bluejayfly

Come Find Me

2012-02-01T12:45:00.000-06:00

I am abandoning ship. It seems silly to have two blogs and I never post on here anymore. Instead, I will be expanding the amnoonpm blog to include craftiness, art projects and other random bits and bobs. I hope you'll come find me! amnoonpm.blogspot.com

DIY Jewelry Fun

2011-09-26T16:05:00.000-05:00

So, among its 80,000 other life changing benefits, Pinterest is the place to find some pretty awesome DIY jewelry tutorials. Not only have I followed a couple of them, such as the ribbon bracelet found here (pictures of mine to follow), but its inspiring me to look at all kinds of things in other ways and think about what I can use to make jewelry. I found an old vintage scarf on a thrifting excursion and while I loved the colors and pattern, it had a little wear and tear and spots. I just decided to start knotting it and see what happened. I am super psyched by the results.

So simple. Directions: Get a scarf, make knots in it, tie ends together, if it has some stray pieces sticking out take a needle and thread and tack them into place, put it on. How's that for a tutorial? You could do this with all sorts of shapes of scarves, just play around with folding them into triangles or in half to figure out the length and to keep it from being too bulky. This one was made from a long rectangular scarf that I pulled a little catty-cornered to get more length.

Here's the ribbon bangle that I made. Its really thick and chunky because of the ribbon I used and it JUST fits over my hand to get it on.

What kind of DIY projects have you been working on lately?

Adventures in Thrifting

2011-09-23T12:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a good day for a gal who likes to thrift...

Two fisher price record players! The top one is for real records, 33 and 45, and was $7 and the second one is a music box and mechanical record player with plastic records and was $10. If you know anything about how crazy people are on ebay with their asking prices for vintage Fisher Price then you know I was pretty excited indeed! I'm saving the mechanical record player as a Christmas present for Jake. Speaking of Christmas, the other record player is going to allow me to listen to all of the Christmas albums I haven't been able to hear for SO long. As a kid, that was one of my favorite parts of the holidays. Christmas music just sounds better on a record player.

Then there is the vintage wool and cotton, navy, old man cardigan that I got for $3. Last but not least VINTAGE HEAVEN for the low, low price of $8. I nearly wet myself. This other lady pulled it out as I was going around the aisle and I gave her a minute silently willing her, "Please don't want it. Put it DOWN! It needs to be mine!". Sigh of relief, when I got to the end of the aisle...there it was, hanging on the end of the rack. I can't think of the name for this type of faux fur but I absolutely love it. My friend Aiko has a longer coat like this that I covet every time she wears it. I always pet her and say...someday I will have one too. Now I do! This one has the 3/4 dolman sleeves and hits about waist length. It needs some new button love and then it will be good to go. One of the biggest stumbling blocks with vintage clothes can be smell...either cigarette stench or old lady perfume. Thankfully both of these are odor free!

I also got some old white wooden beads but I'll save them for another post. I've been playing around with making some jewelry, following some terrific tutorials on Pinterest. Coming soon...

Score!

2011-08-31T18:10:00.000-05:00

I love a good thrift or a good bargain. Today's Happy Janet moment brought to you by Banana Republic. Originally $130. Mine for $16. There are some cute little frocks on deep sale right now, F to the YI.

Summer isn't summer without frozen fruit on a stick

2011-08-29T14:42:00.000-05:00

Today I realized that I haven't made popsicles all summer long. This is unacceptable. We got a watermelon last week that just wasn't all that. The flavor was good but the texture was a little "eh". So I found this recipe for Watermelon Pineapple Popsicles online and gave it a go. YUM! It makes about a dozen popsicles.

More fantastic food photography on my part. I am continually amazed that Food and Wine isn't knocking on my door for my mad, mad skills.

Hippos make me Happy

2011-08-25T18:19:00.000-05:00

We've had this hippopotamus exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo for several years now. Every stinking time I go its either being cleaned, therefore no hippos. Or the hippos are behind the scenes dancing like ballerinas in tutus and having tea parties or some such. I don't know what they do with their time really but the point I am making is that I never get to see the hippos and I love hippos.

This last visit made up for it all...it was ALL of the hippos, all hippos all the time. Hippos as far as the eye could see.

It was also the first time Jake rode the zoo train.

Also, what would a trip to the zoo be without sitting on a statue for a picture?

Starry Eyed

2011-08-20T16:51:00.000-05:00

The last 10 things I starred in my Google Reader and/or pinned in Pinterest...

Top two pictures are Laura Lombardi Fall/Winter 2011 via wit + delight
Vintage Style Bow Tie Headband DIY via Say Yes to Hoboken
Sculpture by Mary Button Durell via Honestly WTF
Love this whole look and color palette via coco + kelley
This will be mine. Tree of Life Print via ohdeedoh
DIY Yardstick Table via Brooklyn Limestone
Song Lyric Wall Art DIY via A Beautiful Mess
Weeping that I missed this, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty via The Sartorialist
I want this dreamy Shabd Geode dress via still the sky is blue
Zanzibar, Tanzania...C'mon, let's all go! via Honestly WTF

Playlist

2011-08-01T15:54:00.000-05:00

There is just too much good music out there right now. I seriously think that in about 50 years folks are going to look back and consider this time a Renaissance of sorts. So much boundless creativity and mixtures of influences. Here's what seems to be in constant rotation around these parts...

First of all, I nearly forgot to write about the Florence + The Machine concert last month. The Pageant is a fantastic venue but probably way too small for Flo's fan base. That's alright by me since I was one of the lucky ones to get a ticket. Well, not so much lucky as downright determined. I made sure to be in line way ahead of the time they went on sale. It was truly sublime, the best concert of my life thus far and a night I will never forget!

These two photos taken by my friend Jeanne Norris

Photo by Jason Stoff of The Riverfront Times of Amy, myself and Keri at the concert.

This was the first song of the encore, which will be on the new album! Thank you to SuperJCS2009 for such a superb recording!

My pick for album for album of the decade, The Decemberists The King is Dead. I know its only year one of the decade but I am willing to go out on a limb. Its a total masterpiece.

I just recently discoverd Ellie Goulding and have a total girl crush on her

How can you not fall in love with these two?

Also heavy on the rotation...the incomparable Adele. If you haven't heard "Rolling in the Deep" by now, you must be living under a rock. The whole album is just pure perfection. I would like more of this please, artists performing in their own homes and studios. I love a little glimpse of another person's life. It makes the connection to the artist more substantial somehow.

What music are you loving now?

I Earned the Right to Say "I Told You So, Borders"

2011-07-18T20:01:00.000-05:00

*Disclaimer: Not only do I curse a bunch, I also wrote this at a fevered pitch. I ask that you forgive my grammar, spelling and sentence structure.

You may have heard the news that Borders is done for and is completely going out of business. Its more than a little personal for me as I dedicated five years of my life as the Community Relations Coordinator for one of their bazillion locations. My experience was much like the nursery rhyme of the little girl with the little curl in the middle of her forehead...when it was good, it was very,very good and when it was bad it was horrid.

I was in college when I first started as a barista/cafe gal. I literally begged for the job. I went so far as to actually say to the manager "I will bring in a toothbrush and scrub the bathroom grout if that's what you can hire me to do.". You cannot blame me, I was working part time at Old Navy (a company whose demise is imminent within the next decade I'm sure and will have its own blog post at the time of its death). I was desperate to get out of that concrete slab of a coffin of a store and snuggle into the warmth of books and music and sentient life forms.

After a couple of months, I started assisting the Community Relations Coordinator with events and then when a second location opened in St. Louis, she moved on to that store and I became the CRC. My job was literally to relate to the community. To provide events and programs that would cater to the needs of our customers. I hosted authors and touring musicians, booked local music, ran kids events and book groups and seminars and talks on everything under the sun. We had live music every Friday night and most Saturday nights. We hosted very popular children's story time once a week and at least one kids event on Saturday. I ran an Art Summer Camp for a week each year. Every Christmas we had our Holiday Movie PJ Party. We hosted an average of 3 authors a month and a nationally touring musician every 3 to 4 months. I also took care of advertising, donations, working the children's section (because they barely ever put anyone else back there unless I threw a hissy fit), the newsletter, mailers for events and some manager duties.

I poured my heart and soul into that program and in the beginning it was so, soooo good. I had managers who were passionate about literature and the arts and who took GOOD care of their people. Every Borders was unique...different layouts, we made our own signage and created awesome displays, there were couches and chairs everywhere, the coffee was Kaldi's (a beloved local vendor) and the pastries were local too, we displayed local artists work in our cafe. Also, every section was manned by someone who had personal ownership of that section. You might work another section sometimes if needed but mostly the salesperson got the opportunity to really know what was in stock and the customer got to actually speak to someone who knew what the hell they were talking about. We carried many independent press authors. We really, really tried to be the chain that wasn't a chain. There was nothing cookie cutter about us other than the color of the wood of the bookshelves. We knew we were in competition with Barnes and Noble but it didn't really feel that way. They had a different feel. They were a pair of lace up Victorian booties and we were a comfy pair of old Chucks. Despite all the people who raged at us for killing independent bookstores we neither set out to do that NOR were we the sole or even major reason why some of those indies went out of business. Not at that point at least. We wanted to be the good guy. We wanted to be a destination. We wanted to grow our customers and tend to them like gardeners. We had lofty ideas and truly the very best intentions.

I can't really put my finger on when it all changed. It happened slowly and I've got the memory of a slab of wood so this is not a historical timeline, just a meandering recollection of how it all went wrong. For starters, we became a publicly traded company. You know what that means...stockholders and their opinions become the end all be all. First of all I think its ridiculous that retail is even a part of the stock market but then again I think the stock market is just glorified, legalized gambling and a huge problem with our economy anyway. Soooo...I wasn't very excited when told that instead a bigger pay increase for my services I was going to be the proud new owner of a slew of stock options. Not even actual stock, just the option to maybe have some stock if I felt like going without food or electric for a week or two. Stock options for people who make under $10 an hour? Yeah, thanks a bunch. In the end of my tenure, those options were worth nothing anyway. Our stock zigged and zagged like a drunk on the highway.

