scout regalia

Holy design work, Batman! A design duo from Los Angeles, that focuses on the mix of industrial and modern outdoors. Most work is reminiscent of a modernized ranger station located in the city. They mesh beautiful muted earthy colors with oaks and pine that harmonize into a cool blend of industrial sustainability. Scout Regalia also specializes in interior design and brand identity, which are clean rustic, mountainous, and sleek, truly a sight to see. Even though they focus on modern design and furniture, though they also off shoot in bicycles and home items. They also have a wonderful blog that details their work and life, right here on blogspot. 

aperol

What can only be described as the taste of summer, Aperol combined the bitterness of a tart citrus and mixes it with the sweetness of orange twisted around warming rhubarb. The beverage was originally produced in 1919 under the Barbieri company in Padua, Italy. Even though it has a long running timeline of production, the brand did not become popular until after the Second World War, due to the American troops being introduced to beverage while stationed in Italy.  Now the beverage is produced by the Campari company. This change of events in the company history is interesting since both are a bitter aperitif, though the two are quite different, where as Campari is truly bitter and tart with 28% abv, Aperol contains a slightly higher sugar content, so it allows sweetness to subvert the bitter, and only has 11% abv, essentially removing that added bite that Campari can have. Try the liquor in the Summer Camp, the Rustic Camps official drink, or mix it with Prosecco to make the Spritz. 

of monsters and men

Watching the preview for the Secret Life of Walter Mitty (click the link for a trailer), I became reacquainted with Of Monsters And Men and the fantastic journey that their music takes the listener through. The band hails from Iceland where they developed their sound and competed in the Músiktilraunir yearly battle of the bands which began their journey to record and produce their first single in 2011 track Little Talks. Little Talks made its way onto their only major release album My Head is an Animal. The band speaks of their music as almost isolation and seclusion that brings them to their own mischief and fancy. 

“Iceland can be a very isolated country and that translates to the music, we get stuck in our little world”, Nanna Hilmarsdóttir cosinger/guitarist.

This Summer take an adventure and listen in to Of Monsters and Men if you haven't had the opportunity. Almost every song brings uptempo pounding beats, adventure and fun. 

zara

Zara is a Spanish retailer that was founded in 1974 and strictly focused on fast fashion. It promised that it's in house tailors could produce fashions in a 2 week timeline. They spend zero to little advertising a year, and focus on opening on new stores. In the 1980s the industry lead to even faster turns on production times and provided the company the look of "instant fashions," even from the 80s they were considered copied fashions. Though this upcoming fall season continues to explode with style and masculinity. The brand focused on the modern woodsman with an olive and taupe color palette. Distressed jeans are combined with t-shirts and knitted vests. Olive tones become a favorite in coats and jackets while taupes find their way into shoes, accessories and pants. Check them out online and in a local  store. 

summer camp

Bright, summery, fresh, tart and richly delicious. The Summer Camp is an official drink of Rustic Camp for the remainder of the season with its inherently sweet and tart flavors that come from a bright mix of lemonade and bitter Aperol. Who can resist lemonade, gin and bitters blended into a beautiful refreshing concoction reminiscent of a nice day sitting on a porch with the sun in the sky and a warm breeze passing slightly? Try the below for a cool adult treat to ease a the heat.

Ingredients:

2 oz gin (I love Journeyman Distillery)
3 oz lemonade (we did a strawberry lemonade; premix is fine or create your own).
1 oz Aperol
full glass of ice.
3 dashes Angostura bitters


Directions:
1. fill glass with ice.
2. pour ingredients over ice and stir.
3. serve chilled and enjoy.

urban outfitters

Even though this week has been the nicest weather here in Chicago, and continues to be a beautiful Summer week, retailers  are already releasing their Autumn and back to school lines. I have to admit I'm not opposed to see the summer graphic carry over in to the fall collections. One major release stems from Urban Outfitters where the bridge between lighter fabrics, deeper hued colors and warmer tones have begun arriving at locations. A sneak peak of what is to come has been released this week on the website, and the full collection is not due in stores until the beginning of September. Check out the chunkier knit sweaters, that have Native American inspired patterns that mix cooly with fitted camouflage printed pants. Their accessories are spot on with nautical inspired bracelets and a black and tan faced Timex wristwatch.   

