Today is my do-whatever-I-want-on-a-whim (DWIWOAW) day, on account of the fact that my birthday’s coming up. Anyway, as I’m getting ready for my day, I came across this amazing short film. Talk about doing what you want to do on a whim and seeing how it grows!
Caine’s at school today (Tuesday) so I can’t have his arcade be part of my DWIWOAW day. But I wanna go soon. What a beautiful kid.
The smallest things can literally stop you in your tracks when you decide to walk to a meeting instead of hopping into the car per usual.
Some stuff I ate and drank in Madrid. Along with actual meals, there were many cervezas, vinos and cafes and even more aguas con gas (sparkling water) in between, mainly because my feet were killing me and beverages are generally an acceptable payment for chair rental and bathroom usage.
Happiness on a half shell
Beer and Bible with a side of chips
Taco and iPhone with a shot of mescal
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day
Pizza roll-up
The temperature in Madrid has been cloyingly hot. I know I’m the jerk for complaining about nice weather but I packed for cool weather and I feel just a little miserable walking around without proper sun protection on exposed skin and too much fabric covering the other bits.
The heat finally let up today, though. In the cool of the evening breeze, a stranger and I warmed a bench in silence for an hour. Sandwiched between the opera house and the Metro station, we didn’t talk or exchange looks but we were fully aware of each other and aware of the fact that we were experiencing a slice of life together, taking it in however it displayed itself before us: pigeons, teenage lovebirds, weather-worn elderly couples, pigeons, teeter-tottering toddlers, rollerblading show-offs and more pigeons. We acknowledged the time together with a nod and “chau”s as I got up to leave.
I am not all that remarkable-looking. I do have my moments, and I believe I know how to work what the good Lord gave me. Most of the time when I catch my reflection, though, I see a rather strange-looking specimen. Statements like that induce in friends a knee-jerk reaction to boost my self-esteem or self-love somehow, but I can fully own all that I am, understand the beauty poured into me by my Maker and still say into the mirror, “Uh …”
Feeling pretty is something else. Everyone should feel pretty. I unfortunately do not feel pretty a lot of the time. I’m usually confident with who I am and even how I’ve put myself together for the day. But feeling pretty is different than feeling confident or looking good. I don’t know about you, but when I feel pretty, there is an added floaty, giddy sense of delight. When little girls twirl about — in addition to the general joy of being alive — I think they’re delighting in their inherent sense of prettiness. Well, today, thanks to the amazing make-up artist and even more amazing woman Chantal Moore, I feel pretty.
Chantal does a little touch-up for a photo shoot at The Think Farm, my design studio
How I generally like to be photographed: from afar and out of focus
But today I'm feelin' it.
Even my ponytail feels pretty!
Photos courtesy of Janice Kim.
I spent the day with 6-year-old Chloe and 7-year-old Brandon, who are staying with Grandma and Grandpa while their parents are in Japan. I will not lie. It was an exhausting day, and my new sofa set doesn’t look so fresh any more. I guess two tykes jumping up and down on it will do that. Still, the day was filled with delightful little moments like this.
I know it doesn’t mean anything, really, but this still made me chuckle.
My friend Ryan was supposed to come over today to install some shelves. He came over, we ate breakfast, we stared at the wall and then decided to go to Fantasy Island instead. Well, the Queen Anne Cottage at the LA Arboretum, to be exact. The house doubled as Mr. Roarke’s residence in the opening credits and sequence of the show and is a true mecca for Ryan, a Ricardo Montalbán fan!
Image from ReadyMade
No, it certainly does not! I am back on the (semi) vegan chain gang — I mean, train again — but, boy, does this tempt me! I can resist the pull this time, but if you’re game (and eat game — I’m feeling punnier than usual this morning), I want to share this delectable-looking recipe for creme fraiche coffee cake from ReadyMade. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!
Happy Halloween, friends and strangers who this way come. I extend a warm welcome to you through the fog of my no-blogging status with this moldy jack-o-lantern (truly sorry if this grosses you out — I shuddered a little myself). Poor thing, couldn’t last till the 31st.