Then we stopped carrying those local pastries and the Kaldi's coffee and we got STANDARDIZED. We got standardized all over the place. No more making displays or creating our own signage. No it was decided that it was a giant waste of time to direct customers attention to items they may not know about. Instead, here's an endcap that every store in America will have and we'll create big signs to direct customers attention to the bestsellers because well...they are already bestsellers. And at the front of the store. And featured prominently in the New York Times. So obviously no one will already know about those. So very, very dumb...but easy, because its standardized! People in charge LOVE standardization because it allows them to be lazy and look like they've really got a handle on things. As my hero George Carlin would say, "Its bullshit and its bad for you.".

It went SO far in the cafe that instead of purchasing DaVinci or Torani flavored syrups, Borders decided to manufacture its own flavored syrup and distribute that to its stores. Suddenly we sold books, music, dvds and flavored syrup but we stopped carrying postcards designed by a local artist. Suddenly chairs and couches were taken up with yet another display table. One to hold board games and toys. Suddenly we sold books, music, dvds, flavored syrup, board games and toys but stopped scheduling people in one section and instead threw them wily nily at whatever needed doing. Eventually the stationary section exploded until the front of the store looked like Hallmark and we sold books, music, dvds,flavored syrup, board games, toys and stationary but we stopped carrying so many independent press authors. It went on and on.

Oh and of course there was pyramid scheduling. I'd have to have a degree in Egyptology to even start explaining more or less understanding the logic behind this crap. Essentially you look at the sales of the same day of the previous year and you base your staffing off of that. Here's how that doesn't work. One year we hosted an in-store performance by Tommy Shaw of Styx (he was a great guy, btw) and it drew in the motherload of paying customers...around 600 to be exact. Fast forward to one year minus a month later and I'm in the office of my GM who proceeds to tell me that we need to come up with an event on the anniversary of that Tommy Shaw performance that will compete with sales. Nevermind that he performed on a Saturday and we would now be dealing with a slow Sunday. My exact words, "Can you get me Tommy freaking Shaw again?" Not to even mention that pyramid scheduling usually meant "Oh this day was super slow last year so let's cut hours and then we'd end up with a crap ton of customers and no one to sell them anything". No one ever listened to my adage "The more people you have to sell things...the more things you sell.". Ever been in the kids department? How often have you actually had someone knowledgeable back there to help you? A couple of years ago (didn't even work there anymore) I sold an old lady $300 worth of kids board books in 10 minutes flat. That's what happens when you put someone with knowledge in front of someone with cash. Near the end of my time at Borders, they would bitch and moan constantly about kids sales not being where they wanted. I think they were at like 12% of store sales. I told them if they would just put a couple of people back there regularly who were TRAINED and learned in kids lit that they could easily double that percentage. They never even tried.

What else? Oh I can go on for days. Let's spend a moment talking about the company's gargantuan growth. When I first started with the company, the higher ups would make fun of B&N for how many stores they kept opening. There was a joke right about the time the Mars rover landed that it was there to scope out B&N locations. Within two years we began outpacing them. Example? There are SIX friggin locations in St. Louis. Not in the whole of Missouri...just in the St. Louis metro area and surrounding townships. Stores began stealing business from other stores. Cannibalism...its a bitch.

Instead of building an online presence, they opened more stores and started talking about some magical machine kiosk that would print out a book if it wasn't in stock (WTF???!!! Are you mentally deficient, person who came up with that nugget? The paper jams alone!!). Plus, they never quite got distribution down. They didn't even try to give Amazon a run for its money. They just kept looking for things to cut. I knew when I got an email asking me to list all of my job responsibilities and the time I spent doing them each month that my job would be next. By this time I had literally the biggest bitch in the world as a boss and so I put in my notice thinking I wouldn't have a job within a year anyway, might as well make the choice then. The very next week, the position was cut and that was that. I can say "I told you so." because after I left, I would say to anyone that would listen to my ravings that Borders would be done and over within a decade, two if they were lucky.

If you as a customer, ever looked around at your local Borders in the last 7 years thinking "Didn't they used to have music here?" or "Where are the book groups?" or "Didn't the Gardening section used to be twice as big?" or "Hey what the what is that crap they are calling coffee?" that would be why. Why? Because Borders no longer gave two shits about its community. The CEO who makes billions of dollars does not give two shits about community. He wipes his ass with your dollars and that's about as far as his care for you goes.

I don't care to go any further with how it all went wrong. People who are far more eloquent than me have already been dissecting that particular dead frog and I am starting to feel my blood pressure skyrocket and I am getting pretty teary. Instead I would like to end by saying to all of the current Borders employees, from the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry and I feel for you. I wish you all the best and hope for you that more companies in the future will start learning from these mistakes and that psychopaths will stop sitting in CEO chairs.

I'd also like to end on the positive. Because Borders was in many ways one of the best things that ever happened to me. That job gave me so much confidence in myself and made me grow as a person. Even more importantly, it gave me the opportunity to know some of the most wonderful people I have ever known, some of whom will be my friends until the day I die. God we had fun. We came up with stupid redone book titles like Are you there God? I Need a Tampon. We may or may not have done some illegal things in the parking lot. We watched soap operas and talk shows in the break room. We talked about the books and music and poetry and films we loved. We expanded each others horizons. I even got to check "Make out with someone in the stockroom" off my bucket list. For those reasons and only those reasons...thank you Borders. R.I.P.

Friday Photo

2011-07-15T16:15:00.000-05:00

I may never leave the AC'd inside ever again

2011-07-13T15:30:00.000-05:00

Before (Super Hideousness)

and then...

After (Super Awesomeness)

Back in April, Stephen's parents came up from North Carolina to help us paint. It rained all week...of course. So we had to reschedule and the only time that worked was July. When you live in Missouri and you tell people you are going to paint your house in July, they get that look upon their face of horror and derision. July in Missouri is meant for only three things...swimming, watermelon and hiding from the sun (when you aren't swimming). Its brutal humid. So no one was shocked when day 2 we had a heat index of 115. I still can't fully talk about it...I think I have PTSD. I also have a beautifully painted house in a color palette of the decade in which we currently live. My eyes no longer hurt when I pull into our driveway. Bliss.

My Brains

2011-06-27T17:33:00.000-05:00

image via pinterest

are full of feathers and geodes and moths and fungi (like the amazing photograph up above). I have so many ideas swirling around for different illustration projects. I've made a few rough sketches and put together this "Summer 2011 Inspiration Board" on Pinterest. I really hope you can follow this link even if you don't have a pinterest account. Oh, but you should have one! I use it for everything now. All of my links to anything I want to try, or read or wear or pretend I own. Its the greatest for creating inspiration boards for projects. Its fun times, people! However, if the link doesn't work for you, would you please let me know?

I've decided to stop doing the collages for awhile and focus more on drawing. I am hoping in the next couple of weeks to get the wacom connected and to start teaching myself how to use Painter. I'm really excited about all of the possibilities in creating artwork digitally. Its like having a whole art store at your fingertips...with no messy clean up! While I do have some plans swirling for the more "children's picture book" type of style I've been working in, I am also wanting to branch out. I am crazy for old botanical and natural history type prints and I'd like to try out some ideas in that genre. I'm ready to play!

Friday Fotografia

2011-06-24T16:16:00.000-05:00

I felt there needed to be alliteration. What kind of bleeping blogger would I be if I didn't use alliteration in my title? Again, no words...just a fotografia of a moment to remember. Crap. I cheated. These ARE words. Epic fail.

Scissors

2011-06-23T13:48:00.000-05:00

or exacto knife (but that as a title doesn't really jive with my theme of the last few posts). Anywho...today I am sharing with you some of my favorite paper cutting geniuses! Click on the blue links for more info!

Kris Trappeniers found via Honestly WTF.

Anastassia Elias found via Honestly WTF.

Helen Musselwhite via Pinterest

Elsa Mora found via...everywhere, she is inescapably brilliant and probably one of the sweetest people ever set upon earth.

Roadside Projects who is currently working on a series of papercut illustrations based on Roald Dahl's stories. This is Matilda.

Theater Clouds above and beyond brilliant. I love everything she does. This one, The Name Her Heart Sang, is available in her etsy shop and will someday hopefully be mine!

Paper

2011-06-22T16:36:00.001-05:00

Paper Mustaches that is! Created by myself and some other folks for this years FloraDora fundraiser benefiting St. Louis' very own Circus Flora!

My dear friends Katie and Dee sporting their upper lip accessories.

Aren't they lovely?

This group of girls have become my sister tribe. I would walk on fire for these gals.

One of whom isn't in the photo because she couldn't make the event. No worries, Amy...heart pounds and poured a little alcohol on the ground in recognition of your absence. Okay so I didn't MEAN to pour it on the ground,

it slipped...um, I was a little tipsy. ;)These excellent photos taken by Holly McCaig.

Circus Flora is in its 25th year and you may remember me talking about it last year. If you are in the area and interested in checking it out, it only goes until the end of June so hurry this way to get your tickets and find out more.

We went last Saturday and this was going on right above my noodle.

Heart palpitations and about a gallon of sweat pouring out of my palms. These talented folks never use nets because they feel it can create a false sense of security. The Flying Wallendas rock my world!

I think Jake wants to be Nino the Clown 's understudy.

Rock

2011-06-19T13:22:00.000-05:00

I have always loved rocks, pebbles, stones and as a kid I would spend hours just building little structures or making patterns with them. One year my daddy bought a rock tumbler and for months it was our favorite hobby. I loved seeing how the rocks would change, colors could be brought out and they could be made smooth and shiny. I would pretend they were precious gemstones to be guarded from pirates. It made me happy to see my dad act like a little kid with this toy.

