Just Lovely

Over the last few days I have really tried to put the effort into starting each morning with a fresh, clean slate. Tabula Rasa.

To wake up 30 minutes early and walk the dog, to make sure I keep my unibrow in check, to put a band aid on the back of my heel where the shoes I just wore on the walk have given me a blister, to swipe on some coral blush because I remembered, "I own coral blush" and "it makes me look awake and tolerable in the morning" and "looking awake and tolerable in the morning helps me to feel a little better about myself," to give myself 10 minutes in the pink light of morning on the back patio with my current book and a piping hot cup of liquid black-gold (Okay, it sounds dramatic but I'm only drinking one cup of coffee per day now, folks, and I savor every last drop... it's a big deal) while Cash does his rummaging, to leave on time...

To do what I can to prepare myself for a mildly successful day (maybe my bar of success isn't as high as yours, it's okay), accept the things I cannot change, tell myself at least you have a job, take some nice, deep breaths, and buck up and smile through my teeth...  you know, those kinds of things. And the world's alright, you know?

And the thing is I am grateful. I really am. But I can't help it that I have my days, and that lately those days seem to occur daily. My fuse has become short, shorter than even I am accustomed to. Just Lovely.

And it's not all bad, there's plenty of good, its just, (you know) sometimes frustrations run real high and seem to keep piling on. So I called my mom looking for, I don't know. I just call my mom sometimes out of instinct (I can't help it) even though I know it's not going to be the conversation that instinct told me it might be. And then those little things start creeping in: there was nothing at the house for lunch, and it's possible Darling and I had less than or equal to 30 minutes of face to face time, And Cash ate my shoe. Okay, so maybe it wasn't stylish anymore, but when I purchased them they were my Carrie Bradshaw gold wedges and in my head they're still kind of my Carrie Bradshaw gold wedges...

And nothing quite stamps out those few nice things you had going for you like having the heel of your left Carrie Bradshaw gold wedge eaten less than 10 minutes after it left your foot!! 

 And I breathe deep and smile through my teeth. Just Lovely.

and then,

And then somehow, seemingly miraculously, a beautiful act of friendship finds me, long-distance, in the post. A package. Tied in a pretty, sunny kerchief, the scent of lavender overtakes my senses. Inside a book (you know how I like those) and a note. And although the rest of the day has indeed happened already (accept those thing you cannot change), I feel the corners of my mouth turn up, a genuine smile, soft across my lips. I think to myself, 

"Wow. Just lovely."

Thanks friend. For making my day.

And thanks friends, for reading and sticking with me and continuing to stop by.

There will be new things coming this way, and something exciting in the near future.

Pinky promise.

xoxo

One Year Ago Today...

Cash-Mayne Money Pants sauntered in and changed our lives and hearts forever...

A roundup (of sorts) of our first year together:

Remember when Cash was in the newspaper for the blessing of the pets?

I'm pretty sure Cash as outgrown his coat I made. I think it will look like a toy saddle by the time winter rolls around!

Birthday pupcakes!

My sweet, sweet boy. You've changed everything. Getting a pup of my own is one of the best (and most expensive ;) ) things I've ever done. Many happy returns boy! We love having you as part of our unconventional family.

xoxo

Cool Down

Yesterday was long, I was irritable, steamed up for a portion of the day.

It happens.

I was headed into Harbor Town last night for rehearsal so I took a few minutes beforehand to simmer down, sit by the Mississippi, and watch the sunset.

Hello Arkansas!

I miss seeing the sunset (especially over the mountains).  I rarely have the opportunity to catch those last moments of daylight here in Memphis. The flat landscape and towering oak trees which umbrella the city diminishes the concept of a view. Such a lovely treat then, when I do glimpse it.

You know who else has been cooling down? Memphis. I have been thrilled this week that the heat finally broke! It's time to go camping, to get our little fire pit in the backyard going, to while away the weekends and evenings outdoors. 

From the I Love Memphis Blog:

- Our long, hot Memphis summer has been validated. Forbes named Memphis as the second hottest city in the US this summer. Our hotness was measured by how many days the temperature rose above our summer average (72!). Louisville may have beat us by one day, but we totally know we’re hotter than they are.

No longer are the days of feeling personally violated by the obscene heat.

At least, I hope.

20 Something...

 Photo via delightfully tacky

Have you guys read this NY Times article "What is it about 20-Somethings?" that has been circulating?

