Lemon Cupcakes

Next Time

By Mary Oliver
Next time what I'd do is look at the earth before saying anything.
I'd stop just before going into a house and be an emperor for a minute and listen better to the wind or to the air being still.  When anyone talked to me, whether blame or praise or just passing time, I'd watch the face, how the mouth has to work, and see any strain, any sign of what lifted the voice. And for all, I'd know more -- the earth bracing itself and soaring, the air finding every leaf and feather over forest and water, and for every person the body glowing inside the clothes like a light.

Hocus pocus, let's make lotion!

My purchase from Snowdrift Farm was delivered this Saturday and lotion was made!  I only had one cup that measured ounces so there was a lot of guess work involved, which was a gamble, I know, but I couldn't help it, that's how I roll. I used the Cocoa Butter Lotion recipe from Snowdrift Farm with the perfumer's alcohol instead of the regular alcohol.

Below are 2 containers I filled with the still hot lotion mix.

Making lotion is a little messy (at least when I do it).

This is 2 days later after it has set with the the tree tea oil face cleanser that was also made.  The cleanser was ridiculously easy and I love it, it works well.  Just water with a few drops of tea tree in a new spray bottle.

All together the ingredients were a little pricey, but it was fun and I plan to make my own from now on so I bet I'll use everything up.  Yay, for DIY! 

Right now

I am loving:

Blackberries

Starstruck - good funk

Snowball - whos dancing is, "potentially scientifically very important"   

SnowDrift Farm - purchases were made and experimenting will be done!

Thank you

I really do have wonderful friends and I love getting to spend time with you all, no matter how sporadic it may be.  So thank you for:
sharing lovely photos of the little people in your life,
for cords and windshield wipers ; )
for patiently listening to my crazy ideas and angst filled lunch dates
for flowers

for old chairs that make new reading corners,

for flying in to visit (1 more week!)
and for just being you! 

A little love

In celebration of this wonderful, amazing, beautiful, exciting, and wondrous planet we call home I want to show it some love, a tiny hug for Earth if you will. I decided to ban bottled water from my life and invest in a filtration system (have you tried the tap water in Vegas?  Try it if you dare, but like most things here, it’s a gamble).  Small steps mind you, but it’s a start.  

If you have a moment, check out the amazing work of Chris Jordan.  It is beautiful and thoughtful.  I can’t wait to get my hands on his new book, Running the Numbers II Portraits of global mass culture.

I especially love Gyre, 2009.

Happy Earth Day friends and remember to show your home some love : )

a little magic

I must admit I like fairy tales (just not so much the versions that have been adopted by the largest media corporation in the world).  I am a fan of the older versions of fairy tales and folk lore.  The ones that were aimed at adult and children audiences alike.  Combine some of those stories with Golden Age illustrators and I am one happy girl.  I was excited to discover this site, a treasure trove of beautifully illustrated children’s book that are no longer in print today and/or crazy expensive to get your hands on. Neat, no?

I also like movies that subtly remind me of fairy tales (Lars and the Real Girl, Amelie, Stranger than Fiction, Benny and Joon) and movies that obviously have a fairy tale element to them (Edward Scissor Hands, Pan’s Labyrinth, Penelope, Lady in the Water).  From the popularity of these movies I doubt that I am alone in my love for the fantastical and sometimes darker side of fairy tales.  Speaking of fairy tale like movies, I just saw Let the Right One In, it was very good, but definitely creepy. 

  

I recommend it if you find yourself a fan of foreign films and vampires.  And yours? What’s your favorite fairy tale or fairy movie?

Art, Sweets and Treats

Feeling down?  How about some free art from Feed Your Soul to cheer you up? I mean, come on, free art?  How cool is that!?  I printed out a freebie from March and placed it in a that was just waiting to be filled up.  Most of the freebies seem to be oriented towards the ladies, but Michael, jump on over anyway.

It's no secret I love sweets and recently I bought some Ricemellow Crème from Whole Foods.  I had no idea what to use it for, but’s it’s the only vegan substitute for marshmallows that I’ve seen so I decided to give it a go.  I finally tried it out last night on top of a little bit of chocolate ice cream and let me tell you, it was delicious!  A+ I say.  It’s not the prettiest looking concoction, it’s ivory colored and a little melty looking, but don’t let that fool you.  It’s great.  I can’t wait to try it between some hearty graham crackers from Trader Joe’s with a little dark chocolate.  Yum! 

