A lot of my shots this time around were insanely underexposed for some reason. I’m not sure what I was doing differently, but I was really sad because only a few indoor photos came out, which means only a few photos of my friends and family exist from this trip! I guess that’s the downside to film – you don’t quite know what you’ll get. I took a photo of my niece and she said immediately “I want to see!” and I could not for the live of me get her to understand that I wasn’t using a digital camera, so she couldn’t see the photo. It was hilarious.

Anyway, you can click on the photos for more info, but the basics are that we stayed at the Ace for a few days (highly recommended, it was just as fantastic as the Portland location) and just tried to take in the scenery as much as possible. Every time I go home my mind is blown by how beautiful it is in the Northwest, and how much I took that for granted growing up there. It also could have had something to do with the fact that we got incredibly lucky with the weather and had clear blue skies most of the time – making everything look more fantastic than usual.

It was hard to go home – it’s hard watching your family get older and you’re so far away. But then as soon as they start driving you nuts you just think about how nice it is:)

Though I miss the scenery of the Northwest, New York welcomed me back with summery warm weather and the promise of a trip to the beach this weekend – the first of the summer. I want a blanket like this Steven Alan beauty to take along with me. Oh and my own private beach. And maybe a better swimsuit body. And I’d like to be magically transported to said private beach so I could avoid the subway.

Hello everyone, I’m back! Seattle was fantastic – maybe my best trip home ever – and I was actually sad to go back to NYC. Despite a horrible flight there that resulted in the decision to never fly American Airlines again, everything was beautiful, relaxing, and just what vacations are meant for. And, it only rained once! I dropped two rolls of film off today, so over the next three days I’ll share photos.

Did you love the guest bloggers as much as I did? I was super blown away by the awesomeness those guys cooked up for you. I hope you were too. I will definitely be inviting friends to share with you again for future vacations.

Stay tuned for some photos later today. (If you’re not photo’d out. I’ll have to dig up a shoe post…)

PS. Check out my summer must-haves over at Camp Comfort!

Today’s Bits Of My Weekend guest blogger is Lily of bigBANG studio. I’ll let her explain more about herself, but I think her photos will explain why every week she has me pining to leave this crazy city behind and move to the desert. Are you with me on this? Sigh. Oh and she totally shares a salad recipe with us at the bottom. She constantly kills me with her awesome.

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Hi chickens! This is Lily from bigBANG studio. I’m a painter living in Joshua Tree, a bohemian whistle-stop of a town located in Southern California’s Mojave Desert. Joshua Tree is a vibrant community of writers, musicians, artists, cowboys, Marines, bikers, rock climbers and a few drunks, all of whom draw inspiration from the austere beauty of the Seussian desert landscape. When I’m not in the studio I’m morselizing every last drop of weekend time making a mess in the kitchen, exploring the vast desert wilderness behind our wee house, entertaining friends, trespassing around abandoned historic homestead shacks, and, on Sunday nights, two-stepping with my man at our beloved, eclectic honky-tonk, Pappy & Harriet’s. We’re only two hours from Los Angeles, but sometimes it seems like a world away.

Joshua Tree Summer Salad
Inspired by New York Times ingredient guru Mark Bittman, this summer salad is not for the Wonder Bread crowd. But for those game for some serious flavor, it will not disappoint. The unusual combination of flavors really pack a punch, and the colors are equally delectable. Enjoy!

Chop good heirloom tomatoes, tart yellow peaches. Add a handful of coarsely chopped basil. A dash of chili flakes. Toss with a little fancy olive oil and lots of fresh lime juice. Zing.

-Lily

Today’s Bits Of My Weekend Guest blogger is Victoria, who has an amazing blog with no name (which I love), but is often mistakenly called “Lost”, so perhaps you know it by that name:) She’s an Australian who lives in London, and I was so lucky to meet her in person when she visited NYC recently (the only one of the guest bloggers I’ve actually met before!) She is just as wonderful in person. Thank you, Vic!

Cider in the sun on the lawn of the Tate Modern with new favourite people, and Persian food and cupcakes from Broadway Market with old favourite people. London Fields, tribute yamwiches, a Central St Martins pop-up store, apple crumble pie and poached eggs and good coffee and good people and sunshine and stars aligning and butterflies and London. Beautiful, beautiful London. All captured on my beloved AE-1.

-Vic

Two videos for your viewing pleasure this Music Monday. 1. I’m super obsessed with Janelle Monáe lately, and this video is damn fun. She also killed it on Letterman not too long ago. 2. For your nostalgic amazement, via I’m Remembering, an amazing blog full of things from my childhood that Billy got me addicted to. Not technically music, but…

Today’s Bits Of My Weekend guest blogger is Mette of ungtblod. Mette lives in Copenhagen with her adorable little family in an amazing apartment that you may remember my post about a few months ago. Thanks for sharing with us, Mette!

It was the weekend summer hit Copenhagen, I made burgers, tried a new pancake recipe, wore bold knit wear and hung out with my family. – Mette

Today’s Bits Of My Weekend guest blogger is Anabela of Fieldguided, and is also the original genius behind dreamcats. She lives in Toronto with her fiance and sweet kitty, and takes the dreamiest photos around. I love her for the honesty and amazing curation she brings to the table on her blog. Thanks for sharing with us, Anabela!

I took these pictures with my Canon A-1 because Kate has one and I like that we both have one.

This weekend involved roses blooming all over the city, good mail (a copy of Sonja Ahlers’s The Selves), daydreaming about dresses made from Japanese sewing books, fish and chips eaten in the park. I visited my parents, I made a record number of Liberty fabric neckties for a special upcoming wedding, I wandered into the same clothing stores and coffee shops and galleries that I always wander into. I multitasked, I wore a pair of sandals that I got with store credit, I watched Wet Hot American Summer for the first time. We rode our bikes in the rain and sniffed the air as we rode past the Cadbury’s chocolate factory. We met friends at a former Portuguese seafood restaurant that is still called the Atlantic and drank an enormous beer made by a brewery near the Quebec border. I took portraits of my cat, Oreo, because Bits of My Weekend absolutely needs portraits of black and white cats. Geoff and I drove to his parents’ house (which felt a little like being in the country), and since he has his learner’s permit again I let him drive up to the highway. I took cautious steps away from using the camera on full auto and changed the aperture manually. It was a completely ordinary weekend in every way.

- Anabela

I’ll kick off the Bits Of My Weekend guest blogging with a lovely couple – Nathan and Katie – who live in Hawaii and have an amazing shop and blog called hearblack. You might remember their beautiful wreaths on my blog recently. They constantly make me want to drop everything and move to the beach. Thank you so much, guys! Take it away…

another great weekend,
left home in hawaii to visit family in oregon, then canada
adjusting to the creative freedom that summer usually brings
time to travel, create, and relax

nate & katie
hearblack

Good morning! This afternoon we’re taking off to visit family and friends in Seattle for a week, and I got the idea recently to have my first ever guest bloggers here at For Me, For You. I carefully picked five bloggers who take lovely photos from different parts of the world to share their own Bits Of My Weekend for the five weekdays I’m out of town. I’m lucky enough to have met lots of really talented, amazing people through blogging, and I hope you love these people as much as I do!

Stay tuned every day at noon (and a Music Monday post Monday morning) and I’ll see you again next Wednesday! I’m taking my film camera with me and am crossing my fingers so dang hard that the weather is at least decent.