Derby Days

image: horse with no name via here

Get your lovely hats and mint juleps ready, because Saturday, May 2nd 2009 marks the 135th Run for the Roses - The Kentucky Derby! I don't know what's better, the lively colors of the jockey shirts, or the amazing array of ladies in fanciful hats - never mind the heart-palpitating race!

My Mom has said she's always wanted to attend America's most famous horse race - hopefully, one day she, my sister and I will get the chance to head to Churchill Downs for the Big Event.
In the meantime....I'll be dreaming of stunning thoroughbreds,one minty-sugary drink, killer chapeaus...and Kentucky-looking traditional interiors!

Watch it! These babies can be S.T.R.O.N.G!

Don't you wish women still wore hats (you know, other than baseball caps) as a regular item of apparel? {sigh}

I really have no idea whether these homes exist anywhere near Louisville - or even in the South for that matter, but somehow they remind me of genteel classicism - the hallmark of hospitable, Southern interiors.

pics via xJavierx - click on pic for more deets

Yes, I realize Eliza Doolittle attended Ascot, not The Derby, but I had to give some props to the original, fabulous race-hat maven (and one of my all-time fave movie characters!)

Be sure to tune in to the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports! Post time approximately 6:04 pm ET.

Jive Java Talkin'

Goodness, goodness, GOODNESS - am I one, relaxed chica! Just got back from a workout-steamroom-spa session that I wrapped up with a Coffee Scrub treatment. I'm such a noodle, now all I can do is sit here and blog about it - do you mind if I indulge a bit?

So...I'm all about exfoliation, so I made an appointment for the Coffee Scrub-Mini Moisturizing Massage here at the hotel Spa. (They also offer scrubs made from lavender buds or sea salt, but I went with coffee because I've heard the caffeine can have "stimulative and firming" properties for the skin - yeah, not gonna turn THAT down!) Anyway...they massage you all over with this coffee ground/massage oil blend - when that's done, you hop into a shower to de-scrub, and then they work this amazing lemon balm-scented mosturizer into your freshly de-scaled Bod. I was in heaven!
Now, my skin is almost as soft as Avery's, and if I close one eye, I swear my Bee-hind looks firmer! ;)

So, while I'm musing on the corporeal benefits of the coffee bean, I must tell you about this...

I recently began reading a "healthy lifestyle" (aka diet) book. As a trained Dietitian, I don't particularly think I need a book to enlighten me on this topic, but, what can I say? Sometimes curiosity over the latest diet craze gets the best of me...
Now, I won't go namin' names, I'll just say the book suggested, no demanded a tad too much elimination of foods for me to believe it's a realistic approach for most people, myself included. Coffee was one of the items on the authors' Hit List. Now, I understand there may be any number of reasons a person doesn't drink coffee, but to lambast something into seclusion without providing even a modicum of balanced information is just completely irresponsible!
In case you haven't heard - Coffee's benefits have been linked (by reputable, medical research) to:

• Reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes (the type most often associated with obesity and genetics)
• Reduced chance of developing Parkinson's Disease (the one that wrecks your body with tremors)
• Reduced risk of certain Cancers - most probably due to the powerful anti-oxidants known as polyphenols found in coffee.**

I don't know about you, but I think I'll ditch the diet nazi's, and keep my java - thank you very much! If you're not into imbibing the stuff, you could delight your senses a bit with this DIY Coffee Scrub:

Basic Coffee Scrub Recipe

• 2 cups ground coffee (hit the Dollar Store or Big Lots for some cheapo stuff!)
• 1/2 cup raw sugar or sea salt (tip: sugar won't burn your little razor knicks)
• 2/3 Tablespoon Almond Oil (Can also use another light oil like Grapeseed or Jojoba)

**I would personally add a few drops of an essential oil, too.

• Apply scrub to wet or damp skin, working in a circular motion so as to distribute the caffeine to help eliminate cellulite and varicose veins

(recipe and other yummy stuff from here)

Will be catching up on lost hugs 'n kisses from Avery tomorrow, but will have full São Paulo recap by Friday. Tchau!

**Medical stats obtained from here

It's a Win-Win Situation

...For me, but more importantly, for Carolyn's Compassionate Children, and the cancer survivors who will benefit from the scholarship funds raised by the recent auction of original art on Ebay. I consider myself lucky to have won this wonderful, hand-lettered gouache by Sarah Gardner.

I couldn't agree more...

