Easter! Not my holiday but I'll celebrate with friends...

Easter is an especially important holiday for many people.

Me? I just come for the food and people!

One of my dear friends has often had me over for various holidays, and this year it was Easter! Her mother makes these delicious cheese pies! They're amazing! Since I was a little girl I've loved them...just thinking about how tasty they are makes me want to eat about 10 of them right now!

See below some pictures from the great afternoon I spent with my friend, her mother, and nephew!

As you can see, the dough for the cheese pies have to be rolled out to just the right consistency.

On to the muffin tin to be filled with eggs, and three kinds of delicious Greek cheeses!

Below is my fellow blogger MG, (check her blog out if you haven't already! it's like sitting down to have coffee with a dear friend when you read it) making sure that the dough settles into the nooks of the muffin tin.

Once the tins are filled with the egg and cheese mixture, the edges are cut with a special dough cutter. This one is well over a hundred years old. It was her mothers, fathers, mothers tool.

A sprinkle of cinnamon....and then into the oven!

Blurry but cute pic of us... and then another of us eating the yummy Easter cheese pies (* not out most flattering photos...but I am sharing it nonetheless).

Yum!

Next we colored some eggs, which as a non-Easter celebrator, was a rare treat! 

My friends change the world

If somebody was to ask you what your most prized posession was, what would your answer be? A family heirloom? Photos from the past? An award of some sort?

Well, if you ask me what my most prized posession was, I'd have to say that I have many (and wont' choose just one becauseyoucantmakemenononono!)....and aside from my most absolutely final 100% first answer being my soul (as it's the only thing you can really possess) I have to say my many dear excellent friends. Old ones, new ones. It's amazing how blessed I am to know the stellar human beings that I do. Kind, generous, beautiful, wild, creative, amazing people who are accompanying me in my life.

One in particular needs to be called out. Jessica R. Now we've known each other...almost 5 years. Maybe a little more or less- I don't know the exact awesome date that we met- but it was an awesome day. And like all friends we've had disagreements, and don't always share the exact point of view; luckily though we usually do and completely agree that the world needs a REVOLUTION, and it'll most likely be though food. She's a [LEVEL 9] vegan and has basically committed her life to making it better. For 9-5 she's a social worker and all the time she's an artist.Now this awesome girl Jessica- She is really changing the world. She's my most favorite vegan (even more so than Alecia Silverstone), and a sick writer. Not ill/sick feeling bad- but SICK like her words are like precious jewels strung together to create an abundance of treasure that is her knowledge, compassion and ability to make anyone feel empowered.  She has a blog (posted on the bottom of my blog, Mother Earth R.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.S.), and is a writer for Change.org (here is a link to her most recent contribution).
I am so proud of her, and honored to call her my dear friend.

Of course there are SO many of my friends whom I could blather on about who are also incredibly talented, kind, and do amazing things for the world- but is it selfish if I say that my friends(each and every single one) is special to me because of how happy they make me, and how much they make me smile and laugh?



In other news I am happily gluten free right now. Here is a link on why gluten is not so great to eat...
While I am not a Celiac, gluten, is like glue....who wants that in their body? I just feel better. I mean, yeah bread is great but not better than how I feel.
But of course I know that while I have made this change, there are plenty of others that can be made as well. In the past few days I've been feeling overwhelmed- I'm less lazy so more things are getting done but I really need some time to create and work on some projects that have been on the back burner. One of them is a collection of paintings using mixed media as a critique on the world around me....as well as seeing if my town is able to start a composting project with schools. I hope it's feasible b/c there are so many great things that can trickle down from there. All in due time I suppose.

TO conclude I have started my 2 week crash training for a 5 mile race. It's my first one and I'm scared actually. But it's cool. Things that are scary are often scary because they force you to grow and challenge you to rise out of your current state. So I'm excited too.

 

  

I'd like to post this link to Jessica's most recent blog. She's a mind blowing talented writer who expresses her thoughts brilliantly. Please read, and subscribe. I adore her. What she's talking about was what I initially started my blog to do. I wanted to share ideas in a similar vein- somehow I got sidetracked. 

My point- this is it:  http://saynotobarbie.wordpress.com/

  

Being fabulous without being an asshole...

