My Little Orange Kitchen

The Film & The Movie

I won't even pretend the picture of the business card holder/mini wallet isn't shameless promotion, but I have to tell you that I'm amazed by the paper. I'm in mad crush with these blue poppies!

I do have a two other items of interest (I hope!).  One is a film and the other a movie. I always say movie, but I felt describing the first one as a film was more appropriate. My Night At Maud's (Ma Nuit chez Maud).

It was released thirty years ago and is in French, but you can find it with English subtitles. I found mine a few weeks ago at the library. It's about a single Catholic man and his attraction to a beautiful twenty-two year old blond Catholic woman who he determines should be his wife (upon first sight) and his sharing of this new attraction during a chaste night spent with an older divorced brunette woman whose free-thinking intrigues him.

The first forty-five minutes of solid dialog may test you if you like action, but if you like the idea of being in on a debate between a Catholic, a Marxist and a free-thinking open-minded woman...you'll be hooked. It's later that the story speeds up a bit and the plot moves along. The ending isn't a surprise, yet it is because we understand the characters far better than we did at the start, so even though the ending isn't shocking...it's poignant. 

What saves My Night At Maud's from being over the top cerebral is that little by little, subtle plot twists emerge and you find yourself hoping (I hope) for Maud.  And of course, anything set against the black and white background of small town France is a win with me.

I also fell in love with the now retro fashion and look of Francoise Fabian. She's stunning even in her simple ponytail...you must see the film to appreciate her lovely open smile.   

After a little research I found this from another work. Ooh-la-la! She's a knockout, but in My Night At Maud's, it's her lack of glamor and her radiant face that captured me.  You'd be hard pressed to find a picture of her where she isn't smoking.

Maud is a smart character, a sharp woman and certainly a realist, but she doesn't lack vulnerability and it's her strength not her weakness.  It must be watched and listened to. No quick bathroom breaks while it's on.

Now for the movie.

Step Brothers. When Mark showed me the trailer, I almost fell over. The premise is GREAT and I hope it lives up! Two full-grown men still living at home are forced to become stepbrothers when their parents marry! AGAHAAHAHAAHAHAAHAHA!  If it's done well, it will be hilarious...in my humble and immature opinion.   

    

Little Luxuries (Or Not Cutting The Fat)

Just a quick post for today. Mark and I have been pretty good with our budget and today I was able to a pay all the bills with no stress or worry...woo-hoo!

Each of us still has some work to do, but we're both cutting back.  We leave room for little luxuries. Mark has a thing for those tiny glass bottles of Coke and I have a thing for organic butter.  I thought it was expensive at $5.50 a pound until I found Plugra at $6.00 per HALF pound.  It isn't organic, but is higher in fat (just what we need) than traditional butter and when tossed with pasta or spread on a fresh baguette with jam you will wonder if you've died and gone to some sort of butter lover's heaven.  I prefer the salted variety, use it sparingly and actually find that I use less overall because I want to savor the richness.

I've finished work in the studio for the day. I may post more later, but might be down for the evening (can you believe I'm still tired?) The debate is on tonight and even though we're a divided household, we remain civil. It's the first time in our marriage we haven't been on the same page and we're handling it well. So well in fact, that we have renewed faith in our marriage...maybe now we can tackle the sixteen year eat dinner at the table or in front of the television debate.  I'm for eating at the table 99.999 percent of the time and I lose this one more often that I want to admit.

Have a sweet evening Kitchenettes...I'm off to watch this.  I was rooting for the lovely Marion Cotillard and am so pleased she won the Oscar. Her acting stuns me (in addition to the physical transformation she underwent).      

Nu Me?

I know. It's the worst title for a post yet, but as you can imagine...I think I'm pretty clever.

I've been wanting to do a more in-depth Numi tea post for quite awhile. I love tea of all types and while I'm partial to herbal blends (made with my own herbs, spices and flowers), I can always be persuaded to try something new. Numi has a line of flowering teas and they're my novelty pick of the month.

Once immersed in hot water, the little rosettes or posies of tea slowly open to reveal blossoms of pretty pinks, yellows, oranges or purples. When you use a glass teapot or cup it's an open-eyed meditation akin to watching a star being born...underwater.

The teas are rather expensive (from $26.00-$65.00 a box), so I suggest purchasing this gift set because for $34.00 it comes with the glass teapot and a nice sampling of teas so you can determine your favorite before investing in a box of a single kind. Sampler boxes (minus the teapot) are also available.   

