indulgences and whims

wishing bottles...

2014-06-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

i have wanted to start blogging and writing again for a long time,
but have found it so hard.

i lost my dedication and my inspiration,
when my dog Lucy died.

recently,
i have found new creative juices,
my muse being my niece.

so now it's time to share...

here it goes....

lately my mind has been dreaming

about having a full moon party,

wishing on stars, and dancing in the rain...

with all of these thoughts,
i have been wanting to make

a wishing bottle....

having this on my list of ideas

and having a date with my love Quinn,

what is a better time than today?

WISHING BOTTLE...

PART ONE

INGREDIENTS...

my thoughts are this...

we wish on a star,

we wish when we blow a dandelion,

we hope to discover a message in a bottle one day...

and you all know my love for fairies...

so the rest is my wishing bottle...

i have a collection of bottles,

of all shapes and sizes...

any clear bottle will do...

glitter is VERY important, after all glitter IS fairy dust

and we all know fairy's can make wishes come true...

gems are also relevant, after all we are all

special unique gems

and have a very distinct

sparkle...

seeds are also important, to represent the blowing of dandelions...

blowing our seeds forward, casting our wishes, to prosper

and bloom...

a feather,

a feather represents our wishes

have wings.

wings to fly and soar

to the place where wishes come true.

and now of course your wish...

wish really hard and

write with intent...

i like to burn the edges....

burning the edges creates a shape of its own,

it cleanses the air surrounding the wish,

and it looks pretty...

roll your wish into a tight scroll and tie with a ribbon

to keep it safe...

anything else you want to add is completely personal.

my niece Quinn added a sticker of candy

because candy is a perfect wish!

last step of creating your bottle,

sealing it with wax...

this takes time...

add the wax slowly

as much as you like,

and seal in your wish...

and here is my wish bottle for my

mom and dad...

wish:

health-

*the level of functional efficiency

*freedom of illness

*being complete

of course tied with a beautiful ribbon,

the bow and knot

also represent

the sealing and sincerity in which

this bottle and wish was created...

here is Quinn's bottle.

wish:

*health of her family

*to find her prince

(one day)

Quinn helped me with all of these decisions...

what color glitter, what color ribbon, gems and of course

the blessing, prayer,

and circle of energy...

Loreena McKennitt

2013-09-12T22:54:00.002-07:00

Loreena McKennitt

Singer

When in the springtime of the year

When the trees are crowned with leaves

When the ash and oak, and the birch and yew

Are dressed in ribbons fair.

When owls call the breathless moon

in the blue veil of the night

When shadows of the trees appear

amidst the lantern('s) light.

We've been rambling all the night

and sometime of this day

Now returning back again

we bring a garland gay.

Who will go down to those shady groves

and summon the shadows there

And tie a ribbon on those sheltering arms

in the springtime of the year.

The sounds of birds seem to fill the wood

and when the fiddler plays

All their voices can be heard

long past their woodland days.

We've been rambling all the night

and sometime of this day

Now returning back again

we bring a garland gay.

And so they linked their hands and danced

'round in circles and in rows

And so the journey of the night descends

when all the shades are gone.

A garland gay we bring you here

And at your door we stand

Here's a sprout, well budded out

The work of our Lord's hand.

We've been rambling all the night

and sometime of this day

Now returning back again

we bring a garland gay.

travel

2013-08-19T08:47:00.003-07:00

getting ready!

I leave Wednesday for Italy...

I am so excited about relaxing in the countryside

of Piedmont, Northern Italy,
and

drinking my favorite wines in the world!

this is our house....

we will be 20 minutes from Barolo and Barbaresco....

just outside of the town Castiglione Tinella.

ahh all of the eating and drinking!!

now what to pack?!

travel...

2013-08-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am headed ince again to Italy...

YAY!

We leave August 21st

and we fly into Milan.

There we will

rent a car and drive to Verona.

I have never seen an Opera but

plan on seeing Aida

in Verona, Italy

at the Arena!

oh what to wear?!

this looks so romantic

I just can't wait!

I am hoping i will find an amazing

shop in Milan....

if you have any Milan shopping secrets

please share!

a little about our fairies...

2013-08-03T12:51:00.000-07:00

a little about our fairies...

Rain:

her full name is Rain Silverglitter

she lights fire in the heart...

she lives in reed marshes

and deserted beaches

and can only be

seen on midsummer's eve.

she wears pure white gossamer and her wings

are translucent and opalescent...

