Jersey Girl

A recipe to share...

Starting with a little Cletus eye candy! Who doesn't love a couple of boys mugging for the camera! Now for today's thought...

 

So last night I was chatting on AOL IM with my friend Scott (sorry to out you on here, man) who said that he loves my blog but "can't relate" to some of the stuff on here. So I asked "is it because you're not an artist?" And he replied "No, I like the art stuff." Perplexed, I asked, "so what is it?" And he IM's "the girlie stuff!" That left me thinking - but I'm a girl, and I would consider myself reasonably girlie. I love shoes, clothes, patterns, pillows on the bed, stuffed animals (still), cute stationary, Hello Kitty, pop music, text messaging (sigh, I love this), hair accessories, PINK, polka dots, cooking, shoes (yes, again) and so many other uniquely girly things. So Scott - I don't know what to tell you - try to relate, purely to flex your feminine side! Maybe you'll be using expressions like "I just looooooove this!" or "XO XO" ! HA! Okay, for Scott, and other people here who like a good and easy meal, I'm going to share a very sought-after recipe. The relevance of this recipe in this economy has risen, seeing that it's a total budget-conscious recipe...and delicious to boot. It's my famous...

RICH & THICK SPLIT PEA
1 - 1  1/2 package dried split peas (depending on how much you want to make)
about 5 cups chicken stock (you can use water for this, or a bullion cube or two in hot water, or you can make your own chicken stock or buy it)
2 medium onions
4 humongous carrots peeled, or if you have smaller carrots, do 8 smaller ones
2 medium cloves garlic, crushed (I use the garlic press)
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper (add some salt early on, but not much. If your stock has salt, then hold off on the salt until you're seasoning to taste at the end of cooking)
2-3 stalks cellery
2-3 Hebrew National hotdogs (my favorite brand)
I put in leftover roast beef from last night, cubed into small pieces (but you can also add leftover chicken, ground beef, steak, or nothing!)

Place all ingredients into the crock pot, stir, set on high, and keep an eye on it. Add more stock or water when it gets absorbed, if necessary.

Once the soup is soft, and all the lentils and peas have fallen apart and the soup is thick and smells awesome, REMOVE THE BAY LEAF and then use a HAND BLENDER to puree smoothly (I have the braun one that costs very little, from Bed Bath and Beyond) or you can use a regular blender. I blend the entire thing, until it's a beautiful thick puree. If you find it too thick, add more hot stock and blend again. For the kids, I take another hot dog and slice it into pieces and stir it in when I'm done blending. I forgo the hot dog for myself...but that's another story.

This recipe basically costs only a few dollars...including everything. In fact, per serving, it costs probably CENTS. You'll have plenty of leftovers too, so my guess is that it's good for two meals for four, depending on how many bags of peas you use. It freezes well too!

Here's a photo of the soup BEFORE I use the hand blender. You can see the pieces. Some people like it like this, but my family prefers the blended version.

  Here's the soup in its blended form...

    I hope you can use this recipe. I am a big crock pot fan, as it can remain on all day, and not risk fires or burning (most of the time). Then dinner is ready by the time everyone is home and wanting it. My goals for today - as perhaps if I share them, I will be more likely to achieve them (hip permitting).

1. Paying bills (some of them)

2. Calling to make 4 appointments: a. With K b. With ART c. PT d. M

3. Finish odd apron

4. Email clients

5. Call printer for specialty cards to see if they can fill a client order for some fun cards

6. Call Printer for client brochures

7. Call Local printer to see what they charge for custom shaped cards

8. Decide what to have for dinner and defrost/begin prep.

Wish me luck. If my hip holds out I have high hopes! If not, then, well, it'll be a total loss. Have a good day all, and let me know if the receipe works for you! YOu can always substitute lentils for peas if you don't like pea soup!

XO

All things design...

I took a break from work yesterday to duplicate a WWII poster that is showing itself in all the design blogs and retro home online tours lately. I don't necessarily wish to use it, as my decor (as you can see a snipet of it below) isn't exactly retro...but my blog readers know that I really have been retro-focused and I'm now redecorating my family room and considering a retro-inspired feel. I see some fusion of Mad Men and English Country - Okay I know that's not possible, but I wonder if I can make it work? I have to ask a decorator friend of mine if this is at all possible.

Anyway, I was inspired to recreate this poster. It's close, and I created ALL of the digital elements in Photoshop. The font is about 95% compliant with the original, and the crown is similar. I changed a few small elements by choice. What do you think?

Not sure if I'll change colors yet or if I'll even use it at all. I may make a few gift enclosure cards, or something like that, with this on the front? I don't know yet, but I am happy I was able to do this. I like to exercise my Photoshop and Illustrator muscles once in a while to keep my skills sharp.

I also wanted to share my Wednesday's session. This is for their holiday card. Please excuse the proof marks, and number. My client wanted to see how a photo looked on her card, so I used this random color dot background. This is NOT a card I've designed, so excuse the simplicity.

   

Sorry about the fuzzy low-res look of the photo, but I made it for web, so that's the way it goes! :)

Anyway, I'm off to start the day. Wishing you all a happy day - and to STAY CALM AND CARRY ON! Maybe it's high time for this advice with Wall Street and all. XO

A window to the soul...

I think a peek into the home is a window into the soul of sorts. Okay so I don't believe my soul is as cluttered as my house, but then again, perhaps it is! Maybe it's not the soul, maybe more the mind. So a window into my mind here today will start with my message board in the kitchen. I think that will give you a very small window, perhaps more of a peep-hole.

  1) I put this at number one for a reason - it's my newspaper clipping of my second to last race...when I won first place in my age group (and for those of you who wonder what age group, it's 35-39). I only ran one more race after this one, but that wasn't in the paper. I cherish this newspaper clipping. What I say when I think of my bad hip is "I'll always have that race...and that medal." It's true.

2) Two of my fave photos - one is of the 2007 Cross Country Team at the national championships in Virgina. What an amazing day! The one below is actually a postcard of a black and white photo of adorable smooth coated dachshunds, which is as you know, my favorite variety! My mom sent that, and I've loved it ever since.

