Starry Eyed Charlie

Lyrical Break: Conversation With Regina

2012-02-07T09:23:00.000-08:00

This is how it works
You're young until you're not
You love until you don't
You try until you can't
You laugh until you cry
You cry until you laugh
And everyone must breathe
Until their dying breath

No, this is how it works
You peer inside yourself
You take the things you like
And try to love the things you took
And then you take that love you made
And stick it into some
Someone else's heart
Pumping someone else's blood
And walking arm in arm
You hope it don't get harmed
But even if it does
You'll just do it all again

This ole song is getting the thoughts flowing today.

Make Me Happy Mondays (January 23rd)

2012-01-23T09:58:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I last did a Make Me Happy Monday post. It's not healthy to accumulate potential posts...and I am sure my computer will let out a huge sigh of relief after this.
I really miss doing these so I am going to make a mental note to keep up.

Making Me Happy This Week in January:
1. Remember a few weeks ago when I was complaining about my lack of organization?
Well, I finally broke down, after months of scrutiny, and bought an Erin Condren Life Planner...because my life apparently needs planning.

I am really enjoying this thing called "scheduling." Things actually get done on time!

And, it's super cute, in a non-cheesy way.

Take it from someone who hasn't had a planner since tearing up a Day Runner in a Taco Bell parking lot in 1998.

2. Charlotte Gainsbourg

Source

I can't explain the simple elegance Charlotte Gainsbourg conveys in the movie Melancholia (if you haven't seen this, you should!). She's not traditionally attractive, but somehow manages to outshine the lovely Kiki Dunst.

3. The eerie photography of Sarah Ann Loreth

Case in point:

4. Movies that take you to beautiful far away places

Out Of Africa (Meryl fights a lion in this movie...she is so incredibly bad ass)

Source

The Painted Veil (which should be renamed How Edward Norton Can Make Even Cholera Look Sexy)

Souce

5. Hot air balloons on a Las Vegas morning

6. Being ok with not taking down my Christmas tree (just yet)

Because this was my first real tree...and Alex surprised me with it in the middle of the night :)

7. An almost fully trained Sir Frank N Beans

Although Alex caught him chewing on a shoe a few minutes ago.

8. Going to the Conde Nast party with my buddy Kellz and Cousin Larry Hernandez

9. Bean Stew With Biscuits from Oh Dear Drea

This looks absolutely perfect for cold weather days.

10. Redecorating my house

Ok, I know I am possibly moving to Austin in the next year...but I can't wait that long to feel more comfortable in a home. Does that make sense?

I've been enjoying Deborah Needleman's Perfectly Imperfect Home and taking notes.

With a little bit of money in my pocket, and thrifting buddy, Torres, I've scored $60 worth of new merchandise that Alex will immediately want to store in a closet.

Your eyes are not deceiving you, that is in fact a portrait of a Bengal tiger.

Lastly, I bought this chevron print rug from Urban Outfitters.

After seeing this picture, I realize that I need new pillows.

But I'll save those for another post.

Have A Happy Monday

The Story About The TED Speech And The Way It Changed Our Lives

2012-01-13T23:22:00.000-08:00

This is a story about happenstance and how it does not exist.

Source

*Disclaimer: I realize that I have talked about my kids for three posts in a row. Do not fret. This still is not a mommy blog*

I have a 7 year old son that is pretty gifted in computer skills. He can repair computers, hack passwords and disable/enable devices that grown people (I) cannot.

I don't know how this happened, but it is terrifying to me.
Sometimes I feel so ill-equipped to be a mom. Having to be responsible for guiding a potential computer wizard feels like a big cosmic joke at times.

The day this TED speech came out, I watched it 6 times, in an effort at discovering some kind of rough roadmap to parenting.

This kid was so inspiring.

All of a sudden I was crazily looking up local java script and html coding classes for kids.

My Little Man and I watched this speech together a few times.
Since then, we've begun storyboarding app ideas. For days he added a new idea (only after he has a dream about it) to his existing app. He drew it out on a big white piece of paper and tacked it to his wall.

So I guess you could say, Thomas Suarez changed the way we viewed our daily lives.

Here's where the story gets good:
the Consumer Electronics Show was here in Las Vegas last week.
All the key players in technology were here, Apple, Sony, Photojojo, Canon.
A few days ago, a regular came in to our restaurant and asked my husband, Alex, to do a live chat with someone at the convention Skype booth.
Can you believe that Alex got paired up with none other than
Thomas Suarez?
During the chat, Alex told Thomas about our son and what a big fan he was.
Thomas was really excited to hear about him.

Alex invited him to the restaurant that evening, knowing that our son would be there to greet the patrons.
When we told our little guy, he was so excited, he changed his pocket protector 3 times (I jest!).

The time came and went and Thomas Suarez did not show.
I picked my son up that night from the restaurant and heard him quietly weep the whole ride back.
He even cried himself to sleep.
In the morning, I tried to give him the best pep talk I had in me. I told him that the Universe had a way of shuffling out exactly what we need. That the people who trust...the people that let go and believe, are the ones that get the best rides in life.
He smiled and ate his Honey Nut Cheerios.
Today at work, Alex got a phone call from Thomas' people. They said that he was very disappointed he couldn't make it to the restaurant. Apparently, they had to catch a flight out of Vegas the same evening.
His handlers explained to Alex that Thomas did not want to attract too much attention (he turned down the Ellen Degeneres show while in Las Vegas), but that he would like very much to be our Little Man's friend because they share a love for technology. So with the promise we would never share his information,
he gave us his personal email/Facetime info...
and now
my wonderful son
has direct access to his mentor.

These things,
they go on and on and on
in our lives
all of the time
to every one of us.
It's funny how these tiny moments sometimes seem insignificant.
When we do take the time to notice,
we realize that all of our childhood notions of magic, all the stories we read, or dreams we had,
were based on
real life.

We are all connected to each other
and to our greatest dreams.

Reaching For The Stars,
C

Roily Photos Of The Bubble Kind

2012-01-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

I have a problem with chronology, I've decided.
Is there a Chronological Anonymous group here in Las Vegas?
Because I'm beginning to think that things exist in circular motions instead of linear time.
Where did the holidays go?

Christmas at Grandma's house with my favorite people

Our family elf

Skype love with family in Austin (can you see all of us crowded into that little screen at the bottom?)

Emily on Christmas night

Alex, dinner bound on 42nd Street and Broadway

Late night walk to see the tree at Rockefeller Center

Christmas day ice skating

Radio City Music Hall the night before we went to see the Rockettes show

Cabs in New York won't even stop for Santa on Christmas

Running the halls of the hotel with Alex, Carlos and Em while our parents took care of the kids.

On the last day, the kids wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. The only place to park was (illegally) at the Department of Homeland Security. It's a miracle we weren't deported.

Now we're back in Las Vegas and in the swing of things... (peekaboo from my little man who finally asked to be on the blog).
For 2012 I will:
1. Organize our possible move to Austin down to the last detail. Plan a garden with herbs and vegetables.
2. Take a cooking class (perhaps at Central Market?)
3. Get rid of all the crap we don't use. Repurpose.
4. More art, everywhere and all the time. Art will preserve me.
5. Blog more, journal more, read more.
6. Leave a smaller carbon footprint.
7. Oh, and this is a DOOZIE:
write more letters, send care packages, remember birthdays and anniversaries. I'm the absolute worst at this, but 2012 will be the year I master it. My good friend Ibuna is always on top of her game...I wish I could be more like her!
Does anyone have good recommendations on how to remember dates?

Alright, now that I've caught you up,
I can resume to our regular circular sweeping/unchronological manner of communicating.
It makes it all a rather timeless bubble...and in it, you and I have been swimming around in it for decades it seems.
So thanks for reading, following, commenting
and your friendship.

Bubble Friends Fo Life Yo,
C

Popping One Out

2012-01-08T22:01:00.000-08:00

I always tell my friends who wonder whether or not they are ready to have kids
not to have kids yet.
Babies are adorable, especially if they are your own.

The truth is they change your life in an unrecognizable way.
They make you worry, poop all the time, get sick with terrifying fevers and wake up at ungodly hours.
You can kiss your plans for Burning Man goodbye until you are in your creepy 50s.

But tonight was the perfect example of why I am so glad to be a mom at this moment in my life; that all the relentless, overindulgent martyrdom
is worth today's self-deprication.

We watched Annie. As in Little Orpah.
I hadn't seen it since I was a little girl so it was almost like experiencing it for the first time, despite the fact that I saw it 487 times when I was a kid and knew all the songs by heart.

We all loved it, and Captain No bawled her eyes out, just like I did when I was a little girl.
Little man and I decided that Captain looks almost exactly like this girl (with the perfect amount of spunk):

This movie meant so much to them since we recently got a chance to meet (and snuggle) with none other than THE Miss Bernadette Peters on Christmas day as she was walking out of her show on Broadway and 42nd Street (sighhhhhh).
They also loved seeing New York "in olden times," as my little man kept saying because we had just been to the Rockettes show at Radio City Music Hall, the tree in Rockefeller Center and the Statue of Liberty on Christmas day.
It's moments like this that I feel honored to know these people.
They teach me so much and most of all, remind me of what life is really all about...
child-like wonder and
the undying belief

in magic.

<3 C

Giving My Propers, Getting My Propers

2011-12-29T21:08:00.000-08:00

This month, I had the honor of being put on Vegas magazine's "It List."

This is honestly such an exciting thing for me because I have been secretly imagining my name on this list for a few years now.

I wonder if they have any idea I am an uber-dork. Hmmm....we'll just keep that between us, ok?

Be back in 2 days.

I hope you have the best New Year. I hope you drink too much champagne, and hug someone you love at midnight...

most importantly, I wish you a healthy and prosperous 2012.

Love,

2012 to Infinity Me

Laser Kitty Cyber Stakes

2011-12-12T21:57:00.000-08:00

Hey There
Brain Matter
Your such a magnificent being.
Did you know that the earth is the perfect distance from the sun to not make you a raisin or an ice cube?
That the veins in your body contain the perfect amount of blood to not make your heart explode?
That you know the right amount of Ibuprofen to take
because scientists worried enough about your well being over
years
and time
and space
to cure
your headache, tooth ache, body ache?
Sentient being, that knows right from wrong.
Hey you,
asteroids travel all around you in space but they don't hit you (just look at the craters on the moon).
Stars are colliding, creating new matter, dark matter.
Black holes.
But not where you exist. No.

