Places to Visit »Minnesota Children’s Museum

10 West Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN

On a recent visit to Minneapolis, we took a day at the Children’s Museum of Minnesota. Now, I remember LOVING such hands on places while growing up, and while most of the exhibits were for kids older than Van, we had a blast.

From a lego land exhibit about knights, castles, and dragons (with a joisting corner to boot!) to a tiny town where kids could don costumes (like firemen and postal workers), from an indoor jungle with simulated clouds and lighting kids could move themselves to a sidewalk art patio, there’s plenty here to keep a kid happy.

Van loved looking at everything and made fast friends with the stuffed animal puppets that littered the rooms (surprisingly not available at the museum shop – Van absolutely loved the woodchuck and I would have got it for him, but alas.)

The most awesome part for us though, was the baby room, where kids under 3 can let loose. Van was thrilled to spend time in the padded lily pad area that had mirrors, toys, and fun stuff to climb around.

What a great idea! (Will have to see if our local museum boasts a similar room and make a date to go there soon if so).

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Posted on August 14, 2011

Style Icons: Male »Tom Palumbo

Photographer

As today’s weepy weather reminds us – everything is fleeting – including the fun days of summer.

Sure we have about a month more of it, but if you haven’t taken time to go to the beach, don a bathing suit or lounge in the sun, these gorgeous Tom Palumbo images will inspire you to snap to it and do so asap.

While his work was versatile, as a staff photographer at Vogue then Bazaar, Palumbo created indelible images of ideal summertime bliss.

Often photographing the great Jean Patchett and Anne Saint Marie, he caught moments of seaside frolicking that feel both exquisitely fashionable and quietly personal.

He taught for a time at my alma mater, RISD and was also an accomplished stage director.

His website features great galleries to peruse and some of my favorites from him are below and after the jump.

Click here for the rest of Tom Palumbo

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Posted on August 14, 2011

Places to Visit »On Vacation Again

Be back soon !

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Posted on August 7, 2011

Spend a Couple Minutes »Wear Your Baby

Everybody’s Doing It

There’s a new movement in mothering. It says no to the common ideas babies should be left to cry, it supports co-sleeping, breastfeeding as long as you want, and babywearing. Some call it Attachment Parenting, some call it trusting your instincts, some call it spoiling your baby (pshaw!). Some think it’s a luxury, others think it’s insane.

But no matter what your philosophy on parenting, most moms can agree that at least the babywearing part is pretty awesome. And it’s been done the world over for pretty much forever though has only become a trend in the US fairly recently.

I started carrying with the ubiquitous (and terrible for your back) Baby Bjorn, but moved on to other, better structured carriers like the Gemino Becco and the Ergo. But my newest love is the wrap (and as you can see Van loves it too).

I was surprised how easy wrapping is and comfort wise, it feels like I am pregnant again rather than lugging around a big baby.

I found a gorgeous aqua hombre wrap from Girasol at Caribou Baby, which is an incredible resource for moms and moms to be. Owner and friend Adriane knows as much as anyone on the subject of babywearing and will help you get the hang of it.

I’ve found that the Girasol is a free trade product from Guatemala and they often come in rare limited edition colors – making it an special purchase which is really fun for us moms that thought our days of buying exclusive coveted items for ourselves were over.

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Posted on August 4, 2011

Hunks »Tom Wlaschiha

Jaqen H’ghar

Well, I am just beside myself.

One of my favorite characters from A Clash of Kings, Jaqen H’ghar will be played by blue eyed German hunk Tom Wlaschiha.

Thanks to Winter is Coming for the latest casting info.

And do enjoy the most amazing fan art below.

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Posted on August 3, 2011

Style Icons: Female »Soledad Miranda

Blood Queen

Gorgeous, mysterious, as delicate as a flower, yet dangerous and brooding, I have no doubt that Spanish actress Soledad Miranda would have been an international star.

Everything was aligned for her to achieve world wide fame when a car accident tragically took her away at the age 27.

