Sunday, November 30, 2008

Untitled



Childhood dropped away
And I hung dizzy
On the brink of life
Rich, violent, rewarding.
The misery of the people was beyond imagination.
The workings of the world:
Wonderful
Wonderful
Six months of sand
and me trying to suck the lime wedges
out of long necked bottles
of Mexican beer.
Here on these high rocks
My memory myth repairs itself.
The blood red dust blew down
out of the sun
And in the south
it sloped away
Down to the sea.
I'd been up all night
scribbling poems and blues
by candle light.
In general I wasn't good with strangers
My mother was never like that.
Who, if I cried
From among these angelic orders would hear me?
Does he despise me
for my weakness?
He has a little smile
And I know it means something else.
I think he is just going to drift away
Out the window
Out the window
The poison of
that
Lies in
you
to temper


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Friday, November 28, 2008

We Live in a Beautiful World

Spread out a blanket on the living room floor and eat Tai Food straight out of the take-out boxes.Turn out the Lights and Light some candles. Share a bottle of red wine with someone you love. Re-read Hamlet or Moby Dick, because there is nothing like cracking open one of the classics on a cold winter day. Buy a sketch book and draw and draw and draw. Don't rip out any of the pages. Keep your mistakes. Make out Your Christmas cards. Send one to someone who wouldn't expect one. Try a new recipe and pass it along to a friend. Hand-make at least one of your Christmas gifts this year. Write a haiku and hang it on your fridge. Invite a neighbor over for coffee. Sit back and observe the world. Do some people watching. Take note of the beautiful things around you that you would have otherwise overlooked. Visit a city or town you've never been to. Ask a local where a good restaurant is. Take a long stroll. Donate some of your old books to your local library. Adopt a pet to take care of. If you already have a pet, tell them you love them every single day.Take pictures. Document your life. Make a new friend. Give an enemy a second chance. Do something creative every day. Doodling while your on the phone counts. Make a family tradition. Even if you don't have any kids. Leave a love note on the kitchen counter. Handle every heart like it will break. Be kind. Take a vacation. Stay long enough to miss home. If you can't take a vacation Research a place you would like to visit and cook up some of its native food. Explore your own city. Try out a hole-in-the-wall restaurant or support a local shop. Wear red lipstick during the day. If you are a man, wear a red tie. Welcome the holidays. They are coming whether we are ready or not. Sing. In the shower. In the car. For a crowd. Go to the beach. It is so different in the winter. Bundle up. Watch old family movies. Bring the pictures down from the attic. Make Christmas tree garland out of popcorn. Eat the leftovers. Build a fire. Sit by it until it goes out. Roast marshmallows. Or hotdogs. Or both. Don't let the gray sky days get you down. Buy a bright scarf. Wear it to work. Wear it with your pajamas. Take bubble baths. Let the steam fill up your bathroom. Break out your crayons and colored pencils and draw a beach with pink sand. A blue moose. Or a Polka-dot tree. Embrace the perspective of a child. They have a lot to teach and a lot to learn. Like good ol' Picasso Said: Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.


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It Feels Good to be Grateful

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We went to my parents' for lunch and filled ourselves with turkey, mashed potatoes, and the like. Then we went to an oyster roast later that evening. This year was perfect. As for what I am thankful for this year: My wonderful family and their health. Being able to wake up with the love of my life every morning. Sophie and her unconditional puppy love. My house that-with the help of Jake and Sophie-I have made into a beautiful home. And for this magnificent world full of wonder and possibilities where I live a life in which I feel happiness every single day. For that I am most grateful.



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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Snow Flakes

It is frigid outside. The other day it actually snowed. only a little bit, but beautiful nonetheless. It looked like white feathers dancing around our back yard. Then it was gone.



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How cute is this bride? The dress. The headband. every little thing about her just makes me smile.



Via A cup of Jo

Giving Thanks

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. Marvelous food, wonderful people, a spread of deserts, Saying thanks and showing gratitude. I have a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving and always. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!


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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy as a Clam

Last night Jake and I cooked up some linguine with white clam sauce, a fresh salad, and French bread, lit some candles, and had a romantic evening at home. I could have eaten the entire platter of linguine myself.


Here's the recipe:

1 box linguine, cooked al dente
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white wine
2 cloves garlic
parsley to taste
basil to taste
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup diced fresh tomatoes
1 can chopped clams with juice

Directions:

Heat oil in medium sized saucepan and add garlic until soft

Slowly add white wine, parsley, basil and clam juice, reserving the clams for later. Let simmer for about 10 minutes

Meanwhile, Cook your linguine. Do not over cook

Add peas, tomatoes, and clams until clams are cooked through, about 3 minutes

Serve over linguine with LOTS of grated parmesan cheese.

I love this recipe because the flavors are so subtle, but so delicious. Sometimes pastas are too heavy, but this one is nice and light and completely fulfilling.


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Monday, November 24, 2008

Holy Smokes!

I have had some sort of crazy stomach flu. Now I'm trying to catch up on some work. I will return soon with new posts.



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Monday, November 17, 2008

Leaving New York City:




Bitter sweet. We had a great trip. 5 days was the perfect amount. I am happy to be home...I missed this little girl almost more than I could stand it:

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

And I'm Off

Sorry for the light posts. I have been scrambling to get everything ready for our trip. I will be back next week from a magical place known as New York City. With me I will bring home a whole new perspective.



