Barbie beautiful

This custom made necklace makes me swoon. It's so romantic, yet unique and interesting. I love it. Just looking at it makes me feel happy.

Artist Margaux Lange made the piece above as well the one below out of basic Barbie dolls. Check out her website and blog to see Barbie shoe rings, Barbie arm necklaces, Barbie butt bracelets, and yes, Ken's abs and company make appearances as well.
Wouldn't this Barbie bosom necklace look great with my brown dress?

[Images from Margaux Lange Unique Handcrafted Jewelry]

Croutons

C routons are
R eally quite the
O nly food that
U sually taste great and
T ake the place
O f chips when I
N eed a
S easoned snack.

Gadsby

Writing without it is difficult. I can't think of writing a long story avoiding it. I would toss many drafts as it would sink into my script. This short quip is hard as is.

What is it? Follow this link for a story without it.

I wonder how to spell tupay.. tupae.. toupée!

Until just now I had no idea how to spell that infamous hairpiece. I find it interesting when you realize you've never written down a word that you know and use in speech.

Anyway... I saw a toupée today. Sort of à la Trump, if you will. I have to admit I find them interesting. Why do they look so thick and coarse? Can you get a thinning toupée as opposed to the full head of hair version? And why is it I always see them in that golden/reddish color?

And when did Baby toupées hit the market?!

I wonder...

I wonder what the first image will be in Google Images when I search for "i wonder". (answer above!)

You know how something that's not normally obvious to you becomes insanely obvious once it's pointed out or you finally notice it? For some it's an action, or maybe a sound. Others fall victim to the word "like"... or maybe "ya know"... For some reason I say (or think) "I wonder" a lot. Rather, all the time.

I wonder if they know their backpack is unzipped...

I wonder why he's mad...

I wonder how heavy that collapsable bike is... (yes a guy rides the train with a collapsable bike!)

I wonder if anyone will read my "I wonder" posts...

Leg godt... at Legoland!

Legoland is almost here! The first US Legoland Discovery Centre will open in Schaumburg in two weeks (the only others are currently in Germany). If the amount of people gawking at the large Lego giraffe stretching out of the store front is any indicator, I think Legoland will be a success.

Meet the "superior Lego model builder" from Naperville, IL.

Food Pairings

I've spent many hours considering interesting flavor combinations, so I was really excited when I stumbled upon the Food Pairings website. Click here for a brief history of food pairing and how to use the Food Pairing charts. Basically the flavors that make up the complete food item are broken down and then matched with foods that share similar flavor components.

Select an ingredient (banana shown) then read the chart to see what foods share a flavor component with your selection. The foods are grouped by category and the closer it is to the center ingredient the stronger the similarity.
[Images from foodpairing.be]

Tacos, anyone?

Growing up we always knew if Mom went grocery shopping, we could expect frozen pizza or tacos for dinner that night. Looking back, it's sort of sweet just how predictable Mom's grocery shopping trips were.

Last week I found this picture that a friend drew for me a few years ago. Every time I see it I can't help but laugh. This is my college friend "Bonfig" and me playing Bocce Ball. The Sun has the right idea (and yes, I loved using the word uber)!

-.-. .-. . . .--. -.-- | ..--.. |

On July 17th Jake decided on a whim to drive us over to the Indiana Sand Dunes for the afternoon. Wow - it was hot! 90+ degree heat and we decide to hike on burning hot sand. We're crazy! The dunes looked pretty much the same as I remember them from about 10 years ago.

One creepy discovery of the day was this house along Highway 12. I took a few photos, but we didn't want to stall too long for fear we'd disturb the inhabitants. On first glance it was just a house painted with fun, bright colors. When we drove across the street to take this picture I noticed the Morse Code painted on the side of the house. Eeeek! Was it a secret message? A love note? A great work of fiction? Strange.

Of course I came home and had to search the net for others who had spotted the "Morse House". Sure enough, I found two other pages. There's a great picture of it here and somewhat of a translation here.

I think I'd like to learn Morse Code sometime. Start sending your messages in Morse Code now. This site can help!

Fish and turtles...

Today I volunteered in the Children's Art Tent at the Wheaton Fine Art Festival. This is my third year helping out with the children's art activity, but my other two years were at Buffalo Grove helping kids paint a volvo. Today's activity was clay! I think I liked working with the clay better because I got to see many creative clay creations made by the kids. Turtles and baskets were seemingly popular.
I made this fishy while talking to a little boy who was making a few clay turtles for his imaginary friend Al (also a turtle). Kids are fun.

I'd love to live in a Carl Warner world...

Who wouldn't want to live on the edge of the great Prosciutto River? This is just one of many amazing "fotographics" by London-based photographer Carl Warner.

Fish and Fennel

I felt the urge to make myself something healthy for dinner, so I cooked a salmon steak with a touch of lemon. In the background is my side of sauteed onion, apple, and fennel (with garlic, parsley, and a squeeze of lemon juice - quickly becoming my fave side dish - jake tipped me off to it), rosemary portabellas, and herbed goat cheese on crustinis. Not too shabby for a quick meal. It's amazing how much better good food makes you feel. Half of the salmon steak was enough for a meal, so hurray for leftovers!

Supreme supreme

Supreme - (su-PREMM) v. to remove the skin, pith, membranes, and seeds of a citrus fruit and separate its wedges. Also as noun, a wedge of citrus fruit.

After watching Jake concoct so many salads with orange supremes, I decided to try my hand at it. I did fairly well I think! I mixed these with some roasted beets, and apples for a fresh little taste treat.

Camping coulis

Most people would associate hot dogs, brats, and potato chips with camping food. While at the cabin up in Wisconsin this past weekend, I helped Jake make this meal of noodles with gremolata (parsley, garlic, and grated lemon peel) and pork chops from a local farm, served with a mango coulee and balsalmic reduction.

After dinner snack was Beet Carpaccio with orange supremes, goat cheese, and balsalmic reduction.

Dessert was homemade bread pudding with fresh peaches and a butter topping.

Yes, this is considered just another everyday meal. Aren't I lucky?

Happy Birthday, Mr. Chagall!

[Image from Marc Chagall Paintings]
Today marks the 121st year since the birth of Marc Chagall, painter and stained glass artist.

"All colors are the friends of their neighbors and the lovers of their opposites."


Birthday, 1915
I personally own a print of this piece, "Birthday". Jake framed it for me for my birthday one year, after I had found the print at a garage sale for a few dollars. Yes, a garage sale!

Four Seasons, Chicago, 1974
[Image from Public Art In Chicago]
I also like the mosaic in downtown Chicago.

La Mariée, 1950
My favorite Chagall painting is La Mariée. I'd love to receive a nice framed print of this work whenever I get married.

"Only love interests me, and I am only in contact with things I love."