The Fab Miss B

Valentine's Day Gifts She Isn't Expecting!

2012-01-27T06:00:00.001-06:00

Rare is the dude who reads this blog. But this post is dedicated to dudes anyway. Valentine's Day is the most cliched holiday of all. Satin Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates, Flowers, Fondue Restaurant reservations and you're done. And your lady will be delighted. But why not go the extra mile and really surprise her with something frivolous and unexpected? After all, that's what Romance is all about; the passion that comes from veering off the beaten path. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Sparkly, neutral and ladylike all at once, these heels would be a killer addition to any wardrobe. Don't these remind you of Britney at the VMA's all those years ago?

I've heard that this is the best blush money can buy. (It better be at $30 a pop!) Are they charging extra for that cheeky name?

Lingerie gifts are tricky. They can easily end up feeling cheap and tawdry. These silk tap shorts from HoneyCoolerHandmade strike just the right note- luxurious, pretty and sexy too.

Love the way these Valentine's Day flowers avoid cliche by mixing hard and soft, modern and romantic. They are anything but the usual tired dozen red roses.

This Gil Elvgren Book is full of old fashioned paintings of pin up girls that have gone from racy to amusing in the last 50 years. I'd love to add it to my collection of beautifully printed Taschen coffee table books.

What is the most romantic surprise you've ever gotten? (In the unlikely case that you are a dude, what's the most romantic surprise you've ever executed?)

Valentine Crafternoon!

2012-01-26T10:59:00.006-06:00

I hosted a Valentine's Day "crafternoon" for a few friends the other weekend. It was such fun! We had tea and sweets and gathered around the table to potter on our various Valentine's day projects. It was such a fun way to relax, make something pretty AND catch up on gossip that we may even turn it into a regular thing!

I used a regular yellow cake mix doctored with a tablespoon of hibiscus extract. The frosting is from scratch- a bit of sour cream and lime zest keep it interesting. The little candy roses are pressed sugar- I'll post a DIY soon!

These peanut butter and jelly thumbprints were a big hit. They are a cinch to make too (for a Martha recipe anyway!).

You know The Fab Miss B- Any excuse to break out my tea set and Bando sequin heart!
Here is the Valentine I made- feel free to download it to print your own! I used Paper Source 5X5 cardstock in blossom and made my own envelopes with vellum. It's a quote from the film Annie Hall. Have you ever seen it? I highly recommend it for Valentine's Day viewing, though you should know ahead of time that the boy does not get the girl in the end. (Thank goodness!)

Are you working on anything special for Valentine's Day?

Simple Pleasures: Vintage Egg Cups

2012-01-25T06:00:00.001-06:00

I love soft boiled eggs. I feel quite British when breakfasting upon them. Eating a nice warm, gooey egg from these vintage egg cups shaped like human heads makes me feel a bit like a Zombie. The bloody aftermath of this photo made me laugh. BRAINS.

At the moment, I'm displaying my whole collection of vintage wooden egg cups on our stove. All their silly expressions make me smile. Do you have any collections?

Help Me Turn this Ponytail into a Wig for a Kid Fighting Cancer.

2012-01-23T23:05:00.003-06:00

Who Doesn't Love Samples?

2012-01-21T22:00:00.005-06:00

Have you heard of Birchbox? It's a subscription service and for $10 a month, you receive a box filled with luxury beauty samples based on your customized profile.

My first box arrived a few weeks ago, and I was delighted with the beautiful packaging and the great products inside. (You receive a selection of 5 products based on your preferences in your profile.) This Hypoallergenic Eye Syrum was definitely my favorite and it was fun way to try an expensive department store product without committing to the $80 pricetag.

I signed up for the one month at a time option so that I can cancel if my medicine cabinet begins to overflow, but I can't wait for next month's box! Sign up for yours here!

Have you ever tried a subscription service? I think they are so much fun. (Remember Panties by Post? I got six adorable silly ruffly pairs!)

Autobiographical CD 2011: Playlist & Cover Art

2012-01-19T06:00:00.001-06:00

Want a sneak peek at my finished autobiographical CD for the year? This is one of my favorite creative exercises because it combines lots of different mediums. Choosing the songs is one of the most enjoyable parts, and it's gotten even easier thanks to Pandora. We have it on constantly at our house and it's easy to bookmark favorite songs for reference later. (Did you know it's only $30 to listen commercial free all year?) Throughout the year, I jot down titles that I think apply and then I comb through them to assemble into the finished mix. This year the theme and flow for ordering the songs came together in a single afternoon, but usually it's far more laborious.

I made these beautiful envelopes using templates from Paper Source and a beautiful Cavalini & Co wall calendar. The gorgeous antique botanical prints of butterflies on the outside inspired me to do some watercolor caterpillars for the CD booklet. Since this mix is all about admitting that you aren't quite where you thought you were and longing for transformation, the caterpillar seemed perfect. The heavy watercolor paper, saturated color, hand lettered interiors and fancy labels all make them feel special, unique and luxurious.

You can see and download the whole playlist on Amazon right here. My explanation for why I chose each song is there as well. What is the best mix you've ever given or received?

Two to Tango- Pearl Bailey
You Don't Know Me- Ben Folds
That's All- Clare & The Reasons
Kona Moon- Hui Ohana
So Sorry- Feist
'Deed I Do- Lena Horne
Chico Gospel- MaMuse
I want you Tonight- Sydney Bechet
I'm Lazy, That's All- Pearl Bailey
Why Worry- Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris
Sweet Pea- Jasper & Veronica
Home- Edward Sharp & the Magnetic Zeroes

Don't Remake; Just Awake!

2012-01-16T11:47:00.004-06:00

It's mid month, but my January magazine subscriptions have just arrived. January issues are never my favorite- they are always skimpy and austere. After all the excesses of the holidays, that feels good and right most of the time. After feasting, buying and celebrating, fasting, saving and quiet feel just right. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

But this year as I flipped through the pages, urging me to start a cleanse or rid my life of clutter once and or all, I was shocked at all the striving. Each page reflected a deep belief that only greater and greater effort will make me into a person deserving of love, admiration, success. Yet that endless pushing is what makes life so unbearable at times.

Those pages reinforce the idea that I am not good enough the way I am at this moment. I need to lose weight or find a better career, or learn to speak fluent Spanish first. And oddly enough, believing that I need to become better seems to prevent me from recognizing how beautiful I already am. With no changes. Just as I am. Just as my life is in this moment.

Instead, I am learning to practice just being. I am learning to stop judging, myself and others both. It's about really living in this body I have, and I am starting to see that doesn't mean I have to go sky diving or spend my 30th Birthday in Paris on top of the Eiffel Tower. How well I am living my life has nothing to do with how glamorous my life appears to be.

Really living means being present enough in this moment right now to feel my fingers gently rap on the keys. Hear the delicate clicking noises my keyboard makes as my fingers sail across it. As I concentrate on listening to all that, I suddenly hear the bird song outside too, doves cooing and a wild cacophony of cackling from the Myna birds. I can hear one grounds keeper outside whistling to himself, then stop for a moment to chat with a friend in Filipino. I feel my back against the cushions I am resting on, the blanket touching my skin. I feel my life inside me.

That surrender to the moment is far too rare in my life. Instead, I've been rewarding myself for surviving unpleasantness with tiny pleasures (food! shopping!) or in anticipation of them. I've been surviving. This is a shadow life and I feel as if I am waking up as from a very very deep sleep. In stages, gradually, slowly, inch by inch.

How do you remember to stay present in your life? I am re-reading "The Power of Now" and it serves as a great introduction to these ideas. The first time I read it though, it was like stirring up a hornet's nest. I felt like I was losing my mind! (I'm sure Eckhart Tolle would say that is precisely what happens when you begin to awake because you learn not to give the mind such deference.) Yoga seems to help as well- did you know yoga means "to yoke"? It teaches the practitioner how to yoke the mind and body together so that they act in service of the spirit. What a beautiful lesson!

Polka Dot Pajamas

2012-01-14T11:50:00.004-06:00

For all the griping I do about how trashy Victoria's Secret is, I sure do blog about them enough. They make my favorite undies on earth, and these charming polka dotted pjs were the perfect thing to wake up in on Christmas morning this year. They are comfy, fun and a little vintage inspired. (I can picture Lucille Ball in them with no trouble at all!)

I'm also on the hunt for the perfect lightweight, snuggly robe. Nothing too fluffy- I hate looking frumpy in my lounge wear. This 100% cashmere robe looks like a super decadent option, but alas, even on sale, $250 is out of my robe budget allowance.

What do you like to sleep in?

DIY with The Fab Miss B: Fancy Up Grocery Store Roses with a Ti Leaf Bow!

2012-01-12T11:06:00.003-06:00

Remember this flower arrangement I put together for our Anniversary? I used grocery store roses and greens from my backyard, but I wanted to share one of my favorite tricks to make an ordinary bouquet feel really special and professional looking. Here's how to make a ti leaf bow.

Take an ordinary ti leaf and gently bend it in half, holding the tip of the leaf to the stem. I'm lucky to have ti leaves growing right outside my door in beautiful Hawaii, but they are readily available in most florist shops as well.

Secure with a few loops of waterproof Davey Tape.

That's it! Now you have a beautiful accent leaf that doubles as great filler.

Here are my grocery store circus roses and all the greens I found in my backyard. Scrounge around in your yard too- even at this time of year you can find probably find some beautiful evergreens that will feel seasonally appropriate and reference wherever it is you live.

Do you have any great flower tricks for arranging at home?

Transforming Mr. Brown; He's More than Meets the Eye

2012-01-10T01:46:00.003-06:00

This is Justin, my dear friend. He is an extraordinary person, and not just because of that wild and unruly mane of red hair. He is a talented musician who plays the stand up bass. He is equally at ease playing classical music with a 300 piece orchestra or jamming under the stars in an open air jazz bar into the wee hours. He loves to cook. He comes to our house a lot during football season, arms laden with purchases from Costco, heads straight to the kitchen and starts chopping, banging and frying away happily, eventually emerging with a vegetarian feast far too big for just the three of us. His burritos are to die for. He is bold, brash and loves a good debate, especially if he gets to play devil's advocate.

But most of all, Mr. Brown is an unbelievably passionate and devoted teacher. His regular duties include teaching math, a course in A.P Comparative Politics and serving as the school's CTE coordinator. (Nope, I don't know what that stands for.) In addition to all that, he finds time to manage the Debate Team, Model U.N and of course, his baby, the Kealakehe Robotics Team, The Tiki Techs.

He can write a killer grant and has personally raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the school. He spends most of his waking hours planning lessons and coordinating trip details including chaperones, airline tickets, busses, hotel reservations, and engaging food and entertainment for anywhere from 8 to 16 teenagers. He is constantly spearheading fundraisers and events to help connect his kids and the community at large. He is busy giving his students amazing opportunities and setting them up for a lifetime of success.

I love this man. Just as he is. But I've wanted to cut off his ponytail from the moment I clapped eyes on him. Just to see what he looks like underneath the mane. I've been nagging him about it for three years now. I've peppered him with questions about what his hair means to him. I've promised to braid it. I've told everyone we know that he's already agreed to the big cut. I've wheedled him with stories of all the ladies who will be infinitely more interested in him without the hair. All my efforts in the direction of a head to toe makeover have been steadfastly ignored for three years.

Until I promised him $2,000 for his Robotics Team.

That's all it took.

I have no doubt that I can count on your (tax deductible!) donations to this cause, which is worthy on three levels:

Firstly, The Kealakehe Robotics team encourages American kids to study math and engineering, fields that are sure to expand exponentially in years to come. These students will help our country to remain strong and competitive in a global economy driven by technology and innovation. As Mr. Brown will tell you, it's an expensive program to run, especially with a team as successful as his that needs to travel from Hawaii to the mainland and across the world to compete with teams with far larger budgets. The students' goal this year is to raise $10,000 in total, but it costs a lot more than that to run.

Secondly, Mr. Brown's impressive ponytail will be donated to Locks of Love. I'm sure you've already heard of this charity, which uses donated hair to create real hair wigs for children fighting cancer. In many cases, these expensive natural hair wigs are far out of reach for families whose medical expenses outstrip their incomes. It makes me smile to imagine this wild mop of a ponytail turned into a glossy red wig for a brave little head.

Lastly, I believe in my heart that this would be an amazing gift to Justin himself. I think it's so easy to give endlessly and ignore ourselves. The older I get, the more I am discovering the value in pausing to find center and be kind to myself. I find I am better to everyone around me when I care for myself, but it isn't always easy to do. I'd like to show Justin that he deserves to feel handsome and sharp. That he deserves to be the impressive, brilliant, funny and wonderful person that he is on the outside as well as on the inside. That everyone should have a chance to get to know the extraordinary person that I know.

So here's the thing. We've set a date for this fundraiser. I have about 60 days to raise $2,000, plus a little more to take him shopping, and get him that all important haircut and shave. Just 60 days to plan an event that will get the whole community to the high school to give this Robotics Team a Pep Rally to rival that of any Football Team.