If you didn't have a chance to bid on anything, there's no time limit to making a donation to this great cause. One more thing... a big shout out to all the artists who donated their work to the auction. To me, art is a way to share life, emotion, and talent - and those who do that to help others are above and beyond - Bravo!

I hope you all have a splendid weekend. I'm heading to São Paulo with Ben on Sunday, and will be gone until next Wednesday. If I can get my you-know-what together, I'll re-post a couple of the "greatest hits," hopefully with a little something new added in. This is my first trip away from my baby girl, so you know this Mommy's heart will be aching come Sunday afternoon :(
Wish me my wits to be able to enjoy some time with Ben AND to check out the incredibly-bustling city of São Paulo! There's bound to be some blog-worthy things awaiting me there! Tchau, tchau!

Paying it Forward

I am consistently amazed by the generosity of spirit floating around the blogosphere - I guess that's why I've developed this torrid love affair with blogs and blogging. Yesterday, after my (now famous - ha!) Turq-WAZ bureau post, I received some serious blog love from two of my fave bloggers: Jenny at My Favorite and My Best, and Rebecca at Harmony and Home. I can't thank these ladies enough for the amazing shout out they gave MLHP.
Perhaps if I were in person, I could express my gratitude this way...

image: sascha photostream via flickr

Ta DAAH!

I know you're an impatient group, so here ya go!
AFTER:

Now that you've had your fix, I can tell you the story (skip if you're nothing more than an "after" junkie ;) So, after weeks and weeks of what must have been the Rainy Season's last hurrah, we woke up Saturday to the most pristine weather - cool, dry air - not a cloud in the sky. Ya'll know I've been wanting to get my paint on with this French Provincial bureau for some time now... But I also had my dear junk-shop Pineapple Lamp waiting for some love. I decided to tackle both.
First, I needed a new lampshade. Keep in mind there are no one-stop shop Home Depots etc. down here. I had to visit a designated Lamp Store, followed by a designated Paint Store. At the Lamp Shop, I immediately spied an espresso-colored drum shade I thought might work, but the shade could not be used with a harp - as my lamp had.

Mind you, I was minus one semi-fluent-in-Portuguese husband for this outing, so you should've seen the comedy show that was me trying to gather that:
A. I would need to rewire the lamp if I wanted THAT shade
B. Yes, they could do it, but not today (Negative - I'm a horribly-impatient Americana)
C. OK, my husband can re-wire for me, and NO, he won't electrocute himself in the process (Did I look THAT dumb?)
Thankfully, another customer who spoke some English offered to assist. Avery, meanwhile sat patiently in her stroller offering her help by counting the lampshades - in Spanish! Go figure!

So...I got my shade, got a new switch, and a new "business" part of the lamp where the bulb goes. It took me close to 45 minutes to accomplish this task. It took Ben about 15 to re-wire the lamp. He wasn't real thrilled about me "documenting" his efforts...

And got me back a little later by clicking this...

What? You don't sand and paint in your yoga bra, Wayfarers, and circa early-90s gym shorts? Yeah...whenever I start to get a big head and think I'm a "cool Mom," I have these sorts of things to remind me...
So, anyway...had a little multi-tasking going on...

Ready to roll!

Watching paint dry. {dum, da dum...} **It took three coats and about 72 hours to get it just right**

So, another thing about "paint-projecting" down in Brazil is that you are almost required to use oil-based paint - at least if you want a color custom-mixed. I was NOT thrilled about that. It's been years since I've worked with oil, and wasn't looking forward to the fumes and tedious clean-up.
I am now, however, SOLD on it! Check out that glass-like finish? I've never achieved that much lacquedera with latex.

Here's a pic with a bit of the colorful Otomi coverlet I use in that room - see how much fun? I don't intend to leave the vintage poster there - I think I had that thing in my first apartment! What I hope to do is find or make a cool piece of original art to break up the white lamp base/white wall combo.In case you're wondering if I had any inspiration, why yes, of course!Ebay find via Girl Meets GlamourDesk by Jennifer Flanders

It was originally from Shades of Light, but it's no longer showing up on the site...bummer...

As for all the other "accessories," they include a couple of turtle shells (Ebay - not farmed), a PB alarm clock I've had for years, a little succulent pot, and an objet d'art (egg) my Mother picked up during one of her vacay-travels.
As you can see, I'm not a very talented table-scaper - you know it takes a lot of effort to make them look effortless! I'd welcome any suggestions!

I originally planned to poll you guys on what I should do about hardware...I didn't know if I should change it out to something more fitting the irreverent color, paint the original hardware, etc. but, I cleaned up the brass, and think I'm really digging it...

