Monday, January 24, 2011

Made4Aid Monday - Put the Kettle On


Show your love of all things tea & do good at the same time. Pretty vintage teapot photography card at Made4Aid is $3.50 (with free shipping). Other cards, here. You can purchase through their Etsy shop or go to the Made4Aid blog & leave a message. (Rodney Smith photograph via Kristi Wright, Pinterest)

ciao-meow/GG

Friday, January 21, 2011

Have a Cozy Evening

If your evening plans don't include going out tonight (it's too cold here!), the first two episodes of Downton Abbey are online (for US households, not sure about Canada) until 22 February. (You can also buy the episodes through iTunes.)

To warm up, try a mustard bath & some ginger tea. (Giulia is resisting both, so we'll leave her alone. She's clearly very comfy.)

A fascinating & amusing New Yorker article Sweet Revolution, the power of the pastry chef by Adam Gopnik.

A delicious & colorful meditation on
Andy Warhol & French pastry.


The latest Mad Man news (they never rest, those Basketcases:)

For a smile, here's the almost criminally-cute baby Toby.

Stay warm!

DIY - Cameo Valentines

This lovely project is by Olivia of A Field Journal for Victoria Magazine last year. There is a free download to get started, here. GG's editor thinks that lots of the Jane Austen blogeuses would like these.

If you have a paint strip collection (apparently way too many of you do), here's an easy & cute idea
while cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. (You are, aren't you?)

ciao-lurve-meow/GGCM

(photo via say YES! to Hoboken)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Just Being Audrey



A wonderful new book by Margaret Cardillo, with adorable illustrations by Julia Denos (she says she's also a cat trainer - we must ask her for some tips!). Here is the Facebook page. Visit Julia's blog The Cinnamon Rabbit.

HarperCollins: From Roman Holiday to Breakfast at Tiffany's, when Audrey Hepburn starred in a movie, she lit up the screen. Her unique sense of fashion, her grace, and, most important, her spirit made her beloved by generations. But her life offscreen was even more luminous. As a little girl growing up in Nazi-occupied Europe, she learned early on that true kindness is the greatest measure of a person—and it was a lesson she embodied as she became one of the first actresses to use her celebrity to shine a light on the impoverished children of the world through her work with UNICEF.

This is Audrey Hepburn as a little girl, an actress, an icon, an inspiration; this is Audrey just being Audrey.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Wednesday Wishes - Kiwi Edition


It's January daydreaming here at GG Central. An Antipodean journey would be ideal right about now...

This pair of Kiwi kittens has one good & one (reportedly) evil twin. Can you tell who? (We can:) Giulia thinks probably this is a mere misunderstanding. (Hmmm.) A mosaic of nature shots. All by the terrific Andrew Smith of the
Cuba Gallery.


Visit Miss Moss, a clever blog out of New Zealand. (Update - Oops. Miss Moss is in South Africa.)

The closest we'll get to NZ this year is at Cassatt's, a Kiwi café in Arlington, VA (Washington, DC area). It's very friendly with yummy food. It's their 8th year in business--if you wish them a Happy Birthday, you'll get 10% off your bill.

ciao-meow/GGCM

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Tuesday Tulips


Giulia is snoozing, the icy rain is falling, & GG's editor remains, boringly enough, under-the-weather. If we could take a walk today, we'd be on the look-out for a bunch of tulips. Alas, it remains a virtual experience for now. (Isn't the bicycle a beauty?)

More tulips:
Abby Try Again in the tulip fields of Oregon. Pretty tulip necklace (only $20.00). Another tulip tour, this time in the Netherlands (scads of photographs). A winter tulip arrangement using bits & pieces of leftover holiday greenery. Fun tech: a USB tulip hub. Definitely on our wish list.

ciao-flowery-meow/GG Central

(photographs via
Macy Taliaferro & tinywhitedaisies via Joanna Figueroa, both on Pinterest)

Monday, January 17, 2011

A Day of Service

From the archives - This year, on Dr. King's birthday holiday, more people than ever plan to donate a day of service. Please remember our friends abroad, too. Dr. King considered himself an American & a citizen of the world. We are certain that he would be speaking out on behalf of prisoners of conscience. Please visit Amnesty International & see what you can do in a very short amount of time & for zero money. (Photograph of Dr. King, via Public Domain Clip Art)

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Sunday Styles


What to choose what to choose: Golden Globe nuttiness or Downton Abbey. Oof. Have a little fun & dress up for the Golden Globes via E's Rock Your Red Carpet game. You'll see that Giulia's editor chose a classic look. (Some would say boring; we say 'keep it to yerself') And who are we with? A relation by law -- see Downton Abbey, these things used to be much more important. No we're not telling you who but he is very cool & will be at the Golden Globes ce soir.

ciao-sparkly-meow/GG Sunday Central

(lovely Romy Schneider via gala(dot)fr)

Saturday, January 15, 2011

A Cure for the Cranky - Pretty Good Jokes

Prairie Home Companion is collecting jokes for a show next Saturday. There's still time to enter, here.

