small world

a rose by any other name

at an impromptu lunch in marta & rocco's backyard, I used coco's camera to capture these beautifully arranged roses brought by nelly.

the petals iridescence is nearly captured.

make it happen or just do it?

today's Daily OM was right on point with yesterday's post about "imagine - create - manifest". the Daily's have been so good, I decided to move them up on the left side. this is not to say they weren't great in the past. they were amazing! in fact, while on my vacay in florida, they often were right on point with the days we were having. they were so coincidental {not that I believe in coincidence} I would respond with laughter. it was as if there was someone from the Daily OM hiding in the house watching all of us. but just like that crazy trip & the perfect posts, today's post should be an awesome way to start the day. 

too, I should point out that I added the "tut notes" to the top of the left. I subscribed to these a little over a year ago, and although some people might have found my devotion to reading & sharing these to be a bit quirky, I don't care. they are just as inspiring & uplifting as the Daily's. and besides, what's wrong with me being a little interesting? a bit quirky? it doesn't seem to affect my 'friend circle'. not to mention that because of these quirky ideals I have, it's allowed me to be open-minded enough to receive all of the goodness that comes my way. in turn, because of my life experiences & these positive interjections of faith & reprogramming of the mind, I've been able to help those ALSO open-minded enough to listen. makes one feel good to know that they've inspired other's to live better lives. 

so, please remember to read the Daily's & the universe notes from tut. You can also subscribe on your own and have them sent to your inbox daily. I opted out of the weekend notes. My weekends consist of sleeping in, enjoying the community I live in, staying active, time with friends, plans with the monkeys, living life. but during the week when we tend to be more sluggish with the medial day in day out routine, it's perfect to open your inbox to some inspiration fuel for the day. I get excited every time. things to look forward to!

now, go out & enjoy the day but come back to see what's new here. 

new stuff on the horizon.

woot woot!

happy blogging!

viv

 

imagine - create - manifest

the best way to lift up the spirit & "energy" to set your mind to imagine & create so that you might manifest, is to turn up the music. put on something that makes you want to get up off your seat & move your body. or maybe you want to move your "energy" so that you might find love, then put music on that is uplifting & positive that will help the mind focus on just that. but whatever music you choose, make it positive "happy" music that will cause the "energy" within to bubble over & fill you.

even better, surround yourself with positive people. weed that garden! if you have people in your life that consistently bring to you sadness & negative "energy", weed em'! when trying to create a positive flow in your life, it's best to have like-minded friends in your circle to help motivate & encourage that "energy" to well up and over-flow. you will begin to see that when you feel good & generate this joyous feeling, it will fill up your entire life. 

laugh often! who hasn't heard this before? smiling! it enhances the face value AND people are more likely to smile back. say hi to people you pass on the street! its always shocking to see/hear the response. "good morning neighbor" is a great way to start the day. when you emit a good "energy" outward, it will return 10 fold. 

go out today and spread greetings with a smile. turn up the music & get the "energy" flowing. begin to FEEL good. life is too short to wait for tomorrow!

{insert smile here}

happy blogging

viv

el dia do los muertos - a history lesson

Image by St0rmz via Flickr

a history lesson from wiki on the history of why our ancestors celebrated what we call today, "Halloween" or "All Hallows Eve". 

The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day) is aholiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls' Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years, and to an Aztec festivaldedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl.

Similar holidays are celebrated in many parts of the world; for example, it's a public holiday (Dia de Finados) in Brazil, where many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their loved ones who have died. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe and in the Philippines, and similarly-themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.

pan de muertos

Pan de Muertos (Day of the Dead Bread)

A yeasty sweet bread from Mexico.

Adapted by Richard Sandoval of Pampano and Maya restaurants in New York City

During the Day of the Dead festivities in the first two days of November, graves are decorated with flowers and offerings of food and drink in honor of the departed, including this pan de muertos, a yeasty, sweet egg bread flavored with anise.

