"My favorite pastime is letting time pass, having the time, taking my time, wasting my time, living out of time- against the current. " -Francoise Sagan

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Story

Totally cute and amazing.



I thought a lot about baby Jesus last year, in a new and special way... because I had a newborn and I just couldn't imagine being in those circumstances.  I thank God that Mary was stronger, more courageous than I and that Jesus came into this world even though he was turned away before He even arrived.  Last year, Tony could not stand, walk, crawl, eat anything but breast-milk, talk, laugh, he didn't have hair, or eyebrows, and his eyes were blue.  This year it is all the opposite.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Merry Christmas!

The best gift was given long long ago... and it didn't cost us a thing.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

ZigZag Apparel

For you parents out there, do you find it oh so hard to find cute hats for your older baby/toddler? Well I do, and I always tell myself, I really have to learn to sow. Well, I know how to sow, but that's not the point.  The point friends, is amazing hats, and amazing kids! And amazing ZigZag Apparel with sizes made to order. Christina J. Forton, the creator of ZigZag Apparel, sent me a hat and I just have to show it off!

Love the red stitching on the car






Love him!


Here are some other of my favorite ZigZag hats!






Click here for ZigZag Apparal on le Facebook

Monday, December 6, 2010

My reminder

Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow 
Blessed be Your name.

And blessed be Your name 
When I'm found in the desert place 
Though I walk through the wilderness 
Blessed be Your name.

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be Your name.

Monday, November 29, 2010

So lovely!

Such different styles but I love them both- equally!




via

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Gaba Gabrielle

I saw something like this on A Diary of Lovely and thought it'd be cool to try, and not as an interview with someone else... but about me, of course!


Gabrielle wears...
Shoes: Steve Madden Cheetah Flats
Earrings: Diamond studs
Shirt: J.Crew
Pants: J.Crew matchstick cords
Bag: Timi & Leslie Diaper Bag
Watch: Fossil Boyfriend


Gabrielle is beautiful...

Blush: Smashbox O-Glow
Highlighter: Benefit Moon Beam
Eyelash Curler: Sheisedo
Perfume: Glamorous, Ralph Lauren
Eyeliner: Nars, bamako
Mascara: Benefit BadGal Plum

Monday, November 15, 2010

Fill in the blank FRIDAY, on Monday.



1.   The most spontaneous thing I've ever done was: instead of driving home, I drove to Santa Cruz, with little money and no plans.

2.  The best gift I've ever received was: A pair of diamond earrings from my Mom for my 1st Mother's Day.

3.  A time that I was truly and genuinely surprised was: This first time I saw my son A.X.C.

4.  I can't leave the house without : My sunglasses

5.  My favorite day of the week is: Sunday

6.  Something that can always make me laugh is: Nothing. There is nothing that can always make me laugh, sowwy- but many things can always make me smile.

7.  My perfect day would include : A warm pool, a nice view, a clear sky, my husband, good food, and great laughs ;)

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Emotional Novembers

Explorer

Baby boy turned one earlier this month and it's undeniable... he is a big boy.  In Romanian 'micu' means 'small one or little one' and 'mare' means big.  I call my boy 'Micu Mare' which correctly translated means... little big one, or something to that affect. It's funnier and makes more sense in Romanian, just trust that. :)  Also, he is very  big, in the tall sense.  He eats like a little piggy but is not chubby at all- this is because he is all muscle.  Yes, his doctor calls him Mr. Muscles, so obviously it's true.

These are an outline of fake muscles. Ha.
Anyway, Anthony blew out his 1st candle with his finger and then began to cry, the crying did not last long but I felt awful and couldn't help but laugh. Perhaps it will serve as a good memory.
I can't help but think about what I was doing last year at this time... everyday I think about it. It makes me happy to have that tough time over, but also sad because Micu Mare will never be quite so mic (small or little) again.

Also my sweet Mama Cocian (my mother in-law) came to town, and stayed a week.  It's always so nice to have her in town, she's such a blessing and she loves Anthony so much!  I always feel sad we can't all live closer together and her leaving this week really made the sunny day a little cloudy for me. I LOVE HER!

Us along the Waterfront
So after a month of reliving the most life changing event of my life, celebrating the love of my life numero dos and trying to come to terms that he will only get bigger and not stay the same.  I then get the opportunity to have a whole day to think about the wonderful things God has done for me and those I love.  I get to thank Him for his provisions and the health He's given me and mine.  And that's pretty emotional as well... good thing I get to eat through it, there's PUMPKIN everything!

 Also, Anthony was a dragon for Halloween.  Well not for Halloween because I think it's an ugly holiday, but for his buddy's birthday costume party.

Cutest dragon ever.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

It's all about the colors

When it comes to my home, I like clean design. Crips bright colors, and warm, comfortable furniture. I like very interesting and unique details and nothing too 'themed'. Unfortunately, I don't have all the money in the world, but if I did I'd hire Katie Ridder to help me design the interior of my home.