Talk about a January thaw! Get ready to laugh yourself into a sweat when A Prairie Home Companion's Joke Show returns to St. Paul's Fitzgerald Theater on Saturday, January 22.
It'll be a blizzard of penguin jokes, lightbulb jokes, knock-knocks, political, tasteless, and more. And Philip Brunelle and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers will add their comical twist too. You can add your favorite knee-slappers to the mix.

ciao-cheeky-meow/GG's in-house comedian

(photograph via Amy McGarrah on Pinterest)

Friday, January 14, 2011

Illustration Friday

Illustration Friday is a weekly illustration challenge. A topic is posted every Friday and then participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation. What a great idea - go for it! We'll be back later tonight or tomorrow. It's that kind of day. (illustration by Bob London)

ciao-rushed-meow/GG Central

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Meatless Monday Comfort Food

Think ahead to a weekend market visit + prep for Meatless Monday. It's so cold at GG Central - no one wants to have a cold, "refreshing" salad. Here are some excellent comfort food recipes via Martha Stewart - all of them are meatless. (Giulia does not observe Meatless Monday. Nope.) Big-batch vegetable soup via Martha Stewart website.

ciao-meow/GG's editor

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Heart of Haiti - Art

The long-term recovery continues, one year after the earthquake. Read more about Haitian Metal Art, here. (painting in the Haitian Art Museum via United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti flickr stream)

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Winter Poems

Winter storm on its unwelcome way. Winter soup cooking; here are some recipes from Jamie Oliver. And here is the Poetry Foundation's winter poem selection. (Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward by Gordon Parks/LIFE)

ciao-shiver-meow/GG's editor

Monday, January 10, 2011

Friday, January 7, 2011

Have a Goofy Weekend

While we remain under-the-weather & anxiously await Sunday's referendum in South Sudan, diversion via the latest New Yorker Carton Caption Contest is most welcome. You don't have to enter to vote. We bet lots of smart-alecky Twitterers would be good at this. That's a compliment. (photograph by Eleonore Bridge)

ciao-cough-meow/GG Central

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

American Duchess



"American Duchess creates clothing designs that interpret the whimsical, natural, and feminine ideals of the past. I love all things of the past, and carry the lovely shapes, fabrics, and styles of these past centuries into my designs for modern wear. I consider myself "fashion backwards," and looks to what was trendy, beautiful, interesting from decades and centuries gone by." American Duchess interview, Garmz

While we're under-the-weather, some more fun. If you read GG on Facebook, you don't have to do anything but go to Garmz & look at fashion designs. Upload some if you like--you don't have to be a traditional professional. (You don't have to be on FB, just go to garmz(dot)com.) Vote on your favorites & winners have their designs manufactured. Yes. And then you can buy them. The site is still in beta but it's fun to look...some of the best designs (including the drawings) are by Lauren Reeser aka American Duchess. Here is her portfolio, her lovely Etsy shop, & her terrific historical costume blog. (pretty illustrations by Lauren Reeser via Garmz)

ciao-meow/GGCM

Monday, January 3, 2011

Some Fun Tonight

GG's editor is under-the-weather. We'll try to be back later this week. Meanwhile, you can listen to your Beatles music. Nothing makes us feel better than that. You can read fun facts & play the video of their first concert in America (here in DC!). (photograph via Amy McGarrah on Pinterest)

ciao-yeah-yeah-yeah-meow/the Mgmt.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! Sharon Montrose's darling Baby Bunny No. 1 from The Animal Print Shop. GG's editor is partial to writing important lists on a baby deer pad from Sharon's Etsy shop. Our pad & pen in hand, thinking about resolutions. Have a great weekend. (Go Pittsburgh Penguins!)

ciao-meow/GG Holiday Central