A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to give my office a little facelift. Being that I’m on a tight budget with “unnecessary” expenses (though I happen to think it’s completely necessary to work in a beautiful office), I had to get crafty with my decor. Deciding to use what I had available plus a couple of inexpensive purchases here and there, I was able to achieve exactly what I was going for. Using a few kraft letters from The Paper Source and some of my favorite LAMA paper (Almacenero Tissue Paper: Pescado), I created some great personalized art for my office walls. The best part? The whole project cost me less than 20 bucks!

LAMA’s lovely paper from Argentina is perfect for a variety of art projects and pretty enough to frame and hang as is. With large sheets ranging from $3.80-$8.00, it’s an inexpensive way to add something unique in your home. Have a super crafty friend or family member? I can’t think of a more thoughtful gift for the budget-conscience gift-giver.

Vacations are a great way to take a step back and get some much needed perspective on things. I had a wonderful three day weekend packed with lots of fun, food and friends. I even managed to throw a pretty successful Memorial Day BBQ despite having cloudy, 54 degree weather. I also decided to follow through with some goals I set for myself. I’ve been wanting to take up some new hobbies lately and my first thought was baking! I’m basically a disaster in the kitchen but I LOVE the way baked goods look when they’re all done up with pretty packaging or on a gorgeous little plate. Yes, I choose my hobbies based on how well I can accessorize them. Yesterday, I decided to dive right in, I opened my latest issue of Martha Stewart Living and decided to take on her recipe for blueberry scones.

Okay, so maybe they don’t look as pretty as Martha’s (my boyfriend yelled, “who shot your scones!” as soon as I opened the oven) but, to my delight, they were pretty tasty. My neighbors upstairs helped us finish a dozen within an hour. I’ll take that as a good sign. The best part was, it was fun! So now I’m hooked. Next up, strawberry shortcake cookies! Yummy!

Following with my goals, I’ve also signed up to take 3 introductory classes with Namaste Yoga right here in Oakland. I took Yoga classes years ago when I lived in Los Angeles when everyone carried purse dogs, ate raw foods and did yoga. Not long into it, I found that it became an integral part of my life and well being. Between moving, traveling, and starting a business, yoga has taken a backseat but now I’m ready to jump back in. I can’t wait to go to my first class tomorrow! I’ve already started searching Etsy for a great yoga mat bag. I’m thinking maybe one of these:

Cherry Wallflower Yoga Mat Bag by poketsofsage

Yoga Mat Bag W/Lace Trim by ChellaBellaDesigns

Bubbly Yoga Mat Bag by oneblacksheep

I also had another thought. What about making my own? That means, of course, that I’ll have to learn how to sew. Hmmm… do I sense another hobby coming on?

I hope you all had a very happy and restful holiday weekend. I’ll be adding some great new products to the LAMA site shortly (I also made some time to get some product photography done over the weekend). Get excited! Lots of great new things are heading your way (and mine!).

When I first started on my little journey across Latin lands to find cool products and designers to feature in LAMA, I always imagined I would end up in Mexico City. Unfortunately, after opening LAMA shortly following my trip to Argentina, I have been pretty stationary since. Sadly, my long awaited and highly anticipated trip to seek out what’s hot in Mexico is on hold for the foreseeable future. What I am excited about is knowing when I do manage to make my way immediately South, great design and wonderful new products (new to me and many of you I’m sure) will be waiting.

Recently, I came across a NY Times article entitiled “In Gritty Mexico City, a Design Boom.” The overall message is one about how different aspects of this “megalopolis” of a city influences it’s emerging artists, designers and architects. Yes, it’s gritty but according to product/industrial designer Ariel Rojo, “Mexico’s eccentricity is ripe enough to inspire modern designs.”

I clicked on a few links throughout the article and was immediately smitten with the gorgeous images of work coming from some great Mexico based designers. As if I needed more reasons to be excited about heading down to Mexico City! Below are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

“Cerdo Ahorrador” by Ariel Rojo

“Charola Kaiten” by Ariel Rojo

“Matamoscas” by Ariel Rojo

Glass Decanters by Nouvel Studio

“Arbol” by Pirwi

This past weekend was amazingly gorgeous! I LOVE the warm spring weather we’ve been having here in the East Bay. One of my favorite things to do on a beautiful day is sit out in my backyard and catch up on all my favorite design/fashion magazines, chat with my neighbors and just take in the sites. I thought I would share a few of my latest pictures from my backyard. Enjoy!

This is mama squirrel (not sure why I call her that… not even sure it’s a her). She entertains me in the backyard. She loves to follow me around and tease Miles. I love that she let me take this great photo of her.

My pond. Those little white disks are floating tea candles that look gorgeous at night. I love this little pond except that every time Miles has a new playmate in the backyard with him, they inevitably take a spill in it. Then it’s bath time.

I don’t remember ever seeing a butterfly this beautiful anywhere in California. Thank goodness she stuck around long enough to let me snap this shot. Thats my favorite chair in the background. I painted it as close to LAMA blue as I could get.

Send me your favorite spring pic and I’ll send you a discount code! Didn’t I tell you spring is a beautiful thing?

This offer is only valid for the next 10 days so hurry over and use it.  Don’t forget to sign up for future newsletters! Happy Cinco de Mayo!!