He's Pretty Great.

Sundays are typically fantastic; I attend church, catch up with my family and friends, and Bryan and I take an extended nap together. But when I have too much "reflection time" it's not a good thing. My mind begins to race and I think of how many puzzle pieces I have, and how many I want to have, and how many pieces I thought I should have by now. And then there's this looming Birthday I have coming up. And on my Birthday I look at a master list of THINGS TO DO BEFORE I DIE that I created years ago.....Do you see how it gets to be a tad bit much? Ugggghhhh I'm a piece of work.

Luckily for me, my sweetheart is always up when I'm down. He can perennially talk me into smiling and being my regular happy, glass-half-full-self. And fortunately enough, I'm up when he's down. I don't know how the universe manages it, but our entire marriage has magically continued in this pattern. In his fruitful efforts, Bunnie said something significant to me last night,

"We may not be exactly where we thought

we'd be at our age. But what is great

about us, is we haven't abandoned our dreams.

We still have the courage to go after them.

Someday reality will catch up with our dreams,

but in the mean time we're still happy."

He is so perfect for me it's scary. We are soul mates, and I'm thankful I found such a wonderful man to spend forever with. By no hands of chance, he makes up for everything I lack. And I make up for everything he lacks. And together we create an unstoppable rebel force. Hooray for true love. Hooray for marriage. Hooray for an amazing husband.

Image by Pink Sherbet Photography.

Let Them Eat Cake!

What's so bad about cake? In my opinion, Marie hit the nail on the head. If everyone in the world stopped for one ordinary afternoon to lull around and eat an exquisite piece of cake, the world be a happier and lovelier place to live. Of that I am convinced!

Tonight I was perusing my dvd collection and I happened upon Marie. I loved that movie. Now the script was dribble. And the acting {yehhh} and no one had a French accent {in France.} But what it lacked in content, it made up in costuming, style, and music. The score is amazing! And no one can deny the tender hearted Sofia Coppola that. No one! {My favorite dress was the sea foam and red!}

All The Right Type.

Every L.A. woman is a gracious and creative hostess.

No two soirees are ever alike, and neither are her

invitations. I have a couple of gatherings coming up, and I am

pining for a typewriter to combine with my odd-ball

card making methods.

You might say, "Just use a computer." Easier said than done.

I'm not very competent when is comes to using computers.

And more over, quality card stock smears in our laser jet printer.

And so, I am searching high and low

for a proper functioning typewriter

of my very own. I'm hoping for one of the

following looks:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

*Yellow wallpaper image found at:

http://callmetheens.blogspot.com

1. http://hi-and-low.typepad.com

2. http://mytypewriter.com

3. http://somenewtrend.files.wordpress.com

4. http://www.esquire.com

5. http://www.philipkdick.com

Paw Power.

When Soba was a brand new puppy

{and weighed only a couple of pounds.)

I would plop him in the laundry basket, and take him

with me downstairs to do the laundry so he wouldn't cry.

But now he's eleven pounds, and still wants to

go on a puppy adventure along with me.

Every time I pull out the laundry basket, he hops on in

as if it's his puppy right. I had to chronicle this bit of silliness.

Hey, It's A Thought.

Bunnie and I have been brainstorming for creative ideas to pay off our student loans. So far, the most plausible option is to

make more money. {Go figure.} I did look up "HOW TO FAKE YOUR OWN DEATH." Which really made us laugh because the instructional site I located said the following in the preface,

"Perhaps it's all just getting to be too much. Maybe you want a fresh start, a new beginning. On the other hand, maybe you just don't want to pay your students loans. Whatever it is, there is always the option of faking your death." {CLICK.} To visit the site.

We burst into uncontrollable laughter. It seems there are numerous couples out there scrounging to pay back their impossible student loans just like us. Even President Obama just barely paid off his student loans last year. Yeah. That doesn't give us serfs a whole lot of hope! Oh, well. We'll just keep plugging away, and eventually we'll pay back the loans. And when we finally do, I want to

pay back the lenders in pennies.

Would you fake your own death to escape debt?

money tree image by: jerryong.com/ blog/tag/money/

The Brilliance of Henry Darger.

Three years ago I saw a brilliant/fascinating

documentary entitled, IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL.

the story of self-taught painter Henry Darger.

{Rent it if you haven't already.}

His paintings, and personal story

will bring a burning spark of joy into your life.

And perhaps you too will want to become a Vivian Girl.

A Gravely Situation.

"Have you ever danced with the devil

in the pale moonlight?"-The Joker

Better yet, have you ever watched a film in a graveyard, by the pale moonlight? As of this weekend I can answer with a spirited YES! Above is a daylight view of the famous

Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Final resting place of numerous celebrities including: Cecil B. Demille, George Harris and Johnny Ramone!

During summer season, the graveyard hosts viewings for more than the dead, rather viewings of old cinematic classics. {click.} for screening information. This is a fantastic weekend outing. Round up all of your friends/family, a stack of blankets, and a picnic basket. I even saw a candlelit dinner complete with vino, glass flutes, and fondue! Totally up my alley. {The fondue that is!} This weekend Cindee, Lori and I took in the treasured classic SINGING IN THE RAIN. It was a postively enchanted evening. Here's a list of my favorite details:

1. The Setting.
2. The company.
3. The treats; cheese/crackers, nectarines, black grapes and chocolate covered cashews! {thanks Cindee!}
4. Intriguing conversation.
5. A crisp Los Angeles night.
6. The people watching. Angelenos=Fashionable.
7. I found my fashion soul mate. {too weird.} And she spoke to me because she liked my ensemble. {again, too weird.}
8. The film was so beautiful I wanted to hug it!

day time picture of cemetery by l.a. times blog.

