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September 9, 2011 karly hand

As the weather starts to dip into the low 90s here in austin, I can feel myself starting to crave a hot tea and cardigan sweater. Ahhh yes, weather below 100 degrees: You feel like fall. Fall: I want to spend you here:

Yep, that will do.

Also, happy birthday to my sweety! He is one million and twelve today. Good thing I love him.

PS, this is Luis Barragan architecture via

Summer Lovin

August 10, 2011 karly hand

It is a sweltering 106 degrees here in Austin with zero zip zilch signs that summer will end any time soon (I have my sights set on you, November) but the interwebs tell me that the rest of the world is taking that last jump off the rope swing into the lake 'cuza schools starting soon and, for the lucky majority of you, leaves will be (gasp) changing color. Well, I want in. I am ready for a seasonal change. One so imminent that I hold tight to the last days of summer, sadly watching them zoom by. Squeezing in one last summer vacation before I snuggle into my boots and jacket. Yep, I'm shutting my eyes tight and pretending that summer is about to end. I'm spending the last days here:

Oh, did I forget to mention that I own a fantasy summer home in Portugal. So sorry, let me go on:

Back in the real world I do actually own a giant green lamp much like this one, as well as a handmade woven stool. Maybe If I ask Erin real kind and nice like she will spend the next several weeks on craigslist finding me all the other goodies I need to bring it all together. The lamp is, like, a huge start, right?

A quick reminder: while Erin is shopping craigslist, I will be laying here. poolside. at this very real summer house that i very much own.

I also own a hanging chair almost identical to the one shown, so I'm feeling like recreating this in austin really isn't much of a stretch. are you with me?

Look! I'm not the meany you thought I was. I've laid down a second towel for erin to come join me once she has found everything on my list. I'm pretty much the image of altruism.

Tree Hotel

September 9, 2010 karly hand

I have always always loved tree houses. I especially love children's tree homes in suburban neighborhoods. I love the idea that something so primitive as living in trees has found a niche in 21st century middle America. Of course, I also really love a good design hotel, so OK, I probably love a tree house hotel for it's sex appeal alone more so than your run-of-the-mill suburban kid's club, which is why I would be willing to ignore my no-travel-35-weeks-into-pregnancy rule if only I had the cash money to fly to Sweden to stay in this joint:

Behold, the Tree Hotel. With 7 distinct tree cabins, and a bunch of designy tree stuff, it almost makes the outdoorsy-only amenities worth suffering through. (A 6 hour nature trek is their top summer excursion? Maybe this place should get a tree pool and some tree cocktails)

Anyway, I'm never going to make it here so we'll fantasize about the rooms only

This is what the inside of the mirrored cabin (above above) looks like. Apparently you can climb up a ladder to look out that window. This is where the tree cocktails may not be the best idea.