What happens in the Forest...

...doesn't always stay in the Forest. When I first saw this I thought it MUST be a man in a bear's costume.

Evolution

I need to apologize for this post because when you're trying to grow out your hair no one really cares but YOU. However, I got my hair cut today and I'm in the mood for a little hair talk...aren't you?!:
1. Whenever Ocean's 13 came out last year I ran, not walked, to my hairdresser to get "the look". I loved the cut but so did millions of other women in the world...I was walking around seeing myself everywhere.


In late Spring 2008 I decided to grow out my hair. Today I got it cut and it basically looks like this. A little flirty and a little kicky (and my hairdresser told me it was acceptable to use the word "kicky"...I trust him):
And, we're going for the classic Jaclyn Smith look, who my hairdresser happens to love, so in a few months down the line we might have this:

and then I'll probably pull it up in a ponytail for 12 hours of the day...so, does it really matter? You bet it does.

Cool Off

I'll be wishing I was these "bears on the beach" cupcakes after traveling to Phoenix today. We are talking to a PR firm in regards to The Cupcakes Club and I'm sure it will be about 110 degrees or so in the shade. I used to live in Scottdale but now I wonder how I ever did...I tend to melt.

With the Summer hiatus of television and a possible actor's strike, Mr. B and I try to use Netflix to find new shows to get hooked on during the slow season. Big Love is an HBO television drama about a fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy.

What the show tries to deliver is that the family being portrayed in this series is doing polygamy the "right" way. No underage marriages and each wife and kids has their own house...all three houses and three wives right in a row.

The episode that we saw last night was an eye opener. The family always has to lie about their lifestyle to neighbors and coworkers for fear of getting caught. After all, it's illegal to have more than one wife-- which leads me to the question of "why?"

I'm not looking to "share" my husband with another wife (and, I don't think he's looking for another?!) but all these women were agreeable to it..no one forced them into this community marriage and they mention how they can always leave the family if they so desire. I realize this is a fictional television show but the families all seem to take care of each other and help with household responsibilities and watch over children when needed.

I believe Oprah had a "family" with three wives (three must be the lucky number in polygamy) on her show and they looked pretty darn normal to me...Opie was even surprised by how "everyday" they were. The husband had even mentioned how they could be arrested for being there.

I find it interesting that our society has a problem with this idea of a marriage. Yes, it's "different" but if it works and no laws are broken...what's the big deal with big love?

Party!!

No time to chat...I'm off to Vanessa's magical tea party...Oh! I do hope there is a cup left for me!

Magical and Mysterious

Thanks to the Sartorialist for giving us a magical photo. Have a most wonderful weekend!

OKay, if you haven't seen it....I'm sure you've heard about it: The main character is Susan who seems to be struggling with finding happiness in her life and decides to "swing" with the new neighbors. In my opinion she totally looks like Sissy Spacek in "Carrie" filmed right about in the late 70's...I keep waiting for the pig's blood to fall on her at prom.
Susan's best friend from the old neighborhood is Janet who is just a stick-in-the-mud and doesn't color outside the lines. In last night's episode, Janet's classic line of "We're not going home and I'm going to eat a pot brownie" had me howling. And, will you take a look at the size of the cucumber in her cart!
But, in all fairness to Janet, I happened to find a photo of her not in character....and she actually looks like she might eat a pot brownie.
And then there's Trina, new neighbor of Susan and enemy to Janet although that may be changing after last night's pot brownies. We've got a couple of Trina's around where I live and it totally does get your "Janet" on guard when you run into them. You know who I'm talking about...always in the "Juicy butt" sweats, on their way to meet their trainer or to bleach their hair, or to get a new pair of breast implants....and they're 27 years old.

Cool Summer

Thanks to Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, for a most wonderful, easy to prepare summertime meal. Roasted Shrimp and Orzo is quick, tasty, and great for a hot night.

pretty lil things

If you have not seen Lori Marie's Pretty Little Things blog and Etsy page then you are missing out on pages of eye candy! She is so sweet and talented and has an eye for putting together things that make your heart smile and your soul sing! Adorable, adorable, adorable.

Vanessa is such a delight to read! She's magical, mysterious, playful, and openly invites you in to her world. She's hosting a Virtual Mad Tea Party at her imagination filled studio and reading about glittery fun, enchanted characters, magic and mermaids turns you into a child again. Enjoy the party and ride the Fanciful Twist imagination train! See you there.

Dancing Queen

I am so jealous of Meryl Streep singing, dancing,and acting in Mamma Mia out in July!! I love, love, love a musical and with Abba's songs (color me a child of the 70's) it would be a dream!! I've got the idiot savant gene that knows all the lyrics from the 1970's songs...why I couldn't have used this power of memorization for some worthwhile cause I'll never know. But, for now you'll find me turning into the Dancing Queen at the theaters...how fun!

