10 Things you might not know about me

I've been blogging since 2006. And depending on the way I look at it I can either say that not much has changed or I can say that tons of things have changed. I actually need to dedicate an entire blog post to that topic. An exploration of my blogging then & now sort of thing. After typing the previous sentence my head is swirling with things to talk about. So I'll put that post on my list of things to do. I'll work on it. ;)

Anyways..."10 Things you might not know about me." I'm sure that I've been "tagged" in one of these more than a few times over the years, but it has been a while. I'm happy to say that the current tagging was done by the sweet and mega talented Kate over at Scathingly Brilliant. I really loved reading hers. Kate is such an amazing character. I adore hearing about her life, collections, quirks, family, cats, art. She's someone that I feel privileged to know. Like, you can watch all the quirky Indie movies you like...those perfectly soundtracked, curated, decorated, color styled, and wardrobed scenes in Wes Anderson films are pretty much Kate when she wakes up in the morning. And oh yeah, she's a Jersey girl. 

so...

10 Things you might not know about me:

1. I do not drive. I don't know how. I never have driven and I have no plans on ever doing so. I've been quoted many times over the years...referring to myself as "a passenger for life." I also know that one should never say never. But at the moment...no thanks. I never said I wasn't a weirdo. ;)

2. If you ever want to see me go from Jekyll to Hyde then just have a mosquito land on me or Aaron or one of the pups. Or for that matter just let one fly past my face...just let me see it and hear the tiny whine of its dirty little wings. I will full-on flip. ha! I have hated those jerks my entire life. I yell at them and call them the scum of the earth. Them and their buddies, fleas and ticks can all meet an early extinction...mega jerks!

3. I am not really a big fan of working out, though I know it is a must for a happy, healthy and balanced life. We have an elliptical that Aaron uses daily. I myself prefer to do "my tape". And by "tape" I mean a DVD, but I grew up in the 80s and my mom did a workout tape...Kathy Smith to be exact, and I only refer to my DVD as a tape, which is Crunch: Burn & Firm Pilates...I like it a lot. So for years I've only referred to this DVD as "my tape"...and then somewhere along the line this concept got even more warped. Totally dead serious, with not even a smirk, Aaron will say "ok, I'm gonna go do my tape"...which refers to his 45 mins on the elliptical. Not sure if this even qualifies as a thing you didn't know about me...but whatevs. 

4. I've always worn a "uniform"...always. I get into an aesthetic groove, or a clothing comfort zone, and I stick with it for a while. For a good period of years, back when we went to tons of hardcore shows and Aaron's band played all over, I really only wore the color red. Red lips always. Red cat eye glasses with rhinestones, a red satin jacket, adidas shell toes with stripes that I painted red. A big red ball bead necklace...oh, and my hair was in two platinum braids for like 12 years. I had these big red pony tail holders that I called bobbers. They were red and white balls that looked exactly like fishing bobbers. And then there was my camo phase. I only wore camouflage pants. And only the real deal army navy store issue. I'd either roll them up or cut them to knee length. Every pair was painted on by me and Aaron. We adorned them with little cartoon versions of myself...gold charm ice cream cones, cupcakes. And I'd pair them with black boots to the knee. In summer my top would be a black tank top...and in winter a black turtleneck. I'd throw in a leopard print purse or jacket...maybe splashes of pink. And ALWAYS big gold bamboo earrings. I was a total mash-up of my two heroes: Betsey Johnson and Mr. T. Seriously.

 Currently I mostly wear black. I love polka dots, some pops of aqua, but not much pink since my hair is pink.  

