Bernard Pivot Questions

Ok, so I've always loved the Bernard Pivot questions they do at the end of Inside the Actor's Studio. I think they would make a great scrap page, mini book theme or circle journal theme. A while back Elsie Flannigan was looking for questions to answer on her blog, so I sent her these. On Monday, she answered them and several others have followed on their blogs. Elise even started a thread on SIS. I've been meaning to post my answers on my blog all week. So here goes:

1. What is your favorite word? beautiful

2. What is your least favorite word? B word and C word, usually used with such negative connotations

3. What turns you on creatively? advertisements, color patterns, music
spiritually? sunsets
or emotionally? music

4. What turns you off? ignorance, racism and hate

5. What is your favorite curse word? i really don't curse much, but when I do I find it much more fun to do it in other languages!

6. What sound or noise do you love? music that gives you goosebumps, when my non-verbal or semi-verbal kiddos (my clients) start to talk or sing

7. What sound or noise do you hate? loud bass that vibrates walls and windows

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? architect, neuroscientist

9. What profession would you not like to do? repetitive, routine desk jobs

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? help yourself to unlimited food, wine, music and art

Anniversary Trip

Here's a little collage of pictures from our trip to San Diego to celebrate our anniversary. We had a great time. Nothing too exciting, mostly just hanging out, looking at the ocean and enjoying our fabulous room. We had a great room, with a great view of the ocean. The only negative was my sunburn...try as I might with gobs of sunscreen I always seem to burn my first time in the sun each summer. So most of our trip was less sun, more shade and ocean breezes! It was great to just spend some time together!

One Year Ago

One year ago tomorrow we were doing this--a beautiful, small, intimate wedding overlooking the ocean. I can't believe it's been a year already. Time flies when your having fun! Here's a few pictures of our day, most of which I've yet to scrap...Happy Anniversary to us!

A little mid week news

After many weeks of complaining about my cell phone, I finally made it to my 2 year phone credit with Verizon this weekend. Yesterday a little box came in the mail with my brand new adorably red Moto KRZR! You have no idea how much a silly little red phone makes me happy!

In other happy news, this page was selected by Gigi for this weeks Catwalk at SIS!! So exciting!

Watch This

Found this video link on a website I visit and think its worth sharing. It has a great message and style. Terra Naomi's "Say It's Possible"--Enjoy!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the best "girl dad" there is!

Cure for the Blahs

So this week I've kind of had a case of "the blahs"--no particular reason, just feeling blah most of the week.
Maybe it's the fact that its 110 degrees!! I'm so not ready for the summer heat!
Maybe it's that I have a million and one things to do , most of which I am so unmotivated to do.
Maybe I'm jealous of my teacher friends who have summers off.
Maybe it's that I'm dreaming of summer vacations to exotic locations....
at any rate, today I've discovered a cure for my blahs....bargain shopping for goodies to make summer more happy!

First, 2 cute summer dresses from Ross for less than $25 total! Easy, throw on and look cute dresses. Shawn's not thrilled with the bottoms of these empire waist, a-line dresses that as he says "bell out." I say they are meant for twirling!

Next, Target and 50% of summer beach and poolside stuff....cute striped towels:

...and a fun new doormat, which makes my sad, wilting in the summer heat garden courtyard so much more happy:


I hope its cooler where you live or your managing to keep cool here in the desert and the summer blahs have not hit your house!

Sick Day

So, I was going to post yesterday, but I wasn't feeling great and ended up taking a huge nap yesterday afternoon/evening. I've had this congestion and throat thing off and on for the past week or two and I think it's finally catching up with me. I'm staying home today, since I actually have a lot of cancellations already and the kids I would see have pretty low immune systems.

Anyway, yesterday I was planning on posting a weekend recap and a recipe, since I generally spend Sunday afternoons figuring out the meals for the week and grocery shopping.

