valeriebarneslives

[valeriebarneslives]

HEDONISM 

I’d say the word hedonism gets a bad rap. I guess things went downhill for the word when it was used as the name of a nudist resort in Jamaica.  It’s often thought of as overindulgence or even gluttony... but it doesn’t actually go that far. It’s simply the pursuit of pleasure and without it we’d be in a sorry state of affairs. But as in everything we do, there should be a balance, don’t you agree? 

I came across a book called “HEDONISM: MASTERING THE LOST ART OF LEISURE AND PLEASURE”.  In it they made a damn good argument about how the lack of pleasure seeking isn’t good for us either. 

They gave the example of Jefferson vs. Hitler.  Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence in a Philadelphia Tavern... Where as Hitler lived a very self-disciplined life exemplifying many of the virtues and restraint we praise... and then he flipped his switch! 

Point being, balance is the key. Don’t walk too close to the edge and don’t force yourself to always stay on the straight and narrow... find a good spot in between and make the best of it! 

ps. grapes represent pleasure, don’t they?

[valeriebarneslives]

SEASONS CHANGE

When are __apricots__ in season?? I never know the answer to this, sadly. But someone has answered my organizational prayers. 

CUESA: Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture has provided us with seasonality charts. Here are the links to PDF’s of Seasonality Charts for Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts, Seafood and Flowers. Thank you to those at CUESA for putting this together!! 

http://www.cuesa.org/sites/default/files/vegetable_seasonality_chart.pdf

http://www.cuesa.org/sites/default/files/fruit_seasonality_chart.pdf

http://www.cuesa.org/sites/default/files/Seafood_Availability_Chart.pdf

http://www.cuesa.org/sites/default/files/Flower_Seasonality_Chart.pdf

http://www.cuesa.org/eat-seasonally/charts

One major oversight I noticed was that there’s no mention of mangoes... so I looked it up!

* Mexican mangoes: Late March through September * Florida mangoes: May through September * Haitian mangoes: January through September * Brazilian mangoes:September through January

And you can listen to Expose’s 1987 hit “Seasons Change” as you look over your new charts... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw-iI_pprIU

[valeriebarneslives]

Bardessono

This place has been on my radar for a few years now. It looks beautiful. 

Located in Yountville, CA, they offer wine tastings, yoga, cycling, a spa and great food... and they’re proud to be one of 3 hotels in the US that are LEED Platinum certified. What does that mean? It has to do with the environmentally conscious ways the hotel was built and operates. LEED means Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. 

The pictures I’ve posted are from their website, all but the vineyard. 

Someday I’ll stop by and say hello... 

http://www.bardessono.com

[valeriebarneslives]

These are the discoveries that drive me to write this blog.  I haven’t posted since the first week of January. I’ve been wanting to post, but I felt a greater pull to pause for a while. So today I looked up quotes about pausing and found this gem. 

“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.”                                                                       

Guillaume Apollinaire 

Nice one Guillaume.... but who are you? Turns out he’s a French poet and playwright from the early 20th century with a very intriguing past. To begin with he’s responsible for coining the term SURREALISM.  

Nice to meet you Guillaume, can’t wait to get acquainted.... 

 http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/guillaume-apollinaire

[valeriebarneslives]

RIMOWA 

The dreamiest of dream luggage. German engineered, been around since the late 1800's, it's the original suitcase with the grooves. 

There's a reason all of Lufthansa's employees (crossed paths with them at a Houston hotel where they were having a conference) and countless celebs like Jessica Alba and Ryan Gosling roll with Rimowa.  So durable, light and easy to roll. They're simply the best.

I get a little giddy sometimes when I'm rolling both my full-size and my carry-on through LAX with only one hand.  You'll drop about $500 a pop, but you'll never buy luggage again. Even if a wheel breaks off, they're made in such a way that you can easily replace it.  And they come in different sizes, styles and so many colors. Mine are navy with mesh compartments inside. 

Happy Travels!

http://www.rimowa.com/en-us/

[valeriebarneslives]

MILO BAUGHMAN

One of the great designers of the 20th century. He makes my modern furniture dreams come true. 

[valeriebarneslives]

BEAUTIFUL GAMES 

Games never go out of style, but the style of your game collection can most likely be improved. From Labrinth to backgammon to chess or checkers, think about going for a beautiful wooden version of your favorite game. 