3) This is a test sheet from a linolium block of a pear that I carved a week ago. I wanted to test out how it printed on paper before going to fabric. I love it!

4) Birthday party invitations! It's hard enough keeping track of them, and I even forget to look at the board - that's the worst part. I haven't even RSVP'd yet!

5) Various and sundry school papers - assignments, projects, handouts, etc.

6) A gift from my Mom's friend Lucille - it's a pressed rose that is from a rose garden that is declared holy! I'm a big fan of this, as it is supposed to bring about healing. I've had it on my board in two homes, for the past 12 years.

7) Paint Brushes and silk screening supplies. I did some silk screening and ink mixing today, so the supplies of course are still sitting on the table!

8) Halloween Candles - STILL HERE. I know, it's been a week, but alas that is the LAST thing on my mind right now. So here they are, my spider candles. And it's November!

Now I'm going to share another of my favorite parts of my kitchen (since I'm all about the kitchen today). it's the mantle above the stove. I love it, because I use it as a place to display some of my antique finds. My Mom gave me the plate in the center, as well as a few of the other items.

 

Some of the chickens are vintage, some are only 10-15 years old. I love each one though. Since I'm vertically challenged, I can't always SEE the mantle (it's pretty high up since the humongous stove hood is under there) but I love it when I do.

The next photo is a detail from the shelf next to the sink. I keep some of my treasures there. I have photos of the two of us, taken over the summer which remind me of my absolute favorite time of the year. I also have an antique mirror, compliments of my Mom, along with a mom-gifted Ganesh statue. In the back on the right (not sure if it's visible) there is a small painted iron figure that Matt found digging in the woods a year or so ago. In the front are some sushi figures I made from paper clay (and the shrimp is out of Fimo). I'm a sushi fanatic, which you know from my banner! Finally, you can see the edges of my pencil cactus that I rooted from a cutting at an arboretum workshop on propogation. I love each of the plants I took home from that session. This is my favorite!

I hope you enjoyed my window into my diverse, a bit cluttered but complex mind! :) I enjoyed taking my point and shoot camera around this morning, and taking some pix to share with you guys!

What's in your home...and your mind?

The First Walk...

And only a month late! My ART practitioner told me to walk for ten minutes a day - not with a dog, or shopping at a mall...just walking. So today I did it. I took my old running route, making a left off my street. It felt foreign (I haven't run since the day before my surgery in March) yet so familiar. It was damp, and the brown, orange and yellow leaves littered the ground. I put on my iPod on, and called up a few of my old running songs.

  So I walked five minutes down the street, and turned around and did five minutes back up. Here is my five minute playlist: Jimmy Eats World: Big Casino, Franz Ferdinand: Take Me Out....then the walk was over! Then I went home to grab the ice pack. I'm really thrilled about having experienced the sensation of being outside, iPod in my ears, seeing the turning leaves and breathing in the humid air. I hope this is the beginning of a lot more walks, and some regaining of my life and my hip.

When you don't do much, you savor what you CAN do. Today I hope to do more than yesterday (which wouldn't exactly be too hard since I think I already surpassed yesterday). I even hope to include an errand in my day. With some luck and some hip strength, maybe it'll happen! Have a wonderful day and my advice for the day - pay closer attention to what you CAN do. Don't lose it in the shuffle of the every day. XO

Election Day 2008

So I just got home from voting - and waited a record 20 minutes (with the bad hip) on line. I know some people will wait a lot longer than I did, but for my district that is a LONG time. The place was packed. Should be a very interesting day. I hope everyone out there voted!

Today I will recap the magical Sunday, which was the State Championships for Cross Country - Junior Olympic States! Both kids ran, and did fantastically. The final results STILL are not posted, but hopefully soon.  M broke into the five minute mile pace for the two miles, and L was in the seven minute pace. I am very proud of both kids. M will continue on to the Mid Atlantic States Regional Championships which is going to be held in upstate NY. L won't progress because she has other plans that day - she did qualify for regionals, it's all good in that regard.

The weather was perfect - not too warm, not too cold. The sun was shining, and the course was relatively flat...runner's dream.

This photo below isn't that great, but I have so few of M that day, because he likes to go off by himself before races, and I do not disturb him for photos. Plus, I don't photograph him when he runs because I'm too busy cheering and giving him advice in the final 100 meters.

Congratulations kids...it was glorious.

Have a terrific Tuesday. Time to get back to work!

XO

Post-Halloween Wrap-Up

Hello! I think yesterday's blog post could have been my most boring yet! So I will post something way more interesting, photographs from yesterday! Here is a photo-essay of my day.

First we carved some pumpkins. I was going to carve both Barack Obama and John McCain. However, once I completed McCain, I ended up tiring out, covered in Dremmel-kick off pumpkin dust from head to toe. So...the second pumpkin was done old-school.

Next Tracy brought the kids over and we did a few kid photos with my kids and hers.

Then there are the details that I love about Halloween...like the front doors...

So the kids trick or treated with their respective friends, and then we went to a party!

It was a crazy full day, and add into that Physical Therapy in the AM, and getting the place together in the afternoon. We only had like five trick or treaters, sadly. I guess it was a slow year. But it was a great Halloween! Hope you all had a wonderful day.

Happy Halloween!

On this day of childhood (and adult) celebration, I want to take a moment to honor the day quickly. I will post photos later, but right now, I will post a Halloween Morning Greeting. I remember going home at lunch to put on our costumes, then returning to school in costume for the school costume parade, and an afternoon full of candy, games and fun! Now they've forbidden costumes (they wear black and orange), gotten rid of most of the candy, and basically taken all the fun out of halloween at school. What a bummer.

Before I get some Halloween photos around here to post, I'll share some of my own digital creations for projects I've done or that I'm working on...first the classic Candy Corn, digi style.

 

Then the classic jack-o-lantern...

 

And my personal fave,

 

And my last digital creation is my current favorite color combination...in a fun pattern.

I will update with photos later...but for now this is it! Have a HAPPY and SAFE Halloween everyone, and GO GET SOME CANDY!