One day he presented me with this...

Just a simple pendant, not even the prettiest rock we ever found or tumbled but so perfect to me in every way. I still wear it all the time. Especially on days like today when I just want him a little closer.

Happy Father's Day!

A borrowed Friday tradition

2011-06-17T09:42:00.000-05:00

Borrowing this idea from Soule Mama. Each Friday, no words or description....just a photo of a moment I want to remember always. Happy Weekend!

Still Here

2011-06-15T15:47:00.000-05:00

There are many reasons for me being absent from this space for so long but the main reason, the real reason, has been death. My beloved step-mom, Dee, was diagnosed with a brain tumor late last year and passed away because of it early this spring. Each time I came here to write something, I felt the need to write about her and just could not...it was too big and my feelings too confused. Then over the past couple of months my family has been dealing with the sickness and death of the "glue" of our family, dear Aunt Mary. Before I could even really begin to process losing Mama Dee, suddenly I was punched in the gut with another loss.

Most people my age have experienced loss, usually grandparents, sometimes a parent but not many have lost them all. 5 grandparents, 2 parents, 2 step-parents, 2 good friends, 1 lover, 4 aunts and uncles...16 people gone from my world. I understand, logically, that because my parents were much older when they had me that naturally this is my lot in life. However, logic has not much of anything to do with emotion. It doesn't tuck you into bed and help you drift off. Logic does not hold your hand when you feel like you've come un-moored. Now, each time a different person is whisked away from me it causes a chain reaction of grief. Like dominoes toppling over one another, each loss takes me back to the one I lost before them. It is not just the death of people, its the death of their possibility and what could have been. Grief is relentless. Time does not heal all wounds. You just keep putting on fresh bandages. I try very hard to fight against being drawn into dark places. Sometimes I lose and sometimes I win. Mostly, I win. I try to concentrate on all the beauty and wonder in my life and in the world. I try to think of myself as stronger for all of it, a better friend maybe, more compassionate. I try to remember not to let grief guide my choices. I try. I try. I try. Mostly I win. So you need not worry that this post is some cry for help that I am drowning in it all. I am a strong swimmer.

No, this post is to just acknowledge where I've been lately. To tell you that I haven't abandoned this blog but for a time I couldn't give two shits about it. This entry is a band-aid being ripped off so that sometime soon I can write about a recipe I just tried, or the art I've been working on, or a circus that is near and dear to my heart. There have been great things that have happened during these last few months amidst all the sadness and I would like to write about great and happy things. Something, anything that is light and full of life. Something that flips a giant middle finger at loss and death. I am so ready for that.

You mess with a swan...you get the wings

2011-02-28T12:53:00.000-06:00

Food Outreach is a truly wonderful organization here in St. Louis that cooks, packages and distributes meals to people living with HIV/AIDS and cancer. This past Saturday they had their annual trivia night to raise funds and our table won best theme. I mean, how can you compete with this?...

Yes I made a paper mache, feather covered swan hat for this event. That's how I roll!

I also had a fantastic handmade tutu but forgot to take full length pictures. Ah well...next time I dress up as a conflicted half black and half white swan, right?

XOXO

2011-02-14T17:45:00.000-06:00

There has been much Valentine craftiness going on around here. I blame it on SNOMG and the usual winter psychological imbalances. I can't believe that every single year I convince myself that I actually like winter. No. No I do not. Oh sure, its all coziness and roaring fires and pot roasts at first. Then by mid January, without fail every year, I start considering selling everything and for Stephen and I to just go tend bar on the beach for the rest of our lives. Jake could be a little surfer beach bum.That daydream gets me through to the beginning of February.

Then the crafting sets in and it gets me by until we have a week like now where we'll be in the 60's by weekend. Oh dearest sunshine and warmth, I understand why whole cultures have been built around your worship.

So here's the results of Valentine Crafting 2011...

Got this idea from The Crafty Crow which is such an amazing resource for kids crafts. Seriously, hats off to her! Jake and I had so much fun making these. I was amazed by his fine motor skills. I would put a dot of glue and he would carefully put the little googly eyes in place. He drew some of the mouths and I drew the rest, then strung it all up into a garland.

Another garland, made from vintage Valentine's that I've collected through the years. Some of them are ones my cousins gave to my Mom in the 1960's, some are from when I was a kid and others I've picked up at antique malls.

Heart shaped snowflakes made out of coffee filters and painted with watercolors. Jake did the painting.

This idea came from Craft:. On the backs, they each say "Jake Rocks", "Mommy Rocks" and "Daddy Rocks". I so love this idea. So friends and family, don't be surprised if one future Valentine's Day you get a rock in the mail.

Just some cardboard letters I painted and pasted hearts onto. I use the X's and O's quite a bit on a daily basis. I still remember my Aunt Mary teaching me about them, maybe I was 4 or 5 and I guess we were making Valentine's together. I have just always loved that little shorthand for kisses and hugs.

Jake has been SUPER into robots lately. I found these little plain, white robot cut outs at Michael's and decorated it with tinfoil and decorative papers. On the back it says "We love you A BOT!". He's been carrying it around all day.

Happy Valentine's Day to you! I hope it was filled with love and lots of x's and o's!

white blank page

2011-02-06T23:32:00.000-06:00

Exactly. Thank you Mumford and Sons.

Sliding down the Youtubes

2010-12-20T17:39:00.000-06:00

I've been on youtube a lot lately. I fired Charter Cable for reasons that would take far more typing than my fingers have energy for and our tv is not equipped with the magic of HD and so we can't get any channels at the moment. So hulu and youtube have become my main sources of mind candy.

I'm on a huge Avett Brothers kick which brought me to this

How awesome would it be to hang out with them on a tour bus? That is my idea of heaven right there. So anyway, that led me to this...

Which made me happier than I can express and led me to this...

Which is one of my favorite Bruce songs to sing. That led me to a much needed and timely therapy session with The Boss himself...

For more of my favorites, check out my channel on youtube, The RhoNoe.

The Ballad of Love and Hate

2010-12-16T13:48:00.002-06:00

a bullet of a song. right through the heart.

Yellow Curry with Cauliflower, Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans

2010-12-14T20:38:00.000-06:00

I am absolutely done with curry paste. For years I have been playing around with them, trying to get a decent flavor and I just don't possess that magic. So I went searching on the Googles for recipes and blended together several different ones into what I made for dinner tonight. It was fantastic and will definitely be made again and again. This has really no heat whatsoever so if you want a little kick, I suggest adding a little hot sauce or garlic chili paste. I would have taken a photo with the hipstamatic but it was all devoured before I even thought about snapping a picture.

olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced fine

4 cloves garlic diced fine

1 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. turmeric

1/2 tsp. coriander

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tbsp. fresh grated ginger (or more, if like me you REALLY like ginger)

2 tblsp. yellow curry powder

2 cans of coconut milk

4 tblsp. fish sauce

(Many recipes that I found called for adding 1/2 tsp of dried lemongrass and 1/2 tsp fresh grated galangal. I had neither of these things but I am sure they would add extra depth of flavor)

Saute onion in oil until soft, 5 minutes. Add garlic and all of the dry spices and saute for an additional minute. Add ginger, coconut milk, and fish sauce. Stir well, simmer covered for about an hour.

1 head of cauliflower, broken into bite size pieces

5 medium size sweet potatoes cut into 1" chunks

1 bag of frozen green beans (or by all means, fresh if you've got 'em)

olive oil.

Preheat oven to 400. Coat cauliflower and sweet potatoes in oil and roast for about 30 minutes or until tender but not mushy. After sauce has cooked an hour, add green beans and turn up heat to bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. After sweet potatoes and cauliflower come out of the oven, mix them into the pot with the sauce and green beans and let simmer for 5 minutes. Serve with rice or naan bread.

I have been a busy elf, busy with my first professional illustration job!

2010-12-12T22:20:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, the creative director at the company my husband works for (www.stealthcreative.com), asked if I might be interested in doing some illustration work. Would I ever!??? Hello, yes...sign me up!!

The client is Bootheel Tractor parts, a very cool company indeed. I don't just say that because I have a sweet spot for those that hire me for my artistic abilities...I actually think what they do is most excellent. They basically sell parts for all kinds of tractors, even pretty old ones. I love the idea because things like tractors shouldn't be disposable. You shouldn't just be running out every few years buying tractors up all willy nilly. You should save your money and get your perfectly good (other than the part it needs) tractor repaired! Farmers should appreciate thriftiness!

So the copywriter at Stealth came up with a cute take on the classic Twas the Night Before Christmas poem and the illustrations came from the lines therein. We wanted to give it a feeling of the the 1930's and 40's. The tractors are even based on a photo of a 1940 John Deere tractor. I did all of the line drawings (except the border and snowflakes) and then the creative director digitally colored the piece. Not all of the illustrations I made were chosen for the piece due to time and space constraints. When I get a chance I will scan in the sketches so you can see the rest.

I am seriously excited about this first step into professional illustration. I am going to be doing a lot of work on my portfolio this year so that I can start submitting to magazines, ad agencies, publishers, etc. I want to focus on three areas. The first is doing more illustration work, pen and ink and some watercolor. I have realized recently that my collage style and my illustration style are pretty different and I want to "marry" the two together. So secondly, I am going to work on more intricate and layered collages. Finally, whenever we can afford the necessary tools, I want to start learning more about digitally coloring my own work and playing around with the program Painter. Big goals folks! Big Goals!

P.S. I am especially happy with my little puppy staring at his bone and the reindeer. When I first started the sketch and decided that if tractors were going to pull Santa's sleigh, then the reindeer would just have to be driving the tractors, I started giggling like a seven year old. Tee hee hee.

happ- YEE HAW-lloween!

