My Current Design Obsessions — by Guest Mom Kristin Fine
So last week I had a bit of a personal family health drama which put me in the mood for a funny movie. Normally I go for “relationship” movies but I just wanted something to make me laugh. So I marched a few friends to go see Baby Mama with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler — two of the funniest gals around. It had all the requisite laugh out loud moments. And many perfect pregnant/mom jokes. Terrible ending, but definitely worth the 10$.
Which got me to thinking, I need to see more funny movies. Maybe my kids are on to something loving all the silliness. Definitely walked out feeling up. So my friends and I started discussing our favorite funny movies. I'm having the hardest time recalling mine — maybe Vacation, Parenthood, Wedding Crashers? My husband said Caddyshack...predictable. He couldn’t believe I have not seen Meatballs. Do I want to? I am not sure that’s my humor. I’d love some recommendations. My kids laugh at PeeWee’s Playhouse — it’s pretty funny to re-watch. Where have all the witty movies gone?!
And now. On a completely different topic. This being a design blog and all, here are some of my design obsessions:
Henry Beguelin makes me swoon. I figured out a way to get even more than the shoe/bag/jewelry quota this year by getting 4 gorgeous barstools! The leather gets better and better and seems immune to the mac and cheese that I routinely scrub off them. And the bottom is sewn together like a corset…incredible. They took forever to get but were so worth the wait.
Ruby Palmers watercolor paintings are perfect. I first happened upon one in the NYC boutique Albertine (incredible for off beat up and coming designers) and bugged the lovely owner to share the artist with me. Fast forward and she makes these beautiful, completely original watercolors that I can barely keep on the walls in my store. I am not that into the “kid prints” that are out there and seem to pop up in every room I see. Hers are unique, surprising and have a sense of humor as well. Kind of like our beautiful children, no? For my kids big birthdays I try and give them a piece of art. Those gifts last. The little plastic ones (yes, I admit I have some plastic here..horrors) don’t.
Dolphin Studio Calendars are these silk-screened, take-your-breath-away calendars. They are inspiring on so many levels. The color. The designs. The family and how they make them. Wow. Get on the list to get one next year!
Which got me to thinking, I need to see more funny movies. Maybe my kids are on to something loving all the silliness. Definitely walked out feeling up. So my friends and I started discussing our favorite funny movies. I'm having the hardest time recalling mine — maybe Vacation, Parenthood, Wedding Crashers? My husband said Caddyshack...predictable. He couldn’t believe I have not seen Meatballs. Do I want to? I am not sure that’s my humor. I’d love some recommendations. My kids laugh at PeeWee’s Playhouse — it’s pretty funny to re-watch. Where have all the witty movies gone?!
And now. On a completely different topic. This being a design blog and all, here are some of my design obsessions:
Henry Beguelin makes me swoon. I figured out a way to get even more than the shoe/bag/jewelry quota this year by getting 4 gorgeous barstools! The leather gets better and better and seems immune to the mac and cheese that I routinely scrub off them. And the bottom is sewn together like a corset…incredible. They took forever to get but were so worth the wait.
Ruby Palmers watercolor paintings are perfect. I first happened upon one in the NYC boutique Albertine (incredible for off beat up and coming designers) and bugged the lovely owner to share the artist with me. Fast forward and she makes these beautiful, completely original watercolors that I can barely keep on the walls in my store. I am not that into the “kid prints” that are out there and seem to pop up in every room I see. Hers are unique, surprising and have a sense of humor as well. Kind of like our beautiful children, no? For my kids big birthdays I try and give them a piece of art. Those gifts last. The little plastic ones (yes, I admit I have some plastic here..horrors) don’t.
Dolphin Studio Calendars are these silk-screened, take-your-breath-away calendars. They are inspiring on so many levels. The color. The designs. The family and how they make them. Wow. Get on the list to get one next year!
Labels: guest mom
posted by Gabrielle of Design Mom at Tuesday, June 10, 2008
24 Comments:
The dolphin studio calendar is so clean and bold, love it.
Death at a Funeral is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Also, Keeping Mum.
Note: I am a total anglophile.
I agree with you on funny movies. I always leave them feeling refreshed. Real life has enough drama. Recent(ish) funny movies I like are Juno, Napoleon Dynamite, and Elf. I rented Flight of the Concords from Netflix this week and my husband and I woke up our 5 year old because we were laughing too loud.
I love that you gift your children with original art. What a fantastic idea. Do they love it? Are they happy to go without Thomas the Train? I'm intrigued. It just sounds beautiful all around.
