and the winner is....

yep. this is the winner. i think its the softest in color and i think it has less of a western feel than the others. can't wait to get it and put the room together and then take pictures for blogland! thank you everyone who left an opinion, it meant a lot and it really did help me make my decision.

sexy bedrooms

i have been wanting to do a post on this subject for a while. i myself do not have what i consider to be a sexy bedroom. not really sure if i want a sexy bedroom. for me i think i want, first and foremost a serene and calm and comfortable bedroom. i think some of these bedrooms have all that AND sexiness. i also know that sexiness in anything is a matter of opinion. i mean some people think i am crazy when i say that i think gordon ramsay is crazy sexy. or crazier still when i tell them i think the evil, ugly guy from 'lost' is sexy. i know! even i can't figure that one out.
so here, in my humble opinion, are some sexy bedrooms for you to get your freak on in.

here we have elegant sexy. look at that window and the view. voyeur sexy. plus that bed is huge and smooth and soft looking. nothing distracting you from the sex in this room.

this is cougar sexy. she is rockin' some young dude's world in this room. those lamps look like gigantic anal beads. plus she probably has the real thing in those bedside cabinets.

the fire. the window, again. i'm starting off in that chair and ending up on that smooth, soft taupe and purple bed.

nothing much to say here except that bed is screaming for afternoon humping.

this looks like someone's sexy guest room you need to annihilate before you leave.
turkish delight. many lovers in this room at one time. veil dancing. all that.

extremely naked in here for good contrast. and rain outside. and some hot scottish guy inside.

that light on. those shoes ON!

drunk one night stand sex. but amazing nonetheless.

satin-y green and dark walls. yes. yes! YES!

ok so. what do YOU think?

images from elle decor, marie claire maison and living etc.

saturday house tour

southern living magazine featured a cottage makeover on a budget (my favorite kind!!) and here is some of that tour. the house belongs to haskell harris and she says she based the paint colors in her home on a bag of gourmet marshmallows saying, “They were the softest, most sophisticated colors I’d ever seen . . . I based all the paints on those marshmallows.” she painted her porch floor gray and white stripes. and notice the swing chains are covered in some kind of jute or something. its all about the details.

i LOVE the look of that gray grout with subway tiles.

gray grout again

here she just had mirrors cut to fit some flea market frames. love the pale pink walls.

here for the full article and a few more pics.

3 things for you to do this weekend

first...find time to be quiet. just still and serene. think about all that you have and not about what you don't.

second...hug the people you love and tell them so.

third...make this for me.

have a great weekend-xoj

beach house tour

and here we have a beach house on tybee island, ga. a place near and dear to my heart. i have spent lots of time here at very different stages of my life. i wish i could say this were MY beach house but i cannot. no, my tybee experiences (though wonderful) were spent with about 20 other actors in less than spectacualr hotels. actually this is from coastal living magazine. the house is 100 years old and underwent some pretty serious reno. you gotta go to the website and check out the before's!!! here are the after's:

nothing beachier than white slipcovered furniture, sisal rugs and fish on the wall...
once you see the before of this kitchen you REALLY will appreciate the after...

get thee to the beach!!

my hair is jealous

come to think of it...so are my lips...

what a beauty.

from this cool french blog.

wisteria goodies

wisteria has some new and fabulous items..here are some that caught my eye...

ha ha...3 french hens...

tag!

so a game of blogger tag has started and while i am not officially included i included myself. you are supposed to find an image that best describes your personal style-not AT ALL easy to do as there are so many different rooms out there all beautiful and stylish to me. but this one is pretty darn near me to a T. soft neutral color, girly without too many frills, pops of color, modern sensibility but still a lot of found, organic looking objects with a rustic edge.

mad cowhide disease

i KNOW!! terrible pun. but so bad it's awesome right? right?!?! anyhoo..as i stated in the last post on this here blog, i was interested in a cowhide rug for my living room and would like your esteemed opinions.

so here's the rundown of the room...benjamin moore's silver satin on the walls, orange-y blonde wood floors and soon to be this couch:ok, so i know this is a cheap couch. ikea is cheap. but it is exactly what i am looking for looks wise. it has clean lines and is white. and the slipcovers are entirely removable and washable. with a 4 year old who eats on the couch daily ne-HOURLY and 2 cats who enjoy sleeping and sometimes relieving themselves on it, i NEED cheap at the moment. so no judgement!!!