2010-11-01T15:01:00.000-05:00

Hope ya'll had as nice of a time as we did! Candy Comas for everyone!!

May The Pho Be With You

2010-10-19T13:01:00.001-05:00

Pronounced "fuh", this delicious Vietnamese noodle soup is now my go-to "I'm sick" food. About week ago, coming off of a pretty bad cold, the only thing I could think about was getting my hacking self over to Pho Long off of Olive Blvd for some of this soup, in the oxtail variety. The menu isn't overwhelming but there are plenty of choices; chicken, skirt steak, vegetarian, seafood. I have tried my husband's seafood version and its terrific but I never order anything other than the oxtail. To me, oxtail is the perfect comfort food. When I was little, my parents made an Oxtail Vegetable soup regularly in the fall and winter. Its brilliant to make stock with. Its got the essentials, fat and bones, rich flavor and the meat gets melt-in-your-mouth tender.

In this Vietnamese version, the soup comes to you with a generous helping of oxtail, broth and noodles in one bowl. On a separate side plate you have bean sprouts, cilantro, basil, lime wedges and a green pepper I am not brave enough to try. I prefer to add the rest of the ingredients on the plate into my soup and then a bit of sriracha. I love the ritual of adding bits of this and that, tearing up the basil leaves, squeezing the lime and the way the cool crispness of the bean sprouts contrast with the warm softness of the soup and noodles. You are given an asian style soup spoon and chopsticks and when I'm in the restaurant I try to put on a facade of good table manners and use these to pry the meat off of the bones. However if I'm alone or amongst friends, you better bet that I am going to pick up that oxtail bone and gnaw on it like a lioness with her kill. I would eat the bones, if capable. When I am done, those bones are the only thing left. It doesn't matter if I'm full half-way through, I can't leave any of that goodness behind.

Gasp! What's this?! Janet took a half-way decent picture of food?? Thank you hipstamatic app for iphone, you and your arty old school ways. If you can't photograph something well, then make it look intentionally vintage. Love.

Terrariums

2010-09-20T15:12:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to do this forever. Okay for at least the last year because that is how long ago I bought all the supplies. I am trying to tackle a bunch of little small projects like this one.

We have plenty of moss growing in our yard but if you'd like to make one and don't happen to have the wettest yard ever, then you can use the spagnum moss they sell in craft stores. Basically you put a layer of pebbles (I used ones meant for an aquarium) then a thin layer of activated charcoal (also sold where you'd find fish tanks) and then a layer of moss. If you want to plant an actual plant inside, then you do a layer of soil and the plant with some additional moss surrounding the base of the plant. Give it a few drops of water and put the lid on. If you notice a lot of condensation in the glass, take the lid off for a little bit. If it seems like its drying out, give it a bit of water. Voila...your own little mini world.

The one with the rabbit is finished. The one with no plant and the deer is not. I couldn't find a plant I liked that would fit so I may keep it with just moss and maybe get another deer.

Beautiful Things Taking My Breath Away

2010-08-21T12:36:00.000-05:00

Etro Dress from Fall 2010 collection. Why do catwalk models always have to look so angry. If I were walking that dress I would not be able to keep myself from smiling...maybe even skipping. Do you see those feathers at the bottom?! The perfect, perfect cut? The beyond words patterning? I am beside myself.

Bouquet via small stump. Hello gorgeous! Come live and die on my desk please. Everytime I need a little floral pick me up, I visit this blog. They are floral geniuses.

Last but certainly not least, my new favorite etsy shop, bomobob. I want it all!!! Guess how much money I have for any of it! Ding, ding, ding....if you answered "Not a penny" you are absolutely right!!! I'd buy you a prize but see above for money situation. Someday my lovelies, someday you shall be mine. Espeically you, Ferris Wheel...you I adore!

After posting all of these, I realize there is a definite color theme going on for me right now. Kind of an end of summer feel. I am so ready for it to end. Bring on the Fall I say!!!!

Two Cute

2010-08-20T14:31:00.000-05:00

My little man turned 2 on August 9th! The Friday before, his Aunt Amy, cousins Rachel and Zachary and Grammy and Paw Paw came up for the celebration. He went to Grant's Farm, had a fantastic party on Saturday and Sunday went to The Magic House for the first time. It was a terrific celebration! The kids played dress up, we set up the sprinklers and baby pool, played a magnetic fishing game and turned our driveway into an underwater scene with sidewalk chalk.

I am so blessed to call this funny little man, mine. I wish I could make time slow down just a little bit.

Here he is, destroying his fish cake and eating it with a wooden boat...like ya do.

Devil red eyes brought about by copious amounts of sugar and tons of screaming and running and jumping all over the house...as it should be.

I love you Jakey Pie...I'm pretty sure you hung the moon.

love,love,love

2010-08-03T08:31:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite blogs in all of blogworld is sweetfineday. Thanks to Jenna and Mark, I vicariously live in NYC for a couple of minutes each day. She posted these pictures a few days back from Governor's Island in New York. Apparently there are these old buildings there that artists have taken over to create something magically wonderful. If I find the time to cut out approximately eleventy billion butterflies...I might just do something like this on the wall in my studio/Jake's playroom. For more pictures of the art installations go here.

Muno and Brobee

2010-07-29T14:50:00.000-05:00

Another present for Jake. Made out of wool felt and some sharpie marker on Brobee.I wanted to make the whole set of them before his birthday because apparently I am insane. I drug myself away from the edge and acknowledged that maybe the rest of them could wait a while. Plus I started making Foofa and she really pissed me off...damn skinny arms and legs.

These are like ridiculous good...

2010-07-17T16:42:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: I did not take that picture. People, we've talked about this. I don't even try to take photos of food anymore. Thankfully The Kitchn...where you can find the recipe, are professionals. They tight.

I am just spreading the word. These are Savory Blue Cornmeal Griddle Cakes and they are the bomb yo.

My only tinkering with the recipe is that I added some chopped green onion to the mix. We ate them with some sliced avocado and black beans. Black beans that we grew out of our garden! What what! We got crazy mad skills!

I have evidently been possessed by the spirit of Marky Mark circa 1989. Peace out.

The White Glove Treatment

2010-07-16T18:47:00.001-05:00

I love this book

Even more, I loved making these for Jake. Starcrossed lovers, Miss Kit Kat and Mr. Puppaloo

We Are Not Really Here

2010-07-15T15:55:00.001-05:00

Nope. Our toddler is not spewing snot and saliva over every surface of the home, with a voice that sounds like an 80 year old heavy smoker. He is not the toddler who threw a Weeble Wobble at my face yesterday. We are not surrounded by piles of laundry, stacks of dishes and a mountain of debt. Hubby does not have to come home every day after work to go downstairs to do more work. I am not the lady who at 3 in the afternoon is still in pajamas that don't even match and glasses because my eyes are too swollen from lack of sleep for contacts who seriously needs a shower. No Sir...not us. The power of daydreaming has caused a shift in the time/space continuum and we have all landed on the island of Eleuthera, where hubby and I honeymooned.

We are here.

If you look really closely you'll see that Jake and Daddy are building a sandcastle and I am taking a nap in that little cabana (that really was the best nap of my life and I do look forward to repeating it someday). Later on we'll throw together a picnic and head down the Queen's Highway, past the banyan trees and stop in Tarpum at Bertha's Go Go Ribs to complete our feast. We'll take it all further down the road to what is literally the middle of nowhere. Down a three mile rock road that leads to the most gorgeous place on earth. Lighthouse Beach. We'll sit in the limestone out cropping and watch the Casuarina pines sway in the breeze and sift snow white sand through our fingers as we hunt for shells.

Yep that's where we are. Not sitting on the couch, yawning and sniffling, watching The Backyardigans play on a cartoon beach in the cartoon waves.

I need island time in a serious way.

Viva Vera!

2010-07-14T14:53:00.000-05:00

This post by angry chicken (a blog I love and highly recommend) reminded me that I have been meaning to do an entry on this fantastic artist/textile designer who is, to me,a kind of a Golden Goddess of design.

Vera Neumann was an artist turned textile designer starting in the mid forties. She designed everything from housewares and linens to clothing and scarves. I am especially fond of her scarves. Her use of pattern and color is genius and runs the gamut from soft, floral designs to bold geometrics. On many of her older pieces you will see the ladybug logo next to her name, which she liked as its a symbol of good luck. Her pieces are widely available on etsy and ebay. As well as theveracompany.com. To learn more about this fantastic designer who believed that fine art shouldn't just be for the walls, it should surround you....go here.

From top to bottom: katharine braun on etsy, via newyorkcityfashion.wordpress.com, the rest of the images are from the lucky fish on etsy.

Here is my recent purchase from Time Valley on etsy. Its not one of the older pieces with the ladybug but it was a great value! Pieces that have the ladybug are typically more pricey since they are older. I love it! Can't wait to wear it!

Finally I am really excited about this new book, due out in September!

New Goodies in the Shop

2010-07-07T18:11:00.001-05:00

Shop update!

I could try to convince you that the darkness of the pictures is meant to evoke a kind of 70's vibe and add to the vintage-y charm. Go ahead and buy right on into that wouldja? Or if not, just don't let me in on the fact that you know that I totally take pictures for my shop with my iphone because they are so easy to upload and don't have to be re-sized and am in fact totally lazy and ignoring every "Etsy Tips and Tricks" article that tells me I have to have well lit, really amazing pictures of my items for sale. So now I'm supposed to be Annie-freaking-Liebowitz ON TOP of making stuff? *sigh*

Tuna & White Bean Salad

2010-06-29T15:36:00.000-05:00

I once again cannot give credit where credit is due because I just have this written on a piece of paper and I have no idea where I originally got it from. Its a nice easy summer dinner that we usually eat like a dip with crackers.

