post mortum monumentum

Grant Sligh is now a fly.
I’m not sure how it happened,
But he had to go die.

He used to bug me,
But as I recall, he was such a swell guy.
Get off my forehead Grant Sligh.

Shoe Fetish.

Wha...? ME???!!

What was I thinking....

They were "HALF OFF," is what I was thinking. No matter the original price tag was $399. Do you think Mark would mind? More like, do you think Mark would kill me? Or even worse... divorce.

But they are so beauuuutful! And the rhinestones... oh, so divine! Just the right amount of glitz, you know.

And it doesn't help that I go there with a friend whom has a shopping addiction. I am certain she is there to egg me on. "You don't have to tell him until he sees the bill - then it will be too late to take them back," giggling nervously.

Where did all this come from? When did I start with this thing for shoes. And even more, why does anyone have such a thing for shoes? Heck, even Mark is constantly on the prowl for his perfect pair of shoes. Sometimes he wants to wear my shoes. (OK, he wants a pair like mine, but maybe I should have left that bit out altogether.)

Shoes are sexy. Shoes make you feel sexy. Agreed. But that doesn't really reveal any more of the mystery. Why do shoes make you feel sexy? Is is a cultural thing? Are we just so feeble-minded that we have been brainwashed to think that some super-supple dead animal skin on our painted trotters makes us incredibly irresistible? Is this like the Emperor's New Clothes? This love affair with shoes has no-doubt been around for a while, though....

Maybe it is a status thing. When you are able to brandish something so obviously expensive and new, day-after-day, surely you are of a higher caste, rank, class, whatever.

After viewing these bejeweled beauties in the store we walk outside and see a woman, legs crossed, wearing the same damn sandals I was just drooling over. She sees me... me eying her shoes. She looks at me, her shoes, then at me again, as if to say "Yup, I got'em. Aren't they LOVE-ly?" Bat-batting those pretty eyelashes. Bi-atch.

Never mind! Nevermind all the philosophy! Just give me that pair of $400 Pliner sandals! the $109 Linea Paolo 'Brayden' T-Strap Sandals in green! the $470 Taryn Rose 'Cheval' Oxfords! the $395 Anyi Lu 'Naomi' Pumps in pitone! (whatever THAT is!)! the $360 Anyi Lu 'Carrie' Pump in blush patent! the $375 Cole Haan Collection 'Sofia' Sandal in "luggage"! and even the $575 Stuart Weitzman 'Sargeant' Boots in "fig"!!!! ::ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhggg!!!!!::

(Now I wipe the spit off my mouth.)

Just give 'em to me.

And while you're at it, throw in one of those Dolce & Gabbana 'Miss Catch - Large' Lock Totes for a mere $2,550.

I'll be right back; I have to go rob a bank.

As I write this...

My daughter Isabel cut her hair today.

She was feeling as though she was not getting enough attention from me.

I left the scissors in the drawer.

She got real quiet-like while I was laying for a relished moment of relaxation... But I let it go for a couple minutes. All was good. Was it?

She got herself some chocolate sherbet (Dairy-free) and sat on the porch. Mmmmmmm. The joys of summer. I sit with her for a few minutes.

Eventually I realize I forgot something in the office...

...Crap. Hair. haironthefloor. Hair all-over the floor...

Mommy runs back to the porch. "Sweetie?," "Where did you cut your hair?"

(Stops eating sherbet for a second.) "Right here Momma." (Points to the front right of her hair, where the long bangs went.)

"Oh, OK dear." (Totally relived that it isn't hardly obvious, or even more, right to the scalp, regardless of the tons of hair on the office floor.) "I love you sweetie." I want her to know. Regardless of any emotion or (knee-jerk) judgment I have for her actions. "I love you to the moon and back."

"Yep," she says. (And ::nods::) "I love you, too, Momma," as she looks up to me to tell me she knows.

She knows.

We know.

We both know how we love each other.

We know.

What's New at Flora & Henri?

Oh dear, you had to ask.

While I love pretty things in general, fabrics more specifically, this whole thing really started with baby and children's clothing. For those of you who have bought something that you know wouldn't fit your baby for about, say.... 4 years... I am talking to you. (Becca.)

Flora & Henri is about one of cutest children's boutiques out there. (After the sale of my beloved Babyfairies, ::wink, wink:: )

Basically, I would like to describe them as vintage clothes made anew. Most of their items looks as though they could be from the 40's or 50's, yet they amazingly don't have permanent wrinkles nor do they smell like dusty moth balls. They are fresh and new somehow, with no stains on the chest or tiny tears in the armpits.

Like magic, you put your kid in this stuff, take them out to the beach and all you hear is "ooooooooooh" and "ahhhhhhhhh." Watch those heads list and people start crouching and babbling nonsensically.

Life seems so much more delightful when you are surrounded by those who envy you.

Plus, they have a little collection of wonderful Steiff toys. Ahhhhhhh....


Did I mention they are having a big sale? (This includes clearance items, so they may actually be down in my price range.)

Turning Over an Old Leaf

So I mix sayings.

This is something that my husband gave me hard time about, and I will defend it to the grave after hearing a spot on NPR's A Way With Words. Apparently some woman called in to talk about how her mother was always mixing sayings. The hosts of the show proceeded to go into this impromptu eulogy about how brilliant this woman must be to be able to combine such sayings, and still make complete sense.