Each rosette flowers just once, but then it can be saved, dried and brewed again (up to three times total).  I received my set as a gift awhile ago and it came with eight rosettes, however, I noticed the website doesn't say how many are included now.

The flowering teas are available in white, green and black varieties. I want to make clear that I won't take novelty over taste and these teas are delicious as well as beautiful.   

This is a play by play of the process and please keep in mind that my picture taking skills are less than stellar.

This is the Starlight Rose dry  ....

In the pot...

I couldn't get a decent picture of the completely open bud in the center, so let's move on to the Shooting Star variety:

Dry (Only a mother would see potential in this hard little green tea posy):

But here she is...coming into her own and bursting into life (It's gorgeous because when the rosette opens, air bubbles release, buds pop out one at a time and then swirl for a moment in the pot):

Some provide more cup action than others, but none are duds. I save mine for days when I can really enjoy and appreciate the show.

When I sweeten my tea (rarely), it's usually with honey or agave syrup, but Nabat is my "new thing" and because I'm a sadist (insert wicked laugh and snap of a flogger here) I'll tease you by saying that a tutorial is in the works.

Kitchenettes, this isn't your average sugar swizzle stick.  No sticks allowed!

Nabat is crystallized sugar prepared the Persian way. I've recently discovered the crystals can be grown and infused with herbs, spices, extract and colors. Imagine chai tea sweetened with cardamom and orange zest Nabat on a snowy Sunday afternoon? Or what about a summer treat of rosewater lemonade swirled with a lavender infused Nabat wand? Or how about black tea with almond saffron Nabat and creme?

Sure, you can buy Nabat, but why would you when you can make it?

When I post the tutorial, I'll give you some history as well as share how Nabat can be used as a remedy for an upset stomach.   

Here are are some teaser pictures to keep you in suspense!

   

Goji Berries & A Book

I can't get enough of Goji berries and while I could cite experts and studies that indicate they're a new superfood, I think I'll just say they taste great, are incredibly high in vitamin C and make a nice change from dried cranberries and raisins when making salads and baking.

They're less chewy than raisins and have a mild tang...sort of sweet and sour.  They are expensive though, especially if you buy the organic variety, but even a small handful sprinkled on a salad, added to trail mix and granola or even tossed in a batch of oatmeal cookies will punch up the flavor and boost the vitamin C content.

I savor them for their flavor, but as I said earlier, many savor them for their nutritional value.  I love finding a treat that gives me both.

Speaking of nutritional value...This brings me to a book recommendation; Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. 

Pollan addresses our nation's obsession with food and "nutritionism" (his word) and helped remind me of  how new the science of "Nutrition" actually is. No wonder we're constantly being asked to change gears and can't figure out what's good for us (collectively). The science is in its infant stages.

I've shared before of how I had a discussion with a friend about how it's a crazy world when you're scared to eat a carrot for fear that it'll lead to a sugar binge because it's "high on the glycemic index".  We're still learning and too many of us forget that it can be quite simple..."Eat a little, not to much and mostly plants."  I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but I see the value of vegetables taking up more room on my plate. 

I recently heard Pollan speak on television and was impressed.  He obviously has an opinion, but he remains objective and never steps on the soapbox. I'm the queen of fun facts and loved learning how the FDA guidelines for the term "Imitation" changed a few decades ago and what happened as a result (disaster for consumers).

He's an interesting guy, a good writer and a pretty good speaker.  He made me laugh when he talked of how in the 1600's the "new and advanced" surgical techniques were fascinating and something you might even have wanted to watch, but most of us would have preferred to wait a few hundred years for them to become a little more fined tuned (ie: anesthesia) before hopping on the table! 

Nutritional Science is still in its infancy. There's much we don't know about how our bodies process nutrients from the foods we eat. He mentions we've only recently discovered there are more neurons in the stomach than in the entire spinal column! This makes the term "thinking with your gut" take on some new meaning.  Why do we need more neurons sending messages to our brains from our stomachs than from our spinal column?  I'm not kidding when I say I'm waiting to find out.   

Ultimately, it boils down to some simple rules, one of which is; Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.. 

This is a quote from his recent post on Amazon's  Omnivoracious:

"My premise is that science doesn't yet know enough to tell us how to eat. So who, or what, does? Not me or any other journalist, god knows. No, the best guide to how to eat is the guide we relied on for thousands of years before people know what an antioxidant or carbohydrate was, and that is Culture. Culture, when it comes to food, is of course a fancy word for your mom--through mothers, dietary wisdom, based on generations of trial and error and the gradual discover of what keeps people healthy and happy, has been passed down for thousands of years. So the last third of my book is an attempt to recapture some of this cultural wisdom before it completely disappears under the onslaught of food marketing and nutritionism."