1 can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed well
1 large can of light tuna in water, drained and flaked
1/2 cup of red onion, very finely chopped
1 tbsp of fresh rosemary, finely chopped (don't even try to substitute dried....unless you like eating sticks)
2 cups of arugala, finely chopped
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp of EVOO
salt and pepper to taste

Place half of the beans in a bowl and mash with a fork. Add the rest of the whole beans, tuna, onion, rosemary and arugala. Dress with lemon juice, EVOO and S&P. Mix well. This really only serves two people unless you eat like a bird. You may want to double it. Enjoy!

Martha! Love! Genius! ACK!!!

2010-06-28T14:39:00.001-05:00

I'm reduced to one word sentences! Do you see this rug? This rug is perfect for me. It is FLOR so if something spills it can be saved by purchasing a replacement tile. It is faux bois people! Faux Bois! I die.

Fun Under the Big Top

2010-06-24T14:59:00.000-05:00

St. Louis is lucky enough to be one just a few cities in the U.S. that has its very own circus. Circus Flora has been around for years but this is my first year going (smacking myself repeatedly for missing this goodness over the past several years!). It is definitely going to become a family tradition.

We took Jake last night and I do believe he loved it. He was very squirmy and I do believe if we'd let him he'd have run right down into the ring and joined in on the action. He especially perked up whenever the horses were out and about and then there's Nino the Clown. Oh Nino, you are a treasure. I am not a huge fan of scary Stephen King looking Bozo clowns...but European/Old World clowns? Awesome. Nino wears a funny little hat and we couldn't resist picking up a copy of it in the gift area for Jake.

Every year has a different story or theme. This year is based on the story of Don Quixote with Nino playing Sancho Panza. Its pure magic. This year's circus ends on Sunday so if you are in the area don't miss out!

For more information go to the Circus Flora website.

love,love,love

2010-06-23T15:57:00.001-05:00

My new sandals from The Limited...

This dress at Anthropologie, which I cannot currently afford. Also, I am trying not to buy clothes anyway until the membership at Gold's Gym pays off and the rest of this weight is dropped. But the "Time Gone By" dress is SO tempting to me.

This ring from MaaPstudio on etsy. . .

Another dress I'm lusting after over on ModCloth.

Going Gangbusters Here

2010-06-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

Yep. Three days, three posts. I'm awesome.

Today I gift to you one of my favorite simple recipes. This is great with some salad greens, arugala, spinach, what have you and some sliced tomatoes if you are so inclined. I am always so inclined.

It also works well as a side dish. A snack. I am even known to eat up the leftovers for breakfast...cause that's how I roll.

I can't recall where I first found this recipe so if you are the original genius behind it...I salute you. Well done Good Sir or Lady.

Black Eyed Pea and Artichoke Salad

2 cans well rinsed and drained black eyed peas
2 cans artichoke bottoms medium dice. (yes you can substitute artichoke hearts but I like the bottoms better, no tough bits)
1/2 cup or so of finely chopped red onion (no other onion will do)
2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons EVOO ( i hate Rachel Ray in a lot of ways but that abbreviation deserves a pat on the back)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce (I take a lot of pride in being able to spell that word without looking it up or thinking twice. I'm boasting...sorry)
salt and pepper to your liking
1 tablespoon or so of Caraway Seeds. (If you don't like them, it hurts my heart but go ahead and leave them out. If you do like them well "Yay You!" and also, crush them up a little in your fist, then toss them in.

Mix it all up and let it ruminate on its fantasticness for at least an hour or so before eating it all up.

Enjoy!

I'm not...

2010-06-21T15:24:00.000-05:00

gonna let a little thing like not knowing HOW to quilt get in my way of MAKING a quilt. It didn't stop me from making one for Jake a couple years back. Sure I stitched "nearish" the ditch instead of in it.Uh huh, I tried to do a decorative zig-zag stitch around the border but it looked horrible. What's that you say? Did I use a seam ripper and rip it out? Hell no, I picked like five different decorative stitches and just kept going over and over it until it looked kind of fun and funky and I deluded myself into thinking that maybe someone might think it was a well thought out choice. Yes, the tension on my sewing machine is totally screwed up and the underside stitching gets a little loose here and there (anyone know how to fix that?). Of course I don't own any of the fancy boards and templates and cutting systems and the like. I do not have scissors that are only specifically used for fabric. Do you know what kind of discipline that takes, Martha Stewart??? Do I even have a pattern? pfffft....pattern, shmattern.

What I do have are these pretty fabrics and some others to go along with it. I'm going King size. Should be done around about the time I go into the Senior Citizens center.

I fly?

2010-06-20T11:55:00.000-05:00

I haven't written in forever. I am full of excuses. Do you want to hear them? No, I didn't think so.

Instead I will celebrate my return by telling you why this little corner of Blogworld is called "bluejayfly". Especially appropriate today, on Father's Day, since this space is named in tribute of my dad.

His given name was Dorse but he rarely went by that. Instead it was Jay (coming from my Grandpa Jake's name) or JD. My mom and family more often called him Jay and his buddies called him JD. I called him "Daddy", even as a grown woman,"Dad" when he was frustrating. "Pop" when I wanted to get a smile out of him.

My Daddy was not an easy man. He was irritable, stubborn and seriously impatient. I don't say this as a complaint or even negatively. I love those imperfections about him. During the Korean War, my dad tried to join the military and he was denied not just because of his age but was also told that he didn't meet the psychological profile to serve in the military. Meaning there was no way they were going to get him to follow orders. He was embarrassed and disappointed by this but it makes me as proud of him as if he'd served. I don't mean any disrespect to soldiers out there because I truly do respect and value their sacrifice and willingness to serve. However, I believe that as much as we need people who will take orders and follow them...we need rule breakers just as much, people who question and refuse to take orders. If someone had told my Dad to drop and give them twenty, he'd have dropped them. As my mom would say, he marched to the beat of his own drum.

The following is part of the eulogy I gave at his memorial service . . .

"I feel very lucky to be the daughter of JD Noe. His name is something I take great pride in because he was a great man. I feel lucky because I not only got a Dad who I could love…I got a dad who I liked, very much. My daddy was the kind of person I would want to be friends with, even if we hadn’t been blood. I think of that as a rare gift to treasure.

I learned a lot of things from my Dad. It’s from him that I learned to love nature. My Dad loved trees and flowers, woods and rivers, oceans and mountains and animals of all kinds…especially dogs. From him I learned how to plant a garden, how to fish, how to find my way through the woods and how to just sit under the stars at night and appreciate the beauty of this world.

It is from him that I learned independence. He always let me make my mistakes without hovering over me and never judging me…he just offered support and love. He taught me about love without conditions.

He taught me to think for myself. To not just blindly buy into what other people say or think, but to figure out what I thought and to stand up for those beliefs. Sometimes he could be stubborn and he passed that trait along as well. But even if he sometimes came off gruff and unrelenting in his viewpoint…he really did listen and respected a difference in opinion and had the capacity to keep an open mind.

My Dad was a good friend who would do just about anything for someone he cared about. He taught me that friends are extended family and we have a responsibility to take care of each other."

As I was walking out of the door to drive to this memorial service, I found a bluejay feather on the sidewalk right next to my doorstep. We hadn't seen any bluejays in the previous years living in this house. I found out not too long ago that their numbers had been decimated by the avian flu. The year my Daddy died, they came back strong and now I see them almost everyday. It's an appropriate connection not just because of the name "Jay". My dad had that same personality. Aggressive.Sassy. Loud Squawking. Protective.Bold. Loyal to family. Intelligent.

So that is where the "bluejay" part comes from. Honestly, when I set up my etsy shop, I was just going to call it bluejay. However, that name was already taken and in trying to think of a way to extend it, "fly" came naturally. Of course...birds fly, I wanted the shop to "take flight", etc. It wasn't until later that I realized another connection, a memory of my Daddy. When the movie "Land Before Time" came out on video my Dad bought it and brought it home and we watched together. We loved to quote that movie, "You would go without....Petrie?", "Yep, Yep, Yep". My dad would stretch his neck out, a grin I can still see plastered across his face and say "I fly?!" and I would shake my head with a sigh and say "No...you falled.".

While my shop has not exactly lifted off the ground yet and this blog has about two readers who weren't already my friends or family, like Petrie I will keep climbing up and jumping off. It was my dad who taught me to do that.

I love you Pop. Happy Father's Day. :)

weekend

2010-04-26T09:53:00.000-05:00

It was a very busy but fun weekend we just had. My inlaws came for a visit and per usual it was a dining out extravaganza. My favorite of the bunch was Winslow's Home, which one of Stephen's friends described as "Cracker Barrel for hipsters". I'm not hating on Cracker Barrel but this place was so on a whole different level. I think the reference has more to do with the country store feel of the place but instead of garden flags and hideous teapots that only a baby boomer could love, this joint has some really cool stuff...check out the shop portion of the website. Anyway, the menu is nothing short of genius. The sort of food I like best...the kind that looks simple but has complex flavor, comforting and affordably priced, generous portions but not gargantuan. Stephen had a brisket sandwich and I had the meatloaf sandwich which came with pickled cabbage (much to my absolute delight, because it is one of my favorite things in the world). We shared this mouthwatering tart with creamy goat cheese and sweet roasted beets on top. Stephen was laughing at me because he can always tell when I am in absolute culinary nirvana....I get quiet and wide eyed and so focused on my meal that the rest of the world could get sucked away into a dark vortex and it would barely register as I sat alone in the void, happy with my plate. My only complaint is that they did not have a highchair or booster seat so we took turns with Jake on our laps. Its a tiny space and tables are at a premium but believe me...it is so worth it! I would love to see them come out with a cookbook and I can't wait to go on a Tuesday night for fried chicken! That is going to have to be a rare treat however because I am not making any progress on this whole weight loss issue. Its time to whip out the Bob and Jillian dvds again.