Laila:

her full name is Laila Moonwebb,

she is a messenger of the moongoddess.

she lives in clover fields

and can only be seen in the light of the full moon.

she wears olive green dresses

and has pale purple wings...

Willow:

her full name is Willow Windglitter

she brings gentle breezes to change the weather

and she lives in fruit orchards and vineyards...

she can only be seen in the mist of the early morning

and wears red, purple and yellow,

and her wings are translucent and shimmer ...

Poopsy:

her full name is Poopsy Reedflier.

she is a trouble maker,

and lives where fireflies gather

and breed. she can only be seen in the enchanted moment

between sleep and waking.

she wears pale pink and here wings are

translucent green...

Misty:

her full name is Misty Goldenglow.

she likes to steal shiny coins and pretty trinkets...

she lives in spider webs and insect grottos,

and her dresses are made of spider webs and gossamer

and her wings are bright pink...

fairies...

2013-08-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

"Fairies...

a mythical being of folklore and romance usually having

diminutive human form and magical powers."

Wanting something beautiful to hang in my nieces room,

along with daydreaming about garden fairies,

i made this mobile.

i have had very little creative inspiration since lucy died,

but i have been wanting to be inspired

and i think these fairies

are the perfect way to get back.

this was my first fairy...

my niece and i have named her

Rain

and she can only be seen when bees

swarm and crickets chirrup...

this is Rain and her 4 fairy friends...

Laila, Willow, Poopsy, and Misty...

here they are getting their second coat of fairy dust...

each strand is hand beaded with pretty pink glass beads...

here they hang and watching over my niece,

and sometimes causing mischief!

Quinn kisses these ladies goodnight every night

that she is here.

the reward of of all the hard work has paid off 100 times over!

love...

2012-08-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

i miss you...

The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

sunday funday!

2012-06-23T21:15:00.001-07:00

i am so excited to have

sunday off....

i am headed to yoga

in the morning...

and then to the beach!!!

this will be my first beach day of the year!

i plan on getting some sun,

having some cocktails,

and frolicking

around all day!

have a happy sunday!

what a perfect idea...

2012-06-12T11:26:00.002-07:00

i found this adorable idea

for keeping

the bugs away while creating

a charming romantic space...

i have a beautiful new pergola

on my back deck...

and i think these will be perfect

hanging

from it...

the lavender and rosemary act as a

natural repellent...

for further instructions

go to design sponge...

cucumber sandwiches...

2012-05-31T22:40:00.001-07:00

once a week

i meet some of my friends for lunch...

each of us bring

a dish and we sit and eat delicious food and

of course gab about everything...

today i made...

cucumber sandwiches...

they were so yummy...

i used

cream cheese

unsalted butter

fresh chopped mint

salt

pepper

pepperidge farm sour dough

(with crust cut off of course!)

and small cucumbers

what a lovely lunch...

thank you ladies!

xoxo

Happy Memorial Day!

2012-05-28T12:17:00.002-07:00

i hope everyone is having a happy

memorial day!

geting lots of sun...

by a pool or a beach...

having fun with family

and friends...

and indulging on

yummy memorial day food!

be safe!!

hello kitty?

2012-05-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

why hello kitty?

first designed by Yuko Shimizu

hello kitty

first appeared on a vinyl coin

purse in 1974...

she is portrayed as a white

japanese bobtail cat

with a red bow.

officially...

"her real name is Kitty White and she was born in the suburbs of London, England on November 1. Her height is described as five apples and her weight as three apples. She is portrayed as a bright and kind-hearted girl, very close to her twin sister Mimmy. She is good at baking cookies and loves Mama's homemade apple pie. She likes to collect cute things and her favorite subjects in school are English, music and art.

Hello Kitty is portrayed surrounded by a large family who all go by the last name White. Her twin sister Mimmy is described as "shy and very girly," interested in sewing and dreaming of marriage. While Hello Kitty wears a bow on her left ear, Mimmy wears hers on the right. Their Papa, George, is described as dependable, humorous but also absent-minded. Mama, Mary, is portrayed as a good cook who loves doing housework. Grandpa Anthony likes to tell stories and Grandma Margaret likes sewing. Dear Daniel is Hello Kitty's childhood friend. His character profile describes him as born in London on May 3 with the real name Daniel Starr. He travelled with his parents and was away from Hello Kitty for a long time. He is portrayed as fashionable and sensitive, good at dancing and playing the piano, with an interest in photography and dreams of being a celebrity. Charmmy Kitty is Hello Kitty's pet, a white Persian. She is described as docile, obedient and fond of shiny things. Her necklace holds the key to Hello Kitty's jewellery box. Hello Kitty also has a pet hamster named Sugar, who was a gift from Dear Daniel."

so why the crazy?

this fictional character was

originally meant for preadolescent teens..

but now she is recognized amongst the

pop culture

even in couture...

here are some crazy, extreme examples i found

that prompted reasearch

on this unusual fad...

yes, this is a hello kitty crown...

um... creepy!

hello kitty contacts...