Can you help out? Please donate anything you can- $10 at a time will get us there! I will personally make sure that you get a receipt, a thank you (leave me your address if you'd like getting snail mail!) and an update on the "After"! Email me at thefabulousmissbATgmailDOTcom and I'll send you an invoice for whatever amount you'd like to contribute.

Thank you friends!

Autobiographical CD 2011: Thinking about Home

2012-01-08T13:03:00.005-06:00

Home by lineanongrata on Etsy

I've just finished my latest autobiographical CD. This has become a ritual I enact whenever I feel ready to sum up the recent experiences of my life. It began when I was living in New Mexico at the suggestion of my dear friend Jessica, who has been making them ever since high school. I've made six or so and each has it's own flavor, just as each year of life does. (Think of that Frank Sinatra song "A Very Good Year".)

This year, the selections seems to be all about the challenges of married life, but as I listened through my old mixes, I found another thread that runs through every one: Home.

When Eric and I came across the Swahili word "Kazana" in Kenya, it touched the heart of the matter. It means "To Make a Home". We both felt that this was exactly what we were doing by marrying. We created a home that is not a place on earth, but a sacred bond between him and I.

This year, the CD closes with the tune "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Here are some of the lyrics that sum up that sentiment perfectly.

Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my Ma & Pa
Not the way that I do love you

Holy Moley, Me-oh-My,
you're the apple of my eye
Girl, I’ve never loved one like you

Man, oh man, you’re my best friend,
I scream it to the nothingness
There ain’t nothin’ that I need

Well, hot & heavy, pumpkin pie,
chocolate candy, Jesus Christ
There ain’t nothin’ please me more than you

Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I’m with you

La la la la, take me Home
Baby, I’m coming Home

I’ll follow you into the park,
through the jungle, through the dark
Girl, I’ve never loved one like you

Moats & boats & waterfalls,
alley ways & pay phone calls
I’ve been everywhere with you

That’s true

We laugh until we think we’ll die,
barefoot on a summer night
Nothin’ new is sweeter than with you

And in the streets we're running free
like it's only you and me
Geez, you’re somethin' to see.

Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I’m with you

I'll be sure to share photos of my cover art and the entire playlist soon. My friend Gwen is sending out copies of her mix for 2011- pop over and check it out! Which songs sum up this year for you?

Store your Christmas Ornaments in Apple Containers!

2012-01-06T09:43:00.004-06:00

Since I put up my tree so early this year, I was very prompt in packing it up- first thing New Year's day. I'm always looking for a better way to store my collection of fragile vintage glass ornaments and this year my apple pie making helped out. We buy our apples at Costco (only place to get 'em around here really, and they aren't great.) and they come in these monstrously wasteful bubble containers. Convenient, but excessive.

Turns out they are the perfect size for storing ornaments!

Do you have any tips for storing Christmas decorations? I am trying hard to keep my collection limited to it's current three bin max, but I seem to acquire a few more pieces each year.

DIY with The Fab Miss B: Homemade Snow Globes!

2012-01-04T10:28:00.005-06:00

During my Winter Break from school, I got caught up on all sorts of crafty projects, including one I've been dying to try for over a year: Home Made Snow Globes! I knew it would be a really fun way to display my growing collection of plastic miniatures, and I'd love to try it with my fourth graders, so I did a test run. It was a simple project, but it did require patience! Here's my how to!

For this project, you will need rather a long materials list and some patience:

Clean Jars with screwtop lids (I used salsa jars. Target's Market Pantry brand has pretty silver lids that don't need altering!)

If your jar has an ugly lid, you'll also need fine grade sandpaper & spraypaint

Epoxy

Plastic figurines that fit neatly inside the lid

Glycerin- can be found with toiletries in many drug stores.

Distilled Water

Glitter

If your jar has an unattractive label on the lid, use some fine grade sandpaper to roughen up the surfaces. (This helps the paint adhere better and it will stand up to handling better. Remember, the whole point of a snow globe is tipping it upside down again and again so you want the paint to stay put!) Make sure your lid is clean and dry and apply several layers of spray paint.

Once your lid is dry, place your figurines into a pleasing arrangement, making sure they don't go beyond the inner rim of the lid. Then, apply the epoxy to the inner lid surface.

Leave the glue to set undisturbed for twenty four hours. You want a super strong bond. (It'll be going upside-down, remember?)

Now the fun part! Add a teeny tiny drop of glycerin to your jar. Too much and your glitter will clump so use a light hand. This helps the glitter to float around gently in your globe.

Add your glitter, then the distilled water.

Give it a stir!
Screw your lid on tightly and voila! You have created a beautiful little underwater diorama.

I'm madly in love with my Hawaiian pair! Let me know if you try this out, I'd love to see how yours turn out! I think it's a really cool idea for kids and grown ups alike.

What did you do during Winter Vacation?

A Toast To Fifteen Hundred Posts!

2012-01-03T00:44:00.005-06:00

Mack Sennet Girls Posing in Serpentine Confetti from All Posters

Lest it slip by unmentioned, yesterday was my fifteen hundredth post. (One thousand was almost two years ago!) I've heard it said that taking up blogging to make money is like learning ventriloquism in order to meet girls.

It might not work.

Lucky for me, blogging holds intrinsic rewards. It's a way to catalog my inspirations and share my creativity. It keeps me thinking and making connections. In some ways this humble little blog is like Virginia Wolf's room in her famous essay "A Room of One's Own". It belongs entirely to me and in this one little corner I have the freedom to share whatever I like.

It's a place for me to practice everything- to test out new recipes, rant and rave about a wonderful or terrible film I've just seen, share a do it yourself project or consider how to embody my life more fully.

Along the way, my writing has improved, I've met wonderful people and I've built a room of my own. As I look around at it, I can see that it reflects what is best in me. There is whimsy and fun, but there is a search for meaning too. As I look at it, I can see the trajectory of my thinking and what moves me. It's thrilling. My little room has it's shortcomings, and yet it is something of which I am immensely proud.

Thank you for being part of what keeps me thinking, writing and sharing. It makes it so much more fun to share my room with you.

Love,

Becky

DIY with The Fab Miss B: Fancy New Year Party Favors!

2012-01-02T12:10:00.004-06:00

We decided to throw an impromptu New Year's Eve Party this year (because we live in a small town and if you want fun after 9pm you'd better make it yourself!) and I whipped together some party favors to make it feel more glamorous and festive. I scattered these around our apartment with noise makers and confetti and lots of candles and that was all the decoration we needed.

I love making favors for smallish parties because you can go over the top in a way you never could if you were hosting 60-100 guests. Here's what I used to make my New Year Party Favors:

Foil Party Picks
Plastic Champagne Bottle Bubbles
Plastic Zebras(they are already dressed to the nines in those black and white stripes!) Look for them on Etsy.
Champagne Saucers. I found mine at thrifts shops and tag sales for around .50 cents a piece, but you could also try Etsy.
Gold Foil Wrapped Chocolates- mine are Dove White Chocolates, on clearance post Christmas!
I thought about twining the stems with the metallic garlands I had on hand, but in the end I decided they were overkill.

I only purchased the hollow stem champagne saucers because the foil picks stand at perfect attention when you slip them inside. So festive!

Then, I added the champagne bubbles at a jaunty angle, the zebras for a whimsical twist and the gold foil wrapped chocolates to bring sweetness in the New Year! Then I made little paper flags with a calligraphy marker & super skinny sharpie to finish them off.

We had a great time tooting and noisily welcoming the New Year here in Hawaii- everyone around here goes mad with fireworks and we were able to watch them popping and sparkling from our lanai. I'm excited for 2012- this year both Eric and I will celebrate our 30th Birthdays (!!) and we are hoping to take some more fun trips- perhaps to the Phillipines, or maybe we'll finally do that Airstream Trip I've been fantasizing about this summer. I can't wait.

What are you most excited about in the New Year?

Spring Cleaning: Constant Vigilance!

2011-12-30T06:00:00.001-06:00

Perhaps it's having three weeks of vacation to loll about at home, or having to find homes for all our new Christmas presents, or maybe it's the urge to start the New Year off right, but I've been on an organizing bender. Wanna hear my tips and tricks?

We have the same problem areas as most homes- the entry way often becomes a dumping ground for stuff recently carted in the door. We are lucky to have some built in storage here to conceal it, but shoes end up in a terrifying heap in the bottom of the cupboard.

I think the most important thing about keeping a home organized is to constantly be re-assessing what works and what doesn't. ("Constant Vigilance!" as Mad Eye Moody would say!) Eric often complains that I am always moving things but it's because I'm on a quest to find the best possible solutions. Ones that work for how we actually live- instead of how I'd like to think we live.

This shoe rack is a good example. I set it up on Eric's side of the closet but he rarely uses it because his shoes almost never make it past this front entry way. I like to have mine all on display in my closet so I can put together the perfect outfit, but he has fewer variations to contend with. Instead they end up here. So I moved the shoe rack here and voila- we can now maximize that space and he can find what he needs much more quickly.

I always find the cleaning supply spot a little grim. All those assorted bottles- many of which you only use once in a blue moon look very disorderly indeed. Real Simple's "Streamline your Supplies" article was so inspiring. I inherited many of these products with our furnished rental and I hate to simply throw them out. But the looks of this streamlined cabinet definitely hold a deep appeal...

I did away with what I don't use everyday and corralled the rest in a metal basket. Feels good.

The laundry in our rental is in the kitchen so it's important that it be as streamlined as possible. There are curtains hiding it from view, but I wanted it to feel like an oasis of calm- sort of a spa for clothes. I don't hate doing laundry- I think of my clothes like an amazing collection of wearable art that I am constantly curating, and I enjoy caring for them. But it would be nice to have everything in easy reach. That giant tub of soap wasn't exactly easy for a short person like moi to heft down each time she wanted to do a load of wash.

By removing the unused products, eliminating distracting packaging labels and putting the detergents into clear glass containers, the space feels more orderly, calm and items are much easier to pull down from the shelf. I almost want to hang some art in here now!

What are your tips to keeping your home running along smoothly?

Book Report: Women, Food & God by Geneen Roth

2011-12-28T12:13:00.004-06:00

The beginning of a New Year feels like the perfect time to write about Women, Food and God, because our culture touts January 1st as the time to dive into yet another punishing diet, take up a grueling work out routine and finally transform yourself into A Skinny Person Who Has It All and Is Blissfully Happy.

Geneen Roth calls this Sisyphean. That rock is doomed to roll back down the hill.

I've just finished reading this book for a second time because I wanted to pass it along to a friend and fellow blogger. The first time, I read the entire thing on a plane ride in a few hours. This time, I took my time and read it slowly, a chapter every other night or so. (The difference between inhaling three pieces of sheet cake and savoring one really good piece of chocolate.)

The premise of Women, Food and God is that many of us are disconnected from our bodies, and therefore from our most direct access to our divinity. This book intends to help women come back into their bodies, respect them, listen to them and stop their incessant battle with food.

No small feat.

What I both love and hate about this approach is that it demands that you address the source of the problem. Getting To The Bottom Of It is hugely attractive in theory. Once and for all. But this isn't about getting in touch with your emotions surrounding food so you can untangle every past hurts or your parents' failings. It's about sensing those emotions so you can see that you have attached them to food, and then move beyond them.

In practice however, I find myself deeply inclined to bolt. I have many tactics for this. My personal favorite is "This doesn't really affect me. My problem with food isn't this bad. I've never eaten an entire cake. I don't have fifty pounds to loose." Comparisons keeps me from meeting my issues at the place where I am, and therefore keep me from dealing with them.

Another favorite is to notice how those issues might be showing up in the life of someone close to me. As I re-read, I noticed the notes I had made in the margin the first time around. They were rife with connections between Mrs. Roth's words and other people in my life. Eek. Another way of avoiding my issues.

Then there are the thousand ways I "bolt" in my day to day. So much of it is habitual and totally unconscious. I wake up in the morning and often one of the first things I do is get sucked down the rabbit hole of the internet. Like Alice, I float there in a nether region, totally disembodied, while hours float by. It's far more compelling for me than television. I saw an article on Arianna Huffington in Vogue the other day that said "She has recognized that the entertainment of our times is self expression." That hit home for me. What else am I spending my time on the internet doing than crafting a facsimile of who I'd like to be? It's a way of adopting an identity without really inhabiting it. But it sure looks good. You can start to understand what seduces people into spending 20 hours a day gaming on World of Warcraft. It's a life within a life- but you can turn it into anything you like effortlessly. And yet, it comes at a great cost to your actual life. The one that is sacred.

I also love to bolt by shopping. There again is an element of fantasy for me. Just yesterday I was in Target checking out the after Christmas SALE (my biggest turn on!) and found myself staring longingly at a golden galvanized bin. The sort you would put drinks in at a party. As I size it up, I imagine the party I'd have- it is suddenly filled with ice and Vueve Clicquot. All my friends are gathered around in tuxedos and sequins, popping corks merrily, glasses brimming with foam. Everyone is laughing. Everyone loves me. We are all living to the fullest. Our life is uproariously good. How much is the tub that will bring me all of this? Six dollars? Why, that's my emotional price point!

