Art and Life

Gotta have a strong heart to smile through life

2012-10-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

Pictures taken at Cedar Point in Sandusky - Ohio, one of the most amazing parks in US, with some of the most extremes rides in the country.

Clickty, clickty, clank.... Clickty, clickty, clank...
The ride goes slowly till it reaches the top, preparing that heart of yours for the real ride yet to come. Your hands are sweating.... Your heart pounding, kids start to scream... You look around you and see the Great Lakes, see the parking lot, the people so tiny down there, and you smile to the wind and drop..... So fast and so deeply that you can't figure out if it was pleasure or fear that you felt?!!!
So fast and violently going down and up again and down... Too funny to be scared, and too fast to rationalize. That's life... You only have time to smile and enjoy the ride!.... No time to fear what's coming next.

I'm not a fan of practicing and practicing but I'm a fan of reading instruction. Once done with instructions I just go and do it. For the same reason I was never a fan of training wheels when my kids were learning how to bike. Have you noticed how they can not touch the ground with both training wheels? They either wobble to the right or to the left. Right, left, right, left.... But never in the center where they were supposed to balance anyway. They rely on that crooked notion of false support. That's why those wheels were not popular with me. I taught my son to ride his little bike pushing him down the hill, a small grassy hill we had in our front yard. Going fast is much easier to keep balance, as you know, when you are biking. And the grass was the cushion in case he would fall. He learned to ride that way.

My daughter didn't have a hill to count on when she came to the age of biking. With her I just pushed her bike fast on the street and told her to keep pedaling fast, fast, fast, as fast as she could and I would be running right next to her. Which became right behind her after a few minutes, and after that she was gone down the street. And I was left way behind, still running, but she was fast, too fast.

As we grow, most of us lose that mom or dad behind our little bike of life. We become our own mom and dad pushing ourselves through life. We know there should be no room for fear on this ride, even if we get the sweaty hands, we should paddle fast and smile to the wind. The fastest we pedal the farther we go.

And once in a while we find a seat in one of those roller-coasters of life too. We prepare ourselves for a great big ride above the ground. Heart pounding, hands sweating, wind on the face. We look around and think "What the f*** am I doing here?" then we laugh and scream... And realize this was just another day in our life. Aren't we glad we are breathing?

Have a great day my dears! Enjoy the ride!

A pause...

2012-09-23T12:27:00.000-04:00

Food and friends, what a better pause?

We sit and eat and talk and laugh

catching up a little on everyone's life.

I set the table with no set of tea cups but a mix of everything I have.

I like the differences, the styles and colors of all of them

and so I allow the tea cups to mix and dance at the table.

Purposely planed to be a magical set of this and that.

I let myself go in this garden of porcelain and imagination.

For a few hours I'll allow myself to be in Alice's wonderland.

Work has taken a big chunk of my life but I'm not complaining.

I'm grateful for everything that's coming my way and keeping me busy,

even those early calls on Saturday morning or late Sunday afternoon

from plumbers and painters, floor deliveries or clients...

I take them all and care about every little detail that goes in my day.

Those lazy days of baby watching, and toddler plays are history.

As our life changes and goes from stage to stage...

We pause...

To be aware of where we stand and to where we are heading.

Sometimes I'm a floating spirit watching myself from outside, like watching a movie.

And I am so happy to say that with all the ups and downs,

and the bumps on the road, the long tunnel and all...

My life would still make a damn good movie! With some incredible episodes...

And they don't cease to happen. That's why I need a pause here and there

to make sure all is real.

Living an incredible life... I'm here to say

EVERY DAY IS WORTH IT!!!

Hope you are enjoying your journey too?! No matter how many bumps there are on the road.

The End

2012-09-22T10:48:00.002-04:00

Life is short no matter how long we live, 80 or a 100...

Ginger, our hamster, had to go.

"Is there Heaven for pets?" She asked me.

I'm not sure, but the energy that lives inside of us has to go somewhere, right?

I just don't know where it goes.

She believes his energy is around.

My posts are running a little behind, as you can see this event took place a while ago.

And many more events are on the waiting list to be published, but everything happens so fast around here lately, in a number that I can't keep up. No, not everything will be published

because I'm not that kind of person who feels obligated to talk just to prove that I have

something to say. I will come back to my pages whenever I have something that

makes me think and send me into a deeper reflection.

There are two kinds of death: The one that happens as a transition and the one that is

really the end.