so now on to the rugs. i have narrowed it down to 4- OH! and remember to look at THIS for an idea of what i am going for- ok here we go...

i really am torn. the first one may be a little too orange. is it? hard to tell with a photo. i mean my floors are kinda orange...but i do like it.

i feel like i may like #4 the best. PLEASE give me your input!!

house tour

i first saw this paris flat owned by mariu de andreis of ZEF children's clothing line in cookie magazine a few months ago. she is also in the april issue of elle decor UK. i love it so much i had to do a house tour for you.

i love the cowhide rug and am seriously contemplating getting one for my living room. i have such a small living room this rug adds the right amount of softeness underfoot and warmth without taking up a lot of space. plus i think if you have pretty wood floors you shouldn't cover them all up. OH! and i need a new rug anyway- my 8 x 10 jute has seen a lot of accidents.
europeans DO love their fairy lights. and i am loving the disco ball. would you have one in your house? i would.

i am going to do this heart shaped poloroid thing above my bed. i love it. i just need a poloroid camera.

the little girls' rooms are so cute. if i could be a designer of any one room ONLY it would be little girls rooms. i tend to be drawn to a bohemian style for little girls rooms. like these...

happy monday images

elle decor did a spread on hollywood director brett ratner and b/c the guy seems like a hollywood sleeze bag i thought his house would reflect that. it does not. although it is heavy on the masculine i still love love love it. ESPECIALLY those old leather chairs. gimme. this image i snagged from someone's blog (sorry i cannot remember whose) but this bedroom is perfection. so clean, soft, airy, bright..and its both sexy AND soporific. 2 things a bedroom should be!!

and i just love this picture below. the old mirror hung to break up that expanse of window and the shelf behind it to showcase the owners favorite things. love it. going to keep it in mind when i design my dream home.

must...have....this....

truly. how good does THAT look??!! this makes me want to punch someone, it looks so delicious.

i need to have a dinner party so i can make it. seriously, making it for just my husband, daughter and me = dangerous. chocolate+caramel+sea salt=drool.
Chocolate Caramel Tart


SERVES 8
When making this dessert (from Brooklyn's Marlow & Sons), we found that darker, dutch-process cocoa powder makes for a more flavorful, cookie-like crust.

FOR THE CRUST:

1 1⁄2 cups flour

1⁄4 cup plus

1 tbsp. dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder

1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt

10 tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed and softened

1⁄2 cup plus 2 tbsp. confectioners' sugar

2 egg yolks, preferably at room temperature

1⁄2 tsp. vanilla extract

FOR THE CARAMEL

1 1⁄2 cups sugar

3 tbsp. light corn syrup

1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt

6 tbsp. unsalted butter

6 tbsp. heavy cream

1 tbsp. crème fraîche

FOR THE GANACHE

1⁄2 cup heavy cream

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Gray sea salt for garnish

1. Make the crust:

Heat oven to 350˚.

Combine flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Using a handheld mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until mixture is pale and fluffy; mix in yolks and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients. Transfer dough to a 9" fluted tart pan with a removable bottom and press dough evenly into bottom and sides of pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Prick the tart shell all over with a fork and bake until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool.
2. Make the caramel:

In a 1-qt. saucepan, whisk together sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 6 tbsp. water and bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer inserted into the syrup reads 365°. Remove pan from heat and whisk in butter, cream, and crème fraîche (the mixture will bubble up) until smooth. Pour caramel into cooled tart shell and let cool slightly; refrigerate until firm, 4–5 hours.
3. Make the ganache:

Bring cream to a boil in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium heat. Put chocolate into a medium bowl and pour in hot cream; let sit for 1 minute, then stir slowly with a rubber spatula until smooth. Pour ganache evenly over tart and refrigerate until set, 4–5 hours. Sprinkle tart with sea salt, slice, and serve chilled.

getaway

if you are like me you have always dreamed of owning a little caravan tucked away in a grove of trees or near a lake (a la derek shepherd on gray's anatomy) or some such dreamy place. just to get away. maybe it's by my house at the end of a long country lane or i need to take it somewhere like the beach, or the woods. it could be a gypsy caravan outfitted with lace and vintage linens..
for me it would be a little like this and i would definitely have a chandelier inside.or some cool retro looking trailer with mid-century ammenities...or how about a fancy airstream with a designer's touch..whatever it is, i am pretty sure a person needs a private retreat for herself. a treehouse would be cool too. but at least with one of these you can getaway both figuratively and literally.
here for more.