Did you know the Beatles said that the love you take is equal to the love you make?
And it's true!
The love in your life is equal to the hate.
Oxygen levels perfect to your lungs. Carbon dioxide to the food you eat.
Hey
YOU are no coincidence.
Your existence is something.
So what are you doing sitting there reading this?
Go out and make your dreams come true.
Love,

Me and Laser Kitty

The Nicest Bloggers On The Interblock

2011-12-09T22:30:00.000-08:00

Ever go to a blog and read the "favorite blogs" list and think to yourself "Hey, no fair. Those are their buddies/sponsors."

It's true. We all want to be recognized as "favorites" in our own rite to others that have done well in the blogosphere.

After thinking about this long and hard, I've decided that it's a difficult task to scour the Internet for great blogs that no one has ever heard of. For bloggers, it's something we (and by we, I mean I) want done for us.

I am going to share some bloggers that have become friends...who genuinely deserve recognition for being approachable, kind and seriously talented. For realz yo.
And I'm sure you already know them...but that's ok.
They deserve their propers.

*There are several others that I want to recognize on in the future*

Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno

You know these girls.

They're funny.

They have great style...and they always take the time to respond to their readers.

I was a sponsor for them six months back and they still mention me.

Think I might sponsor them again.

Oh, and I genuinely like them, so that makes business easy:)

Kaelah Bee from Honey Bee In The City

She takes the time to read other blogs and doesn't get involved in the politics of the blogosphere, despite the fact that she's been around for a while.
I love her honesty, and her ability to see the positive in almost any situation. Check out her blog feature, Honest Blog. It makes my heart swell up every time.
Stephanie from Behold The Pageantry

This girl loves her anonymity. She has written several successful blogs over the past few years and is now coming out with Pageantry, where she focuses on mostly left handed comics and borderline avant garde comedy videos.

Write her a comment and she will write you back.

Like. Always.

Danielle from Dinosaur Toes

This girl is hilarious and kind in everything she does. She loves animals, donuts and fart jokes.

But, I had you at fart jokes.

Eli from Thrift Eye

What can I say, Eli is my style icon. She is beautiful, and a bit of a serious smarty-pants. She's also smart about pants. And skirts. And dresses.

She cares about her readers and makes fashion writing truly approachable.

Get to know these ladies on Twitter:

Kelly at Iheartbueno (Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno)

Brandi at BrandiLisenbe (Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno)

Kaelah at KaelahBeauregarde (Honey Bee In The City)

Danielle at Danielle Tanner (Dinosaur Toes)

Eli at Thrift Eye

I hope you have a great weekend.

Love,

CityWidePollyannaBrightEyed

2011-12-08T09:55:00.000-08:00

New York in the winter is so different from how I remember it...
and I was already in a damp mood upon arrival,
having realized that my "fashionable" Las Vegas vintage store wears
were already
5 years passe
(a little voice in my head kept saying, 'five years passe is so TODAY, Charlie!').
Sitting on the subway,
I make unavoidable eye contact with strangers, and force a small smile. They quickly look away.
Deep breath...collect yourself and blend in. Don't you know you're not supposed to make eye contact on the subway Charlie?
Pollyanna has left the building.

Source

In New York, it's easier to be how I feel lately.
Numb Pollyanna.
Dumb Pollyanna.
*Allow me to get really creepy here, in the name of artistic expression and refer to myself in the third person*
Numb Pollyanna stands in front of the Time Life building feeling nothing.
No fear, no excitement or anticipation.

She had two security guards rummage through her belongings, walked through a metal detector and a ring of fire to get to phase two Super Mario Meeting With Editors.

Next, she is led to the waiting area where they take her ID, and call to confirm she is not a crazy stalker.

Which she kind of is...as are all the other stalkers sitting in the waiting room.

But now she is a stalker with a badge.

She is sent to another security guard stand located near the elevators, who asks to see her security stamp and badge. He motions with his head to go ahead.

There are four sets of elevators to choose from, which confuses Polly every time. She considers asking the grouchy security guard what to do but he is already grouchily assisting another visitor.

She decides to figure it out herself

and quickly picks elevator 2, which takes you from floor 27 to floor 54.

In the elevator, Polly fidgets with her Spanx, which are rolling in an unexpected way.

During the fidget,

she drops her two cases of neatly pinned jewelry on the elevator floor. When she goes to reach for them, her purse drops off her shoulder and press kits fall out (these particular press kits intentionally have the press taken out of them because it is a big no no to take other magazine coverage to editors...this I learned the hard way a few years ago).

"Ack!!!! Pull yourself together, you Dodo!" She screams in the empty elevator, cheeks flushed.

Just as the elevator door opens, now fully composed, she whispers a mantra and arms herself with nerves of steel super power.

One coiffed and manicured lady stands waiting outside.

Pollyanna follows her to her office and quickly looks at the walls for hints of "stories" the editor might be working on. Anything to put this meeting on the right track. Scared that the coiffed lady would catch her plotting, she decides to make immediate direct eye contact.

"We're working on March right now. April will begin in a few weeks," the pretty lady explains as she flips through her bio and linesheets.

Now Not-So-Numb Polly reaches to open the case of gems (but what if she doesn't like them? what if she hates them?).

One Mississippi.

Two Mississippi.

Before opening the first case completely, the lady reaches across to flip it open for her, unpins one of the earrings and holds it up to her ear. "I just love these!"

Then a few minutes later, "I love all of these. We'll use them. Send me high-res files ASAP.

Oh, and anything you make in the future, email it directly to me. We'll always have room for this in our magazine. If not, we'll make room." She jumps to her feet, stretches out her hand, bracelet jingling and gives her a broad smile.

Wait.

What just happened?

The meeting took all of 15 minutes and Polly was out the door with the promise of more than one feature in the magazine!

Sitting on the lobby floor, shuffling through papers and text messages,

trying to figure out what train to get on,

I realized that I was feeling like plain old Pollyanna again. Bright eyed and looking for the good in people.

I guess I needed someone to show me kindness too.

Stepping out of the building, I felt vibrant and full of possibility.

The city seemed so much brighter.

My future was back...

plain ole Polly

with a husband,

two kids,

and two dogs

got the job DONE!

Haha

And on the subway ride home,

I smiled at everyone who looked my way

without turning away:)

Polly Got A Cracker,

C

P.S. There is more to share, including a project my friend Stephanie started. She was kind enough to let me be a small part of it.
I can't wait to share it with you.

Working From The Inside Out

2011-11-30T10:25:00.000-08:00

I feel like it's been forever since I've written.
The last few weeks I've been focusing on preparing for my trip to New York and getting my Spring Collection where I want it.
I can't wait to show you all of the final pieces.
I'm proud to say that it is finally complete.
Here is a peek at one of the pieces:

Aside from the new collection, I've been working on my spiritual side.

Introspective work, for me, is quiet...but very rewarding in an unexpected way. Many unanswered questions get resolved.

Slowly, you discover your strongest attributes, and the weaknesses that should be worked on.

This is an excerpt I read today. It's the story of a man who renounces his wife and home to go on a spiritual quest.

For some reason, it answered a question I've been pondering for weeks.

That night the man thought he saw a ghost on the other side of the road, because such fears still existed in his mind. He had renounced his home, but he had not worked with his fears. He did not have any real knowledge or wisdom. He turned around and began walking back to his home, but then he thought, 'I have already renounced my family. What shall I tell my wife and children?'

A man's ego is very strong, so he thought, 'What shall I say to my wife? I have renounced.' So once again he turned toward the Himalayas, but once again he encountered the ghost. Again and again he went back and forth, hoping that eventually, perhaps, the ghost would be gone, but the ghost was always there so he could not pass it. Soon it was four o'clock in the morning. It was still dark, and the ghost was still there. Then he saw a snake on the road behind him, barring his path toward home.

Just then a wise man, who was also traveling on the path, came along and said, 'Son, what's the problem?'

The man said, 'Sir, I am a renunciate.'

The wise man said, 'I see that you have renounced, but I don't think that you have practiced or learned anything! What really the problem?'

The man replied, 'There's a snake on the road behind me, and in front of me there is a ghost.'

So the wise man told him to come with him and gave him courage. When they reached the snake the sage told him to kick it, and suddenly the man realized that the snake was only a piece of rope. That illusion had taken place because the man had the habit of percieving things merely through his senses. But the senses never tell you about things as they are; they will only give you partial knowledge. When he kicked at the piece of rope and knew it was only a piece of rope, he felt foolish. How foolish we are when we use only one avenue of knowledge-the senses-and rely on it totally, and suffer because of it our whole life. There are other avenues to knowledge that we should learn to use.

Then the man said to the sage, 'Okay, sir, you helped me with this problem, but how about that problem?' He pointed to the ghost. The wise man told him to follow along, and when they got there, the wise man said, 'That is an electric post which looks like a ghost.'

Mere renunciation will not make you a sage, especially if your mind remains confused and clouded. Do not forget this: leaving home does not make you enlightened; escaping from the world does not enlighten you either. So be wherever you are, and enlighten yourself there. You don't have to run away and go here and there. You only have to know the simplest method of working with yourself, working with all the avenues of knowledge. All that you need for perfection and enlightenment is already within you. But you have these three problmes: a clouded mind, the limitations of your senses, and the changing nature or the external world. So how can you know things as they are? How can you end this confusion and stop these internal debates when the sense and mind themselves cannot record things accurately?

Unrelated ideas, subjects, and thoughts go on in your mind constantly. You fantasize about reality, and that creates conflict for you. And if you constantly deceive yourself, the day will come when you will no longer have confidence in yourself within. Then you will need someone else's advice all the time, even to confirm small things, such as whether there is a piece of bread in your hand. You will lose all your confidence because you are deceiving yourself, and this distorts your mind. You know that what you are saying is not true even though you are trying to say something that is true. And that process disturbs the clarity of your mind.

-The Art of Joyful Living

Swami Rama

Love,

The 1-2-3s Of Schizophrenic Decorating

2011-11-15T00:04:00.000-08:00

Sometimes Pinterest makes me think I've completely lost my gourd.
I love everything.

Yes, I even want the disco ball over my bathtub.

I don't know what else to add here except that I've figured out that my house is a complete shit hole that needs a matriarch with more evolved decorating sensibilities.

Just needed to share that.

Straightjacket Love,

That's What's Happening In New York

2011-11-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

In about three weeks,
the Spring 2012 Lola and George collection will be completed, photographed, edited, put into crisp new line sheets and packaged in a velvet box to be presented in New York.
The "big, scary rooms" with pretty magazine editors are waiting for me.
This year, I am going to share as much as I can with you guys.
Hopefully, I will not lock up in front of the Time Warner building with my head between my knees trying to breathe.
Thank God for my friend Steph who pointed to a man picking up trash on the sidewalk. "See that guy? He's doing his job. Just cleaning the sidewalk. Just doing his job.
That's you.
Go do your job."
She patted me on the back and ran back to her cab, smiled, and waved goodbye.
And off I went, to do my job.