Hello Kitty villa in Taipei.

$4250
pave diamond ring for all the Hello Kitty fans.

Hau Sheng Hospital in Yuanlin, Taiwan has
recently built a hospital completely themed with
Hello Kitty.

Priced at $31,660.

i must say like most crazes i skip them...

non the less

this pop culture

craze certainly is intriguing...

maybe because it's so weird

and so big.

i hope you have enjoyed

the bit of weirdness i brought to your day...

happy weekend!

2012-05-11T20:20:00.002-07:00

here is a little

inspiration...

my internet has been down, but i

am excited about sharing

some of my new home

improvements!

have a great weekend!

the dust is starting to settle...

2012-05-02T23:03:00.001-07:00

but...

just ever so slightly...

i have actually just tossed my last box

away,

and as odd as we are...

it has started to feel like home with him here...

NOT that i am ready for....

well anything.

but as always timo has been a wonderful help

and it feels nice to spend some time with him

again...

we have been working on he house today from 9am

to 12 am

and have gotten a ton accomplished!

in case i didn't say,

i have my parents coming in town

on friday

along with one of my dearest friends

and his new lady friend....

i need these...

i am dying for a version of these and i can't sew

at all!

i live in charleston sc...

please if you know how i can obtain them or who

can make them

i would love to know!

they would just make my dining room!

my new back yard?

2012-04-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

well i am still renovating my house...

firing my contractor

and learning

something new everyday...

this project has been a long tough road

of emotions and lessons.

i am a bundle of nerves...

timo

is coming to town to save they day.

i have toyed with this decision

wondering if i am ready to see him.

it has been a year...

after all timo is family

and it's time to see him.

i knew this day would come

and honestly...

how can i say no

to this?

yes, timo is coming to town

to help me finish and fix

my house...

AND...

give me the most beautiful

landscaped yard!

this is a picture of my house with

timo's ideas...

what am i going to do?

can i stay cool?

can he?

can we be friends??

we will see...

2012-04-26T14:19:00.001-07:00

awning? pergola?

2012-04-24T07:15:00.002-07:00

awning? pergola?

what should i do?

i love the idea of a fabric awning,

i think they are so cute and retro...

i also love the idea of an

aluminum awning...

and then building a pergola...

well that sounds beautiful as well!

i am addicted to vines, so a pergola

sounds totally like my cup of tea...

they are also a little more whimsical

and romantic...

but not water proof...

i think a pergola is the way to go!

i can find vines that are sturdy

and thick,

and i also think i can figure out how

to make it waterproof,

or at least part of it.

house progress...

2012-04-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

well i have moved in...

what a bumpy road it has been!

my house still isn't finished but it

is well on it's way!

here are some pictures...

i am really hoping to finish things up

sooner than later!!

it's coming along

slowly but surely,

i can't wait to be completely unpacked

and decorated!!

i hope these pictures give you a glimpse

of what i've been up to.

R.I.P 3/25/12

2012-03-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

my sweet girl...

i miss you so....

i can't even comment on these

photos...

i hope they speak for themselves....

and for lucy.

i hope they help

those of you who knew her,

and i hope those of you who didn't

have a better understanding

of what a sweet ,

quirky,

personality

she had...

i miss my dear friend.

image...

recipe ideas...

2012-03-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

my birthday is coming up,

and i am moving into my new house!

i am having a small potluck

and am exploring some recipe ideas...

Layers of ricotta seasoned with chopped oregano, salt and pepper and yellow tomatoes. It was refreshing and filling. You can make the layers as tall or as thin as you want. In retrospect I would have let the ricotta drain a little in between layers of cheesecloth to make it a bit firmer.

photo

600g lean organic beef mince (ground beef)

1 brown onion, finely diced

3 large cloves garlic, minced

2 cups beef or chicken stock

1½ tablespoons tomato paste

1/3 cup Worcester sauce

3 tablespoons HP sauce

3 tablespoons BBQ sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

4 sprigs fresh thyme leaves

Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Olive or canola oil for frying

For the topping:
3 large cloves garlic, whole, skin on

5 evenly-sized large floury potatoes, peeled, washed and cut into halves

2 tablespoons Natural Greek yoghurt

1/3 cup milk

50g Parmesan, finely grated

A few extra fresh thyme sprigs

Extra Parmesan for topping and serving

- - - - - - - -

Preheat oven to 180˚C (350˚F).

