The skies are still gray but the rain stopped, so off we went to accomplish many things. Along the way, we walked down secret alleys and peaked in pretty windows.
Pretended to be ladies who lunch. And indeed we did lunch.
Stocked up and promised ourselves never, ever, ever to go to Trader Joes on a Saturday.
And it keeps coming down. According to the folks that predict weather, we won’t see sun again until, maybe, February 2. Sigh. My hair looks good though. It likes the rain. Is that what they call a silver lining?
It is, apparently, never to early to have school pride. K came home yesterday with a copy of her school song. Mind you, she’s in grammar school. I don’t remember having a school song until high school. Actually, I don’t even remember that, but surely we had one?
K’s school has a cheer too. We learned it last year and belt it out once a week during morning school assembly. It’s enjoyable to have a cheer … if I had my way, every client would want me to create a cheer for every project I do. (No, I wasn’t a cheerleader. Not even close.)
Back to what there is of a point to this post … K’s school song. Walking through her room this morning, on the way to tackle the laundry, I noticed the song had moved from the stack of papers on the corner to the wall above her desk where it was carefully taped up.
School pride. Song + cheer. Go Bears Go!
Is it just me or is the day after a three-day weekend particularly hellish? You want to move fast but feel like you’re pushing through molasses to get things done. To combat my sleepy haze, I am sharing a couple treats. I would have brought chocolate but since I’m trying to reduce caloric intake, these goodies are of the visual kind.
Fig. 1: blooming
Fig. 2: a treasured gift. K carried this for a mile, hiking back from the beach because she knows I love pinecones
Cardboard + buttons + hot glue =
The first 2008 Valentine decoration. This project was less of a spatial challenge than the button tree, and comes with the heady smell of hot glue … there’s nothing like it! These are so quick and fun that I could easily become addicted. First though, there’s a Valentine button tree to tackle.
Mere moments ago, I stumbled upon a blog that had a list with a line that said, “Whole Foods Recipe Box” and I thought, does Whole Foods offer its recipes online? Speedy quick, I typed in www.wholefoods.com and yes! Yes indeed. That fabulous company has a ton of online recipes with the option to create your very own recipe box.
I love that they have so many categories, including one for kids. And, based on a quick scan, the recipes look straightforward and fairly simple. Basic cooking skills seem to be the only requirement.
This is so exciting. Why? Well, I’ve found that making dinner is quick and enjoyable when I plan menus in advance. Plus we eat healthier. The trouble is, planning menus always feels like such a chore. I pour through my stacks of recipes (still waiting patiently to be organized in the binder I bought for that exact purpose several years ago) and books, looking for a good mix of interesting meals that won’t get the stink eye from K. It never really takes that long, it just feels like it does.
Now, with my snappy Whole Foods recipe box and newly organized utensil drawer, I’ll be planning meals and cooking up yummy, healthy foods with ease. Check it out. Check it out now. You will love it!
Near …
Far ..
The same daily moment as captured on film and viewed by the parents of one amazing 7-year-old who will celebrate her birthday with friends at the local bowling alley. Gritty skateboard invitations. Only boys invited. That’s our girl!
Want a boost of color? Time to dress up the walls? Looking for inspiration? I’ve got the project for you!
All you need is old calendars, favorite postcards, pretty papers or cutting from a magazine + cheap frames (think Target and Ikea) + scissors:
Decide what images you want to use. Trim to fit. Put together. Then place in a pleasing arrangement.
And there you have it. Prep time: 20 minutes. Execution: 10 minutes (+ if you forget to measure twice and have the hole in the wrong place).
I plan to add on to mine from top and bottom as I collect more favorite images. Am also thinking it would be fun to alter them in some way. I’ll keep you posted.
Editor’s Note: The painting in the middle is an original from France. A treasure from my sister that really pops now that it’s surrounded by a series of uniform frames and complementary colors.
Editor’s Note 2: You’ll find that the frames, even after careful measuring, do not line up exactly right. Or look right when you’re up close but wonky from afar. This comes from using inexpensive frames that aren’t perfectly identical in size. I like it this way. But you could always take away the back easel (that gives you the option to stand the frame up) so it’s less bulky and inclined to move + affix a bit of tape to the bottom so it stays exactly where you want it.
I posted! On any given day, there’s usually a blog post or two floating around in my head. You wouldn’t know that of course because, as evidenced by the 1-week time lapse, I didn’t actually make it to the keyboard. Well, yes of course I was at the keyboard for hours … client work and all. But the fabulous things I was going to observe, tell you or just laugh about never came out.
Well here’s to another week and a big dose of GO power. To start us off, look at this super cool present I got yesterday …
OMG! It’s a GO package courtesy of my friend Lauri who wields an X-acto knife with amazing prowess. You should see her GO!
Speaking of GO, I’ve been giving a go, go, get gone kick to unwanted catalogs. I tried calling that “opt out” number that is supposed to put an end to junk mail but the catalogs continued to pour in. I have a sneaking suspicion that this formula is in play: amount of online shopping is directly proportional to number of catalogs received. Which is why I find bizarre catalogs like Viva Terra and Free People in my mailbox. No thanks.
So now everyday I GO right over to Catalog Choice and opt out. Catalog Choice is a sponsored project of the Ecology Center with a bold mission:
The mission of Catalog Choice is to reduce the number of repeat and unsolicited catalog mailings, and to promote the adoption of sustainable industry best practices
Using the site is free, and super easy. Just type in the catalog name, click the decline button and enter the customer number (if there is one on the back of the catalog). The site keeps track of your preferences via a secure user name and password that you create. I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to grab those magazines, opt-out and then dump them in the recycling box as I add to the over 4 million catalogs consumers have already opted not to receive.
I like reducing the amount of matter in the world, so I can focus on the stuff that does matter.
It’s a slow-GO day over here with a child home from school with what we hope is a short-lived flu. All righty then, off I go to see how much go I can get done!
K on New Year’s Day. Despite the fuzzy camera phone quality, you can see the tranquility, feel the wide-open possibility.
This January and last, I’ve read about lots of bloggers choosing a word for the year. A word to symbolize where they want to go, what they hope to accomplish or focus on and/or how they hope the year will be. It’s a personal tagline of sorts. You can read more about it here.
I’m still considering my word (leaning towards GO) but I know for sure that this picture will be my visual icon for the year. Grounded but open. Inquisitive, creative, peaceful and present. 2008 — Go!