charlotte mann

some of you bloggers may have already seen charlotte mann's work in india knight's place in the march issue of living, etc. i know that's the first time i saw it. i was pretty impressed by the fact that she (mann) uses plain ol' markers to draw her murals. here are some more images of her work: (if you have not seen her work before the images below are murals done on entire lengths of wall space)these next three are her work in india knight's place.

i would have one in a long hallway (if i had one), but a small hallway would be cool too. or a powder room! where would you have one?
india knight in living etc. charlotte mann

happy spring!

yes, it has finally arrived! i hope where you are you are able to be out in the gorgeous weather. if not-chin up!! not far now..smurfette, not far now!

you're invited...

i'm having a spring party here, in my outdoor living area. i want all of you to come and help me celebrate my amazing outdoor space. i will cook you something spectacular on my grill and serve you lots of yummy drinks.

seriously???? this place is screaming for some adult fun. look. at. this. sexy. cabana/room/harem thing.
images from house beautiful

etsy finds!

as you may know i am trying to get fiona's (my little girl) room sorted out. i painted her bed white (will have pics soon) and am about ready to get started on her chair. but i want a new poster to replace the butterflies she already has. this love poster below is a sweet choice.

this next one is a print of an original oil painting on glossy paper. i love the colors.

and this one is too funny. maybe in the bathroom? too cheeky? ha! no pun intended. my husband will find it extremely amusing.

top 'o the....

to all you irish american folks and pure irish peeps (im sure there's a little in me too-but i think i am primarily welsh and german and swiss) here are some images from the motherland to help you feel closer to your favorite saint.

loving...

this kitchen! i love a galley kitchen. for a cook a galley kitchen is really efficient. and that's what caught my eye here. i love how the shelves open up right behind the stove so all you need to do is turn around for a pinch of salt from the salt pig. and it doesn't hurt that your little one can doodle why you are preparing his food.

these shelves! i need some shelving for my growing (rapidly and largely) book collection and knew when i saw the right option it would be a no brainer...here they are. floating and fabulous! love them.

this living room! love the styling. the stone thingy's on the fireplace, the rug, the girly bits- it is all such a contrast but it works so well.

this lamp! it's just kinda perfect.

this show! gordon ramsay makes me a little sweaty(sorry honey, i love you but...) and the f word is his best show. less of the kitchen berrating and more of him being the really passionate chef and funny guy that he is. plus janet street porter-if you don't know who she is you need to find out. marathon's of this show are pure bliss for me. plus***bonus- shots of gordon's beautiful home kitchen. this show airs on bbc america. check your guide.

anywhere but here

it has been raining here in atlanta for 4 days straight...nonstop. rain. so today's post is an anywhere but here post. as in, i'd rather be anywhere but here (as if that needed explanation).
so i found a few awesome french inns that would be a welcome alternative to this ark inspiring soak hole.
this first place is called maison de mer. here is an exerpt from their website:

Ma Maison De Mer opened in April 2004, after extensive renovations. Situated in a fantastic location 150m from the beach and 200m from the town centre.
The house comprises of 5 bedrooms, bar, living-room, dining room, a large garden with sun loungers and terrace and private parking. All rooms are ensuite and selected rooms have fans and mosquito nets.
St Palais-sur-mer is situated on the atlantic coast 9km from Royan, 60km from Cognac, 100km from La Rochelle, and 120km from Bordeaux. In the centre, you will find plenty to do with lots of shops, restaurants and bars.

this is one of st. palais' nearby beaches

this is one of the simple, but well appointed rooms. love the white and gray with the natural fiber rug.

this is where i would drink my morning cafe au lait and pretend to read the french paper.

this next place while not by the beach is still sunny and dreamy...it's called un coeur tres nature or "a very natural heart". what a lovely idea. it is located in liouc in southern france.

i would write you a postcard from this desk. it would probably say, "suck it!! i'm in paradise!!"

this last picture is some lucky person's house in mustique. this porch is calling me to have a drink and a shrimp cocktail on it.

i hope if it's raining where you are these places have taken you away from there for a moment or two. or at least inspired you to give the rain the ultimate middle finger and GOTO ONE OF THESE PLACES!!!! i sure wish i could.

lavender and red

this is quite a pretty room. soooooooo girly good.