TIME/SERVINGS
Total Time: 3 hrs 40 mins
Active Time: 25 mins
Makes: 2 loaves

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon anise seed
1/2 ounce (2 packets) active dry yeast
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup water
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
4 large eggs
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg yolk beaten with 2 teaspoons water

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine sugar, salt, anise seed, and yeast in a small mixing bowl. Heat milk, water, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until butter is just melted; do not allow it to boil. Add milk mixture to dry mixture and beat well with a wire whisk.
2. Stir in eggs and 1 1/2 cups of the flour and beat well. Add remaining flour, little by little, stirring well with a wooden spoon until dough comes together.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured wooden board and knead until it is smooth and elastic, and no longer sticky, about 9 to 10 minute . Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and allow it to rise in a warm area until it has doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
4. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Punch down dough and divide into 2 pieces. Cut 3 small (about 1-ounce) balls from each half and mold them into skull-and-bones shapes. Shape large balls of dough into round loaf shapes, and place skull-and-bones on top. Place breads on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let rise another hour.
5. Brush loaves with egg yolk mixture and bake. Halfway through baking, about 20 minutes, remove loaves from oven and brush again with egg wash and sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar. Return to oven and bake until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped, about another 20 minutes.

See more recipes at: http://www.chow.com

Illustration by Christoph Niemann

the CVT

on saturday I took a trek with chris & louis to the recycling center; the cvt. louis asks that you not toss out your bottles & cans and instead has a waste basket that they all get tossed into. trash is for trash & recycling over there! he watches you like a hawk. in his backyard on the side of his house he had gathered up 6 months worth of recycling so on this day we would take it all in for redemption. {cue bob marley now}

he swapped cars with his dad, taking the truck & parking the merce. the boys loaded up the truck with all of the bags and any lose bottles or cans. we hoped in and made our way; me with camera in tow, of course. this trip reminded me a lot of my childhood with my papa. papa would give us a quarter for helping him crush cans. we'd stand them up behind & in front his car's tire path and dad or papa would drive over them expediting the process. or, my brother and cousin would take it to the back yard placing cans on the tree trunk provided by papa. they would take turns swinging the "AX" to flatten the cans. today, we needed no tires or ax.

we arrived with a full load; the entire bed was full. the boys went & gathered the proper baskets would we need to fill up.

we spent about 30-40 minutes separating the plastics; clear in one bin, white, colored or frosted in another. cans had their own bin. glass bottles too. and they were separated by greens, browns & clear. once sorted we would have to stand in line with our 6 baskets & 2 blue bins all on wheels. at the front of the line the gentleman working the scale weighs each item, i.e. plastic bottles (how ever many baskets of bottles you may have) then bottles & so on. once done you are handed a numbered colored card and a voucher is wired to the person inside the building behind the tinted window. (I questioned why the hid)

after the 6 month collection, 8 bins later & 30-40 minutes of sieving through water, old soda, spilled yuck & who knows what louis walked about with a whopping $86.--

after all the sorting we did, the cvt then sorts them into these large bins.

and with this simple act we've all done a smart part to keep these items from filling up our already full landfills. we've done our part to not add to the floating vortex of plastic in our pacific ocean. and hopefully what louis has helped contribute to are things like these:

recycling IS a great thing because it keeps these consumables out of our oceans & off of our land, HOWEVER, to help minimize the plastic that doesn't make it to these recycling centers, it would be in ALL of our best interest to buy a water filtration system for the home. also, pick up one of these for yourself or as a gift to a friend.

in all, the day was great because we all did our part. but in the end its about choices. the choices we make to protect our future. the planet will live on long after humans have destroyed themselves, but as long as we call EARTH home, it's important to KEEP your home clean. 

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness"

SAVE PLANET EARTH

happy blogging!

viv

in the garden

I can remember days when I'd be bored & lonely. no older than 10 years I'd sit along side our house that was placed on Palm & Bitterbush. I'd sit in the cool green grass that rest perfectly in the shade where the previous owners had planted these most amazing rose bushes with vivid colors of rose pinks & garnet reds. my boredom replaced by curiosity, I would talk to the roses asking why must your stem be covered with such painful thorns? there was a book I read offering a folklore tale about why the beautiful creature had thorns but I've not seen it since. 

as I lay contemplating roses & their infinite beauty I would pluck the petals & start by placing them on my lips lick lipstick. I'd then role them between my fingers. as I did this, the sun cast a ray of light that revealed such an amazing glimmer I'd not seen on a rose before. of course I thought I had discovered some new interesting fact, but regardless, this opalescent glow was mesmerizing & yet calming. 

