Fashion is my muse

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

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

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

What is it?

Maybe it was the storm at midnight.

The loud thunder echoed  like war at end of the world.

I woke up waiting for the siren to go off warning us of a tornado in town.

The temperature has being surprisingly warm for this time of the year, which most likely will bring tornadoes with all the warm air moving fast from the ground up.

 Spring is like that in our region, abrupt temperature changes and storms.

Maybe all the noise was what woke me up, but what kept me awake?

The image of tiles kept floating in my head. That was the last email I received last night.

 Worries about work and satisfaction.

After a busy day finishing with a meeting at 8PM...

I thought I'd be tired enough to collapse until morning.

But then after the tiles came the new kitchen project, imagining how wonderful

this new client is and all the possibilities I can bring to them.

The thing is, after two hours of sleep I could not return to relaxation 

and numbness of the mind.

Went downstairs for a cup of warm milk. 

"They" say warm milk can put you to sleep. Really?

The dog sleeping with her little legs under the rug was too comfy, with her 

leg warmers, and didn't even bother to wake up.

Back to bed in the silence of the night I decided to use my time wisely

and finish my book "Entre Nous" by Debra Ollivier.

I am always studying the European way of living.

Just a hobby! When I really should be reading my books for the class

on Friday!

Tomorrow I will be like a zombi,  walking sleeping...

Someday down the road I will get my sleep back. As soon as all the tiles are

placed on the walls and we clean up and leave.

Until then... I will blog in the middle of the night.

Spring is making its way here

It must be the Spring with its early arrival that has brought

a huge happiness to our hearts.

 The burned grass coming back slowly, very slowly to some kind of green.

 And green symbolizes the return of life. 

I let myself be taken by the moment and start buying pots and pots of planted tulips,

 which later on will be transplanted to the ground in my garden.

Green and orange.

Plants and sun.

 My two favorite colors ever and forever.

 Yes, people usually have one favorite color, but I could never settle for one.

Never settle for one in anything...

That has become a trade of my being.

 The love for so many, or the love for more than one.

 Slowly like the grass coming back to life,

my house starts changing...

 I buy new decor and move things around.

 Plan that new painting to hang in my bedroom,

to replace the one that's gone.

I find changes in life an exciting way to learn about myself.

 Thoughts change with the seasons.

Behavior changes with the people that move out or move into our lives.

 The circle goes around with all the new things we learn.

I guess that's also called growing...

When we try new roads, new food, new clothes...

All so refreshing!

This precious thing called Time...

Simple things and enjoyments in life are most of the time associate

with time...

How much time you can spend doing what you like, or spend with the ones you love,

or even spend with yourself. 

This Saturday morning I had time to sit down and write,

had time to get my old French baguette and transform it into toast in the oven.

 Had time to enjoy it slowly as I traveled through my friends' blogs.

And I am so grateful to have the time!

Yesterday I came with a list in my head of all the people I need to make time for.

 The old friends and the ones who are waiting at my spiritual front door

to get to know me better.

I am changing things again, instead of just let them sit there and wait

until I have the time, I started to schedule lunch hour with them.

 Just like that. Starting Monday I will have lunch with this girl I really want

to get to know more about her and her business.

 Yesterday I even made time after hours for a design consultation for a friend of mine.

Yes, it takes some extra energy to work extra time, to plan, to help.

But if time is the most precious thing we always want more in life...

Shouldn't it also be the greatest present of all?

How to make a Iggy pillow

 She came with the idea. I thought it was very easy and since it didn't involve any sewing I recommend this project to any mom who wants to spend time crafting with your kid.

You will need one yard of fleece, double layer
1 large marker
3 colors of puff paint
1 cheap brush
scissors
1 bag of stuffing
1 kid who loves art!

With the marker, draw the shape you want and inside the shape draw it again within 1 inch (2.54cm) of distance from the first one.  Cut around the outline.

Cut fringes around going as far as the second line inside. Fringes should be a little less than 1 inch apart. Get the bottom shape and place on top of the other shape to hide the marker lines.
Tie double knots with fringes from top and bottom sides.

Leave one small part open to insert the stuffing. After stuffing, you tie the remaining knots to close the pillow.

Draw the face you like.

And let it dry for 12 hrs.

 

Now you have a pillow for you!

Gotta do what you gotta do!

It's been a while... I know.
I am not going to say I wish we had more hours in a day because that's impossible anyway.
I just wish I didn't have to spend hours sleeping, but I am already down to 5 hrs a day... So I guess I am doing my best to keep up.

My absence has forced all people and pets in the house to grow and mature faster and get smarter faster. And I am guessing that's a positive thing, right?!

The dog gave up on me waiting for her daily walk, now I just open the door and she runs to the corn field or to the empty lot across the street and do her "business"... I am guessing that's awesome?!
I can imagine the day I will come home and she will be cooking me dinner? Awesome again!

Kids are learning to pack own lunch, besides  taking care of each other when I am not home yet by the end of the day. Awesome again!!

I am working on what I love, with the best partner in the world. We walk the same walk and talk the same talk. We progress in our business beyond our expectations, something I would have never guessed exactly one year ago.
I am taking classes and learning to be a better me in ways I never imagined. I am meeting great people who are opening doors and doors to me.

So what if I don't get enough sleep? As long as we are all healthy, happy and fed... Even if it's the dog who is cooking... Who cares?
The cats hold their hands and pray, giving thanks for our daily food.
I give thanks for not having Winter this year, it all went straight to Spring from December until now. That means more days to wear pretty skirts instead of pants. More days to wear sweaters instead of coats. More sunny days than grey days. And then we realize life is just too beautiful to be wasted not being happy. And happy we are in this house.  Amen!