Early Easter

Wrapping The Week

 Ballerina teacher with her students, by Audrey

This blog, along with all other creative endeavors in my life, have somehow taken a back seat. I just realized I didn't take a single photo with my real camera the entire month of September. What? Some things need to shift. Lucky for me, Audrey continues to crank out art, like the thick-legged ballerinas above. This is what keeps me going. 

I've been carrying around three greeting cards in my purse for two weeks now--unable to carve out even 15 minutes to write notes to my in-laws. Today I was going to "take care of myself" by going to the dentist and getting a haircut, but Audrey is sick. So instead, a quick trip to the doctor who confirmed it is strep. She's resting. I'm posting.

Shrinking

Climbing

Slippers

Two Chips

Wood Type

xoa

Wrapping The Week: Anniversary

Kindergarten. Still adjusting. Working four days a week. Still adjusting. Being married. Adjusted. This weekend, we celebrate our seven year wedding anniversary. Everything with Lindsey, from the very beginning, has just felt like home. I worried that both of us being single for so long would prevent us from easily adjusting into a life of togetherness. But the problems never materialized. The lesson. Worry less. Love more. I need to apply this every day. With Audrey. With my job. With everything. I have so much good in my life. Gratitude.

Quite possibly the best obit ever.

Hilarious take on back-to-school lunches.

After a festival.

Crazy hot cloud.

Mesmerizing to me.

Sugary Treats.

Wrapping The Week: Lazy

I know. I know. Enough with the cloud pictures. It is so lazy. But that is how I'm feeling as summer winds down. Birthday party tomorrow. Lake. No other plans. Glory.

Loving Pencils

Luisa Moreno, wow!

Piano works

Selfies worth the look

Best bookstores in the world

Make art, not war

Waltz for Debby (and prayers for Syndie)

And finally, this is so sad. A young girl who attends middle school with my nephews lost her father, grandmother and sister in fire this week. And lost her mother to cancer two years ago. If you are inclined to help out, you can.

Love to all.
xoa

Wrapping The Week: Short & Sweet

Last year at this time, we were at the beach in North Carolina. And Audrey keeps reminding us that she wants to go back. We didn't have a real vacation this summer...a short trip to Chicago in the spring, which was fabulous. But summer flew by faster than ever before. Today, I'm off work and Audrey is in school. Six hours all to myself. I won't lie. I'm loving every second of it.

Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic series +  Smiths lyrics written by Morrissey = Awesome. Tumblr.

How to talk to your daughter about her body.

Brilliant Colbert!

I'm out...
xoa

Wrapping The Week

{Source}

The inequalities that minorities and women in this country continue to struggle against seem insurmountable. It is difficult to "keep the faith" so to speak. It has been a rough summer. I have to believe things are going to get better. But I know I have to work for it too. Trying to figure out how to make an impact. To keep my head from not popping off my neck, I've been reading more to help me unwind, get out of my normal spaces. 

Reading this. And just finished The Uncoupling and The Ten Year Nap. New thrift store nearby has decent selection for under a dollar each.  Next, on to some feminist classics that I've never tackled. And Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Women stay in jobs longer than they should. And of the office...we use enough post-it notes to...well...this.

Better than the typical bucket list.

Bogaletch Gebre is an incredible woman.

And for some levity...Don't Pierce The Brat.

xoa

Wrapping The Week

It is late (okay, 10:30 is late for me) on Friday. We just got back from Maplewood's Annual Bastille Day celebration, Let Them Eat Art, which is billed as "somewhere between Mardi Gras and the Christmas Tree walk". What a great evening. We visited Turner Center for the Arts, which is in Maplewood, and left with three new pieces of work. I love that place so much. Earlier in the day, Audrey and I spent three hours at the pool. A wonderful day and eager to maximize the weekend. Only one more month until school starts. Happy Summer Joy Joy.

Robert Downey Pinups made me laugh.

But this foreign sportswear fashion video, made my head kind of explode.

I think about this a lot.