Ah funny movies...I completely agree. Juno made me smile and laugh out loud lots, Anchorman is hilarious, Steve Caroll is a very funny man, the 40 Year Old Virgin was so sweet, our family also loved the film Evan Almighty. I like silly movies with Ben Stiller....Meet the Parents, Somthing about Mary, Zoolander and especially Night at the Museum because I can watch it with my boys and there is nothing better than hearing your kids laugh their heads off. Dark, dry humour is also soo good with a glass of wine sometimes...my hubbie is good a picking those out, I am blanking on the names of some of those films we laughed so hard at, they are often British.
Love your bar stools. We have a chocolate brown leather couch that has held up amazingly well considering all that my 3 sons have thrown at it.
Whimsical, quirky art is one of my passions, I try to create and feature family friendly pieces on my blog as well. www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com I love the bunnies in the tree!
Flight of the Concords is hilarious; you can even get their "music videos" on youtube. I absolutely loved Bandits. I think it would have been a box office hit had it not been released the weekend after 9/11.
LOVE Dan in Real Life, I haven't laughed out loud so much in a long time. I really expected more from Baby Mama, all the funny parts were on the commercials, the rest of the movie was just kind of blah. I wish there were more funny ones out there. All time fave: You've Got Mail. It's so QUALITY.
tommyboy and drop dead fred are ones that i never stop laughing at. and have you seen hoodwinked? kids move and its about the real story of red riding hood. we love to watch it in the car on road trips because my husband and i love to listen to it and laugh!!
I have been searching for good barstools. I keep opeing the blog to look at these. They are perfect!
Thank you for introducing me to Ruby Palmer. I clicked on the watercolors link, and I love them all. Art is a wonderful gift for your children.
Holy cow, funny movies? How much space and time do you have? A partial list off the top of my head, in no particular order: BLAZING SADDLES ("excuse me while i whip this out"), YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (love me some mel brooks, and since we're mentioning him, history of the world has one of the funniest lines EVER in a movie, has to do with Oedipus, and when you hear it you'll know, and likely agree with me), The Big Lebowski (takes a few watchings to really fall in love with it), Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Scrooged (at Xmastime, Carole Kane kills, and just try not to cry during Bill Murray's big speech at the end), Midnight Run (De Niro and Grodin improvising are golden), There's Something About Mary (make sure the kids are in bed), 40 yr old virgin, Trading Places, Coming to America (try to figure out how many parts Eddie and Arsenio each play), Wedding Crashers, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Arthur (Why don't you FORGET the moose! For a minute!"), Airplane, Swingers, Lost in America, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Planes, Trains, and Automobile (at Thanksgiving), Groundhog Day, A Fish Called Wanda, Bachelor Party, Dumb and Dumber, and Bad Santa (after the kids are in bed, or even better, at the grandparents house; you'll want to be offended, but you'll be laughing too hard)...
check out flight of the concords --'business time' on U-tube. you will laugh so hard!
i love the bar stools.
I too got a huge kick out of Baby Mama. I've seen it twice (probably because I'm prego). Juno is also a great prego movie. My husband even enjoyed those two flicks.
Am I blind, or did you post the results from the Layla Grace collection?
P.S. I love your site! you are inspiring.
I loved your tractor barstools yesterday and these today, but I've got a question. My husband wants arms on his barstools, and the only ones I've seen with arms aren't so good. Do you have any recommendations for barstools with arms?
Young Frankenstein. Hands down. Gene Wilder is brilliant.
Ok- I LOVE! all the movie tips. Thank you! I will be laughing all july, when I finally go away and can watch a movie. Totally agree re Gene Wilder- I actually attended an evening where we screened Young Frankenstein and he spoke about his career- an incredible man.
i love that calendar, for sure.
those barstools are beautiful...also, if you are looking for witty type of funny you should, by all means check out the Gilmore Girls from Net Flix. Season 4 is my favorite, but lets be honest, I have the 7 season set on my "to buy" list. Funniest, wittiest, show. EVER.
Funny movies: The 'Burbs is a great dark comedy. Dirty, Rotten Scounrels is a clever comedy. Dan in Real Life is honest-human-comedy. And While You Were Sleeping is a great romantic comedy.
Try a Christopher Guest mockumentary: Waiting for Guffman (my favorite, I think), Best in Show or A Mighty Wind. Funny, funny, funny!!
I looove Meatballs, by the way!!
Raising Arizona is one of my ultimate fav's. Check it out.
Oooh--so nice to "meet" you. I'm a CT gal too (well, my heart's in Texas, but I live in Fairfield County and love it as well).
Your movies cost $10?!! Holy crap.
My taste in funny movies runs toward "classics with a twist" (aka movies based on books or plays): Much Ado About Nothing, An Ideal Husband, Emma. And for less ivory tower moments anybody can enjoy, Sing' in the Rain.
I have to agree with your calendar lovin'. i found them in a little pottery shop in Kinsale and now i want want WANT the 2009 version. alas i am too poor!
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