I hope to capture it's beauty one day to share on still frame. but for now, I have these luscious beauties captured in FunDip's garden. morning dew still resting on a few petals. soft peach fuzz tickles the petals of an awakening bud. some mini bouquets with buds that resemble grapes.  

again, I remind you to stop & smell the roses. take note of all of the beauty that is surrounds you. and in the meantime.......

happy blogging!

viv

patios ~ foliage & such

like ants moving soil piece by miniscule piece settling into their wee tunnels, we've done the same. putting the chair there & then deciding to move it there. laying down the rug given to us a few years ago that I didn't like then, but have chosen to use now. utilizing what we've got to function. nothing wrong with any of it. well, except the gross couch I've mentioned a few different times before. it just needs to be removed & burned. a  slip cover couldn't cover the smell of sweaty teenagers that swells from the fabric when it heats up. gross! a good steam cleaning would help, but I need a fresh start so sell it, I will.

on the outside of the home, I've begun creating my invitation to home. it's also a work in progress. picking up things here & there, pulling from existing items from the old home. and planning some new ideas to make it all look homey and inviting.

I bought some pretty votive candle holders in crimson from pier 1 to lead up our outside steps. I'd have preferred a pretty aquamarine or bold yellow but red seemed to pop with the tall red planters also requiring some green plant life. I'll probably pick up small potted succulents for these that will spill over the sides with various shades of green.

at the top of the stairs to to the right is an empty space requiring a medium parlous palm and maybe tall piece of lattice here to hide where the owner's have stuccoed what used to be a window {a window that was inside  the 1st closet}.

 

isn't this space just asking to be loved? one of these palms would fit nicely. not too much foliage though. 

 a worn persian runner to lay down on my entry landing and a tall palm on the opposing side to balance out the two sides. 

MORE LIFE! 

maybe some Calibrachoa - yellow/sutera deep violet and a Bacopa white/blue to hang just outside the front entry above the existing palm. 

 LIFE!

and on evenings when we gather at the spaniard pad, those candles will lead the way to fun & laughter, good food, wine & conversation. 

And on the back porch ~

some low-maintenance hanging plants. I am no green thumb; I would hate to kill it. so maybe more succulents.

I'll hide the view over yonder with some bamboo shades, a muslin panel to hang & blow in the wind with some small plants on the over hang ~ the possibilities here are endless. 

I was also thinking of stringing some outdoor lights up the back stairs as well as some glowing white votives. a simple  rug to place over the beaten wood platform would warm up the landing as well & find an old rod iron table & chair. VIOLA!

 

I'm so excited about how this space will evolve into a bright cheery atmosphere. I hope that you'll visit soon. bring your smile and positive energy. we can enjoy the silver-lining together.

Happy blogging!

Vivian

a note of good vibrations ~ smiles everyone!

I post these every week day on my "notes" section of Facebook, and often when I remember I will update the Daily Om section located to the lower left of Viv's blog here. I've slacked lately on even blogging with my somewhat busy schedule & the lack of juice in my battery, but this morning I received today's Daily OM & wanted to say YES YES YES as I shared it.. Once I read it I immediately became happy knowing that I have friends & family who bring those good vibrations to my life generating motivation & inspiration to others. 

If you find yourself alone & with a positive group of friends or family that rejuvenate you, and if your own personal vibration doesn't stay up on it's own, it's time to make a change. I think it to be a real problem in the world today, depression, anger, helplessness. We easily become consumed by our daily lives and some of the negative vibes that we come in contact with and often it lowers our energy making us stress in-turn angry, frustrated; you push people away making you even more angry bordering on sadness. It's a vicious cycle. 

Make a point today & everyday to change your thinking! Lift your energy & turn yourself around. The more positive you become the better you'll feel.

When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs;
When you change your beliefs, you change your expectations;
When you change your expectations, you change your attitude;
When you change your attitude, you change your behavior;
When you change your behavior, you change your performance;
When you change your performance, you change your life!

Today's Daily OM

The Joyful Flow
Good Vibrations

Feelings vibrate, just as all things in the universe do, at a particular frequency. Negative feelings like anger, guilt, and depression vibrate at low frequencies, while positive feelings like joy, appreciation, and passion vibrate at high frequencies. These high frequency vibrations make us feel good. This is why people and places that inspire and cultivate positive feelings have what we call good vibrations. 

Good vibrations inspire health, happiness, and optimism. When we are tuned in to good vibrations, our bodies heal, our hearts open, and our minds shift toward the light. We see new possibilities and feel powerfully energized to follow our inner visions. At the same time, we feel relaxed and capable of manifesting these visions without giving in to stress or struggle. Good vibrations put us in a state of perfect receptivity so that we feel it is the energy flowing through us that accomplishes what needs to be done. We feel guided, supported, protected, and nourished within this joyful flow. We sometimes forget that we are allowed to feel this way all the time. 