Transitions put an end at something, at a friendship, at relationships, at work, business, places where we live, end of a school term, etc. They are the necessary passages in life.

They are what makes us grow.

And the other death is what it is. The absence of what we used to love.

Both hurt deep inside and we sometimes even believe we can't go on one more day

afterwords... But do we really have a choice?

Sitting and crying for a while might be necessary to reach that relief and have a lighter soul.

And then life goes on. Focusing on what we have is way more important than

hurting for what we don't have.

And then a new life is born, new plans come to mind, new people, new pets,

and the biggest gift of all: A brand new day waiting for us to start all

over again. We get stronger as we grow older. We become more forgiving of

what bothers us. We understand the need of being calm to make decisions.

And when we are panicking inside...

We smile, take a big breath and keep walking towards the light.

There will always be the memories. After all they are what makes our history here.

If anyone will remember us is something hard to predict.

But since we don't know about life after life, about spirits or anything else. (At least I don't know!)

Let's live for the here and now.

Have a peaceful day my lovelies!...

Bloom where you are planted

2012-09-09T19:03:00.000-04:00

Art Festivals have that local country spirit of their own.
The air smells like a big kitchen preparing steak sandwiches, kettle corn popping, hot-dogs and hamburgers, loads of fries curly and straight cut. Butter, cinnamon, cakes, and sugar all happening at the same time. They work wonders, like a spa for the senses.

Music is everywhere, country, forward classic , blues, jazz. You don't know if you are walking on sliding on sound waves.

Young families with their young kids all talking, eating, pointing. Thousands of college students, older couples, kids and adults. Even the dogs come here for a good time. They are the center of attention of young and old. Who doesn't like a well behaved dog?

What was once a parking lot now is the food plaza.

Sharing table with a stranger is not unusual.

The aroma inebriates the soul. Trying something new is a must.

Or going back to the good old ones is essential.

Make that funnel cake to go, please. We will savor it later at home.

The curly fries are for here and now.

Pack the good memories, inject it in your brain and let it work as a slow release medice

for those months away from Summer.

Local culture, no matter where you are, is what connect us to the people

and to the land.

There's richness everywhere. And the key to happiness?

Bloom where you are planted!

Be a part of it, get to know people, like them, accept them

and you will get a lot in return.

Have a great end of Summer you too!

Tastes, aromas and memories

2012-09-02T14:25:00.000-04:00

Taste of Summer in my mind is associate with fresh sweet fruits.

When we can decide on the day's menu just from walking down the

aisles of the grocery store or farm markets.

When everything tastes good and any improvisation is certainly to be a success.

So when I'm invited to dinner or a cook out, I most of the time will bring a dessert or two.

Tastes and smells can make us travel in time and across the world.

The fruits and berries will always bring me back to US if I ever manage to live somewhere else.

While barbecue, cinnamon and some cakes will take me back home to Brazil.

Color pencils and crayons smell will take me back to my childhood.

The ocean breeze will take me back to the slow relaxing days of Summer in Brazil.

While I wish some of these memories were not memories but part of a daily life,

I also understand that the more we move around the world, the more we get touched by

new wonderful food that will touch our soul and will be kept in our memory.

A good life is something difficult to be left behind...

A good food is hard to be forgotten!

And memories define who we are or who we were.

What do you miss most from your past?

Why do we do what we do?

2012-08-21T12:08:00.000-04:00

They say you are what you eat.

I want to add to that: You are what you do.

We spend a great amount of time working, either to support ourselves or to complete ourselves, or both.

I work for both reasons. Sometimes too much! To the extent of going to bed

only after I have done the last line on a project, after 1 am or later.

Of course I wish I had been born very rich and worry free about my finances.

On the other hand I'm just thankful for being able to work on what I'm passionate about.

In between deadlines I have some time to think about life and wander around town.

The botanical garden continues to be my place of inspiration where all roads

lead to myself.

The silence there allows my spirit to rest and my energy to recharge.

Even during the dead Winter that place is still the most peaceful place to be.

I don't remember at what age I had a vocational call, I know art is as much a part of me as my eyes, my arms, my feet.

As it embraces my everyday life, I feel this energy is part of God .

That's my way of feeling embraced, protect, satisfied.

God is in the details.

And how does an artist translate those abstract feelings into concrete piece of work?

We capture emotions and shape them into poetry, paintings, books, sculptures, drawings, architecture...