Now for the treat, Kristen is having a give away!  She is giving away 3 prints, yes 3!   She is the owner of this pretty little etsy shop. All you have to do is hop over to her site and leave a comment : ) Good luck to you and me!

Willing To Fall

I often think of him looking sideways
at me and the painting he did for me
of the little girl who may look alone
but really isn’t at all.
We listened to War of the Worlds
and I fell asleep during the broadcast,
fingers fluttering against the pillowcase.

I think of the idea of a heart,
the idea that the constant rocking
inside us that keeps us alive
could be responsible for a feeling.
I think of the pink and red hearts cut
up and pasted onto construction paper.
What could these possibly have to say
to the muscle in the chest?

There is something else, too.
There is desire and what does it have to do with anything? I remember
reading that eagles join together in flight,
but in love they can no longer fly
so they plummet like siamese twins
toward the trees, no thought for ground.

I think of these eagles picking up speed
and I want this feeling-
To be so willing to fall!

Kate Schmitt (1973)

my late new year resolution

 My resolution is to not buy any unnecessary new thing for myself for the rest of the year. No new clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, etc. I hope this will bring more thoughtfulness into my purchases and challenge me to be more creative and resourceful. I’m not saying no new things altogether, thrifts stores are a okay and so are necessities, like laundry detergent and what not. I think my decision sprung from my reading of this inspiring lady. She wore the same homemade brown dress for one entire year. Everyday. I was so impressed when I read about her project. I have torn feelings about fashion myself, I feel there is validity to the argument that the clothes convey a message, can help you feel good and lead to opportunities, but I also strongly believe it shouldn’t matter what someone wears. And then there’s the fact that clothes can just be so pretty. I use to think no chain store marketing campaign could catch me in their cleaverly crafted web of consumerism, until I discovered this store. I think I am the very last person to know about their charms. I guess I've  been living under a rock. I've heard of Anthropologie, but was never tempted to wander inside until I was looking for some last minute birthday gifts. And that’s when it happened, I was trapped in their web. I loved it all. From the comforters to the aprons and from the salt shakers to drawer knobs. But I am determined to remain firm in my resolution and looking is more than enough for now. : )

Anyway, here are 2 of my 3 thrift store finds I told you about from a few weeks ago.

These are so great and only $6! I had to swoop them up.

Ok, I know no one needs a birdcage, but it was so lovely, even in the dirty off white color it originally was.

This mug did not come from a thrift store, but the chai inside came from the new/old teal container above. I know, the soy whip cream isn’t that great, but it’s pretty and I needed something to catch the pink sprinkles (which I don’t get to use nearly enough as I would like). What?  It's Friday. 

A Poem

Today was a beautiful day and the idea of abandoning my desk for the freshly cut grass outside crossed my mind more than once. There’s a whole lawn right outside my sliding glass door, inviting bare feet and lunches al fresco. Runaway thoughts and easily fulfilled whims, clearly some of the dangers of working from home, but how wonderful to be reminded of the important things in my days, how beautiful to be able to see trees from my windows and little birds, to experience natural sunshine in my room instead of the artificial lights I have too often worked under. Lights that slowly leech the creativity from my body.  Maybe those lights bury the creativity, the light particles seep into my body and push the wholesome residue, that the fresh air and sunlight must leave, so deep in me it starts to drip from my shoes.  Those days are gone for now and I gratefully admire the view below instead.

 

 And delight in this poem cycle that told me it needs to be shared:

A Poem Is...
  -a poem cycle-
            by
  Charles Ghigna

A Poem Is A Spider Web

A poem is a spider web
Spun with words of wonder,
Woven lace held in place
By whispers made of thunder.

What's A Poem?

A whisper,
a shout,
thoughts turned
inside out.

A laugh,
a sigh,
an echo
passing by.

A rhythm,
a rhyme,
a moment
caught in time.

A moon,
a star,
a glimpse
of who you are.

A Poem Is A Little Path

A poem is a little path
That leads you through the trees.
It takes you to the cliffs and shores,
To anywhere you please.

Follow it and trust your way
With mind and heart as one,
And when the journey's over,
You'll find you’ve just begun.

©2009 Charles Ghigna. All rights reserved.

This poem was featured on this lovely site. So far April 3^rd remains my favorite.