Perspectives: Day 1: Summer Goals

First of all, Happy Memorial Day. Please take a minute to stop and remember all the men and women who serve your country who have fallen. Two weeks ago the current war became all to close to home when a friend I've known for years was shot in Afghanistan. The risks of the military have always been familiar since my dad died serving when I was two and my brother has been to numerous war zones multiple times. Whether or not we support the politics behind the reasons why our men and women are called to serve, we should all support the men and women. So take a moment away from the BBQ and remember why we mark this day... it is so much more than a long weekend!

Ok. Enough preaching.

"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." - Nietzsche

There is no right or wrong when it comes to how you go about journaling. As bloggers we all know this to be true, and it is true in how we approach most anything that involves the creative process. After following Robin Marie and Kira on their journey through their Points of Two, I thought it would be interesting to explore multiple perspectives in response to the same directives with some of my art therapy peers. Chelsea, Donica, Jessica, and Taylor all chose to participate with me.

Perspectives is an exploration into the different view points and ways of going about journaling. We are taking advantage of summer break from school, and will posting our response to a weekly directive every Monday from now until mid-August. We will be journaling about the same directives - but I'm sure you will see how different our pages are.

Today, Chelsea, Donica, Jessica, Taylor and I journaled about our summer goals. Please visit their pages also to see their perspective on this directive!

My summer goals are to have some fun and relax. I want to explore on many levels: in my artwork; in preparation for my internship; how I will get teenage gang members interested in art therapy; my environment - local events, photo ops, long drives; new campsites; and of course the continued inner exploration of getting to know me better (Audrey Hepburn's singing just popped in my head... is that My Fair Lady?).

The other big goal is to prioritize all my projects. My house is constantly a wreck because I am always working on so many projects at the same time. It also means, some projects don't get done or they get postponed for very long lengths of time. So I am going to prioritize and try to work on maybe only 2 or so at a time... working on just one at a time will not work with my personality, trust me.

Lemon Souffle

The husband and I were invited to dinner by some lovely friends. I decided to make Lemon Souffle for a dessert to bring along. Would you also like to make it?

- 1/4 cup salted butter

- 4 eggs, separated

- zest of 1 lemon

- 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

- 1 cup of sugar

- 1/4 cup flour

- 1/4 teaspoon salt

- 1 1/4 cups milk

1. Prepare 4 ramekins; set aside. Don't have ramekins, neither did I, use stoneware mugs.

2. In a large bowl, beat together butter, egg yolks, lemon juice and lemon zest.

2. In a small bowl combine sugar, flour and salt.

3. Add flour mixture alternately with the milk to the egg mixture.

4. In a large separate bowl, beat egg whites until firm peaks form.

5. Fold egg whites gently into the lemon mixture.

6. Pour batter into ramekins or mugs
7. Set the ramekins/mugs in a large baking dish. Pour hot water into the baking dish to about halfway up the sides of the ramekins/mugs. This will regulate the temperature so your mugs don't crack when baking!

8. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.

9. Serve warm or chilled. Garnish with berries or a dusting of powdered sugar.

These were so good, but as I was clumsily bumping around in the kitchen, my elbow caught the handle of a mug.

-SPLAT-

all over the floor!

So then I was down to three souffles, which just wouldn't do.

Thankfully I had also been making Smitten Kitchen's Lime Cake again to use up the rest of the yogurt from the last time I made the cake. (Not wasting food is an awesome excuse to continuously make desserts!)

I was out of blackberries. So I just did a powdered sugar dusting. Then for some glam I added candied limes.
- 1 lime

- 1/2 cup sugar

- 1 tablespoon sugar

- 1/2 cup water

1. After slicing lime into thin rounds, blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain.
2. In a pot, add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar. Bring to a simmer and place limes into the mixture. Simmer 10 minutes or so. (I also added some lavender)

3. Spread on a cooling rack and leave for 1 hour or more.

4. Coat both sides of lime slices with remaining sugar.

5. Place on cake. Make pretty :)

In the mail yesterday I even got a lime card
with some Lime tea from a swap-bot friend! (and last night I drank the Mate Chocolatte.... oh my... it is divine!). The timing of this card made me smile!

And the Hubby and I enjoyed the lemon souffles that we didn't share with our friends after one went SPAT (maybe I unconsciously did it on purpose)! haha.

Fashion Friday

Presenting:

Sex

er, I mean...

sex. wait, no.

fashion. that's right. Fashion Friday by Dolce and Gabbana.

A name that is pretty recognizable. Most girls I know would say they love their fashion... but when you really look at their fashion, and past their sexual ads, what exactly is the appeal?

(although that last add she still looks like she is pulling off her clothes in attempt to have the big O).

So D&G are pretty atrocious in terms of fashion design. They sell sex really well. But that is because their clothes can not sell themselves at all. The above gown is one of the art inspired series and is my favorite, but still... really, not all that when it comes to fashion. I think I just like the idea that I can buy an old gown at a thrift store and splash paint all over it, sew on some extra tulle, and voila!

I don't understand wearing other people's faces on my clothes. Even if it is iconic. When I buy band shirts I also get ones of their album cover designs... not of the actual rockers themselves. Its just creepy and weird. I don't want people on my shirts. And I certainly don't want them on my gowns.... maybe if it was more Warhol and a little less photographic... I don't know, maybe.

