• Good design,  Life Story

    Music Players

    December 6, 2010 / No Comments

    I like it when websites have seamless music-listening integrated into their websites. It’s like a little gift from the developer. “Here’s a little mix CD for you!” they are saying to the wandering web reader.

    This is very different from websites where random music immediately begins playing and the design theme happens to be black-on-black and you can’t find the mute button for five minutes. Gross. Similar to when I was recently shopping and a woman’s cell phone ring was cats meowing a Christmas carol. I kid you not. She wasn’t even flustered when it took her three minutes to turn it off. Where was the mute button on that experience?

    Anyway, here are a few from around the web that I like:

    Chance’s three choice songs change frequently.

    Anthropologie’s fits right into their Facebook page.

    Chris Glass’s does not play, but it is very readable and clean.

    Tennis uses red and makes you want to push Play.

  • Good design

    What Occupies Me

    December 6, 2010 / 2 Comments

    Though I am not very good at following through on my hopeful list making and buying all the presents I hoped to, I do love that moment right before someone opens something you know they will love. Joe made this to help my family keep our assignments clear.

  • Good design

    Peppermint and Clementines

    December 2, 2010 / 2 Comments

    Have you added a little peppermint to your diet? I’ve upgraded my occasional Starbucks hot chocolate to the peppermint kind, which means a hearty sprinkling of peppermint-flavored chocolate curls burrowing into the whip cream.  I just heard Trader Joe’s has peppermint cookies ‘n cream ice cream, wow.

    I’ve been buying those cartons of clementines that show up in stacks at the grocery store about now–the ones with vintage styled Florida advertising on the side, if you’re lucky. They are so delicious when most of my other food is not so fresh these days. They remind me of when kids used to look forward to oranges in their stockings. Like my young days of longing to be Laura Ingalls Wilder (didn’t we all have those days?),  I pretend to savor the sections like they are my only citrus for the winter.

    Red Bird Peppermint Sticks from Canoe; $6

  • Good design

    Somerville Illuminated

    December 1, 2010 / No Comments

    Tickets go on sale today for the Somerville Illuminations Tour. Annually I have wished to join the merry crowds on their trolley tour of Somerville’s most sparkly houses, but something has always come up. This year, I will not be deterred. Mark your calendars: December 18th; $10 a person. If you can’t make it, you can always buy the charmingly chintzy postcards inscribed with “Greetings from Somerville,” or the self-guided tour Map from participating stores.

    Photo from the tour from Earkin.

  • Good design

    Alec Baldwin Pitches NPR

    November 26, 2010 / No Comments

    Public Radio, with it’s lack of hot buxom starlets, needs to lose its sense of seriousness; its pathetic faith that ideas still matter. That has no place in today’s media lanscape, so please, this pledge drive, don’t give.

    To continue my NPR theme, I recommend clicking over to the This American Life blog to listen to the very funny Alec Baldwin pitches taped for NPR pledge drives. Have you caught these on your local station? I love the Terry Gross re-assignment.

    What is it about Alec Baldwin’s voice that makes him sound like he wrote the funny stuff he says? Like sardonic savvy words just spout naturally from his psyche.

    Photo of This American Life’s new episode-packed USB drive.

  • Good design

    Fearless Color

    November 16, 2010 / No Comments

    On the hunt for business card inspiration and useful card cases, I checked in on Ming’s new small business Pounding Mill Press. When you encounter someone who is unafraid of color, the difference is immediately apparent. Joyful color all around.