I'm perfectly willing to pay six dollars to buy a piece of that fantasy. But it disappears immediately. Instead, I come home with a big clunky galvanized tub that I have to make room for- inciting a frenzy of organizing and de-junking (probably more bolting in that compulsion. I am Virtuous and Good when I fill a bag for the thrift shop. I am Not Attached to Earthly Stuff.) There it sits gathering dust. And even if I do someday have the Champagne Party of my Dreams, it can never match up to the fantasy and afterwards I am left feeling slightly empty and deflated.

Have you noticed that I've left food bolting for last? I suppose it's the most embarrassing and perhaps the one I bring the least awareness to. I'll be cleaning up after dinner, and rather than put the last spoonful of pasta or curry into a Tupperware (or the trash) I'll put it in my mouth. Or after I finish tidying the kitchen, I feel as though I deserve a treat, and I'll pop in a chocolate. Sometimes I feel a little twinge of guilt or disgust, but mostly, I feel nothing about it. Numbness.

I am capable of genuinely savoring food, a real gift from my parents to me. But another thing I've noticed is that I will allow myself to become so ravenously hungry that I am unwilling to take the time to prepare food for myself. I often rely on Eric to cook for me. Or, I will raid the cupboards and pull out something that can be ready Right. This. Second. Chips and Salsa. A sleeve or Oreos. Crackers and Cheese. A bowl of nuts. Cereal. Can of Soup. Instant. Instant. Instant.

So my job is to bring awareness to those moments. Instead of stuffing, I am learning to pause and think. Notice my body. Notice if I am hungry or not. Notice what my body actually wants to eat, not what my mind tells me I want. It may not be easy at first, but luckily the only tool I need is this body I am learning to live in.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Can you offer any ideas on how to inhabit and savor this one wild and precious life?

Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Men.

2011-12-24T11:08:00.005-06:00

White Dove in Peaceful Night by Joojoo

Today's Writer's Almanac included a description of the famous 1914 Christmas Truce when German and British soldiers laid down arms to honor the spirit of Christmas. This event has been immortalized a thousand ways, because it speaks to the preciousness of life we all posses. For that one night, the men were able to reclaim their humanity in the midst of grim and heartless bloodshed.

In Women Food and God, Geneen Roth describes a yogi who encouraged his students to remember the thousands of people who had died that day. "Think of what they would give to be in a body again, even for just a few moments." Our bodies may be only husks, but how precious is a body with a soul and pulse abiding in it?

That great gift of life deserves honor in every person that we encounter, no matter the wrongs given or received. I think the best way to honor Christmas in our hearts, is to practice extra kindness today- to your closest relatives and complete strangers alike. Don't forget yourself either. (How often we are strangers to ourselves, as well as those we love!)

Be kind to every living thing today in honor of that divine gift of life. That is certainly the message of peace that Jesus offered the world so very long ago.

Holiday Party Idea: Christmas Cookie Swap!

2011-12-22T11:54:00.005-06:00

Have you ever tried a holiday cookie swap? They are so much fun. We've hosted one three years running now (Holy Moly! Three years in Hawaii amazes me. It feels like months.) and it's become a tradition I look forward to each Christmas.

Just look at this pretty assortment! Everyone brings a batch of their favorite holiday cookies and can take away as many as they brought to share. (We always seem to have extras!)

Sampling is part of the fun! We played How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, and A Charlie Brown Christmas in the background to add to the festive mood.

We set up a buffet of pupus (that's "appetizers" to you mainlanders) on the bar and cookies on the dining room table. Our wonderful friends always pitch in to make these parties potluck style- it's my favorite entertaining trick because it makes the prep work so simple. All I really have to do is bake a batch of cookies, clean, put out some carrots and hummus, put on my Christmas Pandora station and get in a cheery mood!

I put my goodies in celophane bags, added a gift tag and tied them with a pretty bow. They make charming "thinking of you" gifts for my co-workers, the amazing team at the post office (I love how hard they work to make my small business hum along!) and the security guards at our building. It's nice to be appreciated, don't you think?

Have you ever done a cookie swap? How does yours work? And what is your very favorite holiday cookie? I have these Russian Tea Cakes on the brain this year, but I haven't made them yet. My Grandma makes them every year.

Christmas Decorating

2011-12-20T12:12:00.004-06:00

My ornament collection just keeps growing. This scraggly tree is perfect for me since there is lots of bare space to fill!

Every morning, Eric plugs in the tree so it's shining like this when I manage to pull myself out of bed.

We set up a little mini bar in the corner. So far we haven't used it much since we have far more bottles in another cabinet, but it sure does look sophisticated.

Remember my DIY feather trees from last year? Also, these peanut butter cookies are gluten free!
I like glittery paper because it looks so very lovely underneath the lights. Who doesn't love sparkle?

My Mexican Nativity looks so lovely with my collection of mercury glass votives behind and some lacey Christmas trees to fill in the gaps.

Do you change up your decorations every year or do you stick with tradition?

Last Minute Christmas Gift for Co-Workers: A Civilized Teacup of Goodies!

2011-12-20T00:33:00.006-06:00

It's been a roller coaster week, hence the light posting on the old blog. While I gather my thoughts, here's a last minute gift idea for someone you'd like to thank that will make them feel a lot more special than a boring old gift card.

Find some pretty tea cups or mugs- the thrift store is always a good spot. These were from my cupboard- found on clearance at Anthropologie ages ago and used only once or twice. Now someone else can enjoy them as if they are brand new.

Fill them with a few of your favorite beverages. I made several at once so I bought boxes of things and divied them up. So inexpensive. I chose Constant Comment Orange Spice Tea- a classic I've been drinking since my very first tea party! I also included a packet of Starbucks Salted Caramel hot cocoa and a pretty pretzel covered in white chocolate and peppermint.

I make it a point only to give gifts I would love to receive, and all of these goodies are tried and true favorites. Don't grab something you've never tasted to give. What if it's dreadful? And the bonus is that you get to savor the extras yourself!

I wrapped each one in a bit of cellophane and attached a matching gift tag and ribbon. So much more thoughtful than something grabbed off the shelf. Each of my recipients was delighted and I know they'll enjoy a little dash of civility in their hectic day to day at school when they pause to sip from their fancy new teacups!

Who do you like to thank with a little something at this time of year?

Oprah's Favorite Gigantic Pie is the Perfect Showstopping Dessert

2011-12-12T11:05:00.006-06:00

Eric and I are planning a gigantic Christmas feast this year. We are torn between rack of lamb or the classic glazed ham for the main course. Dessert is my department, and a traditional Christmas pudding ala Charles Dickens was suggested. A Wikipedia hunt showed a rather revolting lump of a dessert- like an unhappy marriage between bread pudding and fruit cake, neither of which I love on their own.

I was hunting for something that would be decadent, delicious and totally showstopping. Then I saw this nine inch high caramel pecan apple pie in O Magazine. I think it fits the bill, don't you? Though I'm not really interested in paying $50 to have a pie airlifted to my home packed on dry ice as though it was a life saving heart transplant, I'm willing to spend several hours in my kitchen trying it on my own. (Confection confidence has been bolstered by the successful Baked Alaska!) I'll be using this recipe from Paula Deen.

Movie Review: Hugo

2011-12-09T11:07:00.005-06:00

Martin Scorsese's latest doesn't involve Leonardo DiCaprio in period garb. Thank goodness. Instead, it's set in 1920's Paris and tells the story of a little boy named Hugo. Orphaned after his watchmaker father dies in a fire, Hugo is taken to a train station by an alcoholic Uncle and told that if he maintains the stations' clocks, he can live in the shabby, forgotten apartments above. So Hugo enters into a hidden world behind the surface of the station- peering out of walls as he scurries from clock to clock, oiling and winding them. He comes to know familiar faces as he goes about his daily work, but never speaks to any of them, preferring to live in secret with the gears and cogs of machines.

After his work is through, he tinkers with a beautiful silver automoton that he and his father had been restoring from the havoc of rust and time. This humanoid machine is meant to write when all it's pieces are running properly, but it is exceptionally complicated. Now that Hugo's father is gone, his only guide is his father's beautifully drawn notebook. The trouble is finding parts for his little machine- every piece is tiny and carefully made. There is a little toy shop in the station, and Hugo takes to stealing parts from the odd windup toy.

But one day, the toy shop owner catches him in the act and takes the notebook and Hugo is pulled out of his secret mechanical world and into the human one at last.

The story plays with the metaphor of what it means to be human in a world of machines. This is a central problem of modern life, and many artists and writers seem to return to the turn of the century to help them think about it. (Steampunk anyone?) Back then, most of those machines were made by human hands and it took human ingenuity to help them continue to run. Now, so much of our world is run by machines with parts made by machines and controlled by even more machines that we have become unconscious of them. I suspect this very complexity is the reason so many people are interested in going back to the land, or supporting hand made cottage industry.

Mr. Scorcese's answer to this question seems to be that creativity is the thing that helps us to be human in a world of technology and mechanization. It helps us to make sense of a world that isn't always ordered and precise like a piece of clockwork. Imagination is what makes us special and it is what will save us from becoming machines ourselves. It helps us to love and dream and what could be more human than that?

I can't recommend this movie heartily enough. It was beautiful and deeply moving. I can't wait to see it again.

Coping with Holiday Stress: What are your Strategies?

2011-12-08T10:59:00.005-06:00

Zebra in a Box by wantaprint on Etsy

I've finally got the last of my Christmas boxes out the door and in the mail. It may seem a tad obsessive, but I do live in Hawaii with an ocean and the entire west coast between me and the people I love. It pays to err on the early side.

But yesterday after my trip to the post office, I suddenly felt lighter and more relaxed. I realized how unconsciously stressed I was about all those goody boxes and getting them just right. Although I love making them, it felt pretty damn good to send them on their way and have them out of my hair.

How do you cope with Holiday stress, real or imagined? I am starting to think that so much of it is self-created- the expectations I am trying to live up to exist in my mind alone! So it makes sense that I can ease those expectations with my mind as well. That's the theory anyway.

Are the holidays difficult for you? How and why? Let's discuss!

Which Christmas Ornament Do You Look Forward to Unpacking Every Year?

2011-12-05T00:10:00.000-06:00

Oh my. How sweet is this little mermaid ornament? I love the homespun look of her- she'd be the perfect addition to my growing collection of sea inspired Christmas decor! Have you put your tree up yet? Which ornament is your all time favorite? (I have a skunk in a bikini that makes me laugh every year!)

God Jul! Celebrating a Scandinavian Christmas

2011-12-04T09:39:00.004-06:00

After reading this article with 50 food gifts from the 50 states, I started feeling nostalgic for my family's Scandinavian Christmas traditions. I love the colors, textures and flavors that my Grandparents strive to preserve for us each year.

My grandmother takes the time to make home made lefse (a very thin potato pancake), and prepare Lutefisk as well. Though Lutefisk is not for the faint of heart (these fish are soaked in lye for heaven's sake!) and doesn't offer much to the palate, she makes it each year as a living remembrance of their heritage and the culture of their parents and their parents before them. I think that is rather beautiful, and I'll eat a bland, gelatinous forkful to honor them every time it is offered me. Food is about so much more than simple flavor, after all. It binds us to the past and future in a way unlike anything else I know of.

If you'd like to see my picks live on Etsy, click on over! What are your family's Christmas traditions?

Have You Tried A Shellac Manicure?

2011-11-30T11:03:00.003-06:00

Have you ever tried a Shellac manicure? I'd never had a salon manicure in my life, but I thought it would be fun to try out pretty coral nails ala Betty Draper for my best friend's wedding.

It took almost a month to get my thin brittle nails long enough to bother manicuring. The shellac goes on as a powder and is sealed with a heat lamp to a nice shiny finish that made my nails feel thick and fancy looking. (It reminded me of automotive paint!) Supposedly indestructible and impervious to chipping, they claim Shellac lasts two full weeks. Here are my hands after one week- I couldn't handle being so dainty anymore and soaked it off with acetone nail polish remover. I didn't like the new growth showing through at my cuticles either, but I'm excited to try it again next time I have a big event coming up.

Have you tried any crazy beauty services, like a real snakeskin pedicure? I'm dying to try laser hair removal, but I think that's as close to actual surgery as I'm willing to go.

Eat Like a Local on the Big Island of Hawaii: Da Poke Shack, Number One for a Reason.

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Da Poke Shack is Kona's Number One rated restaurant on Trip Advisor. Maybe that's why we waited so long to walk through the doors. It's like the Beatles, or Snuggies, or Harry Potter. It's so popular, you feel like you can't join in at this point without feeling dumb. That wagon is crowded enough without you.

And then when you do join, you wonder what the hell took you so long. Because the wagon is crowded for a reason. This is good stuff. And it would be a shame to miss it just because everyone else is busy enjoying it.