Yesterday, despite the cold and rain, I planted row upon row of carrots, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and herbs. We have to wait for the farmer's market to open next weekend to get the rest of our plants. I actually enjoy gardening in the rain because the hot sun is my mortal enemy but I was frozen and worn out by the end. I am super excited about how well my strawberry plants are doing! It is the one and only thing I have done from seed that has been super successful. I even cold treated them in the freezer and started them in flats indoors. This is their second year and I have tons of blooms and teeny tiny berries! After yesterday's workout...today I do nothing over the speed of "puttering".

Lastly, I got Jake the most adorable picture book, called The Quiet Book. Its perfect for bedtime, all about different kinds of quiet. "First snowfall quiet", "Last one picked up from school quiet", "Do iguanas bite? quiet", "best friends don't always need to talk quiet". Its lovely...highly recommend it!

Alright so, I'm out of excuses

2010-04-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

and ready to just dive back into the whole blog business. It has been a crazy couple of months, kiddos. Stephen got a new job, which he LOVES and its here in St. Louis so there was no big move east. Perhaps someday, we'll just sit that idea up on a shelf and look at it dreamily from time to time. After all, you can't run a New England B&B/Organic Farm without the New England part. It lacks authenticity.

Anyway, I am happy about the non-move. I would have missed so many friendly faces and places! The other great part is now I can actually DO things to this house. For the past 8 months, each time I would want to organize/paint/rearrange something I would thing "Ehhh....what's the point. We might move." So its very nice to not be at a standstill anymore. Our basement truly looked like we could be on an episode of hoarders. I have been battling it all week during naptimes.

I also finished a big custom order for a very sweet friend who will be welcoming a new little one into the world very soon! I apologize for the somewhat cruddy lighting of these photos. You get the general idea. I had a great time making these and I'm especially happy with how the gnome collage turned out. The other gnome is a little needlefelted fellow to sit on a shelf and guard over baby. Everybody knows...you don't mess with a gnome!

What do you mean you haven't received any blog entries from me?

2010-04-15T17:59:00.000-05:00

Um, my dog must have ate them! No seriously I put them right there on your desk(top), you must have misplaced them. Its against my religion to make blog posts. I didn't hear you say I was supposed to write new blog posts. Look out behind you, its an alien!! What? No I swear it wasn't me, I didn't do it, I...I was dead at the time.

Cast Iron Convert

2010-02-09T10:58:00.000-06:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to cook. I love everything about it other than the cleaning up part. I love shopping for food. I love finding good produce. I love slicing and dicing. I love mastering the art of timing. I love spices. Unlike most people who either enjoy cooking or baking but not the other, I love both. I love fancy food and simple food. I. Just. Love. Food.

I've been noticing more and more how much I talk about food. How many recipes I post on facebook. How often I jump at the opportunity to feed my friends. How seriously I take Martha. How happy I am when a recipe turns out just right. How excited I am when I learn something new.

I probably ought to have went to culinary school. I say that but then immediately realize that I would be MISERABLE in a restaurant. First of all, I am anti-uniform. Secondly, I can't think of anything more horrible than standing, sweating in a line of other chefs, all that noise and clanging and barking of orders. Pissed off servers and crabby ass patrons. No thank you. Even if I were head chef, that kind of cooking is not for me. I could be a personal chef but let's get real about that too. In this economy how many people really have personal chefs? What are the chances I would actually get to cook what I want to cook? Probably zip. People with money have a lot of opinions. People without money have a lot of opinions too, I don't want to be elitist here. What it comes down to is that I do not play well with others. I want to cook what I want to cook, when I want to cook it.

So that leaves the pipe dream. The one where Stephen and I find some fabulous plot of land somewhere in New England. One in close proximity to the ocean, with forests surrounding our fields where we grow and sell organically grown produce. Where there is a beautiful old home with plenty of rooms for a small inn and separate living space for us. Where every day I wake up and think "What shall I make these fine folks today?". If you don't know about Blackberry Farm , click on it, that is what I am talking about...only way further east.

Now here's the thing about pipe dreams, they are nearly impossible to achieve. I choose to focus in on the word "nearly". That means that sometimes, Jiminy Cricket, when you wish upon a star...you actually get what you want. If you don't just stand around wishing on far-away fireballs and actually put some effort into what you want. So check back in ten, twenty years...maybe you can make a reservation and maybe I'll save you a piece of pie.

In the meantime, while I will still be posting on family stuff, crafting, and all sorts of rubbish you have no interest in, I have decided to share more on this blog about cooking. Now I am not saying this is going to turn into Orangette or La Tartine Gourmande. Those ladies are Superheroes of cooking. They have shiny capes and tights and rockin' headbands and wristbands that deflect bullets and everything. I am but a mere mortal. I simply offer a few little tips and simple recipes for folks who are interested in such things. Plus I take horrendous pictures of food...this can't be a "food blog". Anyway...

Cast Iron Convert? What is that all about? Well here's the thing. For years I have been told that cooking in cast iron is where its at. I have had a cast iron pan for several years now. Other than a couple of uses, it has sat in its home on a shelf, covered with a cloth to keep dust off of its greased surface (eh eh eh hmmm....that would be Tip #1 there folks...put a cloth on top of it). Recently I found out that I am slightly anemic and then I was told by Dr. Oz (GOD I love that show!) that one way of helping anemia is to cook in cast iron. Coinciding with all of this is finding out about Grapeseed Oil. Grapeseed Oil is higher in the good fats than olive oil and it has a much higher burn point (400 degrees) which makes it jolly good at frying things. I may want to eat healthy but I am not about to give up fried potatoes, fried green tomatoes and the like. So grapeseed oil is the compromise. This morning I made fried potatoes with scrambled eggs and black beans. I maybe used two tablespoons of oil for all of it! I could have used less. It worked like a dream. Nothing stuck, everything browned properly, no curse words were heard in my kitchen...in other words, perfection. So to sum up....Grapeseed Oil + Cast Iron Skillet = Awesomeness.

There is some work involved in caring for cast iron. Its iron. Water is not its friend. So you have to keep it dry unless you are looking to up your rust consumption. If not, then when you are done cooking in it, you do not use soap, you do not put it in a dishwasher and you do not let it sit! You immediately rinse it out, use a scrubber on anything that sticks. Then you dry it with a cloth, rub a little oil into the surface and put it in a hot oven for about a half hour so that it is completely dry. Then what do you do? You follow Tip #1 above. That's what you do.

I know. Most people don't want to go through this hassle. You would rather have disposable pans. I get it. However, if I may, the cooking is easier and the food tastes better. Not to mention that you shouldn't be eating fried crap all the time anyway. Michael Pollan is right. The amount of times you feel like taking the time to make french fries is just about the right amount of times you should be eating french fries. I am not suggesting your cast iron come out from its hibernation spot on a daily basis. In any case, give it a try! Maybe you'll be a cast iron convert too! After all, teflon is the Devil's handiwork.

A little bit of this, A little bit of that

2010-02-08T15:51:00.000-06:00

I no longer feel the need to apologize when many days or even weeks of time pass between these posts. I'm haphazard like that. I embrace it fully.

So here's some highlights, random pictures and links to things I've been wanting to share.

Tiramisu cupcakes from Martha's cupcake book...my birthday treat of choice. Adorable cupcake liners can be found on etsy. Piss poor photography skills courtesy of moi. We've talked about it before on the old blog.

My birthday was followed by a bout of sickness the likes of which have not been seen in this household for quite some time. Jake and Stephen got it first (bad head colds) then I got it, got better and then got the bonus round of some sort of horrendous stomach bug. That bug didn't even have the courtesy to provide me with a little weight loss (which is like the "I'm Sorry" bouquet most intestinal maladies have the decency to provide). So watching my little man sick, even spending one ENTIRE day on the couch ( I mean he did not move once.) was awful. The cute that comes after, when they feel better, was pretty funny. He got off the couch and decided that every toy he hadn't been able to play with in a couple of days should IMMEDIATELY be piled on the couch and then on Daddy.

Also very high on the cute factor scale..Remember that tshirt bag I made him for Christmas. This is where he has decided it goes, pretty much every day.

In other news, the job search continues. It has at least picked up and Stephen has had a couple of great interviews and leads. Fingers crossed, please and thank you. :) I am working on a big custom order for a friend who is having a baby soon! I am so honored and excited.

I am also working on getting myself back into shape. Since that stomach bug isn't gonna do me any favors I have enlisted Mr. Bob Harper and his Biggest Loser bootcamp and yoga dvds. I worked out twice in a row this week. That is unprecedented. I am not joking you. I have a HORRIBLE attitude about physical fitness, downright belligerent even. I am the girl who ran a 15 minute mile in high school. "Fifteen minutes?" you ask " Were you physically challenged or suffering from some type of injury? Asthma or something of the sort?". The answer is no. I am just a brat. Even funnier...a coach wanted me to try out for track because I was actually a pretty fast sprinter (hey, if you can get it over quick...no problemo..I'll run like the damn wind). However they still require that you train by running long distance so that was a no go. Soccer? Super fun game, loved running around the field or playing goalie. However during practice they make you run laps for "strength training". Pffffft....outie. Cheerleading required no running. So I lead cheers. Rah Rah.

So anyway, fast forward through twenty years of little to no physical activity and you have muscle tone resembling cream of mushroom soup. In other words, if I do not start doing something...anything really...my entire skeletal structure may very well collapse and I will spend my golden years as a puddle on the floor. My belligerence extends to anyone who may have the misfortune of trying to coach me, train me, even encourage me in the arts of working out. Heads have nearly literally been bitten off. I want to punch trainers in the face. Until I saw Bob. I don't know what the magic is there but I love that man. I have been doing the boot camp workout and the weight loss yoga. Not once have I looked at Bob on the screen and thought "I'd like to stab you.".
I am a wild pony and he has broken me. That sounded far more sexual than it was intended. He is cute, but its not that. He just has the absolute magic alignment of exact right tone of voice, sense of humor and cracking the whip that works for me. Bob is a Golden God. My attitude has transformed so much, I even like Jillian!