Place garlic cloves onto a small baking tray and roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until soft on the inside (test with a small , sharp knife) remove and allow to cool then squeeze out pulp and discard outer paper.

Fill a medium-large pot half-full with cold water, add a good pinch of salt then add in the halved potatoes. Bring to the boil over high heat then reduce heat to medium-high and cook at a high simmer until potatoes as fully soft in the middle when tested with a knife. Note: to ensure really creamy mash, always make sure your potatoes are thoroughly cooked, if they remain even ever so slightly firm in the middle you’ll never get them smooth, as you’ll just end up with tiny lumps dotted throughout the mash.

Drain potatoes, tip them back into the pot and using a potato masher, break up the cooked potatoes, then pass through a Tamil sieve or the finest setting on a potato ricer until totally smooth. Add in the milk, yoghurt, cooled roasted garlic pulp, and grated Parmesan and whip together to combine thoroughly along with a very good seasoning of salt and black pepper. Transfer to a large piping bag fitted with a star-shaped nozzle (the one I used measured 1cm/0.4”) and set aside until required.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large, deep frying pan or saucepan. Add the onion and fry gently for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and continue to sauté over medium heat for a further 5-7 minutes before adding in the beef, break the mince up using the end of a spatula and combine all together. Fry until meat has browned then add the stock; tomato paste; HP sauce; Worcester sauce, fresh thyme leaves and stir all together. Cook for 30-40 minutes to infuse all flavours together and sauce has thickened. Fill baking dishes (this quantity will fill a single dish measuring 24 x 18cm/7 x 9.5” or 4 smaller 10cm/4” ramekin-style pots).

Pipe mashed potato onto top of meat filling, sprinkle with a little extra grated Parmesan, a seasoning of black pepper and a garnish of a fresh thyme sprig, then bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes or until top of piped potato is golden brown.

Serve hot with extra grated Parmesan (optional).

Serves 4

recipe

first look!

2012-03-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

i woke up today at 6am

so excited!

my kitchen

cabinets were being delivered!

very carefully...

vinson, was very diligent

about checking every piece in...

my first peek!!

gerritt my installer busy at work...

ahh already looking so pretty!

too bad the appliance

store sent me the wrong range!

more to come!

lbd...the little black dress...

2012-03-11T10:02:00.003-07:00

october 1st, 1926

Coco Chanel's

little black dress

was first featured in a small paragraph

in American Vogue.

Coco chanels "ford dress"

deemed as reliable as the ford t-model ...

"intended to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable,

accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral color"

The Little Black Dress

as ledgend tells it...

Coco started wearing black after her

lover Boy Capel died in 1919...

her designs thereafter

were inspired by black mourning dresses

worn by peasant women in small french

villages

she knew as a child...

it wasn't till 1961
when the young trendy Audrey Hepburn
wore the famous
Little Black Dress
in Breakfast at Tiffany's...

this dress was not a Chanel design
but Hubert de Givenchy ...

she did
embody Chanel's spirit
and live up to coco's famous quote
"a girl should be two things: classy and fabulous!"

Coco Chanel
also said
"you can never be over nor under dressed in a little black dress"

"Chanel did not invent the little black dress,
The LBD was around before Chanel’s crepe de chine number appeared in Vogue, but she told us to wear it, and so we did." —Ali Basye

Audrey Hepburn / Jackie O

Marilyn Monroe / Victoria Beckham / Blondie

this dress was auctioned for charity Dec. 6th 2006

for more than $800,000.00

thank you Coco

for so many things...

morrison....

2012-03-08T15:41:00.000-08:00

love... love... love...

morrison spring

i love this line!

kitchen backsplash!!

2012-03-06T21:44:00.000-08:00

my kitchen design...

might be a little hard to see

but this is it!

today was all about making

some decisions

about my countertops

and my backsplash...

i decided on glass...

a.k.d.o

arctic white!

of course...

my kitchen gets delivered

on the 15th!

i can't wait!!

more house update...

2012-03-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

before...

during...

today!

and the packing

has begun!!