A holiday KIN I wanted to share with you

Here is a wonderful selection of menu ideas for Christmas morning. Beth offers great cooking tips throughout the video which is very lovely! Out I go to shop for the ingredients! Happy Holidays!

No one talks about this.....it's just smelly

The smelly I'm talking about is garbage. No one likes to think about it. Especially in New York City and it's five boroughs. But, this morning it occured to me that after depositing a lot of trash on the curb in front of my house that I need to reduce this unsightly mess!

"Where is all this stuff going?", and ,"Who is dealing with this?" because I honestly do not know the process and I really should as I am just as responsible for this as every other New Yorker.
I mean garbage is quite disgusting stuff and somebody, people, organizations are taking our trash and what happens after they take it, transport it, recycle  it do I know much about? I feel that I should be responsible enough to at least know where my garbage goes.

Well, New York City, we can  know the whole stinky story.

I played The Gotham Gazette Garbage Game and sent 1,898,029 tons of refuse across 118,193 miles.

The Gotham Gazette has an educational and informing game that you can play where you can see how our trash disposal decisions affect our lives and our future environmentally. This game left me feeling what a gianormous responsibility we set for others to get rid of our waste. I realized how very important the word simplicity is.

And, thanks to the trash game, I am no longer ignorant as to the new life my trash leads from beyond my trash cans onto its new and complicated ,though never ceasing in possibilities, journey.

I have been enlightened fully in the terms Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Tablecloths bring a family together

Yes, that's right! A tablecloth can bring a family together. Think about it. You buy a tablecloth and what happens next is pure inspiration and curiosity. The tablecloth inspires you to put down tableware such as platters and bowls, sauces and condiments, pitchers and glasses, and finally utensils. Food is then sought to dress all those pieces just waiting to be filled with hot and cold delights. And, then, the magic truly happens! They will come-family and, if invited, friends too. How wonderful is the smallest gesture of laying a tablecloth! What joy it brings to you and, most importantly, your family.

Seek out tablecloths. Keep many on hand. Purchase ones you absolutely adore. Then purchase lovely tableware to adorn your table. Put some food on it! Even if it has to be "take-out" some times. Just let the tablecloth do all the magic and inspiring!

Hope these pictures get you "Ready to Eat"!

Here are just a few lovely websites of very pretty linens that are crafted with the home in mind-

http://www.aphrochicshop.com/collections/tabletop

http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/dinnerware-entertaining/table-linens/?cm_type=lnav

http://www.serrv.org/category/linens

and I like to go here to see if they may have a special item for my budget pocketbook.

Happy gathering!

Five Most Common Embroidery Stitches || KIN DIY- A "Sublime" tute

I am just loving this "channel" as a community learning tool. I especially love that it's completely free.The quality is beautifully done. I felt it was a good share- thus I share it with you if you haven't seen it. It is great for beginning stitchers like myself. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

I am busy "making" (I try to" make" something weekly and see how capable I am in this discipline) things in crochet, sewing, beauty things and food. I have been delving deeply in baking with this book

 

It is filled with so many really great baking recipes. When cooking from a cookbook, I think that it's important that the recipe actually works in my kitchen as well as the author's. This is one of those books! The recipes work in my most modest and humble kitchen with the most basic tools and equipment. I am very happy with the recipes in this lovely book with wonderful pictures and tips for cooks and home chefs of every kind. I borrowed this from the library. I always try to do this first before I make a book part of my personal collection. This one is definitely in my shopping cart.

a very notable read (or should be)

 This is a lovely children's book written some time ago that is quite a treasure. I think as a mom, an African American woman and an appreciator of quilting histor, I love to see read books from the days where slavery and the Underground Railroad played an important part of the rich oral, written and created by hand traditions that make up the identity of "the what" and "the who" that share this beautiful country we live in.

This book is beautifully written. A sentimental writing with the most affecting and warming pictures. I'd say that, as a mom, this book would be great family reading for families with children aged 7 or 8 and up. The concept of slavery may be harder to delve into for the younger than 7 set.