And so it is with Da Poke Shack. Poke is basically salad made with incredibly fresh raw fish, seaweed, salt and a variety of other seasonings. (If you dig sushi, you're gonna love it.) And these guys know their stuff. They are all fishermen and local guys who love super fresh seafood and know how it should be prepared: quickly, simply, with love and not a lot of fanfare.

We opted for the plate lunch, which anywhere else in Hawaii would mean mac salad (that's macaroni salad for the uninitiated. Overcooked macaroni slathered in mayonaise plopped onto your plate via ice cream scoop. Yuck.) rice and terriyaki chicken or pork. At Da Poke Shack, it means two choices of poke, salad (we chose seaweed) and seasoned rice.

Never tried poke before? Not sure which of the many bowls to choose from? No problem brah. The guys behind the counter lovingly dole out tastes via toothpick, describing what ingredients are in each dish and happily making suggestions. Don't be shy. Take them up on it- their friendly enthusiasm is part of what makes this little hole in the wall place so very special. It's number one for a reason.

Christmas Shopping For Little Old Moi!

2011-11-27T06:00:00.002-06:00

I've been busy playing Elf on the internet this weekend, getting lots of Christmas orders in and wrapping up and packing things I've bought already. It's been lots of fun, but of course, I always get a little distracted with wishes of my own! Of course, tis better to give and all of that, but here are the things I noticed for little old me...

Cheery Cherry Candy Canes from Hammond's Candies. Butterscotch sounds delicious too.

These Vintage Birds Nest Earrings perfectly suit my new penchant for eccentric earrings. I love their tiny red eyes! Such detail in plastic is rare indeed.

I like the way this lumberjack plaid shirt is softened with a ruffle and feminine colors. The pink is my favorite. I'd pair it with super skinny dark jeans and a metallic blazer like this one. What do you think?
I love the fair-isle trend going on now, but the only way to follow suit in Hawaii is cute lounge shorts like these. I also love the unexpectedness of this pattern for bottoms. (And who can resist pom poms?)
For more fun with juxtapositions, this sweet ballet flat has a toe full of punk rock spikes to remind us that sweet girls aren't always nice. My mum snagged the grey pair, but I think this blush pink pair would work better with my wardrobe. (And then we can share, right Mum?)

Then, to put it all in, the splurgiest splurge of all. A sequined duffel bag that will add a little sparkle and shine to a long holiday weekend mini break. On sale, but not on sale enough I'm afraid. (This Jasper bag might be however! I especially love the white one, it reminds me of a Ludwig Bemelmens illustration.)

What are you wishing for this Christmas?

Munching with the Muppets

2011-11-25T23:41:00.000-06:00

Have you seen the New Muppets movie yet? Before we head out to the theater, we thought we'd brush up on The Film That Started it All: The Muppet Movie.

It was charming, of course. Also, wholesome, zany, silly, campy and wonderful. The film opens with Kermit sitting in the swamp singing Rainbow Connection, playing his banjo amid the whir of fireflies. A lost tourist (who turns out to be a Hollywood agent) tells Kermit that he is talented and should be making millions of people happy. Pretty soon, he's headed for California, and finding lost Muppets at every turn along the way. Your whole family will love it. (Animal is my favorite Muppet. Which is yours?)

While we watched, we munched on this fun party mix from O Magazine. The heat and spice of the Worcestershire and wasabi are balanced out by a sweet hint of honey. It's even better than Chex Mix. For real. We left out the cereal and did about half as much popcorn, but it was fabulous. Try it next time you snuggle up with a flick.

What is your favorite Movie Night snack?

I am Thankful for Oxygen.

2011-11-24T10:50:00.005-06:00

Breathe from joyshoppe

Yesterday at school, I was grading student work. The topic, naturally, was thankfulness.

"I am thankful for earth, shelter, food, water, oxygen, a family, love, freedom, education, and pretty much everything."

Of course, this answer made me laugh. Who is thankful for oxygen?

But later, I thought, he is so right! We should be thankful for oxygen! Without it, life would be pretty bleak. A vacuum. The opposite of life. No-thing-ness.

It's easy enough to set aside one day to pay lip service to all we have. Most of the essays I looked at yesterday held the variation we still regurgitate as adults on such occasions; Family, friends, good food, a nice home.

Sure, we are grateful for those things. They are wonderful and we appreciate them, or at the very least, remember that we are supposed to appreciate them.

But what about just breathing? What about the tremendous and awe inspiring gift of life?

Your life is worth something merely because you exist. There is nothing you can do (or not do!) to make it worth less.

You can screw up the turkey. You can have a shouting match with your father right at the dinner table in front of all your relatives. You can be a Kardashian. You could have failed the bar exam (or passed the bar exam!). You could eat Thanksgiving dinner alone in a booth at Denny's. You could have negative five hundred dollars in your checking account.

Your life could be a failure (or a success) by all the measures of our culture, and you could still have this precious gift of life to be grateful for. Spend a moment basking in the glow of that knowledge on this Thankgiving Day. How tremendous. How humbling.

Tired of Pumpkin Pie Again? Try these.

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

Pi Pie by Heather Future on Etsy

Although I love tradition as much as the next guy, sometimes the old Thanksgiving menu gets tired and uninspired. This year, I decided to make a variety of pies and desserts I'd never tried before. Although the menfolk I'll be dining with did request (nay, insist!) pumpkin, I also included:

Chocolate Pecan Tart in a Chocolate Cookie Crust

My friend Gwen's killer Avocado Pie (Sort of a creamy twist on Key Lime)

Kim's Lilikoi Cheesecake (I'm not much of a cheesecake enthusiast, but the tartness of the lilikoi and the crisp pecan cookie crust won me over in one bite. She simply substituted tart lilikoi, also known as unsweetened passion fruit juice for the lemon. Heaven.)

What are you making for Thanksgiving this year?

Do you do Strange Things in your Sleep?

2011-11-22T10:32:00.003-06:00

Sleep Walking by Aya Kakada

Do you do strange things in your sleep? Like talk nonsense, or get out of bed? I most definitely do. Poor Eric is a light sleeper and I do all sorts of weird things: I giggle. Sometimes, I dream that I am in our room, in our bed and a strange person is in the corner looking at us. I dream that I have just woken up and let out a blood curdling scream. Eric is instantly awake and trying to calm me, and I can feel his heart pounding through his chest. I am usually back asleep in a few seconds (never having really been conscious) while he lies there letting his blood pressure go down. Sometimes the poor fellow never gets back to sleep.

Last night, we'd just enjoyed watching one of my all time favorite movies, Get Shorty, and after we'd been soundly asleep, I turned on the light and told Eric I was looking for chili oil. (Connection to main character Chili Palmer? Perhaps.)

"What?" he said blearily.

"Have to find the chili oil." I mumbled wandering around the room.

Eric continued to press me, "What the hell are you talking about?".

I started to wake up.

It's the strangest thing to wake and know that there was a connection in your mind only a moment ago that is now rendered ridiculous by consciousness. It makes you feel stupid. And grouchy. You are trapped between the two sides of your brain and neither part is working well.

I think the only thing I find truly unbearable is to be misunderstood. It's torture. As Eric continued to ask what I was talking about, my frustration mounted as my chances of ever lucidly explaining what I was talking about drained away.

"Oils and Vinegar! Salt and Pepper! Oils of Aloha! CHILI! OIL!!!" I shouted. I was now completely awake. And completely pissed. Even knowing how silly I was being didn't really help.

I turned out the light and yanked the covers over to my side in a huff.

In the morning Eric said he would remember it forever after as "The Chili Oil Dream Fight". The only thing funnier than the nonsensical nature of the whole thing was how furious I was about it.

What funny things do you do in your sleep? Have you ever eaten anything in your sleep?

Eat Like a Local on the Big Island of Hawaii: Bite Me Fish Market

2011-11-17T19:51:00.004-06:00

Bite Me is one of our favorite places in all of Kona. It's tucked away in a far corner of the marina and would be easy to miss. They've made the most of what could have been a dismal location (right next to the shipyard) with an outdoor seating area that emphasizes the view of the charter fishing boats bobbing at the docks and cheery red picnic tables and umbrellas. (If you don't get seasick, deep sea fishing could be a wonderful outing on your visit to Kona. I highly recommend our charming friend Bobby of the Cherry Pit as captain for your trip.)

What makes Bite Me so special is that their seafood is freshly caught that very same day. Their location at the Marina means they get first pick, and you can taste the difference. Eric says that he never really loved seafood until we came to Hawaii, and it makes perfect sense. Fish hat has been frozen for months and ruthlessly over cooked is rubbery and tastes unpleasantly fishy. Something straight from the sea smells like the sea- salty, sweet and faintly green.

Our favorite dish at Bite Me are the $2 fish tacos. They are an amazing bargain and can be ordered ala cart. Two is plenty. Flour tortillas, the fresh catch of the day (the friendly wait staff are happy to rattle off the list for you) seared and crumbled in the bottom, plus cheddar, cabbage, spiced sour cream and home made salsa make these worth stopping for. Wash them down with a local beer from Kona Brewing Company. (I like the Wailua Wheat.)

Editors Note: Since starting this series, I've realized that most of our favorite restaurants are low brow. I've been sadly disappointed with fine dining on Big Island. The quality, price and ambiance just don't align. Eric and I have learned to cook in for special occasions instead. (It presents a really fun challenge actually!) Are your favorite restaurants high or low end?

How Early is Too Early to Bring Out the Christmas Tree?

2011-11-15T10:58:00.003-06:00

Looped Wood Trees

Confession: I put up my Christmas tree this weekend. I just get so excited about the holidays and love playing elf. I may or may not have also started making Christmas care packages for some of my favorite people. The challenge will be to hold off mailing them until at least after Thanksgiving!

What is your secret to making the holidays fun and joyful every year instead of a chore to be survived?

World's Best Party Favors: Surprise Ball How To!

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

These surprise balls are easily my favorite party favors. They are so much fun to share with guests and leave a festive pile of curly crepe paper in their wake. I loved watching my grandma and grandpa tossing one back and forth across the table and my little niece Louise jumping with joy at each scattered sequin and feather. They are so easy to make- here's how you can make your own!

Since my party had an autumnal theme (pumpkins!) I gathered things from my craft stash that had a woodland or fall feel. I chose my painted faux pumpkins as the big surprise at the end of the ball, little foam lady bugs, silver feather charms, miniature deer, sequins, turkey feathers and a supply of cheesy googled pumpkin jokes. Use your imagination to find these dime store treasures at the craft store, thrift shop, Oriental Trading Company or Etsy.

You'll also need a supply of crepe paper in assorted colors. I used Cindus Crepe Folds trimmed into strips, but the ordinary garland kind would be even easier.

Start your surprise ball with your biggest and best prize since this will be the last thing your friends discover inside. Tightly wrap with crepe paper over and over and over again, recovering areas as needed until you begin to have a ball shape.

Every so often, add a little treasure. Here is a tiny golden feather charm. Now wind wind wind that crepe paper!

A clump of sequins or confetti is a great touch- a bit of a mess is a small price for that festive plume of fun! Keep winding! Don't forget to change colors of crepe paper every here and there- it really does make them more fun to unravel.

A tiny miniature deer is a fun touch. Keep winding!

A silly joke is awfully amusing- especially for the kids at your party. Louise (7 years old) loved these!

Fold them up and...WIND!

When your ball has a pleasant heft and weight, seal the end with a sticker and a pretty message if you like. Pile them up in a bowl and watch the fun unroll!

If you try this, please do let me know how yours turn out. I'd love to see your party fun!

Piglets grow into Pigs. (And not such good Pets.)

2011-11-13T11:58:00.005-06:00

Is there anything as ugly cute as a brand new piglet? These photographs by Stephen Lewis turn me mushy and make me want get a bottle and pretend I'm Fern with Wilbur. (And Henry and Frederick. Yes, I've already named them all in my head.)

I mean, come on. It's almost like they are trying too hard on this cute thing.

After seeing the first photo in the November issue of Real Simple, I did a little preliminary research into adopting a baby pig. Turns out, I'm not the only one who likes the idea of a little piglet following me around the house and trotting in front of me on the street. However, lots of people don't like the 100 to 300 pound creature they become and many end up abandoned or neglected. I would never want to be part of that phenomenon. Here's Martha with breeder Mark explaining why pigs don't make easy pets.

Sheperd's Green is a rescue sanctuary where some of these animals end up living out their days. Have a look at the work they are doing here.

Becky is Back!

2011-11-09T11:29:00.002-06:00

"Hey, did you hear that Becky Kazana is back from vacation?"
"Oh good! I've missed her so."

It was a wonderful trip and I have lots to share. I'm so looking forward to catching up on my blogging and hearing what's new with all of you.

I hope you are enjoying some beautiful fall weather and are thinking about all the many things you are thankful for. My heart is full of them after so much time with old friends and family.