And if you want the ultimate splurge, you can go for the Duke of York English Solitaire for $1,400 usd.

http://www.landofmarbles.com/pc/tvgduke/teign-valley-glass-studio.html 

[valeriebarneslives]

GEMS

I got to know Andrew in 2009, when I started working at Media Arts Lab. As the music supervisor for Apple ads, he was always exposing us to great new music. One of my favorite memories was when a few of us sat around a table at lunch and sang Spinal Tap's "All the Way Home". On the weekends we'd go listen to him DJ at the Mandrake in LA, and he's easy on the eyes ta boot. 

When he moved on from MAL, he started his own company, Good Ear Music Supervision. He's worked with so many companies since then from Spotify to Cadillac, Gap to Nespresso. Keep it up Kahn! 

http://goodear.tv

If you follow his blog, you can get his yearly mix every January. 

http://goodear.tv/blog/

[valeriebarneslives]

GUY BOURDIN

French photographer born in 1928. He shot for French Vogue for 3 decades. His pioneering work continues to be relevant today, Nars recently did a Guy Bourdin line. Any collection of his photos is worth checking out. 

Here's a few...

A Message for You: Guy Bourdin

http://www.michaelhoppengallery.com/artist,show,3,158,266,1488,0,0,0,0,michael_hoppen_contemporary.html

http://www.temptalia.com/nars-x-guy-bourdin-color-collection-photos-swatches-commentary

[valeriebarneslives]

Dali speaks the truth! 

[valeriebarneslives]

MEXICAN CUISINE IS UNESCO INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

I'm so happy to share with you that the United Nations declared Mexican Cuisine Intangible Cultural Heritage as of 2010. Those of us in the states most likely know it as tasty, cheese covered goodness of meat and beans, but if you haven't tried true authentic Mexican food, then you're missing out. There is just so much artful technique that's been handed down for centuries that make this food so delicious. If you haven't tried it, let me know and the next time I go, I'll bring you back some legit mole, pozole or caldo de tuetano.  

http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&RL=0040

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjRBTnKi0xg

If you get curious, also check out the list of other intangible cultural heritage from around the world: 

http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00559

[valeriebarneslives]

SUNSET BEACH 

Thanks to a couple of friends from San Miguel de Allende, I made my way to visit them on Shelter Island in the summer of 2008. Over the course of that weekend, we sat on that roof deck and had glorious night after night. We made great memories that weekend and I've always wanted to go back. It's only open in the summer, so I better get to planning that jaunt. I've waited long enough. 

http://www.sunsetbeachli.com

[valeriebarneslives]

Matali Crasset

I usually like to plan at least what hotel we'll be in before heading off on a trip, but halfway through the planning for a trip to Europe with my cousin Welly in 2013, she said she wanted to wing it, so we did. We had a few days in Nice and she booked us at the Hi Hotel. As I sat in the lobby, I watched a video play about Matali Crasset, the hotel's French industrial designer. 

With the affectation of her black, bowl cut hair, you can't help but lean in a little bit to see what this woman is about. She's designed a lot of cool hotels in many countries and a bevy of interesting objects and furniture. 

The photos here are of the the Dar Hi, an ochre colored hotel in Neftah, Tunisia. 

http://www.matalicrasset.com

http://www.hi-hotel.net/en

http://www.dezeen.com/2011/02/18/dar-hi-by-matali-crasset/

[valeriebarneslives]

CHRIS LILLEY 

A few years ago, my friend Jon turned me on to Summer Heights High. It's an Australian mockumentary series starring and created by Chris Lilley. All his characters are brash and hilarious as portraits of social commentary. Check out these crazy punks and bitches.  

Jonah from Tonga

Ja'mie Private School Girl

Mr. G Drama Teacher 

Jen Okazaki, Mother of a Pro Skateboarder 

[valeriebarneslives]

BOHEMIAN LOVE 

By Pete Doherty... the most beautiful and melancholy love song I've ever come across.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mSTUjjKE_Q

[valeriebarneslives]

The Title is a Drawing II 

by Artist Mark Horowitz 

Summer 2011, I was hanging out with actor Fran Kranz (Dollhouse) and went to a BBQ in Venice. There I met Simmy Swinder, the Director of the Carmichael Gallery, Los Angeles.  I went to visit the gallery and among the installations was this video. Two dust clods doing their thing. It's pretty funny... I also recommend it for it's calming effect. 

http://vimeo.com/49927370

http://vimeo.com/marchorowitz

[valeriebarneslives]

THINGS ORGANIZED NEATLY

Great blog... good to see someone celebrating the joy of symmetry and organization. Others call it obsessive compulsive disorder. 

Hmmm... what's disorderly about putting things in order? 

http://thingsorganizedneatly.tumblr.com