Now, a little over a year later, I'm remembering this day and grateful to have had a friend like her by my side.
Then I'm taken over with excitement to see her again, to drink champagne out of the bottle in an alley and make art.

We are shooting the Lola and George lookbook video during those days too! I hope to post that process.

Also, I will finally get to meet Gale from Wichser Studio and Maria from Little Tree Vintage.
Very excited to hang out with these girls.

I hope you are having a great Sunday.

Love,
C

Business In The Front, Party In The Back

2011-11-10T14:25:00.000-08:00

It is a fine service indeed to wear the badge of awesomeness that is the mullet.
Similar to taking a bullet in the face,
those that were courageous enough to brave this hairdo sacrificed for the gift of comedy.
Wait.
Pray tell, did not the super hot Ludwig Van Beethoven sporteth said mullet?
Why, yes, he doth did.

No matter what kind of a bad mood I'm in, viewing pictures of mullets (along with googling images of "weird people with guns") always makes me feel better.

Here are some favorites

Source

In case you are beginning to think that I am laughing at these people, I'd like to state for the record that

I too bore this badge of courage.

In fact, I bore two.

*you can't get a full shot of this mullet, but I assure you, it is there and it was Carrot Top orange*

*on my Grandma's birthday a few years back*

By the way, I redid some of my blog features so feel free to click around and tell me what you think!

The "About" page was fun to write this time around, I don't know why.

Hope your Thursday is a little sunnier than mine.

Love and Mullets,

P.S. Would you like me to share more about Lola and George here? I have a few big meetings in the next few weeks but I'm always so reluctant to share them.

Reminder

2011-11-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

After someone dies, as years go by, it's hard to remember what their voice sounded like, what lessons they tried to teach you.

Every now and then I hear a whisper in my ear that helps me along...and it always comes at a much needed hour.

Measuring Cups

2011-11-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

For your creative inner child:

get out your measuring cups
and we'll play a new game
to the front of the class and we'll measure your brain
give you a complex and we'll give it a name
get out your measuring sticks and we'll play a new game
can't have the cream when the crop and the cream are the same
liquid or gas no more than the glass will contain
so you talk about a hand of glory
a tale that's rather grim and gory
is it just another children's story
that's been de-clawed?
when the tales of brothers Grimm and Gorey
have been outlawed
I think we're gonna make you start over you don't want to start over
put your backpack on your shoulder be the good little soldier
take your places now
cause we're all predisposed
measuring cups play a new game
front of the class measure your brain
give you a complex give it a name
put your backpack on your shoulder
be the good little soldier
it's no different when you're older
you're predisposed
that's all for questions now
the case is closed!

P.S. You have to read Danielle's blog post. I know you'll appreciate it.

A Quiet Place

2011-11-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

A few days back, I was walking to my car
when I noticed the most spectacular sky.

This wide, Western sky has been staring at me for the last eight years, since I moved to Las Vegas.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd taken the time to notice it...

I realize now that I've been reacting to life. Managing.
I think we all get into a mode where all we do is manage the possible catastrophies around us.

Living in the present takes concentration, a practice
I've been too lazy to work on.

I decided to do what my favorite yogi once advised me to do: give something up so that the Universe may replace it with something better.

. . .

I gave up facebook.

Let me tell you this:
IT WAS HARDER THAN IT SEEMS,
but it had to be done.

Day one was the worst, but since then, I've actually been filled with a sense of pride not participating.
(Although, it is quite handy for wishing people happy birthday and networking).

Right now I guess I'm looking for a quiet place,
a place
to figure things out.
I want to find something.

And I think I've been looking for it in all the wrong places.

Don't worry...
I'm not going to flip out on you
and join the Hare Krishnas.

Just looking to notice more stunning sunsets:)

I've decided, after thinking about it for a while, to keep writing this blog.
I'm just not going to write myself into a genre ever again.
So it's about to get real weird around herrrre.

Stay Tuned...

C

Workspacing

2011-10-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for a good jewelry day for weeks now.

The winds were favorable yesterday so I began with a good Pandora playlist (Sun Kil Moon/Andrew Bird) to get in the zone. Then I organized my workspace for maximum productivity.

Chains get balled up. Stones get laid out.

Tools get thrown together in a corner.

I have lots of symbolic pieces: Colorful brooches, pendants and vintage pieces.

These pieces remind me that I can do whatever I want with my jewelry. I am free to deconstruct vintages pieces, add vibrant color or redefine a traditional hoop earring.

You can see some old "rejected" Lola and George rings in the middle.

They are awaiting their destruction and reconstruction...

Of course I need to keep the symbolic stars ( Swarovski crystal) handy for sprinkling.

Gold and silver spools, gold scraps in a bowl, glue, an anvil and a vice.

System overload! Too much jewelry goodness happening here.

Sometimes I smoosh my pieces with an anvil. How very Wile E. Coyote.

Filing off edges/my fingerprints.

*Please don't judge my hands.

Nail polish doesn't last on me. I smash, cut and glue my hands at least twice a week...and I live in the dessert so they are a wee bit drrry.*

Success! One piece finished to my satisfaction.

And it came right out of the reject pile too.

I'm curious to know, how do you prefer your work space?

There's nothing more fun to me than catching a glimpse of an artist at work.

If you have any links of your own or that you love, please add them to the comments.

Love and Thanks,

Fool's Gold (Make Me Happy Mondays)

2011-10-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

This past week has been so full of happy nuggets, I have started carrying a moleskin just to keep track of them.

Maybe I should start spreading these items out over the course of a few Mondays...
and then I remember that one of the main reasons I blog is to chronicle my current inspiration, and hopefully inspire people too.
(In an interesting twist, I carry a moleskin to keep track of inspiration for a blog that helps me keep track of inspiration.
Hmmm...)

1. Harold and Maude:

Source

This movie is one of my top five favorites.

It's magical, funny, dark, sweet, adventurous and most of all, beautiful.

It's always reminds me to savor every moment

and picks me up when I'm feeling blue.

2. My dog Frank And Beans

Last week, Frank N Beans was at the top of the Make Me Unhappy list as he decided to chew all of my lawn furniture cushions and crap on my dining room rug.

This week, Frank has been on his best behavior.

Why, you might ask, would this be inspiration to you?

Well...

if any of you have naughty, chewing, little pissers in your life (or are considering adding one), I hope you know that you are not alone

and that it's ok to love them, despite their unmitigated thirst for destruction.

At least that's what I keep telling myself.

3. This facebook post my friend Sasha shared

4. George Harrison

Source

When I was five years old, I used to kiss my mom's George Harrison album so much she actually had to start storing it out of my reach.

To me, he was the most handsome and talented Beatle; spiritual and flawed.

If you want to learn more about him, I highly recommend Martin Scorsese's documentary, George Harrison: Living In The Material World.

*I just clicked on Kelly's blog and saw she had written about George too! Apparently we are now officially, Quantum Physically speaking, in a state of entanglement.

5. Saturn Humor

6. I don't really like pop music that much, but like every red-blooded American, I love me a good Nicki Minaj song/music video.

Who can deny her, really?

I didn't think it was possible to love her any more than I already did until my friend emailed me this video.

*Disclaimer- this will make you burst into tears*

**and by you, I meant me**

If this link isn't showing up for you, it is worth it to click here.
7. Moldavite and Peruvian Fool's Gold

I am going to smash this piece of Pyrite to smithereens tomorrow and make some jewelry with it.

On a related note, a few nights ago my friend Kelly (yes, my entangled sister) gave me a piece of Moldavite which she bought at a reputable mineral store here in Vegas.

When I touched it, I felt an immediate tingling in my hand. I'd never felt anything like that from touching a rock, so I looked at her terrified. She said "did you feel something?" excitedly.

"It tingles! What is this?" I screamed thinking that it had a very strange almost electromagnetic energy I'd never felt before.

"It's Moldavite. It's the product of a meteor collision with the Earth over 14 million years ago that crashed near the Czech Republic. This is the mineral that came from the meteorite."

After reading about it for a few days, researching the source, and trying to get some type of scientific backing, I decided to buy a few pieces...because at the very least this mineral is now overmined and in high demand.

If you get a hold of Moldavite, buy as much of it as you can. It's price per gram has been steadily going up $1 a week.

8. This store window in Austin, Texas.

We might actually move back there in the next year or two.

9. Rimmel's Lash Accelerator

Source

I will never buy another department store mascara thanks to Rimmel.

10. Nature inspired art by Laura Bifano

Source

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

What are the things making you happy these days?

Not Having A Case Of The Mondays,

A Blurry Wine-Soaked Lola and George Photo Shoot

2011-10-13T00:34:00.000-07:00

Last night my
good friends Daria and Kelly came over...
and finally met for the first time
under a very natural circumstance.

How weird is it that I feel shy about introducing my favorite people to each other?
I wait years and years sometimes,
hoping for the perfect situation...
and sit back
with an observant mystic glee
while two people I care about become fans
of
each other.
Such perfection.

Daria shot Kelly while I ran around trying to think of things to do to help...
but it was already all on autopilot (thanks to Daria a.k.a. The Keeper of the Light).

We haven't gotten around to editing the final images yet, so here are some of my favorite blurry pre-shoot photos (you know I'm a sucker for a blurry photo).

Tonight I am thanking God, the Universe, Buddha and the Force (just to cover all my bases) for making me so lucky to endeavour such wonderful friends.

You Included,
C

The Importance Of Being Centered

2011-10-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Today I was thinking about the importance of being centered.

(this is my meditation spot)

I've always been a believer in allowing things to unfold naturally. Sometimes I find myself falling down a rabbit hole so deep, I can't remember what ever got me there in the first place.

I hope that didn't sound like a complaint.
I've always been a fan of rabbit holing, as a sport.

But my current reality doesn't allow a lot of dreaming time.

See, my family needs me more than ever. They need all of my concentrated energy.
My husband needs help with our growing business, which is expanding to Austin and DC in the coming year.

Someone needs to keep the plates spinning...

(this is me doing "administrative work" at our restaurant)

But what I don't tell a lot of people, and I'm sure there are many of you like me out there, is this:
doing the right thing for the people you love
is not always the easiest.

Sometimes you have to put your plans on hold.

Sometimes those plans dissipate into nothing...
leaving you with a feeling of emptiness.

Somedays you don't want to make the bed on your way out the door
or put away laundry

Perhaps that day you just want to blog it out
or paint
or see a friend that lifts your spirits
and reminds you of
your purpose in
this world.

