The Strapped Big Bag

I came across this bag on the {Definition of Self} Etsy shop yesterday and then saw it on a few other sites today - it is becoming pretty popular! The Strapped Big Bag is large purse or a good sized tote that is crisply designed and can comfortably carry all of your daily needs in one bag. It closes shut with 2 magnetic snaps. I gotta have one!

Element Fuego Grill

The {Element} grill by Fuego is an affordable, gas-powered grill with simple iconic form that features a high-powered dual zone cooking system - 4 cook top options in a small form. Robert Brunner, at {Ammunition} has designed this compact outdoor grills for {Fuego} as an extension of his previous {Fuego 01} outdoor grill design. "We wanted to make the Fuego brand accessible and affordable to all, and create something really very special in the process," says Brunner. I came across this beautiful product on {Moco Loco: The Modern & Contemporary Design Blog}

Outdoor Sconces

I love candles and I love hanging out outside on warm summer nights. I think these {sconces} are awesome! They look great and are functional for both mood lighting as well as allowing the possibility to use citronella candles to keep the mosquitoes away! They add a touch of beautiful design and decor to your outdoor space.

DEADLINE Post-It Stop Motion

Stop motion absolutely blows my mind when done well. This is definitely up there on my list. Watch it all the way through and be amazed by all the work that went into making this finished product possible. After 3 months of planning, 4 days of shooting, and over 6,000 post-its, this is what they came up with. Check out the video below to see the making-of.

Icon Spelling!

Being that I stare at a computer and these icons about 18 hours a day...I am sad that I never thought of this myself! I found it to be pretty clever when I saw {these words} spelled out using the Apple icons - work by {Mike Giepert}.

Ligne Roset Boutique

For years I have been checking out all kinds of concept designs on the web and was excited to hear that {Ligne Roset} opened a new boutique {concept store} (unfortunately far away in Austin, Texas). They are known for their keen eye for talented designers and recently partnered with French designer {Philippe Nigro} to produce his new line of upholstered furniture called Confluences. Ligne Roset is one of the world's leaders in luxury contemporary furniture design and introduced its first concept boutique. They will provide superior quality and design for every aspect of modern lifestyle, from living to entertaining. Consumers will receive the instant satisfaction from their purchases - being able to take them right out of the store. The store layout will evoke a gallery-like atmosphere. Aside from the modular seating by Philippe Nigro, I loved the concept hanging light fixture.

Natalie's Mediterranean Couscous and a Greek Salad

I am a huge fan of couscous and my mom has a delicious that {recipe} that I love to make. The other day my friend Natalie had made her own version that reminded me of that but had an interesting added ingredient...dried apricots! I decided to give it a try and LOVED it. I highly recommend giving this a try. It is a nice, light, and refreshing dish that would go nicely for a summer get-together. Visit her at {In the Kitchen with Kristie} to view the recipe! I paired this recipe with a Greek salad from {Cooking Light} - recipe as follows:

Makes 6 (dinner salad) servings

Ingredients:
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
6 cups shredded Romaine lettuce
3 cups diced tomato
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
3/4 cup (3 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon capers
1 cucumber, peeled, quartered lengthwise, and thinly sliced
1 (19-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Directions:
Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Add lettuce and the next 6 ingredients (lettuce through chickpeas); toss well.

The Big Ben - Stylish Recycling

This was a pretty sweet {Apartment Therapy} find: The Big Ben - stylish modular recycling solution. This is a new product by {Reestore} that makes recycling easy and fun! Ben is a cute and stackable, washable recycling receptacle made of 100% recycled plastic. This is meant to hold you recyclables in the first thing it recycles - plastic grocery bags!

OSKA Architects - Rolling Huts

What a great idea! Owners purchased this site which was formerly an RV campground, with the goal of allowing the landscape to return to its original state. They turned to OSKA Architects who created a space for their guests that would be a step or two above camping while still maintaining the open feel of the natural Washington landscape. These {rolling huts} were their solution - they are low-tech and low-impact in their design. The huts sit lightly on the site, a flood plain meadow in an alpine river valley. The wheels lift the structures above the meadow, providing an unobstructed view into nature and the prospect of the surrounding mountains.

Building each hut seems to be pretty simple. It uses an offset, steel clad box on a steel and wood platform. Living occurs not only in the 200 sq ft inside the box, but on the 240 sq ft of covered deck space surrounding it. The interior is finished with cork and plywood – are simple, inexpensive, and left as raw as possible. The exterior is durable, no-maintenance materials – steel, plywood and car-decking. The huts are grouped as a herd - while each is facing a view of the mountains (and away from the other structures), their proximity unites them.

Been MIA Lately...

Sorry I have been MIA - had a bit of a family emergency...back now and should be up and running again soon! Thanks for your patience and for continuing to check back.

-Narineh

Speech Bubble Shelf!

A speech bubble shelf! I love it - contemporary, unique and fun.

Flowering Chives

Am I the only one that didn't know that chives flowered? I was pleasantly surprised when I saw {this} and wanted to share for anyone who was in the same boat and me.

Flaxsac Set

I think these are totally awesome (said in the most non-valley girl voice possible). The {Flaxsac Set} consists of multipurpose fabric sacs filled with organic golden flax seeds and lavender for comfort and the added benefit of a calming aroma. You can heat them in a microwave for up to an hour of warmth or throw them in the freezer for a comfortable cooling pack. This would be a great gift for anyone who spends a lot of time at a computer. Each bag is double-stitched and serged to ensure a long life.


PS: I am without a computer tonight while it is at the Apple store being fixed :( So...this is all I could do after finishing work for the day and will be back up and running (hopefully) tomorrow - cross your fingers for me!