Cesaria Evora

I'm missing her already.



RIP

It Was National Cupcake Day Today

I did not get the memo on this therefore I missed!  I'm so sad.  I had an excuse to make mocha or coconut or meyer lemon or peanut butter or yellow cake with chocolate buttercream or, or, or, agh I missed out!  That stinks.  But here's some pretty pictures and at least it's 0 calories to enjoy them.




Find the above here



Find here







Find the above three here

Charley Harper

I have a quandry.  It's that time of year where I start looking out for a new calendar for my kitchen wall.  Given that it is something I see every day of the year, it has to look good.  Bonus if it can lift my spirits a bit.  I've had some classic calendars (botanicals and vintage travel), some funny (bad kitty and Calvin and Hobbes), some way too serious (Spanish artists and one picture that involved a bloody bullfight. I had to take a sharpie to it and make it seem more, ahem, fun.  Think stick figure rodeo clown).  But the last two years, I absolutely had to have Charley Harper calendars.  I love, love, love his work.  I never tire of looking at it.  It makes me super duper happy.  My daughter framed some of the previous months for bedroom art.  But, here's that quandry.  I do like change. 

It's tempting to get this...


I could express my love for ferrets for 365 days...or not.



I always love Frida...



A Parkes print was my first major art purchase as a college student.  I still have it in my bedroom.  It involves a juggler and I think it makes my husband uncomfortable.  But it's beautiful even 20 years after purchasing it.



But Mr Harpers work makes me so happy...



Oh dear, oh dear, what shall I do?  What would you do?

Find all calendars here... 
Free Shipping on orders of $25 or more at BarnesandNoble.com!

Hey, Did You Know It's December Already?

There is major frost on the ground in my little part of the world.  I've broken two hose handles this week forgetting that they are frozen and trying to turn them on.  This morning I wouldn't look my dog in the eyes as I made the decision to not go for a run and be the fat chick by the fire instead.  My house is so cheery right now with the addition of conifers, peppermint everything, and sparkles galore that I am finding it a little hard to leave.  I want an entire weekend in pajamas, crafting, watching movies and eating Thai food and snickerdoodles.
I found some very, very darling items this week.  I thought I should share.



Find here



Find here



Find here



Find here



Find here

Animalia

I'll just have to imagine the joy in wallowing on this beautiful pillow.  Because if I were to buy it, frankly, I would have to clean it every day due to the little beasties crawling all over it.  Oh, and my cat and dog also.  And the handsome husband.  We really like our floor pillows.



But this could survive our rambunctious household so maybe I should invest in this.


Find here

Perfect Gift For The Young Person In Your Life...

or for the person who needs a reminder on how to have a happy, productive life. 


Find here

Happy Thanksgiving and Good Eats to You!

This looks like the absolute best couch to crash upon to watch an old Bing Crosby movie after stuffing thyself.  Just add wiggly kids and purring cats.

Hot Pies

When the kids were little I was always trying to be creative and sneak veggies into their meals so I really got into making mini calzones.  Now they are like zoo animals and will eat whatever I throw at them.  (Ok, except brussel sprouts, even when roasted and drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil.  Whatever, little beasties, whatever.)  The following recipe showed up on Etsy awhile back and I just loved it and it took me back to those toddler years.  So,so easy.  I used Trader Joe's whole wheat pizza dough and their ready-to-eat grilled chicken strips.  Next time I might add a bit of pancetta or bacon also.



Turkey, Cheddar and Apple Hand Pies
Whole wheat pizza dough (pre-made or following this recipe)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1 cup roasted and diced turkey meat
1 medium, crisp apple, diced
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
1 tablespoon fresh sage, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
If using chilled pizza dough, allow to come to room temperature for about an hour.

Warm the butter in a skillet over a medium low flame. Saute the onion, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about ten minutes. Add spinach and stir to wilt the leaves, about two minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the turkey meat, diced apple, cheddar cheese, thyme and sage and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. Set aside.
On a floured surface, roll the pizza dough into a large square, roughly 12×12 inches. Divide into 16 squares about 3×3 inches. Place the squares on a large, lightly oiled baking sheet.

Kimberley Hasselbrink

Using a spoon or your hands, portion a generous tablespoon of the filling in the center of each square.
Fold one edge of the square over the other, forming a triangle. Fold and pinch the edges together to seal. Pierce the top with a fork. Brush the surface with a little olive oil, and finish with a sprinkle of sea salt.
Bake in the oven until the crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Best enjoyed hot. Can be reheated. They freeze well.

Please read the full blog post here

Lou Beach is Extraordinary

He writes like this...

HOGTIE put his feet up on the cooler, pushed his hat off his white forehead. 'You know this clownin’ is gettin’ old, ain’t no dignity in it.' Wallop scratched at something under his cap. 'Au contraire, Hog. Clowning is an integral element of the safety procedures incumbent upon rodeo management to provide to secure the well being of the riders.' Hogtie pursed his lips. 'Yeah, guess you’re right. Hand me my nose.'

And does art like this...