Dustin Hoffman has gone viral, but it is so moving.

I need to get on this. Haven't made a pie all summer and the world needs more pie. 

"I wrote this poem in a public toilet after my 6 month old baby fell asleep..." and Hollie McNish takes it from there.

Why Steve Locke doesn't want to talk about race.

I have a standing desk. But screw it. 

Wrapping The Week

Sometimes new shoes are all it takes to shift a mood. New dotted kicks are one of the highlights from this week. Today--first day of summer and we are headed out for a day in the country and some swimming. We have a neighborhood picnic on Sunday and I'm looking forward to meeting more families. Full moon...change is in the air. I feel it.

This parody (I hope) is funny.

Wishes of 4th graders

Blueberry Crumb Bars

Judith Geher Paintings ♥

Drink to me only

Brave 

New favorite dinner

A Man Without Love

xoa

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Wrapping The Week: Hi Beautiful

Last night we went to a nearby park for a short hike. There was a creek that led to a fenced off quarry. The thick smell of honeysuckle was delightful. We heard another owl and saw a mama duck with three very tiny ducklings. Audrey made a scavenger map before we left for the hike, which was clever and cute. We are enjoying discovering our new neighborhood. This weekend we hope to swim at the lake (fingers crossed no rain) at what should be our last graduation party of the season. It is starting to really feel like summer.

How Happiness Changes With Age 

Mad Men Credits Re-Imagined 

Hipsters Who Dress Like Jackie (from Roseanne)

Birthdays

Only Children...good to know.

Rhubarb Cream Cheese Hand Pies. Oh, My!

Happy Weekend!
xoa

Wrapping The Week

Went to see this last night with a girlfriend and I thought it was marvelous. I hardly ever get to the movies anymore. Catch it this weekend if you can. I've been in a funk all week and hope the long weekend helps. I plan to do some serious self-care.

Cronut Craze 

Turkish Photographer
 
Kids (disappointing) toys

Loving this book 

Meditation Kicks Ass

Yo, Champ

That's all I got folks.
xoa

Wrapping The Week

Audrey took a field trip to her sitter's house this week and they explored the herb garden. She drew and tasted the plants while Jen recorded the details. What an awesome project! She is so wonderful with Audrey. In the mean time, our own herb garden is doing pretty well, even with the "chickmunk" tunnels. Looking forward to the weekend and some indoor projects (more rain predicted). Work has been walking the fine line between hilarious and tragic.

Limeade sounds delish.

Some of these famous look alikes are so spot on.

America in Color

Modern Mexico...I sense a road trip to KC.

Green Garden

Kitties!

Friend and son art trying to start a bicycle/repair shop in Hillsborough, NC along the Eno River. Consider donating a dime a two.

xoa

Wrapping The Week

What a treat to have my nephews and their daddy over for dinner twice this week. They are still so sweet and playful with Audrey, who gives them not a moment's peace. She loves those boys--her cousins. We are going to be with extended family on Saturday, sitting around a campfire in all likelihood. Kicking off the summer. Woot!

This instructional video for a hand clapping game is so cute. The girls take it so seriously. If you need to reconnect with the happy girl inside you, watch girls do hand clapping games on YouTube. Love.

Why this fight matters.

Gorgeous lighting.

Serious finger painting.

Audrey's discovered Pee Weeeeeee!

I have no occasion to wear this but I love it nonetheless. 

And for Audrey, this dress.

This tiny annual report is brilliant.

Crazy chunky love.

Don't stop the music.

xoa

Wrapping The Week

Audrey and I went to an art opening at The Foundry Arts Centre tonight with friends. It was a bit of a trek, but worth it. I've been to the space before and it is really impressive. They also have a children's gallery (and programming) so we did some drawings in there and admired the children's art work. I find so much kid's art and outsider art mesmerizing. Earlier in the week I was a juror for a local arts festival and frankly, I'd rather look at or buy kid's art or works from places like Turner Center for the Arts. Anyway...this weekend we are putting in the herb garden and working around the house, maybe going to the Botanical Garden. I can't believe only two more days of school. I wish I could take off the whole summer with Audrey before she starts kindergarten. Happy weekend.

