours". No wonder I like it, this piece sold in 2002 for almost $4M. Figures. It kind of reminds me of the color chart in Microsoft applications when you want to change the font color... but so much more delicious. Be sure to check out the exhibit online, it's up through May 12.

P.S.... what a great idea to put the exhibition online. I know you don't get the full effect of art if you don't see it in person. But for those of us who can't skip over to MoMA (and believe me, I would skip) on our way home, this is perfect. Bringing art to the masses. I dig it.

The Woman at the Washington Zoo

I just finished The Woman at the Washington Zoo, an anthology of writings by Marjorie Williams. I highly recommend. I skipped some of the Washington profiles but be sure to check out "The Wife (Barbara Bush)", "Scenes from a Marriage (Bill Clinton and Al Gore)", and "Bill Clinton, Feminist". Also, ALL of Part 3: Time and Chance are AMAZING. It's one of those books where you are sad when it's over, because it has become a part of your daily routine. Silly I know.

You can read the final piece, The Halloween of My Dreams on the Washington Post.

Texture

I've been trying to take pictures of fun "textures" on various trips I have taken over the last few years. I have found it to be a fun way to document travels in addition to the "go stand in front of that statute" photos. Here's a quick sampling. One day I'd like to use them for some type of wall art. We'll see if that ever happens.

From top to bottom: Funky ground cover in San Francisco, Kelp at Hotel Del Coronado beach, Coronado, CA, Lemon door decor in Historic Williamsburg, VA, Pebbles off the Pacific Coast Highway, CA, , Peppers in Santa Fe, NM and Sea Lions at Pier 39 in San Francisco.

Melody Gardot

I heard Melody Gardot on Weekend Edition this past weekend. She's fantastic and has such an interesting story. Sounds like a cross between Edith Piaf and Norah Jones.

Check out the NPR Music site to hear some of her songs and read her story. Or visit her site.

Color Palettes

I love checking out the color palettes from Wear Palettes. These are some of my favorites... today. I use them for inspiration for outfits and decor.

Atty

This blog has been created in honor of Atticus Finch, the cat. An inspiration to all.