And that's why today, I'm thinking about the importance of staying centered.

Because
every day
for the rest of our lives
we should all fight the good fight.

We should fight to remember

ourselves.

Even in the midst of Hurricane Shitstorm.

And that's the end of that:)

<3 <3 and Om,

A Lunatic

2011-10-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

Tonight's the full moon!
So if you guys are feeling particularly sensitive, grouchy,
or generally irritable,
just blame it on this mefo:

source

If you're reading this after the fact,

congratulations.

You've come through unscathed.

Me...

I'm laying extra low tonight.

Maybe I'll pretend to have power over my inner moon child and have a dance in the face of lunar superstition in the hope that

tomorrow...

will be a better day.

(from my bedroom)

Love,
C

Why Fresno Doesn't Suck (Make Me Happy Mondays)

2011-10-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Confession

I've been absent lately,
in every sense of the word.

Sometime about a month ago, I realized that reality and blog were existing in parallel Universes that don't converge.

This was unintentional.

I've had a lot of life-changes in the last month. Big ones.
The kind that make you want to reconsider everything you know.
The kind that make you wonder if loving stars and fart jokes are sensible for grown women.

If it weren't for good skin care, friends, and Alex I wouldn't have gotten past this unscathed.

One night, while feeling particularly low, Alex delivered the Hail-Mary-Game-Saver.
He cradled my face in his hands and whispered, "You are the brightest star in my sky, Carla. You're so beautiful and it's undeniable."
I'd blubber, "I'm not beautiful! I'm not magical at all. Everything I ever thought is a lie."
(Throw your hands in the air! Overindulgent self-pity party like you just don't care).
"Not everything. I'm still the same. You've got me and the kids. Your friends still love you.
Your light's just dim right now. But you'll shine bright again. I promise."

At that moment I realized how lucky I was.
Then I felt something flicker inside me again.

In the end, all we really need is one
person, whether it be a parent, husband or friend,
to inspire us to be better and stronger people.
And so here I am, back again. Internal Luminosity 3.846×10²⁶^.Thanks for sticking with me through my suckiness.

Apropos,
here are the things making me happy this week:

1. Three Words- 70s. Lite. Rock.
Hipster's take note: you do not fully understand the power of music until you've listened to Todd Rundgren.
Or ELO.

My pal Sarah from Sadie Designs shares this love with me, and you can see it in her fantastic FANTASTIC playlists. So here are your propers Sarah:)

2. These Girls From Clothes Encounters Have The BEST Style.

3. The Expanding Light Echo Of Red Supergiant Star V838 Monocerotis

source

4. Brandi's Coconut Cake Recipe
Droolio...

5. Super Best Friends

6. Making Hopi-Inspired Turquoise Jewelry

7. Thrift Stores And Rummage Sales In Fresno, California.

Yes, I said Fresno.

This particular rummage sale was in an old Nabisco factory.

I bought two window panes for $8!

It was so inexpensive, I was trying to justify a U-Haul rental to trek my treasures back to Las Vegas.

If I ever get really stinking rich,

I will own a 10,000 square foot ranch full of my Nabisco factory gems, which may or may not include a full size carousel horse.

Ahhh, one could dream.

She's back!

Remembering That

2011-09-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

Today. Now.

2011-09-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

I read this excerpt from a book Cal recommended called The Elegance Of The Hedgehog.
This particular observation is from the perspective of a 12 year old girl:

"We mustn't forget that our bodies decline. Friends die. Everyone forgets about us. And the end is solitude.
Nor must we forget that old people were young once.
That a life span is pathetically short.
That one day you are 20, the next you are 80.
Just by observing the adults around me, I understood that life goes by
in no time at all.
Yet they're always in such a hurry. So stressed out by deadlines. So eager for now that they needn't think about tomorrow.
But if you dread tomorrow, it's because you don't know how to build the present. And when you don't know how to build the present, you tell yourself you can deal with it tomorrow. And it's a lost cause anyway because tomorrow always ends up becoming today.
Don't you see?
So, we mustn't forget any of this.
We have to live with the certainty that we'll get old and that it won't look nice or be good or feel happy.
And tell ourselves that it's now that matters. To build something now, at any price, using all our strength.
Always remember that there's a retirement home waiting somewhere.
So we have to surpass ourselves every day.
Make every day undying.
Climb our own personal Everest.
And do it in such a way that in every step is a little bit of eternity.
That's what the future is for.
To build the present,
with real plans made by living people."

And with that, I bid you adieu.

Love, Love, Love

C

The Amazing Coincidence of Experiencing Celestial Events

2011-09-16T00:32:00.000-07:00

At the risk of reading skewed,

as if in a dream...

Years ago, I imagined a catastrophic meteor, similar to a child's nightmare,
falling out of the sky

Sounds of panic streaking
No breath

so
here

I am driving down the highway
by myself
at 7:30 p.m. on a Wednesday

As if intentionally so, I witness this moment:

I see it in the sky and begin to count
1 Mississippi
2 Mississippi
3 Mississippi
4 Mississippi?

This is not a fireball, by definition standards

The moment reminded me of recent observations and ontological questions I've had about
perception

It seems that if you pay attention

you kind of

know things before
you
know them

Only sometimes with a different variable/perception

Usually when these existential questions arise
I check one of the last
reliable media sources
out there

(Yeah. I meant
NASA)

Looking at the stars always reminds me of our truth and significance.
Does anyone else feel that way?

After reading this article, I realized I'd witnessed a nickel and aluminum heavy meteorite the size of a basketball burning into our atmosphere. To my perception, it had looked like a missile headed for the Las Vegas strip.

So
Don't rely on perception. Trust your intuition.
What you do
what you believe in

it's grounding to your existence....
it's the possibility collapsing on the definite,
what we
call
perception,
that brings reality

My message for you, in a non-anthropologic, round-about way is this:

be fluid in your being

and
stars

they will fall
out
of
the
sky
for
you.

Promises.
Promises <3

C

P.S. and this can happen to you all of the time:)

Leotards (And Stuff)

2011-09-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Want to wear a unitard
from
American Apparel
in Silver
and do interpretive
dances
while singing a really
good song?

Yeah.
Me too.

But someone already beat us to it.

Make Me Happy Mondays

2011-09-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

Let's pretend today is yesterday
and that yesterday wasn't a holiday,
and that today doesn't feel like a blah blah Monday/Tuesday side order of mashed potatoes.
Ok?

Here are the things that made me happy today-
1. This colorful masking tape DIY

2. Midnight In Paris

I have to use invisible straight-jacket-like restraint when describing this movie because there is a big secret involved...

If you have not seen it, you MUST see it before it goes into the void between silver screen and DVD.

Woody Allen (I love his work, talked about him in the past, ahem! reeling it in now), is an absolute genius at creating ironic movies that make your heart flutter.

I swear, I almost exploded...I kept poking Alex in the arm in the theatre to tell him, "I love this movie. I never want it to end."

The sounds were delightful, the shots were carefully thought out, the dialogue was full of quip and insight.

It's a sensory experience.

3. For fall, I love the layered look of 20s fashion.

Source

3. This fluttery asymmetrical skirt in blush:

4. If you crack my head open, you would find this Crowley vintage record player swirling around.

I can't stop thinking about it

Source

5. Anything Cole Porter

Actually, if I possessed the above record player with Cole Porter albums, I might need an EMT handy with paddles and a defibrillator to give me a quick jump start.

Now that's obsession, folks.

Clear!

Reason 539,257 For Loving Carl Sagan

2011-09-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else feel completely moved when you see the opening scene from the movie Contact?

I love how they use radio transmission as the soundtrack, beginning with contemporary music
and then the farther out you travel into space,
the older the transmission.

Carl Sagan was a true, true genius.

Hope you're having a good holiday weekend.

<3 C

P. S. (I had to make the P.S. bigger because this deserves attention)
Yesterday, I read a comment from Natali telling me about Molls McAleer's Vimeo Page.
I feel like I did not bring my A game yesterday with the video I posted.
So here's a better representation.

What's In My Bed? from Molly McAleer on Vimeo.

I Like To Show Up Late To The Party

2011-09-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

It seems reproachable,
and somewhat
embarrassing to admit
that I have NEVER heard of Hello Giggles (still have street cred).

It was only after seeing a video log over at Suzy's blog that I became savvy.
So now (and thanks again for that Suzy) I am borderline obsessed with this girl:

who I'm pretty sure I could kick it with her on the regular.
She's pretty darn fun to watch in v-log platform.

Another thing I've become privy to just recenly, that I'm sure everyone and their cousin's uncle already knows about:

THIS MONKEY over at the Bloggess

Is this an urban legend? Someone needs to put me out of my misery already because if he exists, I have no qualms/pride issues in Friend Requesting him.

Finally, and on a somewhat related topic,
I am late to love...

oh,

how do you pronounce it...

facebook? Have you heard of this site?
(this is my profile puppet)

You've probably noticed facebook has quieted down substantially over the last year or so. People dip in and dip out, quietly, leaving no trace of their visit.

For this reason, it has become my favorite captive audience.

I say, take advantage of this platform before everyone jumps over to Google+.

Are any of you guys already on Google+? I hear it's in the Beta phase so it's still very small.

Hope you have a great Friday!

Love,
C

Narcissadiarramaphobia

2011-08-31T00:03:00.000-07:00

Before I begin this post, let me tell every single person that commented on the last post how truly awesome you are,
specifically,
Gale's Lykke Li video and Brandi's Ode to Sriracha sauce.

I read, listened and viewed every last one at least twice:) So thank you truly.
You injected my day with laughter and joy, a debt that I do not take lightly.

Enough of my sap.
Now back to the post.

I thought it was a good time to share more things about...
um...
erg...
me.

Furthermore, now that the DSM5 has declassified narcissism as a mental disorder, I think it's high time I execute with
fearlessness.

Let me preface this post by saying that the opinions I hold are not meant to ~~blardyblarfleebleflubbcatamazzooeychatamahooflabberfleeberfloo~~
so please don't be ~~shmataplazoofartilobrasiliowaxio~~
and I already know that you won't. Just had to get that out.

Alas...

1. I am the least photogenic person you've ever seen. In photographs:

I guarantee that for every one of these somewhat decent pictures, there are 45 flubs that will never see the light of your computer screen.

I make no qualms or find material for self-deprecation in holding this golden nugget in my mind always: I am way better in person than in pictures.

This is no exaggeration.

Just ask anyone that's ever photographed me and testified to the instant trollification that occurs before their eyes.

2. I love cat videos but am terrified of cats

on account of

I've been bitten several times without provocation.

