Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Focused on the prize

Here is a peak at what homework for me looks like.

I have a mic (two of them: one to perform, one to record) near by and a monitor to work on technique.

I have a show coming up and recording so I have to be on point.... I love music,, I am music...this feeds me and I respect it enough to give my all. I will share some music in the new year so stay tuned....
Oh yeah isn't the iMac pretty? lol sorry for you PC users,, may Santa will show pitty and drop an ipod..ipad or somethin' in your sad PC stocking...lol just kidding ( not really I am a snob when it comes to computers lol)
love ya

kisses and lashes

Elegant Loveseat/Daybed



Monday I was very blessed to receive this amazing gift... it is hard to put into words what my heart felt when Melanie Kubik showed me into her spare room and said I want this to go to someone beautiful..... yes I cried.. I have always and let me capitalize it ALWAYS wanted sofa just like this....but to be given said item is literally more than I can say in this moment.. but I wanted to share a glimpse of what love looks like! I know I have a charmed life of wonderful people who choose to share life with..kids, family friends...but God gave me extra.

I bought a sofa and chaise recently and I have this with my dining table! Fancy huh.. I have to either raise the cushion or add extenders to the legs for just a few more inches..but it is a look I have seen in all my decor mags.. I just so happen to see cloth chairs I wanted to snaz up my crisp black table, so it looks like the look is all coming together!! Maybe you will be on the sofa eating one of my dishes soon!

kisses and lashes

Breakfast in Bed....luxury




When you want to treat yourself, what better way than breakfast in bed!
For some of you cooking may not be your strong suit, but careful planning and you can create
a beautiful moment without leaving home!
Collect great teacups and old napkins to make your warm cup of goodness sparkle.
Even a simple tray adorned with tasty morsels looks like English bone china! lol
I have my bed dressed in all white which gives a zen like feel with it's crispness.

I stayed at a hotel and it had simple all white linens on the bed and it was gorgeous.
I mixed the textiles (I wish you could see the detail in every layer :) )to add depth.
The stacked trunk set I have had for over 11 years and holds all kinds of girly finery!

Just start with something simple as tea in bed and build from there!

kisses and lashes

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Tea Forte..a lovely way to drink tea!!!!!




One Mother's Day my oldest daughter bought me a tea set from Tea Forte
and I have been in love ever since.
The tea cup and it's lid was so dainty I knew she had created a new habit I would not soon break!
The silk triangle tea infuser just makes the experience more lady like!

The newest to my tea time is the insulated infuser for my loose tea....
omg..i love the variety pack that came with it. I now have about 5 new teas to add to my favorites list.

Please try to make even a cup of tea special.

we only have this moment...oops now its' gone.........

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Ran away with the iPad!!!

So how do tell a without sounding like your bragging?
Io am crazy about this pad...oh yes i am blogging right now from a coffee shop and baby I am on cloud nine!
I thought okay, i will email and surf the net..but omg the games are addicting and the web searching is insane how fast it is.
So, if I was to tell you should you buy one..honey if you could see how jealous my bike is..loll
But i have them out together to make sure they get along!

Is my hubby a little jealous...oh yeah..the kids...think so..
They should be..I LOVE THIS THING!
..so I won't add insult to injury by adding a picture..but you can imagine my smile..yeah and as I type this on a sunny day..
Janet Jackson is singing in my ear!


Love ya..

(not as much as the iPad though)

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Waffle takedown....DUN DUN DUN DUUUUN


Mothers Day '10
started out on a covert
mission to get a waffle!!
No kids in sight..
two mothers out
to satisfy themselves with
great company and
a perfect way to say
I am a cool mom!
Bread and Ink on Hawthorne
hit a home run again.
Angela (my sister from another..you know)
spoiled me with her company and treated me to
an amazing morning.
As you can see from the pic
there was carnage.
No I am not ashamed.
I join the leagues of waffle
cone sures
and counted myself to be among the elite!!

This is my second Mothers Day at the B&I
and I plan to be there in '11
with bells on!
Join Me?


kisses and lashes

Running away!