It's Monday once again...

and I'm gearing up for a day that is scheduled to include physical therapy, paying bills, ordering groceries online and finishing an essay review for a student. I also have two client orders to put in and one to ship. I also am scheduled to begin my autumn/winter website overhaul with my card designs, package details and all sorts of sessions. Will I do it all? Probably not, but I will chip away at that long list item by item.

I'll start this day sharing a few "day in life" photos, that actually are more like haphazzard daily photos from the last week or two. Sadly, I just can't do the day in the life thing with the hip so I will do the best I can.

Here's what I begin physical therapy doing - reclining with a heat pack and electrical stim. I spend ten minutes in this position, and then move on to the stationary bike.

Now instead of PT, I'll post a photo from my ART, or active release therapy. It is done at a chiropractor's office. I am a strong believer in this treatment, and the guy's advice has been very relevant. He advises that I eliminate fear, as it contracts muscles throughout the hip, and worrying about setting myself back can play a part in actually setting myself back...the ole' self-fulfilling prophecy.

Here I am at the orthopedic surgeon's office...about to let loose on him with all my frustrations. I love this photo - though not a good one.

Over the weekend I finally printed my cupcake silkscreen. I'm going to try to scan in the finished project today if I can so I can share it. I just love silk screening, and can't wait to play around with it more.

I'm off to get ready for PT. Have a wonderful Monday and do something FUN today.

Favorite Things...

Okay so I'm not yet done with my "day in the life" post. I keep forgetting to follow through on the details that make life interesting (like stopping over to Tracy's for coffee or trying to find the perfect cashmere shawl with Lizzy at this shop I didn't even know existed!). There I was, camera in purse, going about the day with no regard for documenting it. I realized on my way to PT that I hadn't taken one photo, and I was supposed to be documenting. I think there's little hope for doing a good job at this project, though I will continue to try! Instead, I'm going to play Oprah for a day and discuss my FAVORITE THINGS! I'm going to start out with what I love from morning to evening. I love my coffee...black with sugar (NOT Equal or the evil Splenda).

Then I put on my favorite robe of at least five years (still in mint condition), made by Barefoot Dreams. It's the softest, most amazing fabric in existance today - which might make a chinchilla seek conditioners!

Then since we're on a roll of all things warm (it's cold today), I'll throw in my heated car seats!

As anyone who reads my blog knows, I adore Japanese crafts and art. I've posted photos of the cool Japanese fabrics, but here's a snapshot from a japanese site for craft books I frequent.

Try following these directions without translation. NOT easy at all.  I will share next perhaps one of my most dear possessions... my Blackberry Curve.

Now that we are on to electronics, I will discuss the virtues of my Bernina sewing machine. I use it for art, crafting, mending, and everything in between. It was the best investment, even though I didn't make it. My parents bought it for my birthday seven years ago, and it has been in use ever since. I just noticed that this photos is not of my actual machine. Mine has a lot of pretty embroidery stitches, but not the monogramming feature that I really want (there's always hope for next birthday, LOL). I'm thinking of saving up for a new sewing machine - then I think of the millions of other projects I have pending and think, "eh, is it really worth it??"

Since we're on electronics, I will tell the story of my next favorite things... my glorious Sony TV. I was recovering from hip surgery when Tracy came over to drop off some magazines and flowers. She walked in to find me in bed watching TV. She took one look at the sorry excuse for a TV, and said "BUY YOURSELF A NEW TELEVISION." So we did. That week. Our old TV was shocked by Matt (after the combination of socks, carpet and a metallic object) and disposed of 18 months ago. We had a temporary TV (from the kitchen) in the bedroom, and because I didn't spend too much time there, it was enough. So upon Tracy's urging I got my dear friend, the Sony LCD. Sigh, it's great to see Dr. Phil so clearly when I used to have to squint to see his mustache. So on the TV, one of my favorite things to watch is...

I've posted before about my obsession with Mad Men. I love the decor, the fashions, the actors and the whole thing. I'm on to Season 2 now, and cannot say enough about it. Thank Kim for getting me hooked!

I could quite possibly go on forever with my favorite things, but I will not bore you all, and condense the rest into a list...

Free People Sweaters

Creating anything

Down Comforters

Gossip Girl

Mason Pearson Brushes

Sitting on the Beach

Dachshunds

Photoshop

Wireless Internet

Fabric of all patterns and prints

And I could go on forever! Just wanted to share a few of my Favorite Things. If I were Oprah, I'd have a huge giveaway of all of these things, but sadly that isn't gonna happen. Have a great day and enjoy some of your favorite things.

XO

A project share and an idea...

So I decided to start with wood (in the immortal words of Butthead, "YOU SAID WOOD!"). I don't mean literal wood, but a wood grain pattern. I just took my printblock and my carving tools and went to work.

I went freehand, and love the results. I used my new block-print inks and created this!

I am going to give fabric printing a shot, so we will see how this goes. I am going to begin doing my block printing on textured print paper from the art store and perhaps list the prints on my etsy shop.

Now for the idea part of this post. I've seen a lot of "day in the life" or "week in the life" on blogs lately, a more photojournalistic view of our own lives. I am in no position with this healing hip to lug around my professional camera and lenses during my day, but I can carry my Canon Elph with me for one day and show you what I do during a typical day. Too bad I didn't have it yesterday when we had Tracy's birthday lunch at the Neiman Marcus Cafe! Or when I went to phyiscal therapy. I'm thinking that I'll do this experiment in the next two days. It must be a week-day since weekends are a little less structured and a little less interesting.

I'm considering changing my banner soon. Any ideas? I was playing with logos for Halloween, and came up with this.

I remain unconvinced. I'll leave you today with a photo I used for my Photography Resource Blog tutorial that I happen to like. My Mom gave me the 3 monkeys carving years ago (made from soapstone) and I just love it. It's been in my kitchen for a few years, and I always think it represents me a bit...for better or for worse.

Have a wonderful day, and find something beautiful in your world.

XO

Wednesday Inspiration...