Taylor Swift's Just Right Style

2011-11-03T17:45:00.005-05:00

Being here on the mainland for a few weeks has given me a chance to brush up on my trashy magazines. It's amazing how living in far flung places has changed my perception of the Hollywood look. The tabloids show women that look hopelessly done up to me now. Too much make up, to much hair do, too much platform heel, TOO MUCH!

Taylor Swift has that charming ingenue thing going on- still a bit overly styled perhaps, but she looks pretty, modern and youthfull without looking like she has narrowly escaped the maw of the Tropic Tan and a team of stylists wielding peroxide, chicken cutlets and baby oil.

All that to say I love the Tracy Reese dress she wore to her fragrance launch. I'm always a sucker for anything sheer and black for evening, but the delicate little sparkle and fine stripes added a little wit and panache too. I think she looks smashing without looking like she tried to hard.

What kind of looks do you like for evening? It's always the most fun to dress for a night on the town, don't you agree? Are there any celebrities whose style you admire?

A Rustic Wedding with a Cardinal Bride & Groom!

2011-11-02T16:15:00.005-05:00

Just look at Gloria and Ryan's beautiful wedding day! I love all the rustic details that made their day uniquely beautiful- especially the cool wine barrels and pops of red and blush flowers against the rough pine. Check out even more of their beautiful photos shot by Ash Imagery right over here.

My Cardinal Love Birds were a perfect finishing touch to their cake. (Gloria's talented bridesmaid made that gorgeous cake herself! Can you believe it? Looks like it was delicious too, judging from the happy look on Gloria's face!) Congratulations to you both and thanks so much for sharing photos of your big day with us!

Pumpkin Carving Birthday Party!

2011-11-01T09:10:00.002-05:00

There were pumpkins to paint (or carve.)

There were surprise balls. (I'll share my how to with you soon!)

There were decorations. (I made this Happy Birthday sign myself- see my instructions on how to make your own here.)
There were cupcakes- I never even want to LOOK at a cupcake ever again. (Or at least till the next party!) I used the easy how to in this book and used their suggestion of adding a cup of canned pumpkin to a regular yellow cake mix to give it extra flavor. We also served ginger snaps, apple cider, pumpkin seeds and popcorn. My lovely friends and family all pitched in and brought tons of delicious autumn-y things to share as well.

And there were costumes! Chicken, meet Kangaroo. Kangaroo, meet Chicken.

Have you been to any fun fall parties lately?

Indian Cooking with Ria Mathews

2011-10-31T07:53:00.003-05:00

For our fifth wedding anniversary, I surprised Eric with an Indian cooking class at The Kitchen Window in Minneapolis. He loves to make curries, daal and home made naan, but is sometimes disappointed with uneven results, and this class promised to help refine our skills.

Our teacher was the lovely Ria Mathews, who guided us through an elaborate menu in celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights, which is also the opening of the financial year in India. A big feast is a traditional way of welcoming wealth and light into your life for the year- who wouldn't want more of both?

The menu was quite ambitious for a two hour class with six would be chefs at each station and we all got lovely bound copies of the recipes at the end of the night.

First, we created a simple mango lassi with yogurt, mango, milk and sugar in a blender. Next up were a sort of spinach potato chip, made by dipping each piece of spinach in a light batter and quickly deep frying them. They were incredibly delicious- the cumin seeds in the batter were toasted in the hot oil and became nutty and rich. Though I usually shy away from deep frying at home, I'd be willing to make an exception for this crisp little snack.

A hearty curry was next- hers included tamarind pulp which made such a difference in giving the curry an interesting sour tang. I can't wait to try it again when we head back to Hawaii where it is easy to find this exotic ingredient.

Puffed fry bread was next. Little pancakes of dough are slid into the pot of hot oil and immediately begin to puff and turn golden brown. (They reminded me of the sopaipillas I fell madly in love with when I lived in New Mexico.) One can see why a wire strainer and drying rack are essential equipment in an Indian kitchen! Since our meal was entirely vegetarian, I didn't feel even the slightest bit guilty about using so much oil. It didn't feel heavy or greasy at all.

We finished the evening with a caramelized carrot dessert with candied raisins and nuts. It is meant to top ice cream- ours didn't quite turn out, but a sample of Ria's definitely made me want to attempt it at home at least once more.

Have you ever taken a cooking class? This was our first, but I'm looking forward to trying it again soon.

Apple Picking Attempted

2011-10-29T08:53:00.000-05:00

If the blog is feeling a little woefully untended lately, it's due to all the fun we've been planning and having here in beautiful Minnesota. I am savoring all the beautiful colors, textures and flavors of fall. We took a visit to Apple Jack apple orchards when we first arrived with some of the Nelson ladies, including my charming nieces, Delaney (almost 1 year!) and Margaret (almost 3!).

The pick your own apple orchard had already been ravaged by the hoards when we got there, but Margaret and I went in search of them anyway. We called out "Apples, Apples, Where Arrrrre Yooooou?" but when none appeared, Margaret sagely said, "They don't want us to find them 'cause they know we want to eat them up!" Words of wisdom. We enjoyed watching several rounds of rotten apples being blasted out of the apple cannon instead, then retired to the cafe for some caramel apple sundaes. (Holy smokes, there is nothing quite like a crisp, tart, Haralson apple right from the tree, is there?)

What does fall look like in your neighborhood?

Inspiration for a Dull Workout Routine

2011-10-24T08:35:00.003-05:00

This ad for Athleta caught my eye as I was flipping through my fall magazines. I like the combination of grace and power in her pose- it makes me want to sign up for a marathon, do something fearless like skydiving... or just work the edge a little harder in my yoga class.

What inspires you to get moving? How do you keep your workouts from getting boring?

Movie Recommendation: Win Win

2011-10-23T17:49:00.003-05:00

Eric and I snagged Win Win from a Redbox recently, and I can happily suggest it as a beautifully crafted story with well written characters, perfect pacing and a thoughtful conclusion. (Also, it stars Paul Giamatti, one of those actors who comes with a neon light above his head blinking "See this film! I'm in it, so it's probably good!")

Win Win tells the story of Mike, a lawyer specializing in elder care law with a practice that is slowly and painfully sinking into the red. In desperation, he unethically takes on wealthy client Leo's guardianship so he can collect an extra $1500 commission each month.

This one act of dubious morality sets in motion a series of events that leads Leo's troubled grandson Kyle to stay with Mike and his family. Kyle is headstrong teenager who has run away from a mother struggling through a drug treatment program. He is sixteen but has peroxided blonde hair, bold tattoos etched across his back and a serious cigarette habit. Though he is respectful and appreciative to Mike and his family, it's clear that he will do exactly as he pleases.

Mike spends his free time volunteering as a high school wrestling coach. Their team is limp and uninspired, just like everything else in Mike's life, so when Kyle shows an interest in training with the team, Mike doesn't expect much. It quickly becomes clear that Kyle is a very talented, powerful wrestler. Suddenly Mike (and his fellow coaches) have something to be excited about.

Watching this kid dominate all comers makes these grown men feel powerful by proxy. It's a moment where every single one of the characters need the encouragement. Mike is broke and tired out by middle age and the monotony of his life. Co-coach Stephen just needs an escape from his wife and rude teen aged step-son. Mike's best friend Terry needs something to obsess about besides his ex-wife's affair with the contractor of the massive dream home he's just lost in their divorce. And Kyle needs a second chance and redemption in the aftermath of his mother's addiction and his own sketchy past.

This film did all the things I enjoy most in movies. It told a story that felt believable by showing me finely drawn characters and the way their motivations and personalities tangled their lives together to move the plot forward. Nothing felt rushed or wasted and there were great performances from even the supporting characters.

Have you watched anything great lately?

Last Minute Halloween Costumes

2011-10-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Here are two more cool, easy last minute Halloween costume ideas that don't involve 6 inches of cleavage and stripper heels. No Sexy Blanks this year, or ever again. Thanks Martha!

This Medusa costume is genius. And think of the fun you'd have playing with Greecian-esque make-up! (And you could practice for your Project Runway audition tape by turning a bedsheet into a pretty toga. Bonus!)

Maybe I'm the only wierd-o who happens to have spainish moss, Faux feather birds AND long white feather false eyelashes on hand at any given moment, but those shouldn't be too hard to track down at the craft supply store. I love the eccentricity of this bird's nest chapeau, especially the way they played it up with the frosted make-up.

What are you doing to celebrate this year?

A Perfectly Imperfect China Cupboard

2011-10-17T11:55:00.003-05:00

The cupboards in our rented apartment came stocked with dishes, so ours are jostling with theirs for space. Someday I hope to have a china cupboard like this one; pretty enough to leave open for all to see. I love how all the china is in a similar neutral palate, with some pale pale hints of color mixed in. It's tidy, but just messy enough to really belong to someone. Perfect in slight imperfection.

This image is from the new Design Sponge at Home book. Have you had a chance to peek through it yet? I'll be ordering my copy soon.

The Best Undies on Earth.

2011-10-16T12:22:00.005-05:00

These are the best undies on the planet earth. No panty lines, totally sexy AND totally comfy? That is the trifecta my friends. I just wish they came in a few more neutral shades... Since I'm not 16 years old.

I still find things at Victoria's Secret from time to time (like these adorable polka dot pj's!) but it's not my first stop anymore. It feels like a teenage girl's idea of what is sexy, which doesn't appeal to me as a grown woman.

Where do you shop for pretty under things?

An Open Letter to Anthropologie's Shoe Buyer

2011-10-15T00:21:00.005-05:00

Dear Anthropologie (Beloved & Adored Above All Other Retail Chains),

I do realize that "quirky", "vintage-inspired" and "creative" are your calling cards. I love that. And no where is this aesthetic more visible than in your footwear offerings. They are, shall we say, rather European selections. (Sometimes verging on clown like.)

I trust your curation and all, but could you tell me a little more about the customer who would buy these peacock inspired heels? What is she wearing them with? Where is she going in them? But most of all, can you tell me why she is so determined to have her feet look like a thick pair of Marie Antoinette's baroque piano legs?

Though confused, I remain as devoted to your sale racks as ever I was,

Madame B

Pumpkin Party Favors

2011-10-13T11:42:00.004-05:00

This year, I'll have the pleasure of celebrating my birthday in Minnesota with my family and lots of dear old friends. Instead of a million separate birthday dinners, I thought it would be fun to throw one giant bash. I've rented a rec center and started menu planning with my mum (Butterbeer will be served in honor of Mr. Harry Potter and thanks to the no booze rule of the public park service!) I'm also planning to have everyone carve or paint a pumpkin.

I found these great miniature faux pumpkins on super clearance after Thanksgiving last year, and I thought they would make fun party favors. I painted little eyes and mouths on them with acrylic paint and now I can't stop smiling every time I pass them. Aren't they funny?

Do you carve a pumpkin every year? I heard there might be a pumpkin shortage this year because of all the severe weather in the northeast. So get yours early!

Movie Recommendation: Friends with Money

2011-10-10T21:56:00.006-05:00

Eric and I saw Friends with Money when it first came out in 2006. (We still lived in Chicago back then!) I remember being cruelly disappointed by the ending in the theater, and I decided to watch it again to decide for sure.

Nicole Holofcener, the writer/director, makes wonderful movies about women who have everything, yet still feel vaguely dissatisfied. Her characters are subtle, funny, touching, real and a little pathetic. Her films, which also include Walking & Talking, Lovely and Amazing
and Please Give, don't offer much in the way of plot- but they do offer touching insight into the lives of modern American women.

Friends With Money interweaves the lives of four friends. Three are wealthy and successful, one is a burnt out ex-teacher, and all are struggling through the long march of middle age and the private misery they have created for themselves.

Christine (Catherine Keener) is a screenwriter and one half of a husband and wife writing team. As they read through the dialog of their latest endeavor, we see that they have given up even a facade of civility in their marriage and working relationship. Instead, they are distracting themselves by building a giant addition to the roof of their home that will give them an ocean view- never mind about the neighbors.

Jane (Francis McDormand) is a successful fashion designer whose husband everyone assumes to be gay. That he runs a hair care company and loves shopping for cashmere at sample sales isn't helping matters. Jane is seething with a midlife crisis in full swing and is filled with rage at the smallest slights. She comes unglued when another mom fails to acknowledge a play date their sons had and flies off the handle in a very memorable scene at Old Navy.

Franny (Joan Cusak) is a multi-millionaire who spends her days home making (with the benefit of a full time staff) gossiping about her friends and attending fancy charitable events. Her husband seems to enjoy being a kept man and relishes spending her money on their kids.

Olivia (Jennifer Aniston) is the only one without means. She recently quit her job at a fancy private high school where the students drove nicer cars than she did and has resorted to cleaning houses, smoking lots of pot, stalking a married ex-boyfriend and wallowing in entitled and destructive self pity.

So lets just say, they each have their issues.

The part of this film that stuck with me across all these years is Jane, who, in her frustration at being undeniably middle aged at last, has given up washing her hair. She tells her husband, "Remember when we first met? All the shampoo I had? I was obsessed! It was like each bottle was a new chance... A new chance to be pretty. And then I met you, and I found out they all have the same sh*t in 'em."