Helping everyone else feel something tingling inside of them.

We wake up emotions...

You can never cross the ocean...

2012-08-16T23:07:00.001-04:00

You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage

to lose sight of the shore.

The biggest enemy of someone's dreams rest in that same person's mind.

I have seen people with big dreams and little courage and as soon

as they step out of their "safe zone" they are already returning.

So what makes one to have courage and others not to have it?

Simple answer would be the way we are all raised and pushed in one direction

to be dream catchers instead of dreamers forever.

And that brings me to the art of raising kids because after all we are molded, built,

and taught by family and environment as soon as we are out into the light.

And how can a dreamer compete with a dream catcher?

It can hardly compete. They will remain in the same circle of people who posses

same attitude, same little courage. They will sit at the shore.

The courageous ones will pop out of that circle when it becomes claustrophobic

leaving the shore behind.

Moving forward towards greater things, conquering new worlds,

achieving, inspiring their own children, even inspiring the ones

planted behind. Meeting greater people at new shores and growing.

Forever growing...

Until it becomes a tale in people's mind.

Admired in silence.

Always in silence...

Let me go catch my dream now!

A moment of realization...

2012-08-13T12:51:00.000-04:00

Give me a medieval town in Europe any time and I will love it. Give me a museum with its long lines and I can take it. Give me gardens in big cities, fast traffic, beautiful shopping malls I will love it. Give me fancy restaurants, or simple home cooked meals and I will thank you.
But what is it that I can't take the wild life?

I know myself from past experiences that I like variety and I can even take on extremes. I can go from new to old and back and forth, I can go from black and white to color in a minute, and many times I have thrown myself from high cliffs and learned to fly.
But why, why, why do I not enjoy the practice of getting my toes dirty, showering in public restrooms, sleeping in sleeping bags, being cold at night inside a tent? Why do I break in rashes when someone invites me to camping?

As much as I dislike it, I decided I wanted to throw myself into trial to see my limitations, to stretch my comfort zone, to find out if I "maybe" don't really hate the act of camping or to finally achieve a verdict that I should never do it again and screw everyone else.
Yes my friends... I signed up for the task which should happen in 3 weeks. I didn't sleep at all last night just thinking about it. Imagining me waking up at 3am and not having a bathroom next to my "room". Imagining those toothless red necks swimming in the lake in shorts and shirt. This will be no Ipanema beach for sure.

Don't get me wrong, I love nature. You can throw me in the ocean anytime. I can walk on white silky beaches for hours. I can spend hours sitting by a campfire drinking wine and talking until I fall asleep.
But anyway... Since I'm up to immense transformations in life... Here I go! I will share with you later my experience, meanwhile tell me what you have done to get out of your comfort zone? Reached any pleasure there? Please tell me!

Fiding joy in diversity

2012-07-29T12:55:00.001-04:00

Life is a curious thing,

if you get too far from the track you might not come back,

but if you don't get out a little you might never know new routes.

I pop from the crowd, hate established norms of conduct

and hate uniforms. I like to be my own self, wearing my own spirit and sometimes

I even don't fit in the crowd. But I guess it's ok, because I was made strong enough

to be self-reliant and to appreciate the differences.

My appreciation for the new and different is accompanied by

my love for history and tradition.

I could never pick one side, one style, one color. I need to be completed by all

of the creative and beautiful things.

I bring with me diversity and not a single style. When a client asks me for help

I pretty much try to dive into that person's tastes and ideas

and bring it to reality.

There's a place for all of us, even though we are all different

we can co-exist.

There are earthy people

Fancy and sophisticate people

Rich and simple people

Rich and snob people

Creative and decisive people

Impulsive people

But the hardest to deal with are the ones who trust no one.

These are the strangest to dive into. They hire you because of the good refferals

they received but they don't let go of their anxiety.

So an architect's job is more than just design,

it's more than being sensitive to tastes, budget and needs.

Sometimes it's a bit of being a therapist!

Who would know? We are not thought in college how to deal with that.

They teach us all the physics, calculus, art and history.

But people relation is only achieved in the school of life.

The challenges are exciting as well, because like I said,

once in a while it's necessary to get out of track

and get to know the ones that are not like you.

And because I get really entertained by diversity,

I will always jump into the deep end of the pool and learn to swim as I go.

I will bring color, fun and peace to your life through my creation.

There gotta be trust, though.