It reminds me of turquoise and gold jewelry, which I adore!

So, there ya have it!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Project accomplished!

A Design Departure...

I've said before, I'm no Fashionista. Something about barely hitting the 5'2" mark (thus being something less than an atelier's dream) has steered me into the look-but-don't touch fashion arena. That's not to say I don't appreciate the power of clothing to convey image, style and personality. Indeed, there are fashion moments that have been indelibly seared onto my non-Fashionista brain. Like the rockin' style phenom that was Rene Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair. I recently filled out one of those silly Facebook quizzes asking which five movies I could watch over and over. I can't believe I forgot Thomas Crown!

I remember reading press bits when the movie was released in 1999 (Creep, it's already been ten years?!) about the costume designs by Michael Kors and thinking he knocked it out of the park. Crazy perfect. And Rene Russo and her beyond-stellar 40-something physique were downright enlightening.

You DO remember That Dress, don't you?
Classic looks - the LBD avec pearls...
...and cashmere with Hermès
And furs...Geez, were we a world away from Recession-Chic, or what?

Of course, she had a great mentor for the role - In the original, 1968 version, Faye Dunaway delivered the role of Vicki Anderson with the epitome of stylish finesse. Timeless, this fashion is. (And yes, I can speak Yoda-ese!)

Most people agree there's a strong connection between interior design and fashion. It seems especially evident these days that home and fashion design move in similar trend circles. Movies tend to concentrate that relationship... Stemming from that - my original plan was to link this post to the set design of the movie - Crown's gazillion-dollar NYC townhouse, and the eye candy that was his tropical getaway. Alas, there are very few still images of the flick, and this was as close as I could get to a shot of the beach house....

Kinda yummy, though, ya think? Warning: Soap Box moment - As I note here how unbelievably thin Rene looks, I'm reminded of the rumors floating around that Angelina Jolie has been contracted to gain about 25 lbs before filming begins on the sequel to The Thomas Crown Affair. I don't blame the producers... Ben and I recently watched AJ in The Changeling, and her extreme thinness was a distraction to the film - almost painful to see. Don't know what she's into (or not into, as in eating), but yes, filmmakers, please incentivize her to soften up a bit. Just sayin'...

So, have you taken the goofy FB quiz? What five movies can you watch over and over? Are there any you watch especially for amazing set and costume design? **You can't use Something's Gotta Give - yes, it's the most fabulous Hampton house ever put on film - dig deeper, ya'll! ;)

The Accidental Eco-ist

When we first arrived in Brazil, I experienced a lot of culture shock. I suppose that's to be expected. When you're from Texas, any place OUTSIDE of The Lone Star State seems like foreign country - this was the Real Deal.
We did not live lavishly prior to moving here, but we, like many other Americans, took for granted the amenities many homes in The States have to offer. Things like dishwashers, garbage disposals and central air and heat are just a few.
At first, living without those conveniences regularly set me into "WHY can't this Country just . Be. Normal?" mode, but as time has gone by, I realize we just might have turned into Accidental Eco-ists.

Previously, I wasn't the most fastidious about remembering my reusable grocery bags - but when I saw these very "designerly" totes in the Brazilian supermarket, I was converted!

So, yes, I still miss a garbage disposal terribly, but what is my loss is our garden's gain. Whatever fruit/vegetable scraps, leftovers, coffee grounds (they are fabulous soil-enrichers, ya know!) we have get blended up into a scrumptious soil concoction...

Looks downright yummy, huh? ;) Yeah, I wouldn't go near it with a ten-foot straw, but our plants LOVE IT! Not exactly traditional composting, but who cares? Check out my "kitchen garden!"

Rarely have I had lavender that survived, much less bloomed!

And the rosemary....oh, the rosemary!

We've even had some surprise newbies pop up - the result of onion, ginger, and cilantro remnants taking root!

Don't get me wrong, this is not a pat on the back for me. Given the choice, I'll still take an SUV (OK, maybe a Crossover) any day over a Smartcar. All I'm saying is, without any noble intent, we've become "greener", and the thing is I DIG it! Not because I feel holier-than-thou or some idiotic sense of empowerment (because I don't), it's just nice to know we can adapt - we ARE facing unique challenges - and we (and our garden!) are thriving just the same...

P.S. - Guess who had a project-filled weekend? Yessir, now that (I'm declaring) the Rainy Season over - the paint cans and tools were bustin' a move!
Remember this ol' guy?

...And this little chula?

Should have some fun "after" pics for ya by Wednesday!