splash and spray

Your heart away!

Less messy and consuming than tie dye, but equally fun, is spray paint for clothing that can be found at most art supply stores. Do you like the results?

(Click on the photo to get a closer peep.)

It's all in a day's work

Finished this painting I started over the weekend! It measures 3feet by 4feet. J, my biggest fan, wants to hang it in the living room. So sweet.

this is what I wore to work today.

So often I will go through the whole day without eating much of anything green. A reminder of my favorite every morning "smoothie" (think drink not meal.)

Almond milk + spinach +Barlene's greens, the tastiest green powder

add one optional banana or 1/2 banana for girth

It is better to vary your greens, but this smoothie is so doable and palatable I just assume get other varieties at lunch and dinner.

Another favorite green food: Green Tea! Brew 3 bags every morning, let cool, pour in to a pitcher, place in the fridge and sip as iced tea through out the day, but not too close to dinner time. Add wedges of lemon/orange etc as desired.

the daily DIY

decoupage!!!

I move a lot... in order to take my collages with me I have devised a system. I create mini, or not so mini, panels that are very resilient. I simply:

1) glue/tape on photos/cut-outs on desired sized sheet of sturdy paper.

2) apply strips of fat clear (packing) tape over them and/or a clear top coat spray/brush sealant.

I like my panels to have a theme- not just 'fashion' or 'home' but a color, season or mood...

I tape them inside closets, behind doors, on bathroom cabinets and all over my armoire. And can move them whenever I please.

Voila! Murals and images that speak to you wherever you go. Its fun to see how over time your taste does or does not change and how trends repeat themselves over time..

These images form an inspiration board that is proven effective in shaping ones future through repetitive subconscious implantation - so choose visuals that speak to you.

stop and see the sunset

J and I sometimes find ourselves reminiscing upon our life in D.C., our quiet cabin in the mountains, old jobs, former employers, offers turned down and opportunities forgone.

"I am a slow walker, but I never walk back." Abraham Lincoln

We find so much amusement in where we have ended up (e.g. dating since high school, marrying in the fall) and how many wishes have already come true.

"May the dreams of your past be the reality of your future."

-Wayne Dyer

Even more frequently we bat around ideas for the future, the where, when, what and whos of the coming years.

"I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today."

-William Allen White

This inevitably leads us to discussions about happiness and what it means to us to be successful and what we want out of life.

Success is what you attract by the person you become."

-Jim Rohn

Pretty heavy stuff.

All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten

by Robert Fulghum

Most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sandpile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life -
Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance
And play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world,
Watch out for traffic,
Hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.

A, B, C

One, peace ,three

The size of an Irish town is measured by the number of pubs not by the number of people. (Thanks for the tip, K.)

How do we measure ourselves? The number of friends on facebook? The number of dollars in our bank account? The number on our bathroom scale?

Forget numbers. Stop keeping track. There is no score. (Nobody cares how many lb.s you can lift.) I repeat, there is no score.

What if we ceased counting and started living?

For those always watching a clock, follow the Brazilian saying, "hurry gets in the way of perfection." I'm NOT condoning lateness (quite the contrary,) but a way of life that flows with, not by, a timetable. How?

~ Make space: leave more time for everything.

~ Prioritize: wise up to what 'must' be done today and what can be left for tomorrow.

~ Say no to others: say yes to yourself.

~ Accept.

~ Loosen the reigns.

~ Get a watch. This may sound counter-intuitive, but you will save time wondering and checking your iPhone. Always wear a watch when traveling. Bonus points for a Swatch.

~ Go to bed early. No media in the boudoir. (Unless it's hanky-panky related.)

small house rules

Luckily smaller portions, smaller cars, and now smaller homes are attracting a lot of attention lately. A sane allocation of dynamic perfection versus an unmanageable expanse of mediocrity proves that downsizing can be exhilarating.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/guest_bloggers/56/almost-invisible-mirrored-tree-house-built-in-sweden.html;_ylt=AuxkQppH.L7oWBud0WXznVGAV8cX

We can also thank the Swedish for:

IKEA

H&M

Swedish Fish

Ace of Base, ABBA, Roxette

Eating dinner on the earlier side

Build your own tiny house with the help of designer Jay Shafer who has through the love of his personal project, perfected the craft.

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

My houses have been composed with meticulous attention to light, warmth, energy efficiency, and proportion. I have made the most of each cozy interior by minimizing transitional areas like hallways and stairwells and by using otherwise unusable space as storage. The simple, formal designs that have resulted are the best way I have found to order most any space and make it beautiful.

My houses have met all of my domestic needs without demanding much in return. The simple, slower lifestyle my homes have afforded is a luxury for which I am continually grateful. --Jay Shafe

There is a beetle outside my front door

and on my back porch

and both are there

no matter which door

I exit

No joke! The california beetles are out and about.

The Egyptian Scarab Beetle are associated with the Creator god Atum and represent resurrection. "heart Scarabs" were placed on the mummified deceased to ensure rebirth.

protection plan

Hamsa: an North African/Middle Eastern amulet worn in defense against the evil eye.

Nazar or Evil Eye stone: a Turkish/Greek charm also warn to ward off the evil eye.

Evil Eye: a look of envy or ill will that can cause injury or bad luck.