Are you ready to take life in full?

How long is too long?

2012-07-28T23:35:00.001-04:00

There's no manual for life, only a few insights and inspiration

we can gather from other people's life,

from some philosophers or from some more mature souls who gives us

a five minute of knowledge and leave us again to our own thoughts.

So, how much time is enough time for you to realize

a friendship, a relationship or a marriage is over?

If cut early enough you can leave without scars and wondering if you

had enough time to share and collect all the fruits you deserved.

If cut a little late you leave with the feeling

that you waited too long past time of harvest and you ended up with the rotten fruit.

The thing is, everyday our sun rises we are a day older,

and when I look at the pictures of my children I can rapidly count every second

past in my life, every trip we took together, every birthday party,

the nights reading their books in bed, the days when there were four of us.

And I realize that nothing is forever, and whatever is forever we don't know

yet because that's the one thing we will only know

when we are done living.

So, how do you make that decision on how long is long enough?

Is 6 months or 6 years enough time to say you know someone?

Is 20 years or 50 years enough time to stay married?

Is 80 years or 100 years enough time to live a life?

And when are we really going to be satisfied with whatever time we have or had

with someone?

"Life is what happens while we are planning the future"

No matter what you are planning...

It will be what will be.

A Feng Shui kind of thing

2012-07-21T11:15:00.000-04:00

In my humble experience as a visitor of many residences

I have noticed how natural light really affects someone's state of mind.

Having a residence on the Northern hemisphere and having a long Winter season

I would, if I could, put down all walls without a window.

Walk into a room without windows, usually a bath or 1/2 bath and imagine

how nice it would be to walk in without needing to switch that light on?!

Is light everything? Maybe not, but it's the healthiest item to put on the shopping list when

you go shopping for a new home.

So, what's left after you find "the light"?

Next comes color.

Colors are the testimonies of light, they vibrate according to the amount

of light that reaches them.

And colors activate those brain cells provoking this and that emotion.

Colors create the mood. They tell right away the home owner's style.

So important? Yes they are because you can pretty much control feelings, behaviors and

state of mind by using colors.

And what comes after Light and Color?

Texture is the third magical ingredient.

Because we are sensual beings, meaning we touch and feel and translate

our sensation into feelings, we see the world through our hands as well.

Who is not tempted to walk bare feet over a shaggy rug?

Or slide your hands over a velvety pillow?

Run your fingers over a knitted blanket?

Touch a shine and smoothy counter top?

All these things are simple pleasures to the body and mind

which keep us balanced in spirit.

So next time you walk into a friend's home or your own home, ask yourself what

kind of feelings does that space evokes on you?

Repeat what works and modify what bothers yo.

Take control of your space!

The 4th of July

2012-07-06T19:33:00.000-04:00

Summer is all about outdoors.

4th of July being the cherry on top of that Summer ice-cream.

I'm very happy I had a small get together here at home

as I'm slowly recovering my entertaining abilities.

My son, who dreams of being a chef someday,

came to the kitchen to share a moment of peace and quiet with his mom

while we cooked together.

Together we set the table and decorated the place.

I realize life is like a good meal, better savored slowly...

Moments like this are meant to last forever

in the memory bank.

The pie, the tall glasses waiting for ice-cream,

the lemonade with floating strawberries,

the fresh corn from some local farm, local watermelon too!

Fresh baguette, meat for the barbecue,

rice, salad, olives, and the home made tomato sauce.

All set with care and love,

like a little seed planted waiting to grow.

The good friends were present, the kids were happy and the food delicious.

Everyone contributed with something. Everyone had a good time.

And if I had to keep one good memory of this Summer it would be of this

4th of July.

Not a lot of time to waste in life,

better spend each moment with care.

Makeover fantasies

2012-07-02T20:59:00.000-04:00

One might think because I work with architecture and design I have everything up to date at home.
Well, if I had more time to spend at home maybe I would have things rearranged like I used to do. I have not had the luxury to indulge all my rooms makeover fantasies lately.
I have three bags of new decor sitting inside a closet for a month now, all the pretty things waiting to find a place in the living room.
I also have to tell you I finally brought "the zebra" home! Yes, this picture was taken on my last visit to my favorite store when I could not resist anymore.

And here it's.

I already removed the green rug and placed the black and white printed cow hive.

Really, who can afford a real zebra?

Besides it's not politically correct in my books to have real wild animals laying around.

