just bloomy

little seeds planted here and there and some tending can produce magnificent results.

it's really so simple.

mosaic monday

one last look at summer.

you were awesome.

the art of doing nothing

I believe it's going to be one of those weekends. you know, those rare little spaces in time when the to-do list is short (or non-existent, or just plain ignored) and life is easy? the pressure is off, the pleasure is on:

be lazy. play. talk. sulk. cuddle. lollygag. wonder. wander. color, cut and paste. saunter. daydream. veg. make a mess. nap. be.

today is a good day

it just is.

sweetness

I'm in love. it could only be more perfect if it was green. or multicolored. yes, a rainbow harlequin coat to match my garden shed.

morning person

love that it's still a bit dark when I arrive to work in the morning. walking quiet city blocks from the parking garage to my office is grounding. how weird is it that I like to be the person that turns on the lights?

now leaving summer

I bid a fond farewell to the summer of 2008 and welcome autumn with open arms. what a lovely space in time. how I love the brilliant colors of summer, the sounds of pool splashing, ocean waves, roller coasters and funky road trip radio stations. grilling out with friends and cocktails under the stars. outdoor theatre and art festivals. the hot sidewalk under my bare feet.

but autumn is my true seasonal sensual love and I can't wait for the pleasures in store...

a whole new mind

today we had our annual leadership retreat at work. we gathered at our boss' historic home filled to the brim with art and antiques. we broke into small discussion groups to review the book a whole new mind.

the book teaches us that persons who are right-brained thinkers (creatives, intuitives, etc.) will be more valued in the american workplace in the future. we set about to discuss how the following six senses can be integrated into our agency.

design: the creation of something (work environment, programs, paperwork) that is beautiful, whimsical, emotionally engaging.

story: the essence of persuasion, communication and self-understanding that can become the ability to fashion a compelling narrative.

symphony: putting pieces together, seeing the big picture, crossing boundaries, making a new whole.

empathy: understanding what makes people act, believe, resist; forge new relationships, provide meaningful service.

play: the benefits of laughter, lightheartedness, games and humor in the workplace.

meaning: creating purpose and fulfillment in our work and lives.

did I mention that I work for the government? it was so refreshing to to move away (if only momentarily) from law, budget, rules and bureaucracy.

a retreat, indeed.

self portrait tuesday

so the self portrait challenge for september is "contrast".

sometimes when I am sullen, grey or moody, I feel the need to keep up a cheerful, enthusiastic disposition. I like that, as humans, we can show a contrasting emotion to the rest of the world, no matter what we are really feeling. this prevents pulling the rest of humanity in to our funk. a simple smile or just keeping my mouth shut does it for me. but I have to be careful. kept up too long, this happy charade can result in anger, resentment, or (worst of all) denial.

it's important to be able to experience the down and call a duck a duck. ducks carrying balloons are funny.

mosaic monday

more blue-green beauty courtesy of these brilliant flickr photogs.

the lift

sometimes, a person of oppression exits our lives and we didn't realize, until they are gone, the price of their presence.

one such person has exited mine and the resulting changes to my environment are substantial. it was almost a physical lifting of weight, burden, subtle criticism, shame and guilt. you know those people: they mill around with their passive-aggressiveness and narcissism, smiling all the while they are twisting knives into the backs of those who are in their circle. you can never quite put your finger on why you feel shame and embarrassment, powerlessness in their midst. and they always seem to come out smelling like a rose; their real selves successfully hiding behind good deeds, philanthropy, jesus and (sadly) true intelligence.

all I know is that it is over. that undefined funk. that weight. it is lifted. and the lift is really, really good.

happy orange

just wanted to share some orange swirly goodness with you.

orange makes me happy. I hope it makes you happy too.

first cool day

did I mention that I love fall?

I'm trying not to overdo it with the whole autumn infatuation. I will reserve wearing boots until the forecast is below 65 degrees. today is supposed to reach upper 60's. almost there.

I'm so happy, not even an all-day court hearing can bring me down. except that I will be indoors all day.

enjoy.

mosaic monday

happy monday sunshines!

I'd like to share a bit of color from the Q.C.

charlotte, nc is called the queen city not only because it was named after royalty. it's a lively southern city dripping with sweet southern charm. I visited for a couple of days, but plan to return to explore more of it's neighborhoods.

things I loved:

• the artful mix of vintage city with modern banking money in downtown (or uptown, I couldn't get it straight).
• the mint museum of craft & design.
• the southern comfort food: especially dish and mert's heart and soul (I shot some photos of these meals...cornbread, biscuits, fried green tomatoes, grilled pimento cheese sandwich, mac & cheese...but alas, as yummy and calorie-worthy as they were, they were not very colorful, pretty much plates of beige and pale yellow).
• quirky little neighborhoods like noda and the plaza bursting with art, color and life.

charlotte is just beautiful.

if you'd like to see my photos of lovely charlotte in a slideshow, please click here.

curiouser and curiouser

so I'm heading out the door to drop the pack off at doggy camp for the weekend. the mister and I are going to charlotte; he to endless meetings, me to endless exploring.

here are some other curious types in land of blog that I like to visit:

I love curious bird, a popular blog with art, photography, design and fashion.

another curious girl at curious design, shows off some lovely design and illustration.

curious tribe are a group of nola friends who plan to redefine the way media portrays youth culture. love.

more design, art, beauty and chihuahuas can be found at curiouser & curiouser.

finally, the curious blog is just pure eyecandy and fun projects.

happy weekend. be curious.

tiny b says

faith trumps luck.

some may say they are the same. but to me there are subtle, yet powerful differences between these two things. luck is passive. hopeful, yes, but still just waiting to see what the outcome will be, whatever it will be. faith is forward, positive, at cause and focused on a variety of positive experiences that will result from everyday action and experience. even when bad things happen, faith tells us it's for a reason, a lesson, the bigger plan. I like that.

(tiny b is yet another alter-ego I've brought out because I get a wee bit embarrassed when I get all spiritual and floaty. I'm normally very grounded and realistic and blush a bit when I feel more like walking a labyrinth than gathering the facts. I'm sure all my friends in the mental health field are beginning to worry about lola and tiny b. only two so far, that's not so bad, right?)

just like home

in the heat of childhood summers in california's scorching san joaquin valley, us kids didn't listen for the broken song of the ice cream truck; we kept our ears perked for the la rosa man. the mexican man pushed his little refrigerator cart down the street, bells dangling off the handles. it was chock-full of frozen goodness: fruit and sugar (lots of sugar) on a stick was yours for a dollar. watermelon and tamarind were my favorites. since I've moved away, it's one of the things I miss the most.

at lunch today at the peruvian cafe, I noticed a new case by the door. peering in the glass top, I immediately recognized the colorful bars. even with a different name (la princessa), I knew they were the same. a little piece of home.

lola did it

it was so easy, it was almost done on a whim.

my folly, you can call it. lola calls it "taking risks". she says it's healthy and good.

we (lola and me) have a wee shop at etsy. we'd be honored if you'd have a peek.

mosaic monday

mad about mehndi, that's what I am.

see flickr credits here.

happy monday.