To me, that is the heart of the whole film. Everyone has the same sh*t to deal with; themselves. Our culture makes it easy to put off. You can distract yourself with consuming for an entire lifetime. But the longer you put it off, the harder it gets to avoid the heart of the matter (you are going to die!) and the more disgusted with yourself you become.

Each of these women is circling around that problem. And so the ending comes without a perfect resolution. Interestingly, the conclusion for Olivia bothered me much less now that I am five years older. This time around I knew that her character getting rich wasn't meant to be a happy ending.

John Lennon said "Everyone knows that money doesn't buy happiness, but everyone wants to find out for themselves." I am sure Olivia got a chance to learn that lesson herself.

Do you have a favorite writer or director whose movies always seem to speak to you? (Another of my favorites is John Patrick Shanley.) What is it about their world view that appeals to you?

Eat Like a Local on the Big Island of Hawaii: Ultimate Burger

2011-10-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the largest cattle ranch in the United States is located in Hawaii? Thousands of head of cattle are raised right here on the mountains of The Big Island. But even though these cows start out eating fresh green grass and roaming hills with premium ocean views, more than 90% of these animals are shipped to the mainland to be fattened on feedlot corn before their final trip to the slaughterhouse. It's a shame given the premium price free-range, grass-fed beef commands, (and the way animals are treated in these lots. Did you see Food Inc.?) but this island doesn't have the proper meat processing facilities, and the local market is not yet large enough to support the industry.

Ultimate Burger may be the restaurant to help change that. This local burger joint serves up 100% locally raised, grass-fed beef. You can definitely taste the difference in the freshness of the meat. The texture is crumbly and tender- not tough and greasy like other fast food burgers. These burgers taste like red meat should taste- irony, rich, but also clean and healthy.

You can choose from a wide array of toppings for your burger; from bleu cheese crumbles to caramelized onions and pineapple slices, something will definitely hit the spot. And of course, such a beautiful burger needs a worthy bun. These are buttery, freshly baked and lightly toasted to really bring out the best in all the ingredients.

The fries are the real reason I keep going back however. Local potatoes are cut into superfine shoestrings, fried into the perfect marriage between crisp and squishy and then laced with generous sprinklings of fresh thyme, pepper, garlic and salt. They are served with an aioli dipping sauce (sour cream and cayenne pepper is my guess) that is totally decadent. I've found myself ordering fries and some of their perfectly tart, never overly sweet lemonade and nothing else on more than one occasion. (Ask for their punch card- after 10 orders of fries you get one free! If you're just visiting, start one anyway and send it my way. I guarantee it won't go to waste.)

What's the best burger joint in your neighborhood? What makes it so delicious?

Stay Like a Local on the Big Island of Hawaii: Island Spirit Spa

2011-10-07T12:39:00.005-05:00

Island Spirit Spa in Kealakekua on the Big Island of Hawaii is whole heartedly dedicated to all natural botanical remedies. In fact, Mandi, the ethstetician, goes so far as to say, "If you can't put it in your mouth, you shouldn't put it on your skin." She points out that your skin absorbs chemicals and sends them straight into the bloodstream just as if we were eating them.

My friend Lisa and I recently enjoyed a very decadent pedicure there. The all herbal experience is starkly different from what you get at the typical nail salon. Where you are accustomed to strong chemical smells, florescent lights and aggressive callous removal with all sorts of medical looking instruments, this was all about gentleness, the subtle scents of real plant products and a calm, soothing atmosphere. Mandi warns that the results are different too, but also points out they are more sustainable because they work with your body, instead of fighting against it. We were willing to give it a go.

The treatment begins with a salt and mustard foot soak. Mandi carefully explained what each of the herbs does and why she's chosen them specifically for you.

Freshly squeezed guava juice doesn't hurt either! We nibbled away the nuts before I could snap a picture.

Beautiful leaves and coffee berries plucked from the jungle just outside the door made us feel like Hawaiian princesses.
A sugar scrub and massage help exfoliate and rejuvenate tired feet.

Another of Mandi's special blends. She also offers workshops where you can learn how to create spa quality treatments with the things you have in your cupboards and garden.

Here we are afterward, thoroughly pampered and relaxed! I am looking forward to my next splurge at this lovely spa, and I've already begun experimenting with making my own beauty concoctions at home.

Do you have a favorite spa splurge?

An Anniversary at Home: Silly Facial Hair, Lobster, Champagne and Baked Alaska

2011-10-03T21:41:00.006-05:00

Eric and I decided to celebrate our anniversary at home again this year. (It's been Five Years!) Spending an evening at home could easily be dull, but Eric and I had a lot of fun making the extra effort to make it extraordinary.

We spent the whole day cleaning, cooking, and decorating together. It was so nice to spend the day preparing together, making a special effort to create something memorable for each other. And there is a lovely intimacy that comes from spending a whole day together this way that one would never get at a fancy restaurant with a waiter hovering over you and violinists circling around waiting for a tip. Instead, it was just the two of us, quiet happy preparations and some Tropicalismo on Pandora.

I made this pretty centerpiece with grocery store roses and leaves snipped from around our tropical home. I'll show you how to get the same look in another post.

The blown glass candlesticks were a thrift shop score- $2 a piece! The candles I had on hand were a little small for them, so I used an old trick of my Mom's and filled them with rice to hold the candles in place. Don't they look dramatic? The damask linens were scored on ebay and all the pretty china and crystal came along with our furnished rental apartment.

After the food and atmosphere were ready, I got good and gussied up. I wore these crazy long false eyelashes just for fun. (They have a leopard pattern on them and matched my hair quite nicely!) I did a bouffant sixties hair do and wore a pretty blue silk chiffon swing dress, heels and eccentric cocktail earrings of my own making. Eric shaved his beard but left a silly Frenchie Foo Foo mustache just to make me laugh.

For dinner, I made a simple spinach salad to start with and Eric made delicious cheddar bay biscuits (with a super decadent butter sauce!) and grilled lobster tails. There was plenty of iced champagne of course!

The crowning touch to our feast at home was this Baked Alaska. I used Martha's recipe for the most part, but substituted boxed cake mix for the fancy from scratch cake she made for the bottom. Browning the meringue with a blow torch at the table was a fun and dramatic way to finish a spectacular meal.

Afterwards, we read our vows to each other in the candle light (thanks Momma D and Daddy G!) and talked about the moments we remember from our five years of married life. Then we snuggled up to watch The Princess Bride, which is extra special to us since my Dad gave us a copy on our wedding day and reminded us to tell each other "As You Wish" whenever possible.

We're still learning, but I know how blessed I am to share my life with my best friend.

Happy Anniversary Becky Kazana! Let's Celebrate with a Flamingo Wedding Cake Topper Giveaway!

2011-10-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

Today is the 3rd Anniversary of Becky Kazana! I've so enjoyed growing my wedding cake topper business on Etsy. It has given me a lot of pleasure to create happy memories for brides and grooms all over the world! I am so grateful for the success of my little enterprise.

To celebrate, I'd like to do a little giveaway of my best selling item: The Flamingo Bride & Groom Wedding Cake Topper! I have a pair that are slightly less than perfect, but I know one of you will enjoy it year after year nonetheless.

To enter, please visit my shop and then leave me a comment describing the most enjoyable wedding you've ever attended and what details made it so. Please leave a thoughtful entry since I'll be picking my favorite comment to win. Don't forget to include your e-mail address so I can get in touch if you are the lucky winner! (No email, no entry darlings. I can't chase you down to give you goodies!)

Bon Chance!

I'll do my Java Drinking in the Nude

2011-09-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

This coffee mug featuring an au natural couple makes me smile. The fella reminds me of Robin Williams circa Mork and Mindy for some reason. I like buying mugs in matching pairs so that Eric and I can sip our morning brew in tandem, and I think mugs are a delightful outlet for silliness. Do you have a mug collection? What do you look for in a new one? (I like to be able to fit all four fingers inside the handle!)

Words of En-LIGHT-enment from Thomas Jefferson

2011-09-27T06:00:00.001-05:00

Outbreak from Elle Moss

Malcom Gladwell's What the Dog Saw, a collection of his essays for The New Yorker, was one of my favorite reads this summer. He has a gift for taking an every day problem, turning it on it's head and finding connections between his subject and something that seemed a world apart just a few paragraphs before. Then he draws a thought provoking conclusion one can mull over for days.

In one of his essays, he wrote about an unusual plagiarism case involving himself and a playwright with his usual incisiveness. This quote from Thomas Jefferson is still echoing in my mind months later.

"He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself, without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me."

Isn't this profound? Obviously, it has applications in my work as an educator. I have felt this happen. While it's true that teaching is a difficult and exhausting job, there is a really special thing that sometimes happens when a child truly grasps something you've offered them. When they truly understand an idea, they take ownership of it, and suddenly the spirit of both teacher and student blaze more brightly for a moment. That is en-light-enment.

And to push this concept further, I would say one should never be stingy with what one knows, or with creative power, or even with love. Because none of these things is made stronger by holding on to them. Instead, they are strengthened with use and consistent practice. Knowledge, creativity, and love all grow stronger by being shared from person to person, untill the whole world is ablaze with them.

On Repeat: Secret Heart performed by Feist

2011-09-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Secret Heart by Ron Sexsmith

Secret heart
What are you made of
What are you so afraid of
Could it be
Three simple words
Or the fear of being overheard
What's wrong

Let em' in on your secret heart

Secret Heart
Why so mysterious
Why so sacred
Why so serious
Maybe you're
Just acting tough
Maybe you're just not man enough
What's wrong

Let em' in on your secret heart

This very secret
That you're trying to conceal
Is the very same one
That You're dying to reveal
Go tell them how you feel

Secret heart come out and share it
This loneliness, few can bear it
Could it have something to do with
Admitting that you just can't go through it alone?

Let em' in on your secret heart

This very secret
That you're trying to conceal
Is the very same one
That you're dying to reveal
Go tell them how you feel
This very secret heart

Go out and share it
This very secret heart

A Custom Job: Before & After Vintage Wedding Cake Topper

2011-09-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Before...
And after! I can't help but be deeply pleased with the way this backdrop looks exactly like the bubbles in a glass of champagne. Perfect with her champagne colored gown and golden hair, don't you agree? I know the bride will be delighted too.

I can customize a pair for your wedding day too! Snap up the very last couple here.

The Darby Shoe from J Crew

2011-09-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

I can't help but imagine Coco Chanel loafing around her apartment in a razor sharp white shirt with these patent leather slipper shoes from J.Crew on her tiny little feet, omnipresent cigarette wafting smoke behind her. Becky Kazana could pull it off too I think, minus the stink of nicotine. Now where does a girl find a quilted smoking jacket these days?

Roasted Carrot Soup for a Halloween Menu

2011-09-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

If Ina Garten has taught me anything, it's that roasting makes everything delicious. (Also, don't be afraid of half pound increments of butter!) Yes, roasting is an extra step, but it adds such richness of flavor, especially to vegetarian dishes.

I used this recipe, but went ahead and tossed in half a head of garlic (still in it's paper skin) and the onions into the roasting pan with the carrots. The broiler worked it's magic on all of them in no time flat and I saved myself a step. (After the broiler has made it nice and soft, just squeeze the smooshy garlic out of it's paper into the broth. And don't try to resist eating one clove whole. It's turned sweet and buttery by now. Eric and I love to spread it on bread just like that.) I also added some leftover celery to the stock after it had simmered with the ginger.

I served it with a dollop of plain greek yogurt (I find this a more versatile ingredient than sour cream and tend to use them interchangeably. I like the thickness and slight tang of it.) and blue corn tortilla chips. Thyme and freshly ground pepper make for a lovely garnish. I will definitely be making this again. It was hearty, rich, delicious and beautiful to look at. I think it would make a nice addition to a Halloween menu with those colors too, don't you?

What's cooking at your house tonight?

Max Weiler Retrospective: Finding the Sublime through Nature and Art

2011-09-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Ironically, my last post about our visit to Vienna is about the first thing I did there. I think it has taken all this time to consider that first moment and what it meant to me. While Eric bustled off for his first day of the Mozart seminar, I went out for cappuccino & a chocolate croissant and then meandered over to the Albertina. It was my first museum of the trip and I arrived just at opening time and so had the place practically to myself.

I wandered in to a special exhibit on the works of Max Weiler, an Austrian artist whose work I had never seen before. It was a retrospective, and it was moving to see someone's entire life's work gathered up from start to finish. You could see the ideas he was grappling with as a young man and how they clarified and matured as he gained insight and experience.

His work is abstract, yet clearly refers to nature. It is loose, but contemplative. Some are colorful, some are simple charcoal drawings, but all employ a tangled network of lines and shadows. Many are on paper and despite the large scale, this seems to give a simplicity and temporal quality to the work.

As I looked, a phrase from "Light on Life"echoed in my mind over and over again:

"Nature wants to occupy every available space."