Friendship.

Today I'm thanking my creator for girl friends.

I am fortunate because my friends

seem to be a cut above the rest.

"Thank you for being a friend.

Traveled down the road, and back again.

Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant."

{To quote THE GOLDEN GIRLS jingle.}

photo source unknown.

Mea Culpa.

Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa.

I have a problem with jealousy.

Or envy, or being covetous.

I want to rid myself of this unattractive tendency.

I want to be genuinely pleased for others

when they have success stories to share.

My little problem is flaring up

because presently, I feel like a failure.

I feel like I've let myself, and others down.

I feel ashamed, simple, and grossly insignificant.

And because of this present sensitivity,

I ignorantly measure my weakest frailties

next to someone else's greatest strengths.

How can I overcome this bit of silliness?

How does one combat jealousy?

What's steps should be taken?

Immaculate Cheese?

I never believed those urban legends

where the image of the Madonna

appears to a believer in a piece of toast.

That just doesn't seem likely,

or plausible, or at all sane.

But yesterday I was pulling

apart Swiss cheese for a quesadilla.

And a piece magically looked

like the silhouette of California.

And since my blog's topics

are largely about the Sunshine State,

I just couldn't resist sharing.

Is this a fraud?

You be the judge!

Life is a Beach, and then You Dive.

Beach sunshine overexposed the polaroids,

{which I completely adore}

We look as if we're from the 1950's.

What a marvelous cluster of

memories to stow in a forgotten volume.

Only to be found by my curious

granddaughter forty-five years from today.

Beach Time: Locals Only.

We had an amazing California weekend.

Bunnie loaded up the truck with the essentials;

friends, treats, and beach gear.

Favorite Details of the day:

scenery driving to the beach.

the grand company.

wearing my new, vintage, hot pink shorts:

{Thank you Ms. Rachel!}

the ocean.

our precious teal cooler.

{click on pictures to enlarge.}

School Girl.

As promised my new, vintage $8.00 outfit.

Blouse: vintage $3.99

Skirt: vintage $3.99
scored both @ St. Vincent's {CLICK}

*************************************

Other items pulled from existing bag of tricks:

Belt: vintage $12.00

Tights: Betsey Johnson $2.oo @ Marshall's

Shoes: Urban Outfitters $22.00

Grandfather Cardigan: Anthropologie $42.00

There's nothing like wearing a new {to me} outfit.

Craft and Folk Art Museum Part 3.

Joseph Cornell was yet another brilliant artist that I viewed at the charming C.A.F.A.M. One of his quotes was blown up on to the wall that certainly stirred me. Perhaps it might move you as well.

"Endless marveling at the way in which routine

experience suddenly becomes magically imbued

and transformed with a joy too

elusive to catch in words."

-Diary Entry April 27, 1958 Joseph Cornell

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

This quote reminds me of a mundane, yet magical experience

I recently shared with my husband {HERE.}

photo by: baseballreliquary.org

The Secret Garden.

THE SECRET GARDEN was one of my favorite childhood books. I recently visited my mother's house, and reclaimed my treasured edition. My copy was a large paper back with darling water color illustrations. Retold by: Louise Betts and Illustrated by: Karen Pritchett.

A vintage enthusiast {even as a child} I wanted a dress just like Mary's.

"Just then, something happened that Mary would always

say was magic. A gust of wind parted the

trailing sprays of ivy hanging from the wall.

It was then that Mary saw a round object, a doorknob!

Mary's heart began to pound, and her hands shook

as she pulled back the ivy and took out

the brass key she always carried in her pocket.

She put the key into the lock and turned it. It took two

hands to do it, but she finally turned the knob.

Making sure no one was coming,

she held back the swinging curtains of ivy

and pushed the door back. It opened slowly.

Then she slipped through the door

and shut it behind her."

Oh, these illustrations are perfection!

What was your favorite book as a child?

So Many Things Right....

There are oh, so many things right about this picture:

1. the color scheme.
2. the plate.
3. the packaging.
4. the snickerdoodles.
5. the stolen, solitary bite.

This beautiful image was brought to you by:

NICE PACKAGE Etsy Shop {CLICK}

Procrastination Station: Map of L.A.

I've been slowly making an abbreviated

booklet of "Yazzie Fractured Fairy Tales."

A story of love, intrigue, dreams, and laughter.

Featuring none other than the Bunnies.

I'm having such a great time

creating a new theme for each page.

Above is my map for our Los Angeles life together.

Isn't it precious? {Don't answer that!}

Click on image to enlarge.

The scene behind is my courtyard 1 story below

Tell me about the story of you.

Paint Me Gray.

Here's a sneak peak at our 'after'

for the sleeping quarters.

Bunnie just painted on Saturday.

There's still much to do

in terms of organization and decor,

but slowly we're getting there.

A LITTLE PRINCESS.

Today I was inspired by Lindsay of Little Garden Blog. She reminded me of one of my favorite movies {and books for that matter} MATILDA. See her lovely blog {HERE.} As I commented on her wonderful post, I was filled with rich memories. Here's what I said;

"My sister and I are nine years apart.

When I was a freshmen in high school,

she was in first grade. Needless to say,

we fought about what we watched on the telly.

Two movies that we loved to watch together as sisters were:

1) A LITTLE PRINCESS 2) MATILDA."

Please Enjoy the following visual feast:

{Stills from A LITTLE PRINCESS.}