Belle

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One of my goals last year was to wear jewelry more often. This was greatly helped by a few gifts I received for my birthday: my MIL chose a a necklace and earrings from a local consignment shop (woohoo to that kind of shopping) and my sweet friend chose several pieces from her own collection in my favorite colors. Ever since September, I have been looking for one of those jewelry stands that you can hang many items from but none of them were just right. Until Belle.




I like her because she is girly without being too ornate compared to others of her type. I don't know why I named her Belle, but it just seemed to fit. Of course, now I hate to "clutter her up" with jewelry but I'll get over that.


P.S. A very heartfelt thank you to everyone who has voted for me in The Poppies!

Red Umbrellas

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I've got rain on my mind today and now, I've got a red umbrella obsession forming. As if the Clean White Love video wasn't enough! Don't even get me started on rain boots.








Hey, did you know there is an entire Flickr pool devoted to red umbrellas? Yes, I'm joining. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, whether you are having wet weather like me or not. I got a few new craft supplies today after seeing so much Valentine goodness online this week! (There are two separate goodies linked there).

100 Photos: No. 4

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You might have heard about a series of storms on the West Coast this week. Luckily I got to enjoy them all from the warmth and comfort of home. There was a golden bright sunny moment in between downpours yesterday and I was inspired by our little rascal in the backyard.


After the Storm

Okay, Jackson's not that little but he is a rascal. He was very perplexed by my Pola, he's used to my Canon I guess and never gives it a second glance. Here's a bit of personal trivia for you. I was a huge Mad About You fan back in the day (well, I'm still a huge fan) and the show always ended with "Sit Ubu Sit. Good dog." I still say that in my mind (even when I'm telling Jackson to sit).

Fine, I will admit that I quote lots of random bits of that show in my mind on a regular basis: like the tease from Season Two's episode "Love Letters" when Paul is slurping his soup loudly and Jamie is staring at him and finally he notices and asks, "What?" and she says, "I was just thinking about how much I love you" in the most perfect tone of voice.

Isn't it funny how a Polaroid can lead you down Memory Lane?

Pause for Photography: Mike Bailey Gates

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I do not know how I stumbed on to this photo, but you have to stop and check out Mike Bailey-Gates. He is sixteen seventeen and he likes winter hats, frozen shoe laces, numb feet and spies. Well, I like spies too! Mike was awesome to give me permission to share this photo on my blog today.



Words cannot possibly add to this photo, so just get lost in it for awhile. Then go to this set, and love on this gorgeous, amazing doe.


At least, this is how I plan to spend a stormy day in the Bay Area!

And Mike, you are pretty darn rad.


P.S. Right before I was about to publish this, I went to add Mike's website to the post and I realized I had seen it before. Oh yes, Bright Light Guy sent me his site almost a month ago. So I stumbled onto Mike this week again on my own, but I was shown the way by Sean. Thanks Sean! Now go get lost in some amazing photography! :)

Saying Hi

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Good morning! How is everyone? I've been enjoying being a homebody the past few days. We did squeeze in a visit to my side of the family, which is a fairly rare event since my closest relative works in NYC and is only home when he's between jobs.


a pretty spoon rest


I did have a little dance party with the Noodle on Saturday morning that left my calves in shreds. Jeff and I also cooked together for Sunday dinner, another rare event. His mom came over and we made lentil soup and a salad that had bitter greens + roasted pears. My spoon rest has been getting a good workout since I received it for Christmas. It makes my stove and dysfunctional kitchen a lot prettier.

I am feeling quiet as I have a lot on my mind right now. I have been taking in the situation in Haiti without directly consuming the news. My husband's back is hurting him again. I wonder, is this the year we both really make exercise a priority for ourselves? Not to mention, it is 2010 and are we staying in the Bay Area after this school year ends or not? Hello White Elephant!

Also, as much as I *adore* blogging and photography, I need to begin contributing financially to my family in a tangible, predictable way. I am working on my resume and that is a huge undertaking for me. I do not have a career to go back to compared to other stay-at-home-moms who re-enter the workforce when their children are in school all day. I have not had a traditional life, but I do have a hodgepodge of skills and experience. It feels like a force field is upon me as I begin this new phase of my life and a job search. Where is Yoda when you need him?!


P.S. My "Little Houses" photo is featured over at SEWNnatural today.

The Cookie Book: January

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Hello Friends, I am posting way late today because I had one of those busy days filled with normal, scheduled activities like volunteering in my son's classrom, and unplanned activities like taking my husband to the chiropractor before his back went out on him and then stopping at the Apple Store for a new iPhone after resisting for two weeks.

Anyway, I am now all connected again -- my laptop is back with a brand new video card, I can receive texts and voicemails again (my landline is connected to a rotary phone with no answering machine) and best of all, I have a way to play music again! I was able to download my camera too.