Obviously so inspired by the natural world, Weiler's drawings and paintings reminded me of dark caves covered in glittering crystals, dripping with stalagtites like some hidden cathedral in the bowels of the earth. Or perhaps of coves deep beneath the sea, dotted with spiky urchins or swirls of delicate crabs clicking about in elaborate shells. Perhaps even the windswept green and gold hills of his beloved Tyrolean hills. His work seemed so alive, so vibrant. And yet so full of space and calm.

In "Light on Life" Iyengar says that the ancient yogis retreated from the Indian jungles so choked with life, struggle and birth from decay to the Himalayas because they were barren and silent. A good place with space for the spirit to fill. A quiet museum is another such place.

I stood there silently looking and felt overwhelmed. I found a deep relief at being there alone, with no other person to consider or interfere with my experience. A sadness at not being able to enjoy that experience more often. Tears came to my eyes when the question I most want to answer (and most fear answering) bubbled to the surface: What is the desire of my heart? What is it I am called to do?

As I looked, I found a renewed sense that making art can be a holy life, full of contemplation and stripped of egotism and selfishness. It can be a way to consider the world and deepen your humanity at the same time. A path to God perhaps. Creativity is a powerful thing that rushes through us, like a river carving away at a gorge. It employs, energizes, enlarges what is best in us, washing away what is decayed and crumbling. When stopped up or clung to it becomes stagnant or destructive. It is one thing and yet no-thing, just as the Buddha described the self. Constant and yet defined by change.

I also felt fear- fear of being unskilled, untrained, unversed in the philosophies and traditions someone like this was using as a kind of shorthand in creating his own private vocabulary. Fear of the solitude creation like that demands. Fear of the boredom, the silence, the intellectual heavy lifting.

And yet.

What a fascinating way to spend your life- immersed in a world you are creating and re-creating, constantly purifying, simplifying, stripping away.

From Weiler's journals:

"Whenever I stand in nature, I am overcome by an enormous sense of exaltation. I look, I see and I am moved by a variety of times of day and seasons, by a variety of localities. A feeling of union with nature seizes me. Nature becomes quite transparent for me. I am drawn into the weaving of its being. A great sense of calm streams from the expansive, fulfilled plenum, the most perfect contentment – a joy of becoming one with an immense, sublime creation. Huge respect in the face of such a creative force. Boundless reverence. This would seem to be a world feeling. It becomes visible in artists from different times, almost always in the same way, in a most magnificent way by the Chinese of the 10th to the 13th centuries. (1973)"

That is the sublime. I wonder how my path to it will unfold.

Giddy Giveaway: Vintage Pearl Evening Clutch from Ranch Vintage

2011-09-20T21:58:00.005-05:00

Due to a slight mix up, I ended up with this pretty vintage clutch from Ranch Vintage. I thought we'd turn it into a giveaway in order to send you all peeking in her shop (which is chalk full of the cutest collection of vintage milk glass!) It's in excellent vintage condition, with no beads missing and a dainty scalloped edge. It's the perfect size to stash your evening essentials and would add a little girly flair to a little black dress or jeans and a chiffon top. (And in all white, it would be just right for the right Bride to carry her lipstick in on her big day too!)

First, please take a peak around Ranch Vintage. Then, Why don't you leave me a comment describing a fantasy evening out? What would you wear with this pretty pearl clutch? What would you put inside? Who would you be out with? That kind of thing!

Please leave a thoughtful entry since I'll be picking my favorite comment to win. Don't forget to include your e-mail address so I can get in touch if you are the lucky winner! (No email, no entry darlings. I can't chase you down to give you goodies!)

Good Luck Glamour Girls!

Birthday Glamour Girl

2011-09-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

My Birthday is a month away, but I thought it would be fun to put together a visual wishlist using Polyvore. Here are some of the goodies I've got my eyes on around the internet.

7 Chi leather bag, $63
pop flower | ShopBando.com, $75
Taschen Taschen'S Paris, $40
Rifle Paper Co. - Dog Series - Assorted Set, $16
Eco Coffee Cup, $14

I've made a collection of Etsy lustiness too, right over here. What's the best Birthday present you've ever gotten? What's on your Birthday Wishlist?

Book Report: My Life in Food by Judith Jones

2011-09-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Judith Jones is the woman who first gave us Julia Child. She was Julia's editor and champion in the publishing world for the revolutionary cooking classic "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". I've just finished reading Jones' autobiography My Life in Food.

It was interesting, but I found myself disappointed with the writing. I found that all the sections I underlined were actually quotes from the many food writers she has worked with during her illustrious career. I guess she is an editor deep down in her bones.

This behind the scenes shot of her and Julia hard at work warmed my heart. I wonder if they knew about the massive success that was coming for them? And get a load of that manuscript! Crikey!

There was one passage that was an exception, which I think articulates quite beautifully what this complicated relationship with cooking really entails. Why it goes down so deep- far beyond simple sustenance and into nourishment for body, mind and soul. And of course, it begins with a quotation!

“'Cooking is one of those arts which most requires to be done by people of a religious nature.' –Alfred North Whitehead

He suspected I would love that thought, fancying myself to be of a religious nature. He knew that I always felt that the preparation of food is one of the most joyous and inwardly satisfying of all activities we human beings are peculiarly privileged to indulge in daily.

Other creatures receive food simply as fodder. But we take the raw materials of the earth and work with them-touch them, manipulate them, taste them, glory in their heady smells and colors, and then, through a bit of alchemy, transform them into delicious creations. Cooking demands attention, patience, and above all, respect. It is a way of worship, a way of giving thanks.

Later, when I pursued the root of the word “religious” I found that it is thought to spring from religare, meaning “to bind, to tie fast, to reconnect."

Isn’t that what we do when we cook? We connect again to the earth, to the source of our food and we bind to one another in the sharing of it, the breaking of bread together, the celebrating of life.”

What would you add to Judith's words? Why is it that cooking for people we love has this transformative power? What food memories still linger with you?

Beautfiul Animal Masks for Halloween: An Antidote to "The Sexy Blank"

2011-09-17T13:03:00.007-05:00

Have you started thinking about Halloween yet? I am planning an elaborate Flamingo Costume which I won't get to wear. I'll be attending my best friend's Zombie Bride themed Bachelorette Party. (We've all found old wedding gowns to douse with fake blood and the Maid of Honor is doing all our zombie make up. Then we're going to hit the town looking for BRAINS. And cocktails. And fun.)

But if you are on the lookout for a beautiful costume,I've just stumbled across Sundries and Plunder which specializes in beautifully crafted leather masks of animals and birds.

White Swan Mask from SundriesandPlunder

Eric and I have an ongoing joke that ladies have only one option for Halloween. We call it "The Sexy Blank" because you can be anything, as long as it's sexy. Sexy Mouse. Sexy Maid. Sexy Nurse. Sexy Witch. That's really the most important requirement in mass produced costumes for grown women. Ugh.

I like these as an alternative. You could wear a pretty outfit and an extraordinary mask and be completely in the spirit of the holiday.

Owl Masks by SundriesandPlunder

Cardinal Mask from SundriesandPlunder

Are you planning on dressing up this year? Decorating the house? Carving a pumpkin?

Live without Coffee? You could. But why?

2011-09-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Could this Fox Terrier be the next addition to my Dog Eared Art Collection? From Lulunjay.

Have you ever tried to give up coffee?

I don't drink much- a cup in the morning, often only half a cup since I forget and leave it to get cold while I'm getting ready for my day. This morning, I had resigned myself to a cup of tea since Eric wasn't drinking any and I didn't want to make a whole pot just for me. But Eric noticed my bleary eyes (he says I remind him of a mole first thing in the morning!) and fixed me a pot just to be sweet.

It was twice as delicious as usual- after a sad watery lukewarm cup of tea, there was something about the buzz of the grinder and the tinkle of the machine filling with bubbling water, and the way the house began to fill with the rich warming smell of freshly brewing coffee, and the splurgy swirl of cream he added. I cupped it in my hands and felt the thickness of it, the complexity of the flavor and sipped the whole thing right down to the bottom. And then had another cup.

A great cup of coffee just has no equal. I don't know that I could ever give it up wholeheartedly. Do you drink a little, a lot or none at all?

Book Report: Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis

2011-09-13T19:06:00.005-05:00

I've just finished reading Sinclair Lewis' Babbitt. I felt inspired to download it (for free! Hooray for the public domain!) after reading Joseph Campbell refer to Babbitt frequently in his writings. Campbell calls Babbitt a symbol of the conundrum of modern life- how much is lost when money, rationalism and consumerism become our gods.

Babbit is a successful man, well liked, a pillar in his community. And yet. He is filled with emptiness. With boredom. He rides through his days on a roller coaster of reactions and emotions brought on by everything around him. He apparently has no center.

He is just like most of us.

As I read this novel, I felt myself becoming more and more discouraged. I've been trying to practice awareness in my life- a Buddhist approach where one observes one's feelings and thoughts from a deeper center that is beyond such trivial and limited dualities. I'd even begun to feel as though I were making progress.

But it's so easy to get sucked back into these vortexes of desire, greed, happiness, sadness, pain, pleasure. And most often, it's misery that our minds inflict on us- dwelling on slights and problems real or imagined. And then, to retreat from these thoughts, we turn to any number of pleasant diversions. Eating, drinking, sex, television, Angry Birds, drugs, or shopping? Pick your poison.

Here Babbitt is doing some mental calculations about how much money he earns and spends.

"The effect of his scientific budget planning was that he at once felt both triumphantly wealthy and perilously poor and in the midst of these dissertations he stopped his car, rushed into a small news-and-miscelany shop, and bought the electric cigar lighter which he had coveted for a week."

I sometimes find myself doing the same sort of impulsive buying on Etsy after I've made a sale. Sort of an "I deserve it" purchase.

Adding to Babbitt's struggle is the endless production of new diversions and entertainment to keep us from ourselves. These are produced with good intentions, to stem loneliness and keep us from the pain of being by substituting an ever new, constantly improving fantasy of what life could be, if only we had ___________.

Here, Lewis shows us an ad man describing his latest copy;
"So I took a shot at a highbrow ad for Zeeco. How do you like this: The long white trail is calling-calling- it's over the hills and far away for every man or woman that has red blood in his veins and on his lips the ancient song of the buccaneers. It's away with dull drudging, and a fig for care. Speed-glorious speed- it's more than just a moment's exhilaration- it's Life for you and me!"

So rarely when we buy something are we buying the thing itself. We are buying an idea about ourselves. Something we long for but don't know how to create for ourselves. It's much easier to buy an object than to create a moment in our minds and then manifest it. And advertisers make the most of that gap, convincing us of how terribly easy it is to have a new life. It's just one transaction away.

Let the rationalizing begin.

"These standard advertised wares-toothpastes, socks, tires, cameras, instantaneous hot-water heaters- were his symbols and proofs of excellence; at first the signs, then the substitutes, for joy and passion and wisdom."

An instantaneous hot water heater sounds quaint compared with the latest I-Phone, doesn't it? Babbit's life was a veritable monastery compared to the bombardment we endure today, and yet. He still struggled. (In Babbitt's day, People wrote letters! The telephone was new fangled! They were dealing with Prohibition for goodness sakes!)

How do we find a center when we are moving at the speed of light? All the improvements and technologies in our lives make things easier, but are the right things made easier? And can those most essential things be made easier? Perhaps the essential why of our existence has to be a struggle, and avoiding that struggle is what gets us in such a mess.

When I read a book like this one, I think of Kafka's words:

"We ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us. If the book we are reading doesn't wake us up with a blow on the head, what are we reading it for? ...we need the books that affect us like a disaster, that grieve us deeply, like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves, like being banished into forests far from everyone, like a suicide. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us."

While I'm not planning on banishing light reading from my nightstand, I think books that wake you to your life are essential as you move along the illuminated path of your own personal journey. Each book leads you to another that is the right one for you at just the right moment.

What books have hit you like an axe?

Pretty Tulle Shopping Bags

2011-09-12T20:18:00.004-05:00

I love the diaphanous look of these tulle shopping bags from Bankeladen. All of my reusable bags are quite hideous compared to these whispy little things, and I bet it would fold up into a perfectly tiny square in your regular handbag until you needed it.

Do you avoid single use plastics? Ever since I learned about this, I do my best to avoid, recycle or re-use them.

P.S) This is an amazing project devoted to clearing plastics from our planet's oceans.

The Golden Artichoke for Fall

2011-09-09T11:39:00.004-05:00

Wouldn't these metallic gold artichokes be a decadent statement of bounty on a fall table? They are for tea lights, but would be pretty completely empty. I discovered them over at Koloko Furniture here in Kona, but they are a bit spendy so I may spend an open studio day at Donkey Mill Art Center playing with the idea.

Have you come across any cool housewares this fall? I find these kinds of trinkets irresistible.