Okay..
if you know anything about me you would know
I LOVE my bike.
You won't find me pestering you
riding down crowed streets,
but on a quiet block smiling at the neighbors and
daydreaming in every large 80 year old home.
I took my dear love out and rode for an
hour and stopped at Grant park.
My intensions are to read, but
the surroundings are so electric, I was
too distracted.
The sound of the tennis balls were like a heart beat.
Then the kids squealing was like music.
The trees..grass and sounds...man oh man.
It was like being in the heart of a happy person.
No book could compare.
(plus the book was trite)
Our cities are squeezing tight and
finding quiet green space is precious...
get out and explore your city...
just don't get in my way
when you see the pink helmet coming
MOVE!


lol
kisses and lashes

Monday, May 10, 2010

Letting go

How do you let go of your child?
What a complicated and tangled duty.
I wished for her
I dreamed of her
I carried her
nursed her
changed her and my whole world
Now, I am being asked to let her go.
To live with a lives work and then open your door
and say bye...huh uh..don't want too
you may say its right but I want her, little ,
smiling at me and not seeing my shortcomings
thinking I made the sun come up.
sitting in my rocker to nurse at 2 am SHARP.
Laughing crying SCREAMING..
clutching pushing..the mother daughter
dynamic is STILL the most intricate of all the
relationships...but is deep
self observing and amazing.
If I could tell you one thing..
I never willingly want to let my babies go..
but life calls for them from day 1.
Imposing itself on my time with them.. now she is
18 and full of anticipation...
OK WORLD.. I am letting go
and you better treat her right...
love her
honor her
listen to her
see..her
please.



signed :heartbroken mother of a new woman.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Working: only for the OLD!

Okay... all I am sayin' is
here I am at the peak of my life sitting
at a desk idle, and when the buzzer rings
I escape to what light is left to then live
for 3 hours and 20 minutes.

For a moment imagine
the system was set up for us to live
our retired lives from 25-55.

Ahh you see it huh.
You graduate and work into the system for 7 years
with only a stipend to live on.
THEN
you hike, bike hell trike
everywhere.
You pay forward and you pick
where you want the 7 years of work to pay for: travel, gardening
building and so on.
During the 30 years you only have to work a week a month
to pay forward towards the lifestyle
you have created in the 7 years.
******
Imagine what mountains, discoveries and lives
you could construct while you were
young enough to do it.
Then as you glide into 55 you
REALY and TRULY have an
idea how to share a WEALTH of knowledge
and work with more passion.
1. you would live longer
2. have little to No regrets
3. raise children with EASE

I am just sayin'
there is to much life for me to discover
and time is...well
BACKWARDS.
I want to run and play more than ever and
my body says "hurry up".

Just a thought.. so jump rope while you still can
and don't put off ANYTHING!
today is all we have!


kisses and lashes


Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Knitting : A thinkers craft





















Knitting is not for the feeble minded....(red, cause this is a warning!)

I started knitting cause I wanted to relax...................................................
...........are you done laughing yet?
I found that not only did I have to pay attention, but become a critical thinker
(I feel if our local politicians had a knitting aptitude test..well hell you get it).

But I was laid off and my new pastime can be pricy if you want a beautiful project.
so here are three of my savers:
Plastic Zip Bags!
In the pic you see the large bag (26" X 21") holds work in progress and extra
yarn and patterns. You see the pic of the grey and black crochet project..it
was made with a 10" x6mm crochet needle and in the close-up you can see it looks
like a knit stitch on one side and a pearl on the other..that was about 180 stitches.
super Easy....and then there was knitting...Ugh!

The smaller bag is perfect for keeping yarn clean and needles from getting lost
while on the go.

Next..
Wine bottle holder..now Needle holder!
I had two of these cause they were RED and girly..
bought them eons ago for cheap as decor and after giving one away (with vino ;)
I had an idea to put my burgeoning needle collection in one place.
I love it! I can put all things related in there.

Lastly..
Safety Pin/bead row markers!
Yes,, I googled and noticed they are not expensive..but I was on row 8:
SIDEBAR....
Lord if you knew how many times I ripped out stitches to get to EIGHT..
lets just say 6 attempts! ( I digress :{ )
and it was 10 at night so I thought how can I mark this MILESTONE and not forget
so this was free and accessible.

please check out Getting Purly With It blog (over to the right under my favorite blogs,clickit)
Nancy Ricci is my Diana Ross of knitting!

so I will knit on sisters and share my first true triumphs !
I am sure this will get me in to Mensa.