matilda jane

my friend and lovely neighbor allison told me about this little girl's clothing line called matilda jane, saying, "you gotta see it, you will love it jenny, you will blog about it-they're so cute!!!"
clearly she was right. how cute are they!!?!? and pretty affordable too-PLUS they are adjustable so they can grow with your child. i know a 4 year old little girl who is going to receive at least one of these outfits.

fiona's bed

this is my daughter fiona's iron bed. right now its a blackish rust color of which i am not a fan. not here, not now. i am going to paint it white this weekend and change the room up a bit. can't wait to show you the results. oh! and this rocking chair which belonged to my husband when he was a little boy is going to get a coat of white too.

she also needs a bigger bookshelf. seriously the kid has like 300 books. she's 4. i'd love any and all suggestions you have on any element in the room!

scaaaary!!

could you ever live with something like this?

friday the 13th

Today is Friday the 13th. The superstition that Friday is unlucky has been around for hundreds of years. Chaucer mentioned it in his Canterbury Tales, and by the 1800s, there was a whole list of things that were unlucky to do on a Friday, including needleworking, writing letters, beginning a sea voyage, moving, getting married, and going to the doctor. As for 13, its status as an unlucky number probably comes from the Bible Judas Iscariot was said to be the 13th guest to sit at the table at the Last Supper. By the 1700s, it was a common superstition that if 13 people sat down at a table together, one of them would die. Eventually the number 13 became unlucky in any circumstance. Many hotels still skip the 13th floor, labeling it as 14. At some point, these two superstitions were combined into a fear of Friday the 13th.

taken from an exerpt of the writer's almanac.

dreamy bedroom

decorology just did a post about dreamy bedrooms. i wanted to add to the list.

image from country homes by demachy

schizo

i like these kitchens equally.

what does that mean??!!!?!?! the...fridge is similar. but honestly i just love the hell out of both of them.

i am not mad

at that red plume. no, in fact it's genius.

ding dong

let me be the 5th person (i think) to blog about this house in the last 24 hours! sorry. but i think we all need to call up this fabulous couple and tell them we are all moving in with them..whats a few more kids, right?

i love everything here and can't wait for their book to come out so i can buy it and shut myself up in my room and drool all over the pages!!

lampy

shiny golden lampshade= cool
i mean how much does that lamp make this room?!?!

my stacks

this post is for me and probably for you too. stacks of dishes is decor porn for me. something inside me gets all crazy and i drool a little. much like i would imagine a man feels about boobs. i can't figure out why i get a deco-boner, but i do. maybe it's because its so clean and organized looking. maybe its the promise of a really good meal placed on top of a thick, white plate or a steamy, creamy cup of coffee in a pretty mug. i JUST don't KNOW! either way i imagine if you are reading this it somehow gets your rocks off too. so stroke it out.

this next person clearly has a bigger problem than i do...

images courtesy: domino, living etc, ABT, apartment therapy and some others.

have you ever been punched in the face with cute?

you have now.

AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

there is blood rising all around me!!!!!!!!

or...its pretty cool. can't decide.

discuss.

did you know?

aedes de venustas is a company that sells frangrance for you and your home. lots and lots of really nice fragrances from killian to penhaligons to carthusian. never heard of these? well i have and in fact i have all of carthusian's capri italy based perfumes. expensive? hell yeah...it WOULD be if i had full sized bottles of them. but if you're like me you tire of a perfume rather quickly or just go through phases where you wear it every day and other days you can't be bothered smelling like anything. well i may be the last to know about this but aedes sells samples on their website. 7 samples of any perfume on their site for a flat rate of 15 dollars, which is basically just shipping and handling. i have used this feature lots. and the good news is if you like one a whole lot then good for you...buy the whole bottle. if not, then you don't get stuck with a big ass bottle of something that stinks on you. i read about fragrances all the time and i want to wear them immediately but usually don't ever fork over the money for it b/c its ridiculously expensive or i don't know how it smells on me. or you might be one of those people who has worn the same perfume every day since high school. well, maybe you are just a sample away from finding that new, BETTER fragrance. huuh??

anyway its a great site for hard to find perfumes and such. so click on the link and go to the bottom of the page and click on 'samples'.

pretty english things

don't you just love when you are looking on the internet for one thing (a shelf for my hallway in my case) and you find something else entirely? like these delightful tins and such? why just the other day i was looking, no...glaring at my white bread bin seen in every shelter mag out there and thinking, i don't like you the way i used to. when i spotted these black beauties. aren't they the bees knees?