The Buzz

For the next few days we will be meeting and greeting with public relations companies to start the buzz with The Cupcakes Club. My husband is SO much better at the business talk then I am so I am beyond relieved he'll be doing the talking.
When one of the contenders called me this morning and casually asked what my future goals were ...I'm thinking "to have another cup of coffee?" and then realized she meant for the business--and then started babbling on and on about this, that, and the other thing. I mentioned this to Mr. B on our way to dinner and he said "well, didn't you tell her about...." and in three minutes encapsulated the last two years of my thoughts and work that have went into creating our Cupcakes Club...amazing.
So, the next phase begins for the biz...it's exciting, it's fun..can't wait to see what happens!

Cupcakes Care

Soles4 Souls is an amazing organization that collects gently worn shoes and distributes them to people in need. They gave away shoes to victims in the devastated countries after the tsunami; they sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by hurricane Katrina; they help people here at home and in countries around the world. Check them out...and help them out if you can.
In my second book of The Cupcakes Club there is a chapter or two about the Cupcakes girls helping out this charity and today I received a phone call from the CEO/Founder of Soles4 Souls. I almost fell off my chair...I was so honored that he would call and what a super great guy! Thanks again, Wayne, and keep up the amazing work your organization does.

Help Wanted: CEO

Papillon

There's something about this bag that I like. I know there are some who would say "OLB" as in "old lady bag" but I would love to have it dangling off my arm with a basic black dress on and let the purse do the talking. It's by Renaud Pellegrino and at a crazy price of $2,895.00. Hey, who said butterflies are free?

lucky number?

On Blogger Since
February 2007
Profile Views
1,111

Okay...I did not make this up. I had clicked on "my complete profile" and look at the number!!! That's cool, jewels...that has to be a sign don't you think? Should I go to Vegas tonight or wait till morning. Now, it won't be there if you click because it will click itself away...but I love it!!!!

Queen of the Night

In India, the jasmine plant is called the "queen of the night" or "moonshine in the garden". This plant with blossoms the color of moonlight generously emits, especially at night, a magical fragrance. I hope you have a plant or two in your garden to escape at the end of your day.

Summer Picnic

In honor of the summer solstice we decided to crank up the volume for the evening meal (click on the pics to get the super close up, drool view). Starting off with Giada De Laurentiis' Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders which were really great and you gotta try the dipping sauce that goes with them if you're a balsamic vinegar fan. Then, off to the races with another Giada recipe of Pizzettes with Caramelized Onions, Goat Cheese, and Prosciutto and BTW I made my own crust! A wonderful Asian-Style 3 Bean Salad with green beans, edamame , and black beans originally prepared by Ellie Krieger. We probably would have done this solstice or not...but happy Summer everyone!

again and again and again.

I am obsessed with my emails...again. This happens whenever I have too much time on my hands and a computer staring at me day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute. The joys of summer when you have the summer off.
I just can't believe that people don't email back within 15 minutes of receiving an email...or better yet, within 15 minutes of me sending them an email. My daughter says "Mom...I'm at work...I have a job...give me a break."
And I hate it when you're expecting an email...and it just is not arriving. "Send/Receive" "Send/ Receive" over and over...I'm a crazed woman.
But, on the flip side...you can always expect a quick reply from me.

yikes

so, I kind of freaked out today. I had been putting a leather conditioner on a sofa, washed my hands, and then went to the computer to do some work on book 3 of The Cupcakes Club.
I'm a little more than halfway through and thought I could get a chapter or two in before I needed to run into town.
Anyways...whatever was on my hands from the leather conditioner sort of melded onto the mouse of my computer causing me to grab a paper towel and start to scrub on the mouse. Of course, while I'm doing this my book is up on the screen being highlighted here, moved there, scrolled up and down...a mess. I realized what I had been doing so I saved it and closed it out.
When I brought it back up I wondered where my chapter titles were? I found them hidden up by the title page (I have no idea how) so it took me another 20 minutes to figure out the mess but it's safe. My mouse is still sort of weird sticky but I'd rather deal with that than figuring out plot lines.
Computers...crazy and with a mind of their own.

Crown Me

Many moons ago I was a crafty young thing. In the eighties, a girlfriend and I became the romantic milliners creating hats that looked like they could be from the 1920's and 30's...it was really a lot of fun but I'm not sure I could even remember how to do it today! But- who knew- that a woman imagines, dreams, and designs crowns for birthdays, brides, special occasions--you name it and GABRIELA DELWORTH does it.
Finally, someone that knows you're the Queen.