I picked up this vintage book at a flea market last fall and it has a cookie recipe for each month of the year, plus a recommended "special day for cookies" each month. January is all about Sugar and Spice Cookies, and who cares if I made them on January 10th instead of January 1st.

Sugar and Spice Cookies

1/2 C. butter or other soft shortening
1/2 C. granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons molasses (light or dark)
1 C. flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
a pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 C. confectioner's sugar

Set the oven to 375 degrees.
Grease the cookie sheets (oops, I missed that and it is important with these cookies)

1. Get a large mixing bowl. Cream the butter and granulated sugar together.
2. Add the egg and beat well.
3. Add the molasses and mix well.
4. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, salt and three spices together.
5. Stir flour mixture into molasses mixture until incorporated.
6. Drop one full teaspoon of batter at a time onto cookie sheet, leaving room (cookies will spread).
7. Bake for 10 minutes, then check. They should look flat, crinkled and firm. If not, bake for an additional two minutes.
8. Set cookies on a wire rack to cool.
9. But don't let them cool all the way because now you need to take the warm cookies and dredge them in the confectioner's sugar on both sides.

I did not type this recipe exactly the way it is in the book because it's geared for kids who don't know what sifting means, etc. These cookies were very yummy! February is all about Coconut Drops, I can't wait!

Happy weekend!

100 Photos: No. 3

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Yesterday when I was at the grocery store, I decided to buy myself some flowers. Every time I buy myself flowers, I split the bouquet into many smaller bouquets and spread the cheer around the house.


Cheer Up

Those are Strauss glass bottles, yummy half + half and then later on, yummy vases.

Exposing a Polaroid is a skill I have not acquired yet. Maybe by photo 99, I will get it right. This is a reminder to myself about why I chose Polaroid for my 100 Photos project, so I can make friends with her. Over the weekend, we were not friends. We were more like schoolyard enemies when my awesome photo of a 101 freeway sign at eventide was perfectly exposed at 5 seconds vs. the end of development.

Curating: Grey Ruffles

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This week, I was really in the mood for the color grey and I'm always in the mood for ruffles (not the chips, sillies). In fact, my husband gave me a new nickname recently...it's...drum roll...Ruffles. So I thought I would give this whole curating thing a try to celebrate grey or ruffled things.



What I found out is that it takes quite a bit of patience to assemble a group of images.  So I have an extra appreciation for every curated blog post I see out there now. Still, I think I'm hooked on the craft of it now...so I'll probably keep trying.


P.S. Yesterday a treasury that included my Apothecary photo made it to the front page of Etsy. I was beyond excited by this news. You can see the treasury here.

Guitars

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You might have noticed on my list yesterday, "play my dad's guitar." This item has been on my list for years. I wonder if this is the year that I finally decide I'm worth the time and money for lessons? For now, I'll dream about playing my dream song April Come She Will (like this guy)* and get lost in these simply gorgeous guitar photos.








* My dad would have loved YouTube. I'm positive he would have been one of the first to sign up way back when.

Twenty 10

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Hello New Week! I am blogging from the dinosaur age, aka my iMac from 2004!


© Mark Witton
only an Italian dinosaur will do for my blog
(click her to read more)


I am one of the many folks affected by a large graphics card failure in their Macbook Pros. So my laptop (thank you sweetie for backing it up, phew) is off for a weeklong repair job.

This means bad things for the blog as far as my own photos are concerned. I am going to work hard to plan a week of posts using other people's photos, which requires a lot of advance planning to get permission + I have a few other plans. In the meantime, I thought I'd share my handwritten dreams for the year because my scanner is working just fine! :)




I've already knocked two of these out of the park: I made split pea soup and baked something. I will share the recipes, esp. the cookies this week. Also I am looking on the bright side of this computer fiasco: I am going to have a lot of free time since my blog reader is installed on my laptop (no I don't use Google Reader). So I will do things offline and document them to share later. I may even finish knitting that darn blanket!

So I don't go into spasms of blog withdrawals, please leave me a comment today with a link to your blog so I can visit you!

100 Photos: No. 2

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Before I get to my second Polaroid, do you see that new, darling, button in my left sidebar that says The Poppies? You can click on it to nominate your favorites in many handmade categories at Poppytalk and guess what? I have even been nominated under favourite photographer! Thank you sweet Lotta!

On to the other sweet stuff now, literally.


Chiclets

I picked up a package of Chiclets at my awesome car wash the other day. (I've mentioned it before). I gobbled them up in no time flat. Then I returned for more and shared a giggle with the cashier who loves them too. You have no idea how hard it was to save a few for a Polaroid. Ah, the sacrifices I make for my work! ;)

You don't see Chiclets everywhere. Did you know they are made in Colombia? Neither did I! Chiclets is the biggest gum brand in the Middle East. Check out this Chiclets advertisement from 1905. Read more about Chiclets here. Okay Chiclets 101 is over, class dismissed.



