i told you so

and it was better.
it just got better.
even with all the rain,
and being stuck inside again,
it was better.

it only gets better
if you tell yourself
it will.

xx

better.

today will get better. i promise.

xx

adventures and meatlessness.

well hello there. things have been quiet here on the blog front for many reasons, the main ones being that last week was school vacation and lulu has proven to be quite the climber, and her goal in life is to climb up on top of the television and jump off to her certain doom. which makes it hard for me to sneak upstairs and get some computer time. because you know, our laptop has been broken for approximately six months. which is a different story for a different day.

but here i am! and there have been many adventures while i was away. there have been birthdays and celebrations. there have been photobooths and love and joy. but there has also been sibling rivalry, and the kids running wild around the house, and glasses of wine after bedtime. it's an up-and-down kind of ride and i'm learning how to enjoy the moment while i'm in it, instead of wishing it away.

the biggest thing i have going on now is my newest journey to a meatless life. and let me just tell you...i'm a bit of a meat addict. it's one of the parts of me that has never felt right- all the meat consumption. i spent years and years as a vegetarian and struggled desperately with anemia, especially when becoming pregnant with gray. but lately i'm just so over meat- so over the same old same old when grocery shopping. so i'm slowly switching my ways of cooking...and buying...and consuming. it's been really enlightening and pretty awesome. because it's made me slow down and stretch my wings when it comes to cooking. and i'm reading some great books along the way, particularly the kind diet by alicia silverstone.

and this is the part where i explain how PATIENT and AWESOME johnny has been- because there are been some EPIC FAILS in my vegetarian cooking department. like those peanut noodles. you know, the ones that were supposed to be edible. but then we all had to have tongue transplants afterward because i thought it would be cool to replace the "seasame oil" with "HOT seasame oil." and this recipe called for a LOT of seasame oil.

but there have been some beautiful adventures to be had. like finding the huge asian supermarket a couple of cities away while on a date with boo. and buying a ton of new foods for $17. and then cooking together as a family. making bread. and surprisingly filling and delicious meals. all i had to do was stretch my wings. and i'm kind of loving it.

gotta look sharp

rainbows wristbands always help when trying to look sharp.

(thanks aunties joya&libby!)

the good.

good good things:

*artist dates
*vintage wrapping paper
*new canvases
*snow days
*veggie burrito night
*homemade pumpkin streusel bread
*soup dinners with family
*coffee shops with chalkboard walls
*drinks in mason jars
*getting inspiration from other artists
*the newest issue of artful blogging- waiting for my copy with baited breath!
*reading about raw foods
*reading hypnobirthing
*library trips where lulu doesn't scream and tear up library books
*upcoming fancy dinner date in the city this weekend (with MIL who's celebrating 60!)
*new recipes
*the grateful dead cookbook (makes me laugh every time)
*random acts of kindness
*new vintage quilt on my bed
*beastie boys (good thing joey and lulu don't know about swears yet)

what's good in your life? xx

and this is the part where i interview myself.

1. what are the things that you have next to your bed/on your nightstand?

a little clip-on bedlight. the books that i'm reading (cleaving by julie powell, bicycle diaries by david byrne and whatever, mom: hip mama's guide to raising a teenager by ariel gore). a light with a hippie scarf draped over it. a little drawing by gray. glass of water.

2. what are some things can't you live without?

my kids. johnny. my family and friends. company coming over. communal meals. the little scrap of fabric that i sleep with every night.

3. if you had one hour to take yourself out on a date, where would you go?

an art show. my favorite thrift store. the salvation army. incense shopping. art supply store. borders. whole foods. trader joe's. sushi. one of those places for sure.

4. show me three pictures that sum up what an average day for you looks like.




5. what are five new websites/blogs that are inspiring you lately?

http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/
http://bleubirdvintage.typepad.com/
http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/ and http://happyfoody.com/
http://www.welcometomybrain.net/
and
http://hulaseventy.blogspot.com/2008/09/about-this-through-viewfinder-thing.html

that's it, loves! hope you enjoyed. i wish i could interview everyone- i loved doing this! stayed tuned for more blogger spotlights. xx

interviews part 5: mindy from wishstudio!

mindy, the creator of the wishstudio, is a kind and gentle soul. i like mindy because she is a collector of good people, and she's a connector. and she's created a beautiful space for artists to gather and exchange ideas. and whenever i hang out with mindertins, i leave feeling good. she's one of those peeps. enjoy. xx

1. what are the things that you have next to your bed/on your nightstand?

on my tiny nightstand is a tall (and precariously stacked) pile of books and magazines, a glass of water, and my light. just the bedtime essentials.

2. what are some things can't you live without?

my children, my laptop, laughter.

3. if you had one hour to take yourself out on a date, where would you go?

i'd probably want to take a nap, but i'd try to get out instead and poke around the local farm stand, book store or vintage shop... all food for the soul!

4. show me three pictures that sum up what an average day for you looks like:

5. what are five new websites/blogs that are inspiring you lately?

jenny doh's blog http://jennydoh.typepad.com/

this amazing video and movement http://underapinksky.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-know-right.html

got my eye on this http://www.thecreativeconnectionevent.com/

lovin this artist's work lately http://alisaburke.com/

love her vision and can't wait for her new book! http://shonastudio.blogspot.com/

find more mindy magic here:

the studio: inthewishstudio.blogspot.com
the big event: wish*full virtual art retreat
my mailbox: wishstudio@comcast.net
my journal: underapinksky.blogspot.com
my shop: wishstudio.etsy.com

nina beana interview series part 4: jenica

jenica is a dear friend, and for that, i am lucky. it was about 2 seconds after i met her that i decided that she was friend for life material. so when i'm 87, i'm hoping that no matter where we are on this planet, we will still have phone dates and manage to hang out in real time once a year.

she is a mother of four who is honest and brave, and who pulls it off with grace. she's one of the few people who gets me- and knows what it's like from the trenches of motherhood.

enjoy! xx

1. what are the things that you have next to your bed/on your nightstand?

my bed is on the floor in a tiny room so there's no room for anything else. but i simply can not sleep without my eye drops, an ear plug, and a baby blanket rolled up underneath my neck. if i were to keep books by my bed... i'm currently reading the dance of the dissident daughter and i keep my art journal with it for when inspiration strikes.

2. what are some things can't you live without?

i can't live without...daily creativity, the raucous giggles of little ones, the smell of my husband's deodorant, clementines and fresh pineapple, the sun's warm and delicious rays streaming through my windows.

3. if you had one hour to take yourself out on a date, where would you go?

one hour evaporates fairly quickly... so i would run straight for my nearest arts and crafts store and touch paper. i'm such a paper whore, i love the smell and texture of it all. yum. i would treat myself to a mint truffle sold at the checkstand and call it good.

4. show me three (or more) pictures that sum up what an average day for you looks like.

i clicked these today, and yes, they represent the everyday madness that exists here.




o
5. what are five new websites/blogs that are inspiring you lately?

is it terrible to say that i'm just not blogging, reading, or surfing much lately?
i would have to say that my three LATEST loves are
wishstudio
karen maezen miller
shona cole

find more of jenica here:

http://www.jenicamckenzie.com/theonelittleone
http://www.etsy.com/shop/theonelittleone
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onelittleone/