Is there a middle ground in consumerism? Because like most Americans I have that part of my brain that WANTS, that has a constant case of the "gimmes". In reality it's THIS mentality that has us looking like global assholes. We've(by we I mean we Americans) have dug ourselves into global debt, big business debt, and personal debt(due to 17 year olds getting credit cards. Really? Kids that age shouldn't even have control of their penises and vaginas! Credit card? Who's bright idea is that?!) and into a reputation of being pigs (you know, neo-colonialism is the trend in big countries apparently). And the comparison to pigs isn't in the kind way. Its in the gluttonous way. Yuck. And with the ideal of obtaining "fabulocity" through the acquisition of fanciful, over priced, made-by-the-slave-labor-hands-of children, items- it's near impossible to be fabulous without being an asshole. Really, it's sad because when you work hard, and you want something nice, sometimes you don't want to go to a thrift store. How do you get a bat mizvah dress or a dress for a fancy occasion at a second hand shop? SOME vintage shops will have some amazing gowns, and coture dresses- but thats few and far between when it comes to occasion shopping. I often find amazing pieces that are gorgeous, timeless AND quality coture dresses ONLY when I am piss poor broke, or when I have no reason to buy it. So again, my question, how can you be fabulous and NOT an asshole?

My conclusion: It is not your possessions that make you fabulous. No matter what the gorgeously photographed glossy magazines say, and no matter what the pin-thin models are wearing- Fabulous needs to come from within. Fabulous is in the joy, and love, and happiness you bring to every moment. It's the way you make OTHER people feel. So I'll get over my gimmes. Maybe I'll buy something fancy that I'll have to assume doesn't come from a sweat shop filled with 7 year olds.

So without Christian Louboutin heels***, (the ones that are linked there are ones that I kind of cry with joy from looking and THESE and THESE) and without the Diane von Furstenburg dresses that the asshole fabulous part of me aches to wear...I WILL be my OWN FABULOUS!

(***Note: While I don't  wear heels often, if I'm going to wear them I want them to be fierce and worth it)

 

 

A day in the life...

Today I decided to wake up and take pictures of my day as it progressed. So here it is.

 To most, waking up to a rainy, windy, cold Wintery mess would be no fun. For me any excuse for a warm hearty breakfast and my green golashes ( 'Wellies' or 'Gummies' to those of you abroad) is fun and reason to be happy!
Sidebar: I would LOVE a proper pair of Wellington boots. They seem so functional and sturdy. The pair I have were $16.00 at Marshalls...so I don't know how long they'll last.

This was what I looked out onto upon waking up. My avocado tree (far left) seems to be begging for sunlight, and my other (it's called a 'money tree', so far nada!) tree is equally starved for sun....But as far as I'm concerned it's a great looking morning!

So my breakfast was delicious. (all was organic, yay!)
Oatmeal, half a banana, 1 tbs peanut butter, 1 tbs maple syrup and cinnamon. Oh how I love cinnamon. All in my favorite bowl (painted it myself!)

And what morning would be complete without my tea?! My favorite lately has been Zhenas Gypsy tea- Lemon Jasmine Green. It's positively wonderful! And a smidgen of agave...Perfection!

Then I drove to my appointments for work....luckily it wasn't a terrible commute. Those of you who are near by me will recognize this road easily.

One quick stop before I head home...just to try something on. I need a dress for a party on Saturday. *note the green "wellies!" Is it s good look?

Snack! ::nom:nom:nom::

 And my photohunt/walk with Samson (my fuzz faced awesome dog!!)!
My photo hunts for those of you who'd like to know are any opportunity I have to just take pictures.Sometimes they're planned, and other times I just go on a picture taking jag.

 Samson! (aka- Sam-the-Man, Sammy, SamSam, MYLOVE!!! and fuzzMUTT!)

Being cute...always being cute:

 

 

It's hard to believe that some of these pictures were taken today, in December! After the overcast gloomy day the sun peeked out before it set and it was pretty lovely.

After some laundry (which was not picture worthy) I buckled down, did some work (including making cupcakes for my sister in law), and am doing this. As soon as I hit "publish post" I am off the the gym for an hour of training for my very first marathon(Five miles!). I have a little less than a month to get in shape for this. Lucky for me I'm stubborn and and relentless when it comes to pushing myself towards seemingly difficult goals.

Here is my office(SO messy, please don't judge), cupcake for the hubby (known henceforth in all blogs as the hub), and The hub himself in an accidentally artsy photo.

another angle:)

Samson my associate (he's always right by my side, in my office, in the kitchen, watching tv. This dog knows no boundaries! He even sits next to the sink while I shower! Silly dog! <3

 And the hub. Handsome guy huh?

So that was my day. I'm off now to run (and walk) and run (and jog) and then come home shower and pass out. It's days like this that make me happy, and thankful for everything I have, and am blessed with.

LOVE and GRATTITUDE

Thats what I feel right this very second.

I have the most amazing friends and family.

It's times like these where you count your blessings, and I have many.

Oh, I can't wait to create more art, and have a private showing. It's going to happen. And a lot sooner than I realized. All I can do is put that energy out there and see what comes back. Among other things.