Monday, March 22, 2010


In the pursuit of loosing my butt, to whom I have a love hate relationship with, I have
decided that happiness isn't in the position of my butt, but the disposition of it..

Simply said, if not for my butt how would I
have carried my children on Pre-K field trips
when their feet wore out?

How would my friends know in 8th grade I
had the new pair of Jordache jeans if
I had a flat butt..huh!

And I have been in some pretty swanky places
cause my butt was invited!
I have tried to hide it, tuck it, starve it
everything but carve it.. but it won't let me go.
Maybe we belong together..heck I have gotten
used to carrying around like a backpack.

I noticed all the real people with butts and seemed to be
quite happy. To the extent of enhancing their haunches
so that they can sit in swanky places!

How could I be mad at my derriere
when the great bard Sir Mix of Lot penned
an anthem to which
Butts now and forever more are honored!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Dressing room stalker!

I am a little worried.
Every time I go to try on clothes
some fat chick is in the mirror.

Mind you, I have been looking in my
medicine cabinet mirror and I am sure
that is not ME.
It is not enough she won't leave me alone
to try on the pants I chose, but she antagonizes
me to pursue larger sizes (that cow!).
If she was friendly I would invite her to lunch and share
my fashion tips (especially since she never has on cute underwear).
She is such a bully. I rarely buy what I go in there with, but
I am coursed to black slacks and blah blah blah blouses.
All I can say is LADIES check the dressing room
before you go in... if you see a stranger in her underwear
SCREAM!
I'm just sayin'

GOODY CONSPIRACY

Why is it that everything delectable is wrapped
in the LOUDEST wrappers ever made..
Really.... how many times have you tried to
open a candy bar and felt like a speaker was announcing
"SHE'S GOT CANDY"
I mean my kids could hear the first tear..
Chips are just as bad..
And of course you want these tasty morsels
during nap times, church sermons
weight watchers meetings, and at midnight
when your husband is sound asleep.
So as I was trying to enjoy (okay sneak)
my Payday last night and I found myself spending
more time trying to figure out how to extrude this
wicked delight without waking the King.
All the while thinking "why don't they wrap the darn thing
in cotton." You know.. a little draw string baggy so moms can
enjoy a treat with out sharing with the little munchkins. Or
when the Pastor is preaching past my hunger threshold, I could
have just enough to hold me till the hallelujah chorus.
I'm just sayin'!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Yes, Scrumptious!!!




Here is two items that are indeed
SCRUMPTIOUS!!!!

Homemade chili and peach cobbler..
yes I was truly showing off and wanted my
family to know
"who's the MAMA"
I think these dishes garnered standing ovations...
if not I am truly owed.
Nothin' says lovin' like a crock pot
that has lived up to its rep and
a peach that took a dive so that I could
say "this little ole thing,
heck I just whipped it up".
I am making a mini blackberry cobbler in my new
ramekin ...
hey, a little master piece still is a Picasso!
bon appetit

Where Sock Bunnies and Kitty's come from








I saw a sock puppy on tv and wanted to make one.. so I went to my secret source
(the LIBRARY shhhhh...)
to find a book or two on the subject and pictured are a few.
I am in love with these and plan on making a few more for my grandsons
and friends!
Crafting is so peaceful and I try to change mediums to challenge myself..
needless to say I will not be showcasing my knitting anytime soon..lol
Go to your library and get a book on any craft you would like to try!
It truly is one of my new joys!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Bread and Ink Cafe 36th and Hawthorne



Bread and Ink Cafe
Is a treasure on 36th and Hawthorne in SE Portland.
If you hadn't tried their waffles... you just don't know!
The "Three B's Waffle" is Amazing!
They boast waffles named
Bananamisu:
banana, espresso and house made
mascarpone cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce
and cinnamon sugar..