As for the weekend, Saturday was a busy day. On Saturday morning, Shawn called me outside to the pond to see lots of little baby koi swimming around. This is pretty exciting, because Shawn wasn't sure any of the babies would actually survive. There are at least six and probably more and they are all about 3 inches long. I'll have to post a picture later. Unfortunately, after this pond discovery, Shawn had nothing but mishaps the rest of the day, including a broken pond pipe, sliced open finger and call to AAA.....I on the other hand had a good day, attending a baby shower for Leighssa, a work friend, and a family bbq to visit with my aunt Martha and cousin Gus who are in town from Colorado.

Since I wasn't feeling well Sunday, I did not do the menu for the week or go grocery shopping. But, on the menu last week was spanikopita (greek spinach pie), a tortellini salad recipe from Silvia, and a new recipe for Ultimate Onion Tart clipped from one of my many magazines. The Onion Tart was really good, so here's the recipe for those of you who like to cook.

Ultimate Onion Tart
1 pie crust 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 cup butter 1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 Vidalia (or sweet) onion, sliced 3 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 shallots, sliced 3/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 leek, sliced 3/4 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1 tsp. sugar 3 eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup whipping cream

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Prepare pie crust and place in 9 in pie plate.
2. In a skillet, heat butter over medium heat; add onion, leek, shallots, sugar, nutmeg, pepper and dash of salt. Cook about 8 minutes or until tender but not brown. Reduce heat. Stir in cream cheese until melted. Stir in Swiss and Jack cheeses until combined.
3. In a large bowl combine eggs and cream. Gradually stir in onion mixture until combined. Pour onion mixture into pie shell. Fold crust edge over filling, pleating as necessary. Bake, uncovered, about 40 minutes or until crust and top are golden brown and knife comes out of the center cleanly. Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Caught in the Act

A little bit before Mother's Day, when my parents were on vacation I told my dad I was taking family photos to make my mom a scrapbook. Well, it took me so long to go through the photos and choose the ones I wanted to use and scan and reproduce them....the scrapbook did not make the mother's day deadline! I figured I'd hang on to the photos and maybe pick out some more and shoot for a scrapbook as a Christmas gift. Yesterday I called my mom to see what she was up to and she said she was looking at pictures....what pictures I wondered, since I have most of them. She was looking at Ireland pictures, but very concerned that she looked all over the house and the garage for the old pictures and could not find them! I had to confess that I have them all and spill the beans about the scrapbook in process. So Merry Christmas Mom and Dad! Here's a few of the photos she was looking for to put in some frames she recently purchased.

Destined to become a vegetarian. Me refusing to eat the meat on my plate!

My sister Kellie and her beloved "monica" (harmonica that is)

Me--rockin' out! A music lover from early on!

Me and my doll Betsy...still have her on a bookshelf in my guest room.

New Creations

Today I had a cancellation, so I returned home after my dentist appointment to create this for the One Little Word challenge.


This weekend I created this little album to document our trip to Disney with Jessie and Tim in March to celebrate Jessie's birthday, which is in August....we really went to CA to visit The Price is Right before Bob Barker's retirement. You can read the story of that joyous day here. You can see the rest of the album here.

Not much else to report...another Monday bites the dust.

Accessible Art

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a production of "Greased Again" by Detour Co. Theatre. This group is comprised of adults with special needs. One of my clients was in this production. It was amazing! I don't think I've ever smiled and laughed so much at any performance before. The cast did an excellent job and the show was wonderful. Please look here for an article about this performance and watch the rehearsal video to see how wonderful this group is. It shows art is essential for everyone and can be a medium in which anyone can shine.

Random stuff

Friday recap:

*Spent all day getting re-certified in Adult, Child and Infant CPR and First Aid at the Red Cross...fun, fun!
*Finished this:


You can see more of it here
*Got Pottery Barn order in the mail, which included this for my scrap room

*Made sour cream enchildas for dinner
*Surfing the net