I have tried multiple times to adequately formulate and articulate my thoughts pertaining to this article and the claims it makes, the eyebrows it has raised, and the pros and cons and implications of it but I have not yet been successful. I still find that for me, sometimes it's so much easier to converse than to write. But I do have a lot to say, I think it's interesting. I encourage you to read the entire article, during which time I'll go ahead and start brewing the coffee, and then lets chat. TBC...

Fresh Bites via Me

 Image via Tofu Watch

I had my first success with cooking tofu last night! Over the last few years I've tried over and over again to prepare it at home and for whatever reason have not yet produced edible results! That has all changed my friends. Not only did I make great tofu but I managed to make a Thai (? I don't know, that sounds good)-fusion meal that Darling loved (the man hates, really hates anything with soy sauce and we typically only eat Japanese or Thai at restaurants).

I tried to incorporate as much of my farmer's market bounty as possible, to use what I have (I always come home with so much food for two of us) and because nothing beats its fresh taste. It is thrown together according to whimsy, measurements are loose. I think bok choy, bean sprouts, snap beans, or sweet peas would be excellent additions for future attempts. P.S. It's quick and easy.

          udon noodles
          cherry tomatoes - halved
          zucchini - peeled and diced
          green pepper - diced
          fresh basil - chopped
          firm tofu - drained, sliced thin, and lightly floured + salt and pepper
          good quality olive oil
          4 cloves garlic - minced or through garlic press
          pinch of red pepper flakes
          salt and pepper to taste
          Thai sweet chili sauce (optional)


1} Cook noodles according to package directions, return drained noodles to pan, set aside.
2} Chop and combine tomatoes, zucchini, green pepper, and fresh basil with noodles. 
3}In a small frying pan, layer the bottom with olive oil and heat until flour sprinkled in the pan sizzles. Add floured tofu slices to hot oil and brown both sides (3-5 mins), let drain on clean towel.
4} Once finished, add a few more glugs of olive oil to the same frying pan, add minced or pressed garlic and cook until fragrant and garlic begins to brown (2 mins). Add oil/garlic mixture to the vegetable/noodle pot.
5}Toss with pinch of red pepper + salt and pepper to taste.

Serve veggies and noodles topped with crispy tofu slices.

I also served it with a little cup of Thai sweet chili sauce on the side (which was fire with the tofu and all that garlic) and toasted slices of chewy bread (on this note, pan toasted bread with butter on both sides is the only way to eat toast. Period.) Lunch today will be the awesome.

Flowers from the market. This week I had to arrange them myself which is why everything is nearly the same height. Unlike my mom and sister, I just haven't had the experience or expertise with flower arranging but I still think they're beautiful. Who can argue with fresh, colorful flora? I love adding  stalks of fresh basil to flower arrangements, it adds such a nice, rich green texture and the fragrance is fantastic. Darling even thanked me on Sunday for bringing in flowers each week, he said, "it makes our house feel nice."

 

A Summer Song

Gorgeous photo via jonas peterson

Those mountains make my heart leap out of my chest, you know.

Endless Summer Playlist #6 Nick Drake - "Cello Song"

I decided to go with a Nick Drake tune for the next playlist addition, but which Nick Drake song to post?? Although I typically associate his chilly sound with the onset of autumn (which we are -hopefully- not far from), I still find there is always something fresh about Drake. Five Leaves Left has always held its own as a stand-out album to me, one of those few gems that I can listen to from start to finish without distraction or impatience. I settled on "Cello Song" because it unfailingly reminds me of the many drives I have made through the Colorado Plateau and Northern Arizona desert (during summer 2005 in particular). Personally, I really love the rough quality and texture of the "Cello Song" cello. What do you think?

He's one of my very favorites.

Check Mate

Such a pretty, sleek Bauhaus Chess Set. Although, I'm afraid I would confuse my pieces and find myself in a terrifying, emotional conundrum after 1 or 2 wrong turns.

My Sister Is Good

I mean, really  good. The lace match is beautiful and the length is p.e.r.f.e.c.t.

I continue to impressed, anyway.

Visit her shop!

Matte Stephens

I'm totally enchanted by the work of Matte Stephens this morning. His style reminds me of Richard Scarry in its portrayal of anthropomorphic animals and metropolitan settings, not to mention each print is saturated with color and whimsy. I'm particularly partial to the city portraits and the personality depicted in each:

Stockholm

San Francisco

Swedish Holiday

New Orleans

NYC from Staten Island

and I love this hilarious diver series:

 You can order prints from his etsy shop and see more work on his blog.

There's More To Life...

 

 

Loving this sweet new print from The Black Apple on Etsy

Shapely

I want to do as I like, invent my own interests. - Donald Judd