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Saturday, November 8, 2008

Have a Good Weekend Everybody!

Sleep In. Cook up some pancakes. Read a good book. Stay in your pajamas.

It is finally time to kick off my {sad} one-day weekend! woohoo! It will probably be a lazy one.


(photo: Desire to Inspire)

Favorite Room in the House

I love bathrooms. LOVE them. The way most people love kitchens...I love bathrooms. Here are some that really get my blood pumpin':


(via I Suwannee)


(I forgot where I found this image...if anyone knows please let me know so that I can credit the source.)


(from here)


(via Elle decor)

Thursday, November 6, 2008

GOOP




I think Gwyneth Paltrow is just Wonderful. So beautiful, smart, elegant, and cultured. Not to mention, she is married to Chris Martin. It doesn't get much cooler than that. I think I first heard about her new website, GOOP, through Paige. While the website itself still seems to be in the making, I signed up to receive weekly Emails from Gwynny. Each week she focuses on something different: Make, Go, Get, Do, Be, or See. This week she focused on the See, and shared her favorite exhibitions to check out. This is perfect timing for me, since I leave for NYC in less than a week! I look forward to her Emails every week and always find them as fascinating as Gwyneth herself. Go to GOOP and sign up if Gwyn is someone you adore as much as I do. She's a pretty smart lady.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

I just received an Email from a friend inviting me to a Bead For Life Party. Anyone ever heard of this? Basically Bead For Life is an organization that helps eradicate extreme poverty by selling beautiful jewelry that Ugandan women make from recycled papers. On their website they say, "The beads thus become income, food, medicine, school fees -- and hope. It is a small miracle that enriches us all."
My friend's Bead for Life Party will be on December 6th...just in time for Christmas. How wonderful to buy a pretty little gift for a loved one, all the while helping a complete stranger buy food and medicine.
To find out how you can help, or to host your own Bead For Life Party, please visit their website.



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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Less is so Much More

I used to want a rather extravagant wedding. You know, the intricate place settings, the thousands of dollars in flowers, the designer gown...the whole shebang. But now, I'm not even sure I want a wedding at all. At least, not traditionally speaking. Instead, I think I would like to start the honeymoon right away and have a simple courthouse wedding when we reach our destination. Just us. Because really, isn't that the most important thing? Two people, in love, pledging to spend the rest of their lives together? Not that family and friends are not important,and not that they don't deserve to be a part of the celebration, but I would rather celebrate with an intimate group of family and friends... Perhaps at a romantic restaurant the night before me and lover boy head out. No 200-person guest list, no table rentals, no tents, no matchy-matchy bridal party. Just us and good food to share with a small group of people that we love dearly before we head out to tie the knot on our own.

To the dinner I would wear something flirty like this:



Lord and Taylor Ruffled Sleveless Dress

With These shoes:



And for the Courthouse wedding, something lovely, elegant, and classic:


Classic White from Talbots

Currently Loving:

Feminine Pearls


J.Crew Double-strand Jewel-flower Pearl Bracelet


The Limited Knot Pearl Necklace


Sundance Ambrosia Pearl Ring


Etsy Miriam Necklace

Yes We Did!


The people have spoken. Hip Hip Hooray!!
My breakfast tasted better today than it has in a long time.

(poster found here.)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Change We Need



Hope everyone Voted. I know I did!

(poster by Daniel Molin)

Edge of Urge



Isn't this branch ring from Edge of Urge great? Check out the site! It's definitely worth a gander.

Monday, November 3, 2008

I Will Love you Quietly

I can hear a constant
pitter-patter
on the roof
from the rain.
I think it may be the prettiest sound on Earth.
It has rained
the entire day
and the subtle wash of gray light
is making me very drowsy.
It makes me want to
sleep
and dream
beautiful
beautiful
dreams.



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Look for Less: J. Crew

Fashion is something that I enjoy. However, I don't think that in order to be fashionable one must spend loads of money. In fact, many of the most fashionable women I have ever met have been thrifty shoppers. Here I will take a rather expensive outfit and recreate it using more affordable pieces. This week: J. Crew.

I am always impressed with J. Crew's designs. I love that their pieces are both timeless and classic, but still colorful and youthful. It is that balance between timelessness and trendiness that sets it apart. But since I am quite the bargain shopper, there is no way I would ever spend $600 on a single outfit. So, Let's see if I can recreate this beautiful outfit for much much less.

JCrew Look:



Metallic-flecked pencil skirt: 138.00
Quinn Cami: 78.00
Tabitha patent-leather T-strap heels: 225.00
Roughed-out leather belt: 52.00
Fireball necklace: 98.00
Dainty gold knotted necklace: 65.00

TOTAL: 656.00

The Look for Less:



Forever 21 Mid-waist pencil skirt: 17.80
Old Navy Ruffle Chiffon Tank: 10.00
Circa Joan & David Brown Patent T-strap heels: 59.00
Target Brown Belt: 14.99
American Eagle Coin Chain Necklace: 15.50
TOTAL: 117.29

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Mew

This video is so beautiful.