And talking about animals laying around...

I finally figured out why I like cats so much! They really look like

little cheetahs and when they lay around they look like decoration.

So there you go! Who can resist to that?

More pictures to come as soon as I have the new stuff around.

Wishing you a great week of celebration and fun!

The dog days of Summer

2012-06-29T22:29:00.000-04:00

Hot super hot, I even call it Brazilian hot that's how our days are coming.

The hottest Summer we've had in a long time!

When busy and fun mingle with each other. I wish I had some time to write a memoir.

It would include the fall into the ditch when I tried to jump over a big

empty space to reach the client's front door but I forgot I had a pencil skirt

and tight were my legs... Like a hamster flying in middle air I was.

When my partner in a fraction of a second grabbed my arm and saved me.

The end of the day doctor appointment sitting in the waiting room and using the nurse's wipes and gel to clean up my toes full of construction sand, hoping she wasn't paying attention to my activity under the counter. Because I just hate dirt on my feet and I can not control my septic habits.

Or when the fancy lady walking her even fancier imported tiny little dog

came to flirt with one of the guys and almost fell backwards when she saw me.

Or the client who had an appointment with us and opened the door half naked.

The Latino painter who stops everything he's doing just to smile at me.

All the loose shorts with man's underwear picking out.

The roof guys who want to chat with me and I can't even hear them on top of the ridge.

The super skinny ladies in their super tight yoga pants weighting 80 lbs or less, all bones and botox

walking by every day, sometimes with their 300 lbs husbands,

sometimes with their 4 lbs dogs.

Kids in roller blades being pulled by dogs.

The couple with so much money who doesn't know how to spend it all

and love us because we can tell them how.

Bicycles come and go.

The sun comes up and down.

The heat always goes up.

The clock goes tick and tock...

And Summer is here for sure.

Who said work can't be fun?

I'm loving it all and even though I'm busy and crazy,

I wouldn't trade this moment for nothing!

Hope you are having a fun Summer wherever you are.

How does your garden grow?

2012-06-23T11:09:00.000-04:00

The greenhouse...

To me it's almost like a park where I let myself go for a while

while dreaming of what I could do with those flowers when I take them home.

I love the wave-petunias that spread so abundantly all over the ground.

Hanging baskets in every color imaginable.

With the fuzzy bumblebees and butterflies they attract.

Spring of bright colors prepares us for the bright Summer ahead of us.

My wagon ready to go with the ones I chose to take home.

The garden is indeed an extension of our home and translates our taste and personality.

Almost like a free preview of what's inside the house.

Every inch of your space tells a story to those who visit you.

But in a land of color it's so easy to get lost and walk in circles,

so many choices in such a huge area.

Maybe this microcosms is a sample of the real macrocosms?

When we walk around in life with the numerous choices,

people or flowers... always there for us to choose.

Buy or not to buy? Take home or not?

As the flowers in front of our house and

the type of our garden tell a story,

the people we choose to spend time with also tells the world a story.

As we get older and supposedly we should get smarter (even though I have seen some very stupid people no matter their age) we are more careful about who we spend time with.

We are more selective of those flowers we pick to be around us. Remembering that every flower attracts a different type of butterfly or bee,

we know the same goes for people.

What do people around you are attracting to your world?

What kind of flowers do you enjoy?

Hope your Spring is going well and as fun and renewing as mine.

Happy Spring to all!

Life at its best

2012-06-17T11:22:00.000-04:00

I am still here and like the strawberry plant I come back stronger every year.

Every Winter is a test to their strength, but nature is governed by God and obviously they know what they are doing.

We learn that patience is a virtue and all is well at the end.

I have been busy with work and that's the main reason why I left blog land to the end of my list. Kids are out of school and they dispute every little minute left after work.

Friends are important too, so I squeeze them here and there.

Art is at a resting point and I enjoy what I see around town or read about it.

Cooking, baking, photographing are my other real passions and it also gets squeezed in during weekends.

These strawberries came from my garden and every year they come in bigger number and the plant has crawled from the back of the house to the side of it.

Our tomato plants, bell peppers and egg-plants are in place already, growing silently to surprise us sooner or late.

We collect them as they come and share with friends the products after they have passed the kitchen and the cooking.

Every year I make strawberry jam and add a little magic, a little love to all.

The product of my labor measures higher than a little pot of jam.