What can you tell me?

My daughter and her husband will be traveling to New Zealand and will be living there for approximately 6 months--wow! If you have any connections, any suggestions, any words of wisdom--please let Audrey and Josh know here--they would appreciate it! And so would Audrey's mom.

WATER

When you live in Arizona...you dream of things like this. We are weeks away from our annual monsoons and the rains/cool down will be such a relief...and it's only the first month of summer!
If you're like me and wear/walk in sandals/flip flops EVERYWHERE...my feet are a mess and I end up making appointments for pedicures about every two to three weeks...it becomes a necessity rather than a luxury. Pumice stones, heel balms, olive oil, overnight socks, podiatrist visits...what's a desert foot to do?

Slip on

I am loving this after I take a hike, shower, and it's too early for pyjamas but I don't want to throw clothes back on. Perfect! Wish they had a front view..adorable...from Boden.

Darling Dad Day

Happy Father's Day to one of the best...my husband, John, and father to our three children. I love these pictures from our daughter's wedding...can't you just see what he's thinking? And that's why he's one of the best. Have a great weekend everyone!

Shouting The Love

Many thanks to Lisa Cocuzza at "It's a Glam Thing" for the
shout out on The Cupcakes Club.
Not only were we mentioned in "Lisa's Fave Reads" we were added to her favorite places...fabulous! Many, many thanks Lisa!!!

Local drugs

I just got back from walking to the drug store where I picked up a tube of sunblock needed for our Arizona sun. OMG...as soon as I put it on...4th grade, community pool, and talking to my first crush Brian Elrod (and..like, what did we talk about?!). Can you believe what a smell does to your senses? Love that.
I also picked up some deodorant. I know, TMI..but there's a point. It was ONLY deodorant...no antiperspirant. After listening to Dr. Oz (Oprah's ballyhooed MD and talk show doctor) I am going to try this out. I mean, no antiperspirant has ever STOPPED me from sweating before...so BE PROUD, SWEAT OUT LOUD...but just don't stink (which, FYI, is actually the bacteria, not the perspiration...so,when you see me with wet underarms...do not be afraid). The aluminum is not good for you and I figure if I know something isn't the best for you...why not lose it?
That's it...I'll give you updates.

Bean dress

I just picked this up at Target for a fun, cool, dog days of August dress. But, when I look at this picture on their website...what was I thinking? Although it is a little longer and I would wear fun, bright flats...might be a "go back".

color code

This was #52 of possible "things to do this summer". My shelves are not nearly as large although they do take up an entire wall in the "library" (sounds so much better than "den," doesn't it?). I also have other objets d'art on the shelves which puts a bit of a hiccup in the design...something for me to think about while I conquer the other 51 things on my list.

design star

What can I say? If there's reality...and there's competition...I am so there.
I could not even imagine being a part of this show. The fighting, creative melt downs, and lack of sleep would just kill me. But, I love to watch.

Under-the-radar Cupcakes

in·die:
1. One, such as a studio or producer, that is unaffiliated with a larger or more commercial organization.
2. An artistic work produced by an independent company or group

Who knew?! When I was doing my PR blitz of contacting blogs, magazines, newspapers, and anyone else who could help get the word out about The Cupcakes Club....it hit me.

We are like the "little engine that could"...we may be small but we have the confidence, strength, and willpower to get the word out about our independent/ad free/ kid's website that we believe in. Isn't that what others in the independent field have done before us?

The Cupcakes Club is on the journey...discovering, creating, and becoming encouraged with the feedback we have received...thanks everyone!

wouldn't it be lovely?

If we could remember thoughts we had when we were four or five years old? It's hard for me to remember what I had for lunch let alone a fleeting thought I had 40 years ago...I guess our brains would explode with all those thoughts and images. I believe I was five years old in this picture and I lived in Japan for a year. Nada, zilch, zero recollection of anything from that time...do you have vivid memories of your early childhood?

Friday's appetizer

Carmelized Onion Toasts by Tyler Florence

You have to trust me that these are amazing...that is, if you like sweet carmelized onions on a toasted french baguette. You can find a quick recipe here and I also served it with his ultimate shrimp scampi...quite tasty as well. We shared a nice pinot grigio and toasted in the weekend.

Off the Cuff

I found these for my Cupcakes Club and I think they could work but they may need a tweak in the design department. They are sparkle jelly cupcakes--high on the cute factor-- designed into a cuff/bracelet. Where the snap hits I'm wondering if it should be cut (with a wavy type scissor blade) into a "V" shape (with the snap being at the narrow part of the V) or just to leave it alone . My new favorite color is obsessive.