'Cause, I'm really feeling you this morning. Given that I am NOT a day person, this sentiment is major. Busy week coming up, but I'm so ready.
And, doesn't this painting look absolutely delicious? I'm really digging Freckled Pancakes's food inspired paintings.
And, hey, you. I'm not going to bite.
Happy Monday, Er'body!
Come this Saturday, it will be a birthday of sorts--or rather, the end of an old life and the beginning of a new one. However, three years ago, I was absolutely certain that the world had opened up and swallowed me whole! I just remember wandering home minutes after everything vanished into thin air, wondering how things would ever be better again.
Oh, dear reader, I stand before you today a vastly different version of my former self. Let me tell you, the road from there to here was one of the hardest journeys I have ever had to travel. The thing is, if I had it to do all over again, I would--in a mother fucking heartbeat. I like where I am today--a work in progress for sure, but I'm living y'all and that feels all kinds of amazing.
Speaking of amazing, I just can't get enough of milk fly's goodies. This felt cake makes me all kinds of hungry.
I personally think that these faux cake postcards from Tang Baby are nothing short of BRILLIANT.
I'm out for the weekend and perhaps out for the week. Raza's coming in like two hours so I'm about to hit the shower and head to the airport to meet him! I'm super excited. Given that he lives in the United Arab Emirates, we only see each other twice a year--winter vacation and summer vacation. I miss him and can't wait to spend these frozen two weeks together partying the night away.
Happy weekend er'body! I hope to stop in a say hello sometime between now and the time he leaves. I'm not making any promises, though!
Lovely soaps from Sun Basil Garden--just in time for Valentine's Day.
An appropriate post for an extremely cold day. It's around -10 degrees out and I literally froze while walking to class today. Unacceptable.
On a positive note, Check out these yummy gummies from Fahrenheit. These hand cut gum drops are available in Lemon-Ginger, Lime, and my personal favorite Raspberry! They are made with all natural ingredients, and are completely VEGAN! Wow. I can't wait to order a box!
In the meantime, Stay warm.
Despite growing up in the worst kind of poverty imaginable, sometimes we found ourselves rich enough to afford snack cakes. And boy, did we take advantage of that opportunity. In those days, a dollar went so far. Little Debbie and Hostess pastries were 10 cents each. We'd buy them and take them to the big magnolia tree right outside the kitchen window and eat them under the shade. We made ourselves sick but we felt rich.
Looking back on those times makes it crystal clear why I find myself, today, obsessed with food. We were poor but we had food on the table. My dear mom fought tooth and nail to make that a reality. I'd be lying if I said it was not a constant worry. However, when I came home from school there was always something waiting for me at the table. Sure, it may have only been a slice of bread or a piece of welfare cheese, but it was something and I felt human.
Since money was out of the question the majority of the time, food became the currency by which I obtained my relevance. Perhaps I could not talk about the latest movie or that show on cable television, but I could discuss, in great detail, what I had for dinner the night before. And, those special times when my mom had enough to give me a dollar, I could go to the neighborhood corner store and purchase a snack like these--with my friends. AND, by some miracle, I would always have enough to share with those friends who had it even worse than myself. Although poverty rendered me insignificant to those who did not care to see me beyond my socioeconomic status, food allowed me to cultivate a sense meaningfulness to those who did.
Through food, I learned a value system, which included generosity and sacrifice, security and vulnerability, fullness and emptiness, and an ability to believe that things can happen despite you not knowing how or when. These lessons I carry with me to this day and thank these damn snack cakes for each and every one of them.
I did not mean to go off on a tangent, but these snack cakes created by Milk Fly just did something to me in a way that makes me keenly appreciative for the tough times I've experienced so far. These past few weeks, I've been doing some soul searching and know no bad experience encountered has remained in that state. It always manages to teach me some really important lesson and further transforms me into a much better version of myself. I feel quite blessed for this and have no complaints.
It also makes me less afraid of the trials I know still rest ahead. I look forward to the subsequent transformations that will result as a consequence. I do know this--what always falls out is an increased capacity to love others and myself.
Wooha! And, I just LOVE this At-Home Macaroon Maker. I just can't decide if it is pure brilliance or pure diaster. Anybody remember those Easy-Bake ovens?
Oh well, since they are sold out, I'll just have to wait and see.
For all of you Bostonians, did anyone see the sunrise this morning? It was incredible. These sunrises, I tell ya, they keep you humble.
Donuts, it's been a long time. How have ya been?
I just LOVE this image by tenderbeast...just can't believe that summer is OVAH! I mean, it hit me when I went to CVS and they were putting out Halloween candy.
This summer was most productive. I grew leaps and bounds, gave up stuff, gained stuff, and look forward to learning a whole bunch of other stuff. I still need to make chilli, get a pedicure, loose a few pounds, stop eating so much candy, go to bed earlier, and answer phone calls, but ya know...I'm a work in progress.
I'm really looking forward to classes starting...just not looking forward to Raza leaving. I guess you can't have it all....
White and Chocolate Milk
In these troubling times, nothing says peace quite like this painting by James Moore . Although I am mucho lactose intolerant, milk has always stirred within me a calming force. I believer that Mr. Moore has perfectly and brilliantly captured that emotion within this painting.
Happy Monday, er'body. Stay cool, happy, and focused. As I finally realized this weekend, the beauty of life is that you have, with each second, the ability to change it for the better. If that does not spell freedom, I don't know what does.
Are you free yet? And, if you are not, what are you waiting for?