I have been blessed with the amount of work my construction company is receiving, up to the point we are putting clients on a waiting list till Fall.

Sending a Thank You note to heaven just for allowing me another day here.

Also being thankful for having a conscious look at life.

May you have a great and peaceful day!

And Happy Father's Day to all dads out there!

I have arrived, what about you?

2012-05-28T11:43:00.000-04:00

In a very simplistic way I am thinking I could

define life as a time period divided in three reoccurring different stages.

First the "Arrival". The arrival at a stage in life when we are caught staring

without a clue. Frozen. Absolute inertia.

When not knowing how to proceed takes all the energy trying to put together a plan.

Second stage the "Action". When everything is happening, you are making decision right or wrong.

Or everyone else is making decisions for you or your are engrossed in so much movent

you hardly have time to figure out how you got here.

The third stage the "Arrival". The exhaustion of the work done but not yet finished.

Because work is ever finished? Not until you die.

And the exhaustion throws you back into inertia when you collapse and need a break.

The boredom of inertia catapults you back into movement

and every stage keeps reoccurring so many times that

sometimes you wish you lived in a permanent stage of holiday,

with the most amazing pool in front of you,

and the sun above you to warm up every bone in your body.

And if you ever think of complaining about boredom again,

just shut up!

Because the last time I complained...

I was thrown into a tornado, spinning so fast I lost my head.

Now if you excuse me, it's Memorial Day Holiday here where I live,

and I have a pool to go.

Let me be bored again...

Even if only for a couple hours.

From NY with love.

2012-05-20T12:24:00.001-04:00

I had the chance to spend the week before Mothers' day in NY. A girl's trip with four of us enjoying the freedom of traveling without kids to watch, or schedules to follow.
Needless to say time flew by and the days over there were not enough to see and do all we wished we could.

But even in small doses, freedom has the power to wake us up and reminds us of dreams reserved in the box of "future". Now I remember how much I enjoy being in a big city, now I remember how my home town, Rio de Janeiro, used to fascinate me on every hour of the day.

The big city presents itself with magic, endless sounds, different smells, many languages, people... Their beauty is different, like it's in every city you visit that is not home. The eye contact hits you straight into your eyes, so differently than the people of mid-west where we live, where they rather stare at the vanishing point ahead.

We wasted no time sleeping. We got to see the city in every hour of the day, even going out at 1am and coming home at 5am when people were already getting on subways to work.

We had snack at the famous Mc, where there were left over people from the late, late night.

Some customers were drunk, some with smeared lipstick and weird hair, some tired and sleeping on the chairs, some counting money and talking loudly, some with chains and earring on lips and brows.

And then us, the dressed up girls just looking for a sandwich and milk-shake.

Freedom and Liberty seemed to be always walking around.

You can enjoy the freedom of using your camera anywhere, even inside stores,

which is a no-no here where I live.

And lots of hours to shop.

But what I really brought from that wonderful city wasn't in a bag.

And didn't taste like hot-dog late at night.

It was the sensation of the sunshine on my face.

The laugh we shared among the four of us.

The undoubted fact that life is short and we need to do this more often.

Don't let life pass you by... Go chase it!

Between pushes and pulls we still opted to be happy.

2012-05-06T12:21:00.001-04:00

And the sunshine is finally here while rainy days have given us a break.

My ME time enjoys the luxury of sitting outdoors for a glass of juice

and some hours or writing or reading.

Like moments of meditation, reading and writing brings my creativity and rational to focus.

And focusing on who we are and what we need and want

makes us less fragile to the "pushes and pulls" of everyday life.

I have also noticed that no matter what people around us pulls from us,

God gives us back twice as much.

And for that reason those people seem to be a permanent mess of dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, those light in spirit who feed other people

with love and friendship seem to become more wonderful every day.

So in the team of the wonderful I want to be! While I watch like audience at the theater the crazies spinning around.

Work has taken a lot of my time and what's left at home is family time.

But dreaming is necessary for achieving and in that order

I still dream of that orange wall in my studio.

That zebra rug in my living room. Although I left behind a very generous offer from the sales person because I realized a zebra would be too small for the coffee table I own.

Meaning in my head: Gotta find a coffee table first!

I still dream of more time to paint. No, I haven't forgotten I'm an artist.

I dream of new paintings for my bedroom together with new bed covers and possibly a TV?

Who knew? Me watching TV in bed? Sounds so wonderfully cozy for Winter days.

