Blog sabbatical

Not sure if I spelled or am even using this word right... sabbatical. Life has taken some new turns and the fun factor has really waned. Until I'm back here... feel free to keep up with me via my other blogs; mom's back in school and our family blog.

ciao.

Funny funny funny

Should be studying, but couldn't resist playing around with THIS. Here are a few sillies. Need to find some good face shots. Do any of you recognize these boys?

I LOVE STOP MOTION!

AND THERE'S MORE! CLICK HERE

so love these

I am so in love with Tara Gorman's photographs. I have always been infatuated with the idea of shrinking. It might have something to do with the fact that I was the perpetual shrimp in all my grade school classes. Some of my favorite movies are "Honey I shrunk the kids" and "The incredible shrinking woman" with Lily Tomlin. "The Rescuers" was my favorite animated film for so long because we saw a window into the "real" world of tiny rescue detective mice.

Thanks Abbey for the post.

Now you can see for yourself....

HOW I SPENT MY STIMULUS

Cheers for Anne Leonard!

Check out her short film on the whole story.

Have you kissed a moon tree?

Still looking for ways to spend your "stimulus" moneys ?? David Horvitz is one creative chap with incredible ideas.

FREE RICE!

Contribute rice to the UN hunger efforts and make yourself a little smarter? What a fabulous combination. PLAY FREE RICE!

Cupcakes yum!

I FINALLY made it to "Hey Cupcake" on S. Congress. I have been craving them from afar for months now. My goal was to get a dozen for myself to hand out on my birthday... fun plan, didn't happen. Last night on the way home I pulled a U-turn and got 2 whipper snappers to go. My 12 year old had an especially hard day... what better than a whipcream filled cupcake to make you smile! I was thinking that by 9pm the pickin's would be all dried out and lame, but they were soft, delicious and full of scrumptious sweetness. You gotta go!

My first niece!

So incredibly small and precious.
Welcome to the world, sweet baby Jane.

2 years!

2 year Anniversary today.
I love you Jim to the moon and back.
Be mine forever and ever. ~ s

38

I turned 38 over the weekend. The day was incredible weather which put a smile on my face from the start. We had just arrived back home after our great week at the coast.
YAY 38!

The Giver

In case you have never read The Giver by Lois Lowry... it is a must read. It's brief pages are packed with mind provoking scenarios of a utopian world. I couldn't put it down and now I can't get it out of my head. I have the next 2 books but can't seem to find them, so I've moved on to a new book until I find them.

You ready for this?

It's time for Pizza Party U.S.A!

Texas Primary Election

What happened.

The Cafe Mix

Was going to attempt a Cafe today in spite of the rainy uninviting weather. Had my sights on Cafe Bleu near Lake Travis. It looks like I'm not the only one looking for it. Apparently it closed last year.

Next on the list was Cafe Brix in Westlake, but alas, I am a few months too late it closed in September.

The good news is it looks like a vietnamese cafe moved into the same location... and their name happens to fit perfectly into my Cafe Project... Cafe Hai Ky... I'm headed there today for lunch.

Cafe Hai Ky was great, although I wasn't able to experience it quite like I had planned. As I was gathering my things to head inside, I realize the baby's car seat has somehow locked itself up and won't let me remove it. The fact that he's sleeping doesn't help much. So try as I might, I just couldn't get it to pop out. So instead of accepting defeat and heading home for leftovers... I dash in and grab a to-go menu and think of calling in my order from the car; why not? The friendly waiter catches me on my way out and says he'd be happy to take my order from my car. What a sweetheart to help me turn my frustrated dilemna into a really great visit. I got the fried tofu with spicy garlic sauce. I'd give it a "B". Sauce and veggies were really tasty but unfortunately the tofu was a little dry, maybe overdone. Just for the sauce alone it will be worth a second visit.

A good laugh

Here's a hilarious video for your blah blah Wednesday.

Where have I been lately?

See My-not-so-fun-February.

What are you going to do with your $600 big ones?

Clay Risen offers some suggestions in "Stimulating".

TCP - Cafe #8 - Cafe Caffeine

The name says it all. A straight up coffee house. Great menu with all kinds of sweet and savory fare, lots of drink options and a welcoming atmosphere. What struck me most about Cafe Caffeine wasn't the menu, but instead was the clientele. Within minutes of arriving, I had 2 strangers strike up friendly conversation which I felt almost reluctant to engage in. With The Cafe Project I have taken the role of the quiet observer. Strolling in with my mental notebook in hand and finding all the bits of enjoyment each place has to offer. My intention to interact completely and fully with the place rather than the people. Cafe Caffeine took me in like a new friend. This was local living at Austin's best. A truly refreshing experience. Turns out one of these 'strangers' was a friend of a friend. I've been envying my friend Shannon's business group called GOODNESS for sometime now... and here in the flesh was Bernadette from her group. We had a great time visiting which took my simple visit to Cafe #8 and created something so delightful and personal.

Amazing things to see

As I approached the Blanton Museum (my first time) to meet my 12 year old's art class... I came across this fun piece of art. So colorful and full of movement. Hundreds of yellow tubes hanging down.

As I waited for her class to arrive... I admired the 50+ foot ceilings with their amazing (key word) ability to let in massive amounts of natural light and be technically so beautiful.