So I'm not over the 80's yet. In fact, as I started my post-youth adventure into linoleum block carving I couldn't get the 80's out of my mind. Even though I carved a cross section of an apple into that block, I was thinking MIX TAPES...not to listen to, but to carve. Luckily I have a new block, almost the exact dimensions of a cassette. I can't count the number of hours spent making mix tapes, decorating the labels with high-lighter bubble letters outlined in fine black Uniball rollerball pens. I even got someone I knew in high school with great handwriting to write my song lit (the 80's version of playlist!). Then I cultivated architect lettering and did my own. So that brings me to today's inspiration.

There is something iconic about the shape - nothing else looks like it. I love other artists' interpretations of it...

For those of you who grew up in the 80's, let me share a mixtape of mine:

1. Blue Monday (New Order)

2. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Soft Cell)

3. Obsession (Animotion)

4. You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC)

5. 867-5309 (Tommy Tutone)

6. Little Red Corvette (Prince)

7. Blasphemous Rumors (Depeche Mode)

8. Girls On Film (Duran Duran)

9. Big Country (Big Country)

10. Burning Down the House (Talking Heads)

Eclectic, eh? I think I've always liked everything from pop to rock to new wave to classical so this is just a sample of my elcectic 80's taste.

So today I would love to try my hand of the modern day interpretation of the mix tape. I'll first try it in linoleum, and move on from there, perhaps to fabric arts. So I asked Lex if she'd wear a tee shirt with a cassette tape screened on it (because my next medium will be a silk screen). She responds "What's a cassette????"

 

Enuf said.

It's Monday!

Happy Monday. I am having photoshop issues on my laptop this AM so I can't post any of the weekend's photos. I can, however, share a few images that I have on hand, as well as some inspiration. I want to get the kids back into the studio.

Last night I was thinking about the 80's. Not just the neon socks, gold lame prom dresses or Pac Man, but the way things felt then. I was a kid - in Middle School and High School and wondering what the biggest differences were as compared to my son's Middle School experience. We didn't have the internet, cell phones, or PC's but we decorated each other's lockers (still, girls do this), made prank phone calls and walked around downtown.

The iPods have replaced the Sony Walkman (men?) and playlists have made mix tapes obsolete (does anyone still have a tape player????).  No more bubble letters on tape labels! And yes, I had one of these:

I should probably save my 80's experience post for another day, since I would love to include some of my own photos, but I'll just quickly touch upon the subject today!

Just a little 80's inspiration this Monday morning. I can't say I miss the tapered and high waisted Guess Jeans, or the banana clips or side ponytails, but I do love those bright colors, unabashedly fun wardrobe choices and the era of the mix tape. I also remember thoughts of where I'd be, what I'd be doing and the endless possibilities of The Future.

Enjoy your day, and interject a little 80's fun into it!

XO

Addendum: Because my friend Scott said I couldn't have an 80's post without mentioning Reagan, here we are! Thanks Scott, you're SO RIGHT. I did grow up in the Ronald Reagan/Say No To Drugs era.

I had to add one final photo, one of a Bermuda Bag. I had one in the early 80's and I LOVED it. I'm now going to my parents' house (when my hip is up to it) and digging that darn thing out of the attic. So if you see someone sportin' a Bermuda Bag in pink and green, just wave! XO

Friday Snapshot

My life today:

I started my day with A.R.T.

 

Then time for a bit of being glued to the computer to watch the market...

 

And then rushing off to....

 

Then I had time for a guilty passion, Mad Men...which feeds directly into my love of vintage. I want my name on my office in the exact same font as their agency!

Today I also created some Photoshop Brushes of pointing fingers. Someone has to point the finger, and now I can do it in OH so many ways.

 

And to wrap it all up, I have another DVD waiting from Netflix...The last DVD in season three of....WEEDS!

 

Then to wrap up the evening (after my awesome sushi dinner), I took a look at the Pottery Barn catalog and found this combo that I really like.

I'm really into brown, white and orange. I must do something in those colors tomorrow if my hip permits me some mobilty. I'll be hoping! :) Have a great Friday everyone.

XO

Even when I hate 'em, I love 'em.

Dachshunds. I cannot quite convey my love for my dachshunds, nor can I conveny my frustration. They are simultaneously short, long, loving, vengeful, lazy, hyper, territorial, sensitive, subversive and extremely difficult to train. I'm not alone. There have been famous dachshunds throughout time and so many artists, actors, politicians and other figures have been as taken with these hot dogs as I am. I love reading dachshund websites, and found a few about famous people owned by dachshunds.

 

I left out Napoleon, who was burried with his dachshunds, Queen Elizabeth, Diego Rivera, and so many others. I type this post as Clyde sleeps pressing against my leg, lying on his back, legs up. So was I was reading the Dachshund Message Board (my favorite place on the web....even more than Facebook), I turned to dh and said "Even when I love 'em I hate 'em." He laughed.

Also on today's agenda, a follow-up with my orthopedic surgeon. What a disaster. I go in part to convey my complete and total frustration with the wreck that he caused, and with a hope that perhaps he will pull out his magic wand and provide the quick fix that I want and need. If nothing else, I will be able, for those five minutes, have a captive audience during which to express my dislike of what he has done. I also go for reassurance that at some point in my future, I will be a whole person. That alone would be worth the price of admission today.

Creatively, I'm so completely full of ideas and materials. I'm waiting for my cotton webbing today (ordered last week) so I can make my fabric key fobs. I will post photos when I get them done. Also on my creative agenda are some holiday card designs for my website, inpreparation for the holiday card season, designing the Cross Country sweatshirts and tank tops, finishing up some fabric sculpture pillows I have in progress and finally making another bag out of my japanese fabric. I gave my weekend bag project to my mom, and now I want to make one for myself! I may even put some of them in my etsy shop if I can get them done. I also made a delicious headband out of vintage cherries fabric. If I get out of the city quickly and without pain, I'll post some photos when I get home.

Today's photos...I made this last week for a friend. I made the pattern to look a bit like a Japanese cartoon character. It's about nine inches tall. In the background is a pillow sham (euro size) I made.