(edited 5/6/2012 rush posting, is my excuse)

Library comforts, home comfort

I love libraries! I can enjoy my love of books, printed pages and editorial art form for free due to the largess and generosity of so many dedicated patrons and donations of those who obviously feel like I do about books and their relations ( other media forms of artistic expression) filling the many shelves and databases in our real and virtual world. It's abso- rootin'- tootingly marvelous! Just look at this smoking hot stack of my recent "procurements"

Umm, the books, not the dog, she's mine

I was leafing, longingly, through this from a previous trips' stash of library books and my fingers flipped along all those mouthwatering, taste bud craving recipes until I came to a most exciting discovery. Alas, I could not find what I discovered from that book on her website to share with you all but I thought I'd show you and then you could make you some lusciousness from the cookbook. Try to get your copy from your local library, nothing beats free! Can you guess what I made!

Lovely, carmelly (?), s-a-weet, stickyyyy, bubbly

cinnamon scenty

buttery, delicious,crispy, tender = drooly mouthiness=happy comfort!

These were so easy to MAKE!

 Thanks Ina!

PSSSSSSSSSTTTT! Hey 'cue lovers! Live in NYC like me! You can be here soon! Wish it! Do It!

Butterflies are so truly magical!

I really like bugs. I mean I like them and find them interestingly magical, mystical, and seldom appreciated. Nature is a pleasing diversion to me as a very busy parent. Stopping in the midst of my day to browse a book about butterflies is something extraordinary for me. Browsing spectacular books is a great way to relax, appreciate the small and other significant living things around us and realize how much more closer to the natural world we should be amidst all the technology within our lives.

Butterflies are fantastic! You can behold in their visual appearance a supernatural and magical beauty that may not be so evidently apparent in other specimens of the insect world. This book One Hundred Butterflies by Harold  Feinstein is a most lovely "coffee table " book. But, I think it better than coffee table and upgrade it to everyday reference and enjoyment. Leave a page open everyday and each picture will invoke many things within the minds of those whose eyes befall it as they pass it by. I mean really, those creatures are that inviting! (As many of you already know!)

And this picture of the Blue Morpho just fills me with memories from the many books I've read on my own and with my children that invoke images of fairies and fairy folk

If you are in New York or visiting here you should go here! It is a fabulous place to see butterflies and many more fantastic displays!

You can view the lifecycle!

Join an Association and become an expert!

Do some superb butterfly decorating around your home!

Here is one project I have done so far! With those lovely butterflies, I believe I will do much more!

How about some bug hunting!

When the evening rolls around, read some of these-

A soon to be classic for all!



Already a fantastic classic with a famous bug like fairy character we've all grown to love!

Whipup with your kids!

Happy April to all! I have been so busy as a single mom can be! Soul searching, care taking, career exploring, and having a roller coaster ride time in my life! Thank God not dismally so! Life is a blessed journey!

Lately, when thinking about this blog and reflecting on my lack of posts, I feel at a loss of what direction I am taking. Sometimes, I feel, I am making to big a deal of these posts, and when I get to feeling that way, I tell myself self that what I need will come- the answers, the ideas, the joy. I like to revisit my older posts and see what I have been bringing to the "table" and what I myself would like to see more of. I have found that blogging is a growing process. You can see where you been, and what you would like to change. For now, I think that I will keep this blog as my life seems to be- a peace finding, joyful, neither here nor there, jumble of ideas, life exploring WIP (work in progress)!

A SHARE (Special Happy Activities to Reach and Engage)- Purchase an Action Pack for your children ! A child and family magazine filled with the most enticing activities! Your children will really love what they make with their hands! I love what my children have made with their hands!

A day of "Action Pack" and art activities!

My daughter did this!

My nephew did this!

A night with the legendary Bruce Lee and some paranormal reading

A little Bruce Lee is not a bad thing. I watched a little of a "documentary" about him on a channel I would normally never watch after "supper" ( really our dinner, but after so many past acquaintances with these wonderful stories, dinner feels less homey and more formal, so henceforth "supper" takes its place) with my manchild (aka my son). I was a fan of Bruce Lee in my youth! It was like wow! A really cool Chinese guy! I was amazed! Then followed, Shaolin, and it was like I needed to get my practice on by chopping my little brother, sparring with uncles and  hacking cousins - just happily pretending I was a great, fabulous and very cute (though wannabe) martial artist! Those were my adventures!

