PalatePalette :: Key Lime Icing

Inspired by Elana's Pantry's Key Lime Icing Recipe

Left to Right
RGB :: 138+191+191 • 172+191+23 • 103+102+93 • 242+242+235 • 89+55+24
CMYK :: 28+0+0+25 • 10+0+88+25 • 0+1+10+60 • 0+0+3+5 • 0+38+73+65

To Drink in the Company of Others

Can you guess what this is?
It's a flask with a handmade cozy. Is it not the cutest thing you've EVER seen? My buddy Vickie gave it to me recently ... the cutest flask cozy she made just for me ... filled with the best Scotch I've ever tasted. What a gift.

I knew I wanted to blog about this gift as soon as I received it because it's a great opportunity to tell you a little bit about my relationship with alcohol. Where it's been and where I'm steering it.

So several years ago, I entered this artist's studio and observed that in the studio, there was a lot of magnificent art ... a space located where not a lot of people come through. A space with no TV. A quiet space. A bedroom with walls that had been written on with jet black ink ... haunting words ... perhaps words that came to her in the still of the night ... the dark, bleak, quiet, lonely night. With no one or nothing around except for her bottle of something that once was good and strong but likely now not as good and not strong enough.

I saw that bottle. And I knew it was her constant companion. And I knew she drank alone.

. . . . . . . .

I never drank in high school. And I hardly drank in college. I was busy doing other things ... like studying, practicing the piano and the cello, and studying more. It really wasn't until I was in my 30s that I learned to enjoy alcohol.

I especially love a good red wine and I adore a good Scotch.

With the intensity of work during these past several years, I found myself not just enjoying a good red or a Scotch with a meal in the company of friends, but reaching for it as a crutch at the end of the day. To unwind. To relax. And I found myself reaching for it more ane more when I was alone. Not in the company of others but when I was by myself. And there was something about that that started to bother me.

These last couple of years, as I've become so passionate about fitness and nutrition, I decided to really examine my relationship with alcohol. And when I did, my memory of visiting my artist friend's space came to my mind ... those haunting words written on her wall ... and her bottle ... her constant and likely only companion on many a nights.

So for the past several months, I challenged myself to see if I could just stop drinking altogether. I knew that if I couldn't, I had a bigger problem than I would care to admit. But you know what? I was able to go straight through two solid months without any alcohol at all. And it felt really good.

The mode that I'm now in is this. I will allow myself to enjoy a drink once in a while. But I'm not gonna drink alone. After all, how good can a Scotch or Napa Cabernet be if not enjoyed with someone, right?

Occaionally, and in the company of others, is my motto. I'll keep you updated as things evolve. Cause I know you want to be updated on things like that. :)

Thanks for letting me share. And thanks to Vickie for such a thoughtful, awesome gift. Cheers.

 

We Welcome :: Michele Lynch

This week, we welcome Guest Curator, Michele Lynch.
Read her ART SAVES story here.

Shop for Michele's incredible art here.
Keep up with her curated links all week long here.

PalatePalette :: Whipped Feta

Inspired by Whipped Feta Recipe by How Sweet It Is

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RGB :: 81+86+89 • 235+242+240 • 191+150+115 • 217+75+43 • 217+109+85
CMYK :: 9+3+0+65 • 3+0+1+5 • 0+21+40+25 • 0+65+80+15 • 0+50+61+15

Hair Update :: Pigtails!

For SO many years I've had short hair and loved it. And then one day not too long ago, I decided that I'd try something different and start growing it out. Just like that.

Today marks almost 2 months since my decision to start growing it out. I'm sort of thrilled that I can put my hair in pigtails! I love it.

My hair is still in an awkward state but it's gotten less awkward than just a few weeks ago when I was asking myself what I had gotten myself into. And then soon after, I learned that I can sweep the upper half up with a comby clippy thingy and I like that very much, but not as much as my new pigtails. :)

In terms of whose hair I'm aspiring to, it would say the way Kate Winslet is wearing hers lately in the photo below. So beautiful, I think.