Lower frequency vibrations are not bad in a moral sense, but they are bad in the sense that they simply don’t feel good. Still, they have a purpose, which is to alert us to the fact that we are blocking out the higher frequency vibrations that we need to function well. They are a call for healing ourselves from within. The key to our healing lies in remembering that it is our birthright to feel good and that feeling good is the essence of our true nature. When we are receiving and sending out good vibrations, we are in the flow. When we are not, we can begin to raise our vibration by seeking out people, places, and situations that vibrate at a higher frequency. Whether we need to go on retreat or just call a friend who makes us laugh, seeking out those good vibrations and basking in them is a sacred and loving practice that returns us, time and again, to the joyful flow of the universe.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference" ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

Happy Blogging!!!!!

Viv :)

gremlins or borrowers?

I've been unable to upload photos taken recently due to my missing camera battery charger. It's always been in the same location but the other day when I went to charge the battery, it was gone. being that my place isn't very large & there's not that many places to store anything, I'm limited on my search. I've checked some places 5 times. I've asked the kids to look just in case I had one of those "right in front of you" moments. no one seems to know where it is. no one's touched it. so, I can only assume that either gremlins came while we slept & have run off with my charger to create a weapon of mass destruction or the little borrowers who live in the walls have "borrowed" it to, well, I don't know why they'd borrow it. all I know is, I'm peeved & must purchase a new one. 

and when I do..... pictures & blogs to follow. 

please & thank you

happy blogging? Phff

Viv

Cause for Celebration

Honoring Everyday Life

We all know someone who keeps plastic covers on his or her couch in order to protect it. The irony is that many of these people may live their lives without ever having actually made contact with their own furniture! This is a poignant and somewhat humorous example of the human tendency to try to save things for special occasions, as if everyday life weren’t special enough to warrant the use of nice things. Many of us have had the experience of never wearing a particular piece of clothing in order to keep it nice, only to have it go out of style in the meanwhile. 

It’s interesting to think of what it would mean to us if we let ourselves wear our nicest clothes and eat off the good china on a daily basis. We might be sending ourselves the message that every day we are alive is a special day and a cause for celebration, and that we are worth it. There is something uplifting about treating ourselves to the finest of what we have. It is as if we rise to the occasion when we wear our best clothes and set the table beautifully, as if for a very special guest. We are more mindful of where we place things, what we are eating, and who is with us. Using the good china, eating in the dining room, and taking the plastic off the sofa might be an invitation to be more conscious of the beauty and grace inherent in our everyday lives. 

If there are things you’ve stashed away for a special occasion—a bottle of special wine, a gorgeous pair of shoes, an antique lace tablecloth—consider taking them out of their hiding places and putting them to use tonight, just because you are alive now to enjoy them, and that’s a great cause for a celebration.

The Daily OM

open mic ~ viento y agua 10/5

every tuesday but the last of each month at our local coffee house, viento y agua, is open mic. and thanks to alyssandra's weekly reminders, I've tried making a point of attending with camera in tow. viento y agua has become one of my favorite local spots; for its funky vibe, eclectic music, chill atmosphere, friendly faces & the best cafe con leche this side of the border.

I took the time to capture a few of the performances that took place this evening. 

the baristas hard at work keeping patrons happy

lil vegetable friends waiting around for the show

my drink for the night - lemongrass soda

the infamous cafe con leche

hannah giggled through an entire run about a man & his sheep he loved named kate until the took her & slaughtered her. He found that he could have his kate & eat it too. 

{Robbie Ravenhead}

alex enjoying his sioux city sarsaparilla 

young love - mariam & stephen

alyssandra opening the show

curt last - erotic poetry {it was classy but too the point}

Raj - acoustic on his guitar

Jenna - my personal fave

"Go" {he was deep}

too many murphy's

and finally because I drug him out to play - Marcus Parrish! he serenaded us on our walk home. it was cool :)

*open mic begins at or around 8:00 pm and goes until 10:00 ish. 

this is just one of so many cool spots in the LBC to be & be seen. hope to catch you there if not in the crowd, reading poetry or playing an original song. snaps to you. . .

happy blogging!

vivian

how walkable is your city/town?

how walkable is your city? do you know what's close by? there is this great site that will rate your city based on your home address & give a list of local restaurants, coffee houses, groceries stores, book stores, parks, etc. within a decent walkable distance from your home. 