 

Below you will find a photo of my favorite four characters. When I was a child, my Mom got me two pencils in the Bloomingdales Kids Department. They were "Hello Kitty" an "Coro Chan." I removed the characters from atop the pencils and used them as dolls/action figures. I later added the two bunnies. My friend Joanna and I used to play with them in elementary school. We would build houses for them of sticks and stones, and even mini-log cabins. We would sit on the ground under the tree in her expansive front yard and play for hours. Good times. So my fascination with Japanese characters and art started early - by elementary school I was bitten by the bug!

  

Have a wonderful day everyone. Do something creative. XO

Monday Morning Inspiration

Good morning. Creatively, there is a lot going on here. Work-wise, perhaps I'm falling short of what I want to achieve. My goals for today include getting my website updated with some new photographs, completing a few new projects and photographing them, and paying a pile of bills.

To sum up the weekend, I first have to mention the big race yesterday. It was the Invitational, and medals went to the top ten. Mind you these races are HUGE, and to get into the top ten, M needed a sub-12 time for the 3000m, which translates into an average mile in the low six minute pace. I was very proud!

 

I also want to give a mention to L, who came up with a 7 minute pace for the 1700m. She doesn't train five days per week like M, because I don't believe in overtraining when a child is too young, but she has the natural talent and look forward to great things!

 

Also in the news...I'm felting today. After reading some great online tutorials, and getting a bag of wools from my Mom, I'm ready to go. This weekend I completed my long-standing idea to copy a bag I got at a kids' boutique that I purchased for L's sleepover bag. It's made of fleece, and oh so cute! I took some measurements, and some damask-patterned fleece and created the bag. I lined it with a solid fabric, and was about to photograph it when I gave it to my Mom (in exchange for the bag of wool, LOL). I will have to lug my camera over there to get a photo of my completed project...or I'll just make another one!

Here's my inspiration of the day...vintage wallpapers. I think everyone tore out the 60's and 70's wallpaper prematurely! My cousin has a small basement bathroom wallpapered in metallic "cards" print...like a deck of cards. I have to get over there to take some photos, as I'm sure it will not be around forever. There's something so perfect about such loud and period wallpaper.

 

Another project for the list is to create an old-school silk screen in a wood pattern. I have to get to the art store for the screen filler, but I luckily have plenty of silk for the screen. The hip still limits my comings and goings, but I'm hoping to be screening my own canvas by the end of this week! Lots of projects on the burners today, but before it all happens, I have to go write checks for school stuff, get to ART and get out of bed. Have a good one everyone! Still haven't gotten to the Japanese Marketplace, but hope to get there at some point. I can't fight that traffic, and walk too much with the hip, so my Japanese shopping may be limited to the internet! have a good one. XO

One of those moments...

I went into a drawer I hadn't cleaned out in years...the top drawer in a cabinet in my office. I took out the drawer divider, and found this pristine pencil underneath. I love my pencils and pens, so I took it and decided to sharpen it and put it into my fun japanese pencil case...so I picked it up and read it...to see this...

 

Then it remembered, standing in the lobby of Windows on the World, atop the World Trade Center. I couldn't believe how high we were, and we all were so happy to have had Mother's Day Brunch there in 2001, just a few Months before Sept 11th 2001. I will never forget that day, and one of these days I will dig out our photos from that day, many in front of that view up there atop the world.

I found this pencil a few weeks too late to do a September 11th post, but wanted to share it anyway. Finding it was one of those moments that brings it back, and makes it real. Needless to say, I didn't sharpen it, and will keep this safely tucked away.

I'm off to do loads of work now. I am shooting an orthodontists' office this morning and completing the brochure for the practice. Then I have ART (active release therapy) for the hip and if all goes well, and I feel up to it, I'm going to the Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace. I am beside myself with excitement! Will keep you posted on this!

Eclectic is as eclectic does...

The view through my eyes today can be interpreted on of two ways - cluttered or creative! I like to think it's more creative than cluttered. Today I am thinking decorating, rehabillitating and party planning. I am planning a trip (if my hip continues to progress) later this week to the Japanese market. Its about forty five minutes away from here, but from what I understand, will be worth the trip. I not only want to check out their zakka, but also their foodstuffs (in the grocery) and some kitchen and decorating items.

Researching my trip led me to remember one of my favorite downtown locations in NYC, the Pearl River Market. It is an eclectic Chinese Market with everything from clothing, to food to home goods. I began picturing some of those items for use in decorating at home as well as at our party we are hosting in 2009. I love paper lanterns, and decided to use those to set a color scheme. I was also considering other table ideas.

 

My desire for color and accents have also impacted the way I want my home to be. I found this great article in Real Simple Magazine on "no cost makeovers for the home." The idea is to showcase what you have...and to move your collections into the limelight.

   

I happen to have quite a few vintage salt shakers (mostly being used for salt), bottles and bowls. I love the idea of using them for other purposes. I already use my cut glass pitcher for a vase, but I know I can do more with this. I also think the idea of a wall of framed art mixed with photos would look great somewhere in my house. I may start this with the basement family room, just to see if it flies before moving it to the main floor!

Before I have to start my driving for the day, I want to share a photo that I was using textures on, when preparing for my tutorial on textures for the PIF Photography Resource Blog. I took this photo in August.

 

   Have a wonderful day. My goal for today: to do something for ME. Not sure what that will be yet, but I'll be sure to let you know. XO

Speaking of jazzing up the mundane...

I was challenged by my friend Mel to list six things about myself that are rather mundane, particularly "unspectacular."  Since I'm back to blogging regularly, I will play along...

1) I love all TV Hosts that preach simple, down-to-earth, logical advice.  My person favorite is Dr. Phil with a close second, Judge Judy. 

    

I guess I'm a sucker for good ole' sound advice. That's mundane, right?

2) I'm torn between decorating like in the model of my kitchen (English Country) or change to an eclectic, more retro decor. I love the tricked-out appearance of my kitchen, which I renovated a few years ago. But I also have been really taken with retro prints, simple lines and an eclectic, more artistic look. Luckily I do not have to make any decisions now, but I'm leaning towards combining them into a style I will call Retro Country.