And what is this? Its like a robe that a little old lady added flowers to.

And the ballooning of the fabric plus the flowers just adds a whole element of yuck.

This one looks like a harlequin clown at a strip club.

And the one below is like a discarded candy wrapper. Poor girl, probably the closest she has been to eating candy in years.

Then there was a whole series on the cat walk that looks like it was inspired by a 1980s version of Cruella De'Ville. Usually I love black and white. But um, this takes my breath away. Not in that romantic lovely sort of way. More like, I have to hold my breath otherwise I might puke sort of way.

And then another whole series inspired my Madonna's underwear. Like the most awful of the awfulness of eighties... faded jeans with lace embellishments. And granny panty underwear as shorts. These aren't even vintage bathing suit inspired... but seriously saggy old granny panties.

Haha. Fashion Friday with G&B. good times, good times.

Tag, you're it!

I was tagged by Common Threads to participate in this little game:

The Number 8

Go the 8th folder in which you store your photos.

Select the 8th photo.

Post it to your blog and tell the story behind it.

In your post tag 8 other bloggers to do the same *

* which is optional, as is playing the game. I enjoy stuff like this, but I hate those damn emails my MIL keeps sending me that tell me I have to forward it to 10 people or I will die a terrible slow death. Well, maybe it doesn't say that exactly, but still... I think they are dumb. So if you think this is dumb, by no means am I compelling you. I will still read your blogs and comment even if you choose not to play along... haha. Anyhow ... this is becoming a bit of a tangent, so back on topic!

Photo #8 from Folder #8:

Last summer we did a lot of camping. Our very first trip we remembered a lot of things and had the biggies down, like tent, food, water, etc. But we forgot a lot of things as well... for example a corkscrew. So the Husband got to work with a wrench.

I included the next picture also because you can tell he is just so proud of himself!

Blogs I tag are:

1) Janet

2) Lee

3) Micaela

4) Marz

5) Chelsea

6) Donica

7) Taylor

8) Jessica

and if I haven't tagged you, but you enjoy this sort of thing... then please play along anyway! I look forward to seeing all your lucky 8 photos!

-Lovely-

This was our day yesterday. I hope yours was as pleasant!

Tranquil Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!

When my mother and her boyfriend visited us for the first week of my summer vacation, we took them to the Denver Aquarium (as far as aquariums go it is just so-so; not really worth the price of entry in my opinion).

There is something so calming about watching sea life. Particularly the jelly fish with their gentle puffing, billowing, and the trailing traces of their tentacles.

I also enjoyed editing the photos to come up with some fun color combinations:

Swap Announcement!

Oooo. So I love swaps! I have recently participated in a few blog ones, as well as my ever-growing addiction to those on Swap-bot.

But trades are even more exciting when hosted by friends! Janet and Lee are co-hosting their first collage exchange! Pretty much the only parameters around the collage is that it needs to be 6x6, on something sturdy, you have to sign up before June 7 so that they can email you back your partner's info the on the 8th, and it has to be shipped out before June 30.

That's it.

So there is lots of free room to wiggle around in and make your creative expression however you so choose.

If you want to play along, please visit Janet or Lee's posts about the swap!

And who knows.. we might just be partners!

Happy Secret!

Give away season

So I can't believe I missed posting about the Sew, Mama, Sew give-aways. The weather has finally warmed up and been beautiful... so I was not on my computer as much.

However, to make up for it. I have two give aways for you if you are so inclined:

Debbie is handing off some Coach handbags... kinda fitting for a fashion friday, don't you think?! So stop on by and let her know if you want the pink one or the bronze.

And Lil' Red Rocket is also hosting a giveaway. You could win a cute collection of vintage do-dads, artsy bottle tops with designs, fabric buttons, and some more gooey goodness! So check it out...

Happy Friday!

Fashion Friday

So Last week I talked about Nicolas Ghesquire, head designer of Balenciaga. I mentioned I would post Balenciaga's other stuff not made by Ghesquire... so I'm trying to keep to my word, something I have a much harder time doing on my blog than in real life.

Isn't she GORGEOUS! I love vintage fashion so much more than what we have today.

But by Monday, posting more Balenciaga just wasn't my priority anymore.

Instead, I thought, wouldn't it be cool to share the fashion (many of which have tutorials) that are popping up on some of my favorite blogs!

I'll start with my special feature (because Janet is my faithful fashion Friday reader... thank you Janet!)

Janet walks you through her process in this post.

Then multiple participants of the Sew, Mama, Sew give-aways (which I unfortunately did not have time to blog about before they ended) are also very crafty fashionistas.

These include:
Mandi, one of multiple creators at Common Threads, posted a tutorial on her re-styled men's shirt.

Jody created this fabulous purse for her Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway... which had 545 people commenting to try and win. -sigh- people should create give aways just for me! haha.

These cute upcycled coffee bags are made by Kris.
Speaking of bags...

check out Andrea's. I particularly love all her bird collages.

And another cute purse re-do:

This tutorial comes from Cheri.

I found that tutorial when Cheri guest blogged on Alisa Burke's page.

Alisa Burke has all sorts of tutorials and funky ideas for your closet. The following are all hers. And they all came with tutorials. The most recent are her sandals. And the rest you can find if you search her label tutorial.

So what do you think? Inspired?

Better than high-fashion fashion designers? I think so...

Happy Friday!