Thanks Given

Thanksgiving 2010

I hope all who partake enjoyed a happy, healthy Thanksgiving. We shared a quiet intimate dinner at home; just the four of us. This is no easy task with all of the hustle and bustle in each of our daily lives', so we are truly grateful to have been able to carve out this time for reflecting and reconnecting.

Thanksgiving is one of those complicated celebrations for me, as I'm not too keen on its painful historical past. I do however, remain meditatively mindful of the lives, culture and history lost when we gather to savor our own sweet, but fleeting time together.

Peace, gratitude and grace

Finals, Fame, Fun, and Finals...

I am finally settling myself after a whirlwind weekend! Friday was the end of studying and the final final exam of the Summer. With Fall fast approaching, the Universe squeezed in a heaping helping of awesome for this weary, worrisome, woman on Saturday.

First, my interview with the sweet, warm and wonderful Jennifer Davis creator of "Indie With..." "Indie With" is a blog and Internet radio show that highlights independent artists/entrepreneurs who have a little (or in some cases a lot) going on on the side. We met this past Saturday to discuss what being an mom, artist, wife, business owner, and self- proclaimed "side-dish slut" means to me.

Thirty-one minutes of fame: although the lines were quiet, Pretty in Peace was buzzing! I received more hits on Saturday than I have since I went LIVE! on Big Cartel this past August. It was a wonderful experience, and the energy shared between Jennifer and I was palpable even through the airwaves. Kindred spirits unite! Have a listen, leave a comment-let's show some support of Jen's new media venture! For more on Jennifer Davis the artist, see her shops here:

Oralgasm:"Chocolate mixed with all sorts of delicious things"

Phineas & Lou:"City life and music inspired knit and crochet" wares

With a school picture-esque smile frozen in place I begin to thrash about in my closet to find something equal parts comfortable and stylish for my date with the Favorite Guy. That's right- same day, new adventure. Joseph and I are fortunate enough, through our respective works, to be neatly tied into the local art and music scene here in Phoenix. Friend and esteemed local DJ Senbad was working the Red Bull Sound Clash with The Roots and Miniature Tigers, and we got in on this SOLD-OUT evening of super. And stupor, in the way that only an energy drink sponsored bar side event can be.

And now, I wait for the final grade of my final class to post. I'm tinkering on the edge of an A. based on my worst-case-scenario calculations, I will need a minimum grade of 88% to hang on to my 4.0 with a 91.910%. Anything lower, and I fall into that grey, subjective area that clearly doesn't fit with my very concrete plan for world domination, now does it?

Sips cawfee, minimizes screen, F5s on grade book and...still nothing. Grimace.

This post has been brought to you by the letter, "F", Peace!

Unfluffy Shtuff

Cosmo at 5lbs and about 3 months old, based on his teeth

A few nights ago, the Favorite Guy and I were sitting up in bed skimming The Cat Encyclopedia and came across a very interesting fact-well, interesting to us anyway. Cats-it seems, don't think they are people, rather they think we are cats. This made for so much restless thinking on my part, as I am currently in the throes of acute misanthropy.

How fantastic would life be if humans could even begin to behave like cats? [I'm already married, I'm allowed to be a crazy cat lady. Please continue...]

Although your cat doesn't ask you how your day, life, kids, spouse, art, work, school etc. is going they also don't neglect to check if you're still alert, oriented and breathing before they go into an hour's long rant about the aforementioned areas of their life only to end the call abruptly without..."Um, yeah...I'm fine, thanks for asking," she says awkwardly, to the dial tone!

Cats know their shit stinks and are conscientious enough to cover it up but not by masking it in perfumed semantics, posturing, transference and defenses. I'm liking this already...

What have you got for me?

Have you been a good kitten, er...I mean, friend?

Peace and fluff

Time, time, time...

In a people house...

Ahhh, seasons change with the scenery

Weaving time in a tapestry

Won't you stop and remember me

At any convenient time

Funny how my memory slips while looking over manuscripts

Of unpublished rhyme

Drinking my vodka and lime

-Simon & Garfunkel-

A few weeks ago I deduced I'd been running approximately 2 weeks behind in life...or was it a week? Either way, I was running behind and the anxiety of impending deadlines felt much like impending death, without the rest and peaceful parts.

I buckled down, (read: neglected everyone and everything that wasn't on a list or whining) and got it all done, and done well. I'm still holding onto my 4.0 GPA with just two more assignments and one week to go. I'm equal parts proud and [insert English language translation of "blah"].

I know this seems awfully existentialist of me, especially since I generally reserve random thoughts for Thursdays, but does the end ever really justify the means? I mean, when you're done doing, you've only freed yourself to do more-and, hopefully if you're lucky- different stuff.

That being said, now that my studies and one craft fair are done, I'm in full out holidays prep and planning mode. The leaf is in the table, the menu is planned, the vegetables have been forewarned and baking anxiety is in full gear. (Baking is evil.)

What have you all been up to in my absence?

Peace and pondering

DIY or Bust: The Halloween edition

"Velma"

Glasses $1.09, Sweater: mine $0.00.

Vintage dictionary: mine $0.00

Skirt (stadium blanket turned into wrap skirt, with only a few expletives) $2.70.

Socks $4.36

"Old Crow"

Spanish Moss: $2.64, skull cap $1.09

Hot glue gun $0.00. Black bird $4.13 (w/coupon)

additional feathers and lashes $5.48

scarf $5.48

Priceless memories

Peace and family fun

DIY or Bust: Craft Fair edition

I think I've mentioned aloud (Sometimes the conversations I have in my head meld with the real ones.) that I've gone completely crazy and entered TWO craft fairs this year; that's twice as many as usual! And, perhaps I may have also quipped aloud regarding having ZERO dollars in way of a craft fair budget. Rebranding has put the kibosh on any disposable Pretty in Peace income. Necessity is, however, the mother of invention and I needed to raise my pieces to make them more readily visible atop a buffet table that is several inches lower than most collapsible craft tables. Amongst a sea of 30 other vendors it was not a step I could afford to leave out of my sales/exposure strategy.

Dons thinking cap and enters garage of doom.

Repurposed cardboard box, bowl of Mod Podge $0.00


Fabric scraps, child labor

Hidden interior: sandwich bag filled with gravel from front yard

$0.00




Felt, grosgrain ribbon $0.00


Clear push pins: $1.09 (tax included)

Success!

Peace and simple living