What I have...but slightly different. I got this image online but this is the feel of the mantle over my big stove.

But this is what is intriguing to me...

 

 

3) No matter how many pairs of jeans I own, I still want more!

4) I hate buying new cars. I like buying new clothes. I hate buying food. I love buying housewares.

5) My anxiety about sitting in traffic is actually worse than sitting in traffic.

6) I love those orange circus peanuts candy!

Anyway, I will be taking some photos (if the hip holds out) of some house details I love, while I mull over how I am going to change it when my hip recovers. I'm beginning to get the itch to redecorate some of the things I did when we moved in. I will start with the family room! Happy Friday everyone.

ZAKKA

Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'（雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and outlook. It is often based on household items from the West that are regarded as kitsch in their countries of origin. But can also be japanese goods from mainly fifties, sixties and seventies. Zakka can also be contemporary handicraft.

My new interest. Right up my alley and I'm sure for all that know me well that is no surprise. I love a different "twist" on things - a cute addition to an otherwise mundane item. That is unto itself, the embodiment of zakka. On my old binders, I put colorful stickers, on my pens and pencils I always had toppers and fun erasers. I have a sushi eraser atop my bic on my desk right now! On my calendar I have little critter post-it-notes. I love each item that brightens the mundane.

That brings me to the Japanese influence.  My helper/friend Christina spent three years in Japan and frequently brought back stickers and the like. I use an adorable fluorescent pen she brought back, still! Anyway I love the way zakka make the mundane happy and exciting. Today came my box from Ichiban Kan full of not only zakka, but my bento supplies! I plan on putting my hard boiled eggs in the egg molds,

and some dd lunch supplies in the adorable bento boxes. What fun! The egg molds - you put in a hard boiled egg right out of the shell, and submerge mold for ten minutes in cold water (or put in fridge). Presto - you have a shaped egg. You can even dye them if you put them in food color for five minutes. I figure even if the kids won't like it, I WILL!

I also just love one great solution to the mundane shower caddy/razor holder.  This adorable little heart-shaped caddy is one of the myriad of products that I just couldn't resist. Sadly, I just found the product to be discontinued, so I will have to photograph it myself.  Finally, I got a bunch of key rings for friends like this one below. I can't resist anything sushi, so this is just perfect. I also got Ikura and a few others. How fun.

I really like how a cheery piece or some fun little thing adds spice and fun to daily life. I will let you know how well the pieces I order play into regular life. I happen to find some Cars dishes on the site as well, that I ordered for my nephew Steven's Birthday!

Also in my viewfinder are Japanese prints, fabrics imported from Japan that I have been recently unable to resist. I have a nice collection now, but have not made ONE sewing project in part because of my hip and in part because I'm affraid to waste the fabric! Japanese love dachshunds, so clearly I ordered ALL the doxie fabrics. I'm enjoying my experiments, and planning my projects.

I'm so happy to be back blogging again. Here's a shout out to my friend Scott - and encourage him to comment, since if you don't comment, I have no clue you're here! That means you too M....the newest Mommy! :) XO

 

A new season...

Good morning everyone! Not sure if I even have many readers left, but thanks to Margie, who asked when I was going to update, and Liz, Jess, Lisa, Mel and all the other long-term commenters, I will start again. I also want to give Mel a shout-out for pullin for me and sending lots of prayers when I was in my darkest hours of recovery!

The update: A lot has happened over the past months. I had my hip surgery in March, and then had a particularly rough recovery but finally began walking again in mid-June. By the end of June I was doing wonderfully. I was walking to the beach, going to Target again, and working. It was amazing. So in late July, I took my first one mile run on the treadmill at Physical Therapy. That was the beginning of the end of the good times. That run went decently, but I began feeling soreness and by the next week, when I was at PT again and exercised, I was ripe for a decompensation and had NO idea! By mid-August I was back on bedrest. I was in pain constantly. To make a very long story short, I started ART (active release therapy) and acupuncture. I'm on the mend again, and when I overdo it (like spending four hours at the car dealership on saturday) I experience some issues, but I think I'm on the right path.

I want to send a huge congrats to my friend Margie and her new baby!!! I'm so excited for her and can't wait to meet her new daughter, who happens to be beautiful!

Also in the news, cross country season began and things are going very well. I haven't been able to go to all the meets, but have been on the cell phone keeping up on times and places.  I look forward to getting back to XC Meets this coming weekend.

I've been doing a lot of needlework lately, and even started an etsy shop. I will link to that when I finish uploading my wares! I will update with photos later - I just wanted to start off a post so that I would break the "NO POSTING" trend. here is one to start....

Here's the dachshunds resting on the daybed at the beach...

Have a great day and I'll update with more photos later! :)

Update...

I will perform this update in photos... It's been 7 1/2 weeks since surgery. Needless to say the frustration continues, but I see some progress. It's so long, and so arduous. I am still on crutches, and working hard in PT. My goal is to be off cutches in one week, at least for part of the day. I want to be walking most of the time in two weeks. Gosh I hope I meet that goal.

DO NOT let these tiny scars fool you. The recovery is hiding beneath the skin and muscle. The outside looks pretty decent. Oh, what lurks below!

From bad to worse...hopefully transiently.

So I was sold a false bill of goods. I was told it would be a long recovery, but the promises of "you'll be running in 3 months" loomed loudly in my head, as did the desire to reach my front steps sweaty, happy and with my rhinestone-adorned earphones dangling from my pink armband.

But instead of a progressing recovery and hopes of weaning off crutches in three weeks, I got continued bedrest, constant pain and no end in sight. My recovery is like pouring water into a glass with a sizeable hole in the bottom. If you pour fast enough (READ stay in bed and do nothing), the fill-line seems to rise. But if you pour a little less vigorously (READ attend a little league game) the hole opens up, letting the water gush out of the bottom of the glass, leaving it with a few drops clinging to the sides. I'm not clinging to the sides of that glass, back in bed, back in pain. All for three hours of sitting on a concrete retaining wall watching my son make an unassisted double play.