Highly recommended!  Oh, and this wasn't a 2008 B.B.B.B. (2008 Book Buying Ban Breach)...it was a gift!

Now, on another note...Do you remember my Food That Loves Me Back post?  Well, the message writer over at Dove sure knows how to confuse the issue!

Lifting Spirits

I'll do another post later, but I wanted to let everyone know that I'm feeling a lot better and while I'm going to take it easy this weekend, I see light at the end of the tunnel. So much in fact, that I made these last night. Hazelnut with lime.

Also, the fun and lovely Kai is passing along a "Pay it Forward" idea and I wanted to get involved. She's sending me a lovely little mystery gift on March 1st, with only one condition; that I do the same. So, the third commenter on this post gets a pretty little gift from me (I'll send it on 3/1) with the same conditions attached...that you do a "Pay It Forward" post as well.  It needn't be an extravagant gift, just a little something to keep the energy of giving moving forward. I like this idea because while you may not need what I send and I may not need what Kai sends, I have no doubt that somewhere in the chain, someone will get something they truly need and in the meantime, who doesn't love little presents? 

Here's the button to post if you want to start one on your own blog.

 

More later!                

Let Me Count the Ways

I was wandering about Flickr in a feverish haze early this morning and found myself looking at this little green dryad. I fell in love. When I looked to see who'd added the photo, I was stunned to realize that it was the one and only Michelle over at Vanilla Icing! I wondered how I could have missed this, having just stopped by her blog.  These are in her Etsy shop and are the first in her series of Wee Folk (fairies, dryads and other little cuties).

I did get out to vote and go to the Post Office.  It's annoying....not feeling 100% and feeling weird about writing it in my blog for the tenth time!  Doesn't my body know that I have plans, hope and dreams and wanted to fulfill them all by March 1st!  I'm doing all the right things (chicken soup, rest, fluids) and I'm trying to accept that sometimes things just need to run the course....So, I've been daydreaming about my next camping trip! I have so many plans!

I told a friend today that I'd traveled the world over (in my mind) in the past two weeks. I've spent hours in that in-between dreams and sleep state having various international adventures.   Childish maybe, but a lot of fun (It's either that or sit there annoyed for not feeling well).

Speaking of childish...Michelle tagged me to so a Seven Random Things post with the theme of "Ways I'm Still Childish"....This is embarrassing because I'm going to have to narrow it down to only seven.

1. I have tantrums the way little kids do. I've been known to race upstairs and hurl myself on the bed kicking and crying. No joke. Then Mark will call up, "Oh Laaaaaaaura, we're getting a Showtime freeeeeeeeeeee preeeeeview and Weeds (my favorite and I usually rent it because we don't have Showtime) is coming on."  Hmm? Weeds?  I sit up and consider. Then I yell, "I'm never watching that dumb show and I'm never coming downstairs again!!!!!"  But, even as I'm yelling my favorite Waiting For Guffman line (I hate you and I hate your ass face!!!), I'm neatening the bed and trying to remember if we have popcorn.
2. I will not step on sidewalk cracks or split a pole  when walking with a friend.
3. I really believe that all objects have feelings. If someone says, "Hey, are you ever going to replace that couch?"  I look at them with my eyes widened, eyebrows raised and a little frown to indicate that we can't have that conversation in front of it.  Same with my car. No one had better say anything less than nice about my car. Feelings are everything.   
4. I still yell "Woo-hoo!" "Jackpot" or "Score!" when I find a quarter in an old coat pocket.
5. I am very sensitive and will hold back tears and get quiet if when I'm trying to tell a story, the person listening goes, "OK, OK, OK" As if to say, "I got that part, move on."  I'm a real joy to live with.
6. I love love love love being sneaky and then blowing my own cover with my hysterical laughter and clapping when I realize that what I'm about to do is hee-larious! Usually I end up hysterically explaining to the intended victim my brilliant plan and how funny it would have been. No one ever laughs as hard as I do.
7. True to the photo above...I really do believe in fairies. No joke.

OK...now, I'm very curious about this person and what on earth she would ever do that's considered childish...she doesn't seem childish at all...so Ambika...there's no pressure, but I hope you give it a shot.

When I feel better I'll post new pictures, but in the meantime you can check out these.

Sleep tight!   

