Saturdays are for junk shopping

Christina picked me up yesterday morning and we went to breakfast at my favorite breakfast restaurant, The Park Cafe. They make the best Huevos Rancheros I have ever eaten. Homemade black beans and the tastiest breakfast potatoes in the state.

Afterward we went junk shopping! We hit a couple of places but abode was the first. This little place is right up the street from me. We are literally on the same street. I could walk there in about 10 minutes or less. It's small but it is packed full of treasures and the owner Mariam is so friendly and welcoming.

I found this polka dot bulletin board there and had to get it. I've been meaning to move my red desk from the living room to the entryway and the new board gave me incentive. I can finally mark at least one decorating task off of my list. Next I'm painting the desk black and then distressing it.

The brothers came over later in the afternoon and worked on my car. I made a scrumptious dinner and salad (sorry Stacey, no pictures of the food). We all ate, drank wine and laughed for the rest of the evening. Good times.

A little decadence never hurt anybody

I think of my late grandpa every time I come to this bakery. My grandma use to warm a danish for him in the oven every morning. At least every morning that I was ever there. She would wrap it in tinfoil and stick it in the oven and then call him to the table when it was done. I bought two cheese danishes yesterday and warmed one of them up, just how grandpa liked them, right when I got home.

Caffeine and sugar, mmm...the American way! This morning I was only able to partake in caffeine because I downed the second danish around midnight last night. *sigh* In hindsight I would have only eaten half.

hokay!

My life has been slightly interrupted the last couple of weeks because my car broke down (shocking!). We thought it was just the battery and my brother replaced it only to have the timing belt go out a few days later, in the middle of a snow storm, while driving home from work one night. Jesus, my car (cleverly named by my brothers because it keeps resurrecting from the dead) was kind enough to wait until I was coming onto the off ramp of the freeway. Right when I was giving myself kudos for not having a panic attack while driving in the storm, on the freeway, in the dark - he died. No warning at all. My cell phone battery also died so I trucked the two miles home, on foot, in the snow storm. The strange part? I kind of enjoyed the walk...

On New Year's Eve, Christina took me to get my car out of impound. Yeah, that whole "You have twenty-four hours to get your car off of the road" all lies. Anyway, after that we hung out and ate pizza and watched movies. She also helped me pick out images for this collage project that I'm working on. I got the idea from my sister. She and her best friend collaged a life size mannequin a couple of years ago. One of my resolutions is to improve my vocabulary. I'm making myself flashcards and they really are helping me retain the information more quickly. I'm such a dork.

This is Pascal the Parrot, aka Little Chicken Man. Another resolution is to spend more time handling him. He's a sweet little guy who I know would be an absolute lover if I held him more. He's currently entertaining me by barking like the neighbor's dog.


And now, the lovely purse that Mumsey made! I really dig tartan and red is among my most favorite colors. It is also huge so I can pretty much put my entire life in there.

Finally there is Gisele .... She's on a diet for the new year. She just doesn't know it yet.

♥

twenty-tens a comin

Christmas was spent in Phoenix with my parents. It was really nice to spend it with them. It had been a couple of years. My mom put everything she had into us kids like always. As soon as I get a memory card for my camera I'll post some pictures of the killer purse that she made for me.

I've been thinking a lot about what changes I would like to make this coming year. Yep, I'm one of those. I enjoy this time of year and the reflection that it brings. I'm spending the next few days getting organized and (somewhat) planning my execution. I mean to do a lot more writing this year.

♥ Happy Mother's Day Mom ♥

I'm not a very good photographer but I did my best. Here is a photo of the mixed media collage I made for my mom as part of her Mother's Day gift. She loved it - which made my day!

I love you mom! Thank you for being such a fun mom and for teaching me how to laugh at myself, among other things. Have a wonderful day and know that you are loved, appreciated and admired...by someone I'm sure!

XOXO

I’ve had such a contrary couple of weeks.

Ben and I decided to stop seeing each other. Which is an awful lot like ripping a band aid off; it hurts like hell but has to be done. I think ending our “relationship” (I use that term loosely) was one of the few things that we ever agreed on and we even argued about that, go figure. But aside from that I have the rush that new found independence tends to give and I have applied for school in the fall. I take my assessment test tomorrow, yikes! I have decided on a degree in Humanities and I’m giddy to be a student again. And although I’m hungry for the knowledge, going to school full time and working full time is going to be crazy! But I’m up for it….I think.

Then there is Gisele. Poor girl had to go back to the vet today and have her original incision from being spayed a month ago, reopened, cleaned and closed back up with different sutures. She had an allergic reaction to the dissolvable stitches and had developed an infection. This time around they gave her the good old fashion stitches. Except they’re worried about her licking them hence the stylish t-shirt she is so obviously thrilled about. I have already taken it off of her so that she could cuddle up and sleep like she does.

So that’s life in Bohemian Sugar. I’m just trying to get a grip.

3 week challenge - Day one

I'm participating in the three week challenge (www.3weekchallenge.ning.com) and today was my first day. Part of that challenge is to write down five things, each day, that you're grateful for and do quick daily journal entries about the dreams that you have. I've decided to combine the two.

One of my dreams is to have a best friend to laugh and make art with. And the five things I'm grateful for today are...

1) Mom
2) Gisele
3) Melinda
4) My home
5) My job

I hope you all have a wonderful day and you're working on focusing on what is right in life. There is so much to be thankful for if we will just take the time to look and think about it.
♥

Stacey's Candy Dishes and My Random Thoughts

So.... my USB cord won't work on my camera. That's why I was unable to complete December Views (WAH!). I was jonezin for a post though so I decided to swipe a picture from my sister's blog (http://collagecafe.blogspot.com/) These are candy dishes that she made by collage on martini glasses! They're splendid are they not?!

I have several new spreads in my journal that I want to upload as soon as I have a working USB cord. I definitely want to post more this year. Yep, more posting and more journals. Especially more journals!! JOURNAL LOVE!! I'm so consumed by this art expression. I don't know how I have survived so long without a creative outlet that is visual like this. It's been extremely therapeutic for me. The entire process acts like a sedative to my soul. It's a weakness worth having.

E~♥