He is mucho talented.  Find him here

A Cheaper Way to Christmas Shop

I hate to admit it but I am something of a shopping guru.  I cannot leave a store feeling like I did not get a good deal.  And since I live in a rural area where shopping is quite spread out and slim pickins' I shop online a lot.  I repeat, a lot.  To the point even the dog gets excited when she hears the UPS truck.  She thinks he is Santa Claus all year around since dog biscuits come once a month in a big brown box.  Along with the biscuits comes cosmetics, Caldrea laundry products, Tampax, Clif bars, vitamins and other essentials which I know seems strange given that I hit Target about once a week.  But here's my secret.  I shop thru this link.

 http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hZP6cfuYZebfmwMOaIqVTg%3D%3D

Ebates is simple.  There are over 1200 stores on this site.  I most often use Sephora, Gap, J Crew, Barnes and Nobles, Boden, The Body Shop, Orbitz, Ebags, Shoes and Shoebuy and probably my favorite, Drugstore.  I earn a percentage back usually anywhere from 2% to 10% but sometimes as much as 26%.  Just find the store you want, click it and it will open a new window and direct you there in seconds.  Shop, check out and within just a few days, your cash back will be in your Ebates account and then mailed to you by check every quarter.  I just received a check for over $130 and that's before Christmas shopping!  Another cool thing is they run double cash back days and post coupons that you will not get elsewhere.
What I find most advantageous is that once you get into the habit of linking thru Ebates, it is so easy to get good deals in addition to the money you are earning just for linking.  Free shipping, free returns, easier searches when searching for a specific type of store.  Ultimately, Ebates cuts my browsing time and who doesn't appreciate more time?  Happy Shopping!!


Image thanks to peaceandloveboutique

A Mo-vement I Can Get Behind

Ok, for all my dislike of facial hair I am so happy with the Movember idea.  Have you heard of this?

About The Campaign

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.



Once registered at www.movember.com, men start Movember 1st clean shaven. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

Look here for more information.  Yay for boobies and moustaches!

I have a cold...

and it's cold and gloomy outside.  Oh, and it's Monday.  The forces are against me.  But I had a fairly nice weekend.  Lots of soccer with the kids.  Some lovely rain.  I crafted and played games with my family.  I watched Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring with my son in its entirety because he hadn't seen it yet. And I didn't make all the phone calls I should have or cleaned or answered emails or done any of the things that pressure me into not sitting with my son and watching a movie for three hours.  I did it and we had fun and now he can tell his friends he is no longer the last kid in third grade to have seen Lord of the Rings.  And I can tell you, my friends, that Aragon is still hot and my favorite line is "NOBODY tosses a dwarf!"  And I shall leave you with something pretty and maybe it will raise the gloom of Monday.



Find here

sigh...

One day, I too will be able to say, " Let's go to the chalet this weekend, darling."  And it will look just like this.  Except there will be lots of cats and dogs and dirty dishes and grubby shoes strewn here and there.  Hey, nobody is perfect!





See more of Aerin Lauder's pad here.

What I Want Today...

So that there may be no more Veterans of War.

What I Want Today

I'm a huge fan of Toms.  I have four pairs of their shoes. So I am unbelievably stoked to see their eyewear line.

I promise the man in the red suit I will be a good girl if he gets me these.




Find them here

Wintery Dream

My dream last night was a tad funny.  It consisted of wooden sleds, talking snowmen with oversized carrot noses and beavers.  Freud anyone?  Way back when I watched a lot of The Three Stooges it explained why my dreams often looked like this.




But now?  I can't fathom why other than I listened to some Jack White.  He likes his tophats.



 Or maybe it's because with all the early snow everybody has been getting I am already impatient for a long winter snow vacation.  Skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and sledding.  I love it all.  The catalogs are full of cute clothes (love ALL the boots) to make me look like an awesome snow bunny.  There is new gear to be had.  How bout this sled?


Classic.  Looks pretty awesome huh?!  Kinda scary in that bold, old-fashion way.  Before safety recalls and all that.   You can find it at
.
 Just click my link to the right.

To Beard or Not to Beard

No question!  NOT beard.  Just about every year around this time, my handsome husband starts rubbing his chin, glassy eyed with the anticipation of dominating the world with his facial hair.  Why else would an intelligent being grow one?  Surely just the satisfaction of giving me rashes on my delicate skin is not enough.
Here are some beards that I do so love.  Mainly because they are not on my handsome husband.


Find here


Find here



Find here



Find here



Find here

Fashion! Turn to the left!

Whenever I am shopping and see some high falutin' styles, I often sing David Bowies song to myself.  Even though the song isn't about shopping, duh.  Shopping online the other day I was tickled to find a site that has a catagory labeled 'Jumpsuits and playsuits'.  A whole catagory, seven pages!!  For adults!!

I would wear this...


Or this...

But not this..


Discover  www.us.asos.com.

My kind of tattoo

So stinkin' genius.



Find here

Plip, plop

This picture is kinda a snapshot of my day.  Leaving the big city in the midst of a storm.  Looking for somewhere not so grey and mad looking.  Unlike this guy though I threw on a cheery red sweater and my polka dot scarf to help part the clouds with my sunniness.



Find here

But then as we left the city and headed to our rural little town, things started to look like this.  And I was happy.



Find here

But as the drive wore on and I got sleepy and the rain came back, lulling me into further sleepydom, all I wanted was a pillow to rest my weary noggin upon.  This one would have been perfect.



Find here

In time we made it to our home sweet home.  And I plopped onto the couch next to the fire, turning on the tv, pleased to find one of my favorite movies on.  Time to shoo the kiddos out of the room.



Find here