CURRENTLY DIGGING: November

Currently Digging is a collection of things we have enjoyed throughout the month. Great Instagram accounts you should follow, stuff for you, for your dogs/cats, as well as great things to eat/drink or listen to; and of course, cannot forget a great read.

So, here it is, what we have been loving this month of November.

Anthill: a Novel by Edward O. Wilson
This is a novel unlike anything I have read before. I confess it took me some time to get really hooked, but it is only in the end that you realize how important each section of the novel is. From Raff’s early boyhood, to the drama within the anthill itself and further on, Raff becoming what he always hoped he would become, against his family’s wishes, a guardian and protector of environmental gems. The very end had a thrilling and unexpected twist that had me turning pages in the wee hours of the morning. It is a great book to read in our current climate. Believe you can protect what you hold dear. Believe it, and will it, work like hell for it, and it will be so.
Get it Here

Instagram Follow: @headspace
Headspace is an ingenious “mindfulness app”. Brilliantly developed, it teaches you how to meditate with sessions as short as 10 minutes and as long as 30. Andi Puddicombe, whose delicious voice you hear guiding you through each meditation exercise, has a fascinating background. Before he became a meditation and mindfulness expert, he studied Sports Science, traveled to the Himalayas and studied meditation, became a Tibetan Buddhist monk, he trained at Moscow’s State Circus, authored three books and created this amazing app called Headspace. What I love about it, is the themes you can meditate around when you subscribe. Choose anything from self-esteem to running, and all of a sudden, you can bring a little more mindfulness by sitting for just 10 minutes. Get a taste of it by following their Instagram account and give it a free try. I have been a subscriber for almost two years, and it is now an essential 10 minutes of my day.
Follow @headspace Here

Luxe Throw by P.L.A.Y. Pet, Lifestyle and You
We have had the pleasure to photograph and design for P.L.A.Y. (a San Francisco-based eco-friendly company) for almost four years now. In that time, we have seen them evolve and lovingly design every product for the animals who will be enjoying it as well as keeping in mind how it will look in a modern home. These Luxe Throws, my favorite being the Husky Grey one (pictured) is a favorite of our cats Leeloo and RT. It is so cuddly and soft, easy to wash and it has a nice, long lifespan wash after wash, after wash. The best part? It has a water resistant side, so the snuggly side will be cozy for your dog or cat, and the underside will keep your furniture safe from any accidental spills or dream-worthy drool.
Get it Here

A bowl of comfort: Williams-Sonoma Butternut Squash Puree
Butternut Squash Chowder has been a staple at my table for many Thanksgiving celebrations. It is just the right amount of savory and sweet, a deliciously comforting and filling meal. I got the recipe from a free booklet I got one year from Williams-Sonoma when I bought a jar of their Butternut Squash Puree. I recommend making the chowder (withholding the cream) the day before, let the flavors settle in and enjoy the next day with some fresh bread. Their Butternut Squash Puree may be a seasonal item unfortunately, but not essential to the recipe, any butternut squash puree should do just fine. WS’ is just my favorite. Find my recipe here.
Get a jar Here

For your feet: Mahabis Slippers
From indoor to outdoor in a snap, keep your feet cozy with the best slippers ever. Complete with detachable soles, Mahabis reinvented the house slipper and centered their design around minimal, functional and comfortable. The slippers are warm but won’t overheat your feet, and you can add a touch of personal flare with your pick for color soles. Bill gave me a pair for Christmas last year, and I pretty much live in them, especially on winter days, when I work from home… though I have been known to wear them to work at my local coffeeshop without shame.
Get them Here

Tune in: Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam’s “In a Black Out” has been my sunrise soundtrack. Deliciously haunting, with a dark intro and a lovely swell, I have been obsessed, listening over and over. The whole album is fabulous however and at times, it reminds me of something out of the 1950’s yet it never loses its very unique sound. It is rare that a song captures every corner of what I am currently feeling, with both lyric and melody, and this one definitely does that. It is nice to feel understood by music. Thank you Shazam app for helping me discover this duo.
Listen Here

Lusting after: 12 more years with Corbin the Saint
Our beloved dog muse, the reason The Labs & Co. exists, turned 12 this month. He is in beautiful shape (thank goodness), barring some hiccups with atopic dermatitis and arthritis, he is thankfully a happy, gentle and loving dog with a playful zest for life. We in turn cherish every day we have by his side. He taught us that lesson early (far too early) in his life, when he got cancer at 2 years and again at 6 years old. Today, he is cancer-free and more beautiful to me with every white hair on his chin. I am doing everything I possibly can to keep him happy and healthy, from home-cooked meals to acupuncture and hope he will be around for many more sunrise walks at his favorite beach. His 12 years were high on my gratitude list this year without a doubt.

I hope you all had a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving holiday, and may you have a million lithe things to be thankful for, everyday.