"Envy come from people's ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts." -Jean Vanier

Change your thoughts, change your life. In order to rid yourself of a curse (or just deal with a Jealous Jane) change your attitude to change the vibrational frequency around you, so you become impenetrable to any negative energy directed at you. You cannot change others, only yourself.

"If you don't like something change it. If you cannot change it, change your attitude. Don't complain." - Maya Angelou

Can a psychic cleanse your aura?... Know thyself. A psychic comforts many personalities but freaks out others!

Find Hamsas and Nazars at Beech in La Jolla.

lecher les vitrines

Quality not quantity, the slow life, and other musings from our friends on the Mediterranean.

Walk: daily to the market to purchase dinner.

Eat: soup, main dish, salad, cheese, and dessert in small portions.

Think: gelato not froyo.

Wear: one timeless Missoni versus five mediocre Banana Republics.

Bring: friends together even if it's imperfect (it isn't.)

know: when something works and do it again and again.

Combine-and-conquer: take all the tips and tricks you love from different parts of your family, friends, books, T.V., etc., and create your very own culture and tradition.

Passeggiata: take pleasure in life like an Italian with a leisurely stroll before and/or after dinner.

Paseo: The Spanish version of the passeggiata. Both involve window shopping, chatting with neighbors, and the whole family together. Especially nice on a Saturday or Sunday of big eating.

Olive Oil: liquid gold and one of the healthiest foods you can eat.

It's not about you

China for the bride! The gift you'll cherish forever ... teacups so strong you can stand on them.

Gift giving is a complex and important part of human interaction.

Psychologists say it's often the giver rather than the receiver who reaps the biggest psychological benefits from the gift.

So don't be a scrooge and take this joy away from them.

If someone wants to throw you a party and they want everyone to bring gifts, surrender to the urge to beg them not to, go with the flow, put your party dress on, wipe that pout off your face and accept all the fuss with grace.

At common law, for a gift to have legal effect, it is required that

1) intent by the donor to give the gift.

2) delivery to the recipient of the item to be given as a gift.

Ever lose sleep over whether or not you sent a thank you note? Just send that person a card or small gift "thinking of you" or "happy summer/labor day weekend/back to school" and you'll be on the nice list, regardless of any past forgetfulness.

a table of contents

A hostess prepares in advance

so when her guests arrive she is calm cool and collected with her feet kicked up on the coffee table enjoying a nonalcoholic cocktail.

Do not try to chop/cook/bake/set the table/bathe/get dressed/let people in/have a conversation simultaneously when seven p.m. rolls around:

~ Prepare anything/everything you can the night (or two nights) ahead during the down hours of your day such as late afternoon or after dinner. I invariably sloth around after dinner, so I like to use that time to bake, lay plans or set a glorious table.

- always serve a dessert you can concoct in advance

- chop veggies and wash lettuce

- whisk dressings or sauces

- soup is the perfect make-ahead, no-fuss, impressive starter

- choose serving dishes for the meal and those for nuts and app.s, too

- decorate: set or decide on a table setting and theme

~ After work it is a frenzy at the grocery store, do anything possible to avoid this madness. Many are open very early - check your local times, or shop leisurely during lunch.

~Since you always have fresh flowers and candles around your house, you won't even have to think about those.

~ Know what you are going to wear. Something you can move in, like a 1960's hostess gown or 1920's hostess pajamas.

Not everyone is built to be a host. If entertaining isn't your forte, but you wish to give back to your hosting friends and secure invitations in the future, take them out to dinner your treat.

shopaholic!

Yesterday I was feeling a little drowsy and lazy late in the afternoon and I turned on the TV (not my usual style.) I stumbled upon "Clean House: Messiest Home in America" (and, we can assume, messiest in the world.) These shocking homes are very educational. They scare the living daylights out of me (at one point I cried,) and can be a lesson to us all in becoming acutely aware of how much we own and how much time we spend consuming.

We might not wish to be considered thrifty, but let's at least be choosy (click for an older post on this.)

Shop from the heart:

~There is so much out there- if you don't loooooove it, on to the next!

~Any doubt in your mind? Pass!

~Make fast decisions, if it takes you 10 minutes to decide then you don't want it.

~Or walk away, if it isn't there tomorrow it just wasn't meant to be.

~Don't bring/listen to friends input, what do they know?

~Buy fewer more expensive/quality items rather than volumes of crap.

Anytime you buy something to bring into your home you must already have a place for it. As soon as you get home take off the tags and put it in that place. Everything a purpose, everything in its place.

~Never buy anything with the slightest possibility that you might return it!!!!!

That is just bad form.

Unconventional closet tip:

Keep crazy costume-y stuff, but get rid of the ragged or mundane.

Contrary to popular belief, I find from personal experience that the 'event' 'it' might be 'perfect' for is certain to come along. You don't want to be stuck looking for roller-skates and a poodle skirt the night before the fifties hop, instead have both on hand in your costume room/closet/drawer. It's not the pink cowboy hat you need to get rid of, it's the mountain of camp t-shirts you're keeping for 'sentimental' reasons that has got to go.

Also, buy crazy cool dresses/items even if you don't need them at the time but are pretty sure something will come up. Build an arsenal: have your army ready before war is declared. This may sound a little "hoarder-y" but a hoarder buys all the catsuits the day of halloween out of panic because he/she doesn't have the perfect leotard found over the summer already stashed away. Just like an extreme dieter ends up bingeing.