Last year in a waiting room I came across some Town & Country magazine and it featured a design artist and her parents' home in Pebble Beach, California, which she and her husband, a famed architect, re-designed. If you know me, just the mention of Pebble Beach (or any quaint city in Monterey County) had my interested peaked. Also, the outfits the family and of the artist pictured were easy and classic. But *colorful*. (Side note- I am most impressed by someone when they can incorporate color into their outfits in surprising ways, and still be classic, and not too trendy or too loud.) So as I turned the page my eyes almost jumped out of their sockets, because I saw the home I've always wanted that was in my head somewhere, right out in front of me on the magazine page! You know I totally ripped out that article! The designer was Katie Ridder!

We don't have a scanner but I did what I could with our Nikon. The pages torn out have survived a move or two, so please disregard the wrinkles and badly torn edges. I absolutely love ALMOST everything about the decor... It's very Katie and I'd like it more Gabita, and one day my home will be all Gabita, but you will never see that. So feast your eyes on these badly kept magazine pages I've photographed. Ha!

Absolutely love the colors and their placement

Why yes I'd love to have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thankyouverymuch.


I'd love to have this exact room in my home. Minus that lamp.

The patterns are matched with such high level of taste



Very subtle color usage. Loves.

And here are some more Katie Ridder that I love because of.... the color! Of course, she uses purples in such a brave way, and plays around with complementaries and tertiaries in such a way that is sure to ignite trend.







Thursday, October 28, 2010

Darling little rings

There's something so special about a little ring, with a little sparkle, that's a little imperfect. Satomi Kawakita Jewelry is just that. And I absolutely love the stacking affect most of the rings have! Talk about creativity!

all images via www.satomikawakita.com




Totally darling, right?

Friday, October 22, 2010

One Year, No Way.

A. X. C. at 6 weeks

A. X. C. at 6 weeks


In those first few weeks (and months) of having a baby, it feels as if time is standing still. At least to me it did, I knew that time was going by- I could see it in my baby's changing features and the fact that he was outgrowing his clothes- but the lack of sleep made everything seem so slow. Like the time when he'd sleep through the night was just too far off, unimaginably so.

Here we are almost a year later and he sleeps through the night (usually a solid 12-13 hours) he eats most things on his own, he crawls and is starting to walk little by little, he knows what 'No' means- and choses to disobey, he smiles on command, fake laughs, mimics my intonation, he slaps my palm when I say 'give me five', and he also fake cries... which I can't help but laugh at every time, and then he does too, and a myriad of other adorable and smart things.

Starting with this Saturday 'til the first Saturday in November, we are attending birthday parties for babies turning 1. Anthony's being that last of the three in a row, on November 6th.
By then, we have to finish the remodel on our guest bathroom and bedroom, and I have to.... cut... his... heavenly... sweet... soft... baby hair. The latter of the things needing to be done will no doubt be the toughest. But it needs to be done, his bangs are in his eyes, and the back of his hair is growing at a faster rate than all his other hair making it look like he has a little mullet going on.
Love it. Love him.

A. X. C. at 11 months

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Alexa Meade Art

Alexa Meade is a young and totally innovative artist! She hails from Washington DC and is revolutionizing 3D paintings, or Ms. Alexa describes it as "painting a portrait of someone on top of themselves". She merges photography with painting and plays with the minds eye, she really plays with ones perception of reality. I am so impressed and mesmerized, and a little jealous of the intense talent she has.



The pictures below are of real people painted over and then photographed... amazing, outstanding! This is so exciting!


"The Struggle"


"Spectacle 1"



"Found"


"Essentially, her art imitates life on top of life." -CV



Friday, September 24, 2010

Colour Lovers

Be still my heart.

If you love color, click the link below!
http://www.colourlovers.com/


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Monterey, Again!

We loved Monterey so much last month we decided to go again this month. Only this time we will be staying a little longer and our adorable son is coming along. Unfortunately, I have some pretty awful tendinitis in BOTH my knees and so walking around will be a little painful, and hiking and biking are pretty much out of the question.

However, seeing that our weekend getaway is this coming up weekend, I remembered I didn't post any pictures from last month's trip- for shame!

The Art of Photoshop?

Sometimes the art of photography gets lost in the mess of technology. Ansel Adams was a pioneer of black & white photography; he not only had a talented eye, but he had a gift for catching moments so clearly and uniquely... as the public had never seen before. He developed the film beautifully and usually his black & white ratio was the perfect choice of complimentary color, making the whites even brighter, and the darker colors like blues and greens transferr to a dark gray.


Ansel Adams - Mckinley

People today so easily use 'apps', Picasa, Photoshop, PicNic to edit their photos. They rely on cropping to get the proper framing, or soft focus to slightly brighten and soften the photo. What happened to framing the picture correctly through the lens? Oh, that requires an eye for detail. How about using natural light? Oh, but that requires an understanding of light. These are things that are important when considering the raw form of photography. It is the Artist at work.

Not that I don't believe Photoshop and the kind are great tools that can add to an already beautiful photo. These editing programs are full of purpose, and have done a lot for advertising (good and bad) and for artists. It allows some people to more easily understand what can be improved on in the photograph/their photography. However, in my opinion, art should not be reliant on any other medium or object or thing to make the final product, art is raw and real and true.

Editing programs is to photography as 'Painting By Numbers' is to painting. Sometimes. :)