5. I adore Horror movies. Vintage Horror is my fave. Anything from the 70s...and vintage Italian Horror is way up there on my list. I really love all kinds of movies, but normally my first pick would be an old horror movie. My all time favorite movie is The Shining. And one of my first favorite books was this book by Vincent Price called Monsters...pretty much a catalog of monsters and oddities, in movies and real life. Anything from Eng and Chang, or JoJo the dog faced boy, to movies like The Creature From the Black Lagoon, and stories about the great Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney. I spent many summer afternoons reading it. I wish I still had it. But like I said, I really love all kinds of movies. I can also watch any old Brando anytime. He's mesmerizing. In a total weirdo type of a way. Such a strange bird. I blogged my top 10 favorite movies of all time last year here. 

6. I do not like talking on the phone. Just not a favorite thing of mine. I'm a big talker too. But not on the phone. Not even sure why the phone scares me...gives me strange anxiety. Though I do talk to my mom on the phone almost daily...she's the exception I guess.

7. My happy place is a motel in Wildwood NJ...The Caribbean Motel. It's a Doo Wop motel...this is a style that's very popular in Wildwood..sorta 1950s theme, tiki bar, leopard print, bamboo, aluminum palm trees around the pool...atomic style light fixtures or clocks maybe. And they pipe in this dreamy mood music...very islandy/cabana/beach club/canasta feeling. It's a shame that I haven't been there in years...but whenever I dream of being somewhere to relax and forget everything, it's The Caribbean Motel that materializes in my dream sequence. 

8. And to continue the weirdness... I am not good with small social situations but I'm fantastic...electric even...when it comes to big events. Going to the movies with a group of friends...I might feel like I'm going to crumble...but teaching at large art events is not nerve racking to me in the least. Or doing the NYC Gift Show at the Javits Center. Like, thousands of people attend. Me and Aaron had our own booth, we set up our backdrop, our stuff, and there I am selling and speaking to hundreds and hundreds of peeps. Never break a sweat before, during or after. But picking a seat in the mall food court will give me clammy palms and pin dot eyes. Not sure what that says about me. Not sure I want to know.

9.  I like all kinds of music...truly all kinds. From Billie Holiday & Ella Fitzgerald, to TV on the Radio, Passion Pit, Sleigh Bells, Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. But my absolute favorite band is The Deftones. People are always shocked when they hear that. I enjoy the juxtaposition...that my vintage paper mache rabbits, and stuffed bunnies, and painted cupcakes, and pretty collections come with a backing soundtrack of Chino Moreno's screeching and heavy as heck guitars. It's nuts to some...but makes total sense to me. 

I remember in our early twenties, working in our antique booth, and painting period authentic florals on dresser fronts to coordinate with vintage barkcloth, and listening to "Sophisticated Lady" by day. And come nightfall we were standing in line to get into a Deftones show, along with dudes in combat boots and black trench coats.

10. I've never tasted beer, or wine or any alcohol for that matter. Not for any big or religious reason. It just never interested me. And by now you may have gathered that I am a worrier, panicker, weirdo. The thought of not being in 100% control or being altered in any way scares the heck out of me. But, I must tell you that I have no problem...actually don't even think twice about...others drinking. I'd even play bartender and serve up fun and fancy drinks at my party. I guess it's the same as driving. It's just not for me. 

Ha! I really have to laugh at this list. I was incredibly candid and honest here. I suppose I could have sat and thought of less odd things...maybe even some things that normalize me a bit. Bigger, more character forming things about myself...like resume` stuff...my dreams, or goals, or maybe the things I've seen, the people I know, or interesting people I have met or worked with. But oh well...there you go. 

Now I'm going to tag some friends, and please...if you'd like to play along I'd LOVE to read yours! Feel free to come back and leave a link to your blogged list! 

I tag:

Heidi

Mr. Tiny

Bethany

Danielle

Claire

Aaron

xo, Jenny...and Aaron says Hi!

Friday Favorites

Hey kids! Happy Friday! Here we are in mid July, super duper hot. We are totally over this extreme summer weather. It almost has me saying bring on fall...gimme leaves falling, and hay bails, and cornstalks, and pumpkins...that's my jam! ....Sweating? do I enjoy it?...not so much.