I then noticed by the front door, a single mason chipping away at his work. Like yesterday, when I was transported to the 60's watching the space shuttle launch, today, I jumped all the way to Rome in the days of Caeser. I was struck that there still exists this AMAZING and also technically beautiful trade of chipping words into stone. I had so many questions for him but as you can see he worked with his headphones on. I was also super self-conscious of staring over his shoulder. The curve for making mistakes is a flat ZERO, I'm sure.

As we were leaving my 12 year old explains that you can actually hang on the yellow hanging tube display we came across on the way in. My first thought was "FUN!"... and "SHOW ME!"... and she did. My after thought was of my husband who continually catches me either getting TOO close or actually inside/on/touching artwork that is strictly forbidden. I walked away a little more quickly after that thought.

After the museum, we ventured up to the Dell Children's Hospital to visit Ayla's 7 year old God-brother. He had emergency surgery to remove a 6 inch piece of bamboo from his leg and abdomen. Seriously! I was just so amazed at his bravery and strength.

We took his little 5 year old brother outside to play. I took these of the outside of the hospital.

Amazingly beautiful architecture. I'm so proud to have such an incredible building in our city.

Our last amazing treat to see was this GIGANTIC round stone (maybe Texas granite?) that was literally floating within this water fountain. You could spin and spin and spin this rotating sphere around just like the earth. All the kids enjoyed the coolness of the water that clung to its giant mass.

Out of this world

Yesterday, I had an out of the world experience driving my step-mom's car complete with satellite radio. I'M SO HOOKED! I was a music fiend in a past life and apparently am easily resurrected when in the company of such an incredible collection at your fingertips. So, where to begin? Do I want XM or Sirius? Permanent system or portable? I need "a satellite radio 101" class.

On the same note as satellites and space... I wandered into Marye's gourmet pizza today for a quick bite after work. While waiting for my pizza, I watched the detailed coverage of the Atlantis space shuttle launch. Apparently this is the 121st space shuttle flight... can you believe that?! That's incredible to believe that we have been to space that many times. Watching it today felt like I was watching it back in the 60's; I was so filled with awe and inspiration. Exactly as I imagine it felt back then, except for the incredible footage they were able to view from the back of the craft during the entire launch. The most striking element I just can NOT get over is their speed. A display was in the corner showing their MPH, distance from earth, and something else. During the first 2 minutes they went from 0 to 2000 MPH... 2000 MPH in 2 minutes! The speed steadily kept climbing and climbing until around the 7 1/2 minute mark when the boosters separated and they had reached just over 6000 MPH... 6000!!!! Are you friggin' kidding me? The commentator was saying that was around 3G's. They go from 3G's to zero gravity in a split second. Can you even imagine what your body feels like accelerating like a speedball up to 6000 MPH then in 1 second going to nothing = completely nothing. What a ride!

nothing sweeter

Nothing sweeter than small hands and feet. I have been thinking about doing this since my son was born in June. It only took me 7 1/2 months, but I just LOVE how they turned out. Will post the final framed project when its done.

FAT Tuesday

We celebrated Fat Tuesday complete with homemade brownies. Well, it wasn't a true decadent splurge... I wanted to try out this new "light" brownies recipe from the newest everyday FOOD. Super yummy, but they turned out a little more like cake than brownies. No matter cause with anything chocolate doesn't last long in my kitchen. ;)

TCP - Cafe #7 = Caffe Medici

A trip to Caffe Medici today. 1101 West Lynn Street. An adorable espresso bar located in the heart of Clarksville. This family owned business opened September 2006. (They even have a coffee blog.) I ordered a straight up latte and got the most beautiful creation, complete with some kind of flower sewn in the foam (see photo below). Their menu is very simple, but I like that. No frills but they do what they do unbelievably well. Go go go and taste for yourself!

Get crafty! Kids reunion

You have no idea how my heart skipped when I heard that a special issue of Martha Stewart Kids was coming out last week. I just couldn't wait! I still have every issue of the original magazine from its 2002-2006 life. I was finally able to pick up a copy on Friday and I devoured every page this weekend. Sadly, this new Good Things for Kids issue is compiled almost entirely of re-runs from the original issues. I still enjoyed it all the same.

The big vote

This is the year we finally get to see a political change in our country. I'm so fascinated by this whole process, as well as discouraged and frustrated with our current state of government. I really appreciate when people take time to view our lives as its happening. The New York Times has put together a POLLING PLACE PHOTO PROJECT encouraging everyone to send in their photos of their local voting activity. See for yourself.

YES!

By 'bagging it', Ireland rids itself of a plastic nuisance

Eat Pray Love

Under seriously sleeping eyelids, I finished Eat Pray Love last night. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. A good read; I'd give it 4 stars (reserving the 5 star for EXCEPTIONAL books only). Elizabeth Gilbert speaks with such a candid voice in her writing, you really feel like she's telling you her story. It's clever, inspirational, entertaining and thought provoking. Although memoirs can be criticized for their self-absorption, I thought it was spoken with honest intention and conviction. I'm a wanderluster when it comes to travel... so anyone spinning their tale of lands far away... I'm all ears.

A little yellow dancing frog

In honor of a personal family victory...
Enjoy this video my daughter and her soon to be step mom, Vivi, made in Buenos Aires over Christmas. I just love hearing those giggles.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO OF dancing frog