13 years ago today - My birthday spent in Japan.

I have felt like such a lucky girl today with all the calls, gifts & happy wishes.

I can tell this next year is going to be a rockin' one!

Back from holiday

I've got so many photos to share, that I didn't know where to start. So, I decided to share my first big "WOW" moment on safari.

Crazy times

Crazy times call for peaceful photos.

Headphones

So this isn't something that I typically reveal to the world; my choice of music.

A friend once summed it up when he said "you've got the musical tastes of a 14-year old blatina."

If you promise to still respect me even after you read this tiny list, I will share what's currently thumping out of my headphones.

What's a Girl Gotta Do? : Basement Jaxx

If I Was You (OMG) : FEM & Snoop Dogg

Tu Olor : Wisin & Yandel

I'll keep the first list short as to not overwhelm. It can be a shock to the system for those not used to having music make them dance around the room.

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT claim to listen to the words of these songs - one needs to simply sit back & let the beats wash over.

Happy Egg Hunting!

Weekend

Spring days spent creating when they should have been spent cleaning.

Check back often

Check back often; there is going to be a lovely give-away coming soon.

Happy Friday World!

Photo taken in Rio a few years ago.

Saying Goodbye

This trusty, black purse has been a staple of mine for the past 6 years. It was a birthday gift from my dear friend Julie. It looks so plain & simple from the outside & then has a little element of surprise with the gold monkeys on the inside (which always gets comments at check-out counters). I've used this purse so much that it is now paper-thin on the bottom. Ink pens and barrettes poke thru the fabric, threatening to rip it to shreds. So, the time has come that I must say goodbye to this purse, a faithful companion that has hung by my side for so long. You will be missed.

Childhood memories

This little red cash register at babycakes took me back to 1978.

When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my excited response was that I wanted to be a check-out girl at the grocery store.

The fact that I'd get to punch buttons all day long seemed so dreamy to me.

I should be thankful that I didn't go that route since, among other reasons, these days there would be no button-pushing therapy, only the beeping of the scanner.

Yumminess for dinner

So I realize I should not become a food photographer, but I had to share my most recent dinner obsession. It's SO simple to make & sooo yummy.

What you need:

garlic

olive oil

salt

pepper

grape tomatoes

spinach

shrimp

feta cheese

lemon

parsley

Pre-heat oven a bit at 450F.

Put olive oil (about 3Tb), garlic, salt & pepper in a baking pan. Toss in tomatoes & coat them with the oil. Put this in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then, add the shrimp for about 5 minutes before you throw in the spinach. Let this go for another 5 to 10 minutes. Once the shrimp looks pink & ready and the spinach has wilted, take out of the oven (and turn the oven off - yes, I need these sort of reminders). Sprinkle feta cheese, lemon juice and parsley into the tomato-shrimp goodness.

I like to eat this with whole wheat pasta, but you can also just enjoy it with a nice baguette.

Current Obsession #1

So I've read about other people's obsessions with Japanese Masking Tape (Washi) for years now & I just never joined the party. The tape was too expensive for what I would use it for - fun. I find that I don't use materials that are a little pricey (for what they are). When I'm crafting, I end up seeing them as "too precious" & save them for " just the right project," which means that I have them for years until I get tired of seeing them around & lose the joy in using them. But if something is more reasonably priced, I use it more freely and creatively, which is how I think the process should be. So, when I found these on sale at West Elm last month, I bought rolls & rolls of them. And now, I see what all the rage was about - they are SO fun to use. Because I got them so inexpensively, I have been freely using them and loving it.

Ever just have one of those days?!

They're made Tonka tough...

Another toy find in a Brooklyn shop last month.

I love that there is still dirt encrusted in the tires.

Postal Stickers

A friend sent me some fabulous stickers this week. I'm excited to send them around the world to various mail art friends. Thanks Pamela!

Go Greyhound and leave the driving to us...

Why am I always drawn to toys when I go to thrift stores or antique shops?

I fell in love with this Greyhound Bus at a Brooklyn shop last month & just had to have it.

It now has an honored spot in my bathroom.

I am sitting in an internet cafe because I've now gone 5 days without internet or cable service. Time Warner is not my favorite company right now.
It's amazing how much I rely on the internet; more than I had realized. I am sure there is a lesson in this experience - in the meantime, I'm reading books and enjoying the quietness of a life not plugged-in.

Sundays are for catching up with friends and coffee.

Lee's Typewriter

A couple of years ago, a dear friend's mother passed away. As they were going through her things, he said he thought of me when he came across this old typewriter. It is one of the most cherished gifts I've ever received and because of this, typing on the old-faithful holds a certain ceremony for me.

Happy Valentine's Day

I’ll be very happy
If you’ll be my Valentine;
You’ll fill my heart with joy,
And my day with bright sunshine!

By Joanna Fuchs

My week in one picture