Views With A Room

I'm trying to avoid becoming the poster child for the cold and flu season so I won't go on about how sick as a dog I'm taking some time out to rest in my comfy chair and haven't taken any new photos. I did decide to join Flickr (finally) at about three a.m. the other morning. As a result, I've been going through some old photos already loaded onto my computer...

I thought I'd share some favorites that probably won't make the cut, but that I enjoy for sentimental reasons. They're shots from apartments we used to live in and various others:

This apartment had none of the charm of the old houses and Chicago style apartments I'm normally drawn to. It seemed so generic and "maintained" when we moved in, but I grew to like it over time:

Yes, that's a dart board on the kitchen wall. Mark and I were trying to spice up our marriage and this seemed like the perfect thing for us to do in the evenings (?).

Sorry for the glare...my walk-in closet became my office due to lack of.. well, an office:

My closet office in the old place before I some shelving changes:

My kitchen altar:

Another counter altar:

My favorite of the closet office after I had "fixed it up"...it sure was tiny, but I loved it!

OK...maybe I'll thrill everyone with some of the bathroom later. :)   

Window Shopping Out In The Moonlight

I'm still down for the count...it's insane. I went to the doctor today and while I'd encourage a friend to go...it's always hard for me to break down and seek medical attention. I tested negative for strep...so my prescription? Lots of fluids and rest. Just like mom said. I've been holing up in my comfy chair with books and my laptop and trying hard not to think about how behind I feel in the studio (I no longer say office and Mark can't resist rolling his eyes when I mention that I need to get back in the studio). :)

It's after midnight and I decided that if only I had these items my house would be neat, I'd cook great meals every day and I'd be thin. Is anyone buying it?  All are available at Anthropologie and none are priced to move in my mind (and budget), so it's a good thing I've resolved to clear out clutter before bringing in anything new or I'd be fairly heartsick.  Though, the slip and chemise aren't bad.

(click to visit each item's page if you desire)

Of course, tomorrow my wish list will look entirely different which is why it's a good thing I'm only window shopping.

Sweet Dreams All!

Romantic Suspense

We found this pretty little number left anonymously on our doorstep yesterday. I was delighted and immediately ran to grab the forks, but Mark, being the more practical one, said we shouldn't eat it because we don't know where it came from.

What?

When did that nutty law get passed?   

Oh brother.  I guess he had a point because the neighborhood Cake Poisoning Valentine's Day Bandit is still on the lamb, but jeez, common sense really ruins the fun.   

I'm a rather diligent detective and after piecing all the clues together I sent an email to the person who I thought it could be and she (Janet) confirmed that yes, she did it and she'd hoped to remain anonymous, but hated to think of her cake being sent to a lab for testing.

So, my investigative worked paid off and guess what we had for breakfast?

It was prettier before I removed it from its little heart shaped pan to check it for razor blades in Stage One of my investigation.   

Still down for the count and in deep. It seems that while I rarely get sick, when I do it knocks me flat for longer than most. I've been trying to surrender and let it run its course.

You saw my accoutrements the other day? Well folks, yesterday at Mark's urging I let him pick up the Big Gun:

I know. I can't stand taking stuff like this, but while my natural jobbies are eliminating the cause, the symptoms have been unbearable.

I do hope all of you have a Happy Valentine's Day! I leave you with this little dress from relatively new Etsy seller Gaia Conceptions:

I truly believe that come spring (and fewer anonymous sweet deliveries) I'll be able to order one. I have this image of getting up early on a Sunday morning, brushing my teeth and putting my hair up in a messy bun, slipping into my already well worn Italian leather sandals (glorified flip-flops which I do already own), walking down the street to Farmer's Market and then picking up an iced chai for the slow and lazy walk home. I know. It sounds like a weird way to want weight loss to manifest in your life, but I always envy women who look so casual and comfortable when wearing pretty little dresses like this for no special occasion.  Plus, I love the sleeves.   

Have a wonderful day folks!

I took these pictures last year...hearts are everywhere.

   

Sick Room Accoutrements ...Ugh.

Ugh. I am down for the count folks. Down.For.The.Count.

The Essentials:
Kyolic Garlic Capsules-garlic has some proven antibiotic properties.
Manuka Venz Honey: Raw honey...soothes my throat and is a natural antibacterial. I've had this jar for awhile...it was inventoried in the Food Project post.
Oregano Essential Oil: Germ Killer Extraordinaire
Ludy's: Awesome hot ginger drink with salabat (similar to limes).
Power 4 Juice: Goji, noni, pomegranate and mangosteen (sounds healthy to me!). The trial size is $5.00.I wouldn't spring for a large bottle at $42.00.   
Earth's Promise Orange Mix: Has carrot, mango and papaya and is manufactured here in town.

