The Sky is Yours

open up your mind and see like me
open up your plans and damn you're free
look into your heart and you'll find love

it's our godforsaken right to be loved
(loved loved loved...)

More Than Just Turkey...

November 27: On this day, if only just one day out of the whole year, give vocal thanks to those around you. Reach out to people who have touched your life, and think of loved ones and friends.

I know that while life may not be perfect, I have a lot to be thankful for, and much of it is made possible by the important, fabulous people in my life. So thank you for everything, I love you all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Tale of Two Cities

In life thus far, I have loved two cities.
To sit in Chrissy Field with a Presidio set as my backdrop, the Golden Gate Bridge drenched in fog on the left, Alcatraz powerful in the North. To stand on the tip of the Headlands, yards from that same rust colored bridge, watching sailboats ride in the wake of cruise ships, the sun casting its blinding glow across the water to the Bay Bridge. To enter Marin, cruise controlling down the Waldo Grade, and see Mill Valley tucked into the Bay, water from every angle. To drive 25 miles per hour and never consider pressing down on the gas. To walk down quiet neighborhood slopes, past girls kicking soccer balls and dads swinging tennis rackets as the sun sets purple above their heads. To arrive on a dock that rises and falls with the bay that laps at its mossy planks and watch the city glitter in the distance.
To wind through vendors selling anything from Obama screen t's to potpourri, through tourists with foot long lenses, through the swaying tails of decorated horses and their loud mouth owners, and arrive in front of a dance crew sweating the afternoon away. To leave the hustle and bustle of the city, the smells and sounds of the people that surround the chicken kabob cart on 59th and 5th and collapse in front of a silent pond, positioned just so there's no skyscraper in sight. To go from Canal Street handbag saleswomen to Madison Avenue wasps in ten minutes flat. From crowded sidewalks to boys in knee socks, from downtown to uptown and back in time for dollar beers and tacos.
Life is long and I am young...I'm sure the tale won't end until I have written many more city chapters. But today, I smile to think of where I have been and what more I will do. I know my heart well, and what it feels like when it yearns for something. I listen. This love affair is just getting started.

Lucky in Lemon

Rihanna rocked some Zac Posen Spring '09 at tonight's American Music Awards and walked away award ladden. This is not the first time that Rihanna and Zac have come together for this show, and it seems to be turning into a very successful relationship. Great press for one, a plethura of wall ornamentation for the other. No complaints here.

The Apple of my Eye

I made a rule to not write about the negative in "My Favorite Things," but, I'm going to have to make an exception...I used to hate apples. Really, really hate them. Biting into and subsequently chewing an apple made my skin crawl, worse than any nails on any chalk boards. Worse than paper cuts, worse than the sound of someone sucking on clothing, worse than the worst joint pop in history. And now that I've successfully made myself and all of you excessively uncomfortable, here's the good news.
Today, I love apples. A few years ago, I was presented with an apple and out of hunger, I put my stubborn issues behind and ate it. This time, just to be difficult, I avoided the skin. And wow, was it amazing! For years, I had been turning my nose at apples, not realizing it was because of their skin! Oh, had I only known. Since, I have eaten hundreds of apples. Galas, Pink Ladies, Red and Golden Delicious, Fujis, Granny Smiths...did you know that there are 7,500 varieties? That's a whole lotta cider.
How does she do it, you may ask. Enter the vegetable (and in my case, fruit) peeler. A good peeler is like an open door welcoming you to meet all sorts of other food. Cucumbers, pears, persimmons...the list goes on. Foods that I had avoided or been forced to nibble around are now mine for the bountiful taking. And while everyone looks at me a little cockeyed the first time I whip out a rather industrial peeler, the end result is extreme enjoyment and in my opinion, a far more juicy experience.
How do you like them apples?

Power to the Public

Today marks the start of American Education Week.

In times such as these, recognizing public schools and the selfless champions who have dedicated their lives, money and sleepful nights to the futures of youth is of utmost importance. Remember your favorite teacher, project, or assigned reading and take a moment to thank anyone who touched you throughout your journey through the reading, writing, and learning rainbow.

Change is here, and it's up to us to make sure that education has reason be celebrated. More info here!

Less is More

Fear less, hope more;
Whine less, breathe more;
Talk less, say more;
Hate less, love more;
And all good things are yours.

Puppies 4 Sale

My future pup, Scout.
Hi. I want you!

Crazy for Not Feeling Blue

I was recently on a plane having a less than fabulous time. In need of a positive distraction, I scrolled through the trusty old iPod searching for something uplifting. And what I found was the soundtrack to my favorite musical, "Crazy for You." I was immediately transported back to the little girl days, when I spent countless evenings singing and dancing to the classic musicals with my mom, cooking in the kitchen with the living room stereo blasting, spatula microphones in hand.
Seated in 18F, I found myself tapping my feet, bopping my head and singing along, a time or two aloud, much to the dismay of my neighbor in 18E. From beginning to end, I wiggled to the music, a little smirk across my face. And when the pilot announced preparation for landing, I turned off my electronic device, closed my eyes, and sang silently through the rest of the flight.

Leaving on a jet plane...

...to soar to the Big Apple with a (vintage?) leather suitcase, some killer shoes and a feeling of radiant hope.

Let the Chips Fall as They May

November 5: You can control your destiny. You have the power to do whatever you want. In order to get there, be the best possible person to face in competition, the most prepared, the most hungry, the most invested. Face threats and weaknesses with answers and alternatives. Thicken your skin to rejection and strengthen your argument to questioning eyes. In an age in which thousands of people are entering the job market, the love market, the life market, be ruthless, resilient, ready. And at the end of the day, sleep soundly knowing that you were as proactive as you could possibly be, and you engaged in every external factor that came your way.
Bottom line, believe in yourself. And when you gain the ability to truly trust your choices and your intuition, relax, because life is going to happen, quickly and with surprises. If you've done everything in your power to be in the best place when the chips fall, you just may be happy with where they land. And they're going to land whether you like it or not, so you might as well like it.

Happy Election, Mr. President

YES WE DID.

Cashmere Lined Confection

In three color combinations, these leather Portolano gloves are perfect for any winter coat. And at 15", they will go famously with a 3/4 length sleeve, all the rage as the 50's make a fashion return this season. Elbows not to be neglected.

A Midas Touch Kind of Day

When chocolate and laughter come together, conversation is as smooth as the succulence that fills sugar rimmed martini glasses. Bellies are warm and the reminiscing continues long after the table is cleared and the candle has burned down to the wick. Late into the night, with smiles still painted on sleepy faces, everything we touched had turned to gold.

A Song for the Belters

There's only us

There's only this
Forget regret
Or life is yours to miss
No other road
No other way
No day but today

There's only yes
Only tonight
We must let go
To know what's right
No other course
No other way
No day but today

I can't control
My destiny
I trust my soul
My only goal is just
To be
There's only now
There's only here
Give in to love
Or live in fear
No other path
No other way
No day but today...