Original article:

By Katie K, Ode Magazine

How walkable is your neighborhood? Is your grocery store or coffee shop close enough to walk to, or do you find the need to jump into the car every time you need a carton of milk?

Walk Score, www.walkscore.com, will rate how walkable your neighborhood is by calculating the distance your home is compared to groceries, restaurants, coffee shops and more.

If you score low, this might be a good thing to keep in mind next time you are shopping for a new place to live. Walking is beneficial for your health, in reducing greenhouse gases and also allows you to support local businesses.

What’s your neighborhood’s walk score?

Ode, the magazine for Intelligent Optimists, is an international independent journal that publishes positive news, about the people and ideas that are changing our world for the better. Click here for your FREE issue.

stuff I learned about me today - ha!

You've been living for 40 years, 3 months, and 18 days.
You were born on a Friday.
Your date of conception was probably 27th September 1968.
You've seen 10 leap years.
Your Zodiac Sign is Gemini.

Your Chinese Zodiac Sign is Rooster.

Your Ruling Planet is Mercury.
Your Birthstone is Pearl.
Your Birth Flower is Rose.

Your Birth Tree is Fig Tree.
Your Birth Number is 33.

Time till your next Birthday 254 days 1 hours 58 mins.
Your Lucky Color is Yellow or White.
Your Lucky Day is Wednesday.
Your Lucky Number is Five.

getting what you want

What You Think Is What You Get
The Law of Attraction

The law of attraction is surprisingly simple: Like attracts like. It becomes a bit more complicated when it comes to training our minds to think in ways that will bring what we desire into our lives. The term "self-fulfilling prophecy" describes the same law. This well-known term explains that we create the circumstances our mind dwells upon, whether positive or negative. So our goal is to practice consistent presence of mind to make sure our thoughts are always directed toward the positive and that which we want to create. 

A key to the process is the word "frequency." This is true for two reasons: 1) The frequency you use when you passionately dwell upon or revisit a thought, dream, desire or goal provides the energy your musings need for creation; and 2) just like a radio station broadcasts on a certain frequency, like the radio you must be "tuned in" to receive it. This means preparing for the arrival of your dream on every possible level—material, physical, and spiritual. You don’t have to know how it will come into your life, just trust that it will. Your job is to lay the groundwork, follow any leads you can find, and prepare for its arrival. This can mean cleaning out your garage to make space for a new car, taking a tour of a model home to get the feel of it in order to feed your fantasies, or thinking of what you want in a mate and then living up to that list yourself. 

Just like with any skill, the law of attraction must be practiced. We must decide what makes us feel abundant, and use our imagination to create the feeling. It isn’t enough to just want something; you must use the power of your thoughts to attract it. A series of choices is what brings us everything in our lives right now, every moment. When we know the direction we want our choices to take us, it is as if we’ve placed an order with the universe. Then we can await its arrival with joyful anticipation. If we find ways to experience our dreams right now, we make creating joy a treasure hunt in which the seeking is just as much fun as the finding.

a fundip day at naples ~ smelling the roses

to begin this blog, I'd like to take a moment to talk about a brief moment I had with my Grandma Louise. Back in 1993, only 3 years into our relationship, I was 24 years old & it was around the day of her birthday. my mom had planned a day out with grandma Louise. I brought my, then toddler, Stephen who was roughly 18 months old. Man did he love hanging with his Great Grandma Louise. They would sit & enjoy jazz together. He would sit in a chair trying to snap & bobbed his head.

I have memories of this particular afternoon, because it was last time I would see her. We took her out to eat at a simple diner where we watched Stephen inhale every ounce of food we put before him. Then giggled as he'd suck on lemons & make a ridiculously cute sour face. We then strolled into a store very similar to Big Lots where my grandma purchased ME a cobalt blue salad bowl with 4 matching serving bowls to go with. Unfortunately, being made of an acrylic, they didn't last for long. They were stacked in the cabinet so the acrylic began to crack. Eventually, they had to be tossed. 

But my fondest memory of this day was while riding in the car, Grandma sitting shotgun, turned to me and said, "Sharon, no matter what you do in life, always remember to stop & smell the roses. I never did that enough. You will miss out on so much in life if you don't. Live for the moment." I never forgot! I cried even because I knew what she meant. She had shared bits and pieces of her life with me in a short amount of time. I only wished I had grown up knowing her. 