That's all for now. My son is covered head to toe in pasta sauce. The clean up will be a workout in and of itself. Ciao!

Soup for you!

2010-01-30T12:42:00.002-06:00

I concocted this recipe the other day and thought I would share it with you! Enjoy!

Cannellini and Turkey Meatball Soup

2 c. dried cannellini beans, rinsed and soaked overnight
2 boxes chicken broth (32oz each)
3 ribs of celery chopped
4 carrots chopped
5 cloves garlic chopped
olive oil
2 boxes chicken broth (32oz each)
1 large or 2 small bay leaves
1/4 cup chopped dehydrated onions
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon chives
salt and pepper

1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tablespoon Sunny Paris Seasoning (or if you don't have that, you could use poultry seasoning)
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1 egg

1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped

In a bit of olive oil, saute the celery, carrots and garlic for about 3 or 4 minutes. Add in beans and both boxes of broth. Add in bay leaves, dehydrated onions, rosemary, chives and S&P. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to med. low and simmer for two hours.

Combine turkey, bread crumbs, seasonings and egg. Roll into 1 inch meatballs (or larger if you prefer). After the soup has simmered for two hours, drop the meatballs in the soup, turn up the heat to bring back to a boil. Then lower heat and simmer for another 15-20 minutes. Add fresh chopped cilantro right at the end.

Why I will never lie about my age...

2010-01-18T10:39:00.000-06:00

I have 38 years. I own and earned every single one of them. For the past few weeks I have been a little more taken aback by that number than I thought I would be. Probably more so than I will when I turn 40. Its such a round number, 38, making it twenty years since I graduated high school and became an official "adult". I felt somewhat the same at 28 although not to the same extent. Perhaps I notice those "8's" because my birthday is on the 18th and I've always held a little mysticism toward certain numbers. I had a crush on a boy all through jr high school whose birthday fell on the 23 and for years it was my "lucky" number even though I never got lucky with him.

I'm not one to piss and moan over getting older. I kind of like it actually. I won't deny that I wouldn't love to have the skin tone, energy level and let's just say "perkiness" of my 18 year old self. However, I much prefer the "me" that I am now than the one I was at 18 and 28. Not that there was anything horrible about that girl. I forgive her all of her silliness, her poor decision making, the way she dwelled on experiences and people for far too long, her inability to pick a major or a life path, her tendency to hold on too tight to others but be too free with herself. That girl gets a pass for losing a mother too young and getting a little screwed up over it. That girl, while flawed, is the one who became independent, fiercely defended the people she loved, grew increasingly more open minded, developed a pretty good sense of humor about things and an ability to speak her mind. These are all the qualities that make me happy about myself today and that girl earned them for me.

So here I am at 38 and I FINALLY feel like I am comfortable in who I am. I am not one of those people who can say "I have no regrets". I have plenty of them that cut pretty deep indeed. I am just done beating myself up for them and I have finally learned that the only thing that really truly matters is how I am living my life today, in this very moment. My past no longer sits on my shoulder all day long. I have learned enough about myself to know what needs some work and what's working just fine, thank you very much. For the first time in too many years, I feel emotionally healthy. I have an amazing husband who really knows me and loves what he knows, friends who are my family, family who are my friends and a son who brings so much light into my life, there is little room for dark. Let's face it....I will probably always be a little dark, a little quick to see the negative and far too sarcastic. When I was younger, I saw too much in a positive light and was too quick to forgive and too naive for my own good. Then the pendulum swung the other way. Now I have some balance. That's what I have earned at 38.

When my Mom would tell me my birth story, it always started the same way. "We were married for 22 years before we had you...". I want you to think about that for a minute. They tried for twenty two YEARS for me. That kind of knowledge, that someone could want you in their life that much, has set the foundation of my life. I am so grateful that they never stopped trying. I am so grateful to be here and that is why....you will never hear me bellyache about getting older.

Now! Enough seriousness! I have Tiramisu cupcakes to eat and two wonderful fellas to spend the day with!

All that talk about polenta...

2010-01-14T14:31:00.000-06:00

made me remember that I wanted to try this recipe., which I found on the Raising Foodies website. So I busted out the crockpot from its cupboard jail for today's lunch.

Folks.

Friends.

People of the world.

If you don't just have polenta and goat cheese laying around your cupboards waiting to be mixed into something fantastic...get thee to a grocer!

I might make this once a week for the remainder of my life. I will of course hoard it..."so no my brother...you must buy your own" (twenty points to anyone who'll play name that movie quote).

I added some Sunny Paris Seasoning which you can acquire through Penzey's Spices (in Maplewood if you are from St. Lou...otherwise go here). I love that place. One time, my husband dropped me off at Penzey's and I said "Oh I will just be about 10 minutes." One hour later he came into the store to retrieve me. I seriously was not aware of the passage of time...I was too busy smelling 65 different kinds of cinnamon. Anyway, the Sunny Paris is essential to my kitchen. I sprinkle this magic fairy crack on just about everything.

I am so full and happy. Thank you polenta, for not only being an awesome color...but for being supremely delicious.

What? You mean you don't take pictures of your coffeemaker to blog about?

2010-01-13T14:33:00.000-06:00

Over the holiday break, my step-mom Dee gave me this fantastic coffeemaker. It grinds the beans! It is so space-agey beautfiul it makes me weep for joy. Mama Dee really has the gift for thrift, she found not one but TWO of these beauties at Sally's (Salvation Army for those of you not in the know pertaining to thrift establishment nicknames).

What is even more significant, is what used to sit in this space that is now sitting in my basement... the microwave. I am now on Day 2 of a microwave free kitchen. Do I miss it? Not remotely. Its not so much that I am concerned about nuking food, though there is conflicting research on its dangers. Nah, its more that the damn thing is a beast and takes up WAY too much space in my small kitchen. Plus, I barely used it AND I do know how to put a pan on a stove and turn the burner on....I got mad skills like that.

Those shiny raspberry walls? Ugh. Why did I let myself be convinced that you have to use satin/glossy paint in the kitchen for "cleanability". I hate shiny walls. If we stay in this house, in this city, I am going to have to do something about that. I am thinking creamy yellow, like the color of polenta.

A Few Favorites

2010-01-07T22:07:00.000-06:00

My new coat from Anthropologie. Thank God for a good sale...otherwise I can't even afford to look through the window at that place. I love this coat so much I have a hard time taking it off. I might sleep in it tonight....brrrrrrrr.

My favorite present from Stephen. You turn the handle and the waves move back and forth. Check out cartoonmonster's shop on etsy.

This cookbook, Apples for Jam. Sometime soon I am going to make tomato risotto just so I can make the fried risotto balls from the leftovers. Really I just like saying "fried risotto balls".

And finally...the witticisms that come from this man's mouth...

Mr. Eddie Izzard. Whom I get to see live on Saturday night thanks to my most excellent friend Vivian.

"Thank you for flying Church of England, cake or death?"

Little Mini Tote

2009-12-28T11:14:00.000-06:00

I made this out of two pieces of Jake's clothing. The bag itself is the bottom part of a tshirt, folded in half so there are four pockets and then sewn up the sides and across the bottom. Then the handles and the lions were cut from a bodysuit (The handles were the arms of the bodysuit). Its kind of rough. The sewing machine was giving me problems as I don't have much experience sewing stretchy fabrics. I think it turned out pretty cute though! It will be fun to take on walks to hold rocks and leaves and other important treasures to keep!

Best Cheesecake Ever - A Christmas Gift to the World - At least the 3 people in the world who read my blog, that is

2009-12-23T16:03:00.000-06:00

It is my duty to humanity to share this recipe for the single greatest cheesecake known to mankind. You may be thinking to yourself...oh what an exaggerator you are Janet, come now tone it down a notch. Nay! Nay, I say! It is the cheesecake that all other cheesecakes aspire to be. It tastes like fulfilling fornication and what heaven might taste like if you bit off part of a cloud. It may possibly bring about world peace. I'm just sayin'....it has powers. The greatest thing about it is its simplicity. You may even think to yourself, "Where's the fruit topping?". To that I respond...."Back away from the strawberries. Don't you dare try putting chocolate on top of this! Do not mar its perfection with anything other than a fork!". It doesn't need anything but your mouth. If this cheesecake doesn't make you want to write songs glorifying my name, ask for my already taken hand in marriage, name your next girlchild after me or at LEAST want to buy me a beer....well I just don't know what is wrong with you. You may need serious medical attention and a cocktail of psychotropic drugs.

Here it is in all its wonderfulness. By the way, Mrs. Cox was my mother in law's, mother's hairdresser. Why on earth she was wasting time on updos and permanents is beyond me. The woman could have ruled the world with this recipe.

Mrs. Cox's Cheesecake

For the crust:
20 graham crackers (smashed to bits in a ziploc bag with a rolling pin or crumbled in a food processor)
1/8 pd butter, softened

Cream together:
1 1/4 cup sugar
4 eggs
3 pks of cream cheese (8 oz. each)
1 tsp vanilla

Topping:
1 pt. sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Use a 10 inch springform pan.

Mix softened butter and graham cracker crumbs together and press into bottom of pan. Bake for 20 minutes and remove.

Cream together sugar, eggs, cream cheese and vanilla. Beat for 20 minutes. Yes it says 20 minutes. Don't mess with perfection. Beat it for 20 minutes. Pour filling on top of crust. Bake for 1 and 1/2 hours at 275.

In a medium bowl, mix sour cream, sugar and vanilla. When cheesecake has baked for 1 and 1/2 hours, remove and ice with this topping. Bake for 10 minutes more at 275. Then turn off the oven and leave it in there for 20-30 minutes more. Refrigerate overnight and then serve.

Happy Holidays to you all! Much love!!!

