Holiday Card from Minted

Created on minted.com

For years I've been loyal to Tiny Prints for our holiday card creation, but this year I decided to mix it up by trying out Minted. I found that Minted had a much larger selection of non-photo cards which is exactly what I was looking for this year!

South Asian American Digital Archive

Image from saadigitalarchive.org

I was recently introduced to a really great organization, the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA). They are a volunteer organization that documents diverse and relatively unknown South Asian American stories and photos spanning back as far as the late 1600s.

SAADA posted a photo this week of a Hindu temple in San Francisco, apparently the only in the U.S. at the time, which is dated 1921. I was aware that the Chinese American community has a long history with San Francisco, but I was really surprised that South Asians do as well to some degree.

I'll have to wander over to Webster Street to see if the building is still there and take some photos of my own!

Kavita Desai Circa 2004 - 2005

Photo by J. Mears

Jay was doing some digital organizing today when he came across Kavita_Gelion in one of his old book marks. What's Kavita_Gelion you ask? Oh, just the blog I started back in 2004 on Xanga (Xanga, really?)! And here I was thinking Simply Us was my first blog. I had completely forgotten about my little Xanga blog which lived from  December 2004 to December 2005.

Reading Kavita_Gelion (the name is a lift from an anime I was into at the time, oh so dorky I know) really took me back. Although it's completely embarrassing, I am so glad that I documented my feelings back then. I used my blog as an online diary with no structure, just basic thoughts and feelings. I was certainly more uncensored.

And as I recall, 2004 to 2005 was a very pivotal time period for me. Jay and I had decided to seriously make a go of our relationship for the long term, I took a chance on a new career, I took up snowboarding and I was smack in middle of my MBA program. I'm glad I have a little glimpse of who I was then. It makes me appreciate who I am today even more.

In the words of Kavita Desai circa 2005, It's exciting to think of all the possibilities out there...in the crazy world.  I love this crazy world. 

Solo Week = Bad Movie Marathons

Image from imbd.com

While Jay is off in Montreal this week for work, I've been holding down the fort solo. I find that when Jay's out of town, I use my free time to catch up on all the romantic comedies and dramedies my heart desires.

It's not that I couldn't or wouldn't watch these movies around Jay. But we do live in a one-bedroom apartment, so I try to be respectful (plus I don't want to be ridiculed!). I know many of these movies will be terrible even before I rent them. But I can't help myself. I have to watch them, good or bad. It's my "me-time", it helps me sort of shut-down for a bit.

So far this week, I have already rented In the Land of Women (so-so), Red Riding Hood (terrible, oh so terrible) and Tenure (I actually think Jay would've liked this one).

For tonight, I'm debating between The Other Woman and oh yes, Sole Surfer (hey, I like the occasional feel good, based on a true story, i.e. Rudy)!

Dose of Super Cuteness

Photo by J. Mears

After a wonderful long weekend, it's inevitable to have a bit of  back-to-work blues. So here's a little super cuteness cheer to start your week off with a smile! Honestly, how can you look into those baby blues and not just have your heart melt!

As mentioned here, we had dear friends visiting over the 4th of July weekend. I must admit I was a little nervous about how to plan a weekend of baby friendly events, but to my delight it wasn't nearly as difficult as you would think. 

A huge factor was that our little 9-month old visitor is at a stage in which she can still nap on the go. Another factor was that her parents were super laid back, and if they were feeling stressed, it never showed (awesome team work guys!).

Here are some things that really worked for us: 

• We started the day early, getting to our favorite breakfast spots as soon as they opened.
• We kept a fairly loose schedule, meaning, we had an A plan and B plan based on everyone's mood (with extra consideration for the little one).
• We had a car, for easy abort if things weren't working out.
• We had one go-go-go day followed but a very easy going day.
• We made the earliest dinner reservations possible, so we could avoid crowds and be served fairly quickly.
• We had plenty of decompression time, once home after dinner.

These were just my observations from our weekend with a baby, I am sure every case is different. But it was really encouraging to have a weekend of events that all could enjoy (in a city that's not always considered baby friendly)!

(Thanks for visiting P+S+F!)

Google Letterpress

Image from google.com

I don't typically pay too much attention to Google's homepage, I know that they change it often. But on Sunday, I couldn't help but notice Google's letterpress-style logo for Mother's Day! Very cute! Seems that there are more and more letterpress enthusiasts out there (myself included)!

Earth Day with Anthropologie

Image from anthropologie.com

Earth Day is just around the corner and Anthropologie is celebrating by offering free crafting with cork classes and potting workshops for kids. There are a handful of workshops being offered in California (specific locations can be found here), and for my Michigan friends, I was happy to see a cork class being offered at Somerset Collection! Happy planting (or crafting)!

I heart Julian Casablancas

Image Source Unknown

Those who know me, know that I am a huge fan of The Strokes and their front man Julian Casablancas. So I was super excited when my friend reminded me that their new album was out last week! I listened to Angles all weekend and I am definitely pleased, but I have to say it didn't knock my socks off. I think I was partly so excited to listen to something new from them, that it made me enjoy the album a little more than deserved. That being said though, I think that it's a good listen and if you are a fan of The Stokes, you are going to be happy with the purchase. I just wish they could capture the chemistry from Is this it? But perhaps part of the fun had to do with the album releasing just after college graduation and it was a fun soundtrack for those carefree days of my early 20s. No matter what though, I will forever heart this band!

We're in Brides Michigan

Image from ksenijasavicphotography.com

Our wedding photographer, Ksenija Savic, sent a us a note with a pleasant surprise over the weekend! One of our wedding images was chosen for the article (above), One Location, Four Photographers in Brides Michigan. We cannot give enough positive praise to Ksenija for capturing our wedding. It was such a blast, and then to be shown in a bridal magazine (last year images popped up here) is such a thrill!

If you would like to see more from our garden wedding, just visit here. Enjoy!

Wish You Were Here

Image from  detroit.aiga.org

AIGA Detroit has come up with a wonderful contest to promote our home state! Folks were asked to submit Michigan theme postcard designs (150 entries were received), which have already been sorted through and narrowed to 48. Now we are being asked to vote on our favorites to determine the top 25 postcard designs. You can vote once a day until March 9. Above are a few of my personal favorites!

(Thanks Manan)

I Heart Michigan

Image from catstudio.com

Dear friends of ours gave us the cutest state dish towels from Catstudio last holiday. It's little reminder of our home state Michigan and our new home California! Each towel highlights special areas with fun illustrations marking locations such as the Golden Gate Bridge for California or Motown for Michigan. A great gift for friends that have recently moved cross country!

New Radiohead Album

Image  Source Unknown

Exciting news! The new Radiohead album, The King of Limbs, is available for pre-order. Double bonus, the digital version of the record will be available for download this Saturday, February 19th. I cannot wait to hear their new sound!

Update! Radiohead decided to release it a day early, February 18th! We are listening to it now!

Farewell Detroit Darlings

I was so sad to hear the announcement that The White Stripes have decided to end their band yesterday. I will remember them as the soundtrack behind some of my most favorite times in the early 2000s. It was just around that time that I met Jay. Best of luck to Jack and Meg White, thank you for the tunes!

Image source unkown