And I also dream of wine and cheese party with girlfriends that I want to get to know better.

All the flowers I need to buy to color the front of my house, like specs of paint on a impressionist piece of art work.

I dream of trips and all the photos I will be taking and saving on my memory bank.

After all, those are going to be the memories I will revisit when I am old and slow.

We all seem to enjoy what the sun brings to us: The warmth, the light, the brightness.

My two cats lay here in my studio, the place (or the company) they chose as their favorite.

While we have no control about what life might bring us tomorrow or after,

We decide that it's a good idea to send a Thank You note to heaven today...

Because no matter how life tries us, we are here to be happy!

A big decision! Be happy!

I am a banana bread!

2012-04-29T13:57:00.000-04:00

Getting back to the baking mode has pleased my desire to be more of the "homy"

person I enjoy so much but neglected for a little while.

Banana bread was my contribution for breakfast today,

as well as creamy chocolate cupcakes for the two sitters

who came here on Friday night.

And oatmeal cookies also made their entrance sometime during the week.

Social agenda has been busy with graduation, birthdays,

bars, movies and restaurants. What else can someone desire from life?

Work continues to keep us busy but now with some promise of a little break ahead of me.

Going on a girls only trip pretty soon but I want to wait another week to tell you about it.

Mentors usually tell you to "think outside the box"...

But do you know what is more interesting than thinking?

"Living outside the box"!

Have you had the chance lately to start over on an area of your life?

Start over at a new job? Doing something you just learned?

Started meeting new groups of friends? People so different than the previous group

that makes you wonder about all the great people out there waiting for you?

Or loving new styles, new hobbies?

That's what I mean... Living outside the previous box that

once in a while had you suffocated without you realizing?

So, as I climb and jump out of my box I find time to do all the old things

I still love, with my experience guiding me and making me

search and FIND!!! All the new boxes I now enjoy.

My banana bread is jumping out of its box into our mouths full with taste.

I want to be just like this bread...

Make my move and make people happy!

The girls who walk alone

2012-04-27T12:39:00.001-04:00

You know the old say : "The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree"

My daughter had a book report done recently and they had to pick someone famous in history to write about. No impute from my part on whom to choose, and this is who she picked: Amelie Earhart.
She already had heard about this woman and read her biography when she came home with books and a resolution.
Delighted with her choice I read the book to understand why this person was inspiring my daughter so much.

More than understanding I started realizing this little 9 year old could end up being someone just like me. Our preferences in people and the choices we make in life so darn close to this Amelia. When you understand that keeping yourself true to what you believe is the most important thing in the world you also realize you are one of those girls "who walk alone". You know you are not a follower but a leader, you know intelligence comes before beauty and even though beauty is nice to have it won't stand alone. You know how valuable you are and you don't need others to confirm or disagree because you know well what you bring to the world.

The richer you get from inside out the more you repel those with little inside. Prejudice? Jealousy? Competition? Who knows? One of them? All of them? But one thing for sure, those who can't understand you or appreciate who you are are the ones you don't need.
If being different and not caving in just to fit in will make you walk alone, that's no problem. There will also be many like you out there. No rush... Let it happen naturally... They will find you!

The gratification of walking alone? Keeping only the good ones close to your heart!

The art of now

2012-04-15T10:14:00.001-04:00

Last day of Spring break.
We were home without any special destination.
Even though home seems to be the quietest and most peaceful place to be, busy we were all the time.
The sun already traveling 90 degrees above our head makes the sunrise start right on the direction of my bedroom window. There's this gold belt of light that slowly rises from the ground and promises a day of beauty and orange glow.
Mornings are crispy and cold and by the middle of the day we are warm and happy.

Winter is far away behind us, just a memory of the past. On this wheel of speedy time I know there's magic in the now and today. Got enjoy every little drop of light, every little wind of luck.

Sitting at the coffee shop by 5PM, when that same sun is going down and blinding us, I see reflections of people stuck on the glass panels. When light is so great that you don't need to look inside to see it all, images travel to you. And just sitting there on one corner of the place you can watch and study the whole scenery.
The golden light hits the guy reading his book so dressed up that you only wonder where he'd be headed to.
Two young gay guys sipping coffee and gesturing in a delicate way so to compete with the most delicate girl around.
An older lady with an over ornate body, neck covered in colorful beads, fingers covered in rings of all types gives me a look from the corner of her eyes, perhaps wondering why I laugh and talk so much with this friend of mine.
Two moms and their little kids talking endlessly like moms do when they meet with their best friend and forget their kids for a moment.