Yesterday, I took a walk through Naples canals with my friend Louis. Coincidence? I don't think so. His favorite flower that he has planted throughout the front & backyard of his home, "Roses". As we walked the canals I snapped all of the beautiful flowers I could. I snapped some boats, a bird & a sweet cat named Teddy too. And like every other day spent with Louis, this day would be no different. It was beautiful & perfect in every way. 

Together, we stopped and smelled the roses........

This is Teddy

And this is my friend, Louis

Thank you, as always Louis, for such an amazing & beautiful day :)

Happy blogging!

Vivian

make-shift kitchen

since moving from my BIG kitchen with marble island & vast counter space, I've had to squeeze all of my entertainment pieces & daily platters etc. into a very small but usable kitchen. And as stated before, this life is a work in progress, so I am still trying to purge & organize to better suit this new lifestyle. cooking has been somewhat of a challenge on some days. I have but one small tiled counter used for drying dishes. the opposite side holds my microwave. so, i ask, where does one cut veggies? while cooking, where does one place bowls, etc.? Challenging! I do have a dining room table, but the stove is a few paces back from this table. 

SOLUTION

blurry due to laughter

well, lola & I decided on some grilled veggies for dinner one evening, however, her son, being a picky eater, was to have mac & cheese with toast. new challenge, outlets! I have outlets for the stove & microwave. but when using my grill, I have to unplug the microwave. on the opposite end of the kitchen I have one other outlet basically free, however the toaster oven cord was too short to reach from the table or even resting on a chair. lola opted to put the toaster on the floor & plug it in the living room. toast in. music on. microwave heating. grill grilling.

toast pops up. power goes out!!!!

HERE'S the culprit!

we know now NOT to use the living room outlets to make toast.

good laughs though :) always finding the silver-lining.

happy blogging!

vivian

much to do about lola

miss lola lives in an old school vintage duplex very similar to my own with a mix of old & new. in her dining room she has a beautiful chandelier that had gone unmaintained for some time due to her busy life-style.  so on a hot summer's eve, we had gathered at miss lola's for another dining fest. while waiting, miss ava jumped on a chair & began wiping down the crystals. of course i joined her. I can't stand by watching someone clean or organize & not assist. especially with this gorgeous piece.

photo by miss lola

all this shiny shiny stuff took place back in early august. so, yesterday there was another gathering of the female kind at miss lola's, this time with the intent to change out the sheer white panels on her windows. you can catch a glimpse in the photog above. 

miss ava & miss lola set up their singer's along with some good eats

miss ava, measured, cut & sewed with miss lola like dueling singer's to bang out these new sheers. and when the dust settled, the room was all aglow. 

and the chandelier smiled....

happy blogging!

vivian

yay ~ IKEA!

I have needed to pick-up some new drinking glasses since moving in. the glasses I had before were beautiful but ever so delicate. all but 3 remain from a mikasa set purchased in 2006. today, I took a stroll through IKEA with muffin & lola hoping to JUST buy a bathmat. I ended up walking out with a dishrack, dish brushes in yellow & aquamarine, an organizer to hang in my room for scarves & belts & then these glasses. lola saw them first & when i came around the corner to what would be heaven from the swede's, i squealed with glee. 

I want more!!!!

I love my new drinking glasses. I love them so much ~ I blogged about them :)

maybe you'll stop by? we'll have some iced tea. or maybe some cafe' con leche in my new mugs.

and when the time is right, I'll go back for the dishes that match. 

OUT with the OLD ~ IN with the NEW!

happy blogging!

vivian

hercules

since moving in we noticed this funny little orange & white cat that is always roaming around outside. we'd park the car & this cat would emerge from a bush to greet us with purring & leg rubs. over time this cat has grown on us. 

although, there was that one time I heard a cat screaming & looked up to find this sweetness they call, hercules, racing down the street being very territorial with another cat.

regardless, we are digging this cat. 

introducing our new neighbor and friend, hercules.

happy blogging!