Aaron was in the shower and I needed to brush my teeth, and being that one of our bathrooms is still a shell I had to go in there when he was in there. So, he's got the window open as to not steam up the walls...well oh em gee...the heat coming in through the window was outrageous! Seriously felt like one of those plug in heaters we used this past winter. Gross! Once again, this A/C is a life saver. We live blocks from the beach and you seriously couldn't get me to go up there...even if you told me you buried a bunch of paper mache rabbits and they are finders keepers. (just pretend you and I think alike and that means a whole lot) 

So being that its Friday I wish we were looking forward to some cooler weather this weekend so that we could actually get out there and work on the deck again. But no...it's going to be scorching hot with rain! more rain! This is like record breaking amounts.  

I am so in love with these brand new Bijou Ties from Flapper Girl. They are so sweet, classic yet cartoony. I would so want to talk to the gal that walks into a room wearing one. Totally show stoppers in my eyes...such a fabulous accessory choice! I love them all! But my favorite has got to be that black with pink floral. Oh geez! I guess it's the die hard Betsey Johnson fan in me. 

Everything about this.

Oh how I love this piece by artist Lisa Kokin! She creates these amazing sewn together pieces with old photos and thread. Visually they're just stunning...so much texture. But I connect with them on a second level...there's something about the organic shapes of these pieces, like they're formed by natural borders, the way some states are divided by rivers. You get a sense that the people in the photographs form a community, as a whole they become a mass, they are all connected and all represent each other. I actually adore the entire collection. It is SO SO GOOD! You have to click the link to see it all! Truly fantastic!

When I saw this...I just started having flashes of inspiration and ideas. Geez, imagine being able to start from scratch...given a clean slate space...with incredible bones...and being able to decorate like the book of Genesis...on the first day there were rugs, on the second there were tables, and on the third we rested on the new couches and considered the wall art to come on day four. 

If you had the chance to start from scratch would you go in a totally different direction? New color palette? New collections? This photo truly made me dream a bit. 

these Bunny Girls by artist JoAnna Pierotti...Oh just knock me over with a feather! Seriously! Look at them all lined up! yes, they lack arms...who cares! no clothes?...party! I love them all so so much! The colors, the aged look. And if you're more into arms and clothing...Joanna has been equipping them with both whenever the mood strikes. If these speak to you like they speak to me then check out all of Joanna's work. This is the world she lives in. This is her. And she teaches!! She'll be in NYC and California in the near future...so check her out.

Ok, gotta stay cool and also gotta exercise. Aaron says that he loves getting his blood up on a hot day because when you cool down later you will be cool in comparison to the environment. He says this also works in the winter but to the opposite effect. Also, I believe he creates fictions to fit any situation.

Happy Friday!!

xo, Jenny...and Aaron 

Enlightened Eggplant Parm

This is one of our favorite meals. For us it's an easy go-to recipe that comes together quickly and always hits the spot. Since the preparation and baking take less time than waiting for ordered-in food to arrive, we reserve this for those would-be order in nights, when we don't want to think too much about food...we just want to eat it soon. Very near to our home there are dozens of options for Italian delivery...you can probably yell out the window for eggplant parm and there will be a restaurant within earshot...or at least a neighbor who will yell back the phone number of their go-to place. 

But man...traditional delivery eggplant parm is So Heavy!...often fried, always covered with mountains of gooey cheese. And the beautiful eggplant is completely lost. Eggplant is so delicious and requires very little dressing up. In the first stage of this recipe we brush thin slices with a little bit of olive oil, add a tiny sprinkle of sea salt and pepper...and after we take the tray of 'em out of the oven it's a struggle for us not to eat them up like potato chips. We of course have to take a little "taste test"...grab like one or two each...and the eggplant is amazing in that simple state. 

This recipe is definitely lighter than your average eggplant parm...but we do not sacrifice one bit of flavor in making it lighter. In fact, with the fresh real ingredients there is an abundance of flavor. All the tastes are so much brighter and distinct. The eggplant is right where it should be...it's the star of this show! 