The injury happened in late November, around Thanksgiving, and by the first week of December, I had a hard time walking. It never got much better, but at least by February, I could walk without a noticable limp. I had an MRI in Februar to rule out stress fracture. It was negative. I didn't even have to take anything for my anxiety for the scan, and seeing that it was sa closed MRI, and my hip was in the center of the coil, this was an achievement as monumental as my gold medal in that 5K in October.

Still no diagnosis. Finally, my orthopedic surgeon recommended me to Dr. Kelly in NYC. Getting an appointment with him was like being that guy in the Barnum & Baily Circus riding his little motorized bike through three rings of fire and landing on that 12 inch ramp. I faxed the MRI Report, a letter about my clinical history from my orthopedic surgeon and a personl expose describing my need to return to distance running and how I was once a resident at his hospital many years back before I ruined my hip.  After many faxes, waiting two weeks and three phone calls to an office manager and a physicians assistant, I had an appointment scheduled for late March. But with a few more phone calls and some pleading, I had an appointment at the end of February. I think they could either hear the desperation in my voice, or profits were down for the month seeing that he took too many days off between the Superbowl, The Giants Parade & the NFL Combine (yes, he's an NFL hip guy - how cliche).

So I got my high-resolution MRI, about three weeks after getting my low-resolution MRI. Only this time, the magnet was bigger, my head was farther in, and I was freaking out big-time. Two pills later, I got through the scan and walked over (NOT LIMPED) to my appointment.

He got copies of the scan and pointed with his drug-rep pen to a strange area that stood out from the rest of the joint cartilage. I was elligible for surgery. This ordinarily would make someone sad. Me, it made happy. I finally had a name for my pain, a place to point to with a drug-rep pen and say "THIS is why I can't run!" So I then went to the front desk to get a surgical date. For that's what you do, right? Qualify for an appointment, jump through those flaming hoops, see doctor, qualify for surgery, and then get a date!?" Right??? Wrong. I had to pay (by check, since this was out of network), and then get scheduled for an intra-articular hip injecton to "PROVE" that this messed up squiggle on the scan was causing my pain. I tried to schedule it. They couldn't. The guy wasn't there that day. Just my luck.

I left, spent two days scheduling it, and ten days later had my hip injetion. I won't even go into it, since it was a bit like getting a hip injection from the three stooges. Curly stood there with the ultrasound probe and Moe - he was the one with the very long needle contaminating the sterile drape and not being able to find a new "kit" for thirty minutes. Wow.

After living through the injection that took way too long, caused way to much pain and relieved way to little, I called to schedule my surgery, the holy grail. "The surgery scheduler isn't in," the receptionist said. I left a message. I left another the second day. A third on day five. On day six, I got a call back from a PA, not the scheduler. What on earth was going on?! She had to DISCUSS the results of the injection with me before I could schedule surgery. They kept adding firey circles for my to pass through on my way to the ramp downward.

Yes, the PA approved it. And in a short week, the scheduler called me. I had a date. Yet twenty four hours later, I got a call saying he was going to be in Zurich, so it was a no go. They moved it two weeks later. Fine.

One morning in March I went out for a short run. Only 3 miles. It felt great. It hurt later. Bad. I dialed Dr. Kelly's office and was shocked into speachlessness when they put me through to the Scheduler. She said there may be a cancellation. I was half elated, half scared. She said she would call me back. She did. I was having surgery in four days.

Between having to get pre-op labs, a letter of medical clearance and call five places to see if they were in or out of network, I managed to visit my waxer, fill my prescriptions and attend Heather's Birthday Lunch. Tracy bought a gift and put my name on it. I think I still owe her forty bucks.

I had the surgery that following Tuesday morning. First case. Lucky me. My hip was worse than anticipated. Instead of a "degraded labrum" as read by the grand poobah of MRI specialists, who we affectionately call Harry Potter (her name resembles the character), I had two labral tears, a piece hanging into the joint, and a messed-up psoas tendon that had to be cut. Ugh.

I won't go on about the surgery or peri-operative pain. That's expected. Par for the course....or more appropriately, 7:40 ave. mile pace at the 5th mile of the 15k that caused me to be in this position to begin with.

Seeing that this is a longer tale than you probably wish to read, I will save the second installment of the torrid tale for tomorrow. It's not like I have anything better to do - bedrest sucks. Between avoiding the GameReady Ice Machine and not doing the CPM (continuous passive motion) machine, I should probably finish this now. But alas, I'm not sure I can face the rest...the hardest part, the lack of recovery. So I'll sign off, for now, and dig into my fifth book I've read in the last seven days. I seem to have developed a 15 dollar a day book habit. If I could only get myself to the Library, perhaps my late fines would be less than my Amazon tab. Ugh.

The perils of going first...

I frequently went first. And I'm not even talking about the time I volunteered to be in the first group to climb the ropes in gym class. I got married when I knew only one young married couple. I had a baby when all of my friends were still single.  I had a family when my friends were just meeting their husbands/wives.  I faught great illnesses, prepared my household for potential tragedy because of it, feared the worst, took stands, got stronger, realized my weaknesses and at the end of it all, acted like an adult....all by 36.

It was about 10 years ago, when I went to attend the wedding of a friend in upstate New York. I was still not well, and for those of you who don't know what I mean, suffice it to say I felt like crap. On top of it all, I was getting a cold! I was supposed to be up for the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, but dh was working too late to get up there by then. So instead, we left and got up there after the dinner was over.  The following morning, I was supposed to join in on some pre-wedding celebrations (Sat morning). I never heard about the meeting place details, so we drove all over that sleepy town in search of the bride, or the bride's family. The details are sketchy, but I never caught them at their next stop either.  I felt sad, because I didn't have the details of times/places, but felt secretly happy because I was in no mood for revelry. I felt down, sick and had my 2 year old son with us. I felt detached. That's a better way to put it.

