Saturday, June 26, 2010

a ritual...one of many


















On Saturday mornings after my pilates are done, I wait patiently until the kids disperse to satisfy their interests in some outer reach of our home. When they have suitably, and happily  holed themselves up somewhere else, I begin my Saturday morning ritual. I dim the kitchen lights to a restful glow, and get out my favorite plate and cup with the seemingly Morrocan design. I cook up just two chocolate chip pancakes (whole wheat, of course, and from scratch) and brew up some bold, bold, roasty beyond roasty decaf coffee. I break out the sweet flavored creamer (this is key) and rummage through my magazines to find my Anthropologie catalogs. Then I sit at the table in the quiet (or sometimes I put the french station or Norah Jones on my Pandora) and drop a dollop of sweet syrup onto the side of my plate and then drip another swirl of honey inside the pool of syrup. I use my fork to entwine them. I take a bit of butter on the end of the knife and rub it over and into the crevices of each pancake, letting it stand in slices, or drift and melt as it pleases. I take one small savory piece of pancake at a time (very small so as to enjoy it longer and in more installments) and dip it methodically into the honey/ syrup mixture. I am sure to hold them in my mouth and press them against my tastebuds, feeling all the delicate flavors combine (honey, maple, chocolate, the cinnamon and nutmeg I dash in, the nutty wheat, the gritty cornmeal...) one by one, and together like a connoisseur of fine drink would with his newest favorite rich, red wine. A slow swallow of coffee here and there: a perfect companion. The exotic, carefully, and delicately adorned  wares on the pages before me...they inspire me on what to make next for my shop. Just looking at them is satisfying. There is something so delightful and important to the soul about things made well...with time, with detail, with inspiration...and with pleasure.


Thursday, June 24, 2010

via con me

Tell me, have you ever wanted to be transported to another place? Perhaps Europe? Perhaps Italy? And not only that, have you ever wanted to suddenly become Italian (*blink*) and have that beautiful language fall from your lips effortlessly and with utter chic? Have you ever wanted to wander the cobblestone streets with wrought iron twisted balconies bowing above you, hanging plants and blossoms squeezing lazily through the bars? Have you ever wanted to eat a smallish cone of gelatto and then sit at an open cafe with a menu that looks more like poetry than food? Well, then, have you ever listened to Paolo Conte? You'll be there soon.




Wednesday, June 9, 2010

little urban oasis

I know, I know, I know it's quirky and wierd, (oh, Kitty, what are you thinking?) but I like this...and maybe once this sweetsless week is over I would be able to wear it.....................just not in public. :)
 
If your not familiar with Urban Outfitters, take a mini vacation right now and have a peek.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

cheat day

   Being inspired by a dear friend, and in an effort to learn something new about my body and my life I have decided to give up sweets for one week...until Saturday...a day that I am coining my "cheat day". So why am I oddly having second thoughts? This should be easy. It's always easy. I am one who finds that a reached goal is sweeter than any quick payoff, right? And yet, it seems I have never felt such temptation ever in my life. This is strange. This is truly strange.

   Here I am, moments into my new tilt and I am suddenly feeling bereft. Maybe it's because I made this decision quite quickly. Maybe it's because I already eat so few sweets during the week as it is. Perhaps I feel that it's overkill to take away the small, meaningful handful of chocolate chips that I sneak in here and there while hiding away in the kitchen under the din of the children rough housing in other quarters. Or maybe it's the unusual presence of a half gallon of Red Velvet and Cream Cheese ice cream sitting coyly next to another half gallon of  Berry Cheesecake ice cream in the freezer right now as I speak (did I mention the cones, and chocolate sprinkles hiding in the cupboard?). Furthermore, the fact that my husband is uninterested in partnering with me on this little experiment means that the shiny treasures in the freezer may already be in a shadowy stomach of a grave come "cheat day" (there is much pain and devastation at the thought, I'll admit.) Enough! I shall go forward in bravery and clout. Therefore, my bon-bon for today will be enjoying the beauty of a goal slowly being reached, the ecstasy of feeling sublimely and physically cleansed, and... dreaming .........of how amazing.......all things forbidden will taste..................................on Saturday.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

lumberjack lux

I don't know what is more incredible about the Costello Tagliapietra label. Is it that nearly every single piece is painstakingly perfected to wrap a women in all kinds of glory by equisite draping,  modern twist vintage amazement, fabulous color, line, flow and even sophistication?




Is it that they have begun using a process to not only dye but even print their fabrics in a way that makes no toxic waste, using absolutely no water, which, by the way saves 25 gallons of water per garment?






Or is it that this... is the designing duo?
















Lumberjack lux, folks. Never judge a book by it's cover.