And as for the sauce...you can whip up some quick homemade sauce or grab a jar of your favorite. We do either or...depending on what we have in. Our favorite widely available jar sauce is Vincents (which we used here)...and it really does taste just like the sauce they serve in their Little Italy location. The layers of "pink sauce"in this replace the over-the-top cheese and goo in the traditional takeout versions. And we know a lot of people have their certain tastes that they like when it comes to Italian...so by all means, feel free to add what you like and make it your own. 

So seriously, theres no reason to pass up eggplant parm because of it's heavy connotations. This version will not leave you with a brick in your belly, but you'll be spoiled with flavor.

Serves 4

Preheat Oven to 450 degrees.

Here is what you will need:

1 Large Eggplant (about 2lbs)

1 tablespoon olive oil

salt & pepper

1 cup skim milk or plain almond milk

3 Tablespoons all purpose flour 

2 garlic cloves minced

1 cup favorite marinara sauce

1/2 cup grated part skim mozzarella cheese

1/3 cup good quality grated Parmesan cheese

fresh basil (optional)

First wash, dry, and slice your eggplant...about 1/2" thick slices. Arrange your eggplant slices on a rimmed cookie sheet. Brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt & pepper. Not too much salt. 

Now pop them in the oven and bake them until they are golden brown and very tender. Turn them over about halfway through. This takes between 20 and 25 mins. 

While they bake, let's make the sauce! Off the heat, in a medium saucepan, whisk together a 1/4 cup of milk, your flour and garlic. 

Now, over medium heat, slowly add the remaining 3/4 cup of milk, and a 1/2 cup of your marinara sauce. (reserve the other 1/2 cup) Whisk, raise heat and bring to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer, and allow your pink sauce to cook and thicken about 2-3 mins. 

Now spread a 1/4 cup of the reserved marinara sauce on the bottom of your baking dish. 

Arrange your first layer of baked eggplant and spread a layer of pink sauce over it. Then repeat...we had three layers of eggplant in our dish.

For your final layer, spread the remaining pink sauce, the remaining 1/4 cup of marinara, and sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. 

We added some fresh basil to our top layer as well. Pop in the oven on the top rack and bake until bubbling. About 15-20 mins.

That's it. You can cut and serve like lasagna. You will be bowled over by the bright taste and lack of heavy duty gut busting. Every ingredient is distinct and the flavors just come together perfectly. It's great with a side salad. 

We hope you love it! And please let us know when you make it and tell us about any additions you brought to it. We look forward to your comments! Feel free to ask us anything.

xo, Jenny & Aaron 

Pretty Prizes & Pretty Pages make me smile.

Over the years, like any couple that has been together for 20 of 'em, or any self employed artist duo in business for that same said span of time, me and Aaron have definitely weathered our share stress filled storms. And in the end, going through those very bad times is good for you. I think the two of us have gotten to be experts at keeping our daily existence very Light. We focus on doing things that we are good at...which seems like a no brainer...but you'd be surprised at how the simplest things can slip through your grasp. And the second part of doing the things you are good at is...Sharing the things you are good at. It's so very rewarding when you do that thing you love to do, and then you show it to everyone, and then a whole bunch of those peeps identify with it...or better yet...are inspired by it.

We whole heartedly acknowledge that we are very lucky in this department.

So this past week or so has been testing our confidence a bit...our stress and worry threshold has been flexed and our defenses are wearing down. Aaron's mom has been in the hospital this week, and after a lot of speculation the doctors finally came to a solution, and a minimally invasive surgical procedure was performed on her spine Monday. She is in recovery now, but once healed, the procedure should alleviate the excruciating/debilitating pain she has been in for the past couple of weeks. Aaron is very close with his mom...talks to her every day...she's a big part of our life. So seeing her in pain and the whole uncertainty of figuring out what it was and how to fix it has been nerve racking. The thing is...she is a stoic by nature, so when she is laid up and complaining and wincing and moaning...then you know its gotta hurt worse than you can even imagine. She brushes everything off..her go-to line is "I'm fine."...so when all of the sudden she says "I'm not fine."...then it's time to worry.