Of course, there's also vitamin c and water in the mix as well as these:

 

Heart shaped sugar cookies with pink sprinkles...good for what ails you.         

Dhooping It Up

I know it's a bad title, but I couldn't resist. I like incense as long as it isn't sickeningly sweet or loaded with synthetic scents that give me a headache.  This, of course, means most incense available at your both your nearest gas station and (not surprisingly) Pier 1 is out. 

I like the thick smoke created by powdered resins (frankincense, amber or copal) burned on hot charcoal discs, but I can only handle it when I'm outside. This means that in the house, I usually go for very light and almost smokeless incense from Japanese companies like Shoyeido. However, there are a few exceptions and Mysore Sugandhi Chandan Dhoop is one.

Dhoop is a type of incense not a brand. Indian incense is divided into categories...charcoal and masala (masala means spicy mixture).  Dhoop is a type of masala incense, but isn't formed around a stick the way most incense we see here in the states is. I suppose cone shaped incense could be considered dhoop, but most of the time dhoop comes in little log shapes or sticks of varying thickness. The term dhoop is also almost always reserved for Indian incense varieties and unlike champas and durbers, which usually rely on flowers and extracts for their scents, dhoop (particularly chandan dhoop) usually has a base of sandalwood.

When I first got into new-agey or metaphysical things in the eighties I went a little overboard (I know, it's hard to believe) and blew every single paycheck at Isis Rising in Chicago. I bought crystals, posters, books, Cd's, note cards, stones, tarot cards and of course, lots of incense all with the hopes I'd astral project somewhere. Where?  I never really thought that far ahead.

I just assumed I'd leave my "Special  Place" by the waterfall and end up someplace better and full of more light from the Universe.  Actually, it wouldn't have been hard to be someplace where there was "more light".  I seem to remember not paying my bill and having my electricity turned off because I'd blown yet another paycheck on prosperity manuals. Oh well. I was nineteen (or twenty?) and candlelight (Isis Rising candles with a crystal embedded in the center of course) seemed very magical.

Christine was the one who turned me on to Mysore Sugandhi Chandan Dhoop (she's also the one who got me hooked on Isis Rising in the first place...she's a terrible terrible influence). It smells strongly of sandalwood and is not for the faint of heart. It lingers...for days.

The best thing to do is light it, place it in a small  bowl filled with dirt, salt or sand (the burner it comes with is useless) and once you're sure it's in a safe place, go about your business in another room or crack a window and let half a log burn. When it's finished burning, just relax and enjoy the sandalwood scent. It does linger and for a few days your house will still be softly scented.

Mark isn't an incense guy, but he told me that after I'd  burned so much in his apartment when we first met that even now, just a whiff of it makes him think of  "home" or rather "Holy crap! There's a real live girl in my apartment!!" when he walks in the door.

When I had my shop I researched all the incense we carried before ordering it because unfortunately child labor is used to make incense in many parts of the world (There's a lot of information available in the internet about child labor and incense production. most are PDF files, so I didn't link them, but they are easily found if you search for "child labor, incense").  It was a little harder researching Mysore Sugandhi Chandan Dhoop, but I finally did get an email response to my inquiry assuring me that they did not employ children and in fact were insulted I'd asked. I did some more research and could not find any complaints filed against the company, so I began carrying it. 

Interestingly, they claim it's the incense of the last Maharaja of Mysore and his picture is on the box.

Speaking of the box, I love the packaging.  It always comes with cotton between the layers and of course, the useless burner. It's about $2.50-$3.00 for a box of sixteen logs and burning half a log at a time is more than enough.  You can find it at almost any new-age bookstore.

Out of respect for others, I think it should be pointed out that many cultures do not use incense only as a way to scent their homes, but as a way to connect spiritually. Incense can be burned as an offering (Catholics burn frankncense and myrhr in churches) or to set a mood. if you were to visit a Buddhist temple you would see and smell incense burning most of the day.

Incense has played a role in history as a way to manipulate the energy or mood of people. Incense was in fact, the first aromatherapy. In Egypt, enormous bowls (some spanning 15 feet) of burning resins were placed strategically around the cities as offerings to the Gods, but these scented smokes often played a small role in shifting the energy of hundreds of people. It's said that Pharoahs directed temple priests to burn blends that would placate angry crowds or workers.  Even now, there are factories and offices experimenting with pumping scents into the air to obtain specific results...lemon for fewer data entry errors and peppermint to boost the energy of slumping workers in the late afternoon.    

