incentivize

My dear friend sent me an image of her kitchen which she and her husband have worked hard to update and freshen up with white.  The new floors are next.  I love knowing that I may have provided some sort of incentive to a friend to find focus and clarity in a fresh coat of white.  This friend is a wonderful photographer and I keep telling everyone about her photos.  Take a look at her site over here, Elizabeth Belliveau.  She photographed me at the easel a few years ago.

I would love to give a little spark to my friend and keep her dream alive of photography.  She is incredibly gifted and has a great eye for making everything look elegant and beautiful.  Perhaps a little incentive is all it takes to do something.  Incentive creates action.

blustery day

Whenever there is a blustery sort of day like today, I immediately think of Winnie-the-Pooh.  Yes, today is one of those days where even an umbrella would be turned inside out.  Hope where every you roam today that there is some sort of cover to come out of the wind and I hope you have a friend to share it with.

live like a local

 I must admit that one of the perks of being a blogger is that I love the connections I make and then the things that are sent to me for my review.  I love this GUESTBOOK from one fine stay.

 Firstly, the illustrations, the paper and the layout are wonderful and I do love the notion of living vicariously like a local by staying in properties with the convenience of a hotel but without all the bad things that one might dislike about staying in a hotel.

 The places have style, character and charm.  We love staying at homes when we travel because you really do feel much more like a local.

So be my guest and hop on over to one fine stay and order a copy or download one of your own guestbook here;

guestbook@onefinestay.com

Thank-you Fiona for my copy.

Thanks to each of you for all your concern and kind wishes regarding my daughter.  We are home from the hospital and I cannot tell you how wonderful I slept in my own bed last night.  For the next two weeks, I shall be nursing my girl back to good health.
She will not be in school but she has already been working on home work and loving all the attention.

monday motivation - mouthful

You may or may not find this post motivational however, it has everything to do with mouthing off. 

This image is one of my favorites, I feel that this woman is ready to give someone a mouthful.

When was the last time you gave someone a mouthful?  Did you find it liberating?  Did it have to do with standing up for yourself?  

Spending lots of time in the hospital has left me with a mouthful. 

 I feel our health care system is in pretty rough shape. 

The first meal they gave my daughter was "chicken nuggets and french fries."

I of course had a mouthful to say about that.  Do you stand up and give mouthfuls when you see things that are clearly wrong and need change.  Therein lies my motivation.  Stand up when you see something wrong, even if it involves giving a mouthful in order to make it better.

showing scars

 One of my favorite illustrators, stories and books has to be Madeline and when she proudly shows her scars to her friends.

 I am big on visual connections, and all I could think of was that my daughter's malaise was more than a belly ache.  My Mother's intuition told me, it's time for a trip to the ER.  Never mind that it's winter break and we are supposed to be having fun and skiing.  How can I think of anything else with a sick girl not improving.

So, for the next few days, I shall be nursing my dear daughter back to health and looking forward to her having visitors to show her scars.  I mean if Madeline can do it, she surely must have inspired countless other girls to flaunt wounds and victories.

brave choices

 Indeed, life does take bravery.  When one thinks of all the choices one has to make with each step, it does require lots of give and take.  If you can narrow down your choices in life, then it seems a bit less scary.

At this time, I think of all the seniors who are waiting to hear on college acceptances, on Mother's waiting on births and on others who might be waiting on the job offer.  I think of my Father waiting for my Mother to come home.  Often there are choices that we cannot control and then we have to rely on bravery.

How do you stand tall as choices in life come your way.  Do you give up, give in, or give it all you've got.  I have a few choices coming my way and I intend to give it all I have got.  I hope that all the choices in your life give you strength, focus, clarity and a place to start with a renewed sense of bravery.

President's Day

Spotted this on etsy and love this work of art of all of The Presidents of the United States of America.
How many of them can you name?  When one of my sons was little he could recite them all and tell you who and when they were in office.

My daughter has been down with an awful flu but that has not stopped our family from celebrating the twins birthday, skiing and sharing good times with one another and good friends.
Carry on everyone, and that includes taking a moment to honor all the past and present Mr.Presidents.
I do hope one day we have a woman in office.

twins are twenty

circa 1993

Our twin sons shall be celebrating a special birthday.  Twenty years old on the eighteenth.  I wanted to share this photo of my husband and I strolling along when we lived in Manhattan.  We had a double stroller but loved the how portable these striped strollers were.  I loved living in the city when they were little and then we moved to the suburbs when they were 3 to have a house, a garden and well more space for them to grow.  When they turned five, I left the fashion world and my full time career to devote my time to them and worked freelance as an artist.  I would not change a thing. It's true you cannot buy back the time.

 My sisters warned me that it would go fast.  I love this image of my boys.  I love them so very much.
I will be seeing my boys this weekend and spending time laughing together.  The smiles they have light me up and make me laugh.  I can hardly wait to see them.  Now they are men, compared to this photo.
Both boys are in college and they attend schools not even an hour away from each other.  How lucky are we!

We spent many fun times on Block Island flying kites and have some fantastic memories.  Look at that smile.  I still remember the way my red head would pat down his thick hair.  Both boys shave their heads now.

We have many photos of the boys with their little sister at Settlers Rock.

One son is an ROTC sophomore and here he is working in the classroom last summer while he was in Africa for CULP.  

He will be looking to intern this summer and I am in hopes he will find something interesting and challenging.  He is studying business and would be happy to land a job so keep me posted if you are looking for a summer intern.  I know he is open to learning and gain experience.

His fraternity has taught him all about brotherhood.  He calls them his brothers too.

He has a girlfriend and I love how happy they both look together at a fraternity/sorority dinner.

As a parent, we are fortified when our children are happy and thriving.

 Letting go as a Mom is not easy so sunglasses at goodbyes are highly recommended.  Here I am ready to cry as we said Goodbye as we left him at his College as a freshman studying Engineering and is a sophomore.

Over the December holiday, he went to Monaco to see his Grandparents and had a great time with his Auntie there.   I love this image taken in the Hotel de Paris Wine Cellar.   He had a special tour.

I love when I find funny photos of the two of them together.

New Helmets and goggles make everyone act silly.

The next week, I am taking a break as we have our schools shall be on Winter Break.

I know the week will go by fast and I intend to enjoy every minute.

Happy Birthday to my twenty year old twin sons.

That went fast.

love coupons

Today, everyone is all about giving from the heart.  

I always create redeemable coupons for things that I know will be loved and that are priceless.  What sort of redeemable love coupons would you like to receive today?   I am thinking of creating a seasonal book of love coupons and adding them to my shop.  Give me some love, what sort of coupons would you buy to give a little love.  The book is tied with a ribbon, simply clip and redeem the love anytime.

pve design love coupons

snow day scene

As promised, here is my work of art of a snow scene in Central Park.  I absolutely love the way this turned out as it shows a certain energy with everyone vying for a little parcel of hill to sled down. I added this original to my etsy shop.  How charming would it be framed and hung as a souvenir to remind one of the joys of a snow day.

I plan to try to add an original to etsy more often.  I must admit that I was smiling all the while I worked on this little gem.  As always, I am most appreciative of your comments.  Thank-you dear fans.