Ok, so I'm a big worrier by nature and I've had a heavy flutter in my chest for days. We're thrilled to know now that she should be coming home within a day or so, the only thing holding up her return is that the Doc might want her to do some physical rehab while she's still under hospital care...just to get things moving in the right way. So it's looking good. 

And now I want to acknowledge a couple of the things that have helped us deal.

Today's mail brought a very happy surprise. A package all the way from England! Ohh I tell you that I am just smiling so big right now. Last week, the day before my Uncle Lou's funeral I checked in on Instagram and saw that I was tagged in a photo... Ahh!! I just about fell over! No it wasn't an old junior high pic or an awkward family photo...it wasn't the bad kind of falling over...it was the kind of falling over that goes along with finding out that I was the winner of a giveaway!! And it was on one of my absolute favorite shops/blogs Tea And Kate. I couldn't believe my eyes! I won one of the key items that has always been on my dream shopping list! Like WAY at the top of my list! So finding out that I won was a bright spot during that stressful time...and now, the physical arrival of my prize shines an even brighter light on this stress-filled week. Oh...and I've blogged about my prize in the past...I guess this way too fabulous mint Lotus bowl was fated to be mine! 

I love the box, with it's little biographical history on the side...

The iconic "lotus" pattern was designed in 1963 by Norwegian artist Arne Clausen. He was employed as a decorator at the Norwegian factory Cathrineholm, and his design soon became one of their most popular items. The famous lotus pattern is considered one of the most powerful examples of timeless Scandinavian design.

And this timeless classic now happily resides on my mantle! I am just so in love with it! I'm not sure where it will permanently live just yet. It will probably visit a few vignettes around the house! It looks equally happy in the living room, kitchen and studio.

Ok, remember what i said about sharing? Well, I wanted to share a little bit from my new Art Journal. I really had no plans at all when I sat down with this page. One of the things I love most about my new Journal is that the pages aren't a permanent fixture. They are loose and I can work on them as individual pieces of art, and then insert them into the Journal when I'm all done.

 This page really was "art as therapy". I had a bunch of anxiety yesterday and I really needed to get my mind off of things. I started with a stencil and some misting, and then a wash of pale pink over it all. And then I commenced with absolutely no thoughts...just totally in the zone. I laid down a big blop of aqua...and moved it around until I had this odd organic shape. It felt right to me.

I had this little gal in one of my ephemera boxes and knew I had to use her. I'm not a fan of the color peach, so she needed a wardrobe change. Using tracing paper and some floral scrapbooking paper I reproduced her dress in a "fabric" that works for me. I painted her socks and hair bow as well.

I really had no idea where the page was going. It seriously just happened. And like I mentioned the other day... Journaling for me is indeed an escape from the heavy stuff life can saddle you with. I really can lighten my load in simply using candy colors and cute happy bits.  

I think the message is pretty clear here! Ha! Oh the wisdom of an innocent little girl. I swear to you...I don't know how or why...but this works for me. By the time a page like this has come together...I too have come together.

Thanks so much for letting me share! Today in Jersey it's super hot and gross outside, what else is new? Fortunately, me and Aar don't shovel asphalt for a living. Instead, we are working on some orders, and some other artful things...and very much looking forward to Aaron's mom making a speedy recovery.

Hope you guys are enjoying some summer fun!

xo Jenny...and Aaron says hi!

A little weekend recap

Ok, I know this next statement goes without saying but I'm gonna say it anyway: Hooray for Air Conditioning! Without it I would just throw in the towel...call it day. It is so completely stifling hot here on the NJ Shore. Incredibly humid...airless. And I'm amazed that it isn't raining. I honestly think the little rain cloud graphic has been present in the daily forecast for a month straight. The work we were doing out on our deck had to be put on hold til further notice, and we've switched to interior improvements. But this weekend we spent most of this weekend in the studio. Lots and lots of painting going on. We loved hearing your thoughts on painting...especially the ways you like to approach abstracts. So many of you said that you can identify with Aaron's approach.  