Most cats turn on me (on average) at about 2:45s of knowing me.
They find my appendages quite delightful and chewy, as most Peruvians are, I imagine.

They're cute. They're fluffy...and they generally hate me/find me delicious.

3. After graduating summa cum-laude from American University (whut whut), I decided to skip out on my Kaplan LSAT class to apply for a makeup gig.
This gig landed me jobs working directly for Bobbi Brown, Janine Lobell of Stila and Laura Mercier.
I did some runway work before moving to Austin, TX, where my makeup career quietly fizzled.
I now hate doing makeup on people.
Oh, and my parents have never forgiven me for not becoming a lawyer.

4. I actually ran over a chicken crossing the road.
I considered this to be a most ominous sign.

5. I dream of living in Phoenix (again), Nashville, Brooklyn, NY or Philadelphia.
My husband promised me we'd leave Las Vegas in the next two years.
Now that he's taken to talking about this more excitedly, I am suddenly panic-stricken because I'm afraid to leave the wonderful friends I've made.
This leads me to believe that I will never be happy with where I am.
This leads me to believe that I need to be happier in Las Vegas.
This leads me to resent the glossy casinos and lack of art museums even more.
Leading me to want to move again.

6. My favorite movie to quote is Boyz N The Hood.
Specifically, this scene:

I am obsessed with Ice Cube during the NWA years.

7. I love sitting on the porch in Virginia, looking up at the midnight blue sky, watching the fireflies, smelling the floral humidity, and knowing that my brother is right by my side.
He's my touchstone.

8. This makes me feel magical and divine:

It kind of changed my life.

9. I don't cry easily.

In fact, I have to start with an audible wail, and by the time it starts feeling ridiculous, I start to realize how ridiculous I am and give up.

Also, I'm not a big hugger...but I am a sucker for my friend Kelly's "soul squeezes". She's kind of the best hugger in the world.

10. I think the smartest people in the world love to laugh.

They know how to deliver a good joke.

They smile with true grace.

I find these people intriguing.

and I can only endeavour to emulate them.

Maybe become one of them

when I'm old and crusty and Alex has to remind me

of the beginning of the journey.

So glad you are a part of it.

Because you so are...

Love,

P.S. Bonus

11. I've had four blogs before this one. If you want to read them, leave me a note and I'll message the humiliating evidence.

B Hole (Make Me Happy Monday)

2011-08-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

This is an illustration of my mind right now.

I just wanted you to know that I am still alive...

and ready to write again...

I just didn't think it would be very fair to take you with me.

And I am incapable of writing fluff.

So here is a little something that made me really happy today,

and made me feel more like myself:

9 Year Old Girls Steal Goat From Petting Zoo

Love,

P.S. Please post a link that makes you happy in the comments:)

Who Is Frank N. Beans?

2011-08-15T22:10:00.000-07:00

There are moments in parenting that seem pretty blissful

(more blissful than dancing on tables until 2 A.M., sleeping in and shopping for one, you may ask?

Well...

no...

not exactly).

Yesterday was a blissful day.

See...

a puppy was delivered to our house wearing a big white bow.

His name:

Frank N. Beans

The kids call him by his full name.

HR Pup N. Stuff was a bit on-edge, trying to establish his Alpha dog status.

If dogs could flex, HR was acting like Hollywood Hogan.

Watching the canine drama unfold has been better than watching the Real Housewives of Orange County, I tell you.

The kids seem to have found a soul mate in destruction.

And I got to observe instead of interfere for once.

All is as it should be.

Oh...

I almost forgot to mention,

I baked a breakfast cake (I'z haz baking skillz okajunally).

Later, all juiced up on awesomeness, I decided to pick flame grapes to stick in the freezer.

Flames taste just like bubble gum.

Our patio is covered with them.

It was a peaceful, quiet day...

no tremors

no rumpus

just simple pleasure.

So now I'm just waiting for my Mother Of The Year medal in the mail.

Love and Chitlins,

P.S. Thank you for the emails, comments, facebook messages and texts regarding my dad.

He's home and feeling much better.

Your well-wishes have been worth more than you'll know.

The Darkness Comes

2011-08-14T00:44:00.000-07:00

The darkness comes
sometimes
without announcement or invitation.

It warns you with a quick shudder of the spine.

For me, it started a couple of weeks ago when my son unexpectedly cried "Tata is going to have a heart attack!"

The statement turned my blood to ice because Tata... is my father.

"What did you say?" I asked pouring milk into his bowl of Cheerios.

"Tata said he was going to have a heart attack!" he cried.

"Oh, he was just joking, Puppy. He's not going to have a heart attack."

It was during these previous weeks, that birds began mysteriously dive-bombing my windows, leaving 5 dead ones for my husband to collect.

To me, a bird-lover, this seemed like a most ominous sign.

Then I received a terrible phone call.
My dear father had been experiencing chest and arm pain. He went to a cardiologist to get checked out and was not allowed to leave the hospital.
Apparently, my father was very close to what the doctors said would amount to a fatal heart attack.

My mom called me at around noon with the news that my father would have triple bypass surgery first thing in the morning.

I felt total panic surge through my body...and the desperate pulse of thoughts as they raced through my head.

With two little kids at home, it would be nearly impossible for me to fly 2000 miles the next day to see my dad before surgery.

Thanks to two wonderful friends, Tess and Alana, we produced a game plan where they would take the kids for three days while Alex was at work.

I booked my ticket and flew home later that night.

The next morning when I arrived in Washington, DC I found out my father had been taken into surgery at a very early hour.

After the 5 hour operation, during which they stopped my dad's heart, took it out, repaired it and put it back in place (how magnificent are doctors?!), he stayed in ICU for twenty four hours. During that time my mom's blood pressure went through the roof. She also had 3 panic attacks in the course of 2 hours.

My brother and I stayed up for nights worrying about both of their well-being.

On the last night I was there, I got up at 2:30 A.M. to get a snack from a vending machine. I walked past several rooms in the Cardiac Care Unit, many of which had people hooked up to monitors.
A lot of these people were completely alone, and would remain so even during visiting hours.

It made me realize how precious we are...
and tiny.

Actually,

even my story

pretty

tiny.

It's a story that has happened to many people before me, and will happen to many after.

They say that if you were to stand on a star, you could watch your history unfold...

Right now

time

passing

us by.

I am renewed with a sense of purpose that has been dormant for too long.

I know now that I will not skip a chance to hug someone I love.

To use kind words when describing a good person.

To spread joy, even to those I do not know.

I will cling on to my joy, as though it were armor.

I will be unafraid to love as though I will never lose.

I will appreciate the gift of today and

the gift of

now.

The next and last day, on the way back to the hospital, my usually jovial brother and I were in a sober mood.

Neither of us could express much of what we were feeling...

and so in the tried and true tradition of the Sanchez family, we chose to laugh instead of cry.

We laughed like maniacs over what then seemed like the most brilliant jokes ever told.

I looked at DC from the moving car like I did when my eyes were 6 years old.

and remembered the dreams of raising a family in a brownstone.

The church where Alex and I were married.

And produced a fond giggle when we passed the first place I ever purchased beer with a fake ID.

I'm so lucky for the yesterdays and tomorrows...

but now I'm ready to let go for the right nows.

And my right nows involve a wonderful Papi with a healthy ticker, a smiling mom, a mischeivious Cherub for a brother, a sister-in-law who's a true sister, nephews who love to hug my knees, an adoring husband who missed me terribly, two little nuggets who jumped into bed with me in the morning to snuggle, the best friends a girl could ask for...

and
of course
YOU.

Thank you for your comments, well-wishes, and friendship.

In Loving Gratitude,
C

The Story About The Porcelain

2011-07-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

My vacation high wore off.

It happened sometime two days ago.

I was trying to hold on to Virginia longer, closing my eyes during moments of frustration to smell the mental azaleas. For a second, I was back in front of my house, with the security of my family inside.

But if I were there, I'd be wishing for Alex and my bed.

I guess that's the human condition.

Las Vegas in the summer is kind of a downer.

The town is empty and the souls left behind seem to be searching for something...perhaps an autumn breeze or the relief of monsoon season.

I, on the other hand, am trying to stay positive.

Yesterday, after getting a phone call that my business had been in the style section of a publication, I felt a jolt of energy swim through me.

Yes!

Now I will work on my Fall 2011 catalogue for Lola and George.

After 45 minutes of staring at my materials and throwing hammers at a board, I realized that today, like the previous 5, I would not get work done on the fall line (I blame the looming deadline and insufferable heat).

When the phone rang, I was excited to get relief and hear Stephanie's voice.

She heard me gripe.

She heard me whine.

And then she offered many proactive suggestions.

But when you are so far-gone, not even the kindest words from the people closest to you can get you out of the rut.

Instead, something quite strange and magical happened.

Sometime in the afternoon, I remembered that 6 months ago Steph had sent me some porcelain to sculpt.

I used to sculpt all of the time...

whatever happened?

And before I knew it, I was gone...

deep inside the smooshy porcelain.

I didn't know what I was making

All I know is that I wanted to create a little world

a world where science/nature/God all exist.

After the piece was completed, I had no idea what to do with it.

So I put it on top of a book to remind me of the little world that keeps my hopes alive.
The world that is a constant source of inspiration...

Funny thing is

now I can actually create jewelry today.

Guess I just needed to get that out of my system:)

Love and Porcelain,
C

Working In Real Time

2011-07-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you guys, but I have difficulty posting things that have happened in the past.
I like real-time reporting.

In hopes of eliminating this problem in the future, I created this little button

If you so decide to venture, you will get to enjoy such antics as:

1. My brother tried to convince everyone on facebook I was 40.

2. Phase 2 Studio Makeover

3. Packing A Suitcase Can Be Such A Bitch

4. The Best Thing About Michigan Is Seeing Saturn

5. Danielle and Carla Figure Out The Next Internet Photo Trend: It's The New Planking

6. There Aren't Enough Naked People In South Beach

If that all sounds boring and out of date, I recommend you stick right here (I'm patting the seat next to me, btw), and hang with a sista.

The real title of this post was supposed to be "I Like My Mail Like I Like My Eggs: Scrambled," but then realized that I was probably only going to amuse myself and maybe a few people that find my face flapping chuckle-worthy.

In order to read and fully understand this post, I need to give you an equation to keep in mind:

blogging + creative friends = sticking your face in a giant container of mint chocolate chip ice cream and eating the whole thing...

and not gaining a lb.

I got this postcard from one of my best friends, Rocky, who is living in China.

It's funny how a simple postcard can mean so much. Look at all the stamps!

