In Your Closet, Do You Have… February 22, 2009

Ladies! Would you do me a favor? Tell me, in your closet do you have…

• long evening gloves
• fake fur shawl

If so, may I borrow them? There is a lovely little photo shoot happening and this vintage evening theme is in. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Mika from Mikarose has an amazing collection of modest dresses that are cute and fun to wear. She has also generously agreed to lend me the divine Hollywood dress from their current collection for the shoot. Here’s a sneak peak – thanks, Mika!

Killer Spinach Dip Recipe February 19, 2009

If you have a hankering for a killer spinach dip recipe, look no further.  This spinach dip recipe is wicked good and has its own fan club.  It is ideal for superbowl parties, new years parties, girls night out on the weekend when calories don’t count parties…  It’s sure to be a hit.  You don’t have to share the recipe if you don’t want to.  It can be our little secret…

THE SECRET SPINACH DIP RECIPE
(no longer secret because I’m now posting it online)
Care of redhead Allison

Mix together 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, half a package of frozen spinach (thawed and drained – can also substitute half a bunch of fresh spinach), 1/2  cup of mayo, 1/2 cup of grated chedder cheese, TBSP of dill, a clove of garlic,  1/4 onion (minced) and some bacon bits if you have them.  Put it all inside a hollowed out loaf of bread, wrap it in foil and bake it at 350*C for a half hour or till it’s warm

It really is the easiest recipe in the world – if you can’t heat it up it’s still good, if you don’t have bread it can be stuck in the microwave and eaten with crackers, and pretty much anything can be substituted/increased/decreased depending on your taste.

ENJOY!  Let me know what you think!

Ode to an Artist February 14, 2009

Promenade d'octobre (October walk)

One of our favorite artists is Canadian Claude Theberge.  Tim and I discovered his work in a darling boutique when wandering through the cobbled streets of Old Towne Montreal in January 2007.  We fell in love with his work and bought half a dozen prints, five of which adorn our walls.  Sadly, we learned today that Mr. Theberge passed away in May 2008 after a long illness.  Enclosed is some samples of his work.  You’ll see he loves to work with umbrellas, animals, flying sashes and the wind.  Enjoy.

L'embellie (clearing)

Here is an excerpt from an article on Theberge by CBC:

“He was a man of great intellect and spirit,” [close friend Gilles] Quenneville said in an interview.

“One of the greatest painters Canada has ever seen,” he added. “There was immense talent and spirituality behind his work.”

Lumiere (light)

For years, he divided his time between Montreal and Paris, while creating art that explored various styles, including abstraction and surrealism. He also held a post as a graphic designer for UNESCO in Paris.

Théberge believed that art should be brought out of the museums and into the streets. One of his initiatives included founding a workshop that worked to integrate art into urban environments.

La Maman bernache (mother goose)

Le Bord de mer (the seashore)

And my most beloved of Theberge’s work – “Resurrection”

Résurrection

L'aube (the dawn)

To see more of Theberge’s work, visit his website at http://www.claudetheberge.com.  There is also another wonderful tribute to his art at http://users.ez2.net/kona99/Theberge.htm

Childhood Dreams Come True February 8, 2009

When I was 8 years old, I took a modeling class.  And let me tell you, I had a kick butt runway walk – even then!  As kids, we dabbled in the entertainment industry, being involved in commercials and movies.  As a teenager I totally wanted to model and even went to an agency!  I was instructed to lose an inch off my hips and come back.  Though I never did, I have thought about modeling for years and gone through phases of enthusiasm… but never really done anything about it.

Until now.  In November, I started working with life coach Lisa J. Peck, the Step It Up Queen.  The weekend before, this urge to model had been rekindled so we talked about it.  She told me how she could hear the color in my voice whenever I talked about modeling and encouraged me to make time for and pursue my childhood dream.  It’s been amazing how Lisa’s encouragement has helped me move forward these last few months, not just with modeling, but life in general.  With her help, I’ve made incredible progress in trusting my instincts, living with confidence and actively pursuing my dreams.  I live with greater clarity and direction.

Here’s some of my favorite shots from some recent photo shoots… more to come!

Photo care of Robert Parker

Photo care of Chris Blackburn

Photo care of Chris Blackburn

Photo care of Justin Hackworth

So what are your childhood dreams?  Are you living them?  Do tell!

And a big thank you to Lisa for all her help and encouragement.  I totally recommend Lisa and would love to introduce her to you!

Heart Attack!

So Wednesday night, I’m pulling out of the driveway to go to the grocery store when several cars pull up behind me.   In our neighborhood, seeing that many cars at once is abnormal.  All of a sudden the young women jump out of the cars and start throwing heart messages into my car!  I was heart attacked!  They were so sweet, shouting “I love you’s”, sharing lovely messages and bearing cookies.

Thanks girls for showing love!  You totally made my day!  Miss you!  Love you!

So your challenge.  Heart attack someone!  You’ll make them feel so loved.  And what timing!  Valentines is right around the corner…