She has since become a cult super star with many Westerns and horror flicks on her resume, most famously the lesbian vampire flick, Vampyros Lesbos, which definitely has it’s charms and style galore but is still a difficult movie to get through.

Miranda, however, is a joy to watch on screen no matter how tedious the film.

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Posted on August 3, 2011

Laughs »The Record Books

Music As Literature

These clever, funny, and amazingly rendered albums reinterpreted as novels are fantastic! There are so many great ones, but of course a science fiction cover for Purple Rain ranks among my very favorites.

London designer Christophe Gowans has also done a bang up job reinterpreting classic art as classic album covers. Just check out that Black Sabbath/Nude Descending a Staircase mashup. Genius!

Thanks to Will from The Stencil for posting these on FB…

Which in turn posted a link to these Pelican Book versions of classic albums.

These pretty much made my day.

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Posted on August 3, 2011

Web Sites »Atelier Pour Enfants

Amazing Collection of Children’s Books

Oh my goodness I am in LOVE with the blog Atelier Pour Enfants, in love. I can’t read a word of it, but who needs to with all the adorable, interesting, beautiful artwork.

I’ve spent hours looking through the entire archive getting all kinds of inspired. In fact, I’ve started a whole new project with all the new ideas these wonderful books have inflamed in my brain.

An absolute must for lovers of illustration or really anybody that enjoys looking at cute, great design. I would love to find some of the books for Mr. Van – will have to keep an eye out.

Found this site through another great site (and previous Brix Pick) called Vintage Kids’ Books My Kid Loves.

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Posted on August 2, 2011

Recipes »Spaghetti With Garlic, Lamb Sausage, and Arugula

A Brix Picks Original

I am usually slave to a recipe, so I was very proud of myself for producing such a great meal tonight without one. I owe a lot, of course to the awesome ingredients I picked up from Eataly (a madhouse on the weekend, phew!).

I opted for a thin lamb sausage that proved to be delicious and a jar of Sugo al Pomodoro e Verdure Dell’Otro (tomato and vegetable sauce).

I had my favorite dry pasta waiting at home – Rao’s and went to work.

I started with tons of garlic slices (at least 5 cloves), olive oil and the sausage and let it cook while the water boiled.

Once the sausage was browned and the pasta was cooking (9 and a half minutes makes perfect al dente) I added the jar of tomato sauce, parmesan rind, garlic salt and cracked pepper.

Lastly, with just a few minutes left on the pasta, I threw in three handfuls of arugula which wilted quickly as well as a splash of lemon juice.

Just add the pasta to the mixture once it’s done and top with a heap of parmesan – mmmm!

I deserved (and got) a Sixpoint Sweet Action for such a yummy meal.

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Posted on July 31, 2011

Books »DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide

by Brandon T Snider (2011)

I have always, always loved bright, stat and photo filled reference books. As a kid I poured over this huge Your Fifty States Book and an old Hollywood guide of actors and actresses with glee.

So I was thrilled when friend and author  of The DC Comics The Ultimate Character Guide, Brandon Snider brought a signed copy of this bold, fun, informative book for little Van – because I will enjoy it as much as he will.

Now, super hero comics have never been my brand of nerd, but I love reading through the character’s vital stats, background, nicknames and super powers.

From Adam Strange (who defends the universe, but would rather hang out with his hot wife and baby daughter) to Zatanna a magician babe who not only fights forces of evil, but puts on elaborate magic shows in her spare time (in fishnets!), from the disgusting janitor turned purple toxic donut eating Parasite, to the comely Sebastian Ballesteros who for a brief, totally hunky moment became the studly male version of Cheetah, from Brainiac, who travels the universe in an insane Iron Maiden-esque skull ship to Harley Quinn who left her life as a respected psychiatrist to commit crimes with the Joker – there’s a super hero or villain here for everybody.

I can’t wait til Van is big enough to totally geek out with this.

Thanks Brandon!! (pictured below in one of his more sophisticated looks).

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Posted on July 31, 2011