Art Journaling

I've been art journaling for about two years, but I don't have very many pages yet. Here's the latest page I created.

 Close ups:

I Covet: Christian Louboutin

These boots are SICK!!!!  I would love to rock these 4 inch military style boots.  If only I had $1,695.00!  They come in olive green too.  I'd get the olive green.  Yum, yum, and more yum.

Culinary Horizons: Dessert

I love desert!  Pictured above is a cupcake from Fresh & Easy.  They make the best chocolate cupcakes I've ever tasted.  Pair them with strawberries, and you have heaven on a plate. 

I'm trying to kick my sugar habit, but it's not easy.  Anybody who knows me can tell you that I'm the ultimate Cookie Monster.  However, I've improved upon the type of sugar I eat.  I try to stay away from the worst kind of sugar you can eat, which is high fructose corn syrup.  Check out its damaging effects here.  Instead of eating regular prepared packaged cookies, I eat Pillsbury Simply chocolate chip cookies.  They are made with wholesome ingredients.

I used to be a "sodaholic" years ago, but I cut it from my diet.  Once in a while, I get a craving for a soda, so I'll drink one.   Recently, I noticed that those cravings became more frequent and I was consuming more soda than usual.  I tried to trick myself by switching to diet soda.  Now, I know better than that because diet soda is just as bad as regular soda.  It may not have sugar, but it has so many toxic chemicals in it.  So, I checked myself and started drinking sparkling water.  I like Perrier (lime flavor), and the Trader Joe's brand in Mixed Berry flavor.  I find it's the carbonation that I like and not necessarily the sugar. 

Oddly enough, my palate is changing.  I no longer find any flavor in highly processed foods.  I crave fresh ingredients with bold flavors.  But, once in a while the Cookie Monster strikes!  What can you do?  Everything is fine in moderation.  That's what I'm working on.  When I get a craving for something sweet, I pick the lesser of two evils and move on.  I enjoy the treat and refuse to beat myself up about it.

Now, I want a cupcake from Fresh & Easy!  Hahahaha...

I Covet: Restoration Hardware

I absolutely love Restoration Hardware!  They have the most beautiful furniture I've ever seen.  Their furniture is bold, in your face, yet classic.  Restoration Hardware is not for shallow pockets.  Their pieces are very expensive, but understandably so because they are well made with quality materials.  They are investment pieces.  I certainly can't afford Restoration Hardware now, but a girl can dream can't she?

Pictured above is my dream office.  The Baluster Desk is so regal and commanding.  It says that the person sitting behind it means business.  Those gorgeous columns remind me of the Colosseum in Rome.

I have a fascination with maps, so the Stanford's 1859 Map of Italy makes me drool.  It's so detailed and intricate.

I'd girly this room up with flowers, contemporary baskets for a country feel, and I'd add pops of deep orange as an accent color like this:

 More delicious furniture from Restoration Hardware.

For the Musical Palate: Res

I've been listening to Res' latest album (and yes, I still call them albums): BLACK.GIRLS.ROCK!  It's pretty amazing.  Some of my favorite tunes are For Who You Are,  By Myself, On My Way and Bittersweet.  Her lyrics are mentally stimulating.

Here's the kicker:  You can download it for free (and legally) if you visit her website.

There's nothing better than music with real musical instruments.

New Jewelry Pieces

Over the weekend I felt crafty, so I made a couple of necklaces.  I love making jewelry, especially necklaces.  Necklaces really add to an outfit.  A cute necklace can dress up a t-shirt.

This necklace was inspired by scrapbooking techniques.  The letters, flower and star are actually scrapbooking supplies.  I used wire wrapping.  The wire is just plain ol' galvanized steel (24 gauge).  I like the antique look of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This necklace is made with faux suede cord, galvanized steel wire (24 gauge), shell beads, jump rings and sterling silver chain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Water Lily

"The surface bears a lone flower, but underneath lies a complex root system; strengthening, growing." -- Rosalind Jackson