I have an oil diffuser that is set to with drops of oil in tiny tin bowls and it changes the scent hourly based on what I need or want in my studio. I'll post about it soon.

And, let's not forget the role incense plays in sexual ritual. Look in the far right corner of the famous Grande Odalisque...incense is burning in an elaborate brass multi-holed burner.  It's been used to set the sexual mood of a room for years.

      
My favorite thing to do though, is to wait until dark, put a dhoop stick in the fireplace, open the flue and then go for a walk. As I turn the corner and cross our driveway, it's the faint scent of sandalwood wafting in the air that makes me think, "Holy crap! There's a guy in my house and the lights are even on! Jackpot!"  Unless, I'm in a bad mood, then I think, "Oh hell. The guy in my house is still there."  I'm sure Mark would admit to having similar feelings when he opens the door and sees me racing to extinguish the sticks. Scent he can handle, smoke he cannot.

I'm off to have sweetly scented dreams everyone!

p.s. It's pronounced doop-or dupe-depending on your perspective!  ;)          

Other People's Generosity

Busy and prolific Emily Martin over at the Black Apple hardly needs any promoting, but I wanted to make all of you aware that she has these Valentines in a high quality pdf file for you to print out and give to all your sweethearts! For free! Isn't that nice?

Yesterday I helped a friend move. OH. MY. GOD.

I've been warned not to use name her and threatened with severe injury if I post a food inventory of her cabinets publicly.  Folks, the food in her cabinets made mine (even from the Food Project inventory) look like Old Mother Hubbard's.  I want to preserve the friendship, so I won't  go into too much detail, but just how much ebony cocoa (the almost black cocoa used in Oreos) and single serving packets of oatmeal does one need? Don't even get me started on the over 50 bottles of booze and wine.  In fairness, she's quite a gourmet foodie type and has more exotic ingredients in her cabinets than even this friend, who has the ultimate gourmet palate.  If we ever have a natural disaster, I know who's door I'm knocking on.      

We're off to see There Will Be Blood later, but until then it's all work and no play.

Have a nice day Kitchenettes! 

Back To Normal

I'm so happy to be able to post tonight. Why? Because I feel like it's one of my normal posts...extra wordy, over-italicized and all over the place. Lucky you.  Ha!

I haven't been thrifting in ages...and I mean ages. I took ten dollars and went to Goodwill. Goodwill is my least favorite place to shop because they seriously inflate prices, which sounds hilarious considering things are still fairly inexpensive. However, it seems they've developed a new strategy of pricing just below retail. It's always a shock to turn an item over and see a T.J. Maxx sticker with $12.00 on it and note that Goodwill priced the donated item at $9.00.  I know it's for a good cause, but there needs to be a better balance.

Fortunately, I found two items the Goodwill Price Auditors must have overlooked. First, was the purse you see above. When I was a pre-teen and visited my grandmother in the summers, she always had some complaint about what I was wearing. To be fair, I usually took the time spent away from my parents to wear all the forbidden stuff I'd secretly stockpiled at various garage sales. Things like the famous espadrilles with four and half inch heels with the criss-cross ribbon straps that wound up to my knees! Adam and I often rode Greyhound to see her and eight states after I boarded, I'd step off the bus in full "grown-up" regalia...which included make-up and blue satin short-shorts with white piping. 

To give my grandmother some credit, she was a fashion savvy woman in her day and liked that I was fearless about my "look", but she felt it was her duty to try to reel me in a little. Usually this meant being covered up with something from her closet and while now I'd die to fit into her things from the 30's, 40's and 50's, at eleven I thought my fashion sense was highly developed and none of her things could compete with my almost completely see-through purple disco halter top.  There were tears of protest on my part and lies that my mom really did know about my crocheted bikini, but in the end Grandma Gloria usually won and I'd sulk, but eventually get over it and enjoy the trip.

If you're wondering what the heck any of this has to with the price of rhubarb, the reason I bring it up is because the purse above is an example of something I like now, but would have been horrified by even just a few years ago. My taste changes frequently and I often find myself falling in love with things the eleven year old in me would have died and gone to hell before being seen in. I miss her though, she was so brave.

As I wandered Goodwill, I saw the purse hanging on a rack and was drawn to it immediately. I reached for it and and knew it was silk right away. Then I realized it had a familiar look and remembered I'd something like it in a museum magazine a few years ago. I looked inside and sure enough, it was a Pineda Covalin. I'm not a designer purse-hound, but I got a little kick that I was holding a three hundred dollar purse priced at only $7.00 and more importantly...I loved it.  It went in the cart. 