cactus

Finicky, fickle, pointy, sharp, is how most people view a cactus. Most do not see the soft, flowery, feathery, and warm. Cacti mixed with other succulents bring a variation on texture and look to a terrarium or other planting, like that of Michler's florists designs. Cacti comes in multiple variations and species. They are most thought to grow only in desert regions, which is only partly true, the cactus grows in rather arid landscapes that are known to have drought. Many varieties can survive in high variations of temperature ranges from 35-110 degrees. Cacti form differently from deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, being that they carry most of their root above ground and store their water resources in the above ground portion. It becomes a natural reservoir due to its ability to absorb water quickly and store it in their bodies, that are wrapped in a natural cuticle, much like that of our own. They are also covered in spines to protect themselves from natural predators much like our hair except incredibly stiff. They also bloom in an array of flowers and colors to cross pollenate. When cultivating and growing the plants, be sure to keep them in a loose, silty and sandy soil which allows for maximum drainage. Keep the plant near natural light, as a warning cacti do not make good office plants do to lack of natural light and buildings have UV blocking on the windows. More inspiration and how to's can be found on HGTV's site.   

coffee

Delicious, roasted, deep, robust, carmel, rich, aromatic, mild, creamy, acidic, bright, bold! How can one beverage have so many descriptors? Coffee, that sweet nectar of the gods, is the sound, taste and smell of many of the worlds population second only to tea (recently as broken down by coffee and tea consumption) as a morning routine. Coffee's history extends to the 15th century where is was brewed in monasteries in Yemen. This is where we now traditionally associate Arabica beans to come from. As history progressed the process of brewing coffee under hot water and through cheesecloth spread to northern Africa where beans were smuggled to India by a Sufi monk Baba Budan in 1670. And as european merchants began expanding trade routes to Northern Africa by boat the coffee boom expanded into Italy. Where coffeehouses began to open and the Italian roasted blends began catching popularity and the trade route expanded to a larger scale by the Dutch East India Company, the same traders that transported beer, in the form of IPA. Coffee's popularity boomed through the rest of Europe, as a result needed the crop to be grown on plantations, like that of Java and Ceylon islands. It wasn't until it 1727 where it became planted and popularized in Brazil as an Export. Coffee has also represented oppression as it was avoided being drank in the revolt of the Boston Tea Party in the US. Today, coffee is a social activity, where many coffee houses encourage the exchange of ideas, and allow for people to have a creative respite while working on projects and other media. It has also become a complex tradition in the types of brewing that brings out the flavors of the roasted beans differently, where there is the french press, having a slow drip pour over, and lastly espresso and its partner the latte. How ever it is drank, hot or cold, quickly, or slowly on a Sunday morning while reading the news, it is a staple in most American's households and lives. If you are looking for the perfect cup, start here: Chemex, Bodum, Intellegentsia, Metropolis, Breville.

unearthedgallery

An Etsy Shop from Madison, Wisconsin named unearthed gallery has some interesting an unusual finds. Heidi Anderson the shop owner offers a mix of retro and industrial designs. Some standout pieces are; the metal steelcase desk that spans 8 feet in length and is set in burnished steel, the grey suede butterfly chair that softens what can be a very masculine piece, and the scottish lawn balls that were manufactured in Glascow which would make wonderful bookends. The variety that offer is pretty extensive, so check them out at their Etsy page: unearthedgallery. 

yearbook

The vintage store, Yearbook, in Forest Park, IL. several miles outside of Chicago city limits has the wonderful charm of an old 1950's Harvard boys sports club. This store is a motley mix of old and new. Older salvaged items that have been restored to their original glory and their newly glistening patina. Newer items, have been created to have a throw back sensibility. Plaids, strong reds, mahoganies, and leathers deck rule the roost. The entire shop feels like it walked straight out of American Graffiti. If you are in Chicago make a trip to the south burbs and pay them a visit.