Or, Farm Fusion:
Mushroom, spinach, roasted pepper, tomato and lemon-thyme
marinated chevre.. just to name a few
They serve a large menu of breakfast and dinner
that is tempting and satisfying.
Oh yeah,, THEY ARE 4$ ea!!!
Yes and 1$ for a cup of Kobos coffee,
5$ gets you an amazing breakfast and the owner
Mary ( in the pic with her son Max)
is the cherry on top!
They have a waffle window that is fun and makes it
easy to grab a simple powdered dusted waffle on the
go.
dang it, now I am hungry...see you at the window

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Rerun Store and My Handkerchiefs







One of my favorite stores to haunt is "RERUN" on 7th and Freemont (I tell you there is a Freemont in every trendy area in America) Here I can forage and embrace yesterday and today.
Handkerchiefs are a passion of mine, amongst others,
that I can indulge myself with little damage to my style of living..lol
most of the ones I buy are 1$ and are fabulous..
I love using them and pulling them out of my purse to
wipe the occasional tear or runny nose.
Yes, some are too pretty and I love to display them with a table setting.
RERUN is a perfect store to check at least twice weekly, as it is
an consignment store, people unload treasures by the trunk full often..
happy hunting!

A Lady and Her Hankie





One of my favorite stores to haunt is "RERUN" on 7th and Freemont (I tell you there is a Freemont in every trendy area in America) Here I can forage and embrace yesterday and today.
Handkerchiefs are a passion of mine, amongst others,
that I can indulge myself with little damage to my style of living..lol
most of the ones I buy are 1$ and are fabulous..
I love using them and pulling them out of my purse to
wipe the occasional tear or runny nose.
Yes, some are too pretty and I love to display them with a table setting.
RERUN is a perfect store to check at least twice weekly, as it is
an consignment store, people unload treasures by the trunk full often..
happy hunting

Sunday, February 28, 2010

I am just sayin'


SCRUMPTIOUS
Yes.. just say it slow.... Scrumptious
This word is meant to conjure sweet savory delights
reserved for the privileged to enjoy ..
words are like fashion.. you need to add them
refresh them and covet them every chance you get.
I have decided to add this word and wear it in
conversations as if it's a new purse... like a new pair of shoes
I will flaunt it and make sure to dangle it with long
pauses as to bring an enormous amount of
attention to myself.. This is a very powerful
undiscovered treasure of a word that elicits almost sinful thoughts
If you are afraid of such a word okay
chicken let me help.. here is a pic of one of my favorite dishes..
CHEESY GRITS
sharing the plate with lesser players such as an omelet and
bacon.
And Darling they are SCRUMPTIOUS!
Now I am loosing you to go out and say it and watch
eyebrows go up and jealousy ooze cause they
didn't say it first....



Wednesday, February 24, 2010



I love a great bargain!
The only way to know if what you have is a deal
is to know your stuff. I can at least say "what stuff I want" :)
I saw a white bracelet on a popular Vid/blogger and went on a hunt!
And like a Fairytale it appeared in the case at the Goodwill..
The white one says "Do you have any idea who I am"
perfect for me. $3 (online $125)
The other bracelet says "Freedom" and it makes me feel just that..found
at a consignment store. $10
The bling bracelet was the latest find at a vintage store. $10
I go treasure hunting with an AGENDA.
Happenstance is rare for me cause I am on a mission when I go to these shops :)
These trinkets give me oodles of joy and of course,
the compliments are cool too.
Happy hunting :->

Sunday, February 21, 2010

My lil bike trip


Yes, I have to write in color cause I love my bike!
The easiest way to feel young is to jump on a bike and take off.
Now mind you, your behind will be in conflict with you the next day
but trust me, it is worth drama!
I love tom-boy bikes and cars, but I had to have the pink helmet.
And yes, I do wear lashes when I ride :)
Here are pic of how most of my rides end... at
Starbucks...lol
Heck, I worked off 300 calories, I am entitled to keep a balance as not to throw
my body into shock!
see you on the side streets!


Change your mind, Change your life

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Saturday in the Sunshine


Hello World!

Today was a great Saturday.. the sun was showing off and I had to oblige by basking in it as much as possible!.. no bike today, but serious walking thru the NW 23rd community.. I had to(meaning my feet ran me straight in) go to LUSH and smell all the goodies they have.
One of my favorite products they sell is OCEAN SALT face and body scrub.. OMG it has lime grapefruit and sea salt.. I use it on my neck and face once a week and I am hooked!
They specialize in handmade body products that are fresh and ingredients you can SPELL! lol

treat yourself, only you can set a standard of how to love you!
SP