Then I found this vintage Steelmaster (late 40's early 50's) file for $2.99!

I don't write about my playwriting often, but it's still a major goal. I keep all my ideas on index cards and file them away for future reference. Now I have the perfect place to keep them! I may have to change the subject cards, but who knows? Maybe I'll get an idea for a play about Wall Street and the card will be ready!  By the way...visit this site if you want to weep with longing. 

OK. The Food Project.  It was a success and I didn't buy groceries, but we still ate out more than we should have towards the end of the month. I learned a few important things:

• We do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. I thought we were pretty good before I started this, but realized early on that we eat much less than I thought. The reason I end up throwing produce away is probably due to under-eating rather than over-buying.  It was a shock to realize how little fruit we consume in a week and I'd thought we were getting well over five servings a day...try hardly two.
• I use the grocery store for inspiration and creativity. I wander the aisles picking up things for spur of the moment meals and without these trips, I felt a little uninspired. I found myself staring at the cabinets and everything seemed boring. Though, I made a lot of good meals for us with what we had.
• We eat too much food at night. We snack and when the easy snacks ran out the first week or so, I ended up making us popcorn a lot. Then, we'd end up with grilled cheese or French Toast...as a snack. Pretty soon, I didn't feel like making much and Mark was not inclined, so we just fantasized about what we'd eat in the future....Sad, because you guys saw the ample food list. Mark was desperate for toast...we ran out of bread and I wasn't in baking mode.

In summary: It was an eye-opener, I used up a lot of what we had, we saved money and I felt more appreciative and vowed to be more mindful when we could shop again. I also appreciated the little things, like knowing I could grate organic chocolate into hot almond milk and be happy even without a cookie on the side or that my tea with honey seemed so much sweeter since there wasn't candy around (I did buy some candy the other day and got a pounding headache after eating it). I didn't lose any weight though. Do you think the popcorn and Gluten-free brownies at two a.m. had anything to do with it?      

The future plan: Well, this is the month to be extra mindful of how I handle a return to shopping.  I decided that even though we could probably go another month on the project with just the food we have, that instead, I'd look at what we have before shopping and only buy items that complement things in the cabinet.  And I also want to make sure to include more fruits and vegetables in our diet. I'm stunned at how little we eat and here I'd truly thought we were practically vegan for crying out loud!

In March we may do a restaurant ban, but first we're going to practice simply being more balanced in February. Mark really felt the pinch since he isn't the cook around here and relied on me to be creative when it came to snacks...but, he got to eat out more because of his job which annoyed me to no end. 

I'm doing well on the 2008 book buying ban too, but since it was my birthday, Mark gave me some books...Remember, Mark thinks book buying is a small pleasure and he will not give it up, so it's just me on that one. I have to say I was appreciative when I opened this one though:

I was never a short story fan until my friend Kelly gave me Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri.  It blew me to  pieces and I've been afraid to read anything else of hers for fear it won't live up. Mark thought it was time to get over it and picked up The Namesake as a birthday gift. I read the first two pages and I'm in like Flynn. Sigh. What a relief. Sorry I doubted you Jhumpa.

Last, but not least...I wanted you to see this. I want it soooo much. I can just see my goldfish bowl atop of it. It's a mere $975.00 over here. Oh well...someday.

   

Sweet dreams!    

Real Quick

Tonight I plan to post a summary and some thoughts about the No Groceries in January experiment, but I'm going thrifting first!!!

Summertime

I want to post about the movie Summertime starring Katherine Hepburn, but first I want to give you an update on Arti-Gras. It was great! I had good sales, made a lot of contacts and talked to so many nice people. Everyone was super complimentary and the crowd was blown away by the wallets. It was a great feeling. There were a few people who didn't seem to "get it", but they were far outweighed by the people who did. I got over my feelings that my displays weren't professional enough almost immediately and was so glad I went lightweight when it came time to set up and take down.  Note: Foam core is the wave of the future.  Buy stock immediately.

Lessons Learned:

• I'll never do a show without business card sized wallets again...heaped in baskets, they would have flown out of the hall by the dozen. 
• I need a big sign explaining what they are and how they're made.  So many people were drawn to look at them and then confessed that they didn't know what they were for.
• I'll talk to other vendors before I assess a day as strong or weak as far as sales go...I was told by several vendors that both the traffic at my booth and the sales were fantastic. I had nothing to compare to since I haven't done a show before. I wasn't embarrassed to ask other vendors outright what they thought about the traffic. I decided not to play it cool the way some people do about these things.
• I'll always have to bring more newspaper wallets, I didn't have a lot, but sold all except for three in the first few hours. I miss the champagne ad already!