Who knows. Maybe I'll not have the endurance to grow it out as long as hers but that's where I'm aiming. It'll take a year or more I'm sure. Lots of discoveries along the way which I'll keep you updated on. Cause I know you want to be updated on things like that. :)

Oh, this happy life filled with discoveries, complications, tangles, curls, intrigue, friendship, love, and changes.

Always unexpected changes.

PalatePalette :: Peanut Butter Buttons

Inspired by Spoonful's Peanut Butter Buttons Recipe

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RGB :: 140+89+59 • 191+137+105 • 64+1+1 • 166+33+33 • 242+242+242
CMYK :: 0+36+58+45 • 0+28+45+25 • 0+98+98+75 • 0+80+80+35 • 0+0+0+5

OCSA :: Stars in the Making

So the other night, Monica asked if I'd read and give her feedback on two short plays that she had written because she was going to submit them to see if one of them might be selected for Orange County School of the Art's (OCSA) annual Play Fest.

When I read them, I was literally moved to tears. SUCH characters. SUCH smart dialogue. I gave minor technical feedback ... but mainly, I told Monica that I wanted her to eventually develop the short plays into full-length plays because I couldn't wait to see the entire story of both plays unfold. Finally, I offered her reassurance that if the selection committee had half a brain, one of her plays would definitely be selected for the Play Fest. I'm her mom. I'm allowed to say things like that. :) And guess what? It turns out that Monica submitted 3 short plays and the one I didn't read got selected! And so when it was time to go to the Play Fest this week, I was curious what I'd see being played out on stage since I hadn't had the chance to read it beforehand.

Her play was titled Scar and she cast two of her friends (above) to play the two characters in her play. The actors did a phenomenal job as they brought to life the message of the play, which had something to do with Harry Potter and a lot to do regarding the pain of growing up.

It. Was. So. Good.

The play reminded me that no matter who becomes our rescue fantasy hero that we idealize, at the end of the day, there is no one who can rescue us except ourselves. And no matter how much we want to be in someone else's story, it's our story that we get to construct ... with experiences both good and bad, sometimes wonderful, sometimes tragic.

Do you see the star in the photo above? It's the new logo for OCSA. It takes a minute but once you see it, you see it.

Another play that was selected and performed at Play Fest was written by Rachel Do, one of Monica's best friends. Shown below is Monica, Rachel, and Antonia (another one of Monica's best friends). Rachel's play was titled Your Epidermus is Showing and it was also fantastic. Really excellent writing and great character development. 

At the end of the night, they had all the playwrights go up on stage to take a bow. I look at the photo of these young people and think to myself that these are our leaders. These are the people who will be doing amazing things in the years ahead like writing plays, curing diseases, accepting Oscars, and helping people. True stars in the making.

OMG! Beads + Bars

L :: Sterling Silver Beads Bracelet
R :: Sterling Silver Bar Bracelet

DIY Rubber Stamped Water Bottles Tutorial

Here's another easy peasy project for you: Water bottles with super cute stamped labels!
Here's how I did it.

I used basic rubber carving methods to carve an image of a little boat onto rubber. Here is a tutorial that I shared with you a while ago on how you carve rubber. Although the original tutorial was with an eraser, you can also do it on larger blocks of carving rubber, which is what I did.

After carving the stamp, I stamped it with a blue inkpad onto pre-cut labels that are designed to be used for water bottles. I found these in the bridal section at Michaels.

I peeled off the existing label on the water bottle and then slapped on the stamped one around it.

All together now: Easy Peasy!

Happy crafting. :) (All photos by Cynthia Shaffer)

OMG! Handpainted Vintage Cup + Pen and Ink Drawing

L :: Handpainted Vintage Cup

R :: Pen and Ink Drawing