The next day I got a love package from a girl I've known for 18 years, Ibuna from Whistling Ninjas.

She made these bowls for my beads

And she left a trail of messages in the details...

And perhaps one of the best things I've gotten in years: she redid an old book and put some empty pages for me to fill with thoughts/inspiration.

She made sure to leave me nuggets of fun hidden inside

I hung this picture she tore out of a magazine on my favorite wall

As though this wasn't enough, I finally got an orb necklace from Dinosaur Toes.

People stop me wherever I go to ask where I purchased such loveliness. I try not to sound extra boastful when I say my friend makes them.

I'm seriously convinced that this is a lucky necklace. Maybe it's the combination of aquamarine and cosmic awesomeness?

Speaking of cosmic awesomeness,

my dear friend Daria made me this card from a photograph she took.

It's also hanging on my favorite wall:)

Lastly, I got a little cellophane bag full of index cards from my friend Steph.

Every time I get mail from her I know it is going to contain something exciting or different.

She doesn't just think creatively, she lives it/breathes it. It might be the most natural thing in the world to her (and not to go off on a tangent, I secretly try to model what I imagine her mother did for her with my own kids. I can hope they grow up to think even just a little bit like her).

All this mail creativity made me think that I should put a tab on my sidebar...

if you want me to send you strange things in the mail,

you can email me at starryeyedcharlie@yahoo.com with your address.

You never know...

you might score a sock puppet or

my aunt's famous margarita recipe.

Love and Mail Bombs,

Naked Old Guys, Saturn and Enya (A Rewind)

2011-07-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

My little people got to spend time with the grandparents in Northern Virginia. While they were having a blast going to see concerts, taking karate classes, swimming and riding bikes under the shield of beautiful trees, I got to reorganize my house and spend time with Alex.

It was the longest time I'd spent away from the kids. Hearing their voice everyday made me feel like a big ninny pinny. They were obviously having a total blast, so what was my hang up?!

I decided to book dates with my best friends around town.
I almost got to see everyone...except for my friend Lauralei, who I see all the time any way.

I finally finished one of my New Year's resolutions to reorganize and donate all the unnecessary items in the house.

I highly recommend this.

It honestly clears you of so much emotional baggage.

As a treat to myself, a tip of the hat to the culmination of all the hard work,
I got to Phase Two of my studio redecoration!
This is a really big deal to me...because I've been working towards getting this done for the past few years.

As I enter Phase 3, Functionality, I will make sure to post details.

With all the work in the house and studio, the time flew by in what seemed like two days. Before I knew it, I was packing for a whirlwind trip: LV to DC, DC to Detroit, Detroit to Harbor Springs, Michigan, Michigan to DC, DC to Miami, Miami to DC, DC to LV.

I never know how to pack for long trips. Especially trips that involve 2 kids, a husband that sneaks away from work a few days at a time to join us, and about a 35 degree temperature difference.

The only thing I enjoy packing is my carry on luggage. It's kind of a no-brainer.

I like to fill it up with over-indulgences, in case it's the last bag I pack (morbid, I know, but it's how I cope).

Necessities:

For spirituality and centeredness

It was a quiet flight, with no one to take to the potty or keep entertained. I actually got to watch a movie on the plane!

Once in DC, I stayed up till 3 A.M. drinking wine and catching up with Carlos and Emily. I didn't care that I had to leave for Detroit at 6 in the morning...sometimes you just have to carpe diem.

Harbor Springs was peaceful as usual (for the most part).

The kids made friends with the kids next door.

We all got together to shoot fireworks over the lake.

It was such a perfect night in every way a night in Harbor Springs should be.

When the kids went to bed, Alex and I decided to stay outside for a bit....

the next part of this story is truly magical

(no, not in that way).

I had been using my phone to locate all of the stars and constellations in the night sky.

The neighbors noticed this and mentioned that they had a high magnitude telescope set up on their deck.

"WHAT?!" I screamed.

That night, because of Google Sky Maps, luck, and pure kismet, I got to see Saturn...rotating rings and all!

It looked a lot like this:

Found On The Best Tumblr In Existence

I left a few days later feeling that I had experienced something that I would never forget.

Not to be melodramatic, but it felt like a first kiss...you keep flashing back to the moment over and over again in your head and it fills your body up with warm happiness.

I'm so addicted to that feeling:)

Before I knew it, it was time to head back to DC, and the day after that I was off to South Beach, Miami.

The highlights of this trip include a lot of naked people on the beach, some of those people I actually knew (and that's all I have to say about that).

On day three, a man got busted by the cops for going full frontal. The guy must've been in his late 80s....and boy was it a sight.

Why am I talking about naked people?

Sorry. Reeling it in now.

I love Miami. Honestly, I can't understand what's not to like. The water, the sunshine, the beach...the trees

The lazy days on the beach ended way too soon.

One strange thing happened on the day we left: I made a friend on the beach. She was an Italian woman who talked about the Universe and Quantum Physics with such ease, I was almost (almost) completely speechless.

A fated friend?

It seemed such...and so we swapped information and have been in touch ever since.

The next day, I was back on an airplane back to DC.

Danielle was on her way into town to hang out and see the Darwin Deez show.

I took her to eat Vietnamese Pho...and it rained BUCKETS as we ran out to the car. We were laughing hysterically when I got this snap.

We got to spend time catching up, laughing, making up pretend blog ideas and telling stories.

At night, we drove to Black Cat to see Darwin Deez.

The show exceeded my expectations and they were already high.

There were synchronized dance moments and Enya.

Danielle and I danced like crazy with the other TI-82-loving fans.

Afterwards we went to Bar Pilar and got hit on by a couple of persistent Washington types.

Sidenote: I hate it when you're having a drink with a friend, catching up, WEARING WEDDING RINGS and some dufus comes up to you trying to perpetrate.

Saying goodbye to Danielle is becoming more and more difficult. I feel like if we lived closer, we'd never get any work done and would find ways to pull practical jokes on each other as a new career: one that doesn't make any money.

Soon it was my birthday. My mom set up a very nice family gathering. Steph came into town from NYC.

They wanted to take me out to a dive bar. Someone suggested we buy 40s and sit outside the bar to drink them, just to take up the class factor.

All I wanted to do was stay home and enjoy everyone's company...

that's exactly what we did.

It was a nice birthday, save one thing:

my brother got a hold of my cell phone and got onto my facebook.

He posted that I was turning an older age as my status update.

Like.

Epically (and I never use the epic word).

Older.

I think some people actually believed him.

I'm in the process of defriending them;)

Just kidding...

Not Really,

I Will Bring You Water

2011-07-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday today and I am sitting on the bed I used to sleep on in high school.
It's a fine bed, it never bothered me while growing up.
In fact,
I'd look forward to laying in it after long trips.

Then something changed.
My body got wiser.
It owned different beds: some fluffy, some firm and one that's
just right.
That bed,
I am surprised to report...
is in Las Vegas.
And while I really enjoy spending time with my family and friends,
I miss Alex so very much.

I want to laugh with him,

I want to debate him on the subject of loading the dishwasher.

I want to kiss him goodbye in the morning and hear, "I love you Carla!" as he likes to yell when he's in a snappy mood.

Today, in the nicest most self-righteous overindulgent way...(and that's what a birthday does to you)

a montage.

I love him because

he makes me laugh

he made me feel beautiful while I was pregnant and going through my linen pant phase

he loves to do sexy dances in the swimming pool

he sure knows how to plant a good kiss

he likes to dance like no one is watching

he appreciates a woman who can drink out of a stein

he loves my mom.

On another note, I have tons to share with you about my time with soul sister Danielle, trip to Miami, birthday fun and my finished studio.

I will fill you in more fun tomorrow:)

Love,

A Michigan 4th Of July In Pictures

2011-07-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

I'm glad to be back in D.C. tonight and on my way to Miami tomorrow:)

Hope you had a nice holiday.

Love,

The Most Random Fashion Inspiration You Will Ever Read

2011-06-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Last week, while trolling Netflix, I found the movie Pollock. It's the story of tortured artist Jackson Pollock.

What kept my eyes glued to the screen was not the portrayal of Pollock, but that of his wife, Lee Krasner.
She was also a painter.

While watching Marcia Gaye Harden's portrayal of the late Krasner, I was mesmerized by her dresses, makeup and hair.

Source

Her style was a bit northeastern and masculine at times, with her tailored dresses and jackets. Other times she looked like she was going to a clambake. And yet other times she was so delicately feminine in a patterned dresses, like an artist's Jackie O.

I'm reading her biography right now and falling in love with her work.

Source

Funny enough, it's started translating into my summer wardrobe and accessories.

Do you ever get strange fashion inspiration? Who's inspiring you nowadays?

Currently

2011-06-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

My kids went to DC this week.
I repeat, my children went to DC this week.

And while I miss them, there is a part of me that doesn't know what to do with myself.
I've caught myself hesitating to make plans a few times. Strange right?

The last few days have been spent catching up with my closest friends, getting into trouble with Al, organizing my house and getting myself prettified.
Mira! I got new hair:)

Another thing to add:

HR Fluffy Junk is feeling much better. Thanks for all the well-wishes and love.

He has to wear the "cone of shame" because he keeps picking at his staples, which come off on Monday. I can't wait to swim with him next week. In the meantime, he watched me cash an entire Hagan Das bar while on a marathon phone call with Danielle. I think he was hoping for the stick.

Don't you ever learn dog?!

This week's project is complete: I organized/scrapped/donated.

Next week's project is to redecorate and clean.

The kids picked these colors for their bathroom. Isn't it cute?

There are still some corners that need to be tackled next week.

The perpetually messy dreaded desk will have to wait until the very end.

Next week I am going to finish my studio! I will make sure to post pictures along the way.

Tomorrow, we are spending the day in bed watching Lost.

Sounds like heaven to me.

Love,

P.S. Sorry about the blurry photos. I am going to take my Canon everywhere I go in DC, Michigan and Miami.

Pupsicles

2011-06-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Like many a bad day, yesterday began in a very pleasant manner.
The sun was shining.
The kids were home from school and actually getting along.

For the afternoon, we had planned to go to Chuck E. Cheese (A.K.A. Adult Hell, A.K.A. The True Manifestation of Infinite Love, A.K.A. Home of Electric Blue Power Aid Available On A Waist High Tap, A.K.A. Home Of Giant Talking Rat).
Everything was going well. The kids were splashing around the pool and I was throwing the frisbee to our 12 year old shetland sheepdog, H.R. Pup N' Stuff (whose real name is Jorj).
He was having a ball, catching the frisbee at ridiculous heights, contorting his body into all sorts of funny shapes.
The poor guy is overdue for his yearly shave, which always ends up making him look more like a Jack Russell terrier than Lassie.
Every now and then, I'd throw the frisbee into the pool, just so he could shake off the 104 degree heat. He loves to run, stretch his paws forward,

and

belllly flopppppp

right into the pool.