I don't think I have a lot of insecurity about the wallets, but it was so nice to hear over and over how much they were appreciated. I won't give any post space to the woman who threw one across the table and stomped away after opening it.  Yikes! Well, I gave her a little space, but there were so many nice women at the booth...thank you if you're reading.

A huge shout-out has to go out to my mom and Mark for all their help. My mom worked hard. Her payment? I let her pick out a wallet. AGHAHAHAHA! That comes to about fifty cents an hour. Only a mom would accept such payment and be happy to get it.  Seriously. Thanks mom.

I also want to thank those of you who stopped by and who I got to see in person! I know I couldn't talk much, but it was so nice of you to come on over. Oh, and a big welcome to Karen who is the first Arti-Gras customer to discover and comment on the blog! Yay! She works over at the Urban Frog on Broadway and they have an awesome selection of healthy foods, energy shakes and an indoor farmer's market on Saturdays...the twister parfait with cocoa nibs, coconut oil and macadamia nuts was once a serious problem for me. It's good for you if you have one serving, but questionable if you have four--(or order a bunch with the intention to share like I did before they moved to their current location and somehow ended not sharing :) Oops.)

Now I feel like can get back to normal for awhile. I'm kind of blog starved and can't wait to get caught up on my reading.

OK. Summertime.

If you can get past the dated-ness, the campy sections and Katherine's accent, this movie has a valuable  lesson.  I won't spell out the entire plot for you, but let's just say that for the times, the idea of an "older" single woman traveling alone to Venice and having a sexual romance was a little racy. Yet, it isn't all fun and this is where the lesson comes in. I love how Katherine's character makes herself OK with the situation and she resists the temptation to make it something it isn't. 

In our lives we so often see a situation and decide what we want it to be rather than accept it for what it is. Also, we forget that we get to define our lives and can't let others do it for us. If her character happened to be one of our friends, I imagine everyone would be all over her like a cheap suit for being such a "pushover"...(Isn't it interesting how women feel so entitled to deem other women as doormats? Or deem men as cads?), but I thought her character was quite strong.

Sometimes you have to do what other people think is wrong in order to find your own fulfillment. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't like to think about my husband lighting up a lonely woman's life, but if that ever happened (and I hope it doesn't :) !)  my gripe would be with him for breaking our agreements, not her.  Why should I expect her (imaginary her) to care more about my marriage vows than my husband? 

Katherine's character gets to the heart of lifelong loneliness on the part of a single person, but anyone who is in a relationship can attest to the fact that there can be loneliness on the other side too. Unlike some of my friends, I admire her character for coming to terms with what she needed at the time and then being wise enough to not try to milk the situation.  Plus, she's got strength combined with vulnerability and a pair of red shoes that knock me out.  I recommend this movie to all friends, but think maybe my single friends will get a little more out of it...for the married ones...two words: Shirley Valentine.  Boy, did I judge her as doormat until she wound up in Greece having the kind of adventure I dreamed of during the Christmas Tree Debacle.  :) 

Speaking of which. Our heating registers are still blowing out needles. Oh well. Live and learn. I'm spending tomorrow putting more stock in the shop and reading your blogs! Sweet dreams. 

P.S. The background of Venice in Summertime is gorgeous...the colors of the flowers, the boats and the glass make me want to get there and quick!         

To Market! To Market!

A Cakewalk

I wouldn't say the Arti-Gras preparation has been a cakewalk, but I have had a lot of fun. I learned that can work a lot smarter. I understand my process and could die of embarrassment when I think of how long it used to take me to fill wholesale and special orders. I'll be a speed demon now.

Set-up was today and while it's clear there are lots of experienced people who have very professional displays, it' my first time ever (I've never done a craft show/art show/expo) and I'm happy with mine...well, I got happy after screaming at the fabric that wouldn't drape and the tables that are of uneven heights...

Oh well. Here's Mark peeking out of his hiding place after the first wave of drama! :) He said everything about my behavior was entirely predictable...from the tantrum to the little smile when I realized it would all be OK, he just had to ride the Laura wave for about an hour.       

My mother in-law is so kind and sent over a birthday cake for me even though we haven't officially celebrated yet. It's her famous recipe....I had a piece for breakfast and felt like a champion.

If you like Sarah Silverman, you'll love this video. Matt Damon is such a good sport.