Vivian

lbusd ~ nightmare

it's been about 3 weeks since I tried getting my kids enrolled into school in the lbusd. you would think it would be an easy task. they sent us to get TB tests. In the county of L.A. they expect that if you haven't had one done in the past 12 mo. then you must be due. so, i scheduled the appt which is really a 2 day deal. one day to inject & 2 days later to get read. then there was the issue of having records transfered over & immunization records. nothing was done in a timely fashion. so between faxing here to get that to them & testing for this we bought uniforms & school supplies.

today was the first day they'd finally attend school. first it was my oldest to high school. I could see his nerves trying to take him over. I wasn't too worried about him though. the girls are going to love him. he's handsome. and the guys will want to be his friend ~ he's cool like that. he hopped out near the corner of his school & walked the rest of the way with packet in hand. he has a bunch of catching up to do to ensure he graduates on time but I have faith in his success. 

next we hit up the middle school that is my middle guy's home school but NOT my school of choice. the crazy condescending lady who did the enrolling at this school had me ready to pull my hair out. I felt like I was in a Mc Donald's drive-thru repeating everything I said. she finally gets her papers in order & handles her business. now we have my son's schedule & begins pointing in the direction of his class room. mind you we just left STEPFORD!!!! this school is old, built back in the early 1920's. there is an upstairs area and did I mention we are new & enrolled late? I said I'd walk with him to ensure he got there or if they had someone to walk him that'd be great too. she looked at me like I had asked for something ridiculous and thought she'd school me on that fact that parents can't walk to their children's classrooms. uh, we've not met! my name is MOM & as long as this child is living under MY roof, I will stand beside him to protect & guide him. I dare you to tell me otherwise. I said, "excuse me?!" as if to question HER questioning ME. "Uh, pardon me, "son" walk with me." I grabbed my kids and walked back into the main office. without having to say much a gentleman approached introducing himself as a campus guard. he would walk my son to his classes & see to it that he was taken care of. yeah, that was difficult! children are NOT paper to be pushed but people to be protected. I've got my eye on crazy!

and lastly it was my daughter. a completely different experience. smiling faces greeted me. they already knew our names. her class was already selected and "we" were walked to her classroom. the students were so excited to see her. they grabbed her desk & chair and sat her in the middle making her feel wanted. I left her school with tears in my eyes. 

it's only day one. I have much to adjust to. picking this one up here and then off to that one there. and he can walk home. now, I can focus on this thing I'm trying to do. this creative spirit that's been fighting to break free from me. the one that will be our saving grace. so much to say & see so that I can share with you. in due time.

tomorrow is a brand new day. today I will deal with just breathing.

Happy blogging!

Vivian

open mic ~ viento y agua

every tuesday minus the last tuesday of every month, viento y agua has open mic night. on our first tuesday night we opted to check out the evening's hype. stephen had friends, shane & ian over so we drug them along. 

we found a corner to chill in & sip our cold soda. me, I had a strawberry crush

on the wall beside me were these post it notes. it appears that winnie the pooh was t here too.

just some books

dim lights for mood

me & my boo

shane after dying his hair purple watches on with stephen to the performers on the stage

tres amigos 

until the next open mic ~

happy blogging!

vivian

sprucing it up ~ the living space

as I begin sorting through all of the things that have been collected over the past few years, I'm pulling from the collection the few pieces that will work best in this spanish unit with character. my color palette is the first decision ~ I decided to stick with a basic black in the main living space that will be complimented with color pops. with such delicate hard wood floors, I will use a standard 8 x 10 black rug to square off the room.

currently we have a shabby abused micro suede couch that the kids have soiled. now, it only makes sense to think smart & go with something less high maintenance; a black leather couch.

and to soften the black frame of carpet & leather I'm adding shades of chrysanthemum & aquamarine.

elegant pillows to take the edge off

to make sure that when you walk in you feel the mood in the room, the walls framing the faux fireplace will be painted a lighter shade of the aquamarine and the center alcove, a soft yellow. proper lighting to help bring a warm glow to the room will complete my canvas in this room. 

accent with fresh flowers & greenery and the room comes alive.

I can't wait for this transformation to begin. everything in it's place :: a place for everything.

happy blogging!

Vivian

lookie see

I love my new place. I think I've stated this before, but here are a few photogs taken the day we received the keys ~ empty.

front entrance to living space

living space ~ doorway to rooms

front hallway to living space

to the kitchen

dining area in kitchen

kitchen sink

boys room

master suite

vintage tile in bathroom

We have a few adjustments to make in the kitchen & living space ~ in due time ~ but as we progress & move forward into settling and can assess what needs to be purged, the place will really be a cool home.

Happy blogging!

Vivian