Worth Your Gamble

This afternoon, a girlfriend and I took a one-hour tour of a 102-year-old craftsman home in Pasadena. I've lived in Pasadena for a little more than two years, and was excited to know that I was no longer disregarding my beautiful neighboring landscape that is historic Pasadena. The Gamble House today, remains a manse to be proud of. It was originally commissioned as a winter home for David and Mary Gamble of the manufacturing firm Procter and Gamble (yes, the Ivory Soap one). It's important to remember these structures not only as noted architectural icons of our past, but that they literally stand the test of time. Our docent mentioned that this house was built following the San Francisco 1906 earthquake, it was built like a fort with an adjustable frame and was bolted into the ground. But still, 100 years is a 100 years, not to mention California continued to have earthquakes throughout the 20th century. Aside from a chimney lost, it's incredibly impressive to realize a home constructed in 1908 is as structurally sound as it was when it was first built. 

Even more impressive was that the Gamble House design and construction took just 10 months (one month ahead of schedule) - quite an achievement, but definitely not its architects (Charles Greene and Henry Greene) only one.


I picked up some amazing knowledge about this house, which made me want to learn more about architecture. There's always more than meets the eye when it comes to architecture.


- The owner had an fixation with Tsuba, a sword guard seen in Japanese culture. The frame where the key hold went, as well as tables and other furniture fixtures were designed with that Tsuba shape. In fact, the wood-building of the outside structure has a Japanese flair.


-Los Angeles air used to breathable and healthy. The house includes "sleeping porches," it was believed that sleeping outdoors and breathing in the night air was beneficial. 


-During that period electricity was still in its infancy. Mary Gamble's living room electric lamp had a beautiful moth-shaped design hanging over the lamp shade (made of glass). The reason behind that obstruction was that it was thought to guard against the evil of electricity, or so the docent says. 


An interesting history lesson it seems, but also a nice walk down history lane. High recommend. You can check out the tour here. 

Watching a stimulating episode of the Twilight Zone. Why does great TV like this have to come at such an indecent hour?

Interestingly enough, Mr. Beasley, the main character is a magazine writer ... and a malcontent. :/

Computer Haikus

These humorous haikus were shared with me today, I couldn't help posting them here.

Your file was so big.
It might be very useful.
But now it's gone.

The Web site you seek
Cannot be located, but
Countless more exist.

Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.

Program aborting:
Close all that you have worked on.
You ask far too much.

Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.

Yesterday it worked.
Today it is not working.
Windows is like that.

First snow, then silence.
This thousand-dollar screen dies
So beautifully.

With searching comes loss
And the presence of absence:
"My Novel" not found.

The Tao that is seen
Is not the true Tao until
You bring fresh toner.

Stay the patient course.
Of little worth is your ire.
The network is down.

A crash reduces
Your expensive computer
To a simple stone.

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occured.

You step in the stream.
But the water has not moved on.
The page is not here.

Out of memory.
We wish to hold the whole sky.
But we never will.

Having been erased,
The document you're seeking
Must now be retyped.

Serious error
All shortcuts have disappeared
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

Feeling Framed

Finally getting to another one of my weekend projects by framing my vintage Vogue magazines. I wish I could stake claim that this creative, artful home design was my idea, but it was my boyfriend who found these original Vogue magazines from the 1930s, 1940s and 1970s. These sorts of beautiful spreads and cover ideas were not just hashed out attempts to market the lastest Hollywood starlett and film, like so many glossies today. In fact, back then Vogue didn't frequently put actors on the their covers, rather they liked models who exemplified the sophistication, glamour, precision of fashion branding that was Vogue. Here are a few that already bedeck my entry walls.

This one is from October 1, 1946.

The left one is from the 1960s (the psychadellic look was enjoyed so much by my boyfriend that he bought himself a copy too). The one on the right is from the 1940s, and is actually one of my favorites. It's summery, artful colors always make me feel a little lighter each time I walk by it in my place.

Check out these gorgeous and dramatic layouts. Love it.   

Here's a keeper. The ad actually tells you to "try Camels on your 'T-Zone'." T meaning taste and throat. Lovely.

Life is a Deadline

At this moment, I'm trying to do a number of things. I'm sporadically shopping online for wish-list stuff like a new comforter and leather-strap watch, trying to fold/put away clothes that have been living on my bed for a few days, frame a vintage Vogue magazine cover, while wearing my Crest White Strips, attempting to read the Times and write some. And I have TBS on, although I'm trying to wean myself off TV, I'm always inclined to have it on in the background.

What has the New Year brought for you so far? In just 10 days, I've felt many things begun to change for me. For the first time since college, I'm feeling more opportunistic and driven to accomplish my goals. Life's always got a deadline and I think I can just about expect anything right now.

Iced Iced Babycakesnyc

Tonight I sat in bed and enjoyed a Babycakesnyc vanilla spelt cupcake. The vegan cupcake boutique, started by Erin McKenna in New York City, finally launched its westside transplant on Sunday in Downtown L.A. During a much-needed lunch break, I made a little stop down 6th Street and bought a chocolate and vanialla cupcake and a whoopie pie.

Even without being traditional, mouthwatering (read: very fattening) sweets, at least not with its vegan, gluten-free and agave-sweetened method. The frosting is actually pretty sweet without being overly syrupy. It's rumored that they sell "frosting shots" at its east coast counterpart. The cupcakes are made with soy milk and coconut oil, among other wheat-free and allergy-friendly ingredients. Healthy foods like blueberry juice, tumeric and chlorophyll are used to create blue, red and green-colored frosting (no artificial colors). What's pretty awesome about Babycakes too is that they come in a case that creatively holds 'em right in place (there's nothing worse than coming home and finding smashed up cupcakes from knocking around in its own box).

Apparently Babycakesnyc is also very known for their donuts.

Yep, antioxidant-rich chocolate muffins at 99 cents.

The girl at the counter recommended the whoopie pies the most. Their incredible taste takes the ouch out of their being five bucks a pop.

My jaw dropped a little when I saw Babycakes sells cupcake tops. :)