This pancakes recipe is on our weekend menu. 

This photo exhibit was fantastic.

This letter is admirable in its conviction.

I forgot how much I love this song.

This movie looks good.

This cake maker is way cool.

This dress makes me drool.

This bubble project looks fun.

xoa

Wrapping The Week

{From Lisa Congdon's beautiful Reconstructionist Series}

Tonight I'm taking part of a Poetry Scores premiere of two new scores of Gertrude Stein's 1913 poem "Yet Dish" -- for 69 women's voices. I'll be one of the 69 readers. The rest of the weekend, I'm cleaning house. Going on vacation sort of wreaks havoc on life. 

• So true. I don't want to hear it.
• Audrey was mesmerized by these kids trying weird foods for the first time.
• Bangs vs. Botox. This isn't my board, but it is my dilemma.
• I love Erykah and Janelle. 

That's all I got today. More on Mother's Day.
xoa

Wrapping The Week

I know this picture is a fuzzy mess. But for over a dozen years, every spring for about two weeks this glorious tree is in bloom and it is one of my favorites in the world. I pass it to and from work and it always makes me happy. One day, I'm going to park nearby and take a proper picture. It has been kind of a rainy and cold spring and current world events combined with personal disappointments have left us a little overwhelmed. We are really looking forward to a little trip to Chicago next week. And Audrey comes up with new funnies every day. I don't know what we would do without that sunshine.

I think this is such a fantastic and admirable project.

This bothered me forever, so I bought a vintage version of Candyland. I knew I couldn't be the only one.

In love with this, but can't commit.

This pair of cuties are on their way!

Just funny.

RIP George.

Wrapping The Week

Going to Mission Taco Joint with friends tonight and working on the house the rest of the weekend. Supposed to be stupid warm. Soon, Audrey has field trip at Laumeier. Can't wait for that and the rest of summer. Just found out we can walk into Grant's Farm free anytime we want, from a side street in our neighborhood. I knew we were close, but geez. Life is stinking sweet.

Lost and Found

Pink and Blue

Timed Right 

Good Story

Chips

Happy (warm) weekend sweeties!
xoa

Wrapping The Week

Happy Birthday to my sweet Lindsey. Tonight, we grill and have chocolate pie to celebrate. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 75 and thrilled doesn't begin to cut it. 

How To Be A Woman had me laughing crying in bed this week. 

I had seen this but never knew the story behind it.

Book-filled bars

Vacation!

Really cute

Minty summer shoes

Sigh

Perfect spring song.

Happy weekend kittens.
xoa

Wrapping The Week

My clock arrived! Just in time for daylight savings time. It looks marvelous on the fireplace. Going to spend more time unpacking this weekend but it is supposed to get up to 63 degrees on Saturday and I need some sunshine, so we'll see how it goes.

Seriously in love with this house. That dresser!

Sweet birds.

I know winter is almost over, but I'm swooning on this coat.

Little Lamb Freckle Rug!

Big and so fun both via Lori.

Brilliant design.

Loving this song, Blue Ice and this retro trippy video.

Happy Weekend!
xoa

Wrapping The Week

 Eugene Delacoix, The Unmade Bed, 1828

Painting tonight and all day tomorrow. Decided on Lamb (a soft white) for bedroom. A nice addition to Heavy Goose in the living room. An entire menagerie of paint colors. After all these decisions about paint, I want a peaceful respite in our room. Nothing. Still. White. Looking forward to my first nap in the new house...probably sometime in April. Happy Weekend to you.

Always a fan of Sultan's lemons.

Jack Donaghy Insult Generator.

I'd share a drink with anyone at this place.

These green chairs!

Can't explain how much I love this redition of Don't Explain.

Sprinkle cookies I'm making for Valentine's Day.

xoa