Well, we're still working abstract pieces into our creative rotation and above is one of the pieces I worked on this weekend. When I sat down I told myself that I wouldn't use my fave color...aqua. Oh my gosh! I cannot tell you how hard that was for me. It was as if someone told me that I had to go to a party wearing someone elses clothes and make up. It felt so wrong. I sat there working on areas over and over and I actually had a bit of anxiety. Art is usually my therapy...when life gets crazy or stressful I can find my medicine in the painting process...the supplies, the colors. Now all of the sudden the painting was the thing that was stressing me the most! Aaron told me to cave...and the very second that I put some aqua strokes on the painting I felt a sense of calm. After I broke that ice and fell back on my creative color crutch, it was just me, the painting, and music for the next two hours. Very good therapy.

Here you see how we start every day...Smoothies. This happens to be one of our favorites. Don't let the pea soup color fool you. It is so so delicious! Banana, strawberry, mango, spinach, grape, vanilla protein powder, and almond milk, and some ice cubes. I promise that there is not one hint flavor-wise of spinach...you cannot taste it...it is like an under the radar spinach sneak attack for your system. You get in like an entire bowl of it and your taste buds are none the wiser. We throw fistfuls of it in our chocolate peanut butter banana smoothies as well.

Here's a happy little area from another piece I worked on. I love to zoom in and pick favorite areas. I can imagine that the little 4 inch area is blown up and its an entire large canvas. Its actually a pretty good way to train yourself into making sure that you finish every single part of your painting. Just grab a microcosm and see if it looks good to you. 

Yesterday, between rain showers, Aaron and I took a trip over to Michael's We had to pick up a few things that we really needed, but we were also thirsting for some new happy and inspiring supplies. We picked up those fab gold foil letters you see above, and since they were on clearance we grabbed two packs! And the Heidi Swapp letters were like 2.00! StazOn is a favorite of ours, and we had been meaning to grab a gray...and then we saw this opaque white and just had to get it! And these tiny little wood heart clothes pins were in the dollar bins. They were the last ones, or we would have stocked up. 

We also picked up this chipboard album kit...which contains the makings of two books, one large and one small. And the paper is so incredibly thick in this fantastic pad of Mixed Media paper from Strathmore. Perfect for Art journaling! 

The kit comes with a whole bunch of chipboard pages but we decided that we'd instead use the chipboard as the front and back covers of a few separate journals. 

So we measured our Mixed Media paper, cut, and punched holes, so that these would be the art journal pages between the chipboard covers. We just need some extra rings to bind them with.

So this morning we sat down to work on our new journals, starting with covers.  I knew I wanted mine to be bright, happy, graphic, textured, and fun! So I grabbed a favorite stencil.

I then mixed a few of my go-to acrylic paint colors with some Gel Medium.

I then used a palette knife to spread the paints over the stencil. 

I added some stamps, speckling, and a bit of wash around the hearts to give them a little more dimension.

You may remember this sweet gal...I printed her out and adhered her with some decoupage medium and then shaded around her with charcoal pencil to pull her forward from the background a bit. 

Aaron was working on some paintings as well...and decided to take his painting style right over to his new Art Journal cover. He was almost working in a production line fashion, and everything got stopped midpoint so the heavy paint layers could dry, so we'll have to share his finished cover with you guys another day.

Here's a little close up of my cover. 

And here it is. I added a little talk bubble I sketched on pink polka dot scrapbooking paper...added hand drawn stitching...and my new Heidi Swapp letters. I attached one of the hearts from the little clothespins I just got in our Michaels haul. Sorta made it into a fascinator on her head...and painted a little black band.

