Monkey Mind

I have monkey mind - Buddhist term for endless chatter inside the skull that makes it hard to focus.
The bouncing thoughts and chatter makes my life exhausting I tell ya! This mind o' mine is always on forethought mode - planning what needs to be done next, what to do, where I have to be, etc.

My goal for this Winter: Relax. Deep cleansing breaths.....let the taming begin.



This guy has relax down pat. His monkey mind is tame.



What's in my cart

I waste a considerable amount of time drooling at Etsy while drinking my morning coffee. Currently these are all the pretty, deliciously vintage items I crave:

A girly gown to don while flitting about house.



Glam Poodle Apron





Funky Indian Lake Print Dress - Tahoe Perfection



Tablecloth for my Gypsy Caravan



Cushion for Gypsy Caravan




Coordinating cushion for  Gypsy Caravan




Sparkly Flowers




A Velvet Gown to attend the Theater Dahling



A thought for the frazzled

"Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself."
 - Michel de Montaigne (French Philosopher 1533-1592)

Dreaming of studying: Italy

Taking a conversational Italian class sounds fun in theory. Odd thing is that I am for some reason mentally challenged when it comes to learning numbers past 100 and telling time in military style. The instructor wants us really to learn this. So here I am at a stalemate. Class in 1.5 hours. I try to studio but instead start perusing Flickr for photos Italia:

I'm figuring I can bomb the test, feel the hot rush of shame, and move on in hopes that I'll learn more important things after yet another epic fail. No mi piace quiz.

We don't go to Italy until Summer 2011. I'll get it by then....maybe.

Wrinkle Press Knee High Socks

Wrinkle Press Knee High Socks

Cutest! I love socks but for some reason all mine disappear unless printed or ruched etc. as my children wear the same size as their mama. These will be mine. They'd look cute on Morgan so maybe just maybe I'll get her a pair too.

Fugtastic? Fugly?

And I go on and on about leopard.
Now what do we make of these: the Jimmy Choo Ugg hybrid. $595.

 Dang. I'm not sure what to think actually as my instinct say love as it's leopard and it's a shoe but I have to now view all potential purchases in terms of how many books would that be for college (less than a year away for Morgan and my guess is $595 would buy at least 3 books). Because these are way overpriced and knowledge is power and fashion is fleeting and fickle, and in this case a bit tacky, I will deem these FUGLY - as in the website www: gofugyourself.com.

Go check out/chuckle at the others at UGG website....and after that, put aside $ for books.

Wear the old coat and buy the new book. Austin Phelps.
(But for college, buy used books if possible...it just makes $ense)

Ghosts of the Glamour Age

The other night I watched Some Like it Hot.
Now this is odd I realize, but I snapped pictures of screen here and there as I wanted to post a Tony Curtis tribute. (I discovered that viewing a movie with long lens of camera is even better than with glasses! )Wow I must be getting old. Anyway... I dig this picture: I realize its pixelated and blue but I find it almost arty in that really it could  be a photo on canvas....just sayin. I dig it.

Here is my other fave - Marilyn (Sugar Kane) stating that she's not so bright:

And now some of Tony:

I find it sad when the actors and actresses of the Golden Age (which technically is the 30s - 40s but I think the 50s are dreamy too) pass on. They are relics from the time of true beauty as captured by MGM.

Trivia: Do you know why this movie was filmed in black and white despite it being 1959? The director Billy Wilder wanted to play down the garishness of the leading actors' makeup. Who knew?!

Well that's all for now. Now here's wishing our world would be a little more Glam.

It's raining in Reno and I love it!

Illustration by John LaGatta, Saturday Evening Post ca: 1920-1930