Swaddled Baby Doll

2009-12-13T15:02:00.000-06:00

Le Masterpiece

2009-12-09T16:42:00.000-06:00

Watch out art world...there's a new talent in town...

More Board Book Suggestions

2009-11-13T12:21:00.002-06:00

The Toolbox
Amy Krouse Rosenthal books like this great box set
Dog Food and other books by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
The Monster at the End of this Book (featuring the ever lovable Grover)
Skippyjon Jones Color Crazy (I like all of the Skippyjon Jones books but this one is my favorite. As a former art teacher I really appreciate his non traditional color choices.)
Anything Charlie and Lola (I am completely crazy about these books and the cartoon. We call Lola "Jake's Girlfriend" lol and yes we do let our less than two year old watch tv. If you have a problem with it you can take it up with the Department of I Didn't Ask For Your Opinion)
Bing the Bunny books, in particular Bing Bed Time (not technically a board book, just small format. I love these books but it looks like most of them are only available used)
In My Nest (there are others too like In My Pond, these are super cute with a little finger puppet that comes through the middle of all the pages of the book)
Bear Snores On

Quit buying Goodnight Moon as your go to baby gift!

2009-11-11T13:35:00.000-06:00

Seriously. Every expectant mom in the US probably receives like three of them per birth of child. Every Goodwill in the country has a section for Goodnight Moon board books.

Okay so I bring this up because I was in the children's section at Borders the other day when I heard this lovely Grandma-To-Be talking with her companion about what to purchase for Grandbaby. Her hand was going for Goodnight Moon and before I could stop myself (those of you who know me, know that I can rarely stop myself) I said "Oh no. Please don't get that. As a recent Mommy....everyone gives that book as a gift." This lead to about a half an hour of me re-visiting my former glory as a Borders bookseller.I was the CRC or event planner and storytime leader for five years. If there is one thing I know...its kids books! I walked her through some of my favorites and told her what to avoid and I thought today I would share the same with you.

Its not that I have anything against Goodnight Moon, really. I mean, its not my favorite and I'm definitely not fond of the color palette but its cute and I get its popularity. The problem is how everyone always reaches for the safe and the known. Which to some extent, I get too...you want the person being gifted to be positively elated with the book offering you have set before them. For a lot of people, standing in front of those shelves at the bookstore is overwhelming, the eyes start going in circles, not sure what to land upon until you are dizzy with indecision. So they end up grabbing what they've heard everyone talking about. Which results in Goodwills across the nation to overflow with Dr. Seuss and Goodnight Moon. So if you are buying a gift, these are the books/authors to avoid. Again, not because they aren't good.( I adore Dr. Seuss). Its just that everyone has "been there, done that". Let the parents buy these books. Trust me, the kid will at some point come in contact with them even if they don't.

Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny
All Dr. Seuss Books
Sandra Boynton books (such as Moo Baa La La La and The Going to Bed Book)
The Little Engine that Could
Anything Baby Einstein
I SPY books
Curious George
All Eric Carle books
Guess How Much I Freaking Love You (okay there was a little bit of tension in that one...I do love those bunnies but man has that book been played out)
I'll Love You Forever

So now on to what is not so common. I am only sticking with board books today (although some of these are available as picture books too) and maybe down the line I'll do a few more posts like this with more recommendations for older kids. Before I start the list, I want to say that I think NOTHING is more important than surrounding your child with a variety of good books. Both from the library and ones to have at home all the time. I think children should be taught to take care of books and treat them with respect. That said, its important to have some books that your baby/toddler CAN chew on, throw about and generally batter the living daylights out of. As a toddler, that is not setting them up to later disrespect their belonings. Instead it is encouraging a real, tactile relationship with books. Unencumbered exploration of these little portals that take us to different worlds. Highly important in my opinion.

Peek-A-Who by Nina Laden is one such book. It is, by far, Jake's favorite book. I think I've already read it about a thousand times. It is so loved that the front cover is bent and hanging on by sheer will alone. I have bought him a new copy for Christmas but we will keep the old one too...for him to sling about in a fury of love and delight.

Here are some other fantastic board books. Many of these will be enjoyed by older children as well...

Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball (love all of the Little Wombat books...this is another Jake favorite, in fact I read it to him in utero and it was the first book we read together when he came home from the hospital)

The Little Mouse, The Strawberry and The Big Hungry Bear (uh-oh. It looks like this one may be going out of print as a board book...they only have it used. That is a shame! This is one of the greatest kids books ever in my opinion. Hurry go get one!!! )

My Friends ( by Taro Gomi, Yep...the Everybody Poops guy. This one has decidedly less poop)

The Little Train

Little Gorilla

I am a Bunny (the master, Richard Scarry)

Tumble Bumble

Charley Harper's ABC (one of my all time favorite illustrators)

I Can Fly (Mary Blair my absolute illustration HERO)

and for now I have to stop there! Time has gotten away from me and naptime is over. :) I will continue this list in a later post!

Oh yeah...I have a blog

2009-11-04T17:04:00.000-06:00

I am going to spare you the soliloquy on why there hasn't been a post in the last month and how busy I am yadda, yadda, yadda and just dive right back in with a multitude of tidbits.

* Stephen and I quit soda! It's been nearly two months and I feel GREAT. Like seriously, life altering GREAT. I have more energy and I am not as munchy/snacky/hungry-when-I'm-not-really-hungry. We do let ourselves have a natural cane sugar soda every once in awhile (kind of hard to have root beer floats with no root beers, see?) but absolutely no high fructose corn syrup or aspartame (or other artificial sweeteners) are allowed. I think the most interesting part of it is how much better my mood and general outlook on life has become. Artificial sweeteners screw with your serotonin levels, causing irritability and depression. I will never go back again.

* No real news on the job front. Some "no's" from Boston based places who all seem to not want to take a chance on relocation and a couple of interviews in St. Louis that Stephen is waiting to hear back from. Fingers crossed for either place. At this point...we just want the security.

* I will fully admit to you that I am beyond addicted to Gossip Girl. Judge away, Judgy Judgers! Its all New Yorky and Fashiony and its my mind candy and I love it.

* Also in tv related news....Community is awesome with a side of awesome sauce! "My knowledge will bite your face off!" Oh Joel McHale...I think you are dreamy.

* Are you on lastfm.com? My user name is JanetRhoads...friend me! I'm always looking for new music.

* Have you heard the new Regina Spektor? So-oh-oh-oh goooooood. Folding Chair is my favorite.

* Reading again! Like an actual book meant for adults! Empire Falls by Richard Russo, excellent so far.

* I officially wear a size 9 shoe. Yep, pregnancy can make your shoe size go up. This was a difficult thing for me to just face and accept. I know this sounds stupid but I had to let go of a lot of seriously cute size 8 shoes. It makes me feel better that at least they went to my friend Susan who appreciates them.

* Jake climbs up on the sofa and chairs now. Super cute to walk in a room and there he is...just chillin' out.

* I have been working on a custom order of treasure boxes for my cousin and some other projects but the major focus for the last month was our Halloween getups. Idea courtesy of Her High Holiness of Craftastic Fabulousness, Our Leader....Martha the Great. (from her Halloween ideas magazine). Jake was a bumblebee and Stephen and I were Bee Keepers.

So, that's a little mini update for you. Whoever you might be. I am not really sure anyone was reading the old blog and now I really feel like I might just be talking to myself here. So if you are reading...say something won't ya?

Ahoy and Avast and Yar...and such...

2009-10-02T23:20:00.000-05:00

This new blog ship is setting sail. I feel like I need a bottle of champagne to smash against the screen to christen her . She's a simple little ship...not quite so fancy as the old typepad yacht, but its free and I like simple! It has actually become quite a thing with me, simplicity that is, and I keep looking for it in every area of my life. Paring down, getting rid of stuff . We have a street wide yard sale next weekend and everything that is left over from it will go straight to Sally or Goodwill. I keep thinking about this quote,

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful” - William Morris, architect and designer.

He was talking about design of the home but that thought can be applied to our inner selves as well. Letting go of past hurts, worries about things you cannot control, scathing judgements about ourselves and others, unhealthy habits...if it is not useful or believed to be beautiful, let it go.

Well I do digress! I didn't mean to go wandering down Philosophy Lane. I was only meaning to break in the new blog, maybe share a picture or two. Here is some recent randomness...

I have started turning the old Wishing Star Designs blog into a keepsake book through Blurb. So far I love the program (next I am going to make a cookbook of favorite recipes!) and its fairly simple to use. It even pulled in all of my blog entries for me!

Two weeks without soda! Hurrah for me and Stephen! I seriously feel more proud of it and free of a demon than I did when I quit smoking! It was harder for me than cigarettes for sure. I feel so much better already, my joints aren't as achy, I have more energy, I'm not constantly wanting to snack on something. I'll still indulge in a natural sugar soda every once in awhile but I will never put another ounce of artificial sweetener in my body again. High fructose corn syrup be damned!! Sugar or nothing!!

Goatee courtesy of a chocolate pudding pop. How cute is that? He kills me. Ready to up the cute factor? Here we go...

I swear to you, the kid does actually wear clothes most of the time. Admit it, you'd like to run around in your underwear more often too.

Not much to report on the job search/Boston move. Other than about fifty resumes sent out and headhunters contacted. I have been doing a lot of research on the North Shore area and I am pretty much in love with Gloucester and Ipswich. I don't expect anything to happen overnight but I am one of those people who feels better about big changes if I have researched, cataloged and scrapbooked a personal travel guide for myself. My friends do not call me Julie the Cruise Director for nothing.

What is up with the sailing analogies? I think maybe I've spent too much time researching Gloucester. (hear that sound when you go to that site? That is one of the top ten best sounds in the world.)

And to top it all off, I now have the Love Boat theme stuck in my head. " Love life's sweetest reward...Come aboard...we're expecting you....." That should make trying to fall asleep interesting. ;)