My art journal isn't a place where I get serious. It is where I go to leave the serious behind. Some journalers like to use their pages to write out all of the things that have been weighing on them...thoughts and fears etc. I actually do use mine in the same way...but you'd never guess by looking at it. I'm escaping life's heavy stuff through candy colors and fun imagery. My art journal days are all about just playing and having a good time...zoning out....good music, new art supplies, paint colors...that's the best medicine for me. 

I love that most of us art journal for similar reasons but we have very different styles and ways of going about it. 

Why do you Art Journal? Do you have different Journals for your different moods? 

Hope you guys are having a great weekend!

xo Jenny...and Aaron

Friday Favorites

Another rainy weekend here in Jersey. We broke rainfall records in June and July hasn't been too much better. We took the gray day to sculpt more clay for necklaces and got caught up on some orders. This evening we're going to paint some more. The weather really does make you want to dissolve into a blur of lazy internet browsing...so we're both doing our best to keep productive and ignore the urge to melt into the couch. We hope your Friday is brighter...and if it isn't, we hope your ignoring it like we are. Now lets get to my Favorites! 

Above just brings handmade jewelry to a whole new level...don't you just want to eat all of this? Ahh! Its a little glimpse at the worktable of our sweet and talented friend Andrea Singarella. We would know her work a mile away. Her palette is soft and sweet, but there is always an antique heirloom feel. She just knows how to pair candy colors and classic design perfectly. And not only does Andrea create these gorgeous pieces to sell, but she also teaches others how to make their own fab pieces. The above pics are detail shots of an e-course she is offering right now. And you can go even further...if you'd like to actually meet her in person and take a class she will be teaching this October in the Atlanta GA area. And guess who else will be teaching at the same exact event?! yep, Us! If you can, join us at the Sweethearts on the Home Front event this October! 

Behold The Cronut. The most talked about and sought after dessert in the world right now. Living in the Tri State Area we are just a short car ride from NYC, which is the home of the Cronut. We've driven into NYC on any given random night to play pizza game and cupcake game (these are rating games wherein we visit, one after another, every rate-able pizza or cupcake place in the city...amazing times!) Well even though The Cronut is only a short drive from us...it may as well be a million miles away. There is a line stretching for a block starting at the crack o' dawn for these things. And people are even standing on line for pay...like hundreds of dollars. I mean, they look and sound amazing...but we're not that dedicated. So below is a video from The Food Network...and they show you an easy way to make your own...though they call 'em Faux Cro Doughs I believe...since the name Cronut is owned by the originator...Dominique Ansel.

As you may know I'm a very big fan of tissue paper decorations. I have been collecting vintage party decorations for most of my adult life and many are so fragile. I just love the faded tissue and crepe. There are all sorts of fantastic vintage step by step booklets that were put out in the 50s and 60s, teaching how to make wedding, baby shower, tea party flowers. I've shared some in the past...and right now I'm loving this tutorial I came across on Pinterest! Aren't they so fun? 

Yes some of you may only see this as a nightmare...while others only wish they'd come across it on their next day at the flea market. Its a pic from a German factory in the 50s. It also reminds me of a great little film called Bubble. We saw it yeeears ago...its a very small quirky, dark, film with completely unknown actors, but directed by Steven Soderbergh. Anyway, the people in the movie work in a tiny dollhead factory in the midwest.

This! Oh my gosh the coloring of this vintage photo is just fantastic! I love everything about it! Aaron and I have a few "instant ancestors" we have found over the years at flea markets and antique shops with similar pastel tinting. Geez we love them!

Have truer words ever been spoken? (I mean, maybe if you Really Like zipper-back, pocketless, acid wash high waist jeans...then this quote doesn't apply to you.) But for everyone else...isn't this so right on? I feel like I've always stuck to my guns style wise and it always comes out in my favor in the end.

Ok, hope your weekend is great! We're off to the studio to paint. But maybe we'll make brownies or something first.

xo, Jenny...and Aaron