The wedding that night was lovely. But mid-way through the reception, dh had to take ds back to the hotel to sleep. My cell phone didn't work, so when I felt too tired to stay (at pretty much the end) I couldn't reach him. I cried. I felt horrible, that I cried at my childhood best friend's wedding, but I couldn't take any more. She was gracious, and I gave her a hug and told her that I wasn't feeling well. I can't remember if I got through to dh or if someone drove me, but alas, the end of the reception was upon us anyway. I went to the brunch the following day, feeling a bit better and happily celebrated with the newlyweds and the family. Ds was well behaved too! A very rare occurrance.

I gave the couple hugs, and we left, driving the several hours back home. I was happy to be home. I wasn't happy about much those days. That was July. One morning in October, I felt sick, and weak. I had a bad cough. The phone rang and it was J, the bride, my old friend.  She told me first, that she was very upset at me for several months, which I couldn't understand, so I just listened. She said then it dawned on her. She didn't "get it." She had no understanding of how I was feeling, and how my life had changed. She realized that she had made no effort to walk a mile in my shoes. She called to say she had given it a try. At that point in my life, I wouldn't have recommended my shoes to anyone. Not by a long shot. But that day, I felt like for the first time, she had bridged the gap between my years of both fortunate, and unfortunate life experience and hers. She may not have understood what I was going through, but at least she could recognize the fact that it wasn't easy, and that she knew that her point of view wasn't the only one.  I hung up the phone, got a chest x-ray and had bilateral pneumonia (in both lungs). I was sick for three weeks at least. But I did recover from that!

Fast forward years later.  I had two kids, J had just given birth to her second son. One day, out of the blue, she called me, at her wits end with the toils of motherhood! Of course she loves her boys. But she was experiencing, much like I had, the tremendous adjustment to two children - two YOUNG children.  It was hard. She said "I had no idea what you went through at the time, but now I know. It must have been hard for you."  My kids were already both in elementary school. I said "don't worry about it, just do the best you can. It WILL get better. Trust me." It did.

Sometimes I think she should have understood how bad things were for me. But her life was so busy and she was always in motion, that she didn't have time to think about it. But in the end, seeing J grow to see things through others eyes has been remarkable. I guess I see that there's hope for us all - or me to see better from my own perspective as well.

These experiences have made me wonder - do people understand when I'm not as good a friend as I want to be? Do they get it, that I cannot be the person I was so long ago? Maybe I was never footloose and fancy free the way I should have been, but  I'm fine with where I am now. I just wonder if others understand that I can't be the same friend I was before.  I can only be the friend I am now. I may not be able to leave the kids, dogs, construction (ugh), sports, activities, work etc. overnight and revel in celebration. But I can be on the other end of the phone if a friend needs me, or make the time to support someone in crisis. I hate disappointing people. I hate it. But there are times, I just can't help it. I think the reason bad things happened to me in the past is that I didn't listen to my own voice.  And now I listen to it, and it's louder than anyone else's voice...and it's right in my ear. So if I listen to my own voice before yours, I'm very sorry. But the last time I ignored it for any great length of time, I lived to regret it. I cannot go there again, ever.

I just hope it's good enough.

I'm back!

of space! :)

I've missed you all. I hope you haven't forgotten about me!!! 

I must grab this opportunity...

because it very well may be the list time I can say this. On Sunday, the unthinkable happened - I WON a 5K in my age group! I got a decent time, don't get me wrong, but I never expected that it was good enough to win.  I got a gold medal in the awards ceremony and everything. It was definitely a highpoint and I wanted to share it with you all.

I didn't push myself too hard at all, and there were no mile markers (why I don't know) and  no timers. Plus my GPS ran out of batteries minutes before the start of the race!  I just ran, and really enjoyed myself.

A friend had the idea of making a shadowbox with my bib number, the medal and a photograph. I'm actually considering it - to hang in my office. I did that with M's cross country trophies, ribbons and medals from last year, and even added some photos. So I think I may just do that! :)

Here's another photo.  I set the exposure and handed over the camera since the lighting was changing like crazy and I knew I had to have some pictures commemorating this event.  Thanks for sharing this triumph with me.  I wore the medal for two days, and now I have it hanging in the kitchen.  Sigh....what fun!

Keeping my head above water...

or at least trying.  I shared in the joy of my best friend from grad school getting married last night. I served as a bridesmaid and really had a great time. I have suffered the "always a bride and never a bridesmaid" syndrome, as the only time I donned the bridesmaid attire was for my brother's wedding!  I was supposed to be a bridesmaid for another grad school friend but I was pregnant with M and got sick and had to back out.  I relished the role this time around, and had just a wonderful time supporting her as she married a wonderful (and very lucky) man!  Congrats M & D...may you have a lifetime of happiness together.  I'm so grateful to have been a part of your life M, and a bridesmaid in your wedding.  I'm also grateful that I got to choose that fun dress myself! And yes, I will actually wear it again, LOL.

I didn't take photos at M's wedding, but did manage to have a lot of sessions this past week to share.  I will only share from two, since I'm in a rush because I'm working this afternoon.

This baby, Jack, was a pleasure. He slept almost the entire time and really was a trooper!

One thing I can say about this session is that it was not only a pleasure shooting Jack, but also his Mom. She was just beautiful, and I've rarely seen such a lovely and happy new Mom. Jack is her first, and she's adjusting so beautifully.

She makes it look WAAAY too easy! :)

I also want to share a few of McKenzie...who also was a joy. She is now four weeks old, and alert and happy.

I could post photos of these babies forever, but I have to get back to work! Have a great week.

This weekend's session!

This past weekend, I shot an engagement session for a lovely couple! Stacy is a teacher and a dachshund enthusiast (I mean how could I not just love her?!) and Chip is a sports-fan and a super-nice guy!  We included their two dogs, Zoe and Jake in the photos and we had a blast at the beach! 

Thanks for a fun afternoon! More to come!!

The start of a new year!

True, last week we had a few days of school. But today they actually start the real thing - without the orientation, scavenger hunts, get-to-know-you interviews and games. It's the end of summer, and the beginning of real work. This brings routine, which is good and routine, which is bad. I guess it just is, and we must make the best of it.

Yesterday was the opening of cross country season. For the first time ever both kids raced. It was L's first race, and it was VERY exciting. The top fifteen ribbon, and she was noneother th