P.S. I do not know what that random mark is on the upper right side of my Polaroid. I hope it does not appear on every single exposure. Sadness (even though it's kind of organic looking and trippy).

Flickr Vacation: Snow

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We are going to the snow in a few weeks, and my excitement is getting palpable. I'm going to take a little pre-vacation today with Flickr.






image credits: snow macro, first snow, cold berries

I cannot wait to take some of my own snowy photos! I also want to finish knitting my blanket by then so I can start a new project there. I don't know what it will be yet, but I do know it's going to be all crochet, all the time. I may never knit again!

100 Photos: No. 1

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A couple of days ago, I was hanging out in the Shutter Sisters pool on Flickr when I ran across a discussion started by Toni to spread the word about her One Hundred Photos project.

I was very intrigued because I love the idea of an ongoing creative project, but also did not want to commit to a 365. After 24 hours of thought, I decided to do 100 polaroids because I am still quite intimidated by my Pola. I think this project will be the perfect way for me to make friends with her. It's like making plans twice a week with someone you really admire, know you have a lot in common with  and want to get to know.



B.'s dresser


I took this photo two days before I read about the project. My nephew's dresser whispered to me, "Please put down that fancy Canon and capture me with Pola." Funny how often something I do prepares me for something ahead, even though I have no idea that it will at the time. It has happened countless times.

P.S. Toni has another gorgeous blog called Waking Up in Bavaria about her family's adventure moving to Germany from California. Check it out! :)

Sweet Zendalas

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Sometime last year I saw this video about how to draw a zendala and I was hooked. I tried it a time or two but then forgot about them.

Who knows how or why, but I went crazy for them over the holidays. Ask my family how I spent my vacation and they'll say she was almost always with the paper and pens working on a zendala.



On Saturday I tried scanning and printing the technicolor one (second from far right) on some cardstock to make a birthday card for my niece. I really liked how it turned out (but forgot to take a pic). I find the process very soothing and meditative, plus it's a great creative challenge. It's very different from photography, which is my main creative outlet.

P.S. I'm over in the Booth today heating things up. :)

Back to Regular Life

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Good morning! The Noodle is off to school and it's time for me to get back to regular life as well. I chose to leave a lot of the housework for this day instead of doing it over the weekend. I guess I wanted to squeeze every last drop out of the holidays.

We traveled away from home a lot. I think from Christmas Eve to yesterday, we only spent two and a half days at home, and not continuously. Typing that out makes me realize that was a little bit nutty, but we did enjoy spending a lot of wonderful, quality (and quantity) time with our family and friends. Among other things, there were birthday celebrations, dinners out, movies (at home and in the theater), get togethers with friends and ice skating (twice).


Hello 2010!


So I'm not here this morning with a new year's list of resolutions or goals to share like many other bloggers, or a year in review. I'm here simply to say hello friends and hello 2010. I am wondering what you will bring my way, and what I will bring my own way with you.


Vacation days blur right by, don't they?


The second half of last year was a blur, and in general, time seems to be speeding up each year that passes. I guess this is a hallmark of getting older. This is the year I turn 40, a big deal for most women, including me. January is a time of reflection. But I hope I take more opportunities throughout this year to pause, reflect and plan, and not just rely on the beginning of the year for that.

I've been mulling over Michelle's post, 1 Thing in 2010 and my one word, one intention, for this year is DISCIPLINE. I aspire to implement more of it in multiple areas of my life. I haven't answered the rest of the questions yet, but they are very good food for thought for me.

Speaking of discipline, I am going to attack my house now and whip it into tip-top shape!

Happy New Year

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I am breaking my little computer fast to wish you all a Happy New Year!




We rang in the new year with a group of good friends and then slept in while the Noodle was away at Nana's. I spent today lunching, knitting, sewing, catching up on blogs, making smores and now I'm going to share a late night pizza with my husband.

Thank you for sharing my journey last year from stress to sweetness to gratefulness.

I am looking forward to sharing another year with you and filling this sweet space with more art, photography and thoughtful inspiration. Here's to a creative, loving, healthy year!





Yoda and Boba Fett

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I commissioned these Star Wars peg dolls from a cool 5th grader at the Noodle's school for my boys as a Christmas gift. Boba Fett is my husband's favorite character and my son cannot possibly choose a favorite. Who doesn't love Yoda?



 I met X. at a craft faire and he had a whole lineup of superhero peg dolls. I fell in love with his work instantly. I asked him, "Where did you get the idea to make these?"



"Oh I got inspired by this one website called Etsy."


Ha! I want to know when he is going to open his shop. His mom is also a very talented lady who makes needle felted eggs with chairs on them, among other recycled and upcycled awesome things.



His dad and brothers are musicians. What a creative family! They are not out of the norm at school either. If they open Etsy shops, trust me, I'll let you know.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my kid's school?