I caught myself looking at H.R. and thinking, "I'm so lucky to have the world's most amazing dog."
It was at that peaceful moment that one of my kids decided to give our pup a lick of a popsicle.
Instead of licking it, he began to nibble, which sent the child into rolling belly giggles.
I began walking over to see what was going on. Just as I reached down to take the popsicle out of H.R.'s mouth,

SWALLOWED

THE

WHOLE
ENTIRE

STICK.

I reached into his gullet to pull the stick out, but it was long gone!

The kids began to cry and scream in horror.
"Nooooooooo!"

I stood there paralyzed in the astonishment that he had devoured the stick so quickly
(Jorjie isn't a fattie, and he isn't accustomed to taking food from children).

I ran inside to call the vet, while H.R. resumed his swim in the pool, flopping his paws around happily as though nothing had happened.

When I called the vet, they told me to bring him in immediately.

In the waiting room, Jorj glued himself to my leg and began to shake uncontrollably.

The vet came in with a grim expression.

"In all honesty, many vets don't know what to do with this type of situation. All I can tell you is that at some point, maybe 6 months from now, that popsicle stick will perforate his intestine, sending bacteria into his stomach cavity, which will make him septic. He will then die very quickly."

I sat there absolutely shocked, trying to control the tears from popping out of my eyes. My son curled himself into my arm pit and began to quietly weep.

"What do we do then?!" I asked, trying not to scream or sound as hysterical as I felt.

"I think we can't chance this situation. He needs to have exploratory surgery to have the popsicle stick extracted."

It was at this point that I realized that this .60 popsicle would end up costing us a substantial amount.

So...our 12 year old darling,

Jorjie Snores/

Jorjio Armani Jr./

H.R. Pup N' Stuff/

Piggy Paws Fluffy Face

had very expensive exploratory surgery to

extract this

piece of shit from his stomach:

And all in time to make it to Chuck E. Cheese.

In all seriousness, I am so glad that he's healthy. The vet checked all his internal organs and found them to be in tip top shape.

Not bad for a little old fart bag.

We pick him up tomorrow and I am going to make sure he gets tons of rest.

He'll be back to his frisbee catching, belly flopping ways in no time:)

Love,

Starstuff and A Peculiar Announcement

2011-06-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

Today I realized that days have gone by since my last post.
I blame the new Roku box/Hulu Plus/Netflix extravaganza that is happening in our house.

I've spent the last five days watching TED speeches and Carl Sagan's PBS special, The Cosmos.
In one of the episodes, Carl explained our existence from a cosmological perspective.
He made it all sound so magical when he explained that we were all made up of "star stuff."

(*Disclaimer: It is now time for me to get my cosmological preach on*)

After turning it off one night, I actually felt my heart fill up with joy. I was suddenly charged with a reminder of our uniqueness.
The connection between nature, art and humanity seemed so precious to me...and inspiration at the turn of every corner.
It made me think that such magnificence exists for a purpose. And the possibilities of what we can do are endless.

Source

In order:

Lake Gairdner, Australia, May 5, 2011

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA, May 17 2011

Vesuvio, Italia, May 17, 2011

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, March 2, 2011

Lake Cadibarrawirracanna, South Australia, April 12, 2011

Chuquicamata Copper Mine, Chile, February 14, 2011

Desert, Somalia, January 30, 2011

So, if you find there is a hindrance in your day, a bad outcome, or a negative interaction, remember this:

you are made of starstuff.

That is all.

On another unrelated note, there have been a few friendly inquiries about sponsorship. Since I am redoing the look of the blog, I've decided to accept a few sponsors.

It doesn't mean that this blog will change.

If you're interested, email starryeyedcharlie@yahoo.com

If not, ignore this message altogether.

Lovins,

P.S. New "Yes" button fun.

Bird Up!

2011-06-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight, this man will be playing a free outdoor show in the bandshell of Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

www.stereogum.com

Which means that anyone who is in Brooklyn can listen to Andrew Bird live, with a picnic of cheese and crackers and sparkling rose, as the sun goes down and, ultimately, be charmed by his music under the quiet stars of New York City.

Now, I live in Las Vegas and have a dentist appointment today. How to be in two places at once?

As it happens, I started reading this book at the beginning of May.

I've been practicing and in the past few weeks have managed to turn into a bear, check in on a faraway friend in need, and be in two separate rooms in my house at once. Tonight, I will be in Prospect Park, listening to Andrew Bird. I will not have my phone or a camera and I will not be able to enjoy a picnic, unfortunately. But I will have one of the best seats.

Maybe I will sing along to his songs.

And fly over the crowd.

Or maybe I'll just perch quietly in a tree nearby.

http://petcaregt.com/blog/bird-tree.html

Where would you be if you could be in two places at once?

Please Don't Poke The Bear In The Woods

2011-06-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder if there really is such a thing as a spirit animal.
If they existed, I would be a sparrow and a bear.
(Wait. Don't go.)

There are days where the bear tells me to be a brute.
And on these days the bear does things that kind of embarrass me.
"Why, bear? Why do you insist on taking me down? Why do you make people think I am you?"
The bear roars and comes very close to swiping me.

Enter sparrow.

With her delicate beak, she picks up the wreckage of the bear's senseless rabidity.
Carefully ties bows of inspiration and love around it.

And the bear is forgotten.

Me,
I like the bear.

The bear detaches expectations.
The bear either gets dismissed or attacked.
And then it sets me free.

What's your spirit animal?

What Gets Thrifted Is One Day...Part Of My Home (A Mini Tour)

2011-06-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to write about my house all week. Lately, instead of unhappiness, it has become the source of much excitement in my life.
My kids are going away for a week with my parents and I will finally be able to finish my studio! In good conscience, though, I can't rightfully decorate my studio when my house is (was) in such bad shape.
A few weeks ago, when I was cleaning my closet, I found my list of New Year's Resolutions and the monthly schedule I had written out to make them all happen.
*Sidenote: It's kind of funny when you identify your exact sources of unhappiness and then draw a road map to happiness, only to later shove the list into the back of the closet by your old Pumas. Very telling, I'd say.*

So I cleaned
and donated
most of the things in my house that we no longer use.

Slowly, I began taking out thrifted treasures and began redecorating.

This all made me think about the criteria I use when thriftercizing and I thought I would share it with you.
I hope you find it useful:)

1. Never skip the framed art.

Even if the art itself is not worthwhile, the frame can be spray painted or maybe even repurposed (perhaps for a wall hanging or sculpture).

2. If you are thrifting, focus on either clothing or housewares. If you do both, you will inevitably get frustrated and begin to think that the thrift store you are in sucks. Trust me, it doesn't:)

However, if you are shopping for clothes and find a home item you need, then by all means, buy it!

3. Textiles are important: sheets, blankets, doilies, pillow cases. You can make new pillows out of a pretty blanket. Make a duvet cover out of vintage sheets, and Oxyclean almost any doily into perfect condition.

Curtains can be sewn together to make longer panels or can be taken apart to make pillows, dresses (very Von Trapp family), and pretty throws.

4. Anything made out of solid wood can be sanded and stained. Scuffs can be painted with wood paint markers. Hardware can be exchanged for Anthropologie. Or if you are really good, you can find better vintage hardware on Ebay.

And if the piece is really unfortunate, imagine it with a glossy new coat of paint.

5. Wooden hanging shelves can be very expensive. You'd be surprised at how cheap you can find them at your local Salvation Army. The trick is in finding them. From my experience, they are usually next to the picture frames.

6. Antique books have the prettiest covers. Even old Reader's Digests (thrifted for $.50) have a certain charm.

7. Pretty old bottles and glasses can serve all kinds of purposes. Put candles in colored glass. Use to hold flowers. Use an old plate to house your car keys.

8. Never underestimate the power of knicknacks and suitcases.

I will now show you a very expensive room...

Source

Tell me you can't do

WAY BETTER THAN THIS?

And...you can be green about it:)

If you have thrifting tips, I would LOVE to read them. Please leave them in the comments below.

Love and Green Consumerism,

This. Is. The. Video. Log.

2011-06-03T00:08:00.000-07:00

This was more embarrassing to do than I thought...
kudos to all those that dared to vlog before me:)

Now you know what my face looks like when it's flapping:)

Can we still be friends?

Love,

Absinthe And A Girl Named Tess

2011-06-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday began shaping up a little funky.

I can always tell these things when I eat left over potato salad out of the tupperware and listen to the Swell Season on repeat.

Swell Season 1- Carla 0

Perhaps as though the Universe wanted to level out the playing field, I got phone calls from a few of my best buddies, facebook/twitter messages from truly awesome people and blog love.
So...

Last night, a friend watched the kids while Alex and I went to see Absinthe at Caesar's (I could kiss Tess for doing this).

I had heard this show was good. But, I guess if you live in Las Vegas, you get used to hearing that Celine Dion's show is good. That the 800th Cirque Du Soleil show is good. That Donny and Marie are good. That the farting dog on the corner is good.
Let's just say we hold strong to saying that everything is good so that our economy won't tank anymore than it already has.

That's why
Absinthe
was
such
a breath of
fresh
air.

The entrance is a beer garden, complete with carnival games, food trucks, blaring old school Beastie Boys and of course, lots of absinthe.

(We got there a little late so we decided to hang around after the show)

The tent was small and intimate.

Everything is made of wood and creaks as you walk, like an old roller coaster.

This shot was taken before we sat down to show how small the tent is.

We were about four rows from the stage.

There were acrobats flying 10 feet from your face

And almost naked burlesque performers

There were very crass jokes...

and hilarious cheesy dance numbers that one could only imagine were a stab at the bigger Vegas shows.

This stunt made me almost pass out because my heart was beating so fast (remember, they are mere inches from the audience):

This girl was hysterical:

This is the beginning of the sock puppet performance that goes to some
very naughty places:

And then there was the part of the show that actually gave me goosebumps.

You can see the sweat dripping from the performer's faces and feel the wooshing of their skates. It was that close.

We ended the night with late night sushi at one of our new favorite places, Sen of Japan.

It's safe to say that last night recharged me.

For a moment, I forgot all of my responsibilities and just

enjoyed life.

Swell Season 1- Carla 2 Final

And it's all thanks to a girl named Tess:)

Love,

P.S. If you enter this giveaway, it will lessen my chances of winning an Instax Wide Camera...so...um...never mind:)

A Visit With Uncle Art

2011-05-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a wonderful weekend...