Moonstruck: Love is Messy

2011-09-08T10:44:00.005-05:00

Have you seen Moonstruck? It's definitely in my top ten. This movie is often campy and sometimes profound, just like another favorite of mine, also written by John Patrick Shanley, called Joe Versus the Volcano. What both stories have in common are heroes who decide to stop playing it safe with their lives. Instead, they decide to really live and feel the pain and joy that decision brings. I found tears streaming down my cheeks as Johnny tells Loretta this:

"I want you in my bed. I don't care if I burn in hell. I don't care if you burn in hell. The past, the future are a joke to me now. They ain't here. I see that now. Loretta, I love you. Not like they told you love is, and I didn't know this either, but love don't make things nice - it ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren't here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and *die*. The storybooks are *bullshit*. Now I want you to come upstairs with me and *get* in my bed!"

Now that is a compelling argument for living fearlessly. What is your favorite movie?

Eat Like a Local on the Big Island of Hawaii: Pat'z Pies

2011-09-06T18:29:00.006-05:00

Everywhere you go somebody is claiming they have the best pizza. Which is great, because in the immortal words of Jeremy Grey (better known as Vince Vaughn, playing himself, just like we like it) in Wedding Crashers; "It's pizza, baby, it's always good." Truer words are rarely spoken.

The problem arises when classifying pizza as great, because everyone has their own criteria, as individualized, subjective and vexing a problem as selecting the perfect bra. Sometimes it's as simple as thin crust. Sometimes it's a complex theorem on the spicy to sweet ratios in the tomato sauce. I won't insult you by claiming that Pat'z Pies in Kealakekua, Hawaii are the best pizzas on earth. But I'll tell you why I love them so very much, to convince you to stop when you visit our Big Island.

You pull off the highway (ambiance is not the reason one stops at Pat'z.) park in the line up and place your order at the window. Here is where you get your first taste of why Pat'z is so special. It's Pat himself. Never have you seen a man so happy to help you order a slice, or so proud of his skill in the kitchen. He can't wait to expound on the virtues of his pies, tell you about toppings or share a great surf spot a few miles down the way. And he'll probably talk you in to a freshly fried malasada (Portuguese doughnut) on your way out. He's just as friendly and genuine with his local regulars as he is with visitors.

At last, your slice arrives, fresh from the oven. First of all, it has a wheat flour crust, which could spell a tough, chewy disaster. Instead, it's a little nutty thanks to all those whole grains and light, fluffy, crisp thanks to the perfectly hand tossed dough. Then, there are the toppings- an amazing array to choose from, many locally grown. Our slices had spinach, olives, pesto, peppers, garlic and two kinds of delicious cheese. It's hot, fresh, loaded and made with so much love and joy, you can't help but taste it.

What makes for delicious pizza in your book?

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes: A Very Fun Party Treat

2011-09-05T13:00:00.004-05:00

For our housewarming party, I made ice cream cone cupcakes! I've wanted to try this for ages. I used a regular white cake mix to which I added 1 packet of pistachio pudding and 1 1/2 cups diet ginger ale. Then I filled the cones 2/3 full and baked the mixture right in the cones at 400 for about 15-20 minutes. Who knows what those cones are made of, but they didn't even brown! It took them longer to cook through and there were a few that had to be tossed due to gloppiness.

After they were cooled, I whipped up a batch of buttercream (1/2 cup butter, 4 cups powdered sugar, a little creamy milk, a little vanilla, some lavender food coloring and lots of whipping in my mixer) and used this fancy pastry tip to ice them. Don't they look just like a luscious dollop of soft serve? I added edible glitter to the tops to make them look a bit frosty too. Pretty fun.

My friend Dan and I got into a conversation about cupcake culture and how it's sort of passed us by out here on the Big Island of Hawaii. I think the trend may be starting to wane, but I haven't lost my enthusiasm quite yet. Cupcakes are the ultimate party treat and I love an excuse to make something totally silly and completely delicious.

What do you think? Are cupcakes in or out?

Five Years of Wedded Bliss: Wooden Anniversary Gift Ideas

2011-09-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Eric and I are coming up on Five Years of married life. I try to stick to the traditional wedding anniversary gifts each year and though it's always a challenge,I've managed to rise to the occasion every year. I think I've found some fun ideas this time. Come and see!

A clock seems to be the obvious choice and this one is made with a repurposed vintage tray of teak. I like that it is old and new, traditional yet modern. Perfect for Eric and I.

This Driftwood Lamp also seems like a cool conversation piece. The many strands of fillaments in the crystal clear light bulb make the exposed bulb a striking and deliberate design element instead of eye sore.
This Couple Art Set would be my top choice if my budget were unlimited. The little bits of antique rulers and other reclaimed wood really make these pieces feel special. And of course it's old yet new again. There's a theme here!
I think Eric would looks so utterly cool in these Wooden Shades. I love the two kinds of wood they used- such an surprising detail makes something ordinary seem suddenly special.

The same is true of A wooden wristwatch. Suddenly it is totally distinct, all because it was re-imagined in an unexpected material.

Check out my complete round up of wooden anniversary gifts live on Etsy right here. What do you and your partner do to celebrate anniversaries? Fancy dinner? A good cuddle? Plant a tree? I'd love to hear!

A Custom Job: Before & After Vintage Wedding Cake Topper

2011-09-03T13:46:00.007-05:00

My dear friend Katie is tying the knot in November, but was having a terrible time finding the right topper. We searched high and low to find something that would suit her, but she disliked the toppers with linked arms and frozen smiles, finding them too stiff and interlocked. We found this pair to be more in keeping with her idea of herself and her marriage since each is standing independently.

But they still look a bit glassy eyed, don't they? We also wanted to add some of the details from her gown and customize the flowers.

I added a black sash and black gloves to up the glamour. Silk ribbon rosettes make her bouquet come alive. I also used a shimmery auburn color for her hair and their eyes. Much softer, warmer and less plastic-y.

These small changes really take this vintage bride and groom from ordinary to special. That's what customization is all about.

She hasn't settled on her veil yet, but has plans to do a birdcage veil like this. I think it will be a perfect finishing touch. Would you like one too? You can order a pair to your specifications right over here.

What do you think? Did you have a topper on your wedding cake?

Photo Journal: Cool Fusion 2011 at Donkey Mill Center for the Arts in Holualoa, Hawaii

2011-09-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Cool Fusion is the annual fundraiser for Donkey Mill Art Center's ceramics department. Volunteers throw, fire, glaze and fire again more than 1,000 bowls. More volunteers prepare a beautiful lunch of saimen to fill those bowls. Saimen is a simple dish of cold japanese noodles served with a variety of vegetables, fish cake, fresh ginger, wasabi to taste and a delicious broth. It is cold and refreshing on a hot Hawaiian afternoon. This little Art Center is housed in a former coffee mill and is suffused with a powerful sense of people coming together. I've never seen a community center where people were so excited to pitch in. I feel so blessed to observe how the staff and volunteers infuse the place with Aloha in the truest sense. I think you can even feel it in these photos.

You can see more photos from this beautiful day here.

My Print Collection has Gone to the Dogs

2011-09-01T11:25:00.006-05:00

In the same vein as yesterday's animal related post, I thought I'd share two pieces of art I've recently aquired for our new home.

I saw Michael Sowa's work for the first time in the film Amelie. Now this little fellow is hanging in our bedroom- the first piece I see when I open my eyes each morning. It makes me laugh. I love how the composition and lighting obviously refer to classical painting. It could be from the Renaissance except for the subject matter. I also love that it is cute, but the sweetness is cut with a heavy dose of sarcasm. Oh, his pathetic little frown! And of course, the cone of shame reminds me of Up.

I found this little fellow on a greeting card at my local post office (of all places!). It reminded me strongly of my Mum for some reason. She's a book lover, has that same gamine expression and once wanted badly to adopt a racing Greyhound. This piece works for me for all the same reasons above, though it is teetering dangerously close to the too cute line, I think the giant glasses redeem it. The difference between wit and pandering is slight.

They say it takes three to make a collection so I'm on the look out for a third piece of cool doggy art to add. (Despite being out of walls in this new apartment!) This French Bulldog perhaps?

Do you have any animal art in your house? Or a suggestion for my wishlist?

Ballet Flats with a Mousy Twist

2011-08-31T11:27:00.004-05:00

As I was unpacking our earthly possessions during this last move, I discovered that I am drawn to objects that have a function, but are shaped like something else. Particularly animals. I own a teapot shaped like an elephant, a cream and sugar set shaped like cows, a salt and pepper shaker shaped like a pair of mushrooms, a measuring tape shaped like Pinocchio, and of course, a lollipop holder shaped like a peacock. You know, truly practical, every day items. Giggle.

So obviously these Marc Jacobs Ballet Flats that look like a Mouse are right up my alley. I saw an adorable Japanese girl wearing a pair in Vienna this summer and felt a pang of jealousy stab right through my stomach and shoot out my spine. So cute. And yet, so cool.

Hers were a soft looking suede, but this studded version reminds me of a very tough biker rat. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to mouse hunt on ebay.

Etsy Stories: Yours + Mine = Ours

2011-08-28T00:58:00.004-05:00

Eric & I are sneaking up on our five year wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's been that long already. I felt moved to create a treasury of pairs for a little advance celebration. It made me smile.
Felt Slippers for Mr. and Mrs.

Coffee for Two
Bedside Prints. One for me, one for you.

A pair of chairs- one for you, one for moi.

Photobooth Signs for you and I.

Hers

His

See the whole collection live on Etsy right over here.

Why Modern Women Still Love Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

2011-08-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

I read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in eighth grade and haven't revisited it since, but I've been meaning to watch this this BBC produced mini-series for ages. Ever since reading Bridget Jones' Diary my freshman year of college and thickly realizing that my beloved Bridget is just a modern re-imagining of Elizabeth Bennet and Mark is (hello! She didn't even change his name!) Mr. Darcy. Remember the chapter in Bridget Jones' Diary where Bridget interviews Colin Firth and bumbles all her questions because of her simmering crush on this version of Mr. Darcy.? Me too.

Wanting to be in on the joke, Eric and I finally watched the mini series this week. Every detail was so beautifully done, I can't say enough to recommend it. The acting is superb and manages to feel lively and filled with meaning and emotion, despite the unwieldy language these Edwardian characters are bandying about. The costumes and homes featured are lovingly arranged in beautiful shots. And of course, there is the story itself.

As I watched, I couldn't help but think that there is a reason why Jane Austen's novels have stood the test of time and continue to appeal to modern women hundreds of years later. They contain three often contradictory components women are still looking for in romantic endeavors all these years later.

First, there is the idea of being ardently desired that appeals to women on a very basic level. It is flattering when a usually composed and dignified man loses his cool to become a puddle at your feet. Even if you don't desire him. Especially if you don't desire him. It makes you feel powerful.

Secondly, there is the idea of security, which Ms. Austen handles deftly. During her time, the idea of marrying for love was a new concept. Most people were concerned with marrying someone of good position that could to support them through their old age. If we answer this question honestly, we have to confess that this is still a factor in choosing the person to spend our lives with. And yet, no one wants to be the sort of person who marries only for this reason. It seems so calculated. So unfeeling. Ms. Austen had to tread lightly with her heroines, causing them to hate the wealthiest men at first and spurn their affections only to be convinced after a very long, slow and dramatic series of events prove this terrible rich guy to not be terrible after all. And then perhaps she could entertain the idea of being his wife. And then, we can finally remember that he's rich! (This trope is still being worked into novels and screenplays by the way. See Friends with Money for more evidence of the slightly distasteful "Did We Mention He's Rich?" surprise.)

Thirdly, modern women prize their independence. No one wants to think of themselves, or their heroines as sheep who meekly follow the course set for them by their families or societies. Instead, we like to think of ourselves as headstrong, determined, and busily creating our own destinies. This ties in beautifully to the theme of a passionate love unabated by any societal pressure or impediment. There is something about being with someone against all odds, of fighting for each other, of overcoming obstacles that no one thought you could, that makes you feel your love is invincible. Your love can withstand anything because it has already overcome so much. That is a good vantage point from which to consider marriage. From that heady view, you can convince yourself that despite knowing not one couple truly happily married fifty years in, you and your beloved will triumph. Now that my friends, is romance. And I for one, want much more of it.

Why do you think Jane Austen remains so popular so many years later? Which of her books is your favorite? Also, do you think Colin Firth is as hot as Bridget and I do?

What is Black, White & Red All Over?

2011-08-24T19:58:00.001-05:00

All these pretty goodies! See them live on Etsy right over here!

Flamingo Love Birds get some Love from Wedding Paper Divas!

2011-08-23T13:51:00.004-05:00

I was so excited to see my Flamingo Love Birds getting some love over on Wedding Paper Diva's blog! Their site is filled with gorgeous, affordable invites and I know many brides-to-be are spending a lot of time there. Thanks to Jessica for ordering a pair of these leggy birds for her wedding cake and telling her readers about my little shop! I hope this little pair are an unforgettably fun detail on your big day!

Congratulations & Aloha!

Becky