 

This night I have started reading a book by an author known to me! How exciting is that- maybe I can get her to stop by with an interview-

The cover faces me as it sits in front of me-so beautiful- and extremely haunting!

Virtual visit- Balenciaga via NYPL

    

I am often visiting the New York Public Library website. I find it tremendously valuable in many ways. It is a creative compendium of media. I like to look up digital images that can be inspirational for whatever I am thinking about for the day. Retro is always in stye and I think we all can learn something from the past. This is especially true for fashion. Well made clothing rules follow tried and true designs. The photo above from Andre Studios as part of a collection of sketches that can be found on the NYPL site in collaboration with the Fashion Institute of Technology is truly a wonderful public gift-free-priceless!

Take a look for yourself! Print out one or more and hang them! Together they can form a lovely decoration stylishly hung on a wall. 

Another cool wall suggestion *

These lovely letters came from the Marie Claire idees website. Print them out, gratis, of course-um, for non-french speaking, that's free! And hang them on your wall-





    

Then you can cover them with a plastic or vinyl sleeve, apply some double stick tape and voila!

It's instant decor art!



Who wants to get SLiCED?

I just noticed this enytry from the side bar on my blog site. Moda creates wonderful fabrics for the quilter and crafter. I think that "SLiCED" is such a fabulous way to get into the spirit of the fun competitiveness that is exploding on television. Why not, then, the internet? I will be tuned in... maybe an audition too!

Prelude to feminism-digging up " Daisy"

Encouraging our future through an enlightening past!
 Watch on PBS on this coming Sunday, February 5, 2012.

SMASH some ideas

I am so glad to see this clip. I have been doing this for years with composition books. I keep recipes, articles from the art and fashion sections of the NY Times, quotes that I love, funny things I've heard, ideas I get while doing household chores, books I want to get my hands on, sketches I ponder and create in my mind- the list goes on.

Did you catch the SMASH stick the woman is holding in this clip? So sleek and very appropriate.

Very unlike my fat and chubby glue stick!

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day to you!

This day is a really ideal moment to share some African-American history with your children and pay homage to inspirational leaders past and present who have been motivated towards peace for all through peace and unity.

Start a tradition this day as I do with my family -

1. Read with your children, your grandchildren, your community children, your neighbor's children, and all children.

  

2. Play a fun game online. Who says learning can't be fast and fun?

3. Listen to a most wonderful account of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s historical and motivational life on WNYC.  This is a most beautiful program where the Dr.'s life is retold and interspersed with music from the different periods of his life. Absoulutely beautifully done! You will learn about other inspirational persons of interest from a most lovely African-American and American culture.

4. Make a great meal inspired by the diverse flavors of history with a touch of tradition!

5. Make something to honor the day!

•  Pick from here many great activities
• Make a craft from a tube roll
• Color Dr. Martin

6. Share some love! View the King Song and speech !

Enjoy the day! Why not create another day to celebrate in January! Make it something wonderful to look forward to!  Be inspired and celebrate with me!

Science projects, spooky, and other....well....things

This past holiday season has been very peaceful. I decided early on in the season that I would keep it all very simple. Hardship can inspire genuine creativity and keep the spirit festive, thankful and humble. I must truly say with all earnest that I felt most truly blessed this past year.

My eldest daughter moved out of our home yesterday into an apartment she will share with a sorority sister in Brooklyn and I feel most proud and prayerful all at once. Th excitment and unexpected lay before her. but, I remind her that she can return if she needs. She responds by stating casually, "Mom, don't worry, I'll see you guys on Sunday!" So, it's just the two days! Patience, I say. The time between visits will get longer. And, I guess my prayers will be more fervent. Talking to God will fit in with the rest of the days activities- woke up, chat with God, take the bus, chat with God, walk the dog, chat with God, etc. Please keep my babies safe!

And so this moves me on to our holiday picture. I wanted this one to be perfect before Kesia moved.

first shot

second shot

third shot

fourth shot

so that's that! Our memorable holiday 2011 pictures! Beauties, all of them! And the children too!



And now that it's January, for school children this means Science Project season! My youngest daughter has decided to do a project about spoilage and apples. I helped her a bit by supplying her with a book that I received in  my graduate school education class

 Spooky pics taken at a park near my home

 Family time during our school breaks