The gold light, the warm tea, the sweet pastry and the conversation, all in harmony with the sun. The magic of now. The magic of forgetting the past Winter without worrying about the next Summer.

Life is ART and it's full of light.

Yoga will do it.

2012-04-01T09:42:00.001-04:00

It's normal to say when one "priority" takes place the other fades away. Unless you have a demanding body telling you to stop and do the yoga + zumba thing, you could go on forever pretending the body will hold up without any exercise.
Lately work was the latest priority and the daily exercise was becoming memory of the past, but thank goodness my body "speaks" and usually with a pain in the neck, so here I go back to being a good girl, putting on my yoga pants and back to the swing and stretch. Besides... we all know exercise is not only good for the body but for the brain as well, so I would recommend it to anyone.

And like a friend insists on telling me everyday: "Simony, you need more ME time for yourself".
I smile and agree.

So I decided ME time could be anything that takes me away from this world: Shopping? Oh yes!! Imagine all the pretty things out there waiting to be on my body and making me look prettier. Getting my nails done, hair appointments? Yes again! Walking alone in the park for a session of photos? Yes! It's important to recognize beauty around you. Taking time to visit friends on Facebook? Yes! But I confess I haven't done this lately. Exercising? Yes and yes!! You can go on and add whatever you like to the list. And I know you are laughing and rolling your eyes right now thinking "Who has time for ME time?" I laugh with you.
But you know what? If you don't love yourself first, who will?

Have a good week my dears!

Go get some roses today!

2012-03-24T09:17:00.001-04:00

It's weekend and that means house cleaning in my shack!
The dust has settled in places where I now close my eyes to and turn my head away from.
Gotta tell you it's way more fun and rewarding to buy a bouquet of 24 roses than to pick up a mop and duster. Like kissing a baby is way better than cleaning their diapers. You gotta do what you gotta do but doesn't mean you are having fun!
Same with any work, correct? Anyone out there, please tell me "Is it possible to live out of pleasure only?"
If it's... I am living in the wrong plot, wrong life.

The past week was the hottest most amazing week of March here in Narnia land! Yes, that means no snow for the longest time ever! Tulips are popping out of the ground and my imagination popping out of my head. I have been inspired to the top of my limits to create places and more dangerously to renew my closet. Colors talk to me, new clothes call my name. I even dream about designs I wish I could draw and make a line of my own.

But that's just the crazy part.... (Big pause here...) I am thinking... really there's nothing besides crazy happening right now. I am having fun in the middle of all the craziness... All the people that I keep meeting it's more like this: I am the rose, they are the humans... They pick me and wait until I open and one by one the layers of my psyche are exposed. Just like a rose, see?
As they watch me and question me, I learn about myself, coming to the conclusion that it's better to be a happy rose than anything else!
I know these words don't make real sense right now, so I will try to translate it in a quick conclusion:

"It's better to enjoy the pretty things in life even when there's crap all around you because life is just too short not to stop and smell the roses."

Fashion is my muse

2012-03-18T01:02:00.000-04:00

Some people need coffee. Others need food. Some need chocolate. Others need cigaret.
I need fashion.
I always knew fashion was a important part of my life. Always used it to express my personal style, state of mind, thoughts and feelings, I just didn't know it was my therapy. I don't even mean therapy as in going shopping, but calming therapy as in looking through books and magazines.

Today was the day of my car's oil change. Usually takes some 45 minutes waiting for them while sitting in the waiting room. Free coffee, free pretzels, chocolate, raisins, coke, water bottle, and some other candies to keep you happy while you wait. I took fully advantage of the "first class" service without any guilt, only pleasure and no one to watch me.
And what could be better than free food? Free fashion magazines!!! The size of half of a Yellow Pages phone book! Never thought an oil change would fly so fast! But it put me right in the mood to go shopping for the fun stuff afterwords.

The beautiful bright colors that are so in right now just make me smile. You have to be brave to wear them and enjoy them, but they make you feel and look so confident! Because it's not everyone that can be courageous to step out of the comfort zone of neutrals.
And to the mall I went with my "shopping partner" to see what's beautiful, to talk, to laugh and after all to come back home a little more beautiful, happier and ready for another sunny hot day of Spring!
So good to be a girl!