and this outdoor bbq is very jamie oliver. i would like to use this at our backyard campout this year to roast marshmallows!! or those delicious looking sausages in the picture!!

and this charming arbor is crying out for some climbing roses or honeysuckle!

cuz..umm...some people are directionally challenged?

these and more awesomeness can be found here

for dinner tonight

Sautéed Chicken Cutlets with Asparagus, Spring Onions, and Parsley-Tarragon Gremolata

serves 6

Ingredients
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon minced shallot
2 teaspoons finely grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon (scant) saffron threads
12 chicken cutlets (1/4 to 1/2 inch thick; about 2 pounds)
Coarse kosher salt
2 tablespoons (or more) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 pound spring onions or green onions (dark green parts discarded); white parts cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices, pale green parts cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices (scant 2 cups)
1 1/2 pounds slender asparagus, tops cut into 3-inch pieces, stems cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup low-salt chicken broth
2 tablespoons crème fraîche or heavy whipping cream
Preparation
Mix first 5 ingredients in small bowl; cover gremolata and set aside. Heat heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add saffron and stir until slightly darker, about 30 seconds. Transfer to another small bowl; cool and crumble saffron. DO AHEAD Gremolata and saffron can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
Sprinkle chicken lightly with coarse salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches and adding more oil as needed, cook chicken until lightly browned and just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Arrange chicken on platter; tent with foil.
Add 1 tablespoon oil and butter to same skillet. Add white and green parts of onions and sauté until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add asparagus. Sprinkle saffron over vegetables. Sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper and sauté 1 minute. Add broth, reduce heat to medium, and simmer uncovered until vegetables are tender and broth reduces and thickens to glaze, about 5 minutes. Stir in crème fraîche and gremolata. Season with salt and pepper. Using slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to platter, arranging around chicken. Drizzle sauce over chicken and serve.

recipe april issue bon appetit

gee..thanks...

so umm..apparently the leader of the richest, most powerful country in the world is a crappy gifter. president obama met with prime minister brown this week and had some kind of leader-y summit thing and they gave each other some presents. well, brown gave some really well thought out gifts to the obama's and their children. a cool pen made from the wood from some historical anti-slave ship, plus a commissioned painting of the same ship, and a 7-volume copy of a winston churchill biography (which to me is a little lame b/c if obama is meant to sit around and watch 7 volumes of anything it better be a how-to-fix-our-broke-ass-nation-DVD). but someone (probably mrs. brown) had the wise idea to get little miss sasha and malia some top shop outfits. holla!! hell yeah she did! smart woman. the obama's, on the other hand, took an "oh shit we need gifts for the brown's children too?!??!" approach and gave them what seemed to be a last minute dash for the gift shop gift...two models of the presidential helicopter, marine one!!!!!! WTF?!?! brown received a 25 dvd box set of american movies. LAME-O!! the guy apparently doesn't even watch movies.
oh well...i hope you have a great weekend!

weekend project

nope, not my weekend project..YOUR weekend project. i am calling on all you design savvy bloggers and readers of blogs to help me decide what in tarnation to do with my antique sideboard/buffet. i had posted about it last month. specifically to summerize it or just maybe b/c i feel its too dark and want something a little lighter? the dining room its in is painted benjamin moore's silver satin which is exactly as it sounds. in certain light it looks pale gray and other times it looks white. in the post i showed some of the things i would like to see on it...of course they are not set in stone and am open to any and all ideas. please send pictures too!!

here is something that caught my eye on the lavender fields website

while i don't think the color would work with the walls in my dining room it is the lightness i want i think. it doesn't blow me away either...its pretty.

here is a picture of the sideboard now

i aim to replace the cheapo lamps so don't let those guide you in any way.

thanks friends. have a great weekend...working for me.

sheets as slipcovers

works for me!!

jamie issue 2

well folks- issue #2 of the best cookery magazine out there is on its way to the states. when...? i can't say as i have no idea the protocol of things for when a foreign magazine comes out in its own country to then be shipped to ours (america that is). hopfully soon! its such a great one. firstly its not overflowing with recipes that half of which you will never cook. there are a few well selected, real home cooking type choices. as well as something dedicated to another country's cuisine, at least the first one did-time will tell if this is a regular thing. there is also a cool pull out menu for a weeks worth of dinners. essentially its a big, gorgeous poster full of recipes!! and my favorite bit, is that it has jamie's hand all over it. it is definitely his magazine and if you watch his show and have followed him, as i have, since his beginnings with the naked chef you can see and feel his passion for food. from farm to table he is involved and to me that is what its all about. this magazine is based on that approach to cooking. so if you haven't already seen issue #1, go to your local bookstore and get it (if its not already gone). if not then go and get issue #2 when it comes out. ask the folks who work there to order it for the store if they don't have it.

