Happy Birthday, Erica!

It's my daughter's 25th birthday today!  Yes, I know, I'm only 29, so I have no idea how that happened, but let's just go with it.  ;-)

Allow me a little "brag time"?

She's so amazing and has done incredible things with her life already.  An independent spirit since childhood, I knew she'd be off and running early - and she was, joining Americorps right after high school.  While in Americorps, she helped build homes for the needy, cleaned up after Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi, tutored inner city kids in South Carolina, and helped with trail maintenance in the Smoky Mountains National Forest in Tennessee.  She enjoys photography, writing poetry, cooking, making jewelry, hiking, skiing...the list goes on.  Though she's lived all over the country, she's now settled in Denver, Colorado, loving her job in social work, still trying to make the world a better place.  I miss her like crazy.

She'd (literally) give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.  I couldn't be more proud of her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY SWEET AND WILD ERICA!

she's on the right

Americorps graduation

one of the children she tutored in Charleston, SC

Mardi Gras!

with her best friends in Denver

Absurd, or...?

"If at first, the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it." ~Albert Einstein

{source}

 Ever had a creative urge, an idea, or just a passing thought that seemed so outrageous that you never took it seriously?  Did you think, "Oh, I could never pull it off", or "What would people think if I pursued that?", or "Maybe later...".  

Ever regret not pursuing one of those "crazy" dreams?

As I look at my own journey - where I've been, where I am, where I want to be - I've begun to wonder if my life is lacking a good dose of absurdity.  It's too easy to get bogged down in minutiae and day-to-day mundane tasks.  Couldn't we all use a trip to the wild side more often?

How do we recapture a little crazy when the world teaches safe conformity?

Chocolate Guinness Cake

Well now, this sounds delicious!  I bet choco and guinness makes for a great cake marriage. And yep, perfect for St. Patrick's Day.  Find the recipe here.

Florence & The Machine ~ Shake It Out

In NYC With Taylor Tomasi Hill

When I saw these photos at Vogue my first thought was, joyous color. The featured NYC apartment is the home of Taylor Tomasi Hill, artistic director for Moda Operandi and all around stylish girl about town. The second element I noticed and love is the styling throughout the apartment. It is balanced, fun, colorful and not over done.

 The colors and mix of patterns in this bedroom are dreamy.

 In general I'm over spaces with all white walls but this is an exception. The white walls look planned and perfect not like someone took the easy way out. The room is balanced and has great composition.

 The styling...wonderful

Even the condiments are fun and well placed.
The design of the apartment is colorful and stylish, it is also balanced and comfortable, an outstanding combination.

purses & clutches ~ 1madwoman

Just love these gorgeous handmade purses from 1madwoman on Etsy.  I have a huge "Mary Poppins" bag that I carry around all winter (good to stash office shoes, hats & mittens), but I like to get something cute (and smaller!) for spring and summer. 

You like?

wow

As some of you already know, I used to be a ballet dancer, so please forgive the occasional excess of ballet posts - but this is so good I just had to share!  The editing is really superb.  Don't blink.  ;-)