I have been doing this for years.

Anyway, I digress.

Here I have decided that I am going to start sketching again. It has been years.

It is one of those things that I absolutely love doing, but for some reason just committing to starting seems like a huge obstacle. I see so many beautiful works on Etsy and am so inspired by the people there (as well as their art) that I have actually started to sketch. Really. I drew a couple things today. Even if just a couple warm-ups, I have started. I wont commit to anything big, just working on line quality.

I love my pencils.

Love love love pencils. Isn't that weird?

And a good German sharpener.

And I think I will even break out one of my subject studies from school. The one that the teacher called me in to his office to discuss. Sadly, one of my proudest moments.

Go make something, people. Make, share, and love. :)

Please Note...

I made corrections to my horribly embarrassing "about me" comments.
Unfortunately, I always try to type as fast as I think.

Architecture Geek

In the words of Søren Kierkegaard, "Once you label me, you negate me."

I don't care. I am a total architecture geek, and I am proud of it.

OMG - so you will be when you look at these houses.

I have always wanted an old Craftsman house, and I suppose I have the "Fisherman's Wife" syndrome, becuase now that I own one, I so madly want one of these modular green homes. I don't feel quite as bad knowing that Mark is completely on board with this. We have been thinking a lot lately of something green, something modern, and something for the wilderness. I think we are both pretty passionate about this, and probably not at all alone in this "new" way of thinking. I suppose you can really have your cake and eat it too when you think of how you can have some uber-cool mid-century-modern-esque home, but with a newer, greener theme. You can have a low impact on the environment while at the same time live somewhat of a dreamscape fantasy. I am so there. Like, yesterday man.

I mean really... check-a-look-a these friggin' Method Homes cabins...

I also like the fact that they are near Seattle; probably a clear bias as well as knowing that they are physically accessible. I wouldn't mind taking a field trip with the little man and seeing what they look like in person.

Method Homes is the brainchild of a real estate agent and a seasoned construction worker. Both found a true need for something more sustainable, better design, and found a problem with site-built construction. The answer: something fabricated completely within a huge warehouse, and built with "high design and [a] simple process" in mind. Something that speaks to both the right and left side of my brain, thankyouverymuch.

They even have a list on their site, of the products they use, including sources and specific name brands.

"The factory built process allows Method Homes to far exceed the site built comparison. Quality is increased and time is reduced while building in a controlled environment. Between our energy efficient design, use of green building products and sustainable approach you cannot find a better built, healthier home on the market."

Then, they bring the sucker to you. Bada-bing!

This is exceptionally cool as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QneEh84GeQA

We Like Popsicles, Yes We Do!

One for you...
Two for me...
One for you...
Three for me...

And I thought I was cool when I made juice pops with less water so the kids didn't chip their teeth on them while talking about how much they suck.

Of course someone had to "Martha-size" the homemade Popsicles, and take it to to such a sophisticated level that will make your friends turn green with envy and want to talk about you behind your back.

I must admit, though, they had me at the Thai Iced Tea and Blueberry Cheesecake Pops...

With "Pops!: Icy Treats for Everyone," by Krystina Castella, not only will you learn how to say Ice Pop in 12 languages including Swedish and ASL (OK, this part I find absolutely superfluous and otherwise useless), but you will learn the basics such as which "bases" to use, how to get a creamy smooth texture, and freezing times.

You can find just about every possible "mix-in" or topping sure to inspire you to create something fun, festive, and surprising.

Personally, I find the most practical part of this book the section on alcohol pops. It shows you how to make a martini pop among many others, and shows you how to get the most alcohol in the pop (since alcohol freezes at a much lower temperature) such as by marinating your fruit, cookies, or cake in the alcohol before adding to the mixture.

Sounds like a party to me.

***

Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice
Laid back [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind]

lame, lame, lame, lame....

I am, the worst blogger.

I love you. Really, I do. It's just that things have been so busy lately.

Mark found out that he is making rank, thus increasing pay, getting his pension, etc. Then we were waiting to hear if we had to move th San Diego (ugh) or if we got to stay in our home and not deal with the movers. (Is it us, or have others had to deal with movers turning over boxes and dumping things, eating your food then throwing up on your front lawn - only to sweep it onto the sidewalk?)

So, good news all around, we get to stay, the money will continue, and as much as I wanted to move down to "SoCal" and get those fake boobs and spray tan and drive a BMW, we are staying here where the summers are perfect and the beer is great. (If I hear any more mention of "liquid sunshine" In think I will vomit. It's rain, and we love it.)

So anyway, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Mark sounds less and less depressed being on the ship, although we try not to talk about it too much. I still sorta hate telling people Mark is in the Navy sometimes becuase it tends to give people a false picture of who I (we) are. Only when you are in it are you so aware how different you are from others in the military.

"Oh, you are in the Navy? How come I haven't seen you at any of the wife's meetings?"

"Because I would rather have a goiter the size of a golf ball on my neck," she says under her breath.

Four more years and we are done. No more big deployments, and no more moves, knock on wood. No more Navy. No more Bush, no more teachers' dirty looks.

Wooo hoooo!!! I wrote to Mark. Wooo hooooo!!! indeed.

Time to start working on the house. "I think we should paint the the house" says Mark. "Just the front."

Time to relax and do things the way we want. Finally.


(Mark is the one with the "ATO" on his back.)