no...MY french life!

this woman stole something from me and i think you should go here and find out what it is.

and don't just look at the pictures...you must read the text to get the true jist of the crime.

douche

here

we've come a long way

remember when dyeing easter eggs consisted of a few scattered bowls, some "magic" tablets, a little vinegar and a metal wire contraption that never worked? does the name 'paas' ring a bell?

well move over archaic egg coloring techniques...

lookie here-

williams-sonoma has this cute kit. do we get the chicken with it or do we have to make it from an egg?

and here..ukranian egg decorating. pretty. and pretty difficult looking. especially since i still haven't mastered the metal egg dipper. plus i don't think my 4 year old has the patience for these just yet. but still these are quite fancy and lovely.

and this one is from hearth song. not sure what's so special about the kit but i dig the fancy egg tree. i do hate that i never have a place for the egg to dry and thus the egg acquires a weird blob of saturated color. although maybe i could buy this, which as you know i think is just about the cutest thing ever.

i think we will still do the matrix looking tablets and wire thingy this year. we might have to add a dora sticker or ten. but it is afterall the being together that counts most. right?

the end of a snowy day

-calls for a hot soak!



here is my favorite bath salt recipe for relaxing and soothing dried out winter skin.

2 cups coarse-grained salt (kosher, sea, epsom-whatever you have on hand)

1 cup baking soda

1 cup powdered nonfat milk

20 drops lavender essential oil

1/4 cup sweet almond oil

a scoop or two of dried lavender buds and/or chamomile flowers



mix all ingredients together in a glass or porcelain bowl. store in an airtight glass jar/container. scoop out and sprinkle into a bath, mix it all around. i use about 3 scoops (or handfuls). this should last you up to a year.
after a day like today i plan on taking one!

a snowy day

well...it DID snow! and as promised here is a picture taken from our yard into the neighbor's yard (hi jeff!). it is really coming down hard and fast. ginormous flakes too.

after playing in it for five minutes, i am a southern girl after all, it was time to come inside and plan dinner. methinks i shall roast a chicken. with rice for my husband who loves it and sauteed cabbage for me. to me that is ultimately the best kind of food on a cold winters day. homey and full of flavor. a few glasses of wine and a movie after the little one goes to bed and this will have been quite a perfect day.

whereas tomorrow starts day one of my cleansing fast. gads. i am not looking forward to water and lemon instead of coffee and cream, almond and blueberry smoothies instead of eggs and toast, miso soup and water for dinner. sounds miserable doesn't it? well, it is afterall to help my liver clean out all of the gunk. and a bonus is i KNOW my skin will look amazing after a day or two. so i am going to enjoy my buttery roast chicken and wine tonight like its my very last meal ever. for tomorrow i will most likely be unbearably hungry and not someone you want to know. i shall be interested to see what direction this blog goes in for the next coupl'a.

shameless self promotion

last night i did some improv down at the village theatre. it had been quite some time since i had. i helped start an improv company back in '94 ( i was a baby of 24) called whole world theatre. i performed there for 9 years. apart from now those were the best years of my life. i enjoyed many successes there. in 2002 i left to explore other things- one thing i explored was being a big fat pregnant woman and pooping out a kid! well, 7 years later i was ready to get back in it. it seemed logical for me go to village b/c it didn't feel like going back, ya know? nothing against whole world, and in fact i would still do a show there too-but i needed it to feel...new and different and somehow more challenging. well i had a ton of fun and it felt great to get my feet wet again. can't wait for next weeks shows. unlike whole world, village is a very new company...a baby! they don't charge admission, its more a give what you can fee. don't be mislead by that though. the cast is as good as any i have ever worked with (in fact some of them are old students of mine) and i have worked with loads of extremely funny and talented people, some of the best in improv. they could easily charge as much as thier competition. they also don't have their liquor license so its byob (which while not convenient would save money for you in the long run).

anyway...come down and see a show!! i hope to be in this saturday's. click on the village theatre link for more info. hope to see you there!