Carlos Herrera

Love,
C

P.S. I'm working on the vlog post for the coming days:)

The Near Death Experience of Lil Mama and A Week In Photos

2011-05-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

*Brace yourself as this is going to be beefy and delicious*
**(sorry vegetarians)**

Early last week, I was in the middle of writing a blog post when my computer, which I have nicknamed Lil Mama, gave me a death rattle...
maybe it was a death gurgle.
Whatever it was, the screen power blinked and then faded to black.
I let out an audible wail that scared my children in the other room.
How?! Why?

Days later, I found out I had a fried motherboard.

Today, with a fresh new mother in place, I can hardly remember the purpose of the original post, which meant something to me on the day it was being composed.

I think it was about the simple beauty and immediate joy throttle that cleaning your closet brings you.
And since I had a fried motherboard (I really like this word if you didn't notice), there was more time to accomplish all kinds of nonsense.

I will now rain down on you with such nonsense

my week, in photos.

1. I'm trying to knock out my New Year's Resolutions, one of which was to get organized. So, I decided to start with my happy place.

Hey look! It's my not trashed closet, anxiously awaiting the next wardrobe tantrum.

I picked some new favorite pieces to bring back to life:

2. Trolling my cell phone for funny pictures.

3. Danced around my house to these songs:

4. Worked on marketing for the L and G collection.

5. Embraced my inner grandma and worked in the garden while quietly reciting my favorite poem, To The Virgins To Make Much Of Time

6. Painted portraits of my pets.

I think Alex thinks I've finally lost my mind.

7. Waited outside the Apple Store for Lil' Mama's prognosis.

8. Took a self-portrait without making a gangsta face.

In summation, this week may look like a whole lotta nothin', but really it was incredibly productive.

Next week I will call my sweet, understanding girlfriends back and re-enter society.

By the way, I hope to have the first video log up on Saturday:)

So glad to be back.

I missed you guys.

Love!

Questions

2011-05-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,

I would like to put together a FAQ list for the blog.

I need your help with questions that might be interesting to you/

I'd also like to put together my first video blog post with the questions.

Also, pardon the dust. I am slowly trying to create a new layout for the blog with new buttons and features. My plan was thwarted by the blogger meltdown that happened last week.

The Magical Thinking Project, DIY Manifesto, has been pushed back to May 21st. It's not too late to participate.

Can't wait to read your questions.

Love,

Let's Share A Laugh (A Post For People With And Without Children)

2011-05-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

I screw up in the parenting department pretty often.

I lose my patience, drop the ball and sometimes...

I scream.

Confession: there are days where I wish I could hide in my closet, drink a bottle of wine and listen to Andrew Bird.

It's not as easy as some people make it look.

So I guess you could say I'm not quite sure if I'm good at this yet. I probably won't know for roughly another 14 years.

The upshot is that I have two joyful children who live life in every direction.

Until I get it all figured out, this is not a mommy blog. But you already know that:)

Sassafrass,

To Be Fearless

2011-05-09T23:48:00.000-07:00

I have lived a life of fear.
In the past.
Where the sound of a hurtful word made my stomach hurt
and all I wanted to do was
medicate it.

Fear of not confronting
Fear of not allowing
Fear of not knowing

Well

I know.
Now.

That the day I close my eyes forever
I will imagine my moment
as a speeding train
plunging forward like nothing indestructible stands in my way

because
it is right.

And because a life lived in fear
is like no life at all.

Today, know this:

You must live your life with purpose. You must follow the signs. You must believe, even when no one else does. You must fight through the pain with kindness and love. Trust your heart to walk away when something is done.

And then you can truly be

majestic.

I, for one, am starting today.

Come With Me,
C

Happy Mutha's Day Mother Lovers

2011-05-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

I find this terrifyingly accurate:

Love to the Mothers and the Mother Lovers:)

Magical Thinking Mission 2: D.I.Y. Manifesto

2011-04-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

It seems like we all need a little magic in our lives at this moment...
something to remind of us of our purpose on this sphere.
Today, someone on twitter posted this article that has been aiding my newly found IyamwhatIyam attitude.

It ties in very nicely with the next Magical Thinking project which involves writing your own manifesto.

Here are the guidelines:
1. Write a public declaration of YOUR principles and intentions in this life.
Write it however you want, long or short.
Large text.
Colorful text.
The sky's the limit.
2. Write it in a 11x17 word document. If you don't know how to do that, here's a quick guide.
3. Email your manifesto to me at starryeyedcharlie@yahoo.com by May 17th.
4. I will create different locations for your declaration somewhere in cyberspace.
5. Whoever wishes to participate should leave a comment at the end of this post.
6. If you'd like, I will email copies of different manifestos to participants for print.
I am planning on picking my favorites to print and put up in my studio for inspiration. Another person is planning on printing them out to leave around Las Vegas.

Yesterday I posted a picture of the Holstee Manifesto. This might be a good jumping off point to writing your declarations.
This is another take on a manifesto written by Chuck Palahniuk.

Warning:

If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Every word you read of this is useless fine print is another second off your life. Don't you have other things to do? Is your life so empty that you honestly can't think of a better way to spend these moments? Or are you so impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all that claim it? Do you read everything you're supposed to read? Do you think every thing you're supposed to think? Buy what you're told to want? Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex. Stop excessive shopping and masturbation. Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you're alive. If you don't claim your humanity you will become a statistic.

You have been warned.

I am so excited for this project and feel that it can be really positive. Can't wait to read and share!

Quitin' My Job, Startin' A Fight,

Let's DIY Manifesto

2011-04-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I have creepy good old-fashion Catholic guilt.
I find myself feeling bad over the things I covet.
Why do I need to buy pretty things? What void does this fill in me?

Then the Buddhist/Taoist guilt starts to creep in...(yes, there is a such a thing. Trust me.)

Today, I want to buy this:

Holstee Manifesto

And as much as I want to support the person that created this,

I realize that the most meaningful manifesto you can create is for yourself.

So today, I challenge you to create your own manifesto.

Because it's about time

for the next Magical Thinking project:)

I will announce the details tomorrow.

Manifest Away,

To Rocketh Thee

2011-04-26T00:03:00.000-07:00

This past week I took a little

it was much needed.

Now, with batteries recharged, I feel more able to write about the things that inspire me.

And today I will not disappoint:)

1. Closet Visit... This week's visit is AMAZING. Her jewelry collection is simply stunning.

2. Style icon Diane Keaton's unique and boyish style (the Woody Allen days were the best...tear)

3. Ethnic inspired handbags

Boticca

I am going to attempt to make one of these in the coming days and if it works out, I will post a tutorial on how to make your own without dropping $500.

4. Silhouette Masterpiece Theater

5. The musical stylings of Mr. Daryl Hall and Mr. John Oates

*and you know you love them*

6. And now....a barrage of paintings by my favorite painter of the moment, Dah-An Kim. Each image is more breath-taking than the last.

What's inspiring you these days?

Lots of Love,
C

P.S. Check out Brandi and Kelly's write up about the rings I made them!

Universal Magnetic

2011-04-13T22:57:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to say that the new website is up.

I am so blissfully happy...and it's due in large part to this talented lady.

I will now sleep better, breathe easier, generally enjoy every moment knowing that this part of my life is fulfilled....for another six months:)

Thanks for hanging in there with me guys.
I can blog again!!!

These Things Do Not Define Me

2011-04-10T02:08:00.000-07:00

I love football, alien movies and physics.
The nerdy and unpopular.

But these things do not define me.

I think too much,
scrutinize myself too much.

I feel too young to be this old.
Worry that I am young still
and the real old is

waiting for me around the corner.

these things,
they do not define me.

I often write and laugh simultaneously
hit "publish" before speculating

the way you might perceive me
(and if you're here...you know already that).

These things
theydonotdefineme.

Irony intrigues me; moves me to write, laugh, and view the world the way I do
...because I've been deep enough in the light,
deep in the dark to
find them both amusing.

I love the road less traveled, the comments we all think but don't say,
because it makes life more interesting,
even if it's not
popular.

and

often

these things

they don't define me.

I scribbled on a notepad, just yesterday:
"The only way to achieve freedom in art is to allow chaos and madness into your life."
But I was too scared to post it
Thinking I would be considered mad.
Which revealed that I was not chaotic enough.
Which makes me normal, I guess.

Then I posted it.

These things do not define me.

I taught myself
long ago
how to control emotions and reactions in such a technical manner
that I decided I was finally numb.

Numb enough to not care, and put it all out there.

But that's not the truth.

I do care.

And I don't know myself all that well

it seems.

And that
does not define me.

So:
what you read here
It.
Does.
Not.
Define.
Me.

It's like a friendship that starts at
hello.

In friendship, there are times where you might be so fascinated, you want to pitch a tent in the person's front yard (metaphorically speaking, of course:).
Emulate their speech.
Spend hours together.

Then there are times when you never want to speak to them again.

But you do anyways...

In the end you go through it all to find that years have gone by
and suddenly
they live in your heart...
with all their imperfections.

If you are reading this, feel free to post the things that do not define you on your blog and link back in the comments.

Friends Foreva,

C

You Know What Would Make A Great Movie?

2011-04-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

Tell me this wouldn't make a great movie:

A scientist discovers a very old mosquito preserved in a piece of amber.
He discovers that he can,

wait for it
wait for it

EXTRACT DINOSAUR DNA. He is able to bring dinosaurs back to life and keep them in captivity on an island. And the best part.....
he wants to open it to the public!

I can't tell you all of the other stuff because I don't want to give it away but wacky things start to happen and the dinosaurs ESCAPE and start attacking!

You know what else? I think lots of extreme close ups of little kids screaming for their lives would be a good touch.

What do you think?

Love,

P.S. My 2 lovely children have staged a coup against me.

This is how I keep my sanity.

Scatalogical And Necky

2011-04-06T09:43:00.003-07:00

Does anything make sense when you are knee deep in your own crazy self-induced mania?
A break in concentration inevitably

oh.
that was the doorbell.

What was I saying?

Right.
Any break in concentration throws you completely off track.
So I am taking a moment away from my anti-social, dark photo cave to run through the crowd and give high-fives (bloggy metaphorically speaking, of course).

In two days I will be done with the website, editing and uploading.

I look forward to redoing the blog, throwing in a few more DIYs and, as inspired by Chuck, there will be some vlogging* going on.

*Doesn't vlog sound like a dirty word?

Be back tomorrow.

But for now...

(